Absolute Warrior V3C8: Murder By Proxy
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Jongri Mun and Giyeong sat facing each other across a small table.
Giyeong frowned. "Senior Jwa is still trying to sniff us out."
Jwa Cheonsu's investigation was relentless. Since he received direct orders from the Coalition Leader, nothing could hinder him. His authority superseded everything else. Combined with his cold, analytical nature, things that absolutely should not have been revealed were coming to light.
"Yes, he's pursuing this case with a vengeance." Jongri Mun said, picking up his teacup. For some reason, Jwa Cheonsu was convinced that he knew about the incident beforehand.
Giyeong sighed. "At this rate, it's only a matter of time before he uncovers the truth."
Jongri Mun nodded. He knew Jwa Cheonsu's personality well. The man always questioned whether he truly deserved the Coalition Leader's trust, but it wasn't out of jealousy, ambition, or spite. He was just a smart, driven man who had dedicated himself wholly to the Evil Coalition.
Before he finds out too much, I need to bury this incident so deep that even his hands can't reach it.
Giyeong asked tentatively, "What if we eliminate Crimson Tiger?"
Jongri Mun scowled. Of course, he had considered doing that before. "It's the best method, but there are two problems with that approach," he said sternly.
"What are they?"
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"First, if we eliminate Crimson Tiger, there's a high chance that Enigma, who infiltrated the Radiant Hall, will be discovered. The Association will conclude that, unless a spy was hidden deep within their ranks, we could not possibly have known that Crimson Tiger was the killer."
"I see. What's the second problem?"
"Actually, the second problem worries me more. What if we fail to eliminate him?"
"Fail, you say?"
"Yes. What do you think would happen if the men we sent fail to kill Crimson Tiger?"
Giyeong's eyes widened in surprise. "Surely you don't rate him that highly?"
Jongri Mun stared at him as if to rebuke him for looking down on the man who had effortlessly slain the Ironblood Commander and escaped.
However, Giyeong saw things differently. "I acknowledge his exceptional skills, but things only turned out this way because of my misjudgment. If I had set out to kill him from the start, he would already be dead."
Jongri Mun shook his head. “What if your current confidence is another misjudgment?”
Giyeong narrowed his eyes. "You're underestimating me too much."
Jongri Mun chuckled. "I didn't mean to underestimate you, just remind you that we should always make sure to err on the side of caution."
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Giyeong visibly relaxed. "I apologize for my rudeness."
Jongri Mun stood up and walked over to the window. His heart felt heavy. He needed to resolve this issue quickly to ease the pressure threatening to crush him.
Gazing out the window, he said, "Besides, wouldn't we have to mobilize the Ten Evils to kill him? Should they fail and be killed, Senior Jwa will accuse us of trying to cover up our involvement."
"Then isn't it fine if we simply send someone other than the Ten Evils?"
Jongri Mun turned his head. "Oh? Who?"
Giyeong grinned slyly. "Have you already forgotten about Eum Sagwon?"
"Ah!" Jongri Mun's eyes widened. Faced with the overriding threat that was Crimson Tiger, he had entirely neglected the matter of Eum Sagwon. Now that he thought about it, this disciple of 'One Slash Ten Kills' Pung Yang had died during the Ironblood Nines' selection exam. Pung Yang was bound to be furious.
"Wait! Wasn't Eun Sagwon beaten to death by an angry mob?"
"Does that matter? We can always fabricate the cause of death, can't we? If we spread the rumor that Crimson Tiger killed his disciple, the hotheaded Pung Yang will jump at the chance for revenge.
Jongri Mun's face lit up. He had no love for Pung Yang, but the old man's skills were no joke.
Previously, Pung Yang had killed a captain of the Evil Coalition in a dispute. As a form of apology, he had his disciple apply to the Ironblood Nines.
He had narrowly avoided crossing the line. Had it been someone above the rank of captain, Pung Yang would have been sentenced to death.
Conversely, this also meant that, even though a captain had died, Pung Yang posed a great enough threat that the Evil Coalition couldn't carelessly confront him without being prepared to sacrifice many of their own.
"Can Pung Yang pull it off?"
"He has surpassed the peak level and reached the supreme master realm. How could he possibly fail to kill a mere secret agent?"
"Hmm…"
"Besides, even if he fails, it has nothing to do with us, does it? The man is simply avenging his disciple."
Jongri Mun nodded. That was the best part. "Any idea where Crimson Tiger is hiding?"
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"Yes, Enigma has contacted us regarding that matter. Crimson Tiger is currently working undercover as the Hundred Flavors Restaurant Manager in the Association's Inner Court."
The stage was set, and all the pieces in place.
"Murder by proxy, eh? I like that," Jongri Mun muttered under his breath.
Giyeong's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Yes, and we don't even need to give the old man any extra incentive. He's probably sharpening his blade with fervor right now. We just have to point him in the right direction."
It was quiet when the "Little Tyrant Fist" Yang Ho entered the inn. After failing the Ironblood Nines' recruitment exam, he had been coming to the inn almost daily. Alcohol provided him with a temporary escape from his defeat. Still, this was the first time he had seen the inn so deserted.
There was only one other person there, a man wearing a wide-brimmed bamboo hat who was sitting alone in a corner, sipping his wine.
Yang Ho sat down a short distance away from him. "Hey, bring me some booze.
The waiter approached, but he was pale with fear and constantly glanced around nervously.
"Why are there no customers?" Yang Ho asked.
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"Well, that's…" The waiter hesitated, then glanced at the man in the corner.
It seemed that man had driven all the other customers away.
"Give me the usual."
"Understood."
The waiter returned to the kitchen. As he passed by, he nodded once toward the man, as if to inform him that Yang Ho had arrived.
Yang Ho witnessed this, but he didn't take it personally. How could he blame a helpless waiter who didn't know martial arts? He was simply curious why the man was waiting for him.
He rose from his seat, strode towards the man, and clasped his hands in greeting. "I am the Little Tyrant Fist, Yang Ho. Who might you be, Bro?"
The man smirked. "Bro?"
He was clearly older than Yang Ho. Nevertheless, it seemed the young man had deliberately used the term 'bro', which was normally used when addressing one's peers, to project an air of dominance.
Yang Ho said confidently, "You're waiting for me, aren't you?"
"If you are truly the Little Tyrant Fist Yang Ho, then yes."
"Are you doubting me?"
"You signed up for the latest Ironblood Nines recruitment, correct?
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"Where did you hear that?"
"Where else? You've been bragging about how you barely failed the selection test everywhere. Survived an exam so difficult that even Eum Sagwon was killed, didn't you?"
"Oh yeah, I guess that guy died too, huh?"
"Are you proud?"
“I wasn't lucky enough to pass the exam, but I don't feel ashamed of how I fared. Still, it's not exactly something to be proud of. Who are you anyway?"
The man took off the bamboo hat he was wearing. He had narrow, slanted eyes and prominent cheekbones, giving him a fierce appearance. Despite his deep, resonant voice, his completely white hair made it clear that he was an old man in his sixties.
He held out his cup. "Come here and pour me a drink."
Yang Ho approached him without hesitation, bolstered by the confidence that came with the alias 'Little Tyrant Fist,' a title that usually made even the worst thugs back down.
After all, what was the point of training so hard if he couldn't live with pride and dignity? Who his opponent was mattered little. The jianghu was full of old fogeys trying to claim seniority based on some trivial past exploit, and this old man was likely no different.
Nonetheless, Yang Ho treated the old man with the utmost respect. Someday he too would be old, and he hoped his juniors would treat him with the consideration he showed his elders when that day came.
"Please accept a toast from this junior."
TRICKLE… SHWIK! THUD!
As soon as the cup was filled, Yang Ho heard the sound of something slicing through the air, followed by a thud as it landed on the ground.
"Uwaaaaak!" the waiter screamed, sinking to his knees in terror.
Yang Ho looked down. There was a severed arm on the floor.
His arm.
SPURT!
Horrified by the sight of blood gushing from his wound like a fountain, Yang Ho sealed the acupoints on his right shoulder to stop the bleeding and leaped backward.
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The old man, who had swung his sword faster than the eye could see, calmly sipped his drink and looked at the waiter. "If you want to live, get out of my sight," he warned softly.
"Y-Yes!"
The waiter and the kitchen cooks immediately scrambled out of the inn.
"…Just who are you?" Yang Ho asked, both bewildered and dismayed.
The old man sneered, "Foolish whelp! How could you be so careless in front of a stranger?"
Yang Ho gulped. Even if he hadn't been careless, he still wouldn't have been able to block the old man's attack. This geezer was stronger than his master.
A cold, mocking smile spread across the old man's face. "My name is Pung Yang."
Yang Ho gasped in shock. "Don't tell me… One Slash Ten Kills, Pung Yang?"
"Hmph! You might be an idiot, but at least you're well-informed."
"Why are you here?"
"Because of that damn disciple of mine, of course!"
Pung Yang sighed. He hadn't expected his disciple to die during the Ironblood Nines' recruitment exam. He had taught the little rascal for over ten years. For him to fail to even secure a spot in the Ironblood Nines was exasperating.
Not that he really cared about the boy. No, what irked him was that his reputation was tarnished and his compensation to the Evil Coalition voided.
Before that, though, he needed to vent his rage, so he tracked down the failed applicants and took out his frustration on them.
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"I heard that my disciple was killed by a mob. I'm searching for the culprits."
"What? Then you've come to the wrong person. I've never seen your disciple."
"What? You've never seen him?"
"No, I mean, I saw him, but I've never talked to him…"
"You're lying," Pung Yang asserted.
"Damn it! I told you I didn't kill your disciple! You don't even know who the real culprits are, do you?!" Yang Ho yelled through the pain of his severed arm.
BANG!
Pung Yang slammed his hand on the table. As the table shattered, he shot to his feet, his eyes blazing with killing intent.
"It doesn't matter! I intend to kill every single bastard who participated in that exam!" he roared, lunging at Yang Ho.
SWOOSH!
Yang Ho swung his left fist. Although the power of his punch was halved compared to when he used his right arm, he still wasn't known as the 'Little Tyrant Fist' for nothing.
FWOOSH!
Unfortunately, to Pung Yang, his fist might as well have been a cotton ball.
CRACK! PUUUK!
Pung Yang kicked aside the incoming fist, shattering Yang Ho's remaining arm. Then, he thrust his sword into the young man's chest.
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"S-Spare me… Please…" Yang Ho begged, coughing up blood.
Pung Yang snorted in disdain. "Did you know? No one really knows what kind of person I am. That's because the moment they realize I'm a nasty, scary person, they all died."
SWISH! THUNK!
Yang Ho's head fell off his shoulders and hit the ground.
Pung Yang sheathed his sword. Despite having delivered two fatal attacks, only a few drops of blood had spattered onto his clothes.
"Damn it!"
His martial arts were still lacking. If he were perfect, not a drop of blood would have stained his clothes. He was still missing something.
He turned to leave, when he noticed a masked man standing at the door.
He narrowed his eyes warily. The masked man's aura was far more refined than Yang Ho's.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
The masked man chuckled. "Pung Yang. Do you want to know who really killed your disciple?"
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Pung Yang narrowed his eyes further. "So what if I do?"
"I will tell you."
"Why?" Pung Yang asked, tensing his muscles. His next actions would depend on the masked man's answer.
The masked man replied calmly, "I am from the Coalition. If you kill your disciple's murderer, we will consider that previous matter settled."
"If I kill my disciple's murderer, you'll consider the previous matter settled?"
"Correct."
"Why?"
"Because he is our common enemy."
A grin spread across Pung Yang's lips. This was a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
The masked man continued, "Just a word of advice. It would be wise to gather fast runners before you attack him."
"Why?"
"You'll find out eventually. Also, if you leak a single detail about this deal, we will deny everything, and you will die."
WHOOSH!
Without waiting for a reply, the masked man leaped outside.
Pung Yang scoffed. "Arrogant bastards."
He slowly walked to where the man had been standing. A single sheet of paper lay on the table, bearing the name of his quarry.
Jin Ho, the Association's Hundred Flavors Restaurant Manager.
Several days passed with no further activity from the First Young Lord's supporters. Although he was concerned, Crimson Tiger faithfully performed his daily duties.
CRASH!
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Suddenly, the sound of breaking porcelain snapped him out of his thoughts. Soeun had dropped and broken the stack of plates she was carrying.
A group of young men quickly rushed over.
"Are you hurt?"
"Move aside! I'll clean it up!"
"I'm sorry." Soeun apologized to Hong Maerang, who had arrived a moment later. Although the Chief Maid didn't scold her, she still asked timidly, "I'm a little tired. May I take a short break?"
Hong Maerang nodded, and Soeun went outside.
Meanwhile, Hong Maerang approached Crimson Tiger. "Is something the matter with her?"
"What do you mean?"
"She doesn't seem to be able to concentrate on her work lately."
"All those lustful stares directed at her must be making her uncomfortable."
"I thought she handled it quite well back then, but I guess it still affected her, huh?"
The unwanted attention from the Guard Hall martial artists toward Soeun had somewhat subsided now. Still, her mind seemed scattered these past few days.
"Why don't you go talk to her?" Crimson Tiger suggested.
Hong Maerang grinned. "Why don't you do it, Manager?"
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"Me? Why?"
"That girl trusts you more than she trusts me, you know."
"Really?"
"…Hey, what's with that broad grin on your face?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not grinning." Crimson Tiger stood up, smiling despite his words. "Fine, I'll go have a word with her."
He walked outside and found Soeun sitting in the small flower garden in front of the restaurant.
As he approached, she started to get up, but he quickly sat down beside her and said, "It's alright. Just stay seated."
"I'm sorry."
"It happens."
"Haa…" Soeun let out a soft sigh.
"Is something troubling you these days?"
"No."
Contrary to her answer, there had been a lot on her mind lately.
For starters, she wanted to see her father again. She felt that if she waited until after his wedding in two months, it would be too late.
Second, she wondered if her father had truly loved her mother. She wanted to hear him say that he had loved her mother deeply but was forced to leave her due to the difference in their social statuses.
Third, Crimson Tiger kept haunting her dreams. For some reason, she kept dreaming about eloping with him.
At first, she had attributed this to the lingering fear and pressure of their escape, but then she realized that wasn't it.
The focus of the dreams wasn't the terrifying chase, but Crimson Tiger. She missed him.
However, in her dreams, he was either unresponsive when called, far away and covered in blood while fighting, or standing silently in the background as men violated her.
She didn't know why, but she never dreamed about her father, only Crimson Tiger. Every single night, without fail. On the rare days when he saved her in her dreams, she felt wonderful all day.
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Have I actually fallen for Crimson Tiger?
She added hesitantly, "Well, actually… there's someone I keep thinking about."
Crimson Tiger nodded. Is she thinking about the First Young Lord?
Nevertheless, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Who? Is it someone you can't meet?"
"Yes, and I don't know if I can ever see him again." Sighing heavily, Soeun looked at Crimson Tiger. "Oh no, I'm so sorry!"
…Dear heavens, did I just reveal my inner thoughts to my boss?
Strangely, whenever she was with the manager, she found herself feeling at ease.
Thankfully, Crimson Tiger simply smiled and said, "It's not so bad to long for someone."
"Pardon?"
"Sometimes, longing can be as precious as being with someone. Human relationships don't require physical proximity to be complete. The act of longing can be fulfilling in and of itself.
Soeun silently looked down at her feet for a moment, then suddenly shot up. "May I be excused for a little while?"
"Sure you can." Crimson Tiger readily agreed.
Soeun started running off into the distance.
Suddenly, though, she turned around and shouted, "Manager, while listening to you, I suddenly realized something! When I reach your age, I might experience similar enlightenment. For that reason, I think I need to be different now. I'm still young. I won't just pine for him, I'll go see him myself! If I do that, I'm sure a day will come when I'll understand what you told me. Oh, and I'll be a little late for work today!"
With that, she turned around and dashed off again.
Crimson Tiger smiled unknowingly.
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Yes, this is what a young lady like Soeun should be like. Living her life to the fullest and doing whatever makes her happy…
At that thought, his expression soured, and guilt gnawed at him.
I can't protect her freedom.
If someone were to inquire about the nature of his connection to her that led him to harbor such thoughts, he would say this: "I tried to kill her, but then I changed my mind and saved her. Is that enough?"
Suddenly, someone came up behind Crimson Tiger.
"Oho, you're walking a fine line there, Manager," Hong Maerang teased.
Crimson Tiger turned around, only to find the Chief Maid looking at him suspiciously.
"The way you look at her is quite wistful," she added.
Crimson Tiger smirked. "I told you, I'm a bachelor too."
"Ugh, why are you being so creepy!"
"Heheh… In any case, I'm going to take a break as well. Don't worry. I'll be the good boss who doesn't show up to work today."
Getting up, Crimson Tiger strolled off into the distance.
"Surely he's not following Soeun, is he?" Hong Maerang muttered.
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Crimson Tiger waved without looking back.
Hong Maerang twitched. Did he hear me? From that far away?
"You know… I think you're the more dangerous one," a man said from behind her.
Startled, she turned to see the Head Chef, Gong Suk. "Aigoo, you scared me! Do you have to be so stealthy? Can't you make some noise when you approach?"
Gong Suk shook his head expressionlessly. "Give up on that man. He's not someone who'll stay here for long."
Hong Maerang immediately pouted, but she knew Gong Suk had a remarkable ability to read people. In fact, even she often joked that he should open a fortune-telling shop.
"Who said anything about liking him?" she snapped sharply.
"Whatever it is, just give up on him."
"I was never even attracted to him in the first place!"
Hong Maerang glanced in the direction where Crimson Tiger had left. Despite her words, her eyes clearly reflected her intense longing for him.
Crimson Tiger emerged from a smithy carrying a small wooden box. He had used up almost all of the throwing knives he had during his escape from the Coalition, so he had ordered a new set. Despite being slightly lower in quality than the knives from Hwang Ironworks, these were still much better than he expected.
Of course, he still had top-quality Hwang Ironworks throwing knives in the basement of his Second Warehouse quarters, but he planned to save those for emergencies.
As he slowly walked through the marketplace, he let himself relax. The sight of merchants hawking their wares and middle-aged women haggling over prices felt soothing.
Being here and watching ordinary people work hard to make a living helped him sketch out a vision for his own future.
He made a decision. Once Hyeon's treatment was finished, they would go on vacation around the Central Plains. Then, after finishing their travels, he would open a small shop in a remote, idyllic village.
He wasn't sure what kind of shop he wanted to open yet, but he had one condition. He wanted to be able to close the shop whenever he didn't feel like working and live life at a leisurely pace.
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That was the dream life for Crimson Tiger.
Just then, an elderly woman selling rice cakes with her granddaughter appeared. The sweet-looking girl was massaging her grandmother's shoulders and smiling, even though she was still too young to be helping out with her grandmother's business.
How commendable.
Crimson Tiger bought all of the old woman's remaining rice cakes. When he gave her a silver tael and refused the change, the grandmother and granddaughter bowed several times.
This was money that would have taken them ten days to earn. With such a windfall, they could probably buy pork on their way home today.
Crimson Tiger took the rice cakes and left.
For a while, he walked aimlessly down the streets, carrying throwing knives in one hand and rice cakes in the other.
Suddenly, a passing old carriage stopped next to him, and the window curtain was pulled back just enough to see inside.
Crimson Tiger peered into the carriage. Someone he hadn't expected to see was there.
Ju Hwayin.
"Get in," Ju Hwayin said, opening the door for Crimson Tiger.
Crimson Tiger boarded the carriage without a word. Even though the shabby carriage was clearly a disguise, the Third Young Lady had approached him at the risk of being seen. She must have something important to discuss with him.
As it happens, I have something I want to talk to her about, too.
As soon as Crimson Tiger sat down, the carriage set off. Glancing through the front window, he saw that the Third Young Lady's aide, Lee Dansim, was driving the carriage, her bamboo hat pulled down low.
Ju Hwayin greeted, "Have you been well?"
Crimson Tiger thought about how he should respond. The answer depended on where one set the bar. These days, the assistant to one of the Association's successors was constantly trying to kill him. Should he say he was doing well just because he was still breathing?
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Nodding, he said, "I am truly grateful for your help this time."
That 'help' referred to trapping Jin Chung.
"Is that sarcasm I hear?"
"……" Crimson Tiger furrowed his brows, slightly flustered by the unexpected reply.
Ju Hwayin chuckled. "I'm joking. Since we eliminated Jin Chung, Senior Brother's right-hand man, I should be the one thanking you.
“Is he dead?”
“No. He’s Senior Brother’s closest follower, so he can’t be eliminated that easily. He'll have to spend quite some time locked up in prison, though. That's enough for us."
That was enough for Crimson Tiger too. Although Jin Chung had tried to kill him, he understood that the man had only acted out of loyalty to his master.
"What's that?" Ju Hwayin asked, pointing at the package.
"Rice cakes," Crimson Tiger answered calmly, though inwardly, he was flustered.
Ju Hwayin smiled. "May I have one? I was just feeling a bit hungry."
"It's street food."
"So it's not fit for me? Hah! I don't just eat street food, I also eat food that's fallen on the ground."
"Don't say such things," Crimson Tiger sighed, but unwrapped the rice cakes anyway.
Ju Hwayin picked one up with her slender, white fingers and ate it. "Mmm! This is delicious! Won't you have some?"
Feeling bad about watching her eat alone, Crimson Tiger picked up a rice cake.
He never dreamed a day would come when he'd share rice cakes with the Third Young Lady in a moving carriage, but it didn't feel so bad. While he had felt a sense of familiarity when he first saw her, now, seeing her for the second time, their connection felt even stronger.
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No! This is dangerous.
He had to be very careful, especially with beautiful women. He had already been stung twice.
"What's this?" This time, Ju Hwayin pointed to the box of throwing knives.
"……" Crimson Tiger couldn't understand why she was showing him such favor, but he picked up the box and handed it to her.
She opened the box. "Oho! Throwing knives."
She took them out one by one.
"Where were these made?" she asked.
"At a smithy down the street."
"They look quite decent. How much were they?"
"Eight silver taels in total."
"I see. Ah! By the way, I have some spare throwing knives. Want them?"
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Crimson Tiger shook his head. "No."
"Why? I'm sure they're much better than these."
"So what if they better?"
"Huh?" Ju Hwayin blinked, puzzled.
"Did you know that if throwing knives are too good, they actually hinder a fight?"
"Why is that?"
"Because it pressures the user to retrieve them. Ultimately, throwing knives are consumables. Unless you're in a situation where you absolutely must face a master who deflects throwing knives with protective enhanced qi, and you have no other weapon for some reason, there's no need to use expensive ones. In the end, skill is what matters most. Even a cheap kitchen knife can kill if thrown by a master."
"Aha! I see," Ju Hwayin laughed. "You must have carried out many dangerous operations over the years. Is there any particular operation that comes to mind? A memorable one, perhaps."
Crimson Tiger was speechless. Ju Hwayin seemed set on continuing the small talk and preventing an awkward atmosphere from developing.
In any case, of all the missions, two were the most dangerous: The mission from two years ago and the recent mission to rescue Soeun. If he had to choose, the more unforgettable one would be the one from two years ago. This time, although the mission itself was tougher, he resolved it without major injury.
On the other hand, that operation two years ago nearly cost him his life. It was also the mission where he met that bitch. Because of her, the Association found out about Seohyeon. Therefore, in more ways than one, that mission was by far the more devastating one.
Crimson Tiger hesitated for a moment, then said, "…It's classified, so I can't tell you."
"What a pity," Ju Hwayin sighed dramatically.
"If you become the chairman of the Association, you can ask me then. I'll tell you everything at that time," Crimson Tiger teased.
"Ohoho. Just imagining it is sweet." Ju Hwayin covered her mouth and giggled.
Crimson Tiger felt a chill run down his spine. Ju Hwayin's beauty was truly lethal. If he hadn't grown out of his rash, youthful ways, or if he hadn't dedicated his life to Hyeon, he would definitely have fallen head over heels for her.
Ju Hwayin asked, "Do you wish for me to become the Association Chairman?"
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"To be honest, I don't care."
"Haha, you're the first person to ever say that to my face, Master Crimson Tiger."
"I'm not good enough for you to call me a master."
"Then what should I call you?"
"Just Crimson Tiger will do…"
"Okay, I'll do that. So, let's be friends!"
"……" Crimson Tiger stared at Ju Hwayin with a dumbfounded expression.
Ju Hwayin smiled faintly. "Why? Can't we be friends?"
"Of course not."
"Why not? Aren't you already treating me like a friend?"
"I've done no such thing."
"Only a friend would speak their mind so boldly in front of me."
"……" Crimson Tiger fell silent. As she said, he was indeed treating her as an equal rather than a superior.
To be honest, he had only done it as a form of self-defense. Ju Hwayin wasn't just beautiful, she was strong, assertive, intelligent, and brave. She was a woman who was in control of her own destiny.
I tried not to let my guard down around her, but it seems I was too blatant about it.
Noticing Crimson Tiger's discomfort, Ju Hwayin chuckled, "Hoho, I apologize. I haven't had this much fun in a long time, so I got a bit carried away. From now on, I'll call you Sir Crimson Tiger. Is that better?"
"Yes, please do."
Lee Dansim sighed as she drove the carriage. Ju Hwayin was genuinely having a good time.
Her mistress words from before echoed in her mind.
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"That's right, I love him. Even now, I still love him."
As her mistress's closest aide, she had always observed how Ju Hwayin treated others. Thus, she was confident that she had never seen her mistress so relaxed and happy. Never before had her mistress engaged in so much small talk, or expressed so much curiosity about someone else's life, either.
Just then, from the side of the road ahead, one of her subordinates raised a hand to signal.
Lee Dansim slowed the carriage. As she passed by, he discreetly handed her a report.
Speeding up the carriage again, Lee Dansim sent a telepathic message to Ju Hwayin. [Lady Baek has made contact with us.]
[Oh?] Ju Hwayin felt a little puzzled. Lee Dansim had no reason to report such a matter via telepathy, especially not while she was talking to Crimson Tiger.
Lee Dansim explained, [She wishes to see Master Crimson Tiger.]
"……" Ju Hwayin immediately understood why Lee Dansim had interrupted her. After pondering for a moment, she looked at Crimson Tiger and smiled. "Do you have some more time today?"
Shortly thereafter, Crimson Tiger arrived at the manor where he handed Soeun over to the Third Young Lady. Changing to the face he wore when he infiltrated the Evil Coalition, he went inside.
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As expected, Soeun was waiting for him in the flower garden.
When Ju Hwayin told him Soeun wanted to see him, he had initially refused.
However, Ju Hwayin smiled enigmatically and said, "It's not easy for a woman to make the first move, you know? You should meet her at least once, not for your sake, but for hers."
Upon hearing these words, Crimson Tiger was forced to reconsider.
"Have you been well?" he asked Soeun, his voice a little raspy as he tried to switch back to Yang Hyeon's voice.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to notice the slight change in his voice as she replied shyly, "Yes."
Deep down, Soeun's heart pounded fiercely. Seeing Crimson Tiger again helped her confirm her feelings for him. She had definitely been missing him. There was no other way to explain the pleasant fluttering in her heart.
Still, the atmosphere was awkward. In the Ironblood Nines, she had been his senior, but now the situation was reversed.
She began, "I'm sorry. Back then, I was in such a bad state I couldn't properly communicate my feelings to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"What I mean is, I wanted to thank you."
Crimson Tiger blinked in confusion. He distinctly remembered her thanking him several times.
Maybe she really was in such a bad state that she doesn't remember what she said.
"No need for thanks. It was just a mission," he replied simply.
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"I-I suppose it was."
"……" Crimson Tiger fought to stay calm and maintain some distance from Soeun. Meeting her and Ju Hwayin, two equally stunning women, one after the other, had thrown his mind into turmoil.
Fate sometimes had a way of playing tricks on men and women. When one was lonely and desperate, not a single person was sent their way. Conversely, when one has emptied their heart and decided to move on, connections suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Have you been busy lately?" Crimson Tiger asked.
Soeun hesitated. She wanted to tell Crimson Tiger how much she missed him, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. In the end, she simply teased, "Busy? Don't people normally start a conversation by asking 'How have you been'?"
Oops. Crimson Tiger wanted to slap himself. If it were the first time seeing her since that day, he would have had much to say, but unknown to Soeun, he saw her every day. He knew better than anyone how she was doing.
"How have you been?" he asked belatedly.
Soeun smiled. She expected nothing less from the stoic Crimson Tiger. Most crushes in the world were unrequited, and expecting otherwise would be naive.
Nevertheless, she couldn't help it. Earlier, while speaking with the Hundred Flavors Restaurant Manager, she had suddenly and desperately wanted to see him. No, she absolutely had to see him as soon as possible, so she went to ask Lee Dansim to arrange a meeting with him.
As she ran to find the Third Young Lady's aide, she felt like a different person. Her heart raced so wildly as she thought of him and longed for him that she feared it would burst.
She loved that version of herself.
She couldn't force her feelings on him, though. She was the one who had wanted this meeting. Whatever the result, she would have no regrets.
She stuttered, "I-I've been working at Hundred Flavors Restaurant lately. Although it doesn't involve martial arts, I feel more at ease. I plan to live like this for the time being. My father… I haven't seen him yet, but I will soon. The kindness you showed in saving me…"
Sensing her awkwardness, Crimson Tiger cut in, "When I first met you in the Ironblood Nines…"
Soeun tensed, wondering what he would say.
"…My first thought was that you didn't belong there at all."
"Did you?"
"Don't get me wrong, it's not because you're a woman. I just… felt that you were too softhearted to be part of the Evil Coalition."
Soeun smiled faintly. "You think too highly of me. I'm not that good of a person."
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Crimson Tiger paused for a moment. No, that's not what I wanted to say at all!
A sense of self-reproach washed over him, and he wondered what right he had to give her advice. Still, avoiding it felt like an even more cowardly act.
He continued, "However… I also feel that you were a lot more self-confident then than you are now."
Soeun flinched. To him, do I seem like I've lost all faith in myself?
"Back then… I was Seventh Six," she said weakly.
"Which is the real you, Seventh Six or Soeun?" Crimson Tiger asked calmly, even though he felt a pang in his heart.
I feel like a hypocrite.
Kwon Kangho had lived as Crimson Tiger for so long that the name and that life had become familiar to him. Nevertheless, he tried his best to remind himself frequently. To remember who he was, for whom he lived, and where he was going. Because if he forgot, there would be no future for him.
He wished the same for her.
Finally, he said the words he really wanted to say.
"I hope you haven't forgotten the dignity and confidence you had back then."
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Just as he fiercely desired to live and had dreams he longed to fulfill, he earnestly hoped that she too would survive and forge a future of her own.
"…I should be going now," he added, turning to leave.
As he opened the door, however, Soeun shouted, "Seventh Seven!"
"…?" Crimson Tiger glanced back at her, a slightly surprised expression on his face.
"Hi there, Junior! My name is Soeun. What's yours?" she said playfully.
It was a testament to her determination to live proudly as Soeun from now on.
Grinning, Crimson Tiger played along. "I'm Crimson Tiger."
"We'll be able to see each other again, right?"
From the slight tremor in Soeun's voice, Crimson Tiger could sense how much courage she had mustered just to ask him that one question. It was enough that he wanted to tell her that they actually saw each other every day.
Ultimately, he smiled and nodded silently.
There was no need for more. That single nod was more reassuring than a thousand words.
Crimson Tiger opened the door and left.
Soeun let out a soft sigh. Her last statement had been completely impulsive, so she was relieved that Crimson Tiger had taken it well. She didn't want to appear weak in front of someone she liked.
Clenching her fists, she resolved to show him how much she had grown when next their paths crossed.
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Ju Hwayin and Lee Dansim watched the scene from a distance.
"Why did you let them meet?" Lee Dansim asked.
Ju Hwayin chuckled, "She said she wanted to see him, so I let her."
Lee Dansim tilted her head in confusion. It was a complicated situation, but she knew Ju Hwayin was in love with Crimson Tiger.
If she were in Ju Hwayin's position, she never would have allowed the man she loved to meet another woman, especially one so young and attractive.
Ju Hwayin added calmly, "There's no need for that child to harbor resentment."
"Resentment?" Lee Dansim was baffled. She knew the meaning of the word, but how did it apply to the current situation?
"You know, that feeling when your chest tightens for no reason. Of crying alone while everyone else is laughing. Of feeling unable to smile no matter how well things are going. Have you ever felt like that?"
"No."
"That's good. If you allow such things to fester in your heart, life becomes exhausting."
"What does that have to do with this?"
Ju Hwayin gazed at Soeun. She was clearly smiling as she looked up at the distant sky.
She said softly, "Senior Brother, I, and he too, we all carry resentment in our hearts. There's no need for that child to suffer like us. When a group of resentful people come together, the outcome is always catastrophic."
Lee Dansim nodded silently. There was something about Ju Hwayin that she would never understand.
Maybe it's the resentment she just spoke of. Or maybe I don't actually know much about my mistress, despite thinking I knew everything about her.
Ju Hwayin held out her hand, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight caressing it. "Ah, spring is truly in the air."
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