65 - I Spent the Night with the Youngest Daughter of the Martial Arts Leader

I Spent a Night with the Martial Arts Clan Leader’s Youngest Daughter. Chapter 65 > North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive "Yeon Hee, do you have a moment?" "Gaga, I'm a bit busy right now! Let's talk later!" I can't even remember how many days this has been going on. Every time I try to speak to her, Yeon Hee blushes and runs away. At first, I thought she might just be really busy and let it slide. But when it stretches out from a day, to two, to an entire week, no matter how much I try not to worry, I can't help but feel it. "How about we go for a walk around the market?" "Oh, today it's a bit difficult. I have plans. Let's definitely go next time!" Even though she usually loves outings, Yeon Hee darted away like an arrow, even using her light-footed martial arts technique. I was slightly taken aback by her swift movements. ‘Yeon Hee is avoiding me.’ Why? Did I do something wrong? I've been treating her the same as always. But what's causing her to suddenly act this way? "Yeon Hee." "Later!" Now, she runs away even if I just call her name. I couldn't understand it at all. It's not like we're going through a rough patch already or something. For me to ask her what's wrong, we need to have a conversation. ‘Could it possibly be because of that?’ I could only think of one thing. The day when I consumed the summoning pill. I hugged Yeon Hee, who was happily watching over me. It took some courage on my part, too. ‘I can't always wait for Yeon Hee to come to me first.’ I started thinking that after my master visited. My master is like family to me. So, stroking her hair or giving her shoulder massages are expressions of familial love. But Yeon Hee seemed to watch those moments with envy. Why was that? Upon reflection, I never made the first move towards Yeon Hee. Most of the time, it was Yeon Hee who would hug me first or kiss my cheek... She tried hard to express her love for me with all her being. But what about me? Had I ever made an active effort? All I managed were a few hugs at best? Compared to what Yeon Hee did, it was nothing. Hence, she felt jealous seeing me share familial affection with my master. ‘I won't hesitate anymore.’ I concluded this while talking with my master. Efforts that go unanswered only wear a person out. Even if I can't match what Yeon Hee has done, little by little. Let's take one step at a time towards her. ‘That's why I hugged her.’ How did things end up this way? VnJ3dTNyRXdaNE9POGIxQ2ZRWWZwTWMvRXpUSFZQWWJaMGhUNTUwTk1LRjhGOGRaTW9mVkN5elRKOHFsdnEvVA Could it be possible that she was just embarrassed? No way, that's ridiculous. We've embraced countless times before. Is she embarrassed by such minimal contact now, to the point of avoiding me? That couldn't be the case. Surely there must be another reason! At this rate, I won't even see Yeon Hee until my leave is over. A special measure was needed. * “…So, you came all the way to Henan Province, urgently saying you need advice, and it's just about this?” "Just about this, you say." It was a long-overdue meeting with Park Il Do. He was still full of complaints. Perhaps it's because he's always rolling around in the marketplace; he looked even more rugged. "Have you ever considered how strange it is to ask me such a thing? Since childhood, women have clung to you. Who could possibly understand a woman's heart better than you?" "Il Do, I’m sorry, but I never really tried, or needed to try, to understand a woman's feelings. I don't really know." "Oh, brother! When you first pointed out that thing with your index finger, I should've given you a good whack!" Park Il Do, shouting as if he were having a fit. He glared as if he was ready to land a punch. "Maybe she's just embarrassed because you hugged her?" "Come on, we’re not just beginning a relationship here." "Then there’s only one other option." "What is it?" "The smell." The smell? Oh, wait a minute. Could it be…? "You said you repeated deep breathing techniques for quite some time, right? Your body must've been drenched in sweat." "It was...yeah?" "You know from experience what it's like living like a beggar. Over time, you can manage to endure the scornful looks and the itchiness that spreads all over your body. But there's one thing I can't stand, and that's the smell." Park Il Do's beggar doctrine. I focused on his words, delivered with a serious tone. "Being handsome or pretty doesn’t stop one from sweating. Sweat is essentially waste. It’s the impurities that shouldn't be stored in the body getting expelled. So, naturally, an unpleasant odor comes with it!” “Yeon Hee didn’t smell at all, though.” “Anyway! When you're all sweaty and get close for a hug, even your face can’t save you from breaking the illusion.” Now that he mentioned it, it sounded plausible. Beggar culture taught keen noses. Hunger. Their acute sense of smell evolved to locate food, and it also served as a convenient means to track enemies. In a way, beggars were nasal experts. Thus, what Il Do said carried some weight. ‘Yeon Hee said all she could smell was my scent…’ That must be infatuation talking. Or maybe she just said it to be nice. I mean, how could there not be any smell from a person’s body? Should I get a sachet and hang it around? A man with a sachet, huh. That's something. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?” "No. Would I travel all the way to Henan just to talk about this?" I used half of my inner strength to perform light-footed martial arts. As a result, the effects of the summoning pill were evident. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have had the strength to return. It was a fresh reminder of the power of miraculous medicine. "Have you heard the news?" "What? That you discovered remnants of the Demonic Cult?" "To be precise, it’s traces of the Demonic Cult. I only managed to save someone trapped by their sorcery." "Even after that incident, the beggars' union has been running around like their feet are on fire, trying to find something. The leader is fervently pushing us to fetch something, anything—it's sheer madness." Indeed. It was the Ilwol Divine Cult, which had remained as quiet as a mouse for decades. Even if it's just traces, their presence being revealed meant it was only natural everyone would go all out to track them down. "Did you manage to find anything?" "Don't even get me started. Those guys risked their lives to leave no trace. It's come to a point where some say they've collectively vanished. What do you think we'd find digging around?" "Not hiding anything, are you?" "For crying out loud, when have secrets ever existed between us?" True. What he said was correct. I felt slightly guilty for probing. "Alright, if you do come across anything, give me a heads up." "The information will make its way to the Martial Arts Alliance anyway, so why the special request?" "I'm still a junior member. Information about the Demonic Cult is sensitive, and there's always a risk of it being withheld from widespread distribution." "Why are you so keen on getting information about the Demonic Cult?" Il Do's question mirrored my earlier probe into his intentions. "Revenge." "Revenge?" "Yes. I have debts to settle with them." "And you can't elaborate?" "I'll let you know when the time is right. Just like you said, I wouldn't lie to you." Details for later. It was a bit of a slippery way to handle it, but there was no alternative. The story was too tangled, too complex to be told cleanly, bit by bit. I could only hope he'd overlook it for now. "Damn it. How did I ever end up taking you as a brother…." "What's so bad about brotherhood, huh?" "Only when you need it, brother!" Park Il Do shouted as if irritated. That was enough assurance for me. His expression never betrayed a promise. "Make sure you buy me drinks later!" "I'll throw in some Dongpo pork as well." "Along with Mapo tofu." "Now that's a generous deal." Securing Park Il Do's promise, I finally left Henan Province. * ‘This is so embarrassing I could scream.’ Namgung Yeon Hee. A woman in love. She was deep in thought lately, all because of her suddenly changed lover. ‘Being assertive is nice, but….’ Lee Se Woong, who had always been so reserved. He had accepted her expressions of love, but never initiated himself, leaving Yeon Hee feeling a little lonely. Is it true that the person who falls in love first loses? She wondered. Just as that feeling was settling in. ‘Gaga has changed.’ Lee Se Woong had transformed. Gone was the reluctance to show affection. Now, he seized every opportunity to hold her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear… As if trying to compensate for his past aloofness, he approached her without reservation. She loved it. But that was the problem—it was too overwhelming to handle. When Lee Se Woong gazed at her with those intense eyes, Yeon Hee felt her heart might burst with excitement. Her breathing became difficult, blood rushed to her head, and she felt dizzy. ‘It was fine when I was the one approaching, so why?’ She felt embarrassed. I must be out of my mind. How could I shamelessly take refuge in Gaga's arms like that? Yeon Hee felt as if her past self was a fool, a girl who knew no shame! ‘Just seeing his face now makes it unbearable.’ Her heart would always race upon seeing his face, but this was too extreme. Even using meditation techniques to calm herself only increased the thundering pulse, a byproduct of her lightning-based inner energy. She still had the vivid image of a shirtless Lee Se Woong hovering in her mind. ‘This can't go on!’ He was her lifelong partner. She couldn't keep avoiding him forever. After a lengthy escapade, Yeon Hee finally stepped forward to face her lover. “Yeon Hee!” “Gaga? There's a strange scent…” “Oh, this? They say it’s trendy in Anhui Province nowadays.” Yeon Hee mustered her courage to approach Lee Se Woong closely. She caught a sharp scent she hadn’t noticed before. “Why all of a sudden?” “You’ve been avoiding me lately, right?” “Well…that’s because…” It was too embarrassing to admit the truth. “You didn’t avoid me back then because my sweat smelled too strong, did you?” “What?” “I must’ve been too hasty. All I thought of was hugging you, Yeon Hee, so I didn’t pay attention.” What is he talking about? Yeon Hee couldn’t comprehend his words. “What flower was it again? Anyway, how is it?” “Not good!” “So you’re that certain?!” In that moment. Yeon Hee struggled to stifle her laughter. Avoiding him out of embarrassment? I must have been such a fool. ‘Gaga thinks of me this much.’ Your fragrance is the only thing I notice. Imagining him wandering around to buy a sachet because of this sole concern brought a smile to her face. I too, filled my head with needless worries. "Gaga, you’re practically a walking sachet yourself!" "Huh?" "So, just come here and give me a hug. And get rid of that sachet already." She had asked to be held, yet it was Yeon Hee who leapt forward, wrapping Lee Se Woong in a tight embrace.