Chapter 505: Give it to me just once.

De-gu-reureu.

Wine bottles rolled across the dining table, and empty plates were piled high.

Traces remained in the bowls, suggesting they had all been filled with food.

If you put it the other way around…

…it means all that food had been devoured.

And all by himself, no less.

“Kkeo-eok…”

The middle-aged man with white hair let out a burp, looking satisfied.

He was even reeking of alcohol.

“…Ha.”

The woman who confirmed this spat out words as if she found it absurd.

“Look at you. Are you even a Taoist?”

“Hmm…?”

At the woman’s voice, the man who had been trying to sleep opened his eyes blearily.

Then he saw her. A beauty with deep black hair, frowning.

“Oh.”

Upon confirming her, the man, Namgung Hyung, shot upright.

It was a familiar face.

“Noonim?”

At Namgung Hyung’s words, the woman’s frown deepened.

“Agh! The smell of alcohol!”

It was because the smell emanating from him was absolutely foul.

Not only the smell of alcohol but also food mixed in, making it incredibly pungent.

It must have been truly unbearable, as the woman bit her lip tightly.

Hoo-woook-!

A gust of wind mixed with internal energy erupted from the woman’s body.

It was to expel this damn smell that had spread throughout the inn.

Hwa-ah-ah-ak-!

A harsh wind swept through the space once.

Only after the smell had somewhat dissipated could the woman relax her expression.

“…Ah, you crazy bastard. Are you really a Taoist? How is it that every time I see you, you look more worn out and haggard?”

“Agh…. I’m dying…. The hangover…. Noonim, could you give me some water….”

“If you don’t want to die, get rid of the alcohol. Should I draw my sword here?”

“…Keung.”

At the woman’s words, Namgung Hyung closed his eyes as if he had no choice.

Then.

Shwi-i-i-ik….

A faint heat haze rose along Namgung Hyung’s shoulders.

It was a reaction caused by using internal energy to expel the alcohol poisoning.

Watching the clearly rising heat haze, the woman let out a hollow laugh.

“How much did you drink to make this come out?”

“It’s such a waste of alcohol…. Having to expel all of this.”

“Did you… eat meat too?”

The woman said, examining the bowls on the table.

Her voice sounded quite disgusted.

“The world really works in mysterious ways. How can a Taoist eat meat?”

“How can a person live without meat? It’s okay to eat some.”

“Yes, it’s okay to eat some, but if your master found out, he’d probably flip out?”

“Hmph, do you think that old man wouldn’t know? He just gave up on me.”

“Oh, you’re so great. It’s a real boast. A real boast.”

At his confidently spoken words, the woman had to pinch the bridge of her nose.

After expelling the toxins for a while, Namgung Hyung opened his eyes again.

Looking at the black-haired woman in front of him, Namgung Hyung narrowed one eye.

Seeing that, Namgung Hyung chuckled slightly.

“It feels like it’s been about ten years. Isn’t that right, Noonim?”

“…You crazy bastard. You haven’t changed at all.”

At the woman, Baek Ryeon-geom’s, words, Namgung Hyung grinned.

“Noonim, you haven’t changed either. Especially your face, it’s the same as back then.”

Compared to the last time they met, Baek Ryeon-geom had maintained her beauty.

Seeing that, Namgung Hyung casually reached out towards the wine bottle in front of him.

Baek Ryeon-geom, who was in front of him, moved her body slightly.

Then.

Seo-geok-!

Jjaeng-geu-rang-!

The wine bottle split in half with a sharp sound and fell to the floor.

“…”

Watching that, Namgung Hyung clicked his tongue regretfully.

“Why? Drink up.”

“I was going to drink it. But no matter how I looked at it, it seemed less like wine and more like the water of Samdocheon.”

Giving up on the wine, he grabbed the water next to him and gulped it down.

Having quenched his thirst with gulps, Namgung Hyung then looked at Baek Ryeon-geom and asked.

“What brings you here? We’re not exactly the type to meet in a place like this.”

“Ah, I was just passing by when I heard that some crazy Taoist was causing a ruckus in an inn.”

“Wow, who could that crazy bastard be?”

“Exactly. You crazy bastard….”

“Ah, that’s me?”

At Baek Ryeon-geom’s words, Namgung Hyung, only now realizing it was him, chuckled sheepishly.

“But what kind of ruckus did I cause? All I did was drink…”

“What kind of ruckus, you ask?”

At those words, Baek Ryeon-geom glanced back.

There stood a waiter, glancing at them as if trying to gauge their mood.

Seeing that, Baek Ryeon-geom let out a deep sigh.

“Can’t you see that your actions are ruining this place’s business?”

“Hmm?”

At her words, Namgung Hyung glanced around, and only then did he understand.

That there were no other customers in the inn besides him and Baek Ryeon-geom.

Was it a place where business was bad? That couldn’t be it. When Namgung Hyung first arrived, the inn was packed with customers.

So what had happened?

“You beat up and chased away all the people who picked fights with you, didn’t you?”

“Ah.”

Hearing that, Namgung Hyung understood what had happened.

There was a group that had bothered Namgung Hyung, who was enjoying the freedom he hadn’t felt in over a decade.

Perhaps they didn’t like him drinking alcohol in his Taoist attire and acted a bit rough, and that seemed to be the problem.

“…I don’t think I was that harsh…”

“They say none of the people you chased out could walk on their own two feet?”

“Keum-keum….”

At Baek Ryeon-geom’s words, Namgung Hyung let out a fake cough.

He realized he might have beaten them a bit too harshly.

Watching Namgung Hyung like that, Baek Ryeon-geom smirked.

“Of all the people I know, you were the one whose appearance clashed the most with his personality. That hasn’t changed.”

He wanted to say that, but Namgung Hyung held back.

“…So is that why you specifically showed up here?”

“I was just passing by. What I heard sounded exactly like you, so I came to see your face. And I’m glad I came.”

Baek Ryeon-geom’s eyes swept over the dining table.

“All the shaman Taoists I know are meticulously clean people.”

“That’s why shamans are boring. The ones who claim to cultivate the Way are too busy polishing themselves instead of cultivating it.”

“That doesn’t sound like something a famous Taoist from the shaman sect would say?”

“Well, I’m in a position where I’m exposed, so it’s fine. Kkuh-kuh-kuh!”

Namgung Hyung laughed heartily. In the process, the food stuck between his teeth was conspicuously visible.

“You have chives stuck between your teeth.”

“I left them there to savor later.”

“…Now that you’re done eating, stop causing damage to the inn and get up. That waiter is going to die if this continues.”

It meant he wasn’t literally going to die, but he looked like he’d wither away from anxiety while trying to read their moods.

At those words, Namgung Hyung looked towards the waiter.

The waiter, meeting the sharp and cold gaze characteristic of the Namgung family, startled and flinched.

Seeing that, Namgung Hyung smiled broadly.

“Ah, my apologies! I’ll pay generously, including the cost of the lost business.”

“Ah, ah…. Th-thank you.”

As the waiter’s face lit up with relief at the smoother-than-expected resolution.

Namgung Hyung, who was searching his pockets to pay, suddenly froze.

Baek Ryeon-geom, noticing this, asked with an anxious expression.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Hmm. I see. There was something I had momentarily forgotten.”

“What is it?”

“I forgot that I didn’t have any money on me.”

“…What?”

“So, about that, Noonim.”

Namgung Hyung looked at Baek Ryeon-geom, winked one eye, and put on a charming act.

“Could you lend me some money?”

At that cheerful request, Baek Ryeon-geom smiled brightly.

And then she punched Namgung Hyung squarely on the top of his head.

Ppa-ak-!

---

Right after Baek Ryeon-geom took out money and paid for the inn’s day of business.

She dragged the disheveled monstrosity outside.

“…Ouch.”

Namgung Hyung rubbed his stinging scalp, wondering if he had a lump.

Fortunately, it seemed there was no lump.

‘That’s even scarier?’

The impact from earlier was immense. Namgung Hyung thought he was going to faint at the time.

The fact that there was no lump meant she had only delivered the shock.

‘This Noonim isn’t dead yet.’

Even though her appearance hadn’t changed, her skills seemed to have improved considerably.

As Namgung Hyung was inwardly expressing his respect.

Baek Ryeon-geom had to wear a crestfallen expression as she looked at her now empty money pouch.

“You… you crazy human, just how much did you eat?”

Baek Ryeon-geom’s hard-earned money, which she had brought after nagging her brother, was all gone.

Ah, of course, she had spent quite a bit along the way, but not enough to be wiped out all at once.

It was all thanks to that pig disguised as a Taoist who had eaten so excessively.

After paying for the lost business and the furniture broken during his rampage, she had nothing left.

“Ah, yes. I ate well.”

Namgung Hyung followed her, picking his teeth with a toothpick.

Watching him, Baek Ryeon-geom debated whether she should hit him one more time.

“…Noonim.”

“What.”

“I can feel murderous intent in your eyes. How about putting your hand down?”

“…”

She was caught.

He was quick-witted, as always.

“Hoo….”

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay you back.”

“…With what?”

“…”

There was no answer.

Namgung Hyung himself knew that paying back with money would be quite difficult.

“…That… we can think about later….”

“You damn brat.”

“Isn’t it nice to see each other after so long? We haven’t seen each other in over ten years.”

His way of changing the subject was quite annoying, but she decided to let it slide for now.

“As for asking what you’ve been doing… there are so many rumors, I don’t think I need to ask.”

Rumors about Namgung Hyung, the Mad Taoist, surfaced whenever people were bored. It wasn’t something to ask about.

Rather.

“Isn’t that something I should be asking Noonim?”

These were words that should be asked of Baek Ryeon-geom, who had disappeared for ten years.

Perhaps knowing that herself, Baek Ryeon-geom gave a wry smile.

Perhaps sensing the subtle smile, Namgung Hyung slightly turned his head.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. I’m not particularly curious anyway.”

He was also somewhat sincere. Namgung Hyung wasn’t really interested in other people’s affairs.

“Let’s move past this. So, what brings you all the way to Sichuan?”

“Ah, I was just thinking of helping our niece with her romantic endeavors.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Namgung Hyung frowned.

Because what he heard made no sense.

It was exactly as she said.

“If it’s your niece, is it the Sword Lord’s daughter?”

The only daughter of the Baekcheon Sword Lord, Moyong Tae…. That means…

‘Is it her daughter?’

A figure from the Northern Sea, who lived harboring coldness, flashed through Namgung Hyung’s mind.

He didn’t know her well, but she was someone connected to him.

More precisely, she was more deeply connected to the Palace Lord than to that woman.

Furthermore, rather than Namgung Hyung himself….

She would be more deeply connected to his disciple, Woo Hyuk.

‘Hmm, it should be fine.’

He figured it would be okay since his disciple didn’t seem to care much.

Coincidentally, he was planning to go to the Northern Sea for that purpose anyway.

The Sword Lord’s daughter.

It was quite fascinating for Namgung Hyung that figures living in the same era were one by one having children and settling into their positions.

Perhaps that’s why.

“Ah. Speaking of which.”

A story surfaced in Namgung Hyung’s mind.

“Hm?”

“I saw the son of the Gu family head.”

“…!”

As Namgung Hyung blurted out the unexpected words, Baek Ryeon-geom’s eyes widened.

Because if it was the son of the Gu family head, it could only be Gu Yangcheon.

“You… saw that child?”

“Hm? Noonim knows too?”

“…”

Of course.

She was traveling with him and even had him as a temporary guard, so how could she not know?

Moreover, that man was the one her niece was following around, saying she liked him.

Namgung Hyung, unaware of this, started talking excitedly, thinking of Gu Yangcheon.

“He was amazing. Like father, like son… blood really tells.”

“…What did he do?”

“No, there were various circumstances, so we had a sparring match.”

“What?”

At Namgung Hyung’s words, Baek Ryeon-geom’s eyes instantly turned cold.

A sparring match?

“…Noonim, you’re looking at me like you want to kill me.”

“Are you saying a decrepit old man beat this kid up?”

“Beat him up? What are you talking about? I got hit!”

As Namgung Hyung shouted indignantly, Baek Ryeon-geom paused upon hearing his words.

“…You got hit?”

“Yeah, I got beaten up and lost, I tell you.”

It wasn’t something to be said proudly, but she could tell there was something significant in his words.

‘…Lost? Him?’

Even though the rumors about him were terrible.

He was once one of the figures who vied for the position of Sword King.

Baek Ryeon-geom, more than anyone else, knew how strong Namgung Hyung was.

Gu Yangcheon might possess unbelievable talent, but…

He shouldn’t have been at a level where he could defeat the current Namgung Hyung.

“His punches were so fierce… I almost cried after getting hit…?”

“…”

Listening to Namgung Hyung’s words, Baek Ryeon-geom soon shook her head.

She thought it was nonsense.

Namgung Hyung wasn’t the type to dwell on victory or defeat in the first place.

His pride as a warrior wasn’t particularly great either.

He was the kind of guy who would casually say he lost to a seven-year-old kid from the neighborhood.

It was likely the same this time.

‘Still, it seems true that he saw that child.’

The fact that he saw Gu Yangcheon is true, and it seems true that he assessed the child’s talent.

Well, it’s understandable to be surprised.

Baek Ryeon-geom herself had never seen such talent before in her life.

Moreover.

‘He’s a child full of secrets.’

Beyond his talent, he was a child who possessed much more.

His fierce and passionate eyes, yet somehow dry and dead, were like that too.

Just like… he resembled her.

Although their personalities were quite different.

It wasn’t just Baek Ryeon-geom who thought of this.

“He strongly resembles his father.”

Namgung Hyung brought up the same words.

“Well, Noonim would know better than anyone.”

“…”

At his subtle remark, Baek Ryeon-geom slightly turned her head.

Talking with Namgung Hyung brought back the youthful impulsiveness of the past.

In the gently surfacing memories of the past, he was always involved.

The man who was both passionate and cold, and even the women around him.

The things they did together came to mind. At the same time, one emotion brushed past.

Is it longing? No, rather than longing…

‘What a shame.’

It was filled with regret.

There were so many things left undone and words left unsaid.

Of course, even if she knew that.

‘I wouldn’t be able to go see him.’

As long as she couldn’t untangle her emotions. It seemed she would never be able to see him.

She had already visited him in Hanam, but only saw Mi Hyoran without seeing him.

It was still a long way off.

As she thought that and looked at Namgung Hyung.

“Huh?”

Namgung Hyung let out a strange sound.

His eyes were wide open, and he even rubbed them as if he had seen incorrectly.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing that, Baek Ryeon-geom asked.

Namgung Hyung pointed straight ahead with his finger and said.

“Isn’t that… the Gu family head?”

“What nonsense is that? Even so, playing such a prank…”

Baek Ryeon-geom, who looked in the direction Namgung Hyung’s finger pointed.

Her body instantly turned rigid like stone.

Someone was standing in front of them, hands clasped behind their back, looking at the two of them.

Crimson martial robes filled with golden patterns.

Simply tied black hair, and.

Even crimson eyes that seemed to burn.

Meeting the gaze she both wanted to see and didn’t want to see, Baek Ryeon-geom’s breath hitched.

Looking at Baek Ryeon-geom like that, the man.

Gu Cheol-un said with a calm expression.

“It’s been a long time.”

At that voice.

Baek Ryeon-geom’s time stopped.