Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 308

Dokgocheon rebuked the masters gathered in the plaza with the sternness of a loyal guard.

“Of course, such an incident is unlikely, but should any untoward event occur, I will intervene. Especially Dokgunja.”

“Y-Yes?!”

Baekho froze, answering stiffly when Dokgocheon called his name.

No matter his skill in the poison arts of the Green Forest, he stood before the Vice Lord of the Demonic Cult.

A man no one dared trifle with.

“I am well aware of your keen interest in the poison sac of the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake. If Cainchel offers it to you out of goodwill, be aware of the consequences should you accept. Of course, feel free to test it if curiosity overwhelms you. After all, you alone will suffer the effects.”

“E-Even if he offers it to me as food?”

“Of course. That has been the rule, and it will remain so.”

This was Dokgocheon’s own consideration.

He knew Cainchel only needed the meat of the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake.

Naturally, parts of the internal organs, such as the poison sac or inner core, would remain.

The people gathered in Kunlun were martial artists to the bone.

They wouldn’t blink at a thousand gold pieces, but their desire for strength was unmatched.

That’s why Dokgocheon intervened, nipping any potential discord in the bud.

“Remember this: touch him, and you are dead.”

The masters from the Demonic Cult nodded, sweating profusely.

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Grand Master Tae-eul, watching with a satisfied expression, commented, “It seems the Vice Lord is quite fond of Cainchel.”

“Ahem! I am merely fulfilling my duty. The Anti-Sky Alliance is a temporary alliance formed to face the Princess. It is rife with the potential for conflict. I wish to avoid self-destruction before the final battle, at the very least.”

“Haha. No need to be so bashful.”

“……How can you respond so casually to my words?”

Cainchel bowed lightly to Tae-eul and Dokgocheon, who were chatting amicably, to express his gratitude.

He was about to prepare a soup dish from a small country far east of Kunlun.

Samgyetang [Ginseng Chicken Soup].

Traditionally, it’s made by stuffing glutinous rice, jujubes [dried Chinese dates], chestnuts, milk vetch root, and ginseng into a young chicken and simmering it thoroughly.

Cainchel had eaten snake meat several times and knew its taste was quite similar to chicken.

Hadn’t he made seasoned chicken with a Cockatrice, a monster with a snake’s tail attached to a chicken’s body?

‘To absorb all the energy of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake, and the numerous spirit herbs, soup is the best approach!’

Moreover, besides Samgyetang, he would need lamb dishes to break the spell of those possessed by the Gumiho [nine-tailed fox spirit, a creature from Korean folklore known for seduction and illusion].

Thus, Cainchel had to create a temporary cooking area in the backyard of Kunlun.

The Guardian Sword under Dokgocheon assisted him.

He used his martial arts to cut down trees for a cooking table, and with a swing of his sword, a rock became a large stove.

“Thanks to you, I can start cooking immediately. Thank you.”

“Haha, I am sworn to the Vice Lord, and I haven’t properly repaid you for saving me. I’m glad even this can be of help.”

From now on, he would cook only with ingredients from the East.

Cainchel, determined, stood in the Eastern kitchen for the first time.

Fortunately, he always carried cooking tools in his two-dimensional pocket [a magical storage space, like a portable dimension].

‘Okay, let’s get started.’

First, he had to prepare the nearly 10-meter-long Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake for easy cooking.

‘First, remove the scales, peel off the skin, and cut out the most fleshy part.’

Cainchel held Durandal in both hands and performed the Onion Swordsmanship.

The body of the incredibly large Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake was instantly split in half.

And in less than 10 minutes, he had extracted only the meat as if he had filleted it.

Dokgocheon, who came to watch out of curiosity about how to cook a spirit creature, was impressed.

“Hmm. To dismantle a spirit creature so skillfully. Where on earth did you learn that?”

“Even in the Central Continent, where Britannia is located, there are many heterogeneous creatures called monsters. If you catch and cook them, this much is easy.”

“Monster… I should visit the Western Continent when I have the chance.”

It was said that monsters hardly inhabited the Central Plains.

However, thanks to the abundant mana, animals or plants that were commonly seen often lived longer than their usual lifespan.

After a hundred years, an inner core was created inside their bodies, and those creatures were called spirit creatures.

“But right now, they are my precious source of Aura.”

Cainchel smacked his lips and began to wash the log-like body of the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake.

Perhaps because the body was so large, even the most delicious tenderloin was enough to make Samgyetang.

‘I should keep only what I need to make Samgyetang and store the rest in my two-dimensional pocket.’

But the problem was the remaining internal organs. The smell was so pungent that wrinkles naturally formed on his forehead.

The internal organs of the Poison Horned Snake, which had become a spirit creature, were used to create the most potent lethal poison in the Central Plains.

Even Cainchel, who had over 90% poison resistance, could not eat that part.

‘Well, if I keep it, there will be a time when I can use it.’

Once he swept even the internal organs of the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake into his two-dimensional pocket, it became much easier to breathe.

Cainchel soaked the prepared Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake in water to remove the blood, then dropped a drop of milky white liquid.

In a cave filled with the spirit of heaven and earth, the energy of the earth condenses to create a milky white liquid called petroleum.

Among them, the clearest and purest energy is called Gongcheong Seokryu [Kongcheong Petrified Milk, a mythical substance].

He was using the elixir of elixirs, which is said to gather one drop every hundred years, to remove the blood from the meat.

“Euhahaha……! Truly the best. Tae-eul, that old geezer, should have seen this. I’m sure his kind face would be distorted.”

“Besides, since I obtained a precious elixir, it’s better to cook it as deliciously as possible and eat it.”

Moreover, Cainchel had once made a salad with Mimir’s spring water, which was almost identical to Gongcheong Seokryu.

The energy contained in Gongcheong Seokryu permeated the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake. Then, for a moment, it seemed to shine blue, and the elasticity of the meat improved several times.

“Hoo, at that rate, you could call it a Thousand-Year Poison Horned Snake instead of a Hundred-Year one. You said you pay attention to the condition of all the ingredients while cooking, right?”

“Yes. Now I’m going to soak the glutinous rice in water. If you put this inside the meat and boil it, it becomes sticky rice, which is really delicious with its chewy texture and oil.”

“…….”

Before he knew it, Dokgocheon’s chin was soaked with drool.

Just listening to the explanation of the dish made him want to eat it so much.

He wanted to ask if he could have a taste after it was finished.

But hadn’t he just told the numerous masters not to covet Cainchel’s elixir a few tens of minutes ago?

“……Kuh, ahem……. Still, watching from the side should be okay.”

“Are you really okay? Once I start boiling it in earnest, the smell will be so good that you’ll want to eat it.”

“W-Who do you think I am! I am the Dark Demonic Emperor Dokgocheon! Do you think I can’t even endure that much!”

Even as he said that, Dokgocheon’s fingers, which had been crossed, trembled.

Cainchel shrugged and began to remove the oil from the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake, which had completely lost its blood.

‘If this remains, the soup will become cloudy.’

Usually, Samgyetang contains a handful of whole garlic, raw chestnuts, jujubes, and glutinous rice.

However, Cainchel put the fruit of the Nine Leaf Purple Sesame Orchid instead of jujubes.

The fragrance was much better, and the fruit of the spirit herb would remove the unique foul smell of the snake.

The reason why less glutinous rice is used than expected is that it expands as it cooks, making the chicken’s belly full.

If there is not enough space, it will not cook properly.

Cainchel stuffed the additional ingredients into the snake’s body and tied the opening with chewy noodles.

Next, it was time to prepare the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, which was as precious as Gongcheong Seokryu.

‘Remove the dirt on the outside with a kitchen knife, then clean between the roots…….’

Then Dokgocheon tilted his head.

“Why don’t you put the snow ginseng inside the meat?”

“That’s because if you put the snow ginseng inside the meat, the nutrients will be absorbed by the inedible bones. So, I’m going to put it in the pot and simmer the broth, allowing the fragrance and taste to permeate the flesh.”

“Soup made with Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng……. Kuh, ahem……!”

Dokgocheon continued to cough.

It seemed like he really wanted to eat the special elixir Samgyetang.

‘Sorry, but this is mine. I’m going to eat every last drop of the broth.’

Cainchel put the Hundred-Year Poison Horned Snake meat, which had turned into dumplings, into a large pot and poured water.

And he placed the cleanly prepared Hasuo [a medicinal herb known for longevity] and Snow Ginseng on top of it.

“This way, the fragrance of the spirit herbs will permeate the meat well.”

“……But the water you just poured smells strangely good. What on earth is that?”

“It’s brewed with Hundred-Year Aloeswood. Since it’s bark, you can’t eat it directly, so I have to use it to make broth.”

“Broth made with Hundred-Year Aloeswood?! ……Gulp.”

Dokgocheon had to swallow his saliva once again.

Even the Demonic Spirit Transformation Pill, which is only given to the next leader of the Demonic Cult, does not contain this many spirit herbs.

“If I absorb all the spiritual energy contained within…….”

However, no matter how good the spirit herbs you eat, you can only obtain a portion of the internal energy.

Dokgocheon also had a lot of spiritual energy left in his dantian [energy center in the body] that he had not yet converted into internal energy.

Even if he had mastered the Dark Demonic Divine Art to the 10th level, he could not digest that much spiritual energy at once.

However, Dokgocheon did not know that Cainchel had the peerless cheat skill called Gourmet.

Cainchel was unable to overcome the wall of level 99, which is the limit of humans.

The Gourmet skill allows you to gain experience points contained in food by eating it.

If he used that, he would surely be able to digest the special elixir Samsatang as well.

No, he had to. Because the Demon Dukes he would fight in the future were that strong.

Boil, boil-

The Samsatang boiled in the pot, and an incredibly good smell began to waft out.

Dokgocheon, who had to smell it right in front of him, twisted his body as if he was in pain.

And he finally reached the limit of his patience.

“Ah, no! Damn it, just one bite! Just let me eat one bite of that Samsatang! Uwaaa!”

Then, the Guardian Sword, who had been standing guard a little further away, ran over and grabbed Dokgocheon’s body.

“Maintain your dignity, Vice Lord! You can’t do this!”

“Let go! I have to eat that dish! Can’t I just eat it and throw you the Demonic Spirit Transformation Pill as compensation!”

“That’s left for your daughter, who will be ten years old soon…….”

“Ugh!”

The man who would soon have half of the vast Kangho Murim [martial arts world] in his hands, Dokgocheon.

But he couldn’t eat the Samsatang that was boiling in front of him.

* * *

Cainchel narrowed his eyes as he looked at the completed Samsatang.

The smell was better than any dish he had ever made.

The milky white broth, from which the scent of snow ginseng emanated, and the figure of the snake meat contained within, were enough to cause dizziness.

It’s the same as dragon meat.

This is a dish that he can never give to even the most precious guest.

A scream echoed from beyond the fence.

“Ueoeoeo! P-Please, just give me one bite! No, just let me smell it! If you don’t do it right now, I feel like I’m going to starve to death!”

“Calm down, Sect Leader Song! How long has it been since you escaped from being possessed by the Gumiho, and now it’s gluttony!”

“You came because you wanted to eat it too! Don’t recreate the legend of Buddha’s Temptation here!”

Buddha’s Temptation (Fotiaoqiang) [a highly complex and delicious soup].

As the name suggests, it is a dish that originated from an anecdote in which a monk who was practicing nearby jumped over the wall because the smell was so good.

But the dish that Cainchel made now was even better than that.

Nearly thirty super masters had gathered to smell the food.

But in the end, they couldn’t cross the wall.

What was unfolding before their eyes was an immeasurable number of walls.

Daedalus’s labyrinth had been created in Kunlun once again.

Maia, who was sitting behind Cainchel, sighed.

“Oh, I’ve become completely short-haired now. Well, I’m going to die soon anyway, so it’s not a big deal.”

Cainchel smiled awkwardly and handed Maia a small portion of Samsatang.

This would replenish the mana she had consumed in an instant.

“……Are you really giving this to the Main Dragon?”

“So stop saying you’re going to die. Aren’t you the Guardian Dragon of Gistard? You have to protect it for another thousand years.”

“Kuh, ahem……. Yes, the Guardian is right. I have to stay alive until Calliope wakes up again. I’m sorry for taking it away.”

“Actually, I thought this would happen, so I made 1.5 servings. I had plenty of ingredients in the first place.”

Then Maia’s ears turned red in an instant, and she shouted.

“Then tell me sooner! You made me say embarrassing lines!”

Maia, the Guardian Dragon of Gistard, who has lived for nearly ten thousand years.

She will surely become an indispensable helper in the increasingly fierce battle with the Demon Dukes in the future.

For that, half a bowl of Samsatang made with the remaining ingredients was not a waste.

Cainchel narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Samsatang in the large plate.

The time had finally come to eat this.

Gulp-

Will this truly become the last piece of fortune that began to explode after he grabbed the kitchen knife?

Cainchel picked up a spoon with a very nervous expression and scooped up the Samsatang broth.