Chapter 2 – Where is the Sword Saint (2)

Chapter 2 – Where is the Sword Saint (2)

For the first time in a while, Soho Tavern was overflowing with energy. This was because the five tables were full of guests.

It was a government soldier wearing armor over a red combat uniform. The two were wearing helmets decorated with tassels, which suggested they were officers. One of them spoke in an urgent voice.

“Master. Since we don’t have time, please give us the one that comes out the fastest.”

“Then, I will prepare Soho Tavern’s specialty, meat noodles.”

There was no food as easy to prepare as noodles. All I had to do was add boiled noodles to a broth that had been previously boiled with pork. At the end, garnish with some vegetables and prepared meat.

While So-mu was busy preparing, a serious conversation took place outside the kitchen. The conversation was taking place through two officers.

“The coast has been breached, so they will arrive here tomorrow.”

“Are you saying that General Hwang was also unreasonable?”

“The spirit of the Hui army is not normal. Where did such a large number of monster-like generals come from? The garrisons in each region are being pushed back to the ground.”

“Is that all… Who would have expected that Gaebong would fall and His Majesty would take refuge in the south? Now, the news of defeat is not surprising… Whew….”

The deep sighed of the officers lingered in So-mu's ears in the kitchen.

“Anyway, I don’t understand why General Ae Fei ordered us to give up the defense of Jangan City and gather in Yangyang. How can they give up a strategic location so easily?”

“It means that the situation is so bad that we have to give up the entire Shaanxi area.”

“Not all generals in the Shaanxi region are withdrawing.”

“No, who is going to stay here in this situation?”

“I heard that General Zhang Yang is hastily recruiting new soldiers in Hanzhong. It’s a useless thing.”

“Even the elite troops are being pushed back, so you’re going to stop them with new recruits? They’ll be attacked by the Hwi army and annihilated before they even finish the training process.”

“I agree. In the end, it will only boost their morale. I only pity the new recruits who will die without knowing anything.”

As their conversation matured, the meat noodles were ready. Seven bowls of noodles were placed on So-mu's whole body as he approached with his arms outstretched. The soldiers were amazed at the feat-like performance.

The officer who was watching stared at him blankly and said.

“It won’t be easy with a normal sense of balance, but the master’s talent is amazing. Have you learned martial arts?”

“It’s not surprising. I just got the hang of it after doing it every time.”

By nature, those who have learned martial arts will have their strength revealed to the outside world in some way. Unless the level of martial arts has reached the point of returning to the truth and the eye light has not been contained within.

The officer looked at So-mu's whole body with suspicious eyes. Then he shook his head and muttered.

“Well, there’s no way a warrior who’s past his peak could be working in the kitchen here.”

The two officers simultaneously grabbed their chopsticks and began eating noodles. Then the rest of the soldiers also took action. Those who were eating so greedily as if they were pressed for time had emptied their plates in less than a day.

“Master, how much is it?”

“It’s forty coins.”

The two officers were hesitantly looking at each other. Maybe it's a lack of money.

There was no way So-mu could not have noticed that too.

“You can calculate the shortfall later.”

“I was in such a hurry that I couldn’t bring any money. All I have right now is ten coins.”

Even though he barely got paid for the food, So-mu’s expression didn’t change.

“You can calculate it later. Then take a look.”

So-mu casually handed over the coin and bowed his head.

A subtle expression appeared on the officer's face as he looked at him.

“I really like your personality. We won’t be able to come here again. That means we won’t be able to pay the balance.”

“I know.”

“But how can you not get angry?”

The officer, who looked at So-mu's face for a moment, sighed and said.

“In exchange for food, I will give you some information. It will be enough to cover the balance.”

“Then I will not decline.”

The officer with a serious expression whispered in a low voice.

“Tomorrow, the Hui army will invade this place as well. Their plunder is going too far, so even this guest house will not be safe. Leave this village immediately and take refuge in Sacheon or Hubei. If so, you will be able to avoid disaster.”

"Thank you."

Instead of an expression of fear or embarrassment, a smile appeared on So-mu's face.

The officer looked dumbfounded at the unnatural appearance and then turned his back. Because I couldn't waste any more time here.

“We are leaving for Yangyang!”

Even after the officers and soldiers disappeared, So-mu's daily life was no different from usual. As he cleaned up his room and prepared to welcome guests again, he looked like someone who had nothing to do with the war.

On this day, no matter how long I waited, no more customers came. Even the Cheong-hae of volcanic waves that visited every day.

After finishing the day's work, So-mu started doing the work he repeated every night. I squatted down in front of the furnace and lifted the lid of the steamer. Then, a lot of steam came out and made the inside of the guesthouse cloudy.

“Hehe. The smell is amazing.”

Inside the steamer were about twenty dumplings larger than an adult's fist.

So-mu picked up a dumpling and looked around to see if it was cooked well. It was hot enough to burn because the steam had not cooled down yet, but it was as if he could not feel the heat.

After putting the dumplings in a large bowl, he left the guesthouse and headed somewhere. After going along the main road to a place about 200 yards away, we advanced another 30 yards along the trail.

I could feel the presence of people in the ruins of the half-collapsed building before my eyes. It was a hideout for beggars located in the Baiyang County area.

As the distance got closer, So-mu's expression became brighter.

“You guys must have been waiting anxiously.”

They were all shabby looking people wearing tattered pieces of cloth. Most of them were children who became orphans during the war.

Among them, there was a child that So-mu loved the most. A girl with big eyes who looked about six years old. He was the person who welcomed me the most in the world.

Yoo-hwa, who found So-mu, had a smile on her small face.

“Huh? Uncle is here!”

Everyone's eyes were focused on So-mu. At that moment, Yoo-hwa rushed over and hugged his waist.

“Man! How long have I been waiting?”

“This guy. His lies have increased a lot.”

Yoo-hwa buried her face in So-mu’s arms and sobbed.

“Huh… I’ve waited a long time.”

“You saw this guy yesterday too.”

As So-mu stroked Yoo-hwa's head, she felt warm inside. He was the only child I felt affection for at some point.

“I miss you every day, mister.”

“This guy… what do you like about him?”

“I don’t know… I just like it…”

A faint smile appeared on So-mu’s face.

“Should I share the dumplings with my friends first?”

So-mu, who was stroking Yoo-hwa's head, soon began handing out dumplings to the children.

“Thank you, uncle.”

“I will eat well~”

I felt proud when I saw the children I liked. Wasn’t he also from Goa?

A vague past came to mind. When I was about six years old, I remember begging for food in front of a guesthouse and being beaten by innkeeper until I died. That's why his gaze towards the children was even more affectionate.

“It’s so delicious. Hehe.”

The children took the dumplings one by one and ate them hungrily, even humming. I couldn't eat anything all day, so I was bound to be hungry.

“You eat too!”

So-mu's gaze turned downward. Yoo-hwa's small hands splitting her dumplings and holding them out look very cute.

“Hehe. He already ate two.”

So-mu's eyes turned to the young beggar behind Yoo-hwa.

A face with a sharp expression hidden behind a servile expression. It was Ha-chil, the king who led the orphans.

I approached him and spoke in a low voice.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Even while eating the dumplings, Ha-chil kept rolling his eyes. He walked slowly down the street with So-mu and waited for further words.

“I hope you take the kids and leave here tonight.”

“Where else can we go? This is the final gathering place for those who will not be accepted anywhere else.”

“They say the Hui army will attack tomorrow. If we stay here, everyone could be in danger. Haven’t you taken good care of the children so far?”

“Why would the State of Hui care about beggars like us?”

“I also have information I collected while working at a guest house. They say that when they take over a village, they kill the residents as an example to instill fear.”

Ha-chil shook his head sideways. It seemed like he had no intention of complying obediently.

“Anyway, if Baiyang County’s begging route is cut off, we will all starve to death. It is the same whether we die from enemy soldiers or from starvation. There is no need to suffer and die.”

So-mu rummaged around in her arms and pulled out something, as if she knew that would happen. It was a whopping six silver nyang. One silver coin was worth enough to feed a family for three months.

Ha-chil’s eyes were already wide open, as if they were about to tear.

“It’s not much, but it’s the money I saved from working as a guesthouse. It should be enough for travel expenses. Take good care of the children.”

Ha-chil, who snatched Eunja with strides, changed his attitude and repeatedly bowed his head towards So-mu.

“Thank you, Nauri. As you requested, I will risk my life to take care of the children.”

“Go to Henan and find a sect called Sect of the Righteous Way. If you tell them that someone named So-mu sent you, they will take full care of you.”

“Okay, just trust me.”

“Then I will ask you a favor. If you arrive safely, I promise to give you additional rewards.”

“Yes, I’ll be better….”

So-mu's gaze turned to the back of Ha-chil, who bowed his head. Yoo-hwa was staring at herself.

When he motioned for me to come closer, he ran towards me in one step and hugged my waist again. It looked like a cicada clinging to a beautifully sprawling tree.

“Mister, where are you going!?”

“No. Yoo-hwa is going somewhere else. There, you can eat as much delicious food as you want and wear pretty clothes.”

“Can’t you come with me?”

“Because he ran away from home, he can’t go back there again. A house called Kangho….”

Yoo-hwa, who buried her face in So-mu's waist, burst into tore and shook her head.

“I don’t want to! Then I won’t be able to see you anymore!”

So-mu's hand breathed warmth into Yoo-hwa's sobbing shoulder.

“I may not see you for a while, but I will see you again soon.”

“Promise?”

"huh……."