Chapter 162
Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: The Jealousy Gambit
"So, um, you pretend to be interested in Red Phoenix. Do it just like the way you acted around Spear Phoenix before."
Peng Deokjo stared at me in utter bewilderment.
He cleared his throat belatedly before speaking.
"Ahem, I'm not interested in Red Phoenix."
"Of course I know that. That's why I said pretend to be interested!"
The guy clamped his mouth shut, looking like he just couldn't wrap his head around it.
And understandably so.
What a load of crap.
The fishing analogy from before had at least been somewhat practical, but this was just me making him do something for my own benefit.
Still, I was confident I could convince him.
"Do you remember that drinking party? When we first met."
"...? Of course I do."
"Then do you remember how Sword Dragon reacted that day?"
After I revealed I was dating Moyong Hui back then, Namgung Chan's behavior had been honestly a bit pathetic.
One minute he'd challenge me to a sword duel out of nowhere, the next he'd shoot me pointed looks when I put my arm around Moyong Hui's waist, saying it made her uncomfortable.
"Mm, yeah, I remember."
Peng Deokjo let out a small groan as those memories resurfaced.
Perfect. He was almost hooked.
I pressed on, raising my voice just a touch.
"That's jealousy, plain and simple. Why don't you try targeting that side of Spear Phoenix?"
"...But isn't that a bit different? You and Sword Phoenix are actually dating, while Red Phoenix and I have nothing between us. Plus, Sword Dragon really liked Sword Phoenix, so that explains it, but Sua... she doesn't see me that way..."
He trailed off mid-sentence, but I could guess what he meant.
Namgung Sua didn't like him that much.
At least he can be objective about it.
I'd thought he was a total idiot, but apparently not.
No big deal, though.
This was within my expectations.
"What are you talking about? Spear Phoenix is just shy around you."
"You think that's shyness?"
He tilted his head, clearly skeptical.
I quickly pressed my persuasion.
"Haven't you seen how she acts around me or Hui-ah? She was all sweet and friendly even with me when we first met. So why is she especially cold only to you?"
"Sua's always had a cool personality."
"That's because she's shy. Or more precisely, she's picky about strangers. Think about how she treats people she's close to. Like, um... does she act that cold to Lying Dragon or Red Phoenix?"
"...No, she doesn't."
Whew, good.
If he'd said yes, I'd have had to spin some weird new theory, but thankfully it hadn't come to that.
"The reason Spear Phoenix seems cold is, in my view, because she's shy and wary around strangers. How long have you known her?"
"Over four years."
"Exactly. Four whole years. Even someone as picky as Spear Phoenix should be used to you by now. So if she's still only cold to you, don't you get why?"
In my eyes, it was simply because Peng Deokjo was ugly.
And he kept pushing despite that, so she was annoyed.
But as he listened, Peng Deokjo's mouth fell open slightly, like some revelation had dawned on him.
"So all that... means Sua likes me...?"
Likes you my ass.
For the record, Namgung Sua shows it big time when she likes someone.
Just like her brother Namgung Chan.
Her eyes overflow with emotion.
Even yesterday, the way she looked at me was dripping with honey.
But I kept all that to myself and nodded along.
"What else could it be? And actually, plenty of people act cold only to the ones they like. You know, like kids who can't confess to the girl they like so they tease her instead?"
"I see...!"
"So, to spark jealousy in you..."
"Hold on, one question. If Sua does have feelings for me, why not just confess?"
A sharp point from the most unlikely source.
If I'd agreed, he'd have bolted off to confess right then.
No choice but to spin another tall tale.
"That won't work. Spear Phoenix does have feelings for you, but she hasn't realized it herself yet."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Emotions are complicated things, right? Some people, like you or me, are straightforward and accept them as they come. Others don't even know what they're feeling or why."
"...?"
"Why do picky people pick and choose? Because they think the other person might hurt them? Or because they like them?"
"Mm, I've never been picky myself, so I wouldn't know."
For the record, neither did I.
I was just bullshitting as I went.
"You're not the only one in the dark. Even the picky person themselves doesn't know. Then one day, it just feels comfortable. It's the same with Spear Phoenix's shyness around you. The odds are high she doesn't even know why she feels that way."
"Then..."
Before he could counter, I jumped in.
"That's why you make her realize it. How? With jealousy."
He looked half-convinced.
Time for the final nail.
"Look at her brother, Sword Dragon. His jealousy was off the charts, right? Spear Phoenix will react the same way, and that'll make her confront her own feelings."
"And the way to do that is for me to pretend I like Red Phoenix?"
"Exactly."
If Baek Iryeong actually fell for Peng Deokjo here, it'd cause a ton of problems, but I wasn't worried about that at all.
His looks aside, it was because I'd seen the future in my past life.
Baek Iryeong stays single her whole life.
Falling for Peng Deokjo? Impossible.
Which means I might have a shot at her myself...
That's why I was convincing him now—to boost those odds even a little.
My efforts worked; he nodded with a much brighter expression.
"Got it. Good call asking you for advice. But there's a problem..."
"What problem?"
"Ahem, you might not know this, but White Tiger Unit left for Shandong Province today. They won't be back at the Murim Alliance for a while, and as you know, Red Phoenix is in White Tiger Unit. Even if I pretend to like her, we won't cross paths..."
"I've got the perfect solution for that."
A way we could help each other out.
Or is it just good for me?
Either way, the idea I'd come up with was the Harmony Unit.
The members I had in mind for it were four besides myself right now.
Moyong Hui, Namgung Sua, Baek Iryeong, and Cheon Woojin.
I planned to leave Moyong Hui, Namgung Sua, and Cheon Woojin at the Murim Alliance.
I'm plenty capable on my own.
Truth be told, dragging Moyong Hui or Namgung Sua around would make seducing women harder, and Cheon Woojin needed to handle Lying Dragon Jegalse Wi at the Alliance.
With all the missions, we'd run into Jegalse Wi a lot, and I couldn't have my girls dealing with that.
So I'd leave them all there and travel solo with Baek Iryeong, seducing her along the way.
That was my ideal setup...
But Hui-ah would never allow it.
No way Moyong Hui would okay me traveling alone with Baek Iryeong.
I'd been racking my brain over how to convince her when this perfect excuse rolled in.
Peng Deokjo, me, and Baek Iryeong—three of us together.
Ugly, clingy Peng Deokjo.
Handsome, polite, and skilled Mok Jimyeong.
Which way would Baek Iryeong's heart tilt?
Not a sure thing, of course, but traveling together would create opportunities.
Even this might get pushback from Moyong Hui, but adding Peng Deokjo to Harmony Unit gave it solid justification.
Five Dragons Five Phoenixes and Four Divine Beasts Units.
First, the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes.
There were six dragons and phoenixes at the Murim Alliance: Sword Dragon Namgung Chan, Lying Dragon Jegalse Wi, Earth Dragon Peng Deokjo, Sword Phoenix Moyong Hui, Spear Phoenix Namgung Sua, and Red Phoenix Baek Iryeong.
Jegalse Wi had to join Harmony Unit from the start, and I planned to include all three phoenixes no matter what.
Adding Earth Dragon made it everyone but Namgung Chan, who needed six months in the infirmary anyway.
Namgung Chan has history with me, so Hui-ah should understand.
This naturally justified adding Baek Iryeong to Harmony Unit.
Next, the Four Divine Beasts Units.
Harmony Unit's goal was to root out hidden spies.
And the Four Divine Beasts Units held key positions in the Murim Alliance.
Conveniently, the people I'd just thought of were spread across them.
Moyong Hui in Vermilion Bird Unit, Jegalse Wi in Black Tortoise Unit, Baek Iryeong in White Tiger Unit.
Only Azure Dragon Unit had two: Peng Deokjo and Namgung Sua, so pulling one out was fine.
If I took Namgung Sua to travel with me, Moyong Hui would flip.
But what if it was Peng Deokjo?
Hui-ah would have to accept it.
A flawless plan. Perfect.