Hwasun’s hands trembled with fear.
“If it doesn’t taste good, you’ll be a dead woman too!”
The words spoken by the martial artist who had brought her here kept ringing in her ears as he left the kitchen.
When she had first been dragged to Pungsu Villa, she had never dreamed that the atmosphere would be like this. They said that the life of a merchant was to go when a martial household told them to go and leave when they told them to leave, but she had never imagined it would be so murderous.
And those words had not been a simple threat.
“Be careful. Two people have already died in this kitchen today.”
A maid had secretly told her that while bringing ingredients to the kitchen. Hwasun was acquainted with her. Whenever the maid went out to buy groceries, she would sometimes stop by the inn to buy noodles or dumplings. Hwasun had always given her generous portions, telling her to eat more.
“A terrifying master came to the villa, and because he was so picky about food, he pulled out the villa cook’s tongue and killed him. The cook from Bukhwa Village who was dragged here afterward died even more horribly. What are we going to do?”
The maid’s appearance as she trembled in fear and stamped her feet had seemed strangely unreal, as though it were someone else’s problem.
Hwasun kept making mistakes while cooking. She added the wrong seasonings, and her trembling hands even caused her to drop a bowl.
She knew how skilled the cook from Bukhwa Village was. If even his cooking had failed to satisfy them, she would meet the same fate. Had they really killed him?
What if she died?
Her chest grew heavy, and her son’s face rose in her mind. She missed him terribly. It was about time for him to come visit again.
That was when it happened.
“Mother!”
Startled, she turned her head. Her son was standing at the entrance to the kitchen.
“Hyun! Is that you, Hyun? Hyun!”
She was so shocked that he worried she might collapse.
Samho rushed over and embraced his mother.
“Mother!”
“Hyun!”
She clung to her son, too moved to get a word out.
But soon, she lowered her voice and spoke.
“Why did you come here? Go, quickly! Go wait at the inn!”
“Mother, what’s wrong?”
“Go! I’ll tell you later, so go now.”
Hwasun could think of nothing but somehow sending her son away.
Unlike his frantic mother, Samho calmly took her hand.
“You’ve gotten so thin.”
His mother had aged so much over the past three years. It was obvious that she had suffered greatly.
When she held her son’s hand, tears streamed from Hwasun’s eyes. Even amid her fear, she was so glad and happy to see him. She was so overjoyed that the tears would not stop.
Seeing his mother cry, Samho shed tears as well.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come see you more often.”
“No, no. You must have been busy working. It’s all right, it’s fine. Now that we’ve greeted each other, go wait at the inn.”
She was in a hurry. If they stayed here and caught the villa’s people’s attention, something terrible could happen.
“Go! I’ll cook you a meal later.”
Hwasun tried to push her son away. Seeing his face was enough for her.
She knew only that her son had joined the Demonic Cult; she did not know what work he was doing there. He must be going through all sorts of hardships to establish himself. That was all she could assume.
Just then, more people entered the kitchen. It was Geom Mugeuk and his colleagues from the patrol unit.
Hwasun was startled, thinking that the villa’s martial artists had come.
“My son just came by for a moment. He’ll be leaving soon. We’re going now.”
Geom Mugeuk strode toward her and politely bowed.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mother.”
Hwasun stared at him in surprise, and Samho introduced him.
“He’s the person I serve.”
Caught off guard, Hwasun was startled again. She immediately tried to bow deeply to Geom Mugeuk, but he quickly stopped her and took her hand.
“My name is Mugeuk. Please treat me as you would your own son.”
The moment Hwasun looked at Geom Mugeuk, the turmoil in her heart, which had been like a battlefield, quietly settled.
It was probably because of his eyes. She had seen countless people while running her business, but she had never seen anyone with such clear eyes.
She felt comforted and reassured. With eyes like those, he was someone she could trust with her son.
“It is an honor to meet such a distinguished person.”
She did not know Geom Mugeuk’s identity, so she assumed he was the young master her son served.
“Please take good care of my son.”
“Thanks to your son, I have been doing very well. You have a wonderful son.”
“That is because you have looked after him so well, Young Master. Thank you.”
Samho then introduced his other companions.
“These are my colleagues.”
Jeok Yeon and the escorting martial artists greeted her.
Speaking on their behalf, Jeok Yeon said,
“Hyun is so capable that we rely on his help quite a lot.”
“Please take good care of my son.”
Hwasun felt sorry. If only they had met under different circumstances. She would have cooked for them herself and served them delicious food. This was the first time her son had brought his colleagues to meet her.
‘I have to get them out of here.’
She feared that if the villa discovered so many of them together, the situation would become even worse. Her own son was precious to her, but she might also put the precious sons of other families in danger.
They were all so young. There were dozens of martial artists in Pungsu Villa, and, on top of that, a terrifying master was said to have arrived.
“You should take the Young Master down to the inn and wait there. There’s food in the kitchen that can be served to him, so make sure he eats properly. Go! Hurry!”
At that moment, a man’s voice came from outside.
“Is the food finished? I told you clearly. If it doesn’t taste good, your life is—”
The martial artist entering the kitchen flinched.
The men inside were lined up on either side, staring at him.
“Y-you! Who are you people?”
The man tried to draw his sword, but his arm would not move. His blood-acupoints had been subdued before he knew it.
‘When did that happen?’
Geom Mugeuk approached him and casually draped an arm over his shoulder.
“You said you’d die if the food didn’t taste good? Why?”
His tone was friendly, but Geom Mugeuk’s eyes were colder than ice.
“I-I…”
“No matter. We’ll find out when we meet him in person.”
Geom Mugeuk went to Hwasun and asked,
“Mother, is the food ready?”
“It’s gone cold, so I think I’ll have to heat it up again.”
“That’s all right. I’m rather good at reheating things. Today, I’ll make it very hot.”
Geom Mugeuk placed the dishes she had made onto a tray and picked it up.
Then he gave an order to the escorts.
“Your mission today is to protect Mother. Guard her with the same devotion you would use to protect your own parents.”
Samho and the escorts formed up around Hwasun. It was the formal formation used when six people guarded a single person.
Geom Mugeuk kicked the martial artist whose blood-acupoints had been subdued.
“Let’s go.”
At some point, the martial artist’s blood-acupoints had been released. Terrified by Geom Mugeuk’s astonishing martial prowess, he took the lead.
‘As soon as we reach a place with more people!’
The martial artist led the way, followed by Geom Mugeuk carrying the tray.
Six escorting martial artists brought up the rear, surrounding Hwasun as they walked.
Hwasun was still anxious, but her son’s reassuring expression beside her put her at ease. She did not know what was happening, but she was simply happy to see her son like this. She prayed and prayed that everything would end safely today.
Many of the villa’s martial artists were gathered in the spacious front courtyard.
The martial artist in front sent them a meaningful glance.
‘What are you doing? Hurry and subdue these men!’
But something astonishing happened. The martial artists passing by, as well as those rushing toward them, all froze like stone statues.
Their blood-acupoints and speech-acupoints had been subdued before anyone noticed.
The martial artist leading the way was horrified.
‘He’s subduing them while carrying a tray? How?’
It was as if poison were spreading through the air. The moment they met Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, their blood-acupoints and speech-acupoints were subdued. Those nearby and those far away, experts and weaklings alike—no one was an exception.
“Ah!”
Jeok Yeon and the escorting martial artists cried out in astonishment at the incredible sight unfolding before them. They had heard rumors that the Young Cult Master’s martial arts had surpassed those of the Demon Venerable, but they had never imagined they were this formidable.
Thus, they entered the building and headed toward the residence of the master of Pungsu Villa.
The martial artists guarding the entrance froze as well. One had been about to ask, “Who are you people?” and was left standing with his mouth open, while the one beside him had stopped midway through raising his eyes, leaving himself in a bizarre pose.
Inside the room, two men were engaged in conversation.
Seated in the seat of honor was the Bloodhand Sword. Having committed all manner of evil deeds, he had already been designated a public enemy of the martial world by the Martial Alliance.
The man seated opposite him was Pungsu Villa’s master, Yi Eom.
“Even so, that is far too unreasonable a demand.”
“Not only the First Escort Agency of Hunan, but every escort agency in the Central Plains will regard me as an enemy. Shouldn’t I receive a larger share?”
“Didn’t we agree to divide it into three equal portions from the beginning?”
“Now that I think about it, that isn’t fair. You and that man can sit in your rooms and take a third each, can’t you?”
“I’m the one who provided the information for this operation.”
“Then reduce his share.”
“You know who he is, and you still say that?”
“Do you think I don’t know who I am?”
Yi Eom sighed inwardly. This was why one should never join hands with people like him.
He had vehemently opposed the plan, but that man had been so stubborn that it had come to this in the end. Perhaps he had anticipated this situation. Since his own share would not be taken away, he was telling Yi Eom to deal with the consequences himself.
At that moment, the door opened, and Geom Mugeuk entered.
Since Geom Mugeuk revealed no presence at all, the two men took him for a servant bringing in the food.
Geom Mugeuk set the dishes down on the table.
The Bloodhand Sword said to him,
“Wait there for a moment.”
He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the food.
“Ptui!”
He immediately spat it onto the floor.
Yi Eom frowned at the sight. The reason the Bloodhand Sword had already brutally killed two cooks was not that the food had tasted bad. He was pressuring Yi Eom. He was saying, I can kill you like this too if I take offense. Hand over more money.
The Bloodhand Sword was a level above him in martial arts, so Yi Eom had no choice but to endure this humiliation. The only reason the man could not act recklessly was that other person.
Even so, Yi Eom could not yield. If he gave the Bloodhand Sword everything he wanted, he would gain nothing despite involving himself in this extremely dangerous affair. After all, he was the one who had discovered that this escort mission was an enormous opportunity, the kind that came only once every few years, if that.
“Who made this?”
“Madam Hwa prepared the dishes.”
“Where is that woman now?”
“She is outside the door.”
“Tell her to come in at once!”
“Why are you doing this?”
“She made such tasteless food, so her tongue must be pulled out. What use is there in keeping such a useless tongue?”
Geom Mugeuk turned his head toward the door, and it opened as though it had been waiting for him.
Hwasun stood in the corridor outside. Three escorts stood on either side of her. At the front were Jeok Yeon and Samho.
The Bloodhand Sword assumed they were martial artists from Pungsu Villa.
He glared at Yi Eom and said,
“What are you trying to pull?”
Yi Eom could not understand what was happening. He had never ordered anyone to protect that woman. And now that he looked closely, those people were not his men.
Then Yi Eom noticed the emblem on Jeok Yeon’s chest.
‘That emblem… It couldn’t be, could it?’
Yi Eom grew tense inside. There was only one organization in the martial world that used a demon as its symbol. He had heard that ordinary members of the Demonic Cult were not permitted to wear that emblem; only its elite could.
‘Did that person send them? But why are they protecting that woman?’
Yi Eom’s thoughts became confused.
What happened next would astonish him even more.
Geom Mugeuk picked up a new pair of chopsticks and tasted the food.
“This is delicious. I think the problem is with your tongue.”
The Bloodhand Sword was so dumbfounded that he let out a hollow laugh. People did not suddenly go insane, so he assumed this too was something Yi Eom had arranged.
“What the hell are you doing?”
The Bloodhand Sword shouted furiously at Yi Eom.
Yi Eom said nothing, merely watching Geom Mugeuk and gauging his intentions.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Bloodhand Sword and said coldly,
“Try it again.”
“Oh, you crazy bastard!”
Just as the Bloodhand Sword was about to cut down Geom Mugeuk first—
Geom Mugeuk fully unleashed his demonic qi. The immense demonic energy bore down upon Ieom.
‘Ugh!’
The Blood-Hand Sword could not move even a single finger.
‘What is this? Nghhhh!’
He had never encountered such terrifying demonic qi. The pressure of a mountain crushing down on him made it impossible to breathe. A fear that he might actually suffocate overwhelmed him. A master of his caliber dying from nothing more than someone’s aura? It sounded absurd, yet that was exactly what was happening.
He had lived his entire life without fearing anything, but in this moment, he felt the terror of death. Even if his opponent were a demon, he was not the sort to have his spirit broken. Yet now, he could not even dare to look this young opponent in the eye.
Then the demonic qi pressing down on him eased slightly.
“Eat it again.”
Unable to defy those words, the Blood-Hand Sword ate the dish.
“……It’s delicious.”
“Why are you telling me that? You should tell the person who cooked it.”
The Blood-Hand Sword turned his head and looked at Hwasun.
“It was delicious.”
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“Again!”
This time, he said it politely.
“It’s delicious, Madam Hwa.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and said to Hwasun,
“He says it was delicious.”
Hwasun nodded once, her heart trembling.
“Please wait a moment. I have something to discuss with these men before I leave.”
The door closed, and the guards led Hwasun away to the end of the corridor.
The very moment the door shut—
Crack!
Geom Mugeuk drove the chopsticks he was holding into the Blood-Hand Sword’s forehead.
The Blood-Hand Sword collapsed then and there, smashing his head against the table as he breathed his last.
Ieom was so shocked that he felt as though his heart were about to leap out of his mouth. He had not even known that the Blood-Hand Sword could be killed with a single move. Geom Mugeuk had driven the chopsticks in without even looking at the man sitting beside him.
The Blood-Hand Sword had survived despite committing every sort of evil deed imaginable. To see him killed by a pair of chopsticks, without a word being spoken, was a tremendous shock.
“You said the stolen goods were to be divided into three shares?”
“I’ll give up everything! Take my share as well!”
“Who is the remaining person?”
Ieom spoke in a trembling voice.
“Wasn’t he the one who sent you? Was he trying to take this entire haul for himself?”
“I asked who that person is.”
When Ieom hesitated, wondering what on earth was happening, Geom Mugeuk picked up the remaining chopstick. There was no need for him to threaten Ieom by prodding his cheek or forehead.
Now that Ieom had seen it disappear into the Blood-Hand Sword’s forehead, he could not withstand the chopstick.
“It’s Branch Leader Yeo!”
Only then did Geom Mugeuk understand why they had mistakenly thought that he had sent them.
“He’s Yeo Sogwang, the Branch Leader of the Hunan Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!”