I had bought a large jar to hold water. I stacked the things I'd purchased inside it, hoisted it onto my back, and returned to the cave.
…And met eyes with Tang So-wol, who was sprawled out in a comfortable pose as if she owned the place.
"You're back?"
"Anyone would think you're the master of this house."
"This is the most comfortable position, so I had no choice. Anyway, hurry up and—"
"Ah, this?"
I pulled a well-wrapped dumpling from inside the jar. It was still warm and packed generously with meat, so she was sure to be satisfied.
But Tang So-wol frowned deeply at the sight of the steaming dumplings.
"I'll pass on the dumplings. You know, that thing. That thing."
"How am I supposed to know what you mean when you just say 'that thing'? Tell me clearly what you want."
"Keugh!"
Tang So-wol's face flushed bright red as she glared at me. Her expression was so venomous it looked like she was facing her mortal enemy.
I thought that was a bit much, but… when I heard what came out of her mouth next, I understood everything.
"…Um, could I have some soup?"
"Ah."
I had forgotten.
I had taken it out quickly, but in her current state, Tang So-wol was no different from a caterpillar with her limbs bound. Even with a chamber pot right there, she wouldn't be able to relieve herself like this.
I wasn't the only one who thought so—Tang So-wol's eyes, fixed on the chamber pot before her, began to tremble slightly.
That trembling soon spread through her entire body, and now she was shivering like a newborn lamb. She cautiously looked up at me.
"Young hero. Um. I'm asking just in case, but you're not going to say you'll take off my clothes like you took my money pouch, are you?"
"…I wouldn't go that far. What matters is that you don't leave this cave, not that you're tied up so tightly you can't move. I'll loosen the bindings for a moment."
"Th-thank you!"
Tang So-wol's face lit up. At that reaction—simple, if you could call it that—I let out a snort and drew my sword.
As I loosened the ropes, Tang So-wol rubbed her freed wrists as if they felt strange. She picked up the chamber pot, then paused mid-motion.
"Young hero, will you be staying here the whole time?"
"That's the plan."
"I-I see."
As if she had made up her mind, Tang So-wol bit her lip tightly and reached for her waist. Her belt dropped to the floor with a soft thud.
But it didn't end there. Her hand moved next to the inside of her martial robes.
Right. To relieve herself, she'd have to lower her pants first.
Realizing this obvious fact a beat too late, I hurriedly turned my body toward the cave entrance.
"I'll be waiting outside, so tell me when you're done."
"What? Ah! Yes, I will!"
Leaving Tang So-wol's voice behind as she released the tension in her throat, I leaned against the wall near the cave entrance.
Kidnapping someone was one thing, but living together involved far more considerations than I'd expected.
I was briefly mulling over whether to establish some rules from now on.
Before I could decide, Tang So-wol's voice came from deeper inside the cave, her business already finished.
"Young hero. There's something I'd like to ask, if you don't mind."
"Go ahead and say it."
"…What should I do with the chamber pot after I'm done?"
"…I'll take care of it."
When I stepped into the cave, Tang So-wol was sitting there with her face flushed bright red, her head hung low. I tied her hands and feet again with the remaining rope, and only then picked up the chamber pot that sat on the ground.
It was warm.
***
I emptied the chamber pot at a nearby stream and washed it clean. When I returned to the cave, Tang So-wol was there, inching her way toward the dumplings.
"…"
"…"
We exchanged a wordless glance. Tang So-wol, whose expression hadn't changed in the slightest, spoke in a composed voice.
"You've arrived just in time. Eating with my hands bound isn't easy. Would you mind untying me once more?"
"No. The situation isn't any different from before."
"I don't see much of a difference."
"I can feed you myself, so there's no reason to untie you."
"Pardon?"
Tang So-wol tilted her head for a moment, but soon nodded as if she understood.
"I hadn't thought of that method. Then I'll leave it to you."
Instead of crawling toward the dumplings, Tang So-wol lay down on her back, stared at the ceiling, and opened her mouth wide.
"Has your shamelessness grown that much in such a short time?"
"We've already seen everything there is to see of each other, so wouldn't it be stranger to act shy about something like this?"
"That's a fair point. But eating while lying down is a sure way to get indigestion."
I lifted Tang So-wol's shoulders and propped her into a seated position against the wall.
"You're quite attentive."
"And you're quite thick-skinned. I expected you to be wearing an expression like the world was ending."
"I'm holding it in. If I thought the young hero might take pleasure in seeing me despair, wouldn't that be infuriating?"
"I don't have that kind of taste. Enough of that—just open your mouth."
"Ahh."
Tang So-wol obediently opened her mouth. At the sight of her looking like a baby bird begging for food, I let out a small chuckle and tore off a piece of the dumpling in a suitable size.
While Tang So-wol chewed, I took a bite of my own dumpling as well.
How long did we keep going like that—one bite for me, one bite for her? Before I knew it, Tang So-wol had swallowed the last piece, and she licked the crumbs from the corner of her mouth with her tongue before speaking.
"Since we've finished our meal, shall we talk for a moment?"
"Talk? About what?"
With the distance between us shortened from feeding her the dumplings, Tang So-wol looked straight into my eyes and opened her mouth.
"You know me quite well, don't you, young hero?"
"To a certain extent."
The Tang So-wol from before the regression and the Tang So-wol before me now have lived through different events. It wouldn't be fair to call them the exact same person.
Take her hair color and bangs, for instance. After the Tang Clan's extermination before the regression, her hair had turned completely white. She had also grown out her bangs to hide the scars on her face, covering half of it.
The Tang So-wol before me, on the other hand, has black hair, keeps her bangs neatly trimmed, and above all, doesn't carry that lingering gloom that clung to her like a stain.
Beyond that, her tone, her gestures, her appearance—countless small details must differ as well.
"…What is that wistful look in your eyes? It's a bit overwhelming."
"Don't mind it. It's nothing."
"Don't mind it now, you say? What kind of…"
Tang So-wol grumbled as if she couldn't believe it, but when I showed no reaction at all, she let out a deep sigh and continued.
"Fine. At any rate, I understand that the young hero treats me well. But I don't know a single thing about you."
"That's probably true."
"Yes. So let's get to know each other from now on."
"…"
For a moment, my breath stopped.
Before the regression. Countless martial artists, regardless of whether they belonged to the orthodox or unorthodox sects, had flooded into Hebei Province to escape the Heavenly Demon. Naturally, there had been many conflicts, and the relationship between me and Tang So-wol had been no different.
A relationship where we deliberately ignored each other like strangers. But when I found myself in danger while fighting the Demonic Cult's Heaven-Destroying Corps, Tang So-wol was the first to come running to my aid.
That was the first day I realized that some people could help others without expecting anything in return. Of course, at the time, I couldn't bring myself to admit it, and I asked her again and again.
Why did you come to help? Do you know what kind of person I am? To my questions, Tang So-wol answered with a faint smile.
'A comrade who fights alongside you. Isn't that enough? If my answer is unsatisfactory… then we can just get to know each other from now on.'
That incident became the turning point that brought Tang So-wol and me close.
And now. Tang So-wol, still barely twenty years old, was saying the same words to the one who had kidnapped her.
Surely, the Tang So-wol before the regression and the Tang So-wol now are different people.
…But, even so. Tang So-wol was still Tang So-wol.
It was a moment that somehow felt ticklish. Tang So-wol, as if she had caught me, curled up the corners of her mouth in a grin.
"Ah! Young hero, you just smiled, didn't you? Then I can take that as a sign of agreement?"
I brought my hand up to my mouth and felt it—the corners were indeed raised. So I had been smiling without even realizing it.
At this point, refusing would just look awkward. I nodded and said,
"Do as you please."
"That's the plan. First…"
There were still plenty of dumplings left, since I had bought them generously. Tang So-wol nodded toward one of them with her chin and said,
"First, let's eat one more."
"Good timing. I was just thinking one wasn't enough."
"Then, would you tell me your name?"
"My name?"
"Yes. I still don't even know the young hero's name."
She was right. Now that I thought about it, I had never told her. I popped a dumpling torn into bite-sized pieces into my mouth and answered.
"Cheon Hwi."
"Young hero Cheon… is it? I've never heard that name before. What about your alias?"
"I don't have one."
The first alias I ever earned was Blood Wolf, and after reaching Transcendent Peak I was called the Sword Demon… but now, I have no alias at all.
That's only natural. Not much time has passed since my regression, and I've spent most of it training to reclaim my past achievements.
That said, I hadn't been hiding my strength. I'd raided a few minor unorthodox sects to earn money for Blood Poison Wine, so an alias would have come eventually. It just hadn't happened yet.
Perhaps my answer didn't sit well with her. Tang So-wol shook her head with a slightly disappointed expression.
"Young hero Cheon. Our first meeting was rather strange and unfair, and I was the one who suffered for it… but I judged that you, in your own way, meant no harm."
"I appreciate that. Honestly, I'm aware I did something insane."
"Still, when I ask for a sincere conversation and you respond like this, it does hurt my heart."
"You misunderstand. I only gave you an honest answer. …I do agree with getting to know each other."
"…"
"…"
Tang So-wol stared at me with an uncertain expression. I met her gaze without flinching. And then I realized.
"Wait. Surely you don't still think I'm some old monster who went through rejuvenation?"
"Well, that is…"
"You called me a young hero, didn't you? You also promised not to treat me like an old monster."
"There's more than one old monster who wants to look young."
When she put it that way, I had nothing to say. In fact, if you dig through the history of the martial world, there are plenty of amusing anecdotes to prove her point.
For example… though this hasn't happened yet, there was a former master of the Unorthodox Sects who participated in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
He had intended to lose at a suitable point, settle his life as an unorthodox martial artist, and live under a new identity.
But the Murim Alliance Leader, who normally only showed up to watch the finals or semifinals, came to observe from the very first match of the main tournament—and recognized him on the spot.
For the record, that man later returned to the Black Alliance and became my direct superior. It was the worst in every way.
I have no intention of joining the Black Alliance in this life, so I won't have to meet him again.
"Let me say it one more time—I really am fifteen. Feel my arm."
"Your arm?"
"Rejuvenation isn't simply becoming younger; it's reconstructing your body into one perfectly suited to unleashing your martial arts. So even if it doesn't show on the outside, you can clearly feel the difference when you touch it."
"How do you know that?"
"I heard it from someone who knows."
Specifically, from the man who used to be my superior. Tang So-wol didn't seem to believe me at all.
"That's what everyone says when they don't want to talk about themselves."
"It's the truth."
Tang So-wol narrowed her eyes as if to say "sure it is," but when I placed my forearm on her bound hands, she slowly began to feel it.
No matter how much better the martial arts I knew compared to before, or how I trained with the enlightenment of the Transcendent Peak in my heart.
It had only been a few months, after all. My internal energy was still only at the Second-Rate level, and my External Arts were incomplete—my body was still soft and pliable.
The reason I could suppress Tang So-wol, who stood at the very edge of the first-rate level and could reach the Peak Realm at any moment with the right opportunity, was simple.
It was because I knew Tang So-wol well. And because I simply fought well.
Tang So-wol, who had been concentrating on feeling my forearm, let out a low hum.
"This is…"
"Do you believe me now?"
"No. I just realized that since I've never touched a man's body before, I have nothing to compare it to."
"…"
Well, of course. She was the youngest daughter of the Tang Clan, one of the pillars of the Five Great Families. How many men's bodies could she have ever touched?
Thinking about it that way, I felt like I was doing something utterly absurd.
I pulled my arm away from Tang So-wol, who was still pressing her fingers into my forearm and tilting her head in confusion.
"That's enough. There must be plenty of ways to prove it."
"You're not sulking, are you… Ah, no, I didn't say anything. Please don't glare at me like that. The dumplings I worked so hard to eat might come right back up."
Tang So-wol shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, let's set this matter aside for later, as the young hero says. How about we discuss something more important now?"
"…Something more important?"
"Didn't the young hero Cheon say that I would soon be attacked by someone bearing a grudge against the Tang Clan, and that my life would be in danger, so I should return home?"
"That's right."
"I also asked how you came to know this, and if it were true, when, where, and who would attack—but you answered that you knew none of it."
"Hm."
"Honestly, isn't this hard for even the young hero Cheon to believe?"
"That is…"
There was nothing I could do. How could I possibly say something like, "Actually, I've regressed through time, and in the future we become close, so I heard all sorts of stories from you"?
Even if I did, she wouldn't believe me. I myself would have thought I'd fallen into Qi Deviation and lost my mind.
Tang So-wol smiled slyly at me, who couldn't bring myself to speak.
"But since I've been caught by you like this, young hero Cheon, I suppose you can afford to be a bit more honest now."
Tang So-wol showed off her bound wrists as if to prove her point. She met my eyes with a playful expression.
"Let me ask once more. Do you truly believe my life will be in danger in the near future?"
"Yes."
"You still can't tell me the detailed reason."
"…I'm sorry, but that's right."
"If I insist on leaving this cave and resuming my travels through the martial world…"
"Then I'll find a way to stop you again."
"You're being stubborn. But you know very well that I can't just turn around and go back like this, right?"
"Of course."
Returning to the martial world with a reason no one could argue against, only to come back shortly after?
Wouldn't anyone who saw it think I'd gotten scared and fled? The Sichuan Tang Clan's reputation would be ruined beyond words.
It didn't matter to me personally… but for Tang So-wol, who took immense pride in being a member of the Tang Clan, it would be impossible. That was exactly why I'd kidnapped her.
Tang So-wol, who had been pondering with her eyes tightly shut, slowly opened her eyelids. Her pupils, still closer to black, curved into crescent moon shapes.
"Very well. I'll trust the young hero Cheon's words."
"Really…?"
"Yes. Of course, I don't believe that it's dangerous. I simply mean to trust that the young hero acted with his own good intentions."
"That's enough for me."
I let out a sigh of relief and rose from my seat.
"Wait a moment. There's something I want to give you."
"Huh? Where are you going in the middle of a meal? Hey? Young hero Cheon? I can't eat without you here!"
I brushed aside Tang So-wol's bewildered words and headed deeper into the cave.
It wasn't for no reason that I had brought Tang So-wol to this cave. There was a purpose behind it.
A crevice so small it would be difficult to find unless you knew it was there. I plucked a single violet flower that had grown within it.
I held it gently in both hands so it wouldn't be damaged, then offered it to Tang So-wol.
"Take it."
"What is this?"
"A gift."
"…"
Her eyes dazedly alternated between me and the flower. Well, of course she would recognize it. After all, this was a spirit herb that Tang So-wol would have discovered in the first place.
But the words that flowed from Tang So-wol's mouth as she bowed her head were a little different from what I had expected.
"I'm sorry, but a flower gift is a bit burdensome."
"That's not what I meant."
"Even so, I wonder if it's really appropriate to give it to someone whose hands and feet are bound. Let me make this clear: I'm a poor victim who was kidnapped by young hero Cheon. If you want to do something like this, do it with your betrothed."
"Didn't I just say that's not it?"
"Yes, yes. The young hero is right. This flower is just an ordinary gift with no special meaning."
Even as she said that, Tang So-wol was genuinely startled, wriggling away to put distance between us.
That's a bit unfair.