Aren’t You Eating?

Even with Namgung Hyeok’s introduction, the two weren’t surprised.
They had already expected it from Jeon Pyeong’s and Gyo-ha’s conversation.
Namgung Hyeok’s name was well-known.
Then the monk made a half-palm gesture. A distinctive greeting where he raised only one hand.
It was a rule born from revering Huike, who cut off his own arm to become Bodhidharma’s disciple.
And thanks to his attire, there was no way not to know where he came from.

“This humble monk is Hyeon-gong of Shaolin.”

As expected, he was a Shaolin disciple.
The woman beside him also clasped her fists.

“I am Ye-in of the Kongtong Sect.”

The Kongtong Sect.
It belonged to the Nine Sects One Union, but like Kunlun, it didn’t involve itself much in worldly affairs.
Unlike Wudang or Mount Hua, it was a Taoist sect that accepted female disciples.

“You also came out to eat, didn’t you?”

At Jeon Pyeong’s words, the two nodded.

“As it happens, I’m meeting my senior brother and a few others to eat. They aren’t bad people to be acquainted with. Rather than doing this in the street, how about joining us?”

He felt it would be a shame to part like this.
But he couldn’t keep guests standing either.
Gyo-ha glanced at Namgung Hyeok.

“Do as you wish, Brother.”

If he didn’t feel like it, he would’ve refused.
When Gyo-ha nodded, Jeon Pyeong’s expression brightened.

“Good. Today I’ll treat you properly.”

Jeon Pyeong walked with light steps.
And the group followed him.

The place they arrived at was a splendid hall by the riverside.
When Gyo-ha glanced at Namgung Hyeok, Namgung Hyeok nodded.
This was the place he had meant to take him to.

‘It must be really famous.’

Gyo-ha’s eyes filled with anticipation.
And as they got closer, the smell wafting out was enough to satisfy his expectations.
Drool.

“Brother.”
“Ah, yeah.”

Gyo-ha wiped his mouth belatedly.
Seeing it, Hyeon-gong, following behind, burst into laughter, then cleared his throat.

“My apologies.”
“Huh? For what?”

When Gyo-ha tilted his head at the sudden apology, even Ye-in, who had been expressionless, let out a soft laugh.

“You don’t have to be so formal. Young Brother Gyo isn’t that stiff.”

Jeon Pyeong waved his hand.
At Jeon Pyeong’s words, Hyeon-gong gave a gentle smile.
At that, Gyo-ha looked at Jeon Pyeong with slightly surprised eyes.
Like Tang Ho, he really had a wide network.
It wasn’t only because he was a promising later-generation talent.
The inn was divided into multiple floors.
It was similar in form to the inn Yu So-ha had brought him to in Nanjing.
But unlike that place, there were no restrictions on moving between floors.
As Jeon Pyeong looked around, someone on the third floor waved.

“Saje! Over here.”

Jeon Pyeong waved back happily.
When the group went up, three men and one woman were already seated.
One of them was someone Gyo-ha knew.

“Huh?”
“Taoist-friend Gyo. It’s been a while.”

The one smiling in greeting was Jin-un of the Wudang Sect.

“You two already knew each other? Ah, was it in Nanjing?”

Jeon Pyeong knew Wudang martial artists had been to the Yu household in Nanjing.
Then Jin-un smiled gently.

“We did meet there as well.”

Gyo-ha clasped his fists toward Jin-un.

“Thank you for helping us this time.”
“I was the one who received help.”

When Namgung Hyeok also gave a fist-clasp salute after Gyo-ha, the others looked on with surprised eyes.
At their greeting, Jin-un waved his hand.

“As for thanks, I received plenty from the Namgung Clan’s Patriarch as well.”

Jin-un had already met Namgung Je-yeon privately as soon as he arrived at the Murim Alliance.
Back then, he received advice on martial arts and even elixirs.
It was already too much.
As he showed that friendly air, Jin-un’s gaze moved to Gyo-ha’s arm.

“Has your previous injury still not healed?”

Not as much as Gyo-ha, but scars could be seen here and there on Namgung Hyeok’s body too.
At Jin-un’s question, Gyo-ha shook his head.

“This one, I got hurt recently.”
“Ah…”

Jin-un let out a sigh.
He really did bring trouble and accidents wherever he went.

“If you’re done talking, may I introduce myself as well?”

A man with a gentle-looking face stepped forward.
A Taoist robe like Jeon Pyeong’s.

“I’ve heard a lot. I’m Jeon Pung, Jeon Pyeong’s sahyung.”

Jeon Pyeong and Jeon Pung.
They were similar names.
But no one found it strange. It couldn’t be helped.
Many Taoist and Buddhist sects used generation characters.
Some used the same sound with different meanings in the characters.
At Jeon Pung’s introduction, a new light rose in Namgung Hyeok’s eyes.

“…Hua Dragon.”
“It’s an excessive nickname.”

Jeon Pung said it like he was embarrassed, but Namgung Hyeok didn’t think so.
Gyo-ha also couldn’t take his eyes off Jeon Pung.
To someone who didn’t know, it would look like he fell for him at first sight.
But no one here misunderstood.
Because fighting intent was leaking from Gyo-ha’s body.
Hua Dragon (華龍) Jeon Pung.
It was a nickname that didn’t quite suit a man, but the “Hwa” in Hwa-ryong didn’t mean flower, it meant Mount Hua.
The dragon of the Mount Hua Sect.
One of the standout talents under heaven.
Jeon Pung wasn’t displeased by Gyo-ha’s fighting intent. He had heard about Gyo-ha’s personality.
Rather, he watched with interest.
With Jeon Pung’s introduction, the others beside him also greeted them.
They were disciples of the Hengshan Sect and the Diancang Sect, as well as Jin-un’s sahyung from Wudang, who also knew Gyo-ha.
All of them belonged to the Nine Sects One Union.
Even as he introduced himself, the Diancang disciple was studying Gyo-ha closely.

“I wonder if an uninvited guest has slipped in among those studying the Dao.”

At Hyeon-gong’s words, Jeon Pung, startled, spoke up.

“No. If that were the purpose, I would have said so beforehand.”
“That’s right. Besides, the Hengshan Sect may be closer to the Dao now, but it also practices the Buddhist teachings.”

The Hengshan Taoist, who introduced himself as Danmok Yun, said.
He was called a Taoist because it was a Taoist sect, but unlike the others, he wore martial attire, not a Taoist robe.
And the woman with him was named Danmok Seo, and as their names suggested, the two were siblings.
Their real names, not Dao names.
Their father was an elder of the Hengshan Sect.
That alone showed the Hengshan Sect was different from a typical Taoist sect.

“Then I’ll join without shame. Amitabha.”
“If anything, I should be the one asking.”

At Hyeon-gong’s words, everyone burst into laughter.
Because they knew he hadn’t meant what he said earlier either.
The meal was warm and lively.
For Hyeon-gong and some Taoist sects that forbade meat, there were many vegetables, but it wasn’t that there was no meat.
And from the middle on, no one touched the meat, so it all became Gyo-ha’s share.
Everyone just stared wide-eyed as they watched Gyo-ha eat.

“Ah wha ih?”
“Brother Gyo.”

Munch, gulp.

“Aren’t you eating?”
“No. Just watching you fills me up.”

Jeon Pyeong answered, but the others felt the same.
It wasn’t the feeling of a parent watching a hungry child.

‘To think my appetite would be satisfied just by watching someone else eat.’

Hyeon-gong murmured in brief admiration.
It was a fascinating experience.
Namgung Hyeok was there too, but unlike when he was alone with Gyo-ha, he continued eating mostly neat food.
When the meal, noisy only because of Gyo-ha, ended, the group talked about the state of Kangho.

“Many sects in Guangxi and Chongqing have defected. Those who resisted were all killed, families and all.”
“I don’t understand why the Alliance is holding back.”
“It’s probably because they fear a full-scale war breaking out.”
“Isn’t it because the Alliance is passive that they’re running wild like that?”

Despite the complaints, the Evil Heaven Alliance also wasn’t moving in earnest.
They weren’t ignorant of that fact either.
They were just venting out of frustration.
Even if they were monks and Taoists, they were still young. They needed to let it out like this.

“Come to think of it, why did the Qingcheng Sect not attend this time?”

At Danmok Yun’s question, the others shook their heads.
There was no way they’d know something even the sect elders didn’t know.
And so the talk about the Murim Alliance and the orthodox naturally moved to the Unorthodox.
They had gathered from all over the country.
Just by each of them talking about the Unorthodox forces near their own areas, you could understand the world.

“These days, Chongqing is unsettling.”
“Is it because of the Jeokyang Clan?”

At the familiar name, Gyo-ha’s ear twitched.
Seeing Gyo-ha’s eyes sparkle as he tore at meat alone, Jeon Pyeong asked with unexpected surprise.

“Oh, you know of them, Brother Gyo?”

Gyo-ha liked fights and masters, but he wasn’t interested in Kangho.

“It’s because I saw them not long ago.”
“Hm?”

At Gyo-ha’s random remark, everyone’s gaze gathered.
Then Namgung Hyeok spoke instead.

“We were attacked on our way here.”
“Attacked? Wasn’t it the Cold-Blooded Grim Eunuch?”

Since Jin-un, who had saved Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok, was here, he knew better.

“After that. We were attacked near Dongting Lake. The one they were after wasn’t me, it was Brother.”

Namgung Hyeok said the shocking fact calmly.

“If it was an attack, who came out?”

The Jeokyang Clan’s masters came to everyone’s minds.
As one of the Seven Powers, they had many masters.

“It was Jeokyang Hu.”

At those words, everyone’s expressions changed in different ways.
Some were impressed, while a few lit their eyes with curiosity.
The Jeokyang Clan had many masters, but Jeokyang Hu was about their age.
A martial artist living in the same era.
They would run into him often in the future. They couldn’t help being interested.

“And that arm too, back then?”

At Jeon Pyeong’s words, Gyo-ha nodded.

“Ho. I heard from saje that Taoist-friend Gyo’s senses are exceptional. Especially his sense for recognizing the strong.”

At Jeon Pung’s sudden words, everyone’s gaze gathered.
Jeon Pung smiled faintly while looking at Gyo-ha.

“How about me?”

No one failed to understand the meaning.
He was asking to be compared to Jeokyang Hu.
Gyo-ha stared at Jeon Pung.
Strong.
Jeon Pung was stronger than anyone else here.
After thinking briefly, Gyo-ha opened his mouth.

“I’d have to fight you to know for sure, but I think you’re stronger than Jeokyang Hu.”

At that, Jeon Pung smiled like he was pleased.
The others thought he said it to save Jeon Pung’s face, but Namgung Hyeok and Jeon Pyeong were different.
Namgung Hyeok had seen Jeokyang Hu.
He was shocked Jeon Pung was at that level, and Jeon Pyeong was shocked that Gyo-ha hadn’t answered immediately and had to think.
It also meant Jeokyang Hu was strong enough to warrant thought.

“Ridiculous.”

At the sudden voice, everyone turned.
There were people wearing clothes that looked flamboyant at a glance.

“Who’s evaluating whom? From what I see, you don’t even look first-rate.”

The man at the front said that and looked at Jeon Pung.

“Oh dear, you must be busy even humoring such petty talk.”

At his words, Jeon Pung’s eyebrow twitched.

“Young Master Moyong. That goes too far.”
“Too far? Even if I try to ignore it, it’s so absurd it makes me laugh. Making a fuss just because you beat some washed-up relic.”

At the words of the man called Young Master Moyong, the group’s expressions hardened.
The Cold-Blooded Grim Eunuch wasn’t someone you could call washed-up.
Young Master Moyong then looked at Namgung Hyeok.

“I didn’t know the Namgung Clan valued ties with the Nine Sects One Union more than with fellow Five Great Clans.”
“I’m simply investing my time in something more useful. I have no intention of becoming your backdrop.”

Namgung Hyeok spat it out coldly.
Young Master Moyong’s expression stiffened. And the people behind him were also staring at Namgung Hyeok in surprise.

“…Your personality changed a lot since I last saw you?”
“Backdrop? Your words go too far.”

A large man spoke as if displeased.