Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Voices and Wine
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The longer you stay at an inn, the more people you inevitably run into.
After receiving three thousand nyang for killing Heuk-pyo Seok-jeong, the first thing Bu Eun-seol did was rent a small house far from the village.
He would be handling missions from the Akyang Branch for the time being. In the meantime, Bu Eun-seol had secured a private hideout where he could rest without worry.
“Now to fill it up.”
The next thing Bu Eun-seol did was buy the equipment he needed for his missions.
“No need to use the things in the old bookstore's warehouse.”
The equipment piled in the bookstore's secret storeroom was of poor quality and had not been maintained at all.
Likely because no one felt any sense of belonging to the branch.
“Welcome, sir.”
Bu Eun-seol went to a blacksmith's shop in the deepest alley of the marketplace and bought a longsword forged from hundred-times-refined steel, and an assassin's sword he could carry on his back.
“Sir.”
When the blacksmith saw that Bu Eun-seol not only bought the assassin's sword but also had a wad of banknotes tucked in his coat, he gave a sly grin and whispered.
“Perhaps you have need of hidden weapons, or a needle projector?”
“Hidden weapons?”
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
Some blacksmiths did indeed craft hidden weapons. But only back-alley fences sold sinister items like needle projectors.
“You have such things here?”
“Of course. Follow me, sir.”
The blacksmith led Bu Eun-seol to a small, separate room set up in the back of the shop.
Inside, throwing weapons like daggers and darts were piled high, along with mechanical devices like the Fierce Needle Projector and the Spiral Flash Detonator.
“One of our smiths is a master at crafting hidden weapons. What do you think?”
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol picked up an item that looked like a metal bracer.
“Well now, you certainly have a good eye.”
The blacksmith fastened the metal bracer to his own wrist.
*Click.*
With the bracer on, the blacksmith flicked his wrist, and a spring-loaded mechanism appeared with a soft *whir*.
“It's a genuine weapon device crafted by Sa-hyang. You just load this spring mechanism with feather needles.”
*Sa-hyang...*
As Bu Eun-seol stared at the device, a crimson light flared in his eyes.
“Do you know where to get devices from Sa-hyang?”
The blacksmith, startled by the sudden eruption of killing intent from the man who had been calm and placid, stumbled backward.
“H-How would we know a place like that?”
“Then how did you get this?”
Staring into Bu Eun-seol's eyes, which now pulsed with crimson light, the blacksmith trembled and stammered.
“I-I just happened to buy it cheap. It was floating around as stolen goods. The fences didn't know it was a weapon; they thought it was just a bracer...”
It was true. A small smithy like this would never have dealings with Sa-hyang, the grandmasters of hidden weaponry.
*I got too excited.*
Regaining his composure, Bu Eun-seol reached out.
*Click.*
He unfastened the device from the blacksmith's wrist and put it on his own.
“Hey, that's...”
As the blacksmith stammered and reached for it, Bu Eun-seol pulled a bundle of banknotes from his coat and pressed it into the man's hand.
Ten notes. Bu Eun-seol had just paid one thousand nyang for a single weapon device.
*I've met the God of Wealth!*
The blacksmith counted the notes in his hand.
“Thank you, sir!”
He gave a deep bow to Bu Eun-seol's departing back.
***
Bu Eun-seol was leaving the marketplace and heading back to his hideout when he stopped in his tracks.
A savory aroma was wafting from somewhere nearby.
Following the scent down a winding alley, he saw a stall selling dumplings tucked away on a corner.
*I should buy some dumplings to take with me.*
Bu Eun-seol's hideout was quite far from the village, so there was nothing to eat nearby.
“How much for one dumpling?”
“Five mun.”
“Five mun...”
After asking the vendor the price, Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile.
The dumpling vendor would never be able to make change for a hundred-nyang banknote.
“I'll come back another time.”
Just as Bu Eun-seol turned and was about to leave the alley,
“Young Master.”
a young waiter with a towel over his shoulder appeared before him, hands clasped, beaming.
“We meet again.”
The waiter smiled as if greeting an old friend and bowed his head.
Racking his memory, Bu Eun-seol raised an eyebrow.
The young waiter before him was the same one from Gyeongha-ru he had encountered when he first arrived in Akyang.
*He recognized me?*
His encounter with the waiter back then had been very brief.
And at that time, he had been dressed in fine clothes, disguised as a scion of a noble family on a leisurely trip.
But now, Bu Eun-seol was wearing black martial arts attire and had even changed his face with the Face-Changing Bone-Altering Art.
“You know me?”
In response to Bu Eun-seol's question, the young waiter blinked and replied with a calm expression.
“Didn't I see you here just the other day?”
*He didn't recognize my face.*
Bu Eun-seol's curiosity was piqued.
Hundreds of people must pass through this marketplace every day. How could he have recognized him when he couldn't even remember his face?
“If you wouldn't mind...”
“Let's go.”
Bu Eun-seol cut the waiter off with a nod.
“I was just getting hungry anyway.”
Gyeongha-ru.
It was a tavern located far from the marketplace, not the one with a view of Dongting Lake.
It was a first-class establishment with an excellent view from the window, serving aged liquor and high-quality dishes.
“This way, please.”
Even after they reached the second floor, the waiter suggested going up one more level.
That was where the private rooms were, where the seating charge alone was over a hundred silver nyang.
“I'll take a window seat.”
Bu Eun-seol pointed to an empty table on one side of the second floor.
“As you wish.”
The waiter didn't press the matter and led Bu Eun-seol to the window seat.
“Fortunately, a good spot is free.”
the waiter said obsequiously.
“What would you like to...”
“I have a question.”
“Please, ask.”
“How did you recognize me? We only met for a moment that time.”
“Hahaha. If we can't remember our customers' faces, we can't make a living.”
The waiter wiped his nose and joked, but Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
*So he doesn't remember faces.*
From that answer, Bu Eun-seol realized two things.
That the young waiter hadn't recognized his altered appearance.
And the reason he wouldn't reveal the secret of how he had recognized him.
“I'd like to hear the secret in detail.”
When Bu Eun-seol took out a banknote and offered it, the waiter waved both hands.
“You're giving me such a large tip?”
“I don't have any change.”
“Then I'll just take a small portion for myself when you pay the bill. Please put it away for now.”
“Fine.”
As Bu Eun-seol gave a crisp nod, the waiter finally lowered his voice and shared his secret.
“Even if we can't remember faces, it's our job to remember voices.”
A voice.
Something that doesn't change even if you change your clothes or your face.
The Art of Crowing Cocks and Barking Dogs summed up the essence of disguise with the word 'atmosphere'. Thinking about it differently, the word 'atmosphere' must also include one's voice.
“A voice... I see.”
Every profession has its own secrets.
Even waiters, who he had thought simply carried dishes and wiped tables, were working hard behind the scenes.
“That was very helpful.”
He meant it.
He had just learned the most crucial aspect of the Face-Changing Bone-Altering Art and the Art of Crowing Cocks and Barking Dogs from none other than a waiter.
“Oh, you're too kind.”
The waiter beamed and said.
“What would you like to eat?”
“Hmm.”
Originally, he had planned to eat slowly and observe the people around him.
But lingering in a busy tavern like this would inevitably draw attention.
*I should order a generous amount.*
“Bring me three... no, four of your best dishes.”
“Will you not be needing any liquor?”
“Liquor?”
“Our tavern has a special yellow wine brewed from high-quality glutinous rice.”
The waiter seemed to have read Bu Eun-seol's mind, whispering quietly.
“We make most of our sales on liquor. If you order a bottle of our special yellow wine and drink it slowly, you can sit as long as you like without feeling pressured.”
This young waiter was not only sharp-witted but also remarkably perceptive.
*Pfft.*
A smile broke out on Bu Eun-seol's face before he knew it.
“I'll do that. Bring me a bottle of wine, too.”
As Bu Eun-seol smiled, revealing his teeth, the waiter blinked.
He had an ordinary face, but when he smiled, his features seemed to brighten like sunlight reflecting on a river.
“What are you staring at?”
“Huh? Yes.”
The waiter snapped out of it, bowed his head, and called out.
“Just a moment, sir!”
Soon, the table was filled with an appetizing braised fish, a cold dish made with five ingredients, stir-fried beef, and a shrimp dish.
“Hm.”
Seeing the delicious food, Bu Eun-seol felt a hunger he hadn't experienced before.
He usually didn't care about the taste of food, but the rich aroma wafting from the yellow wine bottle stimulated his appetite.
“Mmm.”
He had never touched liquor before, nor had he ordered it with the intention of drinking.
But as the deep, sweet scent tickled his nose, Bu Eun-seol found himself filling his cup to the brim.
*Gulp.*
He downed the cup in one go and wiped his mouth.
“How strange.”
It was a little different from what he'd heard.
He'd heard it was bitter and quite strong... so how could it be this sweet?
*Gulp.*
Without thinking, he drank another cup, and then another.
In a short time, Bu Eun-seol had finished three bottles of the yellow wine. But far from feeling intoxicated, his mind only seemed to grow clearer with each drink.
“Damn... there are no seats.”
Just then, a young man came up to the second floor, looked around, and clicked his tongue.
Had he just passed his twentieth year?
He wore a sword at his waist, but his frame and limbs were slender, unlike a typical martial artist. However, his features were very distinct, and his large, clear eyes gave him a gallant air.
“Oh.”
The young man, about to turn away with a disappointed look, let out a cry of delight when he saw Bu Eun-seol sitting alone by the window, drinking.
“Well, well, it's been a long time!”
The young man sat down opposite Bu Eun-seol as if meeting an old friend and waved both hands cheerfully.
“I can't believe how long it's been!”
As Bu Eun-seol's brow furrowed, the young man said something completely unexpected.
“To drink three bottles of this strong yellow wine and still look perfectly fine? I can't even remember the last time I saw such a great man!”
Bu Eun-seol remained silent at the man's nonsense.
“As they say, all truly great men can hold their liquor!”
After another bout of flattery, the young man cleared his throat and whispered.
“Are you by any chance waiting for someone?”
When Bu Eun-seol shook his head, the young man asked again.
“So you were drinking alone?”
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, the young man slapped the table and said in a hearty voice.
“Well, that's perfect! I couldn't possibly just walk by after seeing a great man like you, brother. Waiter!”
The young man shouted at a passing waiter.
“Bring one large bowl for drinking and five more bottles of the special yellow wine! And for side dishes...”
He trailed off, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the untouched dishes on the table, then he shouted.
“For side dishes... a plate of peanuts!”
*Thud. Thud.*
Having ordered five bottles of expensive yellow wine, a waiter came rushing over, panting as he set down the jugs.
As Bu Eun-seol stared at him in disbelief, the young man waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, don't you worry! The drinks are my treat.”
The young man picked up a bottle and filled Bu Eun-seol's cup to the brim.
Then, he filled a large drinking bowl, the size of a child's face, to the very top with wine for himself.
“Come on, drink up.”
*Gulp, gulp.*
The young man drank greedily, as if possessed by the ghost of someone who had died of thirst.
“Ahh. That's the stuff!”
Wiping his mouth, the young man grinned broadly and asked.
“Do you know why the yellow wine here has such a particularly fine aroma?”
When Bu Eun-seol shook his head, the young man refilled his large bowl and continued.
“Other places use old glutinous rice for their yellow wine, but this Gyeongha-ru uses fresh rice. The price is a bit steep, but... that's not something a real drinker considers, is it? Ahaha!”
Then he raised his bowl again and shouted.
“Come, have another drink.”
Bu Eun-seol stared blankly at the young man who had appeared out of nowhere and was now pushing a drink on him.
In the past, he would have either thrown the young man out or left the table himself.
*He's a master. From the Orthodox Faction...*
But Bu Eun-seol could see that the young man before him was not only a martial artist but a considerable master from the Orthodox Faction.
The Orthodox is pure, the Demonic tyrannical.
The internal energy of the Orthodox Faction is pure, while that of the Demonic Path is tyrannical.
The first time their cups touched, a pure and distinct internal energy coiled around Bu Eun-seol's wrist through his cup. The technique was so subtle that a practitioner of the Demonic Path would never have detected it, but Bu Eun-seol felt it instantly.
Swallowing both the clear and the turbid.
It was a phrase that perfectly described his Ban-geuk-sim-beop, which combined the strengths of both Orthodox and Demonic arts.
“Brother, you must be new to the world of martial arts!”
The young man's eyes narrowed as he repeatedly offered the cup to Bu Eun-seol.