Eve of the Storm

If the upcoming summit hosted by the Murim Alliance had been a celebratory affair, Yoon Gomyung and his companions would have had plenty to see. Normally, a Murim Alliance summit was grander in scale than even the Beggar's Sect's banquets, inevitably creating a festive atmosphere akin to a massive carnival.

There would have been displays of martial group choreography by the Alliance's warriors, dazzling spectacles by acrobatic troupes, and traditional operas. However, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the upcoming Rallying Summit at the Murim Alliance was entirely different.

It had all started with a single letter from the Beggar's Sect. Sent to the Nine Great Sects and One Association, the Five Great Noble Clans, and various other sects large and small, the letter contained only a single sentence:

The sentence, scribbled in a frantic hand by Chief Mong Bullak, was both a warning and a lament. The catalyst had been the unpleasant incident that occurred during his birthday banquet. The letter was sent to prevent the era of harmony, so painstakingly established by the previous generation of martial masters, from fracturing once more.

In accordance with Mong Bullak's wishes, the Murim Alliance Leader decided to host a Rallying Summit under the banner of 'Let the Alliance and its member sects rise up together so that we do not fracture again.' Preparations had been steadily underway. Agreeing with this sentiment, Abbess Aryeon Satae, the leader of the Emei Sect; Cheongpung Jinin, representing the Wudang Sect; and Dang Mieon of the Sichuan Tang Clan had arrived early and gathered in one place.

"How is it that you seem to grow younger and return to your youthful looks with each passing day?"

Cheongpung Jinin spoke in a sly, teasing tone. Abbess Aryeon Satae offered a gentle smile, raising a hand to her neatly bound hair as she replied.

"Flattery will get you nowhere. On the other hand, it seems your wrinkles are growing deeper by the day, Daoist Cheongpung."

"One should repay a compliment with a compliment. Why return it with such harsh words?"

"I merely meant you look distinguished, fitting for someone of our age."

Dang Mieon chuckled softly as he watched the two converse without reserve. Cheongpung Jinin grumbled playfully and asked him:

"Whenever we invited you before, you refused, claiming you were busy studying poisons. Is your studying finally complete? To think the Poison Dragon Elder himself would grace us with his presence, rather than the Clan Leader."

"I came because there are matters I wish to discuss at this summit. Please do not pay my presence too much mind."

"Ahem. Anyone listening would think I was criticizing you."

As Cheongpung Jinin averted his gaze, Dang Mieon let out a faint smile. All three were formidable figures holding key positions within their respective sects, yet when they gathered like this, they spoke with comfortable familiarity.

Wiping the smile from his face, Dang Mieon adopted a serious expression and addressed the other two.

"Before we speak at the summit, there is something I wish to ask. Do either of you know of any sect or organization that uses the character 'Hyeol' (Blood) in its name?"

An organization or sect with the character for 'Blood'? Abbess Aryeon Satae and Cheongpung Jinin found it a peculiar question, but they knew Dang Mieon was not one to make idle jests. Abbess Aryeon Satae was the first to speak.

"While it is indeed a favorite character of the Unorthodox Factions, it is difficult to give a simple answer. Even among the masters of the previous generation, there was the Blood Phoenix, who originated from the Orthodox Factions but defected to the Demonic Cult."

Cheongpung Jinin nodded in agreement.

"Surely it cannot be the Four Blood Alliance, which even a child would know of... Has some Blood Demon from hundreds of years ago resurfaced?"

"There were two recent incidents concerning the Tang Clan, and both involved the character 'Blood'."

"As the Abbess mentioned, those of the Unorthodox Factions are quite fond of that character. Could it not simply be a coincidence?"

"I certainly hope so, but instinct is a terrifyingly persistent thing, is it not?"

Seeing Dang Mieon look uncharacteristically troubled, the expressions of the other two turned grave. There was absolutely no harm in heeding his words. Even though the Sichuan Tang Clan was the only one among the Five Great Noble Clans to walk the line between Orthodox and Unorthodox, Dang Mieon's integrity was widely recognized throughout the Central Plains.

Cheongpung Jinin stroked his beard, deep in thought.

"Off the top of my head, there is the Hyeoljabang and the Hyeolmak, an assassination guild that vanished long ago. Does the Hyeoljabang still exist?"

"The Hyeoljabang also vanished decades ago. Master Yakseon and the Great Hero Dongpung Bijong eliminated them personally back then."

"Ah, right. Excluding the sects and figures you, the Poison Dragon Elder, would already know, that is about all I can recall."

At those words, Dang Mieon stroked his chin in silence. He pondered their suggestions for a moment, but none of them felt right. Neither of those groups had any reason to survive to this day, nor were they in a position to harbor a grudge and seek vengeance after decades of silence.

Could it be that place...? No, that place does not have the character 'Blood' in its name...

Noticing Dang Mieon's intense concentration and realizing that the character 'Blood' was a crucial clue, Cheongpung Jinin spoke with a solemn face.

"Once I return to Hebei, I shall ask the other disciples about it."

"As a fellow neighbor of Sichuan, Emei cannot remain idle. I will certainly make inquiries as well."

Dang Mieon clasped his hands in a respectful bow to express his gratitude.

"I am deeply grateful to you both."

Returning to their usual demeanor, the three began chatting about mundane matters, but they soon frowned as the indoor temperature grew increasingly muggy. Though all three had reached the realm of Hanseobulchim—rendering them immune to extreme heat and cold—staying cooped up inside ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in this hot, humid weather still felt incredibly stifling.

"Since the weather is so warm, why don't we continue our conversation in an open pavilion instead?"

"Let us do that. There is no reason to remain confined in this room."

"The area around the Imcheondang Pavilion should be wide open. Let us head that way."

With Dang Mieon leading the way, Cheongpung Jinin and Abbess Aryeon Satae followed him outside. As they walked, hugging the shaded walls to avoid the scorching sunlight, they heard someone shouting loudly nearby.

"Good, good! Keep going just like that!"

"……?"

It was a voice they had heard somewhere before. Along with the voice came a savory, rich aroma and the smell of burning firewood. Wondering where such a scent could be coming from, Dang Mieon looked up at the plaque hanging over the gate.

[Dining Hall]

Do I know anyone in the Murim Alliance's dining hall?

While Dang Mieon was contemplating whether to leap over the wall to peer inside, Cheongpung Jinin, walking with his hands clasped behind his back, spoke up.

"It is still too early for a meal. Are they preparing food already?"

"Judging by the aroma, they seem to be making Surak. It smells delicious."

"Surak? Is that not the porridge made by mixing milk and grains? I heard none of the dishes for the upcoming lunch used milk, though?"

"This is definitely the scent of Surak. They wouldn't boil precious milk for no reason."

While the two debated, another clear shout echoed from beyond the wall.

"Whoa, it's about to boil over! Pull the wood out!"

It was definitely a familiar voice. Dang Mieon realized exactly who it belonged to.

"…Chef Yoon?"

"Who?"

"The Inner and Outer Dining Hall Master of the Mutual Righteousness Academy, the Three-Virtue Chef, Yoon Gomyung."

At Dang Mieon's words, a head popped up over the wall, looking down at the three of them.

"Well, if it isn't Great Hero Dang?"

"It is indeed Chef Yoon."

Drenched in sweat unlike his usual self, Yoon Gomyung nodded with a bright, sunny grin.

Man, it's hot. Standing in front of a massive cauldron while the blazing sun beats down on my head like needles is pure torture.

They say martial artists don't feel the heat or the cold, so why the hell am I suffering like this?

Hearing my name mentioned outside the wall, I peered over and saw Dang Mieon whispering with two people I'd never seen before.

Leaving people standing out in this scorching heat would be cruel, so I immediately invited them inside the dining hall.

Taking the opportunity to rest, I had one of the kitchen servants bring everyone a cup of cold water. Dang Mieon, looking pleased with the refreshment, asked with a warm smile:

"What on earth were you doing to be shouting so loudly in this heat?"

"I was making Jeho."

"Jeho? What is that?"

"It's an ingredient I'll be using for the upcoming banquet... It won't be any fun if I spoil it now, so let's just say it's a dairy product made from milk."

"So you really are preparing the banquet for this summit."

"Yes. Somehow, things just turned out that way."

I bowed my head slightly and gestured toward the two people standing beside him.

"And who might these esteemed guests be?"

"Ah, forgive my late introduction. This is Abbess Aryeon Satae, the leader of the Emei Sect, and this is Cheongpung Jinin, an elder of the Wudang Sect."

"Oh! This humble junior, Yoon Gomyung, greets you both!"

Whoa, wild Murim giants have appeared! They concealed their presence so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠perfectly that I hadn't realized it, but both of them were absolute masters whose realms far surpassed my own.

Especially this woman who looked like a modest, middle-aged beauty—to think she was the leader of the Emei Sect. I knew Emei was a sect of Buddhist nuns, so seeing her with a full head of hair caught me completely off guard. Then again, Botamun is also a sect of female disciples, and On Ban-hui didn't shave her head either.

The man beside her, Cheongpung Jinin, looked to be around the same age as the Tea Freak instructor, Cheongjo. That made sense, considering they shared the same generation name, 'Cheong'. However, their vibes were quite different. While Cheongjo was a genial, easygoing old man, this Taoist felt much more disciplined and sharp.

"To think the chef Cheongjo bragged so much about would end up at the Murim Alliance. What a pleasant surprise."

"Instructor Cheongjo bragged about me?"

"He sent a letter boasting about a spicy rice dish mixed with vegetables and meat. What did he call it... Goldongban?"

"Ah, that was a dish I made during Instructor Cheongjo's class. It was so popular that we ended up serving it in the Inner Dining Hall as well."

"Yes, Goldongban! Do you plan to serve it at this banquet too?"

"No, the food for this banquet will be completely different. That's why I've been sitting in front of a hot cauldron stirring milk in this sweltering weather."

"Is that so? If I tell him that, he'll surely whine about how jealous he is."

Cheongpung Jinin flashed a mischievous grin. Uh, isn't that a bit too petty of a prank to warrant such a wicked smile, Elder?

"So you are the Inner and Outer Dining Hall Master the girls at the academy talk about so much."

"Yes, ma'am. I am Yoon Gomyung."

Abbess Aryeon Satae greeted me with a gentle, benevolent smile and a light wave of her hand.

Speaking of the Emei Sect, they frequently sent suggestions to the dining hall. It was basically the Murim equivalent of a military suggestion box. Most of them were along the lines of, "Please stop serving sweet and sour half-dried pollack in the Outer Dining Hall," or "Please give us more meat side dishes."

But the Emei Sect sent the most feedback, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠theirs was usually about the cooking methods. Since the students were still growing, the sect didn't strictly enforce a vegetarian diet at school, but we still prepared one or two vegetarian dishes.

Yet, the Emei disciples were the most critical of the vegetarian options. They complained about the Five Pungent Spices, or argued that seasoned vegetables shouldn't only use sesame oil... Honestly, I think one of the reasons I became so skilled at making ordinary side dishes was because of Emei's constant culinary backseat driving.

It seemed Abbess Aryeon Satae was well aware of this, as she brought it up with a chuckle.

"I heard our demanding girls sent you feedback every single week. They told me they were deeply grateful that you accommodated their requests so readily."

"Oh, not at all. Thanks to them, I was able to hone my skills and learn more about the vegetarian diets of practitioners."

"We are truly grateful that you see it that way. Ah, by the way, the head of our sect's kitchen hall expressed a desire to visit the Inner and Outer Dining Halls sometime."

"The Emei Sect is one of the pillars of the prestigious Orthodox Factions. It would be an immense honor for me to learn from Emei's culinary traditions. Just send a letter before they arrive, and I will ensure they receive the finest hospitality."

Maybe it was because I was so tense, but sweat was pouring down my back and my head was spinning. I managed to squeeze out a polite response, but I had no idea if I'd said the right thing. This is why talking to high-ranking officials is so exhausting. Since the Principal and the Academy Director would handle the finer details anyway, this was the best answer I could give at my level.

The conversation naturally drifted back to food, and we began discussing the Beggar's Chicken I had prepared at the Beggar's Sect banquet.

"Chef Yoon, about the centipede carapace you gave us back then."

"Pardon? Ah, the Human-faced Centipede?"

"Yes, the Human-faced Centipede. On one of the carapaces you handed over, the character 'Blood' was carved."

"It looked far too bizarre to be a natural pattern. It seemed like someone had deliberately carved it, so I set it aside and gave it to you, thinking it might lead to the owner."

The Human-faced Centipede was a venomous beast native to the far southern regions; it had no business being found in Hebei, where snow and freezing cold dominated the winters. When I handed over the poison core back then, I had included the carved carapace. It was clear evidence that the beast had a master.

"The character 'Blood' is common enough, but it troubles me that it was found again in a similar region."

"Found again in a similar region? What do you mean?"

"When we visited the mountain villa of the Pansu Sect—the newly formed unorthodox sect that threatened Gohye—we found nothing but a field of corpses. The man who appeared to be their leader had been reduced to white bones, leaving behind only the single character for 'Blood'."

If he was putting it this way, it meant even the Sichuan Tang Clan hadn't been able to uncover the mastermind behind it.

"Do you happen to have any clues?"

"Uh, well... For a newly established unorthodox sect, they were far too reckless, and their preparation wasn't particularly impressive. What is certain is that the Pansu Sect bastards seemed more like disposable pawns."

"Which means a vicious group that has only recently resurfaced is pulling the strings."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"Nonsense. Saving Gohye alone is something we owe you immense gratitude for."

The character 'Blood' was indeed common, but the fact that the exact same character was left behind in two entirely different incidents raised serious questions. Especially since both incidents were connected to me.

"By the way, how is Lady Dang doing?"

"She is like a wild colt in the spring..."

Just as we were about to transition to talking about Dang Go-hye—

"Excuse me, Three-Virtue Chef?"

A kitchen servant, looking utterly terrified, suddenly appeared and scurried over to me.

"What's the matter?"

"An urgent matter has arisen in the dining hall..."

"Then you should go to the dining hall manager or the senior chef. Why come to me?"

"Well, the thing is..."

The servant whispered with a deeply troubled expression.

"Both the dining hall manager and the senior chef have been rushed to the Medical Hall."

"……What?"

There was only one way to describe this absurd situation.

"What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?!"