Chapter 114: Choe Jeong-myeong
The group left the child in Hyeon-un’s care for a while and returned to Seong-un Inn.
For some reason, Jang Gwang wore a sullen expression.
Seeing this, Jin Seong-un asked,
“Why so glum?”
“No, it’s just… after all this time I’ve spent taking care of him, I can’t believe he cast me aside for a single piece of candy.”
“Children are always like that.”
Jang Gwang let out a small sigh.
Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak went into the inn to prepare for business, while Jin Seong-un paused a moment and asked Jang Gwang,
“So, have you given it some thought?”
Jin Seong-un’s eyes gleamed with rare brightness.
He had already come to a conclusion after seeing Jang Gwang’s thick hands, straightforward nature, and burly frame.
‘He has more than enough qualities to be an inn waiter.’
Seong-un Inn had grown too large as it was, so he had been planning to recruit more inn waiters. On top of that, Seomun Ak’s complaints had been piling up lately.
Just then, a man perfectly suited to be an inn waiter had appeared before him.
Jang Gwang rolled his eyes for a moment.
Seeing this, Jin Seong-un spoke in a calm tone.
“It’s not forced. There are plenty of people in the world who could take the job of inn waiter. But do you know this? Actually, the history of this inn is…”
Jin Seong-un began explaining the history of Seong-un Inn.
Every so often, he added, “Ah, but don’t feel pressured, this isn’t forced.”
But the overwhelming pride flowing from him was none other than Jin Seong-un’s true desire.
Soon, Jang Gwang said,
“Ha, I’ll do it. I’ll be an inn waiter.”
“Oh-ho. If you chose that out of pressure, it’s really fine. I need someone who’ll work long-term anyway.”
“That’s not it.”
Of course, it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel pressured.
But that wasn’t the reason for his choice.
Though he had only stayed for a few days, Jang Gwang had already seen what kind of place Seong-un Inn was.
As a guest, he had felt its warmth, and traveling along the Yangtze River, he had experienced the extraordinariness of its members.
As a man, as a martial artist, how could he refuse such an offer?
“Rather, I’m grateful. Truth is, I boasted to my men, but I really had nowhere to go.”
“You made the right choice. From now on, there will often be interesting things happening. For reference…”
Jin Seong-un suddenly changed his tone, speaking with gravity. This was something that had to be made clear.
“There must never be fists raised within the inn. An inn waiter is not a martial artist.”
“…Of course. Even the great Guest Dragon endures it here—how could I not?”
Remembering how brusque and hostile he had been to Jin Seong-un the first time he came to the inn, Jang Gwang felt embarrassed.
Moreover, despite his level of martial prowess, Jin Seong-un had never once shown irritation and instead patiently bore all the guests’ complaints.
To Jang Gwang, that felt truly manly. Much more so than a Chief Escort Captain who never endured and swung his axe around.
.
.
.
When Jin Seong-un returned to the inn, he introduced the new inn waiter. Seo Yu-gyeom stuck his head out from the kitchen and simply nodded.
In truth, Seo Yu-gyeom didn’t care who came in as an inn waiter, so long as they didn’t cause trouble.
Han Seong-chun had a similar attitude. After all, the roles of chef and inn waiter were clearly divided, and there wasn’t much reason to mind each other.
But one person was different.
Seomun Ak walked up with his shoulders squared, full of force.
He stood face-to-face with Jang Gwang.
Since both men were large in build, a peculiar pressure filled the air.
“Call me senior.”
“….”
Jang Gwang stared at Seomun Ak in disbelief.
Seomun Ak’s brows twitched.
“Hey, answer.”
“….”
Seomun Ak smacked the back of Jang Gwang’s head.
It was Seomun Ak’s creed that a rowdy junior had to be disciplined right from the start.
Jang Gwang deliberately didn’t dodge. He just rubbed the back of his head for a moment and glared at Seomun Ak.
The two locked eyes in a silent battle.
Then Seomun Ak shouted,
“Hey, Jin Seong-un! He’s glaring at me!!”
It might seem childish, but in this inn, it was the most effective attack.
Sure enough, when Jin Seong-un returned from tending to the guest rooms and asked, “Really?”, Jang Gwang’s eyes immediately softened.
“There’s no way I would. Senior.”
“Senior? No need to call me that. Jang the Hero is much older anyway.”
At those words, both Jang Gwang and Seomun Ak’s expressions showed mixed feelings.
.
.
.
Seomun Ak resolved to properly train Jang Gwang.
Though he hadn’t meant to, the job of inn waiter had already become second nature to him.
Inside, Seomun Ak was convinced that he had quite a talent for being an inn waiter.
Indeed, his martial artist’s stamina and his intimidating appearance—perfect for suppressing unruly guests—were strengths no ordinary inn waiter could ever possess.
And so the morning business began.
As time passed and the business continued, Seomun Ak’s thoughts began to change.
In the end, he made this judgment.
‘…Dangerous.’
A guest accidentally dropped a teacup.
The cup clattered loudly, scattering shards across the floor.
Just as Seomun Ak stepped forward to deal with it, Jang Gwang, who had been serving another guest, was already there.
And in a surprisingly gentle voice for his size, he said,
“Are you all right? Please stay still—it’s dangerous. I’ll take care of it.”
Then, with his huge hand, he swept the shards up in one go, easily tidying everything.
Having lost the initiative, Seomun Ak could only watch, flustered.
He felt someone’s gaze and turned his head—Jin Seong-un was watching the two of them closely.
Seomun Ak’s heart pounded.
‘M-my position…’
He felt a greater sense of crisis than when he lost in a duel years ago to his eternal rival, Baek Li-joong.
And thus, their rivalry began.
Who was faster, who was kinder, who sold more…
As if they had spent their lives training to become the world’s greatest inn waiter, they moved like madmen.
From a step away, a man looked on in delight.
It was Jin Seong-un.
‘As expected.’
People needed rivals.
When Seomun Ak first became an inn waiter, he thought he was quite good at it.
But Jang Gwang surpassed even that.
Both men looked strong for inn waiters, but somehow that actually gave the guests a sense of security.
So much so that Jin Seong-un himself had nothing left to do.
With hands clasped behind his back, he simply nodded as he watched them.
After the lunch rush ended, there was a short break before the dinner business began.
Amusingly, Seomun Ak and Jang Gwang sat on opposite sides of the inn, glaring at each other.
Both were breathing heavily for some reason.
“You both did well.”
Jin Seong-un encouraged the two.
Then Seomun Ak said,
“Learned a lot, huh? There’s still much more for me to teach, so watch closely during the dinner service. If you don’t know something, you can ask.”
He deliberately didn’t use honorifics.
After all, in any sect, rank was determined not by age but by seniority.
Seong-un Sect—or rather, Seong-un Inn—was no different.
Since everyone there was a martial artist, he believed the same rules should apply.
“Well, looks like you’ve learned most of it.”
Jang Gwang also spoke casually.
In the Shui Band, aside from the band leader and deputy leader, the men addressed one another as brothers according to age.
What’s more, the man before him wasn’t a chef or innkeeper, but just another inn waiter like himself.
Though the other had worked first, that alone wasn’t reason enough to treat him with utmost respect.
Just as a spark was about to flare between the two men—
An elderly man and a child appeared at the entrance of the inn.
Jang Gwang jumped up from his seat.
“Elder, you’re here.”
It was Hyeon-un, an elder of the Wudang Sect.
Jang Gwang approached Hyeon-un with the utmost respect. After all, for an elder of the Wudang Sect to take care of a child was no small favor.
Though he wasn’t the boy’s father, he had grown attached after looking after him for so long.
Soon, Jin Seong-un, having finished tidying the guest rooms, also came out to greet Hyeon-un.
The child spotted Jin Seong-un, grinned brightly, and waved his hand. To him, Jin Seong-un was always the good man who gave him candy and dumplings.
As Jin Seong-un smiled back, Hyeon-un suddenly said,
“I’ll need to return to Mount Wudang for a couple of months.”
“Ah, with the child?”
For some reason, Jang Gwang stammered as he asked.
On his face was a look of undisguised disappointment. Seeing this, Hyeon-un chuckled before continuing.
“You, with that big frame, pulling such an expression. Don’t worry. I’m not saying I’ll be gone forever. I left Wudang Mountain because I dislike staying shut in there. Do you think I’d keep the child there for life?”
It was a convincing argument.
At last, Jang Gwang felt relieved.
Hyeon-un continued.
“In any case, his body is still unstable. Likely because of what he went through recently. At the very least, until he regains stability, I plan to look after him in the purest environment possible. It may be less than two months… or longer.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
“Not Elder—call me Sir. Anyway, before I leave, there’s something you must do. You bandit.”
“……”
Hyeon-un clicked his tongue at Jang Gwang.
After all, the man had been a river bandit until just a few days ago. It would take some time before he could fully open his heart to him.
Still, since Jang Gwang had saved the child’s life and had become, in a way, his master, Hyeon-un intended to show at least basic courtesy.
“What would you have me do, Sir?”
“Give the child a name.”
“Excuse me?”
Jang Gwang blinked.
“What do you mean. Of course, he needs a name. You can’t go on calling him ‘boy, boy’ forever. Naturally, when the time comes, he’ll be given a Daoist name, and he’ll live by that. But for now…”
“How could someone like me name a child…”
“He was born to his parents, but it was you who gave him a new life. If not you, then who? Should I let Seomun Ak name him? Or perhaps Chef Seo? By the way, he’ll take my surname—‘Choe (最).’”
At that, Seomun Ak and Seo Yu-gyeom rushed in at once.
“How about Dan-dan? It means to live strong and steadfast.”
“Let’s call him Tong-tong, meaning to eat well and live plump, never going hungry.”
Each offered their idea.
Jang Gwang repeated the names under his breath.
“Choe Dan-dan, Choe Tong-tong…”
Impossible.
How could those be people’s names…
Meanwhile, other suggestions like “Happiness, Encouragement, Confidence, Sword God, World’s Best” were tossed out. Under such pressure, Jang Gwang felt crushed.
But when pushed to the extreme, people often revealed superhuman ability.
Abruptly, Jang Gwang shouted as if struck by lightning,
“Jeong-myeong! From the meaning of growing upright and bright—Jeong-myeong (正明)!”
At that, Hyeon-un, Seomun Ak, and Seo Yu-gyeom puckered their lips into circles.
“Not bad.”
For the first time, Seomun Ak acknowledged Jang Gwang.
Choe Jeong-myeong (最正明).
It was truly a fine name.
“Good. Jeong-myeong, what do you think?”
Hyeon-un asked the child—no, Jeong-myeong.
As always, Jeong-myeong grinned.
Then he let go of Hyeon-un’s hand and walked forward.
Everyone silently watched.
To their surprise, Jeong-myeong went straight to Jang Gwang.
Standing before him, he took Jang Gwang’s hand.
The huge, heavy hand of the man was helplessly moved by the boy’s small touch.
Then, smiling, Jeong-myeong placed a candy he had taken from his pocket into that shovel-like hand.
“……!”
In that instant, Jang Gwang felt as though a bolt of lightning pierced his head.
With trembling hands, he stroked Jeong-myeong’s head.
“…Take care.”
An indescribable emotion welled within him.
Whether the child knew it or not, Jeong-myeong beamed, then returned to Hyeon-un.
After exchanging farewells with the others, Hyeon-un departed with Jeong-myeong.
“……”
Jang Gwang stood frozen.
His lips were tightly pressed, his eyes glistening.
His expression looked pained, even tormented.
If only he had watched the Chief Escort Captain more carefully—could he have prevented the tragedy?
Both the Chief Escort Captain and the Deputy Leader knew Jang Gwang’s temperament, which was why they had kept silent about it.
Overwhelming guilt and self-reproach surged inside him.
Jin Seong-un quietly observed.
He had seen a face like that before.
Right after the Food Butcher left, Seomun Ak had worn the same expression.
How had he comforted him then?
As Jin Seong-un retraced his thoughts, suddenly Seomun Ak’s voice rang from inside the inn.
“Hey rookie, don’t mope around there. Go buy some dumplings, I’m hungry.”
Then Jin Seong-un remembered.
That was exactly what Seo Yu-gyeom had said to Seomun Ak when he had been crushed by guilt and despair.
And so, Seong-un Inn gained a new inn waiter.