Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Seclusion (4)
The next day, at noon with the sun high overhead.
The group hurried onward toward Chengdu once more.
Cheongwool and Dang Soran pretended not to know Han Seojin today as well, but a subtle tension lingered beneath their indifference.
And as if breaking the silence, Cheongwool approached Dang Soran first.
Dang Soran sat leisurely atop her horse, her hair gleaming in the sunlight.
Cheongwool poured out her unresolved feelings.
"It won't work."
A judgment that could hardly be called rational.
A judgment with no idea how to persuade the other.
Yet Cheongwool could reach no other conclusion.
Cheongwool hurriedly chased after Dang Soran's horse on foot.
The Tang Clan retainers around her looked at Cheongwool with puzzled expressions.
As if they hadn't expected such urgency from her.
But Cheongwool paid them no mind.
"It won't work, Senior Dang. The Owner is going to Mount Emei with me."
She didn't know why she was explaining it to Dang Soran like an excuse, but the situation demanded it.
Dang Soran replied while gazing ahead, as if Cheongwool's words weren't even entering her ears.
"Is that what the Young Master's will?"
"The Owner is still agonizing over it, but even so—"
"—it's for the Young Master to decide, not for you to force."
Cheongwool couldn't find a retort and changed the subject.
"Uh, anyway, they won't be able to find the Owner's hideout easily. As you said, Senior Dang, the Owner isn't affiliated with anywhere. How do you expect them to track down someone like that?"
At that, Dang Soran asked in an unexpectedly gentle voice.
"So you're saying we shouldn't prepare at all?"
That wasn't what she meant. Even as Cheongwool spoke, she realized her words were contradictory.
It was just her anxious heart spilling out in the wrong direction.
Han Seojin to the Tang Clan of Sichuan?
And what exactly did Dang Soran plan to do there?
As if reading Cheongwool's mind, Dang Soran whispered.
"...Wol-ah. Don't overthink it. I don't mean anything strange by this. I'm truly worried about the Young Master too. Aren't you? This happened because of us. Now we need to snap out of it and make amends. We almost caused a huge disaster. If the Young Master had been seriously hurt, could you face him without shame? Or hold your head high in front of the Beggars' Sect elders?"
Cheongwool had no response to that irrefutable logic.
She felt like a fool.
Dang Soran, who had always been playful and reckless around Han Seojin, now appeared as a woman with clear adult reason.
It made her four years seniorly feel real anew.
There seemed to be no hidden agenda in Dang Soran's words. She was solely concerned with Han Seojin's safety.
The more that sincerity came through, the more Cheongwool's heart grew confused.
Even knowing there was no other way... her instincts whispered that he must not be sent.
A premonition that something precious would be taken away, a feeling that it could never be recovered, stubbornly resisted from deep in her chest.
"I... I'll protect the Owner."
Cheongwool's voice trembled.
A voice that already seemed to doubt itself.
Dang Soran continued softly, as if admonishing her.
"How? You can't even bring the Young Master into the Emei Sect's Restoration Hall. Does anyone not know that place is off-limits to men?"
"I'll just stay by the Owner's side always... when sleeping, when awake..."
"...Wol-ah."
A short call of her name.
That one word carried too much meaning.
Only then did Cheongwool close her mouth and lower her head.
This Dang Soran felt unfamiliar.
The mouth that had always been playful now bore a serious shadow.
It would have been easier if she had argued back fiercely.
But before this cold reason, Cheongwool's irrationality lost its logical ground.
Now any words would shatter meanginglessly.
Had yesterday's incident truly changed Dang Soran like this?
Dang Soran stared silently at Cheongwool for a long while before speaking flatly.
"And you don't need to say this to me. I'm not planning to force you."
"Yes?"
"I'll leave everything to the Young Master's judgment. If he says no, I won't try to persuade him further. So..."
She paused to choose her words, then added lowly.
"...don't insult my goodwill anymore."
Cheongwool felt her face flush.
Before Dang Soran's composure and sincerity, she felt like a child.
In the end, Cheongwool had to turn away.
She had come to break Dang Soran, but somehow, through this short conversation, she felt persuaded by her instead.
"Go to Chengdu."
Gu Yeong Uncle said firmly. Gwak Du Uncle agreed.
"Go to Chengdu and stay alive. With a peak expert—no, a public enemy of murim showing interest in you, who knows what the aftermath will bring. Right now, as you guide Cheongwool and Dang Soran in a positive direction, you've become just as mysterious as they are. The Demonic Cult is expanding aggressively—who knows when their claws might reach you. What's there to agonize over? You should be begging for help on your knees, and they've already extended a hand first."
That was probably right.
I knew it but was double-checking anyway.
"What about my shop on Mount Emei?"
"What's so important about that hole in the wall? You lost all your money gambling at Mount Song anyway, and the rest of your staff is loaded on your donkey. It's the perfect setup for a fresh start."
"You're not upset that I'm leaving so suddenly?"
Gu Yeong Uncle's face hardened coldly at that, and he grabbed the back of my neck.
It was a bit scary for no reason.
"...Seojin-ah."
"Yes."
"What I fear most is you dying."
"...”
"You're the nephew I hold in my heart. Knowing peak experts are targeting you now, I can't sleep from anxiety."
"...For someone like that, you slept really deeply and even overslept today—"
"...This punk. Talking back while your uncle's speaking."
I roughly rubbed the back of my head.
In the end, this was what I'd hoped for.
Yeah, staying alive is what matters—nothing else is a big deal.
"What about Gwak Du Uncle?"
"I'll talk to my brother well. He'll say it's absolutely the right call. I know him."
While I agonized, Dang Soran approached.
Recalling how she'd kept her distance since the Dokgo Jinsuuk incident, I could easily infer she'd come to ask my opinion.
"Have you decided?"
I scratched my cheek awkwardly and said.
"Miss Dang, isn't this something not agreed upon with the Clan Leader? Is it alright for you to decide on your own like this?"
"Don't worry about the Clan Leader. I'll convince him."
"The Clan Leader wouldn't be pleased just with me staying by your side. Hiding me won't benefit him—what if I'm just causing trouble..."
"I'll say it again—don't worry about Father. I know him better than you do. After I put you in this mess, do you think he'd just sit back and watch?"
I recalled the Poison King coming to me and laying down the law—not quite a threat, but close.
Dang Soran had firmly said she couldn't give me to him... If I stuck around her like this, wouldn't I really get on his bad side?
As I mulled that over silently, Dang Soran let out a short sigh.
Then, narrowing her brow slightly, she said.
"If you don't want to, just say so."
"Yes?"
Her tone carried a hint of irritation.
"I don't get why this has turned into me begging. What, did you think I'd cling to you? What's so great about you, Young Master? Am I mad too, you know? What? You don't want to be close to me anymore?"
She always jumped to extremes like this! When did I ever say that?
"When did I say that? I just said it's stop the games..."
"That's the same thing! Anyway, now I'm mad at you too, Young Master! I didn't need to make this offer at all! I only did because of my guilt! But you're acting like I have some scheme!"
"W-When did I say I was won't? No, I just have connections on Mount Emei, and a shop, so I'm thinking it over a bit."
She wasn't listening to me at all.
She didn't seem to believe me either.
"If you're going to reject my goodwill like that, I won't try anymore. Get stabbed or kidnapped for all I care!"
Gu Yeong Uncle grumbled at that.
"Miss. Even so, getting stabbed..."
The excited Dang Soran didn't stop.
"—Of course, if that happens, I'd cry a little... no, a lot! But at least I wouldn't feel guilty. I did what I could. You're the one rejecting my goodwill, not me! If you don't want it, fine!"
As her voice grew more heated, the sincerity within weighed heavily.
Only then did I realize.
Had I been seeing Dang Soran too much like a kid? In serious situations like this, she got serious too.
I hadn't seriously planned to refuse her offer anyway.
I'd just been wondering if there wasn't a better path for everyone.
I said.
"...Sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. If you're willing to help as you said, I'd be grateful."
Dang Soran's body stiffened slightly.
A faint smile seemed to flicker across her face.
Probably not.
No one would smile in this situation.
It was such a fleeting expression—I must have seen wrong.
"...So you'll come to the Tang Clan of Sichuan?"
She asked almost in a whisper.
"I'll be in your debt."
As my words ended, Dang Soran bowed her head briefly, then tossed her short hair and looked back.
Hurt still lingered in her eyes, her gaze piercing me coldly.
She continued in a low, firm voice.
"I'll say it again—this is just to hide you, Young Master. It's not for games, and we can't treat you as a guest either. Just the fact of a new honored guest in our clan would make it easy to pinpoint you. You'll disguise as one of our retainers and handle odd jobs. That's safer... Is that alright?"
"I never expected guest treatment anyway."
"...Good. We'll talk the rest after reaching Chengdu. For now, I'll take that as a yes. Tell me anytime if you change your mind. I don't want to force you."
Dang Soran turned and left.
She showed no lingering attachment.
Whether helping me added another worry for her or not, during the twenty days to Chengdu, she didn't approach me at all.
She didn't try to persuade me further or ask if I'd changed my mind.
She kept the distance as if hoping I'd stay away.
Strangely, that put me at ease.
Gagyeong-i, Jang Cheolyu, the dumpling shop uncle.
Cheongwool's martial siblings. After bidding farewell to the Beggars' Sect elders, Han Seojin stood before the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Only Cheongwool couldn't let go of her lingering feelings, cautiously following behind him.
The one consolation was that Han Seojin and Dang Soran's relationship didn't look amiable.
Whether hurt from her goodwill being misunderstood, Dang Soran maintained a cold attitude throughout the twenty-day journey.
Even Cheongwool's waviness toward her melted away during that time.
At last, the two stopped before the Tang Clan of Sichuan's plaque.
Tang Clan of Sichuan (四川唐門).
Cheongwool glanced at Han Seojin.
Though he'd seen it several times, his eyes widened each time, overwhelmed by the massive plaque.
"Wait here a moment. I'll prepare and be right back."
It was the first thing Dang Soran had said to Han Seojin in nearly twenty days.
She led the retainers inside the clan grounds.
But Cheongwool liked that coldness.
Selfishly, she hoped their relationship stayed bad. Better if they hated each other to the end.
How long would it take for them to reconcile?
Please let it take forever—that's what Cheongwool wished.
Once all the Tang Clan retainers following Dang Soran had entered, only Cheongwool and Han Seojin remained before the plaque.
Cheongwool didn't miss that moment. She carefully took his hand.
Not the sleeve end, not the wrist—his hand.
She slipped her hand deep into his rough, broad palm.
"...Wol-ah?"
"I know there's no other way, but I hate it."
She whined.
"You have to come back soon. If it's tough, tell me right away. And... keep in touch."
"Don't worry. It's just hiding for a bit—what could go wrong?"
Han Seojin was calm.
Cheongwool found that attitude infuriating.
She felt suffocated by the fear of parting, yet he seemed meaffected.
As she opened her mouth to say more, Dang Soran already appeared at the gate.
Still with a cold, composed expression.
The face of someone armed with duty and responsibility.
Dang Soran glanced at Cheongwool and Han Seojin, then strode over.
"Finished talking?"
In that instant, Dang Soran snatched Han Seojin's hand.
Cheongwool felt his hand slip from hers.
A rough, crude touch. An emotional one.
One she hadn't anticipated until just moments ago.
Cheongwool, stunned, looked up at Dang Soran, whose expression remained icy.
"Come on, Wol-ah. Time for you to go back."
Dang Soran said, gripping Han Seojin's hand tightly.
And on that cold face, some emotion began to creep up.
A sense of taboo violation, a sense of victory.
Cheongwool, startled by Dang Soran's unexpected emotion, said nothing.
"Young Master. Go inside first. You've said your goodbyes. Someone will guide you within."
Dang Soran dragged Han Seojin by the hand and pushed him beyond the Tang Clan of Sichuan's gate.
Han Seojin turned back one last time and said.
"See you later, Wol-ah."
Before she could grab him, his figure vanished beyond the door.
Dang Soran began closing the massive gate without pause.
As the gate slowly shut, a conviction that something was going wrong bloomed in Cheongwool's chest.
The gate closed until only enough space remained for one person to squeeze through.
And Dang Soran's hand on the door began to tremble faintly.
As if finally letting slip some emotion she'd barely hidden until now.
"...Haa... haa..."
Only then did it reach her ears.
A thin, ragged breath.
The sound of a woman's suppressed excitement leaking out.
"...Got him."
She whispered lowly.
Cold sweat ran down Cheongwool's spine.
That one phrase revealed Dang Soran's true face, hidden all this time.
Wrapped in ominous foreboding, Cheongwool approached the door crack to grab Han Seojin, but Dang Soran blocked her way and lifted her head.
Her face was flushed red.
Her breath ragged, her eyes strangely clear.
Like someone whose long thirst had been quenched.
"Wol-ah."
She said softly, yet lewdly.
"Don't come here anymore."
"...Yes?"
"Don't come looking for the Young Master anymore. Right now, the Demonic Cult is showing great interest in him for taming our heart demons. If you keep coming here, they'll naturally suspect he's hiding in the Tang Clan of Sichuan. In the end... you'd be the one killing him."
Cheongwool's eyes shook mercilessly.
Knowing she'd been tricked, yet unable to refute, she asked like a fool.
"...Until when?"
"Until he's safe."
"When will that be?"
"Not until all public enemies of murim have fallen, at least?"
Those words ignited massive rage in Cheongwool's chest.
"How many years do you think that'll take...?"
But realizing she'd lost the initiative, she swallowed her anger.
"...How many years do you think that'll take?"
"I'm just thinking of the Young Master's safety."
She would have believed that earlier.
Even twenty days ago, she had.
"..."
But not now.
How could she claim that, with cheeks glowing pink and barely able to breathe?
The woman who had treated Han Seojin coldly was gone. The one who seemed fed up with him was no more.
Dang Soran slipped through the door crack.
Eager as a child mad with anticipation for a gift inside.
"Then I'm off. You do well."
As if that ended Cheongwool's role, she vanished callously.
"W-Wait, Senior Dang—"
The door closed.
"..."
No sound came after.
Cheongwool stared rigidly at the door before finally realizing.
In this moment, with eyes wide open, something had been taken from her.