"It will be alright now."
After finishing the acupuncture, Tang Soso smiled gently and neatly arranged the needles.
"Thank you."
"Still, your body hasn't fully recovered yet, so you need to eat well."
"…Yes."
After removing all the needles, Tang Soso poked the cheek of the child sleeping in the woman's arms.
"Haki too, well…"
At that moment, the woman instinctively pulled the child she was holding tightly toward herself.
"Ah…"
The woman's eyes trembled.
"S-sorry…"
"No, it was my thoughtlessness."
Tang Soso scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
The body heals with acupuncture and medicine, but emotional wounds are not so easily cured by external things. Considering what this woman had gone through, one should have approached delicately and carefully, step by step.
"I'm sorry."
Tang Soso bowed deeply, and the woman, unsure what to do, shook her head.
"No, really… really not."
A deep embarrassment appeared on the face of the woman holding the child.
"You treat me so well, but I, I am uneducated and fearful of…"
"Please don't say that."
Tang Soso was also at a loss. Though she had learned medicine, she did not know how to handle such situations.
'What should I do?'
If she retreated, the woman might blame herself for a long time, but trying to cheer her up might make things uncomfortable. Helpless, pinching her own thigh, she was at a loss.
Thunk!
A rough knocking sound echoed on the door.
"Hmm?"
Bang.
Turning around, the door suddenly swung wide open. But that was all; no one appeared. All that was visible was the manor's scenery beyond the door.
'What…'
Squeak!
"…Ah."
Tang Soso's gaze dropped down, and then further down.
"…It was you?"
A pure white weasel wagged its tail, wearing an expression of utter dissatisfaction (?).
Tap! Tap!
Baek Ah, as if scolding for not recognizing him sooner, tapped the floor twice with her tail, then picked up a bowl as big as herself with her front paws and entered the room.
The bowl contained the medicinal decoction she had asked Chung Myung to bring. Tang Soso's face twisted.
"No, this person…"
Good heavens, he was too lazy to do such a simple thing himself and made a beast do it? And what kind of beast actually obeys such an order?
At this point, it was hard to tell whether the problem was the person or the beast.
Baek Ah trudged in on two legs, placed the bowl of decoction in front of Tang Soso with a thud, and sighed deeply like a human.
"…You've worked hard."
Though it might not be appropriate to say to a beast, somehow seeing that figure made her feel she had to say it.
Baek Ah glanced at Tang Soso, then suddenly turned around, quickly ran to close the open door, and flopped down in a corner of the room.
A moment of silence passed. Baek Ah slightly lifted her head and stared at Tang Soso, her gaze seeming to say, "We're both struggling, so don't be stingy with me."
"…Yeah. You must be tired too."
Perhaps she was the one who suffered and was tired the most here. After all, she was the beast that stuck with Chung Myung all day. Better to return quickly before she gets unnecessarily tormented.
'Come to think of it, it's really strange.'
Why on earth does that beast stick so closely to Chung Myung?
In the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, she seemed to live as a spirit among spirits, enjoying all kinds of luxuries, but here, she was treated worse than an ordinary weasel.
She got kicked when the man got bored, used as a scarf when feeling chilly despite being a spirit, served as a neck pillow when sleeping, became ferocious when out of alcohol so one had to bring drinks in advance, and took on all sorts of errands…
'My sahyung must be lucky…'
Is there no little one around?
"A-a weasel…"
At that moment, a startled voice escaped from the woman. Her wide eyes stared intently at Baek Ah.
"Ah…"
Indeed, to an ordinary person, a weasel bringing a medicinal bowl, opening and closing doors, and walking on two legs would seem strange.
"Don't worry. He's good… no, just a spirit beast."
"S-spirit beast?"
"Yes. Um… just think of him as a very intelligent beast."
The woman looked at Baek Ah with curiosity. Feeling the gaze, Baek Ah slightly turned her head to meet hers.
A subtle exchange of glances occurred between human and beast. Thinking something, Baek Ah suddenly stood up, trotted over to the woman, then jumped up and wrapped her body around her neck.
"Ah…!"
The startled woman reflexively grabbed Baek Ah around her neck, but soon relaxed her grip at the soft touch.
"So warm…"
"Wow."
Tang Soso opened her eyes wide in surprise.
Though she seemed easy to bully, Baek Ah was originally a spirit beast with an unusually strong pride. How many Mount Hua disciples had tried to tame that pure white, soft fur and ended up with claw marks on their faces?
She never let anyone but Chung Myung near her, yet now she approached a human on her own.
"Amazing."
Still somewhat displeased, Baek Ah tilted her head, then slowly slid down under the woman's neck. She nestled between the child and the woman, settled comfortably, and closed her eyes.
"Is it dangerous…?"
"It will be fine."
Tang Soso muttered quietly, 'He wouldn't want to die by senior's hand,' but the woman did not hear it.
The relieved woman gently stroked Baek Ah's back. Seeing that she was a small beast posing no threat to humans seemed to comfort her.
Seeing the woman's expression soften, Tang Soso nodded unconsciously.
'She does have some use.'
No, actually she was very useful. But only to senior Chung Myung.
The woman spoke in a slightly softened voice.
"It's the first time I've seen a weasel follow a person's words."
"Oh, really?"
Actually, it's my first time too. Though whether he truly follows a 'person' is another matter.
"…They say animals only follow good people."
At the woman's words, Tang Soso's expression became too complex to describe.
"Y-yes, of course."
But in the end, she tightly closed her eyes.
'Sorry. I think that's a lie.'
Otherwise, Baek Ah wouldn't be by Chung Myung's side. But what meaning does truth have in such matters? As long as the heart is at ease.
Still, thanks to Baek Ah's appearance, the awkward atmosphere seemed to have eased, which was fortunate.
"I'm sorry for earlier."
"Ah, no. It's nothing serious."
"I was just worried… really… will it be alright?"
"Yes?"
A look of worry appeared on the woman's face.
"From now on, I have to protect and live with him… but with such fear, will it be alright?"
Tang Soso could not answer easily. She knew that careless reassurance of 'it will be fine' was just a way to evade the situation.
"I…"
Just as Tang Soso opened her mouth to speak.
"Soso, are you inside?"
A familiar voice came from outside the door. Tang Soso turned around in surprise.
"Yes, Sect Leader! I am inside the disciple's quarters."
"May I come in?"
Tang Soso glanced at the woman's expression. She looked slightly uneasy but slowly nodded. Tang Soso immediately ran and politely opened the door.
Soon, Hyun Jong entered the room with slow steps. When his eyes met the woman's, he smiled warmly… then asked in a somewhat reluctant voice.
"Why is that guy doing that over there?"
"…I don't know."
Baek Ah was now stretched out with an expression of utter boredom. The look was exactly…
"They say animals resemble their owners."
"That's right…"
Hyun Jong shook his head and quietly sat down. To Tang Soso, every movement showed careful consideration. Every gesture and step was relaxed to avoid seeming threatening. To an outsider, he might look like an old man too weak to lift a spoon.
"Are you feeling well?"
"Yes? Ah…"
Seeing the flustered woman, Hyun Jong smiled gently.
"I am Hyun Jong of the Mount Hua sect."
"The sect leader of Mount Hua…"
Just as Tang Soso was about to add something, Hyun Jong raised his hand slightly to stop her, signaling not to say anything that might burden the other.
"After going through many hardships, you probably needed time to sort your heart. So I didn't seek you out. But now, if I don't come, it would be rude, so I came. Please forgive me if I was impolite."
"Ah, no. Absolutely not."
The woman, flustered, shook her head vigorously.
"Everyone has treated me so well… I'm not someone who deserves this… I don't know how to respond to such warmth."
She kept bowing her head in thanks. Seeing this, Hyun Jong suddenly looked at the child in her arms.
"Your child is really cute."
"Yes…"
Hyun Jong smiled gently.
"Do you have a place to go with the child?"
At the question, the woman's face stiffened awkwardly. After hesitating for a while, she spoke in a faint voice.
"Anywhere… I have to go. Anywhere…"
"…"
"I've caused too much trouble. I'm sorry… I have no shame."
Tang Soso was momentarily startled and looked at Hyun Jong, as if he was scolding the woman.
Still, Tang Soso did not speak for two reasons: one, she dared not criticize the sect leader here; two, she believed Hyun Jong was not someone to say such things thoughtlessly.
"For a woman to raise a child and live away from home is not easy."
At Hyun Jong's words, the woman lowered her head with a sad expression.
"The world is both incredibly warm and incredibly cruel. It won't be easy to find a place to go immediately."
"Yes…"
Hyun Jong sighed lightly and shook his head.
"It is the Justice faction's duty to aid civilians, but even we cannot care for everyone without limit."
The woman nodded slightly. Her expression and movements were calm, but her lips trembled, unable to hide her despair.
How could she not know? How much trouble she had caused these people. After all, medical treatment was a luxury only the wealthy could afford.
Lying in a warm room without work, being served meals and receiving treatment was a life she could never have dreamed of. Now it was time to return to reality.
"I will definitely… surely repay this kindness…"
"Do so."
"Well, Sect Leader…"
Tang Soso tried to say something but stopped herself. Hyun Jong paid no attention to her and calmly stared only at the woman.
"You are a mother with a child. You must stand on your own feet."
"…Yes, taoist."
Just as the woman nodded again, Hyun Jong asked.
"Do you have anyone you know nearby?"
The woman closed her eyes briefly, unable to bear the heavy heart. It sounded like she was being told to leave and rely on someone she knew.
Would she have acquaintances after coming all the way from Southern Lands here?
It was indeed a careless question, but she did not resent the people before her. They had already given her so much.
Therefore, the woman spoke calmly.
"Yes. I… do. Don't worry."
"Ah, then does that acquaintance know how to cook?"
"Yes?"
The woman looked at Hyun Jong as if to ask what he meant.
Then Hyun Jong said with a troubled expression.
"Unexpectedly, they've been staying at the manor longer, and since those guys eat so much, it's hard to find a cook. The disciples' cooking is hardly edible. So we're looking for a cook. Someone who can cook without ruining ingredients, just enough for people to eat. Since this place is far from the village, we plan to provide a room and decent pay to the cook… If you know anyone…"
"I, I…!"
"Yes?"
The woman looked at Hyun Jong urgently and raised her voice.
"I'll do it, I'll do it! I'm good at cooking!"
"…"
"I can work really hard. Please hire me! I'll do my best!"
"Hmm."
"Please, Taoist! Please…"
Hyun Jong frowned with a troubled look.
"But you look too unhealthy to work for so many people… and you don't seem to be taking your medicine well…"
As soon as he finished, the woman hurriedly grabbed the medicine bowl on the floor and drank it all at once. Setting the bowl down, she looked at Hyun Jong as clearly as possible and said.
"See? I'm healthy now!"
Hyun Jong sighed with difficulty and looked at Tang Soso.
"What do you think? Can this person work…?"
"She can, Sect Leader!"
"…"
"Two days is enough. In two days, I can restore her to be able to work. No problem!"
"Is that so?"
At Tang Soso's spirited answer, Hyun Jong slowly nodded.
"…Finding a cook is not easy, so it can't be helped. From now on, this person is not a guest living here for free, but a proper paid worker of Mount Hua. Make sure she is treated accordingly."
"Yes! I will definitely do so, Sect Leader."
"Then."
Hyun Jong quietly smiled and stood up. The woman bowed her head in a daze, her face mixed with all kinds of emotions.
"Th-thank you…"
Then Hyun Jong, half standing, asked.
"Ah. By the way, how should we address you from now on?"
Understanding the meaning of the question, the woman spoke in a faint trembling voice.
"…My name is… Chu Young."
"So you are Lady Chu."
"And… this child is…"
Chu Young quietly looked at the child in her arms. Raising her head again, her voice no longer trembled.
"Haki. Lee Hak."
Hyun Jong smiled gently and replied.
"Then, I look forward to working with you, Lady Chu."