For Now, Let's Pretend Not to Know
In the kitchen of the West Lake Number One Inn, Kang Yeon quietly held a knife and sliced vegetables. Only the steady rhythm of the blade broke the silence. After his conversation with Jang Mu-eon the day before, Kang Yeon's heart was a tangle of complicated thoughts.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
I just wanted to live an ordinary life.
A faint wisp of energy slipped from Kang Yeon's fingertips and wrapped around the blade. Under that subtle sword qi, the vegetables fell into perfectly even pieces. His own mind, however, refused to settle so cleanly.
His past in the martial world was creeping closer again, little by little.
Kang Yeon let out a sigh and set the knife down.
"Still, the work that needs doing has to get done."
He finished prepping the ingredients and tidied the kitchen for the morning service. By the time the last of the breakfast prep was complete, Jo Hwan shuffled in with a sleep-tousled face.
"Huh? You're already finished?"
"Had some things on my mind, so I came out early."
"Something worrying you?"
Kang Yeon smiled lightly and shook his head.
"Nothing important. Don't concern yourself."
Jo Hwan studied him a moment, then helped with the remaining kitchen chores as they readied the inn for the day.
Whoosh.
Just as Kang Yeon lit the stove, a flurry of noise rose from beyond the kitchen door.
"Welcome! Welcome to the West Lake Number One Inn!"
It was Jo Seol's bright, cheerful voice. Kang Yeon glanced out and saw guests already filing through the entrance—surprisingly early for the hour.
"This is the place Nang recommended?"
The first customer was a solidly built middle-aged martial artist, a heavy saber hanging at his waist.
"That's right! Brother Nang Hyeon has been promoting our inn like crazy."
Jo Seol answered with a radiant smile.
"Is that so? Then maybe I should try the dishes he ate."
The second guest was a sharp-featured young woman whose light, effortless steps spoke of light-body techniques.
"I'll take the morning special, please. And also…"
She paused and flicked a glance toward the kitchen.
"Is it true the chef here is actually an incredible martial artist?"
Jo Seol put on a convincingly puzzled look—a practiced bit of acting.
"Martial arts? Brother Kang Yeon is a cook."
"Oh, just curious. There's a rumor going around these days."
At that moment the third guest stepped through the door—a young man whose clothes hinted at wealth.
"So this is the famous West Lake Number One Inn. I heard the food is better than Ilyeong Inn's. Is that true?"
Jo Seol answered with full confidence.
"Of course! Our cooking is the best on West Lake!"
Listening from the kitchen, Kang Yeon let out a quiet snort of amusement.
"The rumors spread faster than I expected."
In truth, the sudden surge owed something to Jeok Ryeon-hwa. As the young mistress of the Red Lotus Sect, she was a well-known figure around West Lake. Word that she had visited the inn—and that even though she had come on business she had cleaned every plate—had only fanned the flames.
Whoosh.
Kang Yeon stoked the fire higher and began cooking in earnest. The guests might have come with all sorts of motives, but in the end they had all come to eat.
"First priority is still making delicious food."
While he prepped, the dining room grew steadily busier. Orders started piling up, and Jo Seol's movements grew quicker by the minute.
"Two number-one morning specials over here!"
"Add a number-two morning special!"
"One hand-pulled noodle soup as well, please!"
"Excuse me… I know it's breakfast, but would a lunch special be possible…?"
"Oppa, so far we've got about five requests for lunch dishes… can you manage it?"
At the question about lunch service, Kang Yeon's expression went carefully blank. The guest's face filled with tension.
"We normally open on time, close on time, and serve only the set meals…"
"I knew it…"
"But just for today, since Seol asked so nicely, I'll make an exception! In return, you'd better advertise us thoroughly."
"Oh, thank you so much!"
"Thank Seol. She's the one who put in a good word."
"Thank you!!"
Kang Yeon grinned and returned to the stove. Whoosh—flames leapt in the wok and the rich scent of hot oil filled the kitchen. The unexpected extra dishes only made his hands move faster.
Just then Nang Hyeon stepped into the kitchen.
"Young Master, shall I help? There are more guests than we expected."
Kang Yeon glanced at him.
"Isn't it busier out front?"
"Aigoo, don't even start. Seol is moving so fast I can't even find a gap to step in. I'd be more useful in here."
"That so? Then help me prep the vegetables."
"Yes, sir!"
Nang Hyeon quickly washed his hands and began chopping. It was his first time prepping ingredients, yet the cuts came out precise and clean. As a former martial artist he already had excellent body control, and training in the Great Cloud Fist had only refined the precision of his hands further.
"Nang Hyeon, thanks to you we've got a lot more customers."
"Heh, I just wanted more people to know how good the food is. Though honestly, Young Mistress Jeok probably helped just as much."
While the two of them cooked, another figure moved outside the inn.
In an alley a short distance away, a young man stood watching the West Lake Number One Inn. He wore black martial robes, the characters for Black Wind Association embroidered across the chest.
"Was this really our home?"
His name was Jo Un, Jo Hwan's son. For the past two years he had been training at a martial hall in West Lake. Now, granted leave, he had returned to his hometown. He had once sworn he would not come back until he had made a name for himself as a hero of the martial world—yet here he was.
It felt a little awkward, but he had more than enough reason and excuse to return.
"Father's letter said the inn had been renovated… I never imagined it would look like this."
Amazement filled Jo Un's eyes. The shabby place he remembered was gone, replaced by a clean, refined exterior already bustling with guests.
"And he said Yeon came back, didn't he?"
Through his father's letter Jo Un had learned of Kang Yeon's return. The moment he read it he had requested leave and rushed straight to the inn. The foster brother who had once left them like family had come home; of course he had to see him.
"You little punk… where have you been all this time?"
When Jo Un pushed open the inn door, Jo Seol spotted him at once.
"Huh? Oppa!"
She ran over with a brilliant smile, delighted by the family reunion even with customers sitting all around.
"Seol, you've been well? But… is this really our inn?"
"Yeah! Brother Kang Yeon came back and rebuilt the whole place. It's amazing!"
Jo Un looked around the interior, awed. From the materials to the satisfied faces of the guests, everything had changed.
"Where's Father?"
"He's in the kitchen cooking with Brother Yeon. Wait here—I'll go tell them you're here."
Jo Seol started toward the kitchen, only for Jo Hwan himself to emerge carrying dishes.
"Oh? Un!"
Joy lit Jo Hwan's face.
"Father!"
The warm reunion between father and son drew smiles from the guests. At that moment Kang Yeon stepped out of the kitchen and looked at Jo Un. He had last seen the boy years ago; the grown man standing before him was a stranger. Kang Yeon studied him carefully. The marks of martial training were plain to see.
Hmm.
The basics looked solid—Jo Un's frame was sturdy and well-built. But one detail grated on Kang Yeon's eyes more than anything else.
Black Wind.
It was the characters embroidered on the martial robes Jo Un wore. After finishing his greetings with Jo Hwan and Jo Seol, Jo Un finally spotted Kang Yeon. An awkward silence hung between them for a beat. Kang Yeon simply raised a hand in greeting.
"Hey, Brother Un. Long time no see."
With that single line the awkwardness melted away. Years had passed, yet the easy familiarity of family settled over them at once.
"You little punk. So you finally came back. Where the hell have you been all this time?"
"Just… doing this and that until I wandered home."
Jo Seol started to speak, then closed her mouth. Jo Un had already been so obsessed with martial arts that he had once run off from the inn. If he found out Kang Yeon also practiced martial arts, he would never leave him alone. And from what she had observed since their reunion, Kang Yeon seemed to hate getting tangled up in martial-world affairs more than anything.
"Is that so. Anyway, thank you. Father told me—the repairs, the new look, all of it was thanks to you. Looking at how packed the place is, I guess our inn really does need you."
Kang Yeon shrugged at the praise.
"You still overdo the compliments, same as ever. I'm just cooking."
"Facts are facts. But you've changed. You feel… more grown-up somehow."
Jo Un studied him closely. The presence radiating from Kang Yeon was nothing like before—deeper, more settled. As a boy Kang Yeon had been sly one moment and razor-cold the next; the easy composure he carried now had never been there.
"People change. You've changed a lot yourself. Let's see…"
Kang Yeon gave Jo Un's shoulder a casual tap. Jo Un's body rocked backward a fraction.
"Huh?"
Jo Un looked startled. The touch had seemed light, yet a surprising amount of force had come with it. Having casually gauged Jo Un's level, Kang Yeon smiled gently.
"Heard you've been learning martial arts. Shoulders feel solid."
"Hey, Yeon, ease up on the strength. You scared me. Since when are you this strong?"
"Sorry. Guess my hands are still tense from cooking. So you joined a martial hall, huh?"
Jo Un puffed out his chest with pride.
"That's right. It's a hall under the Black Wind Association. The instructors teach martial arts really well."
Kang Yeon's expression shifted the moment he heard the name.
"Black Wind Association?"
"Yeah, why? You know it?"
Jo Un looked oddly pleased, clearly taking pride in the influence the Black Wind Association had recently gained around West Lake. Kang Yeon fell silent for a moment. So Jo Un had joined the very Black Wind Association founded by Jang Mu-eon. Fate had a strange sense of humor.
"No, just thought the name was unusual. What do they teach there?"
"Basic swordsmanship and internal energy methods. Oh, and a bit of light-body technique. I'm still a beginner, so I've got a long way to go."
Jo Un gave the sword at his waist a light pat.
"That so? Show me what you've got."
Kang Yeon's playful tone made Jo Un's eyes light up.
"Really? Then out back—"
"No need. Just the basic stance. Right here."
Kang Yeon stopped him. Without drawing his sword, Jo Un settled into a foundational posture. Foot placement, hip angle, the distribution of force through the shoulders—everything showed he had been taught properly.
Hmm. The basics are solid.
Jo Un grinned.
"Well? Pretty good, right? The instructors said I've got talent."
Kang Yeon nodded.
"Lucky you, having talent."
In truth the stance was flawless. But Kang Yeon's eyes caught other things as well.
Black Wind Association arts… Jang Mu-eon himself may not be teaching, but I can still see traces of Demonic Cult methods mixed in.
What Jo Un practiced was clearly orthodox basic technique, yet a faint Demonic Cult style of qi circulation ran through it. Likely some of the Black Wind instructors had once belonged to the Demonic Cult.
"Yeon, you show me something too."
"Me?"
"Yeah, I'm curious. I bet you've learned a bit of martial arts yourself."
At Jo Un's words the guests in the dining room pricked up their ears. Especially the martial artists who had come specifically to confirm Kang Yeon's identity.
Kang Yeon shrugged.
"I told you, I'm a cook. What martial arts?"
Disappointed sighs rose from several corners of the room. Jo Un grinned wider.
"Come on, don't say that. Just from the strength in that shoulder tap earlier—"
Jo Seol cut in at once.
"Brother Yeon, the orders are piling up. Let's cook first."
She deftly steered the conversation away. Kang Yeon shot her a grateful look and nodded.
"She's right. Business first. Brother Un, we'll talk more later."
As Kang Yeon turned back toward the kitchen, Jo Un looked disappointed.
"Ah, too bad. Want me to help?"
"No need. Someone's already helping inside. Just catch up with Seol."
Back in the kitchen, Nang Hyeon spoke in a low voice.
"Young Master… that robe is from the Black Wind Association…"
"Yeah, I just confirmed it. He's learning martial arts at one of their halls."
Nang Hyeon's face said good heavens.
"Then that Jo Un and Jang Mu-eon…"
"No direct connection. He's just a student paying tuition. Still, things just got a little more complicated."
"Young Master, what will you do? Shall I go settle the matter?"
Kang Yeon sighed and kept cooking.
"For now, let's just pretend we don't know. There's no need to tell Brother Un. It would only make everything messier."