“Are you going to keep hiding?”
Dang Soran called out to Cheongwol, who was concealed behind the plank wall.
Her emotions were all tangled up in a complicated mess.
Was it anger, or perhaps excitement?
A faint jealousy toward the fact that while she had been struggling against her heart demon, someone else had been gradually resolving it.
And the thrill of discovering a way to escape her heart demon, even if it was like this, was shaking Dang Soran to her core.
“S-Sister Soran. There’s no one here but m—”
“...”
Dang Soran said nothing, simply gazing intently into Han Seojin’s eyes.
Even Dang Soran found it hard to accept honestly.
This man... was he the fateful encounter Cheongwol had found?
If he truly was the one who had resolved Cheongwol’s heart demon, that fact alone would shake the entire martial world.
Both the righteous and demonic factions would covet him without exception.
...But.
Him?
Dang Soran was skeptical too.
Such a lowly appearance. Hunched shoulders. The frightened eyes of a mortal whose inner energy flow couldn’t even be sensed.
His build was a bit large, but nothing standout about his exterior.
His face... was utterly ordinary.
To be brutally honest, it felt like what a beggar from the Beggars’ Sect might look like after growing up.
If he hadn’t claimed the respectable name of Han Seojin, something like Dog Shit would have suited him better.
If he had learned the Beggars’ Sect’s staff techniques, it might be different, but he seemed completely unconnected to martial arts.
In cases like this, it was one of two things.
Either a supreme master hiding his true identity... or just an utterly ordinary person with no power at all.
Dang Soran’s instincts told her it was the latter.
His eyes gave it away.
The way this man couldn’t properly meet her gaze, constantly averting his eyes.
If that was an act, he’d be a genius spy even among the Hao Gate.
Rough footsteps slid across the worn planks.
Cautiously, Cheongwol revealed herself.
Her expression was coldly set, but Dang Soran noticed it immediately.
That coldness was a defense mechanism.
Hidden in her eyes were bewilderment and anxiety.
An expression she hadn’t even shown during their spar.
Seeing this unfamiliar side of her only drew Dang Soran’s interest more toward this man.
...If you’re that anxious, it really makes me think there’s something there, Wol-ah.
“...Our little Wol-i, hiding away like this.”
Dang Soran continued slowly, poking at a sore spot.
“But this is too much. Did you really want to hide this from me that badly?”
She meant it to some extent.
Of course, she understood that she and Cheongwol weren’t that close.
As representatives of their sects among the younger generation, they had been conscious of each other as rivals.
But hadn’t they shared the fact that they both suffered from heart demons?
Cheongwol must have heard the rumors about her own heart demon too.
She would surely know how great the pain and suffering were.
And yet, she had kept this method to herself without saying a word?
Even as rivals, their sects were geographically close, and they’d exchanged visits multiple times—shouldn’t she have shared such valuable information?
They were both from the righteous faction, after all.
The nights she had spent in tears over the past year felt a little regrettable now.
If she had known sooner, she wouldn’t have hated her own ugliness so much.
“I would have told you if it were me.”
Dang Soran could say that with certainty.
If this man before her was truly a heart demon healer, she would have introduced him to Cheongwol.
She acknowledged her own ugliness, but she still possessed that much righteousness.
Dang Soran stopped pressing Cheongwol and turned to Han Seojin.
She politely cupped her fists in greeting.
“...First, please accept my introduction.”
Han Seojin visibly panicked.
“Y-Yes...?”
“I am Dang Soran of the Sichuan Tang Clan. I apologize deeply for making such a request upon our first meeting... but I plead with you from the bottom of my heart.”
She didn’t know if he was truly a healer or not. Clutching at straws, Dang Soran bowed her head.
“Could you please resolve my heart demon as well?”
Silence fell over the Leather Room.
Han Seojin hesitated for a long while before responding.
“Th-there must be some misunderstanding. Wh-what do you mean heart demon resolution? How could I...”
“I heard everything from outside, Young Master.”
“...Young Master?”
Dang Soran looked firmly at Han Seojin.
And pleaded again.
“...If you pity me, please... please, help me.”
****
Where did it all go wrong...?
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t figure it out.
Honestly, I thought I’d shown insane survival instincts up to now.
Think about it.
Survived witnessing Cheongwol’s slaughter scene.
Survived her discovering the basement.
Survived after bluffing about heart demon resolution, which somehow led to actual SM play with Cheongwol.
Survived even the moment during the spar when Cheongwol, who should have collapsed from her heart demon, was most vulnerable.
Wasn’t that Bear Grylls level?
I was anxious and scared, but aside from witnessing the slaughter, I hadn’t made a single mistake since.
I thought I’d handled everything perfectly...
...So why the hell was I in this situation?
What more was I supposed to do?
“...If you pity me, please... please, help me.”
Dang Soran’s hands trembled slightly as she cupped her fists.
Her desperation was palpable.
And it made sense.
If someone found a clue to resolving a heart demon, anyone suffering from one would be desperate.
...But fuck, I don’t know shit about heart demons or any of that!
I was just bullshitting Cheongwol...!
And Cheongwol happened to be a masochist, so it coincidentally fit...!
No matter how Dang Soran phrased it, that’s all I heard.
‘Please do SM play with me too.’
Her suffocating proposal left me unable to even groan.
And understandably so—the opponent was Dang Soran.
Eldest daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan!
The Tang family’s precious pearl!
The protagonist’s key ally!
Cheongwol got tangled with me out of bad luck from living nearby.
...But did I ever imagine Dang Soran would get involved with me too?
Ordinary people die without ever exchanging words with her...!
Like how not many get to chat with a chaebol heiress.
...Well, maybe some have exchanged words.
But none of them would have had her approach them for SM.
“Young Master...?”
Dang Soran asked with her large eyes.
“Ah... well...”
Misinterpreting my hesitation, she spoke.
“...I will provide proper compensation. We will regard you as a benefactor of the Tang family. Even if my family doesn’t, I, Dang Soran, will consider you my benefactor.”
Benefactor my ass—doing SM with you would make me your enemy!
Especially thinking of her father, Dang Jeokcheon.
Dang Jeokcheon was a doting father, in vulgar terms.
Right after Dang Soran is killed by Cheongwol, Dang Jeokcheon burns with vengeance, sheds bloody tears confronting Cheongwol, and dies.
At minimum, in mutual destruction, using every poison until he melts in his own toxins.
...SM with that man’s daughter?
Am I insane?
I’d freak out and die from norovirus alone—now face off against the poison-handling Tang Clan?
Cheongwol whispered from behind.
“...Please stop tormenting the owner and leave. As the owner said, he knows nothing about heart demon resolution.”
“Wol-ah, at least we know that’s a lie.”
“...Why do you think it’s a lie—”
“—Then how exactly did your heart demon... happen?”
Cheongwol’s eyes twitched.
“We sparred, remember. Don’t hide it from me.”
“...”
“Your heart demon shrank in size, and strangely, you got closer to this man. Is all this coincidence?”
Dang Soran bit her lip hard and whispered her suppressed feelings.
“...I wouldn’t do this unless I had to. I’m truly desperate.”
“...”
****
A prickling sensation crawled up Dang Soran’s fingertips.
She knew she had to suppress it, but her heart wouldn’t allow it.
Dang Soran knew Cheongwol was special too.
Beyond being a rival, who else could she respect as much as Cheongwol?
Dang Soran could obtain anything she wanted.
In contrast, Cheongwol, with her profound inner energy and stunning beauty... despite being someone who could have everything... lived an ascetic life.
Not claiming even a single fancy ornament.
Eating only the famously bland temple rice.
Abstaining from anything related to pleasure.
Guarding her body with purity and integrity.
For such a Cheongwol to hide something.
How difficult must it be, that she wouldn’t even share it.
As far as Dang Soran knew, it was the only thing Cheongwol had ever coveted.
The sole thing desired by one who shunned desire.
It couldn’t be romantic affection.
No matter what, she was an Emei Sect nun.
Maybe they’d grown close like friends?
There hadn’t been enough time to gauge their relationship, so she couldn’t say.
Whatever it was, one thing was clear.
Cheongwol’s behavior made this man seem even more special.
Dang Soran didn’t trust her own judgment.
She trusted Cheongwol’s judgment more.
If ascetic Cheongwol valued something specially, there had to be something to it.
The more defensively Cheongwol acted, the more Dang Soran hoped it might really resolve heart demons.
An irresistible curiosity welled up.
****
Insane news.
Wichang doubted his own ears.
It felt like the blood in his body was freezing.
Was this the thrill of stumbling upon a massive gold mine?
Heart demon resolution.
Heart demon resolution...!!
Information more valuable than any treasure in the Central Plains.
Wichang had rolled in the Hao Gate for over a decade, unearthing much intel, but nothing comparable.
Was the Emei Sect member suffering from a heart demon Cheongwol? Did this Leather Room owner tame it?
Assumptions spawned more assumptions.
If he brought this news to the Hao Gate.
And if it proved true.
...Wichang’s goal of becoming a division leader wouldn’t be so far-fetched.
Due to its immense value, Wichang didn’t even think to eavesdrop longer.
This clue alone was a massive haul.
Greedily digging more could mean losing the chance to deliver this to the Hao Gate—a greater loss.
Controlling his trembling body, he swiftly turned.
He didn’t even think to take his subordinates.
He dropped the peddler disguise entirely.
His goal was one.
Back to the Sichuan branch.
****
“I’m suffering too, Wol-ah. You... know how agonizing a heart demon is.”
“...”
“...Right? I’m begging you like this. Originally, I don’t even need to heed your opinion, do I? The Young Master’s opinion matters more.”
Cheongwol could understand.
The bone-deep loneliness and despair. Dreams plummeting endlessly.
She had endured the darkness of the heart demon too, which no one else could bear.
Like walking an endless cave, each step deepening the hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and more...
Times when she couldn’t escape it even for a moment.
Cheongwol knew how such pain made one desperate.
It shattered the mind, making one cling to any salvation.
She also knew how that desperation could easily drive someone to extremes.
From that perspective, Dang Soran’s actions were understandable.
...Dang Soran wasn’t wrong.
What right did she have to interfere between Han Seojin and Dang Soran?
And yet, an inexplicable aversion kept rising.
Something sharp writhed deep in her chest.
“Stop nitpicking. The owner said he doesn’t know...!”
“Really?”
Cheongwol nodded.
“He truly knows nothing about heart demon resolution?”
“How many times do I have to—”
“—Then is this situation a secret rendezvous?”
Dang Soran pointed out.
Cheongwol and Han Seojin both stiffened.
Dang Soran continued.
“That’s right. I can accept the Thousand-Year Flower of Emei coming to this shabby Leather Room for heart demon resolution... but otherwise, why would you come here?”
“...To request rope and leather waterskins—”
“—You could’ve done that in the daytime, or asked from outside the shop. But at this hour, entering the Leather Room, sharing laughs and conversation? Hiding even from me?”
From what Dang Soran said, it was clear she’d been eavesdropping for quite a while.
Even from Cheongwol’s perspective, this was unexpected.
She should have been more careful.
She’d been so focused on Han Seojin that she let her guard down.
Dang Soran pressed relentlessly.
“...Lovers?”
Cheongwol shouted back.
“Th-that’s impossible!!”
She was an Emei Sect nun.
She didn’t like men.
When receiving her dharma name, she vowed lifelong chastity.
The Virgin Palace Mark deeply etched on her arm proved it.
And lovers?
Holding hands, kissing, sharing love... that kind of relationship?
Unknowingly, Cheongwol imagined kissing Han Seojin.
“...Ugh.”
A strange chill ran down her spine.
The imagination crossing her self-imposed boundaries terrified her.
What nonsense was Dang Soran suggesting?
How... how could she with Han Seojin...
With someone she hadn’t known long...
...But why did that absurd imagination shake her heart so much?
“...Why would I... with the owner...”
“...Then you have no grounds to block me?”
Dang Soran asked.
“I’m pleading with Young Master Seojin, not you.”
...Young Master Seojin.
Why did those words feel so unpleasant?
Cheongwol couldn’t understand her own feelings.
Why did this situation feel so hateful?
But she had no justification to stop it. She understood Dang Soran’s desperation too.
Still, she didn’t want to just stand by.
It felt like things would flow into an irreversible direction if left alone.
“Young Master Seoj—”
“—Then...!”
After agonizing, Cheongwol spoke.
It was a poor choice. But it was the reins she could grasp.
“Then...”
All eyes turned to her.
After hesitating long, Cheongwol continued as if exhaling.
“...Just... try it once.”
Right, anyway.
After one experience, Dang Soran wouldn’t endure the shame and would flee.
Since she was raised so preciously.
****
“...Just... try it once.”
My mind went blank.
Hey, you bitch.
Why the hell are you deciding that!!