Chapter 64: Was the food poisoned?
Srrrk.
Jin Seong-un brushed aside the long hanging curtain with his hand and looked outside the inn.
Dozens of armed martial artists surrounded the entrance of the inn.
At a glance, there were about fifty. Another fifty hid their bodies in the shadows of the roof and walls, suppressing their breathing.
All of them wore grim expressions.
The extermination of the Four Dragons River Gang, the havoc wreaked at Dark Sun Sect before vanishing without a trace, the testimonies of the Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley—
There were more than enough reasons why they could not take Jin Seong-un lightly.
"That guy?"
"…He looks younger than I expected."
Some of the martial artists whispered among themselves.
They had imagined Jin Seong-un to be older and with a stronger, more imposing appearance.
Jin Seong-un calmly observed the gathered martial artists before speaking.
"Did this place gain a reputation as a famous restaurant or something?"
He had been invited by just one man, Sa Ryeong-geuk, yet over a hundred had shown up. Moreover, the one presumed to be Sa Ryeong-geuk was nowhere to be seen.
Jin Seong-un extended his sense of qi outward.
He soon felt an unusual aura in the distance.
There was a man watching with the demeanor of a bystander, as though the matter had nothing to do with him.
Jin Seong-un was certain that man was Sa Ryeong-geuk. Among all the martial artists he had met, this one had the most distinctive atmosphere.
‘Like a blade.’
It was as if a single saber had transformed into a human being.
It wasn’t just that he was tall, lean, and sharp-eyed.
His aura and presence themselves were as cold and honed as a finely forged blade.
Seo Yu-gyeom, who had approached beside him, looked in the same direction and said:
"Is that the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance?"
"Seems like it."
"What a rotten face. Guys who look like that always eat their fill but never pay. Am I wrong?"
Jin Seong-un nodded in agreement.
Since neither of them lowered their voices, the black path men of Deyang were thrown into confusion.
"Y-you bastards want to die?!"
The Master of Twilight Pavilion erupted in a roar.
Because the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley lacked the ability to openly lead subordinates, the Master of Twilight Pavilion naturally assumed the role of second-in-command.
Jin Seong-un stared at him before speaking.
"Weren’t you here to kill me anyway?"
"…"
At that, the Master of Twilight Pavilion shut his mouth. Facing Jin Seong-un gave him the sensation of his hollow shoulders aching.
Soon, Jin Seong-un left a single remark before stepping back into the inn.
"Tell him to come in. The inn is narrow, so just bring two men."
Seo Yu-gyeom raised his thumb and drew it across his throat—a gesture meaning that whoever came in would be killed.
When the two of them casually entered the inn, the black path men exchanged bewildered looks.
They had expected the monsters said to live in the Deyang Inn to either draw blades and fight if they were violent by nature, or to beg and flee if they were cowards.
No one had imagined such a scene.
In the briefly unsettled atmosphere, the Master of Twilight Pavilion spoke to his subordinate, Yang Gwang.
"Report the situation to the Vice Leader."
"…Yes, Master."
Yang Gwang then approached Sa Ryeong-geuk.
Having once directly faced Sa Ryeong-geuk’s killing intent, he was extremely cautious in his manner.
As Yang Gwang came closer, Sa Ryeong-geuk spoke.
"Keep your mouth shut."
"…"
Though he had said nothing, Yang Gwang bowed his head as if scolded.
Sa Ryeong-geuk toyed with the short sword at his waist while glaring at the Deyang Inn.
"What scheme are they plotting?"
Sa Ryeong-geuk was by nature a calculating man.
He considered, weighed, and prepared for every situation.
His combination of martial strength, cautious temperament, and calculating nature had made him the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance.
Yet now, he could not make sense of it. No matter how he thought about it, there was no possible way they could defeat him.
After pondering for a while, Sa Ryeong-geuk finally began to walk.
He strode past the uselessly gaping black path men and headed for the Deyang Inn.
Standing at the entrance, he spread out his qi sense once more to confirm. There were indeed only three people inside.
"Follow me."
With those words, Sa Ryeong-geuk entered the inn. The Master of Twilight Pavilion, who had been at the forefront, and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley, who had been concealing his presence on the roof, both followed him inside.
…
Three men stepped into the inn.
Sa Ryeong-geuk spotted Hwa Yeon-seol sitting in the corner and let out a mocking laugh.
"Trading Company Master. You’ve made a foolish choice."
"…"
Hwa Yeon-seol gave no reply. There was no meaning left in conversing with him.
Not expecting an answer anyway, Sa Ryeong-geuk shifted his gaze to Jin Seong-un.
"So. Did you send this?"
Sa Ryeong-geuk revealed a letter.
Eat before you go.
Even now, it was a ridiculous message.
When Jin Seong-un calmly nodded, Sa Ryeong-geuk let out a hollow laugh.
"Fine. I came. What now?"
"If you’ve come to an inn, you should eat."
Sa Ryeong-geuk realized it. Whatever gave this brat such confidence, one thing was certain—he was at least somewhat mad.
Regardless, Seo Yu-gyeom started toward the kitchen. But Jin Seong-un stopped him with a solemn tone.
"This time, I’ll do it."
Seo Yu-gyeom flinched in surprise.
Then Jin Seong-un entered the kitchen.
Seo Yu-gyeom turned back to look at Sa Ryeong-geuk and the two lackeys, his gaze filled with pity.
"Just sit anywhere."
"…"
The Master of Twilight Pavilion’s face flushed red with anger.
The Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley, true to his assassin’s nature, feigned calmness, though deep inside he wanted to drive his blade into their throats.
But since Sa Ryeong-geuk remained still, neither of them dared to act first.
Suddenly, Sa Ryeong-geuk burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha!"
When a person’s sense of absurdity grew too overwhelming, laughter naturally followed.
Sa Ryeong-geuk had made a name for himself since his youth. Naturally, he could hardly recall ever being treated like this in his entire life.
Especially after becoming Vice Leader, aside from a handful of the world’s top masters, everyone feared him.
That was why this situation felt fresh, curious, and even a little enjoyable.
Sa Ryeong-geuk took a seat. The Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley flinched.
Clicking his tongue at the sight, Sa Ryeong-geuk said:
"Did I not tell you to sit?"
"…Yes, Vice Leader."
The Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley sat down to his left and right.
Seo Yu-gyeom boldly seated himself directly opposite Sa Ryeong-geuk.
"…"
"…"
The two immediately locked eyes in a staring contest.
Sa Ryeong-geuk studied Seo Yu-gyeom with curiosity at how a young martial artist could completely suppress his killing intent and maintain composure. Seo Yu-gyeom, on the other hand, simply found Sa Ryeong-geuk’s face amusing.
"Up close, you look even more fucked up."
Seo Yu-gyeom deliberately cursed.
That was the way of assassins. If unsettling an opponent’s mind could increase their chances of victory, they would do it.
The Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley quietly slid his hand beneath the table. He slowly grasped the dagger at his side, but Seo Yu-gyeom turned his head toward him.
"Draw it and you’ll die."
"…"
The Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley froze.
Seeing this, Sa Ryeong-geuk laughed once more.
He had left it to see how Seo Yu-gyeom would react, and the fact that he had noticed was remarkable. Considering that the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley was still a skilled assassin despite being pathetic in this moment, the outcome was rather interesting.
At that instant, Sa Ryeong-geuk became certain.
"You’re an assassin, aren’t you? From Deathshroud?"
The Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley’s eyes lit up. His lifelong wish was to establish an assassin organization that could surpass Deathshroud.
Not only he and the Master of Twilight Pavilion, but even Sa Ryeong-geuk waited for Seo Yu-gyeom’s reply.
Seo Yu-gyeom answered with a solemn tone.
"That’s right. I am the Master of Deathshroud."
It was his way of saying—believe what you want, I won’t explain. Because of it, the three of them felt they had taken a step further away from learning Seo Yu-gyeom’s true identity.
While Seo Yu-gyeom casually dealt with the three, Jin Seong-un emerged from the kitchen carrying bowls of noodles.
Clack, three bowls of noodles were placed on the table.
The Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley avoided looking at the noodles, fixing their eyes only on Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom, as though wooden rods had been jammed against their throats.
They had no room to be distracted in front of such monsters.
By contrast, Sa Ryeong-geuk leisurely examined the noodles. The color and fragrance were good. At a glance, they looked well-cooked.
"Eat."
Sa Ryeong-geuk ordered.
The Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley glanced at each other hesitantly. Naturally, in the middle of enemy territory, they had no desire to eat food given by the enemy.
Sa Ryeong-geuk thought the same and so directed the words at them.
"…"
An awkward silence fell.
Jin Seong-un merely crossed his arms and watched the three.
Cold sweat began to stream down the backs of the Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley. Sa Ryeong-geuk’s dry eyes cut like blades beneath their chins.
In the end, both picked up their chopsticks. They prayed—surely someone who could butcher dozens of martial artists with a single stroke would not poison noodles.
With pained expressions, they put the noodles into their mouths.
A fleeting moment passed.
"Kwaaagh!"
The orthodox black path Master of Twilight Pavilion and the cold assassin Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley shrieked in unison, spitting out the noodles.
At that, Sa Ryeong-geuk drew his blade.
"Was it poisoned?"
Even with the edge before his eyes, Jin Seong-un calmly said:
"Of course not."
Sa Ryeong-geuk frowned and glanced at the two black path men. If it wasn’t poison, why else would they react like that?
But after a while, there were no signs of bleeding from the nose, no skin turning black. They only glared at the noodles as though at an enemy.
Sa Ryeong-geuk asked:
"What is it?"
The Master of Twilight Pavilion hesitated before answering.
"…Th-the taste is bizarre."
"That’s all?"
"Not just bizarre—horrendous."
"…"
Sa Ryeong-geuk nearly swung his drawn blade to kill both of them.
Meanwhile, Jin Seong-un’s expression grew a little sullen. He had thought he’d learned a lot from Seo Yu-gyeom.
But Jin Seong-un’s cooking was truly strange. Even though he had used the exact ingredients and methods Seo Yu-gyeom instructed, the outcome was entirely different.
Having mastered superior martial arts, Jin Seong-un perfectly controlled measurements, heat, and timing.
Yet the result remained the same.
Even if Seo Yu-gyeom watched the entire cooking process from start to finish, the outcome didn’t change.
After several attempts, the two could only reach one conclusion.
‘Cursed hands.’
Any dish that Jin Seong-un’s hands touched turned into garbage. Everyone at Seong-un Inn had discovered this, so there was no one left to feed.
Thus, after feeding others for the first time in a long while, Jin Seong-un realized the curse still lingered, and he grew gloomy.
Just then, Sa Ryeong-geuk spoke.
"Hand over the Trading Company Master. It seems the assassin brat killed Hwa Yun-tak and ran away. You’ll die here. Don’t resent me—this was the condition Hwa Yeon-seol herself set."
"You…!"
From a distance, Hwa Yeon-seol tried to protest.
Seo Yu-gyeom raised his hand.
All eyes turned to him as he imitated Sa Ryeong-geuk’s earlier tone.
"Three bastards who’ve lived like cripples all their lives. Not one of you is worth sparing. Die here, all three of you."
"…"
The Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Valley Leader of Azure Wild Valley looked at him as though he were insane. To think they would live to see someone acting like this in front of the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance.
This time, Sa Ryeong-geuk could not laugh it off. With a face cold as ice, he glared at Seo Yu-gyeom and Jin Seong-un before speaking.
"Kill them."
His voice, filled with overwhelming inner force, rang clearly even to those outside the inn.
The Master of Twilight Pavilion shouted again:
"Kill them, you bastards!"
At once, more than a hundred martial artists outside the inn moved as one.
Through the narrow entrance, dozens of martial artists surged inside like waves.
Drawing their blades, they charged toward Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom with ferocious momentum.