Chapter 262 - If It Tastes Bad, You Die

Hwasun’s hands trembled with fear.

["If it tastes bad, you’re dead too, bitch!"]

The words the martial artist who had brought her here had spoken as he left the kitchen kept ringing in her ears.

When she was first dragged to Wind and Water Manor, she had never dreamed the atmosphere would be like this. People who ran businesses had to come when a martial household called and leave when told, but she had never expected such a murderous atmosphere.

And those words were no idle threat.

“Be careful. Two people have already died in this kitchen today.”

A maid had secretly warned her while bringing ingredients to the kitchen. She knew Hwasun. Whenever she went out shopping, she would sometimes stop at the inn for noodles or dumplings. Hwasun had always given her generous portions so she could eat her fill.

“A terrifying master has come to the manor. He’s so particular about his food that he tore out the manor cook’s tongue and killed him. The cook from Bukhwa Village who was brought in afterward died even more horribly. What are we going to do?”

The sight of the frightened maid stamping her feet felt strangely remote, as though it concerned someone else.

Hwasun kept making mistakes as she cooked. She added the wrong seasonings, and her trembling hands dropped dishes.

She knew how skilled the cook from Bukhwa Village was. If even his cooking had not been good enough, hers would fare no better. Had they really killed him?

What if she died too?

Her chest tightened, and her son’s face came to mind. She missed him so much. It was about time he came for another visit.

It was then that she heard him.

“Mother!”

Startled, she turned her head. Her son stood at the kitchen entrance.

“Hyeon! Is that you, Hyeon? Hyeon!”

She was so astonished that one might worry she would collapse.

Number Three ran to her and wrapped her in his arms.

“Mother!”

“Hyeon!”

Clinging to her son, she was too overcome to speak.

But soon she lowered her voice.

“Why did you come here? Go! Go wait at the inn!”

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

“Go! I’ll explain later. Just go!”

All Hwasun could think about was getting her son away, whatever it took.

Unlike his frantic mother, Number Three calmly took her hands.

“Why have you grown so thin?”

She had aged so much in the past three years. He could tell she had endured many hardships.

As she held her son’s hands, tears spilled from Hwasun’s eyes. Even through her fear, she was delighted to see him. She was so happy that the tears would not stop.

Seeing his mother cry brought tears to Number Three’s eyes as well.

“I’m sorry I haven’t visited more often.”

“No. You must have enough trouble with your work. It’s all right. It’s all right. Now that we’ve said hello, go and wait.”

She was desperate. If he lingered here and the manor’s people spotted him, there would be terrible trouble.

“Go! I’ll cook for you later.”

Hwasun tried to push her son away. Having seen his face like this was enough.

She knew he had joined the Demonic Cult, but she did not know what he did there. She could only assume he was enduring all kinds of hardships to establish himself.

Then more people entered the kitchen: Geom Mugeuk and the other day-shift guards.

Hwasun started, thinking they were martial artists from the manor.

“My son just stopped by for a moment. He’ll leave right away. He’s going.”

Geom Mugeuk strode over and greeted her respectfully.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mother.”

Number Three introduced him to the startled Hwasun.

“He’s the man I serve.”

Hwasun was astonished by this unexpected turn. She tried to bow to Geom Mugeuk, but he quickly stopped her and took her hands.

“My name is Mugeuk. Please feel as comfortable with me as you would with your own son.”

The moment Hwasun looked at Geom Mugeuk, the battlefield in her heart grew calm.

Perhaps it was his eyes. She had seen countless people while running her business, but never anyone with eyes so clear.

She felt at ease, reassured. She was certain she could trust someone with eyes like those to look after her son.

“It is an honor to meet you.”

Not knowing Geom Mugeuk’s identity, she assumed he was the young master her son served.

“Please take good care of my son.”

“It’s thanks to your son that I’m doing well. You have a wonderful son.”

“That’s because you’ve looked after him so well, Young Master. Thank you.”

Next, Number Three introduced his fellow guards.

“These are my colleagues.”

Jeok Yeon and the other bodyguards greeted her in turn. Jeok Yeon spoke on their behalf.

“Hyeon is so capable that he’s been a great help to all of us.”

“Please look after my son.”

She felt a pang of regret. If only they had met under different circumstances. She would have cooked for them herself and served them delicious food. This was the first time her son had brought his colleagues to see her.

'I must get them out of here.'

If they were caught here in a group, things might become even worse. It was not just her own son; she would be endangering other families’ precious sons as well.

They were all so young. Wind and Water Manor had dozens of martial artists, and hadn’t she heard that a terrifying master had arrived as well?

“Take the young master down to the inn at once and wait there. There’s food in the kitchen you can serve him, so make sure he’s well looked after. Go! Hurry!”

Just then, a man’s voice came from outside.

“Is the food ready? I told you clearly. If it tastes bad, your life, bitch—”

The martial artist entering the kitchen flinched.

Men stood on either side, staring at him.

“W-who are you?”

He tried to draw his sword, but his arm would not move. His paralysis points had already been sealed.

'When did that happen?'

Geom Mugeuk approached and draped an arm companionably over his shoulders.

“She has to die if the food tastes bad? Why?”

The question sounded friendly, but his eyes were ice-cold.

“W-well...”

“Never mind. I’ll find out when I meet him myself.”

Geom Mugeuk went over to Hwasun.

“Mother, is the food ready?”

“Yes, but it’s gone cold. I think I’ll have to warm it up again.”

“That’s all right. I happen to have a talent for heating things up. Today, I’ll make them very hot indeed.”

Geom Mugeuk placed her dishes on a tray and picked it up. Then he gave the guards their orders.

“Your assignment today is to protect Mother. Guard her as you would your own parents.”

Number Three and the other bodyguards lined up around Hwasun. It was the formal formation for six guards protecting a single person.

Geom Mugeuk kicked the immobilized martial artist in the backside.

“Let’s go.”

His paralysis points had already been released. Frightened by Geom Mugeuk’s astonishing martial prowess, he led the way.

'If I can just get somewhere with more people!'

The martial artist went first, followed by Geom Mugeuk carrying the tray. Behind them, the six bodyguards walked with Hwasun enclosed in their formation.

Hwasun was still anxious, but her son reassured her with his steady expression at her side. She did not understand what was happening, yet she was so happy simply to be looking at him. Again and again, she prayed that everything would end safely today.

Many of the manor’s martial artists were in the broad front courtyard.

The man leading the way signaled them with his eyes.

'What are you doing? Get over here and subdue these bastards!'

But something astonishing happened. Both the martial artists passing by and those running toward them froze like statues.

Their paralysis points and mute points had already been sealed.

The man in front was horrified.

'He’s subduing them while carrying a tray? How?'

It was like poison spreading through the air. The moment their eyes met Geom Mugeuk’s, their paralysis points and mute points were sealed. Near or far, skilled or unskilled, no one was spared.

“Ah!”

Jeok Yeon and the bodyguards exclaimed at the astonishing spectacle unfolding before them. They had heard rumors that the young lord’s martial arts surpassed those of a Demon Supreme, but they had never imagined he was this formidable.

They entered the building and made their way to the quarters of Wind and Water Manor’s master.

The martial artists guarding his door also stopped in an instant. One froze just as he was about to ask, “Who are you?” leaving his mouth hanging open. The guard beside him had been raising his eyes into a glare when he froze, giving him a bizarre appearance.

Two men were talking inside the room.

The Blood-Hand Sword sat in the seat of honor. Having committed all manner of atrocities, he had already been declared an enemy of the entire martial world by the Orthodox Martial Alliance.

Across from him sat Yi Eom, the master of Wind and Water Manor.

“Even so, your demand is excessive.”

“Not just Hunan’s Foremost Escort Agency, but every damned escort in the Central Plains will consider me their sworn enemy. Shouldn’t my share be larger?”

“Didn’t we agree to split it three ways from the outset?”

“Thinking it over, it wasn’t fair. You and that man each get a third just for sitting in your rooms.”

“I’m the one who supplied the information for this job.”

“Then reduce his share.”

“Do you know who he is, saying something like that?”

“And are you doing this because you don’t know who I am?”

Yi Eom sighed inwardly. This was why one should never join forces with scum like him.

He had opposed it vehemently, but that man had insisted, and this was the result. Perhaps he had anticipated this situation. His own share was safe, after all, so he was leaving Yi Eom to deal with it.

Just then, the door opened and Geom Mugeuk entered.

Since he revealed no qi presence whatsoever, the two men took him for a servant bringing their food.

He set the dishes on the table.

The Blood-Hand Sword addressed him.

“Wait here a moment.”

The Blood-Hand Sword picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.

“Ptooey!”

He immediately spat the food onto the floor.

Yi Eom frowned at the sight. The man had already slaughtered two cooks, but not because their food tasted bad. He was pressuring Yi Eom: if things did not go his way, he could kill him like that too. He wanted more money.

The Blood-Hand Sword’s martial arts were superior to his, so Yi Eom had no choice but to endure the humiliation. Still, that man’s existence kept the bastard from acting entirely as he pleased.

Even so, Yi Eom could not yield. If he gave the bastard what he wanted, he would have nothing left despite taking part in this perilous undertaking. He was the one who had discovered that this shipment was a major haul, the kind that came along only once every several years, if that.

“Who made this?”

“Madam Hwa prepared it.”

“Where is that bitch now?”

“Outside the door.”

“Tell her to come in immediately!”

“Why?”

“She made this tasteless food, so I’ll tear out her tongue. What use does she have for such a worthless tongue?”

Geom Mugeuk turned toward the door, and it opened as though someone had been waiting for that moment.

Hwasun stood in the hallway, with three guards on either side of her. Jeok Yeon and Number Three stood at the front.

The Blood-Hand Sword assumed they were Wind and Water Manor’s martial artists. He glared at Yi Eom.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Yi Eom could not understand what was happening. He had never ordered anyone to protect that woman. And on closer inspection, those men were not his people.

Then he saw the emblem on Jeok Yeon’s chest.

'That emblem? Surely not?'

He grew tense. Only one organization in Murim used an evil spirit as its symbol. He had heard that ordinary demonic martial artists were not permitted to wear that emblem; only the elite could use it.

'Did that man send them? But why are they protecting that woman?'

Yi Eom’s mind was in turmoil.

What would truly shock him was only beginning.

Geom Mugeuk picked up a fresh pair of chopsticks and tasted the food.

“It’s delicious. I think your tongue is the problem.”

The Blood-Hand Sword gave an incredulous laugh. People did not suddenly go mad, so he assumed Yi Eom had put him up to this as well.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He roared at Yi Eom.

Yi Eom silently watched Geom Mugeuk, trying to gauge the situation.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Blood-Hand Sword and spoke coldly.

“Try it again.”

“You crazy son of a bitch!”

Just as the Blood-Hand Sword was about to cut Geom Mugeuk down, Geom Mugeuk fully unleashed his demonic qi. Its immense force bore down on Yi Eom.

'Ugh!'

The Blood-Hand Sword could not move a single finger.

'What is this? Urrrgh!'

He had never encountered demonic qi so oppressive. It felt as though Mount Tai were crushing him, leaving him unable to breathe. Terror swept over him at the thought that he might truly suffocate. A master of his caliber, dying from qi presence alone? It sounded absurd, yet it was happening right now.

He had lived his entire life without fear, but in this moment he felt the terror of death. He would never have thought himself someone who could be cowed even by a demonic martial artist. Yet now he did not dare even look this young opponent in the face.

Then the demonic qi pressing down on him eased a little.

“I said, eat it again.”

Not daring to disobey, the Blood-Hand Sword tasted the food.

“... It’s delicious.”

“Why are you telling me? Tell the person who cooked it.”

The Blood-Hand Sword turned to Hwasun.

“It was good.”

Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“Again!”

This time, he spoke respectfully.

“It is delicious, Madam Hwa.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled at Hwasun.

“He says it was delicious.”

With her heart still trembling, Hwasun nodded once.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll have a brief word with these men, then come out.”

The door closed, and the guards escorted Hwasun to the end of the hallway.

At the very moment the door closed—

THUNK!

Geom Mugeuk drove a chopstick into the Blood-Hand Sword’s forehead.

The Blood-Hand Sword slumped forward, struck his head against the table, and died.

Yi Eom was so shocked that he thought his heart would leap out of his mouth. He had never imagined Geom Mugeuk would kill the Blood-Hand Sword in a single move—or that he could. He had driven the chopstick in without even looking at the man sitting beside him.

The Blood-Hand Sword had survived despite committing countless atrocities throughout his life. Seeing him killed with a chopstick, without so much as a word, was a staggering shock.

“You agreed to split the stolen shipment three ways, did you?”

“I’ll give it all up! Take my share too!”

“Who is the third man?”

Yi Eom answered in a trembling voice.

“Didn’t he send you? To take this entire haul for himself?”

“I asked who he is.”

Unsure what on earth was happening, Yi Eom hesitated to answer. Geom Mugeuk raised the remaining chopstick. There was no need to threaten him by prodding his cheek or forehead.

Having seen the other one disappear into the Blood-Hand Sword’s forehead, he could not hold out against a chopstick.

“Branch Head Yeo!”

Only now did Geom Mugeuk understand why Yi Eom had mistakenly thought that man had sent him.

“Yeo Sogwang, head of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon’s Hunan branch!”