Chapter 27: The Rascal and the Waiter
Early morning, at the Seong-un Inn.
Jin Seong-un sighed as he looked at the three martial artists who had arrived early.
“I understand that Seomun Ak is to work here as a waiter under Senior Shin Mok’s orders. But why are the two of you here?”
It was Shin Mok who had made Seomun Ak work at the Seong-un Inn.
He simply wanted to see the sight of a rascal who always looked down on the weak now working at the lowest position in Murim.
Of course, he also respected Jin Seong-un’s opinion.
In exchange for letting Seomun Ak learn waiter duties under Jin Seong-un, Shin Mok had once again repaired the inn for free.
Since Jin Seong-un gained both a strong waiter and a restored shop, he had no reason to refuse.
But now, two prodigies of the Wudang Sect had also arrived.
At Jin Seong-un’s question, Baek Sang and Baek Seol fidgeted. Unlike Seomun Ak, they at least had some conscience, and naturally, they felt ashamed.
“We also wish to atone for yesterday’s incident by helping with the inn’s work.”
Baek Sang spoke earnestly.
Jin Seong-un let out a deeper sigh.
The Seong-un Inn wasn’t that big. Including himself, there was no need for four waiters.
Moreover, it didn’t seem to him that these two were the kind of people who would voluntarily help with inn work just to apologize.
“Did Elder Hyeon-un order you to do this? If that’s the case, please tell him I truly don’t mind.”
At his words, Baek Sang and Baek Seol lowered their heads. Jin Seong-un’s guess was only half right.
– “If you truly wish to reclaim the Taiji Sword, then earn Seong-un’s approval.”
That was the command Elder Hyeon-un had given to the siblings.
Baek Sang’s mind grew troubled. What kind of recognition was he supposed to gain from a mere waiter who wasn’t even a martial artist?
No, it was hard enough to understand why they had to gain his recognition in the first place.
But since it was the Elder’s command, they could not question it.
After much discussion, the siblings reached a conclusion.
‘If we want a waiter’s approval, then the only way is to learn waiter duties ourselves.’
Though they were born into a wealthy family and were the direct disciples of the Wudang Sect, they found it humiliating and shameful to do a waiter’s job.
But they thought the work itself couldn’t be that hard. A waiter only had to serve drinks and food, wipe tables and floors—nothing more.
If they worked diligently for a few days, Jin Seong-un, the inn’s waiter, would surely recognize them.
With that conclusion, the siblings immediately came to the Seong-un Inn.
“Our inn does not need so many waiters.”
But what followed was Jin Seong-un’s expulsion order.
At the sense that something was already going wrong from the start, Baek Sang and Baek Seol quickly spoke up.
“We—we won’t take any money! This is purely to show our remorse. As Taoists of the Orthodox Sect, please give us a chance to atone!”
“I can cook too! I don’t have to be a waiter—I can assist in the kitchen instead!”
At Baek Seol’s words, Seo Yu-gyeom peeked his head out of the kitchen. He secretly envied Jin Seong-un for having even a scion of the Seomun Clan working under him.
“They’re being this earnest, so why not give them a chance?”
“……”
Jin Seong-un glanced at Seo Yu-gyeom’s smiling face. As always, the chef seemed to find the whole situation amusing.
Since even Seo Yu-gyeom said so, Jin Seong-un had no choice. Above all, they had offered to work without pay, so it wasn’t much of a burden.
With a reluctant nod, Jin Seong-un agreed. Baek Sang and Baek Seol let out sighs of relief.
“Then Baek…”
Jin Seong-un trailed off as he looked at Baek Seol. He realized he had never actually heard her name.
“My name is Baek Seol.”
“Ah, Lady Baek Seol. Then please go to the kitchen and learn under Chef Seo.”
“Yes.”
Baek Seol felt strangely embarrassed being addressed as “lady.” She had never been called that within the Wudang Sect, and ever since entering Murim, people had always addressed her as “Taoist” out of respect.
But Jin Seong-un wasn’t a martial artist, so whether the other person was a Taoist or a monk didn’t matter to him.
“What’s with her?”
Seomun Ak stared curiously at Baek Seol’s back, while Baek Sang coughed awkwardly, as if embarrassed on her behalf.
Soon, Jin Seong-un began explaining the waiter duties, and business started for the day.
.
.
.
The Seong-un Inn was busiest in the evening.
Since life was hard, few people bothered to eat breakfast or lunch at the inn.
Most of the inn’s customers were merchants of the Yichang trading district.
“How’s the work?”
Jin Seong-un came over and asked. Baek Sang nodded. Seomun Ak still seemed uncomfortable around Jin Seong-un and didn’t even respond.
Baek Sang genuinely felt that inn work wasn’t difficult.
“It’s a little tiring, but I can manage.”
He said that in an effort to show respect for another man’s job, though his thoughts were different.
‘Compared to training, this is nothing.’
At this rate, he thought he could easily win Jin Seong-un’s approval by doing the waiter’s work perfectly.
For now, there weren’t many customers.
When guests arrived, they took orders and served food.
Since Seomun Ak’s fierce appearance was too intimidating, Baek Sang usually took the orders himself, even feeling a strange sense of superiority.
‘Indeed, I look far better than him. Having Seomun Ak here works to my advantage.’
This way, Jin Seong-un would surely recognize him more than the unhelpful Seomun Ak.
That was human nature. If one man was utterly detestable, the one next to him looked better even if he was just average.
After meals, he wiped the tables with a cloth and swept lightly around. That part he left to Seomun Ak. After all, wielding a rag with the same hands that held a sword still hurt his pride.
But since Seomun Ak was a fist-fighter, his hands were already rough, so it didn’t matter.
Aside from Seo Yu-gyeom’s occasional scolding from the kitchen, the atmosphere remained peaceful.
Until evening came.
And Baek Sang’s opinion completely changed.
.
.
.
As dusk fell, customers began pouring in like a flood.
Baek Sang was flustered at first, but thanks to his martial artist’s stamina and composure, he handled it.
“Welcome!”
Thanks to Baek Sang’s handsome appearance and dignified speech, the customers froze slightly upon entering.
He considered it his advantage. But he didn’t realize that customers actually preferred a friendly and approachable waiter.
As Baek Sang eagerly greeted customers and took orders, Seomun Ak suddenly strode toward a table.
“Young master!”
Baek Sang urgently called out to him. With that intimidating face and build, approaching diners would surely make them uncomfortable.
Indeed, as Seomun Ak drew near, the customers grew visibly tense.
Standing before the table, Seomun Ak spoke bluntly.
“Spicy pork stew with yellow wine?”
With that, he placed a bottle of Flower Wine on the table.
“Drink this instead.”
“……”
The customers froze, staring at him. Even Baek Sang shut his eyes tight.
To speak and act like that toward paying customers—he had known Seomun Ak was a rascal, but not that he would behave like this even in someone else’s establishment.
At this rate, both the Elder and Senior Shin Mok would scold him severely.
But under Seomun Ak’s oppressive aura, the customers reluctantly drank the wine.
And their eyes widened instantly.
“Oh, indeed…”
What was a rascal?
First, a rascal excelled in reading people’s psychology, always picking words and actions that would provoke.
Second, a rascal excelled in the way of wine. Among the hundreds of martial artists of the Seomun Clan, not a single one could outdrink Seomun Ak.
“Thanks. Indeed, paired with Flower Wine, the greasiness disappears cleanly.”
“I am the man who conquered Shanxi with wine. At least when it comes to liquor, you can trust my word.”
Seomun Ak struck a pose.
Normally, people would have rolled their eyes. But this was a tavern in the late evening.
Half-drunk already, the customers instead burst into exclamations of admiration.
After that, the customers continued to receive food and drink recommendations from Seomun Ak.
He even anticipated their needs before they spoke.
His uniquely arrogant and conceited tone created an odd atmosphere that people surprisingly accepted.
Baek Sang’s expression turned bewildered.
Something was going wrong.
“Hey there, why don’t you recommend me a drink too?”
As usual, No Sang-won, who often had a drink at the Seong-un Inn, took pity on the increasingly sidelined Baek Sang and struck up conversation.
But Baek Sang couldn’t answer. As a Taoist, he avoided alcohol.
“Well, it’s just that…”
Baek Sang trailed off.
Then Seomun Ak placed a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green onto No Sang-won’s table.
“Don’t know if it pairs with the food, but at least for you, the most expensive wine in this inn is what suits best.”
He had noticed No Sang-won’s fine silk clothing and boosted his dignity before everyone.
At Seomun Ak’s smooth tongue, No Sang-won’s face split into a wide grin.
“Kyaa! Seong-un! Where did you find such an outstanding waiter!”
This too was the rascal’s ability. Rascals had an uncanny knack for reading whether the other was strong or weak.
Baek Sang felt a deep sense of defeat.
Especially when Jin Seong-un, looking very satisfied, nodded at Seomun Ak. At that moment, it felt as though the world had collapsed.
‘T-this can’t be…!’
What began as a light-hearted matter…
In truth, he hadn’t even wanted to do this.
But with Seomun Ak as a rival and his youthful competitive spirit flaring, Baek Sang had found himself wanting to become an excellent waiter.
While he wallowed in bitter defeat, his younger sister’s voice rang from the kitchen, making things worse.
“Who cuts like that?”
“What, are you criticizing my sword technique right now? I’m of Wudang…”
“You idiot. That’s not sword technique—it’s knife technique. It’s a kitchen knife, isn’t it? Doesn’t Wudang even teach you how to cut a fish head?”
“W-why would they teach us that!”
Trouble had clearly brewed in the kitchen as well.
After all, though both chefs and martial artists handled blades, the way they used them was completely different.
To his sister, who had only ever trained in Wudang sword arts, the chef’s chopping must have looked crude and low-level.
‘The first day, both of us failed…’
Baek Sang swallowed the bitter taste of defeat.
They had been raised in a wealthy merchant family and were considered geniuses within Wudang.
Never did they imagine their first true defeat in life would come in this way.
But he wouldn’t wallow in despair. He was Baek Sang, Wudang’s heir disciple.
His eyes glinted coldly.
‘Tomorrow, for sure.’
At that moment, Jin Seong-un came over silently and handed him a rag.
“……”
The task of wiping tables had shifted from Seomun Ak to Baek Sang. It was the rascal’s complete victory, making himself the perfect waiter through his shameless experience.
After the evening business ended.
Since Seomun Ak was to work at the inn during the day and evening and help Shin Mok at night, he left the inn. Burdened with debts, he had no choice but to sacrifice sleep.
The four left behind at the inn stood facing each other awkwardly.
“Well… good work today.”
When Jin Seong-un spoke with a reluctant face, Baek Sang grew even more restless.
He had to earn recognition from Jin Seong-un to reclaim the Taiji Sword, yet he had suffered complete defeat on the very first day.
Looking to the side, he even saw his younger sister and Chef Seo Yu-gyeom glaring at each other like enemies after just one day.
‘Sending Seol into the kitchen was a mistake.’
Those who lived by the blade had pride.
Even among martial artists, swordsmen and bladesmen always clashed in pride.
Sending pampered Seol into the kitchen had clearly been a mistake.
“Will you… be coming tomorrow too?”
At Jin Seong-un’s question, Baek Sang and Baek Seol wilted.
The mood grew heavy again.
As always, unable to stand the awkwardness, Seo Yu-gyeom stepped in.
“Tell them to come. Tomorrow I’m going to make sure she learns how to grip a knife properly.”
Baek Seol glared at Seo Yu-gyeom.
The difference in opinion was clear.
“Isn’t it enough just to cut the ingredients well?”
“If you grip a knife like a sword, your wrist will snap. You need to raise your index finger like this! Keep the back of your hand facing up!”
“I’m a martial artist. A martial artist’s wrist isn’t that weak.”
Seo Yu-gyeom nearly smacked her forehead.
“There’s etiquette in the kitchen. By your logic, you could just chop off people’s limbs any old way, so why bother learning proper sword grips?”
“……”
Baek Seol fell silent.
She couldn’t think of a comeback.
Seeing that, Seo Yu-gyeom felt a subtle sense of victory.
“Anyway, go home for today. We have our own training to do.”
Every night after business ended, Seo Yu-gyeom and Jin Seong-un trained in martial arts.
At the word “training,” Baek Sang and Baek Seol’s eyes lit up.
“Training… you mean martial arts?”
“Well, yeah.”
Seo Yu-gyeom replied casually, but Baek Sang’s eyes flashed brighter.
He recalled that when Seomun Ak had caused trouble, this very chef had blocked his fist.
In these dangerous times, the chef who had learned martial arts was probably teaching Jin Seong-un bit by bit.
‘This is my chance.’
Baek Sang thought it was an opportunity to earn points with Jin Seong-un. Baek Seol thought it was a chance to turn the tables on Seo Yu-gyeom after being berated all day.
“Then… may we join you?”
“Not an opportunity that comes easily.”
Confident and eager, Baek Sang and Baek Seol looked ready.
Seo Yu-gyeom smirked.
“Fine by me. I’ve been struggling doing this alone.”
Baek Sang tilted his head slightly.
The word “struggling” sounded odd.
Was he implying that the waiter’s talent was so lacking that teaching him was a struggle?
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
Even if the waiter’s talent was poor, things would be different if the teachers were direct disciples of the Wudang Sect.
Even teaching a few basic sword forms would be an enormous help to the waiter.
“Would it be okay if they trained with us too?”
Seo Yu-gyeom asked. After a brief hesitation, Jin Seong-un nodded.
Then Seo Yu-gyeom and Jin Seong-un faced each other.
Baek Seol stood next to Seo Yu-gyeom, and Baek Sang stood next to Jin Seong-un.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“Get over here.”
Seo Yu-gyeom gestured at Baek Sang.
Confused, Baek Sang nevertheless complied, thinking he should follow their training methods.
That left Jin Seong-un alone, facing Seo Yu-gyeom, Baek Sang, and Baek Seol.
Jin Seong-un looked at them for a moment before asking Seo Yu-gyeom:
“How far are we going today?”
“Well, with more waiters and chefs now, why not go all the way for once?”
“Good.”
As Baek Seol and Baek Sang blinked in confusion—
“Begin.”
At Seo Yu-gyeom’s word, Jin Seong-un’s figure sank and vanished into the ground like a shadow.
Baek Sang and Baek Seol widened their eyes and whipped their heads left and right. But Jin Seong-un was nowhere to be seen.
The Step Without Shadows.
Even as heir disciples of the Wudang Sect, there was no way they could perceive the Divine Thief’s movement technique.
Suddenly, Jin Seong-un appeared right before Baek Sang’s nose.