Kofi thanks to: Larrin023
Though he couldn’t hear their voices, Muwon could roughly guess the flow of the conversation. Hwang Ran had already purchased a large amount of goods from Cheongyeon’s apothecary the day before. Since Hwang Ran had sent someone else to make the purchase without showing his face, it was hard to imagine he was fooling around with Cheongyeon out of personal interest.
Hwang Ran was a merchant with a discerning eye for goods. His lavish praise for Cheongyeon’s lotus tea made his intentions clear. He must be trying to use Cheongyeon to his advantage.
The process of persuasion seemed more challenging than expected, as the conversation went back and forth for quite some time. Even Cheongyeon, who initially appeared indifferent, eventually showed interest in what Hwang Ran had to say. After a while, the latter confidently grabbed the bill.
While Hwang Ran went to pay, Cheongyeon didn’t continue his meal but promptly left the restaurant. He had only cut a single piece from his steak.
What happened to the guy with the big appetite?
Muwon watched Cheongyeon leave the restaurant and then walked downstairs. Hwang Ran was at the counter, babbling to the waiter as he paid the bill. The waiter, startled by Muwon’s approaching figure, widened his eyes.
Oblivious, Hwang Ran boasted about being a generous tipper. Muwon reached from behind Hwang Ran and snatched the bill.
“Who the hell?!” Hwang Ran turned around with a scowl, only to immediately recognize the golden eyes hidden under the hat.
“Mu, Muwon-nim!”
Hwang Ran looked as if he had seen a ghost.
“What brings you here?”
“Why? Can’t I be here?”
Though his tone was somewhat friendly, Hwang Ran remained tense. He then noticed the bill in Muwon’s hand and hurriedly blabbered.
“Oh, that… I met the apothecary here at the restaurant.”
“Met him and?”
Muwon grabbed Hwang Ran’s head, covered by the fedora. Hwang Ran groaned and remembered the rumors about Muwon and the apothecary.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Please, don’t misunderstand, Muwon-nim. It definitely wasn’t what you’re thinking.”
“Yt, rb Lkjcu Ejc kjr pera j remxfg ktb qjsr obg wfjir obg cbatlcu.”
“Qfii… bc rfmbcv atbeuta, la kjrc’a fcalgfis wfjclcuifrr.”
Pa rffwfv Zekbc xcfk fnfgsatlcu jcv jqqgbjmtfv klat atja xcbkifvuf. Lkjcu Ejc ueiqfv vgsis. Pa kjr obgaecjaf tf tjv abiv atf ageat jybea wffalcu atf jqbatfmjgs. Ljv tf aglfv ab tlvf jcsatlcu, tf wluta tjnf ojmfv Zekbc’r kgjat jcv cffvfv j ifcuats gfmbnfgs, vfijslcu tlr vfqjgaegf lcvfolclafis.
“Please, just hear me out once. It really wasn’t what you think.”
While Hwang Ran rambled, Muwon’s gaze landed on the waiter who had finished the transaction. The observant waiter had left all the money Hwang Ran paid, including the tip, on the counter.
“A few days ago, I drank the lotus tea, right? It piqued my interest, so I purchased some of Cheongyeon’s goods, and they were all of excellent quality. I thought about supplying the flower tea to our continent.”
Still conscious of his swollen forehead, Hwang Ran groveled. In any case, Muwon walked briskly to the table where Cheongyeon had sat, and the waiter who was trying to clear the space hurriedly backed away.
Muwon stabbed the steak Cheongyeon had cut with a fork. The unexpected action drew attention, and those who belatedly recognized Muwon under the hat quietly shut their mouths.
Muwon chewed on the cold meat, leaving the onlookers unable to hide their astonishment at his eccentric behavior of eating the food Cheongyeon left behind.
“Thought he left because it was crap.”
He casually wiped his lips with his fingertips.
“Turns out my lover just has a small appetite.”
The waiter responsible for Cheongyeon’s table turned deathly pale, hoping he had misheard those dreadful words. Muwon’s lover… The waiter bowed so deeply his head nearly touched the ground. Muwon casually wiped his hands on the tablecloth.
“I’ll make sure such an incident never happens again. From now on, we will serve you with the utmost dedication and sincerity.”
Muwon pulled out a bill from his back pocket and placed it on the table. Fortunately, it seemed he was willing to let this one slide, as the bill he left was a considerable amount. The waiter bowed even deeper, promising to do better, when suddenly his head was slammed into the steak plate with a crash.
A surprised guest screamed briefly, but it was quickly silenced as their companions hurriedly shushed them, fearing unwanted attention. As Muwon let go, the waiter collapsed to the floor. With his face smashed into the shattered plate, the waiter was knocked out, his eyes rolled back white.
“Goodness!”
An exaggerated exclamation filled the quiet restaurant.
“I thought we were going to leave quietly, but to draw such attention…”
At that moment, a man descending from the second floor puffed deeply on his tobacco pipe. The pipe, finished with rosewood, was carved with a kraken spreading its tentacles.
“Nachata?!”
Hwang Ran pointed at the man with a sparse beard, identifying him. As Nachata shrugged, Hwang Ran’s mercenaries quickly surrounded their employer. Nachata, with a sword at his side, simply raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture.
“I’m just visiting as a guest, let’s not cause any trouble.”
Nachata shrugged again, looking at Hwang Ran and his mercenaries.
“Muwon-nim! This scoundrel surely intends to plunder my ship! S- so heinous!”
Muwon patted Hwang Ran’s head as if soothing a noisy child, though it seemed more like he was pressing him down.
“Tsk, tsk, for a major merchant of Nok province to be so tactless.”
Nachata removed the pipe from his mouth, clicked his tongue, and then raised his voice.
“Listen well! From today, we, Nachata, will not antagonize Peira! As long as Peira rules Cheonghwa Town, we promise, on my name, Nachata, not to invade Cheonghwa Town!”
Hwang Ran’s eyes bulged out. If Muwon hadn’t kept his grip, they might have popped out under the pressure.
‘I’ve been duped!’ It was then Hwang Ran glared at Muwon, grinding his teeth.
“Muwon-nim! Was this your plan all along?!”
“Ah, I suppose.”
Muwon flicked Hwang Ran’s forehead with his thumb and forefinger. Ouch! Hwang Ran covered his forehead, writhing in pain. It was no more than a flick, but it felt worse than being hit with a bat.
As the mercenaries stepped forward to shield Hwang Ran, Muwon grabbed one by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Despite being shorter than Muwon, the burly mercenary’s legs dangled in the air, showcasing Muwon’s unbelievable strength.
Gagging, the mercenary tried to pry Muwon’s wrist off his throat, but his legs just flailed helplessly in the air. The other mercenaries hesitated to attack Muwon, but Hwang Ran quickly stopped them, not wanting to lose his expensive hires here.
Muwon threw the mercenary back towards Hwang Ran’s group. Clang! The sound of them crashing down filled the restaurant as Muwon took off his hat. He then turned his gaze towards the entrance.
It was Cheongyeon, who had come to complain about his stolen bicycle to the innkeeper.
Had their eyes not met, Cheongyeon would have quickly fled, but now he was rooted to the spot. Cheongyeon’s eyes darted around, trying to grasp the situation.
“Well look who it is!”
Nachata boomed again, acknowledging Cheongyeon. Cheongyeon, seeing Nachata’s bushy beard, widened his eyes in recognition. It was clear they were acquainted. Nachata approached Cheongyeon with interest.
“Been well?”
Nachata, holding his pipe, offered a handshake to Cheongyeon.
“Have you been well too?”
Instead of shaking hands, Cheongyeon simply bowed his head.
“Here for a meal?”
Despite being rejected for the handshake, Nachata treated Cheongyeon warmly.
“No, my bicycle was stolen.”
Cheongyeon spoke softly, but the surrounding quietness made his voice clear. Muwon walked towards Cheongyeon, who was somewhat hidden by Nachata. Nachata, realizing his mistake, hurriedly introduced the other person.
“Oh, this friend here is the apothecary from District E-”
“Cheongyeon-ah.”
Startled, Cheongyeon looked at Muwon, who had called his name, with shock. The voice that came from those smooth lips was sweet and pleasant to hear, but it instinctively raised the hairs on his neck.
“Your bicycle was stolen?”
Pr: Sasa
Perdón por ser repetitiva pero amo a Muwon, gracias por el capítulo, realmente me encanta esta novela
😂😂😂😂 excellent chapter thank you! I’m curious about nachata and his kraken pipe! Muwon-ah is having a field day in the restaurant.
Boner tea merchant man better not try to retaliate and try snatching Cheongyeon or something and who the hell stole the bike was peira hoping to leave Cheongyeon somewhat stranded to create opportunity for their boss 😂
Oh no, is this some smuggler he tried buying that flower from in the past? Is Muwon gonna find out things he shouldn’t know? Dammit, so intriguing!
Thanks for the chapter! 💙