Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special-Chapter 68: Boat Ride

Seojun was starting to give up on understanding the situation.

Most people would do the same if they saw the bartering scene unfolding before his eyes.

“How is this even possible...? How did it come to this...”

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“My, so there was a reason the Young Expert praised them so highly.”

A one-to-one exchange of titties and chubby cheeks.

While touching cheeks in public might not draw much attention, breasts were different.

Though people pretended not to look, many eyes in the inn were drawn to Namgung Suah’s breasts being squeezed in Chunbong’s hands.

Shouldn’t the ‘mad’ title be given to these two instead of me?

As Seojun thought this blankly, he slightly revealed his aura.

People hastily averted their gazes at his fierce presence.

Honestly, we’re probably in the wrong for doing this in public, but they’re staring too blatantly.

Seojun stood up, clutching his dizzy head.

“Um... since it seems none of us need to rest, should we just get up? Let’s go to the Hao Sect?”

“Fufu, shall we, Young Expert?”

Namgung Suah stood up, closing her disheveled neckline.

Chunbong still seemed shocked, rubbing her hands in the air.

Seojun sighed looking at her.

“You too, come on. How could you do that with so many people around?”

“...Hey.”

“Hm?”

“That was fucking awesome. You should touch them too... No, actually, don’t.”

“What’s with that?”

Seojun shook his head and quickly left the inn.

It really wasn’t easy.

“Let’s see...”

As he traced his memory towards the Hao Sect, the first thing he saw was a large hole in the wall of the top floor.

“What’s that?”

They had patched it up with wooden planks, but it couldn’t hide the damage.

“I wonder what happened in the meantime?”

“Who knows...”

Seojun frowned and headed for the main entrance.

It seemed like nothing major had happened since they were still open for business, but...

“Ah, you’re here again. Have you come to see the Pavilion Lord?”

The woman from before approached with quick steps and bowed, her attitude seemingly more friendly than before.

“Oh, yes we have. So... what’s with that hole in the wall?”

“The usual, just a martial artist going on a rampage.”

“Aha...”

Man, these martial artists are out of control.

Murim master Lee Seojun shook his head as he walked.

“We go to the top floor, right?”

“Please wait a moment.”

A man came down from upstairs and made some gestures to the woman.

She nodded and then said.

“The Pavilion Lord says he will come down.”

“Really? Is it okay to see his face?”

“It’s better not to reveal it as much as possible.”

“I see.”

So basically, don’t spread rumors about who the Pavilion Lord is.

After waiting for what felt like less than five minutes, a clean-looking man came down the stairs.

“It’s my first time seeing you in person, Mad Hungry Wolf.”

The man greeted Chunbong and Namgung Suah with a strange smile.

Seojun stared at him and tilted his head.

“You look surprisingly normal.”

“It’s not like I was hiding because my face was hideous.”

“Mm, true. ...Ah, that’s it. You look exactly like a pretty boy leech.”

“...”

The Pavilion Lord held his forehead for a moment and sighed.

He was starting to understand what kind of person this Mad Hungry Wolf was.

That wasn’t meant to be offensive, his thoughts just happened to go straight to his mouth without a filter.

Maybe he even thought it was a compliment?

“It’s not an insult, I mean you’re handsome.”

See? It was a compliment.

The Pavilion Lord laughed dryly.

“You’re one to talk, no? You look like you’d be called a pretty boy leech quite often yourself.”

“What?”

“Well, let’s stop talking about appearances. Just call me Hyeonwol casually.”

“Hyeonwol?”

Seojun glanced at the courtesan house.

Wasn’t this place called the Crescent Moon Pavilion? Is this guy actually trying to hide his identity?1

Hyeonwol grinned at Seojun’s thoughts visible on his face.

“It’s better to be bold, that way people don’t notice.”

“Is that so...?”

“Something like that. Anyway, follow me. I’ll guide you to a good place.”

Hyeonwol started walking ahead.

Seojun scratched his head.

“Are we leaving this place?”

“I want to go somewhere else. Imagine being cooped up here all the time. Wouldn’t you be itching to go outside too? I rarely get the chance otherwise.”

“Ah, I see.”

Seojun nodded and Hyeonwol raised the corner of his mouth. His gaze swept over Chunbong and Namgung Suah before returning to Seojun.

“Moreover, if we drink with courtesans here in the courtesan house, I don’t think you’d make it out unscathed.”

“It’s not like I’d drink until I passed out or anything. I’d still react quickly to any surprise attacks.”

“Oh ho, is that so? Well, let’s depart.”

*The place Hyeonwol led them to was a large courtesan house by a fairly big river.

“This river is a tributary that branches off from the Yellow River. See those boats?”

At the end of his finger, several boats could be seen floating on the river.

“The wine tastes especially good when drunk on the river. With the sunset fast approaching, if we wait a bit longer, we can enjoy the scenery with the moon as our companion. If this isn’t paradise on earth, what is?”

“Woah.”

Seojun followed behind him, looking impressed, and he laughed loudly.

“Haha! That’s right, you understand the finer things in life too. Let’s go!”

As expected of the owner of the Crescent Moon Pavilion.

Hyeonwol seemed to have made arrangements in advance, quickly renting a boat and preparing everything needed for drinking on it.

Seojun had expected a small ferry like most boats on the river, but this one was larger than anticipated.

“Oh, ohh...!”

After boarding the boat, Chunbong looked beyond the railing towards the river and stomped her feet excitedly.

“It’s floating...! Something this big actually floats!”

What’s with this brat? Is she trying to make my heart burst?

Her cuteness had exceeded lethal levels.

As Seojun clutched his chest in agony, Namgung Suah next to him chuckled.

“She’s so cute, I really want to make her my little sister.”

“Now now, Chunbong is my little sister. I can’t give her away.”

“Then I can be Young Expert’s big sister, right?”

“Eh?”

Seojun was caught completely off-guard, his over-the-top reaction making Hyeonwol laugh amusedly as he came over with the courtesans.

“You all seem to live interesting lives.”

“Hold on, what’s with the courtesans...”

“Were you planning to enjoy a flower in both hands alone? How greedy of you. I also need someone to pour my drinks, don’t I?”

“Ah.”

Seojun nodded, vaguely understanding, and sat down following Hyeonwol.

Courtesans sat on either side of Hyeonwol, with Namgung Suah to Seojun’s right.

Chunbong was still excitedly exploring the boat.

“Have a drink. I’m paying today, so drink to your heart’s content.”

Hyeonwol poured the drinks, and then Seojun, receiving the bottle, poured drinks for Hyeonwol and Namgung Suah.

The courtesans then gently held out their glasses with expectant eyes.

“Young master, what about us?”

“You’ll pour for us too, right?”

Seojun subtly passed the bottle to Hyeonwol, who laughed loudly.

“Haha! Right, I’ll pour for them instead of that friend.”

After pouring drinks for the courtesans too, Hyeonwol raised his glass.

“The beauty of spring fades as whirling blossoms drift away. As countless petals dance in the wind, melancholy pervades. Let’s enjoy these fleeting flowers pass before our wistful gaze. Let the wine flow freely now, embrace these precious days.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means let’s forget our troubles and just drink.”

“Oh... Sounds pretty deep.”

“That’s why we learn poetry.”

Hyeonwol laughed out loud and downed his drink in one go.

Seojun also emptied his glass in one shot.

“Ugh... Whew, that burns.”

“Still young, I see.”

“We probably aren’t that far apart in age...”

“Is that so? I’m grateful for that.”

Hyeonwol leaned back in his chair and sighed.

“Did you see the hole in the wall of the courtesan house?”

“Uh... is it okay to talk about that here?”

Seojun gestured towards the courtesans with his eyes, but Hyeonwol nodded.

“It’s fine. They’re members of the Hao Sect too.”

“Oh, guess you’re the boss. Anyways, yeah I saw the hole. What’s with that?”

“A crazy old man punched through it and left. Later we found out he was quite the big shot. The Soul-Stealing Demon, Hyeok Mukang. Have you heard of him?”

“Yeah, I smashed his head in before.”

“Whew... Hold on. I can’t be that drunk already.”

Hyeonwol made eye contact with the courtesans who giggled and nodded.

“You heard correctly.”

“Well I’ll be.”

Hyeonwol naturally put his arms around the courtesans on either side of him.

Seojun was impressed.

“Wow, you really look like a playboy.”

“...Is that a compliment as well?”

“Of course not.”

“I see.”

Namgung Suah subtly chimed in.

“Young Expert, are you envious?”

“No?”

“That’s a shame.”

She subtly backed out again.

Hyeonwol laughed dryly.

“Actually, I was going to warn you about him... but since he’s already gone to a place of no return, I suppose there’s no need.”

“Warn about what? He was a pretty kind old man from what I remember?”

“...That demonic adept?”

“Yeah. He was quite generous before leaving.”

“Is that so? Well, they say it takes one to know one.”

“What the hell?”

“Haha! I’m joking.”

Hyeonwol stretched lazily, extending his arm.

“The sun is setting.”

Looking in the direction he pointed, the sun sinking into the river had dyed the water surface orange, creating a spectacular view.

Seojun, who had been blankly staring at the scenery, shouted.

“Hey, Chunbong! Stop playing around and get over here! You’ll regret it later!”

“Huh? What is it?”

She came running over and gaped at the river completely dyed the colors of twilight.

“Wow...”

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“...Yeah. Hehe.”

Chunbong smiled cutely for once and plopped down next to Seojun.

“Want a drink?”

“Ugh... no thanks.”

“Alright alright, my little Chunbong can drink water. The adults will have some wine.”

“What’s with you, you jerk?”

Chunbong flared up and picked up a wine glass, but remembering how she passed out immediately after drinking last time, she quietly put it back down.

Seojun chuckled and raised his glass.

It had been refilled at some point, the clear drink swirling.

“Come on, let’s have a drink.”

“Don’t you know any poems?”

“A poem? Let me see... One star is mother, one star is Chunbong... Eh. Let’s just drink?”

“Haha! Let’s do that.”

“Cheers big sis.”

“Cheers?”

As he lightly clinked glasses, Namgung Suah chuckled.

“Yep, cheers.”

“Hey! Me too!”

“Oh here, cheers for little Chunbong too.”

Seojun grinned as he clinked his glass against Chunbong’s water cup too.

“Cheers!”

Time to take it in one shot.

Seojun chuckled after downing his drink.

Good wine, good food, good people.

For all its faults, murim had its charms too.

1. Crescent Moon = Hyeonwol (현월).2. This is a reference to a poem called A Night I Count the Stars by Yoon Dong-ju.