Parting Gifts and Playful Tantrums
For days now, every time one of the Paeng mansion maids caught sight of me, her face would turn beet red. Finally, my Tiger King Art had advanced to the 2nd Star, meaning I no longer needed those training drugs. In other words, the time had come to leave the mansion and head for Mount Mosan.
"If you're confident, come at me."
"Eek…."
Hong Yeonhwa buried her face in her hands like a child, hunching her shoulders as if that would make her invisible to everyone else. Of course, her quivering pink hair poking out ruined the effect entirely.
"Ahaha! Did Hong-unnie really say that?"
"She sure did. I think she was so worked up she was goading me to just stick it in already, but the result… well, you know."
"Hong-unnie's so cute sometimes."
"Eek…!"
As Paeng Soso giggled, Hong Yeonhwa apparently reached her limit. She suddenly flung her arms wide in a menacing pose.
"Gyaak! Do you know how many days it's been like this already?! Tease this lady no more! If you keep it up, I shan't hold back, ni-ra!"
"And if you don't hold back? What're you gonna do?"
Hong Yeonhwa hesitated for a split second, then opened her mouth with a resolute expression.
"I shall cry, ni-ra."
"……."
"……."
Stunned by the unexpected reply, Paeng Soso and I just stared. Misinterpreting our silence, Hong Yeonhwa added hastily.
"I'll flop onto the floor and bawl my eyes out, ni-ra. Thrashing my arms and legs everywhere, and no amount of coaxing will stop me, ni-ra."
"…Wouldn't that just embarrass you more, Yeonhwa?"
"Through it all, this lady shall circulate the Heavenly Demon Divine Art at its peak, ni-ra."
"What?!"
In that instant, a vision flashed through my mind: a colossal demonic aura eclipsing the sun, flailing wildly and demolishing the mansion.
…A superhuman Heavenly Demon meltdown!
Paeng Soso must've pictured the same thing. Her face drained of color as she hugged Hong Yeonhwa tight, rubbing her cheeks against those puffy pink ones.
"Hey, it was just a joke! A joke! If Hong-unnie says stop, we stop!"
"Hmph!"
But Hong Yeonhwa just snorted, as if that wasn't enough. Under Paeng Soso's desperate "do something" glare, I pulled Hong Yeonhwa into my arms and smooshed my cheek against her other one.
"No way! Who dares tease our Heavenly Demon? I'll give 'em what for! Huh? Who was it? Just say the word!"
"This lady is sulking!"
Maybe I overdid the babying? Hong Yeonhwa narrowed her eyes and snapped her head away with a phfft.
No choice now, huh? I exchanged a silent look with Paeng Soso.
Nod.
And from both sides, we planted a barrage of kisses on her cheeks.
Mwah mwah mwah.
"Nyaaang!"
Startled, Hong Yeonhwa hopped in place. But she couldn't escape me and Paeng Soso.
"I-It tickles, ni-ra! Stop it!"
Mwah mwah mwah.
"Do you think this lady will yield so easily?!"
Mwah mwah mwah.
"Eee… Just this once, ni-ra?"
Only after she finally grumbled her surrender did we let go. Then Hong Yeonhwa melted like fresh tofu.
With affection overload leaving her dazed on my back, I spotted Paeng Ojin approaching from afar, hefting a hefty bundle.
"I've prepared some gifts, so take good care… Why is the Heavenly Demon in that state again?"
"It's nothing, Father. We were just messing around with Jin-gaga, that's all."
"Well… if that's the case, no issue…."
Even after living cheek-by-jowl for nearly a month, Paeng Ojin still saw Hong Yeonhwa as some weepy old fogey. Assuming she'd pulled another dramatic stunt, he chuckled and handed me the bundle.
"Take it. It'll help on the road to Mount Mosan."
"What's this…?"
"Open it up and see."
As Paeng Ojin suggested, I unwrapped it. Inside a wooden box were elixirs, fire-starting powder, Wall Grain Pills, unidentified salves, and other emergency supplies.
"Soso told me you've been buying whatever you need on the spot with money so far."
"That's right."
"A common mistake for young martial artists new to the jianghu. Traveling light is fine, but you need to prepare for emergencies."
Normally, with internal energy, you could shrug off cold, see in the dark, or go days without food and still keep your vigor. But what if your energy ran dry? Or if you couldn't use it at all?
That's where the bundle's contents would shine.
"Ah, these elixirs are made from century-old Hassu. Not enough to boost your level of cultivation, but perfect for healing internal injuries. And this is golden sore salve…."
Paeng Ojin began explaining each item. Every one was top-shelf—probably the best money could buy.
"Of course, with the Heavenly Demon along, you probably won't need them…."
"No, you never know with people. Thank you."
I bowed politely and accepted the bundle. Paeng Ojin cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. This is just in case. Not an excuse to put Soso in danger! Oh, and Soso."
"Yes?"
Paeng Soso, who'd been grinning at us, tilted her head.
"This is for you."
Clink.
She took the heavy money pouch and her eyes went wide.
"You said you used up most of your travel funds getting here. Imagine my shock hearing a Paeng daughter was starving on the road. Take good care of it."
"Father…."
Paeng Soso looked touched, like she might hug him any second.
But that was jumping the gun.
Clink. Clink.
"And this one, and this one too."
"Father?!"
Even she hadn't expected three bulging pouches. She panicked.
"One's silver taels, one's silver notes, one's gold pieces. Use as needed."
"Th-This is too much!"
"Hmph. Think mighty Hebei Paeng lacks this much spare change? It's fine. Take it. …And if you've got the money, won't he treasure you more?"
He whispered the last part, but my lately sharpened ears caught every word.
Handing Paeng Soso the purse strings to gain the upper hand? Smart move.
Even among friends, the one always buying meals ends up getting the respect. You can't treat them casually.
If Paeng Soso covered all expenses, I'd never neglect her.
Smart, but wasted on Paeng Soso.
Because….
"Jin-gaga! Jin-gaga!"
"Yeah."
"Here!"
"Uh…."
…She'd just hand it all straight to me.
"Soso?! Why give it to your husband right away?!"
"Huh? 'Cause I wanna? No reason not to, right?"
"Nooo…!"
Frustrated, Paeng Ojin thumped his chest, then sighed in half-defeat.
"Haa… Fine. If it's you, it'll be okay. I've prepared a carriage and guide. Use them."
"Th-Thank you, Father-in-law."
"No big deal. You're family now."
Feeling a bit ticklish, I scratched my head sheepishly. Then the waiting coachman spoke up cautiously from behind.
"Um… House Lord? The sun's climbing. If we don't leave soon, we might not reach the next village on time."
"Right. Can't camp the first night."
Paeng Ojin spread his thick arms and hugged Paeng Soso tight.
"Once you're done at Mount Mosan, swing by the main house. Gotta greet the elders and your brother."
"I won't forget, don't worry."
"Good."
He offered me a handshake next.
"Son-in-law. Mosanpa folks can be sly. Stay sharp."
"I've got the Alliance Lord's token, so it'll be fine."
"Usually, yeah. But as you said, people are unpredictable. And Daoist arts differ from martial ones—hard to counter if you're unfamiliar. Keep your wits about you."
Paeng Ojin had a point.
Broadly, martial arts stemmed from Daoist alchemy. But they'd diverged so long ago that martial arts retained only faint traces, like formations at best.
"No need to fret overmuch. This lady is here, ni-ra."
Well… Ultimately, both used qi, so someone like Hong Yeonhwa could just bulldoze through with raw power.
"True, the Heavenly Demon's with you. That's reassuring."
"Ahem."
Paeng Ojin chuckled and shook hands with Hong Yeonhwa, who was puffing up proudly.
"Alright, time to go. No camping first night, as I said. We'll meet again soon—no need to skimp."
Shooed into the carriage, we set off at once. Paeng Ojin's massive frame began shrinking in the distance.
"Father! I'll be back soon—!"
Paeng Soso waved out the window until he vanished.
Once we were far enough that he was out of sight, she snuggled right up to me and whispered.
"Now we can do it every day without Father watching!"
Wait, that's how much you'd been holding back till now?