Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Fragrance
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-Splish splash
Washing laundry at the stream in front of the house, I called out to Master, who was sprawled out far in the distance.
"Master. Mind if I ask you something?"
"What."
"What did you do back in the martial world?"
At first, I figured she was just some hermit living in seclusion, but after a few years together, it was clear she knew way too much.
She could read fortunes, brew medicine, hunt, and handle all sorts of sorcery. Sometimes I wondered just what the hell kind of person she was.
"It's been so long since my jianghu days that I barely remember."
"Just say you don't wanna tell me."
"Don't wanna tell."
"Love how honest you are at times like this."
I grumbled as I splashed the laundry harder into the water.
"Master. On second thought, at your level, you probably don't even need a chest binder—your breasts wouldn't jiggle anyway. Why not just ditch it?"
"Didn't you teach me that yourself? And now it's uncomfortable without one."
"It's a nightmare to wash every time."
The size on these things—way too damn big for no reason.
Probably big enough to smother my whole face with just one side. I sighed inwardly as I dunked the massive bra into the water.
I'd only told her because it looked uncomfortable, but who'd have thought it'd come back to bite me like this.
"More importantly, how can you talk so casually about another woman's breasts? No shame at all?"
"Says the one dumping all her laundry—including underwear—on some random guy outsider."
"Well, we sleep together every night. What's there to be shy about?"
"Ease up on the words that could get misunderstood."
Such sexual harassment had become old hat ages ago.
Sure, we're stuck seeing everything there is to see, but people have lines. She's hurdle-jumping over them every damn day.
'How much more is she gonna wreck my marriage prospects.'
Good thing it's just us two. If anyone else heard, the gossip would be endless. "Master and disciple getting it on."
In a world where master-disciple bonds are like parent and child, it'd be a full-blown scandal.
"Who's around to misunderstand? It's just you and me."
"...You really planning to keep me locked in these mountains forever?"
"If you had the skill to head out to jianghu alone, survive, and come back in one piece, maybe. But what could you even do in your current state?"
"I could read fortunes and make some money."
"I guarantee you—your face screams troublemaker. You'd cause an incident the second you're out alone."
What's wrong with my face?
"Just listen to your master. Obey me, and meat'll fall into your lap even in your sleep."
"Oh. Master. Speaking of... Lately, I wake up with my whole body aching bad."
"...What do you mean?"
"I sleep fine, comfortably even, but it's like I did some intense workout. Mostly legs and pelvis hurt worst. Any idea why?"
"..."
Master pondered for a moment at my words, her expression troubled.
"Right. Your sleeping habits are downright vicious."
"Huh?!"
"Kicking me while I'm right there beside you—total chaos. Felt like you were venting years of grudges against your master under the excuse of 'bad sleep habits.'"
Suddenly, I'd been diagnosed with sleepwalking.
I tried fixing it afterward, but I slept so deeply it was impossible.
"So, Daoist... even if you say that so suddenly, we don't have anyone right now..."
"A person's been kidnapped right now! How many times do I have to say we need someone skilled in tracking?!"
While they bickered over finding a tracker, my heart pounded faster with every passing second.
It was the Blood Cult.
Those utterly depraved bastards wouldn't leave their hostages in one piece.
Just for briefly traveling with me, they'd torture him to spill every last secret they thought he knew. And that wouldn't be enough—they'd shatter his mind with vile curses.
Every delayed moment slashed his odds of survival.
'Even if I have to comb this whole region alone...'
-Rumble
A familiar roll of thunder interrupted my reckless thoughts.
"Looks like rain. Better head inside."
"Whew, those clouds look nasty at a glance."
"..."
Before I knew it, the sky was choked with thick storm clouds.
And I recognized that distinctive cloud formation.
"...Ye So-cheon?"
My old comrade and rival, unseen since the Blood Cult war ended.
Ye So-cheon of the Thunderclap Sword.
It was the same clouds I'd seen often when fighting alongside her.
'Is she nearby?'
The thought hit me instantly, but the odds were slim to none.
I hadn't seen her leave Kunlun Mountain since the war's end. The chances of her being way out here in Anhui were too low.
Which meant the clouds weren't hers—some other reason had brought them here.
'...Maybe.'
I started moving in the direction the clouds were drifting.
Hoping my hunch was right.
"Huff... huff... damn it... you barbarian..."
Mardin gasped for breath, glaring daggers at the man before him.
He'd assumed resistance had limits, so he kept layering brainwashing or force-feeding drugs. But beyond a slight daze, there was zero real effect.
"Master. At this rate, we'll burn through all our precious herbs. Your mana’s low too—why not rest a bit?"
"You mocking me too?! Think I can't crack one puny mental barrier?!"
"I'm just saying it's a huge loss to waste your emotions on something this trivial."
The woman had already mastered handling him, more or less.
This vampire would never admit any weakness.
Every word had to stroke his ego for him to listen.
Truly a childish temperament.
"If you're still curious, I'll torture answers out of him all night. You should unwind from the journey. Simple grunt work like this is for lowly bodies like mine, after all."
"...Hmph. True. No need for me to tire myself out on torture."
Mardin grinned at her words, pleased.
"Fine. I'll catch some sleep. Make that guy obedient while I'm out. Come to think of it, this sunlight's doing a number on my body."
This world's sun—unlike his home world's—didn't melt vampires on contact.
Still, per their lore, prolonged exposure tanked their condition badly. Losing that fatal flaw was a morale boost for vampires, though.
It meant they could move outside during the day, if only for limited time.
"Rest well. I'll handle everything."
Once Mardin left, the woman eyed the still-dazed fortune teller.
-Wobble wobble
"Can you hear me?"
"Hehe... feels good..."
"Brainwashing definitely didn't take..."
She knew what brainwashing victims looked like.
No idle talk, eyes lifeless, nothing but answers to questions or blind obedience to orders.
Couldn't see his eyes under the cloak, but he seemed more spaced-out than controlled.
Like he was drunk or high.
"...Hmm."
She glanced around, confirming Mardin was gone, then drew close to the fortune teller.
As she brought her face near the hat brim, that scent hit her again.
-Sniff
A fragrance that made her mouth water on instinct.
She wanted to sink her fangs into that neck right then—such an intoxicating aroma.
But she couldn't bite the hostage first, not with her master due back.
Luckily, Mardin showed zero interest here.
'He won't care.'
She'd already promised to pry his mouth open, one way or another.
Even if that annoying vampire griped later and ordered a disposal, whatever.
Honestly, for a scent like this, trading her life might be worth it.
-Slide
She slipped a hand inside the hat, caressing the neck meant for her fangs.
Soft, delicate skin.
-Gulp
A body that stirred appetite and lust with touch alone.
Miss this chance, and she'd never find flesh this prime again.
"It tickles..."
"...Stay still. It only hurts at first."
"...Hold on. That line feels off..."
Did she slip up? Signs of his mind clearing crept into his voice.
She hurriedly shoved her face into the hat's dark interior, fangs poised for that tender neck—
-KABOOM!!!!
A massive crash echoed from above, like something collapsing.
And just like that—
"Wh-what?! What's going on over there!"
'Tch.'
He snapped to.
No big deal.
A few gulps of blood wouldn't take long. Hurry up and—
"What the hell's that racket?! Go check it out!!"
"..."
-Grind
Cursing her useless master, she turned and headed upstairs toward the noise.
'...Intruder?'
At the source, a woman gripped her sword, face twisted in rage.
-Spurt!
"How dare you... dare touch that child..."
That was the last thing I saw.