Chapter 45

Chapter 45
## Chapter 45

### Chapter Title: Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Spirit Herb (1)

—

“What brings you to this place, Elder…?”

Sima Geon stood frozen, looking at Hahu Gok, who was leaning against the butcher shop doorframe with a wide smirk.

“I was merely in the neighborhood and decided to drop by,” Hahu Gok answered casually. Sima Geon’s forehead creased with a look of deep skepticism as he stared him down.

Sima Geon’s focus then moved past the elder’s shoulder toward Hahu Yeon.

With a scowl marking her face, Hahu Yeon was rhythmically striking her foot against the dirt, her posture radiating pure annoyance at their current situation.

“Are you going to keep us standing out here forever?”

“Ah, my apologies. Please, come in.”

Startled into action, Sima Geon pulled off his stained work apron and ushered the two unannounced visitors toward the rear of the shop.

In the space separating the butcher shop from the slaughtering area, a central beam held up a roof crafted from bamboo strips to provide shade. A substantial table sat in the center of the area.

“Take a seat, please,” Sima Geon said, gesturing to a chair.

Hahu Gok lowered himself into the seat with a slow, deliberate motion, his expression turning solemn as he signaled to Hahu Yeon, who was lingering behind.

“Stop hovering. Sit down.”

Hahu Yeon slumped into the chair with the reluctance of a creature being led to its end.

“Tsk, tsk. How many times must I say it? How much longer do you intend to wear that miserable face?”

Following Hahu Gok’s reprimand, Hahu Yeon let out a heavy breath and looked down at the floor.

Cheol Woo, who had been occupied inside the slaughterhouse, poked his head out to investigate the noise.

“What’s all the racket? Boss, who is… Oh, what brings you around, old timer?”

Surprised to see Hahu Gok, Cheol Woo kicked the door open and hurried over.

“Even that brat from before is here,” Hahu Gok remarked.

Bristling at being called a “brat,” Hahu Yeon started to snap back but immediately recoiled under Hahu Gok’s piercing look, her shoulders dropping once more.

“We don’t have much to serve you,” Sima Geon noted, seting a plate of fresh, ruby-red liver from a recently butchered cow and a small pile of salt onto the table.

“It’s a rare treat to have liver this fresh. But what about something to drink?” Hahu Gok asked as he picked up his chopsticks.

“Hahaha! We couldn’t possibly serve such a snack without some spirits! Here we go.”

Cheol Woo gave a hearty laugh and fetched a roughly made clay jug.

Hahu Gok’s eyes lit up as he saw the liquid sloshing within the jar, wooden dippers bobbing on the surface. He reached out without a second thought.

“Fantastic!”

Hahu Gok drained a dipper in a single gulp, let out a loud sigh of contentment, and tossed a piece of salt-crusted raw liver into his mouth.

“The richness of the flavor is truly top-tier.”

Across from Hahu Gok, who was enthusiastically consuming the alcohol and food, Cheol Woo had already made himself comfortable in a chair.

Once the jug was nearly empty and the snacks were mostly gone, Sima Geon set his own cup down softly and spoke up.

“So, what is the true reason for your visit?”

Hahu Gok looked at Sima Geon with eyes slightly glazed from the drink.

“I’m hoping to lean on you for a short while.”

“Lean on us? What do you mean by that?” Sima Geon asked, his brow furrowing.

“I intend to stay in this area for a bit. Don’t fret, I don’t plan on being a burden for free.”

At a look from Hahu Gok, Hahu Yeon reached into her robes with a defeated sigh and pulled out a small bag.

“It isn’t a fortune, but it should be more than enough to pay for this old man and the boy.”

The moment Hahu Gok dropped the pouch onto the table, Cheol Woo snatched it up with lightning speed.

“Heh heh heh! Look at this! It’s plenty—more than plenty, actually.”

Cheol Woo started laughing as he saw the gold nyang inside. However, Sima Geon had no intention of taking the gold or allowing the two to stay.

“I’m afraid I must decline.”

“Decline?”

“That is correct.”

“And why is that?”

In response to Hahu Gok’s question, Sima Geon replied with a look of mounting irritation.

“Do you really not know?”

“If I were aware, I wouldn’t be asking you,” Hahu Gok said with a mocking grin, taking another sip of his drink. Sima Geon fought back his anger and spoke clearly.

“Our home has no room for the two of you. Even if it did, I have no desire for your company. More than anything, I refuse to let the quiet life I’ve built be ruined.”

“You seem to be mistaken. I have zero intention of ruining your daily routine.”

Hahu Gok sat there, looking annoyed as if he couldn’t believe he was being so polite, then gave Hahu Yeon’s cheek a sharp pinch before continuing.

“I simply want to crush the arrogance and narrow-mindedness of my grandson, who believes he is the center of the universe. And perhaps, while I’m at it, expand my own horizons a bit.”

Despite the elder’s subtle phrasing, Sima Geon remained unmoved.

“That very act would disrupt our peace and bring us unnecessary trouble. Please, depart.”

“Is there truly no middle ground?”

“None.”

Hahu Gok looked at Sima Geon in silence for a moment, seeing that there was no room for negotiation, and gave a small nod.

“I understand. If we aren’t welcome, there’s nothing to be done.”

Sima Geon, who had braced for a more difficult argument, felt a flash of confusion. Hahu Gok then snatched the pouch back from Cheol Woo and smirked.

“It’s not as if your house is the only one in town. We’ll just find a place to rent nearby.”

Sima Geon’s face twisted in genuine anger this time.

“Why the grimace? You aren’t going to claim that all the land in Soheung belongs to you, are you?”

“Do you think I’m playing around? I told you plainly that I don’t want my peace disturbed.”

“I didn’t travel this far for a joke either. And I stated clearly that I won’t interfere with your life.”

“You’re interfering with it right now.”

Sima Geon’s voice went cold.

Cheol Woo, who had been enjoying the show while drinking, quietly put his glass down as he sensed the change in Sima Geon’s mood.

“Elder, the boss is serious. You should just head back. Don’t make things difficult for yourself by getting involved in something you won’t be able to handle later.”

Cheol Woo meant it as a warning, but Hahu Yeon took it as an insult. She already found Cheol Woo’s casual attitude toward the legendary Hahu Gok—a man feared across the martial world—to be incredibly disrespectful. This latest comment was the final straw.

“You arrogant peasant! Do you have any idea who you are addressing?”

Hahu Yeon leaped to her feet, a powerful pressure radiating from her. She looked as though she might draw her blade at any second.

“What a funny kid,” Cheol Woo laughed, slowly standing up.

“Arrogant? You’re the ones who barged in here acting like you own the place.”

He had simply stood up, but the atmosphere shifted instantly. It wasn’t just the sheer size of the man that was imposing.

Hahu Yeon instinctively retreated a step, remembering how Cheol Woo had easily deflected Hahu Gok’s earlier testing strike. She began to focus her inner energy.

The tension between them tightened.

Sima Geon did nothing to restrain Cheol Woo, and Hahu Gok simply played with his glass, looking on with boredom.

Just as Hahu Yeon, pushed to the brink by Cheol Woo’s presence, was about to launch a desperate attack, the door to the shop opened.

Sima Hyeon walked in, looking worn out from a day of deliveries.

“I was wondering where everyone went… and you’re all back here.”

Sima Hyeon, who had been calling out to Cheol Woo, stopped dead when he saw Hahu Yeon squaring off against him and Hahu Gok calmly drinking at the table.

“We have company?”

With a nervous smile, Sima Hyeon walked toward Sima Geon and whispered.

“Who are they?”

Before Sima Geon could speak, Hahu Gok offered a friendly smile.

“I am known as Hahu Gok.”

As Sima Hyeon looked at him with confusion, Sima Geon sighed and clarified.

“He is from the Hahu Clan. I told you about this—the one with connections to our youngest’s teacher.”

“Oh!”

Sima Hyeon’s eyes went wide, and he immediately bowed low.

“I am Sima Hyeon.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

“I have been hoping to meet you for a long time.”

“Me?” Hahu Gok asked, acting surprised.

“Yes. It is because of the rare herb you provided that our youngest was able to recover her health. Thank you so much, Elder.”

Sima Hyeon bowed even lower than before.

“Rare… herb?” Hahu Gok asked with a blank look, pretending to have no memory of it.

“The Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb. My brother told me you gave it as a gift when he visited the Hahu Clan. Such a precious thing! I don’t know how we can ever pay you back.”

Sima Hyeon continued to bow, looking as though he would do anything the elder asked.

‘The Thousand-Year… Flower Spirit Herb? Oh, that’s right—the prize I set for the martial arts tournament.’

Remembering the herb, Hahu Gok glanced at Sima Geon, whose face was now a mask of pure frustration.

‘So the youngest child was the one who was sick.’

Finally realizing why Sima Geon had suddenly shown up to compete in the tournament, a devious grin touched Hahu Gok’s lips.

“Hoho! The Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb is indeed rare, but it is nothing compared to a person’s life. Did it prove effective?”

“Very much so. Our youngest had been sick since she was a baby, but she is completely well after taking it. It is all thanks to your generosity, Elder.”

Sima Hyeon was beaming, thinking of Sima Jin, who had grown even more vibrant after the treatment.

“I didn’t do it for the gratitude, but I am happy it helped.”

“I truly don’t know how to repay this.”

Sima Hyeon kept bowing in thanks. With every movement, Sima Geon’s face got darker, while Hahu Gok’s smile grew wider.

‘Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb? Grandpa gave that to these people? That’s impossible. I thought that was the grand prize for the tournament winner.’

Hahu Yeon, still in the dark about Sima Geon’s secret entry into the contest, couldn’t wrap her head around the conversation.

“As I mentioned, I don’t require thanks,” Hahu Gok said, glancing at Sima Geon before continuing softly.

“However, since you mentioned it, I do have a small request.”

“Anything! Just name it. I will see it done even if I have to work myself to the bone.”

As Sima Hyeon spoke with such passion, Sima Geon—anticipating exactly what was coming—turned away in total defeat. It was too late to stop it; Sima Hyeon wouldn’t listen without hearing the whole story.

“I was planning to stay in Soheung for a while, but I don’t know anyone here. So…”

Before he could finish, Sima Hyeon’s face lit up.

“Connections? You have us! Our home is humble, but please, stay with us.”

“Are you certain? I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

“A bother? Not at all! I was just wondering how to show my thanks—this is the perfect chance. Please allow us to be your hosts, Elder.”

Sima Hyeon bowed with great sincerity. Hahu Gok looked pleased, casting another glance at Sima Geon.

“Your kind words are enough. But earlier, your brother mentioned that your house was too cramped and small.”

Sima Hyeon turned and glared at Sima Geon, who now looked like a man who had accepted his fate.

“What kind of lies were you telling the Elder?!”

Sima Geon just waved his hand, too exhausted to even argue.

“Let’s go to the house right now. It might be a little tight like my brother says, but we can certainly make room for you. If it’s too small, we’ll build more onto it. We will make it work.”

Completely ignoring Sima Geon’s wishes, Sima Hyeon gestured for them to follow.

“Hoho! I thank you. It would be quite rude of me to turn down such a sincere invitation.”

Hahu Gok put down his cup, stood up with a look of fake benevolence, and began to walk.

At that very moment—

Bang!

The shop door flew open with such force it nearly came off its hinges.

“Brother!”

Sima Ho burst into the room, shouting with urgency.

Sima Hyeon’s expression soured at the sight of him.

“What are you screaming about? And why aren’t you at the ranch?”

“The ranch? Forget the ranch! Who cares about the ranch right now?”

Sima Hyeon’s face twisted further at the rough language. He was mortified to have this happen in front of their guests.

“If you keep talking like that, I’ll…?”

Sima Ho shoved past Sima Hyeon and screamed.

“Damn it! There’s no time! The little one just collapsed!”

Sima Hyeon stumbled back from the shove, but before he could recover, Sima Geon had already blurred across the room. He grabbed Sima Ho by the shoulders, his voice shaking.

“W-what did you say? What happened to the little one?”

Sima Geon’s voice was trembling, and all the color had drained from his face.