Reunion
Namgung Yurin’s smile was only natural as she spotted Tang Harin.
‘She gave me so much advice when I was at the Tang Clan.’
Primarily she helped him win Yuseong’s heart. She hadn’t followed every bold method herself, yet thanks to her the two of them could speak so freely.
Yuseong had always treated her with such intimacy, as if looking down on her for no reason. Namgung Yurin had only recently learned that it was all because of her mischievous nature.
‘Tang Harin said she wouldn’t marry, which is why she had to become a poison human.’
‘I heard poison humans can’t even marry. What a pity…’ Yet the moment she became one her hair turned purple. Namgung Yurin found something strangely similar between them.
Green eyes, purple-tinted hair. Namgung Yurin thought Tang Harin suited that look perfectly and stepped forward.
“Oh my, Yurin! It’s been so long. I’ve been dying to see you. Are you on your way back from training?”
Tang Harin asked, eyes sparkling as she took in Yurin’s slightly sweat-dampened martial uniform.
Her mischievous smile never left her face.
Namgung Yurin studied Tang Harin’s outfit closely. It was nothing like the revealing clothes she had seen at the Qingcheng Sect or the Tang Clan. Instead it was even more tightly wrapped than her own.
Not a single inch of skin showed—neck, arms, legs. At first glance it looked rather stuffy.
‘Her hair, too… I wonder what changes her body has undergone.’
She was curious, but decided not to ask in case it was rude and swallowed the question.
“Yes. I wrapped up early today and headed this way. What brings you here, unnie? I saw people gathered at the Murim Alliance entrance earlier… was it you?”
“That’s right. I came with my family’s warriors. I insisted on it.”
In truth the Tang Clan had tried to talk her out of going. A precious power born once every three hundred years—naturally they opposed it.
“Harin-ah, if you want to do the research you want to do, this place would be perfect. Why go all the way to a Murim Alliance with nothing?” She hadn’t even finished her training…
Even as a poison human she still needed long training in the poison blood to unleash a more powerful toxin, yet Tang Harin had only completed the mandatory parts and left the poison blood.
There was a more urgent matter.
“That isn’t important right now, Father. It’ll only be a short visit, so please don’t stop me.”
“…I understand.”
Namgung Yurin had been the one with the strongest voice in the Tang Clan’s poison research, so becoming a poison human made it even easier to give up on her.
Staying in the Tang Clan had the advantage of being able to research high-quality poison thanks to the poison blood, but knowing there was a rival she couldn’t just linger peacefully.
She adjusted the warriors’ schedule just enough to bring them along.
And then…
Tang Harin asked with a smile full of goodwill and a completely innocent expression.
“So how long do you plan to stay here, unnie?”
“Why? You want me to stay long?”
“Yes, I do. I like having you around. I don’t have many friends my age…”
She had never been easy to get close to because of the wounds in her heart, so after Pengjishan left, Namgung Yurin had almost no one she could call a friend.
It would be wonderful if Tang Harin stayed at the Murim Alliance for a while. They could take breaks together and spend time.
“Hmm… I should stay for a while. And… you know I like things you like too, right?”
“Yes… I am always grateful.”
Tang Harin’s green eyes sparkled.
Namgung Yurin simply enjoyed chatting with her after such a long reunion.
Yet she consciously avoided one topic.
“By the way, your older brother is getting married soon, right?”
Tang Harin brought up the sensitive subject without a trace of awkwardness.
‘Marriage…’
If she had known she would have avoided it, since she didn’t want to poke at someone else’s wound, yet Tang Harin’s expression showed nothing.
“Ah, yes…”
Unlike the flustered Namgung Yurin, Tang Harin’s voice was as lively as on their first meeting.
“Tell me all the details. From what I heard it sounds like more than a plain story…”
Namgung Yurin told her about Namgung Yuhyeon and Juyeon in a matter-of-fact way and tilted her head.
‘Is she really okay with it? Did becoming a poison human make her completely unbothered by such things?’
She couldn’t read the Tang Clan’s hearts…
After they became closer through a long conversation, Tang Harin casually asked.
“How are things with Yuseong these days? Closer than before?”
Namgung Yurin’s eyes, bright from meeting a close friend, suddenly clouded.
The memory of confessing her feelings to Yuseong during their time at Namgung Se. And receiving his positive reply.
The joy that had been lightened by meeting Tang Harin flared up again the moment she remembered that day.
She nodded vigorously.
“Of course. It’s all thanks to you, unnie.”
“……Really?”
Tang Harin’s heart sank. She answered a little late.
‘No way…’
She had assumed the innocent Yurin wouldn’t do such a thing, but if they had already done more than kiss…
‘It’ll be even harder to steal him away… and it’ll make me feel worse toward Yurin…’
No matter what, she had no intention of giving up. Namgung Yurin at least had a choice of meeting someone else, but all she had was Yuseong.
As long as she didn’t marry, that was fine.
And she had heard no news of the marriage.
Namgung Yurin didn’t notice the slight pause or Tang Harin’s sinking voice and simply replied.
“Yes. I told him my feelings.”
“Feelings?”
Tang Harin’s ears perked up.
Namgung Yurin wanted to hear praise for her achievement. Tang Harin knew everything already. She was the only one she could talk to about things she couldn’t share with others.
“Yuseong-nim said he liked me too. It might take a little time…”
“I want every detail.”
Telling the assistant about Yuseong felt no more uncomfortable than asking about the marriage.
Namgung Yurin’s lips parted. She didn’t show the embarrassing feelings, but Tang Harin learned everything that had happened that night.
“…That’s how it went. Did I do the right thing?”
Curious why it felt so frustrating, Namgung Yurin asked. Tang Harin nodded.
“Don’t worry. You’re doing great on your own. You’ve already told Yuseong your feelings, so just wait.”
“Really? But… I’ve been feeling strange lately. I’ve thought maybe I should be more proactive…” She was nervous…
Namgung Yurin wanted advice, so she asked about her vague unease.
But…
“Even if I say to wait, if I interfere and urge him on he’ll get annoyed, won’t he?”
“That won’t happen… you know Yuseong-nim isn’t like that.”
“In a relationship one side shouldn’t cling too hard or become a burden.”
Tang Harin said it as if it were obvious and Namgung Yurin nodded, having learned one thing.
‘As I thought, unnie has been so helpful.’
A question suddenly arose. Tang Harin had lived with her grandmother. How did she know so much about a man’s heart?
“By the way, you said you lived with your grandmother. How do you know all that?”
“Ah, I didn’t mention it? I lived with my grandmother since I was little, but the person who taught me everything was separate.”
***
The clinic’s regular hours were ending.
Except for true emergencies, Physician Jin adjusted the patients based on Doctor Cha’s consultation times, so overtime was extremely rare.
Today everything wrapped up neatly on time.
After receiving the last patient, Doctor Cha arrived.
“You didn’t forget our appointment today, did you?”
Doctor Cha often treated Yuseong to meals.
His attempt to build friendship hadn’t stopped even after entering the clinic, which was why Yuseong often enjoyed delicious meals from him.
Thanks to that he had learned a few Luoyang restaurants.
“Yes. Thank you as always. Shall we go?”
Doctor Yang had to stay on duty, so he came with Doctor Cha.
When he announced their plan to leave the Murim Alliance, two personal guards naturally followed.
It felt a little guilty to involve them in a private matter, but he soon got used to it.
Their main job was to protect him, after all.
“I’ve learned Doctor Cha’s food preferences clearly now. The innkeeper at the place we’re going today is from Sichuan and will serve a dish perfectly suited to your taste.”
“Sichuan?”
Saliva already gathered.
Yuseong had apparently enjoyed Sichuan food.
The top chef from Namgung Se had shown off her skill, but it hadn’t satisfied his palate.
The food was delicious, but perhaps not as spicy as he had expected.
The moment they stepped out of the clinic after chatting with Doctor Cha.
“Yuseong!”
A woman’s voice full of joy. The instant he heard it Yuseong thought, ‘No way.’
Only one woman’s name he could call so casually came to mind, and he had thought she wouldn’t be here for a while…
He turned his head. A tightly wrapped green outfit. Yet the presence of her chest could not be hidden.
The beautiful face of the green-eyed woman was wreathed in a bright smile. Her long hair, slightly tinted purple.
Yuseong had witnessed the poison blood inside the poison blood turning purple, so he guessed she had become an excellent poison human.
“Harin? How did you…”
He had no idea she had come to the Murim Alliance. Of course it was natural—he had been treating patients all day in the clinic…
“Of course I came because I wanted to see you! Do you know how much I’ve missed you?”
Every person nearby turned their gaze this way.