Chapter 78: Mad Rooster (3)
A tremendous gust of wind swept through the inside of Seong-un Inn.
It was nothing more than the storm stirred up by a single woman striding across the center of the inn.
An elder of the Beggars’ Union.
She was nicknamed the Mad Rooster. She charged at Jin Seong-un, thrusting both palms forward.
A fierce scarlet energy was condensed thickly in her hands.
Jin Seong-un held his breath briefly and swung his hands to meet hers. He struck one of her wrists upward while seizing the other firmly.
Jjjeeeooong—!
The force she unleashed burst into a deafening crack, scattering in midair.
Startled, Jin Seong-un immediately checked the ceiling.
To his surprise, the immense force dispersed perfectly without damaging the inn in the slightest.
That was proof of her exceptional mastery over controlling her energy.
‘I almost unleashed the Blood Demon Palm.’
Jin Seong-un wiped away the cold sweat inside.
The Martial Gods had advised him countless times. If he recklessly used the Blood Demon’s martial arts, he might suddenly find himself facing far more enemies than he could imagine.
For Jin Seong-un, who only wished to run his inn peacefully, that was the last situation he desired.
After releasing her wrist lightly, Jin Seong-un stepped back. It seemed he would have to air out the inn for quite some time after she left.
“What is this about.”
Jin Seong-un asked in a calm tone.
At that, her eyes gleamed sharply as her lips curled into a sly grin.
“You’re no ordinary inn waiter, are you.”
“I asked what this is about.”
Their gazes clashed midair.
She had only come to verify Sima Hwi’s report because it had been intriguing, but after exchanging blows directly, she found him truly suspicious.
He was no mere inn waiter.
Nor was he just some common martial artist of the murim.
Though he looked barely in his early twenties, the overwhelming prowess he displayed made it almost embarrassing to compare him to those who were lauded as the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
‘If it’s this one… such things would indeed be possible.’
Elder Byeok recalled the Great Thief’s past deeds and nodded. Her suspicion was quickly turning into certainty.
At that moment—
Startled by the thunderous sound, Baek Seol, Baek Sang, Tang So-yeon, and Seo Yu-gyeom rushed into the inn.
As soon as they spotted Elder Byeok, all except Seo Yu-gyeom stiffened.
“E-Elder Byeok.”
Tang So-yeon, who was rarely shaken, even stammered her words. Baek Sang and Baek Seol were struck completely speechless.
All three recognized her face well.
As promising talents of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans, they often visited the Murim Alliance, where Elder Byeok’s notorious reputation was widely known.
Having little foundation in the Beggars’ Union, Elder Byeok had spent most of her time at the Murim Alliance, and most of her infamous incidents had occurred there.
“Elder, what in the world is going on here.”
Baek Sang stepped forward by two whole paces to ask.
Tang So-yeon and Baek Seol were impressed. Despite the unbearable stench, he remained undaunted. As expected, the perseverance of a Taoist who trained consistently was on another level.
The arrival of the three stirred even greater interest in Elder Byeok. It was hardly common to see such famed young talents of the murim gathered together in a small inn.
Her eyes suddenly fell on Seo Yu-gyeom.
“And who is this one?”
Elder Byeok let out a mocking chuckle.
Sima Hwi had reported that the inn’s waiter and cook were no ordinary men. But seeing them in person, the truth seemed far beyond that.
Two martial artists more outstanding than any scion of the great clans were working here as mere inn staff.
Now that she had seen Seo Yu-gyeom as well, Elder Byeok spoke in a voice filled with conviction.
“This inn must be searched.”
As an elder of the Beggars’ Union, and as a renowned figure of the orthodox murim, she could not simply overlook this.
How could one ignore such suspicious people?
They might really be the Great Thief of rumor. Or perhaps spies of the Demonic Cult. Or even monsters secretly raised by the Black Path.
Every possibility swirling in her mind only deepened her suspicion, leaving no room for hesitation in her actions.
“Come in.”
Elder Byeok called toward the outside.
At once, ragged beggars poured into the inn.
Jin Seong-un felt a wave of dizziness and pressed his forehead briefly.
Meanwhile, Elder Byeok’s gaze turned toward Sima Hwi, still waiting outside.
“You, come in.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Sima Hwi entered hesitantly.
Though he tried to maintain composure, for one as fastidious as him, being in an inn suddenly filled with filthy beggars was no different from torture.
Elder Byeok cackled and spoke to her subordinates.
“This inn is highly suspicious. Search every corner. They may be the rumored thief, or worse. Find out everything down to how many undergarments they own.”
Just as the beggars nodded and prepared to move—
“Do you have proof.”
Jin Seong-un’s low voice rang out.
Though spoken quietly, it carried a strange weight that halted every beggar in the room.
Elder Byeok’s brow twitched at the sight.
“When a report comes in, it is our duty to investigate.”
“Did that report come from the Sima Clan.”
Jin Seong-un’s gaze turned toward Sima Hwi.
Sima Hwi stared back with his usual arrogant eyes.
As Jin Seong-un sighed inwardly—
A thread of telepathy reached him.
-That Sima bastard. Should I just kill him?
It was Seo Yu-gyeom.
Jin Seong-un’s head throbbed.
“Whether it’s from the Sima Clan or not, when a report comes in, it is our duty to investigate.”
“And if I refuse.”
Jin Seong-un’s eyes fixed on Elder Byeok.
After all, this inn was his life and foundation. He had no intention of letting anyone barge in and rummage through it.
“Refuse? I hadn’t considered that.”
“I refuse. Consider it now.”
“Hah…”
Elder Byeok let out a hollow laugh.
Throughout the Murim Alliance, no—throughout the entire world—there were few who dared meet her gaze so directly.
“Elder, this is unjust!”
“Baek Sang Dojang is right. How can you search someone’s inn without any proof….”
Elder Byeok’s hollow laughter deepened.
Even these young ones, who usually trembled under her gaze, now stepped up to defend this inn.
‘That only makes me more curious.’
Elder Byeok resolved that she would inspect the inn no matter what today.
Then her words continued.
“Fine. You don’t want an investigation, is that it? I can’t just tear apart someone’s business without cause.”
Tang So-yeon, Baek Sang, Baek Seol, and even the beggars of the Beggars’ Union looked at her in surprise.
Then Elder Byeok smirked and went on.
“Then I’ll contact the Murim Alliance and have them open a formal investigation. You know the Alliance holds authority granted by the magistrates. Once it begins properly, it won’t end in a day. It could take several days, perhaps even months. And during that time, you and that cook of yours won’t be able to leave, trapped here in this inn.”
Jin Seong-un pressed his temples firmly.
Normally, he rarely lost his patience, but the beggar before him truly had a talent for being insufferable.
“Then if I allow the investigation now?”
“One shichen. I promise it’ll be over within that time.”
Jin Seong-un considered it might be better to get the nuisance over quickly.
After all, the claims of thievery and such were nothing but nonsense.
Still, there was one matter that needed to be addressed first.
“And if you find nothing?”
“I’ll apologize.”
The answer came immediately.
Jin Seong-un’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m a merchant, you know.”
In other words, an apology in words alone would not suffice.
Elder Byeok chuckled as though amused.
“Hahaha, and what kind of merchant are you? You look the most like a martial artist in this whole inn.”
“If you falsely accuse an innocent man and cause him harm, you must compensate him. At least, if you’re an orthodox martial artist.”
“You dare speak of the orthodox path before me?”
“I’m speaking of reason.”
Their eyes collided head-on.
Even as Elder Byeok released a faint pressure, Jin Seong-un merely looked back at her with a flat, indifferent expression.
At last, her voice came again.
“You haven’t even begun business today. What damages could you possibly have suffered?”
“The stench is too severe. I’ll need to air this place all day, so I can’t do business.”
“……”
Elder Byeok blinked.
The other beggars were the same.
Sima Hwi doubted his own ears, and Baek Seol covered her mouth with her hand.
Never before had Elder Byeok been insulted like this to her face. Nor had most of the Beggars’ Union.
Beggar or not, they were still part of the Nine Sects and One Gang. Who would dare tell them outright that they stank?
“Stench?”
“Yes.”
“Beggars are supposed to stink.”
“There are streams everywhere. Why should being a beggar mean you must stink?”
“……”
She fell silent.
Now that she thought about it, he wasn’t wrong.
She searched for a retort, but none came to mind. She glanced at the beggars around her for help, but they were in the same state.
Jin Seong-un continued.
“A place that sells food must be clean. That’s an unspoken agreement between the guest and the owner. Obviously, food cannot be served in a place that reeks. Therefore—”
“……”
“Compensating at least one day’s earnings would be proper, wouldn’t it?”
Seo Yu-gyeom, who had been quietly listening, was impressed.
So this guy could actually speak at length.
And the logic was flawless.
-A genius, perhaps?
Jin Seong-un ignored Seo Yu-gyeom’s telepathy.
After a moment of hesitation, Elder Byeok spoke.
“How much.”
Jin Seong-un raised five fingers.
“Five taels of silver? You make that much in a day?”
“Fifty taels.”
“…F-Fifty taels? Don’t lie to me. How dare you mock an elder of the Beggars’ Union!”
“You could ask at Wuhanzhuang’s Yichang branch and find out it’s no lie.”
“……”
Jin Seong-un nodded calmly.
Elder Byeok’s thoughts tangled.
She was, after all, a beggar.
No, she did her utmost to live as one.
Even when she wanted to wash, she held back.
She never paid for food.
If money ever fell into her hands, she tossed it to the nearest Beggars’ Union branch.
In short, she had no fifty taels of silver. If she asked the Sect Leader for it, she’d be beaten to death.
Her eyes turned naturally to Sima Hwi.
Sima Hwi coughed awkwardly and sent her a telepathic message.
-I’ll cover it.
As expected of the Sima Clan.
She regained her confidence.
“Fine. That one says he’ll pay.”
All eyes turned to Sima Hwi.
So much for whispering telepathically.
It made it look as though Sima Hwi had brought her here out of personal spite.
Which, in truth, was exactly the case.
Sima Hwi coughed repeatedly.
“Well, if that’s the case…”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
It meant, go ahead and search all you want.
In truth, even when full all day, the inn only made about thirty-five taels.
If they covered the day off and added fifteen extra, there was no reason to refuse.