At first, I was worried, but Dang Soran adapted better than I expected.
“Today’s porridge tastes a bit off, doesn’t it? Let’s boil it a little longer. Should we throw in that mushroom we picked earlier too?”
Dang Soran, with a bird’s nest on her head, whining away.
“It’s a poisonous mushroom.”
“That’s why I’m saying it! I want to see you rolling on the ground, Young Master.”
It even felt like we were getting close.
Her once pristine face was starting to get smudged with charcoal black, and her clothes were getting filthy.
If you ignored the fine fabrics she’d set aside, she could pass for a Beggars’ Sect beggar.
“If you light the fire, I’ll make the porridge today.”
I let out a hollow chuckle at her carefree demeanor.
Dang Soran saw my smile and laughed along.
But as our time together like this dragged on, I came to understand Dang Soran more deeply.
Above all, the sight that shocked me the most... was how she looked at dawn.
One chilly dawn morning when the air woke me.
I tossed and turned, then opened my eyes at the sound of Dang Soran stirring.
I was slightly startled.
Her usual cheerfulness and vitality were gone, replaced by cold, sunken eyes.
She looked like a doll.
It’s natural to be subdued late at night, but this was a little different.
No movement at all. Not tending the fire, not gazing at the stars.
She was just blankly staring off into the distant void.
Her profound emptiness seemed to seep into me.
I thought it was just for one day, but the next day and the day after were the same.
For a while, she stood there looking like she’d crumble to dust if spoken to, or burst into tears if touched... quietly falling asleep.
Hadn’t she holed up in her room, crying for hours or just sitting still?
It felt like I was peeking at what she must have looked like, frozen in that room.
“...”
And the fact that I was the only one who’d seen this weighed heavily on me.
A side of her that even the Poison King and the Tang Clan retainers hadn’t seen.
The appearance she forcibly hid behind her cheerful mask.
Whether because of our journey so far, or a sense of responsibility for dragging her out...
That’s when she started to look pitiful to me.
The night before entering Zhongqing, I finally couldn’t shake Dang Soran from my mind and spoke to her.
The dawn atmosphere, the past few days with her, her tragic future, and the heart demon she was facing right now all mixed together, impulsively driving me.
“Why are you like that?”
It was the kind of sight she would have completely ignored, but I spoke anyway.
Dang Soran flinched, then slowly looked at me.
“...You’re not sleeping.”
How twisted up inside must she be to show this solemn side I’d never seen before.
“...It’s nothing, Young Master.”
Dang Soran whispered sadly soon after.
“It’s nothing at all.”
****
Day 15.
We entered Zhongqing.
Dang Soran took a deep breath and spoke to Han Seojin.
“We’re finally in Zhongqing.”
“...We can only pray the Detoxification Immortal Root is still there.”
Han Seojin whispered worriedly.
Lately, Dang Soran couldn’t understand why it was so hard to take her eyes off Han Seojin.
Whenever she came to her senses, she was looking at him.
Of course, the journey was so boring that teasing or watching Han Seojin was her only entertainment, but she watched him excessively.
Even in those sleepless dawn moments, at some point she found herself waiting for him to wake.
Do I like him? When she thought about it... absolutely not.
She wasn’t the type to open her heart easily.
Just look at how many people had tried to resolve her heart demon over the years.
Her father, siblings, elders, retainers...
She hadn’t opened her heart, so nothing had changed for her.
She felt like she’d cracked it open slightly for Han Seojin.
But that wasn’t rational fondness. It couldn’t be.
It was just curiosity from observing someone so different from her.
Interest in the man Cheongwol was interested in.
The greed of wanting something she wanted and taking it.
Dang Soran changed the subject, asking about important information she hadn’t gotten around to yet.
“Young Master. Who on earth were you sending the Detoxification Immortal Root to? It’s an incredible treasure—you could’ve sold it for a fortune.”
“...”
When Han Seojin didn’t answer, Dang Soran pressed harder.
“Tell me. Come on, tell me! I’ve helped you this much—I can ask that, right? Who do you even know on the outskirts of Mount Emei to send something that far?”
Han Seojin hesitated before answering.
“Just... to that friend.”
“Young Master doesn’t have friends. Don’t lie.”
Han Seojin tried to argue for a moment, but realizing he couldn’t dodge it, he confessed.
“To the Namgung Family’s... Namgung Yeon young, no, Young Master.”
“To Namgung young master?”
Dang Soran was startled by the sudden name.
“How do you even know Namgung Yeon, Young Master?”
“Well... it’s complicated.”
“What’s complicated? Don’t hide it—tell me! I’m suffering through this to help you!”
Han Seojin scratched his head vigorously, as if this was exactly what he wanted to keep secret.
But the more he did, the deeper her curiosity grew.
What the hell was Han Seojin?
To Cheongwol, to her... and now even Namgung Yeon?
“Heart demon resolution or something? Don’t tell me Namgung Yeon young master too, like with Cheongwol...”
...did that with a guy?
Dang Soran frowned. She didn’t know why, but that process was something between men and women, not between men. Spanking butts... calling pretty... ugh.
“No!”
Han Seojin finally vented his emotions.
Hating the misunderstanding, he said.
“Just... think of it as personal admiration.”
“Admiration?”
...You’re an idiot. Dang Soran swallowed the rest.
“Yes. That’s why I was sending it to help.”
“...No, how much admiration to send the Detoxification Immortal Root...”
Dang Soran could only think it was unexpected.
She or... even Cheongwol seemed far better than Namgung Yeon.
“Like a secret benefactor? Helping someone when you’re poor yourself.”
“In the Central Plains, doesn’t everyone sponsor someone somewhere? I’m sponsoring Namgung Yeon young, no, Young Master.”
“When did you say you hated murim folk?”
“I hate getting involved, not all murim folk. That’s why I was sending it anonymously.”
“Hmm. Should I introduce you next time? Namgung Yeon young master is in the Hidden Dragon Society with me.”
“Didn’t I just say I don’t want to get involved with murim folk?”
“But I’m murim folk too?”
Han Seojin shrugged.
Her mood soured strangely.
What was it? Did he not want to get involved with her either?
He was close with Cheongwol, so what attitude was this toward her, who was helping him?
Han Seojin continued.
“Well, anyway. You should get close to Namgung Yeon Young Master too, Miss Soran. It’ll surely help you as well.”
...What?
That soured her mood again.
His words about getting close to another man felt unpleasant.
“...”
Flames sparked in Dang Soran’s eyes again.
After 15 days together, this was her evaluation.
She’d been too complacent so far.
Dang Soran’s goal was to steal Han Seojin... and watch Cheongwol writhe in frustration.
The overwhelming pleasure she’d feel then tickled her.
She steeled her resolve. Time to get serious.
.
.
.
“Why are you lighting a fire?”
Dang Soran asked.
“Huh?”
Han Seojin sounded flustered.
“To cook food and sleep warmly—”
But Dang Soran continued with a stern expression.
“—we’ve entered bandit territory where they swarm like bamboo shoots after rain. Aren’t you too carefree? You treat me like a monster, but even I’d be in danger if swarmed by bandits. You definitely couldn’t protect me, Young Master.”
“...No fire at all?”
“No!!”
At Dang Soran’s firm declaration, Han Seojin set down the flint.
She smiled inwardly at his action.
Teasing Han Seojin really was fun.
“Do it during the day if you must. Not now, Young Master.”
“...Then I’ve got nothing to do.”
“Just sleep. We’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”
At Dang Soran’s suggestion, Han Seojin reluctantly prepared to sleep.
Dang Soran’s heart began pounding.
Trying higher-level teasing for the first time—could she pull it off?
...Still, let’s do it.
Otherwise, Han Seojin wouldn’t pay her any attention.
The two settled down and began camping without a fire.
It was bearable at first, but fortunately, as night deepened, the cold struck fiercely.
Dang Soran glanced at Han Seojin.
At some point, he started shivering too.
The fire’s absence had a real impact.
Good.
Dang Soran thought to herself and spoke.
“...Young Master.”
Han Seojin opened his eyes.
“Ah, aren’t you cold?”
She asked with the most pitiful expression possible.
“I... I’m so c-cold I can’t sleep.”
Han Seojin didn’t respond.
She knew he felt guilty toward her, thinking he’d cost her money even now.
If he had money, he’d have gotten a nearby inn or at least blankets.
Seeing Han Seojin slightly upset pleased her.
“...I’ll look for something.”
As Han Seojin headed toward the donkey—
Dang Soran quickly reached out and grabbed his ankle.
“...I k-know one way to g-get warm.”
At her blatant seduction, Han Seojin hesitated.
“...I know one too, but for us to hug...”
“What? You think just because I’m treating you nicely, something’s on? I’m not stimulated by anything you do, Young Master. You might get all worked up, though.”
Another provocation thrown. Han Seojin’s face twisted satisfyingly.
Dang Soran smiled inwardly. A few more times and he’d—
“Come here.”
“Huh...? That easy...”
“What are you doing? Hurry up.”
Whether because he was cold, or thought he was paying his debt... or just sought warmth without thinking, Han Seojin fell nicely into her trap.
Soon, Dang Soran lay with Han Seojin embracing her from behind.
“...”
“...”
It was her plan, but doing it felt more embarrassing than expected.
Han Seojin’s calm attitude strangely stimulated her.
Not even fazed by this?
...Only has eyes for Cheongwol?
But it was definitely warm.
As the warmth came, Dang Soran gathered courage and leisure to whisper.
“...They say skin-to-skin is even warmer if we take off our clothes.”
Even saying it herself made her heart pound wildly.
This kind of joke was new.
“...”
Han Seojin ignored her words.
A chuckle escaped her, letting her continue the tease.
Dang Soran steeled herself and subtly wiggled her hips.
Han Seojin must have felt it but stayed still, probably thinking it a mistake.
Dang Soran pressed her hips against him again and provoked.
“Ah, Young Master. The leather knife handle’s poking my butt.”
He finally couldn’t hold back and sat up.
“A-are you insane?”
“Pfft!”
Of course, there was no leather knife in Han Seojin’s embrace.
Han Seojin immediately turned his back.
Dang Soran doggedly stuck to him.
“Turning away over that. Such a coward.”
“...”
“Scaredy-cat. Can’t even take a joke.”
Dang Soran kept teasing him.
At the same time, a dark sense of depravity bloomed in her chest.
She knew it too.
Assuming things went well, she’d end up dominated by Han Seojin.
Then all his pent-up anger would explode at once.
What would he be like then?
Knowing it was a dangerous gamble, Dang Soran couldn’t stop provoking.
“You’re a virgin, right? Ah, but don’t even think of touching me? Father would really get mad... Giving my first time to you doesn’t even make sense anyway.”
Dang Soran tossed jokes at him all night.
It turned into a kind of thrill for her.
And the more she did, the larger Han Seojin’s place grew in her heart.
****
“That’s why you can pull it off.”
I said to Dang Soran, as if getting revenge for last night.
Losing the money was regrettable, but the result wasn’t bad.
I’d found a clever plan to draw out the bandits.
Dang Soran’s disheveled appearance.
She looked like a weary rich lady from a wealthy house after a hard journey, not the Poison Phoenix of the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Her hair in a bird’s nest, face dirty.
Dang Soran twirled her grimy hair with her finger and said.
“...Well, the plan’s decent.”
We began our journey near Mount Panan.
Singing loudly, leading the donkey, piercing through the mountains.
“They’re gathering fast, huh?”
Soon, Dang Soran sensed the bandits approaching and smiled at me.
I nodded and said.
“I’m counting on you.”
Dang Soran slipped her hand into her sleeve.