[Protagonist’s POV]
Her trembling, somber voice felt worlds apart from her usual confident self.
"I’m... strong. Really strong. Peak masters aren’t exactly common in the Central Plains, and reaching that level at my age? There aren’t many cases like that in our long history. I’m definitely strong... overflowing with talent... but..."
Her voice shifted from gloom to sothing tearful.
"Why... do I feel so weak right now?"
She’d always seed unbreakable, but today, her shoulders looked painfully narrow.
No matter how strong she was for her age, she couldn’t compare to Yeo Socheon.
Even a hundred Dang Ayeongs couldn’t take her down.
That’s how vast the gap was between them.
That’s just how this world worked.
"...Lady."
"I know. She’s one of the righteous faction’s top masters. One of the heroes who saved the Central Plains twenty years ago. Our years alive aren’t even in the sa league—expecting to match her is greedy to begin with. I know all that. I do."
I couldn’t tell if she was talking to or herself anymore.
Was the shock of facing such an overwhelming power gap really that intense?
Tears seeped into her voice.
"...Um..."
I wasn’t sure if this would help, but saying sothing felt better than nothing. I spoke cautiously.
"Lady, you’re plenty strong."
"Yeah, sure, I guess..."
"I know it for a fact. I deal with getting beat by you every day."
Flinch.
At my words, Dang Ayeong’s body flinched.
"If you’re this down, what does that make ? We’re the sa age. I’m even a guy—supposedly with better physical strength. Do you know how much it stung my pride when you beat at arm wrestling with one finger?"
"N-No... I didn’t an it like that..."
"Well, you’ve got a great family and trained since you were a kid, while I’m an orphan with a naturally weak body. It’s only fair there’s a gap. If anything, it’d be more unfair if the difference wasn’t that big, right?"
Dang Ayeong lifted her head, revealing her face that had been buried in the blankets.
Her eyes were red and damp—she’d really been crying.
"What I’m trying to say is... don’t get too hung up on strength right now."
"Not get hung up on it...?"
"Yeah. You’re still young, aren’t you? You’ve got plenty of ti ahead. I don’t know how far your goals reach, but with your talent—hitting that level at your age—you’ll get there with ti."
"...Ugh..."
Dang Ayeong’s face twisted.
It wasn’t an annoyed grimace—more like a complicated mix of emotions I couldn’t quite pin down.
"It’s not... it’s not about that..."
Before she could finish, I cut in.
"Is it because you feel like Yeo Socheon stole from you?"
"...!"
"Why the shocked look? I’m not that clueless, you know."
If I couldn’t pick up on that in this situation, I’d be the dumbest idiot alive.
Dang Ayeong had already made her feelings clear to before, and then she’d been humiliated by Yeo Socheon—right in her own ho, no less. It’d be weirder if she didn’t feel this way.
"I’ll apologize on her behalf. She’s got a rough mouth and doesn’t express her emotions well, but she’s not a bad person at heart. Don’t worry too much about it. She’s a Taoist, after all—a Kunlun Taoist."
"...Are you two close?"
"Close might be a stretch... but we’re tangled up because of the heavenly readings. That ti I got dragged to the Martial Alliance? That was her doing too."
Blank stare...
To , Yeo Socheon felt casual enough, but to others, she was one of the righteous faction’s top masters—the Thunder Sword. My offhand tone probably didn’t compute for her.
"I don’t even like her that much. I know she’s not rotten at the core, but... honestly, she’s caused a lot of grief. Her mouth’s crude, she swears a ton, and despite that mystical vibe her looks give off, she’s kind of a klutz."
"Pfft..."
"Hey, you laughed."
"Hahaha..."
Did my attempt at cheering her up work?
Dang Ayeong let out a light chuckle.
"What’s that supposed to an...? If you said that about the Thunder Sword anywhere else, you’d get beaten to a pulp. ’How dare you talk about a righteous hero like that?’ they’d say."
"So what? It’s what I’ve seen and felt firsthand."
"Pfft... Well... if you say so, I guess that’s how it is. You’re not the type to make up lies just to badmouth soone."
"I can’t even tell the truth half the ti—too scared of the payback."
"Hahahaha..."
Seeing her laugh lightly, it looked like her mood had lifted, thankfully.
"Alright. Thanks to you, I feel a bit better. You don’t seem like the type to fall for a nasty woman like that anyway."
"What? Were you actually worried about that?"
"To be honest, I do worry sotis. That you might fall for so other woman with better skills than —or that soone might forcibly take you away."
Flinch.
It wasn’t exactly the sa, but given my current ties with the Sword Empress too, I couldn’t feel entirely guilt-free at her words.
But showing that here? I’d be screwed if she caught on.
"No way. How could I ever leave you for—"
"But... now that I think about it, just holding onto you tightly might not be the best approach."
"...Huh?"
I let out a dumb sound at her sudden shift.
"I used to think keeping you from straying by holding you close was enough. But the Central Plains are vast... and who knows when so stronger, prettier, more capable woman might snatch you up? I realized that alone won’t cut it."
"What do you—"
"So I’m going to beco your ideal type."
Dang Ayeong wiped the tears from her eyes, her expression turning bold.
"They say love is about eting each other halfway, right? Filling in each other’s gaps with love despite flaws... But I’m already so satisfied with you as you are—so in love with you—that there’s nothing for you to adjust for . So I’ll adjust instead."
She grabbed my cheeks with both hands.
"If I fill every corner of your heart with ... then no matter how charming another woman is, there won’t be any room for her, right? That’s my plan."
Looking at her—tear-streaked yet smiling confidently—I couldn’t help but think, Was she always this beautiful?
"Of course, that doesn’t an I’m okay with cheating. If you step out, I’ll mobilize all of Sichuan Tang to hunt you down to the ends of the Central Plains."
"...That’s pretty intense."
Reviews
All reviews (0)