Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Thud! Thud!
With a dull sound, five fish, their bellies turned up, floated to the surface of the water at the same time.
"Huh? What did I just see?"
Yeon-ryang rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked at the stream, then exclaimed and picked up the fish.
"Wow! I've never even heard of catching fish with stones. Can people from the Tang Clan do such amazing things? Amazing, Sister!"
"This isn't an amazing feat, it's Hidden Weapons…"
"Yes, yes. An amazing feat-like Hidden Weapons. If I'm with you, Sister, I won't have to worry about meals. Haha, wonderful."
It was as if I had performed some kind of acrobatics.
It sounds like a compliment… but why do I feel bad?
I tried to ignore the unpleasant feeling and asked.
"Shall I catch more?"
"Let's catch five more. The fuller our bellies, the better."
Yeon-ryang smiled broadly and took out a dagger from his chest to prepare the fish.
I nodded and picked up a stone to throw again.
While I was picking up the fish that had floated to the surface, Yeon-ryang skillfully scaled and gutted the fish, then broke off branches and skewered the prepared fish.
He quickly made a handful of skewers and rinsed the fish in the flowing stream, shaking them dry.
"Let's go quickly, Sister. I'll grill them for you."
He shrugged his shoulders, picked up the skewers, and began to walk briskly.
I scratched my cheek, looking at Yeon-ryang's broad back.
The spot where he stood completely blocked my view, as if a door was walking around instead of a person.
He placed the skewers in a row in front of the bonfire and took something out of his pocket.
"What's that?"
"Rock salt."
Yeon-ryang replied and rubbed the rock salt on the surface of the fish.
He seasoned it evenly on both sides and soon placed the fish over the flames.
Sizzle!
The sound of sizzling oil and a savory smell spread.
Ju-ryeong, who had already stood up, sparkled her eyes and drooled.
"Here, Sister, have one."
"Thank you."
"You have one too, furball."
"Kiee."
Ju-ryeong, excited, grabbed the fish with her front paws, then jumped and rolled around on the ground.
"Oh dear. It must be hot. Let it cool down before you eat it."
Yeon-ryang chuckled, peeled off some bark, laid it on the ground, and placed the fish on top.
Ju-ryeong poked the fish with her front paws, then pushed the white flesh into her snout.
"Chomp chomp. Chomp chomp chomp chomp."
Anyone would think she hadn't eaten in ten days, she devoured her share at such a speed, then stared at Yeon-ryang as if asking for more.
"You've already eaten it all? You're quite something, furball."
Yeon-ryang, his eyes wide, gave her another small fish.
Ju-ryeong didn't immediately reach out her front paws, as if she had learned that the fish taken from the fire was hot.
Instead, she lay down in front of the bark and waited for the fish to cool to a suitable temperature.
I chuckled at her serious and solemn expression.
I glared at Ju-ryeong and took a bite of the crispy grilled fish. It tasted good even though it was just grilled with salt.
Yeon-ryang, watching me chewing with both cheeks, grinned.
"Eat a lot, Sister. You need to grow taller."
"Huh? No, you keep talking about height, but I'm not short now, you know? I'm 5 ja 4 chi."
"What are you talking about, Sister? You need to grow more. A Martial Artist should be 6 ja."
What am I going to do growing up to 180? Are you going to make me a walking door too?
I stared at him with an astonished face, and he scratched his chin.
"Ah. Perhaps people from the Tang Clan are on the smaller side? Then you might have felt that you were tall. But with your current size, it's not enough. You need to be bigger to overwhelm people in the Jianghu."
"……."
I'm not some back alley thug, why would I overwhelm people with my size? I'm so dumbfounded that I can't even think of a reply.
"I'm 6 ja 4 chi. Shall I give you an inch?"
"I don't need it. And I use Hidden Weapons, you know? Why would I need to overwhelm people when I need to move stealthily?"
Despite my grumbling, Yeon-ryang smiled and held out a fish skewer.
"Yes, yes. I understand. There are good things about being small too. Well, if you eat hard from now on, you might grow another inch. Let's eat first."
"……."
This guy is so annoying.
When I didn't say anything, Yeon-ryang shook the skewer again.
"Haha, let go of your anger and eat before it gets cold, Sister. It's not tasty when it's cold."
I glared at him and snatched the fish skewer roughly.
\ \ *
Even though he sometimes said unlucky things, Yeon-ryang was a cheerful person.
It was hard to believe that he was raised as a human weapon, locked in a Demonic Sect training cave, as bright as he was.
"Sister, would you like some Tanghulu?"
"I'm fine, Brother. You eat it."
"That skewer looks delicious too."
"Yes, yes. Eat it."
He was a little too bright.
Like a sparrow that can't pass a mill, he stopped at every stall to taste all kinds of snacks.
I was confused whether I had hired a Bodyguard or applied for a gourmet tour.
The stall owners, who were intimidated by Yeon-ryang's appearance and were watching him carefully, subtly solicited customers when he just ate quietly.
"Hero, the stir-fried chicken hearts are very well done. Would you like to try some?"
"Oh, Sister. Do you want to try chicken hearts?"
"You don't have to ask, just eat comfortably. You're going to eat it anyway."
"Haha, thank you."
He smiled kindly and took chopsticks from the stall owner and began to eat the stir-fried chicken hearts.
Ju-ryeong, who was on my shoulder, cried briefly as if she wanted to eat too.
"Kyoo."
"Furball. Shall I give you one too? Sister, can I eat another plate?"
"Go ahead."
As soon as I gave permission, Ju-ryeong jumped down and took a seat on Yeon-ryang's lap.
Yeon-ryang showed a piece of chicken heart with a serious face.
"Will you eat chicken hearts or pork hearts?"
"Kiee!"
"Huh? You want both?"
"Kyoowoo!"
Are they communicating, or are they on the same level?
I stared at Yeon-ryang, who was sharing chicken hearts with the fur beast, with an absurd look.
He looked so carefree that I felt like a fool for being wary of Yeon-ryang all this time.
Just looking at him, he looked like a jobless uncle in the neighborhood.
But I shouldn't let my guard down, but the more I watched him, the more I felt that he wasn't a bad person.
Ju-ryeong was just as carefree.
Lying on her back on his wide lap, only moving her snout, she seemed to think of Yeon-ryang as her bed.
It seemed that she liked him because he was the person she had chosen and brought herself.
Kyung-ah would be sad if she saw this. I haven't even been able to hold Kyung-ah a few times.
Remembering Kyung-ah, who was always happy when she saw Ju-ryeong, I felt depressed.
I wonder if Kyung-ah is doing well. I wonder if she's frustrated because she has no one to communicate with through writing.
I wonder how Deokju is doing. I was curious if his injuries were okay and if he had received treatment well.
Songji is probably crying every day. Because she has a lot of worries.
I miss my kids.
I muttered and lowered my gaze to the ground.
The days when I shared tangerines and Snow Cake with the three of them felt like a distant past.
I tried to shake off the gloom and asked the stall owner.
"How much is it?"
"Yes, it's three mun, Young Lady."
While I was paying for the food that Yeon-ryang and Ju-ryeong had devoured, Yeon-ryang, who had put down his chopsticks, got up from his seat, rubbing his stomach with satisfaction.
Ju-ryeong, who had climbed onto his shoulder, burped lightly.
Yeon-ryang stroked Ju-ryeong's head and chuckled.
"Furball. You eat better than your owner. By next spring, you'll be bigger than Sister, right?"
Will she?
Yeon-ryang, who spat out nonsense that I couldn't tell if it was a joke or not, looked at me while humming.
"Now that we've filled our bellies, let's go. Sister. We only have to cross one more mountain range to get to Hubei."
He pointed to the towering mountain peaks and began to walk ahead.
I swallowed hard and followed him.
The moment to leave Sichuan is really coming.
I had recklessly set my destination to Wuhan, but now that Wuhan was getting closer, my heart was in turmoil.
"If we were on a boat, we would have enjoyed the scenery of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and recited poetry, but we are crossing Mount Wu with our bare legs, tsk."
I lightly ignored Yeon-ryang, who was muttering, and rubbed my eyes.
I didn't have much silver left. The destination is near, and I will soon part ways with Yeon-ryang.
I was worried about what to do in the Central Plains, where I didn't know anyone.
Should I try working as an Escort? Or should I devote myself to the clinic?
I'm quite confident in treating external injuries, so I might be able to get a job as a medical assistant.
Wouldn't it be possible to go to the Lowborn Sect and ask them to find me a job?
Hwahong said that if I sold her name, they would help me, so I might be able to get a job as a Maid in an inn or brothel.
Yes, being a Maid would be better.
If I want to hide quietly until my grandfather's closed-door training is over, it would be better to have an inconspicuous job.
They probably wouldn't even think that I would be working as a Maid after learning Martial Arts Technique.
……More laundry again? Damn it.
I sighed and walked, slamming my face into Yeon-ryang's back.
My forehead throbbed as it hit his hard muscles.
I rubbed my forehead irritably and looked up to see Yeon-ryang looking down at me, chuckling.
"Do you think the ground will sink if you do that? You need to sigh harder, Sister."
Whatever. Seriously.
I ignored him and walked to the side to avoid him, and Yeon-ryang put Ju-ryeong on my head and said.
"It will take seven days and nights to cross the mountain range. We'll meet the Green Forest brothers, so it would be good to prepare."
"Green Forest brothers?"
"Bandits, I mean."
Who calls bandits that? Just listening to him, Yeon-ryang sounds like he's also in the Green Forest.
I blinked and asked.
"What should I prepare?"
"Well. A broad mind that won't be surprised and can deal with any stupid bastard who pops out?"
When I distorted my face, Yeon-ryang pointed to the middle of the mountain as if he was wronged.
"It's true. They're already coming to greet us."
"Who's coming to greet us……!"
I was about to raise my voice, but I flinched at the rapidly approaching sound and quickly turned around.
From the direction Yeon-ryang pointed, men wearing animal skins were rushing in, raising clouds of dust.
They really came?
