Moorim Pochang - Chapter 90

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 90. The Trap (1).

The liquor jar was now completely empty.
Sixty-four cups of spirits had been wrung out from the setsam and ho-su-o, and when that wasn’t enough, he’d mixed in a bit of other alcohol besides.
“That’s enough.”
When Yang Jung heard Kang Jo’s firm reply, he was taken aback.
“Surely… I didn’t mishear what you said, did I?”
That liquor was to him what life’s pleasures were to anyone else.
When he drank it on a day his spirits flagged, energy would surge through him; even the mere anticipation of drinking it gave him strength.
“I’m done making spirits from now on.”
“Without that liquor, I cannot live, brother.”
“Then go ahead and die, you fool.”
Ah………….
“You’re being too harsh, brother.”
Yang Jung collapsed into a chair like a man who’d lived a whole lifetime.
But Kang Jo paid no mind.
“Go wash up and get some sleep.”
“…………………Yes.”

*

Shin Pung-gae entered the Geumyang Station.
Though smaller in scale than other stations, there were quite a few staff members visible.
“Where have you come from?”
A martial artist at the station politely blocked his path and inquired.
“The Director of Gaebang has business with the Station Master and has come to call.”
Shin Pung-gae held up the Dragon Head Token before the martial artist.
The startled martial artist bowed respectfully once more.
“I receive the Director of Gaebang. Please come inside.”
The martial artist escorted Shin Pung-gae within and sent someone ahead to inform the Station Master.
“What’s this? The Director of Gaebang has come to visit?”
The Station Master rushed out in haste.
The Station Master of Geumyang Station was a remarkably handsome middle-aged man.
‘A fine father produces a fine son, it seems.’
“I am Yang Ho, Station Master of this station, and I offer my respects to you, Director.”
The Station Master bowed with impeccable courtesy.
Hehehehe……….
“I’ve come simply to trouble you for a meal, nothing more.”
Shin Pung-gae received his salutation with equally gentle words.
“Please, come inside. I shall have food prepared at once.”
“Won’t you join me, Station Master?”
Shin Pung-gae entered the room at Yang Ho’s invitation.
As soon as they took their seats, a servant brought tea.
“I hope the tea is to your liking.”
At the Station Master’s concern, Shin Pung-gae broke into a hearty laugh.
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw………
“Tea is a luxury for one who’s only come to beg a meal, and besides, this old man knows nothing of tea’s taste, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
After bringing the teacup to his lips and setting it down, he began with praise.
“Station Master, you are a truly handsome man. I am an old wanderer who has roamed the Gangho martial world as though it were my own home, yet I have never seen a man as fine-featured as you.”
Yang Ho was not the most handsome man under heaven.
Yet his face was not one easily found anywhere.
“You flatter me too much, Director. How could someone like me ever be called handsome?”
At the Director’s praise, the Station Master’s heart grew quite warm.
In truth, his handsome face had allowed him to take a beautiful woman as his wife.
“Since the Station Master is so fine-featured, surely your sons are equally handsome. If I may be so bold, might I see your sons?”
At Shin Pung-gae’s words, the Station Master’s expression became deeply troubled.
“The eldest is the finest-looking of them, but regrettably he is not at home, Director.”
Sigh…
Shin Pung-gae’s expression turned apologetic.
“It’s a pity, truly. Do you happen to know where he might be? Perhaps this old man will have occasion to pass through that region during his travels through Gangho, and might call upon him.”
“I confess I’m uncertain, sir. But since he returns to the house from time to time, he must be settled somewhere.”
At the innkeeper’s words, Shin Pung-gae could not suppress a flicker of astonishment.
‘Could the boy be… cast off?’
If the family were in desperate straits, he might have understood—but a station master who wandered Gangho would hardly be ignorant of his own son’s whereabouts.
“What is your son’s name?”
“Yang Jung, sir.”
“I shall make an effort to find him. Should he prove satisfactory, I would like to impart some techniques of the Gaebang to him—what do you make of such an arrangement?”
“If you mean to teach him martial arts… are you suggesting taking him as a disciple of the Gaebang?”
At the innkeeper’s question, Shin Pung-gae felt a prick of discomfort.
‘Neither father nor son is one to be easily managed.’
Chuckle…
“What troubles you? Does the prospect of your son joining the Gaebang displease you?”
He pressed the matter more firmly.
At once the innkeeper shook his head in denial.
“No, no—it’s simply that the boy is the pillar and treasure of this household.”
“To such a degree as that, you say?”
The innkeeper fumbled with his answer.
“Yes, indeed. I intend to entrust him with the station in time.”
Whenever the boy returned home, he arrived laden with all manner of precious things—he had become the pillar and mainstay of the household.
Not only precious herbs, but secret martial arts manuals, and on this last visit he’d carried an entire armful of impressive weapons.
Now the innkeeper found himself craning his neck with longing every time his son came home.
Shin Pung-gae found the matter more difficult than he had anticipated.
‘I thought this would be easily granted, but matters have grown troublesome. Yet I cannot press too hard, either.’
“What if this old man merely asked for a meal in exchange for teaching your son a technique or two? What would you say to that?”
The innkeeper found Shin Pung-gae’s proposal rather burdensome.
Where in all the world could one find a man who imparted martial arts instruction merely for the price of a meal?
In years past he would have consented readily enough, but now he felt no want of martial training.
His son had brought him secret martial arts manuals.
“The family arts are already beyond what I can fully master. Even should you offer instruction, I fear I would not be capable of comprehending it.”
Hehehehe…
Sensing the difficulty, Shin Pung-gae laughed aloud.
‘Refusing the techniques of the Gaebang? What manner of station master is this?’
*

“Where has this wretch gone now?”
Kang Jo searched the forest methodically, turning over every corner in his hunt for Yang Jung.
Yet nowhere could he find a trace of him.
As he emerged from the trees, he caught sight of horses nibbling at dry grass.
The pack horse lay sprawled indolently on the ground.
‘Since the Saek-ya Chariot is here, he cannot have ventured far…’
Kang Jo had turned toward the Guest Inn when he abruptly came to a stop.
“That damned fool…”
Lightning flashed through his mind.
Now he understood why the man had been absent all morning.
There was no doubt—he had gone to fetch ssal-sam, he-su-o, and gong-cheong-seok-yu.
He’d even left the horses behind to deceive him.
Kang Jo resumed walking, his fists clenched tight.
“When he returns, he’ll regret it.”
As he entered the Guest Inn, he spotted middle-aged men seated before a table.
Clad in worn scholar’s robes, they bore an air of considerable refinement.
“I wonder where the innkeeper has gone.”
“Let us wait a while longer.”
Kang Jo approached them swiftly and bowed.
“My apologies for my absence.”
Hahaha…
“Not at all. One may step away when urgent business calls—there’s no shame in it.”
The middle-aged men offered him a benevolent smile.
‘Scholars, perhaps?’
While Kang Jo wondered about the identity of the middle-aged men, the one seated on the left opened his mouth.
“I am known throughout Gangho as a master of Clear Discussion.”
The middle-aged man on the right followed suit, revealing his own identity.
“I am known as Master Woo Jam.”
Yet Kang Jo had no idea who they were.
“Ah…I see. Today we have chicken and noodles—one silver coin per bowl.”
The two men’s expressions darkened visibly.
“Just a moment, if you please.”
Kang Jo hurried toward the Stone Bridge and bowed low.
“Welcome.”
Cho Yak, crossing the Stone Bridge, smiled.
“I haven’t come to eat. I wanted to have a word with you, Chivalrous Artist Kang.”
“I have guests ahead of you. Please, take a seat and wait a moment.”
She nodded and settled at a table of her own.
Kang Jo turned back to the middle-aged men.
“Shall I prepare the chicken and noodles for you?”
At his question, the men spoke in an injured tone.
“Have you never heard the pen names Cheong Dam and Woo Jam? We are men who wander Gangho and spread word of countless chivalrous martial artists to all who will listen.”
Kang Jo didn’t immediately grasp their meaning.
“I see. Shall I prepare the chicken and noodles?”
Ahem…!
Cough…!
The two men filled the silence with irritated coughing.
Cho Yak, seated at another table, watched the scene unfold with keen interest.
‘They must be gossip merchants.’
Gossip merchants were those who made their living selling stories of Gangho.
Their tales centered on legends of Gangho, tales of chivalrous martial artists and righteous men and women, though sometimes they spoke of inns renowned for their culinary skill.
Such merchants often spread stories of the Hundred Heroes, and among them were tales of her.
Cho Yak had little fondness for gossip merchants.
While they did tell true stories, most were grossly exaggerated, and they often invented things that never happened at all.
These men had come seeking a free meal.
And they would demand payment besides.

*

“If we were to spread word throughout Gangho of this inn, surely throngs of customers would come flocking.”
Only then did Kang Jo understand the men’s true intention.
‘They want me to give them free food in exchange for spreading good rumors about the inn.’
His cooking was expensive, and even villagers nearby rarely came.
How could anyone from distant places be expected to journey here on mere rumor?
“Chicken and noodles cost one silver coin per bowl.”
As Kang Jo repeated himself, the men’s expressions shifted noticeably.
Their faces flushed as they raised their voices.
“Do you not know that a single word from us can make this inn flourish beyond measure—or close its doors forever?”
Hah……
Kang Jo exhaled a long sigh.
This was extortion, plain and simple.
The only difference between this and banditry was that they carried no blades.
Even Shin Pung-gae of Gaebang wouldn’t stoop to this.
“Beggars showed up at my door this morning.”
“What did you just—!”
“What did you say…?”
The two men’s eyebrows shot up as they shot to their feet.
“You want to die?”
At Kang Jo’s harsh words, they flushed crimson but dared not respond.
They shuffled backward toward the door.
“Let’s…let’s just go.”
Once they’d crossed the Stone Bridge and reached the main road, they shouted back at the inn.
“This inn will go under—mark our words…!”
“How is a young man supposed to conduct business if he lacks such flexibility…?”
They raised their voices and hurried their steps toward the village.

*

“My apologies.”
Kang Jo bowed deeply to Cho Yak.
She shook her head.
“It’s nothing.”
Truth be told, it had been rather interesting.
Most inns would have served a meal and pressed traveling money into their hands.
But having been turned away at the door, she would certainly spread bitter complaints about this Guest Inn wherever she went.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll bring some tea.”
“You have tea here?”
Cho Yak of old had loved tea.
Until the Hyeol-gyo War broke out, after completing her Martial Arts training each day, she would savor tea at leisure.
But since she began fighting against Hyeol-gyo, she had not drunk tea even once.
“We have no tea, but we have wild herbs gathered in spring and summer. I thought to brew them as a substitute.”
Ho, ho…
A rare smile crossed her face.
“I’d like that.”
Kang Jo boiled water and dropped the dried herbs into the steaming pot.
He poured it into a cup and set it on the table before her.
“It’s been so long since I’ve tasted tea.”
She breathed in the aroma first, then took a sip and set the cup down.
The flavor was ordinary, but the scent was pleasant.
“I should give my thanks first.”
“That thanks belongs to the Ma-gyo master.”
Cho Yak shook her head and closed her eyes slightly.
“Yeop has no such pretense.”
People like this were always difficult to deal with.
Both Dok-go Yeop and Baek Moon-do possessed such piercing insight that they were never fooled by ordinary deception.
Or perhaps they saw through the lies and merely chose to feign ignorance.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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