Chapter 27

Jeok Leegeon's back, as he turned and walked away with a smirk, felt incredibly reliable. At least that back didn't chatter or get covered in duck fat.

An indescribable sense of relief lightened Jeong Charyeon's steps.

Charyeon whispered to Jeong I-chu, who was still moving with a worried expression.

"Don't worry, Father. Everything will be alright."

Jeong I-chu forced a smile.

The head cooks in the kitchen were startled by their unexpected arrival.

Whoosh--

Something flew towards Charyeon.

She instinctively caught it; it was a lingzhi mushroom.

"What are you doing? Come and help."

"What?"

Jeok Leegeon grinned at her surprised face.

"It'll take too long to do it alone. Let's do it together. Surely no one will complain about you helping to cut ingredients? Everyone's busy."

All eyes were on Charyeon.

Those who noticed Charyeon belatedly admired her beauty and wondered what her relationship with Jeok Leegeon was.

Jeong I-chu was the most flustered. It was a matter concerning his daughter's marriage prospects.

"She and Young Master Jeok are only slightly acquainted."

He then gestured for Charyeon to quickly step back.

But Charyeon rolled up her sleeves. It was a matter involving her father and herself. She had to help, even if they told her not to. Charyeon placed the mushroom on the cutting board and said,

"How should I do it? Slice it? Mince it? Stir-fry it?"

"Slice it thinly."

"Okay! Leave it to me."

Many eyes were focused on her. But Charyeon wasn't embarrassed. She wasn't even aware of those gazes that were burdensome even to herself. Jeong I-chu was inwardly surprised by his daughter's boldness, which was no less than a man's.

Did she always have that side to her?

Children grow when you look away, and grow again when you look back. He felt like Charyeon had grown up so much without him noticing.

Instead, Charyeon gave Jeong I-chu a reassuring look, as if to tell him not to worry.

Jeong I-chu nodded. His daughter was one to do things properly once she set her mind to it.

Chop chop chop chop!

Charyeon started cutting. When she was young, she occasionally helped her mother with kitchen chores. Now that he thought about it, she had been so absorbed in Martial arts training that she hadn't cooked with her mother recently. She suddenly felt sorry towards her mother.

Jeok Leegeon, who was watching Charyeon's knife skills, said,

"Not bad? Better than my mother."

"Really?"

"I'm serious. You'll see later."

Hearing about his parents so often made her think that she might meet Jeok Leegeon's parents someday.

Ah, she's being brainwashed by him.

Even in the midst of all this, Jeok Leegeon's mouth didn't stop moving.

"My mother is perfect, but she has one flaw. She's not good at cooking. It's true that no one is perfect. The fact that my father truly loves my mother can be seen just by how deliciously he eats her terrible cooking."

Ugh, what a picky and talkative guy.

If it were me, I would have force-fed him. I would have forcibly opened that hateful mouth...

Ah, there's no need to think that far.

Chop chop chop chop.

"I've suffered since I was young. I had to learn to cook myself to avoid developing a cheap palate. As I said before, the joy of eating is one of the three great pleasures, right? So I went to famous people and learned from them."

Feeling sorry for him talking to himself, she asked him once.

"Who were they?"

"Head Cook Jong, and a shabby old man with a stubborn streak like iron."

It was then.

"Is Sohyeop perhaps referring to Head Cook Jong Yi-jae?"

An old man walked out from behind the people.

Mak Hwi's respectful bow indicated that this old man was the distinguished guest he had mentioned earlier.

Unlike his appearance of a Taoist immortal with a long white beard reaching his chest, his sharp eyes suggested that he was a master who had reached a high level.

"Oh, you know him?"

"Indeed. Head Cook Jong was once the Head Cook of the imperial palace and is one of the most outstanding cooks in the Central Plains."

The old man reminisced about the past.

"I had the pleasure of tasting his food a long time ago. It's been a long time since I heard that name."

"But who is this old man?"

The old man stopped Mak Hwi from intervening, as he thought it was rude.

"This old man is called Yang Inmyeong."

At that, people exclaimed in surprise.

"Myriad Manifestations Old Master!"

"Southern Mountains Alliance Lord!"

Mak Hwi nodded with a serious expression.

"That's right. It is him."

Everyone respectfully clasped their hands and stepped back. If the location were different, some would have bowed; everyone's attitude was respectful.

Myriad Manifestations Old Master Yang Inmyeong.

The master of the Southern Mountains Alliance and the best martial artist in Hunan.

He had visited Infinite for this Dragon Phoenix Gathering and Heavenly Dragon Battle.

Such a person showed interest in Jeok Leegeon.

"Who are you?"

As Charyeon poured the sliced mushrooms and some medicinal herbs into the pot, Jeok Leegeon replied,

"Jeok Leegeon."

"A good name. What is your sect?"

"The eldest son of Fleeting Clouds and Flowing Water."

Yang Inmyeong, as well as everyone around him, tilted their heads in confusion.

Jeok Leegeon added,

"The best fruit merchant in the frontier."

Yang Inmyeong finally burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! Remarkable, remarkable."

He thought Jeok Leegeon was deliberately concealing his identity. In any case, everyone laughed along with him as he laughed.

Yang Inmyeong's gaze towards Jeok Leegeon deepened. He clearly felt great interest. It was inevitable, given Jeok Leegeon's subsequent actions.

"But old man, it seems you've made some money? This place is very expensive."

In this Martial World, there weren't many young men who could say such a thing to the master of the Southern Mountains Alliance.

Yang Inmyeong replied with a smile.

"I've made enough. What about you?"

"I'm still far from it."

As he said that, he stared at Yang Inmyeong with a very provocative gaze. Receiving that gaze, Yang Inmyeong gave a meaningful smile.

Jeok Leegeon grinned again.

"If I set my mind to it, all the money in the world would be mine."

"Hahahaha! That's right. Yes, that's what being young is all about."

Steam began to rise from the pot, which had started to bubble.

"Now, just wait a little longer."

Everyone's eyes were full of excitement.

Yang Inmyeong then asked Charyeon,

"What is your relationship with Young Master Jeok?"

Charyeon hesitated to answer.

"I am..."

It was a relationship that was difficult to define.

Jeok Leegeon quickly answered,

"We've only met twice at the tavern. You could say she's my friendly drinking companion?"

"Ah, no."

"Besides, we even had a secret rendezvous by the pond at night."

"What? A secret rendezvous!"

Jeong I-chu was even more surprised than Charyeon.

Charyeon shouted with wide eyes.

"No! That's a misunderstanding! Hey! You really!"

It was a belated excuse. The onlookers were disappointed, thinking, 'Indeed, that's their relationship.' They were filled with pity, thinking, 'How could she end up with such a guy?'

Charyeon sighed with a face that looked like she wanted to cry.

Please just make the Bear Bile Liquor. Don't create nonexistent history.

Only Yang Inmyeong looked back and forth between Jeok Leegeon and Charyeon with an intriguing gaze.

Meanwhile, Jeok Leegeon cooled the pot with cold water.

Yang Inmyeong peered into the pot with a curious gaze, sniffing.

"You only used herbs with strong fragrances."

Jeok Leegeon then examined the alcohol he was bringing.