Chapter 31
“Can you see it?”
Jeok I-geon, who had been running ahead, stopped and turned to look at me and Cheon Gang.
Out of breath from running all day without rest, I finally caught my breath and stared ahead.
“Oh? That’s…!”
“Yes. We’re almost there.”
“It took us ten days and two extra.”
The time it took to get to Sichuan was fifteen days.
On the way back, we managed to cut it down by three days.
Was such a schedule even possible?
Even though we had reduced meals and sleep to the bare minimum and focused solely on travel, I didn’t expect to return to my hometown in just twelve days.
Grandmother!
I’m home!
Just thinking about seeing Shin Geum already filled my heart with excitement.
We had left in such a hurry that I hadn’t even been able to send word about the trip to Sichuan.
Given how busy Grandmother must have been with her business, she probably didn’t even know I’d gone anywhere, but I still found myself overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling up.
I wasn’t usually this sentimental.
This must be because of the strange world I’d fallen into—a world within a novel.
“Demonic Phoenix Sky Art truly is extraordinary. I didn’t expect Seol-ha to follow all the way to the end like this.”
“Strong internal energy enhances the martial skills of the Demonic Cult.”
“No, it’s all thanks to your care and guidance.”
It was also due to the hidden abilities of the Seven-Colored Rainbow Ring.
I was still only using it when I was alone, unable to come up with a convincing excuse if I were caught.
If I revealed such a skill from the start, they might grow suspicious.
“If it weren’t for you two, how could a mere servant like me possess such abilities? Once we return to the Demonic Cult, I will faithfully fulfill my duties as a personal maid.”
When we departed, I thought my contract period would be over by the time we returned.
But in the end, only about a month had passed.
As a personal maid, I had roughly two weeks left.
During that time, I planned to select suitable candidates that would meet Jeok I-geon’s preferences and meticulously hand over the responsibilities.
They say leaving behind a beautiful legacy is the mark of a professional.
Resolving this greatest crisis of my reincarnated life cleanly—this was my only goal now.
“As soon as we arrive at the Demonic Cult, there is a place I need to take you.”
“Huh? Me? Where…?”
I had spent nearly a month with this fearsome man.
Just when I thought I could finally breathe, this came out of nowhere.
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
Jeok I-geon offered no further explanation.
As usual, he gave a slight nod of his head, which was the signal to start moving.
We stepped into the Demonic Cult half a shichen later.
“I’m going to visit my family.”
What? Cheon Gang wasn’t coming along?
Having three people made things less burdensome.
Now that it was just Jeok I-geon and me, I felt a pang of betrayal from Cheon Gang.
“Follow me.”
“Yes…”
Outside, he acted kindly, confusing people, but now that we were back, his tone was as cold as ever.
Even his gaze was icy, as if we were heading to a duel.
What could this be about?
What event happened around this time?
I tried hard to recall the contents of the original novel, but nothing came to mind.
The novel’s story began long after this point.
There were occasional flashbacks, but nothing related to this exact moment.
This made me even more uneasy.
Surely, he wasn’t planning to discard me now that I was no longer useful?
No, if that had been his intention, he wouldn’t have brought me here like this.
Jeok I-geon was the type to kill people without being constrained by location.
“Where is the Demonic Cult’s physician?”
Huh?
Lost in my fearful imagination, I realized too late where we were.
We were standing at the entrance to the Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing.
Was he here to meet the senior physician?
Why was I brought along?
I did have some connection to Physician Pyo-jin, but not enough to warrant a special visit, so I was puzzled.
Having been here before, my tension eased slightly.
Walking with Jeok I-geon into the inner chamber of the Medical Wing, my steps were noticeably lighter.
“My teacher is currently meeting with an important guest. I will escort him here as soon as their meeting concludes, but I cannot say how long it will take.”
“So, you’re telling us to sit and wait?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Is my father here?”
“No.”
“Then is it one of the heads of the Six Great Demon Clans?”
“…That’s not it either.”
A faint wrinkle formed between Jeok I-geon’s brows.
It was an obvious sign of displeasure.
Unless it was the Heavenly Demon himself, there was no one in the Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing more important than Jeok I-geon.
Jeok I-geon was also the only nephew of Physician Pyo-jin.
“If it’s neither my father nor the heads of the Six Great Demon Clans, then who could it possibly be?”
“That… I’m not entirely certain, sir.”
“How peculiar. An important guest visits the Medical Wing, yet you, my uncle’s disciple, don’t know who it is?”
“…!”
Jeok I-geon’s words struck like a blade, causing the man to flinch. Jeok I-geon wasn’t the type to miss such a reaction.
“Lead the way. I’ll confirm it myself.”
“B-but Master expressly forbade anyone from entering…!”
“Do you think I can’t find my way?”
Though phrased as a question, it was clearly an order to guide him if he valued his life.
“…This way, sir.”
In the end, the disciple lowered his head and reluctantly took the lead.
The atmosphere was so tense that I stifled my breath and followed closely behind Jeok I-geon.
Knock knock.
“Master, it’s Jeong Myeong.”
“What is it?”
“The Second Young Master has arrived.”
“Is it I-geon?”
Beyond the door, one could sense Physician Pyo-jin’s mixed feelings about his nephew.
However, despite his affection, his decision was to have Jeok I-geon wait.
“Tell him I’ll come once I’m done here.”
“Yes, Master. But, uh—”
No one expected Jeok I-geon to act so abruptly.
Not even me.
Bang!
Jeok I-geon kicked the closed door, sending it flying off its hinges, and strode inside.
“I-geon, you brat! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Just here to catch a glimpse of this ‘important guest.’”
“What?!”
“If this person is so important, shouldn’t your one and only nephew be introduced? But instead, I feel as if I’m being deliberately kept away.”
“Now is not the time. Leave immediately!”
Physician Pyo Jin-Yang’s face turned red with rage at his nephew’s audacity.
“I won’t let this slide. I’ll reprimand you later, so wait for it!”
Gone was the warm demeanor of the man who had once tended to me with gentle care. Now, he was like an enraged bull.
“Please, turn around so I can see your face. My uncle has never raised his voice at me like this before, so I must know who you are.”
Besides Physician Pyo-jin, there was another figure presumed to be the guest.
The person’s back was turned, but somehow, the silhouette felt incredibly familiar to me.
“…Grandmother?”
I called out to her instinctively, thinking of Shin Geum.
Even as I spoke, part of me thought, That’s impossible. Why would Grandmother be here?
But the moment I saw the person’s face, I was rendered speechless.
To my shock, it truly was Shin Geum.
“Seol-ha?”
Recognizing my voice, Grandmother turned around abruptly.
For the first time, relief washed over her face upon seeing me.
“You’ve come back, my child!”
Grandmother rushed toward me. Though I was too stunned to react, she ignored everything else and hugged me tightly, patting my head and back with her large hands.
“You foolish thing! Do you know how shocked I was when I heard you’d gone to Sichuan? Are you hurt? Are you alright?”
“Grandmother, calm down. Can’t you see? I’m perfectly fine!”
“You’re such a clumsy child! Do you know how sleepless this old woman was while you were gone?”
“Liar. Your skin is glowing—you’ve clearly been sleeping well.”
“That’s just my natural skin. Haven’t I told you that you take after me in being this pretty? How many times must I say it, huh?”
“It’s practically brainwashing at this point.”
Though I didn’t think we looked alike at all, I’d spent five years just going along with what Shin Geum said.
“But why are you here, Grandmother?”
“Huh?”
“You’re not the important guest Master Physician mentioned, are you?”
“Well, uh, that’s…”
Normally, Grandmother was straightforward and quick to deny anything untrue.
But now, she wasn’t refuting it?
That could only mean one thing—this was undeniable.
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