Blood-Soaked Tree Bark
After a moment's thought, Un Hak suppressed the laughter bubbling up inside him.
'This kid. He must really want to stay here.'
It wasn't just Jeong Gwang. Every face in the Jeong generation brimmed with eager anticipation.
'Once won't hurt.'
As soon as Un Hak gave his approval, everyone lit up with joy—not just the Heo generation, but the Un generation too.
"Hey, Un Hyeon. Why the grin?"
"Ahem. Isn't this a prime training opportunity, just like Jeong Gwang said? I'm thrilled at the chance to cultivate an unmoving mind."
"……Keep up that brave and diligent spirit."
"Of course, senior brother!"
It was all because Kunlun was so poor.
Even Taoists were human.
When would they ever get to stay in a place like this again?
As they entered the inn, a waiter greeted them. He was fairly old, but he quickly sized up the Kunlun Taoists' attire and adopted an exceedingly polite demeanor.
"Honored guests, welcome to the Lianhua Inn."
Thanks to him, Jeong Gwang—now an honored guest—asked, "Do you have private annexes in the back?"
"Of course. We have three available right now."
"Perfect. We'll take all of them."
"……Pardon?"
"We'll take all three."
The waiter—and even the Kunlun disciples—gaped in shock.
"I apologize, but the price is a bit—gasp!"
The waiter gasped at the banknote Jeong Gwang held out.
'H-how much is this?! A real VIP…… Huh?'
In the blink of an eye, the amount on the banknote had changed.
"Senior brother, that's too much. I said I'd cover it."
"Then you should've paid before I did. You always swap it out later and act like you're footing the bill."
"I'm sorry. I'll pay first next time."
Baek Seung-mu turned to the waiter. "That should be enough, right?"
"Y-yes, of course. This way, please."
The Kunlun Taoists divided into their generational lines and entered the three annexes.
"Whoa! This is amazing! Thanks, Jeong Gwang!"
"Haha. Never thought I'd see a day like this in my lifetime. The Supreme Ancestor must be watching over us."
"How does a room have this many luxuries? Wow! It's even better than the sect leader's quarters!"
Unlike his excited seniors, Baek Seung-mu inspected every corner.
'Everything's brand new. Those are recent repair marks. Must be because the Murim Alliance is reforming. Land prices have probably skyrocketed already…… Oh no!'
He gave a wry smile.
'I'm a Kunlun disciple. Not the heir to a merchant group. If I'm still like this, what am I going to do?'
He had entered the sect much later than his seniors. Fusing his family heart method with the Lesser Pure Qi Art was challenge enough, and his fears about the future only grew.
'Get it together! Master said it's fine! I can get plenty strong!'
And then there was Jeong Gwang.
His senior brother, Jeong Gwang—strong beyond measure!
As if reading his mind, Jeong Gwang beckoned.
"Junior brother. Come here."
"Yes! Senior brother! Teach me anything……."
"I want to grow my money. Can you help?"
"……Senior brother. I'm a Kunlun disciple."
"Yeah. Me too. Where should I invest?"
Baek Seung-mu gritted his teeth.
What does he take me for?!
Is this why he convinced me to join?!
If he keeps this up, I won't hold back……
"And about the Lesser Pure Qi Art. Master's way is orthodox, but there's a trick to speeding it up. Want me to teach you?"
"Senior brother!"
"Yeah?"
Baek Seung-mu leaned in close to Jeong Gwang's ear and whispered, "Diversify your investments. Safety trumps returns."
"Meaning?"
"Buy land first. Cheap scraps and odd lots."
* * *
The next morning, Un Hak gave the Kunlun disciples a day off.
Everyone was thrilled, as expected. The Jeong generation was especially excited to explore Nanyang, but they grimaced when Un Hak assigned Heo Cheong as their leader.
"Why? Would Heo Jik be better?"
"No, sir! We'll be off then!"
The Jeong generation disciples bellowed their response and marched out of the inn.
This was the Central Plains.
The heart of the heart—Henan Province!
They'd see and learn so much in a single day!
But.
How would bumpkins from Qinghai Province know their way around? They knew even less about Nanyang. Like baby birds trailing their mother, they simply followed Heo Cheong in a line.
This naturally drew eyes.
'Taoists from some backwater mountain.'
'Look at them gawking around. Hope they don't snap their necks.'
That was the expected reaction—but it was anything but.
'Whoa, those robes are so elegant and stylish!'
'A Taoist robe made of blue jade silk. You can feel the class.'
'The sword hilt and scabbard are gold! How sharp is the blade?'
Clothes made the man.
Their attire turned the Kunlun disciples' wide-eyed wandering into a vigilant scan for those in need.
"Amitabha. Greetings, virtuous ones."
"May the Supreme Ancestor's will be with you."
People clasped their hands and bowed politely. The Kunlun disciples returned each greeting with blessings, touching the hearts of Nanyang's folk.
'Kunlun Sect, right? Impressive.'
'They're Taoists, but nothing like those arrogant pricks who think they're above the heavens.'
From a stall's gap, Jeong Gwang watched and nodded.
'Decent foot traffic. Junior brother's right—land first.'
Among the passersby were quite a few martial artists. Their careful demeanor suggested the righteous sects weren't total wrecks.
'They're the prime customers. Good. Time to work junior brother.'
And so Baek Seung-mu's fate was sealed.
After half a day of sightseeing, the Kunlun disciples reached the market street.
Vendors had set up stalls selling simple dishes.
The Kunlun disciples' noses twitched at the fragrant aromas wafting from the stalls.
'Strange smell.'
'What's that dish?'
The Central Plains were vast, so each province had distinct ingredients and cooking styles. Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Jiangxi were hailed as the best, while Henan lagged far behind.
But even Henan's worst had to beat Qinghai's.
Saliva pooled in their mouths.
Leader Heo Cheong felt the same.
"Let's grab something simple."
"Yes, Grand Uncle Master!"
Most stalls offered similar noodle dishes.
"What's this?"
"Henan famous hui mian."
"What's in it?"
"Mutton broth with yellowed leeks and wood ear mushrooms."
Mutton.
Heo Cheong clicked his tongue.
Asking other vendors yielded variations, but all used meat broth.
"Ugh. What now?"
As Heo Cheong and the Jeong generation fretted, Jeong Gwang approached an old woman at a dingy corner stall.
"Amitabha. Granny, no meat in this, right?"
"Ah, Immortal Master. Shamefully, no."
To the uninformed, it might seem like sage insight.
But her ragged clothes and filthy stall made it obvious she couldn't afford meat.
"Master. Let's eat here."
No real choice anyway.
"Fine. Let's do that."
Including Jeong Gwang, ten Kunlun disciples crowded around the stall.
"C-can immortals like you eat something made by the likes of me……?"
"We're not immortals."
"Oh my. Don't say that. Understood. Thank you so much."
The old woman bowed repeatedly as she boiled the noodles.
Baek Seung-mu watched, stomach churning.
'Urk. How can it be this filthy?'
Hands caked in grime kneading noodles, wiping bowls with dirty sleeves.
To the Baek Merchant Group's young master, it was unbearable.
Out of all places, why here? How do you even eat this…… Ah!'
Baek Seung-mu stared blankly at his master and seniors.
They had clasped hands politely to the old woman, then slurped the noodles.
'……Even Senior Brother Jeong Gwang!'
Yes.
Even that devilish Jeong Gwang ate the filthy noodles without complaint.
And so elegantly, too.
Even under his bamboo hat, he looked every bit the immortal!
Whispers of admiration rose from nearby vendors and customers.
"Kunlun Taoists, right? I've seen plenty, but never like these."
"Exactly. Thought they were buying out of pity, but eating it? Unthinkable."
"Heh. Remarkable folk. Truly remarkable."
Baek Seung-mu closed his eyes and sighed.
'Seung-mu, oh Seung-mu. The Kunlun you admired is still true to itself, yet you—lucky to be one of them—are still a spoiled brat.'
His gaze deepened.
He picked up noodles with rough twig chopsticks and shoved them in his mouth.
'Gasp! This taste!'
Disgustingly bad.
The noodles were so mushy, the old woman's wrinkled skin looked firm by comparison.
'Th-the broth might be better.'
One sip, and he nearly spat it out.
'No! Hold it!'
With the Supreme Ancestor's aid, he barely kept it down and glanced at the others.
'Unbelievable! Eating this with straight faces!'
His respect for his master and seniors swelled.
But what he didn't know: Kunlun disciples were used to far worse.
Before the Jin Ok-ryong Protection Squad sent a chef for Jeong Gwang's health, they'd eaten even nastier food without complaint.
The old woman's cooking stirred old memories.
'It's been ages.'
'Yeah. Just like this.'
The filth wasn't a big deal either.
They'd foraged across Qinghai for Half Immortal Pill ingredients, eating worse.
Jeong Gwang's memories differed slightly.
'When those rat bastards from the Potala Palace monks surrounded us. Peeling and eating their blood-soaked tree bark. Tastes just like that.'
It jogged a loose end.
'Couldn't kill them all crossing into Tibet. Should go back when I have time.'
A smile tugged at Jeong Gwang's lips.
Under his bamboo hat, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
A woman in a bamboo hat watched intently.
After Jeong Gwang's group left, she ordered a bowl from the old woman. She hesitated, took a bite, and spat it out.
"Urk! How do you eat this?!"
The startled old woman flailed in panic.
"Oh dear, what to do. I'm so sorry, miss. Truly sorry."
"No, it's fine. Here."
"Pardon? G-gasp! This much?!"
The old woman trembled at the silver coin in her hand.
"Th-thank you. So thankful…… Ah! Miss?"
The bamboo-hatted woman was already a distant speck.
In the direction Jeong Gwang's group had gone.
* * *
Jeong Gwang's group wandered more before returning to the Lianhua Inn.
"Huh? More people now?"
"Mostly martial artists."
"We came back early. Other sects and clans should be arriving soon."
As the Jeong generation scanned the crowd and chatted, the crowd whispered about Kunlun Sect.
'Better head in quick.'
Veteran Heo Cheong worried the hot-blooded Jeong generation might stir trouble.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go."
"Yes, Grand Uncle Master."
But they couldn't.
A lean middle-aged man approached Heo Cheong.
"Well, if it isn't……."
"Oh! Ak Daehyeop of the Shandong Yue Family. Long time no see."
"Must be twenty years. You look sharper than ever. Haha."
"Ugh. Mocking my ill-fitting robes?"
"Perish the thought. It's a compliment."
"With that scary face, it doesn't sound like one."
"Ouch. You got me."
Heo Cheong chuckled and pulled him along.
"Not here. Let's talk inside."
"Sounds good. Been ages—let's eat together."
As they entered the inn, the Jeong generation followed.
Jeong Gwang moved to join, but a woman's voice stopped him.
"Excuse me. Mind if I ask something?"
Jeong Gwang eyed the voice's owner: average height, bamboo hat.
"What?"
"You ate that old woman's noodles at the market earlier."
She paused, then asked, "Why?"
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"Who are you?"
"Oh. Right."
She removed her bamboo hat.
Onlookers' jaws dropped.
The world seemed brighter as her stunning face emerged.
"Forgive my rudeness. Eon Ui-jin of the Jinju Eon Family. And you?"
"Jeong Gwang."
She pointed at his hat, miming removal.
"Too much hassle."
"Then I'll look."
"Huh?"
Her figure blurred, reappearing before him.
Jeong Gwang reflexively cocked his fist, then stopped.
She bent at the waist, peering up at his face.
"What're you doing?"
Eon Ui-jin stared wide-eyed, speechless.
She'd never seen such a beautiful man.
"……Fine. Perfect. Now, why'd you eat those noodles?"
"Only meatless ones there."
"That's it?"
"Hmm. Hungry?"
"Those aren't for hunger…… How'd you eat them smiling?"
"Oh. That."
Jeong Gwang shrugged nonchalantly.
"Better than blood-soaked tree bark."