The Gourmet Yoo Hwa-yeon (Complete)
Yoo Hwa-yeon quietly drew her sword.
At that moment, a passage I'd read over and over in my head floated up.
Yoo Hwa-yeon had long set aside martial arts. The only technique she could wield was the Yusu Sinsword, passed down through the Yoo family. But the reason she stepped away from the martial world wasn't just because of her Innate True Taste. Nor was it solely because she mastered the poison sect's Yusu Sinsword more perfectly than anyone. Even the first-generation disciples of the Huashan, Zhongnan, and Wudang Sects were like autumn leaves swept away by the wind before her Yusu Sinsword, unable to muster a single proper strike. Perhaps that's why she so quickly became a gourmet—some who witnessed her prowess speculated it was because she had no peers her age.
The description of Yoo Hwa-yeon from the novel. Her martial arts were truly beautiful and profound, just as portrayed. Every attack brimmed with sincerity. This was no longer the gourmet Yoo Hwa-yeon. Her sword sliced through the air with blinding speed, tracing elegant arcs. From the tip, it seemed like rippling streams of water. Sometimes gentle, other times fierce. Firmness hid within the softness, beauty lurked in the ferocity. Each thrust unleashed her profound inner energy. I couldn't help but marvel. How could a person's qi be so pure and refined? She was a total wild child when she talked, but the instant she gripped her sword, she was a master artisan without equal. Maybe I only thought so because I'd never seen other top martial artists.
Meanwhile, the man? I'd figured his massive dao would be helpless against the fluid Yusu Sinsword, but that was a huge miscalculation. His dao stood like Mount Tai, eternally guarding its throne for centuries. He focused on defense over offense, yet he wasn't yielding an inch. He blocked every one of her profound sword thrusts right from his stationary spot with his blade.
The novel made no mention of this guy at all, but that didn't simply gauge strong versus weak.
The clash of metal rang out, sparks flying in the air. Their blurring forms, the occasional bursts of fire from their clashes. It was a fight so evenly matched, you couldn't call it anything less.
The dao-wielding man swung wide. The wind and sword gust shook the bamboo leaves violently. The massive gale sent the plastic chairs and tables I'd set up outside the convenience store flying far away—even the leaves I'd painstakingly swept up. Money flying away. I'd braced for some store damage, but it still stung.
Even so, my eyes couldn't tear away. To my eyes, which had only read about martial arts in print, this fight was spectacular enough to see clearly.
Their exchange showed no sign of ending soon. A battle of mountain and river. No way to predict the winner. A freely flowing river and steadfast Mount Tai were fundamentally different.
But all things must end. Yoo Hwa-yeon's footwork being one step faster proved the decisive factor.
Before the man could raise his dao in defense, her Yusu Sinsword struck home. Her blade pierced the gap, embedding in his shoulder. With a short "Urk!" he toppled to the ground.
They'd fought till dusk, so collapsing after one final exchange wasn't surprising. He probably wouldn't die, right? If someone actually died, a 21st-century guy like me wouldn't know how to handle it.
As if sensing my anxiety, Yoo Hwa-yeon steadied her ragged breath and said,
"He won't die."
That was a relief. She gave me an apologetic look.
"I said I'd protect you... sorry. The inn's a bit smashed."
I strode over and grabbed her hand. Her sweat-soaked palm burned like a hot coal.
"Wh-what is this...!!"
I pulled her inside the store.
"Store breaking? Not shocking. Broken twice or three times—what's the difference? Haha."
Bitter. It was all money.
But more importantly...
"You're hurt."
Only then did she glance at her own forearm. A huge gash.
No matter how skilled Yoo Hwa-yeon was, walking away from a fight unscathed didn't make sense.
Inside the store, I rummaged through the small daily necessities shelf. This was a patch, mosquito repellent, this... ah, there was some Povidone and bandages somewhere. Digging deep into the shelf, I found the shoved-back Povidone and bandages.
"Here."
"Gr-Grand Chef, this is nothing..."
"Hold still. It'll scar ugly."
Yoo Hwa-yeon looked on the verge of tears, fidgeting restlessly. Why? First time getting her arm grabbed? No way she'd never even brushed skin with a guy... nah, she's a grown woman.
I soaked a clean towel and wiped the wound on her arm. She didn't even flinch—clearly used to injuries. Her palms were covered in calluses. Up close, her arms bore plenty of scars. How hard must she have trained, over and over.
Hands immersed in passion look more beautiful than ugly. They carry the traces of those years.
"Beautiful."
"H-huh?"
"Your hands. Must've been tough."
"Wh-wh-wh-what are you s-s-s-saying to a l-l-l-lady..."
Stuttering too much, no?
"I'm serious."
"......"
Her arm heated up. From pain? I wiped the blood, no antiseptic so I applied Povidone. Luckily, not too long or deep. Against that brute, ending with just this damage. Nothing but amazing.
"There, done!"
I slapped on a big bandage and wrapped it securely with gauze so it wouldn't slip. Then handed her the used Povidone tube.
"Here."
"Wh-what's this?"
"Long story. Just medicine. Best stuff—new skin sprouts right up. Unwrap daily and apply."
"G-got it."
I gave her the rundown, then straightened up. Alright, now the convenience store... really smashed to hell. Sigh. No helping it. I asked her to do it. Whatever. Earn it back.
And it wasn't pure loss. I gained a martial artist to guard the store from now on. What I gave up, I got back. Sorta.
As I started clearing broken fixtures to clean, Yoo Hwa-yeon bent down to help beside me.
"You're hurt—rest."
"No. I'll help."
"No need."
"Grand Chef."
She stared straight at me with a resolute expression. What? What's up?
"I am truly grateful for providing tasty food to this wretch born with Innate True Taste, and for showing mercy to the one who smashed your inn."
"N-no, the inn smashing had its reasons. Don't worry about it."
Despite my words, she performed an arch hand salute. Her deeply bowed head lingered, expressing profound thanks.
"Thank you for forgiving me. I'll do anything to ensure this inn never breaks again."
Anything. That vow meant a lot.
The mood got too serious, so I joked,
"Alright. What'll you do?"
"P-pay with my body?"
I doubted my ears. Pay with... body...?
Slap! I smacked my own cheek. Snap out of it, Kim Jung-hyun. She's a swordswoman.
But Yoo Hwa-yeon twisted shyly in that perfect misunderstanding pose.
"I'm pretty good at physical work, y'know. I'll labor to cover what I broke."
Oh. She meant part-time work? Still no plans to hire. Debt ballooned to three gold ingots now. No money for wages.
I'd just hoped she'd fend off occasional thugs. Not stick around full-time.
But... maybe good? No, but no pay...
"Won't... work?"
Her wounded-puppy eyes looked up, face crumbling. Nearly clutched my heart. I'm weak to pitiful things from the start.
"N-no money to pay you..."
"Oh, that? No worries! I've got money."
I scanned her ragged clothes top to bottom. Barely escaped beggar status—money? And even if rich, no-pay work violates labor laws. As an upright modern guy, I couldn't stomach it.
No answer from me, she slumped her shoulders and turned, trudging away slowly.
"......You always walk that slow?"
"...I'm a slow walker."
"Footwork was slick earlier."
"N-normally don't use it! Plus, hungry..."
Still too slow. How long to exit the forest, wiggling toes for microscopic progress. Doesn't wanna go obvious.
I chuckled inwardly. Cute antics. A terrifying, fearsome woman to any girl, but in Murim, my defenses down—back to normal me. Felt good, like a regular person.
"Instead!"
At my call, her puppy eyes whipped back.
"Can't pay much. Minimum wage till things improve."
"Don't need money. If it eases your mind, Grand Chef, fine."
Yeah. Better full-time guard. And ramen-only due to Innate True Taste. What to do? Earn money later. Saving her first priority, like the Jang siblings.
"Deal. You're hired."
Her beautiful face bloomed in a huge grin. No trace of the cold killer who'd stabbed that guy's shoulder moments ago.
"For real?"
"But."
"What?"
"Th-that stiff speech forever? We're boss and employee now, similar ages. Casual'd be nice?"
She scratched her cheek.
"Casual means... treat as equals?"
"Yeah. Equals."
"Got it. Ah, gotcha."
"And."
"Yeah?"
One key thing.
"Guarding the store means no more fight-breaking-the-store. Got it?"
"I'll keep it in mind. Never again will this inn break."
Good enough. I handed her the broom from the front yard corner. Question in her eyes.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Clean first."
"O-oh, got it!"
Yoo Hwa-yeon started clumsily sweeping leaves.
Now, what about that collapsed black dao thug? Come to think, he was a problem. Left like that, he'd probably croak. Even if he survived and reported back, more Black Eagle Gang coming. Can't just send him off.
"Heave-ho!"
"Grand Chef, what? Need help?"
"Let's move this guy inside."
"Why?"
"Make him a customer."
If worried, just crack his skull, right?