Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Showing My Skills
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"Do you know? Absolutely! You must never look it in the eyes. I had such a hard time at first myself."
The woman spoke with a somewhat surprised expression.
"Pardon?"
"It's just... well... you have to think of it as food or an object. Otherwise, it's too tough to handle. At the very least, you've probably cleaned fish before, right?"
The woman shook her head.
Han Ibi let out a sigh and said,
"What can we do? The Creator made it so that life takes life to gain vitality. It's regrettable, but there's no helping it. So..."
Han Ibi raised his left hand and swiftly struck the back of the rabbit's head and neck with a hand blade.
"...sending it off this quickly is the greatest mercy we can offer."
That was when it happened.
"Who goes there?!"
Han Ibi whipped his head toward the direction of the thunderous shout.
His eyes widened at the sight of the shout's owner.
A woman with long, gray-streaked hair neatly tied back.
Elegance seemed to emanate from her every pore.
Even the wrinkles etched across her face couldn't diminish that grace...
It was a face he could never forget.
Bok Yeon-hwa.
She was a grandmother now, but she exuded dignity and refinement... and above all, beauty.
A matured beauty, replacing the freshness of youth...
'Damn it all. How can there be such a pretty grandmother?'
In any case, Han Ibi felt an immense surge of joy.
Though he was in Song Myeong-cheon's body back then, they had shared the oak tree oath together.
She shouted again.
"I asked you to state your identity! Are you a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect?"
Han Ibi jumped in surprise and replied,
"Ah, no, I'm not a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect."
Bok Yeon-hwa eyed him suspiciously.
"Then why are you wearing Qingcheng Sect robes?"
Han Ibi clasped his hands in a respectful fist salute, taking utmost care with his manners.
"I'm Jong Ri-mae, staying temporarily with the Qingcheng Sect due to certain circumstances."
She paused as if in thought, then said,
"Jong Ri-mae? If it's the Jong Ri name... what relation do you have to the Zhongli Clan?"
"I'm a descendant of the Zhongli Clan."
At that moment, Bok Yeon-hwa barked at the girl.
"What are you thinking? Didn't I tell you my words were law? I said not to converse carelessly with outsiders."
The girl shook her head vigorously, looking wronged, and said,
"Master, I'm sorry. But I thought he was a Qingcheng Sect disciple."
Seeing his chance to interject, Han Ibi quickly spoke up.
"That's right. My attire would understandably lead to that misunderstanding. But I was merely helping this young lady with her hunt."
Bok Yeon-hwa, still eyeing him with suspicion, said,
"Is that so? Let's say, for argument's sake, that you're a guest of Qingcheng. Then why aren't you staying in the sect grounds and instead wandering up Qingcheng Mountain?"
Han Ibi racked his brains as hard as he could for a moment.
'If I say training, will she buy it? I need a plausible excuse. Something even more believable...'
Then, he suddenly noticed the cloth bundle at Bok Yeon-hwa's waist.
A reddish glimpse of something peeked through the gap.
That was when it happened.
'That's it!'
Han Ibi thought and said,
"It's because of medicinal herbs."
"Medicinal herbs?"
Bok Yeon-hwa's suspicious gaze intensified.
Han Ibi quickly added,
"Well... I know a bit about herbs. I picked up some knowledge over the shoulder from someone I know."
He didn't miss it. A faint spark of interest flickered in Bok Yeon-hwa's eyes.
Still, she hadn't dropped her wary look entirely.
Han Ibi continued,
"Shaanxi Province where I'm from and Sichuan Province have different climates and flora, so I came out to look around at the unfamiliar herbs."
Just then, Bok Yeon-hwa's gaze shifted to the rabbit sprawled on the ground.
Seizing the opening, Han Ibi grinned and said,
"I hear that Elder..."
Bok Yeon-hwa corrected him.
"I am an elder of the Qingcheng Sect. You may address me as such."
Han Ibi quickly said,
"Yes, Elder. Where was I...? Ah, yes. So, it seems the Elder instructed this young lady... to catch a rabbit."
Bok Yeon-hwa narrowed her eyes and asked,
"And?"
Han Ibi glanced at her cloth bundle as he replied,
"And... if I'm not mistaken, the fruits you're carrying seem to be goji berries."
He spoke again to Bok Yeon-hwa, who was still glaring at him.
"Goji berries have long been prized as excellent for improving eyesight, but they also benefit the kidneys. Especially..."
Han Ibi shifted his gaze to the fallen rabbit and continued,
"...when consumed with rabbit meat, their effects are doubled. So, it seems that's why you had her prepare them."
Bok Yeon-hwa narrowed her eyes even further at Han Ibi, various thoughts seemingly swirling in her mind.
Han Ibi just met her sharp gaze with an innocent smile.
Then the girl spoke to Han Ibi.
"Don't speak so carelessly when you don't know."
At that, Bok Yeon-hwa bellowed,
"Eun-ri!"
"Yes, Master."
The girl retreated expressionlessly.
She must be used to it by now.
'Tsk, tsk, tsk. What did that young girl ever do to deserve such harshness? She had a spirited side back in the day, but time has made the old lady even pricklier. What a shame.'
In any case, the girl's reaction confirmed it for Han Ibi.
'Bok Yeon-hwa must have some kidney-related ailment. Time spares no one. There are better herbs than goji berries, but they're not commonly found on this mountain... and for an amateur, all the more so.'
Han Ibi quickly spoke up.
"You two... aren't you hungry by any chance?"
The girl said,
"What are you..."
Bok Yeon-hwa raised a hand to silence her and said,
"Whether my stomach is full or empty is none of your business."
'Tsk, tsk. What a temper.'
The old woman's personality was like fire itself. The kind of character you wanted to keep at arm's length.
Shaking his head inwardly, Han Ibi said,
"Since we've crossed paths like this, I'd love to treat you both to some rabbit stew. Don't let appearances fool you—I picked up some cooking skills over the shoulder too."
Bok Yeon-hwa squinted one eye.
"Of course, it's not entirely free. If you invite me to join the feast."
"Earlier you said you learned herbs over the shoulder."
Han Ibi smiled and replied,
"Well, the story's complicated... In any case, besides foraging herbs, I've learned a bit of chef work too."
And tea brewing as well.
Bok Yeon-hwa said,
"There are no tools here, though..."
Right on cue. I can feel her getting hooked.
'Perfect. I was starving anyway—this is the excuse I need to cook and eat that rabbit.'
Han Ibi said,
"Don't worry. I've cooked with makeshift mountain tools more times than I can count."
Bok Yeon-hwa gave him a look that said, 'This guy's bragging like he's done everything under the sun.'
Pretending not to notice, Han Ibi said,
"Just lend me that basket, the fire starter, a few goji berries, and the rabbit, and I'll handle the rest."
Han Ibi prepared to activate his waiter-specialized skill, Culinary Skill.
Steam rose gently.
Along with it came a mouthwatering aroma wafting through the air.
The girl holding a roughly carved wooden spoon widened her eyes.
It was the first emotion she'd shown since meeting Han Ibi.
Bok Yeon-hwa, who had tasted Han Ibi's rabbit stew first, also looked much softer.
The secret to removing the gamey smell was the bark of the star anise fruit.
Using the Herbal Encyclopedia's knowledge, Han Ibi had properly blended star anise and other spice-like herbs.
Not quite proper spices, but employing Clear Stream Inn's techniques, he'd done his best to make it delicious.
Its effects were now playing out on Bok Yeon-hwa and the girl's tongues.
Starving himself, Han Ibi didn't hold back and heartily dug in.
'Ahh~! Even I made it, and it's delicious. This melt-in-your-mouth perfection... I really am a genius!'
Han Ibi had long forgotten about the Culinary Skill's effects.
For a while, the three ate the rabbit stew in silence.
The bowls were scraped clean.
Bone fragments remained, impossible to believe they'd been part of a lively, twitching rabbit moments ago.
And then, the ensuing silence...
Only after a long while did Bok Yeon-hwa speak.
"Hmm... With flavor like this, I have no choice but to believe you."
The girl, who had been gauging her mood, quickly chimed in.
"This was truly... so delicious. I could've sworn it was from a top-class inn."
'A taste so magical it melted even that ice-cold disposition?'
Han Ibi smiled leisurely and said,
"You're too kind. But even after sharing a meal, I still don't know your names."
Perhaps due to the amazing food, Bok Yeon-hwa's demeanor had softened a bit as she replied.
"I am Bok Yeon-hwa."
Yeah, I knew that already.
Bok Yeon-hwa glanced at the girl, who then said,
"My name is So Eun-ri."
Han Ibi was startled.
He knew the name.
No... it was a name he knew all too well.
She was the female protagonist of Dream of the Ant Snake, the one who forms a bond with Jong Ri-hyeok.
So right now... he was talking to the heroine.
But he couldn't act surprised. Han Ibi said casually,
"Turns out you're Miss So. Nice to meet you. As I mentioned, I'm Jong Ri-mae."
But she didn't reply, watching Bok Yeon-hwa's reaction.
'Tch.'
Looking closely now, she had a cute charm. A kind of airheaded beauty.
Still...
Enduring her antics while reading the book had been cancer-inducing enough, and meeting her in person proved she lived up to her reputation.
Han Ibi said,
"Are you a Qingcheng Sect disciple too, Miss So?"
"Well... something like that."
Bok Yeon-hwa cut her off.
"Eun-ri. No need to share unnecessary details."
"Yes, Master."
In that instant.
Han Ibi gained a profound realization that struck at his heart.
The original novel didn't delve deeply into Qingcheng Sect's internal affairs.
The main plot properly begins with Jong Ri-hyeok heading to the Murim Alliance.
And the existence of a certain "female sect leader."
The woman said to have single-handedly kept the dying Qingcheng Sect alive with artificial respiration...
Han Ibi thought,
'I don't quite remember if her name was mentioned, but... Bok Yeon-hwa must become that female sect leader later. Why didn't I think of it sooner?'
He resolved to get on good terms with Bok Yeon-hwa.
Then Bok Yeon-hwa said,
"You said you're a scion of the Zhongli Clan?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then why are you on Qingcheng Mountain?"
Han Ibi put on the most pitiful expression he could muster and let out a deep sigh.
"It's a long story, but... my clan was essentially wiped out."
Bok Yeon-hwa looked somewhat shocked and asked,
"The Zhongli Clan? By whom?"
"That's just it..."
Han Ibi squeezed out every ounce of his acting skills, sniffling as if his nose were running, and said,
"If I knew the enemy, I'd have my revenge... but I don't even know that. With the help of my elders, I barely escaped alone, wandered aimlessly, and came to Qingcheng searching for my last remaining brother."
A moment of silence.
The atmosphere grew somewhat solemn.
Oof. I didn't mean to make it this heavy.
To change the subject, Han Ibi asked,
"Did you come up the mountain for those goji berries and to catch a rabbit earlier?"
Bok Yeon-hwa, now seeming less suspicious, replied,
"No. Those are just my daily supplements."
'As I thought. Kidney issues, confirmed. I'll have to gather some more effective herbs for her later.'
Bok Yeon-hwa continued,
"We came to gather some medicinal ingredients."
Han Ibi said,
"In person?"
Bok Yeon-hwa shrugged.
"No one else to send."
Han Ibi nodded as if understanding.
(To be continued in the next chapter)