CHAPTER 33: WHY HAVE I HEARD OF THIS MASKED GOLDEN GHOST BEFORE?

"Miss..."

It’d been a while since I last heard that title. While staying at Huashan, it was something I’d never hear.

"...How long has it been?"

Thanks to my youthful appearance from returning to my prime, I could pass as a "miss" on the outside. After all, hardly anyone looks at a young person and thinks, "Could they be a master who’s regained their youth?"

"...Is the title ’Miss’ uncomfortable for you? If so, I could use something else..."

"No, no. Call me Miss."

No woman dislikes being seen as young. And there was no reason to refuse the title anyway.

"Oh, you asked where I’m going? I’m headed to Anhui to find someone, so I’m hitching a ride. It’s not urgent, so stopping in Henan for some business is fine."

"Oh, our schedules overlap then. I’m not looking for anyone, though."

What a coincidence. Who’d have thought I’d meet someone like this on a random carriage ride?

"Since it’s come to this, why not travel together until Anhui? I’ve only lived in the mountains and Shaanxi, so I don’t know much about the world."

The Masked Golden Ghost extended a hand toward me. Despite his mysterious aura, it was a surprisingly small hand.

’...Was it always this small?’

When I’d visited him for a reading before, it felt normal, but up close, something seemed off. Maybe it was another mystical trick, like how his face stayed hidden.

"...I don’t mind, but it’s been a while since I’ve been to Henan or Anhui, so I might not be much of a guide."

"Haha, that’s fine. Better than someone with zero experience, right?"

If someone offers a handshake, it’s polite to accept. His hand was delicate and soft—unlike his outward appearance. I hadn’t noticed this when I’d probed his body with my inner energy last time.

"Gentlemen! We’re departing!"

Rattle!

The carriage jolted into motion.

...

...

Even with a carriage, the Central Plains were too vast to reach our destination without camping at least once.

"Man, this guy looks one way but drinks like a fish!"

"Looks one way? You can’t even see my face, can you?"

"Still, there’s a vibe to you."

"Guh—!"

As night deepened and we set up camp, a drinking session broke out. The Masked Golden Ghost, sociable as ever, quickly joined the merchants, even starting a drinking game.

"...Hm."

I stayed far from the revelry, quietly nibbling on some food. As a Taoist, I avoided alcohol. At my level, it wouldn’t even intoxicate me, but old habits and principles die hard.

"Geez, at this rate, we’ll sell out of liquor before we even get there. Should’ve brought more."

I didn’t mind others drinking, though. It was just my choice to abstain. Still...

"This liquor’s great! Bring more!"

’Isn’t he drinking too much...?’

He wasn’t a Taoist, but for someone who dealt with the heavens, losing himself to booze like that didn’t look good. Since I’d introduced him as part of our group—and we were both in cloaks—if he acted like this, what would that make me look like?

"I’ve got plenty of money! Crack open that jug over there too—"

...This won’t do. I quietly rose and approached him from behind.

Tap.

"Finish that glass and stop."

"..."

The lively atmosphere among the merchants hushed instantly. Though I couldn’t see his face, I could feel his mood sink heavily beneath the cloak.

"J-Just... one more glass..."

"No."

He drooped his head, swirling the half-empty glass in his hand.

"Still young, but already henpecked, huh?"

"Tsk tsk... A real man should have some guts..."

"I saw that woman’s sword qi earlier—it looked beyond first-rate, even at a glance."

"...A man’s duty is to heed his wife’s wishes."

Seems they’d jumped to an annoying misunderstanding. I had no interest in men to begin with, and even if I did, a boozehound like this would be a hard pass.

"We’re just acquaintances, not that kind of relationship."

I shot a frown at the whispering merchants.

"Ahem... uh, sorry about that..."

"Er... my apologies..."

"...Just watch it next time."

I swatted away his sneaky hand reaching for another bottle and dragged him back. Looked like we needed a little chat.

Getting pulled away by the woman in the middle of a heated moment didn’t feel great, but I didn’t have the guts to complain. From what I’d overheard, she was at least peak-level.

’Stronger than Tang Ayeon.’

No way I could mouth off to someone like that.

’No wonder her hands were so calloused.’

Who’d have thought she was peak-level? Judging by what I could see under her cloak, she didn’t look much older than Tang Ayeon—impressive. I’d thought Tang Ayeon was the strongest in her age group, but the world was indeed vast.

’Her speech doesn’t sound like a twenty-something’s, though.’

Not that speech meant much in this world. I just chalked it up to her being quirky.

"...Are you even listening?"

"O-Of course!"

"Sigh... Look, even if you’re not a Taoist cultivating the Dao, as someone who reads the heavens, drowning yourself in liquor doesn’t look good from a Taoist’s perspective..."

If I’d known this was coming, I’d have waited for another carriage, even if it meant a delay. Cut back on drinking? I’d sooner cut my lifespan—booze was non-negotiable.

’Sigh...’

How could I sway this woman who looked twenty but acted so rigid? I’d already suggested traveling to Anhui together—without some negotiation, the rest of the trip would be rough.

’Something undeniable... something she can’t argue with.’

I needed an excuse she couldn’t counter, no matter what I said.

’Oh.’

It hit me.

"...Actually, I don’t drink because I enjoy it. There’s a reason behind it."

"...What’s that?"

She gave me a skeptical look, like she found it laughable but would hear me out. By the way, her looks were something else too. Even to my eyes, accustomed to Master’s beauty, she stood out—probably top 0.1% by normal standards.

Anyway—

"The truth is... I have painful memories I want to forget."

I poured every ounce of acting into it, lacing my voice with sadness and torment.

"There was a woman I trusted and gave everything to. At the time, she seemed like a good person outwardly, someone I thought I could devote my heart to."

Her expression hardened instantly. Seizing the opening, I pressed on.

"But in the end, she betrayed me. What I thought was love wasn’t love at all. She took everything from me... We’re apart now, but even so, whenever her face pops into my head, it haunts me."

"..."

"That’s why I drink. At least in those moments, I don’t think about her at all."

It was a fabricated backstory I’d just cooked up, but there was no way she could refute it. Unless she’d done a background check on me or something. I lived through it—what’s she gonna do about it?

"You said earlier you lived in the mountains..."

I’d anticipated this too.

"Why do you think I left the secular world to live in the mountains?"

"..."

Her face froze completely, lost in thought. After a moment, she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"...I’m sorry. I didn’t know your circumstances and pushed my views too hard."

"...So?"

"Drink or do whatever you want. As an apology, I’ll cover your liquor costs until we reach Anhui—do as you please."

See? You’ve got to know how to talk. I’d just scored a temporary but generous sponsor(?).

’She doesn’t even realize...’

I glanced back at the Masked Golden Ghost, now back to enjoying the drinking party. To think he drank because of a story like that. My chest ached, realizing I’d judged him harshly without knowing his past.

"Geez, after drinking like that earlier, you’re still going? You’ll get sick, you know!"

"I’d rather get sick than run out of booze. Come on, crack open another jug!"

"Haha, at this rate, we’ll sell out before we even arrive!"

He’d already downed a staggering amount, yet he poured more without a hint of discomfort. Thinking that his obsessive drinking was to numb the pain of betrayal from a woman he trusted made him seem oddly pitiable. If he’d trained in martial arts, maybe it’d be different, but for an ordinary person, drinking that much should trigger a reaction. That he could keep going without showing distress made me wonder just how painful those memories must be. The pain in his heart outweighed the pain in his body. Especially betrayal by a trusted woman—it reminded me of my disciple, shrinking my heart further—

’...Wait.’

When I’d examined his body before, I’d found traces of Huashan martial arts and a destroyed dantian. Back then, I figured he had his reasons and didn’t suspect much, but...

’...’

And now betrayal by a trusted woman too? The pieces fit too well.

’Could it be...’

The thought that the Masked Golden Ghost might be the boy I’d been searching for stirred an indescribable emotion deep in my chest. Even in the vast Central Plains, there couldn’t be that many people with such overlapping traits.

Thump thump.

’...No way. It can’t be...’

I’d already met several people suspected to be that boy over the years. They’d all turned out to be someone else. So the Masked Golden Ghost was probably...