episode_0047

The head of the Daechungmun, Wang Gae Yuk, was a good person.

Looking at the pile of snacks on the table, Cheong could tell without even checking that they were of high quality.

And indeed, maintaining such high standards was enough to qualify him as the owner of the Han Baekdo Jungpa.

While Nam Gung Shin Jae maintained a strange distance and engaged in conversation, Cheong started eating.

Accompanied by a bitter taste, a mountain of snacks piled up, including Banhancha, a local tea, and two types of cookies.

Banhancha was a fried cookie made from flour dough.

It was one of Cheong’s favorite snacks.

It tasted just like the twisted breadsticks he used to eat back home. In fact, since the method of making them was the same, the taste had to be the same.

Goh was a general term for cooled and hardened snacks.

They could be sweet, sour-sweet, or salty.

Cheong couldn’t resist eating.

He considered his only advantage to be his large stomach capacity.

Thinking about it, his obsession with food was probably due to his primitive and ancient Chinese roots.

It was like giving a patient medicine.

After filling his stomach with snacks in a hurry, he realized that snacks weren’t the main goal.

“Oh. Lord Moonju. Do you happen to know someone named Yi Ha Sam?”

“Yi Ha Sam? Yi Ha Sam… Was there such a name in the martial world…? I don’t remember. Haha, it’s embarrassing, but I don’t remember all the names of martial artists. But why are you looking for him?”

“Well, you see…”

Cheong recounted the incident that had happened at the side gate.

Wang Gae Yuk clenched his fist in frustration.

“Oh. That old man. It’s truly unfortunate. I don’t know why he’s selling the name of our Daechungmun.”

“You knew about it?”

“I did. Since the situation was serious, I inquired about it. But that Yi Ha Sam is a truly despicable man.”

“A despicable man?”

“He’s gone crazy with gambling, lost everything, and even sold his wife to pay off his debts. It seems he didn’t run away to avoid his creditors. And yet, he sold the name of our gate. Tsk tsk.”

Wang Gae Yuk clicked his tongue in disapproval.

There was no hint of lying in his words.

Cheong suddenly remembered the old man’s words.

He had said he would find his daughter-in-law and live well again after facing trouble at Daechungmun.

It didn’t make sense to search for a daughter-in-law without knowing where she was.

If he had sold his wife, it meant he intended to buy her back with money.

At that moment, Wang Gae Yuk casually brought up a topic.

“Oh. My unruly children are pestering me to introduce them to some guests. May I introduce them?”

Cheong looked at Nam Gung Shin Jae.

Their eyes met and exchanged a silent conversation.

‘Is this about covering the cost of the tea?’

‘Yes.’

It seemed like they understood each other.

If they had eaten, they had to pay for it.

Since they had to wait for Pang Daesan and Changbin anyway, chatting with the children wouldn’t hurt.

—

In the end, the story Pang Daesan and Changbin brought back didn’t differ much.

A man who had gone crazy with gambling and even sold his wife.

He must have run away after racking up gambling debts.

But that wasn’t the whole story.

“Many people run away like that. They say that people like Yi Ha Sam are looking for a big opportunity to strike. There were three people mentioned, including Yi Ha Sam, who mentioned Daechungmun.”

“So, is there a connection with Daechungmun?”

“The amount of food coming in and the amount of waste going out at Daechungmun hasn’t changed. It’s not a kidnapping.”

Pang Daesan relayed the information provided by the informant.

The former court lady informant had nothing left to give and even handed over the information with a heavy heart.

Beauty had always been power.

“He said that Daechungmun’s external activities are limited to patrols. There are no personnel sent outside, so it shouldn’t be related to Daechungmun.”

“Hmm. So, did they just run away? Did you ask about, the opening? Did you ask about the opening as well?”

“The dogs… Wait, that expression.”

Paengdaesan trembled slightly.

It was that expression again.

The one that said, “I don’t know anything.”

“Do you not know what ‘openness’ is…?”

“I don’t?”

At this point, all one could do was marvel.

Had they not crossed the realm of ignorance?

In fact, they had certainly surpassed the realm of ignorance.

Because Cheong was ignorant, so they didn’t know.

Cheong simply had no interest in knowing.

They didn’t try to find out on their own, and there was no one to ask on their journey so far.

Their only interest was in food.

Seomunsurin had taught Cheong many common knowledge facts in shock.

But even Seomunsurin couldn’t teach them the obvious things they didn’t know.

How could one dare to imagine the absence of common knowledge beyond the realm of imagination?

So, Cheong finally learned the true identity of the Geobang faction today.

The tough beggar who carried a new rope around was one of the Geobang beggars.

The seven old beggars with knots in their glasses were actually high-ranking people in Geobang, but since they were below the distribution line, there was no need to pay attention to them.

“It’s strange that someone who disappeared after running away for almost two months is said to be over thirty, and it’s strange to think that they were seen fleeing.”

“So, what? Did they run away as a group?”

“Isn’t someone luring people in by promising great benefits in the name of Daejeongmun? That’s what I heard.”

“Oh. Beggars are clever.”

Cheong marveled.

And then it was strange.

“But is that all? Why do they know, but not Daejeongmun? Shouldn’t they have investigated something?”

Paengdaesan responded as if to ask what he was talking about.

“Aren’t they just people who disappeared after living recklessly? Is there a need to find them?”

“Huh?”

Cheong looked at Namgung Shinjae.

Namgung Shinjae said, “They’re trash who sold out their family. It’s better for them to just disappear.”

“Oh?”

Cheong turned his head back and looked at Changbin.

Changbin nodded and casually glanced at Cheong.

What, am I weird?

Cheong felt unjustly accused and defended himself.

“Right? If someone is plotting a conspiracy…”

“Cheong, are you having trouble dealing with about thirty third-rate nobodies?”

“Of course not?”

Although the word “Cheong” naturally came out of Paengdaesan’s mouth, no one noticed.

“Even a third-rate nobody who knows how to wield a sword is not a big deal, so what conspiracy could thirty people living in the slums possibly be plotting?”

“Huh.”

Listening and watching, it did make sense.

But wasn’t that the problem?

“Changbin, Hyung. Why don’t you say something?”

“Uh, um, soldier. Well, that. It’s not our business to interfere…”

Changbin glanced at Cheong at this point.

It seemed like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Cheong nodded.

It was impressive how timid he was now, considering he had suggested becoming friends earlier.

“It’s a matter of civilians. Ultimately, it’s something that the officials should deal with.”

Gwanmubul-gachim.

It meant that the officials and martial artists did not encroach on each other’s territories.

The fights between martial artists were not considered murder, so they were not arrested.

On the other hand, martial artists who killed civilians were wanted, and bounties were placed on them. The worst offenders were hunted down by the officials’ experts and had their heads cut off.

“Of course, there are families like Sinchangyangga that shed blood for generations while protecting civilians. Is there a need for a family to step in just because the officials are incompetent and can’t stop the enemy? Even though their position is inland and has no connection to the enemy.”

If it was Sinchangyangga, it seemed like that family was correct.

Cheong frowned.

They were known for being involved in child sexual crimes.

A. I wonder how Jangmyeong is doing?

Since he said he would be back around the time it gets cold, I decided to take a look at the Volcano Faction and maybe stop by the Shinnyeo Gate for a bit.

But then, suddenly, I felt a sense of emptiness.

Something, something, something. Like I’m forgetting something.

What is it? Why do I feel empty?

It feels like something essential is missing.

And then, suddenly, the answer came to me.

It’s the status window.

More precisely, the mission window didn’t pop up.

Why?

Usually, around this time, a sudden mission pops up, causing chaos and disrupting people’s moods, right?

Did I defeat the feeling I overcame last time?

In a puzzled state, Cheong opened the mission window.

The mission window floated gently into view from the corner of his vision and unfolded in the center of his gaze.

As Cheong scanned through the completed missions, his pupils trembled slightly.

Sudden missions didn’t just pop up anytime.

They appeared when Cheong felt insulted or threatened.

Or when facing a conflict between martial artists.

So, it wasn’t about ordinary incidents like a civilian’s disappearance.

Cheong clenched his jaw.

It felt like trying to calm down a boiling pot while taking out snacks.

Ugh, this crazy status window.

It’s a hassle whether it appears or not.

Was the mission about judging people and their actions?

Then what exactly are good deeds and evil deeds?

Are there separate rules for officials and martial artists?

What was the criteria in the first place?

If the status window arbitrarily assigns scores and the actual good and evil deeds don’t matter, then what about me?

What I did…

“Seomuncheong!”

The sound of Paengdaesan’s shout snapped Cheong back to reality.

“Are you okay? Your face suddenly turned pale.”

“No. I’m not okay. It’s not about being okay.”

Cheong’s hands trembled.

His throat was dry.

It was an inner thirst that couldn’t be quenched with water or alcohol.

Blood. Blood. I need to see blood…

And then a face suddenly came to mind.

Right. I saw someone I could kill.

I’ll endure a little longer and see some blood at night.

“Hoo…”

It was when Cheong tried to calm down and take a deep breath.

“Geomu.”

Nangung Shinjae’s worried voice came through.

“Why? Geomu.”

“No, well. I mean, just a moment.”

Nangung Shinjae hesitated.

It was a different attitude from his usual confident self.

When Cheong tilted his head, Nangung Shinjae struggled to speak.

“I thought about the date, you know.”

“What date? Geomu, speak clearly.”

“No, I mean, just a moment.”

Nangung Shinjae rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a bundle.

“Here, take this.”

“What is this? A gift? Suddenly? If you think I’ll be happy about this, that’s the wrong answer. What is this? A gift from the Black Faction?”

Black Faction. Another strange word popped up.

But Nangung Shinjae didn’t react, so it wasn’t that interesting.

“It’s Angsok.”

“Angsok? Is it a rose? Why this?”

As Cheong unfolded the bundle, the scent of dried leaves from the neatly wrapped leaves filled the air.

It was the calming scent unique to the forest.

“If you’re really struggling, chew one leaf at a time.”

“Oh. It’s not that serious. Anyway, thank you.”

Cheong expressed his gratitude in a somewhat absent-minded manner.

If you act happy after receiving drugs, it’s a bit… well, it’s just not right.