Chapter 335 : We Open a Tavern in Front of the Demonic Cult

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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Chapter 335: We Open a Tavern in Front of the Demonic Cult

Just as we were about to arrive home, Yang In grabbed Jo Chunbae by the sleeve.

"Dear."

"What is it, love?"

"You just go back. I'll handle this matter. Go and tend to the tavern."

He was the eldest son-in-law in a poor family with a widowed mother-in-law and two daughters. He had taken on the role of a son and handled all the family affairs up to now. It was Jo Chunbae who had arranged her younger sister’s marriage too.

But never before had there been an incident involving martial artists. A creeping sense of unease wouldn’t leave her. She was afraid something might happen to her husband.

"How do you plan on handling it? Don’t talk nonsense, let’s just go."

Jo Chunbae resumed walking.

"It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here. I really should visit more often."

Running the tavern made it difficult to visit his mother-in-law as often as he wished. Fortunately, his sister-in-law and her husband lived nearby, so they managed filial duties by sending living expenses instead. 1

As the two arrived, his mother-in-law, Yoon, came running out to greet Jo Chunbae.

"Son-in-law Jo!"

Her bony, withered hands looked pitiful.

"You must’ve had a hard time getting here."

She had always cared for her son-in-law first before her daughter. From the very day of their wedding. That was her own way of loving her daughter.

"Mom!"

Yang In hugged her mother. In the short time they hadn’t seen each other, her mother had grown far too thin.

At the house was her younger sister, Yang Seon. She had cried so much her eyes were completely swollen, barely recognizable.

"Sister-in-law."

"Brother-in-law."

As soon as she saw Jo Chunbae and Yang In, she broke into tears.

Yang In walked over and embraced her sister.

They had heard the rough details through a courier. Yang Seon's husband, Jonghak, worked as a porter for the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau. But reportedly, he had been caught stealing goods during an escort.

"Where’s Brother Jong?"

"He’s being held at the escort bureau. The escort warrior said... in front of everyone, they’re going to cut off both his hands…"

Yang Seon couldn’t continue and burst into tears again.

Jo Chunbae and Yang In were shocked.

"Cut off his hands?"

Jo Chunbae had known this was no ordinary incident when they came.

Escort bureaus were notoriously strict when it came to internal theft. With so many bandits to worry about, if even insiders began stealing, the system would collapse.

They had closed the tavern and rushed over precisely because they knew this.

But to cut off both hands? That was the most extreme form of punishment. What on earth had he tried to steal?

"Sister, brother-in-law. You both know he’s not the kind of man who would steal, right? Someone framed him."

They knew. The Jonghak they knew would never do something like that. There was no doubt something more was going on.

In desperation, Yang Seon pleaded with her brother-in-law.

"Brother-in-law, don’t you run a tavern near the Demonic Cult? Do you know anyone in the cult? If someone from the cult steps in, maybe they can clear my husband’s name?"

Anyone he could know? Plenty. He knew the Young Cult Leader, the Underworld Pavilion Lord, the Demonic Army Commander, the Haunted Shade Corps Leader, even the Demon Supremes, and he knew the Heavenly Demon himself.

But none of them were people who could help with this matter. They were all honored guests he’d come to know only thanks to the Young Cult Leader. They were people he couldn’t even dare to look in the eye under normal circumstances.

The only person he could even remotely feel comfortable asking was Geom Mugeuk. He was truly one of a kind. But Geom Mugeuk had gone off to the Wilderness and wasn’t currently around.

And he couldn’t just ask some lower-ranked cult members, regulars at the Flowing Wind Tavern, to make the long trip back to his hometown and resolve this. Not only were they not that close, even if someone did agree to help, this wasn’t the kind of problem a low-ranking cultist could solve.

As her husband sank deep into thought, Yang In scolded her sister.

"What are you even saying? If he knows someone? What if you make things worse?"

"No… I’m sorry, unni. I just said it out of frustration. Please don’t worry about it, brother-in-law."

"It’s alright, sister-in-law. I understand."

What couldn't be said in a time like this?

Jo Chunbae stood up from his seat.

"I’ll go to the escort bureau."

Yoon grabbed Jo Chunbae’s hand, tears welling in her eyes.

"I’m sorry to trouble you like this."

"Please don’t say that. This is about Brother Jong. Just wait here—I’ll take care of it and come back."

Jo Chunbae stepped outside. His wife, Yang In, followed him out.

"I’ll come with you, dear."

"It’s alright. Wait here."

"I’m sorry."

"Stop saying sorry."

If we’re talking about who owes who, he was more sorry—for everything she’d suffered being with him all these years. Even when he didn’t have a single penny, she’d trusted him and stayed by his side through all the hardship.

"Be careful. Don’t push yourself. Brother Jong is important, but you’re more important, understand?"

She felt bad saying it, especially with her sister inside crying—but it was the truth. A life without her husband was something she couldn’t even begin to imagine.

*         *         *

Jo Chunbae approached the entrance of the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau and gave a polite bow to the guard on duty.

"Good day."

"Who are you?"

"I’m Jonghak’s brother-in-law."

From the way the escort’s expression stiffened slightly, he could tell they knew Jonghak.

"You can’t see him right now."

"I understand. You must be freezing out here. Please, take this."

He handed over some food and liquor, wrapped neatly in paper. He had stopped by the tavern on the way and picked them up.

"I can’t accept this."

The delicious aroma hit the escort’s nose. It was the kind of side dish martial artists liked best with their drinks.

"Please, save it and eat it during your shift change. I’ll just leave it here in the back."

Jo Chunbae set down the food and liquor behind the pillar. Knowing the hearts of martial artists well, he acted deftly, leaving no room for refusal.

"I’d just be grateful if you could let me know whether he’s safe. He’s family—I need to know if he’s alive."

When Jo Chunbae pleaded earnestly, the escort warrior couldn’t bring himself to flatly reject him.

"He’s not dead yet, so don’t worry."

"I heard they’re going to cut off his hands."

Cutting off both hands was no different from killing someone. Unless the bleeding was stopped and treated right away, he’d die before he ever reached a physician. And even if he survived by some miracle—what kind of life would he have afterward?

"If he committed a crime, he must be punished."

"Yes, of course. I agree. Then… when will that punishment be carried out?"

"Six hours from now. They’re gathering the townspeople to witness it." 2

Six hours? Jo Chunbae's vision darkened. There was barely any time left—far too little.

"Alright, that’s enough. You should leave now."

"Escort warrior, at least let me see him. Just once, just to see his face."

Jo Chunbae subtly showed the token he had prepared, tucked into his sleeve—a payment voucher worth thirty nyang.

It was too much money to accept just to let someone glance at a prisoner. But Jo Chunbae knew: if you’re going to use a bribe, it has to be an amount they can’t easily turn down.

"I’m not the only one standing guard here."

That meant he’d need to spread the money around.

"If you allow it, I’ll give ten nyang to the other guard, and thirty nyang to you. Please—just let me see his face."

The escort opened the door and cautiously checked inside.

"Follow me. Pay first."

"I’ll give it to you inside."

The escort frowned, clearly displeased, but he was already overcome with greed.

Jo Chunbae followed him inside.

The escort said something to the man guarding the storage area, then gestured to Jo Chunbae, who had been waiting behind a tree.

"Only for a moment."

Jo Chunbae handed him the forty nyang he had prepared in his coat and stepped into the building.

Inside, Jonghak was collapsed on the ground, bound tightly. His face and body were a mess—he had clearly been tortured.

Even when shaken, he struggled to come to his senses.

"Brother Jong."

After several shakes, he finally opened his eyes.

"Hyung-nim? Hyung-nim!"

"You alright?"

"Hyung-nim!"

Tears streamed from his eyes, filled with injustice.

"I didn’t steal anything! They framed me!"

His voice was starting to rise, but Jo Chunbae quickly covered his mouth.

"Shh. But why would they frame you?"

"I saw something I shouldn’t have."

Just as he was about to say more, the escort returned and grabbed Jo Chunbae, practically dragging him out.

"You need to go. My shift partner is coming."

He followed the man back to the entrance of the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau.

"If you breathe a word of this, you’ll die."

It was a threat—he meant the bribe.

"Now get out of here."

Jo Chunbae left the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau.

His heart felt heavy. If Jonghak had actually stolen something, he might’ve been able to stop them from cutting off his hands—by bribing someone, like he had. But if this was part of some kind of conspiracy?

Jo Chunbae quickly rented a cart and headed somewhere.

His destination was a local branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, located about three hours away from his in-laws’ house by cart.

It was a small sub-branch, but even so, the cultist standing guard at the entrance had an intimidating look that was on a completely different level compared to the one guarding the escort bureau.

The cultist scanned Jo Chunbae from head to toe with cold eyes. Before the man could say anything, Jo Chunbae quickly introduced himself with utmost courtesy.

"I’m Jo Chunbae, and I run a tavern just in front of the Main Division of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

"So?"

"I wish to meet with the branch leader of this division."

"For what reason?"

"I have something I must tell him directly…"

Shiiik.

Without a word, the cultist drew his sword.

"Whoa!"

Jo Chunbae let out a cry. He thought he was about to be stabbed—but thankfully, the blade only pointed at his throat.

"A tavern keeper, wanting to meet the branch leader? What could you possibly want?"

"My brother-in-law has suffered an injustice… I came to seek the branch leader’s help."

"You’re insane. Get lost."

The words ‘I was sent by the Young Cult Leader’ reached the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down. No matter how desperate he was, he couldn’t dare to invoke the name of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. Even if Geom Mugeuk forgave him, the rest of the cultists would not.

He considered offering the money he had prepared—but judging by the atmosphere, they’d just take his money and never let him see the branch leader.

Yes, this was how things were supposed to be. This was the normal relationship between a tavern keeper and a cultist. Being ignored was standard—and even having a sword held to your throat was just part of the dynamic. It was only because of the unparalleled Young Cult Leader that he had ever become a ‘special’ tavern keeper at all. 3

Jo Chunbae returned home.

Yang In, who had been anxiously waiting in the yard, ran to him. She was relieved her husband had returned safely—but with him came news like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

"In three hours, they’re going to cut off Brother Jong’s hands."

Yang In’s heart already ached, thinking of how devastated her mother and sister would be.

Without a word, Jo Chunbae held his silently sobbing wife in his arms. She didn’t see the look of determination that flickered through his eyes.

*         *         *

People began gathering at the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau.

The bureau had summoned the villagers to witness the severing of the hands. That was the law of the escort bureau.

Jonghak had his pressure points sealed at the armpits and bloodways, so when he was dragged out, his limp posture made it look like he was willingly accepting guilt.

The person overseeing the punishment was Escort Chief Gong Chan.

"Will you confess your crime willingly?"

With his bloodways suppressed, Jonghak couldn’t speak, nor could he shake his head in denial.

But the people watching didn’t know that.

Amid the murmuring crowd stood Jo Chunbae’s family. They had brought a physician with them—hoping that, even if Jonghak’s hands were severed, they could somehow treat him on the spot and at least save his life.

“He has confessed to his crime, and thus we will sever both his hands as a stern warning to all!”

At that proclamation, Yoon staggered as if she might collapse, and Yang Seon wailed in despair.

“My love! My love!”

Jonghak looked at his wife with eyes filled with injustice and sorrow. He had never committed a crime in his life—he never imagined he would be falsely accused and lose his hands like this. Misfortune always struck in an instant.

Just as Gong Chan drew his sword to cut off the hands, Jo Chunbae stepped forward.

“I am that man’s brother-in-law.”

All eyes turned to him.

“We’ve heard nothing about this case. At the very least, I believe we deserve an explanation of what actually happened.”

As Jo Chunbae stepped up, not only Yang In but also Yoon and Yang Seon were shocked. They feared that Jo Chunbae might also be harmed.

“This case has already been investigated. That man attempted to steal escort goods, and now he’s receiving his punishment.”

Gong Chan shot him a glare that said, ‘You want to get punished too?’—but Jo Chunbae had already made up his mind to save his brother-in-law no matter what.

“What exactly did he try to steal? It’s not like the goods are missing. Cutting off both hands for merely attempting theft—don’t you think that’s too harsh a punishment?”

Yang In's hand, which clutched Jo Chunbae's arm, was trembling uncontrollably.

“Too harsh, you say?”

Gong Chan's eyes grew fierce.

But Jo Chunbae didn’t flinch. He had seen far more terrifying gazes in the Flowing Wind Tavern.

From Gong Chan's response, Jo Chunbae realized that reasoning would solve nothing. He had only one method left.

“Even the Demonic Cult wouldn’t handle matters like this.”

At the mention of the Demonic Cult, the surroundings fell silent.

“I know masters from the Demonic Cult. Please, hold off until they arrive and mediate the situation.”

Gong Chan’s expression turned stiff. The fear and authority of the Demonic Cult weighed heavy. If they got involved, one escort bureau could easily be wiped out.

“Who in the Demonic Cult do you claim to know?”

“I know the Underworld Pavilion Lord.”

The air instantly froze. The villagers may not have known, but the escort warriors understood very well what position the Underworld Pavilion Lord held.

“I also know the Demonic Army Commander.”

Once he mentioned the Demonic Army Commander, the area fell completely silent. He deliberately didn’t mention the Demon Supremes or the Young Cult Leader. Going too far would only backfire.

At that moment, an escort who was familiar with Jonghak’s family background whispered something into Gong Chan’s ear.

“That man runs a tavern near the Demonic Cult.”

“A tavern?”

“A shabby, tiny one.” 4

A mocking smile crept across Gong Chan’s face.

“A man who sells booze dares to name-drop the Demonic Cult to threaten me?”

The fact that he had felt fear—even for a moment—made Gong Chan both furious and ashamed.

“If I send word, they’ll come.”

But the moment Gong Chan heard that he was just a tavern owner, he stopped listening altogether.

“Seize him!”

Then Yang Seon cried out.

“No! My brother-in-law only said that because he wanted to save my husband! Please, forgive him!”

Terrified that her brother-in-law might also be punished, Yang Seon was overcome with fear.

In the end, Jo Chunbae was dragged away too.

With his bloodways sealed, Jonghak couldn’t even move his head. He could only watch this scene unfold with a heart full of despair.

The person he had been happiest to learn about after marriage was Jo Chunbae. He never realized just how much strength that man gave him. And now, to have caused him such suffering—it tore him up inside.

"You used the Demonic Cult to threaten our Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau—I’ll cut out your tongue!"

Yang In and Yang Seon cried out.

"Please don’t!"

"Please, forgive him!"

Yoon threw herself to the ground and begged.

"Please spare my son-in-law! Punish this old woman instead!"

Jo Chunbae, trembling in fear, spoke to Gong Chan.

"Give me some time to verify what I’ve said. For the sake of the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau, don’t rush this."

Gong Chan bellowed.

"Silence! You worm! Still spewing threats to the very end? I’ll cut out that tongue of yours first!"

"If you lay a hand on me, the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult won’t let it slide!"

He hoped somehow that would frighten them—but it only made things worse.

"The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult? You’re completely insane. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you do know the Young Cult Leader. Do you really believe he’d come all this way to help you?"

He shouted that yes, he would—but it was no use. The escort warriors seized both of Jo Chunbae's arms. They were really going to cut out his tongue.

At that moment, something pure white fell on Jo Chunbae’s shoulder.

He looked up—snow had begun to fall. The crowd tilted their heads skyward.

Why now, of all times, did it have to snow?

They say the fate of humans is unknowable—not even one step ahead. Who would’ve thought he’d have his tongue cut out at the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau like this? And yet, he had no regrets. He couldn’t just stand by and watch his kind brother-in-law lose his hands unjustly.

Still, the fear was overwhelming. If they cut out his tongue—could he survive it? He’d need to stop the bleeding immediately. Thankfully he and his family had brought a physician, so he still had a chance—if the escort bureau didn’t execute him.

In the distance, he saw his wife crying out.

I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry that your husband is so powerless.

Behind her, he saw Yoon and Yang Seon sobbing uncontrollably.

Mother-in-law… I’m sorry. Sister-in-law… forgive me.

Just as Gong Chan reached toward Jo Chunbae’s mouth to grab his tongue—

Shiiiiik.

A sharp gust of wind roared.

Kwaaang!

Something came crashing down from the sky, slamming into the training ground like a thunderbolt.

People screamed. The Escort Chief and his warriors drew their swords. Chaos erupted.

Every eye turned toward the impact site.

What had fallen… was a person.

The man lay sprawled at the center of the training ground, gasping for air. His hair was disheveled, and his whole body was soaked in sweat. The only sound in the training ground was the sound of his labored breathing. 5

When Jo Chunbae recognized who it was, he jolted in shock. His blank, stunned expression slowly broke into a wide smile—then a radiant laugh.

And then his chest tightened. Tears welled in both his eyes. He clenched his teeth to keep from crying out loud, but a stifled sob still slipped out—"Hhhkk...!"

Amidst the silent crowd, the man lying in the training ground looked up at the sky and said,

"Tavern owner… the first snow is falling."

1 : Might be a good idea for them to move to Maga Village after this. They would be safer if the other side is foolish enough to try to retaliate.

2 : This is fast, too fast. The culprit must be high ranked to organize it so quickly without a proper investigation.

3 : If they do decide to stay, then Mugeuk should give that manager special instructions to take care of them.

4 : Where the Demon Supremes, the Young Cult Leader and the Heavenly Demon himself often come to take a drink.

5 : Feeeeew, I can relax now. I was quite tense in this chapter, as you can see from my focused comments and lack of digressions. Everything Mugeuk does goes too well since his regression, he’s gonna lose badly at one point. And the longer this goes on, the more my worryness increases.