The sun had just passed its zenith.
Emei Sect's protection allowed the village folk to live in peace, and there was one place where they gathered in the greatest numbers.
Naturally, it was the market.
Dust rose along the dirt path as countless people bustled about noisily.
Old houses and shops lined both sides of the street, with tent stalls pitched in front of them.
And beneath those tents, all sorts of goods were laid out.
The fragrant scent of medicinal herbs tickled the nose, while the aroma of freshly steamed potatoes and dumplings stirred the stomach.
Shiny rings and necklaces, hairpins, and colorful scraps of fabric glittered dazzlingly in the sunlight.
"Potatoes! Freshly steamed potatoes!!"
"Brother! Stop a moment and take a look! One of these hairpins will make your wife bloom with smiles!"
I threaded my way slowly through the merchants hawking at the top of their lungs.
It smelled of life, of people living.
Busy housewives hurrying about their chores.
Children running around, shouting about playing with friends.
Even the familiar beggar uncles leaning against shaded stone walls, basking in the warm sunlight.
"Hua."
The vitality seeped deep into my chest, drawing out a sigh before I knew it.
It felt like even my mind was clearing up.
No wonder—lately, with all my worries piling up, I couldn't even focus when taking a dump.
My worries were, of course, about Cheongwol.
I'd sensed it in our last session.
We'd probably keep doing SM play steadily from here on.
Cheongwol was a masochist.
I didn't know yet how deep or shallow her tendencies ran, but her reactions when stimulated by shame were blatantly obvious.
Her eyes growing moist, her cheeks flushing red.
Saying no, no, yet pushing through to the end.
The way she twisted her body, her exhaling breaths...
...It was practically the ideal masochist straight out of a book, the dream of every sadist.
If it weren't Cheongwol, I might have done three somersaults in joy.
Especially in this boring world.
Four days had passed since then, but it was still hard to accept.
Cheongwol? A masochist?
A nun of the Emei Sect, fitting words like pure and graceful.
...And yet, that monster who found satisfaction in killing was actually a pervert who liked whipping and humiliation.
It wasn't shocking—it was earth-shattering.
I really felt like I'd stepped in it big time.
I was just acting to survive, but things kept twisting in worse and worse directions.
If I wasn't mistaken, Cheongwol still thought this was heart demon treatment...
The fact that she truly believed that was terrifying in itself.
This was just play for perverts with unusual tastes.
What would she do if she found out?
She'd feel betrayed and try to kill me, right?
"Haaaaah.... Aaaah!!"
I let out a sigh that turned into a yell.
Passersby on the street gave me weird looks before turning away.
"Ehew."
In the end, I had no choice but to keep packaging it as treatment.
If I wanted to keep surviving, that is.
And to continue this play, I needed preparations.
Doing it half-assed wouldn't cause issues... but walking the line at a level that satisfied Cheongwol required thorough prep.
If it weren't for that, there'd be no problem.
Without considering her feelings, the possibilities without prep were endless.
Ramping up the intensity would be easy too.
Just touch her body and degrade her.
But could I lay hands on Cheongwol's body?
Could I pinch her nipples! Pat, pat her lower abdomen!
No way!
Even stroking her head last time was only because I was drunk.
Touching her body was that burdensome.
So I'd come to the market.
To prepare, since the play was so restricted.
And while at it, buy some potatoes to leave at home. Try some street food.
Greet a few beggar uncles.
And maybe sort out these complicated feelings.
So I planned to just spend the day like that.
...
...But why the hell are you there?
I froze in the middle of the market, eyes locked with Cheongwol's.
She was the same.
She blinked in surprise at the unexpected encounter, staring at me.
Around her clustered people talking to her, laughing, trying to butter her up.
"Cheongwol young lady! Come here! Try a snack!"
"Young lady! The hairpin you agreed to last time is ready! Over here!"
"How can you be so beautiful..."
But Cheongwol ignored all the noise, staring only at me.
Like a starving bear spotting prey.
I rolled my eyes for a moment.
As she stared me down piercingly, the people's gazes naturally shifted to me.
The beggar uncles.
The shop owners.
Even her fawning fans chattering by her side.
They all turned their heads, looking at me with strange eyes.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
That was when it happened.
Cheongwol slowly raised her hand, as if to greet me.
-Whoosh!
I whipped my head away on reflex.
Pretending not to see her at all, I strode quickly across the market alley.
Hey, you crazy bitch!
How many times have I said I don't want to get involved with murim folk!
Especially you!
The more I got tangled with her, the more it felt like I was being dragged to ruin.
Right now, it wasn't even the Demonic Cult's Seven Heavens that was the issue—if word spread in the Central Plains that the Emei Sect's Thousand-Year Flower was on friendly terms with me, what would become of me?
Endless annoyances would pour in, and the murim world I'd been desperate to avoid would be right in my face.
I clutched the back of my neck and quickened my pace.
It's fine.
It'll be fine.
...Right?
We had our deal.
No meetings for ten days.
Not hard.
She'll keep it, right?
So I'll just ignore her completely.
Like that, I walked far to the opposite side of the market.
I'd come to the spot where I'd planned to look for leather tools or oil for ropes... but later.
In this new area, I started searching for ink.
Writing ink.
After Cheongwol visited my basement, I had to dive deeper into SM properly.
It wasn't play just for my satisfaction anymore.
So I needed to organize vague ideas in my head—knotting techniques, intensity control, whatever—somewhere.
I headed to a bookseller dozing off on one side of the market.
"Uncle Jang. Long time no see. Got any ink? Cheap stuff is fine... Huh?"
Just then, a commotion drifted from the street.
I turned to look...
"...Thank you. I hope you stay healthy too, ma'am..."
...Cheongwol, with her clear smile, was chatting with villagers as usual.
About 100 meters away.
...I thought I'd gotten farther, so why is she here?
She didn't follow me, did she?
I eyed her suspiciously, but she didn't glance my way once.
"Yes, I know well. Thanks to you, my senior brothers and I are doing fine..."
She didn't seem to have business with me.
Good.
Maybe she remembered our agreement.
Her being here was just coincidence in paths.
"Seojin, you buying ink or not?"
The bookseller uncle shook the ink stick in his hand, urging me.
"Ah, yes please."
I rummaged in my pocket for some coins and handed them over.
Then I turned and put distance between me and Cheongwol again.
Time to go buy that oil.
"What, Seojin came back?"
Street beggar uncles spotted me returning and asked.
I nodded to them in reply.
"Drink in moderation. You guys have no coins anyway."
"If we're short, you can spot us."
"That's why drink moderately. Don't eat up all my stuff."
Passing the chuckling uncles, I hurried on.
Gotta buy quick and head home. Can't get tangled with Cheongwol.
But...
'...Young lady! What you said back then really touched my heart...'
'Just seeing Cheongwol young lady always brings tears to my eyes... Ah, I'm such a sap...'
...Soon enough, the commotion found me again.
Rolling my eyes once more, there she was—not far away.
"Why haven't you come down in so long!"
"I'll come more often. If you welcome me like this each time, it'll make me happy too."
"Aigoo, just seeing our Cheongwol always brings a smile to my face!"
Like she was mingling with villagers, her group blooming with smiles... was inching toward me for some reason.
I stood frozen in confusion, and our distance shrank—from 100 meters... to 80... to 60... down to about 20 meters.
-Glance.
Only after closing in did Cheongwol flick her eyes toward me for an instant, then away.
That's when I got it.
...Right, this bitch is the Life-Pursuing Ghost.
Her obsession was insane.
She couldn't endure without satisfying her desires.
Ha.
I drew in a long breath.
...Today's gonna be okay, right?
****
Cheongwol felt irritation bubbling up every time Han Seojin came into view.
She ignored her so blatantly, yet treated others normally—no, maybe even friendly.
"Is this squeezed without any oil smell?"
"Lick it! Smell anything? I even ground in some flowers to make it fragrant."
"Oh, really? Then it's fine, I guess."
...While acting like that with others.
Why was he so cold to her, who shared their secret?
It felt like discrimination.
She got that he didn't want murim ties.
But did avoiding ties mean he couldn't even greet her?
How hard was that?
He chatted warmly with everyone in the village, yet turned his back on her alone—this felt more unnatural and awkward.
Besides, it wasn't like their relationship made greetings awkward now.
Cheongwol had cried in front of Han Seojin, thrown herself at him.
He was the one who wouldn't leave her mind lately.
Yet he couldn't even manage a greeting, making her feel like the only one obsessing—it was unfair.
The absurdity boiled emotions inside her.
She even felt a flicker of desire for petty revenge.
...And honestly.
Their statuses didn't match.
She was renowned across the Central Plains; he was just the Leather Room owner, a former beggar.
He should be grateful if she acknowledged him.
...Ha.
Cheongwol let out dry laughs repeatedly.
Her pride might be a bit bruised.
Plus, realizing she was unconsciously judging people's status made her uneasy.
...
Just ignore him.
Whatever Han Seojin did, why did it matter?
Cheongwol had handled such negative feelings for a long time.
Like with her senior brothers, just stop caring.
"Huh? No, that's too expensive!"
"I ground flowers in it for the scent!"
"Sheesh, whatever! Even if it smells like ass, give me the cheap one!"
"Not like a beggar to expect...! You do this every time you buy!"
...But Cheongwol couldn't tear her eyes from him.
Every glimpse of his face recalled the basement.
His whispers then, his hand stroking her hair.
His domineering commands, the chest-tightening sensation—all vivid.
After finishing greetings with those around, Cheongwol naturally approached Han Seojin. Cautious steps.
'...What's this?'
The closer she got, the faster her heart beat strangely.
Being around him always made everything weird.
Common sense crumbled.
What was so special about just approaching?
Once close enough, Cheongwol moistened her lips and spoke.
"Shop owner—"
But before her voice finished, Han Seojin shouted.
"—Should've done that from the start. Thanks. Sell a lot!"
Then whoosh, he turned and vanished to the other end of the market.
Cheongwol froze in place, staring at his back.
She was so flabbergasted she couldn't breathe.
"...Ha."
She let out a cold laugh unwittingly.
Fine.
She thought.
Let's see who wins.
She had to get that greeting to vent this frustration.
****
Fuck.
Now it's certain.
Cheongwol is stalking me.
Like a duckling following its mother, trailing everywhere I go.
Does she think I haven't noticed, or is she shamelessly doing it knowing?
...
...
Shameless, it seemed.
Our eyes met just now.
Dodging her while wandering the market doubled my time.
Why.
Why stalk me, you scary bitch!!
We agreed no pretending to know each other!!
No matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't figure why she was following.
Not to beg for whipping here, surely.
Or is she trying to screw me over?
That, or it makes no sense.
...Revenge for leaving her in the basement last time?
Or monitoring in case I do weird SM stuff to village folk?
Couldn't figure it—
"Han Seojin!"
Someone called me then.
Ah.
Turning, there was Ga Yeong.
Lost in dodging, I'd reached her shop.
Ga Yeong was a girl I'd known vaguely since beggar days.
Friend was iffy... acquaintance?
Plump, not much to look at... but really kind.
She often tossed me food back when I was a beggar.
Only daughter of the dumpling shop too.
Spotting me, Ga Yeong started hawking.
"Come eat a dumpling. Steamed 'em tasty today."
"...Free?"
...
Ga Yeong just smiled wordlessly.
Like asking, think so, you beggar punk?
Anyway, dodging Cheongwol had worked up an appetite.
I glanced at Cheongwol briefly.
For some reason, she was staring Ga Yeong down hard.
I thought a moment, then asked Ga Yeong.
"What kind?"
"Only meat dumplings."
Perfect.
Buddhist nun Cheongwol can't eat meat, so I can dodge her there.
"Yeah, alright. One please."
"I'll give it cheap. Not free."
Clack.
Standing at the stall for a snack...
...
Clack.
"...Huh?"
Cheongwol stood beside me.
Our maintained distance shattered suddenly.
"Oh my! Cheongwol young lady!!"
Ga Yeong gasped seeing her.
"Uh... uh..."
I panicked at her sudden approach, terrified.
Cheongwol smiled with her eyes at Ga Yeong... then whispered, just for me.
'...Who?'
Chillingly cold, piss-your-pants cold.