Transmission (1)
Recognizing the man opposite him, Nang Hyeon kept his smile in place as he answered.
"Young Master Kang Yeon is busy in the kitchen at the moment. If you take a meal while you wait, you'll be able to see him soon."
The man studied Nang Hyeon for a moment, then took a seat. Sensing that the atmosphere had turned anything but ordinary, Nang Hyeon hurried to inform Kang Yeon of the visitor's presence.
"Young Master Kang, we have a serious problem!"
Kang Yeon lifted his head in the kitchen and let out a quiet snort of laughter.
"Who else has come looking for me this time? Things have been noisy lately."
He had already felt the unusual presence from outside. More than that, his superhuman physical senses had let him catch every word of the conversation beyond the door.
"The Black Sword Guest is here!!"
"The Black Sword Guest? Who's that?"
"He's one of the foremost powerhouses among the solvers of West Lake. The fact that he's asking for you can't mean anything good."
"Really??? Why would he come looking for me?"
Kang Yeon finished the dish he was working on and stepped out of the kitchen. The moment he emerged, he spotted the Black Sword Guest seated off to one side. He had never seen the man before, but the visitor was radiating the strongest aura of anyone currently in the inn—so there was no doubt who he was. Kang Yeon walked over to the table.
The Black Sword Guest, Jang Cheon-roe, narrowed his eyes the instant he laid eyes on Kang Yeon.
"You're Kang Yeon?"
"I am. What business do you have with me, guest?"
Jang Cheon-roe looked him up and down before speaking.
"The rumors are thick. They say you subdued Gwaksar of the Blood Wolf Gang with a single finger. Is that true?"
Kang Yeon answered evenly.
"There's a bit of exaggeration mixed in. I simply cleared up a misunderstanding."
Jang Cheon-roe smiled at Kang Yeon's unhurried manner.
"Interesting. I am Jang Cheon-roe, the Black Sword Guest. I want to verify your skill for myself."
The inn fell silent in an instant. The moniker "Black Sword Guest" was well-known not only around West Lake but across the Central Plains. For a man of that caliber to come all the way to this inn meant far more than idle curiosity.
Kang Yeon scratched the back of his head.
"You want to test my skill? That's awkward. I'm just a cook. If you'd like a meal, I'll do my utmost to serve you."
Jang Cheon-roe gave a short laugh at the reply.
"A cook, is it……."
Watching from a distance, Nang Hyeon tensed. He had never met the man before, but from the rumors he knew the Black Sword Guest's temperament all too well. If he had come to test Kang Yeon's strength, he would never simply walk away. Nang Hyeon prepared himself to step in the moment anything went wrong.
He knew Kang Yeon was strong, yet the Black Sword Guest was a name of that order.
"Then I'll confirm it myself—whether you're truly as formidable as the rumors claim, or whether it's all empty bluster."
Jang Cheon-roe drew the sword at his waist. A faint chill radiated from the blade. True to the name Black Sword Guest, the weapon poured forth an aura that seemed to drink in the darkness itself. Guests hastily abandoned their seats, clearing a wide space in the middle of the floor.
Nang Hyeon started forward, but Kang Yeon raised a hand and stopped him.
"Nang Hyeon, stay back. I'll handle this."
"But Young Master……."
"It's fine. Our guest wants something other than cooking, so I'll play with him for a little while."
At those words Nang Hyeon reluctantly retreated. Jang Cheon-roe leveled his sword and fixed Kang Yeon with a hard stare. His aura was sharp and menacing. A veteran of countless battles worthy of his renown, he found Kang Yeon's leisurely attitude oddly grating.
"If what Gwak Pung said is true, you may well be a master who has reached the Absolute Realm. But I cannot believe it until I see for myself."
Kang Yeon set down his teacup with a sigh.
"This is troublesome. I'm just a cook, yet people keep challenging me to fights. Still, since our guest insists, I'll take a light look at your skill."
Jang Cheon-roe snorted.
"A light look? Arrogant!"
He lunged, sword flashing. His technique was the Dark Wind Sword Art—an embodiment of the essence of swift-sword combat.
Srrrng.
Kang Yeon casually slipped aside from the oncoming sword energy. The blade-force split the air and left a shallow scar on one of the inn's wooden pillars.
"Oh? Not bad."
For a mark to appear even on pillars that were far from ordinary timber meant the man truly possessed considerable skill, just as the rumors claimed. Guests screamed and scrambled farther back.
Kang Yeon, however, never left his spot.
"You dodge well—so you do have some ability."
The Black Sword Guest's blade came again. Kang Yeon lifted a hand and casually flicked the sword aside.
Thuum.
The motion was as light as wind brushing a leaf. Jang Cheon-roe's sword stopped dead in midair; his arm began to tremble violently.
"Wh-what is this?"
He stared at Kang Yeon in disbelief. A full-powered strike loaded with his internal energy could not have been blocked so easily. Kang Yeon's expression remained perfectly calm.
"The Dark Wind Sword Art…… quite sharp. But it's too linear. Guest, your swordplay would improve with a little more flexibility."
Jang Cheon-roe's face flushed crimson.
"You dare lecture me?!"
He gritted his teeth and drew up his internal energy. Black aura erupted from his entire body, flooding the inn with crushing pressure. Guests held their breath, barely able to draw air.
"Insolent! Take this properly!"
He swung again.
This time it was the ultimate form of the Dark Wind Sword Art—Black Wind Soul Severance. Black wind howled from the sword energy and tore toward Kang Yeon. Tables and chairs rattled and toppled across the floor.
Crash.
Jo Seol watched the scene and heaved a long sigh. Just when would the age of suffering for the inn's furnishings finally end? At the same moment Nang Hyeon's eyes went wide. Rumor held that no one who faced the Black Sword Guest's ultimate technique ever walked away alive.
"Th-this is dangerous!"
Yet Kang Yeon still did not move. Looking almost bored, he raised two fingers and flicked them lightly. Transparent force rippled through the air and shattered Jang Cheon-roe's sword energy to pieces. The black wind dissolved like mist, and Jang Cheon-roe staggered back several steps in shock.
"Wh-what in the……."
Astonishment flooded his face. In that instant he understood that Kang Yeon was far stronger than even Gwak Pung had claimed. This man could not be described by the words "Absolute Realm." His aura was that of an absolute being.
Kang Yeon smiled as he spoke.
"Satisfied now? If you want to continue, let's take it outside. If the inn gets any more wrecked, Seol will get angry."
Jang Cheon-roe clenched his jaw and sheathed his sword. His pride stung, but instinct warned him that pressing further could cost him his life.
"You…… just who are you?"
Kang Yeon shrugged.
"Just a cook."
Jang Cheon-roe returned his blade to its scabbard and clasped his fist in salute toward Kang Yeon.
"This Jang has committed a grave discourtesy toward a senior master."
At the sudden shift in attitude Kang Yeon gave a quiet chuckle. He had met countless martial artists of this type throughout the Murim. He already understood that the man had never intended pure malice; pure curiosity about Kang Yeon's strength had driven him.
"Since the Black Sword Guest offers such an apology, I accept it. In return, I hope you'll frequent our inn often from now on."
"Since things have come to this, I'd like to taste the cooking as well."
"You're welcome anytime."
Listening to the exchange, Jo Seol's mouth fell open. Moments earlier they had been fighting as if to kill each other; now they were talking about sitting down to a meal.
"What on earth is going on?"
Nang Hyeon answered with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
"How should I put it…… the world of men, I suppose?"
"Excuse me??"
Jo Seol let out a helpless little laugh. Once the storm had passed, the guests resettled themselves. Most of them were martial artists as well; the moment the fight ended they returned to their previous mood as though nothing had happened.
"Then let's start with your order."
At Kang Yeon's words the Black Sword Guest replied,
"The most delicious dish you have, please."
Kang Yeon nodded, returned to the kitchen, and brought out a plate.
"This is our bestseller."
What he set down was tonkatsu. The Black Sword Guest regarded the dish with open curiosity.
"How does one eat this?"
Kang Yeon took up a special small cleaver he had commissioned from a blacksmith solely for cutting tonkatsu, and began to slice the cutlet.
Swish, swish.
The Black Sword Guest glanced at the smooth knife-work—then his face went pale.
"Good heavens."
The way Kang Yeon cut the tonkatsu was all too familiar. Though he held only a small kitchen knife, the movements were unmistakably those of Jang Cheon-roe's own signature Dark Wind Sword Art. More than that, the forms now contained the very principles Kang Yeon had casually pointed out during their brief clash.
"……."
Jang Cheon-roe fixed his full concentration on the knife-work. Before long cold sweat beaded on his brow. In the unfolding forms he saw his own body being sliced into fragments by Kang Yeon's hand.
Swish.
With a final cut that finished the tonkatsu, Kang Yeon looked up at him.
"Done. You can eat now."
Jang Cheon-roe swallowed dryly.
"My desire to verify your skill was entirely my own. The Blood Wolf Gang wishes to maintain friendly relations with the West Lake Number One Inn."
Kang Yeon grinned.
"Blood Wolf Gang or anyone else—so long as they don't cause a ruckus in the inn, I won't go out of my way to care."
Jang Cheon-roe studied him for a long moment, then began to eat the tonkatsu. The exquisite flavor startled him, yet he finished the plate in a rush, unable to savor it properly. The moment he was done he spoke with formal courtesy.
"I will deliver the message to the Blood Wolf Gang. It would be wise not to touch the West Lake Number One Inn."
After settling the bill, Jang Cheon-roe left. Nang Hyeon, having once more witnessed Kang Yeon's overwhelming power, could not hide his awe.
"Young Master…… you are truly incredible."
Kang Yeon smiled at him.
"Nothing incredible about it. I just convinced a guest. Come on, time to clean up. The place is a bit of a mess."
Rattle.
The last customer of the day left the inn. Jo Seol wore a satisfied expression.
"Customers are starting to increase little by little—it feels good."
Nang Hyeon, who had helped right up to closing, looked equally fulfilled.
"I think inn work suits my temperament. It's truly enjoyable."
Jo Seol gave a small laugh.
"Tonight we'll have something special for dinner."
"Really? Now I'm looking forward to it."
Just then Kang Yeon opened the door from inside the inn and stepped out.
"Nang Hyeon, a word."
Nang Hyeon flinched. He wondered if this was about the Black Sword Guest's visit and the Blood Wolf Gang business.
"Young Master, what is it?"
Kang Yeon answered with his usual calm expression.
"There's something I need to talk to you about for a moment. Come out to the back courtyard."
With that he headed toward the rear of the inn. Nang Hyeon heaved a deep sigh, and Jo Seol offered him a word of comfort.
"Don't worry too much. Oppa Yeon isn't the type to scold you over what happened earlier."
At her reassurance Nang Hyeon's face eased considerably.
"Thank you, Miss Seol. Then I'll go see Young Master Kang."