Chapter 90: I’ll Pay
When Jin Seong-un had just come out of the Martial God Realm.
Shin Mok came to the inn.
“Ah, Elder.”
Behind Shin Mok stood several people Jin Seong-un had never seen before. Strangely enough, they all shared a similar impression.
Their skin was tanned and their bodies small, yet the sharp light in their eyes surpassed even that of many high-level martial artists.
It was obvious to anyone that they were Shin Mok’s disciples.
“Greet them. These are my disciples. Their names aren’t important, so we’ll skip them.”
“……It’s an honor.”
Were names not important in the first place?
The thought passed through his mind, but Shin Mok had spoken with such dignity that he missed the chance to point it out.
“There are still many more yet to arrive, but to save some time I thought we’d start already. For the time being, you won’t be able to run the inn. Is that fine with you?”
“Yes, actually I was planning to step away for a short while myself.”
“Really? Then it works out perfectly. It feels like things are falling into place from the very start.”
Shin Mok seemed in a rather good mood.
It was likely because his disciples had gathered after such a long time.
Jin Seong-un, too, having learned much from his own masters and shared time with them, was beginning to understand the special bond between teacher and student.
Soon after, Jin Seong-un told Shin Mok and his disciples to drink their fill of Yangha Daegu, then gathered the inn’s members together.
Han Seong-chun, Seo Yu-gyeom, and even Seomun Ak.
Jin Seong-un placed three very thick money pouches on the table.
“What’s this?”
Seo Yu-gyeom asked indifferently.
Of course, he knew it was money.
He simply meant, why was he giving it to them?
“It’s a kind of bonhwaseo.”
Bonhwaseo.
Literally, it was money given outside of monthly wages to those who had worked well, both as a reward and as an encouragement to others.
It was sometimes used interchangeably with terms like “bonus” or “performance pay.”
“First, we caught that thief and received the bounty, and then we sold so much these past few days we barely had time to breathe.”
In other words, the inn had made far more money than planned, and Jin Seong-un meant to share the extra profits with the staff.
Seo Yu-gyeom remained indifferent. He had no interest in money, nor did he have anywhere to spend it.
Han Seong-chun, for some reason, looked embarrassed. He had worked only out of a sense of gratitude from the start.
But Seomun Ak was different. His face carried an indescribable emotion.
“……This means this money is what I earned?”
To Seomun Ak, that heavy pouch held an entirely different meaning.
He had never earned money in his life, only spent it.
The Seomun Clan was one of the most prestigious families in the Central Plains. No matter how strict his father, Seomun Jeok, was, he had never ordered his son to go out and make money.
Besides, such a thing went against the common sense of martial families.
“Th-this is……”
Seomun Ak carefully lifted the pouch, holding it as if cradling a newborn child.
Through the thin fabric of the pouch, the weight and texture of the money shook his heart.
Who would have thought earning money by his own hands could feel so overwhelming?
Of course, Jin Seong-un had given him monthly wages as an inn worker, but for Seomun Ak that money had been meaningless—too trivial to stir any feelings.
This time was different. Receiving such a substantial sum, the hard, cold money before him suddenly became a real reward for his labor.
Before long, his eyes, as they gazed at Jin Seong-un, even carried a glimmer of loyalty.
In contrast, Shin Mok, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Han Seong-chun all looked at Seomun Ak with pity.
For the cherished young master of the Seomun Clan to end up like this—tsk tsk.
That was the look in their eyes.
After Jin Seong-un urged them several times, even Han Seong-chun and Seo Yu-gyeom eventually accepted their money pouches.
Han Seong-chun soon spoke with an awkward expression.
“Then I’ll return to my hometown for a while.”
“Will you be all right?”
His hometown was the place where his son had been killed by the Food Butcher.
Han Seong-chun gave a bitter smile.
“How could a father refuse to visit the son he lost, just because his heart is in pain?”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
No words could fully understand Han Seong-chun’s grief. He was only relieved that Han’s expression looked somewhat lighter than before.
“What about you, Young Master Seomun?”
He asked out of curiosity after Seomun Ak’s earlier reaction.
Now that he had been given such precious money, where would he possibly spend it?
Seomun Ak answered without hesitation.
“I’ll go around the brothels and taverns for the first time in a while. Truth is, a regular told me there’s a new courtesan at Dangyang Pavilion……”
“A fine plan. And you, Young Master Seo?”
Jin Seong-un quickly moved on.
“I plan to catch up on the sleep I’ve missed.”
“The inn is under renovation. Where do you plan to sleep?”
“I’ve prepared a few safe houses nearby.”
Jin Seong-un gave him a baffled look.
What inn cook had safe houses lying around?
“Why……?”
“Let’s just say it’s a leftover habit.”
Back when he was a top assassin of Deathshroud, he had fifty or more safe houses scattered across the land.
Jin Seong-un only nodded vaguely. It seemed no one at this inn was truly ordinary.
“Anyway, it’s good to see everyone has plans. Then I can leave without worry.”
“By the way, where are you going?”
Seo Yu-gyeom asked, and everyone turned to look curiously. It was the first time Jin Seong-un had said he’d be going off somewhere alone.
Jin Seong-un didn’t answer right away. He couldn’t share what he had discussed with Master Divine Thief.
Then Seomun Ak gave him a sly look.
“You’re going to meet that pretty young miss, aren’t you? Ha, you really are a man.”
“……”
Amazingly, he was right.
Though, it wasn’t quite in the way they imagined.
“Want me to come with you?”
Seomun Ak suddenly became eager.
For some reason, Shin Mok nodded along with a satisfied expression, like a grandfather watching his grandchild play.
Jin Seong-un racked his brain for an explanation, but nothing came to mind. In the end, he just ran away.
The others blinked in surprise, staring at the empty spot where he had been.
* * *
Falling Flame Manor was said to be located in Chang’an, the capital of Shaanxi.
Jin Seong-un ran nonstop until he reached Shaanxi.
Since he was traveling alone, there was no need for a carriage, and in the first place, there was no reason to drag things out.
It also served as an opportunity to practice Master Divine Thief’s movement arts.
‘If even Master failed at it, it must not be ordinary.’
Of course, he couldn’t say that for certain.
After all, decades were more than enough time for many things to change.
After running for quite some time, a peculiar sight came into view.
There was a large mountain. And right below that mountain was a commercial district far greater than Yichang’s.
‘Normally, such districts wouldn’t appear below a mountain…’
There was only one exception.
That mountain was the main base of the Zhongnan Sect, one of the Nine Sects.
Except for the Beggars’ Union, most of the Nine Sects were situated in mountains, and since their scale was so immense, huge marketplaces often formed below them.
He slowed down for a moment to take in the scenery.
Suddenly, an inn that seemed steeped in history caught his eye.
As an innkeeper—and once a waiter—exploring traditional inns in other regions was not merely a hobby but a duty.
Soon, Jin Seong-un settled down inside and ordered Bamboo Leaf Green and dumplings. By tradition, the basics of an inn meal were noodles and dumplings.
The reason he deliberately ordered dumplings was that priests of Zhongnan were known not to eat meat.
He was curious what kind of dumplings an inn under Zhongnan Sect’s influence would serve.
As he waited for his food, a group entered the inn.
Jin Seong-un watched them with interest. They were the very picture of Taoist priests.
‘This is my first time seeing them.’
Of course, Hyeon-un, Oh Jeong-san, Baek Sang, and Baek Seol were also Taoists.
But since they had been traveling far, they wore relatively comfortable clothing.
These men, however, were right beneath Mount Zhongnan, so the Taoists here wore full uniforms with proper Taoist crowns.
It struck him how much their atmosphere resembled that of Elder Sword Immortal.
Their dark-blue robes flowed with mysterious grace as they entered and took their seats, then one of them spoke.
“What the f*ck.”
“?”
Jin Seong-un spat his drink back into his cup.
The Taoists turned to look at him.
“Ah.”
He quickly bowed his head.
The young Taoists gave him a look that clearly said, ‘What’s with this guy?’ then turned back to their own conversation.
He had momentarily forgotten.
Even Seomun Ak was from the Orthodox Faction, and so was Sima Hwi.
Soon, the dumplings arrived. He bit into one, only to find it full of meat.
They were just ordinary dumplings.
The real problem was that the Taoists’ table had been served dumplings as well.
They devoured them greedily, juices dripping down their chins.
Once again, he had forgotten.
Hyeon-un, who lived off meat and wine, was an Elder of the Wudang Sect.
‘The world doesn’t always follow theory.’
Unexpectedly enlightened, Jin Seong-un nodded to himself.
Meanwhile, he overheard the Taoists’ voices.
“They said the sword we received this time, the Ohap Sword, broke again.”
Ohap Sword?
Normally, Zhongnan’s swords were called the Yukhap Sword.
Just as Wudang was known for the Taiji Sword, Namgung for the Azure Sky Sword, and Mount Hua for the Plum Blossom Sword, the Yukhap Sword was a symbol of Zhongnan.
Intrigued, Jin Seong-un kept listening.
“That’s because you use it carelessly, idiot.”
“What? That’s unfair. I didn’t use it carelessly. It’s only been two months since I got it.”
Lately, Jin Seong-un had been hearing stories of later-generation prodigies at the inn, so he had some idea.
Ordinary iron swords could hardly endure martial artists’ training, especially in powerful sects like the Five Great Clans or Nine Sects.
Even he himself had already broken three or four iron swords.
So, lasting two months meant that, assuming the Taoist wasn’t lazy, the sword was fairly decent.
As Jin Seong-un’s curiosity grew, the Taoists suddenly lowered their voices. They even cast an unsteady sound-blocking barrier.
“That was made at Falling Flame Manor, wasn’t it?”
Of course, Jin Seong-un’s ears caught every word.
This time he held back from spitting out his drink. Letting them know he was listening would only cause trouble.
“Yeah. It’s too generous to even call this an Ohap Sword. More like a Samhap Sword. Why are the elders still taking swords from Falling Flame Manor? They should just get them all from Qinghai Iron Workshop.”
“I’m sure the Sect Leader has his reasons.”
Then another Taoist, trying to sound knowledgeable, joined in.
“Apparently, long before we were even born, there was a time when Falling Flame Manor thrived. I heard it has something to do with an old promise from back then. Even the Elders seem troubled by it.”
“But it’s just an old promise, isn’t it? Things have changed. It’s been decades since Qinghai Iron Workshop became the best. So why?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Falling Flame Manor has some kind of leverage over them.”
“……She was pretty, though.”
“Are you insane? The Manor Master? Or the daughter?”
The Taoists burst into laughter.
Jin Seong-un frowned. That kind of talk went beyond mere complaints about swords.
Just then.
Older Taoists, clearly of higher status, entered the inn.
The young ones immediately shut their mouths and switched to dignified conversations.
Of course, the dumplings were long gone by then.
“Today’s realization I attained is……”
“Last night, the Original Celestial Lord appeared in my dream……”
Pushing aside his bewilderment, Jin Seong-un recalled the earlier conversation.
Falling Flame Manor and Qinghai Iron Workshop.
The two smithing families tied to Master Divine Thief’s death had just been mentioned side by side.
From the conversation, it seemed Falling Flame Manor had once prospered but had since declined.
‘But why would a thief come from such a family…’
The predecessor had been a thief capable of competing with Master Divine Thief, and the descendant, Chae Seo-ryeong, was carrying on that legacy.
In any case, it was a strange family, Jin Seong-un thought as he rose from his seat.
After paying for his own meal, he added:
“Ah. I’ll also cover the dumplings those Taoist gentlemen ate. I’ve always respected the Zhongnan Sect.”
At once—
The young Taoists who had been laughing moments ago turned pale.
And the older Taoists’ eyes blazed as they stood up from their seats.