Heinrich's Law (2)
Eight hours before the incident.
Several campfires crackled near the valley of Hyangsan. Above each fire, a heavy cast-iron pot hung from a cooking tripod fashioned out of thick branches. Something bubbled furiously inside the pots. A boy scooped up a bit of the liquid with a wooden spoon, took a cautious sip, and immediately grimaced.
“This tastes awful.”
At his words, a girl nearby asked tentatively, “Didn't we follow the assistant instructor's directions exactly...?”
“Even so, it's terrible.”
It was an indescribable flavor. The soup in the pot tasted of many different things, but they were completely uncoordinated—a chaotic, messy jumble of flavors.
“Did our seniors really eat garbage like this during their outdoor survival training?”
“I guess so. That's impressive in a completely different way.”
“We definitely used edible ingredients, so why does it taste so bad?”
While the other children stood by, fretting helplessly, Gongson Yeongji stepped forward holding a small bamboo tube.
“Yeongji? What's wrong? Do you need to use the restroom?”
“No, it's not that.”
Gongson Yeongji approached the boy from earlier and pointed at his wooden spoon. “Can I borrow that for a second?”
“...Sure.”
Having spent the last three days keeping entirely to herself, Yeongji's sudden initiative caught the boy off guard, and he handed over the spoon without thinking.
Tonight's dinner was Hot and Sour Soup. It was a simple dish featuring a tangy, spicy broth packed with pork, tofu, and mushrooms—ingredients that should have been impossible to ruin. Yet, the fact that it tasted terrible meant something crucial was missing.
Gongson Yeongji dipped the wooden spoon into the pot and took a taste.
It's bland, and it's not sour at all.
It barely deserved the name. There was no tanginess, nor was there any of the signature numbing spice. It tasted like unseasoned pork and mushroom water.
“Jeoksan, did you put in the soy sauce?”
The boy who had handed her the spoon, Yoo Jeoksan, nodded. “I put in everything. The salt, too.”
Then what's the problem...?
As Gongson Yeongji pondered, a past conversation with Yoon Gomyung flashed through her mind. Specifically, it was when they were returning to the academy from the Murim Alliance. Because of their awkward arrival time, they had been forced to eat lunch on the road. Yoon Gomyung had gone into the mountains to forage for wild herbs, leaving the cooking to Seonwoo Seol and Gongson Yeongji. The dish they made wasn't terrible, but it had turned out strangely hollow, as if lacking a core.
Upon returning with an armful of wild greens, Yoon Gomyung had tasted their unfinished dish and casually offered a few pointers.
"When people eat food, if the seasoning is too strong, do you know how they describe it?"
"Wouldn't they say it's salty...?"
"Right. Usually, they say it's salty. But what do they say if the seasoning is too weak?"
"Bland?"
"No, they say it tastes bad."
In times like that, he had said, adding just two things could save the dish.
"If a soup is bland and you keep adding salt, the more you boil it, the blander it will feel. It's much better to add a bit more soy sauce instead."
Following Yoon Gomyung's advice from her memory, Gongson Yeongji opened one of the bamboo tubes Gomyung had packed for her a few days ago and drizzled some soy sauce into the pot.
"If you still feel like something is missing, add one of two things: dried oysters or minced garlic. But generally, minced garlic is the best choice."
After that, Yoon Gomyung had declared that "garlic is a vegetable bestowed by the heavens," though to Gongson Yeongji, garlic felt more like a spice than a vegetable. Regardless, following his words, she pulled out a clove of garlic, peeled it, minced it finely, and tossed it into the pot without hesitation.
She also added a splash of vinegar and a pinch of Sichuan pepper to make up for the lack of sourness and spice. After stirring the soup thoroughly, she took another careful sip.
And then...
“...Yes. This should be good enough.”
This was it. The tangy, numbing Hot and Sour Soup of her memory had been perfectly recreated. Just a tiny bit of garlic had unlocked a rich, deep flavor that danced across her tongue.
As Gongson Yeongji nodded and handed the spoon back to Yoo Jeoksan, he tilted his head in confusion. “Really?”
“Really.”
Jeoksan stirred the soup and took a sip himself. Instantly, his eyes widened in shock.
“Hey, guys! Come eat! It's actually delicious now!”
“Yeongji has been hanging out with the Head Chef, so she must've learned how to cook from him!”
“Whoa! It really is good!”
Watching the children eagerly ladle out the soup and devour it, Gongson Yeongji smiled warmly. As she sat down to enjoy her own bowl, Yoo Jeoksan, who had been watching her quietly, spoke up in a soft voice.
“...Thanks.”
“Don't mention it. You're our group leader, yet you trusted me enough to let me try. I should be the one thanking you.”
When Gongson Yeongji offered a bright, gentle smile, Yoo Jeoksan felt his cheeks flush.
Was she always this pretty...?
During the first semester, he had thought of her as just a scrawny, gloomy girl. But looking at her now, though she was still a bit shy, she was incredibly pretty.
...Maybe we could become closer friends.
With that thought, Yoo Jeoksan decided to look for an opportunity to talk to her one-on-one.
Thus, the children finished their delicious dinner. While everyone went to wash their dishes, the supervising assistant instructor shouted out: “It's getting dark, so don't wander off alone! Make sure you move in pairs with your fellow students!”
“Yes, sir!”
Gongson Yeongji headed toward the stream to wash her utensils like the others. Yoo Jeoksan followed closely behind.
“Mind if I tag along?”
“Oh? Ah, sure. Of course.”
As they washed their spoons in the shallow water, Jeoksan hesitated before finally squeezing out a question. “Where... did you learn to cook?”
“From Chef Yoon... I mean, the Head Chef. Well, I didn't really learn it formally. I just memorized what he said.”
“You just listened and memorized it, and you could apply it in real life just like that?”
“Is... is that bad?”
Seeing Gongson Yeongji's flustered expression, Yoo Jeoksan quickly shook his head. “No, no! It's not bad at all...”
“That's a relief then... hehe.”
Although he nodded along as she laughed it off, Yoo Jeoksan couldn't help but wonder.
What did she mean by "is that bad"?
Did she really just hear him say it once or twice, memorize it perfectly, and put it into practice?
As that realization dawned on him, Yoo Jeoksan saw Gongson Yeongji in a completely new light.
She always hangs out with the Head Chef, the Little Heavenly Demon instructor, and that giant senior. She really is playing in a completely different league than the rest of us.
Seeing this only made him want to get closer to her. He was curious about just how capable Gongson Yeongji was, and how much she was hiding. But asking her directly in front of so many people would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention from the other students.
After all, they were only eleven-year-old first-years. At this age, boys and girls walking together was an instant invitation for relentless teasing.
We still have plenty of time. I can get closer to her later.
There were still four days left of the outdoor survival training. He was sure there would be plenty of opportunities.
After a brief rest and washing up, everyone retired to their tents to sleep. Several hours passed, and the deep, silent hours of the early morning arrived. The air grew progressively colder, causing everyone to curl up tightly under their blankets.
“Ugh...”
Woken by a sudden urge to relieve himself, Yoo Jeoksan crawled out of his sleeping bag and stepped out of the tent. The makeshift latrines were quite a distance away, so he tried to wake someone to accompany him.
“Hey, Gijeong.”
“Mmm... what is it...”
“Come to the restroom with me.”
“Ugh, go by yourself... Are you a baby?”
“The instructor said we have to go in pairs if we're leaving the campsite.”
“Who's going to show up in the middle of the night? Just go alone. What, are you scared?”
“S-Scared? Who's scared?!”
Stung by Gijeong's teasing, Yoo Jeoksan had no choice but to leave the tent alone.
Dammit, it actually is a little creepy out here.
Yoo Jeoksan grimaced. Listening to the eerie hooting of scops owls, he walked past the girls' tents. To reach the latrines, he had no choice but to pass by them. Just then...
“Whoa!”
Not looking where he was going, he tripped and almost fell flat on his face. He barely managed to regain his balance and quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Ah, crap. That was embarrassing.
“...Who's there?”
Along with a familiar voice, someone peeked out from one of the tents.
“Oh.”
Seeing Gongson Yeongji poking her head out while rubbing her half-closed eyes, Yoo Jeoksan froze in place.
Of all tents, why did it have to be Gongson Yeongji's?
“...Yoo Jeoksan?”
“Oh, uh... I was heading to the restroom and tripped.”
“But why are you alone...?”
“Well, Gijeong refused to come with me...”
Under normal circumstances, she might have kept quiet, but still half-asleep, Gongson Yeongji offered an unexpectedly kind suggestion.
“...Should I go with you?”
“Wait, to the restroom?”
“But... it's dangerous to go alone. The instructor said we must always go in pairs.”
Yoo Jeoksan hesitated at her offer, but ultimately nodded. It was a little embarrassing, but Gongson Yeongji made a fair point.
“Then, if you don't mind...”
“...I'll catch up in a second. Go on ahead.”
While Gongson Yeongji slipped on her shoes, Yoo Jeoksan walked ahead, looking slightly awkward. He looked back at Gongson Yeongji, who was catching up, and asked, “I appreciate it, but are you sure you're okay with this?”
“...Okay with what?”
“Walking me to the restroom.”
“It's better than being scared.”
While Yoo Jeoksan went inside the latrine tent, Gongson Yeongji squatted down nearby, resting her chin in her hands as she waited.
Is it really a bit weird to follow a boy to the restroom...?
She felt a bit self-conscious, but then again, it didn't seem like that big of a deal. As she was lost in thought, a rustling sound made her look up.
“Are you done—?”
“...?”
Standing before her was a tall man dressed entirely in black, staring down at her.
“W-Who are you?”
“...!”
The tall man reached out toward her with a sudden, aggressive movement. Gongson Yeongji instinctively reached for her waist, but to her dismay, her weapon wasn't there.
I left it in the tent...!
Realizing her mistake, she immediately clawed at her neck.
The whistle!
It was the whistle that a worried Seonwoo Seol had given her, telling her to keep it on her just in case. Without a moment's hesitation, Gongson Yeongji ripped the whistle from her neck, shoved it into her mouth, and blew with all the air in her lungs.
At the shrill, piercing blast, the tall man lunged, thrusting his right hand forward to grab her.
“You brat...!”
Just as the man's fingers were about to snatch her collar, Gongson Yeongji's instincts kicked in.
“No!”
If there was one thing she had learned from her weekly sparring sessions with Yoon Gomyung and Seonwoo Seol, it was this:
'What should you do if you have to fight a master? Well, I doubt our Yeongji will have to fight one anytime soon, but a master is still just a human, right?'
Recalling Seonwoo Seol's voice, Gongson Yeongji stomped her foot to anchor herself and threw a straight punch. Bending her knees, she drove her fist forward with all her might. And the trajectory of that punch aligned perfectly with her small stature. Her tightly clenched fist collided squarely with a highly sensitive, vital area for any man.
Crack!
“...Heegh!”
The tall man let out a strangled, wheezing gasp, clutched his crotch, and rolled his eyes back in sheer agony.
'At the end of the day, if you hit them in the vitals, they're going down.'
When Seonwoo Seol had said those words, Yoon Gomyung and Man Hanseok had both crossed their legs with terrified expressions.
...Thank goodness.
Watching the man collapse, Gongson Yeongji let out a sigh of relief and spun around to run toward the instructors' tents. Or at least, she tried to.
Thud!
Just as she turned to sprint, she collided with a dark figure blocking her path and was thrown backward.
“...Huh?”
Falling hard onto the ground, Gongson Yeongji looked up with a pale, terrified face. A masked man, radiating an aura far more menacing than the first, stood towering over her. Without a word, he looked down at her. Before she could even register his movement, his hand shot forward, striking her acupoints.
Just as Gongson Yeongji's vision began to fade into darkness, the masked man spoke.
“The Heavenly Martial Body...”
The Heavenly Martial Body...?
Hearing that strangely familiar term slip from the man's lips, Gongson Yeongji lost consciousness.
This is driving me crazy. Seriously, what's taking so long?
Seonwoo Seol, Man Hanseok, and I were waiting at the entrance of Hyangsan, barely holding back our urge to charge up the mountain. Although I had volunteered to act as her guardian, I wasn't Gongson Yeongji's parent or relative. However, every staff member at the academy knew that Seonwoo Seol and I had been practically glued to Yeongji's side throughout the last semester and the entire break.
Just then, the leader of the Tiger Brigade—the academy's security force—came rushing over. I immediately questioned her, as she was the one most likely to have the details.
“What exactly happened?”
Catching her breath for a brief second, the Tiger Brigade Leader answered immediately.
“In the early hours of the morning, a sharp whistle was heard. The duty instructors and assistant instructors rushed out, only to spot three men dressed in black robes and masks fleeing in a hurry, carrying a large sack.”
“A whistle... You mean the one you gave her?”
At my question, Seonwoo Seol nodded, her eyes filled with anxiety. It was a blessing in disguise. If she hadn't blown the whistle, we wouldn't have realized she was missing until morning, making the search infinitely harder.
“What if Yeongji is subjected to those horrible experiments... like the Poison Human children...?”
“Don't say such cursed things, you idiot.”
“Chef Yoon, aren't you worried?”
“Of course I am. I'm dying to tear Hyangsan apart right this second.”
Tearing it apart wasn't enough; I wanted to grind the entire mountain to dust. But for now, I had to suppress this helpless rage. Finding my restraint incredibly frustrating, Man Hanseok asked with an exasperated look, “Then who are we waiting for? Shouldn't we head out immediately?”
Man Hanseok made a fair point, but the Tiger Brigade and their leader were only meant to assist us in the search. The person we truly needed was someone else.
“Is everyone here?”
Oh Waja, the Northern Hall Master who usually wore a carefree smile, arrived with a grim expression. And he wasn't alone; he had brought dozens of Beggar Sect disciples with him. It was far too many people to bring just for a simple student disappearance.
“……”
There was definitely something more to this search operation than met the eye.