I Should Just Sew My Mouth Shut

The problem with intuition is that the good hunches never pan out, while the bad ones hit you all at once like a sudden downpour. Just yesterday, spending time eating pound cake with the three of them had been absolutely wonderful. But the very next morning, an administrative instructor popped in, blurted out, "The Headmaster is summoning you," and bolted. Naturally, I panicked and ran over as fast as my legs could carry me.

That was how I found myself stepping into the Headmaster's office—or rather, Haetaewon—for the first time. Honestly, it felt more like a private residence than an office, considering there was a literal house sitting right in the middle of the academy grounds. Complete with a babbling brook and a small vegetable garden, it looked exactly like the kind of countryside estate one dreams of retiring to.

In any case, as I stepped inside Haetaewon, I saw an elderly man sitting on a wide wooden platform, stroking his long white beard with a hearty chuckle. He looked like an ordinary grandpa you'd find playing Korean chess at a local real estate office, but in reality, this was Jo Janglim, the virtual guardian of the academy.

"My apologies for interrupting your work."

"Ah, not at all, Headmaster. Your summons always takes priority over my duties."

When I bowed with clasped hands, Jo Janglim waved his hand to tell me to ease up and patted the empty space beside him on the platform. Come, sit. Well, I wasn't about to hesitate.

As I took a seat on the edge of the platform, Jo Janglim closed the book he was reading, poured a cup of water from a nearby kettle, and handed it to me.

"I heard the Beggar's Chicken you prepared at the Beggars' Sect banquet was highly praised. You even earned the title of the Three-Virtue Chef, didn't you?"

"I'm just glad my meager skills were enough to satisfy them."

"Hahaha, no need to be so modest."

With those words, Jo Janglim pulled a large pouch from his robes and handed it to me. Whoa. It was heavy, but it didn't feel like coins... What on earth was this?

"May I ask what this is?"

"Why, it is Black Iron, of course."

"Ah!"

It was a metal I had only heard of in rumors but had never actually seen. They said a sword forged from Black Iron could slice through human flesh and bone like butter, and could snap ordinary cast iron in half even without being coated in Sword Qi. While it wasn't a legendary divine weapon itself, it was undoubtedly an incredibly rare metal. Had I really done that good of a job?

"It took some time because procuring this amount of Black Iron is no easy feat. Since it is a metal every martial artist dreams of possessing at least once, make good use of it."

I was finally receiving my reward for the Beggars' Sect banquet. Getting bonuses like this was truly one of the greatest perks of being a chef.

"Thank you very much." I couldn't just sell it off. Maybe I should forge a kitchen knife out of it? A Black Iron kitchen knife that could snap beef bones with a gentle tap... Now that was incredibly tempting.

As I was pondering how to use the Black Iron, Jo Janglim looked at me with a knowing glint in his eyes.

"However, I do have a favor to ask of you. Would that be alright?"

"Pardon? Ah, of course. Please, go ahead."

"I was wondering if you have any family obligations or ceremonies scheduled for next month."

The four major life ceremonies: coming-of-age, marriage, funerals, and ancestral rites. In this context, he was essentially asking if I had any family-related plans next month. Since I was a lone soul stranded in the Central Plains, I was practically an orphan, so none of this applied to me. Come to think of it, I really had become a genuine orphan in this world. At least I was immune to "your mom" jokes now... I wouldn't even need to mute the chat if I were playing games in the Rift.

"My schedule is completely free."

"I am glad to hear that. Tell me, do you know what lies in Henan?"

"Henan?"

Henan. While the imperial capital of Gyeongsa and Hebei were important regions, Henan was a place that could never be omitted from the history of the Central Plains. In fact, the very term 'Zhongyuan' originally referred to Henan, and Mount Song, one of the Five Great Mountains, was located there. Mount Song was also home to the Shaolin Temple, famous for the saying, "All martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin." It was an arrogant claim, but since it was practically true, no one ever disputed it. There was also another crucial location in Henan, which was likely the reason he was asking.

"Could it be... the Wulin Alliance?"

"Indeed. They are looking for Chef Yoon as we speak."

"Excuse me? Me?" No doubt they had heard about the incredible dishes I made at the Beggars' Sect banquet and wanted me to cook for them too. But did they really have a solid reason to summon me? Headmaster Jo Janglim provided the answer.

"For the past few years, the Jianghu has been quiet, so the Wulin Alliance hasn't engaged in any major activities. However, this year, they plan to gather the prominent figures of the martial world to make a grand declaration of resolve."

"A declaration of resolve... Is it regarding the current state of the Jianghu?"

"You could say that."

It made sense. The academy only felt peaceful because of its proximity to Gyeongsa, but out in the wider world, newly formed unorthodox sects were running rampant—to the point where Dang Gohye, a daughter of the Tang Clan, had been attacked in broad daylight. The Four Blood Alliance, which was supposed to keep these upstart unorthodox sects in check according to the treaty signed when the academy was founded, had remained silent for years. Meanwhile, the Nine Great Sects, One Gang, and the Five Great Noble Clans were expanding their influence by crushing these rising unorthodox groups. In the process of expanding their power, they frequently picked fights with smaller sects or clashed over lucrative interests. The ones who break a lasting peace are never the enemies, but the bastards who simply can't handle boredom. They're bound to cause trouble, just like that elder from the Kongtong Sect did. Given the circumstances, the Wulin Alliance was probably gathering everyone for a massive summit, like the Henan-berg Rally, to chant slogans about how righteousness lies not in defense, but in offense.

"In particular, the anniversary of the Wulin Alliance's founding falls late this month. They plan to host a grand event to pray for the continued prosperity and longevity of the Alliance."

"The founding anniversary... So I just need to go there and cook my heart out."

"And if you could spread the academy's name far and wide while you're at it, that would be even better. Hahaha."

Ah, but I don't really do haute cuisine. I can make labor-intensive dishes, sure, but high-end gourmet stuff? Then again, did I go to the Beggars' Sect banquet because I was a master of fine dining? No. Besides, the Wulin Alliance must have their own chefs, so I could just dump most of the heavy lifting on them. Since I had no reason to refuse, I decided to accept immediately. Now that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had stepped foot into the Murim, visiting the Wulin Alliance was practically a rite of passage. And honestly, staying cooped up in the academy all the time was getting a bit tedious anyway. Nodding my assent, I asked,

"When should I set out?"

"It will take about a week and a half to get there, so leaving the day after tomorrow should give you plenty of time."

Two days was more than enough time to pack, and handing over my kitchen duties was a routine process, so that wouldn't be an issue. Since it was currently the school break, the student population was low, meaning the staff at the Inner and Outer Dining Halls could easily manage on their own. By the way, I had been quite nervous about meeting the Headmaster, but I was relieved to find him so easygoing. Usually, people in high positions carried an overbearing aura and loved to exert pressure on others. I had expected him to be a 'velvet glove over an iron fist' type, but seeing how he chuckled heartily at everything I said, he seemed to just be genuinely warm-natured. I wondered if he would grant me a small favor.

"Headmaster, would it be alright if I made one small request?"

"Hmm? Speak freely."

"Well, it's just..."

As I whispered my request, Jo Janglim's eyes widened in surprise before he burst into a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha! Very well, I shall grant you that."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Excellent. Now that I had his permission, all that was left was to finish handing over my duties.

Return a favor twofold, but return a grudge tenfold. This saying was practically the unspoken family motto of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Naturally, the news that Dang Gohye had been threatened by a newly formed unorthodox group called the Pansu Sect quickly spread back to Sichuan. A retribution force was immediately dispatched under the pretext of investigating the Pansu Sect, and they soon arrived in Hebei.

"Is this the place?" asked the leader of the Tang Clan's retribution force, spotting a gate half-draped in ivy in the distance. He shaded his eyes with his hand as he looked toward the gate, and his subordinate nodded.

"According to the villagers, a group of shady martial artists began occupying this old mountain villa a few years ago. They've been harassing the local woodcutters and herb gatherers, and even molesting women from decent families."

Though he didn't mention it explicitly, they had also heard that the leader who occupied this villa was named Jo Pansu. It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠highly likely they had named their sect after him. The retribution leader nodded at the explanation and pointed toward the gate.

"They are definitely unorthodox scum, then. Everyone, move in."

Drawing their respective weapons, the members of the retribution force slowly advanced past the gate. And at that moment—

"Ugh." "Blegh!" The moment they stepped through the gate, a dizzying, putrid stench of rot hit them.

"...Damn it." The retribution leader was left speechless. The villa was in absolute ruins. There was not a single living soul inside. Seeing corpses in various stages of decomposition scattered everywhere, the leader frowned and pulled his neck gaiter up to cover his nose and mouth.

"Anyone with medical knowledge, inspect the corpses and report what killed them!" At the leader's command, several members stepped forward to examine the bodies, quickly drawing a few conclusions.

"It appears they were all slain by a blade infused with Sword Qi. Either a group of swordsmen trained in the same style did this, or a single Peak Master wiped out these unorthodox bastards."

"If they targeted unorthodox scum, they should be a righteous warrior, but the sheer brutality of their methods is concerning." The retribution leader looked toward a decapitated corpse rolling on the ground. The problem was that the skull, which had already begun turning to bone, was split clean in half. Perhaps it wasn't a righteous act, but a destruction of evidence. As he was deducing this, a peculiar corpse caught his eye. While the others lay sprawled on the ground in grotesque postures of death, there was one skeleton leaning against the wall in a perfectly composed sitting position. And written on the floor in dark, blackish ink was a single word: Blood. It likely didn't just mean blood, but referred to a specific person or organization. Since one couldn't expect much intelligence-gathering capability from a newly formed minor sect, the thought suddenly struck him that this guy might have just been a low-level pawn. Has a new powerhouse emerged in the unorthodox world? Blood... 'Blood,' was it? He had a strong premonition that this matter had to be reported to the Family Head immediately.

Two days later, early in the morning. Standing in front of a two-horse carriage, I addressed the three people gathered before me.

"Alright, let's double-check if we've forgotten any of our luggage." Originally, I had planned to go alone, but then I thought it would be nice to bring Man Hanseok and Gongson Yeongji along, so I had asked the Headmaster for permission directly. Since Hanseok and Yeongji originally belonged to orthodox factions, I figured it would be fine, and the Headmaster had readily agreed. It was basically like bypassing the platoon and company commanders to contact the division commander directly, but hey, who cares? The real issue was that there were 'three' people traveling with me.

"Miss, please help check Yeongji's things for her."

"I packed for Yeongji myself last night, so her luggage is perfectly fine," replied Seonwoo Seol, who had disguised herself as a dark-skinned, freckled maid. She gave me a playful wink, telling me not to worry.

"But are you really going to be okay?"

"About what?"

"I mean, is it really alright for you to enter the Wulin Alliance in that disguise? Where in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠world would you find a maid who is also a Peak Master?" Seonwoo Seol had insisted on tagging along, complaining about how bored she would be if everyone else left for the Alliance. Of course, there was no rule explicitly banning members of the Demonic Cult from attending. Since both sides had signed a non-aggression pact, it wasn't like the Wulin Alliance would have a sign at their front gate reading 'No Dogs or Demonic Cultists Allowed.' Still, there was a strong unspoken sentiment questioning why the Demonic Cult would attend an Alliance rally, which made it feel a bit awkward. Well, if she claimed to be from some obscure, single-successor sect, they'd probably buy it. I mean, look at me—I'm a Korean with absolutely no roots in this world, and I've blended in just fine.

"I'll change into a different disguise before we enter, so don't worry too much," Seonwoo Seol said with a bright, beaming smile. Seeing her smile like that, any desire I had to nag her completely melted away. I guess I really do have a soft spot for women.

"Hanseok, did you make sure you have everything?"

"Yes, Chef. Everything is accounted for. It's my first time visiting the Wulin Alliance, so I can't afford to turn back because of a silly mistake."

"Good job. Yeongji, you've got all your things too, right?"

"Yes... But is it really okay for me to go...?"

"Of course. In fact, this is exactly when you should go. It's a great opportunity to show everyone that the youngest daughter of the Gongson Clan is doing well enough to attend an official Wulin Alliance event." At my words, Yeongji seemed to realize something. She clenched her small fists and nodded determinedly. Yes, that's the spirit. After confirming all our luggage and belongings, we boarded the carriage and set off toward the Wulin Alliance in Henan. Clack-clack, clack-clack... Although the day was warm, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the low humidity made for a pleasant journey. We spent the time chatting about various things and even indulged in a bit of light gossip about the Sword Empress. Before we knew it, about two hours had passed.

"Chef! The horses seem to be tiring quickly because of the heat. There's an inn nearby; would it be alright if we took a break there?"

"Sure. It's about time for lunch anyway." I certainly wasn't going to pass up inn food. Food cooked by someone else always tasted amazing. While the coachman fed the horses fodder and beans in the stable, we headed inside the inn to order some food.

"What's your best dish?"

"Ah... currently, we only have Beef Shaobing Soup available."

Beef Shaobing Soup was a dish where unleavened flatbread was soaked in a rich beef broth—essentially the equivalent of a hearty rice soup for the people of Hebei. While the cilantro garnish made it a bit polarizing, eating it with cilantro cut through the greasiness perfectly, making it a wonderful delicacy. Scratching the back of my neck at the waiter's words, I asked,

"What... I assume alcohol is out of the question too, then?"

"Yes..."

"Then give us five bowls, including one for the coachman."

"Right away, sir." While the waiter went to inform the kitchen, I lightly ran my hand over the table. It felt sticky, as if it hadn't been cleaned in ages. Was the waiter slacking off? It didn't seem like it, given how he kept bustling in and out of the back. Still, something felt off. The overall atmosphere of the inn was rather unsettling.

"This place feels sketchy."

"I agree. I highly doubt they can cook well. Yeongji, don't put your hands on the table. You'll get something nasty on your sleeves."

"Okay..." Yeongji murmured as Seonwoo Seol wiped her hands with a handkerchief. It seemed we had chosen the wrong inn. But since this was the only one around, we didn't have much of a choice. Eventually, five bowls of Beef Shaobing Soup were served. I immediately took a spoonful and tasted it.

"..."

"..." Seonwoo Seol and I locked eyes after our first spoonfuls. We simultaneously nodded and set our spoons down. Man Hanseok and Gongson Yeongji couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hold back their complaints either.

"Ah, this is a bit..."

"I can't eat this..." The food had completely gone bad. I didn't know how they had stored the ingredients, but the broth itself tasted sour. It smelled funky, too. I could tolerate bad taste, but this was spoiled food that no human should consume. I was about to go and give them a piece of my mind, but I decided to just stand up. No need to get into a fight on the very first day of our trip.

"Let's go. I brought a pot and some emergency rations just in case, so we can eat those instead." After paying the waiter, we quietly stood up to leave. But as the waiter carried the plates away, he was scolded by someone in the back, and I overheard him grumbling.

"Just leave it there! It's not like eating it will kill them, so why are they leaving so much..."

What? Thinking I had misheard, I froze in my tracks and listened closely.

"It's still perfectly edible, so why the hell are they wasting it?"

"C-Chef! The customers haven't even left yet...!"

"They already paid, so we're done. Why do they count as customers anymore?" I heard the exchange between the waiter and the chef who had received the returned food. Wow, this conversation was really starting to tick me off.

"C-Chef Yoon! Please, calm down!"

"How am I supposed to let this slide?" When a panicked Man Hanseok tried to hold me back, I shook off his hand. I was going to leave quietly, but since they decided to initiate the fight...

"Hey, get out here." I had to deal with this.

"Hey?" Hearing the informal address, the inn's chef stormed out of the kitchen and glared at me.

"Where does a young punk like you get off causing a scene!"

"Does being young mean I don't have a tongue? You serve food that even a dog wouldn't eat, and then you say it's over just because we paid?"

"W-What? Food even a dog wouldn't eat?"

"Did you honestly expect us to say nice things after you served us completely spoiled food?" I stepped right up to the inn's chef, staring him dead in the eyes.