Chapter 26: In the Name of the Seomun Clan
Hyeon-un glared at the disciples of Wudang with piercing eyes and asked coldly,
“Explain yourselves.”
Baek Sang and Baek Seol flinched.
Even their direct masters and uncles were far too intimidating to even step into their shadows.
Let alone their martial uncle—one of the Wudang Seven, known as Hyeon-un—he was a towering figure beyond comprehension.
“Th-that is…”
Baek Seol fumbled, unable to continue.
Tears began to well up in her characteristically large eyes.
Hyeon-un almost softened at the sight of the girl who was like a granddaughter to him, but he couldn’t overlook what had happened—not when it occurred in Jin Seong-un’s inn.
“Fool! How can a disciple of Wudang try to weasel out with tears!”
Hyeon-un’s voice boomed.
The subtle Qi laced in his voice made the air around them tremble.
In the end, Baek Sang, her older brother, opened his mouth.
It was clear that something had gone terribly wrong, yet it wasn’t something they could simply gloss over.
“…Allow me to explain.”
Baek Sang began to recount the events.
Their journey into the martial world to attend the Tang Clan leader’s birthday banquet, their chance visit to Seong-un Inn, and Seomun Ak’s one-sided provocation.
“So you’re saying… you tried to stop him?”
Baek Sang repeatedly emphasized that he and his younger sister Baek Seol tried to stop Seomun Ak at the last moment.
Both siblings nodded fervently in response to Hyeon-un’s question.
Hyeon-un turned to look at Jin Seong-un. His gaze asked whether it was true.
The siblings looked at the innkeeper with desperate eyes. They didn’t fully understand the relationship between the Elder and the innkeeper, but they knew it was something special.
Their fate hinged on what would come out of the innkeeper’s mouth.
Jin Seong-un looked at the two Taoists and answered without much thought.
“What they said is true.”
He simply stated the facts.
And because it was Jin Seong-un—of all people—he had noticed the two Taoists had indeed stepped forward in the end.
In fact, he had seen, heard, and felt every small movement of everyone present in the inn.
However, since the two Taoists were unaware of Jin Seong-un’s martial prowess, they mistakenly believed he was lying to protect them.
Baek Sang and Baek Seol’s eyes were filled with both gratitude and shame.
Meanwhile, Oh Jeong-san, who had misunderstood Seo Yu-gyeom slightly, offered him a light apology.
After observing the situation unfold, he sent a telepathic message to his master, Hyeon-un.
– “Baek Sang and Baek Seol are immature, but not malicious by nature. It seems they hesitated due to the presence of a Tang Clan lady.”
As a merchant, Oh Jeong-san was well-versed in worldly affairs. Naturally, he also understood the complicated dynamics between people.
He knew that Baek Sang and Baek Seol’s family did business in Sichuan, and he was aware of the type of people Seomun Ak—the second son of the Seomun Clan—and Tang So-yeon—the Tang Clan’s heir—were.
Hyeon-un’s hum turned deep and somber.
Hearing Oh Jeong-san’s words, he couldn’t help but feel his pride had been wounded.
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, the two disciples tried to intervene but backed down to avoid clashing with the daughter of the Poison King.
The real issue was that the two weren’t present as Sichuan merchants but as Wudang Sect disciples on a journey through the martial world.
This wasn’t a matter between merchants of Sichuan and the Tang Clan—it was between the Wudang Sect and the Tang Clan.
After a brief contemplation, Hyeon-un made a decision.
“Both of you, hand over your Taiji Swords.”
Baek Sang and Baek Seol looked as though their world had crumbled. The Taiji Sword was proof they were disciples of Wudang.
For the Elder to take them back himself was a declaration that he no longer recognized their qualifications.
“E-Elder…”
“Fool! Must I say it twice?!”
When Hyeon-un roared again, both Baek Sang and Baek Seol hurriedly untied the swords at their waists, startled.
Accepting the two Taiji Swords, Hyeon-un spoke in a solemn tone.
“If you do not retrieve your swords from me within a year, I will expel you from the sect.”
Despair washed over Baek Sang and Baek Seol’s faces.
If one were to name the most rigid and unyielding elder of Wudang, everyone would point to Hyeon-un.
A year was shorter than it sounded. The thought of earning Hyeon-un’s acknowledgment within that time left them feeling like they’d been cast into a vast, endless sea.
Regardless of their feelings, Hyeon-un, having made his decision, turned to Seomun Ak and continued.
“That bastard is the true culprit.”
All eyes turned to Seomun Ak.
Still unconscious from Hyeon-un’s blow, Seomun Ak remained face-down on the floor.
Of course, both Hyeon-un and Jin Seong-un knew Seomun Ak had already regained consciousness.
Seomun Ak had woken up quite a while ago.
He had wanted to immediately get up and yell at the old man who had struck him, flaunting the name of the Seomun Clan. But after hearing what was said, he realized the one who hit him was none other than an elder of the Wudang Sect.
Delinquents, by nature, were endlessly weak before the strong.
So, Seomun Ak decided to continue pretending to be unconscious.
Naturally, a seasoned Taoist like Hyeon-un would never overlook such an act.
Hyeon-un grabbed Seomun Ak by the scruff of his neck and forcibly hoisted him up.
“Ugh…”
Seomun Ak went limp, acting with all his might. Dangling like a wet rag in Hyeon-un’s grip, he appeared completely dazed.
To any onlooker, he still looked unconscious.
So, Hyeon-un slapped him across the face.
Smack!
Seomun Ak’s eyes flew open.
Hyeon-un had used the subtlety of Profound Internal Art, so his eyes felt like they’d pop out, and his skull rang with pain.
Watching this, Jin Seong-un quietly added,
“Elder, what if he dies?”
“He won’t die from this. The Seomun Clan brats are as stupidly sturdy as those of the Peng Clan.”
To think someone would dare to spout such nonsense about the Seomun Clan and the Peng Clan. Seomun Ak was hit with the sudden realization that the man dangling him was truly a Wudang elder.
“You there, is this what your father taught you? If so, I’ll pay the Seomun Clan a visit and hold him accountable myself.”
Hyeon-un’s calm words made Seomun Ak’s face turn even paler.
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Right. The Seomun Clan is a noble house, and Clan Leader Seomun Jeok is a true hero. Which means you’ve abandoned your family’s teachings and done this on your own.”
Seomun Ak felt like crying.
There was no way out of this.
Hyeon-un’s voice continued.
“Seong-un, what shall we do with this brat? If you wish, I’ll destroy his dantian right here and notify the Seomun Clan. You are my person. He dared to use a lethal move on my person— even the Seomun Clan cannot dispute that.”
At the words “my person,” the eyes of the young prodigies widened. Especially Seomun Ak, who had thrown a punch at Jin Seong-un, now wished he could die on the spot.
Not out of remorse.
He simply felt like he’d been tragically struck by a natural disaster.
Who would’ve thought the lowly innkeeper of such a shabby place would be so close to a Wudang elder?
He felt a mixture of frustration, slight anger, and fear at the possibility of losing his dantian all at once.
At Hyeon-un’s stern statement, the young prodigies carefully gauged the mood. No one had expected he would go this far against the second son of the Seomun Clan.
But those who knew Jin Seong-un well—like Oh Jeong-san and Seo Yu-gyeom—remained unbothered. They already knew what his answer would be.
“I don’t think we need to go that far. No one was injured, after all.”
In truth, Jin Seong-un was actually relieved. Had Hyeon-un been just a moment later, Seo Yu-gyeom’s dagger might have pierced Seomun Ak’s throat.
He continued, somewhat reassured.
“However, compensation is necessary. All the customers fled mid-meal, and the inn, which was recently renovated, is now in this state…”
Everyone glanced around the inn at Jin Seong-un’s words.
It was a wreck everywhere they looked.
Hyeon-un flinched a little. More than what Seomun Ak had broken, he himself had destroyed even more when he lost his temper and released his Qi.
But then he quickly recalled that Seomun Ak had briefly fainted and hurriedly said,
“S-Seomun Ak! Look carefully at the devastation you’ve caused! You have personally destroyed a place where someone has staked their life. Your crime is not small. You must compensate for it, even if it’s in the name of the Seomun Clan.”
Seomun Ak made an aggrieved face.
He was willing to admit fault to that extent, but looking around, it was clearly more broken than what he remembered doing.
Yet facing Hyeon-un’s strict gaze, he didn’t dare say such things aloud.
If he said something unnecessary, it felt like his dantian would be destroyed on the spot.
“…Yes, I will make full compensation.”
Seomun Ak let out a sigh.
Still, he was lucky to get off this lightly.
Even if the entire inn had burned down, the Seomun Clan’s wealth could easily cover the loss.
At that moment, the old man who had come with Hyeon-un spoke up.
He was very tall and skinny, with eyes just as rigid and intense as Hyeon-un’s.
“Really? You, of all people, say you’ll compensate?”
The old man’s words irritated Seomun Ak inwardly. He could accept it from Hyeon-un as a Wudang elder, but who was this geezer to talk like that?
Seomun Ak replied bluntly, with minimal resistance in his tone.
“Yes, I will bear all the restoration costs. Since I made a ‘mistake,’ as a martial artist of the Orthodox Faction, and of the Seomun Clan, it’s my duty. Here, take this money…”
He took out his wallet from inside his robe.
Inside the wallet was a good amount of gold.
It was quite a large sum for a young prodigy traveling the martial world.
He had actually begged a Seomun Clan elder for it before departing for the martial world, hoping to win Tang So-yeon’s favor.
Regardless, Seomun Ak had deep pockets for someone his age and confidently offered the wallet.
“So then, how much should I compensate?”
The question was directed at Jin Seong-un.
Jin Seong-un, in turn, looked at Shin Mok. He had no idea how much the repairs would cost in the first place.
A strange glint flashed in Seomun Ak’s eyes. It seemed that the elaborate carvings and excessive ornamentation throughout the inn were likely the work of this old man.
‘So that’s why he’s personally demanding compensation.’
Still, it didn’t change anything. He just needed to pay up and leave.
Seomun Ak looked at Shin Mok. At that, the old man’s lips twitched.
“Ahahaha!”
Shin Mok let out a thunderous laugh that didn’t match his frame. The air inside the inn quivered.
The young prodigies’ eyes widened in disbelief. They had expected this from Baek Un-geom, the Wudang elder, but to think the old man who came with him was also a formidable master.
Even Seomun Ak’s expression began to show signs that he realized something wasn’t quite right.
Suddenly, Shin Mok tapped Seomun Ak’s crown with the small hammer he was holding.
Thunk, thunk–!
A hollow sound echoed.
Seomun Ak’s crown stung. It wasn’t enough to knock him out, but it hurt and felt unpleasant.
From that precise control, he realized once more that this old man was a true master.
“You spoke so confidently about paying compensation. Hand over one hundred taels of gold.”
“Yes, here… What?”
Seomun Ak froze, mid-gesture of handing over the wallet.
Even one hundred silver taels would have felt unfair—gold?!
This old man seemed to be abusing his martial power and Hyeon-un’s presence.
To dare act like this toward the second son of the Seomun Clan!
“That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
“Why?”
“Only a portion of this shabby inn was damaged—how can you name such an outrageous amount?”
“Oh, really?”
Shin Mok continued tapping Seomun Ak’s head with the hammer. Hyeon-un muttered from beside him, “That kid’s head’s not great to begin with, why keep hitting it?” but Shin Mok paid no mind.
Gradually, more force went into the hammer strikes.
“So the second son of the Seomun Clan refuses to acknowledge this Jeong Cheong-baek’s craftsmanship?”
Jeong Cheong-baek?
Seomun Ak blinked. The name sounded oddly familiar…
Just then.
All the young prodigies, except Seomun Ak, hurriedly cupped their fists in greeting.
“We pay our respects to the great senior of Murim, the Thunder of the Carpentry World—Elder Shin Mok!”
“S-Shin Mok!”
Seomun Ak was so shocked, he forgot to show proper etiquette and blurted out the famed nickname.
Three of the most famous craftsmen of this era:
Carpenter Shin Mok, Blacksmith Gu Yaja, and Physician Shin Ui.
Even the proudest martial artists and royal court officials respected them. That’s how significant their influence was.
Shin Mok was a carpenter, but also a martial artist. He had become a Peak-level Master after learning martial arts to improve his woodworking. A madman who achieved peak heights.
“E-Elder. That’s not what I meant…”
Seomun Ak frantically tried to explain.
But Shin Mok casually tapped him again with the hammer as he said,
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll just visit the Seomun Clan myself and bill your father.”
Seomun Ak thought of his father’s face.
This journey into the martial world was practically an exile.
If Shin Mok really went to the Seomun Clan and explained everything?
He’d been sent out to mature, only to insult the name of Shin Mok, rack up a massive debt, and get on a Wudang elder’s bad side.
‘I-I’m dead.’
His father was certainly the type to go that far.
Forget his dantian—his limbs and meridians would be severed, and he’d spend the rest of his life rotting in the family dungeon.
Terrified, Seomun Ak immediately dropped to his knees.
“E-Elder! I’ll find a way to raise the money, I swear! Just please don’t tell my father!”
“Oh really?”
Shin Mok looked down at Seomun Ak with an amused expression, then asked Jin Seong-un,
“How much do innkeepers get paid these days?”
“About three or four silver taels.”
“Let’s say four. To pay back one hundred gold taels, that’ll take about forty years.”
“Yeah… I suppose.”
Jin Seong-un nodded bitterly.
At that, Hyeon-un and Shin Mok looked like two bored old men who had just found great entertainment.
After all, what delighted these old masters weren’t upright men, but young scoundrels.