The War on Crime, Part 1

After receiving his disciplinary action, Geum Ho became a servant assigned to the Outer Dining Hall. And not just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any ordinary servant, but a low-ranking errand boy specializing in the most trivial and menial chores. You might ask, wouldn't it be better for me to personally shake him down like a rat rather than having another servant investigate him? I thought so too. The problem was that Geum Ho, despite being assigned to the Outer Dining Hall, had been sent away on dispatch.

And they hadn't even dispatched him somewhere inside the academy. They had sent him all the way to the admissions support department of the Mutual Righteousness Academy in Gyeongsa. The admissions support department was technically a liaison office with the Imperial Palace, but "liaison office" was just a fancy word for a glorified mail shuttle service. Naturally, it was the most idle of idle posts, and Geum Ho had been dispatched as a servant to assist those lazy officials.

"Wait, aren't I his direct superior? Sure, hiring is handled by the academy headquarters, but assigning duties and supervising the servants is supposed to be my job. Who authorized this dispatch without my consent?"

Hwangbo Seong broke into a cold sweat at my question, which demanded to know how they could just send Geum Ho away without my permission.

"It seems one of the academy's high-ranking officials whispered something in the ear of Hall Master Woo Mi-do. Something along the lines of whether it was wise to keep someone connected to the Total Alliance and the Geumyoung Merchant Group in such a position."

Right. Even if that bastard Geum Ho is an absolute eyesore to me, I suppose he's still a beloved son to his family. The Total Alliance was the second most powerful coalition of sects in the Hubei region, right after the Jegal Clan, so the academy couldn't just ignore them.

Besides, this was also a little bit—just a tiny, tiny bit—my fault. Even a passing dog knew that I, having been stabbed in the back by Geum Ho, was constantly looking for an opportunity to tear him apart. Since I made it glaringly obvious every single day that I wouldn't let him off easy if I caught him, the higher-ups probably decided it was a bad idea to leave him under my direct supervision.

"But still, sending him to such an idle post? Which son of a b—"

"Hush now! Someone might hear you, Chef Yoon."

As I was about to let loose a torrent of curses, Hwangbo Seong hurriedly stopped me. Well, it wasn't like he was to blame; he was just the messenger keeping me updated on the headquarters' situation. I decided to let it slide for now.

"By the way, am I allowed to step outside the academy for a bit after working hours?"

"Of course. Even the students are allowed to step out briefly with the permission of an instructor or head tutor. Still, just in case something happens while you're away, it would be best to notify West Blue Bird Hall in advance."

"That sounds perfect."

"But what business do you have outside the academy?"

"Ah, there's just something I'm curious about, so I'm going to look into it."

To be precise, I was going to investigate Geum Ho's movements. It wasn't as if Geum Ho had been sneaking around in stealth, yet absolutely no one in the academy knew when he had left or where he had gone. He wasn't some bald, dual-pistol-wielding assassin, so how did it make sense that no one knew the whereabouts of a guy who practically lived to show off?

That was why I had asked some of the well-connected servants to search for anyone inside or outside the academy who might know Geum Ho's whereabouts, and they had finally managed to track someone down.

After parting ways with Hwangbo Seong, I headed back to my quarters. I couldn't very well go outside smelling like kitchen grease, so I needed to change into civilian clothes. Just as I finished changing and was about to step out of West Blue Bird Hall...

"Chef Yoon, where are you heading in such a hurry?"

"Huh?"

A man shorter than me stood blocking my path, his hands clasped behind his back. He was an odd fellow, dressed in luxurious martial arts robes and wearing a hero's headband. Yet, his face looked strangely familiar. If he were a man who caught the eye this easily, there was no way I wouldn't recognize him. So why did he feel so familiar? In particular, the mustache and beard beneath his sharp nose kept twitching. Unless he had a cold and his nose was itchy, there was a very peculiar person standing before me who seemed irritated by the mustache growing on his own philtrum.

"..."

No, that's impossible. If I were to draw a Venn diagram of people who would act familiar with me, people who would wear a fake mustache, and people I had met at least once, there would be an intersection. And there was only one single person who could possibly fit into that overlapping section of the three circles.

"Little Heavenly Demon, what on earth is with that look?"

"...Ahem! Wait, how did you know it was me?"

Seonwoo Seol cleared her throat, her voice returning to its natural tone. It seemed she had used disguise techniques and the Bone-Shrinking Art to alter her face and physique, but no matter how much she reshaped her features, her innate beauty couldn't be completely hidden. Of course, it would be a bit embarrassing to admit, 'Because you're too beautiful,' so I made up an excuse.

"Your mustache gave it away."

When I pointed at the crooked mustache that had been twitching so much, Seonwoo Seol scratched her philtrum with a dejected expression.

"Ah, I knew it. I had to get it in a hurry, so I used cheap pig bristles."

"I think it would look much better if you took off the mustache and just wore darker makeup. Besides, why the disguise?"

"Instructor Hwangbo mentioned that you seemed to be heading out, Chef Yoon. The people of Poeun know my face too well, so I use disguises from time to time. But seeing how nicely dressed you are, it looks like you really are going out?"

I could understand Seonwoo Seol, since she always figured out where I was and followed me around anyway. But why was Hwangbo Seong going around spreading the word? I hadn't pegged him for that kind of guy. For someone of his size, he sure had a cheap mouth, didn't he?

"Setting aside how you found out I was leaving, isn't Instructor Hwangbo from the Orthodox faction, and you're from the Sacred Cult? Why are the two of you exchanging information?"

"There's no distinction between Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic within the academy, you know? We're all just academy people."

Seonwoo Seol pouted as she protested. Since the very purpose of establishing the academy was to stop the fighting among the Orthodox, Unorthodox, Demonic factions, and the Imperial Court, she wasn't technically wrong. Even so, I wished they would refrain from sharing information about me without my permission. We couldn't have freedom of the press and the right to know spreading through the Central Plains just yet.

"So, can I come along?"

"Do you even know what I'm going to do, asking to tag along?"

"When we were together last time, you were looking for information on Chef Geum Ho. Isn't this an extension of that?"

She caught me off guard. She really was sharp. She was recalling our conversation from a few days ago almost word for word.

"Anyway, I can come with you, right?"

"Only if you take off that mustache and redo your makeup. It would be better to ditch the mustache and draw some freckles and moles instead."

As I pointed to my own face to demonstrate, Seonwoo Seol peeled off the fake mustache from her philtrum and asked, "Huh? Freckles and moles?"

"Because people's eyes will naturally be drawn to those two features. Even if there's something slightly awkward about your disguise, they won't pay attention to it because they'll be focused on the blemishes."

"Ah, that makes sense! But how do you know about things like that, Chef Yoon?"

"I read it in a book."

"What kind of book?"

"Just, you know. This and that."

Among the books left behind by my master, the Medicine Sage, there were indeed some concerning disguise techniques. Of course, since I had no reason to paint my face or smear dirt on it, I never used them myself, but I knew enough to give advice.

Soon enough, Seonwoo Seol returned with her face darkened to a slightly duller complexion, just as I had advised. This was much better. Earlier, she had looked like a beautiful woman awkwardly forced into men's clothing, but now she looked more like a handsome young lad who spent a lot of time out in the scorching sun.

"How do I look, Hyung?"

Excuse me?

"'Hyung'? What are you talking about?"

"Since I'm disguised as a man, I should call you 'Hyung'."

Seonwoo Seol, now sporting a beautifully tanned complexion, looked up at me with sparkling eyes. Uh, I don't think that's a good idea. I feel like... I might awaken to some dangerous preferences. I shook my head vigorously.

"Let's just address each other as 'Young Hero' when others are around."

"Do you not want to be close with me?"

"Well, you see... 'Hyung' is a term used between biological brothers, isn't it? And we don't look alike at all."

I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind, but it turned out to be a pretty plausible excuse. I didn't think of myself as ugly, but comparing myself to the disguised Seonwoo Seol made us look less like half-brothers and more like entirely different species.

"Tsk, fine."

I wasn't sure if my excuse had actually convinced her, but Seonwoo Seol relented quickly enough. Of course, she still wore an expression full of discontent.

And so, Seonwoo Seol and I stepped outside the academy and headed toward the city located right in front of its gates. The name of this city was Poeun, and it had originally been a very small village. Thanks to the establishment of the Mutual Righteousness Academy, it had expanded rapidly, transforming into a bustling new city.

Just as university towns in Korea were packed with restaurants and entertainment, Poeun was similarly filled with taverns serving both alcohol and food, as well as specialized restaurants. Naturally, there were also plenty of tea houses.

Perhaps because she was happy to be outdoors rather than cooped up in the academy, Seonwoo Seol asked with a bright, beaming smile, "Where are we going, Young Hero Yoon?"

"We're going to a tea house today."

According to the servant who had investigated Geum Ho's movements, there was a tea house that Geum Ho had frequented for a long time. The waiter who worked at that tea house was the very person we were looking for.

"Then which tea house are we going to?"

"Hmm? If I tell you the name of the tea house, can you lead us straight there?"

"I've been roaming around Poeun for over seven years, you know. I know the geography of this area like the back of my hand."

Impressive. Then again, if someone attended a university for seven years, they would know every nook and cranny of the college town.

"The name of the tea house is... Seongrok Tea House, I believe."

"Ah, that place where the tea is expensive but tastes terrible? Why would a chef go to a place like that?"

"Does vanity ever need a reason? One look at Geum Ho and you can tell he's practically made of vanity."

"Ah."

With that, Seonwoo Seol and I made our way to the Seongrok Tea House, but...

"...Is this the right place?"

"I'm certain this is it, but..."

Seonwoo Seol and I stared ahead in utter bewilderment. There used to be a tea house here, but now there was nothing. We could tell a building had once stood on this spot, but almost nothing of its structure remained. The reason for its ruined state? It had been completely razed by fire, leaving behind nothing but ashes.

Before our eyes lay what was once a tea house, now a fire scene where the acrid stench of smoke still hung heavily in the air. The only parts left relatively intact were the earthen walls, which had managed to withstand the flames because they were made of stone and clay. The rest had been burned so thoroughly that it was impossible ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to tell it had ever been a tea house.

"Did the waiter set it on fire because his monthly wages were too low?"

"Do you think every waiter is an arsonist?"

Hey, maybe he just wanted to play with fire on a grand scale. Because the situation was so absurd, a joke was the first thing that came out of my mouth. Just as I was standing there, utterly lost on where to even begin or what to do next, Seonwoo Seol stopped a passing middle-aged woman to ask a question.

"Excuse me, ma'am. May I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Since when has this place been like this?"

"Ah, this place? It's been a few days! When the fire broke out, everyone in the neighborhood gathered to carry water. It was absolute chaos!"

The woman shook her head and clicked her tongue at Seonwoo Seol's question. After Seonwoo Seol pressed for more details, we were able to pinpoint the exact day the fire had occurred. It was the very day the Outer Dining Hall servant had discovered the waiter's whereabouts and come to report it to me.

"Then what about the owner of the tea house?"

"He wasn't originally from around here anyway. I heard he packed up everything of value and left Poeun."

"Pardon?"

Hearing that even the owner had left the area, both Seonwoo Seol and I were dumbfounded. What on earth was going on? It felt as though someone had intentionally set fire to the tea house to destroy evidence.

"..."

Actually, it might not just be a feeling. It could be the truth.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy, but could I ask just one more thing?"

"What is it?"

"Did the waiter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who worked at this tea house leave with the owner as well?"

"I'm not too sure about that... but the waiter was a local, so he probably stayed."

That was a relief, at least. It meant the waiter likely still lived nearby. After thanking the woman, we headed toward another tea house in the area. When we asked a waiter at a nearby establishment, he answered with a look of genuine pity.

"Ah... Gye-yeong? He's probably at home. He worked at that tea house for a really long time, so he basically lost his job overnight."

"Could you perhaps tell us where he lives?"

"Sure, I can do that."

After giving us the address of Gye-yeong, the waiter from the Seongrok Tea House scratched his chin and asked,

"But did he get into some kind of trouble? You're the second group of people asking for Gye-yeong's address today."

"What? Someone else ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was looking for his address?"

"Yeah, some guys I've never seen around here before. They were built like mountains and looked incredibly fierce. Aren't you guys with them?"

We were screwed. At the waiter's words, I whipped my head around to look at Seonwoo Seol.

"We have to go, now!"

"Huh? So suddenly?"

"That waiter, Gye-yeong, is in danger!"

A sudden fire at the tea house, followed by thuggish brutes asking for the waiter's address. There was no way these events, which would normally happen once or twice in a lifetime, were overlapping by mere coincidence.

"Use your movement technique!"

With those words, Seonwoo Seol shot forward like a released spring. Despite her incredible speed, not a single footstep could be heard. It was undoubtedly the Shadow Play Movement, the absolute peak movement technique of the Demonic Cult that I had only heard of in rumors.

I couldn't let myself fall behind. Channeling a massive amount of qi into my legs and the soles of my feet, I stomped hard against the ground. *Boom! Boom!* With explosive bursts of qi erupting from my feet, I propelled myself forward.

"Who on earth runs like that, wasting so much inner energy?!"

"I'm not very good at movement techniques!"

I shouted back my excuse to Seonwoo Seol's scolding. Sure, I had learned some movement techniques during my four years in that cave, but how was I supposed to master them properly in such a cramped, confined space? In any case, burning through my inner energy like water, I finally arrived at Gye-yeong's house. Just as we reached the front gate of the shabby house, which looked like any other in the slums—

"Aaargh!"

*Riiip!* A man's scream echoed from somewhere inside, accompanied by a sound like tearing leather. *Thud!* Leaping over the wall in a single bound, I saw three burly, heavily built men surrounding a slender, delicate-looking youth. The youth was sprawled on the ground, blood pouring profusely from his nose and mouth. Even without asking, the situation was glaringly obvious.

"Who the hell are—*urk!*"

One of the brutes who spotted me tried to lung forward, but before he could even react, he was struck by the rapidly closing fist of the Hundred Medicine Fist Secrets and sent flying backward. The eyes of the remaining two men bulged to the size of saucers as they watched their companion get taken down in a single blow.

"If you're going to beat someone up, you should have expected to get hit yourself."

Yoon Gomyung, the Peak Master, has arrived.