We're Truly Proud!
Three days had passed since the competition ended, yet West Lake still thrummed with a festival atmosphere.
“Wow! We can actually eat dishes made by the winner of the Central Plains Number One Gourmet Competition!”
Awe-struck exclamations never stopped from the guests who had lined up in front of the inn since dawn. The entrance to the West Lake Number One Inn was a sea of people. Even in the early hours that people claimed were “manageable,” the crowd packed every available space.
“Look over there! There are already more than a hundred people waiting!”
“I heard the line never broke until evening yesterday?”
“Of course it didn’t! He’s the Number One in the Central Plains!”
Proud voices rose from every corner of the street. To the people of West Lake, Kang Yeon’s victory was not merely one man’s achievement—it was the glory of West Lake itself. Before this tournament, the region had been little more than a culinary backwater.
“Welcome!”
Jo Seol greeted the guests in a voice brighter than usual. Pride filled her face, and even her steps carried a new confidence.
“You’ve come for the Heaven-and-Earth Noodles that our Oppa—ah, no, that our head chef won with, right?”
The way she started to say “Oppa” and then corrected herself was adorable. She clearly believed she needed to keep proper form in front of customers.
“That’s right! I wanted to see that near-miraculous noodle-pulling with my own eyes!”
“I came all the way from Luoyang! I just had to taste it once!”
“Will you show that spectacular noodle-pulling technique again today?”
One guest asked, voice brimming with expectation. Jo Seol smiled sweetly.
“Of course. When the noodle-pulling starts, just look at that window over there.”
She pointed to the kitchen window. Once the dazzling display began, spectators could watch through the open window. Kang Yeon hadn’t particularly wanted the arrangement, but Jo Seol’s iron will had made it so.
“Ooooh!! Understood!”
Cheers erupted from the waiting customers. Inside the kitchen, however, Kang Yeon remained as calm as ever.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The ordinary sound of knife work drifted from the kitchen—so ordinary it was almost comical for the winner of the Central Plains Number One Gourmet Competition. Of course, that was exactly how Kang Yeon wanted it.
“Seol-ah, we’ll need to prep a lot more ingredients today.”
Jo Hwan spoke as he hauled another sack of flour out of the storeroom.
“Yeah, Dad. It looks like it’s going to be crazy busy again.”
Meanwhile, Jang Mu-eon and the Black Wind Association martial artists who handled deliveries had already finished preparing to head out.
“Brothers! Let’s give it our all again today!”
Young-ho shouted with energy.
“Thanks to our young master’s win, delivery orders have exploded!”
Cheol-san added as he organized the delivery boxes.
“That also means the responsibility is heavier. We have to work even more carefully—like proper delivery men of the champion’s inn.”
Everyone nodded at Jang Mu-eon’s solemn words.
“All right! Let’s get started for the day.”
Jang Mu-eon and the Black Wind martial artists scattered at once toward their assigned districts. Just then, Muk Hyang-ru carefully approached Kang Yeon in the kitchen. Since the competition, his entire attitude toward Kang Yeon had changed. The arrogance of the Food God’s chief disciple had vanished completely; he now carried himself with the humility of a brand-new apprentice.
“Um… Young Master Kang.”
“What is it?”
Kang Yeon answered naturally while slicing radish.
“Do you… remember the bet we made?”
“Bet? No.”
Muk Hyang-ru’s eyes shook violently at the reply.
“What are you talking about? You clearly said that if you won, I would come work here.”
“Hmm. Now I remember. So you actually want to work here?”
From Kang Yeon’s perspective, having Muk Hyang-ru join them could only be a blessing. Enormous crowds poured into the West Lake Number One Inn every day. Ever since Kang Yeon’s return, Jo Hwan had been visibly struggling with the physical demands. They were teaching Jo Un, but turning him into a full-fledged chef still required far more time and experience.
Of course, cooking alone would never tire Kang Yeon out.
But handling the entire kitchen by himself still imposed limits on time. He couldn’t openly use martial arts to cook while people were watching, after all.
“Yes. I want to work here officially.”
Muk Hyang-ru bowed his head deeply. Genuine sincerity filled his voice.
“I don’t need the fame of being the Food God’s disciple, or the honor. I just… realized I want to learn real cooking by your side.”
Jo Hwan and Jo Un, who had been listening from the kitchen, looked stunned. In the martial world, the Food God’s chief disciple could command the highest treatment anywhere—yet he was ready to throw it all away and become an ordinary employee at a single inn.
Kang Yeon answered calmly while chopping green onions.
“Then you’ll get the same wages as everyone else. No special treatment.”
“Of course! I’m already grateful just to be paid for the work!”
“I don’t like using people for free.”
Muk Hyang-ru broke into a bright smile—the joy of having found something more precious than the perfect technique he had chased all his life.
“And you’ll start at the Hour of the Rabbit in the morning and finish at the Hour of the Pig at night. Breaks in between, of course.”
“Perfect! It’s not like I have anywhere else to go anyway.”
At Muk Hyang-ru’s eager reply, Jo Seol let out a small laugh.
“Oppa, I never knew Master Muk could be this enthusiastic.”
“People change.”
Kang Yeon spoke with quiet significance, then looked at Muk Hyang-ru and added,
“Welcome, new family.”
As the afternoon arrived, special guests began to appear at the inn. The first to arrive was an imperial messenger.
“Is Head Chef Kang Yeon of the West Lake Number One Inn present?”
A eunuch in splendid imperial robes asked with formal courtesy.
“Yes, that would be me.”
Kang Yeon came out, untying his apron.
“I come bearing the command of Imperial Gourmet Appraiser Lord Yun Tae-ho. His Lordship wishes to invite Head Chef Kang Yeon to serve as an imperial court chef.”
The inn fell silent for a moment. The offer for the position of head chef of the imperial kitchens—the other grand prize of the Central Plains Number One Gourmet Competition—had finally arrived. An imperial court chef. It was the highest honor a cook could receive.
“It is a glorious proposal, but…”
Kang Yeon bowed his head politely.
“I am sorry. I prefer it here.”
The eunuch’s face registered pure shock. The position of imperial court chef guaranteed immense wealth and renown. To refuse it so cleanly…
“I… I see. Should you ever change your mind, please contact us at any time.”
After the imperial messenger left, people from various merchant houses and inns flocked in.
“We come from the Heavenly Treasure Merchant Group! We guarantee an annual salary of a thousand nyang and the finest treatment!”
“The Heavenly Emperor Inn of Chang’an will receive you with the highest honors!”
Kang Yeon raised a hand to stop them.
“I am grateful for everyone’s kind intentions, but I will continue cooking here.”
When evening came, Jo Hwan approached him.
“Yeon-ah, we’ve got so many guests these days that seats keep running short. How about expanding the inn?”
Ordinarily Kang Yeon would have refused, but after considering the recent surge of customers he nodded.
“You’re right, Uncle. Even with deliveries, people are waiting far too long.”
“Really? Then why don’t we ask Young Master Dan?”
“Of course we should ask Dan U-ryeong.”
Summoned by Kang Yeon, Dan U-ryeong listened to the explanation and grinned.
“Don’t worry. I’ll use formations so the expansion work won’t interrupt business at all.”
No one but Dan U-ryeong could have pulled off such a feat. Kang Yeon rolled up his sleeves and stepped back into the kitchen.
“All right. Time to start dinner prep.”
Watching how thoroughly energized Kang Yeon looked, Muk Hyang-ru asked,
“Do you really love cooking that much?”
“Of course. Especially when it’s for our family.”
First he set a large pot to simmer ox-bone broth, creating a deep, rich stock that would soothe the fatigue of a family that had worked hard all day.
Sizzle—
On the iron griddle, thick slices of pork belly were roasting to fragrant perfection. The meat Kang Yeon had prepared himself rendered just enough fat, leaving it tender and clean-tasting.
“Oppa, the smell is different somehow?”
Jo Seol sniffed the air and peeked into the kitchen.
“I tried a special seasoning today. A secret recipe just for our family.”
Kang Yeon answered with a smile. One after another, dishes finished under his hands with almost effortless ease. Muk Hyang-ru stood beside him, staring fixedly.
“Hah… cooking looks so easy.”
Kang Yeon began plating the finished dishes.
Thick tofu slices brushed with fragrant perilla oil and seared golden, a quick-pickled cabbage salad made from the freshest leaves, and sweet-and-spicy seasoned bellflower root.
And the main dishes: ox-bone broth ramen and grilled pork belly.
“Whoa… this is really something special. What’s the occasion today?”
Jo Un’s eyes sparkled as he looked over the spread. Last of all, Kang Yeon brought out a fine aged wine he had been carefully saving—a precious bottle reserved only for special days.
“All right, everyone gather!”
The entire inn family gathered around the large table: Jo Hwan, Jo Seol, Jo Un, Nang Hyeon, Muk Hyang-ru, Jang Mu-eon, Young-ho, Cheol-san, Myeong-wol, and even Jin Mu-gyeong. It felt exactly like a family meal.
Kang Yeon filled every cup and then raised his own.
“You’ve all worked hard, and I need you to keep working hard. Thank you—truly—for becoming the family of the West Lake Number One Inn.”
“Young Master, thank you!”
Jang Mu-eon lifted his cup, eyes glistening with emotion.
“Our young master won! We’re truly proud of him!”
Young-ho, Cheol-san, and Myeong-wol cheered as well.
“Now we’re the Number One delivery crew in the Central Plains!”
“That’s right! We should write ‘Central Plains Number One Inn’ on our signboard!”
When Jo Seol said it with bright excitement, everyone burst out laughing.
“Seol-ah, that’s going a bit far.”
Jo Hwan said with a smile. Nang Hyeon quietly raised his cup.
“Young Master, I am truly happy. To be able to work in a place this warm…”
Muk Hyang-ru spoke with sincere agreement.
“Same here. I spent my whole life chasing perfect technique, but only after coming here did I learn what real cooking is. Thank you.”
Jin Mu-gyeong took a sip of wine and spoke in a voice thick with feeling.
“Yeon-ah, the fact that you created a place this warm is truly remarkable. From now on, for the West Lake Number One Inn, I’ll keep working hard…”
Kang Yeon scratched his head as if embarrassed.
“Don’t go gilding my face like that. We’re just living together, working hard, and eating delicious food.”
“Young Master.”
After a drink, Cheol-san spoke in a slightly tipsy voice.
“We’re… we’re really happy. Back in the Black Wind Association we were always fighting with swords in our hands. Now people smile when they see us.”
Kang Yeon’s eyes flickered lightly.
“Cheol-san… you’re a lightweight, huh?”
Jang Mu-eon gave a quiet laugh.
“Yes. I only had one cup because I was in a good mood. I don’t normally touch the stuff.”
Just as the mood threatened to turn solemn, Jo Seol spoke brightly.
“All right, all right! Enough of that—today’s a day to celebrate! Everyone, a toast!”
Every member of the West Lake Number One Inn raised their cups together.
“That’s right! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
“Congratulations on the victory!”
The clink of cups and the sound of laughter rose into the night sky. The warm gathering stretched late into the night. While looking after each tipsy member of his family, Kang Yeon thought to himself,
This is it. This is what I wanted to protect.
Not power, not fame—this simple, warm happiness was the true treasure Kang Yeon sought. Just as the feast was winding down—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone rapped on the closed door of the inn.
“Is Head Chef Kang Yeon present?”
The tipsy family members all turned toward the door at once.
“We’re closed for the day.”
“Ah… it’s not a delivery order, is it?”
Kang Yeon chuckled and walked to the door. When he opened it, the masked judge from the competition stood there. This time, however, the mask was gone. Even without it, Kang Yeon recognized him at once by the qi he radiated.
“Oh? What brings you here?”