Chapter 432

“Huh? Then why is that Seolga fellow doing work for the Taecheong Sect?”

“Ahem. Well, what can I say? I’ve got a smart one working for me.”

“I know Seolga has a brilliant mind, but can we really exploit that?”

“Well, um, sure! I’m doing it for his own good. The Seolga Merchant Association is tiny, so it can’t hold him. That’s really the point; it’s not about exploiting him.”

Snuggled up, Cheong tilted her head slightly.

Is that so? It does have its persuasive angle, doesn’t it?

“Hmm. Seolga is a pretty big deal.”

“Right. A big fish should live in the ocean.”

You’d think we should consider the big fish getting kicked out of the freshwater to the overly salty ocean just for being big, though.

But before Cheong could think deeper on it, a lavishly set table that tickled her taste buds greeted her.

A variety of tender meats slow-cooked to perfection, sweet and salty sauces, spicy seasonings, and dishes highlighting fresh ingredients…

“What the heck? What’s all this? I just wanted to eat some rice!”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s all this’? I just warmed up the leftovers a bit. If you don’t eat, it’ll all go to the beggars.”

Cheong had a taste for anything delicious, a true connoisseur.

To specify, her ultimate favorite would be the melt-in-your-mouth tender meats.

And of course, those tender meats take time and effort to prepare.

Meaning they were serious top-shelf dishes!

So Cheong knew fully well the nonsense of that claim.

Leftovers? What leftovers could possibly be left if one of those precious steamed meats was elegantly spread across the table like this?

However, she didn’t bother to question it.

Having dashed in and out of the Divine Maiden Sect without a proper meal must’ve been disappointing for her.

So what could she do?

Just play along and pretend to be naive.

As she sat like that and grabbed her chopsticks, an unfamiliar lady from the association placed a hefty bowl meant for soup right in front of her.

“Um… Young Lady, here’s this.”

Somehow, there was a familiar? spicy? intense aroma that made Cheong perk up her nose involuntarily.

She stirred it around with her chopsticks and gasped in surprise.

“Huh? What’s this? Whoa, what’s this?”

“It’s something the Divine Maiden made once—would you give it a try and let me know your thoughts?”

Before the lady could finish her sentence, Cheong hastily slurped a spoonful into her mouth.

Spicy yet tangy, rich yet refreshing broth… gulp.

Cheong’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

In this unfamiliar restaurant, she felt the aroma of her hometown. No, this was beyond aroma; it was the very spirit and essence of her people.

A broth painstakingly extracted until the bones crumbled, with little water, loaded with onions and cabbage to ensure plenty of vegetable essence seeped out.

Then, garlic, onions, and spring onions are tossed in, along with those still pricy chilies, creating a spicy broth, supplemented with pork and assorted offal, and generous servings of tender short ribs.

With heaps of cabbage and radish greens, it was a spicy meat stew unlike anything found in the Central Plains.

You could say it was a bowl filled with the very essence flowing through Cheong’s veins.

“Um, don’t you have any rice? Cold rice would be great. Quick, quick!”

“Rice! The Young Lady demands rice! Prepare it and cool it down!”

Suddenly, an overwhelming authority emanated from the lady, but Cheong didn’t notice, as she was too engrossed in the soup.

Only across the table did Yeom Hwi-young raise an eyebrow in disbelief.

Why is the highest priestess of the Divine Maiden Sect working as a kitchen maid? She looks just like a common woman. She might as well just embrace it.

So, the cook, diligently preparing freshly steamed rice, was fanning it down in a display of sheer craftsmanship that stirred up a gust of wind.

As soon as the rice arrived, Cheong hurriedly dumped a bowlful, thinking, wow, rice soup, how, ah, this is lovely!

“Aah, this is it, this is it!”

Cheong finished off that giant serving bowl of soup in record time.

It’s a tragedy that her body is so strong that no sweat rolls down; that’s a tragedy of the ages.

This is something you should be eating while dripping sweat!

“So, is it to your taste?”

“Yes, it’s wonderful, amazing! Wow, there’s this kind of stew in the Central Plains? What’s it called? Where can I order this?”

“Uh…”

The lady looked about to answer but stumbled and collapsed onto the floor, barely being caught by Cheong.

“Are you okay?”

“Whew, I’m fine. Are you saying it suits your taste?”

“Of course! It’s fabulous!”

“Glad… now I have no regrets…”

And just like that, she flopped over.

Of course, we should understand the lady’s perspective as a top priestess of the Faith.

To these fanatical believers, Cheong isn’t just a mere human.

She’s a transcendent figure, and not just any figure, but their benevolent Lord, who is currently granting their wishes in real-time.

Indeed, from Xiang to Gansu, and cities to either side, it’s not hard to spot statues of a newfound form.

Women with exaggeratedly voluptuous physiques depicted as a bodhisattva.

Among the distinguishing features, the draping fabric obscures the face, and behind the typical buddha shines the blazing halo in the shape of a sun.

This figure, called the Holy Image Buddha, has been rapidly spreading the word, claiming to maintain peace in homes and illuminate their futures with warmth.

Numerous testimonials have emerged claiming to witness that power.

Of course, most of it was propagated by agents of the Faith, with a little help from the guild that controls the city.

Thus, the doctrinarians of the shrine have come out into the common world, erecting temples designed after the sun under which they preach their doctrines—a dream come true for the shrine.

So, the priestess who successfully offered a feast to the transcendental figure has now achieved it all.

A person can faint from too much emotion.

Let it be known this is as absurd as it gets.

Cheong hurriedly checks her pulse, well, she’s incredibly healthy! Wait, what was the name of my stew again…?

According to Choi Riyong, she was the one who prepared the stew based on the dining outcome while Cheong stayed in Jang An.

And the reason she collapsed was that it occasionally happens, so no need to worry.

“Ah, so I can’t find it anywhere else?”

“If you think about it, swing by and have some.”

Grumpy but ultimately a hint to come around more often.

That thought made Cheong a little, just a tad emotional, and she jokingly replied.

“Grandpa, if I keep coming, I might end up draining you dry!”

“I’m not so poor I’d let one person take me down. What do you think will happen if that happens, huh?”

After sipping tea and chatting a bit,

“I should head back now. Honestly, I sneaked out. It’s lovely to be outside. The Central Plains are easier to live in than I thought, yet it’s also more chaotic than expected. They say seeing it is better than hearing about it a hundred times.”

“Huh. You ran away at your age?”

“It wasn’t my idea. My aunt pushed me, so it’s not my fault. Anyway, take care, Mom.”

Just when Cheong thought she might cling on a little longer, Yeom Hwi-young surprisingly took off without a word.

“Are you suggesting we go to the Divine Maiden Sect?”

Lang-lang shook her head.

“Lang-lang is exhausted from travel. I can’t move anymore. I demand VIP treatment from the Cheonhwa-geom Association.”

“My association? That’s not mine!”

“If it’s Cheonhwa-geom, then it’s settled. Anyway, Lang-lang cannot move anymore. I’ll fulfill my duties as an associate guest.”

And of course, Gyeon Pohee rarely sets foot in the Divine Maiden Sect.

Seomun Sulin wouldn’t be too thrilled either.

Bringing her along would just make her feel awkward and woeful, so might as well let her remain in the association for now.

Cheong heads up the mountain toward the peak.

The large bundle on her back held gifts from her disciples, just the usual haul for when they come and go.

Of course, with her physique, it wasn’t heavy, but still, her heart felt as light as a feather, almost as if she could float away.

Perhaps this route home felt cozier and more comfortable than home itself.

“Ah! Suddenly, my eyes are dazzled! It’s a brilliant light shining in the dead of night!”

“No way, that gleam is coming from the Great Priestess! Great Priestess! Welcome! Wow, it’s been so long since I saw you, and you’re even prettier than I remembered!”

“Absolutely, mala! Mala-tang!”

“I love mala-tang! It’s a complete wonderland!”

“The Great Priestess loves it too! Absolutely mala-tang!”

The two disciples, Yeon-seo and Sarang, were squealing in excitement.

Cheong chuckled, amused by their antics.

“You only seem to put on a show when I arrive, huh?”

“Hehe, right? The Divine Maiden must have arranged for us to welcome the Great Priestess!”

“But mala-tang? Is that served during offerings?”

“Ahhh, I love it! But they say it’s only once a month…”

“I wish it was served daily.”

“No can do. Then, the washing-up will be a disaster. You’ve never been on cleanup duty when the mala-tang is served, have you? That red oil is the worst thing ever!”

“No idea! But behind it, surprise! Gifts! Right?”

“First, let’s step inside. We need to greet the Sect Leader and Master first.”

“Oh, okay! I’ll see you later!”

“Ta-da! Great Priestess, here you are! The Most Beautiful in the World has returned!”

Watching the chaos unfold, it seems like the once monotonous lifestyle at the Divine Maiden Sect hasn’t changed much, except for the exciting new dinner fare.

“Sah-su, you made it? Aren’t you even prettier?”

“Oh please, I’m not any prettier than before. Nothing special happening?”

“Everyone just gained a bit of weight after feasting through the winter.”

Since the unexpected visit from Empress Mama, the Divine Maiden Sect had become the ruler of all nearby lands.

With abundant resources overflowing, they found themselves in quite the predicament on how to spend all that wealth, resulting in a significantly enhanced menu.

The Divine Maiden Sect, which had always insisted on doing things themselves, found winter brought few tasks apart from gathering firewood.

So, now they enjoyed delicious meals, stuffing themselves, even though their activities decreased, leading to everyone putting on weight.

“Ah, the Great Priestess! When did you arrive? Candy?”

“Candy. “

“Candy!”

As she was ready to hand out the prepared candies, Cheong noticed something odd; not many disciples were asking for them.

Isn’t my return the perfect candy occasion?

What on earth has gone so well with the menu that no one is seeking candy?

Weren’t we all candy-starved in this Divine Maiden Sect?

Cheong tilted her head as she continued toward her home at the peak of the Divine Maiden Mountain.

She planned on unloading her things first, then greet the Sect Leader and Master.

As she was climbing, the wind howled vigorously, and she thought, ah yes, this wind, hitting me feels so much like home.

At the top of the mountain, where Cheong resides above the Yangtze River, the wind blows like a sharp knife all year long.

Of course, being used to the cold wherever she went, Cheong felt simply nostalgic as the biting wind rustled her robe, forcing her up the stairs three at a time.

As she rounded a corner, she noticed a tiny little hut.

In the front yard, a small, young girl was practicing her sword skills.

It was none other than Jin Jangmyung, still tiny as ever.

What on earth is she doing swinging a sword here?

I mean, it’s free time since the day’s work is done, but why here of all places?

Is she being bullied or something?

But last year, she was the youngest top disciple wielding incredible power.

Her small size was just an excuse always being tucked among her seniors.

But has her swordsmanship improved at all?

While her style is rough for a woman’s technique, it embodies the brews of the Divine Maiden Swordplay.

Yellowish sword energy flickered, and each stance contained quite a bit of strength.

However, what stood out more was the visible aura emanating from Jin Jangmyung.

Imagine if that fulfilled energy meant her inner strength was surging due to intense practice… or, she was just sweating buckets in the chilling evening, unleashing visible steam.

“Oh! Look who it is. Top-grade warrior! Mid-stage? Late-stage?”

Jin Jangmyung whipped around with enormous eyes filled to the brim, looking like full saucers.

Then she scampered towards Cheong, who opened her arms in welcome.

However, just before they could collide, Jin Jangmyung halted a step back.

“Huh? What’s the deal?”

“You’re drenched in sweat.”

“Who asked you to care? Come over here!”

“You’re all wet!”

“You’re planning on ruining our reunion moment? Hurry!”

Only then did Jin Jangmyung drop her frown and leap right into Cheong’s embrace.

Cheong hugged Jin Jangmyung tight and whispered by her ear.

“Hmm. But you do feel pretty sweaty. Very, in fact. If I hug you tightly, you’ll start dripping, won’t you? You might end up soaked!”

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