Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Special Reward
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"Good. I'll trust you."
The Young Cult Leader took the paper from me and quickly scanned its contents. Then, with those red eyes of his, he looked straight at me and spoke.
"I'll give these instructions to the Three Secret Squad based on this. That should do it, right?"
'From the looks of it, he doesn't know about the poison yet, so it hasn't spread...'
"For now, that's fine. If there's anything else, I'll let you know then."
Having gotten his firm agreement, I was about to stand and leave since there were no further orders.
"Wait. One more thing."
The Young Cult Leader paused, as if he had something else to say.
'What now? Why's he dragging it out like that? Is he about to give me some grueling task?'
He wouldn't make his aide climb Mount Shiman again to fetch a pot full of water, right?
I shuddered at the memory of that steep path I'd climbed, sweating buckets just to get water.
"Why not, Gwang-yu? Didn't you beg me before to teach you?"
"Because you firmly refused, Young Cult Leader."
I answered with a look that said why ask the obvious? He continued awkwardly.
"...I didn't exactly refuse. I just said learning martial arts would mean getting blood on your hands, and that's dangerous."
"But why are you worrying about that? Even if blood gets on someone's hands, it'd be on mine."
"Well, because you're...!"
'What about me?'
I stared at the Young Cult Leader, waiting for his answer. He hesitated before finally speaking with difficulty.
"You're... my aide. I don't want the people around me getting hurt."
"That was before I became your aide."
"Ahem. You were my servant then, so you're still one of my people."
He cleared his throat awkwardly, like something hit too close to home.
'Is that why you worked me to the bone? You wicked Young Cult Leader!'
"If you're worried about me getting hurt, you don't need to be. Like I said then, I'm learning martial arts not to stain my hands with blood, but to protect my body and the people precious to me."
His expression finally returned to normal, and he replied nonchalantly.
"Too bad. I have a knack for teaching people to master martial arts quickly."
'I can guess! He'd train me brutally hard to make me learn fast.'
Just watching how he bossed me around with tasks showed exactly how tough life as his disciple would be.
"Sorry, but I already have Master Gwang-yu. So go find some other disciple who can withstand your passion."
"Forget it. I'm not really interested in taking disciples anyway."
'Then why bring it up with me?'
The Young Cult Leader's whims were hard to keep up with.
"That's enough for today. Get some rest. You must be worn out from coming all this way."
He unrolled a new scroll and got back to work, as if he'd already lost interest in the teacher idea.
'Rest? Instead of working together?'
"Is that really okay?"
I asked, puzzled. He pointed to the mountain of scrolls piled on his desk.
"If it wasn't, would you come over here and handle the work?"
"No, I'll gladly take the rest. Then, if you'll excuse me...!"
Before he could change his mind, I bolted out of the office without looking back.
Once I closed the door and stepped into the corridor, I replayed my conversation with the Young Cult Leader.
'Honestly, unexpected.'
I hadn't thought he'd so readily believe my prophecy and follow it.
And telling me to rest today, of all days!
I'd braced myself for him to work me all day on my first day as aide.
Did he eat something funny for breakfast?
It felt strange, but it wasn't a bad change for me.
Well, all the better.
I'd ridden Bbi-bbi here, but moving all night had tired me out.
Still, Yeon-hwa must have spent the whole time alone in the room while I was gone...
With the money pouch Daddy gave me, I should take her to that market Gwang-yu and I went to and buy something tasty before heading back!
"Yeon-hwa!"
I flung open the door, picturing the Golden Immortal Lotus's joy at the news.
"...Yeon-hwa?"
The Golden Immortal Lotus was gone.
"Yeon-hwa!"
'Where the heck did she go?'
In my confusion, one scene flashed in my mind.
"Choose! Me or that Young Cult Leader brat!"
'No way... Did she leave because I chose Gwang-yu?'
It was childish, but Yeon-hwa was just the type.
She'd come to this demonic cult where she knew no one, just following me.
Things had happened so suddenly that I hadn't considered her deeper feelings.
I ran through the cult grounds, calling out for the missing Golden Immortal Lotus at the top of my lungs, then stopped.
'Right, ever since I ate that flower seed, I've been able to sense where Yeon-hwa is.'
The sudden realization eased my tension. I took a deep breath to calm my lingering anxiety, then focused my mind to sense the Golden Immortal Lotus's presence.
'Found her!'
I dashed straight toward where I felt her energy.
The Golden Immortal Lotus was in the cave where I'd first met her.
"Yeon-hwa, why are you here?"
As I entered, I saw her crouched by the pond where she'd entered as a golden lotus, her back to me.
"Why ask? My opinion doesn't matter anyway."
'She's really mad.'
I slowly approached and sat beside her to soothe her.
"I'm sorry for choosing Gwang-yu. At the time, it seemed the safest option. But you're more precious to me than Gwang-yu. You gave me the hope to protect the people I cherish."
"That's not why I'm mad."
'Not that?'
"Then what?"
"I'm mad because Gwang-yu stole the position of my first disciple! How could you decide something so important without discussing it with me?"
'Was the spot as my master such a hot commodity?'
There wasn't a single taker when I was looking...
But this was my fault.
The power I gained came from her flower seed.
I should have consulted the Golden Immortal Lotus when choosing a master to harness that power.
'She knows my current state and the seed's power better than anyone.'
"I'm sorry, Yeon-hwa. I got greedy to stabilize this unstable power and grow strong quickly... I didn't think it through."
I took her hand as she huddled there and apologized sincerely.
She looked at me for a moment, then sighed helplessly.
"Fine. I failed to act with the dignity befitting a spirit being. But there's something you need to understand."
Instead of replying, I watched her. She glanced at our joined hands and continued.
"To grow strong, you need to hone your martial arts, but settling unstable power isn't just about training."
"Then what do I do?"
"Cultivate your inner energy first."
"...I've never done that."
"I figured."
As if he'd expected it, the Golden Immortal Lotus stood dramatically.
"But don't worry. You have this noble and great one!"
For some reason, excitement flickered in her expression.
A bad premonition slithered down my throat.
'Why do bad premonitions always hit the mark?'
Smack!
"Straighten your back more!"
"Ow!"
The Golden Immortal Lotus said she'd teach me inner energy cultivation, started with basic posture, and whipped any mistake with her fan without mercy.
Smack!
"Tuck in that turtle neck!"
"Ouch!"
'What do you know? Turtle neck is a chronic ailment for all K-moderns in the digital age!'
But explaining my past life wouldn't work on her.
"No distractions! Focus on your dantian!"
Smack!
"Ah, that hurts!"
I clutched my struck shoulder and yelled in protest.
"Then do it right! How can your inner energy improve with wrong posture?"
'Can't argue with that, which makes it worse!'
"This is my first time learning inner energy! I might mess up a bit!"
She shook her head at my limp form, as if I were hopeless.
"Fine. You're too unmotivated right now. I'll give you a special reward to boost it."
"Oh! What's the special reward?"
Motivated by the word "reward" as she intended, I sparkled at her.
"The reward is appreciation of this body's..."
'Does the Golden Immortal Lotus have some hidden technique?'
As I anticipated, she lowered the fan covering her face and smiled alluringly.
Her lips, like rose petals, parted elegantly.
"Beauty."