The Cruelty of the Small Martial Arts Ground (1)

"Since the cargo has been delivered, they also requested that I hand over this letter."

Nam Ilhae, the escort leader of the Yijeong Express, handed a silk envelope to Seonwoo Seol and quietly slipped away. Seeing Seonwoo Seol tilt her head in confusion, it was clear she hadn't expected this at all.

"Where on earth did this cargo come from?"

"I think my father sent it."

Only three characters were written on the envelope, but the moment I saw them, I let out a soft chuckle. To think the terrifying Heavenly Demon called his own daughter "Seol-ah" felt rather strange.

Since we couldn't very well read the letter in the middle of the street, we decided to head to the Inner Dining Hall Master's Office along with the box of cocoa beans. Once we settled in, Seonwoo Seol began reading, while I leaned over the box to take a sniff.

"The aroma is nice. But why did he send these beans?"

"Hold on a moment. Most of this letter is just nagging..."

Her expression shifted rapidly as she scanned the pages. Watching her look so utterly helpless under the weight of the Heavenly Demon's parenting style, it was clear that even his nagging was on a demonic level.

After reading to the very end, Seonwoo Seol let out a deep sigh and summarized the contents.

"My father has a junior disciple, and he sent this directly as a gift."

"Your father has a junior disciple?"

This was the first I had ever heard of it. If the Heavenly Demon had a junior disciple, surely everyone in the martial world would know. Why was this a secret?

"He doesn't operate in the Central Plains, so not many people in our Sacred Cult know about him, let alone you, Chef Yoon."

"Where on earth does he operate then?"

"He's a Westerner."

"A Westerner?"

Ah, well, the Demonic Cult was based in the Xinjiang region, so having a foreign junior disciple wasn't entirely out of the question.

"But why is my name on it too?"

"Well, seeing as it says 'Please enjoy it,' it's definitely food. But Father said he tried crushing and eating it, and it was incredibly bitter and tasted awful."

Of course it did. If you just crush and eat raw cocoa beans, they're terribly bitter, sour, and disgusting. It wasn't a matter of ignorance; it was the fault of the junior disciple who sent a completely unfamiliar ingredient as a gift without any explanation. Or wait... could it have been a prank? Who in their right mind sends unprocessed cocoa beans?

"So he thought that you, Chef Yoon, might know what to do with it, and suggested we put our heads together and research it."

"Putting our heads together with you sounds lovely, my lady, but unfortunately, I already know what this is."

The only problem was that while I knew it in theory, I had never actually made chocolate from scratch. How did it go again? Roast them, grind them finely, add some butter and sugar, and let it harden?

"How do you know all these things, Chef Yoon? Even the Chief Librarian of our Cult's library, which houses all our martial arts manuals and books, didn't know."

"Just lucky, I suppose. There are still plenty of dishes I don't know."

That was the honest truth. While I had a decent grasp of foreign cuisines, I barely knew anything about the Central Plains' imperial court cuisine—especially the ancient or ultra-luxurious dishes.

"So how do we eat this? Or rather, what kind of dish should we make with it?"

"Usually, it's eaten as a dessert or snack. Of course, we can't use just this; we need to add a ton of sugar."

I tried to recall what chocolate was used for in ancient times, but the memory eluded me. Instead, I just listed its health benefits off the top of my head.

"It's good for heart health, boosts your mood when you're feeling down, and helps with concentration when you're tired or studying."

"Sounds like some kind of miracle elixir?"

"Unlike a miracle elixir, if you eat too much of it, your teeth will rot, so you shouldn't overdo it."

There were no dentists in the Central Plains, so dental health was paramount. Even I brushed my teeth daily with bamboo salt and a makeshift bamboo toothbrush.

"Then, should we make it right away?"

"Can we make it right now?"

"Not quite. We need butter, so it'll take some time to prepare."

"Ah, that thing from before where you put milk in a wooden barrel and vigorously shook a stick? That looked incredibly exhausting."

"It's exhausting, but the taste is worth it. But making it is one thing—how are you going to send it?"

"Send it? Where?"

"We can't just hog the gift for ourselves, can we?"

"We can just cook it here."

Wait, were we talking past each other? I felt a sudden disconnect.

"Aren't the Cult members all in Xinjiang? I can't travel all the way there."

"Ah! I forgot to mention that." Seonwoo Seol said casually. "My mother is planning to visit Hebei."

"Your mother? Lady Seonwoo's mother?"

Uh, wait... how should I process this? The wife of the Heavenly Demon, the Holy Mother of the Demonic Cult, who once struck terror into the entire Central Plains, was coming to Hebei?

"If the Cult Mother of the Sacred Cult comes to Hebei, won't the surrounding areas be in an uproar? Like the Murim Alliance or the Imperial Court?"

"Of course she's coming in secret. Her daughter hasn't been able to return to Xinjiang for seven whole years, after all."

Well, if that was the reason, it made sense... but it wasn't my place to judge. In fact, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠couldn't. Judging by her tone, her mother was already near Hebei. It wasn't like I could shout, "Oh no, you mustn't come!" and expect her to turn back.

I would just do what I could. Innocent civilians like me survived best by drifting with the wind. Still, it was important to make a good impression on the Cult Mother of the Demonic Cult, one of the massive factions ruling the Murim.

"So, I just need to make a dessert out of these beans sent by the junior disciple and serve it to your mother?"

"According to the letter, yes... Oh, honestly. Why did Mother have to suddenly decide to come..."

Seonwoo Seol squirmed embarrassedly. It seemed to be a mix of meeting her mother after a long time and having to introduce her to me, an outsider.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? We'll just treat her to a wonderful meal."

Why was she worrying so much? We could just meet her and serve her some hot, delicious food.

"What kind of food does your mother like?"

"I think her tastes are quite similar to mine."

"Not picky, and eats a lot?"

"...Is that how you think of me?"

"But you really aren't picky and you eat a lot, don't you?"

"Well, that's true, but... is that any way to talk to a lady?"

"Actually, it's endearing. It's a good thing."

"R-really?"

"It's much better than someone who just picks at their food."

"It feels like an insult, but why am I agreeing with it...?"

"Because it's not an insult, it's the truth. Anyway, write down everything your mother might like. I'll prepare a proper feast for her."

At those words, Seonwoo Seol smiled brightly. It was just a simple smile, but it made me happy too.

While I needed to prepare the dishes for Seonwoo Seol's mother, as the Inner and Outer Dining Hall Master and Chief Chef, I still had a mountain of daily work to get through.

"Mister, give me more."

"I have to feed others too. And I'm not a mister."

"Ma'am, give me more."

What a cheeky freshman. I wanted to give them a Yoon Gomyung-style Finger Flick MK1 right then and there, but I didn't want to face Woo Mi-do, the Discipline Hall Master, so I just waved them off.

What was the point of being the Inner and Outer Dining Hall Master? I was still just called the "cafeteria mister." Even with my grand title of Three-Virtue Chef, to these kids, I was just Cafeteria Mister 1.

Maybe I should just serve eggplant side dishes, black beans, and soybean paste soup for all three meals for a whole week.

I finished serving while harboring those dark thoughts. Of course, someone in my position didn't strictly need to serve food, but I liked to observe the students' reactions with my own eyes from time to time.

As I kept my ears sharp, listening to the students' chatter, a conversation caught my attention.

"Did you hear about that?"

"What?"

"You know, that mute girl."

"There's more than one mute."

"The mute from the Gongson Clan."

"Ah, Yeongi or whatever?"

"I think it's Yeongji. Anyway, she and Yi Cheongmin are going to have a duel."

...What? Gongson Yeongji was dueling whom?

"Isn't Yi Cheongmin a lay disciple of the Mount Emei Sect? Why is she dueling the Gongson mute?"

"Yi Cheongmin was always picking on Gongson Yeongji. I don't know what got into her, but Gongson Yeongji told her that if she's going to keep bothering her, they should settle it with a duel."

"Where did she get the courage?"

"I know, right?"

Good job, Gongson Yeongji! You've finally gained some confidence. Yes, if someone bothers you, you should beat them down in a duel.

"Where is it happening?"

"Don't you know? I heard it's at the Small Martial Arts Ground in the Eastern Pavilion."

I had the location, and the time was likely right now.

"Gye-yeong, I'm heading out for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a bit."

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"To watch our daughter fight."

"Pardon?"

"Don't worry about it."

I was going to watch Gongson Yeongji—whom we practically ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠raised with a half-pill of Great Clarity Elixir—fight.

These were some of the insults ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gongson Yeongji had heard daily before the break.

Before the break, Gongson Yeongji had constantly doubted her own skills.

I'm shorter than the others, I'm not good at martial arts, and I barely passed the academy entrance exam... How could I ever win a duel against them?

But everything changed after she met Yoon Gomyung, Seonwoo Seol, and Man Hanseok.

"Yeongji, why are you letting that amazing Qi sensitivity go to waste? If I had your level of sensitivity, I would have become a Transcendence Realm master by now."

"I told you, Yeongji. Your skills aren't bad. You just keep shrinking back because you think you're bad."

"Junior, just charge right in! Just like Chef Yoon taught us, boom! Charge in so hard they scream! That'll freeze them in their tracks. Chef Yoon charges at anyone, which is how he got the title of Three-Virtue Chef... oops."

"What are you teaching the kid?"

They could have easily given up on a fragile first-year like her, but they called her over every day to spar, offer advice, and help her train. Yoon Gomyung had even given her a half-pill of the Great Clarity Elixir to boost her internal energy.

She did everything they told her to do. And her martial arts improved rapidly.

By the time Yoon Gomyung's group returned from the Murim Alliance after about a month, a thought suddenly popped into Gongson Yeongji's head.

It might be a bit arrogant of me to think this, but... am I perhaps in the upper ranks among the first-years?

She had received a concentration of benefits that even members of the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans could only dream of. Putting aside how fun it was to hang out with them, she had two Peak Masters and a first-class martial artist spending twelve shijin a day with her, boosting her internal energy with expensive herbs and elixirs, correcting her posture, giving advice, and feeding her delicious food.

For a martial artist, it was heaven.

After months of this, Gongson Yeongji naturally began to exude confidence. Her slumped shoulders straightened, and her cheeks filled out with healthy baby fat.

Today, since everyone was busy, she practiced her martial arts alone at the training ground without anyone's help and was returning to the Eastern Pavilion.

Someone standing at the main gate of the Eastern Pavilion approached her.

It was Yi Cheongmin, the leader of the group that bullied her, a first-year lay disciple of the Mount Emei Sect.

"Hey, Gongson Yeongji. Looking bright, aren't we?" Yi Cheongmin said, crossing her arms.

"You know there's no one to protect you now, right?"

"W-what...?"

"The Dining Hall Master, the Little Heavenly Demon tutor, that giant senior, and the Student Council President are all away."

Yeongji bit her lower lip and retorted in a trembling voice: "They aren't protecting me...!"

"Sure. I haven't seen you step foot inside the Eastern Pavilion lately. You even sleep at the Student Council hall sometimes. If that's not being protected, what is?"

Yi Cheongmin stepped forward and poked Yeongji's shoulder with her finger.

"So, look forward to it. There's no one to protect you, and quite a few kids didn't go home for the break."

Poke, poke.

"Say something. Can't speak without your protectors? Are you a baby? Why don't you go back and suck on some more milk?"

Poke, poke.

"Look at her. Just trembling and can't even speak."

Yeongji trembled with a rush of humiliation she hadn't felt in months. But she was human too. She could get angry.

Just before she exploded, Man Hanseok's advice flashed through her mind.

"Charge in so hard they scream! That'll freeze them in their tracks."

She couldn't bring herself to physically tackle her like Hanseok suggested. She felt that didn't suit her.

Instead, Gongson Yeongji slapped Yi Cheongmin across the face.

Slap!

As Yi Cheongmin stood dazed by the sudden strike, Gongson Yeongji shouted in a trembling voice:

"F-follow me to the Small Martial Arts Ground...!"

"What did you say?"

"L-let's duel! I can't take this anymore...!"

With those words coming out of Gongson Yeongji's mouth, the quiet holiday Eastern Pavilion was turned upside down, and the rumor spread like wildfire through the academy.

Now, in the present.

Yoon Gomyung was munching on roasted pumpkin seeds he had gotten from somewhere, watching the Small Martial Arts Ground.

Popcorn is the classic snack for watching kids fight. Why are there no corn kernels in the Central Plains?

Three people stood on the Small Martial Arts Ground:

An unnamed student acting as the referee.

Yi Cheongmin, with one cheek burning bright red.

Gongson Yeongji, looking at her with a dead serious expression.

"Do you really think you can win?"

"I-I don't think there's any reason I can't."

Seeing Gongson Yeongji no longer cowering before her, Yi Cheongmin's brow furrowed deeply.

"...You're just a mute from the Gongson Clan!"

Yi Cheongmin's wooden sword, remarkably sharp for a first-year, slashed down toward Gongson Yeongji's shoulder.