Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Seo Ok-rang (3)
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Clack clack.
Gorgeous tableware laid out with skillful hands.
In an instant, Seo Ok-rang's eyes filled with awe.
'So gorgeous. Sparkling.'
The black-glazed, exquisitely luxurious set, adorned with gold, instantly stole her gaze.
"Wow..."
Even the usually stoic Il Pyo let out a small gasp, struck by the aesthetic appeal.
On the other hand, there was one offering a stingy appraisal.
"Ugh. What's this? Grass? I'm not a rabbit."
At the mood-breaking voice, Seo Ok-rang glared fiercely.
'To give such a vulgar judgment to this magnificent sight.'
Bronze Hall barbarians are hopeless.
As she grumbled inwardly,
"Ahem."
The attendant, who had been standing by with ears perked at the贵 guest's complaint, hurried over.
"This is a salad of precious Tianshan herbs."
"Still looks like grass."
"And this is seaweed harvested from distant seas, seasoned with our secret blend."
"Still grass."
Please just shut up.
But the attendant, true professional, didn't flinch and continued explaining the dishes' excellence without pause.
"Argh. Not even a scrap of meat."
This lazy ox of a man clearly wasn't getting it at all.
'How crude.'
Recalling dining etiquette from books, she daintily picked at her food with refined movements.
"What would you call this?"
Seeing Il Pyo's clumsy efforts up close somehow lifted her spirits.
But the leisurely meal didn't last long.
After a few simple appetizers, the main courses began arriving.
"We start with a salad of cordyceps."
Dong-chung-ha-cho?
Seo Ok-rang clicked her tongue at the dumb sound from beside her.
"It's cordyceps. A precious fungus that grows from insects."
"Heh heh. The young lady knows her stuff. Indeed, true cordyceps is valued highest when the mushroom spores attach to a living insect, overwintering together."
"Hmph."
Praised by the attendant, her nose seemed to rise an inch.
"...It's bugs now."
"Precious ingredients."
She snapped back, but upon seeing it plated so elegantly, Seo Ok-rang froze briefly.
The shriveled insect remnants at the base were quite off-putting.
'This is a bit much.'
It matched the books' descriptions, but the appearance made her hand hesitate.
"Heh heh. True gourmet fare preserves the ingredient's natural flavor."
Just as in the books.
The attendant spoke truth.
'Ugh.'
Closing her eyes, she gracefully picked up a piece of cordyceps and swallowed.
'Fortunately, it doesn't taste bad.'
The texture was a tad slimy and unappealing, but tolerable.
"A refined flavor."
She could even offer such an elegant critique, worthy of envy.
But when a massive bamboo steamer was wheeled in next, even Seo Ok-rang lost her composure.
"The second course is sashimi, for the honored guests' vitality."
Surely this would impress.
The confident chef lifted the lid to reveal...
Wriggle. Wriggle.
Snakes squirming ceaselessly.
"For utmost freshness, we'll prepare it now."
Slash!
The chef deftly extracted a snake and stabbed its head with the knife tip.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed up.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Skinning it alive turned the black snake red as it thrashed in death.
"Urk."
Il Pyo first chewed his chopsticks.
Seo Ok-rang, watching, was utterly appalled.
The most gut-wrenching part was the instructor's gaze.
'You wanted to eat this?'
Averting her eyes desperately, she fought back nausea.
"Best eaten fresh like this."
Seo Ok-rang's vision began to blur.
"Next, a beloved delicacy..."
What followed was a large water vat.
After several rounds, Seo Ok-rang now felt more dread than anticipation.
She wanted no more elegance.
But mistaking her wavering gaze for hunger, the chef quickly opened the lid.
"A peerless tonic for vigor."
Oh no.
Inside were massive softshell turtles.
"For freshness, prepared immediately."
Stop! That's not cooking!
'At least use fire!'
Unable to voice it lest her pride shatter, she screamed inwardly.
But the chef was merciless.
Crunch. Crack.
With ruthless cuts, the turtle stretched neck and legs in agonized spasms.
- Save the turtle!
Perhaps that's what it would cry if it could speak?
Crunch crunch.
The shelled turtle alive convulsed in its final throes.
'Urk. Euk.'
As nausea rose, the instructor's mutter reached her.
"The dance of demolition protesters."
Urk.
Forcing it down desperately, Seo Ok-rang kept her chopsticks moving ceaselessly.
She swallowed the turtle amid tears.
'Elegance. Elegance.'
Desperately shifting focus from the fishy uprising in her gut, she concentrated on distant voices.
"Heh heh. So fresh."
"Only such knife work yields this flavor."
"Indeed, Gourmet Pavilion."
Straining to empathize with the gourmets, she endured.
Backing down felt like defeat.
But even forced dining hit its limit.
Whoosh!
Screeech!
Finally, with monkeys rattling cages...
"Urk."
"Euk."
She fled alongside Il Pyo.
"Urk. Uuek."
Not content with vomiting everything up, how long did the dry heaves continue?
"Are you alright?"
At the kind hand patting her back, Seo Ok-rang finally calmed after expelling the foulness.
"Thank you, Il young hero."
Soon reverting to her prim expression.
Yet beneath the disheveled hair, her lips clearly smirked.
"You. Weirder tastes than I thought?"
"N-no!"
"Said it suited you perfectly."
"...Urk."
She'd only yearned for fine dining, never imagining such bizarre fare.
"Tsk tsk. They mistake expensive for tasty."
What, picturing candy ten times sweeter or noodles twice as rich in their heads?
At the oddly teasing tone, Seo Ok-rang burst out.
"I-it just didn't suit my taste!"
"Sure, sure. A mouth that only pukes pricey stuff."
Won't go back for a bowl of noodles?
At the blatant mockery, she stomped, glaring.
"Eek!"
Chuckling at the sight, Chu Un-hwi said,
"Well, we've time. I'll indulge the child's tantrum."
I'm such a kind soul.
"So, introduce me to a sweet, pretty friend."
Absolutely not.
Even if world's end left just us two, she'd ditch this wretch and leap off a cliff.
"Kekeke. Pity."
Anyway, enjoy the moment?
Muttering, Chu Un-hwi asked,
"Where next?"
Seo Ok-rang wandered tirelessly.
But results were uniformly lackluster.
Yanghwa Tower.
Though she ascended the highest spot in Small Lake for the view and tea, it wasn't as grand as imagined.
'This is a scenic wonder?'
Not bad, but uninspiring.
Couldn't compare to vistas from Cheongsung Mountain's peak below the clouds.
Barely seated a quarter-hour, boredom set in; her hips fidgeted.
"Slurp. Fine tea."
"Indeed. Tea's art lies in savoring slowly with time."
Rookies wouldn't know.
Outraged.
Feigning composure, Seo Ok-rang sipped slowly.
'Tasteless.'
Slow made it lukewarm, utterly undrinkable.
Honey water better?
Next, flower boat.
At least cruising for views was decent.
Precisely, viewing was.
"Ueeek-."
The problem was she couldn't view.
Motion sickness on first boat ride was an unforeseen blunder.
The vicious nausea hit instantly; she hung over the rail without relief.
"Ha. Ha. Some folks get that."
The musician accompanying for tips awkwardly looked away.
Mood was abysmal.
"Try this."
"Ue... What's this?"
"Good for the stomach."
Downing it amid rising bile, it somewhat helped.
But desire to disembark remained.
"B-by the way... Il... young hero... why unscathed?"
Stammering, Il Pyo replied sheepishly.
"Home's by the river, so boats are familiar."
"Unfair..."
As she swooned, the instructor's taunt came.
Scraping the boat's side lightly, he waved his finger, chuckling.
"Gilded?"
Fake gold leaf.
Golden boat my foot, total scam?
The unwelcome truth twisted her gut further.
"Urk."
Head back over rail, retching resumed.
"......"
After four days' journey, back at the shabby stall.
All the same, save one change.
"Gulp. Gulp."
Seo Ok-rang slurping a full bowl of tacky noodles.
"Haa-."
Eyes blissfully glazed.
'No wonder.'
First proper meal in days.
Regaining wits, she'd chosen the humble noodles.
Chu Un-hwi chuckled at the surrendered filly.
"What, want turtle soup?"
"Urk."
Thud.
Setting down the bowl glumly, she said,
"...I'll stop now."
"Not as grand as dreamed?"
Nod. Nod.
At her dejected nod, Chu Un-hwi propped his chin.
"Kid. The familiar is what's natural."
"...Meaning shabby noodles suit me?"
"That's how it sounded?"
Chin-propped, he just tilted his head.
"Kids crave candy; elders, tonics. Nature's way."
Those foods you puked?
"Age drains vigor; soon mere thought brings saliva."
Just not for you now.
"...Really?"
"No need to force it early."
Time passes; you'll miss this then.
"Memories sweeten with distance."
Glug.
Watching the teapot intently, ears perked.
"Sounds mature. Like sect elders."
Looks no older than me.
"Hehe. See? No need friends; pretty me's here?"
"Tch. Don't mock your elders."
"No joke. Surprisingly generous, kind side too."
"Kid."
"......"
"Like someone? See the person. Chasing 'me with older instructor' just hurts."
"Hiiing-. Rejected."
Faking tears, she rose.
Subtly hiding eyes; maybe not fully fake.
"Be right back."
"Where you dashing off mid-meal?"
"Rude to ask a lady."
Sticking tongue, she bolted.
Il Pyo worriedly rose to follow, but
"Sit."
"...But, Instructor."
"No worry, sit. Sent her off 'cause I have questions."
Sent her? Miss Seo?
Chu Un-hwi began,
"You two. What's the story?"
"...Pardon?"
"That jianghu trip two years back. What happened?"
"!"
For the first time, shock crossed the usually impassive Il Pyo's face.