A Feast Interrupted

A luxurious, dark-red carriage bearing the crest of the Jeokcheon Merchant Group pulled up in front of the Suban-gaekjan. Naturally, it drew the intense gaze of everyone nearby. It wasn't uncommon for people to arrive in fine carriages; travelers and merchants from Hunan and Jiangxi frequently passed through this city. However, a carriage of this sheer luxury was a rare sight, one that most of the onlookers had never laid eyes on before.

Just then, the city's well-known branch manager of the Jeokcheon Merchant Group appeared and carefully opened the carriage door. As Unwol and his companions stepped out one by one, their immaculate and striking appearances led the crowd to believe that high-ranking officials from some far-off province had arrived. Naturally, the inn's staff had been forewarned of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their arrival by Cheong Ong, allowing them to act swiftly and receive the guests with the utmost courtesy. Cheong Ong had sent a subordinate ahead to inform them before they even departed. He truly lived up to his reputation as the branch manager of a great merchant group.

"The building is larger than I expected," Unwol remarked, looking up at the three-story inn. From a modern perspective, three stories wasn't particularly tall, but the sheer footprint of the building was massive. The courtyard was equally spacious, dotted with numerous patrons relaxing after their meals. Cheong Ong replied in a bright voice, "Haha, it is famous for being the largest inn in Tongseong County."

The waiter stood waiting at the entrance of the inn, visibly tense with the anticipation of escorting them to the VIP suite. The VIP suite of the Suban-gaekjan was a sanctuary reserved only for the most distinguished of guests. And the owner of the Jeokcheon Merchant Group and his companions were, without a doubt, at the very top of that elite category.

"Welcome, honored guests!!!"

The waiter's booming voice rang out, filled with a rare, genuine vigor. A waiter's volume was usually determined by the status of the guest or the amount of money they spent. If they ordered expensive, high-quality food or liquor, the waiter would announce it loudly; if a distinguished guest arrived, they would do the same. Of course, in the latter case, if the guest's expression or attire suggested they preferred privacy, the waiter would read the room and guide them quietly. How did they gauge this? It was entirely a matter of intuition. Thus, a waiter had to be quick-witted and silver-tongued to be considered skilled, and large-scale establishments like this would pay handsome wages to hire such talent. One had to understand that from the moment a guest stepped through the door, they experienced the waiter's words and actions long before they ever tasted the food or drink. From this perspective, the most senior and capable waiter of the Suban-gaekjan judged that Unwol's party warranted the loudest welcome he could muster. However, knowing that shouting directly in their faces might cause discomfort, he greeted them from a respectful distance before stepping forward to guide them.

The luxurious carriage had already drawn everyone's attention, and the waiter's booming greeting made it impossible for the surrounding crowd to look away from Unwol's group. But then, a problem arose. Every single member of the party—Unwol, Biwol, Lee Hak, and Yeon So-o—possessed extraordinary, breathtaking beauty. In an instant, the hearts of the city's young men and women were utterly captivated. Even middle-aged men and women who had long been married felt the dead embers of romance suddenly reignite within them. It was certain that from this day forward, countless souls in the city would toss and turn, suffering from severe lovesickness. In a flash, the faces of almost everyone in the vicinity flushed crimson, creating a comical spectacle as if the entire crowd had simultaneously suffered heatstroke.

Among them, the appearances of Unwol and Biwol were nothing short of overwhelming. Unwol was, after all, a being artificially sculpted to perfection, while Biwol was a woman whom even Yeon So-o—the 'Sword Flower' and one of the Five Flowers of the Martial World—had conceded was more beautiful than herself. Consequently, a rather tragic situation unfolded where Lee Hak, who was accustomed to being called handsome wherever he went, looked almost ordinary by comparison. For someone like Lee Hak, who lived thoroughly intoxicated by his own vanity, this atmosphere might have been slightly displeasing. Yet, because the one outshining him was the master he served with absolute devotion, he also felt a sense of pride, leaving him with a rather complicated mix of emotions.

The waiter quickly read the room. Sensing from Unwol's expression and posture that he was not a difficult or overly demanding guest, he smiled warmly and spoke up. "Your Grace's countenance is so exceptionally brilliant that it seems to illuminate the entire street! Haha!" This kind of blatant flattery had to be tailored carefully to the recipient, meaning only those with sharp intuition could pull it off. In that regard, the waiter's judgment was spot on. Indeed, Unwol's mood had improved significantly.

"Haha, thank you."

Possessing the mind of a modern person and having been quite gentle and generous in his past life, Unwol simply accepted the compliment at face value without overthinking it. However, there were four people watching intently as the waiter's flattery hit its mark without a hitch: Biwol, Lee Hak, Yeon So-o, and Cheong Ong. Every single one of them harbored a deep desire to win Unwol's favor, so despite pretending otherwise, they were closely analyzing his every word and gesture. And thanks to the waiter, a new piece of information was instantly etched into their minds: 'He does not dislike direct compliments.'

However, Biwol and Lee Hak, who had spent the most time with him among the four, understood a deeper truth. 'His nature is inherently good, which is why he appreciates sincere praise. He would never tolerate flattery born of greed.' Having observed countless human behaviors, Biwol and Lee Hak could discern Unwol's true character from his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠words and actions. Though he was a being forged from tens of thousands of malicious, resentful souls, his inner core remained infinitely pure. Of course, Biwol and Lee Hak didn't entirely prefer this gentle nature, but what could they do? It was the personality of the 'God' they served. They merely attended to him quietly, hoping that as he spent more time in the mortal world, he might change a little.

After all, had he not witnessed the wicked depths of humanity and brought forth a magnificent demon like 'Jigok-do'? Biwol and Lee Hak remembered vividly what became of a human when their tragic emotions peaked and they were reborn as a Blood Ghoul. And whether their God willed it or not, he was ultimately acting in accordance with the prophecy of the previous leader of the Blood Heaven Sect.

As Biwol and Lee Hak were lost in their respective thoughts, they reached their destination.

"This is the finest room in our inn. We keep it meticulously maintained at all times to welcome our most distinguished guests." Guided by the waiter, they soon arrived at the VIP suite. The moment they stepped inside, it was immediately obvious why it held such a title. Despite the room's vast size, it was brightly lit, and everything from the wallpaper to the furniture was sumptuously decorated. Outside the window, a panoramic view of the city unfolded. In the distance lay a pristine blue lake, bordered by a lush, verdant forest. One could dine while admiring the beauty of nature, elevated far above the bustling crowds below. It was clear that immense care and thought had gone into designing this suite.

Once everyone was seated, the waiter stood ready to take their order, but everyone simply stared at Unwol. The problem, however, was that Unwol knew absolutely nothing about authentic Chinese cuisine. Naturally, looking at the menu yielded nothing familiar; the only dishes he knew were plain noodles and dumplings he had seen in modern webtoons, along with malatang, jajangmyeon, and jjamppong, which might not even exist in this era. But asking for dumplings, plain noodles, or black bean noodles in a high-class setting like this would look incredibly out of place, so he simply pretended to be lost in deep thought.

Biwol and Lee Hak immediately picked up on Unwol's dilemma. In truth, back in Wuyuan County, the only things he had eaten were the fish dishes, chicken dishes, and fried rice that Biwol had ordered for him. Just as Lee Hak was about to open his mouth to order on his behalf, Unwol uttered the ultimate cheat code applicable to any restaurant.

"Bring us your finest specialty dishes."

It was a romantic phrase of a bygone era, one that had sadly become difficult to use in modern times due to those heartless machines called kiosks.

Unwol then gestured to Biwol, Lee Hak, and Yeon So-o, indicating they should order as well. Receiving the cue first, Lee Hak turned to the branch manager. "What are the best dishes here?" The branch manager explained with the utmost care, sharing everything he knew. "Since there is a pristine lake nearby, the fish dishes are exquisite. In fact, the locals rave about the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fish prepared at this inn; its reputation is widespread."

"Oh, is that so? Then let's have one grilled and one steamed," Lee Hak said. Biwol pondered for a moment before speaking up. "Personally, I prefer chicken. I am curious to see how a skilled establishment prepares its poultry." Yeon So-o, also preferring meat over seafood, requested roasted pork. To ensure everything was prepared to perfection, the branch manager requested a wide variety of dishes and, reading the room, ordered their finest liquor without anyone having to ask. After all, how could such a grand gathering be complete without alcohol?

"Yes, right away! Please wait just a moment!" Having taken the order, the waiter bowed politely, stepped outside, and hurried toward the kitchen. Even though the feast ordered by Unwol's party was massive, their dishes were given absolute priority over those of the other patrons who had ordered first. Consequently, despite the dinner rush bringing in a crowd, the food arrived surprisingly fast—though, of course, this meant the other guests in the inn had to wait a bit longer for theirs.

As an immense spread of food was laid out on the large table, the VIP suite was instantly filled with a rich symphony of aromas. There was a bubbling red broth, golden-brown grilled fish, a glistening roasted duck brushed with oil and flanked by meticulously arranged vegetables, and mouthwatering roasted pork and chicken cooked to a perfect, tempting hue. Beside the plates sat a bottle of premium liquor labeled 'First-Class Dugang Wine.' Frankly, it was an excessive amount of food for five people, but this was typically how high-ranking figures dined when they gathered.

Even Unwol, with his modern mindset, was taken aback, but it was Yeon So-o whose reaction was the most dramatic. Just a few years ago, she had spent two years in closed-door cultivation, during which her palate had been thoroughly ruined by a diet of bland fasting pills. Even during her regular training at her sect's headquarters, meat was provided only in strictly necessary amounts, and even then, it was dry and tasteless, consumed purely for nutrition rather than flavor. To her, the array of delicacies spread across the table looked like a feast fit for the heavens. Moreover, during her travels in the martial world, she had never been given much money, forcing her to scrape by on cheap meals funded by the occasional bounty she collected from capturing bandits. These were dishes she had never even dared to dream of.

Consequently, her mouth fell open, and she began to drool rather ungracefully. Branch Manager Cheong Ong tactfully averted his eyes, while Lee Hak, finding the sight thoroughly amusing, hid his grin behind his folding fan. Just then, Unwol's gaze fell upon a peculiar dish sitting right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the center of the table. It was a cooked fish head. '...What is this? Are we supposed to eat this?'

Having never seen a fish head dish in his life, he was deeply bewildered. In truth, however, fish head dishes were highly esteemed in Chinese culinary tradition, often served at prestigious gatherings and still frequently seen today during business meetings in modern China. Though bony, the meat possessed an excellent texture. Furthermore, fish dishes in China carried various auspicious meanings beyond mere flavor, and the fish head, being the crown of the dish, held the most significant symbolism. Unwol, completely ignorant of this cultural nuance, simply thought to himself, 'This restaurant certainly has some eccentric culinary tastes.'

Just as everything was set and the atmosphere was about to warm up, a sudden commotion erupted from outside.

"Hey! Why can't we use the VIP suite?! Are you kidding me right now?!"

"P-Please, wait a moment..."

"Do you have any idea who we are?! Huh?! Are you saying the people inside are more important than us?!"

"Just a moment, please..."

Having gathered such distinguished guests, Cheong Ong was highly displeased that a loud disturbance was threatening to ruin the pleasant mood. 'How dare they, after all the effort it took to arrange this!' Forcing a wide smile, Cheong Ong spoke loudly in an attempt to drown out the noise and allow Unwol's party to ignore the commotion. "Haha! As expected of the most famous inn in Tongseong County, the aroma of these dishes is truly on another level! Hahahat!" Yet, despite his best efforts, the shouting outside only grew louder.

"Hey! I asked if you know who we are?!"

"Jong-gang, calm down a bit..."

"No, brother! We aren't just some random nobodies! We are the rising stars of prestigious orthodox sects! You bastards! You must be looking down on the eldest son of the Guangdong Jin Family to treat us like this!"

"P-Please... let's step outside to talk..."

Having fretted over every minor detail to ensure a flawless reception, Cheong Ong could not tolerate some random fools ruining the atmosphere. Wearing a strained smile, he rose from his seat and bowed apologetically to Unwol and Lee Hak. "Haha, it seems there is a minor disturbance outside. I shall go and quiet them down." But just as he was about to take a step, the door to the VIP suite was violently kicked open.

CRASH!

At the sudden intrusion, the guards from the Jeokcheon Merchant Group and the inn staff who had been guarding the door looked on in utter shock and dismay. Cheong Ong, horrified by this massive, unintended breach of etiquette, was equally stunned.

"Just who on earth is in this room that you dare bar the rising stars of the great orthodox sects from entering?!"