The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Upon opening the door and entering, there was a wall, and in front of it stood four menacing statues.

“Why would they put these in an inn?”

“These are the famous attractions. Carved by a master of Buddha statue carving, these are premium works. In fact, they were brought from the main entrance of a very sacred temple.”

They were carvings of the Four Heavenly Kings, set up as if guarding the entrance of the temple. The statues, with fiercely open eyes, seemed to be watching those who came and went, holding weapons or with fists raised.

“How did they bring these here?”

“The temple fell into ruin, so the owner took them.”

“But it was a sacred temple, wasn’t it?”

“Hehe… can even Buddha foresee the rise and fall of a business?”

Yi-gang laughed as if he couldn’t believe it, and Dam Hyun muttered quietly, “The Four Heavenly Kings protecting the world, huh. Seems like they’re historically significant items.”

“You can tell by looking, there’s a certain energy you can feel.”

“Ah… yes, that’s right.”

Though the expression of Seo Saeng-won changed to one that seemed to say, “Sure, if you say so,” Dam Hyun was sincere in his words.

For Yi-gang, what was more concerning than that was the weapons held by the wooden statues.

“Are those swords displayed?”

“The owner of the inn hung his own weapons. He used to be a martial artist. He retired and opened this place.”

“I see.”

Yi-gang nodded his head and smiled.

The inn and tavern were managed by the Low Down Sect’s liquor house, and inns of this size are usually under the administration of the Low Down Sect.

Moreover, the Low Down Sect’s inns never engaged in such acts.

It’s their principle not to bare their teeth.

“So you chose an inn because it was not managed by the Low Down Sect’s liquor house rather than being known for delicious food.”

“…Hehe.”

Seo Saeng-won felt a chill.

In this short moment, Yi-gang had figured out Seo Saeng-won’s intentions.

Furthermore, he seemed to know how the Low Down Sect operated.

For him, the idea that Yi-gang could be controlling the Low Down Sect’s Xi’an branch was unimaginable.

“Uh, the food being delicious is true.”

“It would be better not to think of deceiving us.”

Yi-gang’s expression, still smiling, was even more frightening.

Seo Saeng-won immediately bowed deeply and exclaimed, “Of course! I will serve you with all my loyalty and sincerity.”

Then the waiter, who appeared to greet the guests, asked with a dazed expression, “Uhm… Are you guests?”

“Three rooms, and do you have anything to eat now?” Yi-gang answered nonchalantly.

“Yes, of course.”

“Is the cook really skilled?”

“The best in Yanling County.”

“That’s a relief.”

Yi-gang patted the still bowed Seo Saeng-won on the shoulder and went in.

Seo Saeng-won wiped off his cold sweat and hurriedly followed Yi-gang.

“Uh, I’m hungry.”

Yi-gang and his party came down dressed in comfortable clothes.

No matter how much they tried to make their journey comfortable, crossing the vast Central Plains was always a hard task.

Meals were often quickly finished with dry rations.

Both Yi-gang and Dam Hyun were not picky about food, but Yi-gang had been interested in gourmet cuisine since before his reincarnation.

Moreover, he was now extremely hungry.

“The smell is good.”

“There must be a reason why so many people are gathered here. It’s all because of the good food and drinks.”

“Really seems so.”

Yi-gang and his group almost missed getting a seat.

The inn was that crowded. The rich aroma filled the air, naturally stimulating hunger.

When Seo Saeng-won raised his hand, the waiter quickly approached.

When asked about the dishes the inn was confident in, the waiter smoothly listed them out.

“…These are the dishes. Our cook won a prize at a cooking contest hosted by the governor of Shaanxi Province. That’s why he’s proficient in those cuisines.”

“What? Really?”

“Truly! He cooked under the governor and came here after being let go.”

Yi-gang looked pleased at that.

Xi’an, where the Baek Noble Clan was located, was indeed the capital of Shaanxi Province. He effortlessly ordered several dishes.

Seo Saeng-won looked at Yi-gang in surprise.

“You seem to like Shaanxi cuisine.”

“Well, something like that.”

The Azure Forest was a Taoist sect located below, wasn’t it?

Unless one was quite experienced in the Jianghu, the martial artists of ordinary Taoist sects seemed quite naive and youthful.

Not only unaware of the names of dishes but also ignorant of worldly matters, they were often scammed in their younger days.

In this regard, Yi-gang didn’t seem at all like a disciple of the Azure Forest.

Soon, the dishes Yi-gang ordered from the waiter arrived. Having ordered a variety of high-end dishes and expensive alcohol, the person who appeared to be the owner came to serve them personally.

“It’s been a while since a guest who appreciates fine dining has visited. Haha!”

“You must be the owner.”

“I am the humble owner of this inn. You indeed are a distinguished young master.”

The owner, possibly a former martial artist, had thick forearms.

He placed each dish on the table, explaining them one by one.

“This is Oil Spill Noodles, and this is Red Braised Pork Feet. For the drink, I’ve brought Dukang Wine. It’s an exceptionally famous wine.”

“Dukang Wine!”

Yi-gang had ordered a few of Xi’an’s dishes and the ones recommended by the waiter.

But for the drink, he ordered the local Dukang Wine, famous in the Henan Province.

Perhaps because of the large order, the owner personally poured the Dukang Wine into their glasses.

“You seem to enjoy your drink.”

“I wouldn’t say I enjoy them to that extent. But good food does require good wine.”

“You’re a true connoisseur, haha!”

It’s just that his body isn’t good at handling alcohol.

Now a mature man in both body and mind, Yi-gang actually enjoyed alcohol itself.

Seo Saeng-won looked at him as if wondering how a Taoist martial artist could drink like that, but Yi-gang silently raised his glass.

He sniffed the aroma and then gulped it down in one go.

As they said it was brewed with millet, the warmth and sweet fragrance hit the throat instantly.

As Yi-gang savored the aroma, loud coughing reached his ears.

“Cough, cough, ack. What is this?”

Dam Hyun coughed continuously, his face turning red.

Yi-gang frowned.

“Senior Brother, you’re ruining the taste of the wine…”

“Why would you drink this!”

Unlike Yi-gang, he couldn’t handle alcohol at all. After barely a sip, he guzzled down water.

Surprised by this unexpected sight, Seo Saeng-won tried to hold back his laughter as he drank.

“If you can’t drink, just eat the food in front of you.”

“What is this now?”

“It’s Oil Spill Noodles. Noodles eaten with boiling oil poured over them.”

“Boiling oil? Isn’t that a torture method?”

Amused by Dam Hyun’s typical hyperbole, Yi-gang gestured to the owner to demonstrate.

Oil Spill Noodles consisted of wide, finger-thick noodles with simple vegetables like bok choy, boiled and then sprinkled with various types of seasoning like soy sauce and black vinegar.

To make this seemingly simple noodle dish special, one additional step was necessary.

The owner, holding a long ladle-like utensil, said, “Then, I’ll pour it.”

It was the pouring of fragrant oil, boiled with spices like ginger and garlic, over the noodles.

Charrlllll-

The oil sizzled as it hit the seasoning and noodles, emitting a tantalizing aroma along with a loud sound.

Even Dam Hyun’s eyes sparkled.

“So, this is how it is…”

His expression seemed to say, “Torturing noodles makes them delicious.”

Yi-gang and his party began their meal.

The chewiness of the Oil Spill Noodles was exceptional. The flavor was as good as the smell, perfectly seasoned on the smooth noodles.

No matter how delicious, just the noodles were not satisfying enough. There was also the Red Braised Pork Feet, a pork trotter dish steamed with spicy seasoning, that had to be tasted.

“The skill of the cook is truly remarkable.”

“Isn’t it, young master! Hahaha!”

Seo Saeng-won laughed in relief.

Yi-gang placed the tender pork trotter dish on his plate. It was steamed so softly that the meat parted easily with a slight touch of the chopsticks.

Yet, eating such a large piece of trotter with chopsticks alone was not an easy task.

“Wow, your chopstick skills are incredible.”

“It’s nothing much.”

Yi-gang skillfully stripped the meat off the trotter.

The warm and trembling fatty layers melted smoothly on the tongue.

Washing it down with the chilled Dukang Wine, Yi-gang felt very pleased.

“Hm, I need to ask for more rice.”

It was a bit of overeating compared to usual, but such indulgence was fine once in a while.

Yi-gang ordered rice. There was something else he wanted to try.

He poured a bowl of rice into the Oil Spill Noodle bowl.

Then, he scooped some of the sweet and spicy sauce from the Red Braised Pork Feet and mixed it with the rice.

Just need to mix it like this, swish-swish.

“Heh.”

A chuckle escaped his lips involuntarily.

Yi-gang, having received education from a prestigious family, was perfect in dining etiquette, but this was a bit conspicuous. It might even slightly deviate from proper manners.

But what does it matter? Mixing rice with leftover sauce to savor it more had been a preference since his previous life.

Finishing a meal with savory carbohydrates was the way.

Had he done this in his clan, he might have been scolded, but here, no one was there to comment.

Just as he scooped a generous portion of rice coated evenly in the sauce, intending to eat it with the meat—

“Why is he eating like that?”

Yi-gang stopped with his mouth closed at the clear voice he heard.

“Looks decent, but eating so messily.”

“Shh, he might hear.”

That was harsh. He was just putting rice into his used bowl and mixing it with the sauce.

What was so messy about that?

The comment came from the table right beside his.

A group of a man and a woman, both appearing to be in their thirties, continued to whisper, despite Yi-gang’s gaze.

“That’s rather unsightly.”

“Why is he eating so messily? Even getting it all over his mouth.”

Just as Yi-gang was about to retort to stop meddling in others’ eating, he hesitated.

It couldn’t be that he got food all over his mouth.

He wiped his lips and checked his thumb, which was clean.

Then the subject of their comments must be…

“This is really tasty. Mm, quite good. I usually prefer raw food, but this. Hmm. Tender, the pork feet are definitely…”

It was Dam Hyun.

Unlike Yi-gang, he lacked the skill to delicately separate the meat of the Red Braised Pork Feet with chopsticks.

After watching Yi-gang and trying to imitate him, he finally resorted to using his hands to tear the trotters.

Naturally, the seasoning smeared around his mouth, but with his face flushed from a drink, he was unaware.

He ate the delicious food voraciously. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight to behold.

“I’ve never tasted meat like this before. It’s very well-balanced.”

For him, born a wanderer and having lived all his life in the Azure Forest, these new dishes were like a whole new world.

“He must have lived without much. Trying such food for the first time.”

“Or maybe he did something wrong and was recently released after years in prison.”

Realizing that the murmurs were directed at Dam Hyun, Yi-gang trembled and then…

“Hahaha!”

「Phuahaha! Got it exactly right.」

He burst into a hearty laugh along with the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon.

At this spectacle, Dam Hyun’s eyes widened, and he stopped both his hands and mouth.

“Wh-what is this?”

“People are talking because you eat like that. Senior Brother.”

“They were talking about me?”

The ones gossiping about Dam Hyun clamped their mouths shut upon his glance.

But thanks to Yi-gang’s explanation, Dam Hyun grasped the situation. He wiped his mouth and fumed with a flushed face.

Given Dam Hyun’s temperament, a quarrel could have ensued.

Then, one of the group from the next table, who hadn’t been gossiping, clicked his tongue and stepped forward.

“If you’re going to eat, eat quietly. What’s with this rudeness!”

The bearded man seemed to be the eldest in the group. His rebuke caused the others to feel embarrassed and bow their heads.

The man stood up and approached Yi-gang’s table.

“I apologize for my younger companions. It seems they made a mistake due to drinking.”

Dam Hyun glared at the man in silence.

Yi-gang raised his hand, stopping Dam Hyun.

“It’s okay.”

“I was thinking of buying you a drink as an apology. Oh, my name is Lee Jeong-hyo.”

He introduced himself with a bright smile.

It was a magnanimous attitude, befitting a martial artist.

“Since we’ve come across each other like this, how about we join tables and have a conversation? We’ll cover the bills.”

Such is the way of connections in the martial world.

However, Yi-gang replied with a slight smile, “No, thank you.”

“But, still…”

“It’s okay, I said.”

His tone was gentle, yet firm.

It’s not easy to dismiss an offer so sharply in such situations.

Lee Jeong-hyo coughed awkwardly and turned away, embarrassed.

「Why not talk with him? He didn’t seem like a bad guy.」

‘What’s the point?’

Hidden by Dam Hyun and not apparent, Yi-gang was also not a sociable character.

Moreover, at the moment, he had more important things to do than to socialize with unknown martial artists.

‘I should eat this.’

「Is that really so delicious?」

Yi-gang continuously put the rice mixed with sauce into his mouth, chewing thoroughly. Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, unable to eat the food, just bit her finger, watching Yi-gang.

「Why don’t you try that possession thing now? Let’s eat together!」

‘I remember someone who said the same thing to me before.’

Recalling Immortal Divine Sword, Yi-gang finished his rice deliciously.

Blue-Eyed Mad Demon just sucked on her finger, watching.

And that night.

Rumble—

The rain that had started a little while ago had turned into a downpour with thunder and lightning.

The kitchen had already closed at the set time.

The lights in the bustling dining room had been turned off.

The staircase connecting the dining room and the guest rooms was usually busy with people visiting the restroom, but it was quiet now.

Only two men and women were standing on the stairs.

The two stood with their hands clasped respectfully as the bearded man, who had introduced himself as Lee Jeong-hyo to Yi-gang, walked up the stairs.

Still wearing a fresh smile, he suddenly slapped the cheeks of the man and woman.

Slap! Smack!

The ones who were hit didn’t dare retort.

“Fools. What would you have done if a quarrel broke out? Acting recklessly just because you had a drink?”

“Sorry.”

Although they seemed friendly during the meal, now their relationship appeared strictly hierarchical, like a superior and subordinates.

Moreover, their conversation hinted at some plot being devised.

“Consider yourself lucky that you didn’t mess things up. The rain has delayed our plan by at least a day.”

“We’ll be more careful.”

“Tsk.”

Lee Jeong-hyo clicked his tongue and went upstairs to his room.

However, the man and woman didn’t immediately return to their rooms.

Only after Lee Jeong-hyo was completely gone did they spit out curses.

“That damn guy only gives us hell.”

“We were supposed to set the fire today, but how is the rain our fault? And he even embarrassed himself trying to join tables with those others.”

They bitterly criticized their superior, Lee Jeong-hyo.

Unnecessarily getting into trouble and even ending up slapped.

While grumbling, they soon began to curse Dam Hyun, whom they considered the root cause of all this trouble.

“Because of that guy who doesn’t even know basic table manners, what a hassle we’re in.”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yes… Eek!”

The woman who was bad-mouthing Dam Hyun almost screamed in terror.

Dam Hyun was standing in the dark near the staircase, his eyes flashing blue, almost ghostlike.

“Uh, I, um…”

“Move out of the way.”

Dam Hyun coldly commanded the hesitant woman.

“Step aside.”

“Huh?”

“Look under your feet.”

And when she looked down at her feet,

“Oh, Aaah!”

She finally screamed.

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