Surviving as a Maid of the Sichuan Tang Clan

After we finished our meal, drank a cup of tea, and finished maintaining my hidden weapons, Beopgong and Jinseong still had not returned.

“They’re late...”

When I muttered while looking out the window at the setting sun, Yeon Ryang patted my head.

“If you’re tired, do you want to go rest first?”

“I’m fine. It’s nice getting to spend time alone with you after so long, Brother. If they don’t come back, let’s eat something delicious by ourselves.”

“Sure. That sounds good too.”

At my answer, Yeon Ryang chuckled.

But I could feel him quietly listening to the sounds from the lower floor of the inn. It seemed the fact that the two of them were late bothered him as well.

As I looked at Yeon Ryang, I scratched my cheek and asked.

“By the way, Brother. Who is Chae Honggyo that they’re so wary of her?”

“The Killing Fiend? She’s a great devil who treats killing people like a game. I saw her once from a distance, and she was properly insane. An old hag past sixty pretending to be nine years old.”

“...Huh? Pretending to be what?”

When I asked again, doubting my ears, Yeon Ryang smacked his lips and explained again.

“She pretends to be nine. She’s an old woman who returned to youth. Judging by how she goes around saying she’s nine, she’s not sane... but seeing how quickly the Apostate Alliance is growing, she must be capable.”

“Ugh. Just hearing about her is disgusting.”

At the utterly bizarre story, my brow furrowed on its own. Yeon Ryang looked at me with concern as I shuddered in disgust, then added.

“So let’s not create any reason to get tangled up with the Apostate Alliance. Whatever those two do, don’t get involved. It’s dangerous. All we need to do is go to Wuhan and clear your false charge. Understood?”

“Mm-hm. But what if Master throws me into an unorthodox faction den again?”

“...Your brother will try to stop him.”

Yeon Ryang spoke as if making a vow. I obediently nodded.

Seeing how he got dragged along by Beopgong every single time, I doubted it would be easy, but when he was speaking that seriously, I could not exactly say anything.

I opened and closed my mouth, then carefully asked.

“Brother. Is traveling with Taoist Jinseong really uncomfortable for you?”

At my question, Yeon Ryang gave an awkward smile.

“I’m fine. It isn’t uncomfortable.”

“It is uncomfortable.”

“No. Once we get to the Alliance, it’ll be worse than this, so I need to get used to it. Don’t worry about it. Shall we go out and get some air before the sun sets? We can buy jerky to feed the furball too.”

Yeon Ryang joked lightly, changing the subject as he winked and stood. That only made it bother me more.

I already knew full well that whenever Yeon Ryang’s mind was in turmoil, he deliberately pretended to be bright. There was no way it would not bother me.

“...Mm. We almost forgot Cane’s snacks. Let’s go out too.”

Forcing a smile, I followed Yeon Ryang out.

*****

Beopgong and Jinseong returned the next morning.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah. I’m back. Inn runner! One bottle of liquor here!”

As soon as Beopgong arrived, he ordered liquor first and collapsed beside Yeon Ryang with a groan.

Jinseong, who came in after him, also gave a polite bow and sat properly beside me.

“Two bowls of plain noodles as well, please.”

“Yes! Two bowls of plain noodles!”

After taking the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° order, the inn runner shouted loudly and ran to the kitchen.

I quietly spoke to Jinseong.

“You must have been busy.”

“There was a little work.”

“It looks that way.”

I had no idea what exactly had happened, but Beopgong, who had been perfectly lively even after rampaging all night and smashing boats to pieces, now looked utterly drained.

With dark circles under his eyes, Beopgong took the liquor bottle the inn runner brought and muttered.

“I hate approving documents... I submitted the report, didn’t I? Why do they keep telling me to write more?”

“Every matter has procedure, Master. It is a necessary process, so you must follow it.”

“That’s why I worked hard and wrote it, didn’t I? Ugh, stop nagging. My head’s ringing.”

Beopgong blocked his ears in disgust. Even at his irritation, Jinseong did not change expression once as he picked up his chopsticks.

Even the way Jinseong ate plain noodles was neat and proper.

It was simply fascinating that he could empty a bowl cleanly without splashing a single drop of broth.

The same goes for how there isn’t a single stain on his Taoist robes. He’s an incredibly tidy person.

Meanwhile, Yeon Ryang finished his meal, put down his chopsticks, and asked.

“Fake monk. Are we crossing over to Wuhan today?”

“Ah, about that. Let’s walk for a few days. There won’t be any boats leaving. It looks like they’ll be controlling the waterways together with the authorities for a while.”

“Really? Got it.”

Yeon Ryang tilted his head, then nodded.

He seemed puzzled, but he did not seem inclined to ask for details.

I just accepted it too and chewed on my plain noodles. I was used to sleeping outdoors, and walking for two or three days was nothing much.

I should have realized it then.

What it meant for a Taoist and a Demonic Sect member to travel together for several days.

Yeon Ryang and Jinseong did not match in any respect.

Unlike Yeon Ryang, who was serious about every meal, Jinseong placed little meaning in the act of eating.

He would not even touch the meals Yeon Ryang carefully prepared. Instead, he ate only fasting pills.

“Come on, why not try some? That Yeon Ryang bastard cooks well. How are you supposed to have strength if you eat nothing but grass every day?”

Beopgong subtly urged him, but Jinseong calmly shook his head.

“This is sufficient for me.”

“If you’re not going to eat it, then forget it. Yeon Ryang. Give that to me.”

“Get lost. I’m eating it.”

Yeon Ryang answered sharply and dumped Jinseong’s share into his own bowl. It was obvious his mood had been thoroughly ruined.

“I suppose noble Taoists only eat noble food.”

“I am merely restraining myself because the fiery energy of food interferes with training.”

“I’m sure you are.”

Yeon Ryang snorted and coldly turned his back.

Jinseong also looked a little displeased by Yeon Ryang’s sarcasm, but he did not show it and quietly put a fasting pill in his mouth.

The atmosphere turned so awkward that I could not tell whether my food was going down my throat or up my nose.

After watching their moods throughout the meal, I reached a hand toward Yeon Ryang.

“Brother, if you’re done, give it here. I’ll go wash the dishes.”

“No. Let’s go together.”

Yeon Ryang ground his teeth the entire time we washed the dishes, as if trying to calm himself down.

The way they rested here and there on the long road was different too.

When Yeon Ryang swung his sword and loosened his body, Jinseong took out his ritual instruments and meditated.

At those times, the clear energy of Taoist sects spread faintly through the surroundings.

Naturally, Yeon Ryang found it unpleasant. With an opposite energy tightening around him, there was no way he could feel good.

As I glanced sideways at Yeon Ryang, who was suppressing his irritation, I tried to lighten the mood by speaking to Jinseong.

“Taoist Jinseong. There’s something I’m curious about.”

“Yes, Young Lady. Please ask.”

“Why do you carry around a mirror and a seal?”

At that, Jinseong showed me the ritual instruments and answered.

“They are ritual instruments used by Taoist sects. Now they have become formal objects, but I have heard that in the past, they were used when performing rites to drive out ghosts.”

“Ohhh. Then can you drive out ghosts too, Taoist Jinseong?”

“No.”

“What about talismans?”

“I do not know them.”

“But you’re a Taoist?”

At my question, Jinseong lowered his eyes awkwardly.

“Wudang today does not practice talisman arts. Talisman arts are practiced by the Maoshan Sect, so if you are interested, it would be better to seek out a Taoist from the Maoshan Sect.”

“Ah.”

So they did it in the old days, but not now.

Perhaps because my questions had broken the flow, Jinseong put away his ritual instruments and stood sooner than usual. Once he gathered in his energy, the crease between Yeon Ryang’s brows eased slightly too.

But this was only the beginning. Because they were too different from each other, similar incidents repeated over and over again.

After two days passed, both of them were boiling like volcanoes on the verge of erupting.

Only I, watching from the side, felt as if my blood were drying up.

Unlike me, who was stamping my feet at the ominous current in the air, Beopgong seemed to find the situation funny.

With the corners of his mouth raised playfully, he slapped Yeon Ryang on the back.

“Yeon Ryang. What’s wrong with you?”

“What is?”

“You’re bristling all over like a hedgehog. Are you still sulking? Why are you getting worked up over what some brat said?”

“Shut up. Maybe everything in the world is easy for you, but it isn’t for me.”

“Don’t tell me you’re actually sulking. Ahaha! Hey, why are you acting like a child? Kid. Your brother here is this narrow-minded.”

After cackling for a while, Beopgong rolled his prayer beads and said.

“Then have a bout.”

“What?”

“Don’t act petty and make everyone uncomfortable for the whole journey. Beat him into a pulp right now.”

“Are you serious? Don’t blame me afterward.”

“What, sword users can lose an arm or two while fighting each other.”

What the hell is he saying? That absolutely cannot be something that falls off.

At the remark, which went far beyond common sense, my mouth fell open on its own. But I was the only one at a loss. Yeon Ryang and Beopgong seemed to think settling things with swords was only natural.

Jinseong, who had been quietly listening, also calmly stepped forward and gave Yeon Ryang a clasped-fist salute.

“Jinseong, first-generation disciple of Wudang, asks a senior of the martial world for instruction.”

His voice was composed, but his gaze was fierce. Yeon Ryang’s face turned savage.

“Aah, looks like the young Taoist has plenty of feelings about me too. Do you want to try pressing me down?”

“That is not the case, but I do wish to properly witness your sword, Senior.”

At the sight of them looking ready to draw their swords at any moment, I hurriedly stepped between the two.

“Wait, wait! What are you doing in the middle of the road? Calm down. Calm down. Brother, don’t draw your sword either. Hey, don’t draw your sword.”

After separating Yeon Ryang from Jinseong, I ran to Beopgong and silently mouthed at him.

No, what are you trying to do? He’ll be exposed!

“That bastard already knows too. He saw everything.”

“What?”

“That Jinseong bastard only believes what he has seen with his own eyes. If you hide it clumsily, it’ll only backfire. Let him confirm for himself what it is he saw.”

“Even so...!”

“Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility for your brother’s life. The thing you’re worried about won’t happen.”

Beopgong boasted confidently. I stared at him with eyes full of distrust and asked.

“How are you going to take responsibility?”

“Well, if there’s really no other way, we can smash the prison cells together and escape.”

“Are you actually insane? Don’t turn someone else’s brother into a public enemy of the martial world.”

“Why? It’d be fun.”

Beopgong’s cackling face was so unbearable to look at that I wanted to rip out every hair on his head.

As if telling me not to worry, he patted my shoulder and waved toward the two men.

“Hey, swordsmen! Let’s clean this up while we’re at it and move on! This should be fun to watch.”

His attitude made it seem as if we were going on an outing.

Breathing hard through my nose, I glared at Beopgong as he moved away.

I take back what I said about liking him a little more. I hate that fake monk.