Heavenly Thunder... Martial God? (2)
Rain poured down in sheets, like someone dumping buckets from the heavens. No matter how fast they ran, it was useless. How could anyone escape the downpour? His hair clung to his head like seaweed, and his clothes were soaked through.
Kaboom! Damn it, lightning too. The world flashed bright for an instant before plunging back into darkness. Strange. The thunder swallowed the rain's roar momentarily, only for the downpour to surge back louder than before, as if refusing to be silenced again.
Jin Yeo-rip and Im Pilsaeng, having fled Cheongeumbang, finally reached the inn looking like drowned rats. Clouds hid the moon, making it impossible to gauge how deep into the night it was.
"Aigoo, let's get inside before we freeze our asses off."
"Yeah!"
The rundown inn was patched together from warped, dried-out wood. The walls were full of knot holes like Swiss cheese, and the roof—cobbled from small planks—resembled a youtaje house. Even from outside, leaks were visible.
Pushing open the door revealed an empty place, the middle-aged innkeeper dozing alone.
"Kang-ga! Hey, Kang-ga!"
Im Pilsaeng, leaving wet footprints with every step, shook the man awake.
"Huh? Who... Oh? Im-ga?"
"Aigoo, how's a guy in business supposed to sleep? What if thieves come and clean you out?"
"Thieves? In this rain? Who'd come out? You two got drenched, huh?"
"It just started dumping on us halfway."
"Then stay home. Why suffer like this?"
"That's what you say to customers?"
"Customers? You barely buy enough to count."
Grumbling, Kang Seong-gil stretched.
"Two of you today? Who's the handsome young guy?"
"Ah!"
As the innkeeper eyed him curiously, Im Pilsaeng grinned.
"Hey, watch it, punk. That's no 'young guy'—that's my lord."
"Huh?"
"I've told you a hundred times: I serve a master."
"Oh, him? This guy's the one?"
"Yep."
"Whoa! Forgive my rudeness!"
Startled, Kang Seong-gil straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Jin Yeo-rip.
"First time meeting. Name's Kang Seong-gil."
"Jin Yeo-rip."
"No need for formalities with a wretch like me running a dump like this..."
"Nah, casual's fine."
Jin Yeo-rip smiled, and Im Pilsaeng boasted to Kang Seong-gil.
"See? Told you my lord's full of grace and propriety."
"..."
"Even speaks politely to me, unearned as it is."
"Heh, just like you said."
Nodding, Kang Seong-gil made Jin Yeo-rip cock his head. Just like he said? What'd he hear? Im Pilsaeng doesn't hand out compliments.
"Looks like Uncle Pilsaeng's been talking me up a lot."
"Aigoo, every visit's nothing but Young Master this and that."
"Just about me?"
"Yep. Had me thinking you were some heavenly being, but you're human after all."
"Heavenly being?"
"Yes, sir."
Good to know it was praise. Jin Yeo-rip smiled and glanced at Im Pilsaeng, prompting Kang Seong-gil to chuckle.
"Im-ga's got a silver tongue—made for entertaining tales."
"What'd he say, exactly?"
"Haha, it'd take all night and day. Let's get some liquor first. You need hot soup after that rain. One sec."
Kang Seong-gil dashed off before they could stop him.
"Hey! Bring your absolute best! You'll never meet anyone nobler than my lord in your whole career!"
"You bet! Don't worry— for your master, I'll pull out all the stops!"
Clattering from the back, Kang Seong-gil boasted boldly.
Plip, plip-plip. Rain seeped through the roof into poison bottles catching the drops. The cozy sight added charm. Jin Yeo-rip smiled, listening intently.
Kaboom! Shhhh!Plip-plip...
Amusing. Thunder, rain, and droplets clashing—like villainous orchestra, flashes like spotlights.
"Worn-out, but got atmosphere, right?"
"Sure does."
Nodding with a smile at Im Pilsaeng's words, Jin Yeo-rip asked,
"You two knew each other before? Seem tighter than innkeep and regular."
"Tight? We once wanted each other dead."
"Huh?"
"He's Saha faction remnants."
"...Saha? Wait, Taesan Blood Massacre?"
"Told you about it, yeah?"
Taesan Blood Massacre. The incident where Im Pilsaeng single-handedly wiped out the Saha faction that kidnapped his mother. But remnants?
"And you're buddies after that?"
"Eh, it worked out. Been ages. I'm a forgiving guy."
Im Pilsaeng chuckled. Who is? Not you—I'm talking about Kang Seong-gil.
Saha faction was wrong—kidnapping his mother. But grudges aren't logical. Personal. From his view, Im Pilsaeng slaughtered 300 brothers. Normal to seek revenge, not chat amiably—maybe stab in the back.
"Hm."
Picturing their dynamic, Jin Yeo-rip nodded as if getting it. Yeah, he tried revenge. But Shandong's top swordsman, Taesan's butcher. Not easy. Must've swallowed tears in resentment, heart rotting.
Eyeing Im Pilsaeng suspiciously, Jin Yeo-rip mused.
"Why the glare?"
"Just... Kang Seong-gil seems pitiful."
"Huh?"
"Y'know."
"Feels like you're cursing me..."
Good if he sensed it. Villain. Strong man who forced him to abandon revenge. Dirty world. Might makes right.
Grousing inwardly, Jin Yeo-rip looked up as Kang Seong-gil brought liquor and food. Fragrant steam rose from huge bowls, chasing away the chill at a glance.
"Haha, what's got you two so engrossed?"
"Nothin'."
Jin Yeo-rip eyed Kang Seong-gil pityingly.
"Huh? Why that look..."
"Just... you seem pitiful."
"Huh?"
"Y'know."
Sighing it off, Im Pilsaeng cut in.
"Lotsa 'y'knows' today."
"Don't mind the perp."
"Perp? What?"
Innocent confusion irked him more. Clueless to the victim's pain. Fine, whatever started it—apologize properly.
Frowning, Jin Yeo-rip said,
"Uncle Seong-gil's a Saha survivor, right?"
"Yes."
"Get an apology?"
"Huh?"
"Apology! You lost 300 brothers, even if tied to my mom's kidnapping. You deserve one."
Im Pilsaeng and Kang Seong-gil blinked, then burst laughing.
"Haha! Thought it was something serious."
"Young Master's too kind—worrying for me like that?"
"..."
Weird vibe. Why laugh? Did I misread?
"My lord."
"Yeah?"
"Kang Seong-gil is Saha remnant—but not really Saha."
"What?"
"Traitor."
Kang Seong-gil scowled at Im Pilsaeng's bluntness.
"Hey! Traitor? How's that betrayal?"
"What else? Locked up for opposing that scum."
"It was insane! Loyalty!"
"Loyalty my ass. That's why you beat his son black and blue?"
"Hmph! Deserved it."
Watching them bicker over the past, Jin Yeo-rip interjected,
"Hold up!"
"Yeah?"
"This is way off from what I figured."
"Off how?"
"Well..."
Explaining his assumption, Kang Seong-gil turned beet-red holding back laughter before exploding.
"Kuhahaha! Me, revenge? On Im-ga? Haha!"
Definitely not.
"My lord, what made you think..."
"Sorry, I assumed."
"You think I'd spare someone vengeful? Not me. Why leave 'em alive? Hunted every bastard involved in lady's kidnapping—dried their seeds."
Right, that's him. Seen it before—slaughtering Outer Market thugs who attacked him.
"So Uncle Seong-gil?"
"Told ya. Traitor."
"..."
"Gotta explain him proper."
Im Pilsaeng began Kang Seong-gil's tale for baffled Jin Yeo-rip.
Gu Jungdo Kang Seong-gil. No match for Ghost Shadow Im Pilsaeng, but renowned Shandong expert. Lowly origins as Saha grunt, but saber talent rocketed him to core. His nine-strike chain saber was masterful—waste in Saha.
Same age, they'd sparred; Im Pilsaeng pitied his talent, tried recruiting for Ak family, but loyalty to lifelong Saha held him back.
Turning point: Taesan Blood Massacre. Kang Seong-gil tried stopping the son from lusting after Ak Seoyeonn and kidnapping her.
"Got so mad, went overboard..."
Beat the son. Betrayal. Unforgivable to faction leader. Who spares a subordinate striking heir, even if son's fault?
"Idiot. Had the skill—why get caught?"
"What could I do? He's the lord who took me in."
"Chose death? Aigoo, still boggles— you calling yourself evil faction?"
"Evil why? Your black-and-white thinking's the issue."
"What, punk?"
"It's actions that matter, not faction. How many times?"
Echoed Im Pilsaeng's prior words on forward/reverse methods: not what you learn, but how you use it.
Kang Seong-gil: not where you belong, but what you do.
"Always yapping."
"And if I was fine, you'd have crumbled Saha? You'd be dead."
"What? You, doubting Shandong's top sword?"
"Top sword? Remind me of Gu Jungdo?"
"Bull. Running this shack post-Saha—remember your saber? Broke it, swore off murim."
"Shut it! Kitchen knife's enough for you!"
"Son of a—fine! Let's go!"
Fight-ready... in words only. No standing meant no fight.
But Jin Yeo-rip smiled warmly at them. Similar minds bonded them. Kindred spirits. Enviable.