Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Unexpected Companions
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Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Danmurin's brightly smiling face.
"You're coming to the Zhuge Clan with me?"
"Yes!"
Danmurin replied energetically with the brightest expression imaginable.
"I've never heard anything about that."
"The Sect Leader decided it."
"The Sect Leader?"
As if she'd been waiting for that question, Danmurin's eyes sparkled as she poured out her words.
"Yes! It's the Zhuge Clan's banquet, after all. So he said it would be best if someone who knows the clan well came along to assist you, Senior Brother."
Not satisfied with that, she continued excitedly.
"It'll be more comfortable traveling with me. I might not serve you as well as Jeokgeom or Seollan... but I'll do my best!"
She said desperately.
And for good reason—it was a chance to travel alone with Cheonhwi, whom she'd longed for so desperately.
'I absolutely can't miss this!'
She clenched her fists tightly.
The opportunity to travel together, which she'd thought possible only after becoming a Plum Blossom Sword Guard, had come sooner than expected. Unwilling to let it slip away, she gazed at Cheonhwi with a pleading expression.
"...Can't I come? I want to go to the banquet and meet the clan members..."
She poured out her final reserved plea, looking up at him.
Their gazes intertwined for a brief moment.
"Do whatever you want. The Sect Leader said so, right?"
Cheonhwi tossed out the words dismissively and plopped down across from her.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Danmurin's face lit up at his permission, while Cheonhwi remained utterly indifferent.
'Whatever, it doesn't matter.'
Danmurin tagging along was unexpected, but he didn't even care if she came or not.
'She already knows I drink and eat meat, and she said she'll serve me like Jeokgeom and Seollan.'
Meanwhile, the moment he confirmed Cheonhwi had sat down, Kosam yanked the reins roughly and shouted.
"We're departing now!"
With that, he pulled the reins.
Neigh!
The horse whinnied, and the carriage jolted as it began descending the narrow mountain path.
"With so many coming up, the carriage might shake a bit."
Kosam spoke cautiously to Cheonhwi and Danmurin as he drove on.
Numerous carriages and merchants ascending.
How long had it been since they passed them and continued down? Cheonhwi, peering out the window, furrowed his brow and looked ahead.
"They figured it out and followed."
"Pardon?"
At his cryptic words, Danmurin tilted her head in confusion.
Neigh!
The carriage jolted sharply.
Startled by the sudden appearance of an old man, Kosam halted the horses and scowled.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Kosam suppressed his anger as he spoke.
The old beggar blocking the carriage, Cheonigae, scratched his greasy hair.
"Ahem, ahem. Sorry for blocking the road suddenly. But it was urgent."
"No, why block a carriage bare-handed just because you're in a hurry? Are you suicidal?"
Kosam turned his head.
"Sorry about this. Someone blocked the road suddenly..."
As he apologized, Danmurin widened her eyes and parted her lips.
"...That's a Beggars' Sect sash?"
Quickly counting the knots on Cheonigae's waist sash, she paled.
A total of seven knots.
That rank placed him among the top figures in the Beggars' Sect.
"That's elder level..."
As she tensed, Kosam's face drained of color—he'd yelled at him thinking he was just a mad old man.
"A B-Beggars' Sect elder?"
He'd spoken carelessly, and now realized his mistake, sweat pouring down.
"So why are you blocking the road and causing a fuss?"
Cheonhwi stuck his head out the window and tossed the question at Cheonigae.
"D-Doctor?"
"Senior Brother?"
Stunned by his casual address, Kosam and Danmurin looked at Cheonhwi.
A Beggars' Sect elder was a figure of immense prestige in the martial world.
Calling him so bluntly was shocking.
As Danmurin moved to stop Cheonhwi.
"What? Why I'm blocking? You insolent brat. You asking because you don't know?"
Cheonigae grumbled.
Rather than anger, it seemed like whining, leaving Danmurin and Kosam exchanging bewildered glances between them.
"I handled all your aftermath, and now what?"
Cheonigae approached Cheonhwi.
"You're leaving without even telling me?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"..."
Cheonigae was momentarily speechless.
Cheonhwi wasn't obligated to inform him.
But Cheonigae didn't back down.
Who was he?
The most stubborn and irascible man in the martial world.
He brazenly thickened his face.
Pretending to tremble with rage, he bellowed.
"Even so, would it kill you to say something?!"
His shout was nearly a roar.
Unable to refute, Cheonigae pressured Cheonhwi this way.
But.
"Huh? Why should I? I'm not leaving with your permission, old man."
Cheonhwi dug in his ear, ignoring him.
"More importantly, stop blocking the road and move. Look, we're stuck because of you."
Cheonhwi pointed at Kosam.
Seeing the terrified Kosam frozen, Cheonigae clicked his tongue.
"Tch! This kid won't listen!"
Snorting, Cheonigae naturally opened the firmly shut carriage door and tried to slip inside.
Thud.
But Cheonhwi's hand blocked him.
"What are you doing?"
"...I'm joining you. Didn't I say I'd give you info? I'll tell you everything about the Zhuge Clan on the way."
With that, Cheonigae ducked under Cheonhwi's blocking hand to enter.
But this time, a foot appeared, blocking him firmly.
Veins bulged on Cheonigae's forehead.
"You don't want me along?"
"Not that. But you would've followed anyway."
"Then why block me from getting in..."
Cheonhwi pinched his nose.
"You stink."
"What?"
At the unexpected remark, Cheonigae gaped blankly.
"It's a long way to the Zhuge Clan, and you're trying to ride like that?"
Cheonhwi eyed him up and down.
Clothes indistinguishable from sackcloth, greasy hair.
And even before entering, the pungent stench made Cheonhwi's gaze firm.
"Wash up before coming in."
"You're telling a Beggars' Sect beggar to wash?"
"Yes."
Cheonigae spoke as if it were absurd, but Cheonhwi didn't budge.
How could he endure that smell?
If walking separately or on horseback, maybe, but inside the carriage was different.
"You're telling me to break Beggars' Sect rules?"
"Then sit up front with the driver or follow separately."
"You little... When you should be revering your elder!"
"Be elder-like first."
Cheonhwi ignored the fuming Cheonigae, pushed him out, and lightly closed the open door.
Then he spoke to Kosam.
"Let's get going."
"I-Is that okay?"
Kosam cautiously glanced at Cheonigae glaring at the closed door.
"It's fine. If anything happens or he blocks again, I'll handle it."
Kosam swallowed hard at Cheonhwi's words.
"U-Understood."
As Kosam reached for the reins.
"W-Wait a moment!"
Cheonigae shouted in alarm.
"Fine for now, but on the way down, stop at an inn so I can wash!"
"Should've said so sooner."
* * *
Shortly after descending Mount Hua, the carriage stopped at a modest roadside inn.
Swish—
As Cheonhwi parted the curtain and entered.
"Gasp!"
"M-Mount Hua Sect!"
The guests eating early breakfast trembled like there was an earthquake.
Having witnessed the Mount Hua Taoists shaking Shaanxi lately, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.
Some openly gawked.
"W-Welcome."
The innkeeper approached hesitantly.
"...Here for breakfast?"
Cheonhwi pointed at Cheonigae and Danmurin behind him.
"Have that one bathe, and get simple clothes suitable for three. Possible?"
"Possible, but the price..."
As the innkeeper trailed off.
Jingle—
A small pouch dangled before him.
Danmurin, who had approached quietly, handed it over with a refreshing smile.
"Two taels of silver."
The innkeeper's eyes bulged.
Two taels exceeded the inn's daily earnings.
He rubbed his hands eagerly, grinning widely.
"I'll prepare right away."
"And breakfast too."
"Of course! Right away! Sit anywhere! And you, sir, follow me."
"Ahem, got it."
Cheonigae followed the innkeeper with a dissatisfied expression.
"Leave this to me, Senior Brother!"
Danmurin puffed out her chest.
Wanting to be helpful rather than a burden, she'd stepped forward before Cheonhwi could.
"You had separate money, huh."
"From my family."
She smiled brightly.
When she said she was joining Mount Hua, her family had protested, but secretly packed money for her departure.
Not a huge amount.
They'd spent plenty on her treatment.
But ample for this journey—overflowing, even.
"This trip will be comfortable then."
Cheonhwi smiled contentedly.
If she handled service and money, nothing more to worry about.
"Over there, Senior Brother."
Danmurin pointed to a corner table.
Soon, they sat, and the server cautiously set down food.
"...Tch, all grass."
Cheonhwi's nose wrinkled.
Perhaps because they were Taoists.
The server, trying to be considerate, brought only vegetables, thin noodles, and tea—no meat.
"Can't be helped now."
Cheonhwi picked up his chopsticks.
As the two focused on eating.
"To think I'd end up like this..."
Cheonigae grumbled as he emerged.
Having bathed quickly, he sat beside Cheonhwi.
"There, happy now?"
Cheonigae scratched his head vigorously.
Already washed clean, no dandruff flaked off—none to begin with.
"Much better now."
Cheonhwi was satisfied.
The stench that pierced his nose just being nearby was gone.
Danmurin, eating, widened her eyes at Cheonigae's transformation.
"Is that really you, elder?"
"What's so weird?"
"Nothing weird. Actually, clean looks good on you."
Danmurin praised him.
And rightly so.
Cheonigae had a sturdy build for his age, straight back.
Hidden by filth before, now it shone.
His wild white hair and beard were neat, fresh clothes on top.
Much improved.
But despite their words, Cheonigae grumbled discontentedly.
"Tch, to think I'd be in this state. Shame of my life."
Cheonigae writhed in humiliation.
He'd lived as a beggar his whole life.
Proud of it, even. Washing clean and donning new clothes was utter disgrace.
"Argh, if other Beggars' Sect folks saw this... Ugh. Horrifying."
Shuddering and complaining, he soon picked up his chopsticks.
Chomp, chomp.
Unlike his clean appearance, old habits died hard—he devoured food sloppily, mouth busy.
"Slurp, why only grass? Gulp, slurp. Tasty, sure, but munch munch..."
Food spewed from his full mouth.
Clink—
Danmurin set down her chopsticks awkwardly, smiling strained.
"Gulp, what's wrong?"
"I'm full now."
Cheonigae eyed her bowl.
"Slurp, such a small appetite. Gulp."
"Eat quietly during meals."
Cheonhwi cut him off.
"Gulp, why?"
"The table's getting covered in spit."
"Come on, how much spit can it be?"
"..."
Cheonhwi stared silently at Cheonigae.
Under the wordless gaze, Cheonigae tucked tail like a dog.
"Slurp. Fine. Got it."
As Cheonigae ate quietly, Cheonhwi resumed.
"Now I can eat in peace."
Danmurin, glancing cautiously, sighed in relief and finished her vegetables.
The meal continued briefly.
"Excuse me, guests..."
The innkeeper approached cautiously.
He handed Cheonhwi plain gray robes clutched to his chest, face troubled.
"Here are the clothes. Tried for the best, but the cloth shop only had these..."
He fidgeted.
He'd rushed to the shop, but this gray set was the best available.
Cheonhwi took them.
Rough texture showed poor quality fabric.
"It's fine."
No issue.
Cheonhwi wanted them to avoid notice before Zhuge territory, for casual fun—not luxury.
"Here, you wear this too."
Cheonhwi handed them to Danmurin.
"Okay."
Clueless why, but she took them and stood.
Soon, after eating and changing, the three boarded the carriage.
"Burp, good. Great."
Cheonigae, neatly dressed, belched and patted his belly, looking ahead.
"Oh ho."
Seeing Cheonhwi and Danmurin in matching gray martial robes, he grinned slyly.
"Look at that. Matching outfits—folks might mistake you for a couple."
Danmurin's face flushed instantly.
Cheonhwi ignored it and asked.
"Enough pointless jokes. You know the local geography well?"
"Geography? Fairly."
"Then guide the driver."
"Guide? Just follow this official road straight, and you're there. What."
"If we were taking the official road, why bother changing? On a Central Plains trip, we should enjoy it properly, right?"
Cheonhwi's eyes curved mischievously.
"All famous taverns and inns on the way to the Zhuge Clan—we're stopping at every one."