Chapter 73
Mae Ok-ryeong looked around the inn. Every table was filled with empty bowls.
“I truly don't know how I can ever repay this kindness.”
Hong-seol spoke up abruptly.
“It was all thanks to your neat cooking skills, Master Mae! If the food hadn't been delicious, people wouldn't have flocked here like this.”
At those words, Soso, who had been busy stealing glances at Namgung Baek the entire time, opened her eyes wide and exclaimed.
“It was so delicious, especially that fish sashimi! I’d never tasted anything like it before.”
Touched by the children's words, Mae Ok-ryeong placed her hand—missing the tip of her index finger—over her heart, her eyebrows drooping in a sorrowful arch.
“To think you would say such things…”
“You must keep your wits about you, Master Mae. Thanks to the Beggars' Clan spreading the word, even more people will be flooding in starting tomorrow!”
Elder Namgung Muyeong added a word as well.
“After all, the fish sashimi is a dish that can only be tasted here.”
He nudged Hong-seol’s side with his elbow.
“You will send fresh fish to the branch family on holidays as promised, won't you?”
Hong-seol answered immediately.
“Of course! Right, Soso?”
“Ah... yes!”
Soso, who had been blankly staring at Namgung Baek, pulled herself together and nodded.
“Oh, right! And there’s one more thing I prepared.”
Hong-seol trotted over and reached for the flagpole hanging in front of the main gate.
“Hmph.”
She tried to tie the blue silk ribbon she had pulled from her pocket, but it was too high, and it wouldn't go as she wanted.
She hopped up and down.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over Hong-seol’s head.
“Give it here.”
Namgung Baek took the blue silk ribbon from Hong-seol’s hand and tied it to the flagpole.
Just then, a gust of wind blew, causing the ribbon to flutter.
The name of Namgung Baek, written on the tip, was revealed. It was something he had written himself with a brush just a while ago at Hong-seol’s request.
Mae Ok-ryeong looked puzzled.
“What on earth is that, young lady?”
“It’s a sign that this is an eatery where Young Master Namgung Baek enjoyed a delicious meal!”
Hong-seol explained calmly.
“Brother can’t come here every day, but with this...”
“People will be able to tell that Young Master Namgung Baek has visited this place!”
Do-jin, who had been listening to the explanation, exclaimed in admiration.
“You really are a genius, Hong-seol.”
Hong-seol didn't stop there and explained clearly.
“I had Brother write his name on it just in case other inns try to copy us.”
“My goodness!”
Mae Ok-ryeong covered her face with both hands, unable to hide her overwhelming emotion.
“Truly, truly thank you, young lady!”
Hot tears streamed down between Mae Ok-ryeong’s hands.
“I... actually, I was planning to close the inn in three days and follow my late parents.”
“What?”
Startled, Hong-seol froze in place.
That wasn't all. Everyone present was left speechless.
“Tsk.”
Only the experienced Namgung Muyeong clicked his tongue with a bitter expression.
Mae Ok-ryeong continued, sobbing.
“Since I became a body that can no longer play the pipa, I felt so foolish and useless, unable to earn even a single penny...”
“Don't cry, Sister!”
“Why would you be useless, Master Mae? You know how to make such delicious food!”
“This place is going to become the best inn under heaven soon!”
Do-jin, Hong-seol, and Soso hugged Mae Ok-ryeong tightly, tears and snot streaming down their faces.
After a good cry, Mae Ok-ryeong seemed a bit embarrassed.
Judging by how she suddenly ducked into the kitchen, saying she had to tidy up.
Elder Namgung Muyeong also left, saying he had work to do for the merchant group, and Soso left as well, claiming her mother had called for her.
“Let's go too.”
Namgung Baek was just about to leave with Hong-seol.
“Wait a second!”
Do-jin called out to Hong-seol as she turned away.
After a moment of hesitation, Do-jin looked Hong-seol straight in the eyes and said.
“I'm really grateful, Hong-seol!”
With that, Do-jin tried to take Hong-seol’s hand. But what he actually grabbed was Namgung Baek’s hand.
With a moment of quick thinking, Namgung Baek had swapped places with Hong-seol.
“Ack! What is this!”
Do-jin’s face crumpled as he scrambled backward.
Namgung Baek also brushed off his hand with a look as if he had touched a bug for no reason.
“How dare you try to lay a hand on my younger sister.”
“Wh-what are you talking about!”
Mae Ok-ryeong, who had poked her head out from the kitchen, scolded Do-jin.
“Do-jin, it’s not right to speak to the Young Master like that!”
“Yes...”
Do-jin answered dejectedly and looked at Hong-seol again.
Then, suddenly, he braced himself and shouted loudly.
“Hey, I’m going to become the leader of the Beggars' Clan someday!”
Surprised, Hong-seol opened her eyes wide.
“Huh?”
For some reason, Do-jin’s face was completely red. Namgung Baek was watching him with an incredibly cold gaze.
“I’ll become the leader of the Beggars' Clan and help you, Hong-seol!”
“Thank you. I’ll be waiting for that day.”
Hong-seol, who had made eye contact with Do-jin, giggled.
* * *
There was a woman watching Hong-seol with interest from the roof of the inn.
“The little kitten of the Namgung Clan sacrificed herself to save her friends last time.”
It was the Poison-Armed Eagle, carrying a loquat and wearing a black bamboo hat pulled low.
Her gaze was fixed on Hong-seol, who was blushing and giggling.
“And this time, she’s saving an inn?”
Hmm.
The Poisonous Flying Eagle’s eyes twinkled as she leaped down.
She then walked toward Hong-seol and Namgung Baek, who were coming around the corner, pretending as if nothing were amiss.
“So, last time, Do-jin sent a messenger bird...”
The little kitten was chattering away to the eldest young master of the Namgung Clan beside her, looking as if she were having the time of her life.
Although he pretended to listen on the outside, the young master’s face was full of annoyance.
It seemed he didn't like the talk of that fellow named Do-jin coming out of the little kitten’s mouth.
‘She's cute, isn't she? Heh heh.’
The Poison-Armed Eagle flicked a reasonably sized pebble to the side.
The pebble stopped exactly in front of Hong-seol’s trotting feet. It was truly a ghostly feat.
“Ah!”
Hong-seol, who had been chattering at Namgung Baek, tripped over the pebble and stumbled.
Before Namgung Baek could even reach out, the Poison-Armed Eagle intervened like lightning.
She grabbed Hong-seol’s wrist, pretending to steady her.
“Oh my! Are you alright, little one?”
At that moment.
Feeling a tingling sensation as something probed her meridians, Hong-seol quickly pulled her hand away.
Then, black shadows poured down from all directions.
They were the warriors of the Azure Sky Unit.
“Who goes there!”
“How dare you lay a hand on the young lady!”
Namgung Uigyeol, who was like a bear, roared. The Poison-Armed Eagle lifted her black bamboo hat slightly.
“Long time no see, blockhead.”
“Gasp!”
Recognizing the Poison-Armed Eagle, Namgung Uigyeol jumped back.
“Master, do you know this person?”
“...A little.”
“I’m in a hurry, so I’ll be off.”
The Poison-Armed Eagle turned and walked away.
She could hear the commotion of the Azure Sky Unit behind her, but she didn't care.
Her mind was filled only with Hong-seol, that child.
‘That little kitten, she has Yin-Yang Severed Meridians.’
That changes my plans quite a bit. Should I look for another child?
The Poison-Armed Eagle rubbed her fair cheek as if troubled.
* * *
Heuk and Jeok threw open the doors to the inner courtyard training ground.
“Eldest Brother! We’re here.”
“Why are you calling people out at the crack of dawn?”
Namgung Heuk approached, picking his ear with his pinky finger.
Namgung Baek stood in the middle of the training ground, emitting an icy chill like frost.
“Are you two incapable of feeling a sense of crisis?”
“Crisis? What crisis?”
“I’m talking about those ‘Eight Faithful Friends’.”
At those words, hostility appeared on Heuk’s face.
“The little one has been getting too close to those kids lately, hasn't she?”
Baek nodded silently.
Jeok spoke with a face like a puppy that needed to relieve itself.
“Um... now that I think about it, I saw sister playing with them at the rear garden pavilion a little while ago.”
“What?”
“Is that so?”
Namgung Baek and Namgung Heuk’s faces twisted.
“Ha, I really can't take it anymore. Brother, did you see that?”
“See what?”
“I saw it last time, the look in that beggar kid’s eyes when he was looking at the little one was not normal.”
“...Did you feel that too?”
“What does it mean for a look to be ‘not normal’?”
Only the youngest, Jeok, was looking left and right, not knowing what that meant.
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