Chapter 63
Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Encounter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-Whoosh
A coquettish voice whispered right by my ear.
For a split second, goosebumps prickled my skin.
I hadn’t sensed anyone approaching at all—when the hell...?
The moment I reflexively grabbed the sword leaning by the window, that voice rang out again, stopping me.
“You don’t need to react so sharply. I was just impressed by your dart-throwing skills and thought I’d say hello.”
The voice, which had been close by, gradually receded, and its owner came into my view.
And just like that, she sat down right across from me, as if it were the most natural thing.
No sooner had she taken her seat than she unwrapped the veil from her head and set it aside.
Thanks to that, I could see her face clearly, and I narrowed my eyes.
“...You don’t strike me as the type to visit a humble tavern like this.”
“Oh dear? The tavern keeper might feel slighted. This place is perfectly fine.”
The woman who had joined me without permission boasted a dazzling beauty that perfectly matched her coquettish voice.
Her striking looks were amplified by heavy makeup, ornate clothing embroidered with gold thread, and exquisite jewelry.
But what caught the eye most of all were her two eyes, gleaming like pure gold.
Like those of a Westerner—or rather, a blue-eyed foreigner—those golden irises added a touch of mystery to her glamour.
The arrival of a beauty so stunning that every single passerby would turn to stare.
It was no coincidence that the gazes of the surrounding patrons (all men) were now converging on my table.
Feeling those looks shift from curiosity to envy, I asked the mysterious woman,
“Have we met before?”
“No? As I said earlier, I just came in for a cup of tea, saw your impressive dart skills, and got curious enough to strike up a conversation.”
As she spoke, her eyes curved into deep, alluring arcs.
“Of course, we might end up meeting quite often from now on?”
The way she covered her mouth with her sleeve as she smiled was endlessly graceful.
What can I say—leaving aside her beauty, every gesture oozed coquettish charm.
Most men would probably melt and let their guards down in front of her.
But I couldn’t relax as I looked at her.
Neither the fact that she’d slipped past my senses to get this close, nor her unflinching composure as I still gripped my sword tightly.
Everything proved that the woman before me was no ordinary person.
Meeting my stiff, hardened gaze, she let her smile fade and sighed softly, as if regretful.
“I just wanted to get friendly with a handsome young master showing off such fascinating skills, but it seems I made a mistake. To be disliked right from our first meeting.”
Her golden eyes drooped sadly.
Surrounding us, sympathetic sighs erupted.
The stares pinning me naturally grew pricklier.
As my expression turned awkward at the hostility from those onlookers, she now laughed as if she’d seen the most amusing thing in the world.
More sighs burst out, and just as irritation started to build, the woman spoke again.
“Ye So-ha.”
“...Pardon?”
“My name. And yours, young master?”
“Why should I tell you?”
My curt reply only deepened her smile.
“No need to be so on edge. I just wanted to thank you for doing what I was about to do myself.”
Doing what she was about to do?
I glanced out the window again.
The thugs, foaming at the mouth and collapsed, were already being hauled away by constables who looked like they’d come from the magistrate’s office.
“I despise those kinds of people. Thugs who get drunk on their meager power and bully the weak without a shred of shame.”
Her gaze on the departing thugs held naked contempt—no lie there. But the moment she turned back to me, her cold expression bloomed into a radiant smile.
“And I like people who know how to use their power properly. Like you, young master.”
“Butter me up all you want—it won’t work.”
“Oh my, what a shame.”
As Ye So-ha lightly touched her cheek and chuckled softly, someone approached my table.
“Miss. It’s time to go.”
Two women, faces veiled in blue and red silk with only their eyes showing, bowed to Ye So-ha.
She made a reluctant face, rose from her seat, and donned her veil once more.
Cue another wave of regretful sighs.
“Sadly, I must be off for today. Next time we meet, you have to tell me your name, okay?”
She said it with the certainty that we’d meet again.
Seeing my uneasy frown, Ye So-ha giggled from behind her veil and departed the tavern with elegant steps.
The instant Ye So-ha vanished, Go Hyeung took her place at my table, like a changing of the guard.
That lecherous grin on his face—I had a feeling I knew what was coming.
“What’s this? How’d you snag a beauty like that in the blink of an eye? It’s the face, right? Gotta be the face.”
“...It’s not like that.”
To me, it had been a moment dripping with tension, but to everyone else, it was just fodder for jokes.
Quite the bizarre feeling.
“Come on, don’t hold out—spill the details...”
“More importantly, the customers seem to be thinning out. Can we go pick up Jo Un-chil now?”
“Huh?”
Go Hyeung turned his head.
What he saw were the male patrons ebbing away like the tide.
With Ye So-ha gone, they scattered as if their business was done.
The tavern, now far emptier than expected.
Go Hyeung muttered with a hollow look.
“...Beasts true to their instincts.”
Sighing deeply, he shrugged helplessly.
“No more customers coming, looks like. Fine. Give me a minute to get ready.”
I followed Go Hyeung down the stairs to the first floor, my thoughts drifting to the woman who’d appeared out of nowhere.
Ye So-ha.
A suspicious, unsettling woman who’d pierced my senses to get within arm’s reach.
If she’d harbored killing intent, I might’ve been done for.
And her posture, her movements.
Not just feminine and graceful—they were flawless, without a single opening.
Her energy felt ordinary, like any commoner’s, but my instincts screamed a warning.
The most dangerous opponent I’d ever faced.
“What’s her deal?”
Not even a full month since leaving the martial world behind, so I hadn’t met many fighters, but this was the first one I couldn’t confidently say I’d beat.
“...Come to think of it, she talked like we’d meet again.”
Probably just talk.
I’d rather not cross paths with her again.
*
“Hee hee...”
“...You seem in high spirits, miss?”
So-ha’s laughter echoed as they walked.
Cheong, the woman in blue silk trailing behind her, couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
Considering why they’d come to Hefei, there was no reason for So-ha to be this cheerful.
Just before entering the tavern moments ago, So-ha had looked quite displeased.
Even more so after witnessing the shameless thugs harassing an innocent woman over seating fees and nonsense.
Yet suddenly, she’d watched the thugs foam and collapse, sauntered into the tavern on her own, and struck up a lively chat with some stranger.
It was the first time Cheong had seen So-ha smile so brightly.
Not once in over a decade, since she’d been a little girl.
‘Just who was that guy...’
“Because of that handsome young master from earlier, right?”
Unlike Cheong, lost in puzzled thought, Hong—the woman in red silk—asked So-ha directly.
While the cool-headed Cheong pondered silently, Hong’s bubbly energy burst forth, prompting a teasing reply from So-ha.
“Does it look that way?”
“Yes! I’ve never seen you smile like that, miss. Who is he? Not really a stranger, is he?”
So-ha had claimed it was their first meeting, but Hong didn’t buy it.
Her tone had been far too warm and familiar for a stranger.
But So-ha’s answer contradicted her suspicions.
“Sorry, but he really was a first-time face.”
“Eh...?”
She was this happy over meeting a total stranger for the first time?
‘Why?’
Cheong and Hong both pictured the young master who’d sat with So-ha.
Handsome enough on the surface, sure—but they’d seen plenty of good-looking men in their line of work.
“Maybe he’s some master with incredible martial arts?”
Cheong suddenly recalled the sword he’d gripped.
His hold on the scabbard had looked quite proper.
“Nah, a young guy in his twenties at most? How great could his skills be?”
Hong shot down the idea.
A prodigy youth master was the stuff of street novels.
Unrealistic in the real world.
At least, that’s what Hong believed.
“Hee hee hee...”
So-ha chuckled at Hong’s confident assertion.
I wonder what faces they’d make if I told them he’d knocked out the thugs with darts?
The thought intrigued her, but she held back.
There were more pressing matters than teasing her cute maids right now.
So-ha casually rolled up her right sleeve.
Revealed was a simple bracelet, plain compared to her other jewelry.
But it had one special feature.
A gem embedded in its center was glowing on its own.
A flicker of ecstasy passed through So-ha’s eyes as she beheld it.
“...I’ve finally found you.”
The glowing bracelet.
Proof.
That the nameless young master was the one she’d been searching for.