After arriving in Hefei, the two of them headed straight to an inn.
It was located near the main house of the Namgoong Clan.
The first thing Ilhwa did was take a warm bath. She washed herself two or three tis before the stench and sticky feeling were completely gone.
After changing into the clothes Seop Mugwang had prepared, she ca down to the first floor. Seop Mugwang was sitting at a table with his arms crossed, food spread out in front of him.
As she descended the stairs with soft, dragging steps, his lips curled into a wide, bow-shaped grin.
“There you are, kid! I ordered extra-large portions just for you, so dig in!”
The table was piled high with thin wheat noodles and dumplings.
“So these are the local specialties, huh.”
Just dumplings and noodles?
“....”
Ilhwa didn’t sit down. She stood still, staring intently at the dumplings and noodles laid out on the table.
Seop Mugwang, who had been pulling out a chair for her, looked puzzled and asked,
“Why aren’t you sitting?”
“I ate candied hawthorn, so I’m not really hungry.”
That’s what she said, but her face was clearly filled with disappointnt.
Seop Mugwang blinked, then belatedly caught on and burst into laughter.
“Just sit down first! Co on, sit! Hurry up!”
As soon as Ilhwa took her seat, Seop Mugwang placed a dumpling on her plate.
“What do you think is the most basic food served at an inn?”
“Dumplings and noodles.”
No matter where you go, it’s hard to find an inn that doesn’t serve dumplings and noodles.
That’s how fundantal these dishes are—and also how unremarkable they usually are.
“Exactly. Do you know how hard it is for basic dishes like these to actually be considered good?”
When he tore open the dumpling skin, thick, rich broth pooled into the dish beneath.
Seop Mugwang casually ladled clear soy sauce and filled the inside of the opened dumpling with it.
“People assu that if any dog or cow can make it, it’ll taste like dog food or cow feed too—but nope. You eat it without any expectations, and it’s like getting a glimpse of the afterlife.”
“I already saw the afterlife thanks to the Great Return Pill.”
You're comparing this dumpling to the Great Return Pill?
Well, Seop Mugwang had never taken the Great Return Pill, so he could say that without knowing any better.
Seop Mugwang set down his chopsticks and clapped his hands together, flashing a confident smile.
“Go on, try it. You’ll be begging to order more through your tears.”
Reluctantly, Ilhwa picked up her spoon, sliced off a small bit of the dumpling skin, scooped so filling, broth, and soy sauce in balance, and put it in her mouth.
In that instant, her eyes lit up.
“...!”
“How /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ is it? Good, right? Absolutely amazing, isn’t it?”
“...!”
Ilhwa instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, chewing slowly while staring at the dumpling.
Amazingly—it was truly delicious.
Of all the dumplings she had eaten, even in her past life, this was the best.
Whatever ingredients they had used, the flavor stayed true to the basics of a dumpling, yet a subtle seafood taste unfolded across her palate, filling her mouth with rich umami.
It looked ordinary, but the taste was anything but.
While she chewed, Seop Mugwang ladled so noodles into her bowl and placed it in front of her.
After swallowing the dumpling, Ilhwa tried the noodles and was once again surprised by the unexpectedly savory flavor.
Watching her devour the food with such gusto, Seop Mugwang let out a loud laugh and tousled her hair roughly.
“Take it slow. I’ll keep ordering more until your stomach bursts.”
Just like he said, Ilhwa kept eating dumplings and noodles until she felt like her stomach might actually explode.
It was the first ti in her life that food was still delicious even after she was full.
The next morning, when she woke up, Seop Mugwang was already gone. The bill had been fully paid.
Seop Mugwang had disappeared—but soone was still following her. Judging by the familiar presence, it seed to be one of his subordinates who had been tailing them on the way to Hefei.
Most likely for surveillance and protection.
Maybe even shadowing her, in case she decided to take a different route.
“Either way, it doesn’t matter.”
Ilhwa stepped out of the inn and made her way toward the Namgoong Clan’s house.
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