From Now On We. (2)

Namhae Port, Guangdong Province.

Eunjin Inn, its wooden sign swaying in the sea breeze, was bustling with martial artists again today.

It hadn’t always been so crowded.

All because of one rumor.

[The Yin Monster who conquered the western murim world will face Jeon Sa-ryong, the top master of the southern murim world.]

And the place where the Yin Yang Twin Monster would reveal the result was this very Eunjin Inn.

Days had already passed—enough that the story could have died down. Instead, it spread, and more visitors arrived each day.

For warriors across the land, the inn had become a landmark; even officials stopped by daily, waiting for news.

“My lord, I’m sorry, but there are no seats today.”

A server argued with a man at the inn’s entrance.

“Are you discriminating because I’m an outsider? It doesn’t make sense that all the seats are full at this hour!”

A bamboo hat shadowed his face, a saber at his waist—clearly a heterodox martial artist. He tried to intimidate the server, but the server held his ground.

“Truly, my lord. What safe place would I lie about?”

“Huh. I came running without rest all the way from Sichuan to see the Yin Yang Twin Monster heroes.”

Even using lightness skills, the trip from Sichuan would take more than three days. Yet there were no seats.

The server drew a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it over, soothingly.

“I’m sorry, but please take a number and wait here. Like those folks over there.”

He meant they’d call him when his turn came; he should line up outside. Turning, the man saw people gathered in a corner against the wall. A little girl squatting among them waved him over.

“Hurry over here, mister. Cutting in line is cheating.”

She wore short sleeves and trousers for ease of movement; unlike most southerners, her skin was unusually fair and delicate.

The Sichuan martial artist, who had been staring at her, hesitated and edged closer. He rummaged in his bosom and pulled out a crumpled item: a wanted poster stamped with the Murim Alliance seal.

He kept glancing between the portrait and the girl’s face, then spoke in a trembling voice.

“…Um, Yin Monster warrior!?”

Everyone’s attention snapped to him. Someone nearby asked, surprised, “Hey, what are you saying now?”

“The world’s Yin Monster warrior wouldn’t be squatting here with us.”

The man in the bamboo hat ignored them and clasped his hands toward Yu Seol, bowing from the waist.

“I am Cheol-woo from Sichuan. I heard the rumor that you razed the Emei Sect and I had to see you. It’s an honor, Yin Monster Warrior!”

“Heehee. Nice to meet you~”

Yu Seol grinned and waved.

Those watching flinched and froze. Martial artists with sharp ears at the windows flocked to peer in and murmur among themselves.

“W-what?”

“The Yin Monster hero is back? Where!?”

“So she beat Jeon Sa-ryong?”

That was the spark.

The area around Eunjin Inn erupted into chaos as martial artists poured out of the building.

“Where, where is she?”

“Let me see too!”

More than fifty people flooded the courtyard in moments.

Watching from the back, Yu Jinsan shook his head slightly, then focused on a familiar figure among the crowd.

Good—she’s still here.

While his granddaughter was being swarmed by onlookers, Yu Jinsan quietly detoured and approached someone.

• For a so-called chivalrous man, he’s idle—drinking at the inn like a loafer.

At the whispered jab, Im Pyeong-su startled and looked around. Spotting a familiar face, he ran over and shouted with delight.

“Oh—sir! I came out just in case, and you really are back!?”

“Yes. There’s much to talk about, so let’s go in and talk first.”

“Inside? Will that be all right?”

He meant to ask whether it would be troublesome with so many martial artists around.

Yu Jinsan clicked his tongue and managed a wry look. “Tsk. I’m not very popular, so it’s fine.”

“Ah, no way. They just haven’t recognized you yet.”

His comforting words clashed with reality: Yu Seol was already buried under a crowd and no one had approached Yu Jinsan. Only Im Pyeong-su and his companions stayed near him.

“You too—it’s been a while.” Those behind Im Pyeong-su stepped forward happily.

“We came every day and waited ourselves hoarse.”

“Ha! We knew you’d return victorious!”

“Now then, first let’s go inside.”

Yu Jinsan clasped his hands behind his back and followed them into the inn.

Because so many people had poured outside, the once-noisy interior felt almost empty. Their spot by the window on the second floor was the best place to watch the crowd and look down to the first floor.

When the five of them sat, Im Pyeong-su waved below the railing.

“Hey, server! An important guest has come—bring the finest liquor you have right away!”

“Yes~ my lord!”

Yu Jinsan frowned. “Why are we ordering such expensive liquor?”

“Sir, don’t say such upsetting things. Before being lifesavers, you two are our idols.”

“Hm. In that case, I should give a gift as well.”

He rummaged in his chest and flicked something across to the opposite seat. Whoosh!

Im Pyeong-su snatched up a rough necklace strung with a crescent-shaped piece of jade.

“What is this?”

“A souvenir I brought from Sea Dragon Island, that’s all.”

Yu Jinsan said gruffly and watched him.

As expected, Im Pyeong-su’s hands trembled as he examined the necklace. He took off his own heirloom and held it next to the jade piece Yu Jinsan had given him. The two fit together as if they’d been a pair from the start.

“Th-this necklace is an heirloom our deceased parents left us. Why is this…”

“Hm. Was his name Im Pyeong-il? Anyway, he told me to deliver it if he met his brother. Young fellows these days get old men to do errands.”

At Yu Jinsan’s jest, Im Pyeong-su’s eyes reddened.

“Brother, you mean my older brother is alive?”

“Not just alive, but as fit as a fiddle. Go to Sea Dragon Island and meet him yourself. I heard they’re short-handed there too.”

Im Pyeong-su couldn’t help but wipe his tears. “Sniff. Thank you, sir.”

While his companions congratulated him, they asked Yu Jinsan cautiously, the question on everyone’s lips.

“S-so did the Yin Monster hero really defeat Jeon Sa-ryong?”

Instead of answering, Yu Jinsan simply gestured toward the window.

Outside, martial artists surrounded the Yin Monster warrior and listened intently. Im Pyeong-su’s group pressed forward and eavesdropped.

Someone asked Yu Seol, nervously: “S-so what happened to that golden mask?”

Yu Seol clenched her adorable fist and demonstrated.

“He wouldn’t listen, so I just slapped his face like this. He went down right away.”

Though her motion was mock-light, a gust of martial force leapt into the air, radiating authority. The onlookers were impressed and burst into laughter.

“Wow! That’s truly amazing!”

“Puhahaha!”

“So what happened next?”

Yu Seol looked around with mock seriousness. “Do you want to hear more?”

She hadn’t even begun the story about Jeon Sa-ryong yet. Every martial artist nodded as one—like sparrows waiting in chorus for a scrap.

“P-please, Yin Monster warrior!”

“P-please……”

For them, nothing rivaled this excitement: hearing an unparalleled master speak firsthand, a tale they could boast about until they died.

But Yu Seol didn’t continue. She suddenly patted her belly and pretended to swoon.

“But talking so much made me hungry… woe.”

No sooner had she finished than the inn door burst open with a bang. Martial artists flooded back in like a tide.

“Come in quickly, hero!”

Chaos reigned inside. The crowd shoved two tables together in the center, pushed everyone to the periphery, and cleared the largest space for a single chair.

Yu Seol scarcely had time to sit before the mob clamored to the kitchen.

“Innkeeper! Bring every dish the inn makes right now!”

“We’ll pay twice the meal price from our Jiangsu guild, so hurry!!”

They were frantic, unwilling to miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance—afraid the Yin Monster might change her mind.

Finally, Yu Seol leaned back in the chair, smiling contentedly as dishes began to appear. The thought of a feast pleased her; it was time to repay them for the meal.

“Uncles, can you see my eyes now? Are they scary?”

She furrowed her brow and narrowed her gaze.

“V-very scary indeed.”

“Like the pupil of a hawk.”

Relaxing, she resumed in a serious tone.

“At that moment Jeon Sa-ryong glared at me from above like this. It was the first time I saw his face.”

The crowd gasped.

“Wah……”

“What did Jeon Sa-ryong look like?”

“I heard his appearance was terrifying. Like a beast?”

Yu Seol grinned and waved a hand.

“A beast? No. That was an anchovy eye just now.”

Laughter erupted again through the inn.

“Puhahahat!”

“Hahaha!”

“Heh heh. My word, imagine that.”

From the second floor, Yu Jinsan watched his granddaughter with a hint of surprise at her charm. Ordinarily, martial artists would not meet the eyes of an unparalleled master; they would breathe softly and stay silent. These men showed no discomfort toward her.

Well—better to be a friend than an object of fear.

Everyone’s attention was fixed on Yu Seol, but Yu Jinsan’s gaze was elsewhere: through the window to a nearby alley.

About twenty feet away, someone was peering toward the inn.

That fellow belongs to the White Dragon Corps of the Murim Alliance.

He recognized the emblem engraved on the scabbard. Since the Murim Alliance had declared the Yin Yang Twin Monster enemies, its members had no choice but to act accordingly.

So far the Alliance hadn’t openly moved, but the sight of a watcher in hiding felt wrong. There must be a reason.

He recalled Eun Hwa-rin of the Black Night Clan warning that the Murim Alliance leader was plotting something. Still, there was no need for fear—only annoyance.

Well, it shouldn’t matter.