Chapter Nineteen: The Master of Marrow Refinement’s Meat Buns

The Human-Filled Steamed Buns of a Bone-Tempering Master

"Ah—Boss, you didn't say much? Is it this young man here? Maybe the wine you gave him was just too powerful! He hasn't woken up yet!"
One of the attendants quickly laughed, trying to smooth things over.
"Didn't you already give him the antidote? Why hasn't he come to?" questioned the woman's voice, tinged with suspicion.
The two attendants fell silent, unable to answer, clearly in fear of this female chief.
"A female leader—how rare!" Wu Hong thought to himself. Yet, unable to grasp the situation, he dared not suddenly reveal that he was awake.
"You two may leave. I'll take it from here," the female chief ordered, and the two attendants promptly exited.
"Benefactor! I am grateful for the life you once saved! Ever since you were captured, I have been tormented with worry. Alas, that silver-armored general is formidable; I had no choice but to resort to such underhanded means!" the woman murmured to herself.
Wu Hong's heart leaped. From her words, it seemed he was her savior, but he could not recall who she was.
Suddenly, Wu Hong opened his eyes and said, "Who are you?"
He saw before him a veiled woman and could not help but voice his confusion.
"Ah—Young Master Wu, you're awake!" The veiled woman was startled by his sudden movement but then became overjoyed upon hearing him speak.
As Wu Hong looked at the woman, her voice sparked no recollection. Yet her figure was nothing short of bewitching—her neck delicate and fair, her chest full, her waist slender, her hips round and supple, and her height statuesque. Her voice was soft and coquettish, utterly lacking the ferocity one would expect from a bandit chief.
Wu Hong studied her in silence, waiting for her to answer.
"Ah! You truly don't remember me, Young Master!" With that, she tore away her veil.
Wu Hong's heart skipped a beat. After a closer look at her beautiful face, he said, albeit uncertainly, "Are you the woman I rescued at the Huang estate?"
"Yes, it's me! Young Master, it hasn't even been that long! You truly are a man whom fortune favors, so much so that you forget things easily!" Her face bloomed with excitement, radiant as a peach blossom.
"How are you—?" Wu Hong blurted out, unable to hold back.
The woman's smile faded, a hint of grievance in her voice. "Young Master, if I had told you back then that I was a bandit chief, would you still have saved me?"
"Of course I would. The world's good and evil cannot be judged by reputation alone. Even if you are a bandit, what of it? I, Wu Hong, save people without regard for their status!"
Wu Hong could still feel his body drained of all strength, his acupoints seemingly sealed. He was frustrated, yet he still answered her truthfully. Inwardly, he marveled that a moment of righteous action had now brought him this life-saving grace. Could there really be such a thing as karma in this world?

"Young Master, you have endured much hardship on this journey, exposed to the elements. I will immediately have food prepared for you!" The woman turned to leave, but Wu Hong said, "No need! Let me join you outside. And thank you for saving my life."
Though he was still weak, Wu Hong could walk normally. He stood, bowed deeply to her.
"You need not be so formal with me! Such courtesies are not observed here—most of my people are rough sorts," she said quickly, moving to steady him as he bowed.
The moment her hands touched his arms, she was instantly reminded of how Wu Hong had carried her in their escape from the Huang estate. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she lowered her head, stealing a glance to see if he noticed; relieved that he had not, she relaxed.
"I haven't yet learned your name, benefactor," Wu Hong said, standing tall, asking her directly without pretense.
"It is you who are my benefactor! Had you not saved me then, I dare not imagine the consequences. My name is Li Ruo Lan," she replied softly, her cheeks still tinged with a rosy hue like a blooming rose.
"What a fine name!" Wu Hong could not help but praise her, thinking she must be of distinguished origin. Why then would she become a bandit chief?
Moreover, she seemed to possess no martial skills at all. How could she command such a brutal band?
Wu Hong refrained from asking further and followed Li Ruo Lan to the main hall.
By then, the hall was closed to all guests. A square wooden sign, about a meter wide, hung at the entrance, reading: "Closed for the Day."
Inside, several attendants stopped their work upon seeing Li Ruo Lan, now veiled in black once more, emerge with Wu Hong. They all greeted in unison, "Greetings, Chief!"
Their demeanor was one of barely concealed fear toward Li Ruo Lan, making Wu Hong all the more curious—how could such a delicate woman control these ruthless men?
"Are the food and wine ready?" Li Ruo Lan's voice was suddenly cold and commanding. The attendants hastily replied, "Yes, Chief, all is prepared!"
"Please, take a seat, Young Master," Li Ruo Lan gestured. Wu Hong, his stomach empty after days without a proper meal, did not stand on ceremony. The night before, he had only drunk a little medicinal wine and remembered nothing after.
The dishes were simple—mostly fish and shrimp, with some wild pheasant—likely hunted from the nearby mountains, though the nearest range was a hundred miles away. Wu Hong was touched by the effort Li Ruo Lan had made.
"Don't worry about decorum here, Young Master. No one will laugh at you," Li Ruo Lan said, noting his hesitation to eat before her. She smiled, her laughter as warm as a spring breeze, putting Wu Hong at ease.
He picked up a chicken leg and tore into it. The savory aroma filled his mouth and nose, intensifying his hunger. He paid no heed to manners, grabbing more meat with both hands and washing it down with wine.
Li Ruo Lan watched, giggling, while the attendants exchanged glances, each thinking, "Could this kid really have something going on with the chief?"
"Steamed buns with prime meat, coming up!" an attendant called from the back, carrying out a large platter. An unusual, enticing fragrance wafted through the hall.

Wu Hong paused, marveling at the skill of the cook—the aroma of these buns surpassed even the fare of his noble days at the Prince of Wu Wei's manor.
He was eager to taste one, but to his dismay, the attendant set the platter at the table of the kitchen staff who had been waiting.
It was not that Wu Hong lacked self-control, but the aroma was so overwhelming that his mouth watered uncontrollably.
"Sister Ruo Lan, your chef is truly skilled! Such an ordinary bun, yet the fragrance is irresistible!"
He instantly regretted his words, feeling it was presumptuous to expect the buns, since his hosts must have their reasons for not offering them.
Li Ruo Lan, hearing his remark, hesitated behind her black veil before finally asking, "Would you like to try one, Young Master?"
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just that these buns smell extraordinary. Either the ingredients are superb, or the chef is exceptionally talented!"
Wu Hong scratched his head in embarrassment.
Li Ruo Lan laughed, her tone oddly amused. "Little Wu, bring a plate of buns for Young Master Wu."
"Right away! Fresh water buffalo meat buns coming up!" The attendant known as Little Wu brought out another steaming plate of buns.
The aroma was almost unreal as the buns were set before Wu Hong.
"What kind of filling is this?" Wu Hong wondered, thinking he had tasted all manner of delicacies as the young heir of the Prince of Wu Wei, yet never had a bun made his mouth water before even tasting it.
"Oh, Young Master, these are water buffalo meat!" Little Wu replied.
"Sister Ruo Lan, your chef is truly remarkable! To make water buffalo buns so delicious!"
Unable to wait, Wu Hong broke open a bun with his chopsticks; broth flowed out, releasing an even richer fragrance. Yet, his eyes narrowed, and he set down his chopsticks, asking, "What happened to the silver-armored general who captured me last night?"
His question froze everyone in the room, including Li Ruo Lan.
"The silver-armored maniac, you mean? Haha—he's become water buffalo meat by now!"
Li Ruo Lan had wanted to silence Little Wu, but the words had already slipped out—he was notorious for his quick tongue.
Wu Hong shot to his feet, staring wide-eyed at Little Wu. "What? You said these are water buffalo buns—could it be...?"