Chapter 93

“Sa-jeo, what happened?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“I mean Seolga. It says ‘toilet’ on his forehead.”

“Oh! That guest? He said he wouldn’t share a bed with a disciple from Hwanhui Palace? No matter how urgent it is, he doesn’t want to be under a lady like her. Ah, if I offended you, I’m sorry. It’s just that my life is precious, you see. Something like that.”

Qing was taken aback.

Because Gyeon Pohee had almost perfectly mimicked Seolga’s voice.

If she hadn’t seen the face, even Qing would have been tricked by the realism.

What’s this?

Is the stand-in really that talented in impressions?

And how can someone with such talent choose to waste it like this?

Qing couldn’t help but admire the absurdity and asked.

“I mean, are you going to Central Plain?”

“Eh? Didn’t I mention that last time? Of course I’m going.”

He had that look like, why ask something so obvious.

Qing smacked her chest in frustration.

“No, what do you trust about Seolga? Isn’t there any doubt? What if you follow some random person?”

“Eh? You said he’s a friend of your junior sister, right? Is there another Seolga with ‘toilet’ written on his forehead?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Seolga had said he would move to Yunnan.

Geographically, Yunnan is below Sichuan and close to the Central Plain.

But there was a difference that maps couldn’t show, and that was the elevation.

It belonged to the world’s highest mountain range.

Moreover, the sharp mountain peaks made it a difficult place to live.

It was so much so that they joked that the seasons changed with just a single step.

In reality, one step off a vertical cliff would change winter to spring, and stepping out from a protruding part would bring you down to summer.

“Ah! He asked me to let you know. Even a short time was quite enjoyable. If we meet again, let’s drink a glass or two someday.”

“What? Well, can you tell him I’m grateful?”

“Sure!”

Seolga, dreaming of escaping the Demon Cult, couldn’t meet Qing directly.

But isn’t life always like that?

Goodbye, Seolga.

Life in the Central Plain might be a bit tough without you, but I was fine without you before.

Now it’s goodbye. The brain of the region.

You were my first and last strategist.

Though you’re gone from this side, I hope you can live as a proud man on the other.

Hmm. End of farewell!

He’s smart, so he’ll figure things out, right?

I can always find another strategist.

Having one was just convenient.

Qing glanced at the stand-in.

She also had to say goodbye within fifteen days.

“Pick a new name too. Over there? Sichuan? The name you’ll use there.”

Seolga had said he would drop off the stand-in in Sichuan.

According to Qing’s plan, he wouldn’t have the time to worry about an escaped disciple, and if he changed his name to wash his identity, who would know he’s a Demon Cultist?

He’d find a decent job after picking a believable one and then leave a message in the fifth largest Ki-ru in Sichuan.

That was indeed a classic move worthy of the best brain in the neighborhood.

“A new name, huh? Do you have any in mind?”

“Yeah.”

“What is it?”

“…Seohui.”

Gyeon Pohee shyly spoke up.

“So, Gyeon Seohui, then?”

“No, the name is Hui. The surname… is the same as my junior sister.”

Qing raised an eyebrow.

Wait, this clueless girl doesn’t know people’s surnames yet?

Thinking back, maybe I hadn’t told her.

Realizing her own lack of awareness, Qing finally revealed the correct surname.

“Sa-jeo. It’s Seomun Cheong, not Seomun Chung.”

“Eh!? It wasn’t Muncheong?”

“Could you pay a little more attention to the pronunciation? It sounds a bit shameful when I hear it from you.”

“Then can I make my name Seomun Hui… would that be okay?”

Gyeon Pohee asked, glancing at Qing for approval.

After all, Lady Seomun isn’t exclusively my surname, and if she wants to use it because it sounds pretty, I can’t exactly stop her.

In lineage terms, we’re both from the same dog family, so what’s the difference?

“If you want to, then go ahead.”

“Really!? Thank you! So now we’re really family!”

“Oh?”

“Being sworn sisters sounds kinda embarrassing.”

Qing blinked.

Sworn sisters?

She was about to question what that absurd idea was, but seeing Gyeon Pohee’s bright expression, she swallowed her words.

Sure, if it makes you happy, then that’s what matters.

—-

Qing spent time teaching Gyeon Pohee the Young Girl Hwanhui Divine Technique and the Heavenly Flight.

The Young Girl Hwanhui Divine Technique was originally part of the vision of Hwanhui Palace, so Gyeon Pohee was qualified to inherit it.

On top of that, she taught her the Heavenly Flight, which wasn’t exactly designed for sensitive situations, just in case she needed to escape.

It was an agile, gold-colored, highly efficient technique that specialized in fast, long jumps.

Of course, because of that, the training for the Tangsen Taliyum had to be temporarily halted.

Qing hadn’t found it unfortunate at all.

As time went on, she unexpectedly completed the Heavenly Heart Harmony sound.

That same night when she casually proposed to meet the stand-in again.

It was time to organize the Martial Arts Inventory.

After many nightly strolls, self-training spots had piled up considerably.

The Heavenly Flight and Wind Walking had both reached the 12-star level. The useful Black Shadow Stealth had also reached great success.

After raising several miscellaneous white and blue techniques to a maximum of 10 stars, a slight change was stirring in her body, a peculiar itch that tingled.

By the way, she hadn’t even practiced Seolga’s heirloom, the Taeyum Oknyu Divine Skill.

With its gold edges, she figured she’d just try hitting the third star for now.

She should probably take it slow at the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Qing took a deep breath.

“Hmm.”

She needed to prepare her mind for what was coming.

I have no thoughts.

Because I genuinely have no thoughts.

“Ugh… Urk… Ugh…”

An invisible hand was kneading her brain.

Qing’s mood was plummeting, about to plummet through the depths of the underworld.

In that moment, a warm, gentle smile of compassion filled her mind, bringing a wave of comfort.

Daejeong Seongong, is that you again…?

Thinking back, didn’t her abilities seem a bit lacking as well?

She has two purple heart techniques, yet hasn’t really provided much.

She should’ve named the character A-Qing instead of Bollidarma.

That way, she could have started with the strongest Divine Skills…

Why did the guide recommend A-Qing instead of Bollidarma?

If she could go back, she’d cancel the beef.

Instead, they better treat her to kimchi stew.

Huh?

Ah…

I really want to eat kimchi stew…

If only I could down a glass of soju with it…

A single tear rolled down Qing’s cheek.

—-

In the Central Plain, they say rice is half the meal.

Here, half refers to staple foods like rice.

When you order at a large restaurant, you’ll be asked what staple you’ll be having.

Southerners would ask for rice, while Eastern folks might order dumplings or watery dumplings.

Northerners would prefer noodles or porridge.

And those from the West, excluding Sichuan, were generally too poor to enter fancy restaurants, so their staples weren’t even offered.

Of course, this isn’t absolute, as there were various staples within a single city due to clustered villages.

Under this concept, in the Central Plain, rice and side dishes are lumped together as rice.

Side dishes in the Central Plain are merely pickled or tossed items, without the need for heat.

Everything else was just food, called “chai.”

Especially, the four regional cuisines known as the Central Four Cuisines.

Qing Cuisine and Sichuan Cuisine, Shandong Cuisine, and Cantonese Cuisine.

Moreover, the Central Plain houses a vast range of flora, making it a culinary utopia leading the world!

For that reason, food was a serious matter for the people of the Central Plain.

It’s no wonder one of their greetings includes asking if one has eaten.

On a related note, there was another ethnic group that placed as much importance on food.

An ethnic group so grand that just recalling its name feels like a fluttering fantasy, which built the Vast Empire during the Pangaea era, long before the Great Dinosaur Extinction (a fact also illustrated in the watermelon scroll) were the descendants of the Han people!

Yet, the Han people had a peculiar affliction.

If they don’t eat Korean food periodically, they would suffer from homesickness, a grave illness.

This was a real issue.

If the Han people went too long without Korean food, they’d be overcome by an overwhelming nostalgia for their homeland.

Their bodies would weaken, their minds foggy, unable to stand firmly while their motivation and willpower plummeted.

That was Qing’s condition.

Until now, Qing had somehow managed to endure with makeshift Korean food, but she had accidentally stumbled upon the forbidden knowledge beyond the veil that she had completely forgotten.

Kimchi stew…

With its blood-red broth, soft tofu shaped like brain matter, beautifully cooked kimchi, pulled apart ruthlessly by hand…

“I don’t look so good. Are you alright?”

“I’m not okay… I want to go home…”

“You really don’t need to worry. Once we recover the Heavenly Demon Soul, I’ll make sure you can return safely. I swear on my life.”

“Do you know where my home is? Adding my grandpa’s life to thousands wouldn’t be enough…”

At that moment, she felt like she might have sacrificed thousands of lives just to return home.

Huh…?

Is there a Korea in this world too?

Joseon? Goryeo? There’s got to be Korean food, right?

But are those the same countries I know?

The people here are shooting lasers from swords.

It’s a world where you can run faster than a carriage.

Maybe there’s nothing but ocean beyond the Central Plain.

Just some parallel Earth, an Earthy soap opera planet…

I don’t know. What does it matter?

Qing thought weakly.

If Seomun Sulin had seen her now, she probably would’ve realized her reckless disciple had truly come to grips with grave matters.

This longing, born from homesickness, wasn’t simply about becoming cruel or losing one’s humanity.

Even profound teachings like the Daejeong couldn’t shield one from such a longing.

Letting go of oneself in that way was somewhat akin to the concept of ‘no-self’ and ‘non-existence’ in Buddhism and Daoism.

In fact, homesickness was a common yet easily resolvable issue.

Just a warm meal and some good company would solve everything.

However, there were those who couldn’t even take that easy route.

The march towards the Heavenly Demon Sect had already reached day ten.

For Qing, every day was just slipping by without a purpose.

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