Chapter 361

Chapter 361 – How Joyful This Long-Awaited Reunion (2)
Bang Jin-bo walked through Shaolin Temple's grounds. The mountain temple that should have been tranquil was packed with people due to the continuous influx of visitors.
"At this rate, I won't be able to properly tour Shaolin Temple."
Bang Jin-bo sighed and sat on a nearby rock.
Though he walked the path of a cook, he too was a martial artist who had learned martial arts. As a martial artist, it was only natural to be interested in Shaolin Temple. However, given the circumstances, it seemed better to postpone touring Shaolin Temple for later.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
Suddenly a familiar voice broke Bang Jin-bo's reverie.
"Oh, sister?"
The owner of the voice was precisely Gyeong Ha-jin.
They had become quite close during the journey here together. Since Gyeong Ha-jin was two years older than Bang Jin-bo, he called her sister.
"Didn't you say you were going to tour Shaolin Temple?"
"I did. But as you can see…"
Bang Jin-bo shrugged his shoulders. Then Gyeong Ha-jin smiled knowingly.
"It's very crowded. I didn't expect it to be this much either."
"Exactly."
"Still, it's fortunate. Thanks to this, Shaolin Temple has become crowded, but there are so many people who stepped forward to protect the martial world."
"That's true too."
Bang Jin-bo nodded.
If he changed his perspective, the people who had entered Shaolin Temple now were those who had voluntarily come to fight the Demon Cult. There was no reason to complain about having many such people.
"What about the other brothers?"
"They're meeting people they know and having conversations."
"Really? Those brothers know people here?"
"Even though they may not look it, they belong to prestigious families in Henan Province, so they can't help but know many people."
"What about you, sister? Don't you know anyone?"
"I do."
"Then why aren't you with them?"
"It's boring."
"Pardon?"
"Just boring. They keep repeating stories they've already told."
The stories when two or more martial artists gathered were predictable. Denouncing the Demon Cult and discussing how to protect the martial world. While doing so, they would subtly insert how great their achievements were or boast about their martial prowess.
It was tolerable once or twice, but listening continuously naturally became irritating. Moreover, Gyeong Ha-jin was a beautiful woman. Many martial artists would exaggerate their words or act inappropriately to impress her.
"I don't like that atmosphere."
"I see."
Bang Jin-bo nodded. He felt like he could understand somehow.
During the journey here, he had seen countless men try to approach her, captivated by Gyeong Ha-jin's beauty. Though they were all handled by Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang before they could approach Gyeong Ha-jin.
Gyeong Ha-jin gently brushed up her hair. Then her silk-like black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
"Wow!"
Several martial artists who saw this naturally burst into exclamations. This was the same for Bang Jin-bo.
"Your hair seems to have gotten even better."
"Pardon?"
"Your skin has gotten whiter too, and your internal energy seems to have increased. What kind of magic did you use?"
Gyeong Ha-jin looked straight at Bang Jin-bo. As Gyeong Ha-jin said, her beauty was at its peak. She had thought herself pretty, but while traveling with Bang Jin-bo, she had noticeably become more beautiful. Most importantly, her internal energy had increased.
Even though she had never once practiced breathing techniques while traveling with Bang Jin-bo. This was incomprehensible by her common sense.
After countless thoughts, the conclusion she reached was precisely Bang Jin-bo's food. Recalling the vitality and various signs she felt every time she ate food Bang Jin-bo made, it seemed almost certain.
"I'm glad it was helpful."
"Tell me. What magic did you use?"
Gyeong Ha-jin suddenly brought her face close to Bang Jin-bo's. As they became close enough that their noses almost touched, Bang Jin-bo's face turned red like a persimmon. He could feel Gyeong Ha-jin's breath on his nose.
"Why, why are you doing this? Sister."
"What kind of skill did you use on the food?"
"That is…"
Gyeong Ha-jin's sweet breath made Bang Jin-bo's mind hazy. So he couldn't come to his senses.
"Would you like to come to Great Righteousness Martial Hall with me later? With your skills, you could become the head chef of Great Righteousness Martial Hall. And…"
"…"
Gyeong Ha-jin's voice became even more subtle. At this, Bang Jin-bo's face became even redder. As if his face was on fire.
That's when it happened.
"Jin-bo!"
Suddenly a clear voice interjected between them.
As if cold water had been poured over him, Bang Jin-bo's hazy mind returned. As he hurriedly shook his head and looked toward where the voice came from, delight appeared on Bang Jin-bo's face.
"Ah!"
"Why are you here?"
A pretty girl with delicate features stood with both hands on her hips, glaring at Bang Jin-bo and Gyeong Ha-jin.
"So-cheong!"
The girl was precisely Eun So-cheong, the only daughter of the Silver Treasure Merchant Guild. She was looking back and forth between Bang Jin-bo and Gyeong Ha-jin with fire in her eyes.
As the Martial Alliance began freeloading, Shaolin Temple became a huge swamp absorbing countless materials and food. Numerous merchant groups from across the world came to Shaolin Temple for trade, and the Silver Treasure Merchant Guild was one of them.
Eun So-cheong was on her way up to Shaolin Temple loaded with numerous materials.
When she first saw Bang Jin-bo with Gyeong Ha-jin, she thought it was a mistake. As far as she knew, Bang Jin-bo should have been at Mount Hua Sect. So she widened her eyes several times to confirm. But then she saw Gyeong Ha-jin bringing her face close to Bang Jin-bo's.
At that moment, she felt a volcano exploding inside her. A thousand fires rose from her chest and her head went white. So she raised her voice without realizing it.
Even now her heart was beating madly, and she was trembling with inexplicable anger.
Not knowing this, Bang Jin-bo ran over with a bright expression.
"So-cheong. How are you here? Did you come for business?"
Seeing Bang Jin-bo's too-bright appearance, Eun So-cheong felt her rationality somewhat returning.
Bang Jin-bo was a man who had lived his whole life knowing only cooking.
He wasn't someone who schemed or chased after women. Knowing this fact better than anyone, Eun So-cheong calmed her anger toward Bang Jin-bo.
"I came for business. But what about you? Didn't you say you would stay at Mount Hua Sect?"
"I came with Brother Yeon-un. I couldn't feel at ease sending him alone. So I came together."
"Sigh!"
Eun So-cheong sighed at Bang Jin-bo's answer.
'Who's worrying about whom? You fool!'
She was considerably relieved that he hadn't come alone, but that didn't mean her heart was completely at ease. Anger was still boiling in her heart.
The target of her anger wasn't Bang Jin-bo. It was Gyeong Ha-jin, who had brought her detestable face close to Bang Jin-bo.
The moment she received Eun So-cheong's angry gaze, Gyeong Ha-jin's expression also hardened like a stone statue.
Sparks seemed to fly between the two women looking at each other.
The first to speak was Eun So-cheong.
"But who might you be?"
"I'm called Gyeong Ha-jin of Great Righteousness Martial Hall. And who might you be?"
"I'm called Eun So-cheong of Silver Treasure Merchant Guild."
"Ah! Silver Treasure Merchant Guild."
Gyeong Ha-jin unconsciously exclaimed.
Because the background of the girl who appeared only two or three years younger than her was greater than expected.
"How did you come to know Jin-bo?"
"I happened to travel with him by chance. What about you?"
"Hoho! I've been close with Jin-bo for a very long time. You could say we're in a relationship without secrets? It's been like that until now, and it will continue to be so."
At Eun So-cheong's words, Gyeong Ha-jin bit her lips tightly. What Eun So-cheong wanted to convey was simple.
I've known Jin-bo for a long time, and we're very close. So get lost on your own.
Eun So-cheong was saying that.
'This little brat!'
Instantly sparks flew in Gyeong Ha-jin's eyes.
Her bringing her head so close to Bang Jin-bo had been half playful behavior. Because Bang Jin-bo's flustered appearance was also cute.
But when Eun So-cheong stepped forward to check her like this, strangely competitive spirit and stubbornness arose.
"Just because it was like that until now doesn't mean it has to be like that in the future. Little sister is too young and doesn't know much about worldly matters yet."
"Since you called me little sister, I'll call you big sister too. Being older doesn't mean you know everything about the world. Big sister!"
"Being older?"
"You look two or three years older than me. Isn't that right? Big sister."
Eun So-cheong attached 'big sister' to the end of every sentence. It was a very polite form of address, but it couldn't help but be very grating to Gyeong Ha-jin's ears.
The corners of Gyeong Ha-jin's eyes lifted. But she forced a gentle smile and walked toward Eun So-cheong. Then she secretly whispered to her.
"Hoho! You seem to like Jin-bo. Little sister."
"What about big sister?"
"I wasn't particularly interested, but seeing little sister's attitude makes me want to like him now."
"It would be better if you didn't."
"Why? I like it."
Gyeong Ha-jin snorted.
"Because you shouldn't like someone in such a playful way."
"I'm serious. Since little sister is acting like this, I've become more greedy."
Gyeong Ha-jin wasn't originally someone with much greed. But she had obtained everything she had wanted until now.
Though Great Righteousness Martial Hall wasn't big enough to belong to the Nine Great Sects, it at least wielded considerable influence in the Henan Province area.
Many people praised her beauty, and she received the attention of countless martial artists. Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang's efforts to travel with her were for the same reason.
Eun So-cheong's gaze became cold. But Gyeong Ha-jin failed to notice this fact.
"Most importantly, the food Jin-bo makes is really… He'll become someone suitable for Great Righteousness Martial Hall."
"Are you talking about someone suitable for big sister?"
"Well…"
Gyeong Ha-jin smiled softly. An ambiguous smile of unknown meaning, but the intent contained within was clear.
It was a battle of pride. She absolutely couldn't back down.
It had started half as a joke, but now she couldn't back down even for pride's sake.
A smile also appeared at the corners of Eun So-cheong's lips. A smile cold as ice.
"Big sister."
"What?"
"You'll regret it."
"What did you say?"
For a moment Gyeong Ha-jin doubted her ears. She never expected to hear such words from a young girl like Eun So-cheong.
"Regret? Me?"
"Yes! Definitely."
"…"
"Big sister might not know well, but Jin-bo and I have a very scary big brother."
"So you're going to threaten me with that big brother?"
"Of course not? I'm not such a nasty person. I just want to say that there's one thing I've definitely learned from that big brother."
"What's that?"
"Never leaving future troubles behind."
"…"
Gyeong Ha-jin doubted her ears. It was violent enough to be unbelievable that it came from a young girl's mouth.
Eun So-cheong smiled brightly.
"Of course, that doesn't mean I'll use force. I don't have that power anyway."
"…"
At that moment Gyeong Ha-jin trembled with sudden chills.
Eun So-cheong looked at such Gyeong Ha-jin for a moment, then turned around.
On one side, Bang Jin-bo was looking at them with a somewhat blank expression. He could tell that the atmosphere between the two was not normal, but he didn't know the reason why.
Seeing such Bang Jin-bo, Eun So-cheong unconsciously pouted her lips.
How could he have such a blank expression, not even knowing who she was having this nerve war with Gyeong Ha-jin for?
'Fool!'
But somehow she felt like laughing.
She thought such an appearance might be Bang Jin-bo's charm.
Eun So-cheong extended her hand to Bang Jin-bo.
"Let's go."
"Yeah!"
Bang Jin-bo grasped her soft hand without a moment's hesitation.
Sparks flew in the eyes of Gyeong Ha-jin watching this scene. Toward such her, Eun So-cheong showed a subtle smile.
The fight had already begun.