The Give And Take Of Affection. (2)

The soju room is the place in the Wudang Sect where food is prepared.

In the storeroom there, Yu Seol stood with her arms crossed, scanning the ingredients.

The meal to prepare was for about fifteen people — the core leadership of the Wudang Sect, including the elders.

At that moment Elder Mu-yeong, who had been standing beside Yu Seol, looked anxious and asked.

“How is it? Is there anything else missing?”

There was nothing lacking among the ingredients.

There were dozens of varieties of vegetables alone, including mountain greens and mushrooms.

On top of that, there were every kind of seasoning imaginable.

What could possibly be missing? Judging by the prepared ingredients, it was more than sufficient.

But what Yu Seol was interested in was not those ingredients.

It was a whole small pig resting on the right-hand shelf.

“What is this pig? Aren’t disciples supposed to eat only vegetarian food?”

Yu Seol had definitely not ordered meat.

Why was an ingredient that hadn’t been requested sitting there? It was incomprehensible.

Elder Mu-yeong, as if expecting this, put his hands together and bowed.

“Not at all, great hero. Actually, my sworn brothers have often eaten meat before. So it doesn’t matter at all.”

Mu-yeong, who was without family rank, was of the same generation as the other elders, including the sect leader.

They had lived together since youth and aged together as sworn brothers.

Among them, the highest-ranked was naturally the sect leader Mu-gwang, and Mu-yeong’s position was relatively low.

For someone like him to make this decision?

Even to Yu Seol it felt somewhat unnatural.

“Really?”

“Of course. Everyone acts refined on Wudang Mountain, but secretly they eat meat outside.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. When we roamed the central plains in youth, we ate it together many times.”

It was a reflexive answer, accompanied by eyes full of confidence as if to prove his words.

Yu Seol was not one to fail to notice something suspicious.

“I heard from my grandpa. Sir, didn’t he catch you secretly bringing and eating meat here?”

“Th-How would he…”

At that, Yu Seol feigned looking around, then whispered in a low voice.

“Just be honest with me.”

“W-What do you mean?”

He looked extremely flustered, unsure what was going on.

At that sight, Yu Seol tugged one corner of her mouth up and snickered.

“You’re trying to feed others meat too so you can make them accomplices, right?”

Elder Mu-yeong trembled and flinched; it seemed the remark had hit a nerve.

Not knowing what to do, he put on a miserable face and began to plead.

“P-Please help me, Yin Monster, great hero. Master Gwang Cheon said he’d turn a blind eye, but Sect leader won’t let me off quietly.”

He meant for her to help make his sahyungs as accomplices; if he could get them to eat meat together, no one could blame him.

Looking closely, his eyes appeared hollow.

Moreover, there were dark shadows extending under his jaw — he seemed to have been suffering severe insomnia lately.

“They’ll scold you for eating meat here?”

“Absolutely. He hasn’t mentioned it yet, but Sect leader won’t let this go. Once the great heroes descend the mountain, I will probably…”

For some reason, Elder Mu-yeong looked pitiable.

And besides, this kind of request wasn’t difficult.

But nothing in this world is free.

“Hmm. If I help you, what can you do for me?”

“I-I will grant any wish you have, as long as it doesn’t harm the sect.”

Yu Seol crossed her arms, stroked her chin for a moment, and pondered.

Asking for money seemed out of the question.

Now she could tell a person’s financial situation at a glance from their appearance.

His white robe was worn and stained, and a plain sword hung at his waist without any ornament — by any measure, he looked poor.

And one more thing.

‘He probably didn’t save much money because he bought the meat. His martial arts aren’t anything special either.’

The Wudang Sect’s martial arts failed to pique Yu Seol’s interest.

If anything, perhaps the Taiji Heart Sword carved in the cave of the Wind Wall?

But that was a spear technique, not a sword method. Besides, compared to the Wind-Heart Fist she had recently painstakingly mastered, its power was much lesser, so there was no reason to invest time in it.

After some thought, Yu Seol’s proposal wasn’t difficult.

“Just help me a little from now on.”

“H-How do you mean?”

“I’m in a good mood today and want to develop some new dishes. Can you assist me?”

A kitchen assistant? Elder Mu-yeong could do that without issue.

There was no need for hesitation.

“As a gourmet, it’s a pleasure for me to encounter new recipes. Leave it to me.”

Yu Seol’s face, as she rolled up her sleeves, looked more earnest than ever.

“Good. But don’t question my recipes. I’m going to show you a taste that reaches paradise.”

“I’m curious indeed. What should I start with?”

“Nothing special. I’ll make the sauces and broth first. Just be ready to taste.”

Elder Mu-yeong felt like he’d hit the jackpot.

He had been bracing himself for whatever request the Yin Monster might make; being told to simply taste test was like being on cloud nine.

“A-Alright, Yin Monster, great hero.”

Meanwhile, Yu Jinsan had gone out alone to the small backyard behind the guest rooms.

It was a small walled space, but sufficient for light exercises.

He spread his legs appropriately and slowly moved his hands as if cleaving water.

For some reason, his expression looked quite serious.

‘Did I do it like this?’

For days Yu Jinsan had been replaying his battle with elder Gwang Neung whenever he had a spare moment.

It was like reviewing a finished game of go, replaying the positions from the start to analyze the match.

It was unlike his usual behavior.

The reason Yu Jinsan acted this way was that he had been captivated by the power of the Taiji displayed by elder Gwang Neung.

The family’s palm art, the Yu-family Heaven-and-Earth Palm, also relied on overcoming hardness with softness, but the profundity of Taiji had something else to it.

‘You deflect the opponent’s attack and return the force back at them.’

His hands cutting the empty air generated a small gust of qi.

Leaves gathered and began to circle around him.

Rustle—!

Soon the orb formed of leaves gently expanded outward toward the front.

Whoosh—!!

After finishing his replay, his expression was not cheerful.

He had wanted to integrate the principles of Taiji into the family’s Yu-family Heaven-and-Earth Palm, but had made no progress.

He suspected that combining the two martial arts might yield something quite promising.

But it was only a hope; he had achieved no advancement.

“Damn it!”

Unthinkingly he kicked a stone on the ground.

Thud—!!

He was angry at his own limits.

He had reached beyond the Supreme realm, yet it seemed he lacked the talent to refine and create martial techniques.

‘There is no choice. I’ll have to ask our Seol.’

If his granddaughter possessed the heavenly genius she was born with, she could do it.

After regaining his breath, he glanced back over his shoulder.

Because someone was approaching.

“So you’re here after all, great hero. Is something wrong?”

It was one of the leading disciples who attended to the elders.

Yu Jinsan saw the stone embedded in the wall and made a face of sudden realization.

“Oh dear. My apologies. I’ll pay for the wall repairs.”

“It’s trivial, no need to worry. More importantly, Yin Monster is looking for you, great hero.”

“Yin Monster? Why is she looking for me?”

“She says she’s prepared dishes and asks that you come to the dining hall.”

The dining hall was the pavilion where high-ranking Taoists gathered to eat together.

It seemed to be the day Yu Seol was to serve as a return favor by cooking for the sect’s elder Taoists.

Knowing his granddaughter’s culinary skills well, Yu Jinsan could not hide his unease.

“…Hmm.”

“She insists you come. She says it’s filled with newly developed dishes and will be delicious.”

In that moment Yu Jinsan made up his mind.

His granddaughter’s creations tended to split extremes in taste — comparable to paradise and hell.

The odds were fifty-fifty. He had not the slightest desire to take such a reckless gamble.

He spoke softly to the young Taoist in front of him with a serious face.

“I have urgent business, so don’t tell anyone you’ve seen me, do you understand?”

“…Yes?”

Yu Jinsan gently grasped his wrist and begged him earnestly.

“Tell them you don’t know where I went. Do you understand?”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

After the leading disciple left, Yu Jinsan moved his hands to his waist.

He glanced around with a grave expression.

‘Let’s see. Where should I hide?’

The Wudang Sect’s elder Taoists sat around a round table.

Elders didn’t usually come here, but today was important so everyone was present.

Among them, the highest-ranked, Gwang Cheon, looked to the right and asked.

“So Yin Monster is going to return the Taiji Token to us after today’s meal?”

The sect leader bowed his head slightly and answered.

“She surely said so.”

“Is there a chance she’ll retract it?”

“Unlikely unless she’s offended. Although the Yin Yang Twin Monster can be eccentric, she is reputed to strictly keep her promises.”

“In the central plains, trust is paramount. It would have been better if she weren’t from the Heterodox factions.”

The sect leader nodded in agreement and said.

“I share Master Gwang Cheon’s view. Watching her these past few days, she doesn’t seem as wicked as the rumors claim.”

“Hmm. Do you truly think so?”

“Yes. Rather than human, she appeared to have a kind of pure, almost beast-like quality.”

Gwangcheon nodded and glanced around at the elder Taoists seated at the table.

“I’m saying this out of caution: don’t make any mistakes until the end. Don’t withhold praise for the food Yin Monster makes, and finish every plate.”

They needed to preemptively enforce order to ensure no problems arose, so they could safely get the Taiji Token back.

Everyone bowed their heads in acknowledgement and answered.

“We will keep that in mind.”

Perhaps because things were going smoothly, satisfaction appeared on Gwang Cheon’s face.

“The Taiji Token is only the beginning. After that we must retrieve the Celestial Sword and restore Gwang Neung hyung’s spirit — everyone must remain vigilant until then.”

It was while he continued to urge them that—

The doors of the dining hall opened and someone appeared.

It was Elder Mu-yeong, whose face looked pale.

“Yin Monster, great hero, is arriving.”

Everyone rose from their seats and waited for the Yin Monster.

At that moment, elder Gwang Hye addressed him.

“You don’t look well. You said you were helping Yin Monster prepare food — were you attacked?”

“N-No, it’s not like that. I just don’t feel well.”

“How can an elder who should guide disciples be in such poor physical shape? It’s because you lack regular training.”

Elder Mu-yeong was sweating coldly with a pale face, as if he had a high fever.

“My apologies, Master Gwang Hye. I’ll go rest first.”

“Why not eat with us before you go?”

“My stomach isn’t feeling well…”

“Very well, understood. In that case, there’s nothing to be done.”

Having received permission from the elder, Mu-yeong hurried away as if chased by something.

As everyone watched him go with puzzled faces—

Young Taoists from the kitchen entered and neatly placed several dishes on the round table.

There were as many as eight different dishes.

But the lids remained closed, so they couldn’t be seen.

When everything was ready, finally the Yin Monster began to enter the dining hall.

And Gwang Neung followed behind as if escorting her.

As their overwhelming presence began to fill the hall—

The Yin Monster’s face broke into a satisfied smile.

“You’ve waited long, haven’t you? I didn’t know what you’d like, so I made a variety.”

The sect leader clasped his hands together in thanks on behalf of the elders.

“Thank you so much for personally preparing all this food.”

“Not at all. Now then, enjoy.”

At Yu Seol’s nod, the disciples held their breath and simultaneously lifted the lids.

And in that moment, one of the elders couldn’t hold back and involuntarily uttered a gasp.

“Gah!”