Chapter 224
224
Yang Gyo-jin blinked blankly, wiping the blood from his neck and muttering.
"So-hye hit me..."
"Sorry. It wasn't intentional."
"Knocked me down in one go! Awesome. You've gotten much faster?"
Is that what you're focused on?
Yang Gyo-jin's face, as he looked up at me, showed no sign of resentment. Rather, he looked excited.
Well, he was always only interested in martial arts.
Relieved, I helped him up.
"It's been a while. How have you been?"
"Good. But where's Brother?"
"Things are... a bit complicated."
At my awkward reply, Yang Gyo-jin didn't press further. Instead, he pointed to the table he had been sitting at and offered me a seat.
"I just ordered another lamb stew for a snack. Want to drink with me?"
"Sure. But first, let me finish talking with Senior Jegal..."
"I'm fine, so don't worry about me and talk comfortably, Junior Dang. Out. Everyone out."
Jegalcheon waved his hand, quickly ushering his group out of the inn. Then, he pressed a Silver Ingot into my hand and winked.
It seemed he believed I would resolve the situation.
Beopgong, watching the Jegal Clan people leave in a rush, hesitated for a moment, then scratched his head and sat at the table.
"Why are you here, Monk?"
"Felt uneasy leaving the kid alone."
He replied, crossing his legs and tapping the table with his fingertips. A Jeomsoi came running and placed two new cups down.
Yang Gyo-jin, watching Beopgong pour his own drink, asked curiously.
"You're wearing monk's robes, but why do you have hair and drink alcohol?"
"Me? I'm a bad monk."
"Are you even a monk? Or just a con artist?"
I couldn't help but laugh at him calling a Shaolin disciple a con artist to his face.
"Pfft, you haven't changed."
Beopgong, at Yang Gyo-jin's blunt assessment, smacked his lips and downed his drink.
"...This is a new type. Kid. You should be careful about who you make friends with."
"You're one to talk, Monk."
I shrugged and sat in the empty seat.
Yang Gyo-jin also scooted closer and sat right next to me, then introduced the man who had been sitting quietly.
"This is Sama Hoseon."
"Nice to meet you... I am Sama Hoseon."
He was a gaunt man with prominent cheekbones, and his face was flushed.
The whites of his eyes were yellow, and he was trembling like an aspen.
Alcohol poisoning, maybe? Is he okay?
"I am Dang So-hye. Are you feeling unwell? I don't mean to pry, but I am a physician."
"I'm fine. I just can't sleep without alcohol... I sleep well when I drink, so I'm fine."
Sama Hoseon replied awkwardly to my careful question.
Since he said he was fine, I didn't want to press further, so I smacked my lips. Yang Gyo-jin yawned and said,
"He doesn't usually shake that much. It's probably because of your Green Robe, So-hye. He's scared of the Tang Clan. He said someone poisoned him when he was young."
"I'm really sorry, but there are so many suspects that I have no idea who it could be."
"Dang Juyeop. Dang Juyeop... That bastard...!"
"Yeah. He still sees his face in his dreams."
"Oh dear. I apologize on their behalf. It's a great sin to be from the wrong Sect."
Beopgong chuckled at my lament.
"You're the unusual one, kid. You're the only normal one in your Sect. Ask anyone. Everyone says the Tang Clan is annoying."
"I can't deny that."
We raised our glasses and shared our recent news.
Yang Gyo-jin said he had been wandering the Jianghu.
He had set out on the Hundred-People Sparring Journey, but he hadn't been able to complete it, or something like that.
"There's only one left. The first opponent I meet at the tournament will be exactly the hundredth. I hope it's a strong Martial Artist. I wouldn't mind if it was you, So-hye."
Expectation gleamed in the eyes of the smiling guy.
I quickly changed the subject, sensing that he would call for a spar right away if I agreed.
"I see. But how did the Jegal Clan's Invitation letter end up in your hands?"
"You're ruining the mood."
"Gyo Jin. Please, can you explain it in detail?"
At my helpless question, Sama Hoseon, who had been watching, opened his mouth.
"It's because of me. Because our families aren't on good terms, Jegal Gyu started a fight when he saw me..."
Sama Hoseon's story was as follows.
Hearing about the Martial Arts Tournament, he wondered if he could get free drinks if he went to Wuhan...
"No, that's not it. I thought I could see some good sights..."
He had started walking towards Wuhan without a plan. Then, he met Yang Gyo-jin, who had gotten lost, and they traveled together...
"He's the one who was lost, not me. He's supposed to be from a Formation family, but he was just circling around the manor."
"There was a Formation there, okay? If you find a small hole, you can crawl inside without being noticed."
"Isn't that just a dog hole?"
Anyway, Sama Hoseon had freeloaded off Yang Gyo-jin's money pouch and arrived safely in Wuhan.
He had also found a wealthy patron with plenty of money, and he was drinking expensive alcohol to his heart's content, excitedly talking about who the likely winners of the Martial Arts Tournament would be.
Then, Yang Gyo-jin had taken out his Invitation letter to show him, and Jegal Gyu, seeing this, had mistakenly thought that Sama Hoseon was participating in the Martial Arts Tournament...
"He started being a jerk, saying, 'What ability does a Sama have to get an Invitation letter?'"
"So I beat him up."
"Jegal Gyu, that bastard I want to drown in a toilet! He's dumber than an earthworm, but he thinks he's something just because his surname is Jegal!"
Sama Hoseon, who had been speaking calmly, suddenly lost his temper and started shouting at the top of his lungs.
I felt awkward at the diverse range of emotions.
I shouldn't get too involved with this guy.
Beopgong, who had been chewing on lamb, narrowed his eyes and whispered to me.
"Kid. Don't be friends with him."
"Yes."
To summarize, Jegal Gyu had started a fight with Sama Hoseon with the intention of taking the Invitation letter, but when he found out that the owner of the Invitation letter was Yang Gyo-jin, he had his own Invitation letter taken away and was beaten black and blue before being kicked out.
Jegal Gyu was in the wrong here. I wouldn't want to give it back either if I were him.
Sama Hoseon, having finished his story, seemed to be thirsty, and he gulped down the alcohol straight from the bottle.
After taking a long swig, he finally calmed down and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I can't calm down easily when I get excited..."
"It's okay. So, what do you plan to do with the Invitation letter?"
"It's not mine, so what can I say? It's up to Young hero Yang."
"Didn't you say not to give it back earlier?"
"..."
Sama Hoseon avoided the question as Yang Gyo-jin tilted his head.
I sighed and looked at the two of them.
"I can understand why you'd be angry after being insulted like that. But you know that making enemies with the Jegal Clan like this isn't a good idea, right?"
"What's 'making enemies'?"
"Don't create grudges over something that can be easily resolved. How about we end this with Sama Sohyeop receiving a formal apology from Jegal's Young Patriarch, without anyone getting hurt?"
Sama Hoseon lowered his head at my suggestion. He looked a little offended.
"Yes... How can a mere Sama stand up to the Jegal Clan, one of the Five Great Families? Since we're born different, it's right to back down first. We should have all died when the dynasty collapsed, but we survived for nothing."
"I didn't say it that way."
This guy is more than a little upset.
"Instead, since they insulted Sama Sohyeop's Sect first, you should receive appropriate compensation."
"How can a man sell his pride for money?"
"You're already thinking about getting money, aren't you?"
Sama Hoseon gave an awkward smile at my jab, then swallowed hard and asked seriously.
"...How much will they give?"
Sama Hoseon's eyes gleamed as he licked his lips.
Yang Gyo-jin... Where did he pick up this guy?
I lost my will to mediate in an instant and asked listlessly.
"How much do you want?"
"Of course, the more the better. My pockets are empty."
"He ran away from home and has no money. His father told him not to show his face until he quits drinking. He said he'd break his legs if he saw him."
"You picked him up because he's similar to you."
"Yeah. He got pickpocketed too."
"Oh dear... Okay. Are you okay with giving the Invitation letter back?"
"Yeah. I don't care."
Yang Gyo-jin shrugged. He didn't seem to care about the Invitation letter at all.
"If you tell me the amount you want, I'll talk to Senior Jegal about it."
"Hmm... Five Silver Ingot?"
"Five Silver Ingot?"
"Is that too much? Then two Silver Ingot?"
Seeing room for negotiation, Beopgong, who had been listening quietly, asked.
"Shall I call Jegalcheon over?"
"Yes. But only Senior Jegal."
"Alright. That kid's all grown up."
Beopgong chuckled and ruffled my hair before getting up.
It wasn't long before Jegalcheon entered the inn with a bright smile.
\ \ *
"Junior Dang! Thank you. How can I ever repay this Grace..."
"It's nothing. I only said a few words."
"Those few words are what's important. If you ever need my help, contact me anytime. I'll drop everything and rush to help you."
Jegalcheon, who had put the fully returned Invitation letter in his arms, laughed heartily and patted my shoulder.
He seemed genuinely happy, saying that he would repay the Grace someday.
Sama Hoseon, who had received an apology from the Young Patriarch and a Promissory Note worth ten Silver Ingot, also seemed happy.
"Young hero Yang, I'll buy you drinks until you're blind drunk tonight."
"I'm not drinking anymore today. I need to warm up soon."
"Then, let's make it that I'll buy you drinks if Young hero Yang wins the championship."
"Okay. Sounds good."
Gyo Jin, that just sounds like he's saying he won't buy you drinks.
Amidst the amicable atmosphere, Jegal Gyu, who had caused the trouble, was the only one looking like he was about to die.
Of course, it wasn't my business, so I was about to say goodbye to Jegalcheon when someone recognized me.
"Oh, aren't you Young lady Dang?"
