Chapter 215: Each One’s Circumstances
It was still too early for the brothel doors to open.
The Pavilion Master Okryeong gazed at the tranquil scenery of Cheonhwa Pavilion with sowhat complicated eyes.
Lately, there had been a sharp increase in things for her to worry about.
When Juwol-a had been kidnapped, she had paced anxiously. But even after her return, when the girl shut her heart and went into seclusion, Okryeong’s heart had dropped just the sa.
And today—
The Pavilion Master was startled to see Juwol-a suddenly erge from her seclusion.
“……Wol-a! What is this? Are you really alright to co outside now?”
Relieved, she pressed a hand to her chest and spoke rapidly to Juwol-a, who had stepped out.
Considering the terrifying ordeal she had gone through, Okryeong had thought she might not co out for a long ti—or in the worst case, quit altogether.
“Yes, I’m alright. Pavilion Master, my mind is clearer now than it has ever been.”
Just recently, when she had gone into her quarters, she had seed troubled. This was truly strange.
“It seems I did well letting Master Dan Mujin in. But what did you talk about?”
So he was a troubleshooter—and apparently, one who could soothe the wounded heart of a woman.
With a brightened expression, Okryeong asked curiously.
“Well, to put it simply… I said sothing like a confession… and I got rejected.”
“……?”
At the completely unexpected answer, the Pavilion Master froze stiff like a stone.
Soon, with a face that doubted her own ears, she urgently asked again,
“W-What do you an? You confessed and got rejected?”
So flustered that she stamred heavily—sothing completely unlike her usual composed self.
“I an exactly that, Pavilion Master. I thought he had feelings for , so I opened my heart too… but it turns out that wasn’t the case.”
Saying it had beco quite embarrassing, Juwol-a covered her flushed face with both hands—slap.
anwhile, the Pavilion Master was utterly shocked.
The top courtesan of Cheonhwa Pavilion—who had never opened her heart to any wealthy noble or young master—had confessed first.
And worse, she had been rejected.
She couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
“Ah… this feeling is new. So this is what the n I rejected must have felt?”
She was even empathizing with those she had turned down.
“Is that really true? You’re not joking…? Wol-a, there exists a man who rejected you…?”
Only then did Okryeong regain her senses and ask again.
Juwol-a looked up at the blue sky once, then smiled faintly.
“There is, it seems. Hehe.”
Though it was her first ti being rejected romantically, she strangely looked sowhat relieved.
The Pavilion Master asked why she seed so happy despite being rejected.
“It’s because I’ve gained a goal and motivation.”
“What kind of goal…?”
Surely she wasn’t thinking of revenge because she had been hurt—like that powerful figure who had once kidnapped her?
“No, it’s not that… I’ve found sothing I want more than ever before.”
She silently stared at her quarters—the place where she had secluded herself, and where Dan Mujin had rejected her.
At first, she had thought about quitting everything.
But suddenly, her will to live and her purpose had beco clear.
“What on earth happened between you two…? Tell
in detail. What kind of conversation did you have?”
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Okryeong asked.
Juwol-a, with a strangely refreshed expression as if recalling what had just happened, began to explain.
“You see……”
At the sa ti.
I left Cheonhwa Pavilion and walked down the stone steps, trying to calm my startled heart.
My slightly unsteady steps revealed the turmoil within .
‘Do you perhaps… see
not as a client, but as a woman?’
Her alluring voice echoed in my ears again.
Under the dazzling sunlight, her eyes curved like a fox spirit that bewitched n.
At that mont, my breath had nearly stopped.
“Ha… now I see why n fall for her.”
Leaning against the stone wall, I exhaled deeply.
But I had always thought of her as a flower on an unreachable cliff.
And I had never seriously considered her as a woman.
So I ended up making an awkward expression.
And perhaps Juwol-a was extrely sensitive to such emotions—
‘…Is that not the case?’
Seeing my ambiguous expression, her gaze wavered briefly. Then, with a flicker of disappointnt, she asked.
‘Ah… I thought you felt the sa way about , Master…’
Her voice grew quieter.
Fidgeting with the hem of her silk robe, she lowered her head deeply.
At that mont, she was no longer the number one courtesan of Beijing—
just a woman who had been rejected.
And I—
got distracted by the word “Master” and failed to comfort her properly.
Wasn’t that practically a full confession? That she, too, had feelings for ?
“…Does Juwol-a… like ?”
I muttered blankly, staring in the direction she had disappeared.
Then—
A flickering red aura nearby responded irritably.
‘You’re only realizing that now… you… idiot.’
The Salseong wrote insults at
in red letters.
This bastard had been picking fights lately, calling
stupid over the smallest things.
Since the awakening of the Evil Star hadn’t progressed, it seed bored.
“When have I ever experienced a situation where a beauty like Juwol-a confesses first?”
I’d never had such data in my life—how could I possibly respond properly?
I had only thought she would be grateful for saving her.
Never imagined I’d go to comfort her and co back having been confessed to.
‘Then why did you go that far for …?’
She had asked, referring to everything I had done to save her.
Why?
Should I just stand by and watch a pervert kidnap soone I know?
For my lifespan, my internal energy, and my good karma—it wasn’t sothing I could ignore.
Besides… I felt a bit responsible too.
‘What about … do you not like…?’
Though clearly shocked, she still looked at
steadily and asked for the reason.
There was nothing I disliked about her.
It wasn’t about her.
It was about .
‘Why… did you reject…?’
Even the Salseong seed curious.
“Because of you, you damn bastard.”
As I had said before—
If I were to lose control and commit killing,
the ones I cherished most would be the first to get hurt.
So light relationships were fine—
but going deeper? I wanted to avoid that.
So I explained it to her.
‘I’m sorry. Not yet. I have my own circumstances. Until I resolve them, it’s impossible.’
After recovering sowhat from the shock, Juwol-a gave a sorrowful smile and understood.
‘I see…’
Living life, I never thought I’d make such a stunning beauty sad over sothing like this.
I watched her quietly as she accepted the rejection.
But strong people find hope even in hardship.
Taking a breath, she brought up the word I had said—“not yet.”
‘So you’re saying… you have reasons you can’t tell, and that’s why it’s “not yet,” correct?’
‘…Yes. That’s right.’
Should I call this optimism?
She found hope in my words and regained her energy.
‘Alright. I won’t dig any deeper. I’ve seen many people with such expressions.’
She respected my decision.
‘But have you ever had such a serious conversation with other won?’
I shook my head.
Ilhong had hinted at sothing before, but—
I had never spoken openly like this.
‘Hehe… so I’m the first?’
She seed strangely happy.
Muttering sothing aningful about how she had her “first” in her own room—on her bed, no less.
Anyway… it was a relief she remained positive even after being rejected.
‘This feeling… it’s fresh.’
She had always been the one rejecting others.
This was her first ti on the other side.
‘Master… it’s my first ti too. This feeling… it’s not bad. I’ll rember it.’
She smiled brightly and left.
And I—
walked out of Cheonhwa Pavilion, trying to calm my complicated thoughts.
“…Feels like I just did sothing incredibly wasteful.”
Like I overstepped my place and acted cool for no reason.
Judging by her final look, she wouldn’t give up easily.
That made
both excited… and worried.
As I continued taking on requests, building connections, and becoming more deeply involved in this world—
there were more things to worry about.
Back when I first got stabbed and collapsed against a wall,
I had only one goal—
Survival.
But now, there were many people I had to protect.
My mind had grown complicated.
“Boss——!”
At that mont—
one of those precious people ran toward
urgently.
Using movent arts, she slid right in front of
and began checking my body.
“…What are you doing?”
I asked, looking at her suspicious behavior.
“I heard you went to that vixen’s quarters. Nothing happened, right…?”
Even though her na was Juwol-a, Ilhong stubbornly called her that.
When I hesitated to answer, she narrowed her eyes.
“Nothing happened, right? I an, if it’s you, Boss… it might have!”
If it’s , it might have?
And at that question, I made an awkward face.
If I boldly said nothing happened—
my Starfall Heart Cultivation thod reacted, pricking my conscience.
So I scratched my cheek silently.
“What’s with that weird face…? That’s the face of soone sothing happened to…”
“…It’s a misunderstanding. Almost nothing happened.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“Wait—what do you an ‘almost’?!”
There had been so emotional docking—
but I rembered the Salseong and firmly maintained my pure integrity.
Tragically so.
“Enough. Ilhong, hand over the remaining Hundred-League Incense. It’s confiscated.”
I held out my hand as she clung to my arm, whining for details.
She flinched and stepped back.
“B-But… it’s expensive… and I didn’t even use it on you…”
Yeah—you used it on the client I was stuck with.
I snatched it away without hesitation.
She collapsed with a devastated expression.
“You don’t trust
that much? Huh?”
I had just rejected a confession, you know.
“…When it cos to won… a little… well…”
What a society lacking trust.
I flicked her forehead lightly.
Tap!
“Ow!”
After that, I returned to the Eunseong Trading Company where this request had begun.
The first thing I did—
was circulate the Starfall Heart Cultivation thod to its extre, right in front of my master, Hwang Geolgae.
As the dormant energy of the stars converted into imnse internal energy and was absorbed into my body—
he clicked his tongue and said,
“You brat, what the hell do you keep doing out there every ti you leave?”
“…A lot of things happened.”
That was all I could say.
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