Cheongwol struggled to calm her heart in front of Han Seojin's house.
Why had things suddenly turned out like this?
Han Seojin's discord with her had already been painful enough.
On top of that, Han Seojin had started drawing too much attention in the village.
If she hadn't incurred his anger, she surely could have warned him to be careful around women.
But she couldn't say such things and had to return to the Emei Sect.
Upon her return, as promised, she had to attend the private meeting with the Sect Leader.
Hiding her turbulent emotions, Cheongwol sat before Muwol Satae.
"Cheongwol. I heard from Honghwa."
"The owner of the Leather Room in the village has been approaching you. And that you're... accepting it."
She couldn't say no, nor could she affirm it.
Cheongwol hesitated before answering with difficulty.
"I-it's not like that. We're just friends."
"Friends."
Muwol Satae nodded and replied.
"...I suppose I should meet your friend once."
Cheongwol added by way of excuse.
"I-I can guess what you're worried about, but it won't happen. We're really just friends."
In her inexplicable urgency, she even revealed her Virgin Palace Mark.
She uttered those words she didn't want to say again.
"H-how could I possibly have feelings for such a shabby man?"
Muwol Satae's gaze lingered on the Virgin Palace Mark for a moment. But she soon spoke gently, as if admonishing her.
"Shabby? You shouldn't use such words lightly."
"W-well, anyway..."
"I'm not doubting you. But his feelings toward you might be different, no?"
...Huh?
...The owner toward me?
The possibility she'd never once considered made Cheongwol's chest suddenly tighten.
...Me?
That thought she'd never entertained was shaking her to the core.
Looking at her like that, Muwol Satae calmly opened her mouth.
"You hadn't even thought of it, had you? Have you forgotten your own beauty?"
"..."
"Either way, you're the Sect Leader's disciple. For the sake of the Emei Sect... I have a duty to pay attention to you. Especially if it involves a man."
"It's not... it's not like that..."
Muwol Satae silently gazed at Cheongwol, then rose from her seat and whispered.
"Unlike your senior sisters, you've never shown interest in romance, so I wasn't worried... But remember, Wol, there's nothing more painful for a nun than harboring feelings for a man."
"...Pardon?"
"For now, let's go see him."
And so, Cheongwol had ended up here.
Cheongwol hid behind Muwol Satae, not knowing what to do.
The door was open, and her eyes kept meeting Han Seojin's inside.
But she avoided his gaze every time.
To begin with, things with Han Seojin were awkward even now.
He had been angry because of her, after all.
Approaching him like this before properly resolving those feelings felt too burdensome.
At the same time, she knew.
The Sect Leader would surely notice the energy residing in Han Seojin's dantian.
The pure, clear yin energy that Cheongwol herself had implanted.
It was the Emei Sect's unique energy, intricately matched to the refined Tang Clan yang energy left by Dang Soran.
The Sect Leader would surely understand just how delicate a process that had been.
After all, it was Cheongwol who had made these two energies that didn't need to coexist reside together.
It clearly wasn't something you'd do just for a friend.
...Something you'd do for a precious friend?
Honestly, it was a matter she could just explain straightforwardly.
That Han Seojin was a truly grateful connection who was helping treat her heart demon.
However, because the treatment necessarily involved... a humiliating process, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Considering the implications of calling him a heart demon physician, it was something Cheongwol—who was already suffering from the village's attention—could never utter.
"Young Master Han Seojin. Might you share a cup of tea with this old nun for a moment?"
Han Seojin, clearly flustered by the unexpected visitor, glanced briefly at Cheongwol before cautiously replying.
"I-I don't have any tea at home..."
"I've caused you unnecessary concern. It's enough if we can just talk."
"..."
"May I come in?"
At Muwol Satae's follow-up question, Han Seojin nodded.
"A-ah, yes. Please come in."
Muwol Satae stepped over the threshold into the room.
Cheongwol chose to remain standing outside.
"Come, have a seat... hmm."
The Sect Leader looked around Han Seojin's meager home and fell silent.
Matching the impoverished furnishings, there were only two chairs in the room.
One was the one Han Seojin used, and the other was the one Cheongwol had naturally claimed as her own spot over the past few days.
Then Bang Biyeon spoke first.
"For starters, it doesn't seem you've come to see me... so I'll excuse myself first. The homeowner should entertain the guest."
"Pardon?"
"Thank you for your consideration."
Without giving Han Seojin a chance to decide, Bang Biyeon stepped outside.
The Sect Leader, who clearly had much to discuss with Han Seojin, thanked Bang Biyeon and sat in a chair.
Cheongwol's heart was filled with anxiety.
She didn't know why, but that was how she felt.
Han Seojin, who had been stiff, looked at Cheongwol again.
This time too, Cheongwol couldn't meet his eyes.
"...Hoo."
With a long sigh, as if steeling himself, Han Seojin also sat in a chair.
"Sect Leader. The reason you've come to see me...?"
Muwol Satae sat quietly before Han Seojin, then spoke to Cheongwol without turning her gaze.
"Wol, close the door."
"..."
Unable to respond, Cheongwol quietly shut the door.
"..."
...Her heart kept growing uneasy.
****
Sitting with Muwol Satae, I felt like I was on pins and needles again.
...She knows, right?
The energy settled in my dantian.
I'd prepared excuses, so no need to worry.
"I'm sorry for visiting so suddenly."
"No, I'm just curious about the reason for your visit..."
Muwol Satae blinked.
"...What a wondrous energy."
"..."
"I had no idea there was a young man like Young Master Seojin on Emei Mountain. The energy of Lady Dang... and our Wol's energy, no less."
...As expected, she sees it right away. Even recognizing it as Dang Soran's energy.
Just as I was about to make my excuse—
"So, this is—"
"—No need to explain. It might be rude to pry. I have no desire to delve into personal matters."
Muwol Satae declined.
"Seeing that you've received the refined energies of those two girls only proves you're a good person, doesn't it?"
"...Haha."
I forced a smile, but honestly, my conscience stung.
...I got this by tormenting and humiliating them.
I don't even know why I accepted it.
"..."
"..."
If there had been tea, this would've been the moment to sip it and endure the silence.
Without that, I had to tough it out raw.
It was my first time in such an uncomfortable situation, so my heart was pounding.
She must have come because of Cheongwol, obviously?
...She doesn't know about the play, though.
Otherwise, even Muwol Satae couldn't maintain such composure.
Turning the Emei Sect's Thousand-Year Flower, the Sect Leader's disciple, and the sect's greatest prodigy into a puppy and playing with her?
...That would be disastrous, for real.
I did it to survive. So I felt unjust enough to die.
"Thank you for being friends with our Wol."
Muwol Satae broke the silence.
"Wol has shown some wayward behavior lately... Perhaps Young Master Seojin becoming her friend helped her find the right path."
"...I'm glad I could help."
It wasn't just almost wayward—she was a sprout of the Demonic Cult.
Please manage her properly.
"...However, Young Master Seojin."
As if getting to the main point, Muwol Satae lowered her voice gravely.
"I hope you won't grow overly close to our sect's disciples."
"...Pardon?"
What was this about?
"The Emei Sect is a sect of nuns. Private interactions with men are strictly forbidden. Of course, I know emotions between men and women aren't that simple. Romance blooms even when unwanted."
She chose her words carefully for a moment, then added cautiously.
"But if a nun and a man develop feelings... in the end, both will be hurt. I hope you won't experience that pain, Young Master Seojin."
The door rattled, perhaps from the wind.
"...I still don't quite understand what you mean."
She pointed to my lower abdomen.
"I'm talking about the energy in your dantian, Young Master Seojin. It's so pure and refined. As far as I know, it's the first time Wol has given that level of feeling to anyone."
She planted such a good energy in me?
That surprised me, but I could infer the reason.
Since her heart demon calmed during SM play, maybe it was repayment for that.
But without revealing it, I understood why it looked suspicious in Muwol Satae's eyes.
"I'm glad she gave that energy to a friend. But because you're a man, it worries me even more. It can't be a light relationship... Even if you're friends, crossing that line happens in an instant, doesn't it?"
...What was she saying?
Me and Cheongwol? Crazy.
"...That won't happen."
The door rattled in the wind again.
"I'm always afraid. It might be lighthearted for you, Young Master Seojin, but for our Emei Sect, there's no greater poison than interactions with men."
"No, I mean..."
"If Wol ever mates with a man... I'd have to cripple her dantian and expel her from the sect. Unless she runs away."
"..."
...What?
As I slowly mulled over Muwol Satae's words, something unpleasant rose from within.
At first, it seemed like a simple warning not to get too close.
...The more I chewed on it, the more it felt laced with strange preconceptions and judgments toward me.
As if I was the one leading an improper relationship.
...This old lady speaks politely, but she's just spewing unpleasant crap, isn't she?