"General Manager Wu?"
General Manager Xin frowned.
'Could he have co to take Yang Soryeong?'
Wu Ping had co leading the wedding delegation, but had returned imdiately when trouble arose at the White Mountain Sect.
He inwardly guessed that Wu Ping had reported the trouble to the Yang rchant Guild and had co to annul the marriage.
'That can't happen.'
He had put Yang Soryeong forward as the acting sect master, and if they took her away, it would give Mo Dahou and Hu Yeonjo a pretext.
General Manager Xin feigned composure, cleared his throat, and asked, "What is the matter?"
"That... he ca with the ixian Fang's martial force. There are about a hundred of them."
"What?"
The gazes of General Manager Xin and the other three in the room t in a flurry.
They knew that the ixian Fang was behind the Yang rchant Guild.
'They've co determined to take Yang Soryeong.'
General Manager Xin was inwardly at a loss.
He had never clashed with the ixian Fang, but he had heard rumors that they were quite strong as a secular branch of Huashan.
General Manager Xin, Mo Dahou, and the others went to the front of the White Hall Great Light.
A hundred warriors in brown martial arts uniforms were lined up in the vast training ground.
In front were Wu Ping and two middle-aged n.
Seeing General Manager Xin, Wu Ping stepped forward and cupped his fists.
"Have you been well?"
"What brings General Manager Wu here?"
While the two were talking.
The White Mountain Sect's martial forces, the White Temple Brigade, the Great Light Brigade, and the White Mountain Brigade, all gathered.
Wu Ping introduced the two middle-aged n next to him.
"These are the Twin Swords of ixian."
"I have long heard of the fa of the Twin Swords of ixian Fang. I am Xin Suo of the White Mountain Sect."
General Manager Xin acknowledged the Twin Swords of ixian with a reluctant expression.
The Twin Swords of ixian, one used a left-handed sword and the other a right-handed sword, so the direction of the swords on their backs was different.
They were two n with slightly thin builds and similar sharp eyes.
The Twin Swords of ixian cupped their fists at the sa ti.
"It is an honor to et the heroes of the White Mountain Sect."
The two n's faces were expressionless, so they did not look honored at all.
Mo Dahou stepped forward.
"I am Mo Dahou, the White Temple Brigade Leader of the White Mountain Sect. May I ask why the Twin Swords of ixian have co with so many martial artists?"
When Mo Dahou asked with a rough expression, Wu Ping quickly stepped forward.
"I will explain that."
Wu Ping said to General Manager Xin, "When Guild Master Yang heard the news that the Young Miss had beco the acting sect master of the White Mountain Sect, he could not sleep at night. So, unable to bear it, the Mistress requested her family, the ixian Fang, to protect the Young Miss's safety."
"...?"
At the unexpected words, General Manager Xin could not respond imdiately.
'These bastards? Do these brats think we're fools?'
General Manager Xin imdiately understood the ixian Fang's intentions.
They were trying to enter under the pretext of escorting Yang Soryeong and control the White Mountain Sect.
Mo Dahou also imdiately saw through the ixian Fang's sinister plan.
"Do you think there are no people in the White Mountain Sect?"
Mo Dahou's voice grew louder.
Wu Ping said calmly, "Of course, we know that there are many masters in the White Mountain Sect. However, wouldn't the Young Miss be more comfortable with people sent from her own family? Please do not worry too much. If the White Mountain Sect is uncomfortable, the Twin Swords of ixian will stay outside the estate."
"Hmph! The White Mountain Sect will take care of its own affairs, so it would be best for you to return."
One of the Twin Swords of ixian said.
"It is disappointing to be so openly told to leave."
"Do you think it makes sense to suddenly co to another's sect and offer to assist the acting sect master?"
Mo Dahou frowned. He was on the verge of striking the shaless Wu Ping's neck.
General Manager Xin was startled.
If a fight broke out here, it would beco a complete ss.
He quickly stepped forward.
"Haha. What do you an, telling them to leave? Brigade Leader Mo must an that the White Mountain Sect will take care of its own affairs. Since you have co all this way, please see the Acting Sect Master and rest for a while before you go."
"General Manager Xin!"
Mo Dahou glared at General Manager Xin. General Manager Xin placated Mo Dahou.
"Since the two families are connected by marriage, they can be considered one family. If we treat our guests so coldly, what will beco of the Sect Master's face?"
He then gestured to Mo Dahou with his eyes. It ant, 'let's just watch for now'.
Mo Dahou was displeased but had no choice.
Even for him, it seed difficult to determine the outco of a fight with the Twin Swords of ixian before crossing swords.
Still, he couldn't just back down.
"Only the Twin Swords of ixian may enter."
As the Twin Swords of ixian frowned, Wu Ping quickly stepped forward.
"Do not worry. The martial force will stay in the village outside the estate."
At Wu Ping's words, the Twin Swords of ixian obediently nodded.
"Alright."
At the condescending tone, Mo Dahou's face crumpled. Although the Twin Swords of ixian were about half a generation his senior, he was not in a position to be treated so condescendingly.
'These bastards. Let's see if you can leave alive.'
Mo Dahou gritted his teeth inwardly.
The atmosphere was murderous. General Manager Xin sighed inwardly.
'I should have left earlier...'
His greed had gotten him into trouble.
* * *
Baekji woke up after three days again.
"A-woong. I slept well."
Baekji stretched and then his eyes widened.
An elegant bedroom and soft silk bedding.
This was not his room.
"Where am I?"
Just then, Bangbang ca in and, seeing Baekji awake, shouted, "Young Miss, Baekji has woken up."
'So this is the Songhua Hall. It must be the master's room.'
Baekji sniffed at the fragrant scent of agarwood.
Yang Soryeong, Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam rushed in.
"You're finally awake."
"Master, aren't you possessed by a sleep demon?"
"He looks fine."
Listening to them each say a word, Baekji was bewildered and asked, "How long did I sleep?"
"Three days plus three days. You woke up for a mont in the middle and went on a rampage."
Baekji frowned.
"No wonder I was hungry."
"Master, wait a mont."
Ajok went out in a flash.
Yang Soryeong asked, "Does your head not hurt anymore?"
"My head, why?"
"You collapsed saying your head hurt. Don't you rember?"
Baekji wracked his brain. Then he rembered.
'My head suddenly hurt during the banquet. Huh? Then I woke up for a mont.'
He rembered waking up for a mont three days ago.
'Strange. I rember, but why does it feel like it wasn't ?'
He rembered everything, from going to kill General Manager Xin to going to the Dong Guang Hall. But for so reason, it felt like it wasn't him.
'Did I dream it? Aish, I don't know.'
He hated troubleso things.
Baekji jumped off the bed.
"I'm fine now. Let's go!"
"Where?"
Senior Oh asked.
"We have to go and eat."
"That's our master. Let's go!"
Jang Sam led the way.
As Baekji was heading towards the dining hall, Ajok ca with a person.
"Master, this is the person."
"Who?"
"You told
to get a cook."
"A cook?"
"You told
to get the best one. This person is the best cook in the village."
When Baekji thought about it, it seed that the person who wasn't him had said that.
'Wasn't it a dream?'
"My na is Zhong Jia. I greet Master Bai."
The cook, Zhong Jia, looked to be in his mid-twenties and had a shaved head.
"He said he shaved it so his hair wouldn't get in the food. He's a cook with a strong sense of craftsmanship."
Ajok enthusiastically praised Zhong Jia.
"He trained in cooking under an imperial cook who was exiled to Sichuan."
"Really? That's great. Eating delicious food is happiness."
Senior Oh circled Zhong Jia, looked at him with suspicious eyes, and said, "Why is such a cook in a backwater place like this? I can't believe it."
"We'll know as soon as we eat his cooking."
Jang Sam interjected.
"Let's eat and decide."
At that, Zhong Jia turned around as if he were displeased.
"Why are you just leaving?"
"It seems you are not at a level to eat my cooking, so I will just leave."
Ajok grabbed Zhong Jia.
"My junior brothers are uneducated and ignorant. Don't be offended."
Still, Zhong Jia did not stop walking.
"You don't want to learn 'Fire Skill'?"
Zhong Jia stopped walking and turned to look at Baekji.
"This child knows how to use Fire Skill? Hmph! I was a fool to be deceived and co here."
Baekji blinked his eyes and looked back and forth between Ajok and Zhong Jia.
Ajok said, as if making an excuse, "Zhong Jia wants to learn Fire Skill."
"Fire Skill?"
"He says he'll beco a better cook if he learns Fire Skill."
"Really? Then I'll teach him."
At Baekji's words, Zhong Jia looked at him with a stunned expression.
To impart martial arts so easily, even the slight hope he had had disappeared.
"Fire Skill is not so neighborhood brawler's technique, and you're saying you'll teach it?"
"Isn't it sothing like this?"
Baekji drew true energy from his dantian, imbued it with the fire energy of the five elents, and struck down with his palm.
Pashashak!
A handprint appeared on the ground, and it was slightly blackened.
"Oh! It's real Fire Skill. The ground is burnt black."
Ajok made a fuss. Zhong Jia's mouth also fell open.
He had thought he was just a child, but he was a master of martial arts.
Fire Skill was extrely difficult to learn and took a long ti.
'But at that age... he's a great master.'
Zhong Jia squatted down and touched the handprint on the ground.
It seed to have a warm energy.
"It's Fire Skill, right?"
When Ajok asked, Zhong Jia nodded.
"Can you really teach ?"
"Yes. It's not difficult. So make
sothing delicious."
"I am a rather expensive cook."
"I have a lot of money."
"You have to give
two taels of silver a month."
"I'll give you a year's worth."
Since Baekji agreed so readily, Zhong Jia was rather distrustful.
"Wait."
Baekji ran to the Songhua Hall like an arrow, took out twenty-four taels of silver from the hidden bundle of jewels, and returned.
"Here! Twenty-four taels."
When Baekji really handed him the silver, Zhong Jia's attitude beca polite.
"I will trust Master Bai. Will you also teach
Fire Skill?"
At that, Baekji took twelve taels of silver from Zhong Jia's hand.
"If you learn for free, you'll go bald. While you're learning, it's one tael."
"I am already bald."
"It can't be for free. The Fire Skill might beco deficient."
"Umm. That won't do."
Zhong Jia obediently nodded. One tael of silver was actually a lot of money.
"Where is the kitchen?"
"It would be best to use the Songhua Hall's kitchen."
Yang Soryeong also said, full of expectation.
"I have to go and get the ingredients, so please wait a mont."
Zhong Jia went to the village again with Ajok.
"He's going to get the ingredients now. When on earth can we eat?"
Jang Sam looked mournful.
Baekji said to Senior Oh and Jang Sam, "You carry the ingredients, and you carry the cook."
"What?"
"You have to train your lightness skill. If you're late, there's no food."
At Baekji's words, Senior Oh and Jang Sam ran in the direction Ajok had gone.
Baekji and Yang Soryeong went up to the Songhua Hall again.
Half an hour later, Ajok and Senior Oh ca running with large bundles, and Jang Sam ca running with Zhong Jia on his back.
"I'm hungry. Cook quickly."
Baekji pushed Zhong Jia into the Songhua Hall's kitchen.
A mont later, the sound of oil boiling and a delicious sll flowed out of the kitchen.
Baekji, Yang Soryeong, and the disciples sat at the dining table, just swallowing their saliva.
A mont later, Zhong Jia ca with a large fish on a large plate.
"Please try it."
Baekji broke his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
"Wow. It's delicious. What is this dish?"
"It is 'Huo Tang San Yu' (Fire Broth Three Fish). After scoring the fish, it is stuffed with seasoning and then deep-fried in hot oil."
"Oh! That's why it slls so savory."
At the sll of the Huo Tang San Yu, not only Bangbang but also the maids of the Songhua Hall gathered and peeked. Including Bangbang, there were seven of them in total.
Baekji called the maids.
"You all sit down too. Jang Sam, go and get more tables and chairs."
Bangbang had occasionally joined them for als since she was at the Yang estate. So she ca in and sat down right away, but the other maids hesitated.
It was unimaginable for maids to join the table when Yang Soryeong was there.
"I said co here. Let's all eat together!"
"How can we sit when the Young Miss is here?"
"No. You all co here too."
When Yang Soryeong called, the maids ca in as if they were reluctant.
Jang Sam brought a table and chairs and put them together, saying, "Sit down. When we eat, there is no hierarchy."
When Jang Sam spoke, Senior Oh chided him.
"Are you the master? Why are you stepping forward and taking credit?"
Then he looked seriously at the maid, Gayang, sitting opposite him and said, "My junior brother is uneducated and a bit ignorant. Please understand. Even cold water has a top and a bottom. That is the law of the world..."
Jang Sam frowned.
"Ugh, that's cheesy. I feel like I'm going to throw up. Senior Oh, why are you suddenly like this?"
"Ahem! What kind of nonsense is this in front of the grandmaster and the master!"
As Senior Oh spoke gravely, Baekji interjected.
"No. Jang Sam is right. It's cheap to be hierarchical about food."
At those words, not the maids of the Songhua Hall, but Zhong Jia was moved.
"That's right. My master said that the way of cooking is for all people."
For Baekji, who understood the way of cooking, Zhong Jia cooked without rest, and that night, everyone ate happily until their stomachs were about to burst.
(End of Chapter)
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