The Moment Hot Fried Chicken Hits My Mouth
The instant I shoved that piping hot fried chicken into my mouth.
"Fwoooooh...!"
A sigh escaped me involuntarily as my eyes shot wide open. This insanely oily flavor. So this is what fried chicken tastes like?
I crunched away, demolishing the meat and swallowing it down. The moment it slid down my throat.
"Kweeeh! Fuck yeah!"
I couldn't help but marvel in pure awe. No way—could food in this world actually be this goddamn delicious? It was so good I was on the verge of tears...!
I devoured the kung pao chicken like I was possessed.
"This is insane, fucking insane!"
Real mad-scientist-level food. Spicy fried chicken like this? You trying to kill me or what? You fucking bastard! Whoever invented this shit should be dragged out and executed on the spot—no trial! Letting a serial-killing food maniac like that loose on the world would bring chaos and misery to all!
I couldn't stop shoveling it in with my chopsticks!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Of course, just meat gets old quick. I chased it with some veggies and nuts to cleanse my palate.
—Gulp.
Then I sipped green tea to reset my taste buds.
"Kya!"
You gotta periodically refresh like that to savor the bliss longer. Alright, next up: jiaozi.
What I didn't know when I first got to the Murim world is that "dumplings" here just means steamed buns with filling. To get the Korean-style mandoo we know, you gotta order these jiaozi.
Anyway. I dipped one in soy sauce and popped it straight in.
"Whoof! Hot!"
Hot steam burst out the second I bit down. Yeah, this is the real deal. Perfectly steamed wrapper stuffed with finely minced meat and veggies. That crazy juicy filling inside was driving me nuts.
Next one dipped in kung pao sauce? Oh man, it was too good.
"Ah!"
I'm losing it. Days like this call for booze.
Honestly, ordering liquor in the Murim world feels like self-sabotaging your health, a total waste of coin. Sure, alcohol's bad for you, but it melts stress away. Human willpower ain't infinite. Even the toughest steel-hearted bastard has limits. Gotta vent the pressure now and then.
Of course, with my budget, fancy stuff's out. Fine, compromise with the cheapest fire wine from the inn.
"Hey, server! One fire wine here!"
"Five coins!"
They even sell it by the glass.
—Thud.
It came right out.
"Fire wine!"
Fire wine means strong stuff in general, but around here it's more slang for cheap booze. High-proof liquor costs a fortune in this Murim joint—rich folks only. But booze is booze for the poor too. So fire wine's the bargain-basement swill you can down for five coins a shot. Not even that strong.
I knocked it back in one go.
"Kuhhh...!"
Not super potent, but after so long without, I could feel the burn sliding down my throat. Downing the whole glass at once would be dumb with this spread in front of me. Gotta sip and pair it with the grub.
And so I enjoyed the feast with booze on the side.
"This is what pleasure's all about."
First time since arriving in the Murim world that I'd stuffed myself silly on grub this good. Pricey as hell, but what can ya do? Gotta treat yourself once in a while.
Plus, I'd decided to graduate from day labor and focus on yokai hunting. Soon I'd indulge like this all the time.
"Yeah... this is the life..."
The greasy goodness was soaking right into my body. No exaggeration—I could feel it. Nutrients flooding my hardship-starved flesh. Fat for energy, meat rebuilding muscle. Carbs fueling the repairs.
Gotta lick the plates clean.
"Haa."
I polished off every last scrap like a prisoner from the underground labor camps, and that satisfying fullness hit. Perfect time for a wash and crash hard. Recharge body and mind with sleep.
Early, but whatever. With booze in me, I'd sleep like the dead. Tomorrow, I'd tackle this Murim life with a fresh start.
Great Rat (Dae-seo-seo) Extermination Request: Reward 130 Coins
After that day, I alternated between day labor and minor yokai extermination gigs. Thing is, yokai hunts weren't daily, and turns out there was competition, so no guarantees.
No yokai? Back to labor. Sucks personally.
Then a solid minor yokai request popped up. Snagged it on sight.
The Great Rat's a pup swollen huge on yokai energy. Like the boss rat—ignore it, and you get a rat plague. Kill 'em on sight.
Word is, if it hunkers down and builds power, it grows bigger, stands on hind legs. Called Rat Prince then... nasty yokai, I'd ignore it. Evolves further into Seo Saeng-won, a major league monster. Whatever, not my problem now.
Just skip the tough-looking ones. Let nature run its course.
Anyway, after nailing that Little Blue Ghost job, I'd bagged various minor yokai. Giant cicada bugs and such. Any small-time yokai showing up in villages? They were fucked the second they crossed me.
This Great Rat would be no different. Wonder what smashing a rat skull feels like?
"Here for the Great Rat extermination request."
"Ah, you made it!"
The client welcomed me warmly.
"This warehouse keeps getting the damn thing. Rats multiplying too. Plugged the holes I found, but no dice."
"That so?"
"Yeah. Shows up daily, so take it out quick."
"When does it appear?"
"Around dusk."
Great Rats are rat yokai—active at dark, like rats do. Haunts the grain storehouse. Big estate like this? Prime target.
Whatever. I'm a seasoned yokai slayer now. First Great Rat, but I'd apply what I'd learned from the others. Headed to the storehouse, waited till dark.
"Alright."
Stood up. Showtime.
"..."
It had a head, so it'd avoid humans. Smart for a yokai rat, not just some dumb animal.
Simple plan time.
—Creak.
Climbed crates to pry open the ceiling. Slip in, hug the beam, drop on it when it shows—wham!—smash its skull with the staff. Done.
"Hup!"
Grabbed the beam like a pull-up bar and hoisted up.
"Chit?"
"Hm?"
Two sinister yellow eyes glared back.
Wait a sec.
"You little shit!"
It was hiding up here?!
"Jjeeek!"
The Great Rat charged my head!
No way I could fight like this!
"Uwaaaack!"
Let go and plummeted. Cushioned by crates below—no breaks, but close call!
"You crazy fuck! Hiding up there! Hiya!"
Thwacked the ceiling hard with my metal staff, driving it off. How'd it get up there? Hole in the roof?
Yep.
—Whoosh!
It leaped, vanished at a spot. Gotta be a vent there!
Rushed outside, chased the direction—yep.
"Jjeek!"
The bloated shadow-rat, Great Rat, scampering away. No escape. 130 coins on its head today.
"Stop right thereeee!"
"Jjeeek!"
Dog-sized fatass bolted hard. But short chase—wall ahead.
—Boing!
Jumped its bulk, snagged the top with front paws.
"I-gi-eo-bong!"
I unleashed With Qi Control the Staff, hurling it like a spear—smack!—nailed its body!
—Splat!
"Jjeek?!"
Perky thud, down it went. Stunned, couldn't rise.
I launched mid-stride.
"Durobu-gi-ik!"
Dropkicked its flabby gut—boom!
—Bang!
"JJJEEEEEEK!"
One shot, agonized death screech. Lights out.
"Whew!"
Great Rat or not, dog-sized obese blob. Big target. No way it survives an 80kg full-power dropkick from a grown man. Dead as doornails.
Grabbed my staff, bashed its skull to end the twitching.
—Crack!
Like prepping fish—kill first. Job done.
"Great Rat... your downfall was underestimating me."
Small fry like this? No match. Getting the hang of this Murim gig.
See? Find a hustle, you eat.
"Kuhaha! Aunt! You seeing this? Nailed another one!"
Wanna brag to Aunt, but can't now.
Anyway, juggling labor and yokai hunts means rest days, high-nutrition chow for health. Survivable for sure.
—Drag.
Hauled the corpse. No byproducts this time—smashed to pulp, worthless. But obsessing over that loses fights. Full power or bust—can't half-ass for scraps.
Whatevs. Crashed in the warehouse, up at dawn, lugged it to Dahoebang.
Crowd gathered, presented the body.
"Here's your Great Rat. Dealt with."
"Holy shit, that big?! Anyway, good work. Here's your pay."
"Heh heh, thanks!"
Nothing beats payout time. Counted: solid 130 coins. Balance growing again.
Man, no banks? Safer to deposit for savings. But shady identity—can I even open an account? Food for thought.