Chapter 82
Finally, I ended up going to buy the perfume with Namgung Ryu-cheong. It was his very first time venturing out at all.
To me, both Namgung Ryu-cheong and Yahul were like children I'd left by the riverside, but today marked Namgung Ryu-cheong's debut splash into the world...
Wait, does that even make sense? First time out at ten years old!
Of course, he'd gone out with his parents before. But those outings—surrounded by escort warriors, maids, and attendants, riding in a fancy carriage—were worlds apart from today's casual stroll.
On the way, I learned he'd never even bought anything with his own hands!
As we walked, I kept glancing back every few steps. We'd come quite a distance already, so Yahul was out of sight, but my heart just wouldn't settle, pulling my gaze rearward again and again.
I asked Seo Ha-ryeong, "How much farther?"
"Almost there!"
"Got it."
Well, with him just standing in line, what trouble could there be? I forced myself to calm down and faced forward again.
That's when I caught Namgung Ryu-cheong staring right at me.
"Lady Baek Ri-yeon."
There was a hint of irritation in his voice.
"What?"
What's with him? What's got him all sulky?
Namgung Ryu-cheong fell silent for a moment, eyeing me with clear displeasure, then blurted out, "Go back."
"Huh?"
"I'll stay with Lady Seo, so you go first."
His unexpected words jolted me, but Seo Ha-ryeong's shout drowned out my surprised voice.
"What?! No way! Why send Ri-yeon away?"
Namgung Ryu-cheong shot her a cold glare. "Lady Baek Ri-yeon keeps looking back."
Seo Ha-ryeong's eyes widened as she turned to me.
"It's annoying since she's constantly checking. Just go."
"Still, no..."
"Then we all go back. How important can your precious perfume be?"
"You tagged along on your own, so why take it out on me!"
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked ready to yell, but he bit his lip hard and turned to me instead. "What are you waiting for?"
I glanced between Namgung Ryu-cheong and Seo Ha-ryeong, then made up my mind. "Thank you, Young Master. Sorry, Ha-ryeong. Can't leave Yahul alone. You two go ahead."
"Ri-yeon!"
Ignoring her cry, I spun on my heel and bolted back.
The crowded street wouldn't let me sprint full-out. I noted familiar shops along the route I'd memorized on the way.
Keep going straight from here, turn left at that shop... Huh?
While searching for the path, something made me whip my head around.
"What was that?"
I craned my neck, scanning the spot that had caught my eye. It felt like... my father?
...Nah, probably not.
The bustling crowd made it hard to keep using my golden eyes—they drained my focus completely.
...Anyway, gotta hurry.
I shook off the vague energy I'd glimpsed and picked up my pace.
Soon, the shop came into view, and my eyes bulged. The line had grown even longer while they'd stepped away.
No way... Wow, if I'd been even a little later, disaster.
Must be lunchtime crowds gathering.
As I hurried on, a shopkeeper muttered wearily beside me. "Those punks at it again. Ugh."
I shot him a quick glance and pressed forward.
Not far off, I spotted Yahul. The line ahead had thinned quite a bit—his turn was coming up soon.
Huh?
I tilted my head. Yahul was chatting with a boy ahead of him, one a couple heads taller.
Oh, guess I worried for nothing.
Honestly, I'd been doubting Yahul's social skills a bit. He stuck to my side like glue all the time, barely showed expressions, and followed me around without much interest in anything else. I worried if a kid like that could grow up okay.
But with us in Namgung family territory, I couldn't push him to mingle aggressively. Had to play it safe. Still, that nagging unease in my chest eased at the sight... until the boy tapped Yahul's cheek with the back of his hand.
What... the hell... just happened?
The absurdity hit me so hard, my brain lagged.
My frozen thoughts snapped back as Yahul grabbed the boy's wrist and twisted it viciously.
The boy's scream pierced the air. "Aaaagh!"
I rushed forward. "Let go! Argh! L-let... gooo!"
"Bro!"
"You little shit!"
His gang of kids piled in—it was chaos.
I yelled desperately, "Yahul!"
Yahul glanced at me. "Oh? Back early."
He even flashed a slight smile amid it all.
In that split second, his grip loosened just a fraction, and the boy shoved free. He reared back his fist.
"You bastard...!"
My body moved on instinct, wrapping around Yahul protectively. The punch grazed my shoulder, sending me tumbling to the ground.
My mind blanked. Only belatedly did I register the soft cushion beneath me—I'd landed on Yahul.
He'd twisted mid-fall to keep me from hitting the pavement.
I scrambled up in shock. "Yahul, you okay?"
"......"
Yahul rose silently. The moment I saw his eyes, my heart plummeted.
His gaze... it's off.
His pupils were pitch black, devoid of any light. My golden eyes caught the inner energy roiling inside him—murky qi surging from his dantian toward his limbs.
Yahul glared wide-eyed at the frozen boy and slowly reached out.
"You... "
I seized his arm. "No."
"......"
"Yahul, no."
My repeated pleas made the demonic energy gradually, so gradually, subside.
Yahul's lips parted slowly. "...You okay?"
Only then did relief wash over me. I'd been so tense, the stinging pain in my shoulder from the glancing fist finally registered.
I lied casually, "Not hurt. I'm fine."
He'd never been exposed to killing intent before, so he wouldn't know what it was, but the creepy vibe had left the boy rigid. Now released, he belatedly screamed, "W-what the hell are you?!"
He stared at Yahul, then flinched away in fear before turning on me. "And who the hell are you, barging in like that?!"
Fourteen? Fifteen? Middle-school age back in Korea. Luxurious yellow martial robes, gold-embellished sash at his waist, dangling jade ornaments—he flaunted his wealth head to toe.
And he's got inner energy.
A sword hung at his hip too. Probably from some murim clan or sect.
His buddies behind him looked the same.
No way Black Dao thugs would stir trouble right in front of Namgung territory—they've gotta be orthodox, upright murim folk.
Having sized it up, I shot back swiftly, "Who are you to ask? Some orthodox murim brat throwing punches in broad daylight?"
"...W-what? You jumped in!"
"You're the ones who cut in line!"
If they'd been right in front, no way I'd have missed them. And bingo.
"You... you! Do you know who I am?!"
"Who? Spill it—which house does the line-cutter who beats people in daylight belong to?!"
His face flushed crimson as he scanned around. Onlookers from the line craned their necks, gawking at the commotion. A few snickered.
"You, you!"
Humiliation must've fried his brain—he raised his hand again.
This psycho!
I'd just calmed Yahul down!
I stepped in front of Yahul, hastily gathering natural qi.
Didn't wanna use it till my stamina improved...
That instant—
"Agh!"
Before I could even block, the boy clutched his hand and screamed.
His gang yelped in succession.
"Bro!"
"Big bro!"
"What happened?!"
I was just as baffled. I hadn't even touched the jerk!