Chapter 111
Soso had anticipated that the members of the Martial Alliance would not welcome Dae-sa Beop-eum’s unilateral decision.
Sure enough, the atmosphere was icy when they arrived with Sau.
Everyone watched Soso and Sau warily, uncertain of their identities.
But their wariness lasted only for a moment.
Men and women, young and old, blushed upon seeing Sau’s handsome face. His striking appearance even softened their initial caution.
Dok-go-ran, who had taken it upon herself to escort them to the lodging on behalf of Dae-sa Beop-eum, clicked her tongue in disapproval at those who had blushed.
And whenever their eyes met hers, she shot them a sharp glare to ensure they never looked at Sau again.
Soso gazed at Dok-go-ran’s straight back, exuding a sharp, commanding presence.
Her flawless posture, catlike aloof face, and high, neatly tied hair were undeniably attractive.
Perhaps that’s why she seemed less frightening and more like a stray cat—difficult to approach and wary of affection.
‘I wish there had been a sister like her.’
The problem, however, was that Dok-go-ran was most wary of Soso and Sau.
After dealing with the others, Dok-go-ran frequently glanced back to make sure Soso and Sau didn’t wander off.
‘We’ve already come all the way to the Martial Alliance. Where would we even run off to?’
A few hours ago, Dae-sa Beop-eum had offered Soso the position of Alliance Leader, and she had immediately surrendered.
She realized she could never defeat Dae-sa Beop-eum. Thus, she had declared her intention to go to the Martial Alliance.
Then, as if waiting for it, Dae-sa Beop-eum had asked Sau:
‘And what about you, Si-joo?’
It was as if he was certain Sau would move as soon as she did.
Soso wasn’t convinced that Sau would follow her. She had actually expected Je-gal Hae-su or Nam-gong Jin to resist instead.
But Sau spoke with certainty:
‘I will go too.’
And so, she had carried Sau and flown by lightness skill all the way to the Martial Alliance.
Of course, as Je-gal Hae-su and Nam-gong Jin had predicted, there was resistance—but Dae-sa Beop-eum firmly stated that only Soso and Sau, recently discussed, could attend the crucial meeting.
It was unfortunate for the two of them.
Soso promised to meet them again near the Martial Alliance. She didn’t plan to stay long anyway, so it would happen soon enough.
Before long, they arrived at their lodging.
Thanks to Dae-sa Beop-eum’s consideration, Soso and Sau were assigned the best room in the lodging.
“Rest here today. I will come to fetch you again in the morning.”
They had flown without stopping from the Je-gal family estate to the Martial Alliance headquarters in central Ho-buk.
Though the distance wasn’t extreme, for Soso—a non-martial artist—the journey had been tiring.
As evening fell and darkness settled in, it seemed wise to rest thoroughly, just as Dok-go-ran had advised.
Soso expressed her gratitude to Dok-go-ran.
“Thank you for escorting us this far.”
“Do not misunderstand. It is not because I hold any favor toward you; I am simply following the orders of our Alliance Leader.”
Dok-go-ran glared at Sau for no reason and then turned away.
Soso realized that Dok-go-ran was the first person she had seen maintain a look of pure disdain at Sau’s face.
“Soso, did you have any prior connection with Alliance Master Dok-go-ran five years ago?”
“No, I’m meeting her for the first time. But it doesn’t seem she likes me much.”
“Indeed. She doesn’t even take a liking to our young master’s face.”
Soso answered as she had before, and Sau chuckled quietly.
“You really haven’t changed at all.”
“Even though my appearance has changed, I am still the same as Soso remembers.”
“……”
“How much do you remember of me? Didn’t you say thinking of me gave you a headache?”
“I remember almost everything related to you. But when your old image overlaps with the present, trying to think of you brings headaches. It’s truly strange.”
Sau brushed the hair falling over his forehead and continued.
“As you said, it’s probably because of the energy in my dantian. I don’t know its connection to your memories, though…”
Perhaps Soso’s existence had always been somewhat special to Sau.
She came to a quietly positive conclusion.
Then she watched Sau sit by the window, gazing absently at the outside view.
His face was like a painting. It was a pity that such a face had been hidden by his concealment technique until now.
Although he now revealed his true face, he had used the technique previously to avoid detection by demonic cultists.
“Soso, what if some evil cultist comes after you?”
Without looking at her, Sau replied casually.
“I’ll kill them all. How dare anyone come after you?”
“But what if several of them attack and you get hurt…?”
Soso couldn’t continue. She remembered the bloodied Cheongseong Sect.
Even though much time had passed since then, she realized the past still left its mark.
She pressed her dry lips together. At that moment, Sau turned his head toward her.
“You’re here.”
“…Yes?”
“I know how much you loved Cheong-eon-woo. You’d do anything to save me.”
“….”
It struck her to the core.
No matter how Sau had changed, no matter his personality or appearance, Soso knew she could give her life for him.
It wasn’t loyalty as a servant, but something more personal.
She couldn’t take her eyes off Sau’s face, its shadows shifting under the moonlight.
Her heart raced audibly in her ears. Was it just his handsomeness that made her feel this way?
Then Sau quietly stood. It was as if he sensed her lingering gaze.
He strode over in long steps and draped his coat over her shoulders.
“But this time, don’t die.”
“…”
“Saving me while staying alive is your promise to me in this life.”
His indifferent voice carried a strangely sweet undertone.
Soso, filled with an odd anticipation, asked:
“Did you feel sorrow for my death?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Sau shook his head.
“I do not dwell on what has already happened. I only consider the present and future.”
“…”
“I said it so you would stay alive and I would survive. Do not read more into it.”
He turned away, sitting again and staring indifferently out the window, as if he had forgotten their conversation entirely.
Her swollen expectations vanished instantly, replaced by disappointment.
‘My mind accepts that Soso has changed, but my heart hasn’t yet.’
Perhaps she had hoped Sau would treat her warmly, more specially than others. She had wanted him to feel some sorrow for her death.
But it was a futile wish.
Soso exhaled slowly, then changed the topic.
“Soso, is this your first time at the Martial Alliance?”
“No, I’ve been here before. But it seems much different now.”
“Positively or negatively?”
“The buildings are better. The leader I remember wasn’t Dae-sa Beop-eum but someone else, who was ridiculously stingy and didn’t invest in the Martial Alliance.”
“Who was that?”
“That person was from the Kunlun…”
At that moment, Sau’s expression, previously blank, finally changed.
“……!”
He even looked surprised. Soso was startled at the rare display.
‘What did he see outside the window?’
Soon, the source revealed itself with a sudden pop-pop-pop!
A man leapt over the window at astonishing speed and stood before Sau.
“……!”
He was an old martial master with white hair, wearing a slightly worn robe that seemed unusual for a Martial Alliance member.
“You… are you really Cheong-eon-woo?”
The old master gripped Sau’s shoulders as if he couldn’t believe it, making sure he couldn’t escape.
“…It’s been a long time, Elder.”
Sau greeted the old master with slight distaste.
“Boundless blessings. The Late Elder has been taking care of you! To think you’ve come back alive… I thought my eyes were failing me.”
Sau tilted his head slightly toward Soso, who was behind the old master, and then addressed her instead.
“This is the previous Alliance Leader, Elder Un-han of the Eight-Step Martial Skill (Palbo Muip).”
Sau’s face reflected complete embarrassment.
Soso thought this, too, was a rare sight.
