Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Rest
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Whoosh.
I hurried over to my master's side. Filled with both apology and gratitude, I quickly bowed.
"Master, I should have come to see you first... I'm sorry. Did you sleep well through the night?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You look well too."
At first glance, Master appeared straight and sturdy as bamboo.
But the more we spoke, the more his flexibility—uncharacteristic of someone from this era—shone through.
Just like the butterflies leisurely drifting in the wind within the White Tiger Butterfly Diagram painted in every corner of the room.
'He seems like a butterfly riding the breeze normally, but turns into a white tiger before enemies...'
I found Master's dual nature fascinating.
He was endlessly affectionate to his granddaughter and me, yet utterly merciless—a iron-blooded expert—when facing bandit hordes.
'I need to work hard...'
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
I had imagined the fates of the past nine candidate disciples.
"Disciple, you must have depleted a lot of energy with the Hundred Pulse Purification Ritual yesterday, so rest well until tomorrow."
I had asked for his permission earlier.
To train in martial arts for three days, then run my street stall for seven.
Fortunately, Master had readily agreed.
Though it varies by person, right after the ritual, intense inner energy clashes and purification effects require absolute rest for at least three days, up to seven.
"Master, after a good sleep, my body feels lighter instead. Overflowing with energy more than usual."
I felt guilty leaving Master's house after just lying around doing nothing.
To show I was fine, I swung both arms around vigorously.
"Haha, next visit will bring grueling martial training, so rest while you can."
Master firmly ordered me to rest.
"Yes, Master."
He, who had been standing with hands behind his back, slowly raised one arm.
Then, the handsome man Hui cautiously opened the door and entered.
In his hands was a bronze tray, neatly arranged with soft lotus root porridge made from lotus roots and glutinous rice, along with simple side dishes.
"Your vital energy isn't stable yet, so I prepared simple, soft food with little salt for you, young hero."
Just moments ago, when we were alone, Hui had spoken casually to me.
But before Master, he used honorifics and treated me politely.
'Looks like I've really gotten under his skin.'
Come to think of it, I called him 'great hero,' but he insisted on 'young hero' for me.
Strictly speaking, as the direct disciple of the successor, I held the higher position.
But I didn't mind such things much.
Instead, after prolonged fasting, the fact that he personally brought food made him seem like a noble sage.
"Oh, thank you, great hero. I'll dig in."
Not liking my response, Hui's eyebrows twitched like a trampled earthworm as he handed over the tray.
Regardless, I just habitually curled up the corners of my mouth toward him.
As Master left the parlor, he said to me,
"Disciple, eat slowly then."
"Thank you, Master."
I clasped my hands in a fist-palm salute toward him as he stepped outside.
Hui shot me a sharp glance before silently following Master.
Bam.
As soon as the door closed, I strode to the table with the lotus root porridge and sides.
"A subtle, soft earthy aroma. The scent isn't bad at least."
I sat in the chair and leaned in close with my nose.
"Miyaaa—"
At the various noises, Maban woke from under the bed.
The little guy yawned wide, stretched his front paws forward, and arched his back.
Then, with a sleepy face, he slowly waddled toward the window.
"Someone must have fed Maban."
There was a bowl by the window, containing a chunk of fish.
"Whoever it was, thanks. If I get the chance, I'll prepare a proper feast."
I picked up the spoon.
Then scooped up a full ladle of the steaming white lotus root porridge.
Brought it straight to my mouth.
"Oh? Creative taste."
...It had no flavor.
Horribly so.
Among the bizarre foods I'd tasted in the Central Plains, it ranked in the top five.
"I don't know who's in charge of the kitchen here... but this is beyond serious—it's despairing."
Usually, food that looks good tastes good, but this was like visual cuisine for the taste-blind.
What could I do?
Thinking of the sincerity, I swallowed tears and forced down bite after bite.
"How did they manage to make lotus root porridge taste like deflated army stew...?"
Whoever made it, their cooking hands must be cursed.
"...Suddenly, I feel sorry for Ryeongwol."
Wasn't she a growing child with an illness?
The image of Ryeongwol devouring samgyetang like a possessed demon flashed in my mind.
"So that's why. That explains it..."
Considering eating the porridge as part of my training, I silently kept spooning it while...
My eyes caught the full-length mirror in the distance.
"Huh?"
I set down the spoon and slowly walked to the mirror.
"What's this?"
Standing before the mirror, I tilted my head, then shrugged off my training robes.
My naked reflection stared back.
"...My body's subtly different?"
It wasn't a drastic change.
But there were subtle differences.
First, my posture seemed corrected—spine straighter, making me look slightly taller. Shoulders, hunched from shaking the wok by the fire, were now broadly squared.
Pectorals had a subtle volume, and my abs were more defined.
"Not huge changes, but definitely different."
Changes so minor you'd miss them without close inspection, but no one knew my body better than me.
The most noticeable was my skin.
"Oh, my whole skin's glowing?"
Still young, I had few wrinkles or blemishes.
But constant time by the fire had tanned and darkened it.
After the Hundred Pulse Purification, it gleamed as if I'd visited a skin clinic.
Bang, thud—!
"Whoa, startled me."
Maban, treating the room's furniture like a playground, knocked over a small shelf.
The domino effect toppled a large ebony shelf too.
I approached the ebony shelf first.
It reached my waist and looked to weigh at least 100 jin (60kg).
"Good job, real good. Why not more?"
Tsking at the culprit Maban, I gripped the corner of the fallen shelf.
And...
"Huh?"
I lifted it more easily than before.
Not just appearance had changed.
Disbelieving, I tried lifting other heavy objects around.
"...My strength really increased."
Shock passed, and I nodded in satisfaction.
"That's why prestigious clans do the Hundred Pulse Purification young."
It wasn't just waste removal—it optimized the body for martial arts training.
I returned the scattered items.
Then sat back at the table to finish the lotus root porridge.
"Phew, finished it. But not enough..."
Setting aside the meager meal, I lay on the bed.
Remembering Master's words to rest fully.
I stared at the ants crawling across the ceiling, lost in thought.
'Come to think of it, a status window popped up when I fainted. Said martial arts training possible... golden vermilion bird diagram flying around... hmm.'
I hesitated to open the status window now.
But recalling warnings of severe side effects from martial arts with an unrecovered body, I held off.
'Check later.'
Lazing about.
With nothing to do, I tossed and turned.
I blankly watched the ants diligently carrying crumbs across the ceiling.
'Even they live so busily.'
One who's tasted meat knows how to eat it—as someone who'd worked lifelong, this rest felt like torture.
"Agh, body aches too much. Martial arts is too much, but cooking should be fine."
Finally, I sprang from the bed and headed straight to Master's inner quarters.
Entering, Master gave a displeased look and said,
"Disciple, didn't I tell you to rest?"
I was momentarily speechless, then carefully offered an excuse to persuade him.
"Master, tomorrow evening I return home. So before that, I want to prepare food Ryeongwol can eat for a long time."
Tied here anyway, I planned medicinal cuisine for Ryeongwol.
Far better than staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Haha. My disciple thinks so much of our Ryeongwol."
Master's furrowed brow smoothed flat as if ironed.
Soon, smiling broadly, he said,
"Need anything? Money or manpower, I'll provide."
"Thank you, Master."
Having gotten permission, I beamed.
'What to make.'
I tilted my head thoughtfully.
With my current abilities, I couldn't cure Ryeongwol's Nine Yin Absolute Pulse yet.
But I could alleviate symptoms and boost her energy.
'Actually... nothing beats bone broth for nourishment. Ah...'
In my past life, when feeling weak, I'd buy a sack of beef bones, simmer them, and eat for a month straight.
Best recovery food for the frail.
But impossible here, where beef is taboo.
'Right, this is better.'
A perfect substitute came to mind.
"Master, is there a butcher nearby?"
It was gamjatang.
Gamjatang uses pork neck and spine bones with meat, also called bone hangover soup.
Soft pork bones with various seasonings, plus watercress, perilla leaves, perilla powder—healthy ingredients.
Perilla especially, featured in Donguibogam, had strong medicinal properties.
Warm, non-toxic, stops coughs and quenches thirst.
'Boost perilla in gamjatang... unmatched for nutrition and recovery. Perfect for large batches too.'
Of course, no chilies now, so couldn't fully replicate past life's taste.
But that'd be solved soon.
Remembering the chili seed pouch in my bosom, I smirked inwardly.
I requested of Master,
"Master, just provide money for the butcher and one helper."
Can't skimp on Ryeongwol's meals.
I planned 'extra-large gamjatang' for the child and everyone around.
First stop: the butcher.
Geared up, I took the well-stocked money pouch from Master and headed out with Maban.
Rattle, rattle.
Following me was a man pulling a cart.
It was none other than Hui.
To my request for one helper, Master had directly ordered him.
'Hui will pull the cart and follow my disciple, so buy plenty.'
Rattle, rattle.
Hui, pulling the cart, seemed in a bad mood—silent from then till now.
Just shooting piercing glares at my back.
"Alright, off to buy ingredients for Woonsik Oh's Gamjatang."
"Miyaaa—"
"......"
We set off, basking in the pouring sunlight.