Chapter 131

“Chelbin, it’s been a while since you’ve eaten my meal.”

“…Sirang.”

“Don’t look so apologetic. It’s only natural that you stay over since it’s getting late.”

“Still, you must be uncomfortable with me here.”

“No, I’m fine. In fact, I feel more at ease with you around.”

“Thank you, even if it’s just words.”

Strangely, I find myself speaking freely with Sirang, despite rarely doing so with others.

Maybe it’s because we’ve been close friends since childhood.

Chop chop chop chop-

“Wait just a little longer. It’ll be done in no time.”

“I can already smell the delicious aroma.”

“You haven’t forgotten that during the war, I was mostly the one responsible for preparing your meals, right?”

“Of course not, how could I forget such a favor?”

“…You still know how to speak so eloquently.”

While slicing various vegetables with a chef’s knife, Sirang smiled faintly.

It felt precious since she hadn’t smiled once since hearing the news of my marriage to Soeun Yu.

“What are you cooking?”

“Braised chicken legs.”

“Oh.”

“Isn’t it your favorite?”

“Even after all these years, you still remember?”

“…Isn’t it obvious?”

With that, Sirang turned away from me and focused on the cooking.

“Sister, can I help you?”

Jin Gayoung approached Sirang and asked.

“Even if I do it alone, it isn’t a problem…”

“No, since it’s for Uncle, I must help as well.”

“Hmm…?”

With a mysterious expression, Jin Gayoung joined Sirang in cooking.

As I felt awkward just watching, I was about to lend a hand too.

“Chelbin, you just rest.”

“Sister is right. Uncle should just sit down.”

The two women firmly set boundaries with me.

“It’s almost done now. Please wait a little longer.”

Jin Gayoung’s movements sped up significantly.

Ingredients flew across the cutting board, and the cooking proceeded in the blink of an eye, partly due to Sirang’s skillful use of inner energy.

“Well, it’s done.”

Sirang said proudly.

Behind her, the steaming pot exuded the scent of a meal that couldn’t possibly taste bad.

“Chelbin, go call the others.”

“We’ll set the table in the meantime.”

Jin Gayoung and Sirang moved in perfect harmony.

I quietly nodded to avoid getting in their way and left the kitchen.

The first person I saw was Tang Sobaek. She was sitting on the veranda, leisurely enjoying the evening breeze.

“Tang Sobaek.”

“Sword Sage? Is there anything I can do?”

“Supper is almost ready. Come inside.”

“Ah, good timing since I was getting hungry.”

“Though it smells quite different from Sichuan cuisine, is everything alright?”

“Stop being picky about the side dishes. Do I look that young?”

Tang Sobaek frowned, questioning me.

Since she was the second youngest here after Jin Gayoung, I couldn’t really respond anyway.

“…Sigh, and what will you say to someone who could be your father?”

“Haha.”

“Well, you’d better come in quickly. With you around, I won’t have to worry about the women glaring at me so I can’t even pick up my chopsticks.”

“Interesting joke.”

After seeing Tang Sobaek enter the house, I went to look for Jade Flower and Hong Ryun.

It didn’t take long to find them.

We heard the clash of swords from far away.

It must be Jade Flower and Hong Ryun sparring.

There’s no one else here on this mountain except them.

Even though she claims to be getting indifferent, Jade Flower hasn’t yet let go of her ambition for martial arts.

Cling cling!

Their sparring sounds mix with the calls of the mountain insects.

I walked and walked in the direction of the sound.

Before long, I found their location.

Whoosh.

Toppled trees and shattered rocks surrounded the pair as Jade Flower stood, holding her long sword, breathing heavily, while Hong Ryun stood smiling contentedly.

“Do you really think you can guard someone with that skill?”

“…Then help me. I need the strength to protect Byul Rak.”

“An admirable thought. As long as your intentions remain pure.”

“Alright, both of you, stop.”

I smoothly interjected between them.

Jade Flower and Hong Ryun immediately sheathed their swords upon seeing me.

“Let’s eat first.”

“…Eat? Since when was it prepared? I was going to set the table for Master…”

“Even if you lack cooking talent, I didn’t want you to have to handle it.”

“Haha, it wasn’t made by me, so don’t worry. Hurry up and come in.”

After Jade Flower’s rapid breathing and disordered inner energy were calmed with a single cycle of inner circulation, everything settled into place.

As for Hong Ryun, she was fine all along. Her unmatched martial prowess for her age made me proud once more.

Creak.

As we entered the house after Jade Flower and Hong Ryun had changed out of their sweat-drenched clothes, Sirang and the two girls were already seated at the round dining table.

On the table were various dishes, and at the center lay the braised chicken legs that I loved the most.

“Grr…! I should’ve been the one to prepare that! Taking advantage of me going to help with training…!”

“Though they’re here now it’s a relief but… what will happen when we part? I can’t keep roasting wild animals forever for Byul Rak…”

“Uncle! Please sit down and try it! We made an effort to suit your taste!”

“It’s been a while since I last treated you to a meal, so I’m quite nervous. Please enjoy it.”

“Hey everyone, just eat already. Why so much talk during meals?”

With Tang Sobaek’s reproving words at the end, I took my seat.

As soon as my bottom touched the round table, the first impression was…

“Crowded.”

Myself, Hong Ryun, Jin Gayoung, Sirang, Jade Flower, Tang Sobaek.

Six in total, almost as many as a large family.

To me, who hasn’t interacted much with many people, it was indeed that.

“Hmm? Uncle, how is it? Is it tasty?”

“Sweet and salty balance, clearly you put in a lot of effort. It’s delicious.”

“Hehe.”

“Master, please allow me to take charge of the next meal. I can definitely make it even better than this…”

“…But, who exactly are you? And why do you keep clinging to our uncle?”

“What? Our uncle? I’ve been watching him with my own eyes, so ours?”

“Oy, what’s with that tone? At a glance, you don’t seem much older than me. Do you really want to elevate yourself in front of seniors like Jade Flower?”

“…Seniors… me… younger than Byul Rak…”

At the table, it appeared that Jin Gayoung’s and Hong Ryun’s clash of egos had started, with Jade Flower accidentally touching a sore spot.

‘Good.’

I thought.

This was precisely what it means for people to ‘smell like people.’

I’m not someone who enjoys crowded settings.

Rather, I’ve always lived alone or in small groups, so it is not without discomfort.

However, it’s been four years since the turbulent times.

I, as a person, am still bound by that long era.

Which is why this peaceful, human-filled meal is so precious.

‘It’s truly wonderful.’

This time is far too valuable to me.

I only wish it doesn’t pass too quickly.

The rich aroma of food filling my mouth and…

“What should we cook next? Chicken leg noodles? Chicken leg dumplings?”

“Tch, girl. I’ve already established that the next turn is mine.”

“Honestly, I feel your cooking combined might be worse than if I did it alone… much quicker and tastier.”

“I need to learn cooking when I have time. Alongside training, this will keep me busy for a while.”

“No, let’s just eat, alright? Will everyone not eat?”

– Ha, even I want to taste the food, but in this moment, I envy you deeply.

Even with each of us throwing in a single comment, the dining table became lively.

To me,

it is invaluable.

And,

it’s a little scary.

That this dream-like moment might disappear in a vain breeze.

That this excessive happiness might end up being just a fleeting gift.

Because way back in the past, there was a day like today.

When we first captured the Blood Demon and completely expelled the Blood Cult from the mainland.

The 99th chapter.

That day, brimming with euphoria, accomplishment, hope, and happiness, remains unforgettable.

Three days after that,

my elevated mood shattered into dust.

*

Pat.

The refreshing night air brushes against my cheeks.

It’s still the crisp air of spring.

I stop my steps mid-walk and look up at the sky.

In the night sky, a crimson crescent shines brightly.

The light cascading down is a truly beautiful moon.

Evening walks after dinner are, indeed, beneficial. They calm the mind and body, don’t they?

I continue to wander aimlessly bathed in moonlight.

After having lived alone for so long, Sirang is skilled at cooking. She filled my stomach with her fine meal.

The lingering aftertaste of fullness dominated my mind. I felt slightly drowsy.

‘A lifestyle like today’s isn’t bad either. It might get tiring if it continues for too long though…’

Pat.

Once again, I moved forward.

There was no clear destination. I just wanted to walk.

Why, haven’t you had days like that?

When you don’t want to think about anything and just silently walk on, without speaking.

It seems today is such a day.

Pat.

The unusually bright moon slips peeking between clouds.

Dark clouds in the night sky. So faint they’re barely visible even with focused vision.

Staring at the vast and expansive sky,

an image from the past flashes in my mind.

Someone who tore the sky asunder and descended through the gap,

Someone who effortlessly severed my hopes and threw me back into the abyss of suffering,

the embodiment of extinction.

With pitch-black hair carrying the deepest shades of ink and

blood-red eyes that make anyone watching shiver,

the heaven-born demon.

No.

The demon who split the heavens.

The great and unrivaled demon of both heaven and earth.

Heavenly Demon.

Back then, the Heavenly Demon also descended by splitting the heavens.

And not just back then, although occasionally using different methods, the Heavenly Demon would invariably descend by cleaving the skies every chapter.

And would command me with that low voice,

A chilling, brutal order to me.

“Now, rewind the time.”

“Otherwise, I will once again destroy the world.”

Even now, every time I think of the Heavenly Demon, my body shivers.

That’s what the Heavenly Demon is.

Overwhelming fear, an unstoppable force.

The sole entity in the entire universe who can perceive time as a physical dimension,

the master of the ‘machine’ that forced me into regression – that was the Heavenly Demon.