Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Sound of a Sudden Shower is Art
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The sound of a sudden shower falling was art.
Swoosh!
Geopma cleaved through the empty air at terrifying speed.
Clang!
A short sound rang out, and Geopma passed through the base of the tree.
“Fast.”
Seo Haran, who had been watching Ak Muyoo, murmured without realizing it. The speed of the sword Ak Muyoo had swung was too quick for her to follow.
Boom!
The petrified tree toppled over.
‘Whoa!’
She let out an exclamation of admiration inwardly. That petrified tree was as hard as a lump of iron, requiring at least the internal energy of sword aura to cut through.
And Ak Muyoo had sliced right through it.
“Easy.”
Ak Muyoo grinned as he cut the fallen petrified tree again, at an interval of about one and a half feet.
“Anyone would think that wasn’t stone but wood.”
Seo Haran muttered with an incredulous expression.
“That’s why I like it.”
Ak Muyoo lifted Geopma.
“Isn’t that a sacred weapon?”
Seo Haran asked.
“It’s not a sacred weapon; it’s a kitchen knife.”
Ak Muyoo brought over the sliced petrified tree, placing two pieces on either side of the bonfire and arranging the rest in a circle around it.
“That’s a chair?”
Seo Haran said.
“Yeah. Now hand over the meat.”
He laid Geopma across the petrified tree and said.
“You’re going to grill meat on that?”
Seo Haran pointed at Geopma in surprise.
“If the iron’s good, the meat tastes better too.”
“You... you’re really insane, aren’t you?”
To a martial artist, a weapon was like their own life.
It was the weapon that saved their life in the most dire moments. That was why some even treated weapons as sacred. To place such a weapon over a fire and grill meat on it...
It was beyond her common sense.
“Meat.”
“Fine, fine.”
Seo Haran went to her camel and brought a large box tied to the saddle over to the bonfire. Cold air leaked from the box, which measured four feet long, two feet wide, and three feet high.
“Is that food?”
Muk Bu-seong asked in surprise.
Up until now, the most curious thing among Seo Haran’s luggage had been that box. Sealed tight, it constantly emanated cold air. He had asked what it was, thinking it might be a specially made container for something important.
Seo Haran had replied that it held the most important thing in the world.
“I think food is the most important thing in the world.”
Seo Haran handed the box to Ak Muyoo.
Ak Muyoo took the box and set it on the chair he had just made, then opened the lid.
A wave of cold air washed over his face. Soon, the contents inside were revealed.
“You’re the insane one, not me.”
A broad smile spread across Ak Muyoo’s face.
Inside the box was half a pig, frozen solid. The fat had been trimmed off, but it was a complete half with the neck bones, ribs, and legs intact. Ak Muyoo placed the pork on top of the box lid.
“Good lord...”
“Whoa!”
The group’s mouths fell open.
“Master put it in there for me. I really like meat.”
Seo Haran said.
“How do you carry this through the desert?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“That box is like a divine artifact, just like your weapon.”
“If you freeze it and pack it in, it doesn’t melt easily, right?”
“Yeah. And if the cold weakens, you apply ice technique to the surface, and the inside chills again. But why am I explaining all this to you?”
“Anyway, you’re the best. I’ll let you use that hot spring over there for a bath.”
Ak Muyoo pointed to the spot where he had washed earlier.
“A bath?”
“That’s a hot spring. Soak in it, and all your fatigue melts away. And if you want, I’ll stand guard.”
“Really?”
Seo Haran’s eyes sparkled.
Truth be told, she hadn’t bathed properly the whole time. They had passed through Cheonji, but with so many eyes around, she had only washed her face and feet. If asked what she wanted most right now, it would be soaking in hot water without a doubt. And not just any bath, but a hot spring.
Her body was already itching in anticipation.
“Yeah. I’ve got to pay my respects to this guy first.”
“Respects?”
“It’s been ten years.”
Ak Muyoo stepped back and actually bowed toward the pork.
“You don’t mean it’s been ten years since you last ate meat, right?”
“The most I’ve eaten in the last ten years is wolf meat, then camel, then lamb.”
“Wolf meat... you mean blood wolves?”
“Yeah. I can still smell them in my mouth.”
After bowing, he went to the camel and fetched another Geopma.
“Let’s see...”
Ak Muyoo examined the pork this way and that.
“What are you doing?”
“Pork is divided into nine cuts: three rows top to bottom, three across. Top row from the left: neck butt, shoulder butt, loin. Second row: spare ribs, belly flap, tenderloin. Bottom row: foreleg, belly, hind leg. This neck butt only yields one catty per pig, and even though it’s on the neck, it’s not tough but tender. The fat’s evenly distributed, so it’s savory. And this shoulder butt is one of the tastiest parts of pork. Nice chew without too much fat, so people watching their weight love it. This loin...”
Ak Muyoo, passionately explaining each cut, looked up. The group was staring at him with mouths agape.
“What?”
“Commander, did you work in a slaughterhouse too?”
Ara asked.
“Besides killing people—no, I’ve killed plenty here, so the only thing I haven’t done is banditry. Basically, everything except banditry.”
“Your survival skills must be insane.”
Seo Haran said.
“You’re totally positive about it?”
“Why?”
“Most people click their tongues over a kid who suffered so much, or look at you with pity.”
“I’m kind of like that.”
“You’ve got salt too, right?”
“Yeah.”
Seo Haran nodded.
“Bring it.”
“Got it.”
Seo Haran went back to the camel.
Ak Muyoo separated the pork by cut.
The way he butchered it was almost an art form. It was like he was simply extracting the naturally divided sections. In an instant, the half pig was portioned into nine parts.
“Do you like the lean cuts or the fatty ones?”
He asked Seo Haran, who had brought the salt.
“Fatty ones.”
“Then eat these.”
Ak Muyoo set aside the belly, neck butt, and six ribs, putting the rest back in the box.
“Freeze these and store them.”
He said as he took the salt.
“Got it.”
Seo Haran lifted the box and circulated her energy.
Crack!
In an instant, white frost coated the surface.
“Impressive.”
The group was awed. That one move alone revealed the extent of Seo Haran’s martial prowess.
“Now thaw the meat.”
He said to Ara and Luha.
“How do we thaw it?”
Ara asked.
“About the same heat as drying clothes—use Triple Flame.”
“Got it.”
The two placed their palms on the meat and unleashed Triple Flame.
“Do we really have to thaw it?”
Seo Haran asked after setting the meat box aside.
“Thick slices grilled are the best, but if the inside’s still frozen, it won’t cook through.”
“Ah!”
Seo Haran nodded.
Soon the meat was fully thawed. Ak Muyoo picked up a piece and shook it. It bent top to bottom—proof it was thawed all the way through.
He set the meat down and sliced the neck butt first. Then he cut the belly slightly thicker than his finger. He scored the ribs. Then he laid it all out and sprinkled salt.
“Now everyone close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
The women all closed their eyes.
“You’re not closing yours?”
He asked Muk Bu-seong.
“You trying to die?”
“That’s why you don’t have a girlfriend, kid.”
“You little...!”
Muk Bu-seong glared furiously.
“If we close ours, do we get some too?”
A raspy voice came from the darkness.
“Yeah.”
Ak Muyoo answered immediately.
“...Closed.”
“Good.”
He first rubbed the heated Geopma surface evenly with a lump of fat, then laid the meat on.
Shhhhhh! Sizzle! Shhhhhh! Sizzle!
The refreshing sound of a midsummer downpour emanated from Geopma.
“This is the sound.”
Ak Muyoo grinned broadly.
“What’s with the sudden rain...”
The group, opening their eyes, was startled.
It wasn’t rain—it was the sound from the meat on Geopma.
“Good lord...”
Seo Haran’s mouth fell open.
She loved meat a lot, but she had never known it made that sound.
“My favorite sound.”
Ak Muyoo sprinkled more salt and smiled.
“I can’t eat rice without meat—how didn’t I know?”
“You probably boil it. This only happens when grilling.”
“Yeah. Anyway, the smell is amazing.”
Seo Haran sniffed eagerly.
“Now bring the liquor too.”
“How’d you know we have liquor?”
“Anyone carrying meat like this has to have booze.”
“Hohohoho!”
Seo Haran burst into laughter—the kind she only showed when truly delighted. She stood to go to her camel.
“Huh?”
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
“Why... poison?”
Her face paled.
“Poison?”
Muk Bu-seong’s face stiffened. Not just him—Ara and Luha’s faces hardened too.
The two felt strength draining from their bodies, unable to move.
“Ke ke ke!”
“Kuk kuk kuk!”
“Three women and two men—prime catch.”
With laughter, five men and one woman emerged from the darkness. Ak Muyoo eyed them calmly. The one on the far right was bald; next to him, the woman had milky white eyes. The center one was skin and bones; the fourth was a man with hair down to his waist. The last on the right wore gloves—likely the poisoner.
“De-Desert Five Villains!”
Seo Haran groaned.
“They’re the Desert Five Villains?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“Yeah.”
“What’s the bald bastard’s name?”
“Bone Powder Child Chak Hong.”
“The easy-looking bitch?”
“Transparent Demon Eye Yurisa.”
“The twig-man?”
“Death Mark Mok Ri Chal Hap.”
“The puke-inducingly ugly fuck?”
“Heavenly Blood Death Eul Mok Ju Chang. But you—how do you plan to handle them while giving them such cool nicknames?”
“Easier to remember that way. Then that creepy bright-looking son of a bitch must be Moon Demon Yahul Gob.”
“Pfft!”
Seo Haran burst out laughing.
“You filthy dog!”
Killing intent erupted from the five Desert Five Villains like an explosion.