The Death God's Appetite
The village was thick with tension.
It was not empty of people—on the contrary, far more had gathered than usual.
Completely different from what I expected.
With so many flocking to Dangsan, Uncheon had assumed the place would be noisy and chaotic. Yet the moment they stepped past the village entrance, it was so still that only soft murmurs could be heard. Not merely parts of it—the whole of Dangsan lay submerged in a heavy atmosphere.
I can feel everyone’s tension.
As Uncheon walked the path, he took in the watching gazes from every direction with his whole body. One man alone, however, looked as if he had arrived in another world entirely.
Mu-hong walked with light steps, paying no mind whatsoever to the surroundings, as if he could feel nothing at all. Then he turned, smacking his lips, and his voice quickened with sudden vitality.
“I hear Dangsan has an incredibly delicious food called Gija sobyeong! They mix meat and sweet things evenly for the filling, then bake the sobyeong crisp in pork fat, or so they say?”
“Sounds delicious.”
“Of course it will be. Everyone says once you eat it, you can’t stop. Let’s hurry. I specifically looked up a tasty place beforehand. You’re lucky, little brother.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Mu-hong strode cheerfully, his translucent, glittering black robes fluttering.
This is one hell of a gamble.
In that brief instant, Uncheon felt black qi radiate from Mu-hong’s back, enough to blanket the world.
Just how high is his internal energy?
It was a primal fear different from that of the Golden Masked Man or the Black-Hatted Man. Following behind him, Uncheon wondered whether his heart had ever felt heavier than this.
Before long they arrived beneath the red signboard of Yanghu Manor.
“Little brother Uncheon, this is the inn I mentioned. Shall we go in?”
“Sounds good.”
Mu-hong moved inside with an excited expression.
Swish.
At that moment two sturdy men blocked Mu-hong at the entrance to Yanghu Manor. On the chest of their light brown martial robes was the pattern of seven stars. It was clearly the Big Dipper Seven Stars Martial Robes of the Moyong Family. The men were martial artists of the Beidou Unit from the Moyong Family.
“Apologies. This place is full. Please go elsewhere.”
“Huh? Full, you say?”
“That’s right. No more seats.”
Mu-hong looked back and spoke to Uncheon.
“Blue Stream Sword Fragrance, they say there’s no room here. We’ll have to go somewhere else.”
“……”
Seeing the cold killing intent flicker at the corner of Mu-hong’s mouth, Uncheon stepped forward to face the men. They examined Uncheon’s appearance and their pupils shook as if flustered. They could not casually snub Cheongryu Geomhyang of the Namgung Family at the door.
“W-wait a moment… You’re rather impatient. If you would wait just a little while we go inside and report, I would be grateful.”
“I would appreciate that.”
The man hurried inside the inn. Mu-hong raised a finger toward Uncheon.
“As expected, it’s good having a famous little brother. He’ll make seats that don’t exist!”
“I was surprised when you suddenly called me.”
“Right now in the murim, little brother Uncheon’s name carries real weight. Might as well enjoy the perks while it lasts. Right?”
“Haha. But if they had known who I was and still stayed put, you wouldn’t have just left it alone, would you?”
“Ooh, thinking like that already—you’re quite something. We’ve known each other less than half a shichen and you already know me so well? Anyway, I have to eat Gija sobyeong, so anyone who gets in the way, I’ll just make them step aside or kill them.”
His words were no joke. He was a man with the power to do such things with the utmost ease.
Truly a dangerous person.
Uncheon realized that no matter what happened right then, he could not stop it—and he must not try to block it recklessly.
Creak.
Just then the door opened from inside, and instead of the man who had gone to report, a different middle-aged man appeared. Vice Unit Leader Won Ho-sang of the Beidou Unit quickly appraised Uncheon in his blue formal robes. He saw the blue-glowing scabbard of the Cheongeungeom at Uncheon’s waist.
“Are you the Blue Stream Sword Fragrance?”
“Yes. I am Namgung Uncheon. May I ask the great hero’s name?”
“I am Won Ho-sang, Vice Unit Leader of the Moyong Family’s Beidou Unit.”
After greeting him, Uncheon immediately introduced Mu-hong.
“This is my companion, Elder Brother Mu-hong.”
Won Ho-sang turned his gaze and looked down at him—a look of contempt or disregard. Having never heard the name Mu-hong, the habit of looking down on ordinary martial artists slipped out for a moment.
“Huh? Quite the arrogant one. Want your two eyes pulled out?”
“……!!!”
In that instant Won Ho-sang felt a cold chill spread through his entire body as if freezing solid. From his toes, past his dantian, paralysis climbed to his heart. Not even half a gak had passed since the first flicker of worry.
Uncheon carefully requested:
“Elder Brother Mu-hong, I would be grateful if you would withdraw your anger. He is a man who cannot recognize a distinguished guest. If you forgive him just this once, he will never look so rudely again.”
Uncheon asked as carefully as possible so as not to offend him.
If I speak like giving an order, he won’t hold back.
Paaaah-!!
In that moment Won Ho-sang’s body was flung away and collapsed inside Yanghu Manor. Mu-hong looked at Uncheon again with a bright expression.
“Hehe, since it’s little brother’s request, I’ll spare him without killing. If it weren’t for you, that bastard would already be in the next world.”
“I am grateful for Elder Brother’s magnanimity.”
“Shall we go in now?”
“I will go first and secure seats.”
Uncheon looked at Won Ho-sang trying to rise from the floor. His body was far from fine. The cold qi had not fully left him, and he trembled with chill. Uncheon extended a hand and asked:
“Are you all right?”
“Ah… yes…”
Won Ho-sang took the hand while meeting Uncheon’s eyes.
Ssssss—
Through their clasped hands, Uncheon’s internal energy entered his body, withdrawing the cold qi and gradually easing it. Won Ho-sang could breathe comfortably.
“Elder Brother Mu-hong needs a place to sit. Where would be good?”
“Ah, yes. Just a moment…”
Won Ho-sang gestured for the Beidou Unit subordinates to rise and quickly made empty seats, then stepped far back and answered respectfully.
“You two may sit here.”
Mu-hong sat and raised a hand.
“As expected, you only come to your senses after getting hit. If you have Gija sobyeong and some decent liquor, that would be nice?”
“I will prepare them at once.”
Won Ho-sang answered with a bow.
Watching from afar, Unit Leader Moyong San of the Beidou Unit found it absurd. He was the one who had gone out upon hearing that Cheongryu Geomhyang had come outside.
What is he doing right now?
Just as Moyong San stood to shout, the man in ash-gray martial robes beside him quickly stretched out a hand to stop him. It was Yuryeong, the secret spirit guard of Moyong Family Head Moyong Nam.
Moyong San flinched. Then carefully turned and asked via sound transmission.
Moyong San believed his words. He was the one person that Moyong Family Head Moyong Nam trusted alone. Moyong San stared at Uncheon sitting beside Mu-hong with disbelieving eyes.
What on earth is Cheongryu Geomhyang doing with a guy like that?
Crunch crunch!
Mu-hong held a sobyeong in each hand and bit into them full-mouthed.
“Ooh… this is really good.”
“Just as Elder Brother said, it is truly the delicacy of Dangsan. A taste I’ve never experienced in my life.”
“Hahaha! I’m in a good mood today. Got a little brother who reads the room well, and eating delicious things together.”
Uncheon filled the empty cup before him with liquor. Mu-hong raised the cup and downed it in one go.
“Keuh… the liquor’s good too. This is called baekju? Clean and to my taste.”
“They say it’s hard liquor.”
He passed the empty cup to Uncheon.
“Have a cup.”
“Thank you.”
Uncheon received the cup with both hands and accepted the liquor he poured. A pressure like the weight of ten million geun transmitted to both hands.
He already knows my internal energy.
Then there was no need to hide it. Uncheon calmly received the liquor he poured. The liquor filling the cup overflowed and began to flow down.
“Oh dear, wasting precious liquor is a shame.”
“……”
The liquor that had been falling reverse-surged upward and went back into the bottle. Mu-hong set down the bottle and nodded.
“I understand why the Central Plains murim acknowledges the Namgung Family. Good blood.”
“Thank you.”
Uncheon smiled and turned his head aside as he emptied the cup in one go.
“I will pour for you this time.”
Just as he offered the cup—
Bang-!!!
The first-floor door burst open as if shattering, and over a dozen sturdy men noisily poured in. No matter where you go, there are always people who cannot read the room. One of them shouted so loud the inn seemed ready to fly away.
“Hey!! Where’s the worker here? Get out here right now!”
Puh-uhk!!
In that instant the shouting man’s heart exploded.
“L-Lord…?”
The martial artists of Gwichon Mountain Villa froze as if time had stopped.
Swish.
Trembling as they looked around, they saw a black-robed man rising on the opposite side.
“You… you bastard… how dare…”
His words did not even finish.
Puh-uhk!!
His heart also burst and he died on the spot.
“Still can’t read the atmosphere, I see.”
No one knew how the black-robed man had moved.
“I was enjoying a pleasant drink and it’s noisy. With that loud voice I thought he was someone special, but what a disappointment.”
The martial artists of Gwichon Mountain Villa began trembling all over as if they had seen a ghost. Cold qi gradually assailed them.
“Tsk. Scared, yet you roam in packs so nothing enters your eyes?”
In their eyes the black-robed man was like the reaper of death itself.
“Your only path to survival from now is to stand outside and stop anyone from coming in. If even one enters, you all die. Clean up the fallen ones and get out.”
“Y-yes!! Understood!!”
The martial artists of Gwichon Mountain Villa grabbed the fallen corpses and urgently vanished out the door. Mu-hong sat again.
“Little brother, quiet again?”
“Yes. Well done.”
“Really? I killed murim people though?”
“Their heavenly fortune must have run out.”
“Hehehe. Does little brother believe a person’s heavenly fortune is fixed?”
“I believe there is a fate set by heaven.”
“Surprising? You look like the type who doesn’t believe such things. I misjudged.”
“I have thin ears and easily believe strange things.”
“How long will little brother’s heavenly fortune last?”
“I think it will be a bit later than Elder Brother’s.”
“Oho? Reason?”
“Just as it is unfilial for a child to receive heaven’s mandate before the parents, as a younger brother, how could I accept heaven’s mandate before Elder Brother?”
Mu-hong burst into bright laughter.
“What? Kuhahahaha!! First funny thing I’ve heard in a long while! Good. I hope little brother lives longer than me for sure.”
“Elder Brother will also enjoy a long life.”
Uncheon raised the liquor bottle again and brought it before him.
Moyong San’s mouth hung open at what had just happened, unable to close. He had not even moved. Yet people had died so simply—and not with weapons like swords or blades, but using pure internal energy.
No sword in the hand, sword in the heart.
The black-robed man clearly possessed internal energy that had reached Returning to the True Origin, able to kill opponents with will alone.
The first-floor inn was now beyond quiet—even breathing could not be heard. Just as in Yuryeong’s sound transmission, finding Moyong Jeok was no longer important. They focused solely on the thought of surviving.
Then a voice came from the opposite side.
“Are you from the Moyong Family?”
“…Yes, that is correct!”
Moyong San sprang up at the sudden voice.
“I would like to speak with you for a moment.”
“Understood.”
Moyong San answered reflexively and approached before Mu-hong.
“What is your name?”
“Moyong San.”
Though he was clearly older, using honorifics to him did not feel strange at all.
“Seeing the Heaven-Earth Qi melted into your eyes, you have properly learned the Heaven-Earth Boundless Divine Art. Enough to hold a seat in the Beidou Unit.”
He gauged my internal energy at a glance.
Gulp.
Moyong San felt as if the man knew everything.
“That fellow over there muttering sound transmissions unpleasantly while sitting is one of the Moyong Family Head’s secret spirit guards, I take it.”
“That is correct.”
Mu-hong knew everything about the Moyong Family. Yuryeong, who had been sitting far away concealing his energy, felt his heart drop.
If he can even hear sound transmissions, just how high is his internal energy?
Yuryeong sprang up and bowed at the waist. Now he worried whether he could even return alive.
Uncheon looked at the rigid Moyong San and said gently:
“Would it not be better for Elder Brother to raise his head and speak while seated rather than looking up?”
“Indeed. I thought my neck felt strangely sore. You sit as little brother Uncheon says.”
“Thank you.”
Moyong San briefly bowed his head toward Uncheon who had offered the chair.
“I’m asking out of curiosity. If you don’t know, say you don’t know. If you know something, tell me properly.”
“Yes, understood.”
He had met countless people until now, but never trembled more than this.
“Moyong Jeok seems to be hiding in Dangsan like a rat. Have you found him?”
“Not yet… we have not found him.”
“Well… if you had, you wouldn’t be here. Then why did that bastard come to Dangsan of all places when there are so many others?”
“Our conjecture is because Dangsan has many abandoned mines.”
“Abandoned mines… if he hides motionless in a mine in this vast place, it would be hard to find him.”
“We have planted people throughout Dangsan. And we have also set ambushes around the Byeokcheon Unit of the Hebei Peng Family.”
“Does that mean Moyong Jeok is connected to the Hebei Peng Family?”
“Not certain, but we found evidence he met with people from the Hebei Peng Family three or four times.”
“Hmm… if you find that bastard, I would like you to inform me?”
At Mu-hong’s words Moyong San flinched for a moment. But seeing his eyes turn cold, he answered reflexively.
“I will absolutely inform you.”
“What I hate most is a talentless bastard getting greedy. If you want to live long, the way to live a long and happy life in this world is to obey in all things.”
“I understand well.”
“Then until we stay together for a while, I’ll be counting on you.”
Moyong San had no choice but to follow the dignity of an opponent he absolutely could not defy.
“Little brother Uncheon, you don’t have separate business either?”
“It seems people I know have come to Dangsan, so I plan to meet them.”
“Is that so? While looking for Moyong Jeok I have nothing to do. Can I come along?”
“Please do. But my acquaintances have weak hearts, so I hope Elder Brother will show some mercy.”
“Haha! I’ll do that. Since they’re little brother’s acquaintances, no need to worry too much.”
“Thank you.”
“I have quite a few people around me, but little brother matches my mood the best. I want to take you with me when I return.”
“I am bound elsewhere, so when the time comes I will visit Elder Brother once.”
“What a shame.”
Mu-hong could have forcibly taken Uncheon if he wanted, but he did not wish to. He thought it would be nice to have at least one person in the world to stay with comfortably like a friend rather than a subordinate.
“Starting tomorrow, touring who is in Dangsan will be fun.”
He’s not joking—he’s serious.
Uncheon let out a small sigh inwardly.