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chapter 15
There were many martial arts sects representing Guangdong Province, but among them, the Shin Chang Ui family and the Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge were the most prominent orthodox sects.
Meanwhile, the Myeongsa Sect and the Heukmak also had considerable influence, representing the non-orthodox sects on par with the Shin Chang Ui family and Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge.
The martial arts sects operating in Guangdong maintained balance and operated around these major families as their centers.
In the capital of Guangdong Province, the Shin Chang Ui family was established.
The Shin Chang Ui family was founded in Gwangju three hundred years ago by Shin Chang Ui-gongmin, and now, three centuries later, the family was enjoying a period of unprecedented prosperity.
The reason for this was the family head, Byeokryeokchang Ui Je-min.
The “Twelve Spears of Thunder,” which utilized powerful lightning energy, had become legendary in the martial world, and it was the martial art that placed Ui Je-min among the top one hundred martial artists of the realm.
Thanks to him, the family had grown into one of the spear-representing clans alongside the evil Ak family of Shandong.
“Shin Chang Ui family’s name is highly esteemed in Guangdong Province,” thought Geom-ryeong as he arrived in Gwangju after finishing his business in Bul-san. Judging by the absence of the bundle on his back, it seemed he had entrusted everything to the continent’s battlefields.
Overhearing the conversations around him, Geom-ryeong could sense just how formidable the Shin Chang Ui family’s reputation was.
“Welcome…”
As Geom-ryeong entered the inn, Jeom So-i paused mid-greeting.
“Is there a seat available?” he asked.
“Ah, of course, sir! Please come this way. I’ll take you to the best seat on the second floor.”
‘What kind of man is this, so handsome—or rather, beautiful?’
Jeom So-i glanced at Geom-ryeong’s face as she led him and shook her head in disbelief.
“This is the spot with the best view, sir!”
“Thank you.”
“What would you like to eat?”
Without thinking much, Geom-ryeong replied, “What’s the most delicious dish in this house?”
“The most delicious, you ask?”
“Yes.”
“Everything is delicious. Especially our master chef is renowned across Guangdong, and many customers visit Waryong Inn every day for his cooking.”
“Is that so? Then let me ask differently—what do people order the most?”
Jeom So-i was slightly flustered.
“I thought the most ordered dishes might also be the most delicious.”
“Well…”
Geom-ryeong gave a faint smile, prompting Jeom So-i to speak.
Noodles, dumplings, stir-fried pork, mountain vegetables… the usual dishes popular among the masses.
“I’ll take one plate of each.”
“One plate of each?”
“And here’s the payment.”
Geom-ryeong handed Jeom So-i one silver coin, as he did not know the exact prices.
Jeom So-i accepted it, standing there hesitantly.
“Is it not enough?”
“No, it’s more than enough.”
“Very well. Keep the change, sir. People say that’s how it’s done.”
Hearing she could keep all the change, Jeom So-i’s smile stretched from ear to ear.
“Thank you, sir! Please wait a moment. I’ll prepare the food right away. And I’ll specially request our master chef to make the Five-Spice Chicken for you.”
“Yes!”
Jeom So-i bowed to Geom-ryeong and hurried downstairs to the kitchen.
Geom-ryeong gazed out the window.
The bustling streets were no different from the marketplaces of Hyanghang, but since this was a large city, it appeared more crowded.
“Different.”
Geom-ryeong muttered to himself as he watched the people below.
“This is very different from what Grandpa Ghost or Grandma Jeonmo described.”
All he knew about the martial world came from those three. Considering they had disappeared from the martial world fifty years ago, many changes could have occurred in that time.
“The previously powerful sects have weakened, and the weaker ones have grown stronger. Clearly, many changes happened while Grandpa and Grandma weren’t around.”
Geom-ryeong thought this to himself.
—Time alone doesn’t easily topple established powers.
“Though it may change over time,” Grandpa Godok’s words echoed in his mind.
“You can’t say Grandpa Godok was entirely wrong, but if other forces intervene, things could collapse in an instant.”
As he pondered this, Jeom So-i arrived with plates of food.
Geom-ryeong admired her skill in carrying so many dishes at once using her fingers and forearms.
“Truly impressive.”
“No, it’s nothing. I do this every day, so it’s no big deal.”
Geom-ryeong nodded and examined the dishes.
“This is the Five-Spice Chicken?”
“Yes, sir! I’m sure you’ll be very pleased with it.”
He took a piece and tasted it. The aroma and flavor melted in his mouth.
“Truly delicious. Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
As he ate, Jeom So-i judged to herself:
‘He looks beautiful and is polite as well. He must be the son of some high-ranking official.’
‘Truly different from others…’ she mused, frowning.
Her attention was drawn by a group entering the inn—one young man and one young woman, one of whom she knew well.
“Welcome!”
She smiled brightly, erasing her previous frown, greeting them warmly.
“Thank you for visiting yesterday and today, sir! It’s truly an honor.”
“Stop flattering me and just show them their seats.”
“Of course. This way.”
Jeom So-i led them upstairs and seated them a little away from Geom-ryeong by the window.
“This doesn’t seem like the right seat,” said the man called Do-gun, eyeing Geom-ryeong’s spot.
“There’s a guest here. Please understand, Do-gun sir,” Jeom So-i replied.
Do-gun scowled at Geom-ryeong. As the third son of the Shin Chang Ui family in Gwangju, he wasn’t especially skilled, but relied on his family’s prestige to treat the city as his own.
The young man and woman accompanying Do-gun were Hyeon Jin-myung, the second son of Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge, and the youngest daughter, Hyeon Su-mi—both enjoying life in the shadow of their family’s influence, similar to Do-gun.
“This is my usual seat. Tell him to give it up immediately.”
“Sir…”
“Hurry!”
Do-gun’s roar left Jeom So-i torn between the two, unsure what to do.
“Didn’t he hear me?”
Faced with Do-gun’s repeated shouts, she had no choice but to approach Geom-ryeong.
“Sir!”
“I heard everything, but why should I give up this seat? I like it here, and there’s still plenty of food left.”
Geom-ryeong had no intention of moving.
Thud, thud…
Do-gun approached Geom-ryeong.
“Seems like you’re the son of a scholarly family. Wouldn’t it be better to get up?”
On the surface, Geom-ryeong appeared untrained in martial arts. Do-gun’s arrogance was clear, assuming Geom-ryeong would fear him.
“People from scholarly families can’t even eat freely at an inn?”
Geom-ryeong looked up at him from his seat.
‘How can a man be so handsome?’
Hyeon Su-mi, the youngest of Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge, secretly admired Geom-ryeong.
Do-gun sneered.
“Better get up now, or you might get hurt.”
He pretended concern, but it was really to show off in front of others.
“I’m eating. Please leave me be.”
Geom-ryeong turned and took a bite of noodles.
“Who does he think he is…”
Do-gun’s anger was stopped by Hyeon Su-mi.
“Brother Do-gun! He doesn’t know martial arts. Let’s just share the food here.”
Although speaking to Do-gun, her gaze was on Geom-ryeong.
“But Su-mi!”
“If we quarrel over someone who doesn’t know martial arts, what will people think? Isn’t that right?”
“Umm…”
“Let’s just do that. He won’t be here forever.”
Do-gun reluctantly told Geom-ryeong:
“You should count yourself lucky. Eat quickly and leave.”
Geom-ryeong ignored him, savoring his food slowly.
When Do-gun returned to his companions, Jeom So-i finally relaxed.
“Do-gun sir! What would you like to eat?”
“Make the Five-Spice Chicken a bit spicier. As for alcohol, serve Baekhong.”
“Understood.”
Do-gun glared at Geom-ryeong as he ordered.
Geom-ryeong ignored him. To him, Do-gun’s behavior was like a child whining to an adult.
“This is delicious. Nothing like Grandma’s food. Why did she feed me those strange dishes?”
Unaware, Geom-ryeong did not know that the food he was now eating was considered precious elixirs in the martial world, worth risking one’s life to obtain.
“I’ll only eat delicious food from now on.”
He slowly savored the dishes, which seemed odd to onlookers.
“He acts as if he’s never eaten before,” said Do-gun.
“Eating slowly isn’t bad. It aids digestion and is easy on the stomach,” Hyeon Su-mi replied, defending Geom-ryeong.
Do-gun frowned, realizing Su-mi had become curious about Geom-ryeong.
Her brother, Hyeon Jin-myung, seemed to understand her interest, but Do-gun did not.
‘So dense…’
Soon, the inn filled with people.
Jeom So-i approached Geom-ryeong quietly.
“Sir!”
“Yes?”
“There are no empty seats, but would you mind sharing your table with another guest?”
Looking around, Geom-ryeong noticed he was the only one seated alone.
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you, sir! It doesn’t feel right to use such a large table alone.”
Jeom So-i went downstairs and returned with a man in his late thirties, slightly small in stature, with a sword at his waist—likely a martial artist.
He sat across from Geom-ryeong.
“Thank you.”
“No, sharing food makes it taste better. Are you a martial artist?”
The man nodded.
