“Before that, would it be all right if I went to wash up? It feels rude to chat like this, in this state.”
“Of course, how absentminded of me. I got so caught up in the item that I didn’t even notice your condition. Then let’s make an appointment—how about it?”
“That sounds good.”
“Very well. Follow this road straight ahead, then turn left, and you’ll come to a large tavern. It’s called Cyan Shadow Tower. Meet me there at the You hour. You haven’t forgotten my name, have you?”
“Yes, Lord Bang. I’ll see you there.”
“Ha ha, no reason to call me ‘Lord’ just yet. Still, see you later.”
I made an appointment with Bang Biyeon and entered the upscale inn.
Dang Soran was already nowhere to be seen, probably off to wash up.
The innkeeper soon approached me.
“That’s right.”
“This way, please. We’ve prepared a room.”
.
.
.
“Huuuuh...”
I luxuriated in the large wooden bathtub.
How long had it been since I’d felt warm water like this? It seeped all the way into my bones.
The fatigue of the past month-long journey melted away.
I could feel myself alive.
I might just drift off to sleep.
...Money really is the best.
I looked around.
The room Dang Soran had rented for me was better than my house back home.
Not because this room was so grand and luxurious—just because my house was a rat hole.
The only advantage of my place was the basement, maybe?
But even that I’d dug out myself.
“...Haa.”
The more I saw of this, the stronger my resolve to make money grew.
How wonderful.
With money, I wouldn’t have to lift a finger for someone to heat my bathwater and rent me a room.
Money was power itself.
Even to survive the Great War between Righteousness and Evil, I’d need to hoard it like a squirrel gathering acorns.
To settle in a new place or start a family, no money meant no chance.
Look at what happened at Mount Emei.
Elders who wouldn’t spare me a glance without money now eyed me like a prospective son-in-law the moment I got a donkey.
Far from resenting their sudden interest, I was honestly pleased.
For the first time, I felt like I was on the starting line.
I blinked.
That Bang guy had definitely shown interest.
He seemed rich.
Not just some wandering merchant—he ran a trading company, right?
Changhwa Merchant Group, was it?
“...”
...Am I about to hit it big?
Yeah? A massive hit, and brothels everywhere contacting me to make outfits for them.
Courtesans snuggling in my arms, coquettishly begging for custom clothes?
Lost in idle fantasy, I sat in the bath chuckling to myself.
With my body so relaxed, only good thoughts came to mind.
Something felt off, like I was forgetting an uncomfortable fact... but let’s keep forgetting it.
I didn’t want to think about it right now.
I started properly washing, scooping water over myself.
I scrubbed away the dirt everywhere, leaves hidden who-knows-where in my hair, and all the grime.
Then I lathered up the provided soap and scrubbed my whole body squeaky clean.
I might be meeting a potential patron, so I had to prepare properly.
I should trim my hair too. I hadn’t maintained it before, and the month with Dang Soran made it even worse—it looked filthy even to me.
While washing, I stood up, cracked the door open, and called out.
“Excuse me, could you bring some scissors or a short knife to tidy my hair?”
True to its upscale status, someone came right away, handed me scissors, and asked.
“Shall I change the bathwater too?”
Wow, they do that?
Money really is everything.
“That would be great.”
****
Dang Soran, veiled in thin gauze, waited for Han Seojin.
Her stomach was growling, but why hadn’t he shown up yet?
She just wanted to fill her belly and take a nap.
“Ah.”
Then it hit her—she was living such an ordinary daily life, and it mildly startled her.
For the past year, she’d holed up in her room, letting meaningless time slip by... yet now she lived comfortably, as if those days never happened.
...Was this all thanks to Han Seojin?
“...”
It had to be him. He was the only change.
And the more she thought that, the more grateful she was for stumbling upon him and Cheongwol that day.
Whether he truly deserved the title of Heart Demon Physician... that wasn’t certain yet.
But he was undoubtedly slowly dissolving her heart demon.
She was still thankful for that fortune.
Having eaten nothing but gruel lately, she resolved to buy something tasty today.
“Young lady.”
The voice she’d been waiting for echoed quietly.
“Why are you so la—”
Mid-sentence, Dang Soran froze at the unexpected sight before her.
Where had the filthy, disheveled, bushy-haired man gone?
A clean, neat person stood there.
No dirt on his face. Hair properly trimmed.
“...Young lady? Have I got the wrong person? Aren’t you Miss Dang?”
Because of her veil, Han Seojin didn’t seem to recognize her right away.
But she was just as baffled.
Was this really him?
Her heart suddenly pounded, though she didn’t know why.
Habitually, she tried to mock him.
“Ah, haha... Y-you cut your hair?”
But her laugh lacked its usual sincerity.
Somehow it felt awkward. The smile faded on its own.
He wasn’t handsome.
...Or was he? Was he handsome?
Dang Soran was utterly confused now.
No, Han Seojin was ugly. That was Han Seojin... so why did this face suddenly appeal to her so much?
She’d felt nothing seeing the beauties the world raved about, yet what was this unfamiliar thrill?
Why did this plain man’s looks captivate her more than those paragons?
Feeling her face heat up, Dang Soran lowered her gaze.
And whispered.
“J-just because you draw lines on a pumpkin... does it become a watermelon? Ah, haha. Cleaning up your hair just makes that ugly mug even more obvious. Y-you were better off hiding behind the grime.”
“That ugly monster will take its leave, so please enjoy your meal.”
“...What? N-no, Young Master...! You’re really getting mad over that? It was a joke—”
“—I’m not mad. I have an appointment.”
“...An appointment?”
“A merchant showed interest in my item, so I’m going to talk with him. It doesn’t seem like a place for you, young lady, so you should eat and rest.”
Han Seojin grinned.
“...”
Dang Soran was speechless again. His changed appearance had thrown her that much.
Besides, what could she even do by holding him back?
She might just worry about choking on her food.
His transformation was that shocking, and she was reacting sensitively to it.
“A... all right. See you later.”
At Dang Soran’s words, Han Seojin nodded and left the inn.
Only then did Dang Soran relax, slumping into her chair.
Unable to trust her own judgment, she asked a nearby maidservant.
“Did you... happen to see that man’s face just now?”
“Yes? Oh, yes! I did.”
Dang Soran hesitated, then asked.
“W-was he handsome?”
“...Pardon?”
The maidservant’s reaction screamed, *You just called him ugly, and now this?*
But Dang Soran had to know.
“P-please, tell me honestly.”
The maidservant glanced around, trailing off ambiguously, tactfully sparing the guest’s feelings.
“Well... beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it?”
Dang Soran pressed.
“What about you? Personally... what do you think?”
The maidservant fidgeted with her fingers.
“...Not really my type...”
Liar.
Dang Soran thought firmly to herself.
Definitely a lie.
She was certain.
Because never before had someone’s face imprinted so vividly in her mind.
****
I arrived at the Cyan Shadow Tower at the You hour, as Bang Biyeon had mentioned.
A server rushed over to greet me.
“Welcome! Party of how many?”
“Is Lord Bang of the Changhwa Merchant Group here by any chance...?”
“Ah! You must be the one Lord Bang mentioned!”
At the server’s shout, eyes poured in from all around.
Even the server grew more deferential.
“This way, please! Lord Bang isn’t here yet, but he said to treat you with utmost care since you’d arrive first. Have a seat here.”
As expected from his wealthy appearance, Bang Biyeon seemed to be a big shot known everywhere around here.
Everyone who met my eyes smiled and gave friendly nods, eager to make a good impression.
Amid such treatment, I was led to the best seat in the Cyan Shadow Tower.
It wasn’t a private room, so people were still fully visible.
I took a sip of water, and the stares dispersed. Lively chatter filled the tavern.
Meanwhile, I savored the lingering attention from earlier—it felt good.
Maybe because I’d been ignored constantly at Mount Emei. Guess I had a romantic notion about this.
I really need to make it big.
“...Anyway, back to that talk. It’s understandable to worry. Who knew it’d drag on this long?”
“I think you’re overreacting. She’ll come back fine.”
“That’s only if she hasn’t fallen to a heart demon! Vanishing in that state makes worry inevitable! And no matter what you say, the Poison King himself—who watched that heart demon up close—expressed concern!”
...Huh?
Did I just hear “Poison King”?
I turned toward the source of the voices.
Two burly men were deep in heated debate.
“A first-rate warrior doesn’t just vanish easily! I’ve heard plenty of these stories—they always turn out to be nothing. Once you reach first-rate, you’re always safe.”
“Do you know better than the Poison King?”
“All I know is the Poison King’s parental love. Even he goes blind before it. And for his firstborn, how intense must that love be?”
I couldn’t hold back and butted in.
“Excuse me, sirs. What were you just talking about?”
They looked puzzled at my question.
“You haven’t heard?”
“Not at all.”
They chuckled amusedly.
“No way, young hero! Have you been holed up in the mountains? The entire Central Plains is buzzing about it!”
“Yeah, what’s—”
“The Poison Phoenix, Dang Soran, has gone missing! About a month ago now? Last sighted near Mount Emei—that’s all anyone knows.”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
...Missing? She was with me.
“...What’s the big deal about someone disappearing for a month? Maybe she just hasn’t sent word.”
“That’s true for folks like you and me. But a giant like the Poison Phoenix stands out wherever she goes. No sightings anywhere, so of course! Plus, how many evil sect scum are out there targeting her?”
“...”
“The Poison King’s been searching high and low, but no luck. Did she burrow into the earth or fly to the heavens? No news. That precious lady wouldn’t be sleeping rough on the streets, and she should’ve shown up at some inn.”
A stranger at another table, eavesdropping, chimed in.
“My guess is right on. She met some fateful encounter and is honing her skills.”
Another joined.
“Forget weird guesses—what if she’s given up on life? That’s the real worry. She hadn’t left home in a year... and vanishes right after? How could anyone not worry?”
“I say it’s a lover’s flight. Marriageable age, so proposals must’ve come. Hated them, so she eloped with her beloved...”
People started spouting their own theories left and right.
Meanwhile, I wondered what thunderbolt this was.
In an instant, we’d become the hottest topic in the Central Plains.
But seriously, Dang Soran didn’t send even one letter the whole time?
Not a word?
“...”
...Come to think of it, maybe not. I stole her pouch around day five.
After that, she’d been playing broke too.
...That light prank coming back like this?
“...Aigoo, my head.”
I muttered quietly.
When I get back, I need to tell Dang Soran to contact home first thing.
What’s with the Poison King not enduring that short time...
I asked the man who’d shared the initial info.
“I’ve been on a grueling month-long trip, so I’m out of the loop. Is that the gist?”
“Ha ha, young hero. Want more details? Buy me a drink...”
His companion scolded him.
“Hey! He’s Lord Bang’s guest—spill it. Who knows, maybe Changhwa Merchant Group’ll give you a discount on a hairpin for your wife later.”
Convinced, the man turned back to me.
“That’s the biggest hot topic right now. The Hidden Dragon Society’s prowess is getting fresh spotlight thanks to it.”
“The Hidden Dragon Society’s prowess?”
“They’re all out searching for Miss Dang. Their teamwork’s coming to light, and evil sect thugs are getting wrecked everywhere, crying foul.”
I clamped my lips shut for a moment.
Why did the future keep changing like this...!
Plus, a nagging unease I’d buried somewhere was creeping back.
And then, the man’s eyes lit up as he shouted.
“And among them! Emei Sect’s Thousand-Year Flower, Lady Cheongwol!”
He’d nailed my anxiety.
His acquaintance nearby laughed and added.
“Forgive him. He likes Lady Cheongwol a little... no, a lot. For her news, he’d pay double the price.”
“You’d be the same if you saw her beauty! She embodies purity itself!”
I couldn’t hide my impatience.
“...Isn’t Lady Cheongwol under confinement?”
“That’s why it’s amazing! Despite confinement, she left Mount Emei the moment she heard Miss Dang went missing and joined the hunt!”
...Ah.
Chills ran down my spine.
Something. This was too scary.
The Cheongwol I knew didn’t like Dang Soran much...?
“Well, the Hidden Dragon Society has lives of their own. They can’t search forever. The Poison King even said to go your separate ways now. The Tang Clan of Sichuan will handle the rest.”
“R-right? So they’ve all gone b—”
“—But not Lady Cheongwol. She’s still searching for Miss Dang. The one least attached to the Society, and she’s the most tenacious! How moving is that!”
Everyone nodded along to his speech, praising Cheongwol.
‘She truly is remarkable.’
‘A nun of Emei, her heart as pure as her looks.’
‘A flower that blooms once every thousand years—spot on.’
I alone couldn’t smile.
“...How long has that been?”
“Didn’t I say? From the moment Miss Dang vanished.”
“So roughly...”
“Roughly twenty days? It’d take that long for word to reach Mount Emei.”
He smiled.
Cheongwol, whom I thought was still at Mount Emei, had been prowling outside for twenty days already?
That madness crushed me.
“Roughly twenty days now—Lady Cheongwol has been searching for her dear friend, Miss Dang.”