Murim Grand Banquet (3)
But they didn't take the golden sore medicine I offered right away.
"Why this?"
Eyes full of suspicion.
Tsk, looks like their lives haven't been all smooth sailing.
"Just a gesture of goodwill."
"You don't want something from us in return, do you?"
Best to be straightforward in moments like this.
"Do you have anything I want?"
"……."
"So drop the suspicious look."
"Ahem, ahem. Sorry."
"Our apologies."
I nodded, accepting their apologies.
"Today's matches were truly impressive. I have to applaud that tenacity right to the end."
"Th-thank you."
"That's why I'm giving you this golden sore medicine."
Honestly, that was part of it, but more than anything, I wanted to express my gratitude for knocking Namgung On out of the ring.
It felt damn good watching that happen.
And the twisted expressions on the Namgung family members' faces? Pure satisfaction.
But it wasn't just for that.
That Namgung On guy he'd lost to earlier? Narrow-minded type, obvious at a glance.
High chance he'd take out his frustration on the Daenok warrior for beating a Daenok elite guard.
They were already outmatched in skill; if his body wasn't in decent shape, things could turn ugly fast.
At least he needed to be able to endure or escape.
Hold on.
No, wait.
Just had a brilliant idea.
"Where are you staying right now, anyway?"
"At Jang Clan Inn. It's one of the rundown places on the outskirts—you probably wouldn't know it."
Just as I thought.
No one there to protect him if Namgung On came looking to vent.
"You've advanced to the main tournament, so you need to recover before the next round. Wouldn't it be better to stay somewhere closer, easier to reach for notifications?"
"That's true, but……."
"I have empty rooms at my inn. Come stay there."
The two hesitated before speaking up.
"If you're a great hero, you're probably at a nice inn, but we don't have the money for a place like that."
"I'm the one suggesting you move. You think I'd make you pay for it yourselves?"
"……."
"If it's too much, think of it as merchant sponsorship for a warrior who's made it to the main tournament."
"Didn't you just say we don't have anything you want?"
"You're misunderstanding. I asked, 'Do you have anything I want?' How does that turn into what you're thinking? I meant you should prove your own worth."
He had a point, but words are open to interpretation, right?
I bullshitted my way through it, and they cleared their throats awkwardly.
"Ahem, ahem."
I continued.
"Mismanage injuries like that, and you'll end up with chronic problems. Unless you plan to end your life as a martial artist here, do as I say."
Unable to argue, they accepted my offer.
I took them to Yeonpung Inn and gave them a room.
We'd rented out the whole place anyway, so space wasn't an issue.
I had our accompanying physician check the Daenok warrior thoroughly.
Then, I joined the Daenok warrior—propped up by his senior brother Suam—and we had lunch together.
Dumplings and noodles soon arrived, and we ate heartily.
Over tea, we talked.
"Where's Yeon-gyeolmun located?"
"In Shaanxi Province."
"Just the two of you?"
"Yes. We couldn't afford to bring more……."
He smiled sheepishly.
Shaanxi wasn't too far, but for a small sect, it was a burden.
"Come to think of it, I haven't caught your name, great hero."
He waved it off at my words.
"Great hero? Too lofty for me. I'm just Suam."
He explained about Yeon-gyeolmun.
It was a small sect in Shaanxi with just over twenty members total.
"Technically disciples, but really, we're all orphans Master took in. Daenok and I included."
"How do you sustain the sect?"
"We farm the land attached to it. Barely scraping by, nothing lavish."
"So why enter the Murim Grand Banquet's friendly matches all of a sudden? You must know Daenok's skills make it risky."
His face darkened at my question.
"There's… circumstances. We had a patron clan lord sponsoring us beyond farming, but he notified us he'd cut it off. Drought's made things tough, he said."
That must hit hard.
He went on.
"We begged him to continue, and he gave one condition: earn a proper reputation in the murim world. Said it'd give him justification to keep supporting us, even if it strained him."
"So you entered the friendly matches to gain that reputation."
"Exactly."
He continued.
"Excluding Master and my eldest brother, Daenok's the strongest in our sect, so he went."
"Good thing it paid off. Advancing to the main draw means he'll be recognized as one of thirty-two rising stars."
"Pure luck."
"There's a saying in murim: luck is skill too."
And that luck comes to those who prepare and strive.
"Daenok never gave up till the end. That's how he passed the preliminaries."
I grinned.
"Congratulations."
……
……
A little later.
We headed back to the sparring grounds.
I'd suggested the Daenok and Suam warriors rest at the inn, but they insisted on spectating, so we went together.
"But those wooden plaques make it hard to see standing, and they look smaller than a pinky finger," Palgap grumbled.
I shook my head.
"Not quite."
"Pardon?"
"They might not know, but main draw entrants get a perk."
The perk: silver plaques for the secondary seats.
Most who make it that far already have gold or silver plaques anyway, so it's not hugely useful.
Plus, it allows bringing one companion, so the two could watch together from there.
I led them to the Murim Grand Banquet operations headquarters and got their silver plaques.
They were extremely grateful.
"We had no idea about this perk."
"Most don't. That's why information matters."
With that, we took our seats for the afternoon matches.
Jeonggal Yu-a, the Jegal young lady, competed in the afternoon session. She calmly defeated her opponent and advanced.
"Woooaaah!"
"Hundred Stratagems Cold Sword! Hundred Stratagems Cold Sword!"
The crowd cheered her title.
She's popular.
Before long, dusk fell, and the remaining matches were postponed to tomorrow.
On the way back to the inn, the Daenok and Suam warriors said,
"We'll swing by Jang Clan Inn for our things and head to Yeonpung."
"Sounds good."
As I turned to leave, Seo-hyang the diviner spoke to me.
"I think we should go with them."
"……."
Her saying that out of the blue meant she'd foreseen something.
I spun around and called them back.
"Wait!"
"Yes?"
"Come with us."
"We can manage alone."
"No. If we're sponsoring you, we do it thoroughly—that's our merchant group's rule."
So we followed the two warriors to Jang Clan Inn.
It was quite a trek.
I asked Seo-hyang,
"You okay?"
"Yes. Good training. Besides, I foresaw the distance. If I'm needed, I go."
Meaning she'd known she'd be necessary.
A bit touching.
"Just one more incense stick's time."
Midway, I sensed an unpleasant aura.
"Stop."
"……!"
Everyone halted at my word.
"Someone's up ahead. Bad feeling about it."
I told my guards,
"Jin Yu warrior, Yeo Eung-am warrior."
"Yes!"
"Tail them."
"Got it."
"Seo-u warrior, fetch the patrol squad here."
They vanished from sight after receiving orders.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
I sent the Daenok and Suam warriors ahead first; we followed at a distance.
Just before they reached the inn, they ran into a rough-looking group.
Obvious hired thugs for dirty work.
How'd unorthodox folk get this far in?
"Who's this Daenok guy?"
The Daenok warrior answered.
"That's me. What's this about?"
They grinned wickedly.
"Got it."
Without warning, they charged, swinging fists at the Daenok warrior.
He countered, but outnumbered, he was helpless.
Thwack! Thud!
"What the—"
Suam protested, but they turned on him too.
"No hard feelings. Just take the beating quietly. Less pain that way. Heh heh heh."
"Who sent you? Who ordered this?!"
They replied to Daenok's shout,
"Someone with a grudge against you, obviously?"
"Think about it. Heh heh."
Then they swung their scabbards at the two warriors' arms.
Looks like they aimed to break them.
Clang!
Klang!
But their strikes never landed.
Jin Yu and Yeo Eung-am had flanked them and parried everything.
Whish—! Thud!
They spun and kicked the thugs down.
The other guards rushed in; the black道 scum harassing Daenok and Suam were soon rolling on the ground.
"Ugh……."
"Urk……."
"Ow……."
I looked down at them coldly.
"Who sent you?"
"C-can't say!"
"You're hired muscle, paid for this. What exactly was the job?"
"C-can't…… Aaaagh!"
Jin Yu's sword plunged into the man's hand.
"No need to resist—just spill, and you won't get hurt more. You're swordsmen; lose your grip, how'll you eat?"
I sneered.
"Doubt your 'pals' will feed you."
Their eyes wavered; one trembled and spoke.
"I-I'll talk! Just… make sure Daenok can't fight next round. Hands messed up bad."
"Who hired you?"
"Dunno the name. Sharp eyes, mole under chin. Paid ten silver nyang……."
"Hm……."
Figures. Namgung On's locked up now.
Probably used his underlings.
"Sorry! Truly sorry! We'll live right from now on!"
"Do that. Come with us to the Murim Alliance then."
Squeee! Squeak!
Horn signals and approaching martial auras.
The Murim Alliance patrol squad that Seo-u warrior fetched.
Led by Won-eop squad leader.
Right on time.
"Seonhyeopmirang great hero!"
"We meet again, Squad Leader Won. Hard at work."
"Haha, no."
He glanced at the thugs on the ground.
"These the ones?"
"Yes. They ambushed today's preliminary winner, Daenok warrior."
Daenok spoke up.
"Thanks to Seonhyeopmirang great hero, we escaped harm."
"As expected of Seonhyeopmirang."
Won-eop clasped hands in admiration.
"No big deal. Please handle them properly."
"Don't worry."
"Oh, is Namgung Ok gongja still in lockup?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"Right before imprisonment, Namgung clan said they'd confine him at their residence for two days and took him."
"……."
Bitter.
Won-eop looked sour too.
But what could he do?
"Then, if you would."
He bound them like linked fish with arrest ropes and marched them to the Alliance.
I turned to Daenok and Suam warriors.
"You alright?"
"Y-yes. Fine."
"Sorry we didn't block those hits earlier. Wanted to be thorough."
"We understand."
Daenok vented his anger.
"Who the hell ordered this?!"
"Who do you think?"
"Pardon?"
"Think it over. Answer'll come."
He pondered briefly, then bit his lip. He'd figured it out.
Suam said,
"You warned us to move inns suspecting this, and escorted us too."
"Correct."
"Hoo, we owe you thanks."
They clasped hands, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you."
"Truly thankful."
"No need. Just happy to help talent like yours."
I pointed to the inn.
"Grab your things and let's go."
"Yes."
I sent Seo-u warrior along just in case.
I looked up at the sky.
My hunch was right.
The Namgung clan would likely ignore this incident—Namgung On's petty revenge—and let it slide.
But I wouldn't let it end there.
I'll make them care.