Before leaving, there are some things I absolutely have to take care of.
First off, tidy up the basement.
There's not much difference, but I stuff all the instruments scattered on the walls into boxes.
Just by not leaving them out, the basement's atmosphere improves quite a bit.
After that, I drape cloth over the basement door to hide it.
I give the uncles a rough excuse and say my goodbyes.
I tell Gayeong-i to keep working hard for the Hao Gate.
And...
"...So?"
For the first time in a while, Cheongwol is standing in front of me.
I subtly mentioned to Honghwa that I had instruments to give to Cheongwol, and not long after, she came looking for me.
However, seeing the donkey loaded with luggage like it's ready for a journey, and me unable to even meet her eyes, Cheongwol seems to have guessed something.
The expression that had been filled with what could even be called joy stiffens rigidly.
"So, why did you call me, Shopkeeper?"
"Well, Miss... that is..."
"My name isn't 'Miss.'"
"Ch-Cheongwol... Miss... I mean..."
She got mad just because Muryong called her by name once!
Now she's mad because I didn't call her by name?
Which rhythm am I supposed to follow?
"So... um..."
But why am I acting like this?
It doesn't matter to you where I go.
Right? You crazy masochistic bitch... no.
I have to be careful; dirty thoughts show on my face.
Either way, there's no reason or need to be doing this, but once again, my instincts are telling me something.
...Ask for permission before going.
"There's... something I need to take care of in Zhongjing. I was thinking of trying business there too... haha."
I can't tell her the honest reason.
That I received a gift from the Poison King to ask him to take good care of Dang Soran, and now I'm setting off on a journey to get it back. And Dang Soran will probably come along too.
...If I said that, this unpredictable masochist would probably go berserk.
I speak demurely, as if sitting in the electric chair, keeping my head bowed.
Cheongwol approaches me and says,
"Business? Do it here."
"You know it's no good making money on Emei Mountain..."
"...Money again?"
"Money's the issue, what else would it be?"
"So tied down by material things—when do you plan to be happy?"
Cheongwol suddenly spouts monk-like wisdom. But you shouldn't be the one saying that.
"W-Well... I'm not exactly a monk... In fact, I can't be happy if I'm poor."
...
I'm keeping my head down, but I sneak a peek at Cheongwol's reaction.
Her small fist clenches tightly.
...Fucking scary. It's obvious she's pissed.
"So, how long will it take?"
"A-At least a month—"
"—A month?"
Cheongwol raises her voice in genuine shock.
She immediately covers her mouth, as if she can't believe the loud sound that came out.
It wasn't the voice of a chaste Emei nun, that's for sure.
"No."
Cheongwol says firmly.
...No my ass—what do you mean no! Why are you throwing a fit when I'm the one going?
But I'm frozen in place.
"I-I've already finished all the preparations."
Cheongwol glances at the donkey, then approaches it.
...She's not going to slit the donkey's throat, is she?
In the original story, she destroys anything that doesn't please her...
Cheongwol starts trying to unload the luggage from the donkey's back.
"No. Take the luggage off."
"W-Why are you doing this, Miss?"
I grab Cheongwol's body and stop her.
To my surprise, she yields surprisingly obediently to my strength.
"Let go! I said no!"
She tries to shake off my hands, but astonishingly, she can't.
She could infuse qi and it'd be over in a second, but she doesn't.
...Is this fulfilling her masochistic desires too? Getting excited by the sight of herself submitting to a guy like me...?
"A whole month—then what about my heart demon!"
But from Cheongwol's expression, it doesn't seem like that.
...As if she can't infuse qi or something.
Hmm... During confinement, maybe she can't use qi? Not sure.
Anyway, I grab both her wrists and pull them together.
"Urk!"
Cheongwol lets out a frail groan.
From the mood, it seems like the time to grovel is over—I need to act more boldly.
That's what worked best up until now anyway.
"Should I live in poverty for the sake of your heart demon?"
...
Cheongwol flinches and averts her gaze. I lower my voice and press harder.
"Think positively, Miss. If I get rich, there'll be way more fun things you can do to resolve your heart demon."
The masochist wavers at that and falls silent for a moment... but ultimately shakes her head again.
"...No. Still no. Right now... I'm already plenty... uh, anyway, no."
"You're blocking my path forward?"
I'm practically whispering now.
Cheongwol bites her lip and looks straight at me.
Now that I notice, our faces are quite close.
The monster with beautiful eyes whispers back in kind.
"...Then I'll go too."
Fuck no, absolutely not.
"Aren't you under confinement?"
"W-What about you? How do you plan to travel alone? What if you run into bandits?"
I'm grateful for the concern, but you're scarier than any bandits.
"I'll handle it."
"Shopkeeper—"
"—I'll be back."
I straighten up and speak firmly to her.
"I'll be back, and I'll bring you a gift."
"...A gift?"
"Yes. A gift. Sound good?"
Will this work? It's the best I can offer.
"If you don't like it, say so. I'm going anyway. But if you keep trying to stop me, I won't bring anything. I'll think of it as you blocking my path."
"Playing dirty again... Just like always, Shopkeeper..."
...
"...Why do friends have to part so often!"
...Don't friends part frequently without issue?
Maybe my standards are off. Murim folk live and die by loyalty, so maybe it's different.
...But why are you and I friends...?
"Aren't you going to miss me, Shopkeeper?"
I give an awkward smile and placate her.
"Ahaha... Y-Yeah, I'll miss you. But I have to make a living, what can I do?"
"You don't look like you'll miss me at all."
...Is she saying I need to show it somehow?
I stand there like an idiot, then belatedly catch on and move.
I release her wrists and give her an awkward hug.
Very lightly. Not letting our chests touch.
A simple, friend-like hug.
Meanwhile, the one who threw the massive fit, Cheongwol, just stands still. She doesn't even return it, though I didn't expect her to.
If that's the case, why the fit?
Still, I feel the tension leaving her body.
She whispers,
"...If you don't come back soon, you're dead."
Chilling words down my spine.
I sometimes forget, but is this something a real nun should say?
It'd be weird if a Shaolin monk casually threatened murder like eating rice.
'Benefactor, come back quick or you're done for.'
...She's saying her heart demon scares her that much.
But when did I get this deeply entangled with Cheongwol? ...Well, I made her piss herself on command, so I can't say much...
I swallow again and release her.
Mission accomplished, whatever.
"I'll be back soon."
.
.
.
Be back soon my ass. Escaping Cheongwol's clutches feels like I'm alive again.
"Haaa..."
This fresh air. The vanishing fear.
For a moment, I feel so free I even forget I'm heading out for the Detoxification Immortal Root.
But that only lasts a short while.
"My legs hurt."
Not as scary as Cheongwol, but more annoying—something clings to me.
"Legs! They hurt! I'm telling you, they hurt! They hurt, Young Master~. At least blow on them, hoo, hoo!"
Two days into heading toward Zhongjing.
Dang Soran joined midway and has been teasing me nonstop while walking.
Our relationship, a secret from Cheongwol.
I glance at Dang Soran—her face is full of smiles.
Not the attitude of someone with sore legs.
A murim person wouldn't tire this easily... I'm not even tired yet.
"...What do you want me to do?"
"Carry me."
"No."
"Then I won't go."
"What about the Detoxification Immortal Root!"
"Don't know. Figure it out."
I know it's empty talk, but it's just as annoying.
"...Haa."
I finally approach Dang Soran and grab her waist with both hands.
"Eek! W-What are you—"
I hold my breath and lift her up.
Dang Soran grabs my shoulders too, so it's not as hard as I thought.
Only after placing her on top of the luggage on the donkey do I let go.
The donkey seems to glare at me like, what the hell, but since it doesn't speak, who knows.
If it envies me, it should talk.
"Good now?"
...
Dang Soran fiddles with her waist quietly.
Her ears are red too—is she embarrassed?
That's better for me. At least it's quiet for a bit.
...When she charges ahead without regard, it doesn't feel real.
Now I realize—I'm going to be with Dang Soran for almost a month?
"...Haa."
No choice, this was the only path... but why do I feel so wronged?
"Young Master, I'm hungry."
"...Agh."
"Did you just get annoyed? No, right? But you look cute even annoyed. Young Master, but I really am hungr—"
Suddenly, Dang Soran jumps off the donkey.
She even walks elegantly, like a different person.
Surprised by her sudden change, I ask,
"W-Why?"
"Shh."
Soon, an old man appears from down the road, leaning on a staff.
...She changed because of that guy?
Wow, people really can transform. No wonder I didn't know her true face.
The old man says,
"Sichuan... Tang Clan? N-No way, Poison Phoenix Dang Soran?"
The Tang Clan robes, her gender, and her beautiful appearance serve as her nameplate.
"Hello."
Dang Soran says elegantly.
I stand there dumbfounded, just watching the scene.
The old man and Dang Soran exchange brief words.
The old man repeats how honored he is and how grateful, and Dang Soran receives each with a smile.
"I got too excited and talked too much...! W-Well, I'll be off now, Miss!"
Soon, the old man turns to me and shouts.
"Take good care of Miss Soran! Make sure she's comfortable! No, why don't you carry all the luggage yourself and let Miss Soran ride the donkey?"
"...Pardon?"
"A servant should act like one! How dare you treat your master like this!"
"Pfft!"
The old man looks at Dang Soran at the unexpected laugh, but she wears a composed expression as if she never laughed.
I grit my teeth and say,
"...Sir, we'll handle it. Take care."
"You rascal."
He lightly swings his staff at my head, waves to Dang Soran, and walks away.
...Should I snap that staff or something, that guy.
But Dang Soran bursts into uncontrollable laughter after he leaves, as if the scene was hilarious.
"Pfft... Puh! Ahahaha! S-Servant!"
"Stop laughing."
"Ahahahaha!"
I can only swallow my anger inwardly again.
Honestly, I'm enduring with one thought in mind.
Dang Soran wants to do SM play with me.
I don't know how this leads to compensation, but if it's for heart demon relief, maybe.
Either way, assuming things go well, I'll end up doing SM play with Dang Soran...
"Ahahaha! You really must've looked like my servant!"
...We'll see then, you bitch.
I won't care if you cry and wail.