A table where men had gathered, yet not a drop of alcohol graced it.
It was truly a spectacle that evoked a peculiar feeling.
Was it because it was unusual? I could feel those nearby stealing glances at this place.
Ignoring their gazes, I took a sip of the tea set before me.
‘It’s probably not because of that, though.’
The reason their gazes were drawn was not the lack of alcohol.
“Isn’t that the Biseongdo?”
“There was already talk of someone seeing the Biseongdo at the Alliance recently. So it was true.”
“He certainly is handsome, I’ll give him that.”
It was partly because of Paeng Ujin, who was sitting before me, using his chopsticks with impeccable manners.
“Then is that beside him the Xiao Yanluo?”
“Xiao Yanluo? What do you mean, sudden talk of Xiao Yanluo?”
It was also because of me, who was eating dumplings alongside them.
“I heard there was a young man whom the Biseongdo pretended to know. They say it was none other than Xiao Yanluo.”
“Is the one next to him Xiao Yanluo? I can’t see his face well….”
“No, the one next to that person.”
“Next to him? If it’s the one beside him… Huk!”
“They say Xiao Yanluo is a young man with an extremely fierce appearance, so I wondered how true that could be…. It really is so.”
So what if it is?
So what?
I wanted to go over and confront them immediately, but I held back. I had grown used to this kind of treatment by now.
The fact that I could grow used to such a thing was truly incomparably sad.
“That’s right. The young man once called the youngest Hwagyeong… Of course, in the end...”
I couldn’t hear the rest. But it was easy enough to guess what was said.
They probably said it was false, or baseless rumors, something along those lines.
It didn’t stir any particular emotion within me.
I hadn’t affirmed or denied it from the start, and besides, I preferred this point in time where the rumors had faded, just as they were now.
The problem was.
“Hey, your chopsticks are shaking.”
“…!”
The fact that the guy sitting beside me was reacting even more strongly than I was.
“What’s wrong?”
“…It is nothing….”
Afraid his face might be seen, he pulled the dharma cloak he was wearing even lower over his head.
“If you were going to be so scared, why come out to eat at all?”
“Hehe, do not be so hard on him.”
Cutting me off, Paeng Ujin subtly moved his hand.
He placed the plate of dumplings before him in front of Ttaengjung.
“Young Master Gu, this one must have come here because he wanted to eat so badly. I fully understand.”
“Thank yo—”
“How delicious must they be for him to come here, going against the natural order? Absolutely no one! No one among those I have seen until now has done such a thing. By this alone, is it not acknowledged that this house’s dumplings are an incredible delicacy?”
“...”
“...”
I see. So it was a roundabout jab.
It was a roundabout jab of such sophistication that I had never even dared to think of one like it.
‘…This guy.’
Was there something to learn from this?
I felt I could stand to pick up a thing or two from this.
I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.
Because Paeng Ujin’s expression was seriousness itself.
He tilted his head as he looked at Ttaengjung, who was holding his chopsticks with trembling hands.
“Why do you not eat? Please, help yourself.”
“Th-thank you… Thank you.”
Despite his trembling, that Ttaengjung rascal picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.
Seeing that, I spoke up.
“You’re really eating this? Even in this situation, that still goes down?”
“Keup….”
For a moment, the rascal almost spat it out upon hearing my words, but he forcibly swallowed and began eating.
Watching this, I felt I perfectly understood his state.
‘It’s the attitude of someone who’ll eat since he’s been caught anyway.’
Since he was caught anyway, he would eat no matter what.
His entire demeanor was filled with that.
Did he really want to eat that badly? What was so special about these dumplings that….
‘…Not that I’m one to talk.’
As I watched Ttaengjung—no, Sinryong—diligently eating his dumplings, I too moved my chopsticks.
It was to pick up and eat a dumpling.
Clack.
“Hm?”
“…Mhm?”
Chopsticks clashed against chopsticks. Now that I looked, there happened to be exactly one dumpling left.
After confirming this, I spoke to Sinryong.
“Put it down quietly. I’ve yielded to you until now.”
Hearing my words, Sinryong replied.
“…Benefactor. Since this is something the Biseongdo is bestowing, for you to say that you have yielded does not seem quite correct.”
“Oh?”
Would you look at this rascal?
“We’ve all been eating diligently until now, so you should hand over one. How can a monk be greedy? You shouldn’t covet material desires.”
“Of the nine dumplings, three were eaten by Biseonggeom, and three by you, Benefactor. Thus, this dumpling rightfully belongs to this humble monk.”
“Were you counting them so shamelessly?”
Since when had he been watching them one by one?
I looked at Sinryong with a dumbfounded expression, and the corner of the rascal’s lips was faintly raised.
Don’t tell me, was that the look of someone who had won? Seeing that, I spoke in a hollow voice.
“In the first place, is it even right for a monk like you to be eating dumplings here? Dumplings with meat in them, no less?”
“…!”
When I raised the most fundamental issue, Sinryong flinched and his body trembled.
It seemed he too felt the prick of his conscience.
This was my chance.
Swish—!
“Hup!”
In the brief moment Sinryong hesitated, I swiftly popped the last dumpling into my mouth.
At that, Sinryong made an expression as if the sky were falling.
No matter how I looked at it, it was not an expression fit for a rascal like Ttaengjung.
‘Just what is it about these dumplings?’
No, more fundamentally, what was it about meat that had both a Taoist and a monk acting like this?
‘Well, Uhyeok is Uhyeok.’
That bastard was strange to begin with, so he was a different case.
‘But what about him?’
I simply could not understand the guy sitting before me.
Just who was this rascal and why was he doing this here?
‘Of all places, it had to be here again.’
Just like the first time, our second meeting was also at this place.
I think I had met him while eating dumplings back then too. This time, it was dumplings again.
‘…To think a monk would know the taste of meat.’
It seemed the dumplings at this house really were delicious, just as Paeng Ujin had said.
“One more plate of dumplings here, please.”
“Yeees, sir!”
Seeing the empty plate, Paeng Ujin called for another order, and Sinryong’s expression brightened.
“Did you come here starving?”
“…I did not.”
“But you did, didn’t you?”
When I picked a fight, Sinryong no longer answered me.
He seemed intent on simply ignoring me and eating.
At that sight, I broke into a smirk and took a sip of tea.
As I was watching him without a word.
“So, what you’re saying is that young man is Xiao Yanluo.”
“They say he was once famous, being called the Jinryong… I wonder why there are no rumors of him these days. Even…”
The man who had been speaking paused for a moment before continuing.
“They say he was called the youngest Hwagyeong.”
He flinched.
At those words, Ttaengjung’s hand, which had been eating a dumpling, trembled.
“Hey! My good man. You believe those baseless rumors?”
“No, I’m saying that was the rumor. Such a great rumor had spread, yet he seems too quiet….”
The sound of their whispering tickled my ears.
They seemed to be speaking quietly to themselves, but they could not fool my developed energy sense.
“It’s probably because he’s ceased his activities.”
“Even so… something…”
Wondering what they were about to say, I pricked my ears to listen.
Hum—!
“Hm?”
I felt energy enveloping the surroundings.
It was a qi barrier.
However, the energy contained within it was no ordinary thing.
It was an energy so pure and clean that it was palpable.
‘If it’s this kind of energy.’
I immediately looked to the side.
“What are you doing?”
“...”
The qi barrier had been raised by Sinryong.
It seemed he had blocked out the outside noise.
“What is this for?”
I asked, waving my hand through the empty air.
The whispering voices must have been audible to Paeng Ujin and Sinryong as well.
For him to deliberately layer a qi barrier over our conversation about me meant…
“What, are you doing it out of consideration for me?”
“That is not it….”
Sinryong avoided answering and averted his gaze as well.
I didn’t know what he was thinking.
I looked at the rascal, tilting my head.
“So… Young Master Gu.”
Paeng Ujin, who was beside me, abruptly struck up a conversation.
“Why is it that you do not visit the main house?”
“…So suddenly?”
What kind of dog-shit talk was this? The abrupt question made me furrow my brow.
“Did I not even give you a plaque? I told you to visit without fail.”
“Ah.”
Only then did it come back to me.
Now that I thought about it, I had received something.
‘It was a black wooden plaque.’
Surely they had said I would receive a warm welcome if I went to the Paeng family with it.
Several years had passed since I received it, yet I had never once gone to the Paeng family.
“There was no particular reason to go. I was busy as well.”
It had been a time of being pushed around and running about, struggling just to keep myself alive.
How could I have leisurely gone visiting anywhere in the midst of that?
I truly had no time to go.
That was how it was.
‘Even if I had had the time, I wouldn’t have gone anyway.’
Why would I go looking for the Paeng family?
We were not on particularly good terms, and especially those people, they had reasons to grind their teeth at me.
“I’ll go later, when I really have the time.”
“Hm… I shall trust in that.”
“Please don’t trust in it too much….”
I felt like I would go crazy from the pressure. Just why was this bastard so fixated on me?
“…So Lord Paeng, do you truly intend to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament?”
Feeling annoyed, I forcibly steered the conversation.
“Hm? Is that not obvious? I have already applied.”
As he spoke, Paeng Ujin showed me his plaque.
It was proof that he had properly applied, and it was the same plaque that I held. Looking at it, I continued my question.
“What for?”
“Is it so strange for a righteous martial artist to participate in a Martial Arts Tournament hosted by the Alliance?”
It was a valid point, so I had nothing to refute.
Because, as Paeng Ujin said, it was not a strange thing.
“Especially since they boast that this will be held on an unprecedented scale. How exciting!”
An unprecedented Martial Arts Tournament.
It was something the Murim Alliance had mentioned together when announcing the tournament.
‘That wasn’t a lie either.’
Just by looking at the scale of the tournament they intended to hold and the rewards prepared for it, it truly was unprecedented.
From the Dahuandan prepared directly by Shaolin.
To the treasured Geumcheon Jaryong Sword, one of the Five Great Famous Swords of the Central Plains that the Alliance had kept in storage until now.
In addition, there were martial arts robes made of rare silk sold by the Murong family, and support from the merchant guild established by the Murim Alliance for the next three years, among other things.
There were various rewards grand enough to widen one’s eyes just from hearing about them, but.
‘What the martial artists here prize the most is…’
Probably the strongest unit in the history of the Murim Alliance, which had disappeared in the past.
It would be regarding the Divine Dragon Corps.
It was a place that all the experts symbolizing the righteous faction had passed through, a place that was itself a symbol.
Though its fame had faded by now, the Murim Alliance had announced the revival of the Divine Dragon Corps starting with this tournament.
And within the tournament’s rewards, there was talk of this.
‘They said that martial artists who achieve excellent results in the Martial Arts Tournament would be allowed to join the Divine Dragon Corps.’
I did not know how many they would select, but that was what the Alliance had mentioned.
In other words, it would not be wrong to say that this Martial Arts Tournament was ultimately for the founding of the Divine Dragon Corps.
The Divine Dragon Corps, once called the sword of the Murim Alliance and the symbol of the righteous faction.
For martial artists who lived and died for fame and glory, it was something they would covet and then some.
And rightfully so.
‘Because it was said that the leaders of the Divine Dragon Corps generation after generation became the greatest under heaven.’
I did not know about now, but I heard that was the case in the distant past.
Perhaps the time when such talk was not continued was….
‘The time when the Sword Sovereign was the Alliance Leader?’
The Sword Sovereign had once led the Divine Dragon Corps.
Although he later rose to the position of Alliance Leader, even though he was called the greatest sword under heaven, he was not the greatest under heaven.
In the end, the Divine Dragon Corps was disbanded.
It would not be wrong to say that such talk had disappeared in the end.
However.
‘Still, the martial artists won’t care.’
The leader of the Divine Dragon Corps becomes the greatest under heaven.
To inherit the karma contained in that tale, martial artists would rush in like moths to a flame.
After all, the martial artists of the current Central Plains were that kind of people.
“So, does that mean Lord Paeng is also interested in that?”
I fiddled with my teacup as I asked Paeng Ujin. He smiled and replied.
“That is correct. Did Young Master Gu not apply for the tournament with the same heart?”
“Hm.”
At the question, I let out a low sound for a moment.
First, I was honestly not very interested in things like the Dahuandan or the precious sword.
The Dahuandan?
My internal energy was already overflowing, and I still had the Dokcheondan as well.
Moreover, since I possessed the original manufacturing method, what use was something like a Dahuandan?
I was even in the process of digesting the energy of the Bingjeong.
At this point, my internal energy was no longer lacking in the slightest.
They say more is better, but if it increased further, I was not even confident what would happen.
‘Setting aside the Reversion Pill, then what about the Five Great Famous Swords of the Central Plains?’
That too was meaningless.
Not only did I already have a sword of that caliber hanging at my left arm.
I was not a swordsman to begin with, so I had no interest.
Even if a gauntlet had come out, it would have been the same.
Precious items themselves were not my interest.
Whether it was silk clothes or merchant guild support, that obviously wasn’t it either.
Then there was only one thing left.
‘The Divine Dragon Corps.’
Recalling this, I replied to Paeng Ujin with a smile.
“Yes, I cannot say I am uninterested.”
That was all I needed.
It was for that reason that I had bothered to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.
‘That’s right.’
Only the Divine Dragon Corps.
More precisely.
‘I need a hat.’
And a very heavy hat at that.
I needed a hat so large, so heavy, and so wide that it could completely hide my appearance.
At those words, which I had uttered while thinking that, Paeng Ujin wore a peculiar expression.
“Hm. I see.”
Even as he gave his answer, his expression was one where it was impossible to know what he was thinking.
Paeng Ujin’s gaze had been that way from the very first time I saw him.
Eyes that took on an extremely lighthearted appearance, yet whose inner thoughts were impossible to read.
A form vastly different from the honest and cheerful Paeng Ahee.
Even his father, the Paeng Family Head, had seemed transparent, if in a bad way.
‘That’s why I end up on guard without realizing it.’
Lines kept being drawn against that demeanor.
That was the kind of man Paeng Ujin was, in my eyes.
“...”
“...”
Perhaps because the conversation had ended.
An alien silence flowed.
An uncomfortable silence where no one spoke.
Should I say something? Just as I was pondering and about to open my mouth.
“The food is here!”
The server arrived at the table with the dumplings we had ordered earlier.
Thanks to that, the uncomfortable atmosphere was resolved.
“Oh!”
Seeing the dumplings, Paeng Ujin donned his characteristic smile once more.
“It looks delicious. Let us eat at once.”
Starting with Paeng Ujin’s words, chopsticks reached out.
Forgetting the earlier atmosphere for a moment, we resumed our meal.
As I was enjoying each bite, I felt a particularly uncomfortable gaze.
Wondering if it was Paeng Ujin, I glanced over, but it was not him.
It was Sinryong.
He was stealing glances at me with an uncomfortable look in his eyes.
For some reason, that gaze lasted until we finished our meal.
******************
The meal ended, and we came outside looking satisfied.
The time was just past noon, so it was still a bright, sunny day.
I looked at the sun floating well overhead and nodded.
‘I can do my afternoon training.’
The timing was not bad.
At this rate, I felt I could focus on today’s training.
I had been feeling it was lacking, so this was fortunate.
“It was absolutely delicious. As expected, this is the best place in Hanam.”
Since we were outside, Paeng Ujin followed out.
It seemed he had just paid.
Sinryong was following behind Paeng Ujin, and looking at him, Paeng Ujin spoke.
“Hey, I said I would buy. Why did you do this?”
“…No. It was only right that I pay my share.”
From what I heard, it seemed Sinryong had paid for his own portion.
He could have just let us treat him, yet he insisted on paying.
‘I suppose it doesn’t matter, Shaolin must have a lot of money.’
It was not a place that would be shaken by mere dumpling costs.
If he was the top late-generation disciple of that place, he must receive some pocket money from here and there.
‘Looking at it this way, they say one must achieve desirelessness, yet there is no place greedier than Shaolin.’
Not only did they quietly run all sorts of businesses, but they had also set down roots in Hanam land; there was no place as incongruous as Shaolin.
“Was it good?”
I asked Sinryong as he came down, and the rascal let out a short cough.
His eyes looked satisfied. It seemed it really had been delicious.
“I am glad it suited everyone’s taste.”
Paeng Ujin walked over, picking his white teeth with a toothpick he had somehow obtained.
“Since we have finished our meal, what do you plan to do now, Young Master Gu? If you have no plans after this, perhaps a stroll somewhere….”
“I am going back to train.”
“…I see. I cannot interfere with your training.”
I had expected him to be clingy, but when I honestly said I was going to train, even Paeng Ujin nodded.
“It was a very pleasant gathering. I hope we can have such gatherings often in the future.”
“…Yes, we shall see.”
“Haha! Such a cold reaction! That is exactly why I like it!”
Every single word he said sent chills down my spine.
Was this bastard doing this on purpose?
“Lord Paeng.”
“Yes, speak of anything you wish.”
“I am telling you again, I like women. Moreover, I am engaged.”
“Hm? I am aware.”
An expression as if I were asking something obvious.
That sight was somewhat reassuring.
“That is a relief…. Surely Lord Paeng is the same, no?”
“I suppose the next time we meet will be at the Martial Arts Tournament. I truly look forward to that time….”
“Answer me.”
Damn it.
Why did he have to change the subject now?
I grimaced and took a step back. Seeing that, Paeng Ujin giggled.
“Hahaha. A jest, merely a jest.”
“So it was all a joke?”
“Perhaps.”
“Fuck….”
“Well then, since everyone says they are busy, I shall take my leave. I myself am a very busy man. Hahaha!”
The man who had just suggested going for a stroll was now saying he was busy and leaving.
How was I supposed to take this?
A sense of exhaustion washed over me in an instant, and I had to cover my forehead with my hand.
“Young Master Gu, of course. And you… it was a pleasure meeting you as well.”
I could see Paeng Ujin had been about to call Sinryong a monk but stopped himself.
Probably because there were somewhat many people around.
As Paeng Ujin bowed his head in courtesy, Sinryong accepted the gesture with an awkward motion.
Since he could not receive it with the etiquette of his side, Sinryong seemed to only bow his head.
‘Good grief.’
Watching them, I wondered what on earth this spectacle was.
“Then, I shall truly take my leave. I was truly delighted. Truly, truly.”
“Yes. Please go in.”
When I sent him off as if pushing him away due to his somewhat clingy manner, Paeng Ujin finally moved his feet and disappeared.
Surprisingly, he did not seem to hesitate in leaving.
Thus, Paeng Ujin flowed into the crowd and vanished.
Left alone with Sinryong, I too looked at him and spoke.
“I’m going.”
“...”
I uttered it briefly and began to walk.
Because I did not have much to say to this rascal.
Just as I was walking, thinking of the order of my training for when I returned.
“…Why did you not say anything?”
Sinryong’s voice suddenly reached me.
I turned my head and looked at the rascal.
“Are you talking to me?”
“...”
No answer came, but Sinryong was definitely looking at me.
Seeing that, I asked back.
“What do you mean?”
“Just now… The words the others spoke.”
“Hm?”
What was Sinryong trying to say?
I tilted my head, not understanding.
“Ah.”
Something did flash through my mind.
It seemed he meant the words the guests had spoken earlier.
["So that young man is Xiao Yanluo."]
["They say he was called the youngest Hwagyeong."]
["It must be because he has ceased his activities."]
They were all words spoken by those people.
Wondering if he was talking about this, I asked Sinryong.
“And what was I supposed to say to that?”
I wondered if there was something to get involved with or not.
“Did I have to go over there and flip their table?”
They were talking about me there, ruining my appetite.
So should I have flipped everything?
‘Was it necessary?’
It wasn’t even much of an insult to hear.
At least by my standards.
But had it been something worth getting angry about for Sinryong?
It didn’t seem like someone who worshipped the Buddha would get angry over something like that.
‘He even put up a qi barrier for me. Maybe something was bothering him.’
Perhaps he had found something disagreeable. That was why he had been like this even now, I thought.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal…. The food was good, so just forget it and let us each go our separate ways.”
I spat out the words and turned my gaze away again.
Then, as I was about to walk toward my destination once more.
“…That is not it.”
At the words that followed again, I had to furrow my brow.
Annoyance flared up.
Why did this guy keep bothering me? He had eaten the dumplings deliciously enough.
With emotions rising to a peak, I blurted out without turning my head.
“Ah, then what in the world….”
“The words that the youngest Hwagyeong was a baseless rumor.”
I froze.
“…Why did you, Benefactor, not deny those words?”
Hearing this, I looked at Sinryong again.
“Well, well.”
The annoyance that had been rising until just now vanished, and a hollow smile formed on my lips.
I erased even the thought I had been having about Sinryong just before.
“You.”
I looked at Sinryong and spoke.
“You were less of an idiot than I thought.”
“...”
At those words, Sinryong’s gaze changed fiercely.