Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Solitary Bamboo Forest or Here (2)
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“It’s suffocating, absolutely suffocating!”
Seo Ryang grumbled incessantly in the carriage heading back to his residence.
Ma Dongpil said awkwardly.
“Such disrespect toward the Cult Leader…”
“What’s so disrespectful about it? Can’t I even say I’m suffocating with my own mouth?”
“But still…”
“Besides, I wasn’t saying the Cult Leader is a suffocating person, was I? I just said the situation was suffocating. You try sitting across from him and see if you don’t say the same thing.”
He supposed he could understand. Still, it wasn’t something he could agree with.
“Tch, at least I got some liquor out of it.”
“Liquor, sir?”
“Yeah.”
Seo Ryang took a liquor bottle from his robes.
“Seriously! This is ridiculous. Forget how damn small it is, but if you're going to give a gift, why not a new bottle? Giving me one he was already drinking from…”
*Thwack!*
Seo Ryang blinked.
Ma Dongpil had snatched the bottle and was now examining it with a grave expression.
Considering how excessively polite he usually was, it was an incredibly rude act, but he didn't seem to notice.
Staring blankly at the bottle as if in shock, Ma Dongpil's eyes grew increasingly bloodshot.
Blinking at him, Seo Ryang casually rubbed his hand.
“Oof, that stings.”
“…”
“It hurts.”
“…”
“Ahem! Dongpil?”
Ma Dongpil's face had become like a wooden doll. Truly, not even an eyelash moved.
Seo Ryang kicked him.
“Hey, what's the big deal with that thing?”
“…Six Heavens Spirit Wine.”
“What spirit wine?”
“Th-this is Six Heavens Spirit Wine!”
“You know it? It tasted pretty good.”
Ma Dongpil's jaw dropped.
“You don't know Six Heavens Spirit Wine? The Six Heavens Spirit Wine? It's Six Heavens Spirit Wine! I'm telling you, it's Six Heavens Spirit Wine!”
“So what is it?”
“The Six Heavens Spirit Wine bestowed by the Cult Leader himself!”
“So what is it!”
“It's the wine of honor, isn't it?!”
Seo Ryang was dumbfounded.
“An honorable and tasty wine, is that all?”
Ma Dongpil looked at him, aghast. His expression was so dramatic that Seo Ryang almost felt sorry.
“Six Heavens Spirit Wine! It's the finest liquor of our cult, enjoyed only by the successive Cult Leaders! It's a wine specially bestowed upon those who have performed great deeds, and to drink it is an honor that lasts for three lifetimes!”
“It's just a drink. What's all this about an honor for three lifetimes…”
“It depends on who gives it! Besides, this is a divine vintage brewed by the Cult Leader himself! It cannot be converted to money, nor should it ever be!”
“Still just liquor, isn't it?”
Ma Dongpil was practically foaming at the mouth.
“Young Master! Do you think the followers of our cult would rather desire the elixirs bestowed by the cult, or the Six Heavens Spirit Wine given by our god?!”
“The elixirs.”
“Kghhh.”
They weren't on the same wavelength.
Of all people, Ma Dongpil belonged to the Hall of Protectors, where loyalty and faith were deepest in the cult. Seo Ryang, on the other hand, had never been a true follower to begin with, so he naturally had no such faith.
Seo Ryang snatched the bottle back from Ma Dongpil.
“Whatever. As long as it tastes good, that's all that matters. In any case, I'm glad I got some decent liquor.”
Heretic! He's a heretic!
Ma Dongpil wanted to scream it. If his companion hadn't been the Third Young Master, he really would have.
“Young Master, what in the world has happened to you?”
“What about it?”
“Didn't you say you lost your memory after suffering from qi deviation?”
“…Yeah.”
“But how is it that you've only forgotten everything related to our cult? Your martial arts are incredible, and you're full of experience, so why have you selectively forgotten only the important things…!”
“Enough nonsense. Let's go back to my place and have a drink.”
“I cannot. My duty ends once I have escorted you to your residence. I must return to the Hall of Protectors.”
Seo Ryang shook the bottle of Six Heavens Spirit Wine.
“You're not going to drink this?”
“…!”
“Suit yourself, then. It tasted divine.”
Ma Dongpil's eyes wavered.
“Th-that precious thing… You would drink it with me?”
“We've been through a lot together. You think I'd just send you away because the job's done? That's not how you treat people, man.”
“…!”
“If you really can't, then I guess it can't be helped. Organizations have rules, after all.”
Seo Ryang put the bottle back in his robes.
Ma Dongpil hung his head low.
This might be the greatest honor of his entire life in the cult, a life that could last another fifty years. Should he just let it pass?
Did he really have to?
“…I will report the completion of my mission and return.”
“There's a right time for everything. By the time you get permission and come back, it'll all be in my belly.”
“…”
“It's fine. There's plenty of other good liquor in the world besides this.”
Ma Dongpil raised his head.
Seo Ryang, who had been planning to tease him with a smirk, found his expression softening with pity.
In that brief moment, Ma Dongpil had agonized so intensely that he looked a good ten years older.
“…May I have just one cup here?”
Seo Ryang chuckled.
“Forget it. Just go tell them you're taking a break and come back. I need to prepare some food anyway.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you, Young Master!”
“You've been speaking quite informally to the person you're so thankful for, haven't you?”
“Ah…!”
Ma Dongpil hung his head low again.
“My apologies. I was overly excited and acted rudely toward you, Young Master.”
This guy, he's actually fun to tease.
Seo Ryang laughed heartily and was about to pat his shoulder, but Ma Dongpil dropped to the floor and knelt.
“Please, kill me.”
…I should probably stop joking with this guy from now on.
After a long while of coaxing, Seo Ryang finally managed to calm him down and turned his gaze to the side.
“This little one sure is carefree.”
Beside Seo Ryang, the fox cub was lying down, fast asleep. It hadn't woken up once since before they entered the grand hall of the Palace of the Demonic God.
‘Its nose feels so soft.’
He stroked the bridge of its nose, then tapped its snout, and it raised a paw to block him. It was an incredibly cute sight.
Presently, the carriage arrived in front of Seo Ryang's residence.
“Alright.”
Stepping out of the carriage, Seo Ryang gave a bitter smile at the sight before him.
“It's been a while.”
The surroundings were quite desolate. The original owner of this body must have wanted to live in seclusion, as the residence was located in an area quite far from the inner palace, unlike the other houses that were clustered together.
It was a sight he had longed to return to while in the Solitary Bamboo Forest, yet one he had equally dreaded seeing again.
Ma Dongpil, who had also alighted from the carriage, bowed his head.
“This is where my official mission ends.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I take this opportunity to once again apologize for the hardships you endured due to my inadequate protection.”
“Don't say that.”
“And I shall never forget the magnanimity with which you overlooked my faults.”
Seo Ryang waved his hand dismissively, looking fed up.
“That's enough. Are you not drinking with me later? Let's not act like we'll never see each other again.”
Ma Dongpil smiled.
“Yes, sir. I will stop by the Hall of Protectors and then return. Please rest well.”
“Alright. Be safe.”
Watching the carriage drive away, Seo Ryang stretched widely.
“Yip!”
At the cute little yelp, he looked down to see the fox cub, now awake, sitting at his feet and looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
Seo Ryang chuckled.
“You cute little thing. Alright, since I'm the one who took you in, I'll take responsibility for you.”
“Yip!”
“You can't understand what I'm saying, can you?”
“…”
“Thought so.”
He picked up the fox cub and held it in his arms.
“Alright, let's go inside. Time for a good wash and a warm bed!”
*Creeaak.*
Seo Ryang opened the main gate and took a step inside.
It was then.
*Flinch!*
Seo Ryang froze, his gaze darting past the open gate.
‘…Huh?’
The interior was silent.
It wasn't dark yet, but something was strange.
The house was perfectly fine, yet it felt as if it were scarred by burn marks.
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
‘Why do I have such a bad feeling?’
It couldn't be just a sense of unfamiliarity from being away for so long.
*Swaaash.*
His senses expanded rapidly.
‘One person. Just one. Her martial arts are negligible, her internal energy is weak. It's Aeng-hwa.’
The only presence he could feel in the entire residence was Aeng-hwa's. He had seen it with the mind's eye of the First Form of the Heavenly Net Six Arts, the Transcendent Body Observation, so there was no mistake.
But why did it feel like someone else was here?
‘…There's definitely no one here now.’
They *were* here.
There was no presence, nothing to be seen or heard, but there was a reason he could read the traces of the past.
It was the smell. Unfamiliar body odors that had no business being here were wafting from the rooms and the storage shed.
Transcendent Body Observation. A unique art that drastically heightened the five senses to a level beyond that of a beast. Detecting a recent scent was child's play for it.
‘Judging by how strong the scent is, it hasn't even been half a day.’
Seo Ryang's eyes narrowed.
‘Someone snuck in here and then disappeared? Why?’
He couldn't figure out the reason. Since he was the master of the house, they must have been waiting for him. So why did they suddenly leave?
‘…Hmm.’
After pondering for a moment, Seo Ryang shrugged.
He had never cultivated a hobby of worrying about the lingering scents of people who had already left. Besides, it wasn't even a woman, but *men*.
The unfamiliar traces he'd detected upon returning home after eight months had soured his mood a bit, but he decided to think about it later.
Clearing his mind, he stepped through the gate.
“Hey! Aeng-hwa!”
Instantly, the door to the main building flew open and Aeng-hwa came running out, out of breath.
“Y-Young Master?!”
“Yeah. I'm back.”
Aeng-hwa prostrated herself on the spot.
“Invincible Divine Cult, All Demons Submit! Aeng-hwa greets the Third Young Master!”
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
“Hey, do you really have to greet me like that? It's so grand, I never know what kind of face to make when I receive it.”
“Young Master…”
“Hehe. Get up. It's good to see you.”
Aeng-hwa rose respectfully.
Seo Ryang's expression softened. It had been a hectic three months, which was almost a hundred days.
Besides, she was the girl who had served him so comfortably and unobtrusively during his time here. Of course he was happy to see her.
“Huh? What's this? You seem to have gotten a bit thinner since I last saw you.”
“My apologies.”
“There you go with the apologies again. Are you eating properly?”
“Ye-es.”
The rims of Aeng-hwa's eyes turned red.
Seo Ryang scratched his head again. He might be happy to see her, but Aeng-hwa's reaction was unexpected. She must have gone through so much trouble taking care of him when he was practically out of his mind.
He tousled Aeng-hwa's hair roughly.
“Kid, you've done your hair up like a work of art again.”
“Y-Young Master.”
“It needs to be a little messy to look human. From now on, just be comfortable, alright? Got it?”
“Yes, yes!”
Her face instantly brightened. After a moment's hesitation, she squeezed her eyes shut and exclaimed.
“Y-Young Master, you look much healthier too!”
For her, it was a statement that took every ounce of courage she possessed. How could she dare say such a thing to the Cult Leader's disciple?
However, based on her memories from eight months ago, it seemed the Young Master preferred a moderately friendly attitude over excessive formality.
Indeed, her guess was correct.
“Right? Man, I went through hell and back to get this body. I'm glad you noticed.”
“You've changed so much.”
“Look a bit more handsome and all that?”
“Yes! You look wonderful!”
“Gahahaha! Thanks!”
Seo Ryang looked around.
“It's been sitting empty for eight months, but it's spotless.”
“Yes! I stopped by every other day to clean. So that you could rest comfortably whenever you returned.”
Seo Ryang's eyes curved into crescents.
“Is that so.”
He was genuinely touched.
Ma Dongpil was one thing, but this was Aeng-hwa, who had been separated from him for eight whole months. He would have been grateful if she had simply not forgotten him during that long period, but she had even cleaned the place regularly.
This was the first time someone had taken care of him like this. He was grateful for her effort and moved by her sentiment.
“I'll close the gate first.”
“Huh? Oh, I can do that.”
Before he could finish his sentence, Aeng-hwa was already running to the gate. Her hurried back was full of energy.
A warm smile spread across Seo Ryang's face once more.
She's so diligent.
*Thud!*
After closing the gate, Aeng-hwa quickly ran back.
“Young Master, I received the message late, so I haven't prepared any hot water yet. Would you like to eat first?”
“No, a bath first.”
“Ah, yes! Please wait just a moment. I'll heat the water.”
“You will?”
“Yes!”
“Great. Let's go inside then.”
Aeng-hwa followed behind the walking Seo Ryang with quick, short steps.
While maintaining a polite posture, Aeng-hwa kept glancing over at Seo Ryang.
To be precise, not at Seo Ryang, but at the fox cub nestled in his arms.
‘It's so cute.’
She wanted to ask where the Young Master had gotten the fox, but she held back for now. She had to get the hot water ready.
Entering the building, Aeng-hwa scurried off to heat the water.
Seo Ryang stretched widely. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this relaxed.
“Hyaaah!”
I'll think later. Today, I'm just going to eat, drink, and pass out without a care in the world