The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 125
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 125
“Should we camp here tonight?”
It was a particularly dark night, with even the moon hidden behind clouds.
Having released our restraints for faster travel, we were mainly using mountain paths to head toward Hang-seong Hyeon.
“I’ll start a fire.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Cheon-gang quickly gathered dry leaves and branches to build a campfire.
Beside him, Seo-ryeon skillfully skinned the wild boar we had hunted along the way.
And she expertly carved out the meat.
Seo-ryeon, who had learned butchering techniques from her parents who ran an inn since childhood, had shown off her skills several times when we traveled from headquarters to Sichuan.
Thanks to her, I was able to experience mountain barbecue that I had only seen in novels.
This was also one of my dreams, so my affection for Seo-ryeon couldn’t help but deepen even more.
‘Ah! This is what romance is!’
After finishing the fire, Cheon-gang quickly completed wooden skewers to roast the meat on.
Though we hadn’t been together for even a month yet, it felt like we had become companions who understood each other without words, making me feel strangely proud.
“We seem to work quite well together, don’t we? Everyone moving efficiently like we’ve been together for years.”
I smiled broadly as I took out the seasoning.
It was the secret weapon Sook had told me to take just in case before leaving Maegyo.
Sook’s special seasoning, with its perfect blend of spices and herbs, not only eliminated the gamey smell of raw meat but also provided just the right amount of flavor.
Should I call it an all-purpose seasoning sauce?
“Without Seo-ryeon and Seolha, I would have just made do with dried meat and fruit. To enjoy such luxury while camping, I’m truly blessed.”
“Cheon-gang, I only brought the seasoning Sook gave me. I can’t really say I did anything.”
“No, Seolha. Without that seasoning, the meat I prepared wouldn’t have been nearly as delicious.”
“Wow, getting this kind of treatment for just bringing seasoning. I should probably bow deeply to Sook when I get back.”
“I’ll be watching to see if you really do it!”
“Me too.”
Seo-ryeon and Cheon-gang teased me in unison as if they had planned it.
“This mouth of mine is such trouble.”
When I grumbled, Seo-ryeon and Cheon-gang burst into laughter simultaneously.
Ah, these two beautiful people are laughing because of me.
My heart swelled with emotion in a different way.
In this life, I truly hope these two will safely end up together.
I smiled secretly while quietly praying alone.
“…!”
Then I accidentally made eye contact with Eok I-geon.
‘What a surprise.’
I should be used to it by now, but I was startled again.
At some point, Eok I-geon had sat down on a rock and was staring at me intently.
Actually, it was a common scene.
Me, Cheon-gang, and Seo-ryeon would chat while doing our respective tasks, while Eok I-geon would quietly watch me alone.
“Ahaha.”
Then I would awkwardly flash a smile and quickly return to what I was doing.
Right now, what I needed to do was apply seasoning to the meat.
I could still feel Eok I-geon’s persistent gaze, but I was already well-practiced at pretending not to notice.
Sometimes I wanted to ask why he stared like that, but I couldn’t muster the courage, fearing what terrifying answer might come back.
“All seasoned! I think we can start grilling now.”
“Yes!”
When I finished seasoning, Seo-ryeon placed the meat over the campfire.
Sizzle!
As the meat fat dripped into the fire, flames occasionally flared up.
Having only eaten breakfast before rushing on, my stomach had been demanding food for a while.
The meaty aroma wafting to my nose made my mouth water.
Though we needed to bring the witness back as quickly as possible for grandmother’s innocence, occasionally relaxing like this wasn’t bad either.
“But it might rain tomorrow.”
While I was concentrating on staring at the fire, hoping for the meat to cook.
Seo-ryeon looked at the sky and spoke worriedly.
“Yeah, I can’t see a single star.”
When there were no stars visible like tonight, it usually meant the next day would be cloudy or rainy.
“Perfect weather to get lost.”
We’d need to see at least the North Star to know our directions, but even that wasn’t visible now.
Someone like me, accustomed to GPS, wouldn’t know anyway.
I was newly grateful to have companions.
“I think it’s ready to eat now… Young Master?”
Just as we had nearly finished cooking the meat, turning it back and forth diligently, Eok I-geon suddenly stood up and gazed beyond the forest.
“Someone is coming.”
As soon as he finished speaking, I could sense the presence too.
“Huh? They’re moving incredibly fast. Seo-ryeon, seems like a martial artist.”
“Young Master, what should we do?”
At Cheon-gang’s question, Eok I-geon pondered briefly before nodding once.
We immediately took out our acupuncture needles, circulated our internal energy according to the formula, and inserted the needles into our pressure points.
Ordinary people wouldn’t notice even if demonic practitioners came and went before their eyes, but martial artists who had reached a peak level could usually detect demonic energy.
Of course, someone at Eok I-geon’s level had the ability to suppress demonic energy, so he didn’t need to apply restraints against most opponents.
If grandmother hadn’t been captured only by Shaolin Temple, Eok I-geon wouldn’t have learned the Tang Clan’s secret techniques from Eok Grandfather.
‘There are so many terrifying high monks there.’
After completing our restraints, we began eating meat as if nothing was wrong.
We were also prepared to act surprised when the uninvited guest appeared.
“Huff huff! I thought it might be, and I was right!”
Shortly after, what appeared before us was a sturdy, handsome young man dressed like a beggar.
His face was generally clean, but whether he had fought someone or rolled down a cliff, his clothes were pitch black.
“Excuse me, but could I impose on you for one night?”
Despite his appearance, the young man who greeted us with a proper bow was very polite.
But setting that aside, we were also sleeping outdoors, so what did he mean by imposing?
When I looked up at him with a bewildered expression while chewing meat, he hastily added:
“Actually, I’m unfamiliar with this area and got lost. I’ve been wandering the mountains for three days drinking only water, and when I smelled the meat, I couldn’t help myself…”
The young man lowered his head embarrassedly and scratched the back of his neck.
“If I had known this would happen, I should have learned to hunt. I regret it now.”
“Name.”
“…Pardon?”
“If you want to impose on us, shouldn’t you at least reveal who you are first?”
At Eok I-geon’s pointed remark, the man finally exclaimed ‘Ah!’ and introduced himself.
“You’re right. I’ve been very rude to strangers. My name is Namgung San.”
Ehhhhh? Who did he say?
“Na, Namgung San?”
Shocked by the man’s name, I dropped my skewer.
Why are you appearing here all of a sudden?
As far as I knew, you weren’t supposed to appear until much later in the novel.
“Don’t tell me the Namgung you speak of is the Namgung Family I know?”
Eok I-geon’s energy changed instantly. The same was true for Cheon-gang and Seo-ryeon.
It was the Namgung and Moyong families who had framed grandmother and made her a public enemy of the martial arts world.
Naturally, from our perspective, they were no different from enemies.
But this guy is different.
‘Namgung San is an exception, an exception!’
Looking at the novel, there was no other character as pitiful as him.
The heir of the Namgung Family who trembled in shock upon learning the true nature of his grandfather Namgung Cheon, whom he had thought was a perfect gentleman.
Unlike his grandfather, Namgung San was a true martial artist who walked the genuine righteous path.
After Jungwon was conquered by the Demonic Sect led by Eok I-geon, resistance forces arose everywhere.
Despite his young age, Namgung San was a central figure among them.
His motivation was largely driven by a desire to somehow atone, even a little, for the sins his family had committed.
‘Oh, come to think of it, this guy… was directionally challenged, wasn’t he?’
Perhaps the author wanted to add comedic elements to a serious character, as Namgung San was set up to be directionally challenged.
‘True to form, he’s gotten himself thoroughly lost again today.’
Where was he trying to go at this hour of the night?
“It’s probably the Namgung Family you’re thinking of, young hero. But would that be a problem?”
Namgung San couldn’t have failed to notice the change in Eok I-geon’s aura.
Though he fell far short compared to the protagonist Eok I-geon, he too was someone called a prodigy.
They said his growth rate was faster than his grandfather, the Sword Saint Namgung Cheon, so he was a genius in his own right.
“Of course it’s a problem…”
“No! There’s no problem!”
I hurriedly stepped forward and shouted.
I could understand getting worked up over the word Namgung, but Namgung San was a good guy.
I shouldn’t bully this already pitiful kid.
I quickly moved between the two, worried that Eok I-geon might do something harmful.
“You said you were hungry, right? Please have some of this.”
There was enough meat for five people to eat and still have leftovers.
“We can’t just ignore a lost traveler. Since it’s come to this, let’s all eat together. Okay?”
To calm down Eok I-geon, who was glaring at Namgung San as if he wanted to kill him, I opened my eyes as wide as possible and stared up at him intently.
Have you heard of Puss in Boots eyes?
This was a direct hit for disarming people’s defenses.
And I added one more skill to it.
“You can do that for me, right?”
I reached out and took Eok I-geon’s hand.
‘Ah, it’s hot!’
I was startled by Eok I-geon’s unusually high body temperature, but I didn’t let go of his hand.
We’re close enough for this now, aren’t we?
Right?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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