Cheongwol ca to her senses and realized she was out in the village market.
As expected today too, people made a huge fuss over her appearance.
Cheongwol smiled and responded to them appropriately while steadily making her way toward her destination.
Before long, she arrived in front of a dumpling shop.
“Yes, thank you! Co again!”
“...”
A woman reflected in those calm eyes.
She was a decent person.
Had never once heard a single jagged rumor about her.
Gentle and affable, diligent, deeply filial.
...And Han Seojin's friend, close to him since childhood.
Cheongwol suddenly felt regret over the ti that had passed.
If, instead of training since childhood, she had co down to the village and kept up social ties with people... could she have beco acquaintances with Han Seojin from a young age?
Would they have been long-ti friends?
What must young Han Seojin have been like?
She envied that relationship she could no longer obtain.
Above all, to Han Seojin... Gayeong-i was his only friend aside from Cheongwol.
Why had he grown up a loner and created this whole ss?
If only he had lots of friends, she wouldn't be feeling these strange emotions.
Or, if he had no friends at all, like her.
...Then, they could have been each other's one and only friend.
Trendously precious to each other, placing each other far above all else.
When things got tough, seeking each other out and sharing stories of daily life.
Even without stories to share, tossing jokes to draw out laughter.
“...”
Cheongwol's thoughts kept digging deeper and deeper into the earth.
If Gayeong suddenly vanished from Mount Ei... then...
“...Ah.”
Cheongwol snapped back to reality, realizing she had once again heard the whisper of her heart demon.
How could she entertain such a mad thought?
She turned her head to regain her composure and approached the dumpling shop.
“Ah, Cheongwol!”
Gayeong-i, with reddened eyes, welcod her.
‘She was crying and clinging to him. Sothing must have happened.’
Cheongwol smiled and asked.
“What happened? Your eyes are red.”
“Ah...! Ahaha... N-no, it's nothing... just...”
Seeing Gayeong-i dazedly savoring so precious mory with shy delight, Cheongwol's insides burned for no reason at all.
Strangely on edge, strangely unpleasant.
“Why? Tell .”
“No, really. Just sothing good...”
She hated that the two shared so secret.
Cheongwol didn't want it to remain a secret just between the two of them.
“...”
But she couldn't pry it open.
Cheongwol had no choice but to hold back, thinking of the secrets she had shared with Han Seojin.
By the way, did Han Seojin like won this plump?
Did he prefer soft, embracing types?
Cheongwol briefly lifted her own arm.
...Should she put on a bit more weight?
She earnestly contemplated what was truly a trivial matter.
Cheongwol couldn't voice the words lingering on her tongue.
How tightly did he hug you?
What emotion was it?
What does Han Seojin an to you?
Why did you cry in my friend's arms? Of all people, why specifically in Han Seojin's?
Only then could Cheongwol na this ugly emotion.
It was jealousy.
Not serious—just light... really light jealousy.
So Cheongwol forced a smile and, unable to spill her true heart, rely whispered.
“...I'm always watching over you.”
“Yes? Ah, yes! Thank you!”
.
.
.
“Myeonghui.”
Cheongwol called out to Myeonghui, who was sweeping the temple floor.
Myeonghui flinched in surprise and looked at her.
Myeonghui, who had been hesitating, walked over to where Cheongwol was.
“D-did you call ?”
Cheongwol smiled and grabbed Myeonghui's wrist.
Myeonghui looked startled, but Cheongwol paid it no mind.
She hadn't called her to tornt her, and if this counted as tornt, what her senior sisters had done to her was far worse.
Since Myeonghui found her so uncomfortable due to her own guilty conscience, Cheongwol decided not to worry about it.
“Wh-where are we going?”
“Shh. Follow .”
Cheongwol dragged Myeonghui out of the Ei Sect.
The deeper they ventured into the dense mid-mountain of Mount Ei, the more fiercely Myeonghui resisted.
“Sister, p-please just tell ...”
“Just a mont, Myeonghui. Co along.”
“Eek...!”
It seed many now feared Cheongwol because of recent events.
The punishnt of Baekhui, the skills shown in the sparring match, her status as a mber of the Hidden Dragon Society, the argunt with Soun, and more...
They might be able to bully her as a group, but alone, it was difficult.
Just as Myeonghui was about to cry out tearfully, they arrived at the destination.
“...Huh?”
It was one of the areas on Mount Ei that Cheongwol treasured like a jewel.
A small clearing near the Drunken Immortal Woods of Mount Ei.
A place where sweeping vistas blended with trees and flowers.
Spend ti here, and you could even watch birds and small animals co out to play.
Myeonghui froze montarily at the beautiful sight.
“Here.”
Soon, Cheongwol pulled a dumpling from her sleeve.
at dumplings bought from Gayeong's dumpling shop.
Myeonghui awkwardly accepted the dumpling and, following Cheongwol's guidance, sat down in the pri spot.
“Sect life is tough, right? Sit and vent your hardships. It's my apology for raising my voice a bit last ti.”
“S-sister...”
Myeonghui was too shocked to respond properly.
In her stead, Cheongwol split the dumpling.
“Eat.”
“B-but it's at, sister...!”
“Ei Sect doesn't forbid at.”
“Then sister, have a bite too...”
“I'm fine.”
At those words, Myeonghui stared piercingly at the at dumpling before taking a huge bite.
A flicker of感動 passed over her face.
Cheongwol swallowed hard as she watched Myeonghui.
Among the Ei Sect's second-generation disciples, Myeonghui was the next most beloved after Cheongwol.
Ultimately, every disciple's goal was to shine in order to draw sponsorships to the sect.
Cheongwol was no exception.
And because of that, they inevitably beca aware of who wielded greater influence...
Though not even half of Cheongwol's, Myeonghui too received love from many and drew in sponsorships.
Cheongwol knew well why she herself attracted sponsorships.
She'd heard plenty that she was beautiful, and that her skills were promising.
Regardless of gender, age, or status, anyone from the Central Plains loved her.
In contrast, Myeonghui was different.
Her sponsors were exclusively n.
Unintentionally, she had a reputation for enchanting people effortlessly.
Slightly plump. Not particularly tall, nor high in martial prowess, yet she held that position.
...Just like Gayeong.
“Myeonghui.”
“Yes.”
Cheongwol casually revealed her purpose.
“You... how do you receive so much love from n?”
“-Pfft!”
Myeonghui spat out the dumpling she'd just eaten, as if unable to believe what she'd heard.
But Cheongwol remained calm, and Myeonghui reined herself in.
“Yes?”
“Just curious.”
“...Sister Cheongwol wasn't interested in that sort of thing, were you?”
“Still not. But... learning how to be loved for the sake of the Ei Sect isn't a bad idea.”
It wasn't an excuse. It was true.
If there was sothing she didn't know, she wanted to learn it for the sect.
She was tired of the Ei Sect, but that was a separate matter. She couldn't just abandon her duties because she'd grown weary.
...However, at the sa ti, she couldn't help the face of one man flickering at the back of her mind.
“You receive love from countless n. I want to learn the thod.”
“Sister Cheongwol already receives more love from n than I do.”
...Then why Han Seojin.
‘They had a hot, ho~t embrace?’
“...”
Cheongwol deeply furrowed her brows at the voice echoing in her ears.
Myeonghui fidgeted unable to stay still and cried out.
“N-no, that's not what I...!”
“No, Myeonghui. It's not because of you... it was my own ugly thoughts. Anyway, if you teach the thod, I'd be delighted.”
Myeonghui hesitated a mont, then shouted as if venting long-suppressed resentnt.
“S-sister doesn't even try from the start...!”
“Try?”
“Have you ever even put powder on your face?”
...She hadn't.
“...Does that make a difference?”
“For soone with skin like yours... well, anyway, that's the kind of effort. Painting your lips redder! Drawing your brows darker...”
“...”
“You're already pretty, so my words might not an much... but try grooming yourself to be even more beautiful. That's all I have to offer.”
“n like that?”
“They go crazy for it, sister. n are animals that focus on what's visible. Delicate hands, pretty-shaped moderately ample breasts, slim waist, wide hips!”
Even so, Myeonghui's figure wasn't exactly...
Yet she received so much love.
Myeonghui noticed and offered an excuse.
“P-pleasing people cos after that. Personality is hard to change too...”
“...What about people who like fat ones?”
“...Is soone getting on your nerves?”
Cheongwol seriously furrowed her brows.
“Of course not.”
She was an Ei Sect nun. It wasn't that soone was on her nerves...
...She just wanted to get closer to her friend.
Friends were supposed to do things the other liked.
Myeonghui seed to infer sothing from the conversation for a mont...
...But soon appeared to conclude that Cheongwol couldn't possibly like the Leather Room's owner, and took another bite of dumpling as she spoke.
“If there's soone like that... well, just gain so weight, right? Though tastes that unique are probably few and far between.”
Was that so?
Then, the reason Han Seojin embraced Gayeong was that he liked her inner qualities more than her outward appearance?
“...”
...Thinking about it, that felt even worse.
She wanted to go find Han Seojin right now.
But she had nothing to say once there.
And if he ended up abandoning her and choosing Gayeong...
“...Ugh.”
Cheongwol felt pain from the re imagination and endured it with deep breaths.
The lack of certainty was the most miserable part of all.
...Really. Just eliminate her... she had the ability, the power...
...No. Please, don't let the heart demon sway her.
Once more, she mulled over the conversation she'd shared with Han Seojin.
The words that if she behaved prettily, he would like her.
...Yes. For now, she'd believe just those words.
“Myeonghui.”
“Yes.”
Cheongwol shyly uttered words she never imagined herself saying.
“...Could you perhaps teach how to do makeup?”
****
Pfft, pfft, Dang Soran giggled while standing behind a man.
anwhile, I was frozen stiff in front of the man.
The martial artist who had guarded Dang Soran back in Chengdu.
A retainer from the Tang Clan had co to .
The man seed slightly surprised by Dang Soran's behavior.
But Dang Soran paid no heed and yelled at .
“I told you, right? I sent him. Don't worry too much. If it looks like real big trouble, I'll save you.”
“...”
“But this is a good chance for a proper scolding. That way, you'll fix that arrogant attitude toward .”
She burst into pfft-pfft laughter again.
...I never knew holding back the urge to smack her would be this hard.
The martial artist, who introduced himself as Mugeol, said to .
“Young hero. Let's step into the Leather Room for a talk.”
Sweat was pouring out in streams.
This little bitch Dang Soran...! She really snitched on ?
I scratched my head furiously and headed into the Leather Room.
I sohow hid my anxious heart.
Glancing back, Dang Soran was whispering sothing in Mugeol's ear.
Unlike when teasing , she wore a slightly worried expression.
‘...Treat him gently... got it?’
‘Yes. Don't worry.’
Then Dang Soran t my eyes and flashed that tomboyish smile again.
I gritted my teeth and glared at her.
At that, Dang Soran flinched in surprise and averted her gaze.
Mugeol entered the Leather Room and closed the door.
I could hear my heart pounding away.
What to do? Grovel flat?
How much had Dang Soran told him?
But for him to co all the way here... it didn't seem like a simple matter...
Should I kneel?
But I didn't do anything wrong! That bitch completely toyed with -
“-My apologies.”
At that mont, Mugeol bowed his head.
“...Huh?”
I voiced my confusion without thinking.
He slowly raised his head and pulled a letter from his bosom.
“Our Clan Leader also wished to apologize to you, young hero. Along with thanks for graciously tolerating his willful daughter's rudeness.”
From the depths of my chest bottom, a long and cautious sigh of relief escaped.
...Whew. Thank goodness. Fuck, as expected. Dang Soran wasn't completely insane after all. She kept quiet about the SM play stuff.
“But please try to understand our circumstances a little. After a long heart demon, Miss Soran is finally glimpsing a path to recovery. As such, we are approaching even her whims with the utmost care.”
I realized I wasn't in the inferior position and grumbled.
“...I have my own life too. I don't see why I should put up with soone else's circumstances.”
“You're absolutely right. The Clan Leader understands that as well. However, since long ago... he has made it a habit to say that if soone appeared who could resolve Miss Soran's heart demon, he would do anything. It's the sa now.”
Mugeol rummaged in his bosom again and produced a small item politely wrapped in fine silk.
“Compared to the burden you bear, young hero, this is woefully insufficient... but it is the Clan Leader's sincerity. Please take even greater pity on our miss.”
“...What's this?”
...What the heck.
A treasure from the Tang Clan?
No matter how much I tried to play dumb, sothing that looked this precious made treasure thoughts unavoidable.
Then this could accelerate my plans?
What I lacked right now was money and pretext.
No money to settle sowhere new, no pretext for suddenly vanishing.
But pretext was sowhat fabricable.
Now that I had the donkey, leaving traces of a mishap sowhere would cover it sowhat.
But money?
...Sohow, this treasure in front of seed like it could solve my worries.
Mugeol carefully unwrapped the silk pouch.
A small herbal root poked out.
“This is the Detoxification Immortal Root. A treasure of our Tang Clan, harvested only once every ten years... If consud, it grants resistance to most poisons for the next decade. At the very least, you won't have to worry about dying from wild mushrooms. Even in our Sichuan Tang Clan, it is quite precious, so please appreciate the sincerity—”
“—Ah, I won't accept it.”
“Yes?”
Mugeol looked utterly shocked, as if he never dread a poor guy like would refuse this.
But I had to suppress my pounding heart.
...No, you crazy daughter-obsessed Poison King uncle.
This is the herb the protagonist absolutely has to eat.
What am I supposed to do with it given to !!
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