Chapter 175
Chapter 175
After the private meeting with the Sect Leader, the burdensome gazes that had followed me before disappeared.
Everyone acted as if they had never been interested, not even coming near the guest quarters. It seemed Tae Neung Jin-in had said something, though I didn't know what.
Perhaps their interest in a strange visitor had simply waned, but either way, it was welcome news to me. I had found their attention burdensome.
However, Madam Ma didn't spare her attention towards me. She seemed to find joy in the fact that she had someone to care for.
"Young Miss! What's with always letting your hair down like that?"
"Yes, Madam. I'll tie it up soon."
"Come here. Let this old woman fix you up nicely. A Young Miss from a noble family shouldn't be seen in such a state."
Madam Ma would follow me around and nag me whenever she had the chance, and she kept bringing food and trying to feed me.
"The immortals might not need it, but you need to eat properly, Young Miss. People and animals alike need to eat well when they're growing."
"I'm seventeen, though..."
"Seventeen is the perfect age to start eating well and grow even taller! Don't argue, just listen."
Perhaps she was concerned about the Wudang temple's food, which lacked Five Pungent Spices and meat, as Madam Ma would bring me greasy food separately every day.
I was also tired of the bland meals, so I accepted her kindness without refusing.
A small pot, with oil floating on top, was filled with chunks of meat that had been simmered until tender.
I sat quietly, waiting for Madam Ma to put the meat in a bowl for me, when I sensed someone lurking around the fence outside.
Judging by the way they were sniffing and clearing their throat, they seemed to have been drawn in by the smell of the meat.
I knew who it was without even looking.
Madam Ma seemed to have noticed who was loitering around as well, and said to me,
"Bring him in. Even the little immortal loves meat."
"Yes, Madam."
I chuckled and went out to the courtyard, opening the door slightly and calling out to Songmyeong.
"Jinseong disciple Songmyeong. Would you like to come in?"
"H-Huh? Ah, no. Dang Sojeo. I was just passing by..."
Songmyeong replied in a subdued voice, avoiding my gaze. The boy's lips, fidgeting with his toes, were glistening with saliva.
I tried not to laugh and gestured for him to come over.
"Come in and eat with me, disciple. It's too much for me to eat alone."
Upon my gentle invitation, Songmyeong wore a troubled expression. He was fighting a battle between reason and appetite.
"The Grand Uncle Master isn't here, is he?"
"Jinseong disciple isn't here. Will you get in trouble if you're caught eating meat?"
"It's not that... It's just embarrassing to eat alone when the Grand Uncle Master and the senior disciples don't eat it..."
"I'll keep it a secret. You can eat quickly and leave before anyone else finds out. You need to eat a lot of meat, disciple. That's how you build muscle."
Upon my repeated invitation, Songmyeong looked around to see if anyone was there, then entered the guest quarters with a bright expression.
"Sit here, disciple."
"T-Thank you, Dang Sojeo..."
He seemed uncomfortable around me, pulling his chair far back and sitting away from me.
However, he couldn't take his eyes off the pot of meat, so he must have really wanted to eat it.
For a growing boy who could chew through rocks, well-cooked meat was an irresistible temptation.
Madam Ma, seeing this, burst into laughter.
"Heo-igo, our little immortal said he was all grown up and wouldn't eat meat?"
"I-I'm Songmyeong, Divine Mother! I'm not a baby."
"Everyone looks like a baby to this old woman. The little immortal needs to eat well. That's how you build strong bones and muscles."
Madam Ma replied nonchalantly, filling a bowl with plenty of meat and placing it in front of Songmyeong.
Songmyeong took a deep breath and cautiously put a piece of meat in his mouth. Then, as if the reins of reason had been released, he began to suck the bones clean at an incredible speed.
His cheeks were bulging, and his face was filled with happiness.
"Eat slowly, disciple. You'll choke."
I suppressed a laugh and continued to put meat in Songmyeong's bowl.
"To the senior disciples..."
"I said I'd keep it a secret. Come again if you're bored, disciple. I won't put any Poison in it."
At that, Songmyeong spat out the meat he was chewing, looked at me with tears in his eyes.
"P-P-Poison?"
"I didn't put any in."
"Hic, I, I was wrong..."
"Songmyeong disciple. I don't know what you're imagining, but it's not that. I'm not the kind of person who uses Poison just because I'm upset."
This kid, he's even more scared of me after seeing Songhwa get hurt. What are they saying about me behind my back?
Clicking my tongue and shaking my head, I took out a Candied fruit and held it out to Songmyeong. However, Songmyeong didn't readily take it, and instead looked at me cautiously.
He had an expression that doubted whether it was a Candied fruit with Poison.
Shrugging my shoulders, I cut the Candied fruit in half and put it in my mouth. As the sweet smell spread, I heard Songmyeong swallow hard.
"Okay?"
I shook the remaining half and placed it in Songmyeong's hand. Songmyeong nodded and brought the Candied fruit to his lips.
He took a small bite from the corner and savored the sweetness, his lips slowly curving upwards.
Madam Ma, who had been watching us, also grabbed Songmyeong's chubby cheeks with a satisfied look.
"The little immortal is so pretty when he eats so well. Eat a lot. It's good to reduce turbidity and maintain purity, but the immortal is young, so it's more important to build up your body first. You need to grow up quickly so that the senior disciples will take you on Jianghu trips. Should I make you some pancakes?"
"It's alright, Divine Mother."
"I'll roll them up with lots of meat."
"...T-Then just one."
Madam Ma, bursting into laughter at his shy request, patted Songmyeong on the back.
Madam Ma, who had brought some food ingredients from somewhere, brought a small brazier to the courtyard, turned the pot lid upside down, and began to make thin wheat pancakes.
The pancakes, topped with lightly grilled green onions and rolled with meat stir-fried in seasoning, tasted delicious.
Songmyeong and I sat side by side, munching on the warm pancakes.
"How wonderful it would be if everyone ate like this."
Madam Ma, muttering and looking at us, had a look of affection in her eyes.
It was a gaze that traced someone's traces, drawing a certain moment from the past.
'She has a lot of pain.'
Tae Neung Jin-in's request came to mind at the familiar look, and my heart became heavy. I pretended not to see and stuffed the pancake into my mouth.
\ \ *
After that, similar days continued.
Being a sparring partner for the Three Great Disciples, sparring with Jin-sung, and doing a little personal training would fill the day.
I also became a little closer to Songmyeong as I ate the snacks that Madam Ma prepared.
Our youngest disciple seemed to have liked the meat, and he would come to the guest quarters every three or four days for a snack that was actually a meal.
There was still no news from Yeon-ryang.
I was worried that the problem had become bigger, but I tried not to think about it too much, comforting myself with the saying "no news is good news."
Around the time when my sparring matches with Jin-sung, which had not even lasted fifty exchanges, exceeded a hundred, two hundred, and then three hundred exchanges, winter retreated from Wudang Mountain and flowers began to bloom.
When I told Geun-myeong Uncle that I was staying in Wudang, he sent a lot of gifts in the name of the Tang Clan, and I was also able to receive new Hidden Weapons that came with it.
Among the items sent by the Tang Clan family was a letter from Dang Seho.
You're alive, right? Aren't you coming home? But why are you only writing letters to Cho-hee Sister and not to me? Should I go to Wudang Mountain?
This guy is still the same. What's with telling me to come home when you know the situation?
I chuckled as if I could hear the guy's whining voice.
I roughly covered Dang Seho's letter and was wondering what to write back to Geun-myeong Uncle when Jin-sung's voice came from outside.
"Dang Sojeo. Are you there?"
"Yes. Come in."
In response, Jin-sung carefully opened the door and held up a bundle of letters.
"A letter has arrived for Dang Sojeo."
"Thank you for taking care of it. But that hawk..."
I trailed off, embarrassed by the sight of the hawk sitting on Jin-sung's shoulder, when the hawk fluttered its wings and rushed towards me.
"Wack, what!"
"Koo-eck!"
Reflexively slapping the hawk away, I rolled my eyes as I watched the hawk roll helplessly on the floor.
"..."
"..."
I was so surprised that I did it without realizing... It's not dead, is it?
Jin-sung, with a calm face, bent down to check the hawk's condition and reassured me.
"It's just unconscious, so it will wake up soon. It seems it was ordered to get an answer from its owner."
Nodding, I took the letter that Jin-sung handed me and smiled at the familiar handwriting.
It was Kyung-ah.
Young Miss. Have you been well?
This is Kyung-ah.
Lee Gongja said that he would send a letter together, so I am asking how you are doing.
I have many questions about whether you are sick or injured. I and Songji Sister are doing well, so don't worry.
I came to Jukhae with Lee Gongja ten days ago.
Jukhae is a peaceful place. If you stand still, the sound of bamboo leaves swaying will tickle your ears...
The letter, written with care, contained news about Kyung-ah and Dang-un.
Dang-un seemed to have recovered enough to go outside the Tang Clan now.
I was happy and read the letter, but I rubbed my eyes at a strange word.
What is it? Is there something wrong with my eyesight?
I frowned and stared at the letter, but nothing changed.
Jin-sung, puzzled by my strange behavior, asked calmly.
"What's wrong, Sojeo?"
"Jin-sung disciple. Could you read this? I don't know if I'm tired or seeing things."
"Yes."
Jin-sung, receiving the letter, began to read the rest of it.
"It is written, 'The Lady of the House recommended that he rest in a quiet place.'"
"Right? I didn't misread it, did I?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
Jin-sung asked, puzzled. I rubbed my forehead with a serious face and muttered.
"There is a problem. A very big problem."
Our second older brother is unmarried.
Why is Kyung-ah calling Ghost Hand Divine Doctor the Lady of the House?
