The Ornamental Flower Blooms
Dang Hwaeun, the forbidden jade leaf of the Dang family. It also meant an ornamental flower. No authority was granted to such a flower. She just had to bloom beautifully in place.
The lustful gazes of men were tolerable enough. The jealous glares from women hurt, but they were fine too. If they envied this face so much, she'd have loved to give it away—but that was impossible.
But the subtle dismissal that she was useless beyond her looks was truly hard to endure. Because it was true. People always get more scratched by words that hit home.
So she fled the Dang family. She was skilled at hiding her presence despite being merely pseudo-peak realm, and she boarded a ship to Wuhu without issue.
And soon, she realized not just the Dang family, but the whole world was a lump of malice. Men who saw her beauty tried to hook up, and if things didn't go smoothly, they didn't hesitate to rape. After barely escaping that, the Maegeomdan attacked.
That elder from the Maegeomdan was no opponent for a mere pseudo-peak. So she ran again. She fled for a full seventy li without leaving Wuhu, proving she had no talent for escape either.
Then, at a shipboard fighting ring, she spotted a woman with red hair. A woman so radiant she seemed about to dissolve into a halo of light. Precarious, yet beautiful. If only I could live like that, Dang Hwaeun thought, and before she knew it, she approached Namgoong Juhee.
"Demo over. How's that? Not enough for a carriage from the Silver Grace Escort?"
"I was thinking of just ditching you, Dang Sojeo... Ow!"
"Light some mosquito incense, and the Maegeomdan will scatter like mosquitoes, right?"
Dang Hwaeun quickly realized her assumption was wrong. Short thoughts, endless playfulness, and a foul mouth. She was no refined lady—just a street thug with zero manners.
Yet that strange woman was vomiting blood behind her back. As a trained physician, Dang Hwaeun could tell Namgoong Juhee's condition was far from normal. She confirmed it when they slept together. A light pulse check revealed Namgoong Juhee was little more than a walking corpse.
That sparked Dang Hwaeun's doubt. Why?
With Namgoong Juhee's skills, money wouldn't be an issue. Forming ties with the Dang family should be easy too—especially after receiving their token. It would've been safer to recuperate properly and head there. An utterly inexplicable person.
Yet Namgoong Juhee didn't abandon Dang Hwaeun. Teasing aside, she never treated her falsely. It was the first kindness Dang Hwaeun had ever known. That's why she brought out her treasured Dang Milhyang. Even if it got her smacked on the head.
Thus, Namgoong Juhee risked her life once more. Despite her battered body, she didn't flee and protected Dang Hwaeun.
Namgoong Juhee was a strange person. She clashed with the Maegeomdan despite being a total wreck. Climbed mountains, then vomited blood. Infinitely playful, yet somehow tender. Tender enough to tickle her insides.
Was this what a true friend felt like? That's why Dang Hwaeun cried all night nursing her.
In the end, Namgoong Juhee woke up. She teased the swollen eyes right away, then hopped off saying she'd make a bed—but she was alive, and that was enough. Definitely good news. Her friend was alive, plenty of bear hide, and swallowing the inner core would shake off the Maegeomdan easily, or so she said.
One thing nagged at Dang Hwaeun's heart, though.
The name "Yeona" that Namgoong Juhee had murmured endlessly while collapsed. A lover? The name pierced her heart so deeply that Dang Hwaeun unwittingly frowned.
"Dang Sojeo, bed's done!"
"You're so slow! What are you even good at?"
Irritation bubbled up unbidden, and Dang Hwaeun snapped venomously. She wanted to speak sweetly, but twenty-five years of ingrained speech patterns didn't change easily.
"Not something for Dang Sojeo to say."
"You'd be dead without me!"
Dang Hwaeun wiped away her tears. She'd bury who Yeona was for now. I'm the one closer to Namgoong Juhee right now, aren't I? Even if I'm just popular arm candy among the ladies... With such thoughts, she headed toward Namgoong Juhee. If that Yeona knew, she'd drop the clan feud and race to Sichuan immediately.
. . .
A bed! To modern folk, a bed is a big deal. In a world of advanced tech, it's not just for sleeping.
For Namgoong Juhee especially, it was sacred. Not because of rare sex—though that too. Nothing beat lounging with her phone. Especially after work, eyes sparkling with exhaustion. She'd sacrifice sleep for it. Truly paradoxical, so Dang Hwaeun's "strange person" label wasn't off-base.
"Perfect."
And so Namgoong Juhee grinned, flashing her teeth. Before her stood a decent bed. Log frame, sword-qi planed smooth for the base. Topped with thick bear hide for fluffiness—this was unshakeable comfort.
"What do you think, Dang Sojeo? Pretty good, huh?"
Namgoong Juhee gazed at Dang Hwaeun with childlike eagerness. Men instinctively want to show off their handiwork. Though her body was female, her mind was still that of a guy—no surprise the instinct lingered.
"Well, going through all that just to make... No, it's well-made."
What? Did she go crazy while I was out? Namgoong Juhee eyed her with that look at the odd tone. Dang Hwaeun flushed, fanning herself before replying.
"But you're only making one bed?"
"Yeah."
Originally, Namgoong Juhee planned two. Sleeping with a woman still felt awkward despite growing used to it. Dang Hwaeun might hate it too.
But the hide fell short. Extra layers were needed for fluff; math said two beds meant one rock-hard. A stone bed without ondol heat? Basically the floor.
Besides, Dang Hwaeun didn't feel like a "woman" to her. More like a high-maintenance pet kitten. Holding her last night lulled her right to sleep—did they really need two?
"...Fine, do what you want."
Surprisingly, Dang Hwaeun accepted readily. Namgoong Juhee had planned to tease, "Then Dang Sojeo sleeps on the floor, I get the bed." Losing that joy, she smacked her lips in regret. Then Dang Hwaeun flopped onto the bed first.
"Mm... Definitely soft. The spirit beast fur?"
"Put a lot of effort in."
"I like that attitude. Gotta pamper this Dang Hwaeun right."
"What? I made it comfy for me."
"Hey!"
That's the flavor. As Namgoong Juhee sighed in relief at the peace, Dang Hwaeun struck again.
"So, what's next?"
"...?"
"Got the inner core and bed at once—great, but now what? Not staying here forever, right?"
Dialogue fit for an orangutan with two headbands. Namgoong Juhee pondered. Dang Milhyang? Thanks to it, bed and core acquired. Now just absorb the elixir and wait for Maegeomdan. Obvious, right?
"What else? Time to rest."
"Just rest?"
"Yep."
"...Hmph! Not bad, I guess. Better serve me well from now on."
Namgoong Juhee eyed her in surprise again. She'd expected a fit about finding an exit. Near-death by bear sparked inner growth? Admirable. She reached to pat Dang Hwaeun's head.
And whack!
"Kyaa! Why'd you hit me?!"
"Serve? You should be serving me, Dang Sojeo."
"Hey! I'm Dang Hwaeun! Of the West Sichuan Dang family!"
"Whining again."
Like last night, Namgoong Juhee scooped her up tight and dove onto the fluffy bed. She'd expected wild thrashing. Surprisingly compliant. Grinning, she shoved her face close—breaths mingling.
"Dang Sojeo."
"Uh... Y-yeah? What!"
"You stink of sweat. While I was down, did you even wash...? Ow, that really hurts."
"Meant to hurt. Keep messing around, and I'll kill you."
Threats like that are for when you can kill, right? Namgoong Juhee chuckled inwardly. Sleep first, think later. Oh, didn't Dang Sojeo want honey water? Scout absorption spot and grab some too. With that final thought, her consciousness faded. No one saw Dang Hwaeun's face turn beet red.