Chapter 186
The distance from the Peng Family to the Murim Alliance was quite far.
It was only because Yeo Un-hwi usually traveled across the Central Plains Murim at an absurd speed; there was a reason people said it normally took an eternity just to travel.
Furthermore, this trip to the Murim Alliance was with the White Wolf Unit, so they had to run and run steadily along that long road.
Then, when the sun set, they would stop at a suitable Inn along the way to eat and rent rooms to sleep.
Today was no different.
Around sunset, they arrived at a place called the Cheonghyang Inn.
For some reason, unlike the Inns they had visited so far, it was bursting with people.
From what they heard, it was considered one of the top restaurants in the Central Plains.
Usually, crowded places meant more exhaustion, so they generally didn’t prefer such spots. However, they stopped here because Do-gyeong, one of the White Wolf Squad Members, had uncharacteristically insisted that they absolutely had to visit this place if they were passing by.
“Do-gyeong, I didn’t know you were such a gourmand.”
“I do enjoy seeking out good food normally, but we didn’t come here for me.”
“Huh? Then?”
“It’s so our Commander can have something delicious to eat.”
The White Wolf Squad Members realized why Do-gyeong had acted so out of character.
In her mind, they were always on the receiving end from Yeo Un-hwi.
Although it was true that their training was so grueling that calling it hell wouldn’t be an exaggeration, the White Wolf Squad Members weren’t dissatisfied with it at all.
No, they were actually grateful.
Who else in the world would pass down Martial Arts to their subordinates and personally tailor their training to each individual?
Normally, given their positions, they wouldn’t have a word to say even if they were used and discarded like tools.
So how could they not be thankful?
They were undoubtedly receiving a grace that others would gladly pay a fortune for.
It was something they should never take for granted.
But the problem was that they had no real way to repay Yeo Un-hwi.
As mere Warriors, they had almost nothing to offer him, let alone a fortune.
They were filled with the desire to do something for him, even if it meant borrowing money, but they knew they would only get a severe scolding if they did.
So what else could they do?
They had to at least make sure he could eat something delicious when an opportunity like this arose.
The other White Wolf Squad Members felt a bit sheepish at Do-gyeong’s thoughtfulness.
They shared her sentiments, but they hadn’t thought to act on them like she did.
“Oh. To think you had this side to you, Sister.”
“Right. You aren’t just violent.”
“Do you want to die? I don’t want to hear that from you two, of all people.”
“What? What’s wrong with us?”
“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”
Do-gyeong replied with a genuinely displeased look at the twins' attitude.
“The most ignorant, violent meatheads in the world who throw fists the moment things go slightly wrong are calling who violent right now? Huh?”
At Do-gyeong’s words, even Yeo Un-hwi, along with the White Wolf Unit, nodded in agreement.
“They definitely have that side to them.”
“Calling it a 'side' implies there’s more to them than just that.”
“Wow. To think everyone thought of us like that all this time. What do we do about this feeling of betrayal?”
“No, it’s actually more shocking that you didn’t know we thought of you like that.”
“It hurts, it hurts so much. Why are you all only picking on us?”
“Right. What did we do wrong?”
“Maybe your very existence is the problem.”
When even Peng Do-hwan quietly beat up Gi-su and Gi-sang with his words, the twin brothers were practically on the verge of tears.
“Now, now. That’s enough. Anyway, Do-gyeong is the best among us. Haha. Well done, well done.”
Do-gyeong’s face flushed slightly at O Chae-mu’s praise.
Soon, O Chae-mu looked at Yeo Un-hwi and grinned.
“Since that’s the case, you’ll have to eat to your heart’s content, Commander. Haha!”
“Right. I will.”
Yeo Un-hwi nodded with a smile.
“But with it being this packed, will there even be a proper place to eat?”
“Don’t worry about that. It looks like a lot, but seats should be opening up right about now.”
“Oh. You seem to know this Inn really well?”
“Well, I have my reasons.”
Do-gyeong then took the lead, and everyone slowly stepped inside the Inn.
“Mister!”
“Oh! If it isn’t Do-gyeong. It’s been a really long time.”
The Inn owner, who had been busy working, spotted Do-gyeong and welcomed her with a glad expression.
“Have you been well?”
“Of course. I’ve been doing great. Haha. By the way, who are these people?”
“They’re my colleagues and the Commander I serve.”
“Oh, oh! Welcome. Haha.”
“Is there a place for all of us to sit together? You usually keep a table open around this time for large groups, right?”
“Haha. Naturally. Even if there wasn’t, I’d make one since you’re here. You can head over to that window seat over there.”
Soon, the White Wolf Squad Members sat in a row at the largest table in the Inn, looking at Do-gyeong with curious faces.
It was because this side of Do-gyeong, which they knew nothing about, was incredibly unfamiliar to them.
Seeing this, Do-gyeong let out a small laugh.
“I worked here for a while when I was young.”
“Hoh.”
To think Do-gyeong had worked at an Inn.
“So you were an Inn Attendant?”
“Something like that.”
Soon, everyone pictured Do-gyeong acting as an amiable Inn Attendant and burst into snickers.
It was because the image suited her so terribly poorly.
“Ah, why! What! I was actually famous for being good at my job here!”
Just as Do-gyeong flared up, the Inn owner reappeared behind her.
“You were good at it. That is, if you hadn’t gotten into fistfights with the customers.”
“Ah! Mister!”
Do-gyeong’s face turned red at the Inn owner’s exposure.
“Are you really going to be like this? There are people here!”
“Haha. I’m sorry. It’s a joke, a joke.”
“You’ve already said everything for it to be a joke! And the guys I fought back then were all terrible troublemakers, not customers. They were guys trying to pull a fast one to dine and dash, or picking fights with other customers.”
“Right. I know very well. Still, you charged in far too fearlessly back then. Thanks to that, you almost got beaten to death by some crazy Warrior.”
At the owner’s words, Do-gyeong also recalled the events of long ago.
She had spoken up against an Unorthodox Faction Warrior who was drunk and causing a massive scene in the Inn, and it had escalated to the point where she was truly on the verge of death.
“So what happened?”
Gi-sang, who was curious, asked.
“Well, very fortunately, a Warrior overflowing with a sense of justice subdued that damn bastard and saved her. Thanks to that, Do-gyeong quit her job here and followed him. Right. Is he still doing well?”
“Yes, yes. He’s doing very well. It turned out he was an Elder of the Peng Family.”
“Eh? Who?”
“Elder Gu Wang-pyo.”
The entire White Wolf Unit wore surprised expressions at the unexpected story.
To think there was such a connection in the world.
“I knew it! I thought he was someone extraordinary, but to think he was an Elder of the Peng Family. Yes. He had an Immortal-like quality to him. He was handsome and had this aura like he wouldn’t even touch a drop of alcohol.”
In that moment, without any prior agreement, everyone’s heads snapped in the same direction.
Was he really talking about Elder Gu Wang-pyo right now?
Handsome and Immortal-like. Looked like he wouldn’t touch a drop of alcohol.
Somehow, it sounded like a completely different person from the man they all knew.
Was there another Elder in the Peng Family who went by the name Gu Wang-pyo?
The Elder Gu Wang-pyo that they knew was…
“Kuhahaha! Drink! Pour! Let’s drink till we die!”
“I won’t forgive anyone who tries to sneak out of drinking at today’s gathering! I won’t send you home until you’ve thrown up at least five times, so brace yourselves! Kuhahaha!”
“Uweeeck! Hey! Eldest Young Master! Where do you think you’re secretly dumping your alcohol! You slacker! Kids these days just don’t know how precious alcohol is. Back in my day!”
Perhaps the Inn owner’s memories had become significantly romanticized.
Then again, he was the Benefactor who had subdued the guy trying to smash up the Inn and beat the Inn Attendant to death, so it was understandable.
Besides, a lot of time had passed.
It was back when Do-gyeong was just a little kid working as an Inn Attendant.
Ah, but still, remembering him as the exact opposite was a bit…
“Anyway, look forward to today. It’s been a really long time since Do-gyeong visited, and we have esteemed guests as well, so I’ll let you taste the best dishes our Inn boasts.”
“Not all of them are esteemed guests. Excluding those two guys…”
From Do-gyeong’s words, it was immediately obvious who those two guys were.
Because Gi-su and Gi-sang were the only ones making faces like they had chewed on shit.
Regardless, with the owner of a renowned restaurant saying such things, the White Wolf Unit couldn’t help but be full of anticipation.
Before long, the dishes came out.
“Waaaaaah…”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Dongpo pork, yuxiang shredded pork, jingjiang shredded pork, and twice-cooked pork were placed among them.
Followed by steaming hot bowls of somen noodles.
They were dishes that truly made one drool just by looking at and smelling them.
“Here. Please enjoy your meal.”
As the Inn owner smiled and stepped away, everyone began their meal, starting with Yeo Un-hwi.
“Uwaaaah! It melts in my mouth.”
Gi-su and Gi-sang made a fuss.
But it was understandable.
The meat was tender, the seasoning stimulated the appetite, and the noodle broth had depth.
Every single dish was truly excellent.
To the point where it made them think that it wasn’t considered one of the top restaurants in the Central Plains for nothing.
Seeing everyone eating so deliciously made Do-gyeong inexplicably happy.
And then,
“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”
Do-gyeong asked Yeo Un-hwi cautiously.
She was confident, but she felt nervous for some reason.
Because everyone’s tastes were different.
At that, Yeo Un-hwi, who had tasted each dish one by one, smiled and nodded.
“It’s delicious. To the point where I feel like I should come here with my wife and daughter next time. Thank you.”
At his words, Do-gyeong beamed brightly.
Like that, the White Wolf Unit had a cozy and enjoyable meal.
But right at that moment.
CRASH!
Along with the sound of something breaking, the entrance of the Inn became noisy.
Naturally, the gazes of everyone inside the Inn turned in that direction.
“There are no seats? Hah, do you not know who we are? Huh? Do you need to taste some pain to come to your senses?!”
“No, it’s not that. I just meant that since you have a large group, please wait a moment. I will quickly make room for you.”
“Is there a need for that? Those guys over there can just move, can’t they?”
One of the red-clothed group causing a commotion at the entrance pointed a finger at the table where the White Wolf Unit was sitting.
At that, the owner’s face turned pale.
It was because he didn’t want to drag his esteemed guests into a fight over a seat.
“They just arrived and started their meal. Please don’t do this and…”
“Yeah? Then that’s even better. They can just grab the food they were eating and get lost, can’t they?”
The group causing the disturbance giggled and laughed.
“Hey, you over there. You must have heard us, so get up nicely and get lost. Unless you want to die.”
They were finally having a cozy, enjoyable meal without any issues for once.
The eyes of the White Wolf Squad Members began to sharpen.
And just as a few of them were about to stand up,
“This place must really be famous. Seeing as even wild beasts come looking for a meal.”
Out of nowhere, someone sitting among them spoke up.
It was a young man who had just emptied his fourth bowl of meat noodles.
Seeing him, Yeo Un-hwi’s eyebrow twitched upward.