the self-proclaimed Jeongdo (Righteous Path) followers, who live and die by their principles. If they came to a Banjang (restaurant), didn't even order food, and instead caused a disturbance that harmed the business, the students would have nothing to say. The moral high ground would belong entirely to the Ghost King's Banjang.
On top of that, this immense tugi (fighting spirit) felt like it could crush them at any moment! These were no ordinary cooks and attendants. They were undoubtedly martial artists.
Well, it wasn't unheard of for people of the Jianghu to Geumbun-sesu (wash their hands clean in a golden basin, i.e., retire) and open a business. The problem was, you couldn't trust a Jianghu-in's retirement. Whether Jeong (Righteous) or Sa (Unorthodox), martial artists were known for flipping their vows to never hold a blade again as easily as they'd flip their palms.
In short, if these seemingly retired cooks and attendants decided to get serious, it was clear they couldn't be handled.
Seureureureung.
The Ghost King scraped two kitchen knives together. A smooth, metallic sound rang out, and sparks flew. The scar on his cheek twitched as if in excitement.
"Customers? What would you like to eat?"
"Keum…"
The students groaned, unable to move. Jo Gangmin was getting beaten up outside, but they were powerless to help.
Kwang!
In an instant, one of the Gwisoi stomped his foot (Jin-gak), shaking the floor, and roared. "It must be because of the rain, but I can't hear you! Customers! What would you like to eat!"
The roar, like a Sajahu (Lion's Roar), echoed thunderously. A student in the corner hiccupped.
"Hic! U-uhm… noodles… just one bowl."
"I-I… a plate of suyuk (boiled pork)…"
"Ah… maybe mandu (dumplings)…"
KWAANG!
This time, the Ghost King himself stomped the floor with a Jin-gak. He looked at his Gwisoi and roared. "You sshyang! Look at this! Didn't I say this would happen? I told you that just because we opened and don't have all the ingredients, the customers wouldn't give a rat's ass about our situation! That they'd order all kinds of different food! Did I tell you they wouldn't give a damn about the cook, or did I not?"
"You did, sir!"
The Gwisoi bowed their heads deeply, then shot a sideways glare at the students.
The students gulped.
'Heok, are they… glaring at us?'
'Why? Don't most places prepare more ingredients when they first open?'
The Ghost King roared again with his Sajahu. Some of the students with weaker internal energy felt blood trickle from their eardrums.
"Aigoo! You worthless bums! They're ordering all this food, so why didn't you prepare the ingredients, making it impossible to cook! Huh? How are you going to take responsibility for this mess!"
Seureureung! Seureureung!
The Ghost King scraped his kitchen knives together, glaring at his subordinates.
"We're short on meat, so should I chop you guys up and cook you? Huh? Let's see! You, your flesh is tender, you'd be perfect for suyuk! And you, you've got a good mix of muscle and fat, you'd be perfect for mandu filling!"
At the Ghost King's murderous tirade, the students felt like they were sitting on a bed of thorns. It felt like that roar wasn't just aimed at the attendants, but at them.
Finally, one of the students spoke with difficulty. "U-uhm… O-owner."
"Son of a…! At this important moment, what kind of crazy bastard dares to call me and… Ah… Customer, hehe. Did you call for me?"
The Ghost King's face, which had been contorted like a vicious demon, instantly bloomed into a wide smile.
The student involuntarily sucked in a breath. 'I-it's scarier when he smiles like that!'
"Custooomer? If you called, please speeeak."
"Ah… th-that is… we'll all have the noodles."
"Nooo! Is that truly so!"
"Y-yes."
"Oh, thank you! Thank you for understanding our situation! Then we'll prepare noodles for all of you!"
"Y-yes. Is that okay with everyone?"
The other students nodded eagerly.
The Ghost King turned to his Gwisoi and shouted again. "You dimwits! You should know that you've been spared from being chopped up today thanks to our customers! These people know basic manners! From now on, they will not take a single step until their noodles come out and they've finished! Because they know that is the proper etiquette towards the one who cooks! So, watch them well, and if they need anything, bring it to them immediately!"
"Bongmyeong (We obey)!"
The Gwisoi ran to the entrance in unison and stood there, their hands clasped behind their backs.
'Wh-what? Why are they blocking the exit?'
'Keu-eung. This doesn't feel like they're waiting on us, it feels like they're guarding us.'
'And why did they answer Bongmyeong...'
The students couldn't even shift in their seats.
"Kuaaaaaah!"
As Gwak Cheolju let out a monstrous scream, unable to control his rage, Namgung Cheon quickly moved his hand and sealed Jo Gangmin's Mahyeol.
Tak, tak.
Jo Gangmin's body went limp, like a waterlogged cotton ball.
Namgung Cheon, gripping the back of Jo Gangmin's neck, looked at Gwak Cheolju and spoke casually. "Hey, loyal dog. Quiet down. You're loud. If you scream like that in front of a restaurant, you'll disturb the business. Ah, wait, is it just screaming?"
"You baaastard!"
Gwak Cheolju's eyes, bloodshot, charged recklessly at Namgung Cheon.
Pabat!
Look at that. Rushing in like that, unable to grasp the situation. It means he's already lost his mind. Otherwise, why would he charge like a wild bison, without a thought for his master's safety?
Well, if that's the case, I'll just have to make him grasp the situation.
In an instant, Namgung Cheon lifted Jo Gangmin up in front of him and swung his fist.
Ppaaak!
"Keo-eok!"
Jo Gangmin, struck in the face, spun like a top and collapsed.
Gwak Cheolju, who had been charging, froze like a boulder and shouted. "Sogaju!"
"Whoa, whoa. That's right. Coming to your senses? Good. If you don't behave, your master will be in pain. Just like now!"
Shiiit, Peok!
"Kuaaak!"
"No!"
Jo Gangmin's scream and Gwak Cheolju's desperate shout erupted at the same time.
Namgung Cheon rolled up his sleeves and swung his Byeokrageom, sheath and all. "What do you mean, no."
Peok! Peok! Peok…!
"Keok! Aak! Euaak…!"
"Stop! Stop! I've stopped!"
"Hoo. You're a well-behaved puppy now. Right, dongsaeng?"
"Kkeueueu…!"
Jo Gangmin, having been beaten one-sidedly, couldn't even answer. It was only natural. Namgung Cheon had struck him with his scabbard, imbued with internal energy. He must be feeling the pain of his bones shattering.
Gwak Cheolju, his cheeks trembling, asked, "What do you want?"
Namgung Cheon slung his scabbard over his shoulder and lifted his chin. "Kneel."
Kuung! Teolseok, teolseok!
It wasn't just Gwak Cheolju. Song Wongyo and Baek Rihyang also sank to their knees, as if their legs had given out.
Gwak Cheolju shouted, "I've knelt!"
"See? You can do it. You can be an obedient dog."
"Let the Sogaju go!"
"Don't want to."
Peo-eok! Peo-eok! Peok!
The scabbard swung again. Water droplets splashed violently.
"You baaastard!"
Gwak Cheolju, enraged, kicked off the ground and charged. But in that instant, a chillingly desolate voice flowed from Namgung Cheon's lips.
"You'll die."
Chwaaaak!
Gwak Cheolju's feet slipped as he barely skidded to a halt. It was a brief moment, but a dreadful salgi had enveloped his entire body! He couldn't even tell if it was aimed at him or the Sogaju. What was clear was that his body had instinctively frozen at that salgi.
Gwak Cheolju glared at Namgung Cheon, his teeth clenched. Through his rain-soaked hair, Namgung Cheon's eyes glowed fiercely. That terribly emotionless gaze froze his entire body.
'What kind of gaze does an eighteen-year-old have…!'
Was it his gaze that was cold? Or was it the pouring rain? A chill seeped into his bones.
Namgung Cheon's low voice flowed out again. "You're not going to lower those eyes?"
Shiik, Peok!
"Kkuaaak!"
"…!"
The scabbard swung relentlessly, and a desperate scream followed!
Gwak Cheolju's eyelids trembled. 'Lower your eyes.'
Shiik, Peok!
"Keuheuk!"
"…!"
Jo Gangmin's scream erupted again, and Gwak Cheolju's eyelids trembled uncontrollably.
A voice screamed in his heart. If I look away here, I can never defeat this man. It will all be over.
But at the same time, his reason warned him. If I endure, the Sogaju is in danger!
As his agony deepened, the world went silent. Raindrops clung to his eyelids. As they fell, his gaze fell with them.
Swaaaaaa…
Only the sound of the rain filled the silence.
A faint smile touched Namgung Cheon's lips. This was it. The moment the beast becomes docile. The moment he enjoyed the most.
Teolseok!
Finally, Gwak Cheolju collapsed to his knees. "Please… let the Sogaju go."
"Don't want to."
Shiiik, Peo-eok!
"Keu-ik! Why, you…!"
Gwak Cheolju started to rise again, but froze. The strange aura surrounding Namgung Cheon still prevented him from approaching rashly. Namgung Cheon was warning him with his entire body. Move, and your master gets hurt.
Namgung Cheon kicked Jo Gangmin's face with the tip of his boot. "This one can talk. I left his mouth intact."
Jo Gangmin, taking the falling rain, spat out bloody words. "I-I'll kill… you…! You dog bas…!"
"Oh. As expected, dongsaeng, you're better than the loyal dog. You have conviction. I take back what I said about being worse than a dog. I praise that conviction with all my heart."
Shiik, Peok! Peok! Peo-eok!
"Keok! Kkuaaak! Aak! S-save… Kuaaaak!"
Despite his master's desperate wails, Gwak Cheolju could only clench his fists, unable to move.
Dammit, dammit, dammit!
He suddenly thought of the students they had come with.
'No, but what the hell are those bastards doing that I can't even see a trace of…!'
He whipped his head around to look at the Banjang, and…
Slurp, slurp…! Jjeop, jjeop…!
The students were slurping down their noodles.
Kwajaang!
Paeng Suhyeok kicked the door open and strode into the room, grabbing Yun Jongseung by the collar.
"Keok, keok! Wh-why… Keok!"
"Where are the kids?"
"The kids…? Keok, let go…!"
Paeng Suhyeok threw him, and Yun Jongseung, who had tumbled to the floor, gasped for breath.
Paeng Suhyeok glared. "Namgung Cheon, Song Wongyo, Baek Rihyang. Where did they all go? Most of the third-years, including Jo Gangmin, are gone too."
"Ah…" Yun Jongseung groaned, trying to think.
As Paeng Suhyeok strode closer, Yun Jongseung shot up with a hardened expression. "I think I know where."
As the two left the room, a shadow that had been standing around the corner of the hallway silently followed.
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