The rice was so good that I ate seriously.

Deok-soo hyung’s seasoning was sometimes intense enough to forget your worries, but the cook here was more composed with the seasoning. Maybe it was because there were so many side dishes and dishes served.

New dishes kept coming out over half a shichen. The food was so delicious, I thought this might be the reason they became one of the Great Clans.

On the other hand, I thought that if someone ate food like this every day, it’d be hard to adjust to food outside. Not all food out there tastes like this. Then again, the ones enjoying it right now–are they the sons and daughters of the Wi Clan, or just the three of us?

Probably us.

Because it was such a rare and luxurious feast, I overate.

I didn’t even know the names of the dishes, but the cuts were always clean, the slices thread-thin and evenly matched.

Stir-fried, grilled, fried, steamed, pan-fried, and boiled dishes came out in turn.

The meats included pork, fish, chicken, duck, beef, and lamb. There were even fruits I’d never seen before.

I could tell this was a special meal meant for honored guests. It seemed like the Wi Clan had a tradition of treating martial artists well.

Toward the end of the meal, Wi So-seon, who had been eating with us, asked me,

“Lord of the Sect, may I ask some questions about martial arts?”

“Go ahead.”

I had no idea what she’d ask. Coincidentally–or not–plum tea was served at the end. I spoke to the servant who brought it.

“…Tell the cook the meal was excellent.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tell them it was Yi Zaha, Lord of Haomun, who said that.”

When I suddenly introduced myself, the servant replied with a surprised expression.

“Ah, yes, Lord of the Sect. I’ll pass that along to the kitchen.”

Only then did I pick up the teacup.

“Plum tea, huh? How delightful.”