Episode 21: Chongqing

Dang Mujin found himself lost in thought, replaying the events of the previous evening.

He remembered starting a sparring match with Hong Geolge, exchanging a few blows, but everything after that was a blur.

Yes, once again, it was Dang Mujin who had lost consciousness after losing the match!

A wave of gloom washed over him.

“Maybe asking to learn swordsmanship was a mistake.”

Regret had become a constant companion for Dang Mujin these days.

This was largely due to Gwai’s relentless insistence that “there is no growth without pain, but there is pain without growth,” which led to training that defied common sense.

Recently, Dang Mujin and Hong Geolge had been following a strict routine divided into three parts: martial arts, footwork, and swordsmanship.

Before breakfast, they would learn a martial art called “Flying Willow Palm” from Gwai.

Calling it training was generous; it was more like a beating. Gwai played the role of the attacker, while Dang Mujin and Hong Geolge were the unfortunate recipients.

They couldn’t even defend themselves freely. Any attempt to block Gwai’s attacks with unlearned techniques resulted in a beating so severe it left them retching.

It was better to vomit before breakfast than after, which was the practical yet sad reason they trained in “Flying Willow Palm” first thing in the morning.

After breakfast, they would continue with the “Purple Cloud Steps” training until dinner.

Unlike the painful “Flying Willow Palm,” the “Purple Cloud Steps” were more mentally exhausting. Gwai’s method was to not take a single step without using the footwork.

To execute the “Purple Cloud Steps,” they had to awkwardly coordinate their movements with their internal energy.

Recently, they had managed to move faster than a normal walking pace, but initially, it was unbearable. They would sweat all day and barely cover a mile, moving at a snail’s pace.

As a result, it had taken them over a month to cover a distance that should have been much shorter, and they had been camping out the entire time.

After dinner, they would finally move on to the much-anticipated sword training.

The training began with Gwai demonstrating techniques, followed by sparring with Hong Geolge.

However, the winner was always Hong Geolge. The gap in skill between someone who had at least swung a stick and someone like Dang Mujin, who had never held a weapon, was significant.

“I’m starting to see a chance.”

Recently, the gap had been closing. At this rate, a few more days of sparring might lead to his first victory.

But before Dang Mujin could claim that first win, a large city appeared before them.

A month and six days after leaving Jueul Village, they arrived in Chongqing.

The sky had been gradually darkening with clouds since the previous evening, and by the time they reached Chongqing, a heavy rain had begun to pour.

Normally, they would have disliked getting drenched, but now it was a blessing. Their appearance was more ragged than that of a beggar.

“Perfect.”

The rain washed away the sweat and dust, and it was satisfying to see others getting soaked as well.

It was less embarrassing to be dirty when everyone else was too.

As soon as they entered the city walls, Hong Geolge bowed to Gwai and Dang Mujin.

“Thank you for all your help.”

“What, you’re leaving already?”

“I can’t keep imposing on you now that we’ve reached our destination.”

Dang Mujin felt a pang of sadness. After enduring hardships together for a month, he had grown fond of Hong Geolge.

Gwai, on the other hand, responded cheerfully.

“The longer the farewell, the greater the sorrow. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Hong Geolge bowed deeply to Gwai, showing a level of respect that was almost excessive. To him, Gwai was not only a lifesaver but also a mentor of sorts.

Just as Hong Geolge was about to leave, Gwai called out to him.

“Oh, by the way, Hong Geolge.”

“Yes?”

“Your real name is Hong Jusan, right? And your mentor’s name was Hong Gyeon.”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm.”

Gwai crossed his arms and tapped his temple, as if pondering something.

“If you’re planning to settle in Chongqing, you might want to use a different name.”

“What?”

Hong Geolge looked puzzled at the unexpected suggestion.

“Why would I do that?”

“Coming from a place with a bad reputation, someone might recognize your name and think ill of you. Especially since, whether you intended to or not, you’ve taken a life.”

“Hmm.”

Hong Geolge nodded. Gwai’s reasoning made sense.

Gwai asked another question.

“And you’re not actually related to your mentor, right?”

“No, I’m not. I was told he took me in as a baby.”

“Then there’s no need to cling to the family name. Changing your surname might be a good idea. How about Lee Jusan instead of Hong Jusan?”

Lee was Gwai’s surname.

Hong Geolge wasn’t particularly quick-witted or well-versed in etiquette, but he could sense the goodwill in Gwai’s suggestion.

“Thank you for your kindness. I’ll do that.”

“Yes, for now, that’s probably best.”

After bowing to Gwai in gratitude, Hong Geolge turned to Dang Mujin and offered a fist salute.

Having shared so much, there was no need for lengthy goodbyes.

Dang Mujin grinned and gave Hong Geolge a light pat on the back. That was enough of a farewell.

Hong Geolge walked off into the city, his figure soon disappearing in the rain.

“Let’s go too.”

“Where to?”

“First, we need to find a place to stay.”

Gwai seemed to know Chongqing well, walking confidently toward the city center, where the buildings grew taller and more ornate.

After a while, they stopped in front of a large two-story building.

It had a long eave with several red lanterns hanging from it. Under the eave, in elegant script, was the name “New Moon Inn.”

Dang Mujin felt a twinge of anxiety. He had heard how expensive a place like this could be.

“In Chengdu, a place like this would cost a tael of silver for two nights.”

And unlike Chengdu, Chongqing was a hub for travelers. Anyone traveling up the Yangtze River would pass through here, so it was bound to be even more expensive.

And if Dang Mujin remembered correctly, Gwai didn’t have a penny to his name.

He had given all his money to Dang Mujin for making a needle, and they hadn’t earned anything in Jueul Village.

Dang Mujin wasn’t much better off. He had given the gold he received from Gwai to his father, Dang Jesun, as a gesture of filial piety before leaving, not knowing when he would return.

In short, they were both broke.

”…Do you have any money, old man?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then why are we here?”

“Don’t worry. Someone like me is always welcomed wherever I go.”

So this is what it means to be a true master. Dang Mujin was a bit awed by Gwai’s confidence.

As they entered the inn, a young attendant quickly approached them.

“Welcome!”

The attendant quickly assessed Gwai and Dang Mujin’s appearance.

Even soaked, they looked shabby. The attendant’s tone became slightly less respectful.

“Hmm… What can I do for you? A meal? A room?”

“Both.”

“Rooms are paid in advance. For two people, it’s a tael of silver per night.”

As expected, it was outrageously expensive. But Gwai seemed unfazed.

“The owner of the New Moon Inn is Seop Nyeong, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Take us to the largest room and tell Seop Nyeong that Lee Chung is here. He’ll take care of the bill.”

The attendant’s eyes widened.

‘Could this be the famous Gwai?’ he seemed to wonder. But Gwai added a detail.

“Five years ago. Tell him to settle the gambling debt.”

The attendant’s expression shifted to one of understanding. Similarly, Dang Mujin’s eyes narrowed.

Gambling debt. He had thought Gwai might have cured the innkeeper’s illness or done him a favor as a martial arts master, but it seemed he had simply left a gambling debt unpaid.

“What have you been up to, old man?”

“A hero occasionally enjoys a drink and a game of chance.”

“Leaving a gambling debt with an innkeeper? That’s practically professional gambling.”

“My talents aren’t limited to just one or two areas.”

While Gwai deflected with a sly grin, they followed the attendant to a spacious room on the second floor.

They unpacked their modest belongings.

It had been a while since they’d been in a proper building, and they wanted to relax. But it was too early to call it a day.

Gwai seemed to have the same thought, as he stood by the door without sitting down.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“You have something to do, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t travel with you just to teach you medicine and martial arts. You owe me something.”

He had almost forgotten. Dang Mujin had promised to make something for Gwai.

“What do you need?”

“Let’s start with a sword. Use your skills to craft a good one for me.”

“I can make it, but do you know a blacksmith around here?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then do you have a blacksmith with gambling debts?”

“Not a chance.”

The stranger remained unfazed, exuding an air of confidence that seemed to spring from nowhere.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“Follow me. Borrowing a forge for a few days is no big deal.”

The stranger borrowed two bamboo raincoats from the inn.

Even for a high-end inn, these weren’t items they’d lend out easily, yet the innkeeper didn’t even ask for a deposit. It seemed the stranger had racked up quite a debt from gambling.

I felt a prickling at the back of my neck. Turning around, I saw a man with a handlebar mustache glaring at the stranger from the kitchen. He was likely the owner of the New Moon Inn.

“That guy looks like he could kill with a glare. Did you cheat him at cards or something?”

“He tried to cheat me first.”

It was a joke, but it hit the mark perfectly.

I couldn’t help but be impressed. This stranger seemed to have no limits, even dabbling in card tricks.

We strolled leisurely through the streets.

The rain was pouring down so heavily that there weren’t many people out and about.

Even the merchants had given up halfway, sitting under the eaves, puffing on their pipes, and watching the rain. It was a peaceful scene.

The stranger asked around for the largest forge in the city. The one we arrived at was at least three times the size of the forge back in Seongdo.

“Welcome! What can I do for you, sir?”

As we entered the forge, the blacksmith greeted us with enthusiasm. It seemed he hadn’t had any customers all day due to the rain, and seeing not one but two people in expensive raincoats was enough to excite him.

“We’d like to rent your forge for a few days, until the rain lets up.”

The blacksmith studied the stranger’s face, unsure if he was joking or serious.

Of course, the stranger was serious, and soon the blacksmith’s face broke into a friendly smile.

Normally, renting out a forge would be out of the question. But the timing was perfect.

The summer rains had just begun, and it was clear they’d continue for days.

Naturally, business wouldn’t be good until the rain stopped. The forge was practically closed for business.

So, if the price was right, he might consider renting it out.

The blacksmith rubbed his hands together and said, “If the terms are right, I don’t see why not. How much are you willing to offer?”

“Offer? I’m offering something priceless. You’ll be grateful for this opportunity for the rest of your life.”

Greed flickered in the blacksmith’s eyes.

What kind of treasure was he about to receive? The blacksmith imagined gold and jewels spilling from the stranger’s pockets. There were none, of course.

The stranger picked up a chair from inside the forge.

He dragged it to a corner where the anvil was clearly visible.

Pointing to the chair, then to me, he said, “You get the privilege of watching this guy work from the best seat in the house.”