Pay For The Meal (2)

Jinyang ferry port.

Dozens of merchant ships pass through this place along the Yellow River every day.

Anyone who wanted to drive a boat here had to pay a considerable amount of money to the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Chamber.

The fee was under the pretense of helping with the loading and unloading of goods, but in reality, they didn’t even pretend to do it. It was no different from extortion through threats and hard work.

In addition, since a certain portion of the money collected from the merchants was delivered to local officials, the operation was free from official intervention.

Therefore, the ferry port, which was a real honey pot for the Merchant Chamber, was the best. At least, it was until a while back.

“How can you just watch as they extort the merchants?”

There were seven Wudang warriors in Wudang uniforms. Around them, dozens of warriors from the Merchant Chamber were lying down and rolling.

Two Taoists from Mount Hua who had come to mediate were also fighting with them.

“Still, there is an order to things, so there is no need to push around like this. Please calm down and leave it to us. We will handle this.”

The Mount Hua people were talking amongst themselves, but the Wudang Sect showed no signs of backing off.

“Since when did Mount Hua act with the rebels? Tell us what your ties with them are.”

The two Taoists were quite taken aback by the completely different reaction than they had expected.

However, it was impossible to back down from here.

“The Lord of the Merchant Chamber is a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, a former disciple, so he cannot be called a stranger. This is an internal matter, so please leave.”

When a dispute arose between two major sects, the basic rule was for each side to avoid any clash. It was common to encourage the higher-ups to resolve it.

But accidents could happen. Among the raging young warriors, the possibility of a conflict would increase exponentially in situations where the class on both sides was the same.

Moreover, as long as they planned to do so, accidents were inevitable.

As if they had made a promise, the bandits disguised as the Wudang spoke without hesitation.

“It means you are on the same side as the rebels.”

“Such a shame for the Murim Alliance. I am ashamed to be a Taoist when both sects teach the same.”

“Right. They are a justice faction in name alone. What they do is nothing but trash! Right?”

Even sailors, including the merchants, had gathered at the scene before they knew it. Mumbles came from the onlookers in favor of the Wudang Sect.

The faces of the Taoists of Mount Hua, who had been reduced to devils in an instant, turned red.

“Wh-what did you say now? Can you handle the consequences?”

Pungho didn’t care and just watched. Even though he agreed in his heart, he was afraid that if he went out and spoke for no reason, he might end up in trouble.

At that moment, an old man’s shout came from somewhere, breaking the silence.

“If there are people who look after thugs, then they are worse than thugs! What nonsense is this?! You are acting like crows eating corpses!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the man.

He was a passerby wearing a deep-colored bamboo hat and was holding a child who seemed to be about two or three years old in the gap the crowd made.

At that time, the child in his arms imitated a crow in unison.

“Kaw? Kaw~ kwaak~.”

The identities of the two were Yu Jinsan and his granddaughter. It was a situation that could have made people laugh, but it didn’t.

Was it because he gained courage from what happened previously? Then the merchants pointed their fingers at Mount Hua.

“The Mount Hua Sect was controlling the civilians from behind, even though they couldn’t think about protecting them.”

“What on earth is the explanation of what the Mount Hua Sect did?”

“You people are worse!”

The Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect felt like they wanted to enter a rat hole and hide. They couldn’t understand this.

As soon as public opinion formed, someone took action.

Hyun Hee’s surprise attack sneaked into the gap between the two unwary Taoists. Her new form, holding her sword’s sheath, struck their legs.

Puak! Kwak!

“Kuak!”

“Ack!”

Due to the sudden surprise attack, the Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect fell to their knees.

What followed was the retribution of the sect.

The two couldn’t even come to their senses as kicks came from all around.

Puak! Puak! Puak!

“Just die!”

“Fucking bugs!”

For a Taoist, she certainly had a foul mouth, but no one seemed to care.

“Kuak!”

“Ack!”

The beaten Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect were going insane; the current situation felt like a dream.

What is the importance of physical pain? To be condemned and beaten in front of the entire world. Thinking about the pride of the Mount Hua Sect that had fallen to the ground, they felt like they wanted to die. Tears flowed from their eyes.

After a while, when the two fell limp, Hyun Hee shook her hands and looked at Pungho.

“Sahyung. They must have come to their senses by now, right?”

“It seems like it.”

“I am hungry, so let us have something delicious.”

The seven Wudang Taoists leisurely vanished as if they had finished their business. As if beating them up was their goal from the start, they no longer paid any attention to the Merchant Chamber.

Sparks flew out, and everyone scattered. The only ones left were the people of the Merchant Chamber and the two Taoists of Mount Hua on the ground.

After a while, a group of people came running in and began to settle the situation.

“Hyung, get up.”

A member of the merchant chamber who seemed to be the leader pointed to one side with his index finger.

“I’m fine. Go get them!”

The Mount Hua Sect moved first.

The warriors who were approaching to support them were scared and hesitant. This was because the two of them were clenching their fists and trembling. Their eyes were red and bloodshot, as if their veins had burst, adding to their fear of approaching them. It wasn’t because it was apparent at first glance. But perhaps it was because of their anger.

The deep anger that had taken root in their bones was consuming their souls.

Then one of them gritted his teeth and mumbled.

“… wait just a bit more, and I will make sure to pay it back.”

The elites of the bandits and Yu Jinsan had gathered in one place.

Wasn’t it said that it was dark under the lamp? The place where they gathered was a guesthouse in the center of the village.

Before they knew it, everyone had taken off their Wudang clothes. The sight of them loosening their bodies and letting their hair down was so difficult to imagine that they had been Taoists until a moment ago.

Returning to their original form, they settled down in the corner of the third floor of the guesthouse and enjoyed the festival.

“Hahaha! Truly shocking!”

“It was the most fun thing I had done in my life. Our Black Mountain Bandits defeated the Mount Hua Sect.”

“But I was honestly scared.”

There was a smile on everyone’s faces. At that time, Pungho looked at Yu Jinsan and asked,

“Elder, what do we do now?”

He replied, stroking his granddaughter’s head with a happy smile.

“There is no need to do anything. After you finish eating, leave the village right away and stay safe.”

“Will they really move?”

“How can a sect like Mount Hua with so much pride handle that incident? If I make a guess, it won’t be long.”

“Alright. Then, we will be ready at the agreed location so that you can move at any time.”

After their meal, Pungho secretly left the village with his men.

Those who were left behind were Yu Jinsan, his granddaughter Yu Seol, and Hyun Hee.

They didn’t leave the guesthouse until dark. They spied outside and waited for the right time to move. At one point, Hyun Hee, holding Yu Seol, who was sleeping on her lap, yawned and asked,

“Won’t it take a few more days, though?”

“That would be the case under normal circumstances.”

The village, adjacent to Mount Hua, was a two-city roundtrip by foot if they chose to travel that way. However, because it was difficult to use martial arts continuously for long periods, there was no instance of traveling the entire distance at once, unless it was an emergency.

And Yu Jinsan’s predictions were never wrong.

Around sunset, deadly shadows began to appear like fog on the streets of Jinyang.

Hyun Hee pointed to somewhere outside the window.

“Th-there….”

As many as nine Mount Hua disciples were looking around with their eyes shining. Judging from the pattern of the plum engraved on their uniforms, most of them seemed to be first-class disciples.

Unlike the young and energetic second-class disciples, most of them were middle-aged with loads of experience and were the main force of the sect. The fact that they moved directly suggested they were determined to do something.

The one who seemed to have the highest position huffed and became angry.

“Where are you?! Have you not found them yet?”

“Great Sahyung, it will not take long for the Sajils to find them.”

“Report to me once you find their location.”

The other disciples were struggling to handle this man’s rage. And like his martial arts skills, this man seemed to have a great temperament.

At that time, another disciple approached him with caution and said,

“Great Sahyung, calm down now. You cannot just come down here and fight those of the Wudang Sect without reporting it to the Sect Leader, right? How do you plan to take care of this situation? We only need to talk it through with the elders of their sect….”

He couldn’t even finish his words because the Great Sahyung’s hand moved like a sword and grabbed his neck.

Clench!

“Kuak….”

The other disciples stepped back at the sight of the man’s lifeless eyes.

“I will take all the responsibility, so just shut your mouth!”

“Yes….”

“You guys go and find them too. I will catch those Wudang bastards and beat them all to death today!”

As the Great Sahyung, it was natural for him to be furious.

The pride of Mount Hua had been trampled in front of everyone. And that, too, in their own place?

He would deal with the aftermath later. He couldn’t handle this at any time, even if it was the Alliance.

Meanwhile, Yu Jinsan, who was watching this scene from the third floor of the guesthouse, mumbled while clicking his tongue.

“With a person called the Great Sahyung having such a foul nature, I can foresee the future of this sect.”

“Still, his skills are impressive. And he has a high reputation in Murim.”

“But his martial arts skills don’t match his reputation. If one wants to survive in the Murim World for long, one has to be calm and not controlled by his emotions.”

“Yes, Grandpa. I will take your wise words to heart.”

The Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect had searched everywhere but couldn’t find a single trace of them.

It had to be that way since the bandits of the Black Mountain Bandits had returned alive.

But they were so drunk that they didn’t know when to give up. Eventually, all the warriors of the Merchant Chamber began to mobilize.

He even went in and out of the guesthouse where Yu Jinsan had stayed a few more times.

But they just looked like a normal family having their dinner. In particular, the appearance of Hyun Hee with a red bandana looked quite impressive.

“I guess they are really angry; they are looking for us like we are some lice.”

“Right. Today’s incident would have been one of the greatest humiliations that Mount Hua had to go through.”

“What now?”

Yu Jinsan, who was staring out, asked softly.

“Where did you say the Taoists summoned by Wudang are staying?”

“Gangyang. We can easily go there from here.”

After a moment of thought, he nodded once as if he had made up his mind.

“The time is ripe; we can call them now.”

“I understand. I’ll be back soon, Grandpa.”

“Right. Please be careful. Don’t forget to put on your Taoist clothes and remove any powder on you before….”

Hyun Hee, with a bright smile, handed over the sleeping child.

“I can manage well, so don’t worry too much.”

“Then, let’s meet at the agreed location.”