Chapter 488
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 488
Chapter Title: See You Later
Gong Yeop-myeong set down his glass.
A look of resignation crossed his face.
It was as if he'd poured out everything with that last drink.
"You're selling?"
Ha Mu-baek asked.
Gong Yeop-myeong nodded.
"We were barely hanging on thanks to the laborers from the Jeongga Merchant Troupe... but if they've gone after that too, then yes, we have to sell."
He tried to sound relieved, but his words dripped with lingering attachment.
Yet his decision was made—he wouldn't look back.
"I'm planning to leave Luoyang."
Once resolved, he'd already mapped out his next steps.
He must have mulled over such possibilities countless times, knowingly or not.
"Your hometown?"
"I've wandered the world in my youth, after all. For the sake of Juna and Bina, we have to go. Those kids wouldn't bear seeing this place torn down. Just the idea of selling it will be a huge shock."
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
It was a thoroughly rational choice.
He'd tried to honor his father's dying wish as a son, but with that impossible, his first thought turned to his children.
Now, every decision revolved around Gong Hae-bin and Gong Hae-jun, his two kids.
Gong Yeop-myeong was a father, through and through.
"Have you picked a destination?"
"I've got a few spots in mind. I'll choose among them."
"So, when do you plan to sell?"
At Ha Mu-baek's question, Gong Yeop-myeong glanced around the kitchen.
Ha Mu-baek could see the reluctance dripping from his eyes.
Everyone who came in had watched the place nearly fail, only for it to finally carve out its niche—small wonder he felt this way.
"Once I've used up all the ingredients we have on hand, I'll head to the Jeongga Merchant Troupe."
"Two days at most, then."
Gong Yeop-myeong nodded at Ha Mu-baek's estimate.
They wouldn't have stocked too much, given storage constraints.
Still, with fewer customers than expected, plenty must be left.
"Probably right after you leave, sir."
With that, he drained his glass.
Ha Mu-baek reached for the bottle, but it was empty.
The final pour.
"Thank you."
Gong Yeop-myeong rose and bowed deeply.
"No need. If anything, I'm grateful—and sorry. I pried into your family matters out of mere curiosity."
Gong Yeop-myeong shook his head at Ha Mu-baek's reply.
"Truth be told, I wanted to vent this inner fire somewhere. Thank you for listening to my lament—it's hardly a pleasant tale."
Ha Mu-baek pulled three taels of silver from his pouch and handed them over.
"Oh, no, please..."
Gong Yeop-myeong waved his hands in flustered protest.
"You said let's have a drink, and I'm older, so I buy."
Ha Mu-baek forced the silver into Gong Yeop-myeong's hand and left the inn.
Whistling lightly as he walked, Ha Mu-baek headed back to the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Truthfully, even he had no idea what to do.
Should he step in aggressively to help, or let things run their course?
No clear answer emerged.
Elder Gong Son would be the one to ask for advice, but after skipping out that morning, going back now?
Even Ha Mu-baek had that much shame.
So the person who came to mind was...
"Huh? Corps Leader?"
In the Hocheon Corps' modest annex beside the Alliance Lord's residence, Dam Mu-heun was buried in paperwork in the vice leader's office when the sudden visitor startled him.
He'd appeared like a ghost, utterly silent until right in front of him.
"When did you die and turn into a ghost?"
Dam Mu-heun blurted in surprise, drawing a smirk from Ha Mu-baek.
"No fun."
Dam Mu-heun approached as Ha Mu-baek plopped into the guest chair.
"Wipe that grin off before calling it no fun."
He sat across from him.
"What brings you here for real? I heard you cleaned out Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord Gong Son this morning."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong must have reported to Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong, and a nearby Hocheon Corps member passed the word.
They were the ones closest to the alliance's secrets.
Guarding right by the Alliance Lord's side.
"Got a problem with no answer."
Dam Mu-heun's eyes widened at Ha Mu-baek's words.
He'd never heard the man say that before.
Even when others saw no way, he'd smash through to make one.
Countless Demonic Cult and Blood Cult villains had died by his hand.
"You sure you're the corps leader?"
Dam Mu-heun asked incredulously.
"Not the corps leader?"
"You are."
Dam Mu-heun chuckled at the retorted question.
"So, what problem stumps our mighty corps leader enough to come to a nobody like me? Too embarrassed to face Pavilion Lord Gong Son, huh?"
Dam Mu-heun was sharp as ever with personal matters.
Thanks to his nosy nature.
"You know the Wanderer's Inn?"
Dam Mu-heun nodded promptly at Ha Mu-baek's question.
"That new place in the back alley off the western main road a few months back?"
Ha Mu-baek nodded, looking impressed.
"Come on, that's nothing. You're really out of the Hocheon Corps loop. Heavenly Eye Pavilion checks every new spot in Luoyang for risks, and the intel flows to us."
True enough.
It was for securing the Alliance Lord's protection and the alliance's grip on Luoyang.
Unless something stood out, it just passed through.
"And you think I'd miss a new tavern?"
Ha Mu-baek looked exasperated at the follow-up.
Luoyang was a massive city.
Places opened and closed daily.
Remembering one from months ago? Because it served booze.
"Word was it was pretty good... but it's gone quiet lately, so I was bummed. Figured it was just opening hype. Was gonna check it once the crowds vetted it. Tsk."
Dam Mu-heun smacked his lips regretfully.
"It's good. The food."
Dam Mu-heun's eyes went wide at Ha Mu-baek's curt praise.
No surprise—he knew his corps leader was dead serious about eats.
Just as he was about liquor.
"Ho. That good? What about the booze?"
Dam Mu-heun's eyes sparkled.
"They had Seobongju. The takju was decent too."
His eyes gleamed brighter.
For a small inn to stock Seobongju meant the chef was legit.
"So, what's up with the place?"
He asked for the story.
Ha Mu-baek slowly recounted what he'd heard.
"Hmm."
Dam Mu-heun crossed his arms, frowning.
"That explains it."
He spoke as if it all clicked.
"I heard the Jeongga Merchant Troupe's buying land for a new estate. But the alliance can't meddle in legit merchant deals."
"I know. But I'm not the alliance."
"You planning to step in personally?"
Dam Mu-heun asked, surprised.
"That's the question."
"Ah..."
Dam Mu-heun nodded.
The sticking point wasn't how to help the inn—it was whether Ha Mu-baek would intervene directly or just watch.
"You always told us: if you get involved, see it through. Can you? You're headed to the Jiangxi border soon."
That was Dam Mu-heun's take.
"The Jeongga Merchant Troupe—Luoyang's top dogs. Not exactly saints. They don't mind getting ruthless when pushed."
Either Ha Mu-baek stays in Luoyang to back them ongoing, or takes them along and owns it.
Otherwise, stay out—that was the message.
"They're offering market price, at least. Can't lowball prime Luoyang real estate, bad spot or not. The inn's established enough now. Still, the sale won't cover buying and restarting here."
Ha Mu-baek didn't know those details.
Dam Mu-heun's expertise.
"That's probably it. Foot traffic dropped thanks to Jeongga, and to reopen modestly with the proceeds, better to leave Luoyang. Smart call all around. That chef's sharper than you, corps leader."
Dam Mu-heun teased with a sly glance.
He expected a flare-up, but Ha Mu-baek just nodded, leaving him disappointed.
"Impressive man."
"Boring."
"Parents are remarkable."
Ha Mu-baek thought of Gong Yeop-myeong and Eun Cheong-seon as he spoke.
And at the same time.
His own parents surfaced in his mind.
Their final moments.
Handing him little Seol-lan, hiding her in his arms, their resolute faces.
Before, recalling it ignited fury at the Blood Cult and Demonic Cult, awakening the demon within.
But now.
It felt different.
Maybe because he'd seen Gong Yeop-myeong and Eun Cheong-seon in similar straits.
They were admirable, noble—and tender.
He figured protecting Seol-lan felt much like a parent's love for their child.
But experiencing it himself, there was a subtle difference.
A parent's heart for their young was matchless in the world.
"Not all parents are like that. Plenty sell out their own kids—real scum."
Dam Mu-heun said with a wry smile.
Ha Mu-baek didn't argue.
He'd seen too many scum and trash in his time.
"Anyway, I get wanting to help, but if you step in, it's not helping—it's owning the mess. Best to watch. Though a little aid's possible."
"Little aid?"
Dam Mu-heun nodded at Ha Mu-baek's question.
"They're leaving Luoyang—could chip in for travel funds."
"They're not the charity type."
Dam Mu-heun grinned.
"I can tell that much from your story. They're using up their stock anyway, right? We buy it."
"Huh?"
Buy it.
The best option, but even Ha Mu-baek had limits on what he could buy.
"Let's see. Who's off today..."
Dam Mu-heun counted on his fingers.
"I'm off this afternoon too."
He was in the office for paperwork, but technically still on duty.
Just not guarding the Alliance Lord.
"See you later. Got a pile of work."
Dam Mu-heun pointed to the stack on his desk.
Only natural.
Just sorting the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest fiasco would take ages.
Even for the guard-focused Hocheon Corps, there was plenty to document and report.
With the leader away, and Dam Mu-heun the sole vice, it all fell to him.
Ha Mu-baek rose at the dismissal and headed to the Wanderer's Inn.
Something felt off, no matter how he turned it.
A manor popping up there, suddenly?
Fishy.
His instincts screamed it, but he held back for now.
Gong Yeop-myeong planned to leave Luoyang—he'd look into it after.
"Haa."
Gong Hae-jun sighed as if the ground might cave in.
Far too deep for a ten-year-old.
And small wonder—with the rough-looking thugs loitering around the inn.
Anyone heading their way got the evil eye.
The Wanderer's Inn had no way to deal with them.
The brutes steered clear of martial artists, but this alley saw few.
Why else would Gong Hae-jun hawk to passersby on the main road?
That's when.
Ha Mu-baek returned.
Just past lunchtime.
He made for the inn, but the thugs averted their gazes.
Obvious martial artist at a glance.
Ha Mu-baek shot each one a glare.
"Tch."
Clicking his tongue, he strode inside.
He ruffled Gong Hae-jun's hair—the boy stood at the entrance, sighing at the street.
"One fried chicken, please."
Then sat.