Cheongwol came to her senses and realized she was out in the village market.
As expected today too, people made a huge fuss over her appearance.
Cheongwol smiled and responded to them appropriately while steadily making her way toward her destination.
Before long, she arrived in front of a dumpling shop.
“Yes, thank you! Come again!”
“...”
A woman reflected in those calm eyes.
She was a decent person.
Had never once heard a single jagged rumor about her.
...And Han Seojin's friend, close to him since childhood.
Cheongwol suddenly felt regret over the time that had passed.
If, instead of training since childhood, she had come down to the village and kept up social ties with people... could she have become acquaintances with Han Seojin from a young age?
Would they have been long-time friends?
What must young Han Seojin have been like?
She envied that relationship she could no longer obtain.
Above all, to Han Seojin... Gayeong-i was his only friend aside from Cheongwol.
Why had he grown up a loner and created this whole mess?
If only he had lots of friends, she wouldn't be feeling these strange emotions.
Or, if he had no friends at all, like her.
...Then, they could have been each other's one and only friend.
Tremendously precious to each other, placing each other far above all else.
When things got tough, seeking each other out and sharing stories of daily life.
Even without stories to share, tossing jokes to draw out laughter.
“...”
Cheongwol's thoughts kept digging deeper and deeper into the earth.
If Gayeong suddenly vanished from Mount Emei... then...
“...Ah.”
Cheongwol snapped back to reality, realizing she had once again heard the whisper of her heart demon.
How could she entertain such a mad thought?
She turned her head to regain her composure and approached the dumpling shop.
“Ah, Cheongwol!”
Gayeong-i, with reddened eyes, welcomed her.
‘She was crying and clinging to him. Something must have happened.’
Cheongwol smiled and asked.
“What happened? Your eyes are red.”
“Ah...! Ahaha... N-no, it's nothing... just...”
Seeing Gayeong-i dazedly savoring some precious memory with shy delight, Cheongwol's insides burned for no reason at all.
Strangely on edge, strangely unpleasant.
“Why? Tell me.”
“No, really. Just something good...”
She hated that the two shared some secret.
Cheongwol didn't want it to remain a secret just between the two of them.
“...”
But she couldn't pry it open.
Cheongwol had no choice but to hold back, thinking of the secrets she had shared with Han Seojin.
By the way, did Han Seojin like women this plump?
Did he prefer soft, embracing types?
Cheongwol briefly lifted her own arm.
...Should she put on a bit more weight?
She earnestly contemplated what was truly a trivial matter.
Cheongwol couldn't voice the words lingering on her tongue.
How tightly did he hug you?
What emotion was it?
What does Han Seojin mean to you?
Why did you cry in my friend's arms? Of all people, why specifically in Han Seojin's?
Only then could Cheongwol name this ugly emotion.
It was jealousy.
Not serious—just light... really light jealousy.
So Cheongwol forced a smile and, unable to spill her true heart, merely whispered.
“...I'm always watching over you.”
“Yes? Ah, yes! Thank you!”
.
.
.
“Myeonghui.”
Cheongwol called out to Myeonghui, who was sweeping the temple floor.
Myeonghui flinched in surprise and looked at her.
Myeonghui, who had been hesitating, walked over to where Cheongwol was.
“D-did you call me?”
Cheongwol smiled and grabbed Myeonghui's wrist.
Myeonghui looked startled, but Cheongwol paid it no mind.
She hadn't called her to torment her, and if this counted as torment, what her senior sisters had done to her was far worse.
Since Myeonghui found her so uncomfortable due to her own guilty conscience, Cheongwol decided not to worry about it.
“Wh-where are we going?”
“Shh. Follow me.”
Cheongwol dragged Myeonghui out of the Emei Sect.
The deeper they ventured into the dense mid-mountain of Mount Emei, the more fiercely Myeonghui resisted.
“Sister, p-please just tell me...”
“Just a moment, Myeonghui. Come along.”
“Eek...!”
It seemed many now feared Cheongwol because of recent events.
The punishment of Baekhui, the skills shown in the sparring match, her status as a member of the Hidden Dragon Society, the argument with Soun, and more...
They might be able to bully her as a group, but alone, it was difficult.
Just as Myeonghui was about to cry out tearfully, they arrived at the destination.
“...Huh?”
It was one of the areas on Mount Emei that Cheongwol treasured like a jewel.
A small clearing near the Drunken Immortal Woods of Mount Emei.
A place where sweeping vistas blended with trees and flowers.
Spend time here, and you could even watch birds and small animals come out to play.
Myeonghui froze momentarily at the beautiful sight.
“Here.”
Soon, Cheongwol pulled a dumpling from her sleeve.
Meat dumplings bought from Gayeong's dumpling shop.
Myeonghui awkwardly accepted the dumpling and, following Cheongwol's guidance, sat down in the prime spot.
“Sect life is tough, right? Sit and vent your hardships. It's my apology for raising my voice a bit last time.”
“S-sister...”
Myeonghui was too shocked to respond properly.
In her stead, Cheongwol split the dumpling.
“Eat.”
“B-but it's meat, sister...!”
“Emei Sect doesn't forbid meat.”
“Then sister, have a bite too...”
“I'm fine.”
At those words, Myeonghui stared piercingly at the meat dumpling before taking a huge bite.
A flicker of感動 passed over her face.
Cheongwol swallowed hard as she watched Myeonghui.
Among the Emei Sect's second-generation disciples, Myeonghui was the next most beloved after Cheongwol.
Ultimately, every disciple's goal was to shine in order to draw sponsorships to the sect.
Cheongwol was no exception.
And because of that, they inevitably became aware of who wielded greater influence...
Though not even half of Cheongwol's, Myeonghui too received love from many and drew in sponsorships.
Cheongwol knew well why she herself attracted sponsorships.
She'd heard plenty that she was beautiful, and that her skills were promising.
Regardless of gender, age, or status, anyone from the Central Plains loved her.
In contrast, Myeonghui was different.
Her sponsors were exclusively men.
Unintentionally, she had a reputation for enchanting people effortlessly.
Slightly plump. Not particularly tall, nor high in martial prowess, yet she held that position.
...Just like Gayeong.
“Myeonghui.”
“Yes.”
Cheongwol casually revealed her purpose.
“You... how do you receive so much love from men?”
“-Pfft!”
Myeonghui spat out the dumpling she'd just eaten, as if unable to believe what she'd heard.
But Cheongwol remained calm, and Myeonghui reined herself in.
“Yes?”
“Just curious.”
“...Sister Cheongwol wasn't interested in that sort of thing, were you?”
“Still not. But... learning how to be loved for the sake of the Emei Sect isn't a bad idea.”
It wasn't an excuse. It was true.
If there was something she didn't know, she wanted to learn it for the sect.
She was tired of the Emei Sect, but that was a separate matter. She couldn't just abandon her duties because she'd grown weary.
...However, at the same time, she couldn't help the face of one man flickering at the back of her mind.
“You receive love from countless men. I want to learn the method.”
“Sister Cheongwol already receives more love from men than I do.”
...Then why Han Seojin.
‘They had a hot, ho~t embrace?’
“...”
Cheongwol deeply furrowed her brows at the voice echoing in her ears.
Myeonghui fidgeted unable to stay still and cried out.
“N-no, that's not what I...!”
“No, Myeonghui. It's not because of you... it was my own ugly thoughts. Anyway, if you teach me the method, I'd be delighted.”
Myeonghui hesitated a moment, then shouted as if venting long-suppressed resentment.
“S-sister doesn't even try from the start...!”
“Try?”
“Have you ever even put powder on your face?”
...She hadn't.
“...Does that make a difference?”
“For someone with skin like yours... well, anyway, that's the kind of effort. Painting your lips redder! Drawing your brows darker...”
“...”
“You're already pretty, so my words might not mean much... but try grooming yourself to be even more beautiful. That's all I have to offer.”
“Men like that?”
“They go crazy for it, sister. Men are animals that focus on what's visible. Delicate hands, pretty-shaped moderately ample breasts, slim waist, wide hips!”
Even so, Myeonghui's figure wasn't exactly...
Yet she received so much love.
Myeonghui noticed and offered an excuse.
“P-pleasing people comes after that. Personality is hard to change too...”
“...What about people who like fat ones?”
“...Is someone getting on your nerves?”
Cheongwol seriously furrowed her brows.
“Of course not.”
She was an Emei Sect nun. It wasn't that someone was on her nerves...
...She just wanted to get closer to her friend.
Friends were supposed to do things the other liked.
Myeonghui seemed to infer something from the conversation for a moment...
...But soon appeared to conclude that Cheongwol couldn't possibly like the Leather Room's owner, and took another bite of dumpling as she spoke.
“If there's someone like that... well, just gain some weight, right? Though tastes that unique are probably few and far between.”
Was that so?
Then, the reason Han Seojin embraced Gayeong was that he liked her inner qualities more than her outward appearance?
“...”
...Thinking about it, that felt even worse.
She wanted to go find Han Seojin right now.
But she had nothing to say once there.
And if he ended up abandoning her and choosing Gayeong...
“...Ugh.”
Cheongwol felt pain from the mere imagination and endured it with deep breaths.
The lack of certainty was the most miserable part of all.
...Really. Just eliminate her... she had the ability, the power...
...No. Please, don't let the heart demon sway her.
Once more, she mulled over the conversation she'd shared with Han Seojin.
The words that if she behaved prettily, he would like her.
...Yes. For now, she'd believe just those words.
“Myeonghui.”
“Yes.”
Cheongwol shyly uttered words she never imagined herself saying.
“...Could you perhaps teach me how to do makeup?”
****
Pfft, pfft, Dang Soran giggled while standing behind a man.
Meanwhile, I was frozen stiff in front of the man.
The martial artist who had guarded Dang Soran back in Chengdu.
A retainer from the Tang Clan had come to me.
The man seemed slightly surprised by Dang Soran's behavior.
But Dang Soran paid no heed and yelled at me.
“I told you, right? I sent him. Don't worry too much. If it looks like real big trouble, I'll save you.”
“...”
“But this is a good chance for a proper scolding. That way, you'll fix that arrogant attitude toward me.”
She burst into pfft-pfft laughter again.
...I never knew holding back the urge to smack her would be this hard.
The martial artist, who introduced himself as Mugeol, said to me.
“Young hero. Let's step into the Leather Room for a talk.”
Sweat was pouring out in streams.
This little bitch Dang Soran...! She really snitched on me?
I scratched my head furiously and headed into the Leather Room.
I somehow hid my anxious heart.
Glancing back, Dang Soran was whispering something in Mugeol's ear.
Unlike when teasing me, she wore a slightly worried expression.
‘...Treat him gently... got it?’
‘Yes. Don't worry.’
Then Dang Soran met my eyes and flashed that tomboyish smile again.
I gritted my teeth and glared at her.
At that, Dang Soran flinched in surprise and averted her gaze.
Mugeol entered the Leather Room and closed the door.
I could hear my heart pounding away.
What to do? Grovel flat?
How much had Dang Soran told him?
But for him to come all the way here... it didn't seem like a simple matter...
Should I kneel?
But I didn't do anything wrong! That bitch completely toyed with me-
“-My apologies.”
At that moment, Mugeol bowed his head.
“...Huh?”
I voiced my confusion without thinking.
He slowly raised his head and pulled a letter from his bosom.
“Our Clan Leader also wished to apologize to you, young hero. Along with thanks for graciously tolerating his willful daughter's rudeness.”
From the depths of my chest bottom, a long and cautious sigh of relief escaped.
...Whew. Thank goodness. Fuck, as expected. Dang Soran wasn't completely insane after all. She kept quiet about the SM play stuff.
“But please try to understand our circumstances a little. After a long heart demon, Miss Soran is finally glimpsing a path to recovery. As such, we are approaching even her whims with the utmost care.”
I realized I wasn't in the inferior position and grumbled.
“...I have my own life too. I don't see why I should put up with someone else's circumstances.”
“You're absolutely right. The Clan Leader understands that as well. However, since long ago... he has made it a habit to say that if someone appeared who could resolve Miss Soran's heart demon, he would do anything. It's the same now.”
Mugeol rummaged in his bosom again and produced a small item politely wrapped in fine silk.
“Compared to the burden you bear, young hero, this is woefully insufficient... but it is the Clan Leader's sincerity. Please take even greater pity on our miss.”
“...What's this?”
...What the heck.
A treasure from the Tang Clan?
No matter how much I tried to play dumb, something that looked this precious made treasure thoughts unavoidable.
Then this could accelerate my plans?
What I lacked right now was money and pretext.
No money to settle somewhere new, no pretext for suddenly vanishing.
But pretext was somewhat fabricable.
Now that I had the donkey, leaving traces of a mishap somewhere would cover it somewhat.
But money?
...Somehow, this treasure in front of me seemed like it could solve my worries.
Mugeol carefully unwrapped the silk pouch.
A small herbal root poked out.
“This is the Detoxification Immortal Root. A treasure of our Tang Clan, harvested only once every ten years... If consumed, it grants resistance to most poisons for the next decade. At the very least, you won't have to worry about dying from wild mushrooms. Even in our Sichuan Tang Clan, it is quite precious, so please appreciate the sincerity—”
“—Ah, I won't accept it.”
“Yes?”
Mugeol looked utterly shocked, as if he never dreamed a poor guy like me would refuse this.
But I had to suppress my pounding heart.
...No, you crazy daughter-obsessed Poison King uncle.
This is the herb the protagonist absolutely has to eat.
What am I supposed to do with it given to me!!