Chapter 632
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 632
Chapter Title: This Bastard
After dinner.
By the time Ha Mu-baek finished sharing stories with the kids, it was already quite late.
No matter how diligently a martial artist trained, a child was still a child.
Normally, one couldn't overcome the physical limits of youth.
It started with Gong Hae-jun.
He began nodding off.
Glancing at Gong Hae-bin, her eyes were filled with sleepiness too.
"Time to hit the hay."
No sooner had Ha Mu-baek spoken than the two children headed straight to their beds.
Confirming they had fallen into a deep sleep, Ha Mu-baek turned his gaze outside.
"Tch."
It was because of the man who had been blatantly announcing his presence from earlier.
Ha Mu-baek scratched his head irritably and stepped out of the Heavenly Eye Pavilion.
There, leaning against a sturdy nearby tree, stood Dam Mu-hyeon.
His eyes brimmed with resentment.
"What?"
At Ha Mu-baek's question...
"Why no word at all?"
"About what?"
"What happened inside the Beggars' Sect headquarters. You said you'd tell me, so I backed off... but if you're still not saying anything, what am I supposed to do?"
Ha Mu-baek averted his eyes slightly at Dam Mu-hyeon's fierce interrogation.
"People forget things sometimes, that guy."
"Huh?"
Dam Mu-hyeon let out a disbelieving scoff at Ha Mu-baek's mutter.
"That's what the great Hocheon Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek has to say?"
"Come on, let's go grab a drink."
As Ha Mu-baek shook his head in mock defeat, the corner of Dam Mu-hyeon's mouth curved up slyly.
And so the two headed to Dam Mu-hyeon's favorite tucked-away tavern in a back alley.
It was one of the countless regular spots Dam Mu-hyeon had scattered throughout Luoyang.
The owner spotted Dam Mu-hyeon and fetched a bottle of liquor from the kitchen.
Without a word, as if it were the most natural thing.
"This place's Bamboo Leaf Green is killer."
Saying so, he poured a cup.
He hadn't ordered any side dishes, yet the owner headed back to the kitchen to start cooking.
How often did one have to visit to get this kind of treatment? The thought suddenly crossed Ha Mu-baek's mind.
"How much booze do you drown yourself in?"
Dam Mu-hyeon chuckled at Ha Mu-baek's question.
"A drink washes away the world's hardships and frustrations. Gotta make the rounds every day."
"The kids?"
He meant Dam Mu-hyeon's children.
"Well, doing my best."
His words said one thing, but a bitter smile tugged at his lips.
It was inevitable.
Was the Hocheon Corps' work ever anything less than grueling and time-consuming?
And now he had taken on the corps leader position too.
It wasn't like Ha Mu-baek, who had no responsibilities and lived alone—but for Dam Mu-hyeon with a family, it was a different story.
"Doesn't look like you're doing your best if you're not going home on a night like this."
Dam Mu-hyeon downed his drink at Ha Mu-baek's remark.
"Stopped by home for a bit, played with the kids."
He slammed the cup down on the table with a clunk.
Ha Mu-baek refilled it.
"Forget someone else's family drama. Spill about that incident. What the hell happened?"
He meant the Beggars' Sect headquarters business.
Ha Mu-baek had already reported everything to Gong Son Dan-gyeong, but the Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord had no reason to share it with the Hocheon Corps Leader.
Unless it had gone through Dam Mu-hyeon first for upward reporting—which it hadn't. It wasn't Hocheon Corps business anyway.
In the meantime, the owner brought out two plates of dishes.
Ha Mu-baek picked one up with his chopsticks and ate.
"Not bad."
Excellent flavor.
"Perks of being a regular."
Dam Mu-hyeon boasted proudly.
Ha Mu-baek was a man with a discerning tongue.
After downing a cup himself, Ha Mu-baek slowly recounted the events of that day.
In truth, Dam Mu-hyeon likely knew the broad strokes.
Even if Gong Son Dan-gyeong didn't share Ha Mu-baek's report, word got around in their circles.
That was the position of Hocheon Corps Leader.
But that wasn't what Dam Mu-hyeon wanted to hear.
So Ha Mu-baek told him the story he craved.
The reason he had left behind Left Elder Jwaildo and Myosu-gae.
That was it.
Having heard it all, Dam Mu-hyeon nodded and took a swig.
"Damn, those fucking bastards. Should rip 'em apart."
He muttered bitterly.
Learning the truth behind Bang Sa-uk's Extermination Fist made it unavoidable.
In fact, this part hadn't even been shared with Gong Son Dan-gyeong.
It was internal Beggars' Sect business.
No reason to inform outsiders.
How Bang Sa-uk had learned the Extermination Fist wasn't something Gong Son Dan-gyeong needed to know.
Or rather, with the Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord's abilities, he might have pieced it together years ago during that incident.
"No wonder that fucker Yi Woong became Left Elder. What a piece of shit."
The Beggars' Sect was unrivaled in handling information among the orthodox sects.
Thus, during the two great martial wars, the Hocheon Corps had often moved alongside them.
Inevitably clashing with the Left Elder frequently—and after Bang Sa-uk's tragic death, clashing just as much with Yi Woong, who took his place.
What a fucking bastard.
He'd died in the end because of that shitty personality.
Dam Mu-hyeon took another drink.
No, he kept drinking.
The empty bottles piled up one by one.
Ha Mu-baek didn't stop him.
He knew why.
Ha Mu-baek hadn't helped with Bang Sa-uk's revenge for nothing.
He hadn't tortured them for nothing.
It was to hear the name "Hwa No," but Ha Mu-baek's own emotions were poured into that torture.
That's why it had been so vicious.
"Fucking son of a bitch..."
Profanities spilled from Dam Mu-hyeon's lips.
Ha Mu-baek silently refilled his cup.
Before long, the side dishes were gone, and the owner naturally brought out fresh ones.
"Because of that bastard, our innocent boys... Damn it. Fuck..."
Dam Mu-hyeon's frustrated mutterings poured out.
Yi Woong of the Red Eyes.
How many Hocheon Corps members had been sacrificed due to his arbitrary claims, idiotic strategies, and nonsensical intel?
If the Left Elder had been Bang Sa-uk back then, those sacrifices could've been avoided.
In short, an incompetent fool had become Left Elder and gotten good men killed.
And to learn it wasn't even legitimate—that schemes and power plays lay behind it...
How could the rage not boil over?
That's why Ha Mu-baek had delayed telling him.
He knew what reaction Dam Mu-hyeon would have.
'It sure as hell wasn't forgotten.'
He'd done it for Dam Mu-hyeon's sake.
That's why he'd buried it.
Yet here Dam Mu-hyeon was, digging it up and hurting himself.
The bottles kept piling up.
He poured them down without pause.
As the bottles multiplied, so did the depth of the night.
Midnight.
"Time to head out."
The moment Ha Mu-baek spoke to Dam Mu-hyeon...
He face-planted onto the table.
Dead drunk and out cold.
"This bastard."
Ha Mu-baek frowned.
At Dam Mu-hyeon's level, no amount of liquor could intoxicate him.
Alcohol poisoning could be expelled with internal energy in seconds.
But then the point of drinking to get drunk would be lost, so sometimes they just let it take hold.
Like Dam Mu-hyeon now.
Even so, masters at his level didn't get wasted easily. They had resistance to poison.
The dozens of bottles strewn across the table.
Only that much could knock him out like this.
"Hoo."
Ha Mu-baek let out a deep sigh.
He could blast away the poison with his own energy, but knowing Dam Mu-hyeon's feelings, he didn't.
Instead, he hoisted him over his shoulder.
As he prepared to leave, the owner appeared at the counter.
And presented the bill.
The moment Ha Mu-baek saw it...
"This bastard."
His fierce glare turned to the limp Dam Mu-hyeon on his shoulder.
Ha Mu-baek pulled out gold from his pouch.
Not silver—gold.
This place's Bamboo Leaf Green and dishes were as pricey as they were exquisite.
No one could imagine such costs from the shabby exterior.
After paying, Ha Mu-baek asked,
"Does this guy come here often for Bamboo Leaf Green?"
The owner took out a brush and wrote his response.
'No.'
"He's a regular, isn't he?"
The owner wrote again with elegant calligraphy.
'Bamboo Tube Wine.'
Unlike Bamboo Leaf Green, infused with all sorts of herbs, Bamboo Tube Wine was just liquor aged in bamboo tubes to absorb the scent.
"How much for that?"
The owner wrote the price.
Ha Mu-baek's fierce eyes snapped back to Dam Mu-hyeon.
"This bastard."
But the drunken fool hung limp, oblivious.
Ha Mu-baek was starting to doubt his own intentions in letting the poison take hold.
"Hoo."
What could he do?
With a deep sigh, Ha Mu-baek started walking.
"Thanks for the meal."
His steps led to Dam Mu-hyeon's home.
He wanted to infuse energy and sober him up, but couldn't bring himself to.
The suspicions were cleared, but at least the rage was real.
Ha Mu-baek walked slowly.
The stars twinkled brightly.
He'd done this before, back in their Hocheon Corps days, so he dropped him off at home without issue.
Dam Mu-hyeon's wife was still as refined as ever.
She was delighted to see Ha Mu-baek after so long.
The family still looked harmonious.
Ha Mu-baek smiled at the sight and left.
The Bamboo Leaf Green had clearly been Dam Mu-hyeon's ploy, but it was worth getting had once or twice.
Seeing that happy family made it feel valuable.
Early morning.
Ha Mu-baek departed the Righteous Heaven Alliance with his two disciples.
He hadn't met So Hwi-woong separately in the meantime.
No particular reason to.
As they passed through the eastern gate...
Dam Mu-hyeon stood there by the gate, grinning cheekily.
Ha Mu-baek, seated at the cart's driver's spot, chuckled at the shameless sight.
[Had a good time last night.]
At Dam Mu-hyeon's transmission...
[You planned it, didn't you?]
[What? Hearing about that bastard pissed me off. Meant to have just a couple bottles.]
[Should've stuck to Bamboo Tube Wine.]
As Ha Mu-baek chided him, Dam Mu-hyeon's grin deepened.
[When else do I get fine liquor like that, if not with the corps leader? Just a poor alliance knight scraping by.]
Ha Mu-baek shot a sliver of killing intent his way and waved.
They had already passed the east gate; Dam Mu-hyeon watched his retreating back.
[Man, you hold grudges. Safe travels. See you next time.]
Dam Mu-hyeon's transmission reached Ha Mu-baek's ears.
He just grinned.
The horse plodded leisurely onward.
From Luoyang to the western front.
Not a short trip.
The relaxed journey with the kids resumed.
'Eternal Tribulation Ghost Forest Ten Thousand Demon Formation, huh...'
That dawn.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong had visited secretly.
About that Demonic Cult formation.
A request to be extra vigilant in the search.
The Heavenly Eye Pavilion was moving cautiously due to the Demonic Cult's Food Soul Great Law.
Progress was stalled.
And Ha Mu-baek was the universal key for such times.
Hence the early departure.
'The Food Soul Great Law is the real issue in the end.'
Fierce beasts who could be hiding anywhere.
But he had a lead now.
The key lay with Taecho and the upper ranks after all.
Ha Mu-baek pondered it as he drove the cart.
The horse stepped forward at a leisurely pace.