Chapter 25
What would his handsome face look like with a smile?
That unintentional eye contact with Jeok I-geon sparked an odd train of thought.
At the same time, an inexplicable embarrassment surged within me.
I already knew it, but staring at that beauty for more than three seconds was detrimental to one’s heart.
“M-meal! You should eat!”
Hurriedly, I averted my gaze and pulled out the rice balls I had prepared.
Knowing we would camp outdoors, I had woken up early to make them myself.
“They won’t compare to what you usually have. I’m terrible at cooking, after all.”
Although I wasn’t entirely bad, I laid down some groundwork just in case things went south.
Jeok I-geon, however, didn’t seem to care and bit into the rice ball without hesitation.
“It’s quite delicious.”
And then, out of nowhere, he praised it.
To prove his point, he devoured the entire rice ball in one go.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever had.”
That couldn’t possibly be true.
His unprompted praise left my ears burning red.
Even without a mirror, I could tell my face was on fire.
“Sir Cheon Gang! Please have some too!”
When in doubt, avoidance is the best tactic.
I dashed over to Cheon Gang, who was gathering firewood, and handed him a rice ball.
“Thank you.”
Thankfully, Cheon Gang didn’t confuse me with awkward compliments like Jeok I-geon.
The fact that he didn’t even mention the taste confirmed that Jeok I-geon’s words were far from the truth.
I just couldn’t understand it.
His praise and even giving me his bedding—it was all so unlike Jeok I-geon.
I knew I had become somewhat useful to him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was another reason I wasn’t aware of.
Could there be something I’m missing?
Lying on the bedding Jeok I-geon had yielded, I was lost in thought.
Despite my earlier protests, the bed was embarrassingly comfortable.
When I had packed it, I never imagined I’d end up using it myself.
It was a strange night, for many reasons.
The journey with Jeok I-geon had been surprisingly smooth so far.
Even when we stayed at inns, where I would sleep in the adjacent room, he never asked me to run errands.
It seemed he had prepared everything he needed himself, leaving me with nothing to do.
Why had he brought me along at all?
I would’ve preferred if he were his usual scary self. I didn’t know how to handle this uncharacteristic kindness.
I knew better than anyone else just how cruel Jeok I-geon could be.
I couldn’t afford to forget that.
His unusually human appearance was something I needed to stay alert against.
No matter how much of a fool I was for good looks, some things were simply off-limits.
Repeating these words to myself like a mantra, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
***
We arrived at Sichuan’s Chengdu eight days later.
The journey from the main city to Sichuan had taken exactly fifteen days.
Despite the quicker-than-expected arrival, I was overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment.
This was the result of running like mad with barely any rest except for sleep.
As a result, my Demonic Phoenix Sky Art had already reached the third level.
The mastery of Heavenly Demon’s martial arts was so extraordinary that even at the third level, my lightness techniques could rival Jeok I-geon’s.
The thought of running alongside someone who would later be hailed as the Martial Emperor was almost unbelievable.
Even as I experienced it myself, it felt surreal.
“Let’s find lodging first.”
Cheon Gang took the lead as soon as we entered Chengdu, seemingly knowing exactly where to go.
Having spent all my time at the inner city since my transmigration, the bustling city streets were a source of endless fascination.
Distracted by the sights, I occasionally fell behind, but Jeok I-geon somehow always noticed and made sure I didn’t get lost.
“This is the place.”
After weaving through crowds and shops, we finally arrived at our destination.
Flower moon.
The massive, grand lettering on the sign immediately caught the attention of all who passed by.
So this is Flower moon.
I couldn’t show it, but my heart raced with both excitement and nerves as we entered the grand inn.
After all, Flower moon Inn was secretly operated by the Demonic Cult as a covert hub.
Spread throughout the martial arts world like a chain, these luxurious establishments served as centers for information exchange.
Of course, I only knew this because I’d read the novel.
Incredible.
As expected from the impressive exterior, the interior was even more opulent.
It was on a completely different level from the inns we’d stayed at during the journey.
“Welcome to Flower moon.”
We were greeted by a woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties.
Her beauty was so striking that anyone passing by would undoubtedly do a double-take.
“Dining is available on the second and third floors, and rooms are on the fourth and fifth floors. Where would you like to start?”
“Let’s eat first.”
“I’ll guide you. Please follow me.”
With a warm smile, she gestured gracefully and led us toward the stairs.
Could she also be a member of the Demonic Cult?
Or could she just be a regular employee?
The fact that the Flower moon Inn was secretly owned by the Demonic Cult was a well-guarded secret known only to a few.
Naturally, most of the staff working here likely didn’t belong to the Demonic Cult.
Even so, as we ascended the stairs, I couldn’t help but speculate about each employee’s identity.
Since the Heavenly Demon’s Son himself had graced the inn with his presence, perhaps the security had been heightened more than usual.
Surely, though, it couldn’t be that the Shura Corps or the King of Hell Corps were here, could it?
The Shura Corps and the King of Hell Corps were the most elite combat units of the Demonic Cult.
Unless war broke out with the Martial Alliance, seeing them would be unlikely.
Still, the mere fact that I was inside the Flower moon Inn, a place I had only read about in the novel, had me feeling slightly giddy, imagining all sorts of possibilities.
“I’ll bring some tea first. Take your time looking over the menu and let me know when you’re ready.”
At the woman’s signal, another staff member approached and poured tea into our cups.
The refreshing aroma of the tea instantly stimulated my senses.
As always during this journey, Cheon Gang took charge of ordering a few dishes from the menu.
“Since we’re in Sichuan, we should also have some liquor.”
“Good idea.”
“What would you like to drink?”
Given that Jeok I-geon hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol since leaving the school, I assumed it would be the same today. Clearly, I was mistaken.
‘Ah, I wish I could have a cold beer.’
I used to savor the exquisite taste of a drink after work.
But since coming to this world, my younger body and lack of opportunities had effectively forced me into abstinence.
I wonder if I could have just a sip.
When I first shared a meal with Jeok I-geon fifteen days ago, I had been too nervous to tell whether the food went into my mouth or my nose.
Now, here I was, craving a drink like it was no big deal.
I couldn’t help but be astounded at how bold I had become.
“Would you like to choose?”
“…Me?”
Jeok I-geon suddenly handed me the decision.
“I don’t care what it is.”
Yeah, right. That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.
I know you like Geumjoncheong .
Geumjoncheong, as the name suggests, was an exceptionally expensive liquor.
Though Jeok I-geon enjoyed various drinks, he frequently chose Geumjoncheong.
But as a maid, I couldn’t bring myself to order something so extravagant.
“Then I’ll go with Jukyeopcheong.”
In the end, I chose the safest option, and the table was quickly set with the bottle and glasses.
As expected of a high-class inn, everything was prepared immediately, as if there were dedicated servers for each task.
“You’ve worked hard getting here. Eat and drink to your heart’s content tonight.”
“Thank you.”
To my surprise, Jeok I-geon personally poured the liquor for me.
It felt surreal, but perhaps I had grown used to the recent changes. I accepted the glass without trembling.
“I’ll pass.”
On the other hand, Cheon Gang pushed his glass aside, declining the drink.
“I have a few things to check.”
“I understand.”
Jeok I-geon didn’t insist. In the original novel, Cheon Gang rarely drank.
No matter how skilled Jeok I-geon was in martial arts, Cheon Gang was still his bodyguard.
I had always admired Cheon Gang’s sense of responsibility.
Seeing it in person only made him seem even cooler.
There’s just something sexy about a man who’s good at his job.
Secretly feeling satisfied, I downed the Jukyeopcheong in one gulp.
Cough! This stuff is strong!
In the novel, everyone drank it so easily, saying it was delicious.
I bit my lip and barely managed to suppress the cough rising in my throat.
Having chosen the drink myself, I didn’t want to look foolish now.
Feigning nonchalance, I brought my teacup to my lips.
Apparently, Jeok I-geon thought I could hold my liquor because he poured me another glass.
I had no chance to refuse and ended up drinking again, forcing a smile as if I were enjoying myself.
The high alcohol content made my throat burn, but under the circumstances, this was the best I could do.
The real problem was that this pattern kept repeating.
Jeok I-geon continued refilling my glass, leaving me with no choice but to keep drinking.
And so, before the ordered food even arrived, I somehow blacked out.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment