A Lifetime Bond
The Western Hall Master’s office always smelled of a sweet, nameless floral fragrance, no matter when I visited. And right in the center, Dan Buyong, the Western Hall Master, sat behind her desk. She stared at me intently from across the table, then pointed toward her own eyes with a worried look.
“You have dark circles under your eyes.”
“I might look like this, but my body is perfectly fine.”
“No need to pretend you’re fine. Do you really think you can fool a physician’s eyes?”
I felt a bit embarrassed by her flat assertion. Well, I had woken up at dawn yesterday and run all the way here without even having time to properly circulate my qi, so it couldn’t be helped.
Clicking her tongue, Dan Buyong pulled something out of a small drawer on her desk. It was a tiny medicine bottle, and judging by the celadon porcelain it was made of, it looked rather expensive.
“Looking at your condition, it would be best for you to drink this.”
“What is this?”
“You’ll know the moment you drink it.”
What on earth is this? Following her words, I popped the stopper and gulped it down. A lukewarm sensation washed down my throat, accompanied by the taste of various medicinal herbs and even a trace of spirit grass. How should I describe it? Like drinking a slightly sweet herbal medicine? At any rate, it didn’t seem like any elixir I was familiar with.
Just as I was about to tell her it didn’t seem like much—
Oh... Oh-ho-ho...
“I take it the effects are immediate?”
“Whoa... I feel like I could fall asleep right this second.”
A wave of cozy relaxation washed over me, instantly melting away my fatigue. It felt as if my body had been restored to the pristine state of having just woken up from a deep sleep.
“Don’t tell me this is... ‘that’ medicine?”
“Anyone listening would think I’m feeding you poison. Yes, it’s the Red Bull Liquid produced by our sect.”
The wing-giving Red Bull Liquid was a premium fatigue recovery potion created by the Medical Zen Sect, the very sect Dan Buyong belonged to. The ingredients alone were mind-boggling: precious ox bezoar, cordyceps, ten-year-old fleeceflower root, meshima mushrooms, and more. It was essentially a super-premium version of the traditional calming pill, meant only for high-ranking officials and nobles—something commoners like me couldn’t even dream of touching.
“My goodness, giving me something so expensive... What on earth is the academy planning to make me do that warrants this?”
“You make me sound like some kind of wicked slave driver.”
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Dan Buyong simply slid a sheet of paper across the desk without another word.
“Read this.”
She’s not going to tell me to go somewhere and put on another Yoon Gomyung cooking show, is she?
Contrary to my worries, the contents of the paper weren’t all that complicated. In fact, they were incredibly straightforward.
The Mutual Righteousness Academy (hereafter referred to as Party A) and the Three-Virtue Chef, Yoon Gomyung (hereafter referred to as Party B), hereby enter into a lifetime employment contract as follows...
Huh? A lifetime employment contract?
“Wait, are you telling me to bind myself to the academy and work here for the rest of my life?”
“No, it’s the exact same contract as a lifetime instructor! It’s not a slave contract!”
“Ah, a lifetime instructor.”
Well, that changed things. A lifetime instructor was somewhat akin to a modern civil servant; it was a system where the academy guaranteed lifetime employment. Unless you committed a crime or were expelled for some disgraceful incident, the academy would keep employing you and paying your monthly salary indefinitely. Yet, your activities remained entirely free. There were no specific conditions forcing you to perform certain duties. You could spend your entire life researching martial arts, or dedicate yourself to whatever academic pursuit you fancied. Lecturing students? You could easily decline.
Because of this, it was the ultimate dream for older instructors who lacked the backing of a major sect or family. And for someone like me? Oh, absolutely. Thank you very much!
Dan Buyong pulled out another sheet of paper alongside the contract. It seemed to list the specific benefits of the lifetime employment agreement.
“If you sign a lifetime contract, you will receive an additional stipend for maintaining professional dignity, and you’ll continue to receive your monthly salary even after retirement. Why, even the former Eastern Pavilion Master, Elder So, still receives his monthly salary from the academy.”
So... they pay you even if you don’t work? It’s literally a money-printing machine? It was, without a doubt, an incredibly tempting offer. But why give this to me so suddenly?
“But why the sudden offer for a lifetime contract...?”
“It seems our dear Three-Virtue Chef has absolutely no idea of his own worth... doesn’t he?”
Dan Buyong gave me a knowing smile. Her words carried an unspoken subtext: Just think about everything you’ve done since the moment you set foot in this academy. From my perspective, I felt like I’d mostly just gotten caught up in various incidents and trouble, but the academy administration apparently saw things differently.
“I asked the other staff members, and they said you have absolutely no intention of leaving the academy?”
“Well, yes, for now. There are a lot of good people here.”
“And seeing how you handled this recent incident, it’s clear you care deeply for the children as well.”
“Isn’t that just the natural thing to do?”
In truth, my main goal had been to rescue Gongson Yeongji, and saving Yoo Jeoksan was just a happy bonus along the way. But there was no need to spell that out.
“Chef Yoon, there are many people in this world who do not do the natural thing.”
I couldn’t argue with her firm statement. Even without looking at the chaotic Central Plains, the exact same could be said of modern Korea.
“I’m not just saying this because I’m the Academy Director. Even without running the numbers on an abacus, I truly believe keeping you on a lifetime contract is the right choice for the academy.”
To be honest, the academy was indeed the best place for someone like me. For a martial artist who wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Orthodox factions, the Unorthodox factions, the Demonic Cult, or the Imperial Court, this place was an absolute haven.
“You’re not planning to reject this with some bizarre excuse again, are you?”
“Who do you take me for...? I am the chief chef of the dining hall, after all.”
When Dan Buyong gave me a chilly glare, I immediately shook my head. I had no reason to refuse, nor did I want to.
“Should I sign here?”
“Write your name clearly in print, and then place your signature next to it.”
“Understood.”
And just like that, I signed the lifetime contract. Having used a brush so many times now, my handwriting had become incredibly smooth—practically a work of art, like wild geese descending on a flat beach. Look at those elegant, flowing strokes! But in Dan Buyong’s eyes, it seemed to be a complete eyesore.
“Chef Yoon.”
“Yes?”
“Are you truly a Peak Master?”
“Why bring up my martial realm all of a sudden...?”
“Because your handwriting is atrocious.”
Hey, this is actually pretty good! It’s definitely not chicken scratch!
In any case, as of today, the Three-Virtue Chef Yoon Gomyung was officially a lifetime staff member of the Mutual Righteousness Academy.
Dan Buyong neatly folded the contract and immediately pulled something else out of her drawer. Seriously, is there anything that drawer doesn’t have?
“Congratulations, Chef Yoon.”
With those words, she handed me a gleaming, circular silver plaque. Engraved upon it was an ornate pattern alongside text identifying the bearer as a staff member of the Mutual Righteousness Academy. The only blank space left was the slot where my name was to be carved.
“Is this... an official ID plaque? A silver one at that?”
“Shouldn’t we provide at least this much for a lifetime staff member?”
The plaque served as a personal identification token. I recalled catching a glimpse of the Academy Director’s golden plaque before; if mine was silver, it meant I was ranked just below her. It felt heavy in my hand, and the clear, crisp ring it made when flicked suggested it was pure silver. I felt a sudden, childish urge to show this off and draw everyone’s attention. My chest swelled with pride.
Perhaps my lips had twitched upward into a grin, because Dan Buyong tilted her head and asked,
“Is it really that pleasing?”
“It means I’ve been recognized by the academy, so of course I’m thrilled.”
“More good news will come your way soon, so I hope you work hard today as well.”
Dan Buyong seemed to be in a good mood herself, sending me off with that notoriously wicked smile of hers. Man, she’s a wonderful person, but that smile is just terrifying. I wonder if the students are scared out of their wits by it.
With my pockets heavy and my heart full, I wrapped up my afternoon duties. After distributing the final meals to the 7th-year students, I noticed two small figures waiting quietly in a corner of the Outer Dining Hall. Alongside Man Hanseok, Gongson Yeongji and Yoo Jeoksan were watching me with wide, sparkling eyes. It was like two cicadas clinging to an old tree.
“Well, well. Scholar Gongson, Scholar Yoo. Welcome.”
“...Chef Yoon, why are you talking like that?”
Yoo Jeoksan, who wasn’t very close to me, just let it slide, but Gongson Yeongji tilted her head in confusion. Man Hanseok seemed to have tuned me out entirely from the start. Look at him. Honestly, his reactions are never any fun.
“Let’s get going. Lady Seonwoo must have prepared some snacks for us.”
“What kind of snacks?”
“Probably something savory. Jujube tea is usually on the sweeter side, after all.”
“That sounds delicious...”
“My friend Jeoksan, why so quiet?”
“Um, my father told me not to get too close to Instructor Socheonma... What should I do?”
Yoo Jeoksan asked with a troubled expression. Aha, this kid doesn’t know the latest trends, does he? With a mysterious organization constantly plotting against the Jianghu, who cares about dividing people into Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic?
“Lady Seonwoo was the one who saved you, for goodness’ sake. If your father complains later, just tell him that Chef Yoon Gomyung forced you to sit with her.”
“Really?”
“In times like these, rather than drawing lines between the Orthodox factions and the Demonic Cult, it’s far better to defeat our common enemy.”
“Um, then who is the common enemy?”
“You’ll... find out soon enough.”
Since they were highly likely to be the same bastards who kidnapped them, rumors would soon spread like wildfire, whether through the Eastern Depot, the Imperial Court, or the Murim Alliance.
In any case, when we knocked and entered Seonwoo Seol’s quarters, her maid, Nan-gae, welcomed the two children with a broad smile.
“Oh my, what a lovely young lady and handsome young man! Come on in.”
“Oh, you’re already here?”
Seonwoo Seol was dressed in a formal court gown, a departure from her usual attire, and wore light makeup. Man Hanseok’s jaw dropped at the sight.
“Close your mouth.”
“Ah, I didn’t even realize...”
“I’m telling Lady Tang.”
“Averting my eyes immediately!”
Mhm, good. Very sensible.
“But why are you so dressed up?”
“Just because...?”
“Just because?”
“I feel like I haven’t gone out dressed like this in ages. Even I want to wear makeup that flatters my face once in a while.”
Seonwoo Seol twirled a lock of hair around her finger, swaying slightly. Well, she couldn’t go around wearing disguises every single day. That would just be a waste of her beautiful face. When I gave her a warm, approving smile, Seonwoo Seol beamed back at me. Yeah, how wonderful would it be to look at this face three hundred and sixty days a year?
As we all sat around the table, sipping the jujube tea Nan-gae had poured for us—
“By the way, I heard during the investigation that both Yeongji and Jeoksan landed some incredible straight punches.”
“Huh? It was just a standard straight punch.”
To him, it was just a basic move, so being praised for it seemed to catch him off guard. When Yoo Jeoksan asked with a bewildered look, I gently patted his head.
“That’s exactly why it’s so impressive. It means the straight punch has become second nature to you. Reacting instantly with a move that’s ingrained in your muscle memory is no easy feat. Isn’t that right?”
“Absolutely. You’d be surprised how many martial artists with high realms lose their lives or get injured in real combat simply because their bodies can’t keep up with their minds.”
Seonwoo Seol agreed, gently patting Gongson Yeongji’s back.
“You know how Hanseok over there briefly stood against a legendary arch-demon to save Lady Tang, right?”
“Yes, I heard about it. The other instructors were praising him non-stop, saying it’s a true blessing for the academy to produce a senior like him...”
“Cough, cough!”
“Look at him. That bear of a guy doesn’t know what to do with himself now that his juniors are praising him.”
Man Hanseok choked on his tea, coughing repeatedly to clear his throat. I chuckled at his reaction and continued speaking.
“Anyway, you two did everything you possibly could as first-years to resist. You did well.”
“But we were defeated so helplessly...”
“The guy who got punched in the—cough, I mean, the guy who got smacked in the face and sent flying by me? He was stronger than Man Hanseok. When first-years go up against a monster like that, of course you’re going to feel helpless.”
But isn’t it incredible to resist even a little against an overwhelming, irresistible force? Some might call it reckless bravado, but I believed the fact that these children fought back against adults in their own way was highly commendable.
“Chef Yoon is right. You did well, and we invited you here today to encourage you never to lose to bastards like that again.”
Seonwoo Seol nodded in agreement and brought out some savory pastries. At her gesture, Yoo Jeoksan bowed politely, picked up a pastry, and placed it on Gongson Yeongji’s plate.
“Oh, thank you.”
When Gongson Yeongji smiled, Yoo Jeoksan offered a shy smile in return. ...It’s definitely a heartwarming sight, but why do I suddenly feel this urge to ruin the moment? It was the exact same feeling I’d had back at the blacksmith Yi Mok’s house. Well, unlike last time, these two kids had no choice but to stick together through this ordeal. I should cut them some slack today.
After eating the savory, delicious pastries and washing them down with the soothing jujube tea, both my body and mind felt completely replenished. Sinking deep into my chair with a much lighter heart, a profound peace washed over me. My back was warm, my stomach was full, and I was surrounded by good people. I loved this moment.
Ah, I wish time would just stop right here.
He wished he could turn back time.
Before he could even finish reading the letter reporting the failure to kidnap the Heavenly Martial Body, he incinerated it with Samadhi True Fire. It felt as though someone was slowly, systematically pulling the foundation stones out from under his house. Most of their minor operations had succeeded, but every single major plan had ended in utter failure. The plan to disperse poison throughout the Mutual Righteousness Academy, the dream of a Poison Human army—all of it had vanished into thin air. And now, even the abduction of the Heavenly Martial Body had failed.
He couldn’t even begin to fathom where things had started to go wrong. Whose fault was it?
With a bitter expression, he glanced at the pile of ash, then lightly waved his hand to conjure a gust of wind, scattering it away.
“...”
Watching the ash drift into the empty air, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. Scatter. Yes, why not just blow them all away? When those four leaders gathered in Henan, he could simply blow them all to pieces. Amidst that absolute chaos, an opportunity would surely present itself.
To achieve this, he would need Thunderbolt Bombs. Very, very big, beautiful Thunderbolt Bombs.