Pork Belly

The farewell party with Seol-hwa ended late at night.

I slowly slipped out of the tavern and headed home along the quiet riverside path. The night air was quite chilly. Though the alcohol still lingered in my system, my mind was strangely clear.

Naturally, the events from just a moment ago drifted into my thoughts. It was an experience unlike anything I had encountered in my past life or this one.

Honestly, he was definitely different from when I was with Baek Ri-seol. To use an analogy, it wasn't Lu Bu’s Red Hare; it was more like Liu Bei’s Dilu. The class was certainly lower.

Thanks to that, I was somehow able to successfully consummate the relationship with Seol-hwa. And strangely enough, I felt as if the energy deep in my lower abdomen had become, if only ever so slightly, more distinct. It was the sensation of my internal energy having increased just a fraction. The Blood God Constitution amplifies each other’s energy through intercourse. Baek Ri-seol’s words came back to me.

I had doubted it, but it seemed it was true. I ended up muttering with a hollow expression.

"So, this really is just a form of sexual cultivation..."

And a moment later, I obediently accepted reality.

"I guess I really am a lecher now."

When I arrived home, Baek Ri-seol was asleep, leaning against the doorway.

It seemed she couldn't overcome her drowsiness while waiting. Her red hair flowed down past her shoulders as she breathed softly in her sleep. I chuckled and quietly looked around the room. The dining table had been wiped clean, and the rice cooker was spotless, down to the last grain and side dish.

She really did eat well. For some reason, I felt good. I gently stroked the hair of the sleeping Baek Ri-seol and whispered softly.

"You're cute when you eat well."

After a quick wash, I carefully scooped Baek Ri-seol up into my arms.

"...Mmm..."

Mumbling in her sleep, she instinctively burrowed deeper into my chest. I chuckled and laid her down on the bed with care. Then, I habitually began to strip off her clothes one by one. She was the type of woman who would throw everything off in her sleep anyway, complaining that it felt stifling.

I glanced inside the blanket, just in case. Fortunately, the Red Hare was in a state of perfect seal. It didn't budge at all.

"Good."

I let out a sigh of relief and pulled Baek Ri-seol back into my arms. Her warm, soft body heat seeped deep into my chest, feeling cozy.

Thanks to that, for the first time in a while, I was able to fall asleep with a very peaceful mind.

The next morning. Just opening my eyes felt like an impossible task.

My body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. The energy consumption had been severe, and above all, I was starving to death. It was a bit different from simple fatigue. It felt as if my very Dantian had been hollowed out.

I barely managed to lift my heavy body and headed to the kitchen. I began to prepare breakfast out of habit. I reheated the radish soup and stir-fried the remaining bulgogi. As soon as I caught the scent, my stomach growled even more violently.

In the end, I couldn't hold back; while setting the table for Baek Ri-seol, I finished a bowl of rice myself. Only then did I feel like a human being again.

I slowly set down my chopsticks and looked out the door. The dawn streets, where the sun hadn't even fully risen yet. My familiar commute.

But now, this morning path was to be my last.

The farewell was simpler than I thought. I had already said my goodbyes, and I had been moving my personal belongings out one by one for days.

I quietly received my final salary and severance pay. A rather thick pouch of money landed in my hand, but strangely, I felt indifferent.

The people at Sehwahu didn't bother to hold me back for long. Everyone was busy, and the atmosphere of farewell had already concluded days ago. They just tossed out a few words as they passed by.

"Take care of yourself."

"Come back when you're famous."

I chuckled and gave a casual wave. And finally, as I slowly walked down the familiar hallway, I paused for a moment in front of Seol-hwa’s room.

The door was shut tight. No sound came from within. I stared at the door for a moment before quietly turning away.

Thank you for everything. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sehwahu.

That evening, I didn't even have the energy to cook. I made do with food I’d packed from an inn.

And before the sun had even fully set, I pulled Baek Ri-seol into my arms and lay down on the bed. Of course, she was completely naked.

By now, sleeping with her while wearing clothes felt more awkward. The sensation of bare skin, slightly cool at first but quickly turning warm. The heat of her body burrowing softly into my arms. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠loved it to a strange degree. Baek Ri-seol seemed to feel the same, as she kept clinging to me even in her sleep.

We spent the night holding each other, doing nothing but sleeping soundly. And best of all—the troublemaker was very quiet. Thanks to that, for the first time since falling into the Murim world, we were able to sleep in with true peace of mind.

When I opened my eyes, it was already afternoon.

"Gaga..."

Baek Ri-seol, wiggling in my arms, looked up at me with a hungry face.

"I'm hungry..."

In the end, I was dragged out of bed by her, forced to leave the comfort of the blankets.

After a quick wash, I fed Baek Ri-seol first. I made a rough fried rice and soup with the remaining ingredients, and Baek Ri-seol began to shovel it into her mouth frantically again.

"Eat slowly."

"I have to eat Gaga's food quickly."

"Why?"

"So I can eat more."

I burst into laughter, dumbfounded. It was just like her.

After the meal, we headed into town to prepare for our journey in earnest. Walking down the street holding hands. I was no longer a chef at Sehwahu, and we had no set destination.

But strangely, my heart felt quite light.

As a chef, I had a lot of luggage to pack. I wasn't like the wandering martial artists who left with just a sword. Knives and cutting boards. Woks and ladles. Dried ingredients and seasonings. My luggage ended up being quite substantial.

In the end, we decided to get a donkey and a small carriage. It seemed the most comfortable way for the two of us to ride and carry our belongings. After putting the house up for sale, it finally hit me that we were really leaving. I felt a bit more melancholic than I expected. After all, it was the first place I could call 'my home' since falling into the Murim world.

But if I had to compare it to Baek Ri-seol, the choice was obviously the latter. I quietly squeezed her hand tighter.

Now, the home in my heart was becoming Baek Ri-seol herself.

Preparations were almost complete. We had the carriage, and all our travel supplies ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were packed.

This house, too, was scheduled to be handed over to the real estate agent tomorrow. I had grown more attached to this place than I thought.

I let out a sigh for no reason and turned toward the kitchen.

"Let's have pork belly today."

Baek Ri-seol’s eyes went wide.

"What kind of dish is that?"

"It's the part of the pig that includes the meat, fat, and skin."

I explained, using hand gestures. "We put it on a grill and cook it."

Baek Ri-seol made a subtle expression.

"Doesn't sound like much from the description..."

I chuckled. "Pork belly will drive you crazy with the smell alone."

"Ooh..."

Her eyes changed instantly. As expected, she reacts quickly to talk of food. I smiled and pointed to the vegetable garden outside.

"Seol, go pick all the remaining vegetables in the garden. It's our last day anyway."

Baek Ri-seol looked back at the garden for a moment. A brief silence passed. Then, she nodded with a bright smile.

"Leave it to me, Gaga."

I also boiled a tofu stew, the best friend of pork belly. After clearing out all the remaining vegetables from the garden, it turned out much heartier than I expected.

I washed green chili peppers, lettuce, and various leafy greens, arranging them neatly on a tray. Homemade ssamjang. Thinly sliced garlic and mushrooms. As I prepared them one by one, the table began to look quite impressive.

I cooked fresh rice. And finally, I brought out the small portable brazier and the iron grilling plate I had custom-made. I intended to eat properly today.

And the hidden card. An old bottle of Nu'erhong wine gifted to me by one of the high-ranking officials who used to visit Sehwahu. Seeing the red wax seal still intact, it was clearly a vintage that had been aged for a long time.

I shook the bottle lightly and chuckled.

"I should drink this today. We need to reduce our luggage."

It was actually just an excuse. If not on a day like this, when would I ever open ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠such a bottle?

Ssssss—

The pork belly began to cook slowly on the grill. The surface turned a golden brown. The fat melted away, flowing slowly down the slope of the concave iron plate. At the edge, it brushed against the mushrooms and met the well-ripened kimchi, beginning to sizzle.

Sizzzzzle—

In an instant, a scent that could drive a person mad began to spread.

Baek Ri-seol’s eyes changed completely.

"Gaga."

She muttered, swallowing hard. "This is a dangerous dish..."

I placed a little rice on a lettuce leaf. On top of that, a piece of golden-brown pork belly. I added the fat-soaked mushroom, thinly grilled garlic, and finely sliced green chili in order. And finally, I added a dab of homemade ssamjang to complete the massive, special wrap.

I held it out directly in front of Baek Ri-seol.

"Say ah."

Baek Ri-seol’s eyes went wide.

"It's too big, Gaga."

"...It's smaller than the Red Hare."

I pushed the wrap closer with a nonchalant face.

"You can do it."

"Ah~"

Baek Ri-seol stared at me with a dazed expression for a moment, then opened her mouth in resignation. "...Ah~"

Baek Ri-seol opened her mouth adorably. The tip of her tongue was visible between her small, white lips. And into that, the massive special wrap slowly slid in.

"Mmph...!"

Instantly, her cheeks puffed out like balloons.

I stared at her blankly. And at that very moment, the sleeping Red Hare twitched ever so slightly.

"..."

I slowly lowered my gaze. The thing that had been perfectly sealed until just a moment ago was, as if it were a lie, beginning to reveal its presence again. And not just that—it was with the overwhelming pressure of the original Red Hare, not some Dilu.

'No.'

I screamed inwardly, breaking into a cold sweat. 'Get back in!!'

At least let me finish my meal before you come out.

I began to sing hymns in my head, almost in a prayerful state. Lord, please, just this once...

Meanwhile, Baek Ri-seol, unaware of anything, was chewing the wrap diligently with her eyes squeezed shut.

Nom nom—

With her cheeks puffed out, she slowly savored the taste.

And a moment later, Baek Ri-seol’s eyes fluttered open. Her red pupils trembled violently.

"...!!!"

She hurriedly swallowed the wrap in her mouth and looked at me with a shocked expression.

"Gaga..."

"Why..."

Baek Ri-seol muttered in a trembling voice.

"This is truly a crazy taste..."

Her red pupils began to sparkle brilliantly. I chuckled and picked up the bottle of Nu'erhong I had placed to the side. Then, I slowly tore off the wax seal.

Pop—

Instantly, a deep, rich wine aroma spread out. Baek Ri-seol’s eyes grew even wider.

"Wow..."

She stared at the wine bottle with a mesmerized face.

"The wine smells so good, Gaga."

I smiled as I slowly poured the Nu'erhong into a cup.

"Usually, soju is the best with pork belly, but this should be more than enough."

The crimson wine swirled slowly in the cup.

"Yeah. It's a precious wine that's been aged for a long time."

Baek Ri-seol downed the drink as if bewitched. And almost simultaneously, she stuffed another wrap into her mouth.

Nom nom—

The savory flavor of the pork fat and ssamjang. The crisp scent of the vegetables. And immediately following, the deep, rich aroma of the Nu'erhong.

Baek Ri-seol’s body shuddered.

"Haa..."

She muttered with a hazy expression.

"Gaga..."

"Yeah?"

"This is truly insane..."

Baek Ri-seol began to eat the pork belly with a completely dazed look on her face. One wrap. One cup of Nu'erhong. And then pork belly again.

I flipped the meat incessantly beside her. Sizzzzzle— As it turned golden brown, I cut it into bite-sized pieces with kitchen shears and placed them on her plate. Baek Ri-seol accepted them mindlessly.

"Eat slowly."

"I can't help it..."

Then, suddenly, she picked up a piece of kimchi that was cooking on the side of the grill with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

Chew—

Instantly, Baek Ri-seol’s body stiffened.

"...?"

I looked at her with a puzzled expression. Baek Ri-seol chewed the kimchi in her mouth a few times, then slowly closed her eyes. And then, she shuddered.

"Ughhh..."

"What's wrong?"

She muttered with difficulty, looking like she was on the verge of fainting.

"This kimchi..."

"...Even the Blood God would acknowledge this..."

In the end, she ate nearly four geun (about 2.4kg) of pork belly all by herself that day.

"I'm full..."

Baek Ri-seol clung to my body with a satisfied face. Her belly, slightly rounder than usual, pressed softly against my side. I chuckled and lightly pressed her stomach with my palm.

"You really ate a ton."

"Gaga made it so delicious..."

Baek Ri-seol replied, mumbling without even being able to open her eyes properly. Perhaps because she had drunk quite a bit of the Nu'erhong, her flushed face looked even more hazy than usual.

And not long after, she fell fast asleep, clinging tightly to my body. Outside, it was already the dead of night.