Chapter 561
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 561
Chapter Title: You've Been a Pitiful Person, Haven't You?
“Ah! You're the ones who came by before...”
Eun Cheong-seon remembered Gyu Hwi's group.
It had been back when the inn hadn't finished its preparations and hadn't opened for business yet.
The old man from Spear Wind Island had left a strong impression on her.
“Thanks for remembering us.”
Gyu Hwi, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, managed to compose himself after the shock of running into Ha Mu-baek and flashed a smile at Eun Cheong-seon.
The two first requested two rooms, since they would be staying a few days.
Gong Hae-bin, who had just come down after preparing the room Ha Mu-baek would use, overheard and headed back upstairs.
There were plenty of meal customers, but few staying overnight, so rooms were plentiful.
And that made sense. The current boom at Little Traveler's Inn came from curiosity about the new establishment combined with the tense atmosphere on East Street.
It still wasn't enough to draw overnight guests.
They were already plenty busy just with the diners.
Gyu Hwi glanced around before walking straight to the seat where Ha Mu-baek sat.
“Mind if we join you?”
“Plenty of empty seats. Why bother?”
The inn was quiet during this off-hour.
Only three tables were occupied, including the one where Ha Mu-baek sat.
“Meeting like this must be fate, no?”
“That's the kind of thing Shaolin monks would say...”
Ha Mu-baek chuckled in disbelief but didn't refuse.
Wi Su-yeon naturally took the seat next to Gyu Hwi, facing Ha Mu-baek.
They ordered cellophane noodles, stir-fried vegetables, a bottle of fine baijiu, and some pork dishes to go with it.
It suddenly hit him that he hadn't had a proper drink since leaving Huashan.
Then he spotted the bamboo leaf liquor Ha Mu-baek was drinking, which sparked the idea.
A Shanxi specialty made by adding various herbs to fine baijiu.
Excellent stuff.
An inn that stocked Shanxi liquor would surely have good baijiu too, he figured.
Gyu Hwi's taste ran toward clean, crisp baijiu.
They didn't wait long before the food arrived.
He tried the noodles and veggies first, nodding in approval.
They were as delicious as Ha Mu-baek had said.
Clean, friendly service and tasty food.
The good vibes he'd felt came from a place like this having it all.
Gyu Hwi nodded in satisfaction.
He was already looking forward to the pork and baijiu.
That's when head chef Gong Yeop-myeong appeared personally, carrying a bottle of liquor and a covered bowl.
Since they hadn't specified a type, just “good baijiu,” he'd selected one from his personal stock.
And since they were sharing a table with Ha Mu-baek, he'd put in extra care.
Cost didn't matter.
If they could pay, fine. If not, that was fine too.
It was an apology for the rudeness he'd shown Ha Mu-baek in Luoyang, and gratitude for his understanding.
“I'm Gong Yeop-myeong, the head chef here. You asked for good baijiu, so I prepared this.”
Gyu Hwi's eyes lit up with admiration as he saw the bottle and cup Gong Yeop-myeong set on the table.
He hadn't expected to find something like this at such an inn.
Ha Mu-baek glanced at the bottle and gave a slight nod.
The inn's chef was skilled, but more than that, his sincerity toward food and drink shone through.
“Jiannanchun!”
An exclamation escaped his lips.
Jiannanchun.
A Sichuan masterpiece.
Brewed from millet grown in Jiannan Prefecture amid the Jiannan Mountains, infused with the mountains' very essence as its aroma.
He never dreamed he'd find it at a small Shaanxi inn.
Joy lit up Gyu Hwi's eyes.
“Forgot you were a drinker, old timer.”
Ha Mu-baek muttered, eyeing Gyu Hwi's expression.
Clink.
He uncorked the bottle and filled a cup.
Even the sound was fragrant.
Gyu Hwi's face filled with satisfaction after the first sip.
“Excellent! Truly splendid. My thanks.”
With that, he pulled a gold piece from his robe and handed it over.
Gong Yeop-myeong was startled.
It far exceeded the cost of the liquor.
“Too much, sir.”
“Nonsense. It's well worth it. More than worth it.”
Gyu Hwi was already pouring a second cup.
Wi Su-yeon was surprised by the unexpected sight.
She'd seen him drink several times on their journey with the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal.
Even at his meeting with the Beggars' Sect sub-branch leader.
But she'd never seen him like this.
Ha Mu-baek caught her look and chuckled.
“The old man turns into a different person with fine liquor or a fine sword. If it wasn't this brew, you wouldn't see it.”
He lifted his bamboo leaf cup, swirled it lightly, and downed it in one go.
“Ah...”
She hadn't known.
No one at Huashan had mentioned it.
He was simply the Huashan Supreme Sword shrouded in mystery.
Ha Mu-baek had witnessed it once before.
After a fierce battle ended in victory.
When So Hwi-woong himself brought mother-of-vinegar brew.
He'd been happier over that one cup than over beating the Demonic Cult.
“So this is the pork dish? Looking forward to it.”
He'd downed the first cup plain, so for the second, he wanted it with a matching dish. He lifted the lid.
White steam billowed up, carrying five delicate aromas.
The dish revealed itself.
Neat squares of pork laid out perfectly.
“Hm. Looks like Dongpo pork, but...”
It couldn't be.
Dongpo pork was delicious but took serious time to make.
At least two shichen.
But this had come out in maybe one gak.
Unless pre-made, Dongpo pork was impossible.
And this inn didn't seem to feature it as a staple.
“It's my own variation on Dongpo pork. I aimed for a similar taste with a much shorter cooking time.”
Gong Yeop-myeong, uncharacteristically chatty, explained after Gyu Hwi's musing hit the mark.
Gyu Hwi pressed the meat with his chopsticks. It parted softly.
“Ho?”
Something that should take hours, done in minutes.
Intrigued by the technique but respecting it as the chef's secret, he didn't pry. He brought a piece to his mouth.
Tender, fragrant, with the full pork flavor intact.
A dish made for baijiu.
It paired too perfectly.
Now he fully understood why Ha Mu-baek praised the food here.
The noodles and veggies were good, but nothing compared to this.
Gyu Hwi found himself downing his second cup without realizing.
Satisfied that his guests enjoyed it, Gong Yeop-myeong returned to the kitchen.
Gulp.
Wi Su-yeon swallowed despite herself at how deliciously they ate.
She blushed at her own slip, but the veil hid it.
Wi Su-yeon picked up her chopsticks too.
She was starving.
They'd rushed to Shangnan, endured that battle.
Not fighting herself, but watching had drained her mentally.
As she slipped pork under her veil carefully, a bit still stained it.
“Ah!”
Regardless, she let out a soft exclamation at the superb taste.
“Isn't that uncomfortable? Meals should be enjoyed properly.”
Ha Mu-baek muttered at the sight, but Gyu Hwi answered.
“That's her idea of comfortable. Taking off the veil would be worse.”
Besides them, only two other tables were occupied.
Four people total.
Still, he worried about their reactions to her beauty.
Any fuss would ruin the mood, and trouble the innkeeper and chef.
Ha Mu-baek nodded at Gyu Hwi's words, thinking of certain women.
Yeon Ha-min. Gong Son Bi-yeon, Gong Ya Hwi-yeon, Namgung Ji-yu.
“Hm. Beauty on par with Gong Son Bi-yeon or Namgung Ji-yu, then.”
Wi Su-yeon looked shocked at Ha Mu-baek's quiet mutter.
Gyu Hwi too.
As if to say, How did you know?
“Those girls ate like that at inns too. Tsk.”
Ha Mu-baek clicked his tongue, dissatisfied, scanning the room.
How could one fully enjoy such fine cuisine that way?
Just the aroma told him how exceptional it was.
Right then, Gong Hae-bin came down, rooms done.
She hurried over when her eyes met Ha Mu-baek's.
“Something wrong?”
Sharp kid.
“Rooms ready for these folks?”
“Yes.”
“Can you bring up a portion from here for our friend?”
“Of course.”
Gong Hae-bin nodded eagerly.
“Then, if you would.”
Ha Mu-baek handed her some coin, but she waved it off.
He beckoned Gong Hae-jun over too, pressing coins into both their hands.
“Thank you!”
“Thanks!”
The two bowed and swiftly handled it.
They fetched an empty bowl from the kitchen, portioned food, covered it, and took it upstairs.
Once done, Gong Hae-bin approached Wi Su-yeon.
“Follow me, miss.”
Wi Su-yeon blinked between her and Ha Mu-baek, bewildered.
“Meals are for relaxing and enjoying. Savor the taste properly.”
Ha Mu-baek's philosophy on food, dead serious.
Skipping meals or eating uncomfortably? Unthinkable for him.
Gyu Hwi nodded too.
“Yes. Eat and rest easy. Haven't you been doing that?”
Truth was, Wi Su-yeon usually ate in her room at inns.
Gyu Hwi had pitied her discomfort too.
Today, after their ordeal, they'd sat in the dining area.
Partly because Master seemed eager to talk.
But they'd unexpectedly met Ha Mu-baek, joined tables, and Gyu Hwi was lost in Jiannanchun.
“Then, excuse me.”
Wi Su-yeon bowed politely and followed Gong Hae-bin to her room.
Gyu Hwi's gaze lingered on Gong Hae-bin's back as she guided her.
“Such a shame.”
Ha Mu-baek's face hardened at the mutter.
“That kid lives happily with her family.”
“Even so, you've seen her talent too, haven't you?”
Ha Mu-baek downed his cup wordlessly.
Gyu Hwi's eyes shifted to Gong Hae-jun.
“That one's not too late either.”
His eyes gleamed faintly.
“She's happy with her family.”
Ha Mu-baek repeated himself.
This time Gyu Hwi emptied his cup, after a bite of pork.
He eyed Ha Mu-baek.
“You know it's hard for common folk to truly live happily.”
“Martial artists aren't happy either. Living with death around every corner.”
“Same for commoners. Bad luck, and they die screaming. Seems they came to Shangnan for a reason too.”
Last time at Little Traveler's Inn.
Pre-opening, still prepping.
He'd sensed they were outsiders settling here.
Explained Ha Mu-baek's familiarity.
Ha Mu-baek had just arrived in Shangnan today.
These folks had prepped opening recently; no way he'd visited in between.
Meant he'd met them elsewhere.
“No world-shaking war. Better off as commoners, happier.”
Ha Mu-baek's view was firm.
Clink.
Gyu Hwi refilled his cup.
“That's the view from absolute power. Looking down from above. Those below might see it differently. You don't know what they think. You're just assuming from your perspective.”
Ha Mu-baek silently ate.
“Those below.”
He'd been there once.
Of course.
What if he'd never met his master?
Unimaginable.
He'd likely died before fifteen, with Seol-ran somewhere.
He remembered his thoughts clearly.
Power.
Only power. For survival, revenge.
Before, he might've agreed with Gyu Hwi.
But.
After gaining that power?
He'd walked the blood path, birthed a blood ghost within.
Overcame heart demons, and his thinking changed.
Besides, this family's happiness had helped suppress his demons.
“Ten thousand people, ten thousand happinesses. Like you finding joy in that liquor, old man.”
Gyu Hwi nodded.
“True enough. So ask what their happiness is. If they're happy now. You're deciding for them based on your ideas. That's your happiness, not theirs.”
“...”
Ha Mu-baek fell silent.
Felt like a blow to the head.
My happiness?
Never considered it.
His own happiness.
Was the life he craved this family's at Little Traveler's Inn?
Projecting his desires onto them as their happiness?
“Tsk.”
Gyu Hwi tsked at Ha Mu-baek's expression.
“You've been a pitiful person. Never even pondered what happiness is.”
“...”
Ha Mu-baek remained silent.
He merely downed another cup of bamboo leaf liquor.