Floating in the air, long white beard and hair flowing, a noble posture with a bright smile, the old man was perfect in every aspect. The only problem was his size. He was as small as a hamster.
Seeing a hamster-sized old man for the first time, Junho was speechless.
Of course, he was aware of his shitty bad luck. The kind of life he lived in his past life and the situation he found himself in even in this second life...
Did he need any other proof?
However, he didn’t expect his luck to be so bad that he would see a tiny old man coming instead of a system. The time it took and the grand phenomenon it showed...
After all of that, just this?
"Hmm..."
Brushing his white beard, the old man looked at Junho as if expecting a respectful greeting or something. But instead...
Junho was staring at the old man with a dark and blank face.
"..."
’Did he not hear me?’
A bit confused, the old man tried to introduce himself again.
"I..."
"Tsk!"
"..."
With that Junho just laid down on the wagon again.
"Man... Today is such a bad day."
"..."
"Well, not that I can do anything about it. Let’s just sleep."
Seeing Junho closing his eyes, the old man looked puzzled.
’What is happening? Did he just...’
Slowly, his eyes started widening.
’...Ignore me? Me?! Ma Cheon Jo?!’
There is no way, right?
How can he get ignored? And not just by anyone, but by a little brat who was so weak that even a newborn baby could beat him.
Ah... Just forget the last part. It was just exaggerated.
But he was really weak. And someone so weak ignoring Ma Cheon Jo?
To him, it was a great humiliation.
Why wouldn’t it be? If it was a top master of the murim from the current era. After seeing Ma Cheon Jo’s face, they would immediately bow their heads in utmost respect. And this little brat...
The old man glared at Junho with bloodshot eyes.
He was furious enough to tear this bastard into pieces. However, he was just a normal ghost now. So...
"Argh... I can’t even touch this bastard! How dare he ignore me?!"
But Junho looked like he had already fallen asleep.
"..."
’This brat...!’
The old man, unable to bear it anymore, shouted out loud.
"Hey you! Wake up already, you bastard! How dare you fall asleep without showing any respect to your elders?! I know you’re awake! So, wake up this instant! Or I will...!"
But Junho, who was asleep or just pretending, scratched his ear.
"..."
"I’ll just stop talking..."
At this kind of reaction from Junho, the old man was speechless and went to a corner showing his back. Wrapping his arm around his knees, burying his face in them, the old man sat there, defeated.
Then he started mumbling to himself.
"To think, I, Ma Cheon Jo, will look this pathetic in front of a child... This world really became too cruel. Oh, heaven, why did you send me to someone like him in the first place?"
***
Thud... thud... thud...
A few moments had already passed and the wagon was still running at its usual pace.
Junho opened one eye, scanning the corner where the old man was earlier. But he couldn’t find him there. Instead...
"..."
The chubby boy was there, sleeping so comfortably that nothing in the world mattered.
"Snore... snore..."
"..."
But Junho just ignored him. And opening his other eye, he looked to the front side of the wagon.
There, the old man sat cross-legged beside him, too close, staring straight at him with a blank expression.
"...?"
’Man... What’s with this old man?’
A bit annoyed, Junho pushed himself up, sitting sideways, leaning against the wagon. Then he looked at the front again where the two demons were sitting, driving the wagon.
’How much longer is it gonna take? It’s already been a while. And since the speed didn’t change until now, it looks like it’s still quite far. Hmm...’
Junho looked at himself, inspecting his own body and clothes.
’These clothes...’
The robe and pants he was wearing were dirty enough to say that he was some kind of beggar. But the quality said otherwise. Though they weren’t that high in quality, they were also not cheap. It would be understandable why the clothes were dirty. Maybe the demons beat him up that much. At least, the intense pain and his messed up body confirmed it.
’Did I possess the body of some kind of young master of a prestigious clan or something? And this damn pain in my body... Argh...!’
Junho looked at the demons with a furious face.
’I swear, if I get a chance I’ll kill those bastards!’
At that exact moment the demon who shouted at them earlier looked back.
"What?"
At that, Junho’s expression changed in an instant. A bright smile could be seen on his face.
"It’s nothing, sir."
"Tch! Just don’t cause any fuss."
Clicking his tongue the demon looked away. While Junho cursed him in his mind.
’Curse you, you demonic bastard!’
"You can’t even talk back to those weak bastards but you ignore me, huh?"
Junho looked at the voice beside him. The old man, Ma Cheon Jo, was still looking at him with a blank expression.
"..."
"I don’t know why you’re ignoring me. But..."
"What can a tiny ghost do?"
As Junho interrupted, a vein popped up on Cheon Jo’s forehead.
’At least let me finish my words, brat!’
But at least, he didn’t ignore him this time. So...
"Ahem."
Clearing his throat, Cheon Jo continued again.
"It’s true I’m a tiny ghost now. But I was once the strongest. So..."
Cheon Jo’s face looked all proud.
"If you learn from me..."
"Oh, master!"
"...!"
At the sudden scream, Cheon Jo and the others flinched. Even the chubby boy who was asleep jumped up instantly.
When they looked at the side from where the scream came they could see...
Junho, his forehead touching the wagon floor, his rear end sticking up. It was the most ridiculous bowing posture they ever saw.
"It’s a huge honor! No! It’s a super huge honor to meet you! Please have my utmost respect, master!"
Cheon Jo was utterly speechless at the sudden shift of Junho’s behaviour.
How could someone change their attitude so instantly?
But before he could react another shout came.
"You bastard! Didn’t I tell you to stay shut?! What the hell are you doing right now?!"
Junho got up as he slowly looked toward the demons. His face filled with confidence.
"So what?"
"...What?"
Did that bastard just talk back to him?
A moment ago he was so obedient. And now...
Where did he get that confidence?
Even the chubby boy and the other demon were stunned, witnessing this.
The demon who shouted earlier widened his eyes in fury.
"...Did you just talk back to me? Do you wanna die?"
"Heh... As if..."
With a ridiculous expression Junho waved his hand like he didn’t even care. Then he turned his head toward the old man, pointing toward the demon.
"Master! That bastard just threatened your disciple. Please punish him..."
But Junho went silent before he even finished his word. Because...
’What the hell? Why is he looking at me like that?’
Cheon Jo was looking at him with a face that was clearly saying ’you just dug your own grave.’
"M-Master..."
Junho was really nervous now.
"Brat... You should’ve heard my full speech first. Didn’t I tell you I’m just a mere ghost now. So, I can’t touch any living things. And If I really could, I would’ve already beaten you to death by now."
Junho’s face went stiff upon hearing that. Then he looked at the front where the demon was entering the wagon with strong killing intent.
"You’re really gonna die today, you central plains bastard!"
Junho could do nothing but force a weak laugh.
"Heh... Heheh. I’m screwed."