Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Catching a Cold
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"Looks like we've managed to sort things out somehow."
I'd subdued every last one of the people showing similar symptoms to that monster.
No matter how much they'd lost their reason to the Blood Cult's sorcery, they were ordinary folk just moments ago.
Taking them down without injury was only a matter of time—it wasn't all that difficult.
"Milady...? What should we do with them now?"
"Once you've got them facedown on the deck, contact the Murim Alliance. Keep them tied up like that until then. Just in case there's something lingering in their bodies."
They were bound tight with ropes, but to guard against any unexpected trouble, I decided to keep watch over them a bit longer.
Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be anyone else on this ship versed in martial arts, so there was no helping it.
"Um, excuse me... milady?"
"Kid?! What the—"
"Huh?"
Turning toward the voice, I saw a woman clutching a child, her face full of panic.
"Will... Will my daddy be okay?"
The girl, who couldn't have been more than ten, gazed up at me with innocent eyes. She must not have seen me take down the monster earlier.
"Yeah. He'll be fine."
"R-Really?"
"You think I'd lie to you? I'll make sure he gets back to you and your mother safe and sound, so just behave yourself until then."
"Th-Thank you!"
The child buried herself in her mother's arms and scampered off.
'Whew...'
How long had it been since I'd made such a reckless promise, one I couldn't be sure I'd keep?
On the battlefield, people tossed around promises like that all the time—ones they had no guarantee of upholding.
I'll come back for sure, I can't die and leave my comrades behind, Let's grab a drink once the fight's over.
In the end, only a tiny fraction ever came true.
'...Blood Cult...'
Twenty years ago, they'd dared to pull that stunt, and now they had the gall to crawl back out?
-Crunch
I'd thought the Heavenly Demon wiped them out completely that day, but they must have clung to life around her somehow, tenacious as ever.
I'd been caught off guard last time and taken down without a fight, but I wouldn't go quietly this time.
Not this time. I wouldn't lose anything precious to me again.
'...But something feels off, like I've forgotten something.'
Suddenly, so many massive events had piled up that my mind was overflowing with things to think about.
It felt like there'd been something important before all this...
'...?!'
I realized I'd left him alone in the warehouse.
I hurriedly scanned the deck to see if he'd come up, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Hey! Take this sword. If anything happens, shout loud! I'll be right back!"
"Y-Yes?!"
I rushed down to the warehouse where he'd been.
The monsters were all dealt with, so he should be safe, but for some reason, an urgent need to check on him gripped me.
-Bang!
"You okay?!"
Throwing open the door, I spotted a huddled shape trembling in the corner of the warehouse.
-Shiver shiver shiver
"...Little Master?"
"What the—you can't possibly..."
-Whoosh!
He bolted upright and threw himself into my arms.
"It's you, right, Little Master? It really is? No one else?"
"W-Wait, you're clinging too tight..."
"You said you'd be quick, but I waited forever... You have no idea how scared I was alone..."
Beyond his cloak as he pressed against me, I felt an odd sensation.
"G-Get off, now!"
"If I let go, you'll leave me alone again!"
"No, I won't! It's all over! It's safe now!"
So get off already!
I forcibly pried him loose—he'd even laced his fingers with mine.
Any longer, and things would just get awkward for both of us.
"...Is it really safe now?"
"Y-Yeah. The rampaging monster's subdued. Time to head back to land."
His body odor hit me stronger than before, probably from being soaked.
The sensation from when he'd clung to me flashed back.
Get a grip. You're a Daoist. A Daoist doesn't entertain such improper thoughts...
"Perfect timing, then. Your clothes seem mostly dry. Change and let's head up."
"Oh? Right. I'll step out for a bit."
I shut the warehouse door again and swung my sword wildly at the horde of imaginary puberty-struck delusions assaulting me.
I suppressed my senses as much as possible.
Any less, and I'd sense every detail of him changing.
-Thump thump thump thump
What's wrong with me? Heart racing over some nameless guy whose face I barely know!
It couldn't be from holing up in secluded training too long and messing up my social skills. That made no sense.
Get it together. This isn't the time to get swept up in nonsense like this.
I had the Demonic Cult to worry about, the Blood Cult traces that just cropped up, the kid I came here for in the first place...
Mountain of tasks ahead.
So I need to keep my distance properly, starting now...
-Creak
"Still a bit damp, but wearable. Come on, let's go. Everyone up top will worry if we're the only ones missing."
He'd already changed and stepped out.
"...Right."
As I followed him up, I mentally rehearsed how to put some distance between us and organized what to say.
"And Little Master."
As things started falling into place in my head, he spoke up again.
"I know there was no choice this time, but please don't leave me alone if you can help it. It's scary."
-Snap
Something nearly broke in my mind.
"Hoo..."
That was close.
I'd nearly crossed an irreversible river.
Already on thin ice, one slip and I'd do something huge...
"Still, I'm always grateful to you."
"..."
...Ascension to immortality's off the table, it seems.
"Cough... cough..."
Ah, shoulda skipped wearing those wet clothes.
I was lying in bed now, sick as a dog in this room by myself.
Little Master had gotten off the ship yesterday, said he had business to handle, and vanished somewhere.
Liar...
He said he'd be right back, but he's still not here. Can I even trust that?
Only two days left in Henan, and here I am bedridden. What a waste.
Dizzy...
No way I could ignore this and go out playing.
Throat burning up again, I struggled to grab the water jug, but
-Drip
"Cough..."
Empty. Figures.
This is why I hate being alone.
Pathetic. Can't do a damn thing by myself.
Body's weak, no dantian so no getting stronger, and even my future-sight power doesn't work on myself.
Absolutely useless alone.
"Kuhk..."
Thinking back, after crash-landing in this world clueless, I'd hardly ever been truly alone.
Before meeting Master, yeah, but after? Ten years together.
She went into secluded training, I bolted out, but in Shaanxi I had Dang Ayoung.
And yesterday, plus now—it hit me.
I hate being alone.
Dashing out the second Master secluded herself? Partly terror at three years solo ahead.
My memories of alone time in this world were nothing but nightmares.
"Cough..."
So when's this guy showing up...!
Not fatal, but miserable all the same.
Already hurting, but alone? Makes it twice as pathetic and painful.
Just wait'll we hit Anhui... Business done, I'll stick to him like glue...
Promises to stay together, then ditches me after one day?
Leech mode activated.
-Crackle crackle
Deep in the mountains, a woman with rare golden hair for the Central Plains kindled a fire and grilled meat.
A beauty to topple kingdoms—her delicate hands personally roasting meat stirred an odd feeling in any onlooker, but surprisingly, her skill was top-notch.
As if the flames obeyed her, they perfectly controlled the heat, evenly cooking the meat.
"Cough... cough..."
A frail young man's cough echoed from inside the house.
"That should do it."
-Fwoosh
She flicked her hand, and the flames died instantly, leaving only a tiny ember.
"Here, all done. Eat up."
She handed the fully cooked meat straight to the boy lying there.
He shot her a look of utter disbelief.
"Master... meat for a patient?"
"Nothing restores vitality like meat. Illness stems from depleted essence. Replenishing energy is the best medicine."
"Not that... no porridge or anything? Can't swallow solids right now..."
"Sick and suddenly bossing your master around properly, huh."
She sighed, set the meat aside, and headed to the hearth.
-Whoosh!
No embers left, yet new sparks bloomed in an instant, flames roaring up.
-Thud!
"Better now?"
Moments later, she returned with steaming porridge.
"...My hands are too weak to..."
"Ask to be fed, and I'll pass it mouth-to-mouth. Don't push your luck with your master."
"...Gotta eat somehow."
The spoon trembled violently in the boy's shaky grip.
Obvious it'd spill everywhere.
"Haa... just hand it over."
"I can feed myse—"
"It's just less hassle than letting you make a mess. You cheeky brat."
She snatched the spoon, scooped some porridge, blew on it, and fed it to him.
"...Thank you."
"Save your breath and sleep. You getting better quicker helps me more."
"Tomorrow I can try again myse—"
-Zzz...
The boy drifted off mid-sentence.
"Weakling. Can't even handle that and catches a cold."
She watched his sleeping face for a long while, tucked him in, and stepped outside.
Tonight's rising moon was waxing gibbous.
Maybe that herb would bloom.