The Printing Squad has been formed.
The place where Lady Tang and I are located is near Anhui Province, northeast of Hubei Province. On the other hand, Lady Tang’s maternal grandfather is in Yichang, close to Sichuan Province to the west of Hubei, which means it will be quite a lengthy journey.
I must become famous by writing a novel. To do that, I need to get closer to Lady Tang during the trip.
In order to get closer to Lady Tang, I needed to go through the process of opening her heart.
Just like how a college guy named Kang tries to reach out to a girl he likes a hundred times, sending messages, liking her posts on social media, but if she doesn’t respond, it just becomes an empty cry.
“I’ve opened the lock that was filled with doubts about me in Lady Tang’s heart.”
I reversed her distrust into trust toward me. I also emphasized once again that I had a reasonable reason to help her.
Kang Yoon-ho is indeed the childhood friend of the Poison Master.
If Lady Tang comes to believe this, then the only person in this world who could help her overcome her complex would be me.
“If I become famous, I can change her future.”
Lady Tang will become the Poison Master in the future, suffering as a villain in pain and contempt. She doesn’t need to suffer in pain anymore. With my Reverse Heaven’s Decree ability, she will be liberated from suffering.
If I use the printing press to become famous, maybe she could change not only her pain but her entire future.
Even though I opened her heart with my set-up, the more we get close, the more beneficial our relationship will be.
A journey for each other’s bright future.
Thus, we began our journey to Yichang.
——–
Ten days into the journey.
Instead of taking the relatively safe but longer route by the Guandao, we chose a quicker path to Yichang.
Our path became gradually uncomfortable, but as we shared difficulties, our relationship began to grow comfortable in the opposite direction.
“I can’t believe this.”
Lady Tang looked at me with a baffled expression as we sat in the inn.
“What?”
“Hey, Kang Yoon-ho. Weren’t you a master?”
“I never said I was a master.”
The reason Lady Tang was looking at me in disbelief was that we encountered a group of bandits along the way.
“Uh, why are these barbarians unaffected by my sword! Kids! Attack!”
Dirty bandits. If Lady Tang looks strong, shouldn’t they run away? Why come at me? Are they the 18 disciples of Shaolin? It’s not like we are going to beat them up, so why are they telling me to use a steel rod?
Of course, those transient bandits wouldn’t be able to break through my Jade Face Protective Technique without knowing martial arts properly.
“I can’t believe I have to handle this alone.”
Lady Tang was indeed strong. Every time she threw a spell, it hit the bandits’ vital points.
“Hey, I’ve handled three of them, you know.”
I said with a proud smile, spreading my three fingers. Good job, Kang Yoon-ho. I can handle three sword-wielding bandits now.
“Haah, what bragging!”
Lady Tang let out a sigh that sounded like she was anticipating more suffering ahead.
“Guest, what would you like to order?”
As Lady Tang rubbed her head in distress, a servant approached us.
“Just give me some water first.”
Lady Tang spoke without looking at the servant, seemingly impatient.
“Sir, we don’t serve water separately.”
“What inn doesn’t serve water?”
Lady Tang spoke in an irritated tone at the servant, as if asking what nonsense that was.
Lady Tang, I guess she hasn’t been to cheap inns. I smiled at the servant as if to say, ‘Please explain this clueless lady.’
“Sir, our inn has self-service water!”
“Water is water. What does ‘self-service’ even mean?”
Lady Tang looked at me with a confused expression, unable to comprehend the servant’s words.
She doesn’t know what ‘self-service’ means? Maybe she should study some reflexive pronouns for her exams. This girl!
Every time I see Lady Tang like this, I can definitely tell she’s been living as a young lady.
“I’ll get up and get the water.”
I said with a smile and stood up.
“Hey, Kang Yoon-ho. Why do you have to get the water? Isn’t that the servant’s job?”
As Lady Tang finally realized what ‘self-service’ meant, she watched my natural act of going to fetch the water, which the servant also seemed to accept as normal.
Lady Tang continues to watch me as I bring the water back and place it in front of her, not getting over her cultural shock.
See, that’s how a rich young lady is.
To be honest, I was also shocked to hear ‘self-service’ in a different context after coming to this world. But what can you do?
“Guest! What would you like to order?”
Once I got the water, the servant smiled and waited for our order, as if nothing had happened.
Lady Tang, recovering from her cultural shock, began picking dishes from the menu.
“What should I order?”
“Well, just order whatever you want.”
I’m not like our department head who always dictates, “I’ll pay, so order what you want, but I think this place has the best Jajangmyeon.” So why would I give her a hint?
“I want cream cheese sp…”
“This place has the cheapest Jangteo Gukbap. I’ll have the Jangteo Gukbap.”
“Yes! One Jangteo Gukbap. Is the lady having cream cheese spaghetti?”
Lady Tang, covering her face with the menu, peered at me carefully.
Ignoring her gaze, I pulled out my purse to pay. It was noticeably lighter than it had been when we first started this journey.
“…I’ll have the Jangteo Gukbap too.”
She stared at my purse carefully and then changed her order.
She could order whatever she wanted.
How admirable; I’ll give her a special trust point of one for being socially adaptive.
“Yes. Two Jangteo Gukbap!”
“… Is there not enough money?”
Lady Tang carefully asked me while eating her Jangteo Gukbap.
“It’s a tight squeeze.”
I replied nonchalantly. This Gukbap is delicious. The broth has a surprisingly strong meat flavor.
“… I see.”
Lady Tang lowered her head and cautiously glanced at me while eating.
The reason she was eating while keeping an eye on me was trivial.
The money I spent for her medicine and the inn was quite significant, and there had been several issues in securing rooms up to this point.
“Uh, why is there a black-haired barbarian with a woman in a veil? They look like trouble. Get out.”
“Our inn doesn’t accept suspicious masked individuals. If they stay, sword-bearing warriors will break down the inn later.”
“Is that what they said at the adjoining inn? We’ll allow guests who show their face. Yikes! Infectious disease people! Get out! Get out!”
Lady Tang’s veiled appearance was suspicious at various inns, which made finding a lodging quite troublesome.
The upscale inns accepted Lady Tang, but each time we stayed at such inns, my purse grew lighter.
Fortunately, the inn we’re staying at today is in a rundown town where they don’t have strict guest policies.
“If we’re very short, I have solutions, so don’t worry too much. It’s dark now, so let’s head to our room.”
Budgeting is decreasing, but there are still ways. Many people here must have stories to tell.
The problem is to find a way to earn enough money so our travel schedule doesn’t get delayed. That’s a problem I have to solve.
I said to her with a casual face.
“Okay.”
Lady Tang nodded cautiously, seemingly still worried.
———–
“Hey. Are you crazy?”
Once we entered the guest room, Lady Tang confronted me with her anger.
“What?”
“Why are you asking ‘why’ upon seeing this room?”
Lady Tang pointed around the neglected room.
It was not a complaint about the dilapidated guest room. She always felt guilty when I struggled to find accommodation.
Her anger was for another reason.
I looked at the large bed in the room.
“I got this room by begging at another inn for you to sleep separately, so just sleep.”
I’d been being considerate for her by staying in upscale rooms and sleeping separately. But that can only last for so long.
Budget-wise, we must sleep in one room now.
“How can a man and a woman sleep in the same room?”
Lady Tang protested with a voice that was almost a whisper. Sohee did it just fine.
“Should we find a separate room then?”
“… That’s not it.”
Yeah, she knows that it’s not really an option given the circumstances.
Lady Tang, with a strangely flushed face, glanced back and forth between me and the bed, and then, as if making a decision, dragged two chairs next to the bed.
What’s with the chairs?
“I’ll allow you to sleep in the same room, but don’t come to my chair.”
Tsk, is this a barrier?
Lady Tang, thinking my lack of reaction was approval, lay down on the bed anyway.
“You’re saying something ridiculous.”
I can’t allow her to hog that big bed. That won’t do.
I broke her barrier and lay down on the bed next to her.
“Hey!”
Lady Tang shot up with a start and shouted at me in surprise.
“What?”
I turned to look at her while lying down, completely unfazed.
She seemed shocked that I was completely unashamed and had no ulterior motives.
Lady Tang stared at me for a while, seemingly pondering before speaking with a suddenly flushed face.
“Uh, you… you might not know because you’re a barbarian, but in the Central Plains, for a man and woman to share a bed…”
“Even non-couples share beds sometimes. Just sleep already. I’m tired.”
In the first place, even if we’re childhood friends or not, sharing a bed wasn’t going to be a problem.
I’m not the same me from the past who couldn’t sleep just because I was sharing a bed with a girl.
Thanks to special training—or rather, a special experience with Sohee, I can sleep peacefully even in this situation.
With this wide bed, how could we touch? I closed my eyes, cutting off further conversation.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Kang Yoon-ho, stop messing around and get up.”
Yep. No response. I’m a harmless guy. So you should just sleep.
I feel like even if I close my eyes, her gaze could pierce right through me.
“Ah! Damn it!”
After staring at me for a while with a look that could pierce my body, Lady Tang began to grumble and then finally gave up, lying down on the bed.
Yeah. Once you give up, it’ll be easier.
Just sleep.
———–
The bed was soft, so there was no problem with sleeping arrangements.
However, as soon as I woke up in the morning, I was faced with a massive biological issue.
“Wow, Lady Tang, you’re a lot bigger than I thought.”
What filled my vision upon waking was an immense sight.
This size could probably outdo Sohee.
When did she change her clothes? She had been in travel clothes before I closed my eyes, but now she wore something like pajamas.
Her pajamas were made of a thin material that clearly outlined her dramatic figure.
Usually, she covered herself up, so I thought she was just big, but who knew she was this size.
“This is definitely a ‘size out of the Central Plains’ level.”
If Sohee is the size from Joseon, then Lady Tang is on a ‘size out of the Central Plains’ level.
This is truly a setting that induces a physiological response.
“I need to get up and plan for the day.”
In my head, there were two sides battling: one side telling me to calm down my lower body and get up, and another suggesting I just take in the view.
Eventually, just as I was about to reach a dramatic compromise where I’d plan my day mentally while keeping my eyes on the beautiful scenery,
“Hey, you! What are you looking at?”
The cold voice of Lady Tang shattered the compromise.
