Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Near Yichang Wharf
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Near Yichang Wharf.
Yichang was a massive city located in the center of Hubei Province along the great river. It had always been bustling with people due to the vast waterway passing through, but now it was overflowing with crowds from every corner of the Central Plains, all drawn by the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
It was all because of that waterway. To reach Wuhu, where the Righteous Martial Alliance was headquartered, in comfort, one had to board a boat from Yichang.
Jinmu, who had left Wudang, received orders to escort Cheongsang and Cheongu to the Righteous Martial Alliance in Wuhu along with his junior disciples.
What was the big deal about that? He was on the verge of achieving his dream.
Brimming with excitement, Jinmu led his junior disciples away from Wudang Mountain and traveled south by land for nearly ten days straight, arriving in Yichang.
It was late, and with so many people around, he couldn't secure a boat, so they had stopped at an inn.
Even that had taken visiting three places before finding rooms.
He had ordered plenty of meat that Cheongu loved and even some liquor, when out of nowhere, an old man approached and asked to join their table.
Jinmu stared blankly at the elderly man smiling brightly at him.
"So, you're saying you want to join us?"
"That's right."
"Why?"
"Huh?"
Did he assume it would be accepted as a matter of course?
The old man's expression faltered at the indifferent response.
"Why should we?"
"......"
The old man looked even more flustered at Jinmu's question.
Judging by his robes, he was definitely a Wudang disciple.
And given his youthful appearance, he was clearly a Second Generation Disciple heading to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
In cases like this...
Shouldn't a Taoist priest naturally respond 'Yes' to a polite request to join tables?
Yet here he was, asking 'Why'?
The old man, momentarily stunned and unable to find words, smiled awkwardly.
"Well, there are no empty seats in this inn right now, are there? Your table is for four, and there's one spot empty."
As he made excuses with a strained expression, Jinmu pointed around the inn with his finger.
"Over there, there, and there."
"......"
"There are tables for four with only two people, some with three, and even one with just a single person. So why this table specifically?"
"Huh? Oh, that."
He was at a loss for words again.
Jinmu was right.
As he said, there were plenty of tables available for joining.
Yet the reason he approached Jinmu's group was... curiosity.
Wasn't it unusual for Taoist priests in robes to order meat and liquor?
Moreover, their auras marked them as no ordinary folk.
Even just sitting there, they exuded sharp sword intent from every pore, practically shouting 'We're elite Taoists!'
He had come specifically to see what kind of people they were, never imagining such outright rejection.
"Go somewhere else."
His curt words and turned head were ruthlessly dismissive.
"Hey, aren't you Wudang Taoists?"
"So?"
"I'm not asking you to give up your seats or buy my meal, so how can Wudang Taoists refuse to share a table?"
"That's a pointless prejudice."
"What?"
"There's no reason Wudang Taoists must agree to share seats, and you're not even paying, old timer."
"......"
"I'm paying my own bill and saying no to sharing, so what does that have to do with being a Taoist?"
"Ah, well, you're right."
"Exactly. So look elsewhere."
"......"
The old man had never encountered such a reaction in his life.
"Sasook."
"What?"
"We're fine with him joining."
"Quiet. I'm not."
Cheongsang spoke up only to get scolded.
And Jinmu's persistent refusal had another reason.
The old man's identity.
'White Heron Deng Yeo-pyeong.'
How could he not know?
Few in the Central Plains martial world didn't know that name.
Especially Jinmu, former Lord of Evil Hegemony Heaven, who knew the faces—and even personalities—of all major figures in the rival factions inside out.
He could have shared the table, no problem.
But with that nosy personality, he was sure to pry into everything.
Besides, his background was the minor Stone Gate Deng Manor.
Not content with frugality bordering on stinginess, he had an exasperatingly upright disposition.
In other words, unlike Yang Sobang... he was just a poor, bothersome old man with nothing to gain.
"Come on, don't be like that."
"Man, are you hard of hearing? You don't get it."
Jinmu irritably stood up.
"Huh? Sasook?"
"Forget sasook or whatever, get up quick."
"But the meat..."
"This annoying old guy's ruined my appetite. Let's go somewhere else."
"......"
At Jinmu's actions, the old man—no, Deng Yeo-pyeong—gaped in disbelief.
What? Ruined appetite? Annoying?
Such an insolent little Taoist punk.
Deng Yeo-pyeong narrowed his eyes, about to vent his anger.
"Hey! Innkeeper!"
"Yes?"
"This old man's a nuisance, so we're leaving. Cancel the food and drinks."
"Ah, no, Taoist sir. The cooking's already started."
"That's not my problem. Bill him if you have to."
Jinmu strode out, and Cheongsang and Cheongu followed after glancing at each other.
"Hah, what kind of guy is that?"
Deng Yeo-pyeong was about to teach him a lesson when the innkeeper grabbed his sleeve.
"That's four taels of silver."
"......"
"Four taels."
Deng Yeo-pyeong alternated glances between the departing group and the innkeeper.
"Four taels!"
Four taels? In silver, no less...
Did they slaughter a cow or something?
He glared with bulging eyes, but the innkeeper's steadfast gaze made him tearfully pull out his money pouch.
Having ditched Deng Yeo-pyeong and left the inn, Jinmu irritably walked down the street.
"What a weird old guy. Insisting on joining even after we said no."
Cheongu, upset at missing out on the meat feast, puffed his cheeks and grumbled.
"Cheongu, that's rude. How can you speak to an elder like that?"
"Why? You did it too, sasook."
"Hey now, am I like you?"
"Tch."
Scolded by Cheongsang, Cheongu glanced at Jinmu and muttered.
They say you can't even sip cold water in front of kids.
But it wasn't really worth scolding Cheongu over.
Cheongsang might not get it, but from Jinmu's perspective, it was understandable.
Setting aside elder or not—who likes someone clinging when you've said no?
'Hmm. I should change my outfit. Acting true to my nature might tarnish Master's reputation.'
He didn't care much how he himself was seen.
He'd never given a damn about others' opinions.
Wudang getting flak didn't bother him either, but his master getting criticized did prick a bit.
It would surely weigh on his mind.
"Cheongsang, Cheongu."
"Yes?"
"We're going to a clothing shop."
"Clothing shop?"
"Yeah. Need to buy some casual clothes."
"Yes."
Cheongsang never questioned Jinmu's words.
Go when told to go, come when told to come—utterly loyal.
"I'm hungry though..."
Cheongu trailed behind with a sullen face.
That kid's a total glutton.
Jinmu shook his head.
But what could he do? Only he had lost his appetite.
Until they reached Wuhu, he was their escort and guardian, so he had to feed them well.
The next day.
Jinmu and his group, who had barely secured rooms at a rundown guesthouse and slept, were changing into the black martial robes they bought from the clothing shop the night before.
"Sasook."
Cheongsang returned early in the morning after checking the boat schedules.
"No boats available. The few spots there are, are all reserved."
"Tch."
What was so special about the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly that there were no boats?
Irritated that his plan to quickly drop off Cheongsang and Cheongu at the Alliance and head to the Five Great Taoist Sects was delayed.
He was eager to snag the Taiji edition of the Two Forms Heart Art as soon as possible, make the orthodox and demonic sects kneel at his feet, and maybe even overlook the emperor from on high.
With a huge event like this, they should at least add extra boats for money. Those self-proclaimed righteous alliance folks sure knew how to bungle things...
"Only two boats run a day. One's chartered by the Zhuge Family, and the other's a passenger liner that stops everywhere."
Jinmu looked at Cheongsang pitifully.
The Zhuge Family chartering one was understandable.
"Cheongsang, Cheongsang."
"Yes?"
"Did it even occur to you to offer extra money?"
"There's a set fare, so why extra?"
Yeah, figured as much.
"What about merchant ships or something?"
"Merchant ships? Why would we?"
Of course not.
That's why they were Wudang disciples.
Sigh, these guys really lack street smarts.
Sometimes in life, you need to bend the rules a bit, yet how could they be so rigid?
No choice but to demonstrate for these clueless mortals.
"Sigh, better to try than die regretting. Come on, let's go."
Jinmu shook his head and stood, while Cheongsang and Cheongu exchanged looks and followed.
Just as they stepped out of the guesthouse...
"Hey there!"
"......"
Turning at the voice calling them, Jinmu scowled deeply.
Deng Yeo-pyeong.
Damn, why was this guy so clingy?
"Robes yesterday, generic martial robes today? Were you impersonating a priest or something? But your skills are definitely Wudang."
Deng Yeo-pyeong stroked his chin, eyeing Jinmu's group up and down.
Jinmu tried to ignore and walk past.
"I said stop."
Deng Yeo-pyeong suddenly thrust out his hand.
A simple extension, but an expert's hand naturally carried hidden energy. His grip contained the subtleties of Golden Crow Claw.
Yet...
"......"
Deng Yeo-pyeong blinked as Jinmu effortlessly sidestepped with a single light step, grabbing at empty air.
No way.
Again.
Whoosh, whoosh.
His hand lashed out like stirring the air, but Jinmu slipped away like an eel.
'Well, I'll be!'
At first, it was just to halt his steps, but repeated misses sparked his competitive streak.
'Let's see...'
As Deng Yeo-pyeong curled his fingers subtly...
"Seriously! What the hell do you want?"
"......"
This time, Jinmu stopped without dodging, and the glare in his eyes made Deng Yeo-pyeong halt awkwardly.
"Ah, uh..."
After pondering what to say, Deng Yeo-pyeong blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"What do you mean? Hand it over right now!"
"Hand over what?!"
"Four taels of silver!"
"......"
"Do you know how much trouble you caused me? What did you even order that the bill came to four taels?"
"......"
"Hurry up and pay."
He was straight-up shaking him down.
White Heron.
The moniker for the great righteous elder who embodied impartial justice.
But why so petty over four taels?
"You're disgustingly stingy."
"What? Do you even know how much four taels of silver is?!"
I do.
How could I not?
"One tael of silver buys two seom of rice. Four taels is eight seok. That's enough to feed a family of four for four whole months! And you call me stingy? What the hell did you plan to gorge on that cost four taels at an inn? Don't you have any conscience as a Taoist? Don't you pity the homeless beggars wandering these streets? Didn't it cross your mind to help them before splurging on meat?"
"......"
Yeah, I get it.
But man, he sure talks a lot.
I don't care what others spend their money on. Especially not this 'help the poor' crap.
He was tempted to say Cheongu sitting next to the meat would devour it all, but he had no desire to engage.
Why were all old folks such nags?