Book I Chapter 5
…
When Wu Hyuna first saw what is inside the room where Mi Jin-ah took her, she was a bit confused. She even thought that the beautiful woman discovered that she was a girl… because that room is filled with musical instruments of different kinds.
She was baffled and nervous at the same time.
But when she began learning about music, she discovered that the beautiful woman just wanted her to learn music.
She then knew that the beautiful woman is actually the wife of the Outer Sect head, Mi Jin-ah.
The beautiful woman suggested that she call her Aunty Jin-ah.
And so, Wu Hyuna's time was spent fortifying her physique, learning music, and at night learning literature and symbols from her mind.
Her time inside the sect was spent as such until she reached the age of 10.
At this time, Il Kwan who is ahead of her began teaching her martial techniques.
Though most of the cultivators do not practice martial techniques, some of them do. And Il Kwan's father, Il San Joon is one of them who teaches his son martial techniques.
As she watches his movements and stances, she suddenly recalled a manual inside her head that teaches about such martial techniques.
Though she is watching Il Kwan practice, in her mind she is flipping the manual about fighting techniques which ranges from simple boxing, then kicking, and more complex movements and their combinations.
It was part of the teaching left by her mother for her.
When she recalled her mother, her expression suddenly turned sad.
Il Kwan noticed this and quickly stopped.
"Are you okay? Do you remember your parents?" he said while trying to console his friend.
Wu Hyuna did not say anything and just lowered her head.
After staying in this place for years, she has already shed away her cute little ways and has adopted the manner of Il Kwan who is of great influence to her.
Her manner of speaking is also changing just like that of Il Kwan which greatly annoyed Min Jin-ah.
But Wu Hyuna could sense that annoyance so she would change her attitude in front of the mistress of the Outer Sect.
She would always act polite and just like a refine young man when she is with her aunty.
Wu Hyuna controlled her emotion and when she looks back up… she already showed a grin on her face.
"Senior Kwan, let's not do martial training, I won't be able to use that anyway," she said trying to change the topic.
"I'll just cook you something good…" Wu Hyuna suddenly suggested.
When Il Kwan heard that Wu Hyuna would be cooking, his expression immediately changes into delight.
Last year, when Hyuna was 9, she wanted to be of use to the sect and so she volunteered in the kitchen. The people in the kitchen knew that the little boy is like a close brother to the young master of the Outer Sect, Il Kwan, and very close to the mistress of the Outer Sect, so they were polite towards him.
But when they discovered her inept talent in cooking and handling the knife in the kitchen, the main cook of the Outer Sect almost wanted to make the little boy his disciple.
"This boy is truly natural… Hahaha… I think I found my personal disciple…" that fat middle-aged chef said while patting his belly.
But of course, he dare not take the little child as his personal disciple, but that does not mean he could not teach him a thing or two.
And so, one year has passed and the chef has already secretly taught Hyuna a lot of things.
Her performance thoroughly subdued the fat chef and has already let Hyuna use the kitchen at her will.
When some disciples saw Hyuna and Il Kwan going to the mess hall, a few of them immediately secretly followed.
"The little master chef is going to cook again!" said one of them in a hushed tone to his friend.
The two of them quickly followed secretly.
When a person heard this, he also called for his friend and secretly told their friends and their friends. And soon, about 30 people gathered secretly outside of the kitchen waiting patiently.
Soon, a delicious scent wafted outside of the kitchen which made the disciples salivate.
"Damn it… he is making a new dish, right?" one of them said from his hiding spot.
Ssshhh…
Before he could finish his words, he heard a few hissing sounds as if there are many snakes around him which startled the poor guy.
Hyuna who is cooking inside the kitchen did not mind the people outside. Whenever she felt like cooking, she would always prepare enough for about 30 people. But she would also set aside something for her Aunty, the chef, and the Outer Sect Head.
After she finished serving the dish to Il Kwan and asked the servant to hand the rest to those three important people, she also took her seat, and then the two looked at each other.
"This dish smells good…" Il Kwan commented.
"The aroma is really amazing, and this is… savage beast meat? How are you able to dice this meat in such a fine manner?" asked Il Kwan when he noticed that the meat is actually a savage beast meat.
One should know that savage beast meat already has Qi in them. So a mortal would be having a hard time slicing those using simple tools. Mortals could not even eat those kinds of meat as their teeth would not be able to bite off the meat or even digest the food in their stomachs.
But for cultivators, such meat provides not only physical nutrients but also essential Qi to their bodies.
Hence, Il Kwan was very surprised as to why Wu Jin could slice such meat.
"Hehe… Senior Kwan… That is a secret between Chef Jung and me…" Hyuna teases.
"Hehe… Alright, alright, but I must say… I'm already getting addicted to your cooking. It's like I won't be able to live if I could not taste your cooking… Hehehe…" Il Kwan chuckled.
The two did not bother with the group of disciples who are entering the mess hall while carrying their own bowls.
The expression of those disciples is that of bliss upon eating the soup.
"Damn… That Wu Jin fellow is really something… I think he would be taking the mantle of Chef Jung someday…" a male disciple commented as he savors the food.
"Don't you feel something weird? Chef Jung's cooking eliminates a huge amount of Qi in the dishes, but that young fellow's dish does not… When I eat his meals, I feel like my cultivation would always go smoothly…" someone said in a low voice.
The rest of the people at that table nodded their heads.
When Il Kwan and Wu Hyuna stood up from their seat, Il Kwan waves his hand in the air.
"Guys… you take care of the dishes, okay? Spotless as usual!" he shouted as he walked out of the mess hall.
"That brat… Hahaha…" the others chuckled as they already knew the drill.
…
Meanwhile, inside a room in the Outer Sect building, there are three people looking at each other with three empty bowls in front of them.
"What do you think?" asked Il San Joon while looking at his wife and Chef Jung.
"I think that the little brat is truly talented…, though he has that quirk of not following my instructions sometimes. But I think that brat's understanding when it comes to materials is deeper than I expected." Chef Jung was the first one to comment.
"Yes… It's just a pity that he is not a cultivator… If only that little one can cultivate…" Min Jin-ah also commented but showed a regretful gaze.
"Hmm… Not necessarily… Who knows… the little guy might be a late bloomer. We just have to wait… Maybe a miracle might happen…" Il San Joon said on the side.
The two did not say anything, but they knew that such a chance... has very little possibility of coming true.
In fact, Il San Joon has been observing the little guy and could feel that something is strange about him.
No matter how many times he checked the little guy's physique, he could tell that he is unable to cultivate.
But with his high cultivation base, he could actually see a very fine layer of Qi almost invisible on that little guy's body.
At night, when he accidentally passes by the old courtyard, he felt a strange wavelength in that place that would stay for an hour or two but would soon disappear.
One time, he even saw that little guy drawing something on a piece of paper and felt a strange sensation.
That is why; he is saying that there might be a chance for the little guy to become a cultivator.
"Sigh… the little one is not only good at making dishes. He is also improving by leaps and bounds when it comes to playing instruments… Sometimes, his music would put some of my students in a trance…" Mi Jin-ah suddenly shared.
"A trance?"
"Umm… I don't know if it is a coincidence, but I think more and more female disciples are taking classes with me these days…"
"Hmm… The gifted are truly remarkable…" Chef Jung commented with a nod.
"I just hope that the little fellow would continue on improving his craft… Even though he could not cultivate, he might still be able to attain a higher glory in the sect if he continues with this path…" he added with a nod.