The Taste of Spring and the Scent of Sichuan

The spring sun had seemed rather warm during the day. Then, in the blink of an eye, the weather turned mild. How time flew. Before long, flowers were blooming and the skies cleared, ushering in the height of a vibrant spring.

It had been a little over four months since Cheong had begun wandering around half-naked—from the early days of winter through the chilly early spring. Windows and doors had been reattached to her thatched hut, and proper bedding was now in place. The clothes and undergarments that had vanished also returned. But this outfit... it was simply too comfortable.

It was a garment made of very thin, translucent fabric sewn into a cylindrical shape, held up by two shoulder straps. It fluttered weightlessly and felt incredibly light. The length, which reached her thighs, didn't hinder her movements at all. It was the birth of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her favorite pajamas.

Slipping into these comfortable pajamas and crawling under the blankets was pure bliss. Most of all, not wearing any underwear was a whole new world. At first she'd been so embarrassed she thought she might die. But once she got used to it, she wondered if there could possibly be any greater sense of liberation in the world. It was freedom itself!

The primitive weaving techniques of this uncivilized Central Plains simply hadn't invented stretchy fabrics yet. Having to tie everything with strings was such an inconvenience. For Cheong, it had been a daily ordeal. As a result, she'd received a nuclear noogie almost every single day for a while.

Aigoo, how does she notice so quickly when I'm not wearing underwear? Do high-level masters develop x-ray vision or something? And anyway, she wouldn't let me wear any when it was freezing cold, but now that it's warmer she beats me for not wearing any?

Cheong's lips puffed out in a pout. Seomun Su-rin let out a deep sigh at the sight.

"Even then, not much would have changed—ow!"

Cheong, who had talked back for no reason, received a nuclear noogie. However, the volume of her scream had decreased significantly. This was thanks to the defensive energy she had cultivated over the winter. At this point, a nuclear noogie was nothing.

Thwack!

"Kyaaak!"

Cheong rolled across the floor. Humans were creatures that evolved! All the more so for Seomun Su-rin, who had been born a woman, surpassed all the formidable male masters, and stood tall among the Ten Great Masters of the Murim. Her entire life had been a struggle, so adjusting the power of her nuclear noogies was child's play. No matter how impressive a Peak-level defensive energy might be, it was no more than a sheet of paper before the fist of a Profound Realm master.

"Ugh... It really hurts..."

"Hehe..."

Cheong laughed sheepishly. Seomun Su-rin turned her head away entirely. She knew full well that the more attached her disciple grew to her, the more she acted spoiled. Seomun Su-rin herself was on guard against how she kept softening in front of her disciple.

Still, when she had first seen her, Cheong had acted exactly like a boy. Now, although she was still as rough as a tomboy, she was unmistakably a girl. Should this be considered an improvement?

"Hmm. I'm not sure. Just wherever my feet take me?"

"Ooh. The Emei Sect?"

Cheong barely held back an impressed whistle. But the Emei Sect? That was quite an impressive name. It somehow sounded like it would be full of virtue.

"Uh, will they really just teach me like that?"

"By the way, is the Emei Sect far?"

"Sichuan!"

Cheong let out an exclamation. It was the most familiar place name to a modern Korean. Sichuan brought so many things to mind. Sichuan black bean noodles, Sichuan sweet and sour pork, Sichuan spicy seafood noodles, and of course, mala hotpot and mala crawfish! It was practically a gastronomic paradise where chili oil flowed instead of rivers! (It wasn't.)

Even before leaving the modern world, Cheong had loved spicy food. Back when she was weak, survival had been her only priority so she hadn't dared go. After becoming strong, she had simply forgotten about it.

"Master?"

What the—? Has my treatment gotten harsh again? Don't tell me even Master...?

"Aww, I don't do that anymore."

Seomun Su-rin's eyes narrowed.

"I know better now, okay? I mean, who's going to threaten me with a knife to learn Demonic Arts?"

Thwack!

Cheong rolled across the floor again.

Cheong rubbed her head and thought, Karma my ass. She should at least say something that makes sense. Who in the world would threaten someone with a knife to learn Demonic Arts...?

Aigoo, this feels tied too tight.

Even if it was something familiar, if you didn't do it for a long time, you lost the feel for it. Cheong awkwardly grabbed the fabric around her hips and pulled. Strange. It kept riding up. Had she gained weight?

She had roughly finished packing her bags. Now it was time to head back out into the Jianghu. Leaving the home she had grown attached to left her feeling quite regretful. This time, she had suffered more inside the house than outside. Even now, thinking about how she had been forced to endure the winter with just one set of pajamas seemed excessive. With that thought, her steps became much lighter.

That lively stride was suddenly blocked by Jin Jangmyeong.

"Unni, you're leaving again?"

"Of course. I have to go."

"Can't you not go?"

"I can't."

Cheong had a lot to do. First, she needed to reach the Super Peak realm. Then the Harmonious Realm, the Profound Realm, and so on. Ultimately, she had to settle things with Taechang. She couldn't live with this level of anxiety.

"Jang—"

"I told you not to do that. It's not cute at all, you know?"

"Tch."

"Isn't it too obvious? It's boring."

"What are you even saying?"

Even as she said that, there was no strength in Jin Jangmyeong's voice. Watching the little girl's gaze gradually drop to the ground, Cheong spoke in a gentle tone.

"Won't you at least try to reach the Peak realm? At that level, I could at least ask Master if I can take our Jangmyeong on a trip around the Jianghu with me."

Jin Jangmyeong's head shot up.

"Will the Peak realm be enough?"

"Well, that depends on Master's heart. But if I ask nicely, maybe? We wouldn't have to go far—just somewhere close."

Knowing Seomun Su-rin's personality, Cheong thought it might actually be possible. The other sect members would definitely not think so, though.

"Then have a safe trip. I'm going to train."

She was filled with motivation. Cheong let out a small laugh and waved goodbye.

After parting with Jin Jangmyeong, Cheong set out from the sect once more. The Goddess Sect members she encountered sent her off with smiling faces.

"Great Grand Martial Aunt! Bring back something delicious when you return!"

"Great ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Grand Martial Aunt! My head feels so empty these days. It would be nice if you brought back some pretty hairpin or something~"

"Martial Aunt, if you get hungry on the way, make sure to eat."

Then one of the Goddess Sect members handed her a small pouch.

"Great Grand Martial Aunt... Here."

"Huh? Is this for me?"

"Please take care of yourself and return safely."

When she slightly loosened it, she found a chest covering woven from red silk. It was nice, but she wondered if it would fit. If she wore it, she'd probably sweat a lot.

"Thanks. I'll make good use of—"

Before Cheong could even finish her thanks, the Goddess Sect member covered her face and ran away at full speed.

What? Why is she running?

Cheong had no idea. Over the course of the winter, she had become the ideal beauty—called the Reincarnated Goddess by many of the Goddess Sect members. Her stage costume had been that powerful. Of course, the performance itself had been incredible too.

The members who leaned that way gave her passionate farewells.

"Martial Aunt, when you come back, we're definitely going shopping for supplies together, okay? It's a promise?"

"You must... come back."

"Great Grand Martial Aunt, I secretly buried a bottle of liquor last time. When you return, let's drink it together, okay? Pretty please?"

"Martial Aunt, when you come back this time, I have something I really must tell you. It's truly, truly important."

But why did every single one of them sound so ominous? It was like they thought she might never return.

Anyway, Cheong was someone who simply wanted to live simply. Being sent off so warmly lifted her spirits again. She hummed a tune as she passed through the main gate and descended the path from the Goddess Peak.

Her mood had improved so much that her intuition felt incredibly good. For some reason, she had a strong feeling that this Jianghu journey would be filled with nothing but comfortable and pleasant things.

That is, until about one hour later—right before she was kidnapped.