Episode 184. Are we friends from today?
The road leading to Gaebong.
The deputy chief of the police, Cheon Ryang-ji, motioned for military officer Im Sa-seong to come closer.
“Yes, sir.”
“You, the incompetent one, would know? How great is his incompetence?”
“Do you remember him pulling the glass that was in front of you?”
“I remember it.”
“It is a super high-level technique called Heogongseopmul, and it is difficult even for a long-time member of the Chilpaimun. It is even more difficult to make it into powder, and it means that you have reached a state where you can freely use your internal energy.”
“I can’t believe it. Is that possible at the age of only twenty-one?”
“If you look at his ordinary appearance, he has already reached the realm of Banbakguijin.”
“A rebuttal?”
“The highest level a person can reach is called Deungbongjogeuk. After that, all that remains is to climb to Uhwasan and leave this world.”
“I also know about the Uhwadengseon. It’s about ascending to the celestial world and becoming a god.”
“Yes, but sometimes there are masters who can transcend the stage of the descent without even going through the stage of the descent. When they go beyond the stage of the descent, they return to their original state and appear like ordinary people. That state is called the stage of the ban-bok-gwi-jin.”
“Huh! That enemy is Ban Bak Gwi Jin?”
“Didn’t he look ordinary before he got his energy up? Namchogyeol probably still thinks of him as a punk. That’s the scary thing about Banbakguijin.”
“Amazing, amazing.”
“I’ve only heard of Sogwan through word of mouth, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone who has reached the level of Banbak Gwijin.”
“I guess I shouldn’t even set foot in Hwasangchon.”
“You’ve thought well. I’ve heard that even the imperial family doesn’t interfere with the affairs of the ten greatest martial artists. If they harbor a grudge, it’s difficult to stop them even with the Golden Guard.”
Cheon Ryang-ji said, shaking his head with a horrified expression.
“Have your men keep their mouths shut so that nothing gets out about today. And investigate him quietly. We need to know who he is dealing with.”
“yes.”
Cheon Ryang-ji, who had been thinking about something for a moment, asked.
“What does his personality look like?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yes, he’s from Sapa, but judging from the fact that he kept Namchogyeol alive, he seems okay… … .”
Im Sa-seong trailed off with a dubious expression.
“Why? Is there something on your mind?”
“Seeing him threaten a person so casually, I don’t think he’s an ordinary, vicious person.”
“Right.”
Cheonryangji nodded as if he agreed.
Certainly, there was quite a difference between how he treated Namchogyeol and how he treated himself.
‘What kind of guy is he?’
***
release.
Sambobang.
The most important things in life for Sambobang’s squire, Sa-In-Geom Nok-Il-Chwi, are money, alcohol, and women. Naturally, Sambobang makes money through usury, selling alcohol, and managing gisaengs.
The head of the outside party, Wan Ja-gyeong, spoke cautiously to Nok Il-chwi, who was sitting at the head of the table.
“Your Majesty, there is talk that Cheonhwabang is planning to take over Hwasangchon.”
Nok Il-chwi’s thick eyebrows twitched.
Cheonhwabang was the biggest rival of Sambobang, a breakwater between Jeongsaji and Gaebong in the northern part of Gaebong.
“A village of flowers? Is that a profitable business?”
“There are inns and about a dozen shops in the village, so if you manage them well, it can be quite profitable.”
“Is there a breakwater that you manage?”
“Not yet. So it seems that Cheonhwabang is looking far away and trying to enter.”
“What is there to miss in that tiny town?”
“It’s not something to be ignored because it’s small. There must be a hundred merchants coming and going from the inn every month.”
Only then did Nok Il-chwi show interest.
“Really? Just having a guest house isn’t enough. Let’s see, if we had a prostitute stationed there, would we be able to make some money?”
“It will bring in much more income than just running a guest house.”
The two exchanged opinions comfortably as if the guest room were their own.
***
When the Inspector General, Cheon Ryang-ji, visited, Nam Cho-gyeol quietly avoided the scene. He was worried that Yeon Jeok-ha might bite him and hang on.
Later, Nam Soo-kyung got angry at him for being disappointed when she found out that Cheon Ryang-ji had just returned.
When his granddaughter jumped up, Nam Cho-gyeol decided to turn a blind eye to Yeon Jeok-ha’s unauthorized eating and drinking.
I think it would be unfair if I really was scammed.
Nam Cho-gyeol, who was in poor health, continued to leave the cash register to Sang Il-woon.
Instead, I checked the ledger once a day.
Unlike him, Nam Su-kyung, who was in the prime of her life, spent the whole day working in the guest house.
Around lunchtime.
Nam Cho-gyeol, who was looking around the inn, asked Sang-do when Yeon-jeok-ha was not in sight.
“What is the old man doing these days?”
“Spend some time on Suicide Rock.”
“There is no other place to go?”
“yes.”
“I can’t see Soo-kyung.”
“The young lady went out a little while ago to bring tea to Prince Yeon.”
“Tch! I wonder why you’re taking care of that guy.”
Nam Cho-gyeol was not pleased with her granddaughter’s behavior.
But I didn’t know what to say because I thought he didn’t have any friends his age to hang out with.
If he had been a hard worker and diligent man, he would have been a perfect fit for my granddaughter’s son-in-law, but he was a bum.
Nam Soo-kyung glanced at the sword placed next to Yeon Jeok-ha with curious eyes.
“Your Majesty, have you ever learned swordsmanship?”
“little bit.”
“Wow! You’re a martial artist. Why is that?”
“Why? Do you look like you’re good at fighting?”
“No. I was a little curious because you didn’t seem interested in working at all.”
Nam Soo-kyung expressed it indirectly by saying, ‘I thought he was a freeloader.’
Yeonjeokha said it as if making an excuse.
“It’s not just about playing around. Even if a martial artist only holds a sword, he or she still works.”
“I know. I saw a lot of people like that at the opening.”
“Are there a lot of people like me at Gaebong?”
“Yes, people like that often came and went to the tea house where I worked.”
Nam Soo-kyung frowned as she spoke and Nokdam-pyeong came to mind.
“Why are you looking like that? Did something bad happen?”
“There was someone who harassed me a lot.”
“Why are you bothering me?”
“He kept harassing me because I wouldn’t meet him.”
“Then I told you to meet me.”
“Oh my! How could you do that? He was the kind of person who would throw a punch if I refused to meet him, so what would happen if I did?”
“Oh, that’s trash. Why didn’t you report it to the authorities? Your grandfather would be good at that.”
Nam Soo-kyung filed a lawsuit after hearing Yeon-jeok-ha’s words.
“People around me tried to stop me. They said that if a person from the martial arts world gets involved, the government will ignore me.”
“So what did you do? Did you kill him by using an assassin?”
“No. I snuck here with my grandfather. Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t know. What’s best for everyone is different.”
“What do you think Confucius would have done?”
“What should I do?”
“What if someone follows you around and harasses you?”
“Your friend will solve that for you.”
“Who is your friend?”
“Hey.”
Along with the words, Yeonjeokha tapped the sword that was lying next to him.
“Heh! I wish I had a friend like Prince Yeon.”
Of course, I’m talking about the sword.
But Yeon-Rik took it differently.
“Do you want to be my friend?”
At that moment, a smile appeared in Nam Soo-kyung’s eyes.
Even though his words were misrepresented, there was nothing wrong with becoming friends with Yeonjeokha.
He had a gentle appearance and secretly stimulated my maternal instinct.
Maybe it seemed that way because he was a victim of a huge fraud.
So I made a joke.
“Why? Do you hate it?”
When she suddenly barged in, Yeonjeok scratched his head.
Come to think of it, I have a sworn brother and an older sister, but I don’t have any friends yet.
“Miss Nam, what is a friend? Someone you hang out with, talk to freely, and things like that?”
“Pfft! That’s right.”
Nam Soo-kyung laughed when Yeon-jeok Ha asked her what it meant to be friends like children.
“Not only that, friends help each other when times are tough.”
“Oh, that’s really good. But I think Grandpa Nam So-jo would hate it if we were friends.”
“No. My grandfather was a warm-hearted man. When he used to run an inn, he would bring in hungry people and feed them.”
“Then am I the only one who hates you?”
“When we don’t know each other’s circumstances well, there may be misunderstandings. Once the misunderstanding is resolved, I’m sure you’ll treat me well. So, will you be my friend? Or not?”
“Let’s do it. It’s nothing.”
“So, are we friends from today?”
“yes.”
“What does ‘yes’ mean to a friend? Say it.”
However, Nam Soo-kyung raised her voice, perhaps concerned about the age difference.
“Oh, is that so? If you tell me to let go, I’ll let go. I also find it easier to let go. It’s become a habit.”
“Oh my, are you from a noble family?”
“That’s not true. In martial arts, if you’re strong, you’re an adult, and if you’re weak, you’re an inferior.”
“Really?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Then, is Confucius strong?”
“At least stronger than Old Man Sim.”
“Pfft! You’re stronger than that old man?”
Nam Soo-kyung held her stomach and laughed at the words, ‘You are stronger than Mr. Shim.’
It was funny to hear that a young man in his prime is stronger than an old man.
Of course, Gucheonnodo knew that Simtong had brought Jang Yiyu, but that was all. To her, an ordinary person, that scene was only a little shocking.
In this way, Nam Soo-kyung became Yeon Jeok-ha’s first friend.
***
Cheonhwabang moved much faster than Sambobang predicted.
At dusk, five men and women carrying swords entered the village.
These are the unmanned personnel of Cheonhwabang who came to take over Hwasangchon.
The white-skinned beauty, Moran Danju Baekhwageom Ju Hwa-yeong, looked around the village and muttered.
“It’s small.”
Then, the young man next to him, Son Gye-young, said something.
“I don’t understand why the Lord is interested in such a remote place.”
“How could a sparrow know the will of a phoenix? Hurry up and find a guest house. I have to finish my business and go back before the sun sets.”
“I know. I went down this road a few years ago.”
Son Gye-young quickly charged forward with his words.
Joo Hwa-young and three unmanned personnel followed diligently.
After walking for a while out of town, a large building appeared in the distance on the riverbank.
“Your Majesty, that is the guest house.”
Joo Hwa-young carefully examined the guest house and its surroundings as if analyzing them.
After that, I opened the door to the guest room and went inside.
“welcome!”
The guests were greeted with a sound that made it seem like the sand would fly away.
As Joo Hwa-young and her group rushed into the restaurant, Sang-do quickly followed them.
“Will you stay overnight, ladies? Or will you just eat?”
Joo Hwa-young, who was sitting down, spoke in a calm tone.
“I am from Cheonhwabang. I have come to see the owner, so tell him to come for a moment.”
“Oh, yes… … .”
Sangdo stepped back with an awkward expression.
Another guest came looking for the owner.
Now, when someone looks for the owner, their heart starts pounding.
‘Surely those con artists aren’t robbing the guest house again?’
Sangdo hoped that something like that would not happen and ran to the inner quarters to call Namchogyeol.
After a while, Nam Cho-gyeol followed the path and came out to the guest house.
Nam Cho-gyeol’s face hardened when he heard that Cheonhwabang had come.
It’s obvious why they’re looking for themselves.
The inns and taverns of the big city are all under the control of the Martial Arts Faction. Areas without the Martial Arts Faction are not free. There, gangsters called Haomen hold power.
‘Hwasangchon was a remote and small place, so Haomun didn’t even reach out to it… … .’
Wuxia,
