The Youngest Daughter of the Hebei Peng Clan Is a Truly a Very Famous Little Heavenly Demon - Chapter 25
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
25.
“You’ll… lend me a boat?”
My eyes widened.
‘Is she the patriarch’s daughter?’
She was so confident that I thought she was a master from generations past who had undergone rejuvenation, but this way, she could just be a rich young lady whose liver had jumped out of her body.
“Well, I’d be grateful, but…”
“Follow me this way!”
Just as I was about to ask about her background, she stepped forward. The blue silk that swayed with her light steps fluttered like a butterfly.
A little later.
“Ta-da, this boat!”
The woman standing in front of the ferry playfully spread both arms wide.
I had my suspicions, but…
I made a dismayed expression and pointed at the creaking ferry.
“You expect me to cross the Yangtze River on this? I’ll capsize and drown to death halfway across!”
“Mm-hmm, then that would be unfortunate.”
“What.”
I was so dumbfounded that I was left speechless.
‘I’m an idiot for having expectations.’
I should probably ask someone nearby and go to the Merchant District.
A warrior of Chojejung level has sufficient value as a guard. Even if the schedule gets delayed, it would be safer to board a proper merchant ship.
“Sigh… I appreciate your intention to help, but I’ll just take the thought. It would be better if we parted ways here.”
“You don’t like the boat?”
Hearing my sigh, she put her index finger to her lips and tilted her head.
‘How could I like this thing?’
…is what I wanted to snap back, but let me hold back.
It’s absolutely not because I like her face that I’m letting this slide.
“I get seasick, so I’m reluctant about small boats. Anyway, take care.”
I turned around in disappointment.
As I walked and glanced at my reflection in the Yangtze River, the grime was flowing down… hmm.
‘I’ll wash up after crossing the river.’
It’s not too late to deal with the unpleasantness later.
Besides, if I clean up, I’ll unnecessarily attract attention. Though it’s awkward to say with my own mouth, this body is quite pretty.
“Hmm…”
Huh?
I was startled by the silk hem that had somehow appeared beside me.
Even if it wasn’t lightness skill, it was much faster steps than an ordinary person. Yet she didn’t seem particularly tired.
“…What’s the matter?”
“Ah, I was still worried about you. If you really hate the boat, at least take this!”
“A token?”
What she handed me was an iron token engraved with the character for Heaven . Befitting the character, it was tied with blue thread.
“Well then, see you later!”
“Oh.”
The woman who pressed the token into my hand instantly moved away and waved her hand back and forth. I felt somehow puzzled as I looked down at the token in my hand.
‘What is this used for?’
In the martial world, tokens are commonly used as identification.
A kind of warning saying, “I have this much friendship with so-and-so from this family, so don’t treat me carelessly!”
Also, grades are divided according to the material of the token, with wooden tokens usually being the lowest, iron tokens next. Rarely, there are ones made of silver or gold.
“Hmm.”
After tilting my head for a moment, I soon put the received iron token in my bosom.
Since I didn’t know what it was for, my mindset was to put it away for now.
If it’s a fateful encounter, it’s also a rather small fateful encounter.
“Excuse me.”
After parting with the woman and returning to the city center, I asked while buying a skewer from a passing street stall.
“Is there a place nearby where merchants gather? I’d like to catch a ride on a boat.”
“Looking for a merchant ship? Then go around that alley and turn right. The Gum Lin patriarch said he’s loading up with goods and heading to Hubei today.”
“Today!”
The timing is perfect too.
After thanking the merchant, I turned the corner and opened my ears wide. It was to gather information by eavesdropping.
Several men standing in front of the merchant building were murmuring.
“I heard bandits are swarming these days, I don’t know how much toll we’ll have to pay.”
“It’s better to avoid conflicts if possible. Anyway, we need to depart immediately in the afternoon to meet our schedule.”
“Will we have enough people?”
“Well, it would be nice to have one or two more warriors.”
Perfect.
Having heard that much, I approached the man wearing the most expensive clothes.
“Who goes there!”
The warriors who appeared to be guards drew their swords. They must have spent quite a bit of money, as the swords were surrounded by faint sword energy.
“Wait. It wasn’t intentional, but I happened to overhear while passing by – don’t you need guards?”
“Guards?”
When I raised both hands and spoke slowly, the peak-level man glanced at his employer.
The man presumed to be the owner of the Gum Lin Merchant Guild had a plump belly and boasted a balloon-like appearance. He stroked his split mustache.
“Hmm, guards. What level might your martial arts be?”
“About this much.”
I surrounded my sword with sword energy while showing that I had no intention of attacking.
Then the patriarch’s eyes widened.
“A peak master!”
Not peak, but Chojejung.
However, there was no need to show all the cards I had. Just being a peak master was guard personnel that any merchant guild would welcome.
“You said you’re heading to Hubei this afternoon?”
“The final destination is Anhui, but I’m thinking of picking up more goods from the branch of a merchant guild in Hubei.”
“Perfect! Just give me a free ride to Hubei. Hehe.”
I deliberately grinned to ease their wariness.
Though I said free, it’s quite common for warriors to catch rides on merchant ships. Anyway, considering bandit attacks, having one more master on board is actually beneficial for them.
“Patriarch.”
The peak master who appeared to be the Captain of the Guard looked at the patriarch and moved his lips slightly.
He seemed to be sending a telepathic message.
Though it’s possible to eavesdrop on what he’s saying, there’s no need to break the other party’s trust. I kept my eyes innocently wide and obediently waited for their decision.
“Good. Do you have any luggage?”
“Yahoo! No luggage!”
“Follow me.”
Success in catching a ride on a boat!
I followed the member of the Gum Lin Merchant Guild with bouncing steps.
‘Without luck, I would have had to wait a week, but somehow I found a boat leaving today.’
If I had been even a day late, things would have gotten complicated. Indeed, sleeping only two hours at the inn and waking up was the right choice.
“Come on, everyone load quickly!”
“Should I help too?”
“No need! We can’t put skilled personnel to work on such menial tasks. You just sit quietly on the cart.”
If that’s the case.
While the workers diligently loaded expensive trade goods onto the cart, I leaned against one side of the cart and crossed my legs.
‘Ugh, the accumulated fatigue.’
With my back warm and stomach full, drowsiness crept in. I nodded off while resisting the blood sugar spike.
“Now we depart!”
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I was loaded onto the ship along with the cart. Looking around the deck, it was completely different from that woman’s ferry boat from earlier. I was impressed by how properly constructed the ship was, better than I had expected.
“How long will it take to reach Hubei Province?”
“It should take about two days, so rest well in your room. Oh, there’s a banquet this evening, so please make sure to attend.”
“Sounds good!”
The Captain of the Guard gave me a small room that looked like a storage space. Thanks to that, I got a good sleep for the first time in a while and attended the evening banquet with a clear mind.
“Strike up the music!”
“Uhehehe, you there, young heroine, have a drink too! Bottoms up! Bottoms up!”
“Oh, then just a little.”
It was a banquet worthy of a pleasure boat rather than a merchant vessel. Caught up in the moment, I took the cup and downed it in one gulp.
Since it was my first drink in a long time since possessing this body, my head felt slightly dizzy.
‘Huh? No, this is really a bit strange…?’
Martial artists don’t get drunk.
Though this is common knowledge, the exact principle is different.
Peak masters who handle qi and blood can separate and expel only the alcohol from liquor. This means that until they expel the alcohol, even martial arts masters can get drunk normally.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
I staggered slightly as I left the banquet. As soon as I got some distance from the people, I expelled the alcohol.
A strong smell that would normally come the day after heavy drinking spread around me. There was also a sharp, subtle stench mixed in.
‘…Hmm?’
With my mind now clear, I leaned against a ship’s pillar and rubbed my thumb and index finger together.
When I brought it to my nose, it smelled distinctly different from alcohol. It also had a slightly viscous quality.
I stuck out my tongue and lightly licked my index finger. It stung.
‘Paralysis poison.’
It was a move that would definitely work on a peak martial artist who was clumsy at expelling qi.
“…”
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the poisoned finger, then wiped it clean on the pillar. Immediately after, I returned to the deck where the banquet was being held with slow steps.
It was to pretend I was drunk.
“The young heroine seems quite intoxicated?”
“Ahaha. I suppose so. Well, it’s been a while, so shall I have one more drink?”
“As expected of a martial artist who reached the peak at such a young age, you have such refreshing boldness! Here, take this!”
“Thank you!”
I deliberately slurred my speech while pretending to drink, letting the liquor flow into my clothes instead.
“Oops!”
I even spilled water so my wet clothes wouldn’t arouse suspicion. As I pretended not to be able to control my body properly, the Captain of the Guard sitting next to me grabbed my shoulder.
“Young heroine, are you alright?”
“Ah. A little. I’m drunk. I should go to my room… Whoa.”
Now’s the time.
While fumbling around, I blinked my eyelids a few times, then collapsed onto the banquet hall floor like a computer with a blown fuse.
“Young heroine? Have you fallen asleep? Young heroine?”
The sound of patting on my back.
The Captain of the Guard’s touch stopped after calling out to me and checking my consciousness a few times.
“Ugh, I’m getting sleepy too.”
“I’m getting drowsy… *snore*.”
“*Yawn*.”
At the same time, people began collapsing here and there one after another. They were all outsiders, not members of the merchant group.
The Patriarch sitting in his seat gave orders in a cold tone.
“Drag them all away. Oh, it would be better to sever all their limb tendons. It’ll be troublesome if they struggle for no reason.”
“Yes, sir.”
*Shing.*
The Captain of the Guard’s drawing sound pierced my ears. Just as he grabbed my left hand and was about to cut the tendons in my wrist with his sword.
“What?!”
*Clang!*
A clear sound rang out from the clashing swords. Having drawn my sword swiftly, I smiled brightly while emanating dark blue sword qi.
“Ah~ damn. I was going to let you cut off one arm.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————