Chapter 87 : Guest Dragon

Chapter 87: Guest DragonAfter the commotion swept through Yichang, many things returned to their rightful places.

First, the signboards of Seong-un Inn and Sangwon Cloth Shop were restored.

The massive stele that had disappeared was also returned, and Oh Jeong-san’s treasured Wild Ginseng Wine found its way back to its rightful owner.

Jin Seong-un handed over both the wine and the thief to Oh Jeong-san, who said he would personally take responsibility and send the thief to the Murim Alliance.

“At last, it’s quiet again.”

Jin Seong-un, looking satisfied, wiped the inn’s tables. Seo Yu-gyeom, who came to work late, grinned as he spoke.

“You’re early again today. Guest Dragon.”

“……”

Jin Seong-un let out a deep sigh.

Suddenly, Seomun Ak, who had just stepped into the shop, greeted him cheerfully.

“From tomorrow on, I’ll be able to come early as well. Guest Dragon.”

“……”

Ever since the incident at Wuhan Bank, where the Sima Clan’s meticulous formation was smashed apart by nothing but brute force.

As usual, gossipmongers spread the story everywhere, and Jin Seong-un gained a new alias.

Though he didn’t particularly care for the alias, Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak, noticing his distaste, became all the more relentless in attaching it to every sentence they spoke.

Guest Dragon.

The greatest of the later-generation prodigies were called the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes. Among them, Sima Hwi, known as the Rising Dragon, had fallen from his pedestal.

The internal injuries he suffered when the formation collapsed were so severe that he would have to devote the next five or six years to recovery just to walk and eat properly again.

But as a martial artist, his life was essentially over.

Jin Seong-un had heard the news from Tang So-yeon as well, but he felt no real guilt.

It was nothing more than karmic retribution.

To slander and belittle others…

And even attempt to kill—then one must be ready to pay such a price.

Jin Seong-un promptly erased the name Sima Hwi from his mind.

For now, preparing for the morning’s business was far more important.

As he finished arranging the tables and chairs and sweeping the floor—

A familiar woman appeared at the inn’s entrance.

Jin Seong-un looked at her with a puzzled gaze.

“What brings you here?”

“No reason.”

It was Namgung Rin, the Sword Phoenix.

He had never once exchanged words with her. Even when Sima Hwi had quarreled with him, she had only stood silently in the back.

To Jin Seong-un, she stirred neither fondness nor dislike. Simply a woman of the Namgung Clan. That was all.

“Are we the sort who would meet without reason?”

It was just a plain question.

Namgung Rin smiled wryly.

“Not exactly.”

It had taken her quite some time to gather the resolve to come here.

After the Wuhan Bank incident was settled, she had returned to her residence and mulled it over.

Tang So-yeon, Baek Sang, Baek Seol, and Seomun Ak—

All four had grown tremendously.

Though they had not truly fought with killing intent, even a friendly duel revealed their levels of growth.

So much so that Baek Li-joong, who had faced Seomun Ak, returned immediately to his clan that very night, saying he had to enter closed-door training.

Of course, all four had been exceptional martial artists to begin with. But to grow so suddenly and all at once, there had to be another reason.

The answer was surprisingly simple. Their only common factor was Seong-un Inn.

“Please cross swords with me.”

Jin Seong-un looked at her in disbelief.

It seemed that the descendants of prestigious clans were all rather strange.

Tang So-yeon and Seomun Ak were the same way.

And even Seo Yu-gyeom, though not from a great clan, was no exception.

While Jin Seong-un stared at Namgung Rin, lost in such thoughts, she gave another wry smile.

“I knew you’d refuse.”

“There’s no reason to.”

“True.”

Namgung Rin nodded obediently.

If the other party had no interest, she could hardly force him into a duel. Worse yet, it felt as if she might truly lose her life if she tried.

Sima Hwi’s fate had become a valuable lesson for the other prodigies.

Just as she turned to leave, she spoke.

“I wasn’t very close to Young Master Sima. Our clans are deeply tied, that’s all. Just so you know.”

Jin Seong-un shrugged.

What was he supposed to do with that?

Namgung Rin nodded lightly, then left.

That evening.

Tang So-yeon, Baek Sang, and Baek Seol came to Seong-un Inn.

Somehow, Namgung Rin had slipped into their company as well.

“Are you all leaving?”

At Jin Seong-un’s question, they all nodded.

It was truly time to go, now that the thief had been caught.

They had never expected Jin Seong-un, of all people, to be the one to catch the thief who had eluded them for so long…

‘Better him than that Sima Hwi bastard.’

With that thought, Tang So-yeon felt far more at ease. After all, most people had assumed Sima Hwi, the genius of formations, would be the one to catch the thief.

While Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak exchanged brief farewells with the prodigies—

No Sang-won stood at the shopfront, sneaking glances at them with a face full of sorrow.

‘So happiness ends here.’

Thanks to the martial artists’ presence, Sangwon Cloth Shop had been enjoying its golden age.

Moreover, since they were all wealthy young heirs, they discarded their martial uniforms at the slightest wear and bought new ones instead of patching them up.

Seeing this, No Sang-won had been moved to tears.

Now, those joyous days were ending.

He consoled himself with the fact that the money he had made in just a few days was substantial.

At that moment—Namgung Rin walked directly up to him.he inn boy was the one wronged.”

“Haha, I will be sure to deliver my apology to him as well.”

“Thankfully, you are nothing like Sima Hwi, Grand Marshal.”

“Hahaha…”

Even a venerable elder could be flustered by the innocence of youthful boldness.

For Chae Seo-ryeong’s boldness, it was her mother, Chae Ga-hee, who suffered most.

“…I apologize, Grand Marshal.”

“You’ve raised your daughter to be forthright. If I had known, I would have come to learn your secret methods when Hwi was born.”

Chae Ga-hee laughed awkwardly.

The two women soon offered their farewells and left the office.

Suddenly, a dull thud echoed in the corridor, followed by Seo-ryeong’s cry.

Sima Baek smiled faintly.

That family had always been full of strong-willed women, now as in decades past.

If even Chae Ga-hee, the most mild-mannered Pavilion Master in their history, was like that—

“Falling Flame Manor and Guest Dragon…”

Sima Baek pulled a brush and ink closer, wrote something at length, and handed it to his subordinate.