Chapter 10: It Will Be Better for You to Answer Honestly

I parted ways with the Eccentric Immortal in the mountains.

The Eccentric Immortal left for the Valley of No Return, the site of his duel, to face his ‘lifelong rival’ in a ‘once-in-a-lifetime battle.’ He invited me to accompany him, but I refused. It wasn’t to participate in the remaining matches. I no longer had any interest in the martial arts tournament. The successor of the Taegeuk Sword Sect, who was said to be the strongest among the participants along with the rising star of the Hundred Blades Alliance, was at the level of a mere puppy. Even if I made it to the finals, I didn’t think I would meet an opponent who would interest me.

Although the martial arts tournament fell short of my expectations, the outcome of my trip to Anpyeong was decent enough. No, to be honest, I was very satisfied. Above all, it was a great gain to have been able to gauge my current level of martial prowess by fighting against strong opponents like the Eccentric Immortal and the Bald-Headed Ghost Blade. I would never have known if I had only encountered the minnows in the martial arts tournament.

I was encouraged to confirm that my vague assumption that I might be among the top hundred masters in the world was correct. If I were to use my mother’s primal energy on top of that, I would be able to move up the ranks much further. As I imagined how pleased my father would be if he knew this and a thick smile formed on my lips, my stomach churned. It was because my thoughts had turned to the revenge I had concluded so sloppily.

Letting the old man go was not my will. I didn’t have a single speck of dust’s worth of desire to forgive the old man who had betrayed my father. But the moment I heard the Eccentric Immortal’s words, my father’s gentle yet stern voice echoed in my mind.

‘Let him go, Chung-ah.’

I couldn’t bring myself to defy his command.

My father’s sorrow took precedence over my anger. If I sent the old man to the afterlife, and my father, in turn, apologized to him for his son’s excessive punishment, it would be the greatest act of filial impiety. I had no intention of abandoning the ‘filial piety’ that my mother had so wished for, even if I didn’t care for the ‘loyalty’ that my father had so emphasized.

‘This is fine. Anyway, I found out what happened to the enemy, just as my father wanted. Now let’s go and grant the talkative uncle’s request.’

Having rationalized it to myself, I quickened my pace. My destination, Wonjeon, was three to four hundred li southeast of Anpyeong.

According to the talkative uncle, Wonjeon was a commercial city famous as a transportation hub.

Entering the marketplace at dusk, I passed through the bustling market filled with carriages and people, craning my neck like a country bumpkin seeing a big city for the first time. However, even after walking back and forth on the street three or four times, I couldn’t see the sign of the Ohyeon Inn that the talkative uncle had told me about. Having no choice, I grabbed passersby and asked, but no one knew of the Ohyeon Inn, which was said to be a famous landmark of Wonjeon.

In a predicament, I racked my brain. I knew I could get the information I needed if I found a place called the Black Gate, but it was useless to me. It was because I didn’t have the money to pay them. In that case, I had to find someone who would tell me about ‘them’ for free.

Wandering around the market, I found a suitable person. It was an old woman selling noodles with only two mismatched benches. The corners of her eyes drooped, making her look gentle. Given her age, there was a high possibility that she knew about the Ohyeon Inn.

As I approached, the old woman, who was swatting flies unlike the other shops where evening customers were starting to come in, brightened up.

“Want some noodles? Looking at your build, one bowl won’t even tickle your liver. I’ll give you a double portion for the price of one.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the old woman grabbed a handful of limp noodles with her grimy hands and put them in a chipped bowl. Then, before I could stop her, she poured a yellowish liquid over them. It wasn’t broth, just dirty water.

I scratched the back of my head.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any money, grandmother.”

The old woman’s eyes lit up with anger.

“You should have said so earlier. What am I supposed to do after I’ve already made it? You insolent brat. A fine-looking fellow like you trying to be a beggar. Even a beggar can’t eat for free. You have to pay for the noodles.”

“How?”

“Go to the backyard and chop some firewood.”

“I understand, grandmother. But may I ask you a few questions?”

As if my obedient attitude had softened her anger, the old woman lowered the corners of her eyes, which had been raised high.

“What is it?”

“Have you lived here for a long time?”

“What’s it to you?”

“I heard there used to be a place called Ohyeon Inn on this street. Do you happen to know about it?”

“Ohyeon Inn? Of course, I know. But it’s been gone for over twenty years. By the way, why are you looking for Ohyeon Inn?”

“There’s someone whose whereabouts I’d like to know.”

“Who?”

“A lady named Buyong, I heard she was called the most beautiful woman in this area about thirty years ago.”

The old woman’s attitude suddenly became cautious.

“What is your relationship with the lady?”

“I’m not acquainted with Lady Buyong, but with her husband. Well, we’re almost like uncle and nephew.”

The old woman’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. Then, she quickly prostrated herself on the ground.

“I didn’t know you were a person of high status, and this old woman has spoken rudely. Please forgive the mistake of this lowly one…”

I was flustered.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. The talkative uncle, no, Uncle Ha Seong, I know he has nothing to do with high status.”

The old woman, who had her forehead on the ground, lifted her head.

“Ha Seong? What’s his surname?”

“His surname is Ha, and his given name is Seong.”

The old woman, brushing the dirt off her clothes as she stood up, glared at me.

“Bad luck before I even start. Get lost, you beggar.”

The old woman shooed me away with just a fierce wave of her hand, as if even salt was too good to waste on me. I retreated obediently. It was enough to know that Lady Buyong was real. If I asked a kinder person, I would be able to find out her whereabouts and current situation.

Contrary to my expectations, the results were meager.

I singled out elderly people and asked not about ‘Ohyeon Inn’ but about ‘Lady Buyong,’ but they all just tilted their heads. As I was contemplating whether to go back to the noodle stall, I recalled the face of the old woman who had shown a nasty temper, contrary to her gentle-looking impression, and changed my mind. But that wasn’t the only reason I gave up on revisiting the noodle stall.

Leaving the bustling marketplace and entering a secluded alley, I stopped when I reached a dead end. Then, I turned around and asked the two shadows that had followed me.

“Do you two need to relieve yourselves too?”

The shadows closed the distance without answering. Although they weren’t as big as me, they were both quite large. One had a knife scar on his cheek, and the other was scowling as if trying to create a similarly menacing look. The one with the knife scar, who had reached my face, drew his sword without a word and threatened me.

“Shut your mouth. Never mind relieving yourself, you’re coming with these gentlemen right now.”

“Where?”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut your mouth? You just have to follow quietly like a cat on a stove.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

The one with the knife scar and the one with the scowl looked at each other. The one with the scowl, perhaps judging that the one with the knife scar had failed, stepped forward instead.

“You pig’s bladder of a brat, you must be crazy to want to die. You don’t seem to know your place, so I’ll start by taking off one of your arms…”

The one with the scowl couldn’t finish his threat. It was because I had taken a large step forward, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and thrown him to the ground. The one with the knife scar, who had sucked in a sharp breath at his companion’s misfortune, was about to swing his sword, but I was one step faster. When I kicked him in the groin, the one with the knife scar fell, foaming at the mouth.

Crack.

Stretching my interlocked hands and cracking my knuckles, I moved to block the two big guys’ escape route. Then, I picked up a stone from the ground. It was the size of a child’s head. The faces of the one with the knife scar and the one with the scowl turned white, thinking I was going to smash their heads with it. But fortunately for them, that stone was for intimidation.

“From now on, I want you to answer my questions. It will be better for you to answer quickly and honestly. If your answer is late or I judge it to be a lie, I’ll make your heads like this.”

The stone between my palms shattered like charcoal trampled by an ox’s foot. The one with the knife scar and the one with the scowl, who had witnessed my monstrous strength, were terrified. But commendably, they didn’t forget what they had to do.

“Please ask us anything. We will tell you clearly without a single lie.”

The one with the scowl, not wanting to be outdone by the one with the knife scar, also cried out with all his heart.

“I swear on my ancestors’ names, I will never lie…”

I cut the one with the scowl off.

“That’s enough. First, where were you trying to take me?”

The two men answered competitively.

“To the Sowol Pavilion.”

“Why there?”

“The Pavilion Master Jin told us to bring you, young master.”

“Pavilion Master Jin? Who’s that?”

“He is the master of the Sowol Pavilion.”

“Is that so? But what business does he have with me? I don’t know him at all.”

The one with the knife scar and the one with the scowl, who had been talking smoothly, hesitated.

“Th-that is…”

“Why? Is it a secret? Then go tell the King of Hell.”

As I rubbed my palms together, the terrified one with the knife scar hastily poured out his words.

“N-no, that’s not it, we don’t know either. We were just ordered to bring you, young master…”

“What exactly did he say when he told you to bring me?”

“He said there was a giant with a menacing face wandering around Soheung Street, ah! These are Pavilion Master Jin’s words. He told me to report it accurately. Anyway, he told us to find that giant and quietly bring him to him. That’s all.”

“Really?”

“Yes, sir. I swear on my ancestors’ names…”

“That’s enough. Get up.”

The swordsman and the one with the scowl stood up hesitantly.

“Lead the way.”

A smile of relief appeared on the faces of the two men, as they had not only escaped the dragon’s palace but had also completed their mission. Behind them, I also grinned. I didn’t know what the Sowol Pavilion master’s intentions were, but there was no doubt that ‘Lady Buyong’ was involved.

The Sowol Pavilion was a brothel.

Although it was still early to start the main business, as it hadn’t been long since the sun had set, a debauched atmosphere and excited moans were already flowing out of the buildings, which were as lavishly decorated as women putting on makeup. The courtesans who had come out into the courtyard glanced at me as I walked with the one with the knife scar and the one with the scowl in front. But no women clung to me.

After passing several buildings, we reached the backyard, where a three-story wooden building stood. A maid in her mid-teens came out of the building and took me from the one with the knife scar and the one with the scowl.

The maid, who had led me into a tea room on the first floor, poured tea and said.

“This is snow tea from Mount Hong in Goju. Please drink it while you wait for the Pavilion Master to arrive.”

The maid, who showed a seasoned demeanor belying her young age, closed the door and left. I glared at the teacup on the table. It was because the tragic story of my father, who had been in great trouble after drinking tea laced with energy-scattering poison, suddenly came to mind.

I suddenly became curious. Is there poison in this tea too?

The way to resolve the question was simple. Picking up the teacup, I drank the hot tea. My throat and stomach burned as if they were on fire.

Putting the teacup down as if throwing it, I turned my gaze to the door. A middle-aged man with a pale complexion was entering the tea room. The moment I saw him, a groan escaped my lips.

[End of Chapter]