After wrapping up some casual talk about Wi Seol-ah, we quickly prepared snacks and wrapped up our meal since it was getting late.
It was quite a spectacle to see Wi Seol-ah, who seemed to have starved for days, eating non-stop. When I awkwardly inquired if she normally ate like that, the attendants casually replied, “Oh, that’s just how she eats!”
Thinking back, she did devour quite a bit of potatoes on our first day, so it seemed she was just a big eater.
Her appetite was so huge that it felt like she might need multiple servings, prompting us to consider stopping at various places for more supplies.
A beautiful moonlight shimmered over the valley waters.
Even though we had set our camp near the valley, I felt the air growing colder than usual—perhaps because of the spring breeze mixing with the ambiance of night.
Around midnight, the guards began to prepare for their night watch. They were placing protective charms around the tent and keeping a vigilant lookout for any unforeseen situations, making it both an essential and tedious task.
As I sat there gazing at the moon, Muyeon came up to me.
“Young Master, it’s time to head inside; it’s getting quite chilly.”
“No matter how cold it is, I’m still warmer than you lot!”
Thanks to my invigorating Qi, the cold felt more like a pleasant breeze layered with nighttime ambiance. I was lost in thoughts while idly sitting by the campfire.
Soon, Wi Seol-ah came bounding over after grabbing something from the attendants.
What caught my attention was a bowl of dumplings.
bong!
“Dumplings? What’s with the sudden treat?”
The steam wafting from them indicated that they had just been freshly cooked. How on earth did they manage to steam those here?
“The ladies told me to share with you all!”
Turns out, these were late-night snacks prepared for the guards. As Wi Seol-ah cheerfully passed them out, her appearance made the attendants beam with joy.
Wi Seol-ah’s charm was a powerful weapon in its own right.
In my previous life, the grown-up Wi Seol-ah had such an enchanting presence that her opponents would lose their wits merely engaging her in battle. And even though she wasn’t quite there yet, her cuteness could still brighten anyone’s day.
After distributing the dumplings, she slyly made her way next to me.
“I brought you a big one, Young Master.”
With a big smile, she offered me two dumplings.
I took the dumplings and replied, “Are you sure you won’t sleep? You’ll regret it in the morning if you don’t get rest.”
We had a schedule to stick to, and we were set to depart at dawn.
So, getting some rest now would be wise.
“You’re not sleeping either, Young Master.”
“…Well, that’s different.”
I figured I could manage since I had a bit of Qi, but Wi Seol-ah wasn’t a martial artist yet, which could lead to her feeling weary.
I took a bite of one of the dumplings. slurp! It was soft and juicy, truly a divine treat.
As the chilly wind picked up a bit, Muyeon stood up, stretching his body. I nudged Wi Seol-ah gently to coax her back into the carriage.
“Hurry inside! If you oversleep, we’ll leave you behind!”
“Uu… That’s so cruel!”
“The dumplings you brought were delicious, though.”
I gulped down the last bit of the dumpling before retreating into the carriage to catch some sleep.
“It’s painfully far.”
Four days had flown by since we left the Clan on our journey toward Sichuan!
Throughout these days, we managed nothing but travel and camping.
I did squeeze in some Qi training here and there, but there were no remarkable outcomes.
It wasn’t surprising; increasing one’s Qi isn’t something that just springs up on its own out of thin air. You have to bear with the grind.
“…Getting there is one thing, but what about the return journey?”
ugh… The thought of going through this all over again was daunting.
The bumpy terrain had the carriage moving slower than a snail, blurring the beautiful surroundings outside.
“Oh, look, a squirrel!”
“squeak!”
Wi Seol-ah pointed at the tree beside us, causing me to look where she directed. I saw a squirrel joyfully munching an acorn.
“Yeah, that’s a squirrel…”
“It’s adorable, right?”
As the days dragged on, snippets of light conversation with Wi Seol-ah like this became the few delights during the journey.
Most of our exchanges revolved around food—like how yakgwa was tastier than potatoes, or how eagles were surprisingly chewy, or that regular pigs tasted better than wild boars. Seriously—why were we only talking about food?
Curious about her cute assertion about the squirrel, I ventured to ask, “Have you ever eaten squirrels?”
Wi Seol-ah gave me an incredulous look.
“Young Master… I can’t even think about eating squirrels!”
Her expression screamed, Is the Young Master really this clueless?
I felt slightly offended!
Come on! She had already eaten an eagle once, so why wouldn’t she eat a squirrel?
Feeling a bit smug, I snatched the yakgwa she was about to eat and popped it into my mouth instead.
“!Gasp! Huh—What!?”
Wi Seol-ah’s expression morphed into one of shock as if the world was ending, plop!
The thrilling sight on her chubby face was just too amusing, and it lightened my mood.
“How could you do that…?”
“You really should cut back on yakgwa; just look at your round cheeks!”
“I’m not round!”
“Go ask someone else if they agree with me.”
“Hongwa! Am I round? sniffle!”
Our attendant Hongwa, who had been chuckling at our exchange, suddenly froze at Wi Seol-ah’s question, slowly averting her gaze away as if unable to bear the weight of the truth.
I watched as Wi Seol-ah’s expression shifted from shock to resignation.
“I’m… I’m just a circle…”
“Yes, you’re a circle.”
With that final blow of mine, she sank her head against the wall, sealing her lips in defeat.
Honestly, she didn’t look that bad. Her face was just a tad rounder than when I first saw her.
But hey, it’s true that she gained some weight, right?
Moreover, thanks to her sudden silence, I was able to enjoy peace and quiet for a while.
Turning my thoughts outward again, I mulled over things ahead.
I hope everything goes smoothly.
Visiting the Tang Clan at Sichuan was one massive endeavor, but I still had to worry about the Golden Nature Clan and the Gaecheon Clan.
How much time could I spare hunting for the secret vault?
Three days at most? I was now short on time.
Having only a vague sense of its location and the surrounding area was not encouraging.
I began to think about notifying the Beggar’s Sect if I couldn’t uncover the secret vault on my own.
At the very least, I had to keep groups like the Gaecheon Clan and other demonic lot from seizing it.
What happens if I find the secret vault? Well, I’d have to figure that out later.
We’re also running low on food.
…It definitely wasn’t due to Wi Seol-ah’s enormous appetite…
The roads being rougher than anticipated and the rain two days ago contributed heavily to our slow progress.
Popping my head out of the carriage, I turned to Muyeon, “How much longer until we arrive?”
“Hmm… It should take at least another two hours at this speed, Young Master.”
“Honestly, walking would be faster.”
Deep down, I yearned to ditch the whole crew and run ahead by myself, but I’d tire out in less than an hour, not to mention I needed to carry the gifts to the Tang Clan.
“Haah…”
Suddenly, Muyeon’s expression turned serious, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, sensing his change in demeanor.
“Stop.”
With his commanding voice filled with urgency, our group instantly halted.
I sensed something amiss, and I began gathering my Qi.
I felt a peculiar presence approaching and found myself involuntarily smirking at the discovery.
This feeling was none other than that of demons.
Well, that explains the unusually peaceful days we’ve had lately.
“There aren’t many of them. We’ll take care of it in no time, so please stay inside and rest, Young Master.”
Once again, he urged me to stay put, but I knew all too well how unpredictable demonic encounters could get, so I stayed put this time.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a full-blown Gate of Demons.
It felt more like the leftover remnants from one.
A quickening presence could be sensed approaching us. Were they targeting us? Something felt off about that.
scritch scritch…
No sooner did the rustle of grass ring out than Muyeon and the guards had their swords drawn, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
Moments later, something burst from the foliage!
ROOOOAAARR!
Before I could even get a look at the beast, Muyeon’s blade cleaved it in two.
thud!
It collapsed with a heavy thump—a bear-like demon.
I’d often likened the Second Elder to a bear, and now comparing the real thing to him left me with an odd realization.
The creature was a Greenjaw Bear, roar!
Just like the green-horned hound, it was the lowest tier of demons arising from Gates.
“This creature…”
Muyeon studied the demon closely.
“There’s another wound aside from the one I just gave.”
“Huh?”
At Muyeon’s words, I leaned in to investigate, and indeed there was another distinct wound.
Could it be that the creature had been fleeing from someone?
Demons fleeing from humans? That doesn’t quite add up!
Suddenly, I felt more demonic presences building up around us only for most to dissipate moments later.
It felt like someone was eliminating them one by one.
Before I knew it, another presence quickly rushed towards us, moving unhesitatingly through the tall grass.
ROOOOAAARR!
Just like the last time, it was another Greenjaw Bear.
SWISH!
And just as quickly, another sword strike met its fate.
THUD!
This time it collapsed, blue blood spurting out.
Without batting an eye, Muyeon stayed focused on the grass where the beast had emerged, tensing up again, he called out,
“Who is it? Show yourself!”
Some seconds passed, and finally, someone emerged from the high grass.
A figure holding a sword appeared. My eyes strained to identify them, but their face was partly veiled beneath a cloth.
What struck me instantly was the shape of the figure—it was obviously a woman.
With light-footed steps, she approached us.
As she drew nearer, my gaze was caught by her clothing.
Her travel-worn blue attire was speckled with leaves and dust, indicating she’d been on the road for quite some time.
As she neared, she sheathed her sword, while Muyeon continued to hold his blade aimed at her.
When she got within close range, she removed the cloth from her face, revealing her own identity.
One of the guards audibly gasped at the sight before them.
She appeared younger than 20, but older than I was.
With striking pale blue hair and radiant white skin, her distinct features made it clear that she was likely one of the most beautiful women in the realm.
She looked at Muyeon and spoke.
“I apologize; I’ve been traveling alone and poorly handled the demons.”
“By yourself? You’ve been handling all these beasts alone?”
“My luck has been poor lately. A Gate of Demons appeared in my sights unexpectedly, and I managed to slay a few before others fled.”
“They… fled…?”
“I’m not sure if it’s due to my clan’s techniques, but they seem to have a habit of doing so.”
While Muyeon conversed with her,
My shock at her appearance was for a different reason than the guard who gasped.
Not for her beauty, but something far more significant.
There was a small white insignia on her blue clothing I couldn’t ignore.
‘Namgung.’
“What the—”
I nearly cursed at the unexpected revelation.
Only a handful of individuals had the liberty to wander with that emblem marked on their clothes.
And surmising from her looks, there was only one woman in this world who could pull that off. But why on earth is she here?
Sweat trickled from my brow, and I slowly wiped it away.
I was well aware of who she was.
We may not know each other in this life, but our shared past told a different story.
One person I sincerely wished to avoid in this lifetime was now right before me.
How can my luck be this terrible?
I held back the racing of my heart.
This isn’t excitement or infatuation… just pure, relentless fear.
The woman’s flat voice pierced through the tension.
“My name is Namgung Bi-ah. Are you heading to Sichuan as well?”
Hearing her name, I clenched my eyes and fists tightly.
It was genuinely her.
I let out a big sigh as the next words spilled forth.
“Could I travel alongside you? I will repay you in some way.”
“No, hell no!”
I crashed through the carriage door and yelled frantically.
In that instant, our eyes locked.
Her expressionless gaze mirrored that of my past life, intensifying the chill that ran down my spine.
Demon Sword Namgung Bi-ah.
The woman who became obsessed with her sword—who completely decimated her clan after transforming into a demon herself, was standing right there.
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