Chapter 65 - Martial Arts Masochist

Impossible. It couldn't be Cheong Wol. Yet, she was holding his hand so tenderly. And leaning on him so naturally. Could the Emei Sect's nun, the Millennium Flower of the Emei Sect, have left her order just to be with that man? The one who claimed she would become a formidable heroine like Mu Wol Satae, now fluttering at the side of a man so delicately... Her heart pounded. And as if in sympathy, the soles of her feet, still aching from being struck last night, throbbed in unison. Her once-gray world began to burst into color around the pair. If that was indeed Cheong Wol. If it truly was Cheong Wol. ...What kind of extraordinary being was Han Seo Jin that Cheong Wol would act in such a manner? Though she had sensed a connection between them back in the basement, it now seemed much deeper than she'd realized. If discovered, it would be the end of Cheong Wol. If the world found out that a nun from the Emei Sect was enjoying a clandestine meeting with a man, it would cause quite the scandal in the martial world. ...Cheong Wol was surely aware of that. She must know the reputation of the Emei Sect rests upon her shoulders. And yet, despite knowing this, she was doing it. For someone as resolute in her world as Cheong Wol to be this obsessive... -Gulp. Tang So Ran swallowed hard. "..." Just then, Han Seo Jin slid his arm behind the legs of the woman wearing the veil. And lifted her up as if she were a child. "…!" The woman, behind the veil, was cradled in his arms without a word of protest. Han Seo Jin quickly apologized to the surrounding crowd, clearing their path, and they moved away to a secluded area. Tang So Ran's imagination ran wild. What kind of relationship did they have? Surely not lovers. They didn't seem like lovers. Were they, then, something akin to that? Or was this merely a delusion she was entertaining to rationalize the nonsense unfolding before her? Was that indeed Cheong Wol a moment ago? For Han Seo Jin to put his hands on the body of an Emei Sect nun like that... Where did he muster such audacity? If discovered, he wouldn't be safe either, just like Cheong Wol. Her feet continued to throb. The image of the man who had struck her was vivid in her mind. Tang So Ran's heart raced. Her once monotonous existence had been thrown into chaos by these absurd events. Han Seo Jin. Han Seo Jin. She kept murmuring his name. The man dear to Cheong Wol. A small voice suddenly queried within her. What would it feel like to take him away? How would it feel to have him as her own? ... How would that flawless Cheong Wol look? "-Miss So Ran!" "Yes?" Namgoong Yeon was touching her shoulder. "Your nose!" "Oh." Tang So Ran brought her hand to her nose. She felt a warm sensation at her fingertips. A drop of blood. Looking down at the table, she noticed a couple more had already fallen. "Are you alright? You're bleeding, and your face is flushed." "I'm fine. I was just... deep in thought." Feeling the intense gaze of the younger disciples upon her, Tang So Ran carefully rose from her seat. "I'll go get some fresh air." And with that, she exited. **** Cheong Wol was nestled in Han Seo Jin's arms, reaching into the veil with her hand. She was hiding her face. Even the veil was not enough to cover her shame. "Ha ha! Aren't you two charming!" "You look comfortable, Miss, being carried like that!" The people around them cheered. Her heart pounded wildly under all the attention. Her legs had given out, rendering her unable to move, prompting Han Seo Jin to lift her up. "It's okay. You've done well so far. You're beautiful enough as is, Wol-ah." "Uh…uh..." "Isn't this what you've worked hard for? I almost want to kiss you." "Don't... Don't cross the line!" Mustering her remaining strength, Cheong Wol protested his teasing. Yet, strangely, her words seemed to lack sincerity. The difference between Han Seo Jin’s typical demeanor and his current behavior was staggering. While timid and frail as Jangju of the leather workshop, he was rough and manly when leading her now. She could no longer discern what his true nature was. Cheong Wol leaned against his arms slowly. Her body found comfort there. Having exerted all her energy while tense, she felt even more so. It was a truth she couldn't voice. The embrace of Han Seo Jin was comfortable. Surprisingly, the weak man she thought him to be lifted her up with such strength, and her heart responded to it. "You've followed my orders to the end. Pushed yourself until you couldn't stand. How could today see you more beautiful than before? Truly deserving of a reward." "…ugh." The praises that came back tenfold for her hardships were music to her ears. Cheong Wol blushed, trying to hide her expression. She just realized it, but... She loved the sight of Han Seo Jin happy because of her. When the often imposing and intimidating man was this satisfied and delighted by her actions, Cheong Wol felt equally relieved and pleased. So much that she wanted to see more of his joy, a thought not befitting a valiant woman. It would be like receiving the recognition of a strict teacher who would only scold. While continuing his pace, Han Seo Jin stopped before a shop. He gently set down only Cheong Wol's legs. Cheong Wol remained stiff, elbows nestled into the veil, ensuring the dangling rope was invisible. Holding the cloth in place with her lips to prevent it from slipping. She gazed at the shop. It was a confectionery. "Thank you." After quickly buying some confectioneries, Han Seo Jin handed them to Cheong Wol. Cheong Wol accepted them with a perplexed look, using her free hand. Why would he buy a treat meant for children... "Whew." "Uh!" Han Seo Jin soon lifted Cheong Wol into his arms like a child once again. This time, he began to walk toward a truly secluded place. "You've been a good girl today, so this is your reward." "Huh?" "Enjoy it, Wol-ah." "...” In Han Seo Jin's arms, Cheong Wol gazed at the confectionery. It was a snack she'd never tried before. Wasn't it peculiar for a nun to eat a treat like this? "...A snack for children-" "-Eat it quickly. I want to see you enjoy it." Under Han Seo Jin's insistence, Cheong Wol tentatively moved. Cradled in Han Seo Jin's arms, the likelihood of her face being recognized was significantly reduced. He was purposefully heading towards a secluded area, allowing Cheong Wol to gradually lower her guard. She slipped the confectionery past the veil and into her mouth. The snack brushed against the veil a little, but it wasn't a big issue. -...Crunch. She took a bite of the sweet treat coated with sugar. "...!" "Is it good?" "..." Cheong Wol nodded quietly. From the meat buns to the confectionery, everything Han Seo Jin gave her tasted delectable. Who else would think to treat her so tenderly, gifting her confectionery like a child? Who else would buy confectionery for her, known both as a nun and a spirited heroine? Only Han Seo Jin. ...Even if he was a penniless vagabond. -...Crunch. Cheong Wol took another bite, feeling strangely emotional. Perhaps it was because he had bought her the confectionery with money squeezed from an empty pocket. It felt like compensation for a childhood that seemed lost. As if offering solace to her own younger self, who had wielded a sword relentlessly since she was ten. "You did great today." Han Seo Jin continued to offer compliments sweeter than the confectionery. "..." Her emotions swelled with his words, making it difficult to even finish eating. "Ugh..." She let out a soft groan instead. She couldn't quite understand the pounding of her heart. But one thing was certain. Coming to the city had been the right decision. The fight in the basement, the arduous pursuit after him. Even the apparent resolve of her inner demon. It was all worth it. Cheong Wol took another bite of the confectionery. Then, cautiously, she offered the cherished treat in her hand to Han Seo Jin. "..." "...” Without hesitating, Han Seo Jin took a big bite of the confectionery. "Thank you, Wol-ah. My Wol is kind-hearted, too." She felt yet another strange sensation watching him eat the snack her lips had touched. The ticklish feeling was so awkward she inadvertently spoke sternly. "You there, Jangju." "Yes?" "...Just one... favor." "Tell me." Cheong Wol felt it was trivial bringing up the past, but was too uneasy not to voice it now. "...This game, it's only with me." "Huh?" The thought of his smile and praise directed at another left her feeling oddly suffocated. She wished the embarrassment and kindness he shared were only for her. "...Even if others ask you to... refuse them. Understood...?" "..." "Especially someone like Tang So Ran..." Han Seo Jin chuckled. "I won't." He gave his word. "I told you before, I dislike martial artists." **** -Thud...Thud...Thud... Someone was pounding away. The scene she had witnessed earlier kept returning to her mind. Even after escaping the crowd, Tang So Ran's heart continued to pound loudly. A moment that might have been Cheong Wol's secret meeting. Heading back to the Tang family might confirm things for sure. If she asked whether Cheong Wol had borrowed a veil, she'd know for certain. And Han Seo Jin's presence became more vivid in her mind. Perhaps because she had seen him earlier, the oppressive aura she tried to suppress kept resurfacing. Her inner demons squirmed. Han Seo Jin. The name that repeatedly disrupted her monotonous existence. She found herself desiring him. No, she told herself. Don't do this. Cheong Wol would have her reasons. She shouldn't covet the man Cheong Wol had chosen. She wasn't particularly driven to win over a man, after all. It was wrong to behave like this. ...But it wasn't a 'man' she coveted. It was Han Seo Jin. She couldn't forget the pain he inflicted on her. Not because of Cheong Wol. But because Tang So Ran herself wanted him. She, too, struggled against this drab world. ...No, she mustn't. It wasn't a side she'd want to show her father. What would she say to her siblings? And how could she face the elder who cherished her if they found out? Even if it resolved her inner demons, it was a disturbingly odd method. Don't do it. Do it. Don't. Do it. Don't. Do it. Locked in endless conflict, she finally collapsed to the ground. Her mind was overwhelmed by the noise. It was unbearably loud. "Ugh! So...noisy...!" The person Cheong Wol cherished. The one who had broken her resolve as Dokbong, and whom the selfless nun desired. Yet another who suffered along with her inner conflicts. However, she suffered with her inner demons just as much. The punishment from Han Seo Jin, in this colorless world, was intense. What would she do? What choice would she make? Hundreds of voices mixed, whispering their advice to her. Amidst groans of torment, she made a choice. Thump. Like closing a book. "...Hah...hah..." And at that moment, all the chaos tormenting her disappeared. Peace washed over her. "...Hah." Tang So Ran let out a long sigh. Her resolve brought relief. She gently closed her eyes. Yes. And quietly she whispered. ...Take him. A choice she had resolved never to make—to take what belonged to another. Yet now, the desire was overwhelming, impossible to resist.