Let Me Ask You One Thing
Early that morning, an unusual tension hung over the rear courtyard of the West Lake Number One Inn. Delivery runners selected from each of the inns began gathering one by one.
“Why the hell do we have to learn this crap?”
A burly man from the Golden Wind Pavilion grumbled, face twisted in open discontent. The runner from the Silver River Inn beside him nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. We’re troubleshooters, not inn waiters.”
Just then Jang Mu-eon strode into the center of the courtyard. Instead of his usual black martial robes he wore clean everyday clothes, and the change made him look almost like a different man.
“Everyone’s here, I see. Starting today, I will teach you the fundamentals of delivery.”
One of the Azure Cloud Tower runners let out a snort of laughter.
“The leftovers of the Black Wind Association are going to teach us? That’s rich.”
The troubleshooters’ opinion of the Black Wind Association had never been high. Every clash that had broken out while the Association carved out its place in West Lake had left the troubleshooters bleeding.
“We’re busy, so let’s just half-ass it and get this over with.”
Complaints erupted from every direction. Jang Mu-eon exhaled a quiet sigh inside. These men had been hired and paid by their respective inns, yet still they poured out grievances like this.
Haa… I’ll just have to endure it.
His expression never changed. Instead he offered a gentle smile.
“I am no longer the leader of the Black Wind Association. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Jang Mu-eon of the West Lake Number One Inn’s delivery division. I will deliver delicious food safely to every door.”
Perfect posture, a voice filled with genuine sincerity. Surprise flickered across every face. The troubleshooters stared blankly at his earnest manner. Jang Mu-eon spoke again.
“Shall we begin the lesson, then? First class: greetings. The most important thing when meeting a customer is the courteous attitude I just demonstrated.”
The lesson continued. As they listened to his detailed explanations, the troubleshooters hired as delivery runners gradually grew serious.
“You cannot live as troubleshooters forever. The work is far too dangerous, and lives tend to be short.”
Meanwhile, escorts from the West Lake Escort Agency watched from one side. On orders from Agency Master Jin Dae-san, they had come to learn the delivery protocols as well.
“Is that really the terrifying Black Wind leader?”
“I know. He seems like a completely different person.”
Time passed, and at last the first joint deliveries began. Special insulated boxes prepared by Dan U-ryeong were distributed to every inn’s runners. A subtle formation carved into each box maintained gentle heat.
“This is amazing!”
An Azure Cloud Tower runner marveled. The former Black Wind martial artists who had already used the boxes explained the method carefully.
“It’ll stay warm for a full two shichen without trouble. Just be careful—you need to feed it a little internal energy.”
Each inn wore an apron bearing its own mark. Golden Wind Pavilion wore gold, Silver River Inn silver, Azure Cloud Tower sky-blue, and West Lake Number One Inn crimson.
“All right—start your deliveries from today.”
At Yeong-ho’s command the runners scattered. Having received systematic training, the delivery men from every inn moved without a hitch.
Yet not everything went smoothly.
As deliveries continued, trouble inevitably erupted in the eastern market.
“What the hell, old man?! You’re short on money? Then you shouldn’t have ordered a delivery!”
A Golden Wind Pavilion runner barked in a rough voice. An elderly grandfather counted coins with trembling hands.
“I’m sorry. I’ll bring the rest of the money to the inn myself later.”
“Ugh, what a pain! Next time get the money ready before you order!”
The moment the runner moved to snatch the food back—
Tak!
Someone’s hand seized his arm. It was Yeong-ho, making the rounds to check on the runners.
“Hold on. What’s going on? You were taught to treat customers with kindness, weren’t you?”
“What are you talking about? This old man didn’t prepare the money properly!”
Yeong-ho spoke quietly.
“Even so, is that the proper way to treat a customer?”
“What? Who do you think you are…”
At that moment the onlookers began to murmur.
“I heard a Delivery Alliance just formed.”
“Why’s his attitude like that? West Lake Number One Inn really is the only place worth anything.”
“Guess a troubleshooter’s still just a troubleshooter…”
The Golden Wind Pavilion runner’s face flushed red. Yeong-ho calmly soothed him, then handed the food to the customer and paid the shortfall himself. When he returned to the inn he reported every problem he had observed among the runners that day.
“Hmm… as expected of a first day, quite a few side effects are appearing.”
Kang Yeon had anticipated exactly these complications once troubleshooters were hired. Still, he held the hope that they truly wanted to find another path in life.
Once he understood the situation, Kang Yeon summoned every delivery runner back to the inn. They gathered in the rear courtyard—some wearing sullen faces, others looking ashamed.
Kang Yeon stepped forward.
“I have heard about everything that happened today.”
His voice was calm.
“I will ask all of you one thing. What is food?”
No one answered.
“Is it merely merchandise? No.”
Kang Yeon lifted one of the delivery boxes.
“Food is heart. Food is care. And it is a gift that can make someone’s entire day happy.”
He looked around at them all.
“Delivery is not simply moving food from one place to another. It is the work of delivering happiness. Without that mindset, no matter how fast you deliver, it means nothing.”
His eyes met those of the runner who had caused the trouble, and he continued.
“Of course, in the long run we must prepare countermeasures for people without money and other potential problems.”
The Golden Wind Pavilion runner who had caused the incident bowed his head.
“I’m sorry… I thought wrong.”
Kang Yeon smiled gently.
“In truth, the person who ordered without money was in the wrong. But we should regard this as a problem that arose because awareness of delivery culture is still unclear. Please don’t react too harshly.”
After hearing Kang Yeon’s words, the runners’ entire attitude changed.
“Grandmother, stay healthy today as well!”
“Thank you! Please enjoy your meal!”
Sincere smiles spread across the delivery men’s faces. As their demeanor transformed, so did the people’s reactions.
“They’re so kind!”
“The food’s warm and their hearts are warm too!”
Some time later a meeting was held at the West Lake Number One Inn to review the delivery results so far. Jang Mu-eon, who handled all matters related to the Delivery Alliance, reported to Kang Yeon.
“An average of five hundred deliveries are being completed each day. Every inn reports sales have risen more than thirty percent above normal.”
Jo Seol, listening beside them, spoke with bright excitement.
“At this rate West Lake is going to change completely! Once delivery culture takes root, the number of customers will grow even more.”
Jang Mu-eon smiled softly.
“West Lake’s escort agencies are also benefiting from the increased deliveries. Orders for ingredient transport have already begun to rise.”
Everyone raised a toast and celebrated the smooth beginning of the alliance.
A man stood atop the ruins of an old temple. A black mask covered half his face, yet a cold smile curved the exposed lips.
“West Lake Number One Inn, is it.”
Mak Ri-u, master of the Blood Shadow Tower, murmured softly. His black robes fluttered in the night wind.
“So the place where the Absolute Martial God resides truly is different, is that it?”
Mak Ri-u raised a hand and pointed toward West Lake. The distant lights of the city glittered like stars. It was the picture of a peaceful town.
“A Delivery Alliance…”
Mak Ri-u gave a short laugh.
“Does the Absolute Martial God truly intend to play chef at an inn? Does he believe that by hiding away like this he can escape the grudges of the martial world?”
Behind him stood ten black silhouettes. Each had a different build and stance, yet all shared one trait: every one of them radiated thick killing intent.
“Lord Tower Master.”
The massive man at the front dropped to one knee. He was Blood Tiger, leader of the Blood Shadow Ten.
“Give us your command.”
Mak Ri-u slowly turned. The eyes visible beneath the mask were red as blood.
“You all saw it as well. That ridiculous farce unfolding below.”
“Yes, Lord Tower Master.”
“Delivery? Happiness? Warm hearts?”
Mak Ri-u burst into scornful laughter. The sound echoed through the ruins.
“How amusing. That a place bearing the Absolute Martial God’s traces could be this peaceful—is that not the greatest contradiction of all?”
He drew a single book from his robes. It was old and stained. On the cover the faint characters Records of the Heavenly Demon War could still be read.
“The resentment of those who met death at the Absolute Martial God’s hands is contained within these pages.”
Mak Ri-u’s hand trembled. Rage and hatred ruled his body.
“Because of that man I lost everything.”
Deep killing intent began to fill his voice.
“For three years I devoted everything to finding the Absolute Martial God. I eliminated those connected to him one by one, gathering information, and at last…”
He pointed toward West Lake.
“…I learned that his traces exist at that inn.”
“But we still need confirmation that it is truly the Absolute Martial God.”
The woman standing beside him spoke. She was Blood Lotus, the sole woman among the Blood Shadow Ten.
“No. Finding the trail is enough.”
Mak Ri-u clenched his fist.
“If the Absolute Martial God will not appear of his own will, then I must drag him out. I can no longer simply watch. We will advance the plan.”
He looked over his ten subordinates and issued the order.
“The Blood Shadow Ten will enter West Lake with me.”
In that instant the air froze. The Blood Shadow Ten were the Blood Shadow Tower’s ultimate weapons. Once dispatched they always achieved their objective and returned—the reapers of death themselves.
“This time it will not be merely the inn. We will make the whole of West Lake tremble in terror.”
Mak Ri-u smiled coldly.
“The Delivery Alliance? We will use the peaceful network they built to spread fear. We will eliminate the delivery runners one by one, poison the food, fill the citizens with dread… and in the end every arrow of blame will point at the West Lake Number One Inn. Then the Absolute Martial God will have no choice but to appear.”
The Blood Shadow Ten knelt as one.
“We receive your command!”
Mak Ri-u gazed down upon West Lake with a frigid smile.
“Delivery? Happiness? Laughable. Soon they will learn just how fragile this peace truly is.”
At that very moment the clouds parted and a crimson moon revealed itself. Blood-red moonlight spilled across the eleven assassins.
“Move out. Infiltrate your assigned districts and await the moment. Tomorrow night…”
Mak Ri-u’s eyes glowed scarlet.
“…the nightmare of West Lake will begin.”
Ten shadows scattered in different directions.
Blood Tiger headed east with a massive iron mace.
Blood Lotus went west carrying dozens of silver needles.
Blood Sword moved south with twin blades at his waist.
The remaining seven melted into the darkness of West Lake, each with their own specialty.
Only Mak Ri-u remained, looking down upon the city.
“Please wait just a little longer. Soon… soon I will avenge you.”
The wind rose. Mak Ri-u’s robes billowed wildly. Madness flickered in his eyes.
From far away came the howl of a wolf, as if sensing something ominous.
A peaceful night in West Lake.
Yet beneath that peace a vast storm was gathering. The beginning of the Delivery Alliance had been smooth—but it was also the beginning of a far greater calamity.
No one knew.
That tomorrow night, West Lake would be stained with blood…