Amidst anticipation and wariness, somewhere in between, the carriage entered the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
The voices of Beggars' Sect members rang out the moment we passed through the main gate.
It looked like they were each getting a bowl of porridge provided by the Tang Clan.
I rolled my eyes, gauging the situation.
Dang Soran just shook her head.
“How could we offer just a bowl of porridge to someone who helped me? That would tarnish the Tang Clan of Sichuan's reputation. We'll prepare something much better, so please bear with us a little longer.”
“...Sure.”
Dang Soran's gaze then turned to Gwak Du Uncle.
“By the way, what’s your relationship with him?”
Should I say we're close, or that we haven't known each other long?
Would they have seen Uncle with me after we left Mount Emei? Or not?
I'd let go of my wariness, but the nagging possibility held me back.
What if Dang Soran was luring me in to screw me over...?
Then wouldn't it be bad to say we're close to Uncle?
“We're very close.”
But Uncle beat me to it.
“I raised this orphan kid, feeding him and all.”
“Ah!”
Dang Soran clapped her hands.
Then she grabbed Gwak Du Uncle's hands with both of hers.
“So you're like the Young Master's foster father. I apologize for not showing proper respect until now.”
Uncle looked a bit flustered.
He smiled shyly and tried to gently pull his hands away.
“N-No, miss. My hands are dirty. Please don't—”
“—How could hands that fed and raised a person be dirty? Dirty hands are those stained with blood and sin, not these.”
I caught Uncle's mouth corner twitching involuntarily at her words.
...Dang Soran had charmed him in one shot.
His face, which had been full of caution just moments ago, now wore an expression of 'as expected from a noble house's daughter.'
That didn't mean her flattery felt sleazy, though.
I didn't mind her praising Uncle either.
But on the other hand... it felt like one of my allies had dwindled.
What if even Gwak Du Uncle fell for her?
Thinking on the negative side, it was like my breathing was slowly being squeezed off.
Gwak Du Uncle could afford to be so nonchalant because he didn't know what I'd done to Dang Soran.
I beat her up and punished her, Uncle...
She got mad and stormed off, then suddenly shows up saying thanks and invites us for a meal... who'd not be confused?
It wasn't a capital crime, but I'd still done wrong.
Of course, time might have softened her anger.
Or seeing Cheongwol hadn't completely broken down might have convinced her I hadn't meant harm.
Even if it wasn't the right way for her.
The carriage rolled on for quite a while even after entering the Tang Clan grounds.
“We're going pretty deep in, huh?”
Dang Soran smiled gracefully.
“...The Tang Clan of Sichuan isn't some small place, Young Master.”
I secretly let out a deep breath.
Don't tense up. It'll be fine.
If she meant to do something, she'd have done it already.
No need for all this pandering hassle.
Dang Soran had been straightforward and bold. Let's trust that.
The carriage finally came to a stop at the end of the journey.
“Please, get out.”
At Dang Soran's words, we clambered out of the carriage.
“...Huh?”
...It's empty.
Where exactly had we come?
Dust-covered ground. Surrounding it like a ring were the Tang Clan's annex buildings.
“Come this way, Young Master.”
Dang Soran naturally hooked her arm through mine.
My inner forearm touched her inner forearm.
“Eek!”
I startled and yanked my arm free without thinking.
Then I immediately checked the expression of the martial artist guarding Dang Soran.
...Seemed like the right call. His face was starting to crumple.
“M-Miss. How can you do this? Value yourself. What good comes from touching someone like me?”
“...Why are you like that.”
Dang Soran lowered her voice in response, whispering stickily just for me.
“...More private places than that, and you've already touched them.”
“...”
As I froze in a daze, Dang Soran looked even more delighted.
She was openly teasing me.
But distinguishing whether it came from goodwill or malice was incredibly hard.
One thing was certain: getting swept up in it made me feel pathetically small.
Another was that I wanted to smack her on the head too.
“Anyway, let's go. You must be hungry.”
Dang Soran walked ahead.
I composed myself and followed her.
“This way for the great hero.”
But then, the martial artist grabbed Gwak Du Uncle.
Uncle and I both froze again.
I looked at Dang Soran and said,
“Aren't we... eating together?”
“Oh, don't worry. I plan to treat both of you with utmost hospitality.”
“Then why separate us to eat?”
“Do you want to eat together?”
“Yes. If there's no reason to split...”
“Hmm... alright, then.”
Dang Soran readily agreed.
I was just confused. If that's the case, why bother in the first place...
“But, Young Master.”
She spoke up again.
“Is it okay if others hear our conversation...?”
Her words froze my thoughts.
“...Conversation?”
“Yes. There are things we need to sort out and move past, right? Wouldn't it be more comfortable for you to talk just the two of us?”
...She's talking about what happened in the basement.
“By the way, I don't mind either way.”
I had no other choice.
I looked at Uncle and said,
“Umm... I'll have a quick chat and come back.”
“Seojin-ah...”
“It'll be fine. Go ahead and eat.”
Dang Soran wore a soft smile.
A sunflower-like smile that showed not a hint of malice.
So why did it start feeling a bit scary?
Still, she was right.
Better to address that day once and go over it.
Apologize if needed, keep quiet if that's it, and if she demands a finger... negotiate that.
Uncle followed the martial artist, and I walked after Dang Soran.
As she snapped her fingers in the air mid-step, servants suddenly popped out from everywhere, bowing to Dang Soran.
I was startled, but she seemed used to it.
“Mapo tofu, ants climbing a tree, kung pao chicken, fish-fragrant pork shreds, twice-cooked pork—make them mildly spicy, and...”
She promptly began ordering dish after unheard-of dish.
Her natural poise, like she'd always done this, showed her standing.
“For the liquor... daughter's brew sounds good.”
“D-Daughter's brew might have... some mixed meanings...”
“Not like that. You have plenty stored anyway, so bring it.”
“...Yes.”
“Pay special attention to the flavors. Got it?”
“Yes.”
What's daughter's brew? Fancy liquor?
I couldn't hold back my unease and spoke up.
“M-Miss.”
“Yes?”
“...You don't need to go this far.”
She looked like she couldn't comprehend.
“...This is nothing.”
“...Pardon?”
“Besides, you helped resolve my heart demon. This much is only right, isn't it?”
The servants flinched at 'heart demon resolution.'
So did I.
Don't spread fake news!
No, now I get it.
This woman's trying to bury me alive!
Finally realized it.
Yeah, she stormed off angry from the basement that day... Should've known from the start with this approach.
“Heart demon resolution my ass!”
I shouted loud enough for the servants to hear.
“If you're planning to keep teasing me like this, I'll just head back.”
Then I really turned to leave.
Dang Soran grabbed my arm.
...I couldn't budge.
Not out of fear pressing me down... just couldn't muster the strength.
It was like an iron shackle gripped my forearm.
The dignity of a qi-infused martial artist.
...Fucking scary.
“...”
Even so, I pretended composure, glanced down at my arm, then glared at Dang Soran.
Silently asking if martial artists were allowed to use force on civilians.
“...Ah.”
Dang Soran finally let go. I sighed in relief too.
She stepped closer, whispering apologetically.
“My apologies. I got ahead of myself...”
“...I still don't understand your intentions, miss.”
“Young Master. I really... really just wanted to express my gratitude.”
“...”
“My teasing went too far and I failed to consider your feelings. I won't do it anymore.”
Seeing her shrink back like that, her sincerity finally shone through.
It wasn't exactly pleasant watching her deflated.
If she really just meant thanks, it made me uneasy too.
“But still... wouldn't it be best to go over things in a conversation? That moment was so unusual... Feels like this knot won't untie without talking. How much it's weighed on me that I snapped at you, who helped me then, and ran away.”
...Is that what it was?
“Maybe that's why I overdid the affection. Forgive me.”
Only after seeing her earnestness did a layer of suspicion peel from my mind.
“I won't tease anymore, Young Master. Come eat and go.”
“...Just eating, right?”
“Really, just eating. And we'll tie up that day's events. Then I won't bother you anymore.”
...No reason for me to refuse.
Tie up that day's events?
No more bothering?
So if I eat here and leave, that severs ties with Dang Soran.
While eating fancy food too.
“...Alright.”
Dang Soran pointed to an annex.
“Want to head in there first? I need to talk to the servants.”
I nodded.
Good chance to catch my breath and buy time.
I headed that way, leaving Dang Soran behind.
At the annex entrance hung the character for guest: 客.
A two-story building.
Quite grand.
The Tang Clan uses places like this for guests too.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
A pleasant aroma wafted immediately.
Inside was a table just right for two facing each other.
Stairs to the second floor were visible too.
No need for adventure; I sat at the table.
Yeah, eat and leave. End things with Dang Soran like that.
I rubbed my forearm where she'd grabbed it earlier.
...Honestly, humiliating.
Getting pinned like that by someone I'd done SM play with once.
Shouldn't a sadist be helpless against a masochist...?
...Maybe hit the gym a bit.
Even carrying Cheongwol around the basement back then was tough.
Whatever. No more entanglements after today.
Whatever. I was hungry anyway.
Eat and go.
****
Dang Soran thoroughly silenced the servants.
“If word of this reaches my father, I won't be happy.”
“We understand perfectly. Don't worry, miss.”
“Yeah. Thanks for getting it. And no worries—it's not some weird thing you're thinking.”
“Yes. We know. No way our miss would fancy some shabby guy like that.”
“...Right. When bringing food, you can ignore the sign on the door.”
“Yes, understood.”
Dang Soran sighed and headed to the room Han Seojin had entered.
The nameplate at the entrance.
客.
She ripped off that false nameplate and tossed it aside.
Servants would clean it later.
...Then she pulled the real one from her pocket—the one that should have been there.
Dang Soran (唐素蘭).
Her name gleaming gold on a green plaque.
She hung it on the door and turned it around.
Now her name was on a red background.
Signifying no entry.
She tapped her cheek and flashed a bright smile.
...Her heart raced oddly.
“Young Master, kept you waiting?”
Dang Soran strode confidently into her own room.