Chapter 487
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 487
Chapter Title: Care for a Drink?
Satisfied with his results, Hocheon Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek left the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
His steps naturally led him westward.
With his business concluded, he was heading back to the inn.
The Humble Traveler's Inn.
Whether because of the name or the atmosphere inside, it had a strangely soothing effect on the mind.
For a brief moment, it felt like a place where he could forget the demon lurking within him, even if just a little. That sensation drew Ha Mu-baek's footsteps toward it once more.
The area around the inn was still infested with those troublemakers.
Thanks to them, the first-floor dining hall remained completely empty.
Yet the head chef was busily prepping ingredients in the kitchen and tidying up, while the lady of the house and her children meticulously cleaned and organized both the dining hall and the guest rooms.
The old building looked spotless and well-kept as a result.
"Welcome!"
The first to spot Ha Mu-baek was young Gong Hae-jun.
Ha Mu-baek took a seat at a table on the first floor, smiling at the boy's bright greeting.
It was still a bit early for lunch.
Even so, he sat down because he'd realized this place offered a way to forget that inner demon, however slightly.
Watching this family at work naturally eased his mind and freed him from the demon's grasp.
"Stir-fried greens, some dumplings, and a decent bottle of liquor, if you would. Let the chef recommend the kind."
Ha Mu-baek placed his simple order with Gong Hae-jun.
But unlike before, the boy just stood there motionless.
Ha Mu-baek looked at him quizzically.
"Um, they say too much liquor is bad for your health."
Gong Hae-jun spoke carefully, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Ha Mu-baek couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
At his level of cultivation, that amount of alcohol had no effect whatsoever.
The boy didn't know that, of course.
Still, it warmed his heart.
Someone was worrying about him out of pure kindness.
A child he'd only met yesterday, no less.
"No customers around—wouldn't it be better to sell even one more bottle?"
Ha Mu-baek asked with an amused expression.
Gong Hae-jun shook his head firmly.
"Our customers' health matters more than selling liquor. That's what Father says."
He clamped his mouth shut after the resolute declaration, looking utterly adorable.
"All right, then. Heh. If our fierce little waiter insists, no liquor for me."
Gong Hae-jun's face lit up in a beaming smile.
"How about some tea, then?"
Some inns sold a few varieties of tea, if not a full selection, so Ha Mu-baek inquired.
"Yes!"
The boy replied with energetic enthusiasm.
"In that case, I'll have whatever tea the chef recommends."
Only then did Gong Hae-jun dash off toward the kitchen.
Ha Mu-baek watched him go with a fond smile.
"Sorry if the boy's been rude."
The lady of the house, Eun Cheong-seon, had approached during that time. Ha Mu-baek shook his head at her apology.
"Not at all. You've raised him well. It's put me in a fine mood, for once."
"Thank you for saying so."
Eun Cheong-seon bowed politely to Ha Mu-baek before resuming her tidying of the dining hall.
Now that he was there, she only cleaned spots that wouldn't kick up dust.
"Hello, sir!"
Gong Hae-bin, who had been straightening up the upstairs, came down hugging a bundle of bedding and greeted him cheerfully.
It looked like the bedding he'd used the night before.
"What's that for?"
"We swapped it out for fresh linens. This is for laundering."
She flashed a bright smile and headed straight for the washroom.
He recalled seeing a large wooden tub there, empty and ready for laundry.
She must have been planning to wash it there.
By then, Gong Hae-jun had returned with the food.
Stir-fried greens and dumplings.
No tea yet—the chef would bring it, apparently.
Gong Hae-jun set down the dishes and hurried off to the washroom.
"Sis! Let's do it together!"
His little voice reached Ha Mu-baek's ears.
"No, it's cold. The water's freezing. You go inside."
Gong Hae-bin tried to dissuade her brother.
Gong Hae-jun put up a stubborn fight but eventually trudged back to the dining hall.
His sister had pointed out that if he caught a cold, she'd have even more work to do.
"Here's some Gunshan tea."
Gong Yeop-myeong set down the teapot and cup as he spoke.
"It's one of the finest yellow teas. Cleanses the palate nicely while offering its own subtle flavor."
With that brief explanation, Gong Yeop-myeong bowed and returned to the kitchen.
Ha Mu-baek filled the cup and took a sip.
It was every bit as good as described.
He quietly observed the family at work.
Slowly savoring the stir-fried greens and dumplings, sipping his tea at a leisurely pace.
It felt peaceful, comforting.
He couldn't quite grasp why this family's simple routine evoked such feelings.
But Ha Mu-baek liked it.
As he spent this quiet, serene time, the sun began to set.
Winter's chill lingered, so evening came early.
"Sis! Hurry up, let's go!"
"O-okay..."
Gong Hae-jun urged her on, while Gong Hae-bin hesitated.
Off they went to solicit customers, just like the day before.
Having brought in a guest like Ha Mu-baek yesterday had filled Gong Hae-jun with extra zeal.
But today was a bust.
Yesterday had just been a stroke of luck.
And so another day passed.
The next morning.
Ha Mu-baek had slept deeply once more and awoke feeling refreshed.
Then he tilted his head in puzzlement.
"That's odd."
There wasn't a soul in the first-floor dining hall.
From yesterday morning's bustle, it had seemed regulars frequented the place, yet today it was deserted.
Ha Mu-baek came downstairs for breakfast.
Silence reigned.
Gong Hae-jun looked visibly flustered, and his sister was no different.
Eun Cheong-seon tried to appear composed, but the gloom behind her facade was plain to see.
As Ha Mu-baek sat at the table, Gong Hae-jun snapped to attention and scurried over.
"Good morning! Did you sleep well, sir?"
His forced cheer was more pitiful than admirable.
Ha Mu-baek had planned to play ignorant and slip away at the end of his stay.
But in this situation, he couldn't ignore it.
Not after two days of their warmth.
"A bowl of beef noodle soup, and tell your father I'd like to see him."
Gong Hae-jun flinched briefly at Ha Mu-baek's words but replied loudly and headed to the kitchen.
A moment later.
Gong Yeop-myeong emerged carrying a tray with a bowl of noodles.
"What can I do for you, sir?"
His face was full of curiosity as he placed the bowl on the table.
He was grateful for the guest who'd stayed two nights, but couldn't fathom why he'd suddenly been summoned.
"Care for a drink?"
"We're open for business."
Gong Yeop-myeong politely deflected the offer.
"Doesn't look like any customers are coming, so I'm asking."
His face stiffened at that.
"I'm just a passing traveler, but your story has me curious."
Gong Yeop-myeong's initial annoyance softened, and he spoke up.
"Give me a moment."
He went to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of liquor.
It was the Seobong brew from yesterday.
He set one of the two cups in front of Ha Mu-baek.
Soon both cups were filled to the brim.
The two men downed them in unison.
Gong Yeop-myeong promptly refilled his and tossed it back.
Now that the opportunity had arisen, his pent-up frustrations boiled over.
"Hoo."
A deep sigh escaped his lips.
At that, Eun Cheong-seon signaled Gong Hae-bin with her eyes, and she took her brother to their living quarters.
"This inn building came from my late father. It was his entire life's work."
Gong Yeop-myeong began.
"It was already an inn site... but it went under a few years back. Even when others rented it, they folded not long after. Not the best location, but... still, it was rough."
He spoke calmly and steadily.
"I wanted to be a chef. And I was curious about every cuisine under heaven, so I wandered far and wide."
"Must've been dangerous."
Gong Yeop-myeong gave a wry smile at Ha Mu-baek's response.
His wandering youth had coincided with the height of the martial world's great war.
"Yeah, came close to dying a few times. One place that saved my skin by the hair of it was Baek Village. That's where I met her. She was taking shelter there with her maternal family, fleeing the chaos."
Only when speaking of that did a soft smile grace his face.
Back in Luoyang, Gong Yeop-myeong worked as head chef at the city's largest pleasure house.
It paid better than inns, taverns, or noodle shops.
Fine dining halls had no openings.
Luoyang natives or not, they wouldn't hire a chef of unknown wandering background so easily.
So the pleasure house was his only option.
His wife was pregnant at the time, making income crucial.
Having defied his father's wishes to roam the world, he couldn't rely much on family help.
Reconciliation came after their second child, Hae-jun, was born.
A grandson.
That melted his father's resolve toward mending fences.
From then until his father's passing, they enjoyed a harmonious family life.
One nagging worry persisted: every tenant who rented the place went bust and left.
Yet the building was his father's whole life.
On his deathbed.
There had been a dying wish of sorts.
To revive and preserve this building, no matter what.
It had sat vacant for months then.
No one wanted to rent after the string of failures.
So he opened the inn himself.
After honing his skills at the pleasure house, he moved to a renowned fine dining hall in Luoyang to sharpen his craft further.
Half a year ago, he finally opened shop.
Business started decently.
Not prime real estate, but word spread through Gong Yeop-myeong's talent, and it was gaining steady ground.
Two months ago.
Trouble struck.
"Jeon Merchant Group—Luoyang's top trading house."
"You mean that Elder Jeon fellow."
Gong Yeop-myeong nodded and downed another shot at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"They bought up buildings and land around here to build a manor. Told me to sell this one too."
He let out a wry chuckle.
"Did they lowball you?"
Ha Mu-baek asked, recalling Elder Jeon's face.
Gong Yeop-myeong shook his head.
"Paid market rate. Looks like they snapped up everything else nearby."
Ha Mu-baek eyed him questioningly.
"I don't know what changed my mind. On his deathbed, I couldn't forget Father's face as he entrusted me with this place."
Ha Mu-baek silently nursed his cup.
"The kids were there too. Hae-jun bawled his eyes out and promised Grandpa he'd turn this into the finest building around."
Gong Yeop-myeong's smile deepened.
"He must've adored the old man."
Gong Yeop-myeong nodded at Ha Mu-baek's remark.
"Loved the children dearly. We reconciled after Hae-jun, but he softened even more after Hae-bin. Not sure if he was a great father to me, but to them? The best grandfather."
He took another sip.
"If they'd wanted to do something else with the building, I might've sold."
His next words rang true.
"But tearing it down for a manor? Erasing it? I couldn't. Father's deathbed plea kept flashing back, and so did my boyish promise. Foolish father or not, I wanted to honor that."
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
"After turning down the sale a few times, the sabotage started. Early-morning regulars from the market office were off-limits, but now... looks like they pulled strings there too."
Another shot slid down his throat.