Then I'll Come Again
In the quiet atmosphere of the Cheongunjae teahouse, Baek Mi-ong slowly turned his teacup as he opened his mouth. A heavy shadow unlike his usual self clouded his eyes.
"No one yet knows his exact name."
Baek Mi-ong hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice even further.
"Only that… he was a high-ranking military officer back in the modern world. That much has been confirmed."
The sound of Kang Yeon's teacup striking the table rang through the silent teahouse. Cold liquid spilled across his wrist, yet he did not even feel it.
"A high-ranking military officer?"
Kang Yeon's expression grew instantly grave. Unlike himself, who had lived as a chef in the modern world, a man with a military background would far surpass him in organization, strategic thinking, and above all, in the art of handling people. And if such knowledge were abused in this martial world…
"You look shocked. Do you have someone in mind?"
Baek Mi-ong asked carefully, studying Kang Yeon's pale face. Kang Yeon shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
"No. I don't even know the name, so that would be impossible. But if he's military, he'll be even more dangerous. Systematic and cold-blooded."
"Exactly. Moreover, he was no ordinary soldier. He's known to have come from intelligence, a specialist in strategic planning."
Baek Mi-ong took a sip of tea and continued.
"How long did you say you've been in this world?"
"About twenty-five years."
Baek Mi-ong set down his cup and looked Kang Yeon straight in the eye.
"Then he arrived far earlier than you. At least five to ten years sooner. In that time he has already built a massive force."
Kang Yeon clenched his fist. A minimum of thirty years. Just imagining what that man called Master had done in that span was horrifying. If he had used modern knowledge and experience to seize control of the martial world…
Perhaps I was part of his plan all along?
Though maybe the power Kang Yeon possessed had simply been too difficult for the man to control, so he had left him alone. Baek Mi-ong pressed on with his explanation.
"At present the New World Association has already infiltrated three major powers of the martial world."
"Don't tell me… the Murim Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and the Unorthodox League?"
"Not only those."
Baek Mi-ong glanced around once more before speaking even more carefully.
"There are two high-ranking officials inside the imperial court as well. The current Vice Minister of War and the Director of the Ministry of Rites have been confirmed as members of the New World Association. Using modern intelligence networks and capital, they are slowly disrupting the order of the martial world."
Kang Yeon's mind reeled. This was no mere struggle between martial factions. It was a vast conspiracy by modern people to remake the very system of this world.
"In particular, that Master is outstanding at organization and strategic thinking, as befits a military man. He is seizing the Central Plains step by step, systematically. From what I have observed… he is steadily advancing according to carefully timed stages."
Baek Mi-ong lifted his teacup and gave a bitter smile.
"They have adopted modern corporate management methods. Goal setting, phased execution, performance measurement… They expand their power with an efficiency the martial world could never imagine."
"Then… what is their ultimate goal?"
"To seize dominion over the entire Central Plains. To turn the Emperor into a puppet and rule in truth themselves—by introducing modern administrative systems and economic structures."
Kang Yeon felt a chill run down his spine.
If they succeeded, this world would become something entirely different.
"Teacher, then what should I do?"
Baek Mi-ong smiled meaningfully. Yet the smile was filled with worry.
"That is for you to decide. However…"
He leaned forward and lowered his voice still further.
"There is a high chance they have already become aware of your existence. Anyone tracking the Absolute Martial God's trail will naturally arrive at the West Lake Number One Inn. You must be careful."
"It may already be too late."
"That possibility is strong. Especially since the recent business with the Blood Shadow Tower became such a sensation. You seem to have taken some measures of your own, but an organization like the New World Association would never miss information like that."
Kang Yeon let out a deep sigh.
He had dreamed of a peaceful daily life, yet the past kept following him.
By the time Kang Yeon hurried back to the inn, the sun was already high overhead. His unusually urgent steps and rigid expression instantly weighed down the atmosphere of the place.
"Oppa!"
Jo Seol greeted him brightly, but the moment she saw his hardened face her bright smile vanished.
"Why? What's wrong? Why is your face so stiff?"
At her worried voice Kang Yeon forced a smile, yet it was not enough to hide what was inside him.
"Something urgent came up. Where are Mu-gyeong hyung and U-ryeong?"
"Mu-gyeong-nim is reading in a second-floor guest room, and U-ryeong oppa is checking the formations in the backyard. But are you really okay?"
"I'll explain soon. First I need to see those two."
Kang Yeon hurried up to the second floor. Jin Mu-gyeong was sitting by the window, gazing down over the streets of West Lake as he drank tea.
"Hyung, something urgent has come up."
At the voice of Kang Yeon opening the door, Jin Mu-gyeong slowly set down his cup. His long-honed intuition told him that something serious had occurred.
"What is it? Your face looks grim."
Kang Yeon asked without preamble.
"Have you ever heard of an organization called the New World Association?"
Jin Mu-gyeong's eyes sharpened in an instant. He set the teacup completely down and looked straight at Kang Yeon.
"You… where did you hear that name?"
"Tell me. How much do you know, hyung?"
"The New World Association… We've judged it to be an organization showing suspicious movements in the martial world lately. Heaven's Ear Pavilion has been watching them as well. They're a headache because their true nature is so hard to grasp."
Jin Mu-gyeong stood and closed the window—a precaution to keep the conversation from leaking outside.
"But why them?"
"There's a high chance they're after me."
Kang Yeon carefully explained everything he had heard from Baek Mi-ong. He still concealed the Master's exact identity and the fact that he himself was a modern person, conveying only the scale of the New World Association and the shocking truth that they had already infiltrated both the martial world and the imperial court.
Jin Mu-gyeong's expression grew steadily graver.
"Then the Blood Shadow Tower affair was not mere personal grudge, but part of a vast conspiracy. It seems they judged that you, the Absolute Martial God, stand in the way of their plans."
"It seems so."
"Then we must establish defensive posture at once."
Jin Mu-gyeong moved immediately.
"Call U-ryeong. We need to reinforce the perimeter formations around the inn. And…"
Soon Dan U-ryeong came up. He had been checking the formations in the backyard; various tools still hung from his hands. The moment he heard the situation, his face hardened as well.
"The New World Association, is it…"
Dan U-ryeong rubbed his chin, lost in thought. Then, in a voice more serious than usual, he spoke.
"Fortunately the formations I installed are based on the advanced techniques of the Divine Device Sect. Even they will find them difficult to see through easily. Still, reinforcement will be necessary."
Kang Yeon spoke in a worried tone.
"First we have to protect the family."
Dan U-ryeong said,
"Should we evacuate Uncle, Seol, and Un hyung to a safe place?"
"No."
Jin Mu-gyeong shook his head firmly.
"Running might make things more dangerous. An organization like the New World Association that can evade even our eyes will have a vast intelligence network; they'll track us no matter where we go. Better to defend thoroughly right here."
Dan U-ryeong nodded in agreement.
"I think the same. This place already has the formations I installed fully in place. Strengthen them a little more and even most experts won't be able to invade easily. Moreover, with the nature of West Lake—so many eyes watching—a large-scale attack will be difficult."
"Then we should inform Nang Hyeon and Jang Mu-eon as well."
Kang Yeon said.
"Just in case, I want everyone prepared for emergencies. They're family of this inn too, so they could be exposed to danger."
"That would be good. Especially Jang Mu-eon and the former Black Wind Association men have rich combat experience—they'll be a great help."
Jin Mu-gyeong looked out the window once more as he spoke.
"But we must not show open vigilance. We still don't know their exact intentions. We need to run the inn as usual while preparing in secret."
When lunchtime arrived, customers began filtering into the inn as always. Just then the door opened and a middle-aged man with a neat appearance entered. Looking to be in his mid-forties, he carried an atmosphere distinctly different from the other guests.
"Welcome!"
Jo Seol greeted him out of habit, yet the man answered only by calmly surveying the surroundings as he slowly made his way to a corner seat inside. His gaze seemed to be mapping the building's structure, and his footfalls were those of someone trained to minimize sound.
Kang Yeon watched from the kitchen and frowned.
That man… something's different.
Every action the man took was unlike an ordinary customer. His seated posture was ready to rise at any moment; his back was against the wall and he had chosen a seat with a clear view of the entrance. The complete behavior of a trained operative.
Jo Seol approached with her usual kind expression.
"Hmm… I'll have the most popular dish in this house."
The man's voice was polite, yet in truth he was observing Kang Yeon in the kitchen.
"Donkatsu is our signature dish."
"I'll take that."
Once the man finished ordering, Kang Yeon began cooking himself. Yet throughout the entire process he could feel the man's gaze on his back.
Sizzle.
The sound of the donkatsu frying in oil filled the kitchen. While pretending to concentrate on the cooking, Kang Yeon observed the man.
Outwardly the man sat still, yet his eyes never stopped moving. The inn's layout, the positions of the exits, the staff's traffic patterns, even the angle of the staircase leading to the second floor—he seemed to be precisely cataloguing everything.
Definitely not an ordinary customer. And… the odds are high he's a modern person.
Kang Yeon carefully plated the finished donkatsu. Then he decided to deliver it himself. He needed to confirm the other's identity.
"Your donkatsu, as ordered."
He deliberately used the modern name of the dish.
"Thank you."
The moment the man lifted his head and their eyes met head-on, Kang Yeon felt a chill.
This man is definitely New World Association.
The man, too, seemed to sense something from Kang Yeon's sharp gaze; he paused briefly.
"Looks delicious."
The man smiled naturally and took a bite of the donkatsu.
"How is the taste?"
Kang Yeon asked, watching the other's reaction.
"Excellent. Truly…"
The man paused, then gave a meaningful smile.
"Just as the rumors said."
Kang Yeon's eyes narrowed.
"Rumors?"
"The rumor that West Lake Number One Inn is a famous restaurant. Especially… the rumor that the head chef's skill is outstanding."
There was clearly another meaning buried in those last words. Kang Yeon knew it was no simple compliment on cooking skill.
"I see. Please enjoy."
As Kang Yeon returned to the kitchen he sent a brief glance toward the second floor. Jin Mu-gyeong had already grasped the situation; he nodded from the window as he looked down. The man ate slowly, yet continued observing his surroundings the entire time. After the final bite he rose from his seat.
Once he finished paying, the man stood.
"I ate well. Truly excellent cooking."
Then, as he walked toward the door, he looked at Kang Yeon once more. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly and then fell.
"Then I'll come again."
After the door closed, Kang Yeon spoke toward Muk Hyang-ru.
"Watch the kitchen for a bit. I think I need to step out."