TSBIRBV Ch 252

Chapter 252. The Audacious Impostor (1)

“You’ve already passed through Sichuan? Remarkable.”

Gweho Peng Munhyeong could not hide his surprise as he looked from the horses to Yayul Hongyeo. The man whom Yegyeol had introduced as his companion was towering, broad-shouldered, and possessed of distinctly foreign features. He was, however, taciturn to a fault — and since Peng himself was not the most sociable sort either, the two maintained a polite but distant silence between them.

Yet Peng’s astonishment was inevitable the moment he saw the three horses the man was leading. Though he lived as a wanderer now, Peng was of noble martial lineage, and he instantly recognized that those steeds were of the finest blood — beasts that could not be bought with mere gold.

Especially the red one. It ran tirelessly, its speed and endurance unrelenting no matter how far they traveled.

Could it be that even its sweat runs red…?

For a fleeting moment, Peng wondered if it might be the legendary Crimson-Blooded Stallion, a creature said to bleed red foam when pushed to its limits — though of course, that was impossible.

Such rare steeds were owned only by the imperial household or the most powerful clans.

“Are you planning to continue overland all the way to Wuhan? Even a fine horse will tire if you keep this pace.”

At his question, Yegyeol immediately replied, “Once we reach the Yangtze, a ship will be waiting for us.”

The Flood Dragon King, lord of the River Alliance, had readily agreed to send a vessel. Yegyeol had even added, with casual audacity, that since he was traveling with the righteous master Gweho, it would be best to make the arrangements discreetly — as if conducting ordinary business.

To send such a message — informing the most feared leader of the waterway underworld that he was traveling with one of the orthodox world’s greatest warriors — and do so without hesitation, could only be described as Yegyeol-esque.

Having met the Dragon King once, Yegyeol knew the man to be bold and exuberant in nature. In fact, he might have laughed out loud when he received the second letter.

As long as he doesn’t hold grudges like a certain other man, everything will be fine.

Yegyeol thought back to the troublesome martial artist from the Tang Clan of Sichuan — the one he’d rather not have to deal with again. But since that man had been taken away by the Dragon King himself, it was doubtful he was still alive.

And if he was alive… then death might almost be a mercy compared to whatever he was enduring.

“We’ll be arriving in the next village shortly,” Hongyeo reported.

“The sun will set soon…” Yegyeol glanced up at the horizon. “What about the ship’s departure time?”

Hongyeo paused briefly before answering, “We’ll have more than enough time. There’s no need to spend the night outdoors.”

All thanks to Jeokroe and the other two horses — they were moving even faster than the itinerary Samrang had helped Yegyeol prepare.

He turned his head slightly, glancing back at the long road behind them, wondering when his Senior Brother would set out — and how far he might have come by now.

He still has to deal with the Gong Clan head… and then the Myeong Clan head. He probably hasn’t even left Xinjiang yet.

Yegyeol knew that Haryang had unfinished business in the Ten-Thousand Mountains. Even so, the thought left a strange hollowness in his chest.

“Let’s stay in this village tonight,” he said.

Hongyeo nodded simply. Peng, looking around the scenery, scratched the back of his head.

“I think I’ve been to this place before… a few years back. There’s a place here that makes the best soup dumplings.”

“Then we’ll have dinner there,” Yegyeol said lightly.

He’d promised his Senior Brother that he would eat well while away, and he intended to keep that promise — even in the smallest ways.

“What do you mean there’s no xiaolongbao?”

The group arrived in the village, which at first glance seemed peaceful, and went straight to the restaurant Peng had mentioned. Fortunately, it doubled as an inn, so after paying the clerk, they rented rooms upstairs before coming down to dine.

But the moment they tried to order, the young waiter shook his head ruefully. “I’m sorry, but right now we only have noodle soup available.”

“What happened?” Peng asked.

The waiter shifted awkwardly. “The man who makes the dumplings — Master Jang — was badly injured. Fell down the stairs, he did. Yes.”

Clicking his tongue, Peng sighed. “What a shame. We’ll have to come back another time.”

“Yes, yes… of course,” the waiter said hastily, bowing before scurrying off.

As he did, Yegyeol’s eyes flicked toward his retreating figure — and then froze.

When the boy clasped his hands together, his sleeve had ridden up slightly, revealing a faint, dark mark on his arm — like a bruise.

Yegyeol nudged Hongyeo’s knee beneath the table.

“You saw that?”

The large man spoke quietly. “There’s no smell of fire.”

He was sharp — almost unnervingly so, like the beasts he handled.

Indeed, the waiter had said they still served noodles, yet there was no scent of burning wood — no smoke, no trace of boiling broth.

Yegyeol turned his head slightly toward the kitchen.

Most martial artists could sense energy signatures, but few could see through walls the way he could. His eyes picked up the faint pulses of electrical life beyond the barrier.

Only one person.

That one must be the waiter who’d just left.

Meaning — there was no cook at all.

The waiter was doing everything himself — greeting customers, serving food, cooking.

“Something wrong?” Peng asked loudly, his deep voice rumbling through the room like thunder.

Yegyeol smiled faintly and gestured toward the table. “No, nothing. Just… this.”

He dipped a finger into the tea and traced a single character upon the wood.

「疑心 — Suspicion.」

Peng’s eyes widened slightly.

Just then, Yegyeol sensed the waiter returning from the kitchen. Moving smoothly, he tipped his teacup over.

“Oh dear…!”

Seeing the spilled tea, the boy rushed over. “Are you hurt, sir?”

“The tea was lukewarm, so I’m fine. But I suppose I should change my clothes.”

As the waiter flushed in embarrassment, Yegyeol seized the moment, rising from his seat.

Hongyeo moved as if to follow, but Yegyeol placed a light hand on his shoulder. It was a simple gesture, but the meaning was clear — stay.

“Please, continue eating,” he said pleasantly.

Peng nodded. “I’ll make sure to leave you some.”

Yegyeol climbed the stairs with an unhurried step.

Once he reached the upper floor, he opened the door to his assigned room — but walked past it, checking the others instead.

Silently, he cracked each door open just enough to peek inside.

Then he stopped.

By the entrance of one room lay a pile of luggage, scattered carelessly across the floor.

Looks like a traveler’s belongings.

It appeared as though someone had left in a hurry — yet according to the waiter, there were no other guests staying at the inn.

Scanning the area, Yegyeol detected no human life nearby.

“Baembaem,” he murmured.

A small golden snake slithered out from his sleeve.

“Search the room. If you find anything useful, bring it to our room.”

The snake perked up, lifting its tail in salute before darting off.

Yegyeol smiled faintly and stepped out, leaving the door slightly ajar.

After changing his clothes, he returned downstairs.

The noodles had already been served — though like the tea, there was no steam rising from them.

Peng, who had promised to wait, didn’t pick up his chopsticks until Yegyeol reappeared. Hongyeo, as always, was stoic and still.

Despite the lackluster meal, both men ate without complaint. Yegyeol, nibbling halfheartedly, eventually recalled the travel plan he’d left with Haryang and forced himself to finish.

“Was everything to your taste?” the waiter asked nervously.

His anxious expression could have easily been mistaken for simple overwork — now that he was managing the kitchen alone.

But Yegyeol already knew better.

After pretending to hesitate for a moment, he said slowly, “The flavor of the noodles is… rather unusual.”

“T-that’s because—” The boy stammered, eyes darting.

Peng jumped in smoothly, offering an explanation on his behalf. “This region is near the Yangtze. They use freshwater fish to make the broth. The spices to mask the odor aren’t commonly used in Qinghai, so perhaps it tastes strange to you.”

“Y-yes, exactly!” the boy said quickly, nodding.

Seeing no point in pressing further, Yegyeol smiled brightly, as though genuinely intrigued. “Fascinating. The Central Plains truly are vast.”

He played his role perfectly — that of a wide-eyed traveler seeing the world for the first time. The waiter visibly relaxed.

After finishing their meal, the three returned upstairs. The faint clatter of dishes drifted up after them as they climbed.

But the moment they entered the room, Peng froze — his eyes widening.

There, coiled neatly on the floor, was a small golden snake.

“Isn’t that your little companion? What’s it doing wandering about alone?”

Before setting out together, Yegyeol had already explained Baembaem’s presence to him. He’d claimed to have met the creature while obtaining enlightenment within the Thousand-Year Thunder Cavern, and Peng had believed him at once — even giving him advice on how to keep it hidden from other martial artists.

The man’s loyalty really is boundless…

“I asked it for a favor,” Yegyeol said.

Baembaem had brought back a bloodstained piece of clothing — black fabric soaked through with dried crimson.

The pattern of the stains was unmistakably ominous.

“When I went upstairs earlier, I found a room full of luggage but no person,” Yegyeol explained. “Since I had to return quickly, I asked Baembaem to investigate. I didn’t expect it to find… this.”

“There are traces of poison,” Hongyeo said at once, sniffing the air near the garment.

Yegyeol’s eyes narrowed. “Then perhaps a poisonous foe is hiding here.”

No wonder the waiter had been so on edge earlier.

“That may be,” Peng said grimly.

He rummaged through his pack, untying a bundle of dried meat, and retrieved a small round bead from within.

“A Poison-Warding Pearl. I have resistance to toxins, and he”—he nodded toward Hongyeo—“seems knowledgeable enough to handle himself. But just in case, keep this with you.”

The bead, faintly jade in color, looked ordinary enough — but its name made Yegyeol blink.

The Poison-Warding Pearl was a treasure beyond price — something money alone could never buy. Merely wearing it could stave off most poisons, and if placed between the lips of someone suffering from poisoning, it would draw the toxin out, healing them almost instantly.

Anything short of instant-death venom — and the bearer would survive.

“Thank you,” Yegyeol said sincerely, accepting it without protest.

Hongyeo’s usually stoic gaze softened slightly as he watched Peng hand it over.

“If I’d known things would turn out like this,” Yegyeol mused with a rueful smile, “I’d have pressed that waiter a little harder earlier.”

Peng, who was in the process of removing his shirt to change, replied matter-of-factly, “That’s why I stopped you from approaching him.”