Chapter 245
Chapter 245
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: A Debt of One Coin
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In a peaceful village, one street was slightly lively with solicitation cries.
On one side of that street sat a small shop and stall selling tanghwa candy.
And in front of it, a little kid was raising his voice to draw in customers.
"Come on over! Tanghwa so addictive, two eaters might turn into three without you noticing! Today only, just three coins—no pressure, come take a look!"
But despite the kid's efforts, people showed little interest in the tanghwa.
The kid let out a deep sigh.
"This isn't working anymore either."
He'd said "today only" for three coins, but in truth, he'd been repeating the same line for days now.
So it no longer drew much attention. It was time for a fresh hook to lure customers.
What would work?
The kid closed his eyes for a moment and sank into thought right there on the spot.
Objectively speaking, the tanghwa's taste was decent—upper mid-tier. Not fancy, but better than the cheap, common stuff everywhere.
Even so, he'd priced it competitively at three coins, matching ordinary tanghwa.
...Maybe cut pieces for free samples at the stall? Or bundle them up and sell cheaper?
The kid didn't realize it himself, but he had a sharp mind that instinctively grasped the essence of sales strategies to attract buyers.
As he pondered various tactics and slyly opened his eyes...
"......Huh?"
Eek!
Glancing sideways, the kid was so startled his heart nearly stopped.
No footsteps, nothing—yet suddenly a man stood at the stall, staring intently at the tanghwa.
Tall build, neatly dressed, with a mild-mannered face nearing middle age. He rested his hand on his chin, seemingly deep in thought.
N-Nearly scared me to death.
How'd he even get here?
Shocked by the silent arrival only briefly, the kid quickly greeted the new customer with a bright smile.
"Welcome! Which tanghwa catches your eye? We've got a variety—pick what suits your taste. You'll love it, guaranteed!"
Not asking if he'd buy, but which one. Another instinctive sales tactic from the kid.
The man slowly opened his mouth.
"What's the price for the basic ones?"
He must've missed the pitch.
For a split second, the kid hesitated on the price, then answered honestly.
"Three coins."
The man rummaged in his pocket.
No money pouch apparently—just two coins clutched in his hand.
The kid's eyes filled with thick disappointment as he eyed them.
Just two coins?
As his expectations plummeted, the man spoke.
"Could I buy just half of one?"
"Half... you say."
He'd never sold partials before, so the kid pondered. In the end, he handed over a whole piece and whispered.
"Special today—one coin. Enjoy it. But don't tell anyone else."
Not wanting to lose a rare customer, the kid pressed the tanghwa into the man's hand with earnest pleas.
A faint smile crossed the man's face.
"Thanks."
The man left the stall and bit into the tanghwa at a nearby alley mouth.
Watching from afar, the kid beamed happily and resumed his energetic calls.
"Come one, come all! Hobuk's finest tanghwa—two eaters might become four without a trace...!"
Then.
Thud.
A group of martial artists appeared before the stall, blocking it off.
The kid's face drained of color at their arrival.
They weren't customers.
Everyone in the village knew them.
"Long time no see."
They were warriors from the Tiger Death Rigid Gate, the sect dominating the village.
And the reason the kid trembled? Simple.
"Protection fee's been overdue since last month."
Practically the only sect in town, they collected fees from every stall on the street. The kid hadn't paid for two months.
Of course it's overdue!
Under the guise of protection from outsiders, they demanded more than half the sales. No way to pay properly.
"S-Sorry! Just a little more time, I'll manage somehow...!"
"Time, huh."
The warriors tossed the tanghwa aside and crushed it viciously, hurling insults.
"Selling trash like this—when do you plan to scrape up the cash?"
"T-Time... please..."
Flat on the ground, shaking, the kid couldn't even meet their eyes.
Nearby shopkeepers watched with pity, sharing the frustration—but none dared oppose or help.
After flipping the stall and rampaging until sated, the warriors finally stopped amid the wreckage.
"Two days."
Glared at coldly, the kid received their merciless final warning.
"If the overdue fee isn't ready when we return in two days, you can really look forward to it then."
Having trashed the stall, they strode off arrogantly.
Still prone on the ground, the kid couldn't stem his tears.
Onlookers pitied him but wouldn't step in.
They might return—and offending them could mean the same fate.
Thus, the kid wept alone in misery, until everyone averted their gaze.
Everyone except one man.
That night.
A single spark ignited in the village.
It spread steadily, erupting into a massive inferno that devoured a sect root and branch.
Amid the blaze, the Tiger Death Rigid Gate's sect leader—barely standing, drenched in blood—glared at the man before him and spat.
"Who the hell are you to target our sect?"
Everyone in the sect had fallen to the man ahead.
Those facing him head-on, those turning tail, those fleeing.
None escaped his sword.
Why would such a powerhouse come for them?
They'd never crossed other sects or clans. The mystery deepened.
"Don't tell me... someone paid you to wipe us out?"
"Money."
The man quirked his lips dryly at the word.
"In a way, you could say that."
A flicker of hope lit the leader's face.
"Please, spare me! Do that, and I'll give you every bit of wealth we've amassed!"
All his disciples dead, but he still breathed.
To save his neck, the leader proposed a deal.
"How much were you paid? If it's not enough, I'll throw in all my personal fortune!"
The man replied softly.
"One coin."
"......What?"
"The fee was a debt of one coin."
"Hah... hah..."
A whole sect destroyed for one lousy coin?
He's been toying with me from the start.
Dismissing it as a joke, the leader closed his eyes.
A cold slash ended him.
Leaving the roaring Tiger Death Rigid Gate behind, the man slipped out.
Chaos from the fire drew all eyes—no one noticed him.
As crowds rushed toward the sect, he strolled the opposite way back to the tanghwa stall.
At the cart's edge, hidden from customers, he placed ten nyang of silver and murmured.
"Sorry, kid."
Just helping the boy then wouldn't solve the root problem.
Even if he'd subdued them on the spot, their existence meant retaliation was inevitable.
So before a day passed, he'd eradicated the Tiger Death Rigid Gate.
"This should more than settle the debt."
Turning, he gazed at the bright full moon.
Where to next?
With no fixed destination, he let his feet wander where whim led.
Then he recalled the letter delivered yesterday.
Drawing it from his bosom, he read it again by moonlight.
'New lodger, huh...'
A faint smile touched his face as he thought of the Wanderers' Pavilion.
"Been a while. Time to head back."
Tucking the letter away, the Romantic Sword Saint Song Dowon departed the village with light steps.
Lately, Pungsan Inn had been packed with heroic wanderers, too busy to catch a breath.
At the center stood the newest lodger, Hyeok Mulin.
He rarely spoke, just ate a simple meal at set times before retiring to his room.
Yet crowds flocked just to glimpse him in those brief moments.
Small wonder—rumors of him had spread like wildfire among the Wanderers' Pavilion guests.
The Black Four Alliances and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Had any wanderer ever defied both and lived?
Even if one had, survival was impossible.
Natural that eyes turned to this one-of-a-kind figure.
However.
Slurp.
He met the surging attention with calm indifference, ignoring most questions.
The inn was merely a place for a meal.
Even that demeanor...
"...Damn cool."
To fellow wanderers aware of his backstory, it only amplified his allure.
Eventually, they all gave him space to eat undisturbed, content to watch from afar.
An unspoken agreement not to bother his meal.
Today was no different.
Hyeok Mulin had ordered simple beef noodles and ate without interruption.
Then.
Step, step.
A man approached him.
Wanderers frowned briefly, then brightened upon recognizing the face.
The man sat heavily in the opposite chair, staring straight ahead.
"So you're the new lodger everyone's talking about."
A bright smile lit Song Dowon's eyes as he faced Hyeok Mulin.