Chapter 56
This won’t do.
I have to prove I’m alive—and not get eaten by this man.
At this rate, he might slurp me down together with the bamboo leaf wine.
I’ve come this far! I haven’t even met Young Master Eonwoo yet… I absolutely can’t be eaten!
Soso gathered her strength into her two root-like legs to stand up. But her thin roots trembled so badly she couldn’t balance properly.
“You’re shaking,” the man observed.
He extended his index finger and lightly supported Soso’s back. With his help, she finally managed to stand upright.
“You really are alive?”
Soso flailed her arm-like roots frantically.
I’m alive! I’m truly alive! So please, don’t eat me!
Was there any paper or brush in this room?
If she could, she wanted to write something—just as she had once done with Jegal Haesu—to beg the man for mercy.
But no such tools were in sight.
Rather than being startled that the ginseng was alive, the man let out a faint chuckle and poured more bamboo leaf liquor into his cup.
He said he’d drink me with the wine!
Startled, Soso froze, but the man didn’t even glance at her again.
He simply drank with graceful composure.
There was something oddly refined in the way he moved—something that reminded her of Young Master Eonwoo.
Sitting upright, sipping tea with such elegant ease…
No, it can’t be. But still…
Soso’s heart stirred uneasily.
After quietly setting down his cup, the man murmured,
“If I eat you, will my illness be cured?”
He spoke as though he were gravely ill. The situation faintly reminded her of Jegal Haesu’s strange affliction.
Soso focused on the man’s body through her spiritual vision. His dark robes couldn’t hide his faintly visible internal energy.
Her skill at using that power had improved—she could see more clearly than before.
But there were no blocked meridians, no tainted energy, no internal wounds at all.
Then what kind of illness is it?
Whatever it was, the only thing that mattered was not getting eaten.
Soso shook her tiny root-arms fiercely.
You won’t be cured!
The man only watched her silently, unreadable.
The tense silence dragged on, and her thoughts drifted to the people she’d left behind.
What happened to Myeongi? Did she confess everything to Jegal Haesu and Namgung Jin?
Though Myeongi had kidnapped her, Soso still wished the girl hadn’t met any harm.
Then the man finally spoke again.
“We met by chance, and yet…”
His hand extended toward her.
He traced his finger slowly along her body.
A shiver ran through where his touch passed.
“The moment I touched you, I knew. You’re the Millennium Snow Ginseng.”
His whisper was strangely sensual.
Oddly enough, she didn’t hate that voice.
Perhaps because it faintly resembled Eonwoo’s.
“What should I do with you? It’d be a shame to swallow you whole.”
His tongue brushed his lips in a slow, suggestive motion.
Even with her life in danger, Soso couldn’t look away.
“Answer me. What do you think I should do?”
I… I want to answer too!
But she couldn’t.
“You can move, but not speak, I see,” he murmured, fingering the delicate silkworm threads of the Celestial Cocoon Garment she wore.
“Someone cloaked your spiritual energy well. You’re being protected by someone.”
Yes! I have people waiting for me—please, let me go back to them!
Soso rubbed her roots together, pleading silently.
Perhaps she should just transform into a human.
Not that turning human would guarantee mercy, but at least she could talk.
“Someone followed me here earlier,” he continued. “Was that your master?”
Who could it have been? Namgung Jin? Jegal Haesu?
“What happened to them?”
“I only scared them off. If they’d kept following, I would’ve killed them.”
…
Soso was relieved they hadn’t fought. The man seemed to kill without hesitation—his calm tone made it even more chilling.
Unconsciously, she edged back. She had wanted to believe he might be a good person, but…
“Don’t run.”
The man’s hand darted out, gently but firmly catching her tiny root-leg.
“If you don’t want to be eaten, don’t be afraid of me.”
…
“If you understand, answer me.”
Trembling, Soso waved one root.
Hopefully he wouldn’t think she was dancing.
He released her leg, apparently satisfied, and poured himself another drink.
“Remember this. If you even think about escaping, I’ll eat you whole.”
…
“If you understand, shake your left root this time.”
Weakly, she did.
Escaping by force was impossible—he was a martial master.
But maybe… maybe she could outdrink him.
Her gaze flicked toward the wine cup.
Maybe I can get him drunk.
When he poured another drink, she pushed the cup toward him with both roots.
The man gave a bewildered “Ha?” before accepting the gesture and downing the cup.
Then another. And another.
Soon, empty bottles cluttered the table.
But he never got drunk.
His posture remained rigid and dignified, drinking in silence with no food to accompany the wine.
Watching him swallow over and over, Soso suddenly felt he looked lonely—like a man burdened by an invisible wound.
After half an hour, he sighed deeply.
“…I still have things to do, but I’ll sleep for now.”
Soso wiggled her roots.
What about me?
He answered as if reading her thoughts.
“You’re coming with me.”
Soso bobbed her head-like tip up and down.
“Your responses are almost human,” he said quietly.
All the more reason not to eat me!
He picked her up carefully—without hurting her—and lay down on the bed.
Even lying down, his posture was impeccable.
He placed Soso right beside him.
“Just so you know, I’m a light sleeper. Don’t even think about running.”
Like I’d dare…
Escape was clearly impossible for now. At least he hadn’t eaten her—that was something.
But why couldn’t she change back into human form?
It didn’t feel like a lack of strength; her powers just seemed unstable.
Though the man slept beside her, Soso couldn’t close her eyes.
If she transformed in her sleep and he saw her human form first—what would happen then?
I mustn’t fall asleep!
She lay perfectly still, pretending to sleep, watching him.
With the quiet of the room, she grew curious about his face.
But his black hat was pulled so low even his lips were hidden.
What did he look like?
What story lay behind those eyes?
Would he ever let her go?
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
…!
She flinched—her little root twitched.
“Then again,” he murmured, “I can’t sleep either.”
He continued softly,
“The way you pushed those cups toward me… reminded me of someone I knew.”
Someone who used to push him drinks?
That made a memory surface for Soso.
When Young Master Eonwoo drank, she always pushed the cup toward him.
“Soso, you don’t need to do this.”
“But I want to! I want to help you with everything, Young Master!”
“Still, no. Don’t touch the wine cup. Sit quietly and eat your sweets.”
But she’d still slide the cup toward him, making him sigh in mock defeat.
She had loved those moments—when the always-dignified Eonwoo looked adorably flustered.
In the end, he had laughed and said, “You’ll be the death of me, Soso.”
Those were such happy days.
The memory was so vivid she almost felt his presence beside her again.
Then the man’s voice broke the silence.
“I suddenly crave sweets.”
His random comment made it feel as though they were sharing the same memory.
He said nothing more, nor did he leave the bed to fetch any.
Silence deepened again.
Did he fall asleep?
Soso gazed at him, heart tangled with unease.
Who are you, really?
She longed to ask.
As the night deepened, frustration grew—trapped in this ginseng body, unable to speak or act freely.
If only she could become human and talk to him—just once.
At that thought, her body began to glow faintly.
Her root-limbs reshaped into arms and legs, her small body lengthening, her face reforming—until she once again became the beautiful woman she truly was.
…!
Soso touched her hands and face in disbelief.
Five fingers. Five toes. A nose, eyes, lips—everything was there.
Perfectly human again.
She was overjoyed… until she realized something alarming.
She was lying in bed—right beside the man.
Now that I’m human, it looks like we’re… lying together.
She inched away, moving as quietly as she could.
But then—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Before she could even gasp, the man’s arm wrapped firmly around her waist.
