Chapter 380
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Chapter 380. Yeon Mubaek Pays His Respects.
Wang Muyang and Danyeoncheong’s team, who had lured the guards, joined the group.
The deputy commanders rushed to collect the bodies of the Golden Guard and load them onto the carts.
This was to leave no evidence.
With Jongsamyeong’s body, completely blackened like coal, the battlefield cleanup was finished.
Shortly after, the carts left the Guokuang Temple.
The bodies of Monk Xianzhang’s guards remained in the courtyard, but the Golden Guard did not touch them.
Dong Yuso, the Southern Warrior of the Golden Guard, approached Yeon Jeokha.
“Young Master Yeon, thank you. Thanks to you, we are alive.”
“It’s nothing. By the way, what do we do now that the monk has escaped?”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Dong Yuso’s face.
He thought Dong Yuso would be in a difficult situation due to the failure to assassinate Monk Xianzhang.
But, unexpectedly, Dong Yuso seemed calm.
“It’s alright. Monk Xianzhang also suffered a lot today, so he will refrain from external activities for a while. Besides, there was an unexpected outcome, so it’s not a complete failure.”
“An outcome?”
“The fact that we have discovered why the northern offensive failed is already a half-success.”
“Ah.”
A sigh escaped Yeon Jeokha’s lips.
It seemed he was referring to the flag bearers carrying colored flags.
“Until now, no one had paid attention to the flag bearers. We simply thought they were members of the Yoomyung Cult, but they turned out to be Monk Xianzhang’s hidden power. The Murim factions will not know the true identity of the Yoomyung Cult flag bearers either.”
“That’s true.”
Indeed, the Yoomyung flag bearers were different from those of other factions.
They were not just for show, but each flag bearer was a master in martial arts and magic.
“I think we should leave before more soldiers arrive. If we find out where Monk Xianzhang is, we will contact you again.”
Dong Yuso bowed and returned with the Golden Guard.
Yeon Jeokha and Baek Useon, the Taoist of the Quanzhen Sect, exchanged glances as they observed the surroundings.
Baek Useon was the first to bow respectfully.
Yeon Jeokha also returned the bow.
When the Golden Guard and the sorcerers left, Yeon Jeokha also staggered towards the sect’s gate.
“Young Master.”
“What?”
“When I asked you about the identity of those guys before, you said ‘corpses,’ right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mean zombies?”
Shim Tong looked at Yeon Jeokha with uncertainty.
The four flag bearers had maintained impassive expressions all along.
Therefore, he thought that if they were corpses, they could be zombies from the legends, that is, Jiangshis.
“Are you kidding?”
“No?”
“I meant I would kill them.”
“Ah!”
Shim Tong, who finally realized the meaning of his words, scratched his head.
“I thought when you said ‘corpses,’ you meant zombies.”
“Shim, your brain is not just for decoration. Even if it’s annoying, think a little.”
“Haha. Please consider that as the measure of my trust in you.”
That was not an exaggeration or an excuse.
Shim Tong was the kind of person who would believe Yeon Jeokha even if he said he would “make tofu with red beans.”
***
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong returned to Hwasang Village.
After parting ways with Shim Tong in front of Geumwoljuru, Yeon Jeokha headed to Namyeon Gaekjeom.
When he opened the door to the establishment, Nam Sugyeong, who was cleaning the tables, ran towards him.
“Did you finish everything?”
“Yes.”
“Then will you return to Mount Wudang?”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
“No.”
Nam Sugyeong turned around with a disdainful expression.
She asked because she thought the co-owner was absent from the establishment for too long, but he asked if there was a problem!
Yeon Jeokha sat down in a seat by the window.
Sangdo quickly approached, filled the empty cup with hot tea, and returned to his place.
Yeon Jeokha looked at the establishment with a smile.
This is what he likes about being the owner of the establishment.
It’s comfortable because the young employee takes care of everything without him having to specifically ask.
Nam Sugyeong, who was cleaning the table with a clean cloth, casually mentioned:
“By the way, the cabin in Hyojaam has disappeared, right? And the young No also disappeared. Was it Young Master Yeon?”
“Yes. It was a useless action anyway. Nok Dampyeong has already paid for his crimes.”
“I see. I thought the young No had not fled. He disappeared without saying anything.”
“Where was he going to flee when I was here with my eyes wide open? I told him to go home and take good care of his living parents.”
“You did well.”
“Why? Do you feel empty now that Nok Dampyeong is not around? They say that even if you don’t know where they are, people do notice.”
“Hmph! Empty? I felt uncomfortable even seeing the cabin from afar.”
Sangdo joined Nam Sugyeong’s conversation.
“Haha, even so, sales increased a bit due to the people coming and going. And what the young No took away was also considerable.”
“Hey, even so, I didn’t like it.”
When Nam Sugyeong showed her displeasure, the observant Sangdo stopped talking about Nok Dampyeong.
Tang Unmang, the poison master, who had heard Yeon Jeokha’s voice, stealthily came down from his room.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just now. How’s the medicine going?”
When Yeon Jeokha asked about the medicine, Tang Unmang sat nearby and changed the subject.
Yeon Jeokha, who was observing him, said:
“Don’t bother the people who are working and come here.”
Tang Unmang felt uncomfortable sitting with Yeon Jeokha, but he dared not refuse and moved.
“So, when do you plan to return to the Wudang Sect?”
“Why?”
“Well, the medicine will be ready in three months anyway, but I thought you might be bored waiting…”
Tang Unmang left the sentence unfinished.
That was an excuse, he actually didn’t want to be with Yeon Jeokha, who controlled him.
“Don’t worry about other people’s business and do your job. What nonsense are you saying? That’s why Shim beat you.”
“Although it’s true that Shim beat me, if I wanted…”
“What?”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Tang Unmang with cold eyes.
Tang Unmang realized his mistake.
He thought he had made a mistake when he saw the cold air emanating from Yeon Jeokha’s eyes.
“H-He would have severe diarrhea.”
“You better be careful with your mouth. Shim will beat you, but I’m different. If I see something that could be harmful, I eliminate it immediately. I can’t live with something unsettling on my back, can I?”
“I’m definitely not someone who can be harmful. I’m making this medicine for you.”
“You’re cheeky. How dare you say that in front of me? The old man has already done harm. Now you’re living on borrowed time. So, what should we do?”
“I will work harder.”
“Good. Don’t forget that. Next time, it won’t end with words.”
“…”
Tang Unmang’s shoulders slumped.
That’s why he didn’t want to sit with Yeon Jeokha.
It’s like sitting on pins and needles.
He has to make the medicine quickly and then leave, he can’t live like this.
Suddenly, Yeon Jeokha called Sangdo.
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I want a bowl of cold noodles, what’s selling well these days?”
“They say the Yu Xiang Rou Si (pork with vegetables), the Wu Yu Tang (beef soup), and the Suijin Ban (fried rice with egg) are delicious.”
“Alright, give me that.”
Sangdo immediately understood what Yeon Jeokha meant.
It means the cold noodles are for the old man Tang.
“Yes, I will prepare it immediately.”
Sangdo smiled broadly and entered the kitchen.
Tang Unmang pretended not to have heard anything and continued drinking tea.
Shortly after, the food arrived.
As expected, cold noodles were placed in front of Tang Unmang.
Tang Unmang pretended to have a calm expression and muttered to himself:
“In winter, hot noodles are the best.”
Then, various types of side dishes, Yu Xiang Rou Si, Wu Yu Tang, and Suijin Ban were placed in front of Yeon Jeokha.
The meal with Yeon Jeokha was like torture for Tang Unmang.
If his chopsticks approached Yeon Jeokha’s dishes, the latter would push them away with his own chopsticks.
It means he should only eat the cold noodles.
Tang Unmang reluctantly only ate cold noodles.
While the two were eating, an unknown man entered the establishment.
“Welcome!”
The man smiled ironically at Sangdo’s greeting.
“I’m a messenger from Cheonheung Escort Agency. Is this the Namyeon Inn in Hwasang Village?”
“Yes, why?”
“Is the owner of this place Young Master Yeon, with the given name Jeokha?”
“Yes.”
Then, the man took an envelope out of his clothes.
“Is Young Master Yeon here?”
“…”
Sangdo unconsciously looked towards Yeon Jeokha.
Yeon Jeokha, who was eating, shook his head as if he was annoyed.
“He’s not here now. If it’s not something that needs to be personally delivered to Young Master, leave it here and go.”
Then, the man approached the counter.
It seemed that the old man at the counter was more reliable than the young employee.
When Sang Ilwoon stood up clumsily, the man handed him the envelope.
“I heard it’s an invitation. Please give it to Young Master Yeon. Write the old man’s name here.”
The man took a piece of paper out of his clothes and gave it to Sang Ilwoon.
When Sang Ilwoon received the envelope and wrote the name, the man said:
“Don’t lose it and give it to Young Master Yeon. I will make sure it arrives.”
When Sang Ilwoon nodded, the man left immediately.
Sang Ilwoon left the counter and quickly approached Yeon Jeokha to respectfully hand him the envelope.
Inside the envelope, there was a red scroll.
[Yeon Mubaek, the Murim scholar, pays his respects. We wish to hold the inauguration ceremony for the Yeon Military Academy in Luoyang Goseong village on the first day of the second month of this year. It would be an honor if you could attend to grace us with your presence. Sincerely, Yeon Mubaek.]
Seeing that the recipient’s name was not specified, it seemed to be a common invitation.
Nam Sugyeong, who was looking over her shoulder, said:
“Is it an invitation? Do you know him? You have the same last name.”
“We are brothers from different fathers.”
“Oh! I see. But it seems like you don’t get along very well, right?”
“How do you know?”
“They say they want you to attend the inauguration ceremony for the Yeon Military Academy. If you got along well, they would have come to deliver it to you personally. Luoyang is only three or four days away. Besides, there’s no recipient name. It seems like a randomly sent invitation.”
“That makes me sad.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
“It’s alright. It’s not something that’s not true.”
“Are your brothers martial artists too?”
“Yes, my brothers and I learned family martial arts.”
“I see. So, will you go?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
Yeon Jeokha looked at the scroll with an ambiguous expression.
After destroying the three mansions (Baek, Yang, and Waryong), his grudges had ended, but he was not sure if he should go to congratulate them.
Tang Unmang, who was eating cold noodles, said:
“Even so, since you share blood, it would be better if you went, wouldn’t it? Unless you want to cut all ties.”
Of course, the reason he said this is because he didn’t want to be with Yeon Jeokha.
“Ties…”
Yeon Jeokha put down his chopsticks.
He doesn’t feel any attachment to the Yeons.
He never thought of getting along with them.
But, thinking about “accumulating good deeds,” it seems that ignoring them completely is not the right thing to do.
Ignoring his family’s affairs and receiving an invitation, it is definitely far from “accumulating good deeds.”
As he thought about it, Yeon Jeokha was surprised.
‘Damn it, since when have I been thinking about accumulating good deeds…’
Although he complained to himself, the phrase “accumulating good deeds” did not disappear from his mind.
—-
That night.
With a troubled heart, Yeon Jeokha visited the Geumwol Tavern.
And while he drank with Shim Tong, he told him about the scroll he had received that day.
“The Waryong Swordsman, Yeon Mubaek, invited you to the inauguration ceremony?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh, wow. It’s complicated.”
“Seeing the scroll, it seems like my brother Mubaek doesn’t think I’ll go.”
Otherwise, as Nam Sugyeong said, he would have come personally.
Shim Tong looked at Yeon Jeokha.
It seemed like his appearance had changed a bit before and after becoming a disciple of Cheongbulno.
It could be said that his sharp thorns had softened.