With a whoosh, the sound of robes fluttering in the wind.
Dang Soran vaulted over the Tang Clan of Sichuan's outer wall.
“Eek!”
Gwak Du and Gu Yeong, who had been ready to catch her from below, flinched in surprise.
Even Han Seojin, standing on top, lost his balance and tumbled down.
“She’s falling—grab her, grab her!”
“Argh, Seojin—feet! Feet! Hey, you bastard, your foot on your uncle’s face...!”
“Sorry! First...!”
Gwak Du spotted Machildok in the distance, drawing the attention of the Tang Clan warriors.
Gwak Du frantically signaled for him to hold out just a bit longer.
In the midst of all this, Dang Soran didn’t spare them a single glance.
Having cleared the wall, Dang Soran roughly seized Han Seojin’s hand.
“Eek!”
Pulled by the strength of that petite woman, Han Seojin was dragged away.
Gwak Du and Gu Yeong were suddenly left out in the cold, staring after them.
“...Hyungnim. What do you make of this?”
Gu Yeong could only muster a question amid the unbelievable scene.
Gwak Du was just as baffled.
“...I don’t know.”
He’d thought something was off ever since Tang Clan energy appeared in that guy’s dantian.
Had there really been something between him and Dang Soran?
...How, exactly?
To Gwak Du, he was one and only Han Seojin.
But to the world, he was just the owner of a lowly Leather Room.
What on earth could have happened between a man like that and the Tang Clan’s eldest daughter?
Had Han Seojin come to Chengdu precisely to dissuade Dang Soran from something like this?
And was Dang Soran agreeing with whatever Han Seojin had said?
The expression on Dang Soran’s face just now was vivid in Gwak Du’s mind.
Eyes glistening with tears, yet somehow joyful.
It was so vivid it made him wonder if everything he’d seen of the Poison Phoenix before had been an act.
“...Nah, no way.”
Gwak Du finally muttered.
Status in life was one thing, but their difference in station was just too vast.
Even if they had developed real feelings for each other, there was no way it could ever happen.
****
“Mi, Miss...!”
I stopped Dang Soran as we entered a dim alleyway.
I slipped free from her grip at the same time, but...
This time, Dang Soran pinned me against the wall, trapping my body with both arms.
“Haa... haa...”
Her breathing was ragged.
I swallowed hard.
...Did I say something I shouldn’t have?
I hadn’t expected such an intense reaction.
“Miss, so... please calm down a bit...”
On second thought, I hadn’t considered this possibility.
Whether I could dissuade her or not... regardless of my own standing.
What if Dang Soran actually wanted this marriage?
How was I supposed to talk her out of it?
When you got right down to it, her pool of candidates was stacked.
Wealthy Wi Cheonsang. Smart and handsome Jegal Yong. Namgung Family’s eldest son and fellow Hidden Dragon Society member, Namgung Yeon.
What woman would turn that down?
Especially when a beggar like me spouted nonsense—it’d be ridiculous.
“Why?”
Dang Soran asked between her labored breaths.
It wasn’t the heavy breathing from dragging me along... more like emotions boiling over.
“W-Well... if you don’t calm down, we can’t even talk properly—”
“—That’s not it. Why... why do you want me to break off the engagement?”
I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t be honest.
I’d just get labeled a lunatic.
Even if I revealed Wi Cheonsang was a spy, she’d suspect how I knew, no doubt.
“...I told you. I want to use this marriage to strengthen the clan. I get that I can’t live alone forever. So why should I break it off just because you say so, Young Master?”
Our eyes met.
Her two eyes stared straight at me.
Looking at her teeth, I answered.
“...Do I need a reason?”
“Eek!”
Dang Soran’s arms, braced against the wall, began to tremble.
Slowly, she closed her eyes.
Her forehead touched my chest.
“I need... I need one.”
Of course she would.
I was an idiot for not thinking this far.
If I suddenly showed up opposing the marriage with no good reason, she’d just wonder what nonsense I was spouting.
“...There’s no reason.”
But I had nothing to say. How could I tell the truth?
How do you say to someone’s face that the Poison King has no eye for people?
“Just... don’t do it. That’s all. You could probably... find someone even better.”
“...Who?”
“...”
I pushed Dang Soran’s shoulders, separating her from me.
Then I gave a textbook response.
“Miss, have you fallen for someone at first sight this time?”
Dang Soran scowled at that, showing rare anger.
“What do you take me for...! As if... that could ever happen!”
“So no one you’ve fallen for?”
“How can you even... call that...”
“Isn’t marriage something you do with the person you love?”
Dang Soran’s eyes quivered.
“Clan, circumstances, duty, whatever... shouldn’t marriage at least prioritize your own feelings?”
She showed a flurry of expressions before weakly protesting.
“I... told you. I’m empty inside... I don’t even know what I want or hate...”
“Do you want to get married?”
Dang Soran, who had frozen, slowly shook her head.
“...No.”
“...”
“That much I’m sure of. But throwing a fit to the Clan Leader... gathering everyone and doing that... it’s hard. Young Master... I’m sorry. I’m... at my limit now...”
I let out a deep sigh.
Was convincing Dang Soran a lost cause?
...Did I have to sabotage the marriage some other way?
Now that I’d come this far, I had no intention of backing down.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan’s future mattered, but... Dang Soran was an acquaintance now too.
I owed her a lot and felt grateful.
Minus the urge to smack her, she was a decent person...
No one could just stand by and watch an acquaintance like that screw up royally in marriage.
“Got it. Then I’ll—”
“—So.”
At that moment, Dang Soran grabbed my hand again.
She pressed her body close.
From under my chin, she looked straight up at me.
Her refined face filled my view.
Looking up at me like a puppy.
She whispered.
“...So, order me, Young Master.”
“Huh?”
“If it’s an order, you don’t have to worry about my feelings, mood, or situation, right? If it’s an order... obeying comes first... I’ll muster the courage, so...”
Dang Soran swallowed hard.
“...So, order me like during our playtime.”
Somehow, this had become our peculiar way of communicating.
...I knew, but she really did have masochistic tendencies.
No matter how strong she acted, deep down she craved being led by someone.
Fine, just say the word, right?
I lightly grasped Dang Soran’s chin.
“...Don’t get engaged, Soran.”
Dang Soran squeezed her eyes shut...
And obediently nodded.
“....Yes, Young Master.”
****
Cheongwol quietly watched Dang Soran and Han Seojin enter the alley.
Han Seojin holding her chin and speaking.
‘Don’t get engaged, Soran.’
...It hurts.
Cheongwol thought without realizing.
She rubbed her solar plexus—or maybe higher up.
Had her heart broken?
Why did the inside hurt so much?
To endure the pain, she squeezed her eyes shut.
...Why? Shopkeeper?
You came to catch the thief, didn’t you?
Why are you doing this?
Why stop Dang Soran’s engagement? What’s your goal?
What are you going to do? Even if Dang Soran breaks it off, she won’t become yours.
You keep forgetting? There’s too big a gap between you two?
Why isn’t Dang Soran punishing you for stealing my gift?
She scolds me whenever I mess up.
We agreed to leave it be. What’s this now?
“...”
She tried to just watch, but it wasn’t working.
Cheongwol slowly moved her feet.
****
After sending Dang Soran off, I let out a sigh.
...It’ll work out, right?
For now, see how things go tomorrow—
At that moment, two snakes slithered up my body.
I froze solid, unable to react.
Coming to my senses, I saw two arms wrapped around my waist.
The unique floral scent rising from her.
I knew who it was just from the fragrance.
One arm around my waist. The other on my chest.
She sniffed my nape briefly, then rested her head on my shoulder.
Caught off guard by the sudden action, it was proof enough she wasn’t in her right mind.
I swallowed hard, regaining composure.
I placed my hand on Cheongwol’s arm around my waist and asked.
“...What’s wrong?”
“Thinking.”
“...About what?”
“...”
Cheongwol didn’t answer.
That made it even scarier.
What was she pondering?
Why. Why are you like this?
What’s the problem? Why suddenly?
How long have you been watching? Why aren’t you sleeping and out here?
From where did you see?
“...Shopkeeper.”
“Speak.”
“...Didn’t you come to Chengdu to catch the thief?”
“...”
“When will you give me back my gift?”
Was it because she hadn’t gotten her hairpin back?
I understood, but... did she have to act this scary?
“Th-That... Cheongwol, as I said, I’ll make you a new gift myself—”
“Wol.”
“...What?”
“Not Cheongwol. Call me Wol.”
Why are you doing this...!
Was her masochistic side stirring?
Had that day awakened her lust?
Suddenly excited or something?
No? Then there’s no reason to act this scary...!
“Wol. I said I’d make and give you the gift myself...?”
“I’d be fine getting back the hairpin Dang Soran stole.”
“...We don’t even know if Dang Soran stole it.”
“Then why come to Chengdu to catch the thief?”
...Why is she so damn sharp!
She seemed to have lost her reason, yet coldly maintained her sanity—it was terrifying.
“Shopkeeper.”
“...Yeah?”
“Why stop Dang Soran’s marriage?”
Cheongwol’s arms tightened.
It felt like being devoured by a snake.
I didn’t know why dodging one landmine just set off a chain of others.
“Why are you getting involved?”
Then, she pressed her lips to my neck.
Less a kiss, more like checking my pulse.
Chills raced down my body.
One wrong move and she’d bite.
“Answer me.”
Cheongwol whispered in my ear after pulling her lips away.
“...Is it jealousy? Because Dang Soran’s marrying another man?”
“What?”
Her words snapped me to attention.
The absurdity melted away my fear.
I unwrapped Cheongwol’s arms and turned to face her.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Cheongwol looked up at me with a frustrated expression.
“If not, then why?”
I opened and closed my mouth repeatedly.
Truth be told, telling Dang Soran the grooms were shady would be weird, but with Cheongwol, it was fine.
Dang Soran was the party involved, so she needed proof.
Not Cheongwol. She could take it or leave it.
“Dang Soran’s suitors rub me the wrong way.”
“Why do you care?”
“She’s an acquaintance. I can worry.”
“So you want her to call off the marriage? Does that even make sense?”
“It’s true, what can I do.”
“Don’t make me laugh. You’d say that no matter who it was. What’s lacking about Dang Soran’s candidates?”
“No. I...”
I blinked, thinking.
...Is that how it looks in Cheongwol’s eyes?
Recalling my goals.
Wi Cheonsang. No good. Demonic Cult pawn.
Jegal Yong. No good either. That prickly personality would drag down the Tang Clan of Sichuan for sure.
Namgung Yeon...
“...The two I don’t like are Wi Cheonsang and Jegal Yong.”
“What about Namgung Yeon?”
“Don’t care.”
“...What?”
Honestly, Namgung Yeon probably wouldn’t be a big issue.
The kid wasn’t weird. Not paired with anyone in the original story.
If those two solos hooked up, fine by me.
...Impossible anyway, their problem to solve. I’m open-minded.
“Don’t care?”
“Yeah. Namgung Yeon’s fine. Honestly a bit iffy... I’d prefer she didn’t, but I’m not dead set against him.”
Confusion filled Cheongwol’s eyes.
“What? So... you weren’t really trying to sabotage the marriage...”
“I said from the start it’s because I don’t like the guys.”
“Why? What’s wrong with the other two?”
The same lines I’d used with the uncles whenever explaining worldly info to convince them.
“Just a hunch.”
“...What’s that mean, shopkeeper...”
But Cheongwol’s expression visibly relaxed.
“So, why were you mad?”
That gave me the courage to press back.
“I wasn’t mad.”
“...Does that sound right to you now?”
Cheongwol fidgeted with her fingers before speaking.
“...You don’t scold the thief. You only scold me. Always mean to me, nice to Dang Soran.”
“I didn’t me-”
“-Why? What’s the problem? Like her short hair? Or because she’s rich? Why always treat me like this?”
...Honestly, I couldn’t say there was zero issue.
You’re a murderer, so I’m still scared of you...
She seemed better, but facing someone with a final card of drawing her sword if things went south wasn’t comfy.
Still, her being angry mattered.
Weird if she wasn’t pissed about favoritism.
“How can I make it up to you?”
I asked without thinking.
Fully in soothing mode.
Cheongwol’s eyes widened.
“Huh? G-Gonna grant a wish?”
“Hear it first. Wasn’t intending to favor, but if you felt that way, I’ll make it up.”
A flurry of thoughts flashed in Cheongwol’s eyes.
So many it made me regret asking.
Then, Cheongwol gave a faint smile.
...And soon her eyes clouded with lust.
Shedding the monk’s face, revealing the woman’s expression.
That look stirred an inexplicable sense of taboo in me.
The strange thought of corrupting her into a masochist...
“Shopkeeper.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“So you weren’t favoring Dang Soran? Means you’re closer to me, right?”
“...Yeah.”
Whoever was closer, I definitely paid her more attention.
At that, Cheongwol whispered.
“...I know. Dang Soran will crave playtime someday. Even I can’t handle heart demons...”
“...She won’t—”
“—No, she will.”
“...What?”
“You’ll do it behind my back even if I stop you.”
...I’m not doing it because I want to. It’s real...
As I pouted aggrievedly, Cheongwol said.
“Do it. But don’t hide it from me... bring me along.”
“What...?”
Her proposal exceeded my imagination.
“And then... like how I faced the wall before...”
****
The next day.
“Soran, it’s impossible now.”
“...Pardon?”
For the first time in her life, Dang Soran faced rejection.