Peeking through the slightly open door, Cheongwol's face came into view.
"You're here. Mind if I come in—"
"—Whoa."
I slipped out through the narrow gap like a shadow.
I closed the door behind me. Better not go inside.
"..."
"What's up?"
Seeing that I wasn't inviting her into the house, Cheongwol froze for a moment.
She stared straight at me.
Looking back now, it really was a crazy thing to do.
SM play in the middle of the Namgung Family's downfall and this gloomy atmosphere?
The Emei Sect disciples hadn't even stepped outside the temple lately.
Even Cheongwol had only been gone a few days.
Everyone was holding back in this situation, and here I was playing like that.
Not to mention, Cheongwol was already feeling neglected over the difference in treatment. If she found out I'd been playing with Dang Soran again, she'd explode for sure.
"Won't you invite me into the house?"
"Let's talk outside. It's hot."
"...Okay?"
I averted my eyes slightly.
She wasn't testing me with questions she already knew the answers to, was she?
"S-so, why'd you come?"
I sat down on a chair outside the house and asked.
Cheongwol sat beside me.
"...Chief, didn't you miss me? It's only been a few days."
"Why would I? Knowing we're both doing fine is enough. Times being what they are."
"Yeah. Times being what they are."
With that, Cheongwol glared at me.
...She really didn't know anything, did she?
If she asked why I'd been playing with Dang Soran in a situation like this, I'd faint on the spot.
The play had been pretty intense, so it made me feel even guiltier.
"Chief."
"Yeah?"
"...Shall we go down to the basement?"
I barely managed to keep a straight face.
"...Why?"
"You don't know?"
"F-for play?"
"...Maybe. Let's go to the basement first."
I waved her off.
"No. Not today. You show up out of nowhere demanding play, and it just makes me flustered."
"Hmm."
Cheongwol's eyes grew sharper.
Her face was piling up with dissatisfaction.
I changed the subject.
"B-by the way. You gonna keep wearing that collar all the time?"
Cheongwol touched her choker.
"Yeah. It's a gift."
"Even so, I didn't give it to you to wear every day."
"So what? I want to wear it."
"...What does Master Soun say?"
"I'll handle it, Chief."
"Wearing it all the time will wear it out."
Cheongwol shook her head.
"No way."
She brimmed with confidence.
...Does she maintain it every day? That sounds like a hassle.
She'll manage somehow.
Something felt off.
Seeing a woman treasure the choker I'd given her like this.
And that woman being Cheongwol.
"...Sigh."
It was amazing.
The Demonic Cult had reformed, six of the Seven Heavens were back to being enemies of the martial world, and here was Cheongwol—the second cruelest among them—sitting beside me with a choker on...
"Chief. What's that?"
Cheongwol pointed at my carriage and asked.
"All loaded up. Going somewhere?"
"I'd rather not, but if no one helps, I have to. That's all donations."
"Where to?"
"Anhui Prov—"
"—No."
...This girl.
She kept saying no because I kept letting her.
But not being able to budge made it even more frustrating.
Maybe sensing my glare, Cheongwol brushed back her hair and said,
"Why go yourself? It's dangerous. Entrust it to an escort agency."
"The agencies refused."
"Then you definitely shouldn't go. And donating all that hard-earned money? You love the Namgung Family that much, Chief?"
I was having the same argument with Cheongwol that I'd had with Dang Soran.
Feeling a bit annoyed, I shook my head.
"Anyway, I was gonna talk it over with Soran—er, no. With Lady Dang Soran—"
"...Soran?"
"..."
Shit. The play slipped my mind...
I awkwardly cleared my throat and pretended nothing happened.
"I decided to consult with Lady Dang. Maybe she'll handle the transport—"
"—Chief. Seen Senior Dang lately? Haven't spotted her much."
It felt like my breath was being squeezed.
"H-how would I know? It's late; she's probably asleep. Or maybe paying respects to ancestral tablets on the back mountain for the Namgung Family."
"..."
Cheongwol took a deep breath, brushed back her hair, and whispered,
"Chief."
"...Yeah?"
"No Dang Soran."
"...What no?"
"Marriage. Don't even think about it."
Her sudden nonsense opened a path for me.
"What are you talking about? I already told Clan Leader Dang the same. Our statuses don't match, and the Tang Clan nailed that down. Why worry like that?"
"Fair enough. Right? But Chief, you've been mingling more with the village women lately?"
I rolled my eyes.
"So?"
"...Looking for a fiancée?"
"And if I am?"
Cheongwol let out an exaggerated sigh and advised with a worried look.
"Bangnani's no good. Overheard her muttering. It's your wealth she's after, not you. Sure, she'd back off if you sent all these donations, but still, just in case."
A nun calling a villager a bitch.
But Cheongwol continued.
"Oh, Chubok's out too. She's after your money too, they say. Keeping a girl like that around would make your life hell forever. No different from a beast."
Maybe because Cheongwol once said beasts could be killed.
Her comparing people to beasts was even creepier.
"You know Okdani's no good too, right? Word is she's been fooling around with the village head's second son. Overheard the senior brothers whispering. And—"
"—Cheongwol. I'll handle it myself."
"Handle what yourself?"
"Do I need your permission to meet women now?"
"...At least let me vet them. So you don't fall for some weirdo. I'm your closest friend; this much is fine, right?"
"Since when are you my closest..."
Mid-sentence, Cheongwol's face turned icy, and I shut up.
But her pressure was just starting.
"So?"
"..."
"...If I'm not your closest friend, who is?"
"Th-that's..."
"You weren't about to say Senior Dang. She's not your friend. You've barely met. I've known you way longer. We're basically childhood friends. We knew of each other since we were ten."
Suddenly pulling the childhood friend card? That's a stretch...
"Ch-Cheongwol."
"You're the only man who can call me by my dharma name, you know? I'm your closest friend, so do you have someone else? Someone I know? Introduce me sometime?"
Cheongwol leaned in closer.
Her menacing gaze made me shiver.
She whispered softly,
"...Chief. After teasing my heart like that, you're not saying she's just an acquaintance, are you?"
In hindsight, anyone would get mad in that situation, not just Cheongwol.
"Ahahaha!"
I laughed to escape the crisis.
Then I lightly hugged her face, ruffled her hair playfully, and said,
"Of course you're my closest friend. Who else?"
Only then did Cheongwol's eyes crinkle.
Her smile was beautiful, but scary too.
"Right, Chief? So I'll check out any prospects."
Check them all? I need to put the brakes on this.
Am I really gonna end up single forever?
Die without ever seeing between a woman's legs?
"B-but Wol."
"Yeah?"
"...Honestly, I don't mind women after my money."
This was sincere.
If not for that, who would approach an orphan beggar like me?
Who cares why they like me? As long as they do.
"..."
Cheongwol's face hardened again.
"...Why?"
"I-it's my money, not someone else's. Women seeking stability is natural."
"But the money isn't you, Chief. It's not pure love. It means they'd leave if the money did."
"Why think about losing it when I have it? I'll be rich from now on, probably. So don't set the bar too high; let me meet people... Wol?"
"..."
Cheongwol blanked out for a moment, then nodded.
"...Yeah, got it. I'll keep that in mind."
...Did she really get it? Felt off just now.
Anyway, don't poke it.
That's not important right now.
"Alright, head back. Nice seeing you. I'm off to bed. Aren't you not supposed to be out?"
Cheongwol looked like she had more to say.
But when I yawned exaggeratedly and stretched, she nodded in resignation.
"Yeah. No going to Anhui Province for now. I should be able to come down to the village regularly again in a few days. Hold out till then. I'll be disappointed if you sneak off."
"S-sneak off? Wrong word."
"Then, good night, Chief."
Thankfully, Cheongwol left.
I sat outside motionless for a while.
Only after watching her climb the mountain path did I exhale in relief.
"Sigh..."
She didn't find out.
But definitely, our relationship was changing little by little.
Couldn't pinpoint it, but it felt like restrictions were piling up.
The more we allowed each other, the more annoying and scary it got.
Why did it come to needing Cheongwol's permission for my girlfriend...
How much longer with this?
I'm at an age to start a family, but like this, when?
Starting one amid the war about to erupt? No way.
Better make connections now, weave some drama through the chaos, grow closer fatefully. With future knowledge, I can protect a woman fine.
...Should I ask Brother Wicheong to find a decent girl?
Then the door opened, and Dang Soran slinked out.
"..."
"..."
Why did this feel like getting caught cheating?
"...See you later."
In the stale atmosphere, Dang Soran turned away.
Watching her leave, I went back inside.
I went to the basement to clean up and noticed one thing missing.
"...Why take that..."
The ring gag was gone.
.
.
.
The next day, I woke to an argument outside.
'...No. Why go to that dangerous place? What if something happens?'
'With me there, what could happen? Don't worry too much; I'll handle it.'
'No. I won't allow it.'
'What makes you think you can allow or not? Young Master isn't your property. If you're so worried, come along. Oh, right—you can't leave Emei Mountain right now?'
'...'
I scratched my belly and opened the door.
Clear blue dawn sky.
Dang Soran and Cheongwol were in front of my house.
"...What're you doing?"
"Ah." "...Well..."
Apparently, they were in the middle of arguing over how to transport my stuff.
Cheongwol was trying to stop me, while Dang Soran insisted it was fine if she went with me.
Even after yesterday's play, huh.
Dang Soran had switched to offering herself instead.
At least that was a relief.
As their argument heated up, I tried persuading Dang Soran.
"Isn't the important thing getting these goods to the Namgung Family fast?"
Dang Soran flinched.
"The Namgung Family is struggling. Don't forget why I'm donating. Lady Dang, I hate saying this as the one begging, but wouldn't it be quicker if you went instead of me...?"
"Right. That's right, Chief."
Cheongwol chimed in agreement.
"...Tch."
Maybe she'd been looking forward to traveling with me, because Dang Soran huffed.
Do that thing from Zhongqing again?
Take all your teasing again?
If unavoidable, fine—but if avoidable, I'd dodge.
Finally, Dang Soran clicked her tongue.
"Fine. Not like there's no way."
"Really? You'll transport it, Lady Dang?"
"I'll take it to the capital. Using my family's retainers, it won't be hard."
"..."
...Shit, what. There was that method.
I let out a hollow laugh at the ridiculously simple solution.
Come to think of it, I had the Poison King's token.
I could've just used that. Forgot all about it.
Real power users know how to wield it—late realization left me stunned for a while.
****
Chilly wind seeped through the gap in the collapsed inner hall wall.
A suffocating stench of rot and fish mixed in.
Corpse smell, or mold from uneaten food.
Whatever it was, I'd grown used to it now.
The Murim Alliance had come to Tianzhu Mountain in Anhui Province, collected the piled corpses, sifted through ashes for traces—but only briefly.
No one could stay on this cursed land, so they all returned to their lives.
They'd done enough.
Left behind, Namgung Yeon sat in the emptiness.
Namgung Yeon carefully lifted her eyelids.
Hoping that opening her eyes would end this as a nightmare.
That her departed parents would return, retainers and elders back in place.
Some she'd hated, some awkward—but now she just wanted to see them all.
"..."
But even carefully opening her eyes, the nightmare remained.
Collapsed walls.
Charred pillars.
Empty Namgung Family grounds without a single shadow.
Just days ago, bustling footsteps and human scents filled it.
But now, the Namgung Family... could hardly be called a home.
Was this even a place for people?
This was... ruins now.
The Namgung Family had fallen.
Namgung Yeon had to accept it.
That the centuries-old noble house's bloodline ended in her generation.
Perhaps this was fate.
From the moment her parents couldn't have a son, the path to ruin was set.
Sponsorships from across the Central Plains had dried up.
Who pours water into a bottomless jar?
No one set foot on this land of death anyway.
All dead or gone.
Only a few retainers like her, holding breath amid the nightmare.
Tears fell weakly from Namgung Yeon's eyes.
Parents she'd given nothing to be proud of, now gone forever.
The thought shattered her heart.
She'd tried living strong as taught, but not this time.
If only there was a proper heir.
It was just her.
She had to rebuild the crumbled Namgung Family.
No one to guide, no one to rely on.
How could she, called a dullard, rebuild it?
Never in history had the Namgung Family fallen this hard.
It was over.
Yes, over.
For now, Namgung Yeon closed her eyes again.
No strength to rise.
Just stay here.
Starving to death? Not so bad.
Then, a small noise woke her.
Carriage wheels?
...Impossible. Who'd come here?
Thinking it a hallucination, she closed her eyes.
'...Worse than dogs...'
Carriage wheels rumbling over rocks, horse neighs echoing.
The sound grew louder.
Finally, Namgung Yeon couldn't ignore it.
She mustered strength to rise from bed.
How many days since leaving it?
After the Namgung Family fell, no one came to tend her despair.
Few survived the disaster unscathed.
Surviving retainers had lost families too.
All flailing in their own darkness.
Namgung Yeon staggered over the collapsed inner hall wall toward the sound.
Habit was scary.
Even now, she had her hair neatly tied up like a man.
'Is no one there!'
Strong knocks cut through the inner hall.
Namgung Yeon's eyes, thinking no one would come, filled with wariness and fear.
Who dared enter the forsaken Namgung Family?
To mock the ruins?
Or blame her for failing to defend Tianzhu Mountain?
Namgung Yeon suppressed trembling fingertips and pushed open the gate.
The man flinched at the sight of her.
As if he hadn't expected her to open it herself.
"Namgung... Clan Leader."
Sichuan Tang Clan emblem, the Tang character on his uniform.
The man immediately cupped his hands formally.
"I am Mugeol of the Tang Clan of Sichuan."
"...Why have you come."
Namgung Yeon's voice came low and hoarse.
No strength even to return the salute.
Her focus was one thing.
Why seek the Namgung Family.
"We've heard of the Namgung Family's dire straits. One person wishes to help you, Clan Leader, asking us to convey that. No repayment expected, and they wish anonymity. I'm just the messenger."
"...Anonymous?"
Namgung Yeon's heart raced.
Anonymous...
No way.
Impossible.
Mugeol drew a letter from his bosom.
"Here. Please accept it."
Namgung Yeon carefully opened the letter.
____________________________
To Young Master Namgung Yeon.
Did you safely take the Detoxification Immortal Root I sent last time?
I can't presume to imagine how horrific that land is now, or what anguish you endure daily.
But don't collapse.
Please, don't collapse.
The Namgung Family must not fall like this.
Thus, I send my entire fortune.
Every coin I earn henceforth, all to you.
Let's overcome this crisis together.
I won't give up. So don't you either.
You will become the world's greatest.
That day, you'll avenge your family. I believe it.
____________________________
Detoxification Immortal Root—that one phrase revealed the sender.
But more shocking were the words below.
World's greatest.
"..."
The Namgung Family's dullard, failure, trash, loser—Namgung Yeon, the world's greatest?
"...Pfft."
Namgung Yeon couldn't hold back a hollow laugh.
Is this person insane?
"Puh...! Heh...! Ahahaha!"
How heavy, how absurd those words...
This foolishness was incomprehensible.
World's greatest isn't spoken lightly.
Only one in the vast Central Plains.
Chosen by the era.
Yet pinning it on Namgung Family's dullard Namgung Yeon.
"Ahahaha!"
No hiding her voice; her true tone spilled out.
"Namgung... Clan Leader?"
Even Mugeol looked flustered, glancing around.
Namgung Family retainers, mired in ruin, gathered slowly at the commotion.
"Ahahaha!!"
But Namgung Yeon's laughter wouldn't stop.
World's greatest.
Wasn't that the foolish dream her father yearned for?
You couldn't reach it, yet forced it on her.
The word vanished like a ghost when facing her dullard truth.
"Hahaha... Ahh..."
Her laughter turned to sobs.
Her father's image sharpened in memory.
Vowing to make the Namgung name resound across the world.
"Ahh... Ahhh!"
She thought she'd forgotten that thrill, but one foolish word shook her broken heart to its core.
Could she sink lower?
Crumble more?
Yet in that moment, a hand extended.
Sender of the Detoxification Immortal Root to a loser like her.
Believed her when father and elders didn't.
When even retainers despaired in her dullardship.
...Even when she herself couldn't believe and wanted to quit.
Pledging all fortune now, and all future earnings.
What idiot like this exists?
Namgung Yeon knelt, forehead to ground.
Tears flowed endlessly.
"Aaaaaah!"
This outsider's faith propped up her crumbling self.
Unasked aid could be called forced.
But that rough hand lifted her, patted her back, whispering:
I believe in you.
I'll help you.
Run again.
Even amid sobs, that voice rang clear in her ears.