Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 306

Dokgocheon adjusted his stance, noticing the sudden change in his opponent’s demeanor.

The swords on the Seokmok In’s back suddenly split into multiple pieces and began to move.

“Sword control, huh? So you had a hidden card up your sleeve as well. But don’t think you’ve completely deciphered the Dark Demonic Divine Art just because you blocked a few moves.”

He said that, but the composure had vanished from Dokgocheon’s face.

Before him stood a master whose skills ranked within the top hundred of the vast Gangho Murim [a world of martial arts experts].

Rather than rashly approaching his opponent, Dokgocheon used his lightness skill [a technique for moving swiftly] to create distance and shouted.

“And to set up such an obvious trap. Do you take my eyes for knot-holes?”

His eyes were now completely black, making him look like a demon.

The inner energy gained from training in the Dark Demonic Divine Art not only increased his strength but also enhanced his other abilities.

It was enough for him to notice the existence of the ultra-fine threads that Cainchel had laid out.

“It’s like melting sword energy and turning it into thread. But this is not enough to stop my movements!”

His speech mixed informal and formal tones, revealing the instability of Dokgocheon’s mental state.

Dark Phoenix Wing Palm.

Once again, black wing-shaped energy erupted from Dokgocheon’s hands.

Kwakwakwakwang-!

It devoured the surrounding light and even pulverized the maze walls.

Cainchel smacked his lips and retrieved the ultra-fine threads he had laid out.

The aura emanating from Dokgocheon’s body was equal to or greater than Loengrin’s.

It seemed like he could even fight a fully grown dragon.

“Tch, he’s like a combination of Morgana and Elizabeth.”

What made such an absurd feat possible was the immense aura, almost infinite.

‘Is this the power of the spirit pill? The more I see it, the more I want it.’

Cainchel channeled his aura to the limit in all his muscles. Only then could he barely keep up with Dokgocheon’s movements.

Dokgocheon’s eyes flashed with surprise as Cainchel’s speed suddenly increased several times.

Woooowoong…

At the same time, Durendal split into seven, and even Pragarakh, transformed into a meteor, was fired.

All of those attacks were accelerated several times by the Double Booster.

It was Cainchel’s strongest strike, created by squeezing out every last bit of his aura.

“What?!”

However, Dokgocheon was a man who had defeated many powerful figures and earned the title of Dark Demonic Emperor. His shock was only momentary.

Dokgocheon realized that the current attack was Cainchel’s full power. If he could block this, the battle would turn in his favor.

“It’s too late to dodge, then… !”

Dokgocheon stomped his foot, and black smoke enveloped his body.

It was the Dark Bulletproof Energy, turning all of his inner energy to defense.

Its defensive power could easily block even the Arhat Eighteen Fists of the Shaolin Temple’s Abbot [a powerful martial arts technique].

Added to that was a body trained with the Tendon Change Classic and Marrow Washing Classic [advanced body conditioning methods]. Thus, an ultimate defense, like an indestructible diamond, was completed, sacrificing all attacks.

At the same time, a storm of swords, perhaps dozens or even hundreds in a single breath, crashed down on Dokgocheon.

The Dark Bulletproof Energy writhed like a living creature, tearing at Cainchel’s attacks.

However, it was not enough to block a total of fourteen sword strikes.

Kwajik-!

The Dark Bulletproof Energy, which seemed unbreakable, cracked and shattered.

Dokgocheon’s eyes were filled with shock, but only for a moment.

He realized that Cainchel had exhausted all of his inner energy and smirked.

“It’s a powerful martial art, but the inner energy to support it is lacking. But that’s also part of skill. Haha! It was fun being able to fight with all my strength for the first time in a while. Now, let’s end this.”

It was an arrogant statement, confident that there was not even a sliver of a chance he could lose.

In a way, it was natural. He wouldn’t be able to block the Dark Great Extinction with all his inner energy used up.

Dokgocheon leaped forward, not even waiting for the dust cloud created by the sword storm to clear.

“Dark Great Extinction…”

But all that was there was the half-collapsed outer wall of the Kunlun Sect.

“…Huh? He’s gone? What is going on?!”

The Seokmok In, who had been wielding his sword until just now, had vanished from his sight.

“Could it be… that he didn’t use up all his inner energy with that last strike, but…”

At that moment, the space in front of him rippled, and Cainchel appeared with a large pot in front of him.

“Checkmate… or, in the style of the Central Plains [ancient China], I guess it’s called ‘Janggun’ [Korean for ‘check’].”

“Y-you… ! What kind of sorcery did you use!”

Dokgocheon distorted his lips and unleashed the Dark Phoenix Wing Palm at Cainchel.

But once again, only the innocent wall was smashed to pieces.

Cainchel shrugged and put the chorizo potato stew, preserved in sous-vide [a cooking technique where food is sealed in airtight bags and cooked in a water bath], into the pot. Then, he began to heat it using the flames of flambé [a cooking procedure in which alcohol is added to a hot pan to create a burst of flames].

Leaving it to Pragarakh, the ladle, to stir well and bring the stew to its best condition.

“That’s only natural. Did you think I wouldn’t create an escape route when fighting an opponent whose strength I don’t even know?”

“Kkeueuk! Not only did you dare to insult Lady Daji [a mythical fox spirit], but now you even dare to humiliate me! How dare you not come here!”

Cainchel shrugged in response. No matter how strong Dokgocheon was, this was Daedalus’s Labyrinth.

He could freely move within it and even trap opponents in arbitrary spaces.

This was a place where everything was done according to the will of its creator, Maia.

“Kkeueueueuk… !”

As the saying goes, a man blinded by love knows no bounds. Dokgocheon, like the other fools, eventually lost his reason and charged at Cainchel.

At the same time, the Dark Phoenix Wing Palm, imbued with inner energy far more powerful than before, exploded.

Kwaaaaaaaaang-!

Even though it struck empty air, its destructive power rivaled the roar of a dragon.

The shockwave alone was tearing everything on the surface to shreds.

It felt as if the space was being split in two in an instant.

But that attack also did not reach Cainchel.

He was visible but not there. It was like a mirage commonly seen in the Ottoman Empire [a historical empire spanning parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa].

‘Except that I can freely control it.’

Of course, Daedalus’s Labyrinth was not invincible.

It was merely connecting and misaligning spaces.

It was like tearing off a piece of bread and dipping it in soup; it didn’t increase the amount.

But Dokgocheon, who had already lost his reason, couldn’t think that far.

In the end, Cainchel was able to heat the stew with plenty of time to spare.

Then, an incredibly fragrant smell began to waft out.

“…What is this fragrant smell? It tempts me so much.”
The aroma of the stew, made with various vegetables, gorgon meat, and various spices, was stimulating his appetite.

He had eaten countless delicacies as the young master of the Demonic Cult. But what was this dish that made his heart flutter?

At that moment, Dokgocheon’s lost reason returned.

“Ku, cough… ! What am I even doing here…”

As the situation progressed as he wanted, Cainchel quietly clenched his fist.

‘Good! He can’t completely break free from the Gumiho’s charm until he eats the stew. In other words, he’s only half sane right now. This creates the perfect negotiation table.’

Cainchel replied with a face so calm that it was hard to believe he had just been fighting.

“Do you remember now? Dark Demonic Emperor Dokgocheon was charmed by the Gumiho who had transformed into a princess and became a slave obeying her orders.”

“…?!”

Dokgocheon’s pupils began to tremble in confusion. His dazed mind cleared, and he remembered everything that had happened until just now.

“Damn it! What? That vixen-like princess dared to… !”

“Isn’t that why you’re empowering the Anti-Heavenly Alliance to deal with her?”

“…That’s right.”

Then, Dokgocheon’s eyes coldly sank. Having experienced it firsthand, he realized how terrifying the Gumiho’s charm was.

Cainchel licked his lips and continued the story as smoothly as flowing water.

“I am also a collaborator of the Anti-Heavenly Alliance. To liberate the imperial palace, which is being controlled by the princess. To do that, I need Dokgocheon’s power.”

“…The Anti-Heavenly Alliance. Yes, I remember. That monk is a bit displeasing, but if Gangho Murim is destroyed, the place I will rule will also disappear. That’s why I decided to cooperate. Don’t misunderstand, Seokmok In… What should I call you, by the way?”

“Cainchel van Jistad.”

“Ah, yes, Cainchel. Thanks to you, I was able to come to my senses. I will express my gratitude. If you ever come to the Demonic Cult, I will treat you with the utmost hospitality.”

“I’m sorry, but there is still a problem to be solved. Dokgocheon’s sanity is only temporary. You will soon return to being charmed by the Gumiho.”

“What, what?!”

Cainchel tilted the pot, showing the bubbling chorizo potato stew.

“But if you eat this, you will be able to completely break free from the curse.”

“Hahaha. That’s welcome news. I was getting hungry anyway. Then, I’ll have a bowl of that soup dish.”

“Of course. But only if you give me a suitable price.”

“Euhaha! Who do you think I am? I am Dark Demonic Emperor Dokgocheon! The young master of the Demonic Cult! I can bring you chests of gold coins.”

“I’m sorry, but this contains a lot of precious spirit pills. It’s not something you can buy for a thousand gold.”

Then, Dokgocheon twisted his body as if he was anxious.

If smelling it had this much effect, then eating a plate full of it would surely break him free from the charm completely.

He didn’t know how it was made, but it was a spirit pill that could break free from the princess’s sorcery that had swallowed the entire imperial family.

He fully understood the statement that it couldn’t be bought for a thousand gold.

“…Then I’ll give you a thousand-year-old snow ginseng. How about that? If you take it properly, you can gain inner energy equivalent to sixty years. I don’t know what’s in that soup dish, but I think it’s of equal value.”

“Hmm.”

Cainchel crossed his arms and closed his eyes as if he was lost in thought.

Then, Dokgocheon’s lips twitched. How dare he try to bargain with the young master of the Demonic Cult. But it was none other than himself who was hungry right now.

“Damn it. Fine. I’ll give you a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu as well. Damn it, it’s a treasure that there are only a few left in the Demonic Cult…”

Got him!

Cainchel had to pinch his thigh to keep the laughter from leaking out between his tightly closed lips.

According to Maia, the best spirit pills from the Central Plains are those that are ten thousand years old. They contain an enormous amount of mana comparable to a dragon heart.

But saying ten thousand years is one thing; finding a spirit pill that old would be faster to look through history books.

Most of them caused a bloodbath throughout Gangho Murim upon their appearance.

That meant that a thousand-year-old snow ginseng or He Shou Wu were the highest-grade spirit pills that the Demonic Cult currently possessed.

‘Of course, they might have one ten-thousand-year-old spirit pill, but asking for that would be too shameless, right?’

In the first place, the only spirit pill in the stew was gorgon meat.

Well, that’s still a spirit pill.

“So, when are you going to pay for the food?”

Dokgocheon received the stew full of chorizo potatoes and gritted his teeth.

“Do you think I’m a bum who eats and runs? Don’t worry. I will definitely pay the price for this spirit pill. But if I don’t completely break free from Daji’s charm after eating this, be prepared.”

Cainchel nodded, and Dokgocheon grabbed a wooden spoon.

Spirit pill or not, he wanted to eat this soup dish in front of him right now.

How could it smell so fragrant?

Dokgocheon avoided the large amount of onions and first scooped up only the broth and meat and brought it to his mouth.

Sluuurp-

“T-this is… !?”

“Hmm? Is there a problem?”

“…What is this umami [a savory taste] of the meat that doesn’t lose its presence while condensing the scent of countless vegetables?! And the moment you chew, the popping texture and the juice it contains burst in your mouth… Hey, Cainchel! How on earth can you make such delicious food!”

Moreover, the greatness of the chorizo potato stew did not end there.