Hwasun’s hands trembled with fear.

“If it doesn’t taste good, your life is as good as over!”

The words of the martial artist who had brought her here kept echoing in her ears.

When she was first dragged to Pungsu Mountain Villa, she never dreamed the atmosphere would be this harsh. For people who run businesses, coming when called and leaving when told is life itself, but to think it would be this brutal...

And those words were not just an empty threat.

“Be careful. Two people have already died in this kitchen today.”

Sibi quietly told her this while delivering ingredients. Sibi was friendly with Hwasun and would occasionally stop by the inn to buy noodles or dumplings during shopping trips. She always gave extra portions, urging her to eat more.

“A terrifying master came to the villa. His taste is very picky, so he cut out the tongue of the villa’s cook and killed him. The cook dragged here later from Bukhwa Village died even more horribly. What should we do?”

Sibi’s frightened pacing felt strangely distant, like someone else’s problem.

Hwasun kept making mistakes while cooking—adding the wrong seasonings, dropping bowls because her hands shook.

She knew how skilled the cook from Bukhwa Village was. If his skills hadn’t worked, hers wouldn’t either. Had they really killed him?

What if she herself were to die?

Her chest tightened as her son’s face came to mind. She missed him terribly. It was about time he came.

Just then—

“Mother!”

Startled, she turned to see her son standing at the kitchen entrance.

“Hyun-ah! Is that you? Hyun-ah!”

She was so shocked that it seemed she might collapse.

Samho ran over and embraced his mother.

“Mother!”

“Hyun-ah!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, she couldn’t speak as she held her son.

But soon she lowered her voice and said,

“Why did you come here? Go now! Go to the inn and wait!”

“Mother, why are you like this?”

“Go now! I’ll tell you later, so just go.”

Hwasun only thought about sending her son away no matter what.

Unlike her urgency, Samho calmly held her hand.

“You’ve lost so much weight.”

In the last three years, his mother had aged greatly. It showed how much hardship she had endured.

As he held her hand, tears flowed down Hwasun’s cheeks. Despite her fear, she was overwhelmed with joy at seeing her son. Tears kept falling.

Seeing his mother cry, Samho also shed tears.

“I’m sorry I haven’t visited often.”

“No, you must be tired from working. It’s okay, it’s okay. Now that you’ve greeted me, go wait.”

Her heart was anxious. If she stayed here and was seen by the villa people, it would be a disaster.

“Go! Mom will cook for you later.”

Hwasun tried to push her son away forcefully. Seeing his face once was enough.

She knew he had joined the demon sect but didn’t know what kind of work he was doing. She guessed he was struggling to settle in.

Then others entered the kitchen—Geom Mugeuk and the daytime escort comrades.

Hwasun was startled, thinking the villa’s martial artists had come.

“My son just came by briefly. He’ll leave soon.”

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and greeted her politely.

“Nice to meet you, mother.”

Surprised, Hwasun was introduced by Samho.

“He is the one I serve.”

Caught off guard, Hwasun tried to bow to Geom Mugeuk, but he quickly stopped her and took her hand.

“My name is Mugeuk. Please treat me like a son.”

At that moment, her heart, which had felt like a war zone, calmed down.

It was probably because of his gaze. Although she had seen countless people in business, she had never seen such clear eyes.

She felt comfort and relief. With such eyes, she was confident she could entrust her son safely.

“You are a precious guest.”

Unaware of Geom Mugeuk’s identity, she thought he was a nobleman her son served.

“Please take good care of my son.”

“Thanks to your son, I am doing well. You have a wonderful son.”

“That’s because the nobleman takes good care of him. Thank you.”

Then Samho introduced the other comrades.

“These are my companions.”

This time Jeokyeon and the escort martial artists greeted her.

Jeokyeon spoke on behalf of the group.

“Hyun is very skilled; we get a lot of help from him.”

“Please take good care of my son.”

She felt regret. If only they had met in better circumstances. She would have cooked for them and served delicious food. This was the first time her son brought comrades.

‘I must send them off quickly.’

She worried that being discovered with so many people might worsen the situation. Not only was her son at risk, but the precious sons of others would be endangered.

They were all so young. The villa had dozens of martial artists, and a terrifying master had come, they said.

“You, go quickly with the nobleman to the inn. There’s food prepared in the kitchen; take good care of him. Go! Hurry!”

Then a man’s voice was heard outside.

“Is the cooking done? I clearly said—If it tastes bad, your life is...!”

The martial artist who entered the kitchen flinched.

Inside, men were lined up on both sides staring at him.

“Who—who are you guys?”

The man tried to draw his sword but couldn’t move his arm. His blood energy was already suppressed.

‘When did that happen?’

Geom Mugeuk approached him and casually put a hand on his shoulder.

“If the cooking is bad, you should die? Why?”

Though friendly in tone, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes were ice cold.

“Th-that’s...”

“No. You’ll know when you meet in person.”

Geom Mugeuk turned to Hwasun.

“Mother, is the cooking ready?”

“But it’s cooled down, so I think it needs reheating.”

“No problem. I have a knack for reheating. Today, I’ll make it very hot.”

Geom Mugeuk took the food she prepared onto a tray.

Then he ordered the escorts.

“Today your mission is to guard this mother. Protect her as if she were your own parent.”

Samho and the escorts formed a proper formation around Hwasun—six people to one.

Geom Mugeuk kicked the martial artist whose blood energy had been suppressed.

“Let’s go.”

The martial artist’s blood energy was released. Terrified of Geom Mugeuk’s astonishing martial power, he led the way.

‘As long as we go somewhere crowded!’

The martial artist led, with Geom Mugeuk carrying the tray behind.

Six escort martial artists walked surrounding Hwasun.

Though still uneasy, Hwasun felt reassured by her son’s steady expression at her side. She didn’t understand the situation, but seeing her son like this brought her great comfort. She prayed repeatedly that today’s events would end safely.

The villa’s spacious front yard was full of martial artists.

The lead martial artist glanced at them and signaled.

‘What are you waiting for? Come quickly and subdue these guys!’

But an astonishing thing happened. Passing martial artists, those running toward them, all froze like statues.

Their blood and aura were suppressed.

The lead martial artist was horrified.

‘Subdue them while carrying trays? How?’

It was as if poison spread in the air. The moment they met Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, their blood and aura were suppressed. No one was exempt—high or low level, expert or novice.

“Ah!”

Jeokyeon and the escort martial artists gasped at the incredible sight. They had heard rumors that the deputy sect leader’s martial arts surpassed Majons, but had no idea it was this amazing.

They entered the building and headed for the villa owner’s quarters.

The martial artists guarding the door stopped instantly. One opened his mouth to ask “Who are you?” but froze with his mouth hanging open. Another squinted then stopped, making a strange expression.

Inside, two people were talking.

On the main seat sat Bloodhand Sword. Known for countless atrocities, he was already listed as a martial world criminal.

Opposite him sat Lee Eom, the villa owner.

“You’re making excessive demands.”

“Not only the Honam First Escort Bureau, but all the escorters in the central plains will see me as an enemy. Shouldn’t I get a bigger share?”

“Didn’t we agree to split it three ways?”

“On second thought, that’s unfair. You and that guy sit in your rooms and each take a third, don’t you?”

“I provided the information for this job.”

“Then reduce his share.”

“You say that knowing who he is?”

“Do I not know who I am dealing with?”

Lee Eom sighed inwardly. This was why he shouldn’t have allied with these scoundrels.

Though he strongly opposed it, the other’s stubbornness led to this result. Maybe he expected it—he wouldn’t lose his share anyway and left the mess to be handled.

Then the door opened and Geom Mugeuk entered.

Since Geom Mugeuk showed no hostile intent, they thought he was just a servant bringing food.

Geom Mugeuk placed the food on the table.

Bloodhand Sword said,

“Wait here.”

He took a bite and spat it onto the floor.

Lee Eom frowned. The cruel killing of two cooks wasn’t because of bad food, but a pressure tactic—to intimidate him. If things went wrong, he might be killed like that too. Pay up more.

Though Bloodhand Sword’s martial skill was higher, Lee Eom had no choice but to endure this humiliation. Still, he dared not act recklessly because of that man.

He wouldn’t give in though. If he did, he would lose everything despite risking so much. After all, he was the one who discovered this rare escort job that only happened once every few years.

“Who made this?”

“The cook, Madam Hwa.”

“Where is she now?”

“Outside the door.”

“Bring her in immediately!”

“Why?”

“Because she made such bad food, we need to cut out her tongue. What good is a useless tongue?”

Geom Mugeuk turned toward the door, and at that moment it opened.

Hwasun stood in the corridor, flanked by three guards on each side. Jeokyeon and Samho led the front.

Bloodhand Sword thought they were villa martial artists.

He glared at Lee Eom.

“What is this nonsense?”

Lee Eom was confused. He hadn’t ordered protection for that woman. Besides, they clearly weren’t his people.

Then Lee Eom noticed the emblem on Jeokyeon’s chest.

‘That emblem? No way...’

Lee Eom tensed up. There was only one organization in the martial world that used the demon symbol, and ordinary demons couldn’t use it—only elites.

‘Did that man send them? But why protect that woman?’

Lee Eom’s mind was in chaos.

What shocked him was yet to come.

Geom Mugeuk took fresh chopsticks and ate the food.

“It’s delicious. Seems your tongue is the problem.”

Bloodhand Sword laughed bitterly. No one suddenly goes mad, so he thought this was also Lee Eom’s doing.

“What are you doing?”

Bloodhand Sword shouted angrily at Lee Eom.

Lee Eom silently watched Geom Mugeuk, cautious.

Geom Mugeuk coldly said to Bloodhand Sword,

“Eat again.”

“You crazy bastard!”

Just as Bloodhand Sword tried to strike Geom Mugeuk, the latter unleashed his true demonic energy, crushing Lee Eom with immense pressure.

‘Ugh!’

Bloodhand Sword couldn’t move a finger.

‘What is this? Ugh!’

This overwhelming demonic pressure was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. The crushing weight felt like Mount Tai pressing on his lungs. He feared suffocation. Could a martial artist die from just spiritual pressure? It seemed impossible, yet it was happening now.

Though he’d lived fearless all his life, at this moment he felt the terror of death. Even facing demons, he had never felt this way. Now he couldn’t even dare to meet this young man’s gaze.

Then the pressure slightly eased.

“Eat again.”

Unable to refuse, Bloodhand Sword ate the food.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Why tell me? You should tell the cook.”

Bloodhand Sword turned to look at Hwasun.

“It was delicious.”

Geom Mugeuk said,

“Again!”

This time politely,

“It was delicious, Madam Hwa.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and told Hwasun,

“He said it was delicious.”

Hwasun nodded tremblingly.

“Please wait a moment. I will speak with these people briefly and then leave.”

The door closed and the guards took Hwasun to the end of the corridor.

Just as the door shut—

Kwak!

Geom Mugeuk stabbed the chopsticks he was holding into Bloodhand Sword’s forehead.

Bloodhand Sword collapsed face-first onto the table, dead.

Lee Eom was so shocked he thought his heart would burst out of his chest. He never imagined Bloodhand Sword could be killed in one move, or maybe at all. Geom Mugeuk didn’t even look at him before delivering the fatal chopstick strike.

Bloodhand Sword had survived countless atrocities, but dying silently by chopsticks was a shock.

“You said to split the stolen goods three ways?”

“I give up everything! Take even my share!”

“Who is the last person?”

Lee Eom asked with a trembling voice.

“Isn’t he the one who sent this? Trying to take it all?”

“Who is he?”

Lee Eom hesitated, and Geom Mugeuk picked up the remaining chopsticks. There was no need to poke cheeks or foreheads to intimidate anymore.

Seeing them vanish from Bloodhand Sword’s forehead, even chopsticks couldn’t endure.

“She is the branch leader!”

Now Geom Mugeuk understood why they had mistaken who sent him.

“She is Ye So-kwang, the Honam Branch Leader of Cheonma Sin Gyo!”