Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Too Much to Scold (3)
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I naturally averted my gaze from him, lost in thought.
'Why is that guy here?'
For a split second, I wondered if I was seeing things.
Han Jong-hoe of the Peach Blossom Truth Church.
I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that the leader himself was wandering from one local branch to another.
He was the type whose ass was glued to his seat at headquarters—he rarely budged.
His abilities were perfect for commanding others, and even at internal or external church events, spotting him was no easy feat.
In short, the man was a ghost. Damn near impossible to catch sight of.
Besides, if the leader was scheduled to visit this branch, Han Ye-eun never would've picked this place.
She'd been hiding her family ties from me—especially the fact that her father was the leader.
In other words, Han Jong-hoe's presence here was something even Ye-eun didn't know about. It had to be off-schedule, unannounced.
'Should I just play dumb for now?'
I half-listened to Han Ye-eun's lessons on the doctrine, suddenly tangled in unexpected worries.
'Or...'
I idly flexed the muscles beside my thigh, fiddling with the dagger hidden inside my pants.
'Should I kill him right here?'
It was, in a way, a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity.
Han Jong-hoe was cunning by nature.
True to his character of never showing weaknesses, he always had two secretaries with top-tier combat skills glued to his side in the original story.
But right now, he was alone.
And his own abilities had nothing to do with fighting—they wouldn't work on me anyway.
A perfect chance.
Miss it, and I'd be an idiot!
Like an open goal with no keeper!
I shook my head.
But I quickly changed my mind.
'Could be a trap.'
Considering his personality, I couldn't rule out the possibility entirely.
Besides, I wasn't after just his life.
Even if I somehow took him down here, it'd make enemies out of Ye-eun, who was right in front of me, earnestly explaining everything. That much was obvious.
'Can't have that.'
On top of that, I couldn't guarantee Lee Yeon-hee's safety back in the provinces.
Stepsister or not, our family registry listed us as blood siblings plain as day.
I couldn't act rashly.
Ye-eun was one thing, but losing Yeon-hee unnie too? No way.
'No clue what he's after...'
In the end, I ignored Han Jong-hoe and let out a light sigh.
"What's up, Woojin-ah?"
Han Ye-eun tilted her head at me.
"Getting bored? Or hungry?"
"Yeah, spot on. Skipped breakfast..."
I flashed a grin and patted my stomach demonstratively.
"Then let's head out and eat some lunch boxes! I know a great spot~!"
She grabbed my arm and tugged.
No shyness this time.
After the qigong exercises and all the doctrine lessons, she'd gotten used to physical contact with me. Proof positive.
'This means I could hold her hand now, right?'
I decided to test it right away.
Smoothly.
I slipped my other hand in, prying hers free and interlocking our fingers.
"Huh?"
I smiled at her as she turned to me, then locked our fingers tight.
"W-What's this, Woojin-ah?"
Only now did a blush creep onto Han Ye-eun's face as she glanced down at our joined hands.
"Secret time: I'm a total lost cause with directions."
"Huh? Lost cause...?"
"Yeah. Can't have me wandering off, so hold on tight."
"..."
"Right?"
"I-I guess?"
"No helping it."
"No helping it, huh..."
Thus, with Han Ye-eun half-forced into agreement, we crossed the vast local church grounds hand-in-hand.
Step.
She led me to a small field, then let go.
"...That was the lamest excuse ever."
"I thought it was pretty solid."
"If you wanna hold hands, just say so. Or wait—Woojin, you've got some nerve, huh?"
"Took you long enough?"
"Not really, but now I'm sure."
I burst out laughing at her nodding vigorously and shot back.
"Disappointed?"
"Kinda? You pull this on other girls too?"
Han Ye-eun narrowed her eyes, half-teasing, half-scolding.
"Yup."
For that one moment, I dropped the act completely.
I knew exactly what she thought of me.
Right now, Han Ye-eun was reminiscing through me.
Reliving pure school days and ordinary memories, escaping reality if only for a bit.
In other words, she saw me, but wasn't really seeing me.
At least, not yet.
"You go around doing this to other girls."
"...You've gone full Golden Sun on me, Woojin."
"Nah, not that bad."
"Hmm, true. Or not—feels worse, actually."
"So, you hate me now?"
"What? I never liked you to begin with! Hmph!"
With that, I'd imprinted the current me on her. I plopped down on the grass.
"Anyway, food time. Starving."
"Ugh, fine."
We unpacked our lunch boxes, chatting amiably.
"Egg rolls. Cynthia's specialty."
"..."
"Rice is a bit under-seasoned, just like Sia would..."
"Don't eat it then. Go beg Sia for some."
"Kidding, kidding."
"You... seriously."
"Tastes great. Didn't know you could cook this well, Ye-eun-ah?"
I spent a pretty enjoyable lunch with her, blissfully unaware her dad was even here.
"Hmph! Hmph!"
Or rather, I enjoyed it. She didn't.
"Too late for compliments now."
Snorting nonstop, she turned away with a pout.
"For real. You and Sia could have a cook-off."
"Hmph! Why would I compete with Sia?"
"Scared? Guess you forfeit then."
"Who said scared—ow! Seriously! Stop twisting my words!"
"Twisting how?"
"Talking to you makes my head spin!"
If this is whining over a little, what'll happen when I really hammer it home later, Ye-eun-ah?
"Okay, no more teasing. I'll eat nicely. Got anything to drink?"
"...Yeah, green tea."
Han Ye-eun poured chilled green tea from a thermos into the lid.
"Thanks."
I sipped as I continued.
"You done eating? Already?"
"Yeah, eat up. I'm on a diet."
"Diet? Where's the fat on you?"
"No, I've been stressed lately. Pigging out to cope."
"How much do you weigh?"
"...Don't ask that."
She was just your average twenty-something girl.
Separate from being the leader's daughter or a candidate for Great Saintess.
"Anyway, what'd you think of the morning? Change your mind after touring like you wanted?"
Han Ye-eun asked about my impressions of the Peach Blossom Truth Church.
"Way better than I expected."
"Really? Glad to hear. Wait, glad? No?"
"No clue what you mean, but the doctrine really clicked. Especially pursuing immortality through harmony of body, mind, and qi."
Not a lie.
Observing the followers and their teachings was more intriguing than anticipated.
Especially seeing concepts straight out of wuxia novels actually exist in real life. Mind-blowing.
Like stepping onto a movie or drama set.
Familiar yet refreshingly novel.
Though, technically, the world I lived in was based on some fabricated eroge(?).
"What's afternoon like?"
I finished eating, tidied up, and asked.
"Afternoons vary completely. Depends on follower rank, disciple grade, department—everything's different."
"Got it."
"So, touring ends here. Any questions?"
She asked like a teacher wrapping up class.
"One thing nagging me."
"What?"
"From your story earlier. Peach Blossom Truth Church—or Truth Church for short—followers seek immortality, but why discard the body for the Immortal Realm at the pinnacle? Isn't transcending physical limits just dying?"
I poked at the cult's contradiction, and Han Ye-eun smirked mysteriously.
"Ah, that's because..."
She raised a finger dramatically, about to explain.
"It's not true death."
A deep voice cut her off abruptly.
"Surpassing human limits to become a true immortal—that is true eternal life."
It was Han Jong-hoe, appearing behind us.
"D-Dad?!"
Han Ye-eun, who hadn't sensed him at all, went wide-eyed.
"How... here...?"
She panicked, but he chuckled affably.
"What's odd about the leader visiting his own church?"
"N-No, but..."
"And this young man? Your boyfriend, Ye-eun-ah?"
She jolted again, waving her hands frantically.
"N-No! Middle school friend!"
"Hmm."
He tilted his head, eyeing me. I bowed politely, right on cue.
"Kang Woojin. Ye-eun's middle school classmate, as she said."
"Oh, I see. I'm her father. Since you're her friend's friend, feel free to speak casually."
Surprisingly welcoming, Han Jong-hoe flashed a fake smile.
"Of course."
"This is the first time our girl's brought a friend. Couldn't help butting in. Hope you stay close with her for a long time."
He pointed at Han Ye-eun, patting her shoulder encouragingly.
But as expected.
It wasn't normal father-daughter contact.
'Fitting for a perverted old creep.'
His gaze on her was as slimy as his touch.
'No way... he came here just to scope her out.'
Not paternal pride—no, that was a man's leer at a woman.
'Not even his real daughter anyway.'
Genetically fine.
Legally and morally dicey, but he suppressed his dark urges, playing the doting dad.
"Sorry, Dad. Didn't tell you ahead..."
"No matter. Saw him earlier—seems very interested in our church. No need to report every little proselytizing effort."
"..."
"But you know where you stand, right?"
"Yes, Father..."
"The Saintess selection is soon. Explain it well to your friend—no hurt feelings later. Keep it a 'healthy' relationship."
Watching their father-daughter exchange up close, Lee Ji-hye sprang to mind.
More precisely, the cafe manager who'd tried hooking her up with a job.
Among NTR guys, that manager and Han Jong-hoe were cut from the same cloth.
High social status meant they couldn't just pounce on the woman they wanted.
So they schemed to make her public property.
If she's everyone's, backlash for touching her would be minimal.
Cowards, both of them. Pathetic.
Even Choi Si-hyeok sharing girls to flex was better.
'Nah, maybe not.'
I chuckled involuntarily and stood slowly.
And then.
I declared my bold intentions to Han Ye-eun and Han Jong-hoe staring at me.
"I want to join officially."
Silence crashed down. The pair gaped wordlessly.
"Touring the activities and learning the doctrine convinced me. I want to become an immortal too, live eternally."
Han Jong-hoe burst into booming laughter, beaming.
"New believers are always welcome."
But his smile didn't last.
"Not as a regular follower—I want to be an official disciple of the Peach Blossom Truth Church. I've wanted to meet you, Leader, and ask for a while."
A massive crack split his frozen expression.
I even sensed veiled anger.
Overstepping?
Too arrogant?
Whatever—his response was scripted.
"Commendable spirit, but official disciples aren't for just anyone. Start as a regular, train diligently, sacrifice body and soul for the church..."
I pulled my trump card, as expected.
"I'll donate."
"Dona..."
"To show my faith and sincerity to the Truth Church. Thirty billion."
Even for a nationwide cult, thirty billion in cash was no small sum.
Religion's clout had tanked overall in this world.
Especially the Peach Blossom Truth Church, whose underground ops had shrunk after Genova's public interest.
He couldn't refuse me.
No reason to.
"Plus, I'll build a church hall right in central Seoul. Got my old house there."
As leader, the offer was too massive to scold my impatience or arrogance.