Chapter 59. The Giant Panda (3)

I kept wiping the sweat from my forehead. The weather was so humid and hot that sweat was streaming down my face.

'I heard that Sichuan's weather is hot, but I didn't expect it to be this bad.'

As I walked, I began to understand why Nanxing Escort Agency had sent me on this task.

They probably asked the agency to make that guy suffer a bit before sending him back, and the head of the agency, Tang Jiaoren, must have chosen the most arduous job possible.

“Huff... Huff...”

I had no choice but to stick out my tongue like a dog to regulate my body temperature. The sweat-soaked clothes clung to my body, creating a terrible sensation. I had to keep shaking off the clinging clothes as I walked.

In contrast, Wei Zhiyan and Pang Gui, dressed lightly, didn't seem to be suffering much from the heat. Their inner strength must have helped.

Pang Gui kept giving me that lecherous look as we walked.

“Hmph~”

Seeing the sweat drenched into my back, he even started whistling.

'I want to punch him.'

If it were possible, that is.

Since it was realistically impossible, I could only suppress my anger and focus on the map to distract myself from the heat.

Actually, the roads of this era were something you couldn't be complacent about.

Just like the first escort mission, roads could change. Since they weren't paved with asphalt, they could be washed away by rain and become a mess, and paths less traveled could be overgrown with weeds and disappear.

As a result, if you weren't familiar with the area, you might get confused: "Is this the right path or that one?" and end up going to a completely wrong place.

'If that happens, I don't want to hear what Pang Gui will say.'

It was absolutely unacceptable. Behind me, Pang Gui, who was following, asked mockingly,

"Are you not hot? I feel hot just looking at you."

"Ahem. My realm has already reached the point where I am immune to heat, so it doesn't bother me at all."

"......"

Sweating profusely, I tried to respond as calmly as possible, and Wei Zhiyan fell into a long silence. I folded the map and used it as a fan, then asked,

"By the way, Miss Pang, can you go on such a long trip without your family looking for you?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Just out of curiosity."

I had heard that the head of the Pang family sent a letter saying he wouldn't let her off when he returned, but she still hadn't gone home, which made me curious.

Pang Gui grumbled,

"I'll just get scolded, that's all."

"......"

Cool.

As I thought this, Wei Zhiyan, looking uneasy, said,

"Gui, you've been out for too long this time. The head of the family must be very worried... "

"It's fine. In fact, I need to take more time. Otherwise, my legs will really break."

Hearing Pang Gui's firm statement, I nodded.

"Hmm. Miss Pang is right."

This time, Pang Gui was right.

This situation was similar to borrowing money.

If you borrow a million or two million, the lender has the upper hand, but if you borrow ten billion or a hundred billion, the borrower becomes the one in control.

Similarly, running away from home worked the same way.

If you run away for a day or two and come back, you'll just get beaten and chased out for coming home.

But if you run away for a month or two?

When you return, you'll be greeted with, "How hard it must have been. Oh, my child," and everything will be forgiven. Your mother might even cook ribs for you.

'Pang Gui's political skills are better than I thought.'

Indeed, she was a direct descendant of the Hebei Pang family. I looked at her with renewed respect.

***

It was evening on the first day of the escort mission.

As soon as we found a suitable campsite, I took off my upper garment. The sweat-soaked clothes were so uncomfortable that I couldn't bear to wear them any longer. When I suddenly took off my shirt, Pang Gui was startled and exclaimed,

"What are you doing all of a sudden?"

"I'm going to wring out the sweat."

I rolled the shirt like a rag and squeezed it, and the sweat from the day flowed out. Thinking about the broth that came from my body made me feel a bit disgusted.

Suddenly, Pang Gui slapped my back and shouted,

"Go do that over there! How can you be so inconsiderate? I'm here, and so is Lian."

"Ouch!"

If I hadn't trained my skin with the Iron Shirt Technique, I might have suffered a serious injury.

'Is hitting someone who has been walking all day considered an act of consideration?'

I grumbled to myself and went to the stream to wash my feet and lightly rinse my clothes. It might seem trivial, but this was a crucial part of long-distance travel. Cooling your feet in time helps you walk longer.

After a simple personal cleanup, I returned to find the two of them already taking out their wall cakes to eat. They stared at me as I approached, and Pang Gui said,

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

I ignored them and gathered some dry branches to start a fire. Pang Gui grumbled, "It's hot, why are you making a fire?" but I pretended not to hear.

'Soon, that expression will change.'

I arranged some stones to make a support and, once the fire was stable, placed a wok on top.

'First, the oil.'

I poured oil into the pan. The sizzling sound and the fragrant smell of the oil spread in all directions.

"......"

"......"

The two, who had been fidgeting with their wall cakes, started staring at me. I could feel their gaze as I tore the dried fish and put it in the pan.

—Sizzle!

The smell of frying fish spread as it touched the hot oil. I couldn't help but salivate, but I didn't let my guard down.

'Now, controlling the fire is important.'

I grabbed the wok and gave it a flashy snap.

—Sizzle! Swoosh!

Using the curved front of the wok, I made the fish dance inside. When I lifted the wok, the fish flew into the air and landed back in the wok, spreading the smell of frying fish.

"...... *gulp*"

I heard someone swallow.

I glanced over to see the two of them, who had been holding their wall cakes, now staring at me blankly.

The smell of rice being evenly fried and cooked was unique. When I thought it was the right time, I poured water from the water flask, just enough to cover the rice.

The hot pan met the water with a sizzle, and the starch in the rice immediately began to boil.

—Bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling......

I stirred with a ladle to prevent the rice from sticking and mixed the contents evenly. When it had reduced a bit, I added more water. I repeated this process a few times. The rice gradually became soft and mushy, forming a porridge.

'Good.'

To prevent the dried fish from becoming fishy, I added some wild garlic leaves I had picked on the way to enhance the flavor.

"It's done."

The fish porridge was ready. I moved the wok away from the fire, added a bit of soy sauce, and sprinkled some sesame seeds. The surrounding area was filled with an incredibly fragrant smell.

Once the porridge was ready, I called Wei Zhiyan.

"Miss Wei?"

"Ah, yes?"

I ladled a full portion of porridge and offered it to Wei Zhiyan, who was staring at me blankly.

"Have this. It's delicious."

"Ah... Yes."

I took out the spoons and wooden bowls I had prepared and filled them to the brim. Blowing on the hot porridge, I took a bite, and Wei Zhiyan, looking a bit surprised, said,

"It's delicious......"

"Thank you."

Frying the rice in oil to make porridge was much more fragrant than just boiling it in water.

Moreover, being outdoors made everything taste better. And when someone else cooks for you?

It was a combination that couldn't possibly be tasteless.

'Besides, I've made it more than once.'

After three years of forced self-catering in the Central Plains, my cooking skills were already at the level of a top chef. I could always create the best dishes with limited ingredients and conditions.

As I ladled porridge into another bowl, Pang Gui stared at me.

'The bite is coming.'

I held the bowl of porridge and offered it to Pang Gui.

"Miss Pang, would you like some?"

"No, I'm fine......"

Pang Gui, who had been about to finish her wall cake, paused, looking at the meager wall cake in her hand. Beside her, Wei Zhiyan was enjoying the porridge.

After a moment of hesitation, she seemed to make up her mind, closed the lid of the wall cake container, and put it back in her backpack. Then she held out her hand to me.

"Just give me some."

"Sure. But in return,"

I generously ladled more porridge into the bowl and offered it to her.

"You have to do the dishes."

"...... If that's all......"

Pang Gui accepted the deal.

Everything went according to plan.

***

—Chirp, chirp, chirp

It was the fourth morning. After four days of camping, my senses had naturally become more acute, and I woke up to the morning bird calls.

'My whole body feels stiff.'

I got up and gently rotated my shoulders to check my condition. Despite frequent camping, my body wasn't in great shape.

Fortunately, we were scheduled to enter a village today.

To avoid physical deterioration from continuous camping for a week, we had deliberately planned to stop at a village halfway through.

I looked at the A-frame tent I had set up with a windbreaker.

'It's time to wake them up.'

Checking the time, it was just before 6:00 AM.

Although it was a bit early to wake up, since we could reach the village by lunchtime, I decided to wake them up early to rest sooner.

I cupped my hands to make a megaphone and sang,

"Beep↑ beep↑ beep↓ beep↑ beep↑ beep↓"

It was the best song I knew for waking people up. Indeed, it was highly effective. As soon as they heard my song, the two were startled and jumped up.

Perhaps they were in a bad mood from being woken up so suddenly, and Pang Gui immediately threw her water flask in a fit of temper.

"Really! I told you not to do that when waking us up!"

"Why are you throwing the water flask?"

What if it breaks?

I barely dodged it and grumbled. How could she be so violent? I wondered who would take her.

In contrast, the kind Miss Wei only tidied her clothes after getting up.

"......"

For some reason, I felt like she was staring at me, which made me a bit uncomfortable.

Anyway, once the two were fully awake, I briefed them on the day's schedule. Briefing them on the daily schedule was also an important part of a guide's duties.

"Today we will visit a village. According to the time, we should arrive by afternoon."

"That's a relief."

"Phew......"

Both of them sighed in relief. Even though it was just for a day, the prospect of resting in a village seemed to make them happy. Even I, who was used to camping, felt tired, so how much more so for the two young ladies from noble families.

Until now, they might have traveled between villages like a trip using light movement techniques, but this time, they couldn't do that, and they looked quite exhausted.

Indeed, it was the right decision to plan a stop in a village halfway through. I clapped my hands and said, drawing their attention,

"Still, it's best to hurry. We don't know what will happen if it rains halfway."

"Yes, I understand."

"Okay, okay."

When I said it was time to leave, Wei Zhiyan naturally put the wok on her back, and Pang Gui carried the backpack with food. Seeing this, I nodded in satisfaction.

'Everything is going according to plan.'

Over the past four days, I had subtly manipulated them using meals as bait.

Since I cooked for them, they felt they should do the dishes. I asked them to carry a light load. If they did that, I asked for a bit more.

Gradually, they became so accustomed to it that they now carried the heaviest loads without a second thought. This was called something like gaslighting, but I couldn't remember the exact term since I had been away from Korea for too long.

'But it's not that important.'

I said to the two, dressed lightly,

"Let's go, then."