A Win-Win for Everyone
The morning after the banquet. I spent a leisurely morning, lightly circulating my qi to clear my head and reviewing the forms of the Hundred Medicine Fist Secrets.
While I was doing so, a servant—not the one assigned to my quarters, but from elsewhere—trotted over and whispered, "Chef Yoon. The Sect Leader has requested your presence."
I wondered what kind of trouble was calling my name today, but it turned out to be Sect Leader Mong Bullak. He had mentioned wanting to meet during the banquet, so it was likely about that. I followed the servant toward the heart of the headquarters.
The Yeoui Pavilion, which housed the Sect Leader's office, was quite a grand hall as befitted the headquarters, but it was rustic and charming rather than ostentatious.
"I heard you were looking for me."
"Ah, Chef Yoon. Come in, come in."
As I entered the office, Mong Bullak gestured to the seat across from him with a warm smile. However, the moment I sat down, a heavy reek of alcohol washed over me. It seemed he had been drinking straight through the morning. Ah, the romance of the martial world is still alive and well, I see.
"So, did you have any trouble getting here?"
He had likely noticed me talking frequently with the Demonic Cult members the day before.
"Surely no one would dare harm me inside the headquarters."
"What happened yesterday was practically an insult to my name. I will make sure to give the other sects a stern warning about this. By the way, are you well-acquainted with Waja?"
"If you mean Hall Master Oh, he has been of great help to me at the academy."
"That fellow always was quick on the uptake. He must have acted swiftly because he knew you would be useful."
Mong Bullak lowered his voice and asked, "What do you think of Waja?"
"Pardon? Oh, well... He's fundamentally easygoing, and he seems to care a lot about others. I suppose you could say he's particularly good at mediating between the other hall masters."
"So you felt that way too."
The way he spoke made me smell a heavy responsibility being tossed toward Northern Hall Master Oh Waja. And no, I don't mean the smell of alcohol. I figured that was why he was asking me, an academy staff member, beforehand...
"Hehehe, I can't wait to see the look on his face."
Scratch that. Looking at his sly, scheming face, this was definitely part of some wicked plot.
"In any case, thanks to your quick wit, Chef Yoon, many of our guests thoroughly enjoyed the banquet."
"Thank you for saying so."
"The story behind the Beggar's Chicken, and the fact that you had dozens of them prepared in advance... It all seemed remarkably calculated."
"Did it look that way to you?"
"Are you going to claim, as you did at the banquet, that you provided dozens of chickens out of the pure goodness of your heart?"
His eyes narrowed with suspicion. The way Mong Bullak slowly scanned me from head to toe was the very definition of distrust. Of course, he wasn't actually doubting me; he just seemed to have a specific answer he wanted to hear. How should I respond? My brain whirred at high speed for a brief moment before I came up with an answer.
"Not at all. If that were true, it would mean I had simply disobeyed your orders, Sect Leader. It was entirely born of my own greed."
"Greed, you say?"
"I am merely a petty man who does what pleases him. Preparing dozens of chickens was an act of self-interest, done solely because it brought me personal satisfaction."
It wasn't entirely a lie. While I was dedicated to the culinary path, a part of me did it simply because making good food made me feel good. Just as I began to worry if I had been a bit too honest and blunt—
"Hahaha! That rascal Oh Waja sent me quite an interesting fellow."
"...?"
I couldn't help but blink in bewilderment as Mong Bullak burst into hearty laughter. Usually, when you're this brutally honest, people call you tactless, don't they?
"Do you have no desire to climb to greater heights?"
"I am perfectly content with my current position. The higher you climb, the harder you fall, after all."
"What an eccentric fellow. So you have absolutely no interest in fame and glory?"
"Hall Master Oh asked me the exact same question a while ago."
"And I assume you gave him the same answer?"
"Yes."
"I was going to ask if you had any interest in joining the Beggars' Sect, but I suppose that's out of the question."
Mong Bullak clicked his tongue in disappointment at my rejection of the Beggars' Sect's rookie draft.
"To refuse a position in the Beggars' Sect, which others would practically beg for..."
Mong Bullak stared at me intently before asking, "What is it that you want? Speak your mind freely."
"Anything?"
"Anything, so long as it does not violate the righteous path of the Jianghu."
Even if he was suddenly playing the role of a genie granting wishes, nothing immediately came to mind. The most tempting things were money or valuable items, but asking the Beggars' Sect for cash or treasures felt a bit awkward. As I looked down in thought, my gaze fell upon the white socks on my feet. Wait, my feet?
"Then, if I may be so bold, could I ask for one thing?"
"Speak."
"I would like to learn a lightness skill."
"A lightness skill?"
"I can manage other martial arts reasonably well, but I don't know any lightness techniques..."
"You mean you haven't learned a proper lightness skill?"
"No, I literally do not know a single one."
"Why?"
"Even if you ask me why..."
I didn't know because I didn't know, so how was I supposed to answer why? My best guess was that the old Medicine Immortal, Yakseon, hadn't left any lightness skill manuals in the cave to prevent me from escaping. If I had known how to scale walls with a lightness skill, I probably would have broken out much sooner.
"Good heavens. To have reached such a high realm and not know a single lightness skill... Just what is your sect?"
"I cannot reveal the details. However, I assure you it is not associated with the Demonic Cult or the Unorthodox Factions."
"Is anyone outside?"
Looking utterly dumbfounded, Mong Bullak called for a nearby disciple.
"You called, Sect Leader?"
"Go and fetch the manuscript for the Mad Dog Avoiding Steps."
Mad Dog Avoiding Steps? I obviously hadn't expected something like the Eight Drunken Immortals Steps, the ultimate secret technique of the Beggars' Sect, but I had never even heard of this one. Soon, the disciple returned with a crisp, brand-new book. Mong Bullak handed it to me and explained:
"When our Grand Sect Leader was a boy, he was chased by a rabid dog. He ran with such astonishing speed that he managed to shake it off and escape. He created this footwork based on that very experience."
"Forgive my ignorance, but why have I never heard of this footwork before?"
"Because fools who don't understand its true power refuse to learn it simply because the name sounds ridiculous."
"Pardon?"
"Think about it. If you had to introduce your lightness skill to others, would you want to call it 'the footwork for dodging a mad dog'?"
Wait, so he was giving me a technique that even his own disciples refused to learn because of its embarrassing name? Was he serious?
Mong Bullak chuckled as he stared into my eyes. "Your thoughts are written all over your face. You're wondering why I'm giving you something my own people won't even touch, aren't you?"
Bullseye. Did this man know mind-reading or something?
"The name might be bizarre, but it is a perfectly formidable lightness skill. Even Waja practiced it diligently in his youth. If you ask him back at the academy, he will gladly guide you through it."
Since even Oh Waja had mastered it, I had no choice but to trust him. I carefully tucked the manual containing the secrets of the Mad Dog Avoiding Steps into my robes and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
"From what I can see, your internal energy is exceptionally pure, Chef Yoon, so it should not clash with this technique."
As I thanked him once more and rose to leave, Mong Bullak added one final note.
"Oh, and one more thing. Keep your Elixir Refining Method well-hidden."
I flinched. So the Dragon Head Sect Leader knew about it too.
"...Yes, sir."
"If those old coots from the Mount Hua Sect—who are absolutely obsessed with spiritual elixirs—catch wind of it, they'll drag you straight to their Cave of Repentance."
Wait, was I actually in danger of being kidnapped? A cold sweat broke out across my back.
Thud.
The 'Poison Dragon' Dang Mieon placed a small pouch directly into my hand.
"I am glad I could settle the payment before you depart."
The "payment" was, of course, for the poison core of the Human-faced Centipede. The problem was that the pouch felt far too light to contain silver. It certainly wasn't silver ingots, which would be as heavy as fists. What was it?
"May I open it?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
With his permission, I loosened the drawstring and peered inside...
"Whoa."
"Hahaha. Is this your first time seeing them?"
"I've only ever read about them in books. This is the first time I've actually held them in my hands."
*Clink, clink.*
Inside were three pieces of gold, totaling one and a half gold liang. One and a half gold liang was worth a whopping thirty silver liang. That was an amount I would have to scrape and save for half a year to accumulate. This was insane. As expected of a great clan specializing in poisons, they certainly didn't skimp on payments. Now this was what I called business!
"If you ever come across any other toxic beasts in the future, do not hesitate to send a letter to the Tang Clan."
"Of course. You will be the first to know."
I cupped my fists and bowed, earning a satisfied smile from Dang Mieon. Ah, this is the life.
On the other hand, there was someone who looked absolutely miserable watching us receive the gold.
"If only Chef Yoon and Young Master Man hadn't caught that Human-faced Centipede, it would have been mine!"
The culprit was Dang Go-hye, who was trembling with her fists clenched tight.
Standing behind Dang Mieon, it was hard to tell if she was just jealous of our windfall, or if she was throwing a tantrum because she wanted to hurl insults at us but couldn't bring herself to do so.
"Lady Dang, you didn't even know where Geumsan was. You were only wandering around the outskirts of the Capital," I pointed out.
"I'm sure I would have found a clue if I had searched just a little longer!"
"If you had searched just a little longer, you would have been captured by those thugs from the Pansu Sect or whatever-their-name-was."
"That's...! But still...!"
"Just let it go, Lady Dang."
Whining like this was getting a bit pathetic. Since we had rescued her, and her second uncle Dang Mieon was watching silently, Dang Go-hye couldn't push her stubbornness any further. She let out a sharp huff and whipped her head away.
"Hmph!"
Seeing her like that, Man Hanseok's eyes wavered slightly. He spoke up in a trembling voice, "W-well, maybe we could go search for toxic beasts together sometime in the future?"
Wait, what? Was he seriously asking her out on a date right in front of me and Dang Mieon?
Dang Go-hye wasn't flustered by Man Hanseok's bold proposal. Instead, she scoffed as if it were utterly ridiculous.
"Do I look that easy to you?"
"N-no, it's just... you seemed so upset about missing out on the toxic beast..."
"And do you even have what it takes to catch one, Young Master Man?"
At her sharp retort, Man Hanseok shot a pleading glance at me. Hey, if you can't even speak for yourself, why did you jump the gun?
But seeing him look at me with those droopy, puppy-dog eyes—like a stray mutt caught in the rain—I couldn't just ignore him. I had no choice but to chime in.
"Lady Dang, this fellow actually has incredible endurance. I didn't bring him along for nothing. In fact, when we fought the Human-faced Centipede, I wouldn't have been able to land the decisive blow without Hanseok. He stood at the front and blocked its attacks for me."
"……Is that so?"
At my testimony, Dang Go-hye scanned Man Hanseok from head to toe, seemingly lost in thought. Finally, having reached a decision, she pointed a slender index finger at him.
"Young Master Man, I have one condition."
"A condition?"
"When I see you again during summer break, you have to lose even more weight. Got it?"
Thanks to my consistent dietary management, Man Hanseok had gone from morbidly obese to moderately overweight. He had lost a massive amount of weight compared to when we first met, but it seemed he still hadn't met Dang Go-hye's standards.
"I-I can definitely do that!"
"You'd better. If you fail, I'll kick your butt."
"Ahem, Gohye. Is that any way to speak in front of your uncle?" Dang Mieon scolded in a mock-stern voice, but Dang Go-hye ignored him, keeping her finger pointed at Man Hanseok.
"It's a promise."
"Y-yes!"
"I wonder if you actually have the guts to pull it off."
With a smirk and one last teasing jab, Dang Go-hye turned away. Dang Mieon shook his head at her antics.
"Honestly, she's like a wild filly in springtime."
"You certainly have your hands full, Great Hero Poison Dragon."
"It is a daily occurrence, so I am used to it. Ah, and Young Master Man."
"Yes?"
"The daughters of the Tang Clan are like roses. If you touch them carelessly, you are bound to get pricked."
With a light chuckle, Dang Mieon turned and walked away. His smile bore a striking resemblance to Dang Go-hye's.
Watching his retreating figure, Man Hanseok muttered, "I thought the Poison Dragon would get furious and yell, 'How dare you covet a daughter of the Tang Clan!'"
"If he were that kind of person, he would have gotten angry from the start instead of leaving you with advice. By the way, are you out of your mind?"
"Huh? Why so suddenly?"
"What on earth do you see in Lady Dang to make such a proposal?"
"Well, she just seemed a bit pitiful... even though it wasn't our fault."
"You couldn't even speak properly and had to beg me for help, yet you're feeling pity for someone else? You're a funny guy, you know that?"
Well, I could understand a young guy being attracted to an older girl. But wanting to hang around someone with a temper as nasty as Dang Go-hye's was beyond me. Had he been gaslit? Or was it Stockholm syndrome? Whichever it was, Man Hanseok certainly had unique taste.
I patted the back of the dazed Man Hanseok, who was still staring in the direction Dang Go-hye had left.
"Come on, let's get ready to head back. Gye-yeong should have finished packing our carriage by now."
As we returned to our quarters to call Gye-yeong, Seonwoo Seol poked her head out from the adjacent room. She was still disguised as a man, but I was slowly getting used to the sight.
"Did you get paid for the poison core?"
"I received one and a half gold liang."
"That's quite a generous sum. I suppose the second-in-command of the Tang Clan can afford to throw around that kind of money without a second thought."
As she turned to go back inside, I casually asked, "Aren't you heading back to the academy anyway, Lady Seonwoo?"
"...I suppose so?"
"And Elder Sam Yang and Deputy Leader Cheong Woo are heading back to Xinjiang, right?"
"That's correct."
"Then instead of making things complicated by traveling separately, why don't you ride in our carriage?"
"Really? I mean—ahem! Is that the only reason I should ride with you?"
"Since we made some good money from the poison core, let's eat lots of delicious food on the way back. Besides, I feel a bit bad for leaving without a word last time."
When I jingled the pouch containing the gold, a faint smile crept onto Seonwoo Seol's face. However, she quickly masked it, replying in a grumbling tone that completely contradicted her expression.
"You seem to think I only care about food."
"Well, if you don't want to, then forget it."
"Can't a girl even say anything?"
"So is that a yes?"
"Fine, let's go together."
With a playful glare, Seonwoo Seol slipped back into her room. She was probably going to explain the situation to Sam Yang and Cheong Woo. What an amusing lady.
As I turned around to pack up, I found Gye-yeong staring at me with an utterly dumbfounded expression, his arms piled high with luggage.
"What are you staring at?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just... my stomach suddenly hurts a bit."
"I'll buy you some sweet pastries on the way so your stomach doesn't hurt."
"Sweet pastries don't solve everything, you know."
"That's only what people who don't have enough pastries say. If you give them more pastries, it solves everything."
"...Is that so?"
"I'm telling you, it is."
Watching Gye-yeong tilt his head in confusion as he went to grab the rest of the bundles, I felt a bit guilty. But then again, was it normal for a master to be coddling his servant like this? Was this some kind of role-reversal world? Come to think of it, hadn't I also been snubbed by Dang Go-hye's maid, Dandan, earlier? Out of pity, I decided I really should buy him a whole box of pastries.
"Chef Yoon! What should we do with this luggage?"
"Oh, hold on! I'll take a look!"
At Man Hanseok's call, I hurried back inside. It was finally time to leave the Beggars' Sect Headquarters.