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Episode 88: Let Outsiders Step Aside
The small and old restaurant, which didn’t even have a sign, was full of customers. Most of them were people stopping on their way to Luoyang to appease their hunger for a moment.
As there was no waiter in sight, Yeon Jeokha and the self-proclaimed Old Shim of the Nine Heavens, Shim Tong, had to find an empty spot by themselves.
Not finding a vacant table, Shim Tong decided to share one.
When Shim Tong approached a table with empty chairs, a venerable-looking old man emerged from inside.
"Hehe, if there are no empty tables, you can sit anywhere. What would you like to eat?"
Shim Tong did not respond to the old man but signaled to Yeon Jeokha.
"Young Master, come this way."
Only when Yeon Jeokha sat in the empty chair did Shim Tong turn his attention to the old man.
"What do you do best here?"
"Our fine noodles, stir-fried pork, and roasted duck are very good."
"Bring us that."
"Yes, yes."
Seeing the swords hanging from the waists of Shim Tong and Yeon Jeokha, the old man bowed exaggeratedly and left.
Sharing tables seemed to be common in this place, as the other diners said nothing.
Only then did Yeon Jeokha notice what they were eating.
Fine noodles.
Looking around, he saw that most of the tables also had fine noodles.
Most people seemed to be eating noodles as if it were a tacit agreement.
It was then that Shim Tong spoke in a low voice.
"Young Master, I think it's them."
Yeon Jeokha’s eyes shone for a moment.
He didn’t need to ask who he was referring to. They were probably the people who had driven the cart at full speed. Although he had no grudge against them, his curiosity led him to turn his head slightly.
Two men and a woman were eating fine noodles frantically.
It was hard to distinguish them from the other diners just by the food, but he could understand why Shim Tong thought they were them.
Even at a glance, they exuded an air of Murim warriors and had a distinguished appearance.
They were eating the noodles as if someone were chasing them.
The way they had driven the cart like madmen on the road didn’t seem to be just a matter of personality.
Yeon Jeokha felt hungry just watching them eat.
Saliva filled his mouth, and his hunger grew rapidly.
He wanted to eat so badly that even his palms were sweating.
Maybe that’s why his stomach growled.
It was then that Yeon Jeokha, with an embarrassed expression, turned his head back.
Bang!
Someone opened the restaurant door with a bang.
The top of the old door came loose, hanging awkwardly.
The eyes of the diners turned to the entrance.
Six men stormed in.
With threatening faces, they looked around the restaurant before drawing their weapons.
One of them smiled maliciously and said:
"Hehe. Did you think you could escape our grasp? It’s only been a day without food, and you’re already here lying in a restaurant. Did you underestimate us so much?"
Yeon Jeokha followed his gaze.
As expected, the two men and the woman had pale faces and had dropped their chopsticks.
The man who had been smiling sarcastically kicked a nearby chair and shouted:
"If you don’t want to die, get out immediately! Damn you!"
The other men laughed and added:
"What are you looking at? Idiots!"
"Look at them act, morons!"
The atmosphere became tense, and the diners began to leave hurriedly.
An old man who was helping in the kitchen peeked his head through the slightly open door.
"And you, what? Aren’t you going to leave?"
One of the men, noticing the old man, gave him a fierce look.
The old man, scared, slowly left the kitchen, bowing his head.
Seeing this, Yeon Jeokha spoke.
"Eh, can we eat in peace? Old man, please bring us the food. I’m starving."
"What?"
The old man looked at Yeon Jeokha and the man alternately with a confused expression.
"I’m so hungry my hands are shaking. Please bring us the food. I’m not joking."
The old man looked at the sword at Yeon Jeokha’s waist and slowly retreated to the kitchen.
The man, known as Lee Cheolwon, the Sword of Death, looked at Yeon Jeokha with eyes full of murderous intent.
He was annoyed that these people stayed and now were even interfering in their affairs.
Although he wanted to kill them right there, the swords at their waists made him hesitate.
Lee Cheolwon suppressed his anger and spoke loudly.
"We are from the Iron Blood Sect of Luoyang. We are capturing the traitors of the Changhae Military Academy. We would appreciate it if outsiders step aside."
Lee Cheolwon believed that the young man and the old man would submit at this point.
The Iron Blood Sect was such a large organization that even the seven great sects did not dare to face them. Living in Luoyang would be impossible if they became enemies of the Iron Blood Sect.
Suddenly, the woman from the group of two men and a woman shouted:
"Lies! Why would we be traitors? You manipulated the leader of our sect to take over Changhae! The real traitor is the leader who allied with you, damn you!"
Lee Cheolwon responded disdainfully.
"Stupid! We have only taken possession of Changhae according to the contract. If the leader does not meet your expectations, what does that matter to us?"
"Ugh! You manipulated the leader to make him sign a fake contract, damn you!"
Jeon Yeongji, the principal disciple of Changhae, looked at Yeon Jeokha and said.
"Young Master, the Iron Blood Sect is known for its crimes in Luoyang. They have taken Changhae from us and now want to kill us for seeking help from Cheongpung Manor!"
Even though Yeongji revealed the truth, Yeon Jeokha’s face remained impassive.
Jeon Muji, Yeongji’s brother, intervened.
"Young Master, they are from the evil faction of Luoyang, who have taken Changhae from us and are killing those who oppose them..."
Yeon Jeokha, bored, cleaned his ear and spoke.
"Wow, this is strange. I just came to eat because I was hungry. If you’re going to fight, do it outside. Don’t bother others."
Lee Cheolwon smiled triumphantly.
Clearly, they were intimidated by the name of the Iron Blood Sect and did not want to get involved with Changhae.
"Get them out of here."
Hearing Lee Cheolwon’s order, the five men approached the two men and the woman.
Jeon Yeongji, who had been gritting her teeth, drew her sword.
"Come on, come, damn you. I’m tired of running. Let’s end this here."
Jeon Muji and Lim Hyo stood by her side, also drawing their swords.
The five men also drew their swords, filling the small restaurant with an atmosphere of deadly tension.
The five men, who were about to advance, looked at Lee Cheolwon with worried eyes.
They had to spread out in a wide line, but the table of the young man and the old man was in the middle.
If the young man and the old man did not move aside, they would have to face the three swords one by one.
Finally, Lee Cheolwon cleared his throat and said:
"Eh, Young Master, could you step aside for a moment? The path is narrow, and we..."
Lee Cheolwon left his sentence hanging.
It was evident that the young man and the old man were not paying attention to his words.
"What the hell is wrong with these damn people?"
Even after hearing the name of the Iron Blood Sect, these guys sat there as if nothing had happened.
Lee Cheolwon turned his gaze to the old man.
Under the table, the sheath of a red sword was peeking out.
A red sword.
In Henan Province, there is only one master famous for his red sword.
The Immortal Sword Demon, Shim Yanggak, who had been inactive for a decade.
An old master known for his brutality alongside the leader of the Iron Blood Sect, Zuo Yangxian, called the Two Evils of Henan.
"Could it be? Is it Master Shim?"
Lee Cheolwon felt that the old man and his disciple had a presence similar to Shim Yanggak.
If it were really Shim Yanggak, he would have to show him respect due to his relationship with the sect leader. Even if he wasn’t, the six of them couldn’t face him.
Hoping to confirm, Lee Cheolwon asked the old man.
"Excuse me, old man? Are you the Immortal Sword Demon-nim, known as one of the Two Heroes of Henan along with our leader?"
"Pfff."
Yeon Jeokha spat out the tea he had been drinking.
The idea of being called one of the Two Heroes of Henan made him laugh involuntarily.
He could understand being called one of the Two Evils, but one of the Two Heroes?
Lee Cheolwon looked disapprovingly at the young man.
How dare a brat interrupt the conversation of the elders?
At that moment, Shim Tong spoke.
"No, but, is it true that the leader of the Iron Blood Sect is Zuo Yangxian?"
"Yes, that’s right..."
Lee Cheolwon looked at the old man with eyes full of doubt.
How could he not be the Immortal Sword Demon and yet mention Zuo Yangxian so casually?
While Lee Cheolwon was deep in thought, an aged voice echoed in his ears.
"When did he become the leader?"
"Last autumn... But who are you, old man?"
"Leave. Do not bother the Young Master while he is eating."
"......"
Lee Cheolwon looked at the old man with eyes full of discontent.
If he was not the Immortal Sword Demon, there was no reason to yield so much and be so submissive.
The Iron Blood Sect, which had connections with the Yoomyung Cult, was so powerful that they feared no one in Luoyang.
They were able to take over the Changhae Military Academy thanks to that influence.
After thinking for a moment, Lee Cheolwon spoke firmly.
"I don’t know who you are, old man, but if you don’t want to be enemies of the Iron Blood Sect, you should step aside."
Just then, the old man who worked in the kitchen came out with two plates of noodles in both hands.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, the old man stopped and hesitated to approach.
Yeon Jeokha, seeing this, gestured for the old man to come over.
Only then did the old man, bowing repeatedly, approach the table with the plates.
Seeing things not going as planned, Lee Cheolwon bit his lips.
Tipping the table impulsively would mean trouble with the old man, and watching without doing anything boiled his blood.
After a while of breathing hard, he shouted.
"What are you doing! Kill those bastards!"
The five men lunged forward, but once again were stopped by the table.
The three, armed, waited on the other side, and advancing one by one would be suicidal.
No matter how they did it, the situation was problematic.
In such a small space, if they touched the old man and the young man, they didn’t know what could happen.
Lee Cheolwon, grinding his teeth, looked hatefully at the old man and the young man, who continued to eat noodles calmly.
"Damn it, they must have some backing..."
After a while of trembling with anger, Lee Cheolwon let out a long sigh.
In such a tense situation, it was not normal for someone to appear so unconcerned.
To survive in the Murim world, one had to be cunning.
If something happened to them, the Iron Blood Sect would avenge their death, but that would be of no use to them being dead.
Finally, Lee Cheolwon decided to wait until the old man and the young man finished eating.
"...We will wait until the old man finishes eating before acting."
Lee Cheolwon positioned his men at the entrance to prevent the two from escaping.
Shim Tong, who was devouring noodles, smiled.
"Hehe, those guys have good eyes."
"Yes, they resemble our fourth brother. Thieves always have good eyes. Could they be thieves? Haha! This soup is delicious."
Lee Cheolwon pretended not to hear the conversation between the two.
Meanwhile, he tried to figure out who these two were.
By their behavior, they didn’t seem to be from an orthodox sect.
Was there anyone like that in the evil sects of Henan?
While the three parties maintained a tense wait, the restaurant owner brought the food.
Plates of stir-fried pork, roasted duck, and various vegetables were placed on the table.
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong began tearing the roasted duck with their hands, eating it eagerly.
With their hands and mouths greasy, they chewed noisily, as if they hadn’t eaten in days.