Chapter 187
Translator: penny
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Saryeong Pill Gift
"Does Hee-ah need to know about it?"
When I responded indifferently, Paeng Deokjo's expression turned deadly serious.
He looked like he was lost in deep thought.
A moment later, the guy's demeanor shifted slightly.
The way he looked at me was filled with wariness—no, something closer to outright hostility.
The reason for his reaction was plain as day.
'This punk's pissed off.'
From ditching him at the clinic to showing up with a stunning beauty on my arm—and especially just now, I hadn't bothered hiding my annoyance.
He had every reason to feel slighted.
But from my standpoint, there was no helping it.
'This guy's always prying into the pettiest shit.'
Especially grating was how he kept bringing up Moyong Hui.
If it were jealousy from a woman, I could understand—but why the hell was a dude like Paeng Deokjo so obsessed with my romantic escapades?
'He should mind his own business and take better care of the girl he's pining for.'
Not that it would've mattered. I'd have snatched her anyway.
As the mood chilled, Sa Hye-rin piped up from beside me, clearly displeased.
"And who might you be to bring up Sword Phoenix?"
Only then did he seem to realize his blunder, scrambling to school his features.
"My apologies. I got flustered for a moment. They call me Earth Dragon."
"Earth Dragon?"
Sa Hye-rin's eyes went wide in surprise.
She scanned him up and down, clearly sizing up his martial prowess.
"So you're one of the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes, just like Sword Phoenix."
Sa Hye-rin might've been a woman, but she was a martial artist through and through—her eyes burned with competitive fire.
Paeng Deokjo, though, clearly lacked the confidence for a spar right in the heart of hostile territory, so he swiftly changed the subject.
"More importantly, are you two here for a meal?"
"Ah, yes. Why don't we head inside first."
Sa Hye-rin clung to my arm as she led the way into the restaurant.
It was late, so the place was mostly empty.
As we entered, a guy who'd been sitting there in a daze shot to his feet.
"You're late today, sir. And these folks are...?"
"My guests—and my master's guests. Whip up a proper spread."
"Right away."
He bolted straight for the kitchen.
Watching him go, I couldn't help but find it intriguing.
Sect dining halls were usually set up with pre-cooked dishes ready to go.
Whether you ladled out your own portions or a server did it for you, the food was mass-produced and kept in one spot.
But the Saryeong Sect's setup felt just like a regular eatery—taking orders and all.
"Special grade for three!"
The shout came from the kitchen—the voice of the guy who'd just been chatting with Sa Hye-rin.
Special grade for the cuisine, three people.
'Now that's a unique system.'
Sa Hye-rin, still gripping my arm, headed to a specific spot.
She pushed open a door there, revealing a lavish private room worlds apart from the main dining area.
"We'll eat here."
It struck me as wildly inefficient—might as well separate the dining hall from the private rooms outright.
Probably the Saryeong Sect Leader's personal quirk.
True to his word, the food arrived promptly.
It wasn't half bad.
In the midst of our meal, Paeng Deokjo suddenly remembered something and asked.
"By the way, did you manage to sort out your business here?"
"Eh, more or less..."
I gave a half-hearted nod.
What had brought me here with Paeng Deokjo in the first place?
The Harmony Corps mission, of course.
Yet in the end, I'd learned next to nothing new about it.
Just that 'Godanso'—the Sect Leader's spy—had died?
'Practically zero gains.'
Of course, on a personal level, I was thrilled.
I'd claimed Sa Hye-rin, after all.
Reading my reaction, Paeng Deokjo let out a heavy sigh.
"So, when do you plan to head out again?"
His vague phrasing was no doubt because of Sa Hye-rin sitting right there.
The Harmony Corps was a secret arm of the Murim Alliance, after all.
For my part, I didn't care if she knew—but rather than bother explaining here, I played along with him for now.
"Around noon tomorrow, I suppose."
That's when Sa Hye-rin, who'd been listening quietly, cut in.
"Hold on, Mok young master. You're leaving tomorrow already?"
"Mm, seems like it. Lingering longer would just impose."
Had I not bedded Sa Hye-rin, I might've stuck around the Saryeong Sect a bit longer.
But that goal was already squarely achieved.
'Not to mention Paeng Deokjo here's a problem.'
If it'd just been me, I might've stayed awhile.
Sa Hye-rin was the type worth savoring more than once, after all.
'Tch. I only dragged him along thinking he might come in handy for reeling in Baek Yi-ryeong... wonder how to shake him loose.'
Since I'd scrapped seduction and resolved to just force myself on Baek Yi-ryeong instead, Paeng Deokjo was nothing more than dead weight now.
I was mulling ways to ditch him when—
"The young lady here's reluctant to see you go. Why not stick around a bit longer? I'll handle the Shandong Yue Clan side myself."
Paeng Deokjo, volunteering to split off on his own.
It was a tempting offer—but his sudden change of heart reeked of ulterior motives.
He'd been visibly uncomfortable with me cozying up to Sa Hye-rin just moments ago, and now he was urging me to stay?
'What's his angle?'
Sa Hye-rin chimed in eagerly from the side.
"Yes, please stay, Mok young master. I had a gift I wanted to give you as thanks for before..."
"A gift?"
The word "gift" instantly vaporized any suspicions about Paeng Deokjo.
That wasn't what mattered.
Paeng Deokjo's eyes flicked toward Sa Hye-rin, clearly intrigued by the mention.
And out of her mouth came a name beyond my wildest expectations.
"Have you heard of the Saryeong Pill? Our sect's refining some right now. Should be ready in about four days..."
As if I wouldn't know.
Hell, the whole reason I'd met with the Shadow Gate Sect Leader was to pry info on it.
'Hope Second Sis took it well.'
The Saryeong Pill might fall short of the Shaolin Great Reversion Pill, but it outshone the Revival Pill or any other elixir by miles.
Paeng Deokjo clearly knew it too—his jaw dropped in shock.
"That priceless treasure?"
"Yes. Master's already given the okay. Would you wait?"
Like I had a choice.
Four days for a Saryeong Pill was an insane steal.
'Truth be told, my rush to leave was because of this guy anyway...'
And now he was offering to head out first—no reason to refuse.
Still, agreeing outright would make it seem too easy.
I scratched the back of my head, feigning embarrassment.
"I'm not sure I deserve something so precious."
"Nonsense. Compared to what you did for me, it's nowhere near enough..."
Sa Hye-rin blushed as she said it.
Paeng Deokjo's stare burned into me.
"Ahem, Brother Paeng. Looks like I'll have to impose here a few more days. That alright with you?"
"Khmm, of course. I already said I'd go alone."
Envy dripped from every word.
I couldn't resist twisting the knife a little.
"Man, it'd feel bad hogging this all to myself. But I could hardly presume to ask for an extra one on your behalf..."
Utter bullshit, not a shred of sincerity.
But Sa Hye-rin, who'd overheard, hesitated before speaking up.
"If you asked, Mok young master... maybe I could talk to Master about one more?"
Paeng Deokjo's gaze nailed me in place.
His eyes brimmed with desperate hope.
'Am I nuts? Like hell I'd share.'
"Young lady, you can't make a guy like me out to be that shameless. Even one's more than I deserve—put that thought aside."
"..."
Paeng Deokjo's face twisted into something complicated.
His eyes screamed "Who the hell made you the decider?" while his lips twitched like he had words dying to spill out.
But in the end, he clamped his mouth shut without a peep.
'Hell, it'd be hilarious if he blew up right here.'
What had he even done to earn it?
I was the one who'd saved Sa Hye-rin. I was the one close to her. I was the one who'd boosted her inner energy with the Blissful Creation Art.
Unless I handed over both pills, sharing even one was never on the table.
Paeng Deokjo knew that full well, so he held his tongue on the matter.
Instead, he rose from his seat with a deeply crestfallen look.
"I'll take my leave then. Enjoy the rest of your meal."
His appetite had clearly vanished.
Mine, on the other hand, was whetted sharper than ever.
"Sure, see yourself out. I'll finish up with the young lady here."
A Saryeong Pill. An actual Saryeong Pill.
I'd harbored faint hopes since arriving, but hearing it confirmed brought a grin I couldn't suppress.
'Send it to Second Sis? Hmm, too soon—efficacy would be down.'
Even premium elixirs like the Saryeong Pill didn't boost inner energy infinitely with every dose.
Your body built tolerance after the first go, dulling the effects.
'Without tolerance, anyone could gorge on one type and hit the Transcendent Realm like it was nothing.'
Of course, it wasn't zero effect—just think of it as roughly halving each time.
'Or send it to little Yeon-i, sweating it out at Mount Hua Sect.'
As I pondered uses for the Saryeong Pill, something I'd forgotten clicked back into place.
I double-checked that Paeng Deokjo was gone, then called to Sa Hye-rin.
"Young lady."
"Yes?"
"Mind if I take you up on that extra Saryeong Pill you mentioned?"
For the record, I was a guy with zero shame.