Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Unintended Meetings Can Bring Trouble (2)
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Do Hak-kyung's expression twisted immediately.
"What did you say? What did you just say?"
It was the Golden Lion's Head he had poured his heart and soul into creating.
To compare this artistic masterpiece, crafted with the finest sea cucumbers and meat using his supreme skills, to some food made by a mere fatso.
It was an unforgivable insult to him.
"You're saying the Golden Lion's Head I made tastes bad?"
"I've already tasted what seems like the finest Golden Lion's Head. Of course, it wasn't made by Chef Do."
Eun So-cheong wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.
Do Hak-kyung's Golden Lion's Head was truly delicious. But to Eun So-cheong, it somehow fell short.
Normally, she would have beaten around the bush or not said anything at all. But fed up with Do Hak-kyung's arrogance, Eun So-cheong shot back without thinking. And that offended him deeply.
"You're saying what I made tastes bad. What about you?"
"Huh?"
Bang Jin-bo's eyes widened round. He looked bewildered.
"Th-that's absurd. The food you made is truly delicious, sir."
"Then why do you have that look on your face?"
"What look?"
"Why are you making that dissatisfied face?"
Do Hak-kyung's voice boomed through the fifth floor. At that, the other guests dining at nearby tables all turned to stare at Bang Jin-bo's back.
Bang Jin-bo was at a loss for what to do.
He never imagined he'd receive such a glare from Do Hak-kyung, the world's greatest chef. Bang Jin-bo glanced at Dam Ho.
At that moment, Dam Ho's tightly shut lips parted.
"You've lost your sense of taste."
"......"
The atmosphere in the room instantly chilled to the bone.
"Hyung?"
Bang Jin-bo looked ready to burst into tears.
Do Hak-kyung's sharp gaze turned to Dam Ho.
"What did you just say?"
"It tastes bad."
"You're daring to mock me, Do Hak-kyung?"
The greater his pride in his cooking, the fiercer Do Hak-kyung's rage.
Dam Ho raised his head to look at Do Hak-kyung. In that instant, Do Hak-kyung flinched.
The endlessly heavy gaze in Dam Ho's eyes was not something an ordinary man like him could withstand.
He wasn't the only one who tensed up.
Clench!
Jong Ri-su unconsciously clenched his fist. The moment he met Dam Ho's gaze, his muscles stiffened all over, his nape went rigid, and a tingling numbness spread through his limbs, showing just how tense he was.
If even Jong Ri-su, a martial artist, was like this, there was no way Do Hak-kyung could meet Dam Ho's eyes.
Do Hak-kyung quickly turned his head away, avoiding Dam Ho's gaze.
Dam Ho set down his chopsticks.
"You messed with the food."
"Wh-what?"
Do Hak-kyung's face flushed beet red.
He wanted to lash out at Dam Ho right then, but he lacked the courage to meet his eyes.
As the head chef of the World's Best Pavilion, Do Hak-kyung had met countless nobles, officials, and martial artists. But he swore none of them had ever instilled such fear in him as Dam Ho did.
Do Hak-kyung tried to speak, but his lips only quivered; he couldn't get the words out.
It was then.
"What's all this commotion?"
An unfamiliar voice echoed through the fifth floor.
All eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
A man in his mid-to-late forties was ascending the stairs. His refined face, neatly trimmed beard, and white robe suited him perfectly.
The moment she saw him, Eun So-cheong's complexion changed.
"Uncle!"
"So-cheong."
The man climbing the stairs was none other than Sim U-won, the sect leader of the Healing Sage Sect. A dozen or so Healing Sage Sect martial artists followed behind him.
Their piercing gazes revealed an aura far from ordinary.
Sim U-won asked,
"What's going on?"
"Well......"
"These people insulted my cooking."
As Eun So-cheong hesitated on how to respond, Do Hak-kyung stepped forward.
The Healing Sage Sect was the World's Best Pavilion's greatest patron. At least in this Yuan River area, they were practically absolute rulers. So Do Hak-kyung naturally gained confidence.
Do Hak-kyung's gaze turned to Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo.
"Is that true?"
"That's not it, Uncle."
"You stay out of it. I'm asking them."
Sim U-won ignored Eun So-cheong.
She was his beloved niece, but he had to strictly separate personal and public matters.
The World's Best Pavilion raked in astronomical sums each year. A significant portion of that money flowed into the Healing Sage Sect.
It wouldn't be possible if Do Hak-kyung weren't the world's greatest chef. Thus, from the Healing Sage Sect's perspective, they had to protect his honor at all costs.
If his reputation fell, so would the pavilion's, customers would stop coming, and the losses would rebound straight back to them.
Do Hak-kyung wore a smug expression.
Like a dog protected by its master, he could be so bold because he had the reliable backer Sim U-won.
Conversely, Eun So-cheong looked visibly flustered. She hadn't expected things to escalate like this.
Sim U-won's gaze shifted to Bang Jin-bo.
The Healing Sage Sect was both a medical house and a martial house. Naturally, its leader Sim U-won was both a physician and a warrior—and one who had mastered exceptionally profound martial arts.
There was no way young Bang Jin-bo could withstand such a gaze. He hurriedly averted his eyes from Sim U-won.
"I asked if it's true. Did you really insult his cooking?"
"Well......"
"It tastes bad."
Dam Ho spoke up in place of Bang Jin-bo.
A glint appeared in Sim U-won's eyes.
"Everyone calls him the world's greatest chef. And you're saying his food tastes bad? What nonsense."
"I just spoke the truth."
At Dam Ho's words, the martial artists behind Sim U-won bristled and stepped forward.
"Do you even know who this man is, spouting such drivel?"
"Show some respect."
They looked ready to pounce on Dam Ho at any moment. But Sim U-won raised a hand to stop them.
Sim U-won looked at Dam Ho.
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"What? That it tastes bad?"
"Yes. No guest who's come here has ever said that."
"Just because no one's said it until now doesn't mean no one will in the future."
"To me, it looks like you're just picking a fight for no reason. For the sake of my niece's face today, I'll let you off easy, so get out."
From Sim U-won's view, this was showing the utmost courtesy. He wanted to thrash Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo on the spot, but Eun So-cheong was watching.
Personally, she was his niece, but she was also Eun Ga-bo's precious daughter. If Eun Ga-bo decided to cut off the money flow, the entire Hunan region's economy would grind to a halt.
No matter how revered the Healing Sage Sect was, without funds, it was over.
Eun So-cheong's father, Eun Il-myeong, was more than capable of that. He doted on her even more than himself. If she wished it, he'd shut off the purse strings without hesitation.
"Leave while I'm asking nicely. We don't need guests like you at the World's Best Pavilion."
"Uncle!"
Eun So-cheong cried out in panic, but Sim U-won was resolute.
"Right now!"
At his command, his subordinates stepped forward, their faces full of murderous intent. Seeing this, Do Hak-kyung smiled.
'How dare they insult my cooking. Serves them right.'
No one could disparage the food he made. They just had to eat it as prepared and marvel in awe.
"Get up."
One of Sim U-won's subordinates placed a hand on Dam Ho's shoulder.
In that instant, Dam Ho's eyes turned icy.
"Take your hand off. Unless you want to die."
"Funny. You're the type who won't shed a tear until they're in the coffin."
The man on Dam Ho's shoulder channeled his internal energy.
"Hyung!"
Bang Jin-bo squeezed his eyes shut.
He knew better than anyone what would happen next.
Boom!
The World's Best Pavilion shook.
Compressed air burst outward in all directions, sending tables and furnishings tumbling across the floor. The dining guests toppled over as well.
Splat!
A crimson mass clung to the wall. It hadn't been there moments ago.
"Ugh!"
The moment they saw it, the fallen guests retched.
Though mangled beyond recognition, it was unmistakably human. Alive and breathing just seconds ago.
All he'd done was grab Dam Ho's shoulder. Nothing more.
Yet now he was crushed like ground meat.
It happened in an instant. Most people had no idea what occurred.
A residual spasm ran through Sim U-won's shoulder.
He was one of the few who understood.
The moment Dam Ho's shoulder twitched, a thunderous roar echoed in his mind, his subordinate flew off, and ended up in that gruesome state.
Splat!
The corpse clinging to the wall slid down. The facial features were pulverized beyond recognition, the chest caved in with ribs protruding sharply.
It was too horrific to even look at.
"Ugh!"
Do Hak-kyung, who had been so arrogant until now, covered his mouth with both hands.
He handled pig and cow carcasses daily, but this was his first time seeing a human corpse up close.
Dam Ho slowly rose from his seat. No one could tear their eyes away from him.
He didn't seem imposing when still, but the moment he moved, an overwhelming pressure crushed the air, making it hard to even breathe.
"Urk!"
A groan escaped Sim U-won's lips involuntarily.
Through his disheveled hair, beast-like eyes gleamed. Thick, sticky killing intent filled them.
Sim U-won had lived his life protected within the Healing Sage Sect's framework. He'd never seen, never even imagined, eyes like these staring right at him.
'Why didn't I notice these eyes sooner?'
Sudden regret surged over him like a tidal wave.
Had he been too hasty, blindly believing Do Hak-kyung? But the water was spilled, and too many eyes were on him now.
He asked,
"Who are you?"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"What?"
"Does who I am matter so much?"
Dam Ho took a step toward Sim U-won, limping slightly.
But no one present dared to laugh.
'Laugh and you're dead.'
That thought flashed through everyone's mind on the fifth floor. Even Sim U-won.
He prided himself on his formidable martial arts, but Dam Ho's gaze made his legs tremble.
The warriors who had been shouting so boldly moments ago clamped their mouths shut. Their eyes shook violently.
Dam Ho finally stood before Sim U-won.
His lips parted.
"So, what?"
Sim U-won smelled the beastly stench of blood on Dam Ho's breath. The foul odor of death that only beasts who devoured the living possessed.
Sim U-won's jaw muscle twitched. He tried to speak. But his lips wouldn't open.
He boasted of being one of Hunan's Five Great Sects, but in truth, the Healing Sage Sect had never fought a real battle. And most of them focused on medicine over martial arts.
He had to decide.
Fight Dam Ho, or swallow his pride and retreat. Neither choice was easy.
It was then, as sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Hyung!"
Bang Jin-bo's voice rang out through the room.