Cheongwol lost all awareness in that instant.
All attention focused on him.
Han Seojin, unlike the other commoners, wasn't looking up at the inn.
He was walking indifferently through the crowd, like someone with some other purpose.
The direction Cheongwol was looking—Dang Soran's back.
Cheongwol hurriedly turned her head to check Dang Soran.
Fortunately, she still hadn't noticed Han Seojin's presence.
Cheongwol, driven by an inexplicable impulse, plastered on a fake expression she didn't even realize she was making.
She smiled and struck up a completely pointless conversation.
But Cheongwol's attention was still fixed on Han Seojin.
He pushed through the crowd, suddenly clearing his throat loudly, then sang a song with his pathetic skills.
It was a mess.
Off-beat, voice cracking.
And midway through, he lost the rhythm and started over from the beginning.
That sight was oddly cute... no, so idiotic it almost made her laugh, but Cheongwol suppressed it, thinking of Dang Soran.
Honestly, part of it was annoying.
The guy who hadn't shown his face when she was looking for him was now making a racket and singing in front of the inn where the later generation talents had gathered?
What if Dang Soran heard?
...Or was he doing it on purpose?
She really should have gotten angrier that day.
What? If you behave nicely, I'll play with you?
Crazy bastard.
Who the hell does he think he is, strutting around like that.
...He wouldn't play in the Sacred Capital, so she'd see him when they returned to Mount Emei.
Then she'd really give him a piece of her mind.
"..."
Cheongwol's eyes darkened.
Yeah, she'd give him hell.
So he'd never think of running away again.
...So he'd never leave without a word again.
"...Wol-ah? Are you really okay?"
"Yes? Oh, yes. I'm fine."
Whatever, right now, no matter what crazy thing he did, she had to ignore it.
Cheongwol gave Han Seojin one last glance.
And she spotted him staring intently up at her, jolting in surprise.
Cheongwol hid her momentary fluster and took a breath.
To avoid giving away her surprise, she turned her head as if gazing softly out the window.
But her sidelong glance was still on him.
He was looking at her too.
Amid the throng of people, Cheongwol couldn't shake the feeling that a strange connection had begun between just the two of them.
Han Seojin signaled with his hand.
Cheongwol inferred his message from the gestures.
Han Seojin pointing repeatedly at the ground.
'...Today.'
Pointing at the sun in the sky, then sliding his hand westward.
'...Tonight.'
Then pointing at the narrow alley outside the inn.
'...That alley.'
Cheongwol's heart clenched tight.
Was it an invitation to play?
Because she'd been acting pretty lately?
...Don't make her laugh.
She hadn't intended that.
She hadn't behaved nicely just to play.
What the hell was Han Seojin misunderstanding?
But her breathing quickened, her fingertips tingling.
He was inviting her back into his world again.
This play wouldn't include Dang Soran.
A game just for the two of them.
Her feet and hands fidgeted restlessly.
She knew she should look away, but her eyes couldn't leave his movements.
Han Seojin then depicted something in front of his face.
'...Wear a veil.'
Then Han Seojin turned and vanished.
What was he so worried about?
If she was going, of course she'd wear a veil...
"..."
Cheongwol squeezed her eyes shut.
No. She wasn't going.
This was the Sacred Capital.
Her heart demon had been at its worst lately.
Pent-up desires, unresolved emotions, complicated feelings toward Dang Soran, irritation from facing the Silent Dragon, the constant stares and words from the crowds every day.
On Mount Emei, she could have time alone. Hiding in the mountains, no one would find her.
But the Sacred Capital was different.
That's why it might have been even harder.
...But that didn't mean she wanted to play here too.
With so many people around.
With all these Central Plains folk gathered to see the later generation talents.
She already had a packed schedule, and slipping away wouldn't be easy.
Look at it now.
The voices pouring from all sides treated her not as a person, but as some deified idol.
"Miss Cheongwol! Just one smile, please!"
"World's Greatest Beauty!"
"What nonsense! Miss Dang Soran is the real one!"
"Both are so beautiful it's blinding!"
"If only you weren't an Emei nun, I'd devote my life to taking responsibility!"
...Crude jokes masking sexual harassment, or endless expectations directed at her.
Receiving all these gazes and hopes... going off to indulge in that filthy, perverted play?
If she got caught, everything would end? All she'd built would crumble?
Even a nympho courtesan with deep lust wouldn't do that.
It was unrealistic, irrational.
For a nun like her, it was especially forbidden.
At that moment, a Mount Hua Sect warrior named Baekdam made a suggestion to everyone.
"Our time together is running short before we part ways, so how about sharing a drink tonight?"
Cheongwol knew full well it wasn't just about clinking glasses.
It was partly a proposal to form bonds together.
As if everyone thought the same, they nodded in agreement.
"Miss Cheongwol..."
She was the last one left.
...Yeah.
This was the right thing.
Gathered here now were promising talents from famous clans and sects across the land.
What harm in getting close to them? It wasn't something to throw away for Han Seojin's games.
Better this way.
Cheongwol actually felt relieved by Baekdam's suggestion.
No needless inner conflict.
The fake behavior over the past few days had all been for her own sake too.
For the Emei Sect's prestige.
Not for that play.
****
"Hoo..."
I steadied my mind.
I had to hope the plan worked out.
For now, I didn't know if Cheongwol would come or not.
She was the one who'd freak out saying SM play in the Sacred Capital was insane.
Honestly, I agreed a hundred times.
It was just a desperate plan I'd thrown together.
But a promise was a promise.
Whatever the reason, Cheongwol had stayed quiet the past few days and even reconciled with the Silent Dragon.
Whether it was all for her own reputation, I'd already made the promise.
Breaking promises is for the strong; the weak crawl and keep them if made.
My heart pounded.
Was it fear she might show up, or... anticipation for the new play?
I really couldn't tell.
Humans are such complicated creatures, I felt it keenly.
Cheongwol still terrified me to death... but my feelings for SM were genuine too, so I couldn't help the faint excitement.
Please.
Cheongwol, you crazy bitch, don't show up.
...No, show up. Wait, no, don't. Or...? Show up and play...
The streets of the Sacred Capital were filled with voices from the massive crowds.
The past few days, it had been a total festival.
I'd heard the Tang Clan was handing out money—not a ton, but enough to please the people.
Unlike other sects, the Tang Clan had plenty of cash from selling hidden weapons and poisons.
In the wuxia world, calling them the most commercial family wasn't an exaggeration.
They'd called in the later generation talents, and with Dang Soran doing public activities, it seemed the Poison King was putting in effort to hype the atmosphere.
...Did I pick the wrong day?
Seemed like even more people today.
Assuming Cheongwol showed, I'd have to control every aspect of the play.
...Was that possible?
I waited a long time.
...But Cheongwol didn't appear.
The orange sky darkened.
Red lanterns bloomed beautifully along the streets.
As the people's excitement peaked and the roads filled up everywhere.
I thought.
...She's not coming.
Just like she said.
Yeah, who does this in the Sacred Capital.
I peeked out from the alley.
Voices carried on the crowd's chatter.
"They say the later generation talents who gathered this time formed a bond!"
"Yeah! Can't think of a better match? Well, Young Master Namgung Yeon is a bit iffy..."
"But it's a group with the Thousand-Year Flower and Poison Phoenix! Hidden Dragon Society! Totally deserves the name!"
I let out a deep sigh.
...Cheongwol in the Hidden Dragon Society? Does that fit?
She's perfect as a Demonic Cult Seven Heavens...
No, doing both? That's problematic too...
"They're all gathered at the Clouded Mist Pavilion, knocking back drinks! Let's go watch! When else will we see them all together!"
I nodded.
Cheongwol was probably sipping tea at that gathering too.
Fine. Knowing that puts my mind at ease.
Whatever, I kept my promise.
She was the one who didn't show.
"Oh, but I heard the Thousand-Year Flower isn't there?"
"Huh? No, she definitely reconciled with the Silent Dragon..."
...What? What does that mean—
Something grabbed my shoulder then.
"Hk!"
I whipped around in shock.
A narrow alley barely wide enough for one person.
A woman blocked my path from behind.
Clothes of a different color from that day.
A veil of a different color.
But I knew exactly who she was.
"..."
"..."
We said nothing to each other.
An awkward air hung between us.
But even so, we both knew exactly why we'd gathered...
...We knew all too well.