Absolute Warrior V3C4: Meetings
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Soeun ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
She was deep in the woods near the Evil Coalition's territory, and dozens of martial artists were chasing her from behind. She scanned her surroundings desperately, but Crimson Tiger was nowhere in sight.
Where are you?
She couldn't even cry out for him, afraid the pursuers would hear.
Far ahead, she spotted a small stream and stumbled towards it. Her breath hitched in her chest and her legs felt like they were on fire. She couldn't run anymore.
Collapsing by the water's edge, she drank from it greedily and splashed some water on her face.
As her reflection wavered in the ripples, however, Crimson Tiger's face materialized behind her.
"Ah!"
Joy surged through her, and she whipped her head around, but no one was there. It was just an illusion.
She turned back to the water, only to find that the stream flowed crimson, having turned into a river of blood.
"Ack!"
Startled, she scrambled to her feet as dozens of Evil Coalition martial artists closed in from all sides. Bare-chested and with lusting eyes that promised violation, they looked like wild beasts ready to pounce on her at any moment.
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Sheer terror sent a violent shudder through her body.
"No!" she screamed just as the men lunged at her.
Soeun shot upright in bed. "Oh…" she sighed, relieved.
Her entire body was drenched in sweat. For days, she'd been plagued by the same nightmare, one in which she kept losing Crimson Tiger, the man who had saved her.
She sat blankly for a moment before dragging herself out of bed. Someone was standing outside her door.
"Your bath is ready," the maid's voice echoed from outside.
"Got it," Soeun replied.
At present, she lived in considerable comfort. A maid attended to her every need, and delicious meals were served on time. She even had a bathroom attached to her room. Aside from her inability to leave, she enjoyed the kind of comfortable life typically reserved for the cherished daughter of a prestigious family.
She slipped out of her clothes and sank into the wooden bathtub. Her snow-white skin, slender waist, long legs, and firm thighs could make even her maid's heart flutter.
Crimson Tiger surfaced in her thoughts again. She hadn't seen him once since that day.
Will I never see him again?
She hadn't realized it when they were together, but now that they were apart, his face was constantly on her mind. If it were a fierce, passionate emotion, she might somehow find a way to sort through her feelings, but instead, all she felt was a subtle longing for him.
A yearning more unsettling than intense physical desire.
After her bath, she changed into a clean white martial arts uniform and tied her long hair back firmly.
"You look truly beautiful," the maid offered the same compliment as always.
"Thank you."
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Soeun returned to her room. As usual, breakfast was already laid out for her. Her routine remained unchanged.
She ate as usual, then stood by the window, sipping tea.
Suddenly, she stiffened. Two people, the first visitors since her arrival, were entering the manor.
They were Lee Dansim and Ju Hwayin, who was disguised as Gahwa.
"Is she doing well?" Ju Hwayin asked.
Lee Dansim replied, "Yes, I was told she's been quiet and well-behaved."
"She hasn't asked to see the person in charge?"
"No."
"She's a clever child."
"What do you mean by that?"
Ju Hwayin paused as she walked through the garden. The flowers, just beginning to bloom, swayed gently in the morning breeze. "I imagine that it must be quite frightening to be held captive in an unfamiliar place. She must miss her father, too, but waiting so quietly shows she has patience and wisdom beyond her years."
"Well, she was a member of the Ironblood Nines," Lee Dansim pointed out.
"I hear that she's pretty?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. But of course, she's nothing compared to you, Young Lady."
Ju Hwayin let out a small chuckle. "I didn't ask you about that. She must be prettier than me, then."
"That's not it, not at all!" Lee Dansim stuttered, flustered.
Ju Hwayin smiled. "She is young. That alone makes her more beautiful than me."
"You were truly ravishing at her age, Young Lady."
"What about now?"
"Are you still not done teasing me?"
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"Haha, no, I'm done." Ju Hwayin gazed towards the manor. "Still, it's a shame. If it weren't for Senior Brother, I might have considered raising her myself."
The two women continued toward the building, but just as they were about to enter, an attendant hurried over, whispered something in Lee Dansim's ear, and disappeared.
Lee Dansim's eyes widened in surprise. "They've assigned Crimson Tiger to the Inner Court."
"What? Who did? Senior Brother?"
"Yes."
Ju Hwayin's face flushed slightly as she thought for a moment, until finally a mysterious smile touched her lips. "That's just like Senior Brother."
"What do you mean?"
"Senior Brother has a habit of keeping people he has strong sentiments for near him in order to steel his own heart."
"I don't understand. Didn't he do that to make killing Crimson Tiger easier?"
Ju Hwayin shook her head. "No. It's the opposite. If Senior Brother wanted to kill Crimson Tiger, he would never have brought him to the Inner Court. He would have just had him assassinated. Sending him to the Inner Court means that Senior Brother intends to overcome this trial himself. He wants to face the man who killed his own blood, look him in the eye, and refrain from killing him as a way of getting over the pain. You can think of it as using direct confrontation to train one's mastery of the mind."
Lee Dansim nodded slowly. She understood the logic, but she couldn't accept such a notion. If it were her, she would have either killed the man or sent him somewhere where she would never have to see him again.
Her mistress, on the other hand, looked as if she completely understood Baek Museong's feelings.
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"Still, that doesn't change the fact that Jin Chung is the real problem," Ju Hwayin sighed as she entered the manor.
"Welcome, but… who are you?" Soeun, who had noticed their approach, greeted Ju Hwayin nervously. From a distance, Ju Hwayin had looked like an ordinary woman, but up close, she could tell that the woman possessed something more than just beauty. There was an air of authority and dignity about her that only belonged to those who held positions of power.
"Who I am isn't important," Ju Hwayin replied curtly.
Soeun steeled her voice and repeated herself, "I asked who you are."
Ju Hwayin smiled at her assertiveness. "Blood truly doesn't lie, it seems."
"……" Soeun's eyes flickered at the mention of her father.
"Greetings, my lady. I am someone who serves your father," Ju Hwayin said calmly, slowly pouring the tea served by a maid into Soeun's and her own cups. "Shall we have a drink first?"
She took a leisurely sip, but Soeun remained tense.
"You are quite beautiful," Ju Hwayin complimented sincerely. Soeun's appearance was even more striking than her subordinates' reports had suggested, and even the hardships she had endured during her escape hadn't marred her beauty.
"Where is my father?" Soeun demanded.
"He's at the Association Headquarters."
"Then why was I brought here?"
"There's something you need to know before you meet your father."
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"What is it?"
"Your father is a very high-ranking member of the Association."
Soeun gulped anxiously. "How high are we talking about?"
"He is the First Young Lord Baek Museong, one of the candidates for the next chairman."
Soeun's eyes flew wide open in shock. "My father… is the Association's First Young Lord?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Soeun was stunned speechless from shock. After a long pause, she asked, "Why didn't my father come to see me himself?"
"Because the Young Lord is busy preparing for his marriage," Ju Hwayin answered truthfully.
"Marriage?" Soeun's body shook from the unexpected revelation.
"Yes. He is on the cusp of a political marriage that will allow him to gain the support of the most powerful faction within the Association, but there is a problem. His fiancée's family is unaware of your existence."
Soeun nodded. That made sense.
"As such, it would problematic if your true identity were to be revealed."
"……"
"You are an intelligent woman. Surely, you understand your situation, don't you?"
Soeun nodded slowly. "Then why was I brought here?"
"It was not your father who brought you here. In fact, he doesn't even know that you're still alive."
"What did you say?" Soeun shot up from her seat.
"I brought you here at my own discretion."
"What? Why?"
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"You are my Senior Brother's only blood relative. I couldn't just leave you to rot in the Evil Coalition."
Taken aback, Soeun slowly sank back into her chair. "Does this mean… I can't meet my father?"
"If your father finds out that you are in my hands, he will be forced to cancel the wedding. That would have fatal consequences for him. You don't want that, do you?"
Soeun's face darkened. She had never imagined that her father had such a status or was in such a predicament. Based on her life here the past few days, she had only guessed that he was someone relatively important within the Association. The unexpected truth left her both confused and livid.
She demanded, "When is the wedding?"
"It will be held two months from now."
"Two months."
"There might be a way for you to see him before then."
"What?"
"I did you a lot of harm with my unilateral action, so I will provide you with compensation. I can arrange a meeting between you and him, but can I trust you to keep your relationship a secret for the time being?"
"So… even if I meet him, I have to hide the fact that I'm his daughter?" Soeun asked, her voice quivering.
Ju Hwayin nodded. "Yes."
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After a moment's thought, Soeun nodded in agreement. She didn't want to be locked up here for two months just waiting for her father. Besides, she wanted to meet him before the wedding. She had broken through enemy lines and come all this way only to see him.
Ju Hwayin warned her sternly, "You must keep your promise. If you break it, the Young Lord's career, and even his life, might be finished."
"I… I'll keep my promise," Soeun stammered, though a spark lit up in her eyes.
"I'll be in touch soon." Ju Hwayin smiled faintly, then turned to leave.
Soeun asked, "Wait. One last thing. What kind of person is my father?"
"He is a strong man, and more determined than anyone else in this jianghu." Ju Hwayin smiled. "I'm sure he will be very proud of you."
"Will he really?"
"What father in this world wouldn't love a daughter as beautiful as you, Lady Baek?"
Ju Hwayin exited the room, and Lee Dansim, who had been waiting outside, fell into step beside her.
When they had left the manor, Lee Dansim asked, "Why did you tell her about the First Young Lord?"
"To completely deceive someone, you need to mix truth with lies."
"I fear Lady Baek might take action rashly and ruin things."
"She seemed intelligent. I doubt she'll do this." Ju Hwayin paused briefly at the manor's main gate. "My original plan was to just keep her hidden and use her at a critical moment, but when I heard that Senior Brother had summoned that man to the Inner Court… I changed my mind. Simply revealing his daughter's existence won't be enough to bring him down. He will certainly be dealt a blow, but he won't collapse from that alone."
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"What do you have in mind?" Lee Dansim asked, feeling a little uneasy.
Ju Hwayin was superior to any woman she had ever met, and she trusted her mistress' ability to judge people and read the world. Serving her was an infinite honor, but Ju Hwayin often reminded her that the First Young Lord was also a formidable person.
Sometimes, that made her feel anxious. Like now.
Ju Hwayin grinned deviously. "Send her to the Hundred Flavors Restaurant."
"What?" Lee Dansim was stunned by the completely unexpected suggestion. "That's too risky!"
"What is?"
"Her identity could be exposed."
"And hiding her here is safer?"
Lee Dansim fell silent. This place wasn't completely safe either. The Association was littered with dozens of internal and external spies, all trying to dig up any information they could get their hands on. There were no perfect secrets in this jianghu.
"Why are you sending her to him?"
"Hahaha!" Ju Hwayin laughed. It seemed that Lee Dansim had assumed that she was entrusting Soeun to Crimson Tiger for protection, but that wasn't her intention. "I'm not sending her to him."
"Pardon?"
"I'm sending her to Senior Brother." A cryptic smile played on Ju Hwayin's lips. "Do you know what's more fascinating than an interesting book?"
"What is it?"
"Reality."
"…!"
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"Reality is always more moving than a fabricated story."
"……" Lee Dansim waited quietly for her mistress to continue. She couldn't fathom why Ju Hwayin was suddenly saying such random things.
"Deep emotions always bring tears, but artificial constructs are ultimately fake. Senior Brother won't be moved by something that isn't authentic."
"What are you suggesting?
"This affair must become a story that cannot be watched without tears." Ju Hwayin's eyes flashed dangerously. "When that happens, Senior Brother will crumble from within."
Crimson Tiger settled into his role at the Hundred Flavors Restaurant surprisingly quickly.
The manager's quarters were located outside of the Association's compound. It was a cozy house with a spacious yard, much bigger and better than the one he'd had in the Outer Court during his time as a warehouse manager. The walk to the Association took about thirty minutes, a perfect distance for a leisurely stroll.
When the waves of martial artists descended on the restaurant for their meals, the place became incredibly hectic. During these busy times, Crimson Tiger always willingly pitched in and lent a hand without anyone asking.
At first, Hong Maerang had waved him off, insisting that he didn't need to help, but Crimson Tiger brushed off her protests and helped them anyway. To their surprise, his capable hands proved to be a great help during the rush hours.
Crimson Tiger treated the staff with genuine warmth, and the Hundred Flavors Restaurant family gradually opened their hearts to this superior who didn't put on airs.
However, he didn't just carry plates and idle away his time. At night, instead of his usual martial arts training, he put all his efforts into mastering the Thousand Transformations Hundred Faces Art.
The more he learned, the more fascinating this divine skill became. The time it took him to change his face became shorter and shorter, and his transformations became increasingly immaculate. He could even imitate voices to a certain extent now.
After the martial artists finished their meals, it was time for the staff to eat. They pushed several tables together and gathered for their belated meal.
In the beginning, Crimson Tiger's meals were served separately, but he now ate together with them. Moreover, even though he had only been with them for a short while, the staff chatted freely and comfortably in front of him.
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"By the way, why aren't you married yet, Manager?" Hong Maerang asked.
Crimson Tiger shrugged. "Somehow, I missed the right time. Why are you asking? Are you planning to play matchmaker?"
"Hoho, it's not impossible. I've successfully matched more than ten couples, you know."
"More than ten?"
"I have a good eye for people."
"Then why are you still single?"
"A monk can't shave his own head, can he?"
"I've heard that monks can shave their own heads these days."
"Please refrain from making jokes that are behind the times."
"Hahahaha!" Crimson Tiger laughed heartily. Hong Maerang might be middle-aged, but she wasn't stuffy for her age. In fact, she had the closest relationship with the one hundred and twenty martial artists who ate there every day.
On top of that, most of their customers were guards. Like most sentries who had nothing better to do while standing watch, they were sensitive to rumors and naturally knew a lot of intriguing stories.
As such, he learned a lot just by interacting with her and the restaurant staff.
"Even the First Young Lord is getting married soon, isn't he? Although I don't know for sure, he's probably around your age, Manager."
"His influence will be even stronger once he joins forces with Sword Heaven."
"There are already rumors that the First Young Lord will be the successor."
"Will the Third Young Lady allow that?"
"What if she doesn't?"
"Hongmae, if you were the Third Young Lady, would you just stand by and watch as your rival gains the advantage?"
Hong Maerang looked around carefully and lowered her voice. "Don't say such dangerous things." Almost immediately, she added loudly, "She probably wouldn't just sit on the sidelines."
"What would you do if you were her?"
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"Hmm, if it were me…" Hong Maerang thought for a moment, then muttered softly, "If it were me, I'd arrange an assassination."
Crimson Tiger chuckled softly, "If she could, wouldn't she have done it already? Would the First Young Lord die so easily?"
"Oh no, I wasn't talking about the First Young Lord."
"Then who?"
"I would target Miss Sin. If there's no woman to marry, then there's no wedding, right?"
"What?" Crimson Tiger's expression turned serious in an instant.
"What's the matter? It's a joke, a joke."
"Hongmae, did you know that you're a terrifying person?" Crimson Tiger teased, but deep down, he was flabbergasted.
He honestly hadn't considered the possibility of canceling the wedding by assassinating Sin Yeongyeong. The very notion of achieving a goal by killing an innocent woman was completely foreign to him.
If Hong Maerang could come up with an idea like that, what about the Third Young Lady? The thought occurred to him that she likely harbored malice several times, no, a hundred times more intense. He had learned a lot from this seemingly trivial conversation.
Just then, one of the young men asked, "By the way, is it true that someone new is coming today?
Crimson Tiger nonchalantly replied, "So I heard."
"You say that as if it has nothing to do with you."
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"Hongmae will take care of it, right?"
"Do you actually care about the restaurant or not? Make up your mind," Hong Maerang snapped irritably.
Everyone smiled as they watched the two of them interact. Although Crimson Tiger pretended to be a lazy young master, he was remarkably capable when it came to work.
Of course, this was because Crimson Tiger had become much more proactive compared to his previous warehouse assignment.
Two things had influenced this change.
The first was the big brother persona he had adopted during the Evil Coalition mission. The experience of actively becoming someone else had been immensely helpful. Before, he had always been aware of being undercover, always tense. Now it felt natural.
The second was the Thousand Transformations Hundred Faces Art. By directly altering his face instead of relying on a human skin mask, the personality and character associated with the face greatly enhanced Crimson Tiger's immersion in his method acting.
"Anyway, why are they finally sending someone now? They never sent us backup no matter how much we asked before."
"That's what I'm saying."
"It must be thanks to you, Manager."
Crimson Tiger puffed out his chest. "Of course."
Everyone chuckled heartily.
"Anyway, I hope whoever comes is good at their job."
"I don't care if they can't work, I just hope it's a pretty girl."
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The young men fervently agreed, while the stout, middle-aged women scoffed, saying it was unlikely.
"Don't worry. A pretty girl will come," Crimson Tiger assured.
Hong Maerang asked, "How can you be so sure?"
"I've always been lucky with women."
"Well, meeting me proves that point, I suppose."
"Haha! I guess it does indeed!"
Just then, someone entered.
"Huh? It's a man?" One of the young men tilted his head in confusion. Instead of the expected woman, a middle-aged man had walked in.
Crimson Tiger froze.
BADUMP, BADUMP…
His heart suddenly began to pound. Even though they had never met before, the instant he saw that man, he knew who he was.
The First Young Lord!
It wasn't just the unique aura emanating from the man despite his ordinary appearance. It was a sense of destiny. A fated connection.
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Baek Museong smiled. "Looks like everyone's eating."
"Who might you be?" a young man nearby asked.
Gong Suk, who had been staring blankly at the man, shot to his feet. "Could it be…?"
Surprisingly, the first person to recognize the First Young Lord was Gong Suk, who usually kept to the kitchen. He had seen him once before when he helped out in another kitchen.
"First Young Lord!" Hong Maerang gasped and scrambled to her feet. She had seen the First Young Lord a few times from afar and recognized him immediately, but despite her good memory, the thought of him visiting the Hundred Flavors Restaurant in person seemed so impossible that she doubted her eyes. It wasn't until she saw Gong Suk's reaction that she finally confirmed that she wasn't hallucinating.
At the mention of his title, everyone leaped to their feet and bowed deeply but awkwardly. ""Welcome!"" they greeted.
Crimson Tiger approached the First Young Lord and bowed politely. "Welcome. I am Jin Ho, the manager."
"I am Baek Museong."
"It is an honor to meet you, First Young Lord."
"Not at all."
The two men's eyes met, and Baek Museong sent Crimson Tiger a meaningful look.
Crimson Tiger calmed his trembling heart and kept his gaze steady. He knew. This was the man who had summoned him to the Inner Court.
He must be curious about the sword that killed his child.
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His heart pounded, not in fear of the cold-hearted, ambitious man before him, but in fear of the emotional man who might bolt upright from his slumber and impulsively order the death of his child's killer.
No, that isn't the worst result.
He dreaded that this man might target his own child in retaliation for the life he had taken.
No matter what, I absolutely cannot let him discover Seohyeon's existence.
Crimson Tiger's mind raced.
The First Young Lord doesn't know that I know the whole story. Therefore, I must pretend that I don't have the foggiest idea that the First Young Lord came here specifically to look for me. merely one of the Twelve Phantoms who faithfully carried out an order and is currently undercover. I have no idea that the First Young Lord knows who I am.
He was more nervous than he had been facing the Ironblood Commander, but he steeled himself to remain as composed as possible. This was a battle far more difficult than one fought by wielding swords.
"I haven't eaten yet. Would it be alright if I joined you?" Baek Museong asked.
Everyone froze, looking troubled.
Hong Maerang quickly cried out, "Of course! Please, come this way! What are you doing? Clear this spot, quickly!"
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A table was hastily cleared up for Baek Museong.
"Leave the side dishes as they are. Just bring me a bowl of rice."
Baek Museong sat down among the restaurant staff. The young men around him turned pale, and even the usually jovial women became nervous and fidgety.
This was the man who could become the master of the Association. A man who could decide the life and death of everyone here with a single word. No one dared to breathe too loudly.
Gong Suk rushed into the kitchen.
"Just a bowl of rice is fine," Baek Museong emphasized again.
Gong Suk, who had intended to prepare new side dishes, reluctantly brought out a bowl of rice and some of the existing dishes on a fresh tray.
"Alright, let's eat together."
Baek Museong picked up his chopsticks and everyone else followed suit, but no one dared to actually reach for the food.
Baek Museong chuckled, "If you act like this, won't I feel terribly guilty for interrupting everyone's meal?"
"I'll eat." Crimson Tiger bravely reached out with his chopsticks and picked up a side dish.
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"Of course, you should. Haha!"
Hong Maerang started to eat, and the others cautiously started to move their chopsticks as well.
An awkward silence hung in the air, until Baek Museong broke it.
"Manager, do you have a family?" he asked.
Crimson Tiger's heart sank, but he shook his head firmly. "No, not yet."
"Why not, with such fine looks?"
"It just turned out that way," Crimson Tiger replied with a shrug. He took slow, deep breaths inconspicuously. It wouldn't be good to be too obviously calm, nor would it be good to be too blatantly nervous. Everything in moderation.
"Do you not wish to start a family?"
"I wish to, but…"
"But?"
"Lady Luck hasn't smiled upon me yet. I don't have much luck with romance."
"Heheh!" Baek Museong let out a faint laugh.
Crimson Tiger sensed restraint in that laughter. The man was trying his best not to kill him. Trying to forgive him.
He suppressed a wave of indignation that threatened to erupt from within him. He hadn't really killed Soeun, but even if he had, it was never his idea to kill her, but that of the man who had given the order.
The man right in front of him.
Who's the one who needs forgiveness, the tool or the user? This is the tyranny of the powerful!
Masking that sudden flare of emotion, Crimson Tiger smiled and asked, "I heard you'll be getting married soon. Congratulations."
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Everyone present bowed their heads and offered their congratulations.
"Congratulations, First Young Lord!"
"Hahaha. Thank you, thank you."
As the atmosphere eased slightly, Hong Maerang bravely asked, "But what brings you here without any prior notice?"
"Shall we say I just felt drawn here? You might call it the pull of fate? Haha."
Crimson Tiger assumed the words were directed at him, and that was indeed Baek Museong's intention.
However, fate wouldn't have it that way. It had indeed summoned Baek Museong to the Hundred Flavors Restaurant, but it wasn't because of Crimson Tiger.
"Well, I've eaten well today," Baek Museong eventually said, rising from his seat. "I'll stop by again sometime."
Everyone else instantly shot up to send him off.
Leaving behind everyone's silent prayers for him to never return, he slowly walked towards the entrance.
At that moment, though, someone else entered. A woman.
Crimson Tiger's eyes widened in shock. This woman was quite literally the last person he expected to see right now. Her arrival was far more unexpected than Baek Museong's.
The woman scanned the room. With her hair tied back firmly, she looked like a celestial fairy who had just descended from the heavens. She announced loudly, "My name is Soeun. I've been assigned to work here starting today."
All eyes focused on her.
"Wow! She's beautiful!" One of the young men exclaimed aloud, forgetting that Baek Museong hadn't even left yet.
What on earth…!? Why? Crimson Tiger was bewildered. He hadn't dreamed the new arrival today would be her.
Baek Museong, on his way out, met Soeun's gaze.
This encounter was exactly the destined encounter the First Young Lord had spoken of, even if it wasn't the one he thought he would have.
After looking at each other for a brief moment, the two passed by each other, neither recognizing the other.
Crimson Tiger watched them warily, his eyes shaking slightly.
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This is insane! What exactly is that mad bitch plotting?
That afternoon, the Hundred Flavors Restaurant saw its biggest commotion since its grand opening.
"Let me help you."
"This goes over here."
"Normally, the newcomer does this, but I'll handle it."
Soeun frowned. A crowd of young men surrounded her. A competition had begun to see who could impress her the most and she was unsure how to react.
Crimson Tiger watched the scene in silence. He had to admit that the Third Young Lady was truly extraordinary. Instead of changing Soeun's face or giving her a human skin mask, she had sent her here with that eye-catching natural appearance of hers.
It was certainly an unexpected move. Who in the world would make such an important person so conspicuous?
Of course, Soeun didn't recognize him with his changed face and voice, but she could not have ended up here by chance. The Third Young Lady had sent her to him on purpose.
But why?
For now, the First Young Lord and Soeun had just walked past each other without recognizing each other, but how many times would that happen before one of them noticed something?
Nevertheless, at least with Soeun's arrival, the First Young Lord's historic visit was pushed to the back of everyone's minds. Since no one mentioned him, Soeun didn't realize that she had just met her father.
"Honestly, men." Hong Maerang muttered, sidling up next to Crimson Tiger.
Crimson Tiger rolled his eyes at her. "Isn't it natural for butterflies to flock to a flower?"
"Are you interested too, Manager?"
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"Am I not a man?"
"Disgusting. She's young enough to be your daughter!"
"What does age matter? I'm a bachelor of marriageable age."
"Of course, it matters! If age doesn't matter, what possibly could?"
"Let's suppose a young, handsome man fell for you."
"That would never happen!"
"He genuinely likes you. Just looking at you makes his heart flutter, so you start to like him too. Is that disgusting? Or is it true love…"
"Hmph! Enough!" Hong Maerang couldn't say anything more. Her cheeks flushed red.
"Don't be too hard on just the men, eh?" Crimson Tiger chuckled. It seemed that the stark reminder that she too was still single had made her heart flutter.
Pouting, Hong Maerang retreated towards the kitchen.
Just then, a loud voice came from Soeun's direction.
"Everyone, listen up!" she shouted in a clear, resonant voice, startling the men. "If I need help, I'll ask for it. I don't need or want you to do all my work for me. Understood?"
"We were just trying to help a junior colleague. Besides, we can't just leave a weak woman to fend for herself…" a man began, but before he could finish his line, Soeun grabbed his wrist.
The next moment, he spun around once in the air before falling to the floor.
THUD!
Everyone's eyes widened in amazement. Luckily, Soeun had cushioned his fall so that he wasn't injured, but this move was beyond any ordinary self-defense technique.
"See? I'm not weak." Soeun approached the stunned and impressed group, smiling sweetly. "Anyone else want a taste?"
All the young men scattered hastily.
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Soeun let out a soft sigh. How could she not know what these simple-minded, hormone-driven young men were thinking? Still, she didn't want to be treated like a princess. It just wasn't in her nature.
She walked over to Crimson Tiger. "Manager."
"What is it?"
"Please assign me my duties."
"Serving food, cleaning up. That's about it for now, I suppose? For details, ask Head Maid Hong over there." Crimson Tiger pointed at Hong Maerang, who stood near the kitchen entrance, arms folded.
"Understood."
Soeun approached Hong Maerang and was handed a broom that was propped up nearby. Quietly taking the broom, she went outside and began sweeping the area in front of the Hundred Flavors Restaurant.
Hong Maerang shrugged. "She seems more spirited than she looks."
Crimson Tiger let out a small laugh. If these people only knew that she was a former member of the Ironblood Nines, they would all be frightened to death. To ordinary people, the Ironblood Nines were figures of absolute terror.
Crimson Tiger looked at Hong Maerang and said mischievously, "I'm stepping out for a bit."
Hong Maerang gave him a thumbs-up. "Frequent outings by the superior are the best form of consideration for the subordinates."
One hour later, Crimson Tiger sat on a fishing boat out on the lake.
There was a man by the lake who rented out boats and fishing rods for money. Following Gahwa's instructions, he had requested the twelfth boat and three fishing rods. The man readily complied.
About two hours after they rented the boat and started fishing, another fishing boat approached from the opposite direction. Sitting under a large canopy was Ju Hwayin, transformed into Gahwa.
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She looked around and remarked regretfully, "Come to think of it, we never got to visit a place like this when we were dating."
Crimson Tiger blinked in disbelief. Women are truly unfathomable creatures.
Could a man ever truly claim to know a woman inside and out? He suspected not.
"What exactly are you planning?" he demanded.
"What do you mean?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"Why did you send the First Young Lord's daughter to me?"
"Ah! That?" Ju Hwayin smiled. "Why, to protect her, of course."
"What?"
"It's too dangerous for us to protect her. As you know, the First Young Lord's faction and ours are desperately monitoring each other. We weren't confident we could keep her hidden until the wedding. So…"
"So you want me to protect her?"
Gahwa nodded eagerly, despite knowing her request was so brazen that she made Crimson Tiger feel like he was her subordinate…or her lover.
Crimson Tiger narrowed his eyes, trying to discern her true intentions and the Third Young Lady's motive, but he couldn't figure it out. "What if I refuse?" he asked.
"Her assignment has already been confirmed, though?"
"If I get a mission from the Radiant Hall, I might have to leave my post."
"That should be fine. Besides, neither the First Young Lord nor anyone else would ever dream that we hid her in plain sight. Would you expect it? Such a beautiful woman? And using her real name, no less? As the saying goes, the darkest place is right under the candlestick."
"……" Crimson Tiger sighed. As Gahwa said, it was certainly an unconventional method. Of course, that also made it incredibly dangerous.
"I'm sorry asking so many things of you, but there's truly no one else I can trust besides you."
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Crimson Tiger scoffed inwardly. How can she spout such unbelievable nonsense with that smiling face?
"…And for your information, she knows the First Young Lord is her father," Ju Hwayin added with a faint smile. " Her employment has already been confirmed anyway, and reversing it now would only arouse suspicion. Could you just bear with me this one time? Pretty please?"
Crimson Tiger let out a wry snort. Of course, he understood her reasoning. If one tried hard enough, was there anything in the jianghu that couldn't be understood? The problem was that if he gave in once, then twice, people tended to regard such consideration as their rightful entitlement.
Fine, I'll put up with it for now, only because Seohyeon's treatment is about to begin soon.
Their business concluded, the two boats moved away in opposite directions.
Ju Hwayin secretly glanced back. Watching Crimson Tiger step ashore far away, she prayed softly but sincerely, "…Please survive. You definitely have to."
The news that a stunningly beautiful woman had arrived spread not only among the martial artists who frequented the Hundred Flavors Restaurant, but also throughout the entire Inner Court.
As a result, the number of young martial artists loitering around the Hundred Flavors Restaurant increased significantly. It was rumored that even those who usually ate in other cafeterias had collectively requested to change their dining location to the Hundred Flavors Restaurant.
In any case, breakfast time at the Hundred Flavors Restaurant was decidedly different from usual.
The eyes of all sixty martial artists who came for the first shift were fixed on Soeun as she carried dishes, but fortunately, no one made any overt passes or harassed her. A few veterans simply joked out loud about how beautiful she was, playfully confessing their adulation.
Still, while she handled the sixty pairs of blatantly staring eyes with outward composure, her face was flushed, betraying her discomfort.
"Soeun!" Crimson Tiger shouted.
Soeun, who was serving food, hurried over to his table. "You called, Manager?"
"Sit down for a moment."
"Yes."
She sat down across from him, where a partition shielded her from view. Immediately, unhappy catcalls rang out from the dining area.
"Could you calculate these for a moment?" Crimson Tiger asked, handing her a logistics ledger.
"Alright," Soeun replied. Although she looked puzzled why he'd ask her to do such a thing, she readily began the task, as it was simple work. Nevertheless, after focusing on the calculations for several minutes, she asked cautiously, "Um… Manager?"
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"Yes?"
"Did you perhaps call me over here on purpose?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Crimson Tiger feigned ignorance.
"Oh, it's nothing." Soeun's face flushed, flustered. She quickly returned her focus to the ledger.
For some reason, she had a vague feeling of familiarity with the manager, although she was certain they had never met before.
Well, sometimes in life, one met a person with whom one instantly felt a close connection. At the same time, there are those one saw every day, but instead of growing closer, even the slightest amount of fondness one had faded away with time.
The manager before her belonged in the earlier category—warm and approachable.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her that perhaps the manager had called her over to give her a break from those bothersome stares, but she quickly dismissed the idea.
Him, showing concern for me? Why would he do that? Impossible.
Her face grew hot from embarrassment.
Crimson Tiger smirked at her colorful reactions. Unknown to her, she had hit the nail on the head. He had indeed called her over intentionally, to let her rest a bit.
It might be in a woman's nature to enjoy attention, but not all women were like that. From what he'd seen of Soeun in the Ironblood Nines, she wasn't the type to revel in the lustful gazes of men.
"Here, I'm finished," Soeun said, handing back the documents.
"Already?"
"Yes."
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"Wait while I check them briefly."
Crimson Tiger glanced at the calculations, but there were no mistakes. He clicked his tongue inwardly. She could have taken her time, but she'd completed the work in an instant. As expected, she was naturally smart and sharp.
"Thanks."
"Then I'll get back to work…"
Just then, the bustling dining room abruptly fell silent. Crimson Tiger and Soeun looked up to see what was happening, only for someone to suddenly poke their head into their partitioned area.
It was Baek Museong.
Crimson Tiger shot to his feet.
"Are you busy?" Baek Museong asked.
"No, sir."
"Then would you mind joining me for a moment?"
"Of course."
Baek Museong turned to leave, when suddenly, he glanced at Soeun. "You come too," he said to her, then walked out.
Wearing puzzled expressions, the two followed Baek Museong to the kitchen attached to the First Young Lord's residence. Although it was only meant for one man, its size was easily comparable to that of the Hundred Flavors Restaurant, and a mountain of ingredients was piled high on the counters.
Baek Museong grinned. "Surprised I brought you here?"
"Not at all, but why us?"
"As you both know, I'm getting married soon, right?"
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At the word 'wedding', Soeun flinched, and her heart leaped with a sudden revelation.
"Before the ceremony, I wanted to cook for her myself, but I don't know how. That's why I called you two. My cooks happen to be away, and Chef Gong is busy, so I was hoping you two could help me."
Crimson Tiger was dumbfounded. He could understand why he was summoned, but Baek Museong's excuse still utterly unconvincing. Even if Chef Gong wasn't available, a single word from him would summon dozens of skilled chefs. Moreover, the idea of the First Young Lord cooking for his fiancée was also equally inconceivable.
If that wasn't bad enough, why had he called Soeun along too? Was it truly a coincidence?
Crimson Tiger glanced at Soeun, worried about how she would react to all this.
Soeun asked cautiously, "Are you perhaps the First Young Lord?"
Hearing him mention the impending wedding had sparked the possibility in her mind.
Baek Museong nodded. "Yes, I am."
BADUMP!
Her heart sank. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still.
The man before her was the father she had longed to see.
He looked younger than she had expected, and more handsome. Though she had mentally prepared herself, telling herself she would see him one day, her legs trembled and her heart pounded so hard she was sure everyone could hear it. She hadn't expected to see him so soon.
"I-It's an honor to meet you," she stammered nervously.
Baek Museong fixed a steady gaze on her. Summoning her had been half coincidence, half deliberate choice.
He couldn't forget the last time he had seen her as he left the Hundred Flavors Restaurant. Her face and figure constantly haunted his thoughts, as if branded into his mind. He had never felt this way before.
Was it just because she was beautiful? No, it wasn't just that. There was something else, something about her that made him feel queasy.
An awkward silence descended over the kitchen.
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"Anyway… our skills are lacking, but we will do our utmost best to assist you," Crimson Tiger said energetically, shattering the tension.
Baek Museong beamed. "Thank you. Truly, thank you."
And so the First Young Lord Baek Museong began learning cooking in earnest. At least his claim of having no cooking experience at all was absolutely true.
Unfortunately, Crimson Tiger's culinary expertise consisted almost entirely of methods of roasting wild animals, focusing mainly on how to cook large game evenly without burning or undercooking the meat, not on flavor.
Soeun, on the other hand, possessed an unexpected talent in the culinary arts.
"Wow, this broth tastes amazing," Baek Museong exclaimed repeatedly after tasting the broth Soeun had made.
Crimson Tiger had to agree. Even to him, Soeun's cooking was heavenly.
"The secret is in the seasoning blend," Soeun explained.
"Where did you learn how to cook?"
"…My late mother taught me," Soeun said, preemptively mentioning her mother's passing to avoid questions about her mother and the subsequent awkwardness of revealing she was deceased.
"I see." Baek Museong nodded and didn't inquire further.
Soeun's hands stopped for a moment. Her mother's face flashed through her mind. It was hard to believe that she had once been lovers with the man standing before her.
CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!
Gathering her senses, she quickly resumed chopping vegetables.
Baek Museong changed the subject. "So, how do you cook this?" he asked, picking up a leaf.
"That's not an ingredient. It's the lotus leaf the ingredients were wrapped in."
"Haha, I see."
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Suddenly, Soeun was proud of herself. She was handling this much better than she had expected. She managed the urge to cry and suppressed the countless questions she had longed to ask when she met her long-lost father.
The father she had imagined was authoritarian and strict. Someone she thought she could resent and defy without hesitation, but this man before her seemed…ordinary. Despite his status as the First Young Lord of the Association, he smiled at her unreservedly.
"Hahahaha! Hey, Jin Chung! Come here and taste this. I made it myself."
From a distance, Jin Chung watched the scene unfold in amazement. The First Young Lord was laughing. He was laughing so brightly, Jin Chung couldn't recall the last time he'd seen such a genuine smile.
How can he laugh like that in front of the man who killed his child?
Jin Chung felt a strange dissonance watching his master. A dissonance that conveyed a feeling of danger, of emotional instability.
One hour later, only Baek Museong and Jin Chung remained.
Watching Baek Museong sit on a small chair, sipping wine, Jin Chung asked, "Didn't you make this for Miss Sin?"
The food was already cold. Baek Museong sat and stared blankly, drinking wine while snacking on the result of his own efforts. The meal was never meant for Sin Yeongyeong.
Of course, Jin Chung already knew that. Asking was a form of malicious mischief, a passive act of disloyalty.
However, Baek Museong continued staring into blank space, as if he hadn't heard anything. He truly was lost in his thoughts, but to his own surprise, his mind wasn't occupied by Crimson Tiger, but by Soeun.
For some reason, he was drawn to her as if spellbound.
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Can it truly be love at first sight?
He had never experienced such a strange feeling before in his life.
This realization came as a shock to Baek Museong.
I'm attracted to a woman, now of all times? She's less than half my age! Also, my wedding, albeit a political one, is just around the corner.
It was unacceptable. The very existence of such feelings felt chaotic and humiliating.
Baek Museong desperately tried to hide his raging emotions from Jin Chung, hoping his aide would assume his preoccupation was due to Crimson Tiger.
"By the way, you have an appointment with two elders in a few minutes," Jin Chung reminded.
Baek Museong replied softly, "Postpone it."
"Understood." Jin Chung opened the door and left.
This is abnormal. It seems the time has come for me to act on the matter I hesitated about.
Translator's Note: Holy shit, the raws for this chapter was more than 14000 words…
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