Chapter 43 – The Greatest Inn Under Heaven

Chapter 43 – The Greatest Inn Under Heaven

Three characters were written in the book.

Tae Ju-ha .

A great, red river.

'Hmm… Is it a place name? Or a name?'

San-ho tilted his head and stared intently at the characters.

'Since it was a name written in a book, it was highly likely to be a person's name. Could it be… the person who wrote this book?'

'If it was a place name, it might be the location of the library.'

'Could it be the name of an organization like a sect or the Demonic Cult?'

Having obtained an unexpected clue, San-ho continued his thoughts while assuming various possibilities.

It was at that moment.

"Young hero! Where are you?"

A fairly familiar voice was heard from the entrance of Ghost Sword Valley.

"Huh?"

As San-ho tucked the book into his chest and poked his head out of the window, Choo Young-rak, who had turned pale, came running in a hurry.

"W-What in the world happened here? No, more importantly, is your body alright?"

"Why did you come back?"

"No matter how much I thought about it, this is our village's matter, so I couldn't just leave it to you and wash my hands of it. I turned back on my way down, but what on earth is this…"

Choo Young-rak, who was looking around the messy Ghost Sword Valley, stopped talking. His gaze was directed toward the brothers of Sa-han, who had become cold corpses.

"…That… No, how…?"

His face was filled with confusion and shock.

It was only natural. Those who were thought to be dead were alive—no, they weren't, but they had been alive just earlier; a cave that was invisible before had reappeared, and on top of that, a cabin he had never seen before was sitting right there.

San-ho made up a suitable excuse.

Most of it was true, but he excluded the stories about the book and Chahwahunbul. It was an evil art that would surely bring great chaos if it became known to the world. Was the Jianghu not a place where a bloodbath would occur even if only a high-quality spiritual medicine appeared?

Yet, if one could harm others and extort their internal energy. The pandemonium that would arise from it was already vivid before his eyes.

"Then… did the young hero capture them?"

Choo Young-rak stared at San-ho with a face that was even harder to believe than before.

***

After they returned from Ghost Sword Valley, Sogu Village fell into a state of uproar.

They had learned that the tiger calamity that had persistently plagued them for the past few years was actually the work of humans.

Of course, that fact was also shocking, but apart from that, there was one more thing that surprised them even more. The fact that the one who captured them was none other than a single young hero.

"What?!"

Sogu Village's chief, Wi Mu-bong, who raised his voice for the first time in several years, shouted at Choo Young-rak.

"Not only did you send the young hero alone to Sogu Village's business, but you treated our precious guest like that! You didn't even call a physician!"

"A-Ah, no… Chief. It's not like that."

Wi Mu-bong beat his chest with an angry face.

It was unbelievable enough that this young hero had handled four martial artists by himself, but the sight of Choo Young-rak leaving him to treat his wounds alone was even more hard to believe.

Of course, for San-ho, who had learned basic medical arts from the elders of the Medical Hall, it was only natural, but Wi Mu-bong, who had no way of knowing that, was about to burst with frustration.

However, Choo Young-rak was also quite aggrieved. What was he supposed to do when he had offered to bring a physician several times, only to be rejected every single time? The moment when he had blocked his path and passed out without anyone knowing was still vivid!

"Tsk! I don't want to hear it, you ungrateful wretch. I will call the physician, so you go call Wang and Seo right now. So-hyun, help with the work on the side too. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Elder."

Mae So-hyun, who was standing with her hands folded, nodded and replied.

Wang and Seo were cooks who ran an inn in Sogu Village. Wi Mu-bong ordered those who were famous for their culinary skills in the village to prepare a feast.

"Having received such overwhelming grace that moves one to tears! Ugh, you rascal. Be ashamed!"

"…"

*Sigh.*

Choo Young-rak went to call the cooks of the inn with a face full of discontent.

***

After a period of preparation.

Thanks to the two cooks showing off their skills after a long time and the helping hand of Mae So-hyun, who had a good hand at cooking, Sogu Village was quickly filled with a delicious aroma.

Under the boisterous atmosphere, the village regained its vitality after a long time.

'So there were this many people in Sogu Village.'

San-ho thought as he looked around the noisy surroundings. When he first came here, there were few signs of people and most of the shops were closed, so he had thought there were few residents. Seeing that they hadn't left, it seemed their affection for the village was great.

Just then, Mae So-hyun placed a plate in front of San-ho and said.

"I have received the grace of life-saving from our benefactor. How should I repay this grace… Oh, may I ask for your name again?"

"Is that really important? I am just a passing traveler."

San-ho, who had not mentioned his name even when he first stayed at Choo Young-rak's house. Mae So-hyun said, as if disappointed.

"But having received such a great grace, if you do not even let us know your name or title… how can we repay your grace for generations to come?"

"Hmm… You have already repaid it all with this delicious food."

At that moment, Choo Na-rim, who popped out from behind her back, stared blankly at San-ho and asked.

"Did you really catch the tiger, Mister?"

"Yes. I promised you, didn't I?"

As San-ho smiled and nodded, Choo Na-rim, with sparkling eyes, hopped onto his lap.

"Mister, Na-rim wants to learn martial arts too!"

"Huh? All of a sudden?"

"Yes! I want to become a super, super strong martial artist, and, um, catch bad tigers like you did, and help people too!"

"Ahaha, that's a very cool dream."

"I'm serious… I will train hard starting today! And, next time, Na-rim will protect you, Mister. Pinky promise!"

*Zing.*

As Choo Na-rim confidently extended her pinky finger, San-ho clutched his chest.

How cute and touching was the ambition of a six-year-old child. In that way, San-ho reserved his spot as a future doting father once again.

The night in Sogu Village was long.

The noisy and bustling village feast continued joyfully.

Everyone was busy laughing and chatting, pleased that the village had regained its vitality after a long time.

'This looks much better. I wonder if the shops will all be open the next time I visit.'

Watching the scene for a moment, San-ho quietly packed his things and slipped away from his seat. He intended to leave quietly because he did not want to ruin the good atmosphere.

'An outsider should leave now.'

San-ho, who had packed a few necessary items among the things found in Ghost Sword Valley.

Other than that, the riches and medicinal herbs were returned to the villagers. Since there were quite a few valuable things, they would likely be used for the reconstruction of the village.

Just as San-ho, who mumbled quietly to himself that it would be nice to visit again someday, was about to climb the hill where the path continued.

"Are you leaving?"

Wi Mu-bong, who was standing in the path, spoke to him.

"Ah… Yes. I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere, so I just slipped out."

"I guess I got caught," San-ho said awkwardly while scratching the back of his head, and Wi Mu-bong asked with a soft chuckle.

"Is our benefactor a martial artist of the Tang Clan?"

"…"

"Hoho, I had a feeling that was the case."

"Ugh… How did you know?"

"Even if I am not a martial artist, it has been about seventy years since I settled in Sichuan. You do not carry a visible sword, yet you possess knowledge that makes a physician unnecessary. Furthermore, you have the martial prowess to capture four martial artists at once. Where would such a person be common?"

"…I thought I hid it well, but I guess I didn't."

"Do not worry. There must be a good reason why you hid your identity on purpose. I will keep this secret to the grave."

Wi Mu-bong, the chief of Sogu Village, reached out his wrinkled hand and tightly grasped San-ho's hand. His slightly trembling fingertips clearly revealed the hardships he had endured in the meantime.

"Benefactor. This old man may not have much longer to live… but even so, I will engrave this grace in my bones and never forget it until the day I die."

"It's really no big deal… I didn't even intend to help from the start. I am embarrassed."

As San-ho bowed his head in embarrassment, Wi Mu-bong continued in a low voice.

"…At one point, I even resented the Tang Clan."

When he raised his gaze at the unexpected words, Wi Mu-bong had a bitter expression.

"Sogu Village is a small village without even a secular sect… so it is natural that the martial artists of a great sect would not step forward just to catch a tiger. I knew that, but there were definitely times when I felt very resentful of that fact."

"…"

"The righteousness that martial artists always talked about was something too far away. But thank you for letting this old man believe once again that it is not so, and that righteousness and goodwill still remain in this world…"

At Wi Mu-bong's smile, San-ho was at a loss for words.

"…"

What was pure goodwill?

San-ho had never thought of himself as a good person. Because the goodness he thought of was a more active and self-sacrificing value.

The matter of Sogu Village was also the same. If he had not run into Choo Young-rak, if he had not felt strangeness from the things he talked about… it would have been a village he just passed by.

He had not intended to help from the beginning. Could a mind like this truly be called goodwill?

San-ho, who suddenly felt ashamed, said.

"It was not… done with such a pure heart."

"When you reach this age. Just by looking into a person's eyes, you can tell what kind of person they are. Our benefactor is a good person. No matter how it started, you are someone who takes courage for others."

Stopping his words for a moment, he quietly looked down at the village.

"It is said that a tiger is born with brilliant patterns. Since a tiger shines from birth, its mettle cannot be hidden. The same goes for you, Benefactor. Even if you do not wish to reveal it, it will ultimately not be hidden. Whatever it may be."

"…"

"I hope the path you walk will always be peaceful and clear. Please take care of yourself."

With those final words, Wi Mu-bong bowed deeply.

Containing all the gratitude and wishes he could offer.

***

San-ho, who set off on his path after sharing his final farewells with Wi Mu-bong.

Sogu Village was on the passage to cross Sichuan, so he was able to arrive in Chongqing quickly.

"Hmm… I thought it was around here."

San-ho looked around.

In his hand, a small ornament and a letter he had received from Mae So-hyun were held.

– Benefactor, I told you that my older brother is quite a famous cook, didn't I? If you show this letter and ornament as proof, they will treat you generously. Please do not forget to drop by.

Just then, the signboard of the inn San-ho was looking for caught his eye.

[Drunken Lotus Pavilion ]

San-ho, holding the letter in his hand, gaped with his mouth wide open and stared blankly at the entrance of the inn.

"…Is this the right place?"

Of course, San-ho had also heard rumors about Drunken Lotus Pavilion.

It was said that if one caught the martial artists of the Jianghu and asked, 'Where is the world's best inn?', nine out of ten would pick this place first. Thus, it was true that he had expected it to some extent. However, that expectation was only about delicious dishes or clean and spacious guest rooms.

'I didn't know it was this amazing.'

San-ho was still unable to close his gaping mouth at the massive scale of the inn.

A place where brilliant lanterns, as if all the stars in the sky had been plucked, lined the splendid interior, and a six-story tavern stood on the left and guest rooms on the right, centered around the middle pond.

He had arrived at the world's best inn, Drunken Lotus Pavilion.

San-ho, who had intended to deliver the letter and pay his respects, had to change his mind. Since Drunken Lotus Pavilion was buzzing with crowds and its scale was so vast, there was absolutely no way to find out where Mae So-hyun's older brother was.

'Still, there is no better place than this to gather information.'

Information gathers where people gather. San-ho, looking around the inside crowded with people, was certain.