Chapter 32 - 31: Arrival at Mount Hua (6)

Three days ago...

The tavern was filled with the chatter of people eating and drinking. The air was filled with the aroma of food and drinks. Most of the people here were common villagers who knew almost nothing about martial arts. Since it was a small village, martial artists rarely passed through. Most preferred the larger, more prosperous villages nearby.

“Did you hear? There is a rumor about some bandits appearing in the mountain.”

“Really? I thought it was an abandoned mountain.”

“Well, it was. The bandits recently made their appearance there. People say as long as they pay the toll fee the bandits let them go.”

“What a pain! It was already...”

“Excuse me! Did you say bandit?!”

“...”

Suddenly, a young man interrupted their conversation and sat down at their table. The two gazed at the young man with suspicions.

“Huh?”

The young man was wearing a white robe with a plum blossom symbol on the chest. A sword on his waist, another plum blossom symbol embedded on it. Anybody would recognize those as soon as they see it. This young man was from the Mount Hua Sect.

“...!”

The two men looked shocked upon seeing a disciple of Mount Hua. In a place where martial artists rarely came, what was a disciple from Mount Hua doing here?

A sect like Mount Hua shouldn’t have any business here.

The man who was talking about the bandits cleared his throat and answered the young man.

“Ahem... Yes. We did. But why are you joining our table?”

“Oh!”

It looked like the young man realized something. He immediately stood up and bowed lightly in apology.

“I’m sorry. I joined your table without your permission.”

Seeing the young man acting like that, the two men got uncomfortable.

“No, no! We didn’t mean that. We just didn’t expect someone we didn’t know to suddenly join our table.”

“Oh! Then let me introduce myself first.”

The young man bowed again, clasping his hands.

“I’m Baek Musan. A second generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”

“Haha... Is that so?”

You didn’t need to tell them, man. They already knew it from your appearance.

Musan lifted his head slightly, staring at the two. It looked like these two men didn’t want to welcome him. However, Musan didn’t care what they were thinking.

“Can I join your conversations?”

“...”

The two men stayed silent for a moment before answering.

“Please sit.”

Kids these days are too pestering.

As soon as Musan sat with them the mood became awkward. Before the two of them were chatting with each other with full comfort. But now that Musan joined them, they were just eating their food silently.

“...”

‘What is he doing?’

Musan just sat there staring at them while they ate.

‘Why are you staring at us? Order your food already!’

Gulp!

“...”

Did he just swallow his saliva?

‘Is this young man eyeing our food? Don’t look at us like that, you bastard!’

One of the men looked at him.

“Why aren’t you ordering your food?”

“Huh? Oh, right! Sorry, I’m not hungry.” Baek Musan said, rubbing his neck while smiling with his eyes closed. “I just wanted to know about the bandit. So, I’m just waiting for you to finish your food before asking.”

Growl...

“...”

‘Your stomach says otherwise though.’

They could hear Musan’s stomach making strange sounds.

The man stared at Musan for a moment then asked with a blank face.

“You don’t have money?”

“Huh? How did you know, sir?”

‘Anyone would know it if they saw you acting like that.’

Saying not hungry while your stomach makes weird sounds and staring at people while they eat...

If someone isn’t short on money, why would they do that?

“Sigh...”

‘People aren’t honest at all. But a second generation disciple of Mount Hua, not having money...’

It sounded a bit strange.

‘Argh! Whatever!’

The man called out the owner of the tavern.

“Boss! Another bowl of noodles here!”

Then he looked at Musan who looked a bit confused.

“Eat first then ask whatever you want to know.”

Not long after, the ordered noodles arrived. After thanking the man, Musan ate politely.

Normally, people who were that hungry would eat like crazy. But Musan wasn’t like that. He was surprisingly maintaining his dignity while eating even though he was hungry for some days now.

‘Truly a Mount Hua disciple.’

The two men looked impressed by Musan’s dignity.

No matter which sect, faction, or family they came from, martial artists had always been the same in their eyes. They looked down on common people—some didn’t even treat them as human. That was all the villagers had ever known. But after meeting Musan... perhaps there were exceptions after all.

‘Or is it just the Mount Hua Sect that is the exception here?’

Well, no matter what it was, that wasn’t important. The final assumption was that this young man before them was a good person. So it felt really good. If all martial artists would act like him it would have been even better.

Sigh...

‘Well, it’s not bad either.’

At least they got to know one good martial artist. That was enough.

“Thank you.”

After finishing his meal, Baek Musan showed his utmost gratitude, bowing lightly.

‘How polite.’

The two men looked totally satisfied by this. Spending money to feed him seemed worth it.

“Haha. Don’t bother. It was nothing.”

It looked like one of them was too shy because of Musan’s behavior. Then the other man looked at Musan.

“So, what did you want to ask?”

“Uh...” Musan looked at the man. “Oh, it’s about the bandits you were talking about.”

“Those mountain bandits?”

“Uh, yes, sir. If it’s ok, can you tell me where I can find them?”

“Well, that’s not hard. They reside on the mountain just beyond the village. But why do you want to know about them?”

“Oh, nothing much, sir. I’m gonna capture them or drive them away.”

“Huh? Capture? Drive them away?”

“Yes.” Musan bowed lightly, showing respect. “I’ll repay you in the future for the kindness you showed to me, sirs. Then since I got the information I wanted, I’ll take my leave, sirs.”

“Uh... But...”

But before the man could say anything Musan had already left the tavern in a hurry.

“Why is this kid in a hurry? He didn’t even hear the full story.”

“Is there a problem?”

The other man asked.

“Yes. They aren’t normal bandits, you see. They are one of the green mountain bandit groups.”

“...”

The two looked toward the end of the tavern with a stiff face.

“Is he gonna be ok? He is alone after all.”

“I hope so...”

They were feeling bad for no reason now.

May God be with you, kid.