Leave That to Me
Inside the West Lake Number One Inn after the day’s business had ended, Kang Yeon sat face-to-face with a middle-aged man. Complex emotions rose across Kang Yeon’s face as he looked at him—surprise, gladness, and a faint wariness.
“Chief Jin. It’s been a truly long time. Over ten years, hasn’t it?”
“I’m not a chief anymore, so why not just call me Jin Mu-gyeong?”
The middle-aged man’s name was Jin Mu-gyeong. He had served as chief of the Murim Alliance’s Cheon-i-gak—the Thousand Ears Pavilion—back when Kang Yeon had walked the martial world as the Absolute Martial God.
“You stepped down as chief?”
“No. I left the Alliance entirely.”
Kang Yeon’s expression turned surprised.
“The Alliance Leader actually allowed you to leave?”
“And what was he going to do if he didn’t? The moment I open my mouth… eh?”
Jin Mu-gyeong’s playful tone drew a short laugh from Kang Yeon. That personality matched the Jin Mu-gyeong in his memories perfectly. Cheon-i-gak had been the vital organization that oversaw all of the Murim Alliance’s intelligence, and its chief had always possessed a manner that, at a glance, could seem almost frivolous.
Of course, his actual skill had more than matched the post.
“I see. You used to say every day that you were going to quit that damn chief’s seat.”
“Honestly, I was late doing it. I’d wanted to quit ever since you disappeared.”
“Then congratulations on finally getting your wish, even if it’s late.”
Jin Mu-gyeong nodded.
“Hah… Twelve years and three months. That’s how long it took me to get free of the Murim Alliance.”
The marks of the years were carved deep into his face.
“Anyway, it’s good to see you again after so long—since the Heavenly Demon War.”
Heavenly Demon War.
At that name, Nang Hyeon, standing nearby, flinched. It was a legendary battle no martial artist could fail to know—the fight in which the Absolute Martial God had clashed with the Heavenly Demon and rewritten the balance of the martial world. A watershed that split the history of Murim in two.
Kang Yeon’s brow tightened slightly.
Recalling the past was still not easy.
“Let’s go to the back courtyard. We can talk over a cup of tea.”
“Good! To tell you the truth, I’ve missed your tea.”
The two of them headed for the back courtyard.
When Jo Seol watched them go with a worried look, Jo Hwan gave his daughter’s shoulder a light pat.
“It’ll be fine. Looks like an acquaintance of Yeon’s. We should just finish the cleanup.”
Once they reached the back courtyard, the two men sat facing each other under the moonlight. Watching Kang Yeon prepare the tea with familiar skill, a bitter smile touched Jin Mu-gyeong’s lips.
“Still have the same hobby, I see. The moment you had a free second, you were always brewing tea.”
“Nothing settles the mind quite like tea.”
Kang Yeon answered as he poured the hot water. While the fragrance of the tea spread softly through the air, a peculiar silence settled between them—a time of mutual observation.
“The Absolute Martial God who once commanded the world is now brewing tea and cooking.”
“This makes me happier.”
Kang Yeon answered calmly and held out a cup. Jin Mu-gyeong took a sip and let out a sound of admiration.
“You still know how to pick good tea. This is… Yunnan, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Ten years aged. It was always your favorite, Chief.”
Jin Mu-gyeong’s eyes widened. The fact that Kang Yeon still remembered his tastes warmed a corner of his heart.
“You remembered.”
“The chief of Cheon-i-gak always demanded good tea instead of information.”
Both men burst out laughing at the same time. For a moment, the tension eased.
“But how did you find me? And how did you know I was here?”
Kang Yeon’s expression darkened. He worried how far the trail of the Absolute Martial God had been exposed.
“Mm. You don’t need to worry too much. I tracked your trail by collecting information on my own. The Murim Alliance doesn’t know you’re here.”
“What?”
Jin Mu-gyeong lifted his cup again, his expression turning serious.
“I came to West Lake and happened to hear the rumors about the West Lake Number One Inn. That a young cook’s food was exquisite, that it had received the highest rating even in the Taste Guide. And…”
Jin Mu-gyeong looked at Kang Yeon and smiled.
“There was also a rumor that the way he moved his hands while cooking looked like he was performing martial arts. That was when I knew. Ah—this has to be Kang Yeon.”
“As expected of the former chief of Cheon-i-gak. Your eye is as sharp as ever.”
“Not at all. I just got lucky. I happened to be on a gourmet trip.”
Jin Mu-gyeong had always loved good food. Kang Yeon asked carefully,
“But isn’t it possible Cheon-i-gak is still tracking your movements, hyung?”
“I doubt it. When the Murim Alliance was reorganized, Cheon-i-gak disappeared too. The Alliance Leader must have decided I was too close to you.”
“So you lost your position because of me.”
Jin Mu-gyeong gave a short laugh.
“No. There was still work. Leaving the Alliance was just hard. Besides, the time had come. I spent a lifetime in the shadows—living under the sun for a while doesn’t sound so bad.”
He glanced around as he spoke.
“This really is a good place. The inn feels cozy and warm. It suits you.”
“So why did you come all the way here? Don’t tell me you just came to play.”
Jin Mu-gyeong hesitated a moment before opening his mouth.
“Truth is… I missed the food you used to make.”
Kang Yeon let out a soft, incredulous laugh.
Jin Mu-gyeong gave a wry smile and continued.
“You might think it’s a ridiculous reason, but I mean it. Back in the Absolute Martial God days, after the big battles, you’d sometimes cook for us. At the time I thought it was just something to fill our stomachs, but…”
He set down his cup and looked into the distance.
“As the years passed and I was alone, that taste kept coming back to me. I missed that warm meal that made me forget the fatigue and tension of battle.”
Jin Mu-gyeong scratched his head as he went on.
“I’m truly starving. I don’t think I’ve had a proper meal in the last six years.”
“You said you were on a gourmet trip.”
“None of it truly filled the hunger.”
The frank confession made Kang Yeon laugh again. To think the man who had once held every scrap of intelligence in the martial world in his hands could show such a human side.
“All right. Wait a moment. I’ll prepare something special for you.”
“No, not something special. The one you used to make for me all the time.”
“Ah… that would be enough?”
Jin Mu-gyeong’s face lit up as he nodded.
“More than enough.”
Kang Yeon rose and headed for the kitchen. Left alone, Jin Mu-gyeong looked up at the night sky over the back courtyard. Under the glittering stars, old memories rose one by one.
“Those days… really were fierce.”
The blood-soaked winds of Shanxi, the poison mists of Sichuan, and the final clash of the Heavenly Demon War. In every battle Kang Yeon had fought at the front while he himself had supported from behind with information. Comrades who had trusted each other with their backs.
In the kitchen, Kang Yeon moved busily. His hands were precise and fast—wielding the knife as if swinging a sword, regulating the flame as if circulating internal energy.
What Jin Mu-gyeong hyung always liked…
He searched his memories as he chose the ingredients. How Jin preferred spicy food but disliked anything too aggressive, how he favored stir-fries over soups, and how he always finished with something sweet to cleanse the palate.
Some time later, Kang Yeon returned carrying a tray laden with dishes. Steam rose from the food as he set it before Jin Mu-gyeong.
“I prepared the things hyung used to like especially.”
Jin Mu-gyeong’s eyes widened. Spicy stir-fried beef seasoned with fragrant spices, a mushroom dish carrying a subtle soy aroma, crisp pan-fried flatbreads, and a rich broth soup—every one of them dishes Kang Yeon had often made during his Absolute Martial God days.
With trembling hands, Jin Mu-gyeong picked up his chopsticks. The moment he took the first bite, his eyes grew moist.
“This taste… this is really the taste.”
The beef was crisp outside and tender within. The spicy seasoning danced across his tongue, followed by a gentle sweetness that created perfect harmony.
“When I was badly wounded in Shanxi, this was the first dish you ever made for me.”
“You remembered.”
“How could I forget? It was the first proper meal I had after coming back from the brink of death.”
As he ate, Jin Mu-gyeong drifted into the past—the countless battles fought alongside the Absolute Martial God, and the small commas of rest that had existed between them.
“When you said you knew how to cook, everyone was shocked. One of the greatest masters in Murim, cooking?”
“I’ve liked it since I was little. I learned cooking before I ever learned martial arts.”
Watching Jin Mu-gyeong eat in silence, Kang Yeon also sank into old thoughts. As chief of Cheon-i-gak, Jin Mu-gyeong had been the ears and eyes of the Murim Alliance. Every piece of information had passed through him, and any single report of his could decide the outcome of a battle.
“Hyung. Be honest with me now. Don’t you have something else to tell me?”
Jin Mu-gyeong stopped his chopsticks and lifted his head. Complex emotions mixed on his face.
“So you noticed after all.”
“Given your personality, you’re not the type to come just for a meal.”
Jin Mu-gyeong checked their surroundings and lowered his voice.
“Lately there have been strange movements in Murim. After you retired, the balance started to break. It held up more or less until three years ago, but…”
“What happened?”
“New forces began to appear. Especially…”
He stopped and scanned the area once more—an old habit born of a lifetime as an intelligence agent.
“The Blood Shadow Tower has been assassinating the promising younger generation of Murim.”
Kang Yeon pretended surprise, as if he knew nothing.
“The Blood Shadow Tower?”
“Yes. Three years ago a new Tower Master appeared and began reorganizing the group. They’re more cunning and more cruel than before.”
“A new Tower Master…”
“No one knows his true identity. Even inside the Blood Shadow Tower, only a handful are said to have seen his face. But one thing is certain…”
Jin Mu-gyeong looked Kang Yeon straight in the eye.
“He’s looking for you.”
Kang Yeon let out a sigh. He had expected it, yet when it arrived as reality, exhaustion washed over him.
“Me? Why?”
“The legend of the Absolute Martial God is still alive. After you disappeared, many people searched for you. Some for revenge, some to use your power, and some…”
“To prove they deserve the title of greatest under heaven.”
“Exactly. And the new Tower Master of the Blood Shadow Tower seems to be one of them. Lately traces of their activity have been found around West Lake. That’s actually why I came this far.”
Kang Yeon took a sip of tea and fell into thought. He had wanted a quiet life, but the past never let go easily.
“How are you still getting that kind of information, hyung? You said Cheon-i-gak was disbanded.”
Jin Mu-gyeong smiled bitterly.
“An intelligence agent is still an intelligence agent even after retirement. The old lines are still there. And…”
He took a small jade token from his robes. The character for “Ear” was engraved on it.
“Cheon-i-gak is gone, but its spirit remains. A few old colleagues and I formed a small group. It doesn’t have a name, but we still gather the information that matters.”
“You haven’t changed.”
“Habits are a terrifying thing.”
Jin Mu-gyeong’s expression turned serious.
“And once I realized you might be in danger, I couldn’t just sit still.”
Kang Yeon smiled gently.
“You think I’m going to be in danger?”
“Yeon. Listen carefully. The Blood Shadow Tower isn’t what it used to be. Since the new Tower Master took over, their assassination success rate is close to perfect. They don’t fail.”
“That impressive?”
“More than impressive. In the last three years alone the masters they’ve assassinated number in the dozens. Several of them were Transcendent Realm experts.”
Transcendent Realm experts.
Even in Murim they ranked among the strongest. That such men had died at the hands of the Blood Shadow Tower was no ordinary matter.
“On top of that, their methods of assassination have evolved. It’s not simple poison or hidden weapons. They use something… hard to explain—something like sorcery.”
“Sorcery?”
“Yes. According to witnesses, the targets suddenly see hallucinations, or their bodies go numb, or in some cases they even injure themselves without realizing it.”
Kang Yeon’s expression grew grave. This sounded as if it had gone beyond the ordinary bounds of martial arts.
“Hyung, I actually have something to tell you too.”
“Go ahead.”
Kang Yeon told him about the Black Wind Association and Jang Mu-eon. When the story was finished, Jin Mu-gyeong’s brow furrowed.
“So they don’t know you’re here, but they’ve already figured out the inn is connected to you. Hard to call them a simple assassination group after that.”
“Exactly. That’s why I need more information on the Blood Shadow Tower.”
Jin Mu-gyeong grinned.
“Leave that to me.”