Chapter 28

"So that's the base liquor. It's quite ordinary."

Both the ingredients and the liquor seemed unremarkable.

Jeok Leegeon poured the ingredients into the liquor.

Watching him, Ihwa wore a meaningful smile. She was certain that no one could replicate the exact same taste.

He stirred the ingredients, then added a few more.

Jeong Charyeon diligently followed Jeok Leegeon's instructions.

Soon, the liquor was complete.

"Here, try it."

Jeok Leegeon offered it to Jeong Charyeon first. Jeong Charyeon took a small sip.

"The same, right?"

This idiot.

"...Completely different."

Jeong Charyeon's face turned serious. Although she wasn't a connoisseur of liquor, she could still tell that it tasted completely different from the Bear Bile Liquor she had tasted earlier. For one thing, the bitter taste from before was completely gone.

Ihwa smiled coldly, as if to say, "I knew it." Turning to the Martial Artist of Spring Breeze, Ihwa said,

"Well, Young Master Jeok, prepare to have your gall bladder removed."

Startled, Jeong Charyeon shook Jeok Leegeon.

"Think carefully! What's missing?"

Looking down at Jeong Charyeon's white fingers gripping his arm, Jeok Leegeon grinned.

"Are you worried about me right now?"

This guy! Is this the time to joke around?

"This is a matter of your life!"

And my father's honor too. Please.

Only then did the playfulness disappear from Jeok Leegeon's face.

"Of course it's different. The most important thing isn't in there."

Jeok Leegeon raised his hand and pointed to one of the walls.

Everyone's gaze turned to the wall. It was an ordinary wall with a display cabinet filled with neatly stacked dishes.

Jeok Leegeon slowly walked towards it.

Ihwa flinched. Her eyes trembled with unease at the thought of what might be.

"What a strange kitchen."

Jeok Leegeon pushed the display cabinet to the side.

With a soft sound, the display cabinet slid aside more easily than expected.

Then, Jeok Leegeon kicked a steel bowl that was standing in one corner.

The moment the steel bowl spun around once,

Grrr.

The wall began to open.

"Ooh!"

The onlookers were all surprised.

The moment the door to the secret room opened, a fishy smell wafted out. Everyone frowned and took a step back.

Ihwa's face turned completely pale.

"What are you doing?"

Head Cook rushed forward and blocked his path.

"This is where the secrets of my cooking are kept. Outsiders cannot see it."

His voice was trembling.

Jeok Leegeon shrugged and said,

"But that secret is the key to today's matter, so what should we do?"

The eyes looking at the man were not friendly. The terrified man was sweating profusely.

Yang Inmyeong smiled and said,

"Don't worry. I swear on my name that I will protect that secret."

Then, Mak Hwi drew his blue-tinged sword.

He looked around, checking the faces of everyone around him. It was a look that said he would kill anyone who didn't keep the secret.

As Yang Inmyeong stepped forward, the Head Cook clutched his head and stepped back.

Something was being cultivated inside the secret room.

Jeok Leegeon brought out a small box from among the steel structures.

When he opened the lid, a disgusting smell rose up.

Inside, it was filled with black things that were impossible to identify.

Yang Inmyeong covered his nose and asked,

"What is this?"

"Painted-Back Worm Excrement."

Unable to bear the disgusting smell, everyone grimaced.

Jeok Leegeon brought out another box.

"This is the Painted-Back Worm. It's called that because it looks like a painting is drawn on its back."

The box was swarming with worms. The colorful patterns on their backs only made them look more grotesque.

"Why are you showing us this?"

"Painted-Back Worm Excrement is as bitter as bear bile, and the taste is almost identical."

"What!"

Everyone's face contorted.

In particular, Ihwa and the cooks were completely terrified. Just looking at their expressions, one could guess what had happened.

Jeok Leegeon added the Painted-Back Worm Excrement to the liquor and stirred it. Then, he poured it into a glass and held it out.

"So, who wants to drink?"

Of course, no one would step forward.

Jeok Leegeon looked at Jeong Charyeon playfully.

Why are you looking at me?

Jeong Charyeon recoiled in horror.

So, that's what I drank earlier? Oh, I'm going to faint.

The one who bravely stepped forward was Mak Hwi.

"Since I volunteered as a witness, I should also verify it."

He emptied the glass in one gulp.

The taste of the liquor was subtly different, but it was definitely the same liquor.

He glared at Ihwa with murderous intent.

"You bitch! I'll tear you apart and kill you!"

Ihwa stood her ground, but the cooks couldn't. The cooks all prostrated themselves on the floor, begging for mercy.

Ihwa bit her lip and glared venomously at Jeok Leegeon.

Jeok Leegeon grinned.

"The one who shits gets angry... no, the one who puts shit in gets angry."

Just thinking about it made some people feel nauseous and gag.

Yang Inmyeong, who had been watching, laughed heartily and stepped forward.

"How did you know?"

"I've had it before."

"I heard that Painted-Back Worms only live deep in the Southern Barbarian region?"

"I traveled a lot since I was young. It's because of my mother's motto."

"What is that motto?"

"A man must travel a lot to grow."

"Haha! That's right. I'd like to meet her sometime."

Then, Jeok Leegeon gave a meaningful look.

"You'll regret saying that."

"Why is that?"

"Because she's not the kind of person my mother would like. My mother is the type to say she hates something right then and there."

"Hehehe."

Yang Inmyeong gave an awkward laugh, as if he was embarrassed. But he didn't seem angry at all. Rather, his eyes were filled with even greater curiosity.

"But how did you know there was a secret room in that place?"

"Because of that mechanism."

Jeok Leegeon looked at the old steel bowl standing in one corner.

"It looks quite natural, but you see. The person who taught me how to cook told me that a cook should cherish cooking tools, including knives, as if they were their own life. Even though this place overcharges, the food here is quite good. I didn't think that a cook who could make food like this would just leave cooking tools carelessly in a corner like that. Also, there was dust around it, but only the handle of that bowl was shiny. In other words, it was like saying, 'Catch me if you can.'"

Then, Yang Inmyeong and everyone else were impressed.

The happiest person was, of course, Jeong Charyeon. She really wanted to run over and hug him right away.

Jeok Leegeon held out his palm to Jeong Charyeon.

"Good job, assistant cook."

He's really a strange guy the more you look at him. Is it okay to use the word strange? For this greatness?

Clap--

Jeong Charyeon slapped his palm.

Jeok Leegeon said with a triumphant look,

"Well, then all of today's sales are mine."

"Of course, a promise must be kept."

Mak Hwi had the cook bring the money. Ihwa was still acting venomously.

"Do you know who's behind me? If you touch me, you're all dead!"

Slap!

Mak Hwi slapped her cheek mercilessly.

"Yes, that's exactly what I want to ask! Just who is behind you? Tell me! Tell me before I tear you apart and kill you right now!"

Mak Hwi kicked her mercilessly as she lay on the floor.

Thud! Thud!