Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Taibai Wine and an Unwelcome Guest
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After a hard day's work, the scene was much the same anywhere.
Just as farmers would gather on the ridges of their fields to drink and unwind after planting rice, Neung Un-bi's group sat around a pile of materials.
But the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
Where was this construction site, after all?
It was a brewery, where the air vibrated with the scent of alcohol.
And not just any brewery, but Master Huang's Sinpyeong Brewery, which boasted some of the finest spirits in Shaanxi.
The wine being served was exceptional, and the side dishes, which the innkeeper had rushed his cook to prepare, were a class apart.
“Ooh! So this is Taibai wine!”
“Indeed it is.”
Huang Zicheng beamed at the sight of Neung Un-bi marveling at the wine jug without even having taken a sip.
“When I heard that you, Third Young Master, had already raised the main beam of the distillery, I stayed up all night brewing this. It hasn't fully aged yet, so the flavor might not be quite mature. I hope it suits your palate.”
“But… the distillery isn't even finished yet.”
“It's quite all right. How could we, a brewery, fail to serve proper wine in the very place it's made?”
“…”
“Please, accept it as a token of my gratitude.”
Huang Zicheng wore an apologetic expression.
And for good reason.
The speed of Neung Un-bi's crew was simply beyond imagination.
They had the materials and the blueprints. While they lacked the delicate precision of master craftsmen, they made up for it with sheer force, and the construction proceeded at a blistering pace, exactly as the Sinpyeong Brewery desired.
Only four men were needed to raise the pillars. Stones for the walls, which would normally take four men to lift, were stacked two at a time by a single person. Even the roof, which should have taken days just to haul the materials for, was quickly assembled as timbers were simply tossed up from below.
Furthermore, since martial artists make a living with their bodies, they quickly grew accustomed to the construction work. With Neung Un-bi leading the charge, there were no disagreements or other such disruptions.
Thanks to this, despite having to tear down and rebuild several times due to mistakes, it took them a mere two days to erect the frame, build the walls, and cover the roof.
The Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild? Not even their most legendary master carpenter could have matched such speed.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and open it! Come on!”
“…”
Hyang-i urged him on, already holding an empty cup.
“Have you no shame? How can we drink something this precious by ourselves? Wang Cheon and the Lunar Eclipse Squad guys building the inn aren't here yet.”
“Damn it! It's their fault for being late!”
She was practically vibrating with anticipation.
*What a disloyal brat.*
Fearing Hyang-i might snatch it by force, Neung Un-bi hugged the jug of Taibai wine to his chest.
“Haha, Third Young Master. It's fine to go ahead and drink.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think we only brewed a single jug? I mobilized all of Sinpyeong Brewery's brewers, and we worked for two full nights. Everything brought over there is Taibai wine.”
“Really?”
At Huang Zicheng's words, Neung Un-bi's eyes widened.
Did he mean that the cart behind him, filled to the brim with jugs, was all Taibai wine?
Brewed over two sleepless nights?
*So… it's not that rare after all?*
As Neung Un-bi gave him a slightly pouty look, Huang Zicheng smiled gently and explained.
“To be honest, the truly fine vintages must be aged for at least ten years. And even then, a top-grade product might only come from one out of a hundred barrels.”
“What? That much?”
“Haha, it wouldn't be a famous wine for nothing, would it?”
“…”
“However, I can guarantee the taste. It may not be top-grade, but we used all the precious ingredients Sinpyeong Brewery had in storage.”
“Ah!”
While Neung Un-bi, who had momentarily underestimated the wine's value, was marveling anew and feeling a pang of remorse…
*Whoosh!*
“Hey!”
Seizing the opportunity, Hyang-i snatched the wine jug.
*Hey! Was that really something you needed to use your grappling arts for?!*
*Pop!*
“…”
Before anyone could stop her, the paper sealing the jug was torn away by Hyang-i's hand.
At the same time, a sharp, fragrant aroma, unlike anything they had ever smelled, spread in all directions.
“Gasp! What a scent!”
“Ooh! So this is Taibai wine?”
“…”
Was it because they were famished from the hard work?
Ju Seung and the warriors of the Lunar Eclipse Squad's eyes widened as they began sniffing the air.
Even Neung Un-bi was astounded by the smell.
*How can wine be this fragrant?*
His mouth was watering, and he hadn't even had a taste.
The urge to drink it quickly…
*Gulp, gulp.*
*That girl…*
Hyang-i had started pouring the Taibai wine straight from the jug into her mouth.
*That little brat's manners.*
*Just because she's a master, does that give her the right to drink first when she's the youngest one here?*
*There's such a thing as drinking etiquette, you know.*
“Gah! Kgh! Keuk!”
“…?”
After chugging the wine for a while, Hyang-i suddenly started choking as if it had gone down the wrong pipe.
“Hey! What's wrong?”
“…It's delicious.”
“Huh?”
“It's so yummy!”
“…”
Watching Hyang-i give a little shiver before pouring the wine down her throat again, Neung Un-bi could only shake his head.
*Was it so good you had to talk like a baby? For a second, I thought you'd drunk some kind of tongue-numbing poison.*
*Hah, if only…*
*Though, she probably wouldn't die even if she did drink poison.*
“Haha, Maid. Please, enjoy it slowly with some side dishes.”
“Gurgle, yes… gurgle.”
Hyang-i replied to the innkeeper without taking the jug from her lips.
*That's a talent in itself.*
*Honestly, who could possibly stop you?*
By the way, even the innkeeper and Huang Zicheng were calling Hyang-i ‘Maid’ now.
The Lunar Eclipse Squad warriors who had witnessed her true power were so intimidated that they all called her that, so the others must have assumed it was her official title.
Well, regardless, this wine would help me reach the next realm.
*Sacheong. I will definitely achieve it.*
Neung Un-bi picked up one of the jugs stacked on the cart and cheerfully offered it around.
“Come on, everyone, drink up. There's plenty of wine, so don't worry about those who are late.”
“Yes, my lord!”
At Neung Un-bi's words, Ju Seung and the Lunar Eclipse Squad eagerly took the jugs and filled their cups.
“Kyah!”
“Ooh!”
“Amazing!”
Exclamations of delight erupted from all sides.
They called it the finest wine in Shaanxi… and it seemed that was no exaggeration.
He wasn't particularly fond of him, but he even felt a fleeting urge to send some to the Cult Leader as a gift.
*Ah, right. I should actually send a gift while I'm at it.*
Not to the Cult Leader, but to the Seventh Elder, Han Yi-gyeom, who had given him so much help.
Where would he be now if not for him?
Neung Un-bi decided that after the construction was finished, he would pick out a good batch and ask for it to be sent to the Demonic Cult.
“By the way, why is this Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild so eager to ruin the Sinpyeong Brewery? From what I hear, you, Master, are well-respected by the people around here.”
“Pardon? How would you know that, Third Young Master?”
“I overheard people talking. My hearing has gotten quite sharp.”
“My, people do have loose lips.”
“…”
As Huang Zicheng sighed, the innkeeper next to him vented his anger in his stead.
“The Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild is a truly vicious bunch!”
As the innkeeper recounted the events that had transpired, Neung Un-bi's face contorted into a deep frown.
Collusion, price gouging…
A merchant's goal might be profit, but this was going too far.
“…Tsk, tsk. The bastards. And the authorities and martial arts sects protect scoundrels like that?”
“Don't even get me started. Many people have been forced to leave their hometowns because of them. And since they operate within the bounds of the law, there's nowhere to appeal for help. We're only holding on because we have the Sinpyeong Brewery.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi nodded at the innkeeper's lament.
*Haa, the world really is overflowing with all sorts of villains.*
They've sold their souls to gain power, only to use cunning methods to extort money from people.
Even if it's not illegal, there's still a basic code of conduct one should follow.
He had a strong urge to end them right now… but this wasn't a matter for the martial world.
They had to resolve their own affairs.
“Wow! How could you be so cheap! Did you start without us?”
Just as Neung Un-bi was clenching his fists in anger at the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild's actions…
The late-arriving Wang Cheon voiced his complaint, but not a single person turned their head. The Taibai wine was so delicious that they worried their jugs would be empty if they looked away for even a moment.
“…You're not even going to answer me? Seriously? While some of us have been busy with construction *and* spreading rumors.”
“What rumors?”
At that, Neung Un-bi whipped his head around.
“Ah, well…”
“You again!”
“It's not what you think! Let's drink, drink! Come on, everyone, sit down! Hurry!”
Startled by Neung Un-bi's glare, Wang Cheon quickly changed the subject and took a seat.
*That guy… surely he isn't out there spreading rumors like wildfire again, is he?*
It was a suspicion… no, a guess that was almost a certainty, but right now, the wine was more important.
“Huh? Why is this empty?”
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle.”
“…”
While he was distracted, Hyang-i had swapped his jug with an empty one.
“You damn glutton! Give me back my wine jug!”
“If… gurgle… you can… gurgle… take it!”
As Hyang-i dodged his grasp and fled, Neung Un-bi even used the Three Nothings Footwork to chase after her.
*Bang! Pa-pa-bang!*
The sound of air bursting echoed around them as their figures appeared and disappeared, but no one paid them any mind. They were all focused on drinking.
“Haha, who would look at them and call them the fearsome Demonic Cult?”
“Indeed. Perhaps everyone has been judging them based solely on rumors.”
“Hmm…”
The cheerful drinking party was diluting the stereotypes Huang Zicheng and the innkeeper held about the Demonic Cult.
Who would point a finger at them and call them three-headed, six-armed monsters?
They were no different from any other young men their age.
And if they were like this, it wouldn't be so bad to form a bond with them, regardless of the rumors or what others might think.
“Master! Master!”
“Hmm? Park Dae, what is it? You haven't gone home yet?”
“My leaving work isn't the problem right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You need to go to the main gate, quickly!”
“…”
“That bastard Yeom Seong-in… I mean, Master Yeom of the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild is here to see you, Master.”
“Master Yeom?”
“Yes.”
At Park Dae's words, Huang Zicheng's face hardened. The pleasant warmth on his face from moments before was replaced by an icy chill.
“Could I ask you to look after things here for a moment?”
“That's no problem, but… seeing as Master Yeom has come at this hour, it must be about this construction project.”
“I'll find out when I see him. Please, just for a moment.”
“Yes, Master Huang.”
After entrusting the gathering to the innkeeper, Huang Zicheng headed for the main gate with heavy steps.
“…”
And Neung Un-bi, who had stopped chasing Hyang-i, stared blankly at their departing backs.
His hearing had become too sharp to pretend he hadn't heard.
*But, Yeom Seong-in? The master of the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild?*
*If what I heard is true, he's definitely a bad guy… and coming at this hour, his intentions can't be good.*
Suddenly, he became very curious about what the man would have to say.
“Huh? What? Why did you stop chasing me?”
Hyang-i tilted her head, jug in hand.
*Is wine really the problem right now?*
“Stay here with the others. I have to go check something out.”
“You're going to see that Master Yeom guy?”
If Neung Un-bi had heard, there was no way Hyang-i hadn't.
Her hearing was even better, after all.
Hyang-i pondered for a moment, looking back and forth between Neung Un-bi's retreating back as he walked out without a word, and the wine jug in her hand. Then, she shouted loudly.
“Then I'm drinking all of this!”
*That's what you were pondering? You little glutton!*
Apparently, the taste of wine took priority over his well-being.
Without looking back, Neung Un-bi waved his hand in annoyance.
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung glanced at him briefly before focusing back on the drinking party.
*What could possibly happen? He's not going to meet a martial artist, just a group of carpenters.*
The main gate wasn't far, so if they heard a commotion, it wouldn't be too late to move then.
“Hey! Don't drink that! It's mine!”
“Shut up! Finders keepers!”
Right now… for them too, the Taibai wine came before loyalty.