The Final Meal

The old man was being stubborn again. But don't worry too much. I will definitely secure permission from my master by tomorrow so that I may accompany the benefactor to Wudang.

'This bastard... what's wrong with him? Has he lost his mind?'

The fake monk Hye-yul had been spouting nonsense every morning like clockwork. I glared at him.

"Get lost. Let me eat in peace!"

"Understood. Though you must be anxious, I will certainly make it happen."

He rose with a solemn expression.

"I shall return this evening. I will definitely accompany the benefactor."

Even as the fake monk opened the side door to leave, he shot me one last lingering gaze filled with longing.

"...What the hell is wrong with that guy? Is this some new form of torture?"

Lately, the fake monk had been cornering me during every breakfast and dinner offering, spewing the same ridiculous drivel. After subjecting me to every possible humiliation, his sudden behavior made no sense.

"Tsk tsk tsk. The tastes of these young monks have grown truly bizarre. The end times are upon us. The end times indeed."

It was Gapjil Jijon's voice.

"What do you mean by that, Gapjil old man?"

I shot a glare at Gapjil Jijon, who had just uttered something inexplicably unpleasant.

"Even speaking it aloud disgusts me. Shaolin's spiritual energy must be exhausted. To think a perverted monk with deviant sexual desires has been born. Tsk tsk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tsk."

"It's not quite perverted... more like lacking basic humanity? Or maybe just mentally unstable? Something like that?"

"No, this girl is completely blind. Can't you tell why that boy is acting like this?"

"Isn't he just planning to follow me all the way to Wudang to keep tormenting me?"

"Aigoo, you ugly wench. Living your whole life looking like that has left you utterly clueless about these things. How pitiful."

"Ugh! You're pissing me off... Just say it straight!"

"That boy has completely fallen for you, even though he's a monk! Can't you see it?"

The moment I heard Gapjil Jijon's nonsense, it felt like someone had slammed a hammer into the back of my skull.

'How dare... a man fall for Bae Taeseong, the manliest of men! Unforgivable!'

But then again... well, it could happen. Maybe I was just that impressive. It was probably just fan admiration. Whenever I returned after smashing down some colossal monster, hadn't hordes of grimy men always swarmed me, shouting things like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Hyungnim, I love you!", "Hyungnim, I think I'm falling for you!", "Please let me take a photo with you, Hyungnim!"?

And the beautiful ladies... the beautiful ladies also...

...There weren't any?

"...."

Sudden depression hit me. Mood change! Mood change! Aha! This body was female now! So that's why he fell for me?

Why was I even having these stupid thoughts? Normally I would have wolfed down the porridge and immediately begun internal energy training. But today was finally the day we escaped this godforsaken Repentance Cave. Now that the moment had arrived, I couldn't focus on cultivation at all. Random thoughts kept intruding, my mind felt strangely buoyant, and concentration was impossible.

It wasn't just me. The Madu elders were all having the same problem. So what could we do? We simply decided to skip training for the day.

Since we planned to escape after the evening offering once it grew dark, we had plenty of time left. We spent it sharing stories with the Madu that we'd never had the chance to tell before.

"Madu elders, what will you all do once we're out? You're all getting on in years—shouldn't you be looking for a nice burial plot instead of causing chaos like in the old days?"

"You disrespectful wench. Is that any way for a youngster to speak?"

"Speaking of which, what are you going to do once you're out, Gapjil old man?"

I lightly ignored Gapjil Jijon's scolding and turned the question back on him.

"I will eat delicious food to my heart's content. The porridge we've been eating here isn't food. It's shit."

"Ooh~ A gourmet restaurant tour! Nice. But you'll need a lot of money for that. How do you plan to earn it?"

"I shall become the greatest chef in the Central Plains! Then I will conquer the Murim with my cooking!"

"...So you really are going to become a chef. Well, that's not a bad idea."

I went around asking the other Madu as well.

Cheondok Noong: "I already told you. I have a manor and farmland, so I'll manage somehow."

Hyeolbu Mak-ga: "I was thinking of opening a smithy using my 'great awakening ability,' but I don't have any money right now, so I'll have to impose on Cheondok Noong for a while."

Ok-myeon Eum-ma: "As for me... I haven't been locked up here very long, so I was thinking of finding some lovely young ladies again and..."

"That's enough. Don't say another word."

I cut off Ok-myeon Eum-ma's lecherous plans. I also wanted to enjoy myself with beautiful women, but with this female body, it was impossible.

'It's only natural to feel jealous.'

Sacheon Il-ma: "Hey! My title isn't Madu 1. I am the first of the Sichuan Twin Demons, Sacheon Il-ma! Remember that. For now, I'm returning to Sichuan territory. I have things to do there."

Sacheon I-ma: "My title is the second of the Sichuan Twin Demons, Sacheon I-ma! I will also go to Sichuan with my older brother."

'What? Aren't Madu 1 and Madu 2 basically the same as Sacheon Il-ma and Sacheon I-ma? What's the difference?'

They really had the kind of forgettable titles you'd expect from such minor characters.

'...Wait, those two were brothers?'

I'd had zero interest in them, so I genuinely hadn't known. Judging by the other Madu's reactions, none of them had known either.

'They really have zero presence.'

"What about you, Guyu Majon?"

Guyu Majon remained completely silent.

...I was worried whether the old man even had the strength to escape this place. He'd said he was ninety this year.

'If it comes to it... I'll just have to carry him on my back and run.'

Finally, the evening offering—which would be our last meal here—was served. And as expected, the fake monk Hye-yul cornered me again, reciting the same wistful nonsense.

"Benefactor, please don't worry too much. I will definitely obtain my master's permission by tomorrow morning and accompany you to Wudang."

"Get lost. Let me eat."

"Understood... I will come again tomorrow morning..."

"I said get lost!"

I ignored the guy, who looked shocked by my response.

'The crazy bastard won't even give me a spoon until the very end.'

I licked the porridge bowl cleaner than I ever had before, with more reverence than I'd ever shown, then lightly stretched my body. I waited long enough for the fake monk to be completely gone from the Repentance Cave.

At last, I nodded at Hyeolbu Mak-ga.

"Hyeolbu old man. Let's begin."

Hyeolbu Mak-ga gripped the bars of his prison cell with a serious expression.

Soon after, Hyeolbu Mak-ga stepped out and began twisting the bars of the other cells like taffy, one after another.

We were finally out of the prison cells!

...Well, not exactly. I had been dragged out once before by the collar by that insane giant monk Hyeon-jung.

The Madu and I exchanged tense glances. Until now, we had only seen each other through the Vision Manifestation Array. This was the first time we'd made direct eye contact with the others, excluding Cheondok Noong.

"Alright. Before we break down the side door..."

I looked at Ok-myeon Eum-ma.

"Ok-myeon Eum-ma. Use that 'pervert eye' of yours to check if there's anyone outside the Repentance Cave."

Ok-myeon Eum-ma protested with a wounded expression.

"Young lady... Pervert eye? How can you say such a thing to someone's face... Please call it X-ray vision or clairvoyant eye..."

"Enough!"

I cut off Ok-myeon Eum-ma's whining and turned to Hyeolbu Mak-ga.

"Hyeolbu old man, just in case, please take a few of those iron bars and sharpen them into sword-like blades. You know what I mean, right?"

"Understood. I'll do it quickly."

"And don't forget to make them as light as feathers."

While watching Hyeolbu Mak-ga diligently tear off and refine the bars, I took a deep breath.

'Finally... we're leaving.'

Hyeolbu Mak-ga finished turning the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bars into swords in the blink of an eye and handed one to each of the Madu. I accepted my makeshift blade and gave Cheondok Noong a meaningful look. In response, Cheondok Noong gave the Madu one final piece of advice.

"From here to five li away, there is only a single path. After that, several mountain trails branch out. We must each flee in different directions. Pursuers may come after us, so we cannot stick to the established roads. Everyone... I wish you good fortune in battle."

"Let's do this."

"Understood. Please take care of yourself as well, elder."

"Right, let's go!"

Each of the Madu nodded heavily, steeling their resolve. Once Cheondok Noong confirmed their readiness and took position to strike the side door, Hyeolbu Mak-ga suddenly called out to him from behind.

"Wait a moment, you poison bastard!"

"What is it?"

"Guyu Majon... says he won't be coming with us. What should we do?"

"...What?"

All our heads turned toward the corner cell where Guyu Majon was kept. Only then did we realize that among the Madu gathered by the side door, Guyu Majon's face was missing.

"Why! Why all of a sudden!"

The Madu and I rushed over to Guyu Majon's cell. He remained seated in meditation inside his cell, eyes closed.

"What are you doing? You're not coming out? Get up already!"

When I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shouted, the other Madu began trying to persuade him as well.

"Majon! Is this the time for jokes? Come out quickly!"

"Elder brother! Didn't we agree to escape together!"

Only then did Guyu Majon open his closed eyes.

"I will not be leaving. All of you should go quickly."

Cheondok Noong calmed the agitated Madu and asked calmly.

"Majon... why do you choose not to leave?"

"While all of you were accumulating energy, I too attempted to circulate my qi... but it was useless for me. My inner energy would not gather."

"...."

The Madu fell silent for a moment. Unable to bear the silence, I shouted.

"You old man and your endless worries! I'll just carry you on my back! I'm confident in my light footwork! Don't worry!"

Guyu Majon gave a faint smile at my words.

"I appreciate your intention... but that is not the only reason."

His gaze seemed to look toward a faraway place.

"In my youth, I committed countless evil deeds out of arrogance. Thinking back on the past here, I realized there is no way for me to repay those I harmed. I have not yet atoned for all my sins, so I will not leave."

"Then atone after you leave! Go find the people you wronged, apologize to them directly, and do good deeds! Like that..."

"Pretty child."

Guyu Majon cut me off mid-sentence.

"I am now over ninety years old. With so little time left in this life, how could I travel across the entire Central Plains? What strength do I have left to do good deeds?"

"That's right! The Demonic Cult! Return to the Demonic Cult and do it together with your disciples..."

"Child. Even if I returned to the Divine Cult, who would welcome me? A useless old man whose dantian has been destroyed. The Divine Cult follows the law of the strong. If I returned, my own disciples would be the first to try to eliminate me."

He looked at me and continued.

"I have no reason to leave, but you do. Go now."

"..."

"Cheondok Noong. My decision will not change, so take everyone and leave quickly. There is no time to waste."

"...Understood, elder. I pray that peace may fill your heart."

"...And one moment."

Guyu Majon looked directly at me.

"Child, give me your hand for a moment."

When I extended my hand to Guyu Majon, he grasped it with his emaciated right arm and gave me a benevolent smile.

"I almost forgot. I nearly overlooked passing the Heavenly Demon Soul-Snatching Scripture to you."

"...We can do that after we get out together..."

Before I could finish speaking, the complex tattoos engraved on Guyu Majon's right arm began to wriggle. The tattoos, which had looked like they were drawn in dark blue ink, moved like living creatures across his skin before being sucked into my body through my hand!

A cold energy pierced my skin, and the tattoos that had been drawn into me traveled up my left arm, settling clearly as dark blue patterns that reached partway up my neck. A strange, mystical energy washed over me, as if darkness itself were consuming my body.

"I have given it to you now. The Heavenly Demon Soul-Snatching Scripture is passed down to only one successor. You are a clever child, so I believe you will use it well. Now go. There is no time to waste."

Cheondok Noong, who had bowed to Guyu Majon, grabbed my arm as I stood there dazed in front of the iron bars.

"Crazy girl! We must save every second! You know this, don't you!"

Yes. He was right. I knew it, but... my feet wouldn't move.

At that moment, instead of Cheondok Noong, Gapjil Jijon struck the side door with both palms.

With the side door shattered into pieces, Gapjil Jijon stepped forward first.

"Guyu Majon, take care! The rest of us must hurry and leave!"

...Yes. Let's go. I still had a great mission to fulfill!

After taking one last look at Guyu Majon's cell, I stepped out of the Repentance Cave.