I can’t tell you the secret ingredients for the 384th recipe.
Jo Chun-bae has been in a very good mood lately.
I had the most wonderful vacation of my life and was a wonderful son-in-law.
I really couldn’t have asked for more.
It’s because of that person.
“How have you been, sir?”
He himself lives a life where the leader of the Demonic Cult greets him with a bright smile.
“Little Master, what brings you here at this early hour?”
“I came here because I have something to tell you, sir.”
“Come on in.”
Jo Chun-bae invited the sword dance performance inside.
Geommugeuk looked around the inside of the Pungryu Tavern. Even though it had been a long time since he had been here, nothing had changed.
“As expected! As soon as I step in, I feel at ease.”
“When you say it like that, I don’t know what to do with myself.”
The sword dance was sitting in the seat that was always there on this floor.
“Master, please sit down too.”
Jo Chun-bae sat across from her, feeling nervous inside.
‘What do you have to say that makes you do this?’
The swordsman handed him a piece of paper with the date of the meeting written on it.
“I think I’ll have to rent out the entire Pungryu Tavern for the day. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
It was a sword dance that saved his family’s life. It was okay to borrow it for a month, not just a day. Wouldn’t it be okay if he borrowed it for a bar?
“But who is coming like this?”
Up until now, everyone just came here out of the blue. The Heavenly Horse came out of the blue, the Demon Lords came out of the blue. But who would announce their arrival in advance and try to rent out the entire tavern?
“There is a meeting at our school. I bragged about our owner. I want to invite him here.”
“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.”
There was a bit of a misunderstanding at this time.
The idea is to hold meetings within the church here, sell alcohol, and make the name of the tavern widely known.
“Please prepare the drinks and food carefully. I apologize for not being able to reveal who the guests are in advance. Also, please do not announce this meeting to the outside until the day of it.”
“Of course, don’t worry.”
Jo Chun-bae laughed confidently.
‘Finally, I have a chance to repay my debt to the cult leader, even if only a little.’
His gaze was directed towards the back wall. No matter how honored the guest was.
‘I am someone who has also received the teachings of the cult leader!’
And that’s not all. There were also drinking parties with the Demon Lords and the Lord of the Underworld, as well as the Demon Lords.
“When it comes to receiving distinguished guests, I have been through a lot. Leave it to me!”
Sir, this time our guests are mainly people who engage in aerial combat.
It would have been possible to give Cho Chun-bae a heads-up in advance about who was coming, even if it was a secret. But that would have only backfired.
Jo Chun-bae would not be able to sleep all night because of worry, and he would climb a cliff to get good materials. No, Jo Chun-bae’s heart might not be able to endure it until that day.
“Then I will only trust the owner.”
Actually, I wanted to just barge in and do the sword dance as usual. There were guests on the first floor, and the leader of the martial arts world said, “Let’s make way for a bit,” and went up to this floor, passing through the crowd.
I just wanted to show them my usual self. As always, Cho Chun-bae will accept them well. A three-way meeting between guests!
Of course, I couldn’t bring myself to insist on that. It would have been too embarrassing for the escorts.
“I’ll be back soon to have dinner with my brother.”
“I’ll prepare something you’ll enjoy.”
As the swordsman left the tavern, he walked across the street to a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat.
“Is it because of me that you didn’t come in?”
Then the middle-aged man took off his hat.
“You recognized me.”
Surprisingly, he was Wang Sook-su, the head sook-su of the Kyoju Jeon clan.
Perhaps the General Staff sent Wang Suk-su to ensure that this meeting was flawless. Regardless of whether or not one believed in the Sword Dance Theater, the people they had to treat were the Martial Arts Leader and the Sado Leader.
“I came here to see if you needed anything at the tavern.”
I said this, but I came to check. How the food was, and how sanitary it was.
“Don’t worry about me and just do your job.”
“Is that okay?”
Wang Suk-su was secretly nervous because he knew that the location of this meeting had been decided by Geommu-geuk.
“I’m fine, but that tavern isn’t.”
“yes?”
“How could you possibly like that shabby tavern when you, the King, are looking at it? You wouldn’t like it from start to finish.”
Even the king’s secretary admitted it. He wondered if it was even possible to hold this meeting in a tavern like that.
“Then may I ask why you chose that place?”
There are several reasons, but I will give you the reason that resonates most with Wang Suk-soo.
“The food is delicious.”
Indeed, Wang Suk-su immediately nodded in agreement.
“If that’s the reason, then it’s sufficient.”
“Then I’ll see you later.”
The sword dance troupe watched the king’s wife enter the Pungryu tavern and then moved to the main stage.
The person I met at the headquarters was Hyung Geommuyang. He was working on the business related to this meeting in his office.
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“What’s going on?”
“I came to see your face, hyung.”
“I’m busy. If you want to see my face, go.”
Although he acted bluntly, there was a look of joy on his face.
“Let’s eat together. Let’s also take a look around the meeting place.”
“I told you I’m busy.”
“My brother has all sorts of bad qualities, but who would have thought he would become the main character of a desk-bound discussion? How can things go well if he sits down and decides things without even looking around the site? Shouldn’t he go and see it for himself and fix it like this? Little brother, shouldn’t you also give in on this?”
The black sheep stood up from his seat, covering his ears.
* * *
The two walked side by side toward Magachon.
“Are you going to attend the meeting too, hyung?”
“Why? Do you want me not to attend?”
“How could that be? I defeated this guy and became his successor. I should brag to the people of the Murim Alliance and the Sadomaeng.”
The sword dance was worried that the sword dance girl might not attend.
But Geommuyang was unexpectedly confident.
“If I don’t go, won’t I be embarrassed to have been pushed out of the successor position and say I didn’t come out? I have to go at least to avoid that.”
It must not have been something you really wanted to do, but I was grateful that my brother decided to attend.
“Come to think of it, I shouldn’t have let my older brother come. Why did you make your younger brother your successor when you have such a good eldest son? Everyone would be gossiping.”
“Okay, you know.”
“This time, the siblings of the Murim Alliance, Jin Daeju, will also come. We have to show them that we are a more wonderful blood relative.”
“Did you call me to show you that?”
“Yeah, I called you to brag about the people I have around me. Seriously.”
“How childish.”
While they were talking about this and that, Geommugeuk suddenly asked.
“Do you still dream these days?”
“What dream?”
“The dream of my older brother becoming the successor.”
Come to think of it, I haven’t had that dream lately. I used to have it so often.
“I dream about it every day.”
Geommuyang finally realized that the dream had left him. No matter how busy he was, it was not something he could forget. He felt relieved but also sad.
“I will have honey even before I die of old age.”
“Ugly.”
“Even when I go to the grave, I will still have honey.”
Even after saying that, Geommuyang smiled faintly, perhaps because he found it funny.
Geommugeuk could feel that his brother had put his mind at ease.
“If you keep dreaming, it might become reality someday. Who knows?”
The black sheep that was walking alongside stopped walking and shouted with an angry face.
“Don’t even dream!”
There are times when I recall it very rarely. The scene of Geommu-geuk leaving the Heavenly Horse seat to me. The more I learn about my younger brother, the more vivid that scene becomes.
“Why are you trying to wake me from my dream?”
Geommuyang deliberately looked at his younger brother more coldly. He had to make this point clear.
“Once I have it, I will hold on to it until the end. I will not forgive you for giving in. Do you understand?”
“Okay. I won’t give in. Am I stupid enough to give in to something so good?”
The two walked again. They didn’t say anything until they reached the Pungryu Tavern.
At that moment, King Suk-su was amazed.
The food tasted better than I expected. It seemed ordinary, but it had a deep flavor. It was a flavor that anyone could enjoy, regardless of preference, but it also had a unique flavor.
“How was this broth made?”
“The pigsty has a secret ingredient in its broth. Even if you are a graduate of the church, I cannot tell you the secret ingredient.”
“It’s okay.”
The older man said he was just out of school and wanted to try the food here before the meeting.
Cho Chun-bae, who had been doing business here for a long time, knew better than anyone how to handle the affairs of the new religion. It was only natural that someone would come out and check.
After drinking the broth once more, Wang Suk-su was greatly moved.
“It tastes different than the first time.”
“Oh, no. No.”
Jo Chun-bae waved his hand in humility, but his shoulders were as high as the corners of his mouth.
“Oh, then please try this too.”
Even the leader ate this!
The king tried the dish and was very satisfied.
“This is good too. This suits my taste the best.”
Then Jo Chun-bae said quietly.
“Shall I give you something for free?”
“Would you please do that?”
“Actually, I’ve often heard since I was little that I have a natural talent for cooking. My tongue is sensitive, so I know the taste well. I don’t know if you know, but cooking is like martial arts, it’s something that requires talent.”
“Next time, I want to bring the new cult members over and show them how to make something so delicious. Even such common ingredients can create such a deep flavor.”
“Oh, what are you talking about? No, no.”
Jo Chun-bae waved his hand again. He was so happy that his hand wave felt like it was fluttering like a butterfly.
Jo Chun-bae, who was in the midst of his excitement, only then noticed that Geommu-geuk and Geommu-yang were standing at the entrance and looking at them.
“Ah, Your Highness! Your Highness! When did you come?”
Jo Chun-bae greeted the two people politely.
“The guest here is someone who came from our school for a preliminary inspection.”
Geommuyang greeted Wang Suksu first.
“Your Majesty the King.”
“Your Highness.”
Jo Chun-bae flinched at the mention of Wang Suk-soo. Suk-soo? This person was Suk-soo? Wang Suk-soo?
How could he, who had been doing business here for so long, not have heard the story of Wang Suk-su? No way? That Wang Suk-su?
Jo Chun-bae asked Geommu-geuk in a trembling voice.
“Could this be him? Isn’t he?”
Geommugeuk said with a smile.
“That’s right. This person is the person in charge of the cult.”
Jo Chun-bae jumped in surprise. All the butterflies that had been flying up fell.
“Oh my!”
He wasn’t just a sous-vide chef, he bragged about all sorts of things, like how to make seasoning and how to make soup, to the sous-vide chef in charge of the school.
“This fool was swinging a stick in front of the swordsman and talking nonsense.”
Then the king shook his head.
“Sometimes, that stick is sharper than the sword of the swordsman.”
They say that a really delicious restaurant is hidden in an unexpected place, and that was the case with Pungryu Tavern. When I heard that Geommugeuk was delicious, I thought, “What’s the big deal?” and ignored it inwardly.
The king’s attendant said to Geommugeuk.
“I am a person who believes that there is a connection between food and people. This taste must have played a part in the connection between this tavern and the master.”
It was the moment when Jo Chun-bae received recognition from the head of the religious sect.
“Eat well and go.”
“It was an honor, Your Majesty!”
Before leaving, Wang Suk-soo took all the food that Jo Chun-bae had prepared for him. Jo Chun-bae was moved by just that sight.
“Please bring that delicious dish to this floor.”
Leaving him behind, overcome with emotion, Geommugeuk and Geommuyang went up to this floor.
The black sheep sent a telegram.
-It wasn’t that tasty.
-Why are you sending it by phone? Say it out loud in front of the owner.
―I’m so touched right now that I don’t think I can hear you even if you tell me.
Jo Chun-bae was just staring at the back of Wang Suk-su who had left.
“Sit over here, bro. It’s nice here because you can see outside well.”
The sword dance gave up a good spot.
“The Grand Historian won’t let me yield, so I have to yield this seat.”
Brother, do you know that? To me, that position is as precious as a Taesa position.
* * *
When Jin Ha-gun came out of the conference room, Jin Ha-ryeong was waiting.
“It’s taking a long time?”
“We’re in the middle of a battle of pride.”
Jin Ha-ryeong asked Jin Ha-gun’s words.
“What pride?”
“I am concerned about the number of escorts compared to the Apostolic Alliance.”
“You want to take more?”
Then Jin Ha-gun shook his head.
“I wanted to take at least one less person.”
Jin Ha-ryeong laughed at those words. He was worried that if there were more escorts, they would think he was scared.
“I care about everything.”
“It’s an important issue to those people. But why?”
“They removed me from the meeting list?”
“Yeah, I heard he took it off.”
“why?”
“We can’t both go.”
Jin Ha-ryeong made a face like, “No way.”
“If something happens, at least one person has to survive?”
Jin Ha-gun nodded.
“Now, go in and persuade him. If you can’t persuade him, your brother will stay.”
Jin-Ha knew his younger brother’s personality better than anyone else. And he also knew that he really wanted to see the sword dance.
“I was trying to persuade you anyway.”
“I came for nothing. I couldn’t trust my best brother.”
“Am I really the best?”
Jin Ha-gun went back inside.
Jin Ha-ryeong smiled faintly and looked up at the sky outside the hallway window.
The flowing clouds seemed to stop, but time was passing quickly.
* * *
Until just before departure, Baekjagang was in his personal training center.
After the meeting date was set, he just stayed there like a man about to go to war.
Today again he was staring at the iron doll.
Now, in his eyes, the black umbrella was standing over the iron doll.
He was still looking at himself with arrogant eyes.
Then someone spoke outside.
“It’s a sign. It’s time to leave.”
“Come in.”
A visa was issued there.
“Do you know who is standing over there?”
The visage looked at the iron doll. The image of the sword dance was superimposed on it.
“Who is standing?”
“The Demon Lord is standing there. He looks exactly the same as when we met ten years ago. He’s been standing there ever since the three-way talks were decided.”
Visain looked at the iron doll together and suddenly asked.
“Have you eaten?”
For a moment, Baekjagang was silent. The silence was long, but Bisain did not think that he had made a mistake. The master was clearly waiting for that question.
“I couldn’t cut it.”
The Visan likes this about his master. He does not lie about the truth for the sake of face or pride.
“I could see here why I had decided to meet him.”
“What was the reason?”
“He was so big in my heart.”
Visain could guess what that meant.
“This time, when we meet, it will be small.”
A single anxiety arose in Baekjagang’s mind.
“What if I am a bigger person than the one I raised?”
Have you ever seen such an honest appearance from your master? Was it the sword dance that changed your master, or was it the sword dance?
“Then you will understand my feelings a little. The frustrating feelings of a disciple who sees his nemesis growing bigger and bigger every time he sees it.”
Baekjagang laughed silently.
Visan felt good when he saw his master smiling. Every time he smiled, he felt like he was taking a step closer. Even if it was an illusion, it was good.
Soon the servants came in carrying clothes. They were the splendid clothes that the Apostolic Lord wore when making official processions outside.
But Baekjagang took all the clothes away.
He wore a clean black uniform, recalling the time when he first entered the Apostles’ service.
The black martial arts uniform suited him perfectly, and was more majestic than the flashy attire he had previously worn.
“Let’s go, to the Demonic Cult.”
