Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Missing (1)
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Myeong-gak faintly smiled.
Yeong-gae, who had been watching him intently, glanced at the others.
"It's been a long time for you all too."
Cheong-pung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye clasped their hands together in greeting, welcoming Yeong-gae with utmost courtesy.
Yeong-gae looked pleased at their manners, then followed my guidance into the kitchen.
I tossed the prepped fish and spices into the pot, along with a plate of fermented greens, and set out some liquor.
"I heard from the beggar boys on my way into the village that Do-gun was at the Seok Family."
"Yes. He stopped by here first, then headed there."
Kkekkekke...
"He's certainly the impatient type. He probably came here because of the rumors about you, but he also wanted to meet that fine gentleman Seok Yang-ho."
I smiled in response and refilled his cup with liquor.
"Were you and that Seok Family kid disciples of the One Immortal Sect?"
How...
The liquor overflowed from the cup, spilling everywhere.
Yeong-gae smirked as he watched my eyes widen in shock.
"Isn't the liquor overflowing?"
"My apologies. But... how did you know?"
"I'd long heard that the One Immortal Sect had settled near the Great Heavenly Demon's tomb. But when I went there last year, only ruins remained. After the sect vanished, I started hearing rumors about you and the Seok Family kid, so I couldn't chalk it up to coincidence—I pieced it together."
I refilled my own cup.
Indeed, the saying was true: all the world's information passed through the Beggar Clan's eyes and ears.
However, Yeong-gae hadn't yet heard about the Seok Family's situation.
Myeong-gak, who had been eavesdropping from outside, rushed in and pretended to steam something while tilting his ear our way.
"That sly rascal."
Yeong-gae pointed at Myeong-gak and burst into laughter.
"He's a monk, but far sharper than most."
Myeong-gak froze at my praise, then approached the table.
"I never dreamed Elder How would think so highly of this humble monk. I don't know how to express my gratitude..."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Myeong-gak could barely string words together.
"If the Divine Monk saw what a mess you've become, he'd wail that he'd raised his disciple wrong."
Myeong-gak shot Yeong-gae a glare before returning to his spot.
Yeong-gae drained his cup and asked me,
"Your master must have wanted you and the Seok kid to guard that place. Why come down to the mortal world?"
"There was no reason to."
Huh...
Defying a master's strict orders or final wishes was exceedingly rare in the jianghu.
Especially from a major sect or great family—it would mean excommunication.
"You don't consider yourself a disciple of the One Immortal Sect anymore."
"You see rightly. We were just together to survive. And I stayed by master's side until his final moments to repay his grace. What more is there to do?"
Hmm.
"Looks like we need to keep your connection to the One Immortal Sect a secret. Got it, you monk?"
Yeong-gae bellowed at Myeong-gak, who was chopping vegetables into the pot with ears perked.
Myeong-gak clasped his hands in prayer.
"This monk's lips are heavier than a temple bell."
Hmph.
"All talk and no substance. I taught that kid cooking and even how to run a scam. But before long, he was pulling bigger cons than me, and I got an earful from his master."
Myeong-gak replied politely to Yeong-gae's words.
"When the student surpasses the teacher, the teacher should rejoice."
"Argh! You rotten punk!"
Yeong-gae yelled and hurled his empty cup.
Thud!
But Myeong-gak casually snatched it midair and brought it back to the table, refilling it with liquor.
"To your long life and health, Elder."
"Damn punk."
Yeong-gae grumbled about Myeong-gak, but his eyes were warm.
I envied the old beggar and young monk.
They bickered on the surface, but deep down, they cared for each other.
As the massive steamed fish came up, Yeong-gae picked up his chopsticks and savored it slowly.
"Not bad at all."
He finished a bottle of liquor with his rice, then rose without hesitation.
"Just give me one bottle to go."
Myeong-gak filled a bottle from the jug and handed it to Yeong-gae.
"I'll come by again."
I didn't try to stop Yeong-gae.
"Safe travels."
Yeong-gae waved casually to the juniors who bowed politely, then exited through the gate.
The moment he vanished from sight, Myeong-gak let out a huge sigh of relief.
Phew...
"See? That elder's dying to gobble me up whenever he lays eyes on me."
I stared at Myeong-gak, who was puffing out his cheeks in complaint.
"Lucky."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I headed down to the river to wash up.
But Zhuge Ji blocked my path and asked,
"Are you really a disciple of the One Immortal Sect?"
"Does Lady Zhuge know of the One Immortal Sect too?"
She met my eyes with a profound gaze.
"I've heard about it from Father. They were the first to warn the jianghu that the Demonic Cult would invade."
"Keep it secret, please. It has nothing to do with me anymore. You all keep it secret too."
I turned to Cheong-pung and Namgung Hye, who nodded.
"Now I finally understand why Brother was searching so desperately for you all."
"But someday, the jianghu folk will find out."
"We'll deal with that when it comes."
Yeong-gae, entering the village, spotted beggars approaching and offered the bottle he'd brought.
The beggars took it with a slight bow.
"I have urgent news."
"What is it?"
"Seok Gwang-u, who was betrothed to Seok Su-a of the Seok Family, has gone missing."
"What happened? Tell me everything."
Yeong-gae pressed urgently.
"Around dusk yesterday, we saw Seok Gwang-u heading to an inn on the village outskirts with a beauty we'd never seen before. His martial arts are renowned as top-tier, so we weren't too worried at first, but then he vanished."
"Did you check the inn?"
"Yes. The innkeeper said the beauty and a huge burly man left staggering drunk."
Yeong-gae immediately sensed something was amiss.
"In a village where Demonic Cultists frequently appear, shouldn't a mysterious beauty raise red flags? Just in case, search every nook and cranny again."
"Yes, understood."
As the beggars hurried off, Yeong-gae walked on with a grave expression.
There was only one reason the Demonic Cultists were interested in this village.
The hunter brothers.
Even the Demonic Cultists saw those brothers as a serious threat to their plans.
'Please, let nothing have happened...'
Arriving at the Seok Family, Yeong-gae couldn't help frowning at the sight of the household members standing with dark expressions.
'For the family's faces to look so grim.'
As Yeong-gae approached, they bowed at the waist.
"Where do you hail from?"
"Tell them Elder Yeong-gae of the Beggar Clan has come."
The retainers bowed deeply and flung the gates wide open.
"Elder Yeong-gae from the Beggar Clan is here."
Seok Yang-ho rushed out barefoot upon the message.
"Welcome! For such a noble guest to grace our humble home... it's the honor of a lifetime."
"I'm deeply grateful for the warm reception. I hear Do-gun is staying here too..."
"Yes, he'll be out shortly."
Yeong-gae chatted with Seok Yang-ho while gauging the household's mood.
'Everyone's faces are dark—do they already know about Seok Gwang-u's disappearance?'
Yeong-gae, who had kept Gwang-u's vanishing under wraps, asked,
"I heard there's a master of great build here..."
"Ah... Seok Gwang-u stepped out on some business. He'll be back soon; I'll introduce you then."
Seok Yang-ho was still unaware of Seok Gwang-u's disappearance.
'Then it must be something else.'
Yeong-gae quickly composed himself upon spotting Paeng Cheon-ho approaching from ahead.
Night had deepened, but sleep wouldn't come.
For some reason tonight, I tossed and turned restlessly.
Unable to sleep, I sat up and realized the cause.
I was uneasy.
Tonight felt strangely different from other nights.
I opened the door and stepped into the courtyard, standing in the center and gazing blankly at the clear sky.
Spring had arrived before I knew it; even at midnight, it wasn't too cold.
Come to think of it, sprouts were sprouting in the front and back yards.
'Gwang-u's wedding will be soon.'
That fool becoming head of a household.
I tried shaking off the unease with positive thoughts, but then heard a door opening behind me.
I paid it no mind.
Surely Myeong-gak, Cheong-pung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye had cracked their doors to peek at me.
Their whispers drifted from behind.
"He's just standing there today. Maybe he'll start soon?"
"I'd love to see that flashy swordsmanship from yesterday again."
"Be quiet."
Myeong-gak and Cheong-pung fell silent at Zhuge Ji's word.
Listening to them sparked a fun idea.
I raised both arms and one leg, hopping around the courtyard.
Myeong-gak spoke first at my dancing figure.
"What martial art is that?"
"I've never seen anything like it either..."
Hmm...
"That doesn't look like martial arts. Maybe something good happened?"
Hearing Namgung Hye, I immediately unleashed Empty Fist strikes while dancing.
Papang! Pang!
The sound of fists cutting air echoed through the courtyard.
"See? It is martial arts. You made me miss an important form, Lady Namgung."
At Myeong-gak's irritated tone, I resumed dancing.
No more voices came after that.
Kekekehe.
With the juniors chasing away my unease, I danced for a good while before heading back inside.
"Elder How!"
The next morning, after breakfast, as I hauled up fish, I heard Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye's urgent cries.
"Elder How!"
Seeing them waving from the riverbank toward me on the boat, I sensed bad news.
"What happened?"
"Hero Seok is missing!"
I dropped the net and frantically rowed to shore.
"Gwang-u's missing? When did this happen?"
"After drinking at an inn with a mysterious beauty last evening, there's been no sign of him."
"Damn it..."
I'd known something like this might happen someday, but not right before his wedding.
'You idiot. I warned you to be careful with women...'
Gwang-u had always been a womanizer.
Even back in the mountains, he'd detour to brothels when selling hides or herbs in town.
A man liking women isn't a crime, but women approaching with ulterior motives demand caution from the start.
Besides, Gwang-u's looks weren't the type to win women's favor.
"The Beggar Clan members in the village searched till morning but found no trace of Hero Seok anywhere."