Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 636
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 636
Yet not everything could be accomplished immediately.
People needed to be brought in, and arrangements had to be made.
The initial organization would take a month, during which the five representatives of the Five Wheels Society had to remain in Bokju.
After that, the practical staff would arrive to handle the work.
So Namgung Un settled on a general direction and spoke.
“What do you think of holding a grand banquet for ten days to celebrate and commemorate this great victory?”
“Excellent, I support it!”
Gongseon Yeong raised his hand first.
After him, everyone else voiced their agreement in turn.
The martial artists needed rest, and they deserved a moment to savor their triumph.
* * *
The banquet was held in grand fashion.
“I’m not a nursemaid, and what does it matter to me whether the Great Master Namgung drinks or does anything else?”
“Come now… don’t be like that.”
Jin Cheon-hee sighed softly.
I understood how difficult it was to sit alone drinking tea while all the martial artists laughed, made noise, drank, and enjoyed themselves.
Especially in this era, drinking gatherings were places for camaraderie.
Being good at drinking was an important virtue among martial artists, and those who couldn’t drink were considered petty—such was the time we lived in.
“Then please drink in moderation. Don’t drink until dawn, and make sure to consume plenty of water in between.”
“…Thank you!”
“But let me be clear—I’m not the Great Master Namgung’s personal physician. You must look after your own health.”
Namgung Un nodded at those words.
“Then I’ll go prepare some appetizers.”
Jin Cheon-hee said this and entered the kitchen.
As I brought out dishes periodically, I noticed that Gongseon Yeong, Namgung Un, and the Abbot had become completely friendly with one another, exchanging cups of wine back and forth with great enthusiasm.
Rather, Sama Hyeon maintained a mysterious smile and kept an appropriate distance from everyone.
“Can I help with the cooking, hyeong?”
“No need. The other kitchen experts are handling the prep work, and I’m just doing the frying, roasting, and steaming.”
Even as I said this, when Sama Hyeon started to get up, I quickly spoke.
“You’re from the Golden Blood Hall. You should be building connections with anyone who can make money. Isn’t that right?”
“I’ve already built enough connections. Just let me do the dishes—give me anything.”
“Hao-mun, the Mun-ju, wants to wash dishes?”
“Is there a problem with that? Gaga~?”
He insisted so stubbornly that I had no choice but to agree.
With so many martial artists attending the banquet, the kitchen had already become a battlefield.
I wielded an enormous black iron wok as large as a human torso.
Whoooosh!
The curry-coated fried rice rose up in a golden gleam.
“Ooooh!”
The other kitchen experts stared in astonishment, their mouths falling open.
“I thought that massive wok was something only the head chef could use?”
“It requires not just strength but skill as well. Even if a martial artist possesses exceptional internal energy, cooking is an entirely different matter.”
Indonesian fried rice—nasi goreng.
‘Indonesian cuisine is truly delicious. I loved it back on Earth too.’
There wasn’t a single Indonesian dish that lacked flavor.
Interestingly, I first encountered it at a Thai restaurant, but later discovered it was Indonesian cuisine and sought out proper Indonesian restaurants to eat it.
It was that delicious.
This was my version.
I cooked rice using chicken broth and Namman-variety rice, then mixed it with eggs, curry, and reduced tomatoes.
Then I stir-fried vegetables and various cooking ingredients together vigorously.
Whoosh!
“Wow, once you finish this, can we taste it?”
The other kitchen experts, unable to contain their appetite, asked.
At those words, I chuckled softly.
“Of course. You’re my kitchen comrades, after all.”
“Wow! To witness the Blue-Eyed Deity cooking right before our eyes!”
‘Hmm, my aliases are being used quite freely.’
The lack of consistency was probably because my deeds were so varied.
I deep-fried small freshwater crabs here, then created a spicy curry using the local pungent spices.
‘Without that, it’s just gums.’
Since there was no coconut milk, I adjusted the direction toward spiciness using red chili peppers.
‘Unless they’re Sichuan natives, most people can’t handle anything too spicy. I’ll just add enough for fragrance.’
Sizzle!
While doing all this simultaneously, I even employed the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong.
Sama Hyeon was startled to see my eyes turn blue.
“Hyeong. You use martial arts while cooking?”
“What are you talking about? Is there anything more important than feeding people? If I can use it, I absolutely should.”
Saying so, I fried chicken on another cooking station.
I was already doing the work of five or six people single-handedly.
The fact that I executed every cooking step in perfect order without a single mistake was truly remarkable.
“Eat once it cools.”
Thunk—
I placed a freshly fried chicken wing in front of Sama Hyeon.
The chicken wing, steaming with heat, crackled with oil.
Sama Hyeon didn’t wait and immediately popped it into his mouth.
“Ow!”
Crunch—
With one bite, the flavor of garlic and pepper burst forth.
“How did you do that?”
“I seasoned the meat inside the flesh.”
“Wow. The juices carry the aroma of garlic and pepper.”
Unable to resist those words, the other kitchen experts gathered around.
“…That…um… Could I possibly have just one bite?”
“One moment.”
I pulled out more chicken wings so everyone could taste them.
Crunch, crunch-crunch-
As everyone took a bite, their eyes grew remarkably wide.
“This flavor!”
‘It’s Korean fried chicken, that’s what it is.’
In a place where there are more chicken restaurants than McDonald’s, surviving as a chicken shop is nothing short of warfare.
A veritable holy war of taste, blood and all!
So naturally, chicken-frying techniques had no choice but to develop.
Even the aspiration to retire and just fry chicken is no longer easy.
Everyone’s palates have been elevated to the same standard.
“Please, couldn’t you give us just one more?”
The kitchen experts spoke with desperate expressions.
“You all have cooking to do, don’t you?”
“No…. That….”
Their faces all turned bright red.
In the end, I sighed softly and had to fry more chicken wings so everyone could have some.
“Ooh! Then, um, fried rice too!”
“One moment.”
Saying so, I selected a small bowl, added a bit of fried rice, and placed the chicken wing on top.
Just enough for two spoonfuls.
Mini fried chicken fried rice bowl.
But the appearance was so adorable that Sama Hyeon was surprised.
“Wow, hyeong…. This is killer, isn’t it? You could sell this for a wealthy family’s banquet.”
“And charge the price of a single bowl of rice for it?”
“No, you’d charge for ten bowls. But in exchange, make the rice bowl from a master craftsman.”
‘He has good sense. He knows exactly what the wealthy like.’
That’s luxury itself, isn’t it?
“I should earn that way and buy hyeong and Hye-a some trinkets.”
“You already have plenty of money.”
Sama Hyeon laughed softly at those words.
“You praise me as remarkable, hyeong, but you’re far more remarkable for whipping something like this up.”
At those words, I shook my head.
‘I’m just bringing over things from the modern era. The truly remarkable one is you, you fool.’
I didn’t voice that aloud.
A short while later.
The dishes were completed and delivered to each of the martial artists.
“Small bowls?”
In each small bowl lay a single bite of appetizer and a single bite of rice bowl.
To this, I had prepared and deep-fried a large sea bream beforehand.
Sama Hyeon emerged carrying a pot of simmering sauce.
Splash!
“Sea bream in sweet and sour sauce, prepared on the spot. You can enjoy the tender meat without worrying about bones.”
“Ohhhhh!”
“Yes! This is it, this is it!”
“Pouring the boiling sauce down in one magnificent sweep!”
“They say Ilgwang’s cooking mysteriously stays crispy without becoming soggy.”
“To think I’d taste such a delicacy today!”
The martial artists erupted in cheers.
“And these small bowls—each one contains a different dish. Perfect as drinking accompaniments, wouldn’t you say?”
“Indeed. This takes no ordinary care. Or does it? Perhaps it’s actually easier since we’re just placing food in bowls?”
“Even so, where can you find easy cooking? Especially look at this nameless southern dish.”
“One taste, one memory. I’ll never forget this in my lifetime!”
Sama Hyeon spoke.
“Somehow this is even more lively than my inn’s banquets. You’re truly remarkable, brother. You pulled this off.”
“As long as everyone enjoys it, that’s what matters.”
Namgung Un and Gongseon Yeong forgot about toasting and began eagerly emptying the appetizers.
Crunch—
“Mmm… excellent meat quality!”
For the Abbot, who practiced vegetarianism, I had specially prepared dishes with various fresh vegetables, tofu, and fried tofu.
“Amitabha Buddha. To go out of your way for this humble monk. I can only express my gratitude for your thoughtfulness.”
The Abbot seemed satisfied as well, happily enjoying the banquet with grain tea.
The colorful dishes were truly a feast for the eyes.
A symphony of flavors.
“Brother, everyone will never forget today.”
“Haha. Is that so?”
“Yes. Where else could we eat this again?”
Was that all?
I borrowed a seven-stringed zither from the musician who had been performing.
“Then, allow me to play a piece.”
Ding—!
As I slowly played each note, the people’s attention grew increasingly deep.
Sama Hyeon smiled as if intoxicated by my melody, then soon made his way to the center of the banquet.
Jingju opera was Sama Hyeon’s specialty, but there were many other things he had performed even without it.
Thump, thump.
Sama Hyeon brought out the clay drum he usually used for playing around.
But this time, it wasn’t filled with the usual playfulness.
The dance itself was the performance.
Each time Sama Hyeon danced, his sleeves billowed upward, captivating all who watched.
In rhythm with the music, everyone gazed entranced at the tips of his fingers, at the line of his jaw.
I felt nameless yellow flowers scattering like gold.
A rich, mellow voice sang out.
In life, when one achieves their aspirations, one must celebrate fully.
Do not let the golden cup sit empty before the moon.
The meaning was that having accomplished their work, they should now enjoy life together.
Sama Hyeon, who had drawn upon the poetry of Li Bai, seemed like a person untouched by gravity.
‘So this is how one uses the Tuo-form technique.’
Had airtime ever lasted this long?
Could a person truly soar this high for such an extended duration?
Crimson silk flowed like rivers, stretched like mountains, scattered like late spring blossoms.
Strangely, though no sachet was worn, the air seemed filled with a subtle fragrance.
Everyone watched the mysterious dance, their souls suspended.
I was no exception.
My fingers plucked the strings, but my mind was reeling.
‘So this is why people fall for idols.’
Not just one or two observers wore that dazed expression.
Even Gongseon Yeong and Manseong Daejoo forgot to drink, their eyes fixed on Sama Hyeon’s dance.
“Wow, is he really the same person as me? If I did the same movements, I’d look like a madman.”
“I had heard rumors that the Mun-ju was formerly a performer. It appears the rumors were true.”
“Heavens, Cheon Hee. You get to see this alone? Will you dance for me if I ask?”
‘No, sister. You’re saying something incredible.’
I, still performing, could only pluck the strings and say nothing.
I felt like the musician being swept away in Sama Hyeon’s wake.
‘At this rate, I’ll be swallowed by the dance.’
I desperately plucked the strings to keep pace.
On that stage, Sama Hyeon was a smiling tyrant.
With a gentle smile on his face, he did as he pleased, seizing people’s hearts and tearing them asunder.
‘An ordinary musician would have trembled and dropped the seven-stringed zither.’
His power to captivate was that profound.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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