Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Unintended Encounters Sometimes Breed Problems (3)

Bang Jin-bo had his hand on Eun So-cheong's shoulder as he stared at Dam Ho. Eun So-cheong's face was deathly pale. She was far too young and frail to endure Dam Ho's killing intent.

Before Eun So-cheong stood Jong Ri-su, sword drawn and held at the ready. He had unconsciously drawn his blade in response to Dam Ho's killing intent.

Jong Ri-su was gnashing his teeth as he glared at Dam Ho. His palms were slick with sweat, though he himself was entirely unaware of it. That was how tense he was.

Dam Ho looked at Bang Jin-bo. Bang Jin-bo shook his head.

It was not for his own sake. It was for Eun So-cheong's. Dam Ho read Bang Jin-bo's intent.

Dam Ho's gaze shifted to Sim Woo-won.

"Do not meddle with people carelessly."

With those words, Dam Ho returned to his seat. Only then did the stone-hard tension in the air finally ease.

"Haa!"

A sigh of relief escaped someone's lips.

Sim Woo-won frantically racked his brain to recall Dam Ho's identity. And then he remembered an unbelievable rumor he had heard recently.

'The man who single-handedly destroyed Seocheon Mountain Villa, displayed incredible martial prowess at Hongam Mountain Villa, and subjugated Nam Hak, the chief disciple of the Gokdong Sect and member of the Nine Dragons, in one blow? It was so absurd that I dismissed it as a baseless rumor.'

The subject of that unbelievable rumor was said to be a man who wore a black robe as dark as midnight and walked with a slight limp.

That was why he had dismissed it as a rumor—but now the man who matched that description exactly stood before his eyes.

Sim Woo-won's tightly sealed lips parted.

"Shin… Gang-hyeol-seong."

Now he believed the rumor.

No—he had no choice but to believe.

The man before him was even more terrifying than the rumors described. If his martial prowess was even half of what was rumored, the Uiseon Sect was as good as destroyed. He had to resolve this situation amicably somehow.

He hastily spoke.

"I—I apologize. It seems I was too hasty."

As the sect leader of the Uiseon Sect, those were words he could barely bring himself to say. But Dam Ho's reply remained cold.

"Apologize not to me, but to these children."

Bang Jin-bo and Eun So-cheong still appeared unable to recover from their shock.

"I am sorry. I should have explained the situation before speaking. If my words hurt you, I apologize."

"No, it's fine."

"Uncle! We're all right."

At this, it was Bang Jin-bo and Eun So-cheong who were flustered.

Eun So-cheong's bewilderment was beyond words. She had never once seen her uncle Sim Woo-won show such a weak demeanor.

That was how afraid he was of Dam Ho.

Eun So-cheong stole a glance at Dam Ho.

Dam Ho sat in his seat as though nothing had happened. As though, like the eye of a storm that remains peaceful even as the tempest devastates everything around it—

'Just who is that man?'

But Eun So-cheong did not dare to ask.

Before her eyes lay a corpse transformed into a bloodbath. The horrific sight made it difficult even to breathe.

With the situation having come to this, it was Do Hak-gyeong who became most anxious. Do Hak-gyeong was now unable to draw a deep breath.

'A… a God of Death was standing before me.'

He had heard many stories about how fearsome martial artists were, but until now he had never once paid them any mind. Instead, he had sneered at them as uncultured brutes who could not appreciate the refined world of gastronomy.

All of that had been possible because the Uiseon Sect protected him firmly. But now that the Uiseon Sect's halo had vanished, he was no longer a proud head chef—he was nothing more than a frightened old man.

Dam Ho's gaze turned to Do Hak-gyeong. Do Hak-gyeong hastily averted his gaze. He lacked the courage to meet Dam Ho's eyes.

"Because of you, an innocent life was lost."

"……"

Do Hak-gyeong's pupils shook as though struck by an earthquake.

What he wanted to say was, 'How is that my fault? You're the one who killed him.' But he did not have the courage to say so while looking at Dam Ho's face.

Sim Woo-won looked at Do Hak-gyeong.

"Did you perhaps make any mistakes while preparing the food?"

"You know that is impossible for me."

"Then why—"

It was then.

"Oh! Did you perhaps add Heavenly Fragrance Grass when making the Golden Silk Five Dragon?"

Bang Jin-bo suddenly clapped his hands as though remembering something. At that, a look of horror appeared on Do Hak-gyeong's face.

Heavenly Fragrance Grass was a rare spice that grew only on the Heavenly Mountain. Among chefs, extremely few even knew of its existence, and fewer still knew how to use it.

When preparing the Golden Silk Five Dragon, he had used a small amount of Heavenly Fragrance Grass to enhance the flavor. Even the chefs who worked alongside him did not know this.

"So that's why…"

Bang Jin-bo murmured.

Watching him, Do Hak-gyeong asked:

"How did you know I added Heavenly Fragrance Grass?"

"I've tasted it before."

"You've tasted Heavenly Fragrance Grass? That rare spice?"

"Yes!"

When Dam Ho had destroyed Seocheon Mountain Villa, Bang Jin-bo had tasted Heavenly Fragrance Grass. Though a long time had passed, he still remembered that flavor.

That was perhaps why, when he tasted the Golden Silk Five Dragon Do Hak-gyeong had prepared, it felt somehow familiar.

"Heavenly Fragrance Grass certainly elevates a dish to its peak. But in this case, the flavor was too strong."

"So it was excessive?"

"In my opinion, yes."

"Hmm!"

Do Hak-gyeong let out a low groan.

He had never expected that the Heavenly Fragrance Grass he added to enhance the flavor would instead ruin it.

Do Hak-gyeong looked at Bang Jin-bo with new eyes.

"Have you studied cooking before?"

"My father was a chef. I learned from him."

"That is remarkable. To be able to distinguish the taste of Heavenly Fragrance Grass. You truly have an extraordinary palate."

"It's nothing."

"I apologize. I blamed you without realizing it was my own mistake. I will also apologize to Miss Eun. But how did you know about the Heavenly Fragrance Grass as well, Miss Eun?"

"As I said earlier, I've tasted an even more delicious Golden Silk Five Dragon."

"What do you mean?"

"To my taste, the Golden Silk Five Dragon Jin-bo makes is the most delicious. That doesn't mean Chef Do's cooking lacks flavor. It's simply that Jin-bo's cooking suits my palate better."

"Hmm!"

Do Hak-gyeong let out another low groan.

Now everything was clear. They had not been trying to slander him. Everything had been his own mistake, his own misunderstanding. But the price had been too great.

One man had died, and his reputation had hit rock bottom. Sim Woo-won, too, had lost face to the point of being unable to lift his head. That was why he could not face Sim Woo-won.

Do Hak-gyeong sighed and looked at Sim Woo-won.

"Haa! All of this is my fault. My arrogance led to this mistake. I will take full responsibility and resign from the position of Head Chef. Sect Leader, please punish me as you see fit."

"No. I share great responsibility for not examining the circumstances before shouting at them blindly."

Sim Woo-won let out a quiet sigh.

He did not know how the situation had come to this. It felt as though he had been possessed by something, as though he had been trapped in a nightmare. But all of this was reality, and it was his burden to bear.

Dam Ho was staring at him intently.

Though he remained still for now because of Bang Jin-bo, there was a look and an air about him suggesting he would move at any moment.

Sim Woo-won clasped his fists toward Dam Ho.

"I will apologize once more. Shall we let the matter rest here today, for both our sakes?"

"Even though your subordinate died?"

"Even so, I will let it rest."

A tremor ran through Sim Woo-won's shoulders. An overwhelming humiliation crushed both his shoulders. But he knew he had to endure it.

He could not afford to make an enemy of a man like Dam Ho out of anger. If he did, there was no telling how far the consequences would reach.

This was not the time to make an enemy of Dam Ho. At least not now.

Dam Ho rose from his seat and spoke.

"If your mind changes, you may come find me anytime."

"……"

"But you had best come prepared to stake the lives of your entire sect."

"Kuh!"

Dam Ho's words, arrogant to the point of brazenness, twisted Sim Woo-won's face into an ugly grimace. But he could not retort. He could feel that Dam Ho's words were sincere.

Dam Ho turned toward the stairs. Though he still limped slightly, that sight somehow made him appear even more terrifying.

Bang Jin-bo spoke to Eun So-cheong.

"I'm going now!"

"But…"

"I'll see you later."

Bang Jin-bo offered Eun So-cheong his characteristic warm smile, then followed after Dam Ho.

Eun So-cheong stared blankly at Bang Jin-bo's retreating figure.

Thud! Thud!

The sound of their footsteps descending the stairs weighed heavily on Sim Woo-won's chest.

"Haa!"

Only after the footsteps had completely faded did Sim Woo-won turn his attention to the guests on the fifth floor. Now he had to manage the situation.

Do Hak-gyeong's honor must not be ruined, nor could the Uiseon Sect's name be tarnished.

Fortunately, Sim Woo-won had excellent means at his disposal—his medical skill and martial prowess. Combined with the financial power of the Eun Family, there was no problem he could not resolve.

Now it was time to talk.

Bang Jin-bo suddenly looked back. In the distance, the Cheonha Jeil Ru towered proudly atop the hill, gazing down at them.

Just moments ago, it had seemed so magnificent—but now, strangely, it did not appear so high after all.

'So-cheong.'

He was anxious about what Eun So-cheong thought of him. But he could not bear to leave Dam Ho alone either.

Dam Ho wore a completely expressionless face, as though he had not just killed a man moments before.

Bang Jin-bo approached him.

"Hyung!"

When he called, Dam Ho looked down at him.

"Why did you do that?"

"……"

"I mean… did you really need to kill that warrior of the Uiseon Sect?"

"It was necessary."

"Why?"

"Because most men, until they experience it firsthand, will not believe it even if they see hell standing before their eyes."

"Hyung!"

"Did you see the eyes of the one who calls himself the Uiseon Sect Leader?"

"That was…"

"The eyes of a typical opportunist. Such men are weak against the strong and infinitely cruel to the weak. That is why I had to set an example."

The moment an opponent showed weakness, such men would relentlessly crush them, yet bow their heads endlessly before the powerful. That was exactly the kind of man Dam Ho had seen in the Uiseon Sect Leader.

"Hyung!"

"The shell of the Uiseon Sect, or worldly fame—none of that matters. Strip away the clothes of the Uiseon Sect Leader, and what remains? Erase the smile from his face, and what is left? What matters is not the outward appearance seen by the eyes. What truly matters is a person's essence."

Dam Ho spoke more than usual, unlike his typical self.

He wanted to teach Bang Jin-bo something. How to live in this world. How to survive in its brutality.

Bang Jin-bo was too innocent, and he believed the world was bright. But this world was neither as beautiful nor as bright as Bang Jin-bo imagined.

Sometimes, extreme methods could be the most righteous course of action.

Dam Ho was conveying his thoughts to Bang Jin-bo through his own actions. How Bang Jin-bo received them was entirely up to him.