Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 303

21. Righteous Alliance

Before starting the main story, Wang Jeok-sam led Cainchel to a small cave hidden behind the village.

The entrance was concealed by a pile of withered bamboo, and a sweet, floral scent drifted from within.

Mia, stifling a yawn as if drowsy from being full, murmured,

“That’s the Gojuk Yihwa Jin [Pear Blossom Bamboo Formation]. I sensed an unusual energy; it’s a Taoist array.”

“What is Gojuk Yihwa Jin?”

“Ah, it might be a bit unfamiliar in the Central Continent. It’s a type of Gimunjin [Mysterious Gate Formation]. It uses bamboo and scattered pear blossoms to conceal something, like an illusion spell.”

“Illusion magic, huh….”

Wang Jeok-sam, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped, looking surprised.

“To think he hid it so well that even skilled experts would struggle to find it without focus. The Taoist who set this up must be one of the top ten sorcerers on the continent.”

“Y-yes, Elder. I set up this Gimunjin. Hmph… I was confident in my stealth, but I never expected to be discovered so quickly….”

“Hehehe, being a Guild Leader these days requires at least this much. Keep that in mind.”

“……”

He seemed determined to maintain that persona to the very end.

Inside the cave, a large bundle was covered with cloth.

When Wang Jeok-sam lifted the cloth, a small stone statue appeared, covered in talismans of unknown meaning.

This time, Mia explained instead of Wang Jeok-sam.

“Basically, if you go up there, you’ll be able to use Chukjibeop (縮地法) [Earth Shrinking Technique], a type of Taoist technique. In Central Continent terms, you could call it an installation-type gate. However, instead of using the astral dimension to jump through space, it distorts space itself….”

At this rate, it seemed like it would never end. Cainchel sighed and stopped Mia, who was about to launch into an explanation of the differences between Taoist techniques, magic, and Gimundungap [Mysterious Gate Evasion Technique].

“Let’s hear the details from Wang Dae-in [Great Man Wang] first.”

Wang Jeok-sam blushed and scratched the back of his head.

“Haha. Dae-in is embarrassing. Anyway, I understand. It’s a bit late, but I’ll tell you everything.”

Princess Daji entered the palace about five years ago.

“From the first time I saw her, I knew she was a woman of truly elegant appearance. His Majesty the Emperor fell in love with her at first sight and brought her in as a concubine.”

However, there were countless women in the Imperial Palace far more beautiful than Daji.

Daji, who had just come from the countryside, was just one of many concubines.

“But then, an unbelievable thing happened. After becoming a concubine, Daji gradually changed to resemble His Majesty’s ideal type. Eventually, she monopolized His Majesty’s love and even took the position of Empress.”

The problem started then. The Emperor, who had been virtuous and always thinking of the people, suddenly turned tyrannical.

“At first, he brutally killed his subordinates who didn’t listen to him. He even used the Paolak torture [burning pillar torture], burning them to death with heated iron….”

Wang Jeok-sam’s hands trembled.

Perhaps he was recalling the memories of that time.

“After killing all those loyal subordinates, His Majesty tripled the taxes and began to squeeze the blood from the people. And he built three castles made of jewels for the Empress.”

However, Daji was not satisfied with just having the Emperor in her grasp.

She committed an absurd act to make the entire Central Plains her own.

“She entered as His Majesty the Emperor’s adopted daughter. A wife and a daughter… Does that make any sense?”

The Emperor, so infatuated with Daji that he would have given her his liver, accepted Daji’s outrageous proposal.

Daji, who had officially obtained the right of succession, reached out to the Crown Prince, who could be considered a rival.

“Hmph… His Highness the Crown Prince, who was so bright, became a complete wreck, neglecting food and drink every day, calling Daji’s name and crying… Perhaps she hasn’t killed him because he still has some value….”

Meanwhile, the Emperor, who had all his energy sucked out by Daji, turned into a withered tree.

“Now, if you see her bare face, even a monk who has spent his life in meditation would run out barefoot. That’s really not something a human can do…!”

The capital, Luoyang, was already Daji’s.

The Imperial Guards did not hesitate to kill innocent people at her slightest gesture.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the entire Central Plains fell into Daji’s hands.

‘So, the same one-sided massacre I saw earlier is happening all over the Eastern Continent.’

Asmodeus’s goal.

It was to kill all the humans living in the Central Plains and create a new gate to the Demon World with their souls.

If that actually happened, the repercussions would reach not only the Central Continent but also the New World.

However, there was something in Wang Jeok-sam’s story that bothered me.

“Why does Wang Dae-in know so much about Princess Daji? It’s as if you’ve seen her right in front of you.”

“That’s because I come from the Jinyiwei [Ming Dynasty Secret Police] intelligence department.”

“!?”

Wang Jeok-sam was originally a Taoist who had been training in Kunlun Mountain to become a god.

However, he eventually failed to completely shake off his worldly desires and descended the mountain to join the Jinyiwei.

“The Taoist techniques I’m most confident in are concealing my presence and Chukjibeop, which allows me to travel a hundred li [approximately 31 miles] in one step. Using that, I traveled around the Central Plains, collecting information on those who committed injustices and delivering it to the Imperial Court.”

The Ming Dynasty was a great empire located to the east, based on Britannia.

However, they thought of themselves as the center of the world. That’s why they called themselves the Central Plains (中原).

“People around me ridiculed me, calling me a toothless hunting dog because I only told them where to hunt without doing it myself. But it was a rewarding job in its own way.”

Cainchel’s eyes widened at the word “hunting dog.”

Although the field was slightly different, it was almost the same as what his father, Payne Jistard, had done.

When he mentioned that fact, Wang Jeok-sam’s eyes softened.

“Was your father also a hunting dog?”

“Yes. In the Central Continent, they were called Hounds, but it means the same thing.”

“Hoo… I understand now why my master entrusted me with this mission.”

Wang Jeok-sam’s master is the leader of the Kunlun Sect and is better known by the alias Tae-eul Seonsa [Great Supreme Immortal].

“Tae-eul Seonsa.”

“In the Central Plains, there is a society called Gangho Murim [Martial Arts World]. The Kunlun Sect can also be seen as included in it. Originally, Murim and the Imperial Palace have an unspoken non-aggression pact. However, the leaders of various sects judged that if Daji was left unchecked, not only Luoyang but the entire Central Plains would be in danger. Eventually, a group called Bancheonlyeon [Rebellion Against Heaven Alliance] was formed in Kunlun Mountain, centered around Tae-eul Seonsa.”

It literally meant rebelling against the Emperor, who was like the sky.

Usually, the alliance of those called the Righteous Sects is called the Murim Alliance.

But why was it named Bancheonlyeon?

When asked about that, Wang Jeok-sam struck his chest with his fist.

“That’s because not only the Righteous Sects but also the masters of the Evil Sects joined forces! The night Daji became a princess, the entire sky of the Central Plains was dyed red. Even people who couldn’t read the heavens could tell that many people would die.”

Moreover, the Kunlun Sect had never participated in the war between the Righteous and Evil Sects.

They were just polishing themselves to become gods. They were only affiliated with the Murim Alliance and were in a neutral position.

That’s why the Kunlun Sect became the center, and not only the Righteous Sects but also the masters of the Evil Sects participated in Bancheonlyeon.

“Eventually, more than half of the hundred greatest masters of Murim gathered under the banner of Bancheon three months ago.”

Of course, all of them are transcendent masters who can use Aura Blades.

Cainchel felt his heart burning.

The Righteous and Evil Sects, who had been at war for nearly a thousand years, joined hands to save the Central Plains from destruction.

It was the same thing that the heroes who fought against the common enemy of the Seven Deadly Sins had done.

“Of course, I thought we could recapture Luoyang in an instant and deal with Daji. But immediately after the formation of Bancheonlyeon, Daji appeared in Kunlun Mountain.”

Kunlun is a sacred place guarded by countless spirits. It could be said to be a natural barrier.

But Daji came to the Kunlun Sect with a light outfit as if she had come out for a walk without any weapons.

“It was instantaneous. More than half of the masters belonging to Bancheonlyeon fell in love with Daji and became her loyal subordinates. The remaining masters can’t forget Daji and are unable to get up, becoming crippled.”

Wang Jeok-sam knelt before Cainchel again and brought his head to the ground several times until blood formed on his forehead.

“My master said that a noble would come from the west today. I understand now. I was meant to come to this place to meet you…! Could you please make the dish I just made again for the masters of Bancheonlyeon? Please save Gangho Murim… No, save the Central Plains Murim…!”

Cainchel bit his lip hard.

Bancheonlyeon is an alliance created by the Righteous and Evil Sects who have been fighting for a thousand years.

Its power was enough to stand against Daji, who had seized the military.

It was literally like a full course meal already prepared.

But the moment he tried to eat it, the legs of the table collapsed.

“It’s burdensome when you keep kneeling like that. I understand. It’s just a matter of picking up the fallen food and re-plating it, but I’ll cooperate.”

“R-re-plating, what does that mean… Ah, so you mean you’ll cook for us? Haha, as expected, the noble is generous.”

Wang Jeok-sam was a man who was honest with his feelings. I could see why he couldn’t stand it in Kunlun and descended the mountain.

Cainchel chuckled and nodded. If there are guests who want a dish, isn’t the chef’s greatest joy to satisfy them to the best of their ability?

“But I have one request in return.”

“W-what is it? If you wish, even serving you at night….”

“I don’t need that. You said you traveled around the Central Plains as a hunting dog. So, there are a few things I want to ask.”

Then, Wang Jeok-sam smacked his lips with a strangely regretful expression.

“Of course, I’ll do that much for you. I can do it all night.”

Among the millions of people living in the Central Plains, the possibility of Wang Jeok-sam meeting Sang-ah is close to zero.

However, if he uses the Jinyiwei’s information network, he should be able to find her without difficulty.

‘Besides, I also need to find a craftsman to melt the Thunder Axe and create a new divine weapon.’

Cainchel smiled as he looked at the man with a gentle impression who was so well-suited to the title of Dae-in.

Perhaps the meeting with Wang Jeok-sam is also a stroke of luck.

“But Kunlun Mountain was definitely very far from here, wasn’t it?”

“Well, it would take at least three months even if you ride a super-express messenger horse (擺撥馬) [fastest imperial courier]. It’s almost the end of the continent.”

“……”

“But don’t worry. That’s why you need this, right?”

Wang Jeok-sam grinned, pointing to the Gimunjin that would allow him to use Chukjibeop, a type of Taoist technique.

* * *

“First, I’ll explain how Chukjibeop works. You need to know this to go to your destination while being aware of the distortion.”

With those words, Wang Jeok-sam took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

And he took out a brush and put dots on both ends.

“Do you know the fastest way to get from one point on the paper to another?”

Cainchel nodded and folded the paper in half. Then the two points overlapped into one.

“That’s right. That’s the principle of space movement. It’s about opening a direct line from point to point. But only my master can do that. The Chukjibeop I do is….”

Wang Jeok-sam folded the paper several times.

Then the two points became a shape blocked by several layers of paper.

“When Chukjibeop is activated, the space in front of you folds up just like this. But to get to the other side, you have to pierce through the distorted reality as if you were piercing through the paper. That requires a lot of internal energy. And the paper barrier is not even ten layers thick, but the distortion wall is much thicker. The space I can fold at once is 100 li [approximately 31 miles], so I have to do it at least a thousand times.”

The explanation of breaking through the wall of Chukji continued for about 10 minutes.

The basic trick is similar to strengthening the muscles of both legs with a booster to increase the moving speed.

However, what is being strengthened is the power to tear the distortion.

“Then let’s try it out first. You can even use Bingbaek Sinjang [Ice White Divine Palm], so you’ll be able to learn it quickly.”

The moment Cainchel nodded, the Chukji formation was activated.

Ziiiiing-!

Even the space reflected on the retina was distorted, making him feel as if he was in a hot desert.

A mirage in which objects existing in completely different places are reflected by water vapor.

Just like that, the space 100 li ahead floated in front of Cainchel’s eyes.

“First, one step!”

Kooong-!

The moment Wang Jeok-sam took his foot off the ground, his figure disappeared from Cainchel’s sight.

‘Wow, that’s Chukjibeop!’

It was literally amazing.

Cainchel concentrated, feeling as if he was putting Aura into the space itself, not the muscles of his legs.

And he slowly took a step forward.