Chapter 112: The Inn Waiter’s Dream
The Chief Escort Captain of the Yangtze River Eighteen Strongholds, Jeong Won-gyo.
He was swinging a truly massive axe with tremendous speed, again and again.
Anyone who saw it would have burst into exclamations of awe at his strength and concentration.
But in truth, he was overwhelmed with a sense of endless despair.
His axe was not landing at all.
No matter how fast or fiercely he swung, if it didn’t connect, it was all for nothing.
His body was gradually pushed back, new wounds appearing across his frame, and the ground along his retreat was stained with blood.
To make matters worse—
‘…My leg won’t move.’
The leg stabbed by a dagger at the beginning now felt painfully stiff.
Even his entire flow of qi kept snagging at that point.
From what he knew, there could only be one explanation for such a phenomenon.
‘Don’t tell me he has mastered Ice Arts.’
A chilling energy clung to his knee, hindering both the circulation of his qi and his movement.
His breath, growing shorter and shorter, now pressed up against his throat.
Not a single subordinate stepped in.
They all kept watching under the excuse of putting out fires or waiting for the right opportunity.
At that moment, he felt a stronger urge to smash the heads of his own subordinates than to deal with the two monsters before him.
How far had he been driven back like that?
Splash—his foot touched the river.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
Those monstrous opponents approached at ease, long sword and dagger hanging casually in their hands.
They showed no sign of fatigue.
One of them already had overwhelming martial might, and the other stabbed with his dagger whenever he found an opening.
Their advance looked like the very approach of death gods.
“To the one who kills these bastards, I will grant the position of Chief Escort Captain!”
The crowd of bandits flinched at once.
That position guaranteed enormous wealth and authority. For a bandit, it was the ultimate life goal.
The Chief Escort Captain’s words continued rapidly.
“So long as I overcome qi deviation, I don’t care if I leave this Shui Band. Naturally, the one who earns the greatest merit will succeed me. But do you really think you’ll survive if I die here?!”
As befitted a man who had led a faction—
He knew exactly what words could most quickly and effectively provoke his subordinates’ greed.
And indeed, their killing intent began to surge openly.
The killing intent of over a hundred men pressed down like crude blades upon the battlefield.
Jin Seong-un let out a small sigh.
They were not much of a threat.
Nor did he have any reason to slaughter them all.
But if they all rushed in recklessly, it was true there would be no choice but to kill them.
He had fought enough sects to know: when crazed as a group, they would charge even at the cost of their lives.
Then it happened.
A booming, thunderous voice tore through the killing intent of a hundred men.
“This is the very man who tried to kill even me, who has been loyal for decades! Who do you intend to believe?!”
It was Jang Gwang.
His body was drenched in blood, and in his left hand he carried the severed head of Vice Boss Chusa-un.
Soon after, a small boat docked at the riverbank, and Jang Gwang disembarked, tossing Chusa-un’s head among the bandits.
Every gaze turned toward it.
Their lifelong leader was on the brink of death, and their Vice Boss was already dead.
That alone drained their morale swiftly. And Jang Gwang’s testimony cooled their tempers even further.
The bandits exchanged looks, then quietly stepped back. Their refusal to intervene was obvious.
Seeing this, the Chief Escort Captain bellowed in rage.
“You worthless worms! And you still dare call yourselves martial artists!!”
By the time his roar reached the end of Yigong Stronghold, Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom were already standing before him.
“…”
The Chief Escort Captain stepped back further.
The river water now reached his knees.
Panting heavily, he glared at the two young monsters before him.
Jin Seong-un spoke softly.
“The inn waiter trusted the innkeeper and followed him this far. But you seem to have treated your subordinates harshly. Not a single one steps forth for you.”
The bandits’ willingness to move had never been loyalty but greed.
The Chief Escort Captain had completely lost the trust of his subordinates.
Whatever kind of man he had been over the past decades did not matter.
Recently, he had descended into madness, beating and killing his own followers without cause, and ruthlessly casting out Jang Gwang, who had served him loyally for decades.
“You… you whelp, what do you know—”
He could not finish.
Seo Yu-gyeom’s Heaven-Slaying Dagger pierced into his throat.
He swung his axe with all his remaining strength, but Jin Seong-un’s sword cut it clean through, shaft and all.
Thud—!
The massive axe crashed to the ground with a heavy tremor.
His body slowly toppled backward.
Jin Seong-un watched quietly.
Then Seo Yu-gyeom stepped forward and said,
“Someone like this must be finished off thoroughly. Sometimes you think they’re dead, but they come crawling back.”
With that, Seo Yu-gyeom leapt forward, slashing repeatedly with the Heaven-Slaying Dagger.
Stab, stab, stab, stab—!
He pierced every vital point.
The man twitched several times, then collapsed onto the river.
That massive body floated, drifting slowly downstream.
All eyes followed it.
Then Seo Yu-gyeom released a surge of blade qi.
Slice—!
The body was cut in half somewhere downstream.
And Seo Yu-gyeom spoke.
“Now it’s certain. Understand?”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
In the martial world, Seo Yu-gyeom’s way was often the right way.
Thus ended the man who had ruled the Yangtze River for decades—dying atop the very river itself.
The atmosphere grew silent.
Regardless, Seo Yu-gyeom calmly washed his Heaven-Slaying Dagger in the flowing river.
Then—
From the distance, dozens of ships approached.
Seo Yu-gyeom frowned at the sight.
“What now? Reinforcements?”
He tightened his grip on the Heaven-Slaying Dagger.
But Jang Gwang, watching the ships intently, spoke.
“…Those are my men.”
“Your men? Weren’t you just a mere bandit?”
Seo Yu-gyeom looked at him in surprise.
Jang Gwang scratched his head.
There was only one reason why the subordinates of Hongho Stronghold would be coming here, waving their banners.
‘Looks like word of my situation reached Hongho Stronghold.’
They were men of deep loyalty.
They had come ready to risk their lives fighting Yigong Stronghold for their leader’s sake.
As expected, when they disembarked and saw the battlefield, confusion filled their faces.
“B-Brother? You’re safe?”
“Boss! Where’s that bastard Jeong Won-gyo?!”
Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Jang Gwang all looked toward the far-off river.
That alone seemed enough of an answer, for the men of Hongho Stronghold let out sighs of relief.
“He wasn’t the kind to die so easily… Not that I doubt you, Brother…”
Jang Gwang scratched his head.
It was natural for them to have doubts.
Then Jang Gwang pointed toward Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom.
“These young heroes accomplished it.”
“What?”
The men of Hongho Stronghold turned serious eyes toward the two.
No matter how they looked, they seemed little more than youths barely past twenty.
“What are you looking at, want to die?”
Seo Yu-gyeom suddenly spoke.
At that, the men glared back, eyes blazing.
Behind them, Jang Gwang shook his head desperately. No, not to them right now…
Though the bandits felt confused, they still read the earnest plea in their leader’s expression and lowered their gazes.
Seo Yu-gyeom showed a satisfied smile.
Then Jang Gwang spoke.
“The Chief Escort Captain and Vice Boss are both dead. And what remains is…”
His gaze shifted to the surviving men of Yigong Stronghold. Soon, the men of Hongho Stronghold also looked at them, their hostility rising.
Won Hu-hyeok, the Vice Boss of Hongho Stronghold, asked the men of Yigong Stronghold,
“When the former Chief Escort Captain went mad and committed those atrocities, did any of you try to stop him?”
“…”
Naturally, not a single hand was raised.
Won Hu-hyeok, as though he hadn’t expected it anyway, immediately continued.
“Of course not. Any sane man would have been beaten to death by that madman long ago.”
Even the brother who had served him for decades was treated that way. It was obvious he would have killed any subordinate who dared to speak up.
That left only one thing to do.
“Attack!”
The men of Hongho Stronghold each raised their broad sabers and axes, charging at Yigong Stronghold.
Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom simply watched. There was no reason to involve themselves any deeper in bandits’ affairs.
When they had arrived—without anyone noticing—Seomun Ak naturally stood beside them and said,
“A fine fight.”
Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom looked at him.
With a shameless expression, Seomun Ak said,
“If I hadn’t set that fire, you two would’ve been in danger. It was my perfect timing, in the perfect area. My contribution is great. Admit it.”
The two hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Of course, they hadn’t truly been in danger. But Seomun Ak’s expression seemed to say,
“Just say it. Please.”
So they decided to protect the pride of the Namgung Clan’s second son, the world’s number one inn waiter.
.
.
.
It didn’t take long to settle Yigong Stronghold.
They had already lost both their leaders, and their morale was shattered.
Moreover, they had witnessed firsthand the martial prowess of Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom. Even if the two did not join in, just standing and watching pressed down on them with immense pressure.
The flag of Yigong Stronghold came down, and the flag of Hongho Stronghold was raised. It was the moment ownership of one of the Yangtze River Eighteen Strongholds changed hands.
Won Hu-hyeok, Vice Boss of Hongho Stronghold, picked up the broad saber symbolizing the Chief Escort Captain and handed it to Jang Gwang.
But Jang Gwang shook his head.
“I will leave the Shui Band.”
“…What?”
Won Hu-hyeok asked again, as though he had misheard. Jang Gwang continued firmly.
“I’m tired of this life. I have no desire to go on living as a bandit.”
For his belief had been shattered. He had thought that though the Shui Band were bandits, at least they didn’t cross the line, unlike the Green Forest or other sects.
But he was wrong. Dead wrong.
Even if the Chief Escort Captain’s madness had driven it, nearly a thousand bandits had stayed silent at his deeds.
“Brother, if you leave after all this, what are we supposed to do?”
“That’s for you to decide. Once I leave, the leader of Hongho Stronghold is you, Won Hu-hyeok.”
These were not words of irresponsibility.
He trusted Won Hu-hyeok enough to leave things in his hands.
Had he doubted his subordinate’s ability, conviction, or martial prowess, Jang Gwang would have taken the Chief Escort Captain’s seat by force.
“The table is already set. Do you expect me to feed you like a child?”
At those words, Won Hu-hyeok showed a complicated expression. He knew Jang Gwang was not a man to go back on his decisions.
And he also understood well why Jang Gwang felt ashamed of being a bandit.
Listening the whole time, Seo Yu-gyeom muttered,
“We’re the ones who set the table.”
Everyone, including Jang Gwang and Won Hu-hyeok, turned to look at him.
Seo Yu-gyeom scratched his head.
“It was just a mutter.”
Jang Gwang and Won Hu-hyeok both coughed awkwardly.
For in truth, Seo Yu-gyeom was right.
Feeling embarrassed, Jang Gwang hurried to change the subject.
“Anyway, I’m leaving. From now on, the direction of the Shui Band will be yours to decide.”
“Then what will you do for a living? You don’t have any secret stash saved up.”
“That…”
Jang Gwang’s lips flapped for a moment.
Nothing came to mind, so he gazed off into the distance and said,
“A man departing on his path. Don’t ask further.”
“…So you’ve got nothing.”
“…”
“I’ll come visit from time to time.”
Won Hu-hyeok meant it sincerely.
Whenever hardships arose leading the Shui Band, he would visit Jang Gwang and ask,
“Brother, is the Shui Band walking the path you believed in?”
Though Jang Gwang left the Shui Band, the men who had followed him for decades did not leave him.
The far sky was beginning to brighten.
The four of them left Yigong Stronghold—no, Hongho Stronghold now—and made their way toward Yichang.
For a while, no one spoke. The reason was simple: they couldn’t be bothered.
After a sleepless night storming the Shui Band and going through hell, they were mentally exhausted.
How long did they walk in silence?
Jin Seong-un spoke casually,
“So, what will you do with your life now?”
At that, Jang Gwang thought for a while. But coming up with a new direction right away wasn’t easy.
“Honestly, I don’t know. But one thing I’ll promise. Hero Jin, Hero Seo—no matter what, I’ll repay your grace, even if it costs my life.”
“What about me?”
Seomun Ak cut in from the side.
Jang Gwang looked at him and said,
“I’ll repay Young Hero Seomun too. Just not with my life—something reasonable.”
“…You’re insane.”
Seomun Ak’s face twisted in grievance.
It was bad enough being called a “young hero” instead of a “great hero,” but now he was being openly discriminated against.
Regardless, Jin Seong-un glanced at Jang Gwang and asked in a gentle, subtle tone,
“What do you think of the inn waiter profession?”
“Ah.”
Jang Gwang’s mind spun quickly.
He had never really thought deeply about inn waiters. To him, they were just ordinary staff at inns, easy to treat lightly.
But Jin Seong-un himself was an inn waiter. Naturally, he couldn’t speak his mind outright.
After a brief pause, Jang Gwang said,
“Well… they’re all-rounders, responsible for giving guests a good experience, ensuring their safety, and managing the busy affairs of an inn at the same time…”
“Oh, you really think that?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Then you must have secretly admired the profession, right? Thought to yourself, ‘Could I ever become someone like that?’”
“Admire…?”
Was this really the time for such a word?
As he hesitated, Jang Gwang’s head grew muddled. Maybe it was because the tension had finally eased, or because he had fought all night.
One thing was certain: he couldn’t make a rational judgment now.
“Y-Yes. Admired.”
“Well then. Perhaps, by fate, I can help you achieve that dream.”
And “admiration” had quietly turned into “dream.”
Jang Gwang became a man whose future aspiration was to be an inn waiter.
And Jin Seong-un resolved to make that dream come true.