Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Farewell to the Brewer
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"What I'm teaching you ends here."
After the Manju Grand Brew Festival concluded, Hyeok Mulin stayed there a few more days to establish the framework for the Mangwoo Association.
Byuk Jangho was an unparalleled master brewer, but as the leader of an organization, he was little more than a novice.
Hyeok Mulin laid out the foundational structure for the Mangwoo Association and repeatedly instilled methods and information into Byuk Jangho to make it easier for him to lead.
A man who had spent his life brewing nothing but liquor naturally couldn't grasp it all at once, but Byuk Jangho followed without complaint, putting in the effort until he fully understood, satisfying Hyeok Mulin.
And so, with all the essentials transmitted...
Hyeok Mulin could finally leave with peace of mind.
Having wrapped up the final lesson, Hyeok Mulin offered his congratulations to Byuk Jangho.
"You've worked hard these past days. If you stick to what I've told you, you'll have no trouble leading the Mangwoo Association."
"The grace you've shown me runs so deep, I wonder if I could ever repay it in a lifetime."
Byuk Jangho knew full well that Hyeok Mulin's guidance was more than generous.
Who in the world would impart such knowledge without asking anything in return?
It wasn't just about liquor distribution and management—it encompassed every aspect, from the virtues a leader needed to steer the group to the future direction they should take.
'And to think it came straight from the Heavenly Demon who leads the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
No matter that the Mangwoo Association belonged to Hyeok Mulin, his lord's time was worth more than gold.
It surely wasn't something worth spending that time on.
Yet Hyeok Mulin had taught him without a hint of impatience.
"Well, you don't really need to repay me."
Truth be told, it was necessary for Hyeok Mulin as well.
The Mangwoo Association was, in a way, a group created by Hyeok Mulin and for Hyeok Mulin.
Only if Byuk Jangho, now the head, led it well would Hyeok Mulin be free from having to worry about it again.
Hyeok Mulin was convinced that appointing the trustworthy Byuk Jangho as head was the right choice.
That's why he hadn't brought in someone else with proven success in such matters to take the position—instead, he'd chosen to nurture him.
Had Byuk Jangho failed to keep up, he might have considered replacing him midway.
Fortunately, Byuk Jangho had followed along well enough that there was no need to look elsewhere.
It had taken a few days, but the result was more than satisfactory for Hyeok Mulin.
"Once you have some spare time later, send over a bottle or two."
He was the head of the Mangwoo Association, but above all, he was the world's finest brewer.
Hyeok Mulin wasn't one to drink often.
But the fine liquors he crafted were worth getting drunk on.
At those words, Byuk Jangho beamed.
"Of course. I won't forget Elder Cheon either. Though the fine brews for you, my lord, will naturally be the best."
Having learned Hyeok Mulin was the Heavenly Demon, Byuk Jangho had naturally pieced together that Cheon Sumyeong was the Demon Sword Lord, Gu Mujun.
He'd been utterly shocked at first, but after spending time receiving instruction, he'd grown comfortable enough to joke lightly about the Demon Sword Lord with Hyeok Mulin.
His lord was the Heavenly Demon, Hyeok Mulin, after all.
With the final lesson complete, Hyeok Mulin slowly rose from his seat.
Byuk Jangho gazed quietly at his retreating figure, sensing something different from the usual, before speaking softly.
"...So it's really time for you to go."
Even when a farewell was expected, it still stung the heart when the moment arrived.
The small connection that began in an ordinary inn in Shansi Province had snowballed into something immense.
Byuk Jangho felt that his encounter with Hyeok Mulin had upended his entire life.
He had grown as a brewer and as a person.
He would never forget this meeting, these memories, these moments.
As Byuk Jangho reminisced over the time they'd shared, his eyes finally reddened.
"It's not like this is goodbye forever, yet here you are, tearing up."
"Ah, no. Just some dust got in my eye and made it itch."
Hyeok Mulin chuckled at the excuse.
In that moment, something occurred to him, and he reached into his bosom.
"Oh, right. I still have this."
Hyeok Mulin pulled out a jar from his bosom.
Byuk Jangho, wiping his eyes, raised his voice at the familiar-looking jar.
"My lord, that is...?"
"Take it. It'll be better in your hands."
It was the jar containing the remaining half-portion of poison from the sea squirt, Gaumul.
As Hyeok Mulin handed over the jar, he continued.
"As you saw, it holds Gaumul's poison. So if he disobeys your orders or harbors disloyal thoughts..."
Kwak.
"...feel free to smash it right then."
Byuk Jangho swallowed hard at the sight of Hyeok Mulin's tightly clenched fist.
The thought that Gaumul's life was now in his hands brought more worry than pleasure.
"Is that really alright? He's not just the vice head—he's our only warrior..."
"Doesn't matter. We can replace a warrior like him anytime."
Hyeok Mulin had spared Gaumul not only because he'd swiftly swallowed the poison to prove his loyalty, but also due to his long tenure with the Manju Association.
Though the Manju Association had disbanded, its successor linked directly to the Mangwoo Association, so it wasn't an entirely new entity.
Thus, he'd kept Gaumul to most easily identify, organize, and hand over the ledgers and trading partners for the fine liquors.
But.
'That's only if he fully obeys orders.'
If not, there was no need to keep him alive.
It might take a bit longer to sort out the partners and ledgers, but that was well within manageable bounds.
In the end, what mattered was whether Gaumul fully obeyed the new head, Byuk Jangho, after Hyeok Mulin left.
"No need to get my permission. If he fails to follow orders, smash it immediately. Just report back afterward since we'll need a warrior."
That's why Hyeok Mulin handed over the poison without informing Gaumul.
If the owner left and he immediately turned on those around him, it was best to deal with him then.
Letting Gaumul know the poison was now with Byuk Jangho might even put Byuk Jangho's life at risk.
Grasping Hyeok Mulin's intent, Byuk Jangho carefully tucked the jar into his bosom.
"I'll keep your words in mind."
"Good. Now I'll really be off. This farewell will do."
Byuk Jangho, who had naturally moved to see him off, paused for a moment.
It was his lord's command.
When his own will clashed with his lord's order, he would follow the latter without hesitation.
Halting in place, Byuk Jangho deeply bowed.
And toward Hyeok Mulin's figure, already disappearing beyond the door, he murmured his final words.
"May you live long and prosper..."
Returning to his lodgings, Hyeok Mulin packed up with Cheon Sumyeong and headed to the village outskirts.
"No goodbye with Byuk, the head?"
"Hm. That fellow liked you more than me from the start, didn't he? I never even tasted the Falling Star Brew, so we're not that close anyway."
He was clearly sulking.
For all his words, he seemed quite put out at leaving without a proper farewell to Byuk Jangho.
He'd spent time with Byuk Jangho too, after all.
But it looked like not tasting the Falling Star Brew alone hurt even more.
"Well, there'll be a next time."
"Who knows if I'll ever come back to this remote valley."
As they passed the village entrance, grumbling all the way...
"Elder...!"
A rough voice called from behind, breathless.
Cheon Sumyeong turned with a look that said, 'Of course, right on cue.'
But.
"You still haven't left?"
The face that entered his view was unexpected.
Not Byuk Jangho, but Woo Jukheon, panting as he rushed to the entrance.
"El-Elder!"
Woo Jukheon, hands on his knees and gasping for breath, soon caught it.
The moment he lifted his head, eyes gleaming as he stared straight ahead...
"Don't say it. I have no intention of taking a disciple."
Woo Jukheon's face wilted like a shriveled bean sprout, his eyes dimming.
"I... I suppose so. I dreamed too big."
After the three-way confrontation with the Blood Chain Rakshasa, the lifelong obsession and goal Woo Jukheon had held shattered completely.
He no longer fixated on Gu Mujun.
Instead, he'd resolved to follow the nameless elder who had displayed an awe-inspiring presence rivaling Gu Mujun's.
But that resolve was cut down before he could even voice it.
Yet he couldn't argue.
Having faced Gu Mujun directly then, no one knew better than he how woefully inadequate he was.
As he bit his lip and stared at the ground, Cheon Sumyeong, who had been watching him silently, spoke.
"If you wish to train under me, make your name known throughout the land first."
"...!"
Then I'll reconsider.
Woo Jukheon brightened instantly.
As the elder said, making one's name known across the world was incredibly difficult.
In the martial world, where people remembered nicknames more than names, becoming a star in the heavens was required.
But zero chance and even a slim one were worlds apart.
"I will. I'll make it happen and come find you again."
With his will reignited, Woo Jukheon pressed on, eyes alight once more.
"Elder, may I ask your name, so I can seek you out then?"
"I am..."
Turning, he walked slowly away, finishing his words over his shoulder.
"...Cheon Sumyeong."
Woo Jukheon closed his eyes, nodding as he repeated it.
"I see. I won't forget your name. Cheon... Su... Mye..."
His body stiffened as if struck by lightning.
Realization dawning, he snapped his eyes wide and shouted.
"C-Could it be?!"
But by the time he looked ahead again, they were already gone.
Hyeok Mulin and Cheon Sumyeong set off on the road back to the New Frontier.
Along the way, they leisurely enjoyed the natural scenery.
Strolling lightly through rugged forests thick with ancient trees.
Wandering fields bursting with spring blossoms.
Traversing ridges kissed by cool mountain breezes.
Passing lakeside meadows where grass bloomed beautifully, gazing at the Milky Way's reflection in the night sky.
They avoided talk of the cult's future or political stances.
Hadn't they already confirmed each other's values through words and actions during their journey together?
In the end, they reached Heavenly Mountain without exchanging a single word on their respective positions.
And Hyeok Mulin sensed it.
That their relationship up to now had reached its conclusion.
Perhaps this was the end.
Or.
Maybe the beginning of something new.