Chapter 199
Mount Yeongryunsan, Deep Realm.
In the Deep Realm, where food was scarce, porridge and Sustenance Pills were Wei Zhongqi’s most frequent meals. Porridge was a simple dish made by combining whatever ingredients the Deep Realm had to offer, cooking them down, and seasoning them just enough to make them palatable. It wasn’t much to look at, but it was better than nothing. Occasionally, when he was utterly sick of Sustenance Pills, Wei Zhongqi would treat himself to some porridge.
Today, he was sitting alone, eating the porridge he had made. He scooped up a spoonful and tasted it. It had a strange flavor—bitter, slightly sweet, with a hint of saltiness.
Wei Zhongqi put the spoon down for a moment and thought about the foods he had eaten when he visited Earth to see Do-Jun: ramen, dumplings, pajeon[1], pork belly, braised short ribs, spicy chicken stew... Every single dish had been delicious, and he found himself craving those flavors.
The residents of the Deep Realm didn’t particularly care about food, since it was scarce to begin with, and the act of eating was seen as little more than a means to stave off hunger. Most residents would simply chew on nearby edible plants or gnaw on the bland, unappetizing meat of monsters that were safe to consume.
“I am not going to live like this,” Wei Zhongqi declared.
***
It was a peaceful Friday evening.
Do-Jun smiled as he welcomed Wei Zhongqi, who was visiting Earth after a long time. The last time they had met was over a drink of jukyeopcheong, so he was delighted to see him again. Wei Zhongqi caught up with Do-Jun, sharing updates on their lives.
“You want to learn how to cook?” Do-Jun repeated Wei Zhongqi’s request.
“Yes. I’m tired of living on Sustenance Pills and bland porridge.”
“Understandable.”