Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Spirit Herb (1)
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"How did you end up here, Elder...?"
Sima Geon stared blankly at Hahu Gok, who was grinning while clutching the butcher shop's doorpost.
"I was just passing by and stopped in for a bit."
Hahu Gok replied nonchalantly. Sima Geon's furrowed brow and suspicious gaze bored into him.
Sima Geon's eyes shifted past Hahu Gok's shoulder to Hahu Yeon.
With a scowl twisting her features, Hahu Yeon tapped her toe against the ground, her entire body screaming her displeasure at the situation.
"How long do you plan on keeping us standing?"
"Ah, please come inside."
Startled, Sima Geon shrugged off his work apron and guided the two uninvited guests to the back of the butcher shop.
Between the butcher shop and the slaughterhouse stood a central pillar supporting a roof woven from bamboo to block the sunlight. Beneath it sat a large table.
"Please, have a seat."
Sima Geon said, pulling out a chair.
Hahu Yeon slowly settled into the chair, her face grim as she beckoned to Hahu Yeon slouching behind her.
"What are you standing around for? Sit down already."
Hahu Yeon slumped into the chair like a beast being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
"Tsk tsk, how many times have I told you? How long are you going to wear that pitiful expression?"
At Hahu Gok's scolding, Hahu Yeon let out a sigh and bowed her head.
Cheol Woo, who had been working in the slaughterhouse, poked his head out at the commotion outside.
"What's with all the noise? Boss, who's... Oh, what brings you here, old man?"
Startled by Hahu Gok's appearance, Cheol Woo kicked open the slaughterhouse door and rushed over.
"Even that young punk from back then is here."
Offended by the term "young punk," Hahu Yeon started to retort but shrank back under Hahu Gok's sharp glare, her shoulders slumping.
"We don't have much to offer."
Sima Geon said, placing a fresh, bloody liver from a newly slaughtered cow and some salt on the table.
"You don't get chances like this to taste such fresh liver often. But what about some liquor?"
Hahu Gok picked up his chopsticks and asked.
"Hahaha! How could we serve appetizers like this without liquor? Here it is."
Cheol Woo chuckled heartily and brought over a crudely shaped jar.
Hahu Gok smacked his lips at the sight of the liquor sloshing inside the jar, with dippers floating on top, and reached out without hesitation.
"Excellent!"
Hahu Gok downed the liquor from the dipper in one gulp, let out a satisfied exclamation, and popped some salt-dipped raw liver into his mouth.
"The nutty flavor is superb."
Across from Hahu Gok, who was devouring the liquor and snacks voraciously, Cheol Woo had already taken a seat.
By the time Hahu Gok and Cheol Woo had nearly polished off the liquor and appetizers between them, Sima Geon quietly set down his glass and asked.
"So, what brings you here to see us?"
Hahu Gok fixed Sima Geon with a slightly tipsy gaze.
"I need to impose on you for a bit."
"Impose? What do you mean?"
Sima Geon frowned and asked.
"I'm planning to stay here for a while. Don't worry, I don't intend to freeload empty-handed."
At Hahu Gok's glance, Hahu Yeon pulled a pouch from her bosom with a resigned expression.
"It's not a huge sum, but it should more than cover the costs for this old man and that guy."
As Hahu Gok placed the pouch on the table, Cheol Woo snatched it up like lightning.
"Heh heh heh! What's this? It's more than enough—overflowing, even."
Cheol Woo burst into laughter upon seeing the gold nyang inside the pouch. But Sima Geon had no intention of accepting the gold nyang or letting Hahu Gok and Hahu Yeon stay nearby.
"I'm sorry, but no."
"No?"
"Yes."
"Why not?"
In response to Hahu Gok's question, Sima Geon shot back with an irritated expression.
"Don't you know?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking."
Hahu Gok smirked annoyingly and sipped his liquor. Sima Geon suppressed his rising anger and spoke firmly.
"There's no space for the two of you in our home. Even if there were, I have no desire to live with you. Above all, I don't want to disrupt the peaceful daily life I've worked so hard to achieve."
"It seems there's a misunderstanding. I have no intention whatsoever of disrupting your daily lives."
Hahu Gok sat there, fuming as if he couldn't understand why he was begging so humbly, then pinched Hahu Yeon's cheek and continued.
"I just want to shatter my foolish grandson's arrogance and narrow-mindedness, who thinks he's the greatest in the world. And along the way, broaden this old man's own perspective."
Though Hahu Gok spoke in a subtle tone, Sima Geon remained resolute.
"That in itself would disrupt our daily lives and cause us trouble. So please leave."
"Is there really no way?"
"No."
Hahu Gok stared at Sima Geon silently, realizing there was no room for compromise, and nodded.
"I see. If you don't want us, there's nothing to be done."
Sima Geon, who had expected him to be a bit more stubborn, felt puzzled. Hahu Gok snatched the pouch back from Cheol Woo's hand and grinned.
"As if your place is the only one around? We can just rent any old house nearby."
Sima Geon's face twisted properly this time.
"Why the long face? You're not about to claim that all of Soheung land belongs to you, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm joking? I clearly told you I don't want my peaceful life disrupted."
"I didn't come all this way for jokes either. And I clearly said I have no intention of disrupting your life."
"You're already doing it."
Sima Geon's expression turned icy cold.
Cheol Woo, who had been leisurely sipping his liquor and watching the argument, quietly set down his glass upon seeing Sima Geon's demeanor.
"Elder, the boss really doesn't want you here. Just head back. Don't make things harder for yourself by getting tangled up in something you can't handle later."
Cheol Woo meant it as advice, but Hahu Yeon, who was listening beside him, saw it differently. Having already considered Cheol Woo's attitude toward the revered Hahu Gok—respected not just in their clan but throughout the martial world—as insolent, this brazen remark poured oil on his anger.
"Insolent fool! Do you have any idea who you're speaking to like that?"
Hahu Yeon shot to his feet, an overwhelming aura exploding from his body. He looked ready to draw his sword at any moment.
"What an amusing guy."
Cheol Woo chuckled and slowly rose to his feet.
"Insolent? That's what you old man and young punk are doing, barging in and throwing your weight around."
He had merely stood up, but his presence was entirely different. It wasn't just intimidation from his massive build.
Hahu Yeon unwittingly took a step back, recalling how Cheol Woo had effortlessly neutralized Hahu Gok's test attack disguised as an assault before. He began gathering his energy.
The two drew rapidly closer.
Sima Geon made no move to stop Cheol Woo, and Hahu Gok merely twirled his glass, watching indifferently.
It was just as Hahu Yeon, unable to bear the pressure from Cheol Woo, prepared to strike first recklessly.
The door to the butcher shop swung open, and Sima Hyeon, who had been out on delivery, walked in looking somewhat fatigued.
"I wondered where everyone had gone... and here you all are."
Sima Hyeon, shouting toward Cheol Woo, froze upon spotting Hahu Yeon facing off against him and Hahu Gok leisurely sipping from his glass at the table. He halted in his tracks.
"We have guests."
With an awkward smile, Sima Hyeon approached Sima Geon and cautiously asked.
"Who might they be?"
Before Sima Geon could respond, Hahu Gok smiled warmly and spoke.
"They call me Hahu Gok."
As Sima Hyeon gazed at him questioningly, Sima Geon let out a sigh and explained.
"He's from the Hahu Clan. I mentioned before—there's someone with deep ties to our youngest's elder from the Hahu Clan."
"Ah!"
Sima Hyeon exclaimed and hurriedly bowed at the waist.
"I'm Sima Hyeon."
"Pleased to meet you."
"I've been dying to meet you."
"Me?"
Hahu Gok asked, puzzled.
"Yes. Thanks to the spirit herb you gave us, our youngest has regained her health. Thank you, Elder."
Sima Hyeon bowed even deeper.
"Spirit... herb?"
Hahu Gok asked with a blank expression, having no recollection.
"The Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb. My brother said you gave it as a gift when he visited the Hahu Clan. Goodness! To give away something so precious. I don't know how to repay this favor."
Sima Hyeon kept bowing repeatedly, looking as if he'd give his life if Hahu Gok asked.
'Thousand-Year... Flower Spirit Herb? Oh, right—the herb I gave as a prize to the winner of the martial tournament.'
Recalling the herb's purpose, Hahu Gok glanced at Sima Geon, whose face was properly contorted now.
'So the youngest was ill.'
Finally understanding why Sima Geon had suddenly demanded to participate in the martial tournament, a sly smile crept across Hahu Gok's lips.
"Hoho! The Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb is valuable, but not compared to a human life. Did it work?"
"Of course. Our youngest, who'd been plagued by illness since childhood, made a full recovery after taking it. This is all thanks to you, Elder."
Sima Hyeon beamed, thinking of Sima Jin, who had become even healthier than before after consuming the Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb.
"I didn't do it expecting thanks, but I'm glad it was put to good use."
"I don't know how to repay this kindness."
Sima Hyeon bowed repeatedly in gratitude. With each bow, Sima Geon's expression hardened further, while Hahu Gok's smile deepened.
'Thousand-Year Flower Spirit Herb? Grandpa gave that to these people? That's weird. I thought it was the prize for the martial tournament winner.'
Hahu Yeon, still unaware that Sima Geon had disguised himself and entered the tournament, couldn't make sense of the conversation.
"As I said, I didn't do it for thanks."
Hahu Gok subtly glanced at Sima Geon and continued in a soft tone.
"But since you've said that, I do have one small request."
"Just say the word. I'll make it happen, even if it grinds my bones to dust."
As Sima Hyeon spoke emphatically, Sima Geon—guessing what the request would be—turned his head away in complete resignation. It was too late to intervene; Sima Hyeon wouldn't accept it without the full truth.
"I'm planning to stay in Soheung for a while, but I don't have any connections here. So..."
Before Hahu Gok could finish, Sima Hyeon brightened and cut in.
"Connections? You've got us! It's humble, but please stay at our home."
"Is that alright? I don't want to impose."
"Impose? Nonsense! I was just wondering how to repay you—this is perfect. Give us the chance to host you, Elder."
Sima Hyeon bowed sincerely with a serious expression. Hahu Gok smiled contentedly, glancing at Sima Geon.
"Your words alone are thanks enough. But earlier, your brother said the house is too small and cramped."
Sima Hyeon glared at Sima Geon, who now wore an almost enlightened expression of defeat.
"What nonsense did you spout to the Elder?!"
Sima Geon waved his hand dismissively, not even bothering to reply.
"Let's head to our house right now. It's a bit small as my brother says, but not to the point we can't accommodate you. If it's cramped, we'll expand it. If we lack, we'll make do."
Ignoring Sima Geon's opinion entirely, Sima Hyeon shouted and stepped aside.
"Hoho! Thank you. It would be rude to refuse such sincerity."
Hahu Gok set down his glass, rose slowly from his seat with a benevolent smile, and took a step forward.
That was when it happened.
Bang!
Before Hahu Gok could take two steps, the butcher shop door burst open as if it might shatter.
"Brother!"
Sima Ho rushed in with an urgent shout.
Sima Hyeon's face darkened instantly upon spotting Sima Ho.
"What's got you so worked up? And why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the ranch?"
"Ranch? Bullshit! Is the ranch the issue right now?"
Sima Hyeon's face twisted even more sharply at Sima Ho's crude language. It was embarrassing in front of guests.
"Keep spouting nonsense, and...?"
Sima Ho roughly shoved past Sima Hyeon blocking his way and yelled.
"Damn it! This isn't the time. The little one's collapsed!"
Sima Hyeon staggered from the push, barely regaining his balance when Sima Geon instantly moved in front of Sima Ho, grabbing his shoulders and asking.
"W-what did you just say? The little one's what?"
His voice trembled endlessly, and his face had already turned deathly pale.