796 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Understanding the Geography of Zhongyuan(Central Plains), Part One. The west is high and the east is low. This is not to say that it gradually increases in elevation as you move toward the west. Roughly three hundred li east from the Divine Maiden Sect(신녀문), the division between east and west occurs at Ichang County(의창현). To the west lies an endless series of mountains rising like formidable walls that challenge even the most daring souls. The concept of this elevation might be challenging for the people from Qing's hometown to grasp. To simplify, if someone living in a semi-basement in a western mountain city wants to align with the height of an eastern resident, they’d have to stack five of the ancient sixty-three-story steel towers of Yeouido. And they’d have to stand at the top! This is the case even in Guizhou, the least elevated of the plateaus. Comparatively, aligning with Yunnan’s heights demands at least eight such towers, and for Qinghai, it requires no less than twelve. So, Qing's reckless charge in a straight line through Zhangjiajie, aiming for the shortest path, was indeed foolishly ignorant. Yet, Qing can afford to do that. When your body is robust, you can afford to use less brain. However, there's no rush like before. Plus, this time, many in her group are weaklings, almost indistinguishable from average people (as Tang Nanah, Zhuge Leehyun, and those below the Pinnacle Realm are barely martial artists), so naturally, they have to take a more comfortable path. "Attention, ship owners! We'll be sailing to Changsha. We will board the ship with the best conditions!" A masked woman suddenly appeared at the bustling port of Jagwi County(자귀현), which is developing by the day, and began shouting madly. Saying she will board a ship? Not only that, she intends to choose the best ship based on conditions. But just then— "Ladies and gentlemen, present your Dragon King Medallion!" The Dragon King Medallion has appeared! The heads of the ship owners turned all at once, their eyes gleaming brightly. With this miraculous item that completely exempts the Yangtze River tolls, feared more than tigers and mamas, it's almost the only means to avoid the terrifying taxes. This changed everything, as it meant being able to bypass the skyrocketing tolls based on the size, cargo, and passengers of the ship. In truth, they could take the Seolgasang Trading Company's ship. But if they talk to them, it's not that they're catching a ride as they go up for business—they actually deploy their best luxury liner for Qing. She didn't need that privilege. They could simply hitch a ride on any ship to Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province(호남성). The distance remaining to Mount Wudang(점창파) is about four thousand li. From Changsha, they could rent a carriage and follow the main road straight away. Since the path naturally follows a gentle mountain route, even climbing countless times, an endless uphill road unfolds before them. But it doesn't matter if you're in a carriage. Does it tire me? The horse is the one carrying the burden. Thus, if they ride the carriage along the bumpy mountain path for two thousand li of uninterrupted climbing, they would finally reach Guiyang, the city representing Guizhou Province(귀주성). And then—Guiyang! Surprisingly, there's nothing there! Well, Guizhou is proverbially a backwater region. If you ask anyone in Zhongyuan where the most rural place is, eight out of ten would point to Guizhou. The other two might mention Guangxi. Qinghai and Yunnan may be farther, but Guizhou is still considered part of Zhongyuan. The people of Qinghai and Yunnan in the west and those from Liaodong and beyond the east are not even treated as part of Zhongyuan, nor are they considered rural even. So it's somewhat ambiguous. Guizhou is ambiguous. The weather is mild all year round; summers aren't too hot and winters aren't too cold, but it's not suitable enough to endure either summer or winter. The scenery is neither too dull nor exceptionally picturesque, so tourists hardly visit this remote place. Additionally, it doesn't boast the exotic lifestyles of nomadic tribes like Qinghai or Yunnan. However, being regarded as part of Zhongyuan implies that its culture and customs have been rooted there for centuries. Even its specialties are hazy. It does boast Guizhou tea茶 as a local specialty, but neighboring Yunnan is home to the finest teas currently in the world. Nevertheless— The first guest house in Guiyang, the Sword Spirit Pavilion(검령루), buzzes with a fascinating heat even in the cool air. Indeed, people are sweating profusely, repeatedly inhaling sharply. Their saliva drips continuously while they focus on their meals, failing to hold back sighs of admiration every second. "Gasp! What kind of taste is this...!?" "My sweat flows, my mouth feels aflame, and my heart feels like it will burst! Yet, huff, slurp, I can't stop!" "Sniff, I need more alcohol! Hey, waiter! Bring me a bottle of Moutai, no, bring a whole vat!" "Ahh, my chopsticks won't stop!" "Gah, what is this! Slurp, this taste, how can there be such a taste in this world! It's the best taste of my life! What in the world is this taste?" "Don't you know, friend? Ah, this is called 'Spicy(辣)'. They generously added the lalcho." "Spicy! This taste is...!" "Spicy! It's spicy! Too spicy! But it's good!" Seeing this, Qing’s eyes gleamed with interest. Oh, spicy food seems to be a specialty here? "Is spicy food famous here?" "In Guizhou? I have not heard so," Zhuge Leehyun responded with a troubled expression. At that time, lalcho, an unknown red pepper spice that had flowed in subtly from somewhere, had not yet been widely spread. However, if Qing were well-versed in Zhongyuan history, she'd have known it would be about a hundred years before Guizhou became famous for its spicy cuisine. And she'd also have known this was the very moment when the legend of the spiciest taste in Zhongyuan was being born. Later, it's said that the people of Sichuan are not afraid of spicy food, the people of Hunan do not mind the degree of spiciness, and the people of Guizhou fear food that isn't spicy at all. This was the beginning of Guizhou's love for spiciness! Of course, Qing is not well-versed in Zhongyuan history, and at least in this context, one cannot fault her for ignorance. Among all the people of the world, who would truly be interested in the history of Zhongyuan? Not knowing the history of Zhongyuan is nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, knowing it in great detail might make one seem strange and suspicious. "If we were to consider a specialty of Guizhou, I’ve heard that the alcohol, known as Maotai, is quite drinkable." ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVcDd1MStNMXBKY1dSd1Q2NmVKZWg0Snd5eWRQcXVVbCt1UTJVNzNLcWtKWQ "Oh, Maotai?" Qing's ears perked up. Maotai. In the Zhongyuan pronunciation, Mao-tai-jiu. Isn't that an extremely famous liquor? Wasn't it considered the most expensive wine in Zhongyuan? Of course, not yet. Maotai would not become Zhongyuan's most prestigious liquor until about two hundred years later. Qing's eyes sparkled with interest. She loved alcohol, but spicy food even more! It had been a long time since she had savored proper spiciness since arriving in Zhongyuan. Indeed, even in Zhongyuan, spicy flavors existed. There were various spices and chilies, besides the lalcho that Qing knew, that could bring a fiery kick. But this exploding sensation of the chili, as experienced by the people of Guiyang, was a brand-new feeling. Qing's cultural roots lay with the Korean people. And when you think of Koreans, you think of spicy food. Of course, the ancestors of the Korean people might find this unfair. What on earth are you talking about, they might say, bewildered, proclaiming that their history has never been particularly spicy. Nevertheless, when Qing came forth into the martial world, Koreans loved their spiciness! "Excuse me! Is spicy food famous around here? Is it very spicy?" "Heh, customer, it’s not famous just yet, but it surely will be. Our master chef here was shocked last year after trying the so-called 'Mara Ultimate Soup' from a chef claiming to be the best in the world in Sichuan." "Oh. Mara Ultimate Soup. That was delicious." "My goodness. You don't understand, do you? The shock to our master chef was from witnessing such a bold use of lalcho for barely something you can even call a dish? A soup sold from a cart, and you call that cooking." "What!? How dare you insult Mara Ultimate Soup? It's an insult to me, and I can't stand that!" "Nana, calm down." "Since Qing says it, I guess I have to…." Tang Nanah, who was quick to anger, was quickly subdued. "Ahem. Thus began the fateful meeting between our chef and lalcho." The chef fell in love with the taste of lalcho and began cultivating it himself. And surely, as native cultivars differ by soil, it became spicier than the original Sichuan lalcho. "So even if you go to Sichuan, you won’t taste anything as spicy as what we offer." "Hm. Let’s see how spicy it is." Sichuan was renowned for its traditional spiciness even before lalcho arrived, so the waiter’s spicy pride didn't sit well with some. "It sounds delicious. Let’s see, half with real heat, and half mild. We'll take ten dishes, wine included, Maotai, and anything better you have. What about everyone else? What's for dinner?" Ordering ten dishes makes her a valuable customer indeed. "Yes, right away!!! Ten dishes!!! Special Isai Lalcho Meat!!! Spicy Tofu Pancakes!!! Laljo Chicken!!! Plus more……” After the waiter loudly shouted the menu names across the shop and left, Qing swallowed her saliva, eagerly anticipating a burst of spice. Spicy Tofu Pancakes. Viewing what would become Guizhou’s representative dish, Qing tilted her head in curiosity. Looks mild enough, she thought. And so, taking a large chunk into her mouth and chewing firmly— "Ugh. Ack, ugh…!" The inside of the tofu, stuffed with intensely spicy peppers, lit her mouth on fire. It's not only spicy but also packed with peppers preserved in vinegar, prompting an overpowering sour note alongside the heat. It was incredibly spicy. It was a level of spiciness she'd never encountered before. "Wow, sniff, what is this, sniff, how can anyone, wow, sniff." "What, is it really that spicy? Let me see, oh, spicy indeed?" "It's spicy, yes, but is it necessary to fuss so much?" "Oh, sister. This is exciting, isn't it?" This was the assessment from Tang Nanah, Peng Daesan, and Zhuge Leehyun. Seo Lily generally wasn't interested unless there was a hot broth involved, and Gyeon Poo Hee merely tilted his head seeing Qing struggle against spiciness. "Sniff, no, why are you, sniff. Ack." Qing was taken aback. Me, the great me…! A spice wimp?! How could that be!! Though Qing's spirit was Korean, her body was Zhongyuan. And spiciness wasn't a matter of mental fortitude or preference—it was intrinsically linked to genes and the body. In the end, Yeon Sul's body couldn't withstand the fierce spiciness it had never encountered before. Previously, Zhongyuan’s spice was more numbing than fiery, after all. “Grr, there’s spicy food, but I can’t eat it.” “Awa, are you crying?” “No, I’m not crying. Sniff, it’s just, my eyes are tearing up a bit. Sniff, Jianyou, don’t. Don’t eat it. Jiji, this isn’t for eating for kids. Eating the wrong spicy food really makes you suffer. Sniff, you’ll perish.” “Okay……” However. "Hic, sniff, it's spicy, too spicy, hic-hic. Sniff, it's deadly, hoo." Qing’s stomach was ultimately indestructible. It had to be. There could be no food under heaven that Qing could not conquer; therefore, the pain now would surely turn to bliss later. Is it too spicy? That's just weakness talking. Spiciness is something you can train for, by eating spicy food, your tolerance increases over time. Did those who love spicy food eat it from birth? As if they nursed on spicy formula. It’s all about determination, mental fortitude. If you fail to try, fail to exert efforts to enjoy it, how can you know how tasty spiciness is? Hic-hic. Even though she felt she'd lost all the precious spice tolerance and experience she'd built over time. Sniff. Oh, so spicy. Lost things can be regained. Hic-hic. The expressions of Qing's companions were pitiful as they watched her. If it's too spicy, why not just leave it? Why endure it to the point of tears? Thus, Qing embraced her identity as someone who struggles with spice but chose not to despair and instead worked hard to overcome it. Is it more commendable to be born tolerating spice well, or to overcome one's inherent struggle with it through sheer determination? Her fiery determination was something everyone should aspire to. In any case, after a bout of enduring spice with much saliva, sweat, tears, and effort. They enjoyed a full day of rest and then dived back into their spicy endeavors the following morning with more saliva, sweat, and tears. To outsiders, it might have seemed as though they'd been possessed. Perhaps by the spirits of those who’d perished because of their inability to eat spicy food. Although they had a relaxed schedule, they weren't motivated enough to seek out sights for sightseeing. There were famous temples and picturesque mountains, but Zhongyuan's temples were grander, and Yunnan's mountains were prettier. Thus, they left the dull city of Guiyang early, heading towards Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. The distance remaining to Mount Wudang was about two thousand li.