Chapter 40 - Why Are You Here
An awkward silence settled over the inn.
Everyone, led by Jin Muhon, fixed their eyes on Cheongpung's mouth.
But Cheongpung merely trembled his lips, saying nothing.
"Wow. Ignoring me right to my face."
Jin Muhon spoke indifferently.
Strangely enough, that single remark deflated the taut tension like a punctured pig's bladder.
"By any chance... do you know Senior Brother Cheongpung?"
As Cheongpung kept silent, a nun from the Ami Sect who had been watching approached Jin Muhon.
Jin Muhon turned his gaze to her.
She was a modest nun who seemed pure-hearted and kind.
"This guy's close with the elders of his sect."
"Ah! So you're connected to the Wudang Sect! Nice to meet you. I'm Myeongjeong of the Ami Sect. Amitabha."
Myeongjeong clasped her white hands together and bowed to Jin Muhon.
Jin Muhon lightly returned the greeting with a fist-and-palm salute.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm the head of the Jin family from Unbong County."
"Oh! You're the family head! I thought you had a reliable air about you."
"No need for such words. It's a small family you've likely never heard of."
Myeongjeong smiled softly and shook her head.
"What's the importance of a family's size? Just being in a position of responsibility for others deserves respect."
Jin Muhon felt a flicker of surprise at Myeongjeong's response.
She couldn't be much over twenty.
The nun's untainted thoughts felt refreshingly novel.
"I'm grateful for your words."
"Hohoho! Please treat me casually. I'm much your junior. Ah! This is my junior sister, and those are disciples from the Qingcheng Sect."
Myeongjeong kindly introduced the others as well.
The Qingcheng Taoists looked reluctant, but with Myeongjeong being so gracious, they didn't voice any complaints.
Uncharacteristically, Jin Muhon observed proper etiquette toward the juniors.
Gurgle.
Just then, a loud rumble echoed from Jin Muhon's stomach.
"Oh my! You must be starving!"
"Haven't eaten properly in days."
"I should've noticed. Please, sit here. Senior Brother Cheongpung! What are you doing? Come join us, Senior Brother!"
Myeongjeong pulled out a chair with a creak and offered it to Jin Muhon.
Jin Muhon sat without hesitation in what had been Cheongpung's spot.
The others, including Myeongjeong, took their seats one by one.
Somehow, Cheongpung was left in an awkward position.
Jin Muhon picked up a well-roasted chicken leg and turned to Cheongpung.
"Get your own chair."
"......"
From that moment, Jin Muhon began eating in earnest.
***
Chomp chomp. Slurp. Chomp chomp chomp. Gulp gulp.
Empty plates piled up on the table.
The waiter cleared them and brought new dishes frequently, but they accumulated even faster.
"Whoa..."
"It's like he's possessed."
"Even Beggar Clan brothers couldn't eat like that."
The juniors watched wide-eyed as Jin Muhon devoured the food.
He wasn't savoring the flavors.
He simply crammed in dish after dish, as if eating were his sole mission.
"Buuuurp!"
After about two hours of nonstop eating, Jin Muhon finally leaned back in his chair and let out a massive belch, his belly now full.
He raised his gaze.
Not only the Qingcheng and Ami juniors but even Cheongpung across the table stared at him in shock.
"Oops. Sorry about that. I got carried away with the food."
"N-no, it's fine. Did the food suit your taste?"
Myeongjeong snapped out of her daze, her mouth slightly agape, and met Jin Muhon's eyes.
Jin Muhon nodded and smacked his lips.
"The spicy stuff hits the spot. Food's gotta be spicy to be any good."
"People who can't handle spice can't even touch Sichuan cuisine."
"They don't know the true flavor of life."
"Hohoho! Is that so?"
The initial tension from Jin Muhon's entrance had vanished; the juniors now mingled amiably with him.
Myeongjeong from Ami Sect got along with everyone, but even the prickly Qingcheng Taoists stayed without much resistance.
The only one struggling to adapt was Cheongpung.
What the hell... is this?
Cheongpung couldn't comprehend it.
How could the Sword Demon be getting along with juniors from the Nine Great Sects like this?
His clenched fist trembled.
Bam!
Finally, Cheongpung slammed the table.
"Oh my!"
"Eek! You scared me!"
"Senior Brother Cheongpung, what's wrong?"
The juniors, who had been chatting amiably with Jin Muhon, turned to him with wide eyes.
Cheongpung glared at Jin Muhon with a hardened face.
"This gathering ends here."
"Pardon?"
"Senior Brother, dessert hasn't come out yet—"
Bam!
"I said everyone leave!"
Cheongpung's sudden outburst froze the pleasant atmosphere in an instant.
Even the Qingcheng Taoists who had been fawning over him as "Senior Brother" now showed displeasure.
'If you're Wudang's Little Dragon, act like it. Who are you bossing around?'
In the end, Myeongjeong stepped in to smooth things over.
"It seems Senior Brother Cheongpung has business with Jin Family Head. We'll head out first."
"Ahem!"
"Junior sister, let's go."
"Yes."
As the Ami nuns rose, the Qingcheng Taoists followed with pursed lips.
Jin Muhon also stood and gave Myeongjeong a light fist-and-palm salute.
"Sorry for the fool. Next time, I'll make a generous donation."
"Hoho! Thank you. We'd love to see you again, Family Head."
"It'll happen. If you need help, send word to the Unbong Jin family."
"Thank you. Namu Amitabha."
Myeongjeong bowed gracefully and left with her junior sister.
The Qingcheng Taoists saluted Jin Muhon and departed without lingering.
Now only Jin Muhon and Cheongpung remained.
Jin Muhon plopped back into his chair and sipped the tea served as dessert.
Then he clicked his tongue at Cheongpung.
"Fool."
"What?!"
"Not ashamed to be called senior brother? Might as well cut it off."
"You! What are you doing here— Gah!"
Whoosh!
Jin Muhon flicked a drop of tea from his middle finger.
The glistening droplet flew like a hidden weapon, grazing Cheongpung's cheek and punching a hole in the inn wall with a thunk.
Hot blood trickled down Cheongpung's cheek.
"Raise your voice once more, and next time I'll burst your head."
"......"
Cheongpung shuddered.
He'd momentarily forgotten who he was dealing with amid the casual mingling. Swallowing hard, he gripped his trembling thighs like quaking aspen leaves.
"You... came looking for me?"
Like a mad dog needing the whip, Cheongpung's tone finally softened.
Jin Muhon dipped another drop of tea onto his middle finger.
"Short speech."
"......"
He extended his hand forward.
"Have you come to find me?"
"......"
Jin Muhon smirked and lowered his hand.
"Is crazy the trend in Wudang these days? Why would I seek you out? By the way, what was your Dharma name again?"
"Cheongpung..."
"Cheongpung? Reminds me of a calf."
"No! It's Cheongpung!"
Cheongpung shouted again.
Jin Muhon lightly dipped his finger in tea.
"Cheongpung."
Cheongpung whispered.
Jin Muhon licked the tea off his finger with a smack.
"If you're not here for me... then what brings you to Sichuan, senior?"
"Senior?"
"Doesn't sit right? Can't call you by your nickname..."
Senior.
Jin Muhon let out a chuckle at the unfamiliar address.
To think he'd live to hear "senior" from a sharp-tongued Wudang Taoist.
"Do as you like."
"Yes."
"And you? Thought you were holed up on Wudang Mountain. What's your business in Sichuan?"
"On a mission for the alliance."
"Murim Alliance?"
"Yes."
Jin Muhon nodded and took a sip from his teacup.
"What mission?"
"Even if you threaten me, I can't say."
Cheongpung's lips pressed into a thin line.
Jin Muhon rather liked his resolve to keep secrets.
"Then let's each ask one question in turn. Stop anytime you want. Up for it?"
"......"
Instead of answering, Cheongpung pondered briefly.
The Sword Demon had appeared in Sichuan. Confirming why might be more important than his own mission.
Finally, Cheongpung nodded in agreement.
"Very well."
"You first."
"The question from earlier. Why are you in Sichuan, senior?"
"Looking for a place called Poison Dragon Valley."
Cheongpung tilted his head.
"Poison Dragon Valley? Does such a place exist?"
"My turn. You seem antisocial. Did you meet the Qingcheng and Ami juniors for the mission?"
"...Yes."
His face soured at "antisocial."
Who're you to talk?
"Why are you looking for Poison Dragon Valley?"
"An acquaintance is captured there. You checked Sichuan intel through Ami and Qingcheng?"
Before Cheongpung could parse the answer and form his next question, Jin Muhon pressed on swiftly.
"Uh... by acquaintance, do you mean... one of those?"
Those.
A word too taboo to utter.
The Demonic Cult.
"Yeah. Heard recent movements from the Sichuan Tang Clan are suspicious?"
"Huh! How did you—?"
"Obvious guess. So your mission is to scout the Tang Clan's activities."
"W-wait! I haven't asked yet!"
"I did."
"When?!"
"How did you...? Wasn't that a question?"
"......"
Cheongpung gaped but couldn't refute.
Jin Muhon grinned at him.
"Can't answer mission details, huh."
"...Correct."
"Fine, we'll stop here. The juicy info for you starts now anyway."
"......"
Scrape.
Jin Muhon pushed back his chair and stood.
As if he truly had no more business with Cheongpung, he turned and descended to the inn's first floor.
A Demonic Cult bigshot captured in Poison Dragon Valley... someone big enough to move the Sword Demon... He suspects the Sichuan Tang Clan... Wait. Why specifically the Tang Clan? There are Qingcheng and Ami too... Could it be!
A bolt of realization struck Cheongpung's mind.
Late to the punch, he sprang up.
"Senior! Let's go together! Senior!"
Cheongpung kicked off the floor and chased after Jin Muhon.