Chapter 625: I'll Save You If I Remember~
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 625: I'll Save You If I Remember~
"Pavilion Master! Where did you go?!"
"Pavilion Master!"
"Please, just come out already!"
The members of the Jaegyeong Pavilion began searching for their leader, Yorang, their voices laced with desperation.
Today was the day of the month-end settlement.
It was, quite literally, the busiest day of the month.
Yet, on such a day, Yorang had vanished like a ghost—the very same Yorang who could easily handle the workload of three or four people by herself.
The members of the Jaegyeong Pavilion were at their wits' end and began scouring the grounds for her. If she wasn't found, they would have to tackle the insane mountain of paperwork for the month-end settlement on their own.
And if that happened, they were certain they would die.
Die from overwork, that is.
This realization fueled their frantic search. They needed her help, no matter what.
"Pavilion Master! Please, I beg of you, come out... please..."
"Pavilion Master! If you don't, we're going to drop dead from exhaustion!"
The cries searching for Yorang echoed throughout the entire Tang Clan estate.
*
"Are you sure you shouldn't go?"
Hearing the echoing shouts, Neung So-hwa asked Yorang out of curiosity.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Yorang waved her hand dismissively at Neung So-hwa’s question.
"It's not like they'll actually die just because I'm not there."
Yorang continued, her expression completely free of concern.
"I'm fairly certain I just heard them say they were going to die of overwork..."
Neung So-hwa looked at Yorang with a skeptical gaze.
"Oh, please. Kids these days are just prone to exaggeration."
"Aren't you, in a way, a 'kid these days' as well?"
"I'm over three hundred years old, you know?"
Yorang tilted her head as she spoke.
"But hasn't your ego as a human only existed for about two years?"
"Sohwa, I'm a genius. Two years is more than enough time for me to fully understand human society."
"Well, it's certainly clear that you've mastered the art of slacking off."
Neung So-hwa nodded as she spoke.
Yorang was becoming more human than actual humans. At this rate, one could say she had perfectly integrated into human society.
"Slacking off? I'm simply giving myself a vacation."
Yorang replied with a shameless expression.
"Did that vacation absolutely have to be at the end of the month?"
"But the end of the month is when it's the busiest!"
Yorang made an adorable face as she spoke—a face so cute you almost wanted to pinch her cheeks.
"Have you ever heard the term 'salary thief'?"
Neung So-hwa asked while watching her.
"No?"
Yorang tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled.
"In the Imperial Palace, they use that term for people like you."
"Does it mean someone who is pretty, smart, and talented like me?"
Yorang asked with a bright, playful smile.
"No. It refers to a thief-like person who only does the easy tasks, avoids the difficult ones, and yet still collects their full monthly salary."
Neung So-hwa shook her head slightly, correcting her.
"What?!"
Yorang flared up, raising her voice in indignation.
"Is it not the truth?"
"I usually work three or four times harder than everyone else! I deserve a day off!"
"But isn't it a problem that the day you chose happens to be the busiest? Can you not hear their desperate cries?"
Neung So-hwa chided Yorang gently.
"Humans are supposed to grow through trials."
Yorang spoke with a nonchalant air.
"A trial should at least be survivable, shouldn't it? From where I stand, this looks like a cruel ordeal for them."
Neung So-hwa looked at Yorang with a serious gaze.
"......They'll be able to handle that much."
"Do you truly believe that?"
Neung So-hwa pressed.
"......Of course."
Yorang’s voice lacked confidence.
"Do you really think so?"
Neung So-hwa stared into Yorang’s eyes with a calm, piercing gaze, asking once more if she truly believed her own words.
".............."
Meeting Neung So-hwa’s steady gaze, Yorang found herself unable to answer.
Because, in truth, Neung So-hwa was right.
The month-end settlement was a task far too grueling for that small number of people to handle alone. Yet, they couldn't just give up. If the settlement wasn't processed correctly and on time, the Tang Clan’s entire financial flow would be thrown into chaos.
".....Actually, no."
Yorang eventually shook her head slightly.
"Then what do you think you should do?"
"Postpone the work until tomorrow!"
"..........."
Neung So-hwa stared at her again with a doubtful look.
"..........Go and finish the month-end settlement with everyone else."
Under that gaze, Yorang finally gave the honest answer. It felt like the words just tumbled out on their own when she looked into those eyes.
"Yorang is a good girl."
Hearing her answer, Neung So-hwa gave a charming, eye-curving smile.
Squeeze.
She pulled Yorang into a hug.
Pat, pat.
Then, she began to gently stroke Yorang’s ebony hair.
In truth, it didn't really matter if Yorang kept running away. As a spiritual being, she wasn't bound by the rules established by humans.
And yet, she was feeling sympathy for her subordinates, reflecting on her actions, and trying to finish her work.
How could she not be precious?
How could she not be lovely?
"Hehehehe... hehehe..."
As Neung So-hwa gently stroked her head, Yorang began to giggle happily. Being praised didn't feel bad at all.
"Now then, go and attend to your duties."
Neung So-hwa soon took her hand off Yorang’s head and spoke firmly.
"Can't you stroke my head just a little bit more?"
Yorang looked up at her with a lingering sense of disappointment.
"No. The longer you delay, the more they will suffer."
"Uuuu... fine... I get it..."
Yorang spoke with a resigned expression. She knew Neung So-hwa was right.
Flash!
Shiver!
Suddenly, Yorang’s entire body began to tremble violently.
"Yorang? What's wrong all of a sudden?!"
Neung So-hwa asked, startled by the sudden change. What on earth was happening?
Tremble, tremble.
Despite the question, Yorang continued to shake.
Drip, drip.
Then, tears began to stream down her face.
"Yorang?! What is it? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Seeing this, Neung So-hwa asked with a worried expression. She couldn't understand this sudden reaction.
"He's here."
"Huh?"
Neung So-hwa asked back, confused.
"He's here!"
"Who is here?!"
"Sun-woo is here!"
Yorang cried out, tears streaming down her face.
"Sun-woo?!"
Neung So-hwa looked stunned. She immediately closed her eyes.
Woooooom.
She expanded her senses, trying to pick up any trace of Sun-woo’s presence.
However, she couldn't feel anything at all.
"Yorang, I don't feel anything."
"No! I'm sure of it!"
Yorang shook her head and raised her voice.
"I can smell him!"
"Is that true?!"
Neung So-hwa asked, her face filled with disbelief.
"I'm certain! Sun-woo! Sun-woo has come back!"
Yorang looked at Neung So-hwa with eyes full of conviction.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know the exact distance! I just have a feeling! A feeling that he's coming to the Tang Clan!"
"We have to... tell Sister Ok-ryeong!"
Neung So-hwa immediately turned around. She felt she had to inform the primary wife, Ok-ryeong, of this fact right away.
"I'll go to Ga-ryeo!"
Yorang also turned toward the door.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
The two of them immediately began to run outside, deep smiles etched onto their faces.
*
"It's an honor to meet you, Senior Blood Sword Fragrance."
Kang Ha-yoon spoke, her face flushing slightly.
Long ago, Blood Sword Fragrance Ok-ryeong was a legendary female martial artist, a senior who had made a name for herself through chivalrous deeds in the Murim even before Joo So-yang, the best among women, and Kang Ha-yoon, the second best.
Meeting such an icon in person filled her with an indescribable sense of awe.
"The honor is mine, meeting the Phoenix Unit Leader, Kang Ha-yoon..."
Ok-ryeong replied with a flawless, clear smile.
"No... someone like me... cannot be compared to Senior Ok-ryeong..."
Kang Ha-yoon spoke bashfully.
Twenty-five years ago, Ok-ryeong was a heroine of legendary martial prowess who had single-handedly annihilated the Geoak Sect, which at the time was the largest unorthodox organization and had been on the verge of founding an unorthodox alliance.
Compared to such feats, Kang Ha-yoon felt her own chivalrous deeds paled in comparison.
"Ha-yoon, aren't you praising me a bit too much? That was over twenty years ago."
Ok-ryeong waved her hand dismissively. While the praise felt good, it was also a bit burdensome.
"Please... you can... speak comfortably... Ok-ryeong."
"Hmm... then, may I speak casually?"
"Yes... that would actually make me feel more at ease..."
"Then, Ha-yoon."
Ok-ryeong spoke with a serene smile.
"......Yes."
Kang Ha-yoon replied, her face turning red with shyness.
"Would you like to call me 'Sister' as well?"
"..Pardon?!.. But... how could I..."
"I just really want to hear Ha-yoon call me 'Sister'... Could you do that for me?"
Ok-ryeong looked at Kang Ha-yoon with eyes that sparkled like starlight.
"............"
Kang Ha-yoon remained silent, her face flushing even more. She seemed to be organizing her complicated thoughts.
".........Sis...ter."
Finally, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Yes, Ha-yoon?"
Satisfied with the answer, a gentle smile spread across Ok-ryeong’s lips.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, someone began to pound on the door violently.
"Who is it?"
Ok-ryeong looked at the door in confusion. There was no one who should be visiting at this hour.
"..........Sister... Ok-ryeong!"
A familiar voice called out from outside. Hearing it, a small smile played on Ok-ryeong’s lips. It seemed another "sister" had arrived.
"It's So-hwa. Come in."
Creeeeeak.
The door swung open the moment permission was granted.
A beautiful woman with hair as brilliant as a flame stepped inside. It was Neung So-hwa.
"Something big has happened!"
Neung So-hwa shouted urgently, looking at Ok-ryeong.
"Something big?"
Ok-ryeong asked, her expression puzzled. What could possibly be so urgent? What was she talking about?
"Sun-woo is returning to the Tang Clan!"
Neung So-hwa raised her voice in excitement.
"What?!"
"What?!"
Both Ok-ryeong and Kang Ha-yoon cried out in shock. It was news they hadn't expected at all.
*
"Pavilion Master! Where are you going?!"
Grab!
Having happened upon Yorang by chance, Tang Gam desperately grabbed her arm.
"Let go!! I have to go!"
Yorang tried to shake off Tang Gam’s grip.
"I can't!"
Tang Gam wrapped both of his arms around one of Yorang’s, as if he would never let go.
"Let go! I said let go!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Yorang began to swing her arm back and forth. Tang Gam’s body was tossed around following the movement of her arm. It seemed even his full body weight was no match for Yorang’s transcendental strength.
"Ugh... I can't... overwork... hic... I don't want to die..."
Tang Gam began to plead. He was still a bachelor who hadn't even married yet. He refused to die of overwork before his youth could even truly bloom.
'Should I just smack him? Or not?'
Yorang fell into serious thought. She wondered if she should just knock him unconscious.
'No.... if I mess up my strength control, he'll die.'
But Yorang soon shook her head. If she failed to control her strength, Tang Gam’s fragile skull would surely burst like a watermelon.
'What should I do...'
Yorang was in a dilemma. This was the biggest crisis she had faced since deciding whether to eat tang-gwa or crackers first.
After agonizing for a moment...
'Ah!'
A brilliant idea struck her.
"Tang Gam."
Yorang called out to the man clinging to her arm.
"Yes, Pavilion Master."
"Bleh."
She opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue.
"Huh?"
Tang Gam tilted his head in confusion. What on earth was she doing?
Shhhhhhh!
Then, something strange happened. A mass of snow-white silk threads began to erupt from Yorang’s mouth.
"Aaaaah!"
Startled, Tang Gam let go of Yorang. He was immediately covered by the white threads. They wrapped around him until he was completely sealed.
Soon, a white, human-shaped statue stood in the middle of the area. Tang Gam’s entire body was encased in the white silk.
"That material is breathable, so you'll be able to respire just fine."
Yorang spoke with a cute smile as she looked at the cocoon.
"I'll save you if I remember~"
Then, she immediately took off, moving as fast as a bolt of lightning.
'Save meeeeeee!'
Only the poor Tang Gam was left behind in the courtyard.