Chapter 38. Escape (4)
"Brother Cheon, what exactly is going on here, and who is that woman?"
Her voice was calm yet icy, reminiscent of the tone Tang Sowol had used when I first abducted her.
I understood why. After all, she had tracked me down late at night, only to find me tangled up on the ground with a strange woman.
It was the perfect setup for a misunderstanding. But in moments like this, panic would only make things worse.
The first step was to put some distance between Seol Lihyang and myself and explain the situation.
Though I felt like I'd faint the moment I closed my eyes, I mustered my remaining strength to rise.
Thud.
But my body gave out, and I fell back onto Seol Lihyang's chest, burying my face in it again.
To make matters worse, Seol Lihyang instinctively held my head in place to keep it from moving, her arms wrapping around me as if she were hugging me tighter.
I couldn't see Tang Sowol's face behind me, but the chill running down my spine told me her usual serene demeanor had long since vanished.
Sensing danger, I yelled in desperation.
"Mffmmph!"
"Hiiik!"
My attempt to speak was muffled by something soft pressing against my mouth, making my words incomprehensible. Startled, Seol Lihyang flinched like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Brother Cheon..."
Tang Sowol's voice now carried a faint trace of sorrow.
"I don't want to believe it, and I hope I'm wrong... but if you were to betray me, I would have no choice but to kill both of you and erase everything."
Seol Lihyang, clearly terrified for her life, quickly lifted my head. My neck felt a little stiff, but at least I could speak again.
"This is a misunderstanding!"
"...Excuse me?"
"I can explain everything! But first, could you help me up?"
"Are you serious?"
Her tone was uncertain, but she grabbed my shoulder and helped me up.
My limbs were weak and practically useless, so she half-supported me as I leaned against her.
Fwoomp.
My head came to rest against something soft and supportive—her shoulder, I guessed—and I exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Whew... just listen to me for a moment."
There was a lot to explain after all that had happened today.
***
After I finished explaining, Tang Sowol glanced around, her face flushed with embarrassment from the misunderstanding.
Though it was late at night and the streets were mostly empty, there were still a few people around.
This was Yeonju, after all—a city that seemed more alive at night than during the day.
After confirming there weren't too many onlookers, Tang Sowol suddenly crouched down on the ground.
"For now... please allow me to carry you. We can talk as we go."
"Wait, you're offering to carry me?"
"Who else? You're the only one here who's struggling just to stand."
"But... being carried is a bit..."
"It'll be faster than supporting you on foot. And for your information, the Dark Soul Unit is combing all of Yeonju right now. They're searching for you."
"...Tch."
I couldn't argue with that.
Resigning myself to the situation, I closed my eyes tightly and leaned onto Tang Sowol's back. She adjusted me and effortlessly carried me piggyback.
There was a faint fragrance about her—clean and calming.
With a gentler tone now, she remarked, "You made the right choice. Still, I didn't expect so much to happen in just a few hours."
"Wasn't it noisy enough for you to notice?"
"The inn we were staying at was very quiet. That's why I only started searching for you now."
"Lucky me, then."
I tightened my grip around her neck slightly, letting out a sigh.
The breath must have tickled her skin because she shivered slightly before quickly changing the subject.
"You said the Lord of the Bright Moon Pavilion avoided implicating the Tang Clan until the very end, didn't you? Perhaps he took precautions around the inn to avoid drawing attention."
"Probably. This is his domain, after all. Hiding our presence for a while wouldn't have been difficult for him."
While Seol Lihyang and I were making our escape, he must have been setting up smokescreens around the inn and orchestrating a hunt to corner us.
Impressive tactics, though ultimately pointless now.
As I nodded to myself, Tang Sowol spoke in a cautious tone.
"I understand the situation now. I apologize for misunderstanding you earlier. I acted rashly because I was so concerned. Can you forgive me?"
"It's fine. Given the circumstances, it's understandable."
"M-me too! I think anyone would've misunderstood if they saw their fiancé rolling around with another woman!"
Seol Lihyang's words came out in a flustered rush.
I chuckled at her awkward attempt to smooth things over.
"What's with that strange tone? You spoke casually to me, cursed like a sailor at the Lord of the Bright Moon Pavilion, and now you're trying to act all proper with Tang Sowol?"
"Well, I did talk to you like this at first! But you told me to drop the formalities! And why should I be polite to someone trying to kill me? But she's different!"
"Different how?"
"She's from a noble family, she's beautiful, and she's an adult! How could I treat her like someone my age?"
Seol Lihyang glanced at Tang Sowol, her expression a mix of admiration and self-deprecation.
That sort of emotion was common among those who had lived harsh lives. I'd felt the same way in my younger days, before I brought down the Red Sand Gang with my own hands.
While time could heal such feelings, it also meant she needed time to move past them.
Tang Sowol, perceptive as ever, seemed to recognize this as well.
Her voice softened as she spoke.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Tang Sowol of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"Y-yes! I'm Seol Lihyang!"
"Since you're a benefactor to Brother Cheon, you're also a benefactor to me. Please don't feel burdened."
"Still..."
"Hmm. How about starting with something simpler? You could call me 'Sister,' for instance."
"S-Sister?!"
Seol Lihyang flinched like a startled cat, her wide eyes betraying her shock.
Tang Sowol chuckled, nodding gently. "Yes. I am older than you, after all."
"Well... that's true..."
Seol Lihyang was the same age as me, so naturally, Tang Sowol was several years older.
After hesitating for a long while, Seol Lihyang finally murmured, "Tang... Sister?"
With a satisfied smile, Tang Sowol patted Seol Lihyang on the head.
Her flustered reaction only prompted Tang Sowol to smile playfully and tease, "Brother Cheon has such an old-man-like personality that he's not cute at all."
"Oh, I know what you mean. It's his stiff expressions and that formal way of speaking, right?"
"Ah, so it wasn't just me who thought so. You know, at first, I thought Brother Cheon was an old martial artist pretending to be young."
"Wait, really?"
Seol Lihyang's eyes widened in surprise, her reaction so obvious that Tang Sowol became even more animated, eagerly recounting stories.
After talking for a while and easing Seol Lihyang's tension, Tang Sowol suddenly sighed.
She lightly tapped the back of my hand, which was resting around her neck, and said, "Sigh. Despite how mature you act, Brother Cheon, I sometimes forget you're only fifteen."
That left me with mixed feelings. I knew she didn't mean it that way, but as someone who had lived a previous life, it felt like she was calling me immature.
When I remained silent, Tang Sowol gently clasped my hand.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. We were lucky to settle this by cutting down the Lord of the Bright Moon Pavilion, but do you know how worried I was about what could have happened?"
"Sorry. I thought I could handle it alone. I didn't expect things to escalate this much."
"I'm not asking for an apology. I just want you to tell me next time. Your problems are my problems, just as mine are yours."
"I promise. Next time, I'll consult you first."
"Only words?"
Tang Sowol pouted and held up her pinky finger.
"Brother Cheon, didn't I say I'd be your strength when you need it? Or do you not trust me?"
Recalling the time she'd made me promise by linking pinkies, I hesitated before intertwining my finger with hers.
"Is this good enough?"
"Perfect." She nodded, her tone bright and cheerful. "I'll explain everything to Father. Don't worry."
Perhaps it was because I was on her back, but her swaying hair brushed against my cheek, tickling me.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the absurdity of it all.
While we were laughing, I caught sight of Seol Lihyang's face.
She looked distant, as if waking from a long dream, her expression tinged with sorrow.
But when our eyes met, she immediately returned to her usual demeanor, her voice light and playful.
"So, you're really the Tang Clan's son-in-law, huh?"
"You didn't believe me?"
"I believed you. It just didn't feel real."
She shrugged nonchalantly, and the three of us continued toward the inn, chatting lightly and checking for any remaining injuries.
Though being carried on Tang Sowol's back was a bit embarrassing, it was surprisingly comfortable.
It wasn't long before fatigue overcame me, and I began to doze off.
Half-asleep, I vaguely registered Tang Sowol speaking hesitantly.
"By the way, Brother Cheon..."
"Mm? What is it?"
"You originally planned to buy Miss Seol with money and add her to the Tang Clan's registry, didn't you?"
"Yes. But that was just to resolve things smoothly..."
"I'm not criticizing you for using the money Father gave you to buy her freedom. After all, you were trying to save your benefactor's daughter."
"...That's right."
As I nodded awkwardly, Tang Sowol's voice grew more serious.
"Still... you abducted me when we first met. And now Miss Seol. Do you... enjoy abducting women?"
An awkward silence fell.
I glanced at Seol Lihyang, who covered her mouth, clearly stifling laughter. Whatever thoughts she was having, they were surely inappropriate.
As I glared at her, Tang Sowol, as if making a resolute decision, spoke again.
"If you like it that much, I wouldn't mind letting you abduct me a couple more times."
"That's not it!"
This was all just a misunderstanding—or so I hoped.
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[TL]
Happy Christmas! <*~*>