Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Boisterous Reunion
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Baek Mae chattered away.
"So, you see..."
She spilled out all the stories she'd been holding back. Just that alone made her feel so good she thought she might float away.
Was it because the food was delicious? Or did she like the lively atmosphere?
...Actually, she knew the real reason.
Baek Mae sipped her drink. She sneaked a sidelong glance at the person sitting across from her.
The one who wore a mask to cover his face but had taken it off after booking the room.
She cleared her throat for no reason. Hemming and hawing, she crammed food into her mouth.
Should she say the mood had changed?
Or was it the same as always?
Something had shifted, but she couldn't quite pin it down. Still, one thing was clear.
He'd gotten even more handsome while they were apart.
...For real.
Before, it had only been "he's decent enough..." but now it was different. His skin was smooth, and the depth in his lowered gaze was downright disorienting.
And that jawline. He seemed to have lost a bit of weight somehow... but it suited him so much better...
Should she say his once sharp features had softened a touch?
Was he dropping his guard because it was her?
...Hnnng...
Baek Mae grimaced slightly. She pretended to look down at the floor.
"There's something on the chair. It's all rough."
"Should I call the waiter to swap it out?"
"No, it's fine. I'll just move."
She shifted her seat slyly. It creaked a little, but she claimed the spot next to Red Cloud.
"...I-is this okay? I'm fine with it, but if you're not comfortable, I can sit somewhere else..."
"Want some of this?"
"...Yes!"
This is weird.
She wasn't the type to act all cutesy like this.
Baek Mae chewed her food thoughtfully. She picked up her story where she'd left off.
Red Cloud, who had been listening quietly with soft eyes, smiled.
"You worked hard."
".......!"
Why did those simple words shake the resolve she'd built up so carefully?
Baek Mae turned her head away slightly. She mumbled in a slightly husky voice.
"I-it wasn't anything special... What about you, oppa?"
"I..."
Just as the story she'd been dying to hear was about to spill out, someone knocked lightly on the door.
"...If it's not intruding...hyungnim..."
Hyungnim?
She glanced up at Red Cloud. He wiped his face.
"These guys are like ghosts... How did they..."
"You know them?"
"My dongsaengs."
"Dongsaengs...? Aren't I your dongsaeng, oppa?"
"No, you're right. Those are... well, juniors, I suppose... Mind if they join us?"
Honestly, she minded.
But she didn't want to come off as petty and narrow-minded in front of him.
"Sure, whatever. You're not even wearing your disguise mask. You okay with that?"
"It's fine. They're trustworthy guys. They already know my face anyway."
"Hmm..."
The door clicked open. Two people stepped in.
Strangers to her, so Baek Mae blinked. The burly man who met her eyes hurried to greet them.
"Greetings! Sorry for the intrusion! But hyungnim vanished so suddenly, we feared something had happened..."
"I'm fine. I was hiding for a mission."
"S-sunbae...we were worried."
"My fault for not saying anything ahead of time. Sit."
The woman with her hair tied back had tears welling in her eyes. Baek Mae's brows shot up.
A woman?
Her tone sharpened naturally.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, sorry for the late introduction. I'm Yeon-gwang, a member of the Thunder Force."
Yeon-gwang.
She'd heard the name. Once dismissed as mediocre, now counted among the top young experts. Her nickname was something like Twin Lightning Sword...
Then the one next to her?
"Seo Cho-hee of the North Gate Book Clan."
"Seo... Cho-hee?"
North Gate Book Clan?
One of the prestigious families, right? From there?
And Seo Cho-hee... the poison sword master known as the Blood Noble Consort?
"I'm Baek Mae... Oppa, what's going on here...?"
"They're tied to the story I was about to tell."
"......?"
Red Cloud casually launched into his tale.
Seal Demon Cave. Ghost Sword. Meeting with Ghost Valley Night Chapter.
Even in between, he'd tangled with the Shin Won Jin Clan.
A crack formed on Baek Mae's face. Wait. What?
Did I hear that wrong?
"S-so you fought Jin Wi-ryang, of the Shin Won Jin Clan bloodline... and won? Cut off his arm?"
"Hyungnim back then was... whoa!"
"Are you insane?! Hey! Does that even make sense?! How do you plan to clean up the mess?!"
"The Revival Demon Squad Leader vouched for it personally. Said Jin Wi-ryang was in the wrong. So nothing major came of it..."
"Even so! Not just any clan-the Shin Won Jin Clan?! This isn't some minor slip-up, it's a massive incident!!!"
"H-hold on."
"You idiot! What kind of trouble have you been stirring up?! Tell me more! It didn't end there!"
A commotion erupted outside the door. Sounds of arguing with someone.
A sniffing smell wafted in too. Peeking eyes crammed through the slightly ajar door, scanning the room.
"...I knew that voice sounded familiar!"
Whispering sharply, a doll-like girl slipped in and plastered herself right next to Red Cloud. The left seat he'd left open.
Baek Mae nearly foamed at the mouth.
"Who are you, barging in like that?!"
"...Ryeong-ryeong?"
"Another one you know?! And... she's..."
Pretty.
No, how is she this pretty?! And why are her breasts so huge?! Almost as big as mine...?!
The pink-haired girl clinging like a puppy grinned. She hooked her arm around him and snatched food with her free hand.
"Not enough. Let's order more."
"Wh-who are you?! Her?!"
"...Well, you see..."
Another story emerged. Dark Swamp Water Ghost. The grand bandit who'd swallowed up the river region toward Ak-min, casually glossed over like a heroic tale.
"D-Dark Swamp Water Ghost?! The water arts master?! The infamous grand bandit who commands all those water gangs?! That's dangerous! Oppa! So dangerous!!"
"No choice. Had to be done."
The girl asked slyly.
"Who's that next to you?"
"Next to me..."
Red Cloud smiled faintly.
"My precious dongsaeng."
"...Eek!"
That made her happy. So happy.
But at the same time, she didn't like that sly curve in the girl's eyes. The look itself was off. Her woman's instincts ignited.
Ah, right. She'd put on makeup. Nails look manicured too...
Perfume? She's hugging him all casual-like, but her ears are red?
...Aha.
Is that how it is?
Baek Mae smiled sharply.
"That's right. Oppa'S closest dongsaeng. Baek Mae. Unnie."
"...Unnie?"
"Oh. Not unnie? Sorry. You look 'older' than me... My mistake."
"No, it's fine. She's probably the dongsaeng, right? I mean..."
The woman who introduced herself as Joo Ryeong-ryeong snickered.
"She looks way more immature than me."
"...What did you say?"
"Huh? What? Did I hit a nerve?"
"Hit a nerve? Who? Hahaha. Not at all?"
"Is that sooo... Good, wouldn't want that. Red Cloud, try this. Ah."
"I'm hungry too. Let me eat it for you."
"Ah, sorry. I don't like feeding other people."
"Then why do it to oppa?"
"He's like a kid... Right?"
Red Cloud gave a wry smile, looking troubled.
"Ryeong-ryeong. I can feed myself."
"Don't wanna eat?"
"...No. I'll eat it."
This girl's openly flirting?!
Baek Mae started to stand abruptly but caught another noise.
The door creaked open.
"Joo Ryeong-ryeong, I told you to grab a seat first. What are you doing? You can't just barge into any room... Huh? Why are you here?"
"Dan-hwa."
Another woman.
And...
What kind of face is that? On a mission, my ass-he's just been picking up beauties left and right?!
"Wh-what... the hell have you been up to...?!"
"That's... Black Peony..."
"Black Peony... Soul-Captivating Seductive Fairy?! The infamous rumor herself?! Why is the Soul-Captivating Seductive Fairy here?!"
"If a whole day passes, shouldn't you check in? You gonna make me hunt you down?"
"Sorry. Got caught up reuniting with old friends."
"Next time, say where you're going. Got it?"
"Yes."
She scratched her butt naturally. Baek Mae growled.
"Hey... Who are you to boss oppa around?"
"And who are you?"
"Baek Mae. Oppa's most cherished dongsaeng."
"Ah, cherished? Hmm..."
Black Peony snickered.
"I've heard that about me and Joo Ryeong-ryeong too. Right? Or... not? 'Cherished' for a 'dongsaeng' might mean something different from 'cherished' for a 'female friend.' Isn't that so, Joo Ryeong-ryeong?"
"Wh-what?!"
Joo Ryeong-ryeong snickered. She exchanged glances with Black Peony, then leaned her head gently on Red Cloud's shoulder.
"Worlds apart, really."
Caught in this sudden united front, Baek Mae's eyes twitched.
These bitches... teaming up on me?
Outnumbered. But she had her bond with Red Cloud. She wouldn't back down easy. No way.
To begin with...
What the hell has this guy been doing to rack up so many beauties?!
"The scent leads here. No one escapes this Black Wind's nose."
"To think this lord has to throw extra coin to track you down. Mi-ryeong, let's eat here."
"Sure, Great-uncle."
"Looks tasty."
"I never called you! You crazy bitch! Get out!"
"I'm just here to see my disciple."
"Then pay up!"
"Me? Why?"
"Just fight me already!"
The door burst open again. The flood of newcomers made Baek Mae's eyes twitch once more.
Two sturdy-looking men and two slender women. Wedged in the middle, a petite girl scanned the room.
With an expressionless face, she plopped right onto Red Cloud's lap.
Baek Mae clutched her neck.
"...Out of courtesy, who are you?"
"Vice Demon Squad Leader? Get down."
"V-Vice... Squad Leader?! And Vice Demon Squad Leader means...?! No way... The real Nine Heavens Jade Maiden?!"
"Correct."
The Vice Demon Squad Leader nodded curtly. Baek Mae foamed at the mouth.
"Why are you tangled up with the Vice Demon Squad Leader?! What the?!"
"Various things happened in Ak-min..."
"Ak-min... Ak-min... Ak-min..."
Baek Mae asked just in case.
"Were you at the center of that Blood Demon descent rumor?"
"......."
"Don't tell me... you even crossed swords?"
"......."
"Why can't you answer?!"
The Vice Demon Squad Leader picked at the food.
"Guess you're an acquaintance. Red Cloud was impressive. Took down that Blood Demon himself... I saw it with my own eyes. The bloodbath in the dust pit was the essence of a true warrior..."
"BLOOD DEMONNNN?! You lunatic!!!"
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