Ch#24
I didn’t sleep a single wink all night.
I racked my brain trying to think of a way to avoid going to Sichuan with Jeok I-geon, but no plausible excuse came to mind.
If only I had come down with a raging fever and hovered on the brink of death. Unfortunately, this stubborn body of mine was so healthy that my mind felt even clearer after pulling an all-nighter.
Jeok I-geon’s sudden departure for Sichuan.
To anyone else, it would have seemed utterly baffling, but having read the original novel, my reaction was more along the lines of, ‘Ah, so this is when that happens.’
The only strange part was why I was going to Sichuan with him.
The novel had clearly stated that he traveled accompanied only by his escort, Cheon Gang.
Did the plot of the novel change because of me?
I had never even considered that possibility, so I was actually quite flustered.
Of course, my presence wouldn’t drastically alter the flow of the original story.
Jeok I-geon’s trip to Sichuan was a brief episode touched upon in a flashback.
The problem was that what had been summarized in just a few pages would be a grueling journey of a month or two for me.
My head was already spinning.
I was now stuck by Jeok I-geon’s side every single day, with no way out.
At least back at the Main Cult, I had occasional moments to rest and catch my breath. Now, I had nowhere else to go and nowhere to hide.
Even leaving work was a thing of the past.
If we camped, we would sleep near each other, and if we stayed at an inn, I would obviously have to stay in the adjacent room to attend to his needs.
The only silver lining was that by the time we returned, my contract period would be over.
Perhaps that was why.
Absurdly enough, this trip to Sichuan felt almost like a farewell trip with Jeok I-geon.
“Are you ready?”
It was about two hours after we had set off.
Jeok I-geon asked me as I walked, lost in all sorts of wild imaginations.
My confidence was at an all-time low, but I forced a smile and replied.
“Yes. I have packed everything I could possibly bring, Young Master. Is there anything you require right now?”
“Anything I require?”
“I even brought some ice, though I am worried it might melt soon.”
So, could you please ask for some ice water first?
Let me lighten the weight of this backpack while I’m at it.
“Stop for a moment.”
How incredibly thoughtful of you to think of packing ice water for me.
Knowing Jeok I-geon as well as I did, I didn’t expect that kind of praise.
I merely hoped he would drink it with satisfaction.
“What… is the matter, Young Master?”
But what had rubbed him the wrong way this time?
Jeok I-geon stopped me and pointed at my pack with a stiff expression.
“Don’t tell me all of that baggage is mine, not yours?”
“Not all of it. A few of my own belongings are in there as well.”
I had packed a few small personal items, like undergarments and a hair comb.
Maintaining a neat appearance was an absolute requirement for a personal maid.
“Unpack it.”
For some reason, Jeok I-geon sighed as he gave the order.
“Here, Young Master?”
“Cheon Gang.”
When I hesitated, Jeok I-geon commanded Cheon Gang instead.
Unlike me, Cheon Gang took the pack without a moment’s hesitation and spread its contents on the ground.
Quite a lot of things spilled out of the bundle.
Since we might have to camp, I had brought bedding and a pillow for Jeok I-geon to lie on. Because he was incredibly fastidious, I had also packed several towels and even his usual toiletries, just in case.
I had also packed plenty of food—beef jerky, rice balls, and dried fruit—to keep us sated along the way, though I was worried about when we would run out, given his formidable appetite.
“Is that all of yours?”
Jeok I-geon looked down with a cold gaze at the tiny pouch that had fallen out of the pack.
Now that everything was laid out, my belongings did look exceptionally meager.
“Take only your things and throw the rest away.”
“…Pardon?”
I genuinely thought I had misheard him.
So, despite knowing how much he hated repeating himself, I couldn’t help but ask again.
“I have already packed what I need, so you only need to look after your own necessities.”
Your pack looks far too light for that, though.
Both Jeok I-geon and Cheon Gang were traveling incredibly light, completely unfitting for such a long journey.
I could bet my life that the only thing in their packs was a change of clothes.
“Forgive my presumption, Young Master, but every single item here has a purpose. Please allow me to bring them.”
Do you have any idea how much I suffered to prepare all of this in a single day? And you want me to throw it all away?
Are you out of your mind, Jeok I-geon?
How can you disregard someone’s sincerity like this?
I barely managed to suppress my rising anger and pleaded earnestly.
“We could have taken a carriage to Sichuan. Do you know why I chose not to?”
“…Is it not to arrive as quickly as possible?”
“Correct. Using our lightness technique is far faster than a carriage. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to train in the Mahuang Bicheon Art.”
Ah. I hadn’t thought that far.
Surely he doesn’t mean he gave up the carriage specifically because of me, right?
“I will do my absolute best to keep up so that I do not hinder your path, Young Master.”
“Therefore, throw those bags away.”
No, why is the conversation looping back to this?
“They may look bulky, but they are not heavy at all. I can easily carry them on my back while running.”
“Of course they aren’t heavy to a master with sixty years of inner energy. But you have only just begun training in martial arts. Do not waste your stamina on useless things.”
I’m telling you, these aren’t useless!
You’re the one who’s going to use them all, Jeok I-geon!
Sure, running light would be great for me.
But my duty was to be Jeok I-geon’s maid.
It was my responsibility to serve him devotedly, no matter where we were.
To put it bluntly, what would I do if Jeok I-geon threw a tantrum because he found sleeping outdoors too uncomfortable?
To Jeok I-geon, these were useless things, but to me, they were a safety net.
“I will stay completely focused and keep up, so please, I beg you to allow it.”
I looked at Jeok I-geon with pleading eyes and begged him earnestly.
“I will carry them.”
It was then that Cheon Gang stepped in.
Perhaps finding my plight pitiful, he made a request directly to Jeok I-geon.
“Hearing Seol-ha out, having these things will certainly make the journey more comfortable. A load like this won’t slow me down, so isn’t this a reasonable compromise?”
“No! How could I possibly entrust such a burden to someone as noble as Master Cheon Gang? I absolutely cannot…!”
“Very well. If that is your wish, I will not stop you.”
Wow. He completely ignored my pleas, but one word from Cheon Gang and he immediately says okay?
I guess his right-hand man really is on a different level.
“Then… I humbly accept your help, and apologize for the trouble.”
To think I was letting Cheon Gang, the successor of the Demonic Sword Cheon Family, do such a menial task.
Feeling incredibly apologetic and guilty, I bowed and apologized to him repeatedly while repacking the scattered belongings.
And every single time, my favorite character smiled and told me it was fine. What a saint.
Thanks to him, a smile never left my lips the entire time we dashed through the wind using the Mahuang Bicheon Art.
On this first day, I was once again deeply grateful that Cheon Gang was part of our group.
“We have no choice but to camp tonight. It must be your first time sleeping outdoors; will you be alright?”
On the seventh day of our journey, the moment for my packed supplies to show their true worth had finally arrived.
We had traveled swiftly, mostly along mountain paths, but thanks to Jeok I-geon’s uncanny ability to find an inn every single night, we had made it this far without much hardship.
With proper meals and even occasional hot baths, I had begun to wonder if I had truly gone through all that useless trouble for nothing. But now, my efforts were finally about to pay off.
“Of course. Please do not worry about me.”
It was a moonless night, and the three of us were completely alone in the deep mountains.
The atmosphere was such that it wouldn’t have been surprising if a wild beast leaped out from any direction.
However, standing right beside me was Jeok I-geon, who was far more terrifying than any beast.
There is a curious psychological effect where, when you are next to someone truly frightening, everything else seems relatively harmless.
While Cheon Gang lit the campfire, I unpacked nearby and quickly set up Jeok I-geon’s bed.
Though it couldn’t compare to his bedding back at the Main Cult, out here, it was practically a five-star hotel.
I suppose I can just sleep over there.
I spotted a fairly flat patch of ground not too far from the fire.
I neatly spread out the blanket I had brought for myself and sat down.
Oh, this isn’t bad at all.
Sleeping outdoors for the first time in my life, I actually felt a strange flutter of excitement.
“So this is my bedchamber for tonight.”
Jeok I-geon approached and inspected the area around my blanket.
“No, Young Master. The place I prepared for you is over there…”
“This is fine.”
“Pardon?”
“I like this spot. You go sleep over there.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Jeok I-geon sat down beside me with a thud.
Startled, I let out a silent shriek and practically bounced to my feet.
“There are so many stars.”
Jeok I-geon leaned back and lay down on the worn blanket without a shred of hesitation.
Cradling his head in his arms, he looked up at the night sky in quiet wonder.
Flustered by his sudden actions, I naturally followed his gaze upward and gasped.
“Wow…”
It felt as though the stars were about to pour down upon us.
It was so breathtaking that I felt as if I were floating in the midst of a nebula.
I stood there for a long time, staring up at the sky, utterly spellbound.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly sensing a gaze on me, I turned my head to find Jeok I-geon staring at me.
The strange thing was that he was truly ‘looking’ at me.
It wasn’t his usual glaring eyes, but a gaze that was deep, quiet, and somehow distant, holding me in place.
