Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Yeonhui Avoids Me
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Yeonhui. Got a moment?"
"Brother, I'm kinda busy right now! Let's talk later!"
I'd lost track of how many days it had been like this.
Whenever I tried to talk to her, Yeonhui would blush and run off.
At first, I figured she must just be really busy and let it slide.
But when it dragged on for a whole week, past one day, two days, I couldn't help but notice.
"Wanna go check out the market together?"
"Oh, not today. I've got plans. Let's definitely go next time!"
She even turned down outings, which she used to love, and bolted like an arrow. Using lightness skill, no less.
Her speed shocked me a little.
'Yeonhui's avoiding me.'
Why?
Did I do something wrong?
I'd treated her the same as always.
So why was she suddenly dodging me like this?
"Yeonhui."
"Later!"
Now she ran just from hearing her name.
I couldn't figure it out at all.
No way she was already bored with me, right?
I couldn't even ask why—conversation was impossible.
'Could it be because of that?'
There was one thing that came to mind.
The day I took the Summoning Pill.
I'd hugged Yeonhui tight after she so willingly stood guard for me.
It had taken some courage on my part, too.
'I can't always wait for Yeonhui to come to me first.'
That thought hit me after Master visited.
To me, Master was family.
So stroking his head or massaging his shoulders was just familial affection.
But Yeonhui had watched with envious eyes, like she was jealous.
Why was that?
Thinking it over...
I'd never really approached her first.
Usually, Yeonhui was the one hugging me or kissing my cheek...
She poured her love into every part of her body.
But me? What had I done?
Hugged her a few times at best?
Nothing compared to what she'd done.
So seeing me goof around with Master like family must've made her jealous.
'No more hesitation.'
I decided while talking with Master.
Echoes without response just wear you down.
I might not match what Yeonhui had done, but little by little.
One step at a time.
'That's why I hugged her.'
How did it end up like this?
No way she's embarrassed?
Nah, ridiculous.
We'd hugged so many times.
Now she's dodging me over that kind of contact?
No chance.
There had to be another reason!
At this rate, my vacation would end without seeing her.
I needed a drastic measure.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...So that's it? You rushed all the way to Hanam just to ask about this?"
"'This'?"
Park Il-do, whom I hadn't seen in a while.
The guy was as grumpy as ever.
Maybe from rolling around in the Beggars' Sect, but his complexion looked even duskier.
"Don't you think it's weird to ask me about girl stuff? Me, who's had women hanging off him since I was a kid. Who knows women's hearts better than I do?"
"Il-do, sorry, but... I never bothered understanding women's feelings. Or needed to. I just don't know."
"Brother! I should've smacked you upside the head the first time you pointed at that mug of yours with your sword finger!"
Park Il-do yelled like he was having a fit.
His eyes bulged, glaring like he might actually hit me.
"Maybe she's just embarrassed you hugged her?"
"Come on. We're not newbies at this."
"Then there's only one possibility."
"What's that?"
"Smell."
Smell?
Wait...
No way...?
"You said you did breathing exercises for six hours straight, right? Your body must've been soaked in sweat."
"Yeah...?"
"You know from beggar life how rough it gets. But you tough it out eventually. The scornful looks, the itching all over—it goes numb after a month or two. But one thing I can't stand? Smell."
Park Il-do's beggar philosophy.
I focused on his serious explanation.
"Handsome or pretty, doesn't matter—sweat stinks. Sweat's just waste flushing out impurities. Bound to smell bad!"
"Yeonhui never mentioned any smell."
"Anyway! Already sweaty, then you hug up close? Even with your face, it'll shatter the illusion."
It made sense the more I heard.
Beggars have sharp noses.
Hunger hones it.
Foraging food sharpens their sense of smell to the extreme. Bonus for tracking enemies. Beggars' Sect disciples were smell experts in a way.
So Il-do's words had credibility.
'Yeonhui said I only smelled like fragrance...'
Probably love goggles.
Or just saying what I wanted to hear.
Yeah, everyone's body smells sometimes.
Maybe get a fragrance pouch.
A guy with a sachet? Ugh.
"That all you came for?"
"No. You think I'd burn half my qi lightness-skipping to Hanam just for this?"
Thanks to the Summoning Pill, I felt its full effect.
Before, I wouldn't have made it back.
Spiritual medicine's power anew.
"Heard the news?"
"What? You found Demonic Cult remnants?"
"More like traces. I just saved someone hit by their curse."
"Yeah, after that, our sect's running around like mad. Division Head's on a rampage to snag something. Total bullshit."
Indeed.
The Moon-Sun Divine Cult, lying low for decades like dead rats.
Even traces meant they'd hunt full force.
"Find anything?"
"Don't ask. Guys who risked life hiding traces forever. Hell, rumors say they all starved as a group. Digging won't turn up shit."
"Hiding something?"
"Bastard, watch your mouth. Since when do we keep secrets?"
True enough.
Testing him made me feel bad for nothing.
"Got it. If you learn anything, give me a heads-up."
"It'll go to the Murim Alliance anyway, right?"
"I'm still low-rank. Demonic Cult info's sensitive—they might not spread it wide, could skip me."
"Why you so desperate for Demonic Cult intel?"
Il-do's question.
Like I'd tested him, he was testing me.
"Grudge."
"Grudge?"
"Yeah. They owe me a debt."
"Can't elaborate?"
"When the time's right. Like you said, I can't lie to you."
Details later.
A bit sneaky, but no choice.
Too many tangled stories to explain properly one by one.
Just hope he'd let it slide.
"Damn. How'd I end up brothers with a guy like you..."
"What's brotherhood for, huh?"
"Only when it suits you, that's it!"
Park Il-do snapped irritably.
That was enough.
When he made that face, he'd never broken a promise once.
"Drinks on me later!"
"I'll throw in Dongpo pork."
"Dongpo pork plus mapo tofu."
"That's a steal for me."
Only after securing his yes did I leave Hanam.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'I'm dying of embarrassment.'
Namgoong Yeonhui.
A woman in love.
Lately, she'd been deep in thought.
Because of her suddenly changed lover.
'Being proactive is good, but...'
Yi Se-woong had always been so calm.
He'd accept her affections but never initiate, leaving her with a twinge of resentment.
Does the one who falls first always lose...?
Right around then.
'Brother's changed.'
Yi Se-woong transformed.
No more holding back on affection.
Hugging whenever he could, whispering sweet nothings in her ear...
Like compensating for lost time, he approached boldly.
It was great.
Too great— that was the problem.
So great she couldn't contain her feelings.
When he gazed at her with those tender eyes, her heart pounded like it might burst.
Breath short, head spinning with blood rush.
'I was fine approaching him, so why now?'
Embarrassed.
She must be crazy.
How could she so shamelessly throw herself into his arms before?
Her past self felt like a madwoman.
An innocent girl oblivious to shame!
'Can't even look at his face anymore.'
His face always made her flutter, but this was extreme. Calming with heart method only accelerated it, thanks to Thunder Gong's nature.
His bare-chested body still lingered in her mind.
'This can't go on!'
Lifelong partner.
Couldn't avoid forever.
After long evasion, Yeonhui approached her lover.
"Yeonhui!"
"Brother? What's that weird scent...?"
"Oh, this? Heard it's trending in Anhui lately."
Gathering courage, Yeonhui stood close to Yi Se-woong.
She caught a sharp, unfamiliar fragrance.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"You've been dodging me, right?"
"That's..."
Because I'm embarrassed.
Too shy to say it.
"Figured maybe my sweat smell from back then freaked you out."
"Pardon?"
"Got ahead of myself. Too focused on hugging you, didn't think."
What was he saying?
Yeonhui couldn't comprehend Yi Se-woong's words.
"What flower was it? Anyway, how is it?"
"Not great!"
"That definitive?!"
For a moment.
Yeonhui struggled not to laugh.
Embarrassed and avoiding him.
I was the fool.
'Brother's been thinking of me like this.'
Your body only smells like fragrance.
Imagining him wandering for a sachet while agonizing alone brought a smile.
I worried over nothing.
"Brother, you're basically a walking sachet!"
"Huh?"
"Forget it, just hug me. Ditch that sachet quick."
She'd asked for a hug first.
But Yeonhui lunged, wrapping Yi Se-woong tightly in her arms.