Chapter 262: If It Tastes Bad, You Die

TL: FoodieMonster007

Hwa Sun's hands trembled with fear.

"If it tastes bad, you bitch, you're a dead woman!"

The martial artist's words echoed in Hwa Sun's ears as he left the kitchen.

Hwa Sun never dreamed the atmosphere would be like this when she was first dragged to the Wind and Water Mountain Villa. Merchants came when a martial family called and left when told. That was their life, but Hwa Sun never expected such a murderous air.

Those words were not a simple threat.

"Be careful. Two people have already died in this kitchen today."

A serving maid secretly told Hwa Sun this while bringing ingredients. The maid was an acquaintance of Hwa Sun. The maid would occasionally stop by the inn for noodles or dumplings when she went to the market. Hwa Sun always gave her generous portions and told her to eat more.

"A terrifying master came to the villa. His palate is so picky that he tore out the villa cook's tongue and killed him. The cook from Bukwha Village who was dragged here next died even more horribly. What're we going to do!"

The terrified maid stomped her feet, but the sight felt strangely distant to Hwa Sun, as if it were happening to someone else.

Hwa Sun kept making mistakes while cooking. She added the wrong spices. Her trembling hands dropped a bowl.

I know how skilled the cook from Bukwha Village was. If his skills weren't enough, mine won't be either. Did they really kill him?

What if I die?

Her heart grew heavy when her son's face came to mind. Hwa Sun missed him so much. It was about time for him to visit.

It was at that very moment.

"Mother!"

The startled Hwa Sun turned her head. Her son stood at the kitchen entrance.

"Hyun! Is that you, Hyun? Hyun!"

Hwa Sun was so shocked it was a wonder she did not collapse.

Samho ran and hugged his mother.

"Mother!"

"Hyun!"

Hwa Sun clutched her son, too overwhelmed with emotion to speak.

Soon, however, Hwa Sun lowered her voice.

"Why're you here? Go! Go wait at the inn!"

"Mother, what's wrong?"

"Just go! I'll explain later, so just go."

Hwa Sun could only think about sending her son away.

Unlike his frantic mother, Samho calmly took Hwa Sun's hand.

"Why have you gotten so thin?"

His mother had aged so much in the past three years. Samho could tell she had suffered a great deal.

Tears streamed from Hwa Sun's eyes as she held her son's hand. Despite her fear, Hwa Sun was happy and glad to see him. Tears of joy continued to flow.

Samho also teared up seeing his mother's tears.

"I'm sorry I couldn't visit more often."

"No, it's not that. You must be tired from work. It's okay, it's okay. Now, we've said our hellos, so go and wait."

Hwa Sun's heart raced. It would be a disaster if the villa's people saw him here.

"Go! Mom will make you a meal later."

Hwa Sun tried to force her son away. Seeing his face was enough.

Hwa Sun knew her son was the God of War in the Demonic Cult, but she did not know what kind of work he did. Hwa Sun just assumed he must be going through all sorts of hardships to establish himself.

Just then, other people entered the kitchen. It was Geom Mugeuk and his colleagues.

Hwa Sun startled, thinking a martial artist from the villa had arrived.

"My son just stopped by for a moment. He'll be leaving soon. He's going."

Then, Geom Mugeuk strode forward and greeted Hwa Sun politely.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mother."

Samho introduced Geom Mugeuk to the surprised Hwa Sun.

"He's the one I serve."

The unexpected situation startled Hwa Sun. She quickly tried to bow, but Geom Mugeuk swiftly stopped her and took her hand.

"My name is Mugeuk. Please treat me comfortably, like a son."

The moment Hwa Sun looked at Geom Mugeuk, her heart, which had felt like a battlefield, calmed.

It was probably because of his eyes. In her life as a merchant, Hwa Sun had seen countless people, but this was the first time she had seen someone with such clear eyes.

Hwa Sun felt comfort and relief. She was convinced that if he was a person with eyes like these, she could trust him with her son.

"I'm in the presence of a noble person."

Not knowing Geom Mugeuk's identity, Hwa Sun assumed he was the Young Lord her son served.

"My son, I ask for your kind care."

"Thanks to your son, I'm doing well. You have a wonderful son."

"It's thanks to the Young Lord's good care. Thank you."

Samho then introduced his other colleagues.

"These are my colleagues."

Cheokyeon and the bodyguards greeted Hwa Sun.

Cheokyeon spoke on their behalf.

"Hyun is so good at his job that we receive a lot of help from him."

"Please take good care of my son."

Hwa Sun felt regretful. If only they had met under different circumstances. She would have cooked for them and treated them to delicious food herself. This was the first time her son had ever brought colleagues home.

I have to get them out of here.

Hwa Sun thought the problem could become even bigger if they were discovered as a group. It was not just about her own son. She would be endangering the precious sons of other families as well.

They were all so young. Dozens of martial artists were at the Wind and Water Mountain Villa. Besides, had Hwa Sun not heard that a terrifying master had arrived?

"You should quickly escort the Young Lord down to the inn. There's food in the kitchen you can serve him, so make sure he's taken care of. Now go! Go!"

Just then, a man's voice came from outside.

"Is the food ready? I told you clearly. If it tastes bad, your life is…"

The martial artist entering the kitchen flinched.

Inside, men lined both sides, staring at him.

"Who… who are you people?"

The man tried to draw his sword, but his arm would not move. His vital points were already sealed.

When on earth?

Geom Mugeuk approached the man and casually draped an arm over his shoulder.

"You have to die if the food tastes bad? Why?"

Geom Mugeuk asked in a friendly manner, but his eyes were colder than ever.

"Th-that's…"

"Never mind. I'll find out when I meet him myself."

Geom Mugeuk went to Hwa Sun.

"Mother, is the food ready?"

"Yes, but it's gotten cold, so I think it needs to be reheated."

"That's alright. I happen to have a talent for heating things up. Today, I'll make it very hot."

Geom Mugeuk placed the dishes Hwa Sun had made on a tray and lifted it.

Then Geom Mugeuk ordered the bodyguards.

"Your mission today is to be Mother's bodyguard. Protect her as you would your own parents."

Samho and the other bodyguards formed a line around Hwa Sun. It was the formal Big Bro formation for six people to bodyguard one person.

Geom Mugeuk kicked the butt of the martial artist whose vital points were sealed.

"Let's go."

The martial artist's vital points suddenly released. Terrified by Geom Mugeuk's incredible martial prowess, the martial artist led the way.

If I can just get to where there are more people!

The martial artist led the way. Geom Mugeuk followed, carrying the tray.

Behind them, six bodyguards walked, surrounding Hwa Sun.

Hwa Sun still felt anxious, but her son beside her gave a confident expression that reassured her. Hwa Sun did not know what was happening, but she was happy just to see her son like this. She prayed and prayed that today's events would end safely.

Many of the villa's martial artists were in the wide front courtyard.

The martial artist in the lead sent them a look.

What are you doing? Get over here and subdue these bastards!

However, something astonishing happened. The martial artists passing by and those running toward them all froze like stone statues.

Their vital and mute points were sealed in an instant.

The martial artist in the lead was horrified.

He's subduing them while carrying a tray? How?

It was as if a poison spread through the air. The moment they met Geom Mugeuk's gaze, their vital and mute points were sealed. Whether they were far or near, a master or a novice, no one was an exception.

"Ah!"

Cheokyeon and the other bodyguards gasped in admiration at the incredible sight. They had heard rumors that the Young Cult Leader's martial arts surpassed the Demon Supreme's, but they never knew it was this amazing.

And so, they entered the building and headed for the residence of the Wind and Water Mountain Villa's Chairman.

The martial artists guarding his door also froze instantly. One had been about to say, 'Who are you people?' and was stuck with his mouth agape. The martial artist next to him had been glaring and was frozen in a strange expression.

Inside the room, two men were talking.

The Bloodhand Sword sat in the seat of honor. He had committed all sorts of evil deeds and was already listed as a public enemy of murim by the Murim Alliance.

Opposite him sat Lee Yeom, the Wind and Water Mountain Villa's Chairman.

"No matter how you look at it, your demand is too excessive."

"Not just the number one escort agency in Hunan, but every escort bastard in the Central Plains will think of me as their sworn enemy. Shouldn't my share be larger?"

"Didn't we promise to split it three ways from the start?"

"On second thought, it doesn't seem fair. Don't you and that other guy just sit in a corner and each take a third?"

"I was the one who provided the information for this job."

"Then reduce his share."

"Do you say that knowing who he is?"

"And do you think I'm doing this without knowing who I am?"

Lee Yeom sighed inwardly. This was why you should not join hands with scum like this.

Lee Yeom himself had been vehemently against it, but it ended up like this because that person had been stubborn. Perhaps that person had even anticipated this situation. Since his own share would not be taken, it was a way of telling Lee Yeom to handle it himself.

Just then, the door opened and Geom Mugeuk stepped inside.

Geom Mugeuk revealed no qi, so the two men assumed he was just a servant bringing food.

Geom Mugeuk placed the food on the table.

The Bloodhand Sword told Geom Mugeuk, "Wait here for a moment."

The Bloodhand Sword picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the food.

"Ptooey!"

He immediately spat the mouthful onto the floor.

Lee Yeom frowned. The Bloodhand Sword had not brutally killed two cooks because the food tasted bad. It was to pressure Lee Yeom. It was a way of saying, 'If things go wrong, I can kill you just like this. Give me more money.'

The Bloodhand Sword's martial arts skill was a level above his, so Lee Yeom had no choice but to endure the humiliation. Still, the man could not act completely recklessly because of that other person.

Still, Lee Yeom could not give in. If he gave the man what he wanted, nothing would be left for him after participating in this perilous affair. After all, Lee Yeom was the one who had discovered that this escort mission was a huge score, the kind that only comes around once every few years.

"Who made this?"

"It was made by Lady Hwa."

"Where is that bitch now?"

"She's outside the door."

"Tell her to come in at once!"

"Why do you ask?"

"She made such tasteless food, so her tongue must be pulled out. What's the use of having such a worthless tongue?"

Geom Mugeuk turned his head toward the door, and it opened as if on cue.

Hwa Sun stood in the hallway before the door. Three bodyguards stood on either side of her. Cheokyeon and Samho were at the front.

The Bloodhand Sword assumed they were martial artists from the Wind and Water Mountain Villa. He glared at Lee Yeom.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Lee Yeom could not understand what was happening. He had never ordered anyone to protect that woman. On closer inspection, they were not his men.

Just then, Lee Yeom saw the emblem on Cheokyeon's chest.

That emblem? No, it can't be.

Lee Yeom grew tense. Only one organization in all of murim used a demon as its symbol. He had heard that ordinary demonic practitioners could not use that emblem, only the elites could.

Did that person send them? But why are they protecting that woman?

Lee Yeom's mind was in turmoil.

The things that would surprise Lee Yeom were only just beginning.

Geom Mugeuk picked up a new pair of chopsticks and ate the food.

"It's delicious, though. I think the problem is with your tongue."

The Bloodhand Sword was so dumbfounded he laughed hollowly. A person does not just suddenly go mad, so he assumed Lee Yeom had also ordered this.

"What do you think you're doing!" the Bloodhand Sword roared at Lee Yeom.

Lee Yeom silently watched Geom Mugeuk, trying to read the situation.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Bloodhand Sword and said coldly, "Eat it again."

"Agh, this crazy son of a bitch!"

The Bloodhand Sword moved to cut down Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk fully revealed his demonic qi. A colossal demonic qi pressed down on the Bloodhand Sword.

"……"

The Bloodhand Sword could not move a single finger.

What is this? Uuuugh!

The Bloodhand Sword had never felt such a dreadful demonic qi. The pressure was like Mount Tai crushing him, making it impossible to breathe. Fear washed over him that he might actually suffocate. A master of his caliber, dying from qi alone? It sounded absurd, but it was happening right now.

The Bloodhand Sword had lived his entire life without fear, but in this moment, he felt the terror of death. His spirit would not break even against a demonic practitioner, yet now, he did not even dare to look this young opponent in the eye.

Just then, the crushing demonic qi lessened slightly.

"I said, eat it again."

Not daring to disobey, the Bloodhand Sword ate the food.

"…It's delicious."

"Why are you telling me? You should tell the person who cooked it."

The Bloodhand Sword turned his head to look at Hwa Sun.

"It was delicious."

Just then, Geom Mugeuk said.

"Again!"

This time, the Bloodhand Sword spoke politely.

"It is delicious, Lady Hwa."

Geom Mugeuk smiled at Hwa Sun.

"He says it was delicious."

With a trembling heart, Hwa Sun nodded once.

"Please wait a moment. I'm just going to talk with these people for a bit and then I'll be out."

The door closed, and the bodyguards led Hwa Sun to the end of the hallway.

The very moment the door closed.

"……"

Geom Mugeuk slammed the chopsticks he held into the Bloodhand Sword's forehead.

The Bloodhand Sword slumped forward. His head hit the table as he died.

Lee Yeom was so shocked he felt his heart would leap from his mouth. He never imagined Geom Mugeuk could kill the Bloodhand Sword in a single move, or that he would. Geom Mugeuk had not even looked at the man sitting next to him as he struck.

The Bloodhand Sword had survived until now despite committing all sorts of evil deeds. To think he was killed with a chopstick without another word was shocking.

"You said you were splitting the stolen goods three ways?"

"I'll give it all up! Take my share too!"

"Who is the last person?"

Lee Yeom said in a trembling voice, "Weren't you sent by him? To take this whole score for himself?"

"I asked who that person is."

Lee Yeom wondered what on earth this situation was and hesitated to answer. Geom Mugeuk picked up the remaining chopstick. There was no need to threaten him by poking his cheek or forehead.

Having seen it disappear into the Bloodhand Sword's forehead, Lee Yeom knew he could not withstand that chopstick.

"It's Commander Yeo!"

Geom Mugeuk finally understood. He understood why Lee Yeom had mistaken him for someone sent by that person.

"It's Yeo Sogwang, the head of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Hunan Branch!"