Small diner Yang’s on the Black Dragon River.
The table is packed with dishes, filled with a strange aroma that’s both bitter and refreshing.
It’s that peculiar smell of a herb called Hyangchae.
However, Hyangchae can be quite divisive.
Those who love it go wild even with just a bit of oil, while those who hate it grimace at the sight of a single leaf.
The guests were definitely the latter, even politely asking not to include Hyangchae.
But then?
“Without Hyangchae, it’s not Northeastern cuisine! If you’re in the Northeast, you eat like the Northeast!”
Even after asking not to include it, they insist on putting it in and jabbering nonsense.
Of course, it could be they included it for the pride of Northeastern cuisine.
Or it might have been a habit to throw it in while cooking without thinking; they might’ve thought it was too wasteful to make a new batch with the cost of ingredients.
After all, it looked like they weren’t a threat—just an unarmed grandmother and a young woman.
But now, who knows the truth?
“Garrrhh…”
The cook was sprawled on the floor with a mouthful of foam.
She was writhing on the ground with a hole in her belly from the real Supreme Demoness’s authentic Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat.
For the sin of putting in the unwanted Hyangchae, the cook was dying.
But, what if someone hated Hyangchae? They might think it was only right to die by that sin.
By the way, in Qing’s hometown, they call this Hyangchae “Gosu.”
As the cook’s blood spread across the floor, the Supreme Shinpah began to mess with the food on the table.
“Tsk tsk. How come everywhere I look, that awful weed is present? Tsk, Chuguya, this is hopeless. This isn’t something you eat.”
An ugly dog was trying to lick up the blood when it heard the Supreme Shinpah’s reprimand and let out a pitiful whine, covering its eyes with its front paw.
A rare smile formed on the Supreme Shinpah’s face.
Then, a plate of fried rice popped up in front of the dog, landing with a thud.
A delicate technique only achieved by the super masters among true masters.
Then, with a chomp, the dog began devouring it with that distinctive sound of munching grass.
The Shinpah watched the scene, frowning at the rising aroma of the weed.
“Do Northeastern folks have nothing to eat? Why are they chowing down on this?”
“Having nothing but garbage is liminal enough.”
Out of nowhere, Unyeonjeong, with a claw gripping her proud nose, chimed in.
The Supreme Shinpah clicked his tongue.
“Must I really suffer to that extent?”
Unyeonjeong smiled cheekily and removed the claw.
“Still, this Tangcho-yuk is safe. Oh my, it has a rather unique flavor, doesn’t it? Shinpah, aah.”
“Get rid of it. That damn Hyangchae smell has totally killed my appetite.”
Seemingly still irked, the Supreme Shinpah spilled hot thick noodles (Northeastern-style rice noodles) onto the floor.
The cook, who was dying from the sin of including Hyangchae, got hot broth dumped on her as well, causing her to sputter and scream, regurgitating blood.
Unyeonjeong nodded at this, then suddenly spoke out of the blue.
“Right, I’m planning to visit No Mountain.”
As if mentioning some nearby mountain.
“Huh? No Mountain? Is there such a mountain around here? The only No Mountain I know is the one in Shandong.”
“That’s the No Mountain!”
Shinpah’s expression turned sour.
“No, where are you going when the major event is just around the corner? Those Malgal folks are making a racket about when they’ll strike. If you go, who’s going to manage the Jiangshi?”
“Isn’t there something going on at No Mountain too? Seems like the old man Guisanmanbak is asking for help, sounding desperate.”
“Well, what can an old geezer who can only mess with lesser machines do? Just leave it be. How long do you think it’ll take to get to that distant No Mountain?”
“Only about four to five thousand li or so?”
“Normally, you wouldn’t say four to five thousand li and take it lightly.”
“If I travel a thousand li a day, hmm. It wouldn’t even take five days.”
“Are you going to ride that bizarre coffin again? On top of that, you’ll be locked in there for five days?”
“Oh my, coffin? It’s a Chengeo.
A Chengeo. It means a bed carriage.
But to the Supreme Shinpah, it looked like a big coffin with four handles.
Seeing those four Blood Beasts in action looked more like carrying a coffin than a palanquin.
“Besides, you just lie down and sleep, so how can it be locked?”
Blood Beasts neither eat nor sleep; they just run all day long without a break, day and night for twelve hours.
Of course, if they ran a thousand li a day, it would recklessly shorten the lifespan of those four Blood Beasts.
To burn through the wealth of the Blood Sect just for a speedy journey, it was the cost that the leader Am Ha-ryong had to bear, not something Unyeonjeong had to worry about.
Didn’t Unyeonjeong clearly ask?
Did they truly want help?
The Supreme Shinpah made a disgruntled face.
“Tsk. Why do you want to help that old man who’s not even grateful?”
“Oh my, but we should help each other as comrades of the Blood Sect!”
“Seriously, tsk. Those guys have no idea how precious their craftsmanship is, yet they misuse it. When are you going? It’d be better to get rid of those Choga bastards first and then go together, wouldn’t it?”
“If Shinpah comes along, a thousand li is impossible, right? Can you really eat rice balls and lie down for five days in that Chengeo?”
At that, the Supreme Shinpah’s expression soured.
Lying down for five days while eating? An elder like that would never want to get into something like a coffin.
—-
Roughly took a walkthrough of No Mountain.
Meaning it also revolved through the grievances of the innocent but guilty Sapa folks.
According to all the information they spat out like dying words, it seemed like they hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the Heart Consumption Technique shadow.
There was intel about a suspicious cave.
However, according to the ancient geographical map Cheon Yu-hak borrowed without the master’s permission, it was just a natural cave that already existed.
At least two of them had warnings stating you wouldn’t make it back if you ventured too far inside.
There were likely still Sapa folks wandering around in the dark caves, starving to death.
It had been a lengthy treasure hunt spanning ten days.
When exactly did treasure hunting come to mean digging for information through raiding and plotting betrayal?
At this rate, it was less treasure hunting and simply a riot.
Thus, they decided to rest for a while.
The Sapa folks had now put aside treasures to band together for their own protection.
Meanwhile, with sharpened blades, they were plotting how to stab at anyone they could. So it seemed reasonable to think that whatever they left unattended wouldn’t necessarily lead to finding the Heart Consumption Technique.
And thus, they proceeded with quick meals.
The Qing party had been camping out for ten whole days.
Outwardly, they looked just like beggars.
As they crossed the town, some suspicious-eyed folks looked around, secretly following them.
They looked like people who had just ascended No Mountain and wanted to ask what had happened during their trip, even if it meant getting a bit rough.
However, that tailing didn’t last long.
Because as soon as the Qing party stepped into the best inn, the Jik Muk Jeil Gakjan Lu, naturally.
With that shabby appearance, they moved in as if they were familiar with the most expensive and luxurious inn in No Mountain.
Well, then they must not be the ones to mess with.
In the first place, those who remained in the Jik Muk were probably keeping to themselves, so if anyone seemed suspicious, they’d sooner back off.
Those who survived had their reasons for doing so.
Of course, not everyone following the Qing party gave up.
Thus, one of the men who had been tailing them, with a wary gaze, carefully scrutinized the surroundings and finally strode into the inn.
As soon as Qing entered the inn, Jeomsoi sprang out.
Of course, Jeomsoi from Jik Muk Jeil Gakjan is synonymous with the best tavern employee!
At this point, they must have learned not to judge based solely on appearances.
It’s a waste to chase away a beggar before confirming they are indeed a beggar.
That might sound like basic wisdom, but many tavern workers in the Central Plain have yet to grasp this straightforward insight, leading to countless embarrassments.
Yesterday was one, and today, tomorrow, and beyond, it’ll continue.
“What do you need, sir?”
“The best room. And hot water for a bath. Right now.”
Qing’s hands moved with mysterious motions.
With Mugeong Shinsu, his hand dove into the money bag unnoticeably, and suddenly something bright yellow and shiny erupted.
The Jeomsoi, startled, let out a fat sigh as her arm sank under its weight.
Gold is heavy after all.
Jeomsoi swallowed hard at the radiant lump of gold, Gold Ingot.
One might wonder why someone climbing a mountain would carry such a heavy Gold Ingot, but…
There was nothing when entering the mountain.
But now, there it was.
It mysteriously appeared halfway.
In fact, there was a Merchant Shintu and some prospective Merchant Shintu in the party.
Surely, they could conjure such trickery.
“I’ll prepare it right away! Hey, Joranga, take the guest to the Immortal Herbs Room! Dongdongyi, Daeshik, Cha Jam, prepare the hot baths right away!”
Usually, the best room in the finest inn in the city gets named after the local landmark.
The best room of Jik Muk Jeil Gakjan was named the Immortal Herbs Room.
Long ago, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had scoured No Mountain endlessly seeking the herbs of immortality.
No Mountain has been a renowned mountain, praised for its pristine air and beautiful scenery since millennia.
Thus, the feeling of bathing in hot water after ten days was.
“Ahh… this is true paradise.”
Unlike Qing, who had bathed a couple of times in the rain, the master and the kid might just be moved to tears.
If that’s the case, maybe I shouldn’t have washed at all?
Isn’t it originally heavenly just because one bears with it?
After bathing, a brief time of simple grooming followed.
No matter how much she lathered up with the Wall Han (soap) and rinsed off, it still seemed like a stench wafted up from the false chest of Mo Yong Joo-hee.
Perhaps it was the limits of her materials.
It had been caught in rain for so long, what could be done?
It was a ten-day experience for Mo Yong Joo-hee, who deeply felt the weight of having riches.
It was a fake chest, heavier than the real thing.
Wearing that for a whole day over ten days.
Her shoulder blades, back muscles, and neck were completely stiff and sore.
In the morning, turning her head would cause her to wince with pain.
Not to mention the awful odor that only she could sense rising from her.
How did that Young Lady manage to live with something like this? Especially when she was twice as big.
That was because it was crafted to fit Jin Jangmyung’s body perfectly.
Regardless.
After that, she slowly dragged her tired body down to grab a simple bite.
The moment the Qing party revealed themselves on the first floor, a man in the corner, snugly wearing a large hat, perked up.
He was one of those who had been tailing the Qing party.
“Jeomsoi, what’s special on the menu here?”
Dressed to shine, the special guests had just arrived.
Just as Jeomsoi was about to take a breath—
“Bring me the ten best dishes. Master, what will your meal be?”
“There are ten dishes, but you want to order a meal?”
“Then, I’ve got four mouths, am I not ordering?”
Qing turned to Jin Jangmyung and Mo Yong Joo-hee as if seeking their agreement.
“I’m good.”
“Me too.”
Of course, they didn’t really seek their agreement.
And thus, Qing felt disappointed.
Seriously too much.
If everyone ordered something different and shared, they could try a whole variety of flavors.
Food is food; meals are meals.
“Eh. I guess I’ll eat alone then. Jeomsoi, get me rice porridge and sambal rice, and the thick intestines dish.”
For planning to dine alone, that’s quite a bit.
Yet Jeomsoi showed no surprise.
Neither did the other guests in the inn.
Originally, the rich order a lot of different things and eat only a few bites before discarding.
It’s the most basic method of flaunting wealth.
So everyone just took it in stride, thinking that there must be plenty of gold and silver to burn about.
Exactly.
It’s too soon to be shocked.
What if they devoured a large quantity without leaving leftovers?
Perhaps someone in the group would be so stunned they might faint.
“Yay, huuuugh…!”
Right after, Jeomsoi’s roar erupted.
With the powerful volume akin to a Shaolin monk’s lion roar, she rattled off a long list of dish names one after another.
And in the corner of the inn.
The man, who had been listening to that shout, subtly rose to his feet.