Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: On the Ship
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"Ah… that explains it! Something felt off to me."
Wi Sowol had pieced together the White Faction's hidden acupuncture technique using the unique yin energy attraction of her Nine Yin Absolute Meridian, her sharpened instincts honed from dealing with assassins, her acute qi sense, and her unwavering vigilance.
That alone spoke volumes about how masterful the White Faction's technique truly was.
In contrast, Hwangbo Yun sensed it through the primal intuition unique to his Heavenly King Physique.
He hadn't recognized it with perfect clarity, but sensing it at all was an impressive feat of instinct.
"Hmm… so should we skip Wuchang then?"
Wuchang lay south of the Yangtze.
Even if they traveled on foot from Wuchang to Nanchang, there'd be no need to worry about crossing the river.
'In that case, we'd head to Xianning County and cross the Mukeun Nine Mountains Range.'
The Mukeun Nine Mountains Range was the collective name for the three ranges that formed the natural border between Hubei and Jiangxi Provinces: the Mufu Mountains, the Lianyun Mountains, and the Jiuling Mountains.
It lay to the south of Wuchang—or northwest from Nanchang's perspective—so crossing those three ranges would bring them almost straight to Nanchang.
'But those folks seemed genuine.'
Jin Damsun, who had simply asked for help treating the poor.
Thinking of his face made Wi Sowol's mind a bit complicated.
Logically speaking, there was no reason to take the risk; bypassing Wuchang made the most sense…
"If you're okay with it, let's stop by Wuchang."
"Ho?"
Was that a challenge?
Was she provoking him?
Hwangbo Yun felt his fighting spirit surge at Wi Sowol's words, which effectively handed him the decision.
If she knew, she'd have called it bravado, not courage.
Regardless, Hwangbo Yun was emboldened.
"Even better. Among the Hwangbo family's people, I'm probably the only one who's ever stopped in Wuchang!"
With the decision finalized, further fretting was pointless worry.
Wi Sowol set aside thoughts of what to do in Wuchang for later and focused on her original task.
Playing ship physician.
Every day, Wi Sowol came out on deck to treat patients.
Hwangbo Yun was always there with her, and a new face had joined as a spectator.
Jin Damsun.
Whenever Wi Sowol emerged for treatments, he'd follow and quietly take a seat nearby to watch.
His main job was keeping Hwangbo Yun from getting bored, but by the third day, he'd taken over that role entirely.
After all, he'd seen it yesterday, so it should be fine, right?
Wi Sowol had even skipped a day of work once.
But patients have a way of showing up when you least expect them.
And the current situation was a perfect example.
"Gonna need stitches."
The patient was the ship's cook. He'd apparently cut his hand while preparing food.
As Wi Sowol pulled out her suturing needle, Jin Damsun asked,
"Different from the ones for acupuncture?"
"This one's for suturing."
Wi Sowol deftly threaded the fine needle.
After disinfecting with liquor, she neatly closed the gash.
She considered charging extra for the liquor but settled for just the cost of materials.
She hadn't used much skill, after all.
"Keep water away from the wound. It'll get infected easily."
"Thank you. We're lucky to have a physician on board."
The cook bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
But his face wasn't entirely bright.
Jin Damsun, picking up on it, asked,
"Cook, is something else bothering you?"
"Well, I have to prepare dinner tonight…"
Moving his hand would be uncomfortable, and Wi Sowol's warning about water was a problem too.
He also worried the wound might reopen if he exerted himself.
Wi Sowol listened quietly, then scanned the deck.
Perhaps because she'd been treating patients steadily these past few days.
The passengers all looked relaxed, enjoying the cruise or tending to their own tasks.
"What were you planning to cook?"
"Pardon?"
"What dishes?"
"Uh… roast goose, Eight Treasures Congee Soup, and shaomai dumplings."
Not too difficult by Wi Sowol's standards.
Fresh ingredients might be an issue, but the cruise ship restocked whenever it stopped at riverside villages, so no worries there.
"I'll handle it. You just roast the goose. Use your other hand or get an assistant."
"Pardon?"
Wi Sowol practically dragged the stunned cook into the galley.
The ship was large, and the kitchen matched—quite impressive.
Jin Damsun followed in a daze, ignoring the White Faction's transmitted pleas to stay out as he looked around.
Wi Sowol rummaged freely, pulling out ingredients and setting them on the counter.
The two men just stared, dumbfounded by her natural ease.
Wi Sowol turned to the cook, still out of it.
"Roast the goose."
"Ah! Yes, ma'am!"
As the cook got to work, Jin Damsun watched Wi Sowol expectantly, hoping for a task.
But her response was curt.
"What are you doing there? You're in the way. Out."
"No… is there nothing I can help with?"
"Really?"
She could handle it alone.
Besides, Jin Damsun looked like a pampered young master who probably couldn't cook.
Still, turning away someone so eager felt a bit harsh.
He was from the Paeguk Sect, but his manners were so refined—like a true noble heir—that being curt felt awkward.
'This is weird.'
Not Jin Damsun—he was fine.
It was Wi Sowol's own thinking that was off.
She wasn't one bound by societal norms or conventions.
She'd started a new life, met people like the Weird Physician, and undergone some socialization, but that didn't change her core.
After some reflection, she concluded it was just his impeccable etiquette making her overthink.
"…Got any dexterity?"
Have him make dumplings.
With Jin Damsun's role decided, Wi Sowol got serious about cooking.
"Ooh… incredible…!"
The cook tasted Wi Sowol’s dish and teared up, deeply moved.
He'd thought the evening was ruined, but not only had she treated his wound—she'd saved dinner too.
Honestly, he'd wondered how good a physician who'd passed the imperial exams could cook.
Now he regretted that doubt.
It was delicious.
Maybe even better than his own.
To him, it was amazing, grateful, and wondrous.
The shaomai was one thing.
Thin dough wrapped around meat filling, shaped like lotus leaves and steamed—that was shaomai, a staple across the Central Plains beyond just dumplings.
No matter what, it's hard to make dumplings taste bad.
But Eight Treasures Congee Soup was different.
It required meticulous prep: boiling, braising, steaming ingredients separately, then combining them.
Pour in lamb broth, add strained huangjiu liquor, skim all foam.
Thicken with starch slurry while stirring to prevent sticking.
Finish with a splash of huangjiu over low heat.
Complex prep and precise cooking made it a banquet staple for good reason.
In that regard, Wi Sowol's version was slightly imperfect.
Hers was clearer than traditional.
A starch mistake?
The cook didn't think so.
This physician-chef wouldn't slip up like that.
"From Shaanxi, by any chance?"
"Right. Gansu through Shaanxi."
"Indeed. Shaanxi's Eight Treasures Soup is boiled clear like broth."
The two soups were similar but differed slightly in technique.
"Thanks to you, the passengers will enjoy a taste of far-off delicacies tonight."
The cook's pleased smile faded at the pile of shaomai beside him.
"But these shaomai…"
"Ahem!"
Some looked like perfect lotuses; others like lumpy dough balls.
The shapes varied wildly.
"First time…"
Jin Damsun said apologetically.
The cook couldn't snap at his helpers and just smiled awkwardly, shaking his head.
"N-no, these are fine for us crew."
"Sorry…"
Jin Damsun hung his head in despair.
Then the White Faction's transmission pierced his ear.
[How can you bow your head, young master? It's all that dim-witted cook's fault…]
Unable to transmit back, Jin Damsun subtly shook his head.
He'd volunteered despite being told to leave.
The White Faction's heart twisted in shared misery.
But another thought crept in.
'They say good dumplings mean pretty kids…'
She can cook a bit too.
Not a proper wife, but maybe a concubine…
As the White Faction indulged in unprompted, unwanted delusions,
Wi Sowol eyed the leftover ingredients and got back to work.
"I can clean up…"
"Nah. Making snacks. This okay?"
Asking permission after starting—pure audacity.
But the cook couldn't refuse or even wanted to.
He even pulled out his secret stash.
Sugar.
"Frying dough twists? Coat 'em in this."
Sugar was surprisingly common then.
Commoners even sweetened their tea.
Candy shops like Fragrant Sugar Shops showed its popularity.
But that was brown and yellow sugar; white refined sugar was for the elite.
"Good stuff."
"Use it all."
Precious as it was, the cook didn't care now.
Wi Sowol twisted the leftover dough and fried it.
Mahua, the twisted pastry eaten by northern Hui people.
"Mahua, huh."
The well-traveled cook recognized it instantly.
Improper dough meant it'd be tough, but mahua aimed for that crisp crunch anyway.
After frying, Wi Sowol dusted them with sugar and offered the first to Jin Damsun.
"Here. Eat."
"For me?"
"Yeah. You helped."
Results aside.
Jin Damsun took it with trembling hands.
"I'll dig in."
"Go ahead."
Crunch!
It was hard, but Jin Damsun liked the texture.
The sweet sugar and nutty dough flavor spread in his mouth.
Plain compared to his usual treats, but to him, this mahua from Wi Sowol was the best.
"Really delicious."
"Good. Plenty more if you want. Though soon…"
Bam!
Wi Sowol couldn't finish.
Her words became reality.
"What?! Eating goodies without me? Forgotten the grace of the Hwangbo?!"
Outrageous!
Unforgivable!
If you seek my forgiveness, hand over those pastries!
Seeing the raiding Hwangbo Yun, Wi Sowol chuckled and finished her sentence.
"…that guy's gonna devour them all."
Time passed, and the ship finally reached Wuchang.
True to its prosperity, grand buildings rose along the riverbank.
One pavilion stood out especially.
Announcing its history as the old Sun Wu capital, the towering Yellow Crane Tower drew the eye, welcoming all to Wuchang first.
"That's the Yellow Crane Tower~"
Even knowing the land hosted the Paeguk Sect, rival to the Hwangbo family's might,
the Orthodox noble's young master commented casually.
His vessel was vast indeed.
In more ways than one.
"Yes, that's it. Climb it later if time allows. I'll guide you."
"Ooh, Brother Damsun. Looking forward to it!"
Wi Sowol, a step behind, ignored the two bonding as usual and walked past.
And so, they arrived in Wuchang.