Betrayal at the Black Kitchen
"Is this the Black Kitchen?"
A beautiful voice resounded in front of the quite large hall.
Even without any other skills, this timbre alone could ensure survival. In Hefei, it wouldn't be wronged to rank it third.
The reason it was third—not second—was the red-haired woman bearing the Namgoong name.
The problem was that with that voice, she spewed vulgarities like "sex" and such. But purely in terms of the voice's elegance, no one across the entire Central Plains could surpass her.
And right now, at this place.
A dream-like meeting between first and second place was on the verge of happening at the Black Kitchen.
The second-place Yi Hayeon had personally led five escorts to meet Namgoong Juhee.
But that meeting, regrettably, didn't come to pass—Namgoong Juhee was still searching for the location. She was digging for info at the gambling den she'd just shaken down, so it'd probably take about an hour.
"The hall looks spotless. Given Namgoong Juhee's temperament, she hasn't arrived yet."
"Perfect. Looks like we'll need to flex a bit."
"Planning to bestow a favor?"
"Exactly."
Yi Hayeon's thinking went like this.
The Black Kitchen was openly gunning for Namgoong Juhee and would keep doing so. Black Kitchen and Namgoong Juhee were in a no-coexistence situation.
It was also a damn tricky spot for Namgoong Juhee herself. No matter how strong her martial arts, one person against an organization was tough.
And that was the opening Yi Hayeon aimed to slip into.
If she solved this headache of a problem in Namgoong Juhee's stead? It'd be a solid favor—a debt, even. Meaning she'd hold the high ground when recruiting Namgoong Juhee.
"This time, I'll definitely bring back Namgung Sojeo."
But all this was Yi Hayeon's delusion.
Namgoong Juhee hadn't even pinned down who'd ambushed her in the first place. Even if she had, she'd just gripe about them poaching her prey first. And even if she saw the Black Kitchen as tricky like Hayeon imagined, she wouldn't owe thanks for unasked help. A rare blind spot from Yi Hayeon, who'd propelled the Eonha Merchant Group to the world's top.
"Kangmusa."
At Hayeon's call, an old man stepped forward.
Wrinkled skin, white hair, scars crisscrossing his body here and there. His sword bore the moon emblem marking Eonha's first-generation elite. Even a novice could tell he'd served the Group long and packed serious skill.
"You called?"
"The Black Kitchen lacks manners, it seems. You don't leave guests standing out here."
"Quite right."
"Go inside and relay to the Black Kitchen Leader: Yi Hayeon of the Eonha Merchant Group has arrived."
Kangmusa nodded and vaulted the wall in a flash.
This was rudeness on par with making guests loiter at the main gate—but you don't call out the strong's discourtesy.
All Yi Hayeon had left to do was wait for his return. By then, the Leader would grovel on his own, she figured.
"Kuh kuh kuh..."
The Black Kitchen Leader chuckled quietly.
No matter how elite the master, ambushes were unbeatable. Especially for someone with high realm but piss-poor real combat experience—a textbook greenhorn latecomer.
Against the Peak-realm Leader's personal ambush setup, they had no chance.
BOOM!!
'Fuck... shit, that scared me.'
The thunderclap killed his laugh. And short-circuited the happy fantasies in his head.
Because the epicenter held his first-line ambush goons.
No one left in Black Kitchen could boom like that. Everyone was out hunting Namgoong Juhee.
Meaning that blast came from one of Yi Hayeon's experts. First ambush line: totally smashed.
"L-Leader."
"Shut it. It's just the first line down."
The men's whispers grated. They grimaced too.
Still, no despair on their faces. Three lines left, including theirs. Maybe one could tag Yi Hayeon. Leader's hopeful thought. Dead wrong.
BOOM!!
Thunder again, then dead silence like before. Epicenter: his second-line warrior hideout.
"......Leader."
"It's fine! Totally fine! One more defense line before they hit us. Those guys'll hold!"
Ambush had morphed to "defense line" already.
That's how crumbling morale looked: words shrinking, doubts piling, bodies slowing. Their fate looked no different from the first two.
BOOM!!!
Third blast, third silence.
The Leader inwardly regretted. Should've listened to the chief steward, played the long game instead of this pointless ego trip.
Too late now. Against that caliber, flight meant quick catch—and even escape would make him a joke.
"Leader... they're coming!"
"......Get ready. Door opens, we strike now."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Refined yet iron footsteps closed on the door.
Expert!
Instinct screamed. And he knew: boom incoming.
BOOM!!!
"Lea... kuhk!"
"Guhhhh..."
"Huuuhhh..."
One strike.
A single sweep left every Black Kitchen warrior down—including the Leader. Internals utterly wrecked; couldn't even twitch. Gap beyond imagination.
"You're the Black Kitchen Leader."
The white-haired elder thudded toward Geumseongje, seized his collar, hoisted him up. Fat bulk dangled like a hog behind the butcher's stall.
"Kek. Kek. Gr-Great hero, put me do—"
"Asked you. Are. You. The Leader?"
Geumseongje clocked the elder's eyes: no ordinary gaze. Ruthless with malice faintly coiled. For a "righteous" elder, pure unorthodox vibe.
"Y-Yes! Yes, great hero. I'm Geumseongje."
"Got it. Disappointing. Weaker than thought."
"H-Ha ha ha. Anyone before a titan like you would crumble."
Geumseongje yapped desperately. Pure unorthodox street smarts.
If kill was the goal, done ages ago. No point hunting "Leader" specifically; whole compound massacred. But elder just dangled him, no kill. Ambush buddies groaning but breathing. Elder needed Black Kitchen for something.
"Hmph. This throws my plans."
Bingo.
Nailed it; Geumseongje inwardly whooped.
"If great hero needs anything, Black Kitchen backs you full-force."
"Ho? That so."
"Yes. Name it. But uh... down first? Grateful."
Elder dropped him. Right hand quivered faintly—hefty bastard.
"So, what d'you want from us?"
"Simple. Yi Hayeon's coming soon. Kill her."
"Got it. Kill Yi Hay—what?"
Geumseongje recoiled. He'd planned her death anyway—petty as hell.
"Uh... great hero, you with Eonha Merchant Group...?"
"Spot on. Proud Eonha man. Not her faction."
"Ah... y-yes."
Geumseongje clammed up. Got the picture.
Yi Hayeon vs. Group Leader beef was insider knowledge. Leader nursed her to squeeze dry, then dump.
Limit's hit.
Leader's elder here to off Hayeon, pin it on Black Kitchen.
"Ha ha... ha. Right, right. Great hero's spot on."
Dopey grin screaming I know zip. Backstory-knowers died win or lose. Peak-realm instincts, that.
"So, just kill Yi Hayeon?"
"Yep. I'll lure her here. Rally your goons, reset the ambush like before."
"Yes sir. Got it. What're you waiting for! Up!"
Geumseongje hustled his warriors upright. While plotting escape post-elder's Hayeon-slay.
"O-Owner... h-how the fuck d'you know all this?"
Horrid slur from the blood-masked youth's mouth. Passing hero would've drawn steel: what rogue did this?
"Hm... how to put it. Ah, yeah. Wanna guess what I'm dying to know?"
The rogue replied oh-so-sweetly. Central Plains' loveliest voice.
"How'd you kn—"
"Beat someone long enough, they spill everything, yeah? Hell, I don't even know what I'm after. So, round two?"
SLAM!
Head to desk; dice tumbled from mouth. Weird ones—only 3s or 6s. Cheater's gambling tool.
"Ow! Told ya, no spilling."
"Gr-Great hero! I'll talk!"
Dice gone, panic set in. Obvious: more dice crammed in, finger-snap per drop.
Spill all, maybe dodge a hook.
"First off, Hobuk native, name Jangseo. Family..."
"Nah. Next."
"Food I scarfed today..."
"Beatdown? Next."
"3rd-rate realm, slanging at Cheongeumgak chores..."
"Next."
"Uh... Cheongeumgak's Black Kitchen turf..."
"Oh."
Namgoong Juhee's eyes gleamed.
Every Hefei gripe she'd heard? Black Kitchen tangled in it. Attackers: them. Puzzle solved.
"Roger that. Black Kitchen. Neat name. Where?"
"Straight out, flashy building. That's it."
Juhee knew it: gold-leaf roof, tall walls. Time-walk away.
"Good work. See? Just talk, punk."
"So... I live?"
"Nah?"
"What the—"
Slice.
Juhee's Noksu sword lopped the gambler's head. Gambling den rule: hand tricks, head gone.
"Whew, fresh. Black Kitchen's all that's left, huh?"
Muttering so, Namgoong Juhee ambled leisurely. Pace unfit for a marked woman.