Chapter 307: Martial Alliance (2)
Once the storm had passed, the interior grew noisy again.
So Yoohyun and Dan Mokil raised their voices.
“Does everyone believe what he said?”
“Predicting the path of the enemy. How does he claim to know their movements so accurately?”
“He suddenly appears and spills such secrets. We should be suspicious of him being a spy.”
“Ha ha ha! The shizhu’s words might be right, don’t you think?” [1]
Except for Hyemyeong and Geol Junggil, who laughed heartily, everyone else frowned.
In particular, So Yoohyun and Dan Mokil openly displayed hostility.
At that moment, Chun Yoosung slowly spoke.
“Instead of seeking help, you are busy suspecting and biting each other. The process of a faction’s downfall is the same everywhere, it seems.”
“What did you say? Are you saying we are incapable on our own?”
Dan Mokil’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.
He didn’t take kindly to being told they were in decline.
“No, you are strong. Each one of you is excellent enough to change the tide of battle.”
A faction boasting immense military power and numerous martial artists.
Who would dare to call the martial world weak?
But.
That alone is not enough.
It’s not just about battle but about war.
To win on a larger scale…
A bigger variable is needed.
“He has the power to change the tide of the war.”
None other than one person.
“I wouldn’t take this offer lightly.”
Chun Yoosung clicked his tongue shortly as if he didn’t like his own words.
Yes.
Jinhyuk was always displeasing.
An annoying and sly veteran who always acted on his own.
He was an enemy he wanted to show the bitter taste of defeat someday.
Nevertheless.
If there was one thing he had to admit…
Jinhyuk had reached higher places in the tower than anyone else here.
Though he had never asked directly, perhaps Jinhyuk had…
‘He might have reached the late 30th floors of the tower.’
A place only presumed to be inhabited by deities.
At first, it seemed ridiculous and impossible.
But why?
The more he got to know that damn guy, the more he felt that assumption wasn’t entirely baseless.
“It’s an overly high evaluation for one person. Chun Yoosung, I never expected you, a precise person, to say such things.”
Ha Ryeohwa smiled strangely.
“I’m just stating the truth.”
“Hmm, is that so? Come to think of it, you seem quite close. What is your relationship with him?”
Relationship…
“Someone I will soon surpass… let’s leave it at that.”
Chun Yoosung said calmly and then stood up.
“Fufu. If it’s you, Chun Gongja, it’s certainly possible. Then, I’ll take my leave too. I’ll be waiting for a good answer.” [2]
“You won’t lose anything by listening to Jinhyuk’s words… No, that might be hard to guarantee.”
Chu Hon Sayeong and Teresa followed behind.
＊＊＊
Outside, the three people who came out joined Jinhyuk and Alice who were waiting.
“Why did you come into Luoyang so late? We waited a long time dealing with those damn guys.”
Chun Yoosung said coldly.
He seemed genuinely displeased.
“Sorry. There was something I wanted to try. But things got tangled, so I ended up coming somewhere else, which made me late.”
“If you had come with me, you would have arrived comfortably. Kang Gongja, you really enjoy various challenges, don’t you? My disciple should learn a bit from you. Don’t you think so, Chun Gongja?”
Chu Hon Sayeong pulled Chun Yoosung’s cheeks.
“Ma-Master! Please maintain your dignity!”
“Oh my, how harsh. You used to beg me to teach you the sword… saying there’s no one else but Master to make you stronger. You’ve changed, becoming so cold.”
“What does that have to do with this?”
“Are you raising your voice now? Master is so sad, sniff…”
While Chun Yoosung was being tormented by Chu Hon Sayeong, Teresa cautiously spoke.
“Jinhyuk-ssi. Do you think they will really accept your proposal?” [3]
“Probably, yes.”
The representatives over there might not understand, but if the Intelligence Department of the Martial Alliance sees the map, they will realize it instantly.
How critically the Heavenly Demon Cult’s targeted bases can impact them.
And if these bases are connected to the ones they’ve already lost, it could shake the entire board.
“All that’s left is to wait patiently.”
The martial world is the one in a hurry.
So, until they approach first, we can just spend time around here.
“Hmm. Then what should we do in the meantime?”
“Food.”
Alice cut in abruptly.
It was just one word, but the voice carried an irresistible compulsion.
Their bodies, exhausted from traveling through the passage all night, coupled with hunger, meant Alice had reached her limit.
“It’s a bit early for a meal…”
“Or your blood would do. I’ve been feeling a bit low on magic power lately, so I might as well replenish it properly.”
Alice’s lips curled upward slightly.
This is dangerous.
“Ah, right. Now that you mention it, there’s a place up ahead that serves really great food. Here’s the fish market, there’s the clothing store. Ah, was it here?”
Jinhyuk hurriedly entered any restaurant.
Buzz!
Despite the early hour, the interior was quite crowded with people.
In his haste, he seemed to have picked a decent place.
“Welcome! What would you like to order?”
A server quickly approached upon noticing the group.
“Bring everything on the menu. I’ll book the whole place, so chase out all the noisy and uncivilized humans.”
Alice arrogantly perched on a chair and gave her order.
“E-Excuse me? Wh-what do you mean…?”
“Sorry. She’s a bit slow.”
“How dare you call me slow… mmph!”
Jinhyuk barely managed to stop Alice from pulling out a gold ingot.
“Just bring the best dishes you have for our number of people.”
Jinhyuk finally sent the server away.
Shortly after.
A table full of delicious-looking food was served.
“Wow! This looks really good. This is all mine… I mean. Ahem! It seems this is passable for my taste.”
“Thank you for the food. Jinhyuk-ssi, you should eat too.”
“Hmm. Local Chinese cuisine isn’t bad.”
“Fufu. Enjoy, everyone.”
Chopsticks moved quickly.
Alice stuffed her mouth full of meat, and Teresa kept exclaiming as she ate a piece of five-spice pork.
Hmm. It’s certainly not bad.
But for the essence of Chinese cuisine, something felt lacking.
‘I could have thought of a combination that would bring out the unique flavors of the ingredients even more…’
While Jinhyuk was pondering ways to enhance the taste of the food…
“Tch! How noisy.”
“Please endure it, big brother. What do they know about etiquette or decorum.”
“Food is meant to be consumed for the sake of moving one’s body. To walk the path of martial arts, one must abstain from gastronomic indulgence… look at them, eating so crudely.”
A sharp voice was heard from the side.
These were not ordinary customers.
Unlike most of the hard-working customers, these individuals had clear faces.
‘Are they from a righteous faction?’
Their attire was also completely different.
Neat white robes and swords at their waists, symbols of ascetics who train their bodies and minds.
Indeed.
They were Taoist priests from the Wudang sect who had come with So Yoohyun.
Three men and one woman.
Among them, a particularly handsome man stood out.
“Master said there would be outsiders at the meeting. It seems they are those people.”
“The one who became Chu Hon Sayeong’s disciple. Was it Chun Yoosung? He doesn’t look too bad.”
“These weaklings… what do they know about helping us? Isn’t that right, big brother?”
“It means the Heavenly Demon Cult is pressing us hard.”
The man addressed as the big brother sipped his tea.
“Who are those guys?”
Alice, who had a mouthful of meat, raised her eyes.
“They seem to be picking a fight… should we take them on?”
Chun Yoosung also stared at them with murderous intent.
As expected of two belligerent individuals, they looked ready to charge in any moment.
However.
Unexpectedly, Jinhyuk wore a peaceful smile.
“Hold back. They are precious comrades we will fight alongside soon. We can’t start a sword fight here.”
Sama-ja and the forces of the Heavenly Demon Cult are formidable.
We can’t afford to waste the martial alliance’s strength recklessly.
“Did you eat something wrong? Why are you suddenly talking like that?”
“Unbelievable. This guy, who would normally wipe out a family line and celebrate over their graves, is holding back?”
“Wow. Jinhyuk-ssi. You have… finally become a decent person.”
Various reactions erupted from everywhere.
‘I wonder what kind of image I had for them to react like this.’
I thought I had lived a good life.
Of course, I will still punish those who ran their mouths recklessly.
“Everyone, wait here for a moment.”
Jinhyuk picked up a plate of pork dishes and stood up.
＊＊＊
He headed to the kitchen.
“C-Customer?”
Both the server and the chefs were surprised.
It was only natural since a customer suddenly barged into the kitchen where food was being prepared.
Of course, their mouths shut tight when Jinhyuk handed over a small gem-encrusted earring.
“Huh? Where did one of my earrings go?
I was definitely wearing it a moment ago. Did I drop it somewhere?”
Alice seemed to be muttering something outside, but Jinhyuk pretended not to hear it.
“He’s even cooking his own food now? What is with that guy?”
“Cooking, a lowly act, and yet he does it… How laughable.”
“I think it’s quite fitting for someone with no roots.”
The Wudang sect members’ murmurs echoed from one side of the restaurant.
‘So, you won’t even touch the meat, huh?’
But it’s not because they detest meat.
They’ve merely locked their carnivorous instincts deep within a cage.
Subduing them with force wasn’t a bad educational method, but…
Making them break Wudang’s taboo would double the pleasure.
And I’d be able to grasp their weaknesses properly.
Thinking about using these guys as pawns soon, Jinhyuk’s lips twitched.
‘I’ll turn them into a hungry neighbor’s puppy after a month.’
[Lv8 ‘Otherworldly Restaurant’ is activated!]
A subtle energy infused Jinhyuk’s fingertips.
This sensation.
This feeling.
‘Good.’
Whoosh!
Flames roared fiercely.
Jinhyuk handled the ingredients with incredibly natural movements.
Not too much, nor too little.
His actions were as flashy and precise as a master chef who had been cooking for decades.
“Ah…huh?”
“W-What is this customer…”
Even the chefs who were about to stop him were mesmerized by Jinhyuk’s cooking.
After a few minutes.
An anomaly began to occur inside the restaurant.
Gulp…
“What is this…”
“How can there be such an aroma…”
“What on earth is being made inside?”
“Is what they served us dog food? Hey, server. Bring us what they’re cooking inside right now. I’ll pay any amount!”
Despite already eating, everyone’s mouths watered uncontrollably.
“This can’t be happening.”
Even the head chef was struggling to keep his composure amidst the appetite-stimulating aroma.
Forty years of dedication to cooking.
In this competitive area teeming with renowned restaurants and inns, he had never missed a day of effort.
But.
“…What I’ve learned isn’t cooking at all.”
The skill of handling fire.
The subtle harmony of seasonings.
The ability to bring out the essence of the ingredients.
This is an area that even royal chefs couldn’t reach.
Compared to what was being made now, his own dishes were nothing but garbage.
The Wudang priests were equally taken aback by the situation.
“B-Big brother.”
“Is… this what food is supposed to be like?”
“Could it be some kind of sorcery?”
“…..”
Meat is a taboo for Wudang.
But not eating this felt like losing the will to live.
At that moment.
Jinhyuk, holding a steaming plate of food, approached quietly from the kitchen.
‘….’
Footnotes:
[1] Shizhu (시주, 施主): A term of respect often used in martial arts novels and Buddhist contexts to refer to a benefactor or patron.
[2] Gongja (공자, 公子): A term used to refer to a young nobleman or young master, typically someone of high status or noble birth.
[3] -ssi (씨): An honorific suffix used in Korean to address someone respectfully, similar to “Mr.” or “Ms.” in English.