Chapter 33

There were many things he was curious about, but he didn't think Dang Ran-yeong would answer even if he asked. He just hoped that Dang Ran-yeong's purpose wasn't to harm Moon Lake Sect. And at the same time, he realized that he was secretly hoping that he himself was Dang Ran-yeong's purpose. Embarrassed by this expectation, Cheong-ra's face turned bright red.

'I want Dang Ran-yeong to be interested in me.'

Ordinary people wouldn't want to attract the attention of someone who had humiliated them and defeated them twice. He felt self-loathing at his strange way of thinking. If it were just admiration for a strong person, there wouldn't be such anguish and conflict.

However, on the other hand, he thought that anyone, not just himself, would desire such a strong and handsome man. Cheong-ra, from behind, freely surveyed Dang Ran-yeong's broad back and firm hands. His cheeks reddened a bit more as he stole glances like a thief.

The place Dang Ran-yeong headed to was his mansion. Unlike last time, instead of guiding him to the annex, he opened the door to what looked like a granary. Inside was another door leading underground. Only then did Cheong-ra's steps falter. Noticing this, Dang Ran-yeong coaxed Cheong-ra, who had stiffened with wariness and was ready to flee at any moment.

"What are you doing? Not following? I won't do anything. I really have something to give you."

"...Really?"

Although he didn't let his guard down, he ended up following Dang Ran-yeong's words as if bewitched once again. A crooked smile returned, as if he had expected this. Cheong-ra felt his pride hurt and was a bit annoyed, but he didn't want to appear like a coward in front of the other person anymore.

At the same time, lewd fantasies began to swirl in his mind. The door slamming shut as soon as they went down to the basement. Dang Ran-yeong forcefully throwing him to the ground while mocking him for believing his words when he protested that he said he wouldn't do anything...

The air in the basement, which he descended with half wariness and half excitement, was damp and humid. Moreover, there were rows of rooms that looked like nothing but prison cells. A painful groan was even heard from somewhere, causing Cheong-ra's gaze to waver. This was not a place that should be in the basement of an ordinary mansion.

Dang Ran-yeong, ignoring Cheong-ra who had stopped walking again, approached one of the prison cells. When he inserted a key into the lock, it opened with a click. While Cheong-ra watched from a distance, he went into the cell and came out dragging two people. Cheong-ra's eyes widened as he recognized the faces of the two.

"They're heavy too."

Contrary to his grumbling, the people Dang Ran-yeong effortlessly pulled out by their necks were the expelled criminals they had been chasing all this time.

"...What about the remaining one? Do you know what happened to him?"

"He died during the capture."

Dang Ran-yeong answered nonchalantly and threw something from his bosom. Inside the pouch were belongings presumed to be of the other person. Cheong-ra bit his lip. It seemed clear that he knew the whereabouts of the remaining person but was hiding it. However, he couldn't press the issue in this situation.

"Well, up to this point is my pure goodwill. Young Master Baek Ri. You owe me twice now."

"...Young Master Dang. No, Dang Ran-yeong."

Cheong-ra sighed deeply and glanced at the criminals. They looked fine on the outside, but whatever had been done to them, they were completely drained of energy, breathing heavily and trembling violently.

"Why are you doing this to me? What exactly do you want from me?"

At this question, Dang Ran-yeong gave a cold smile. Seeing that expression, Cheong-ra couldn't possibly think that the other had pure goodwill towards him, or was interested in him. It was natural, but somehow it made him feel uncomfortable, as if a thorn was stuck in a corner of his heart.

"Even if you take these guys away, it will surely be of no use."

Dang Ran-yeong said, nodding his chin towards the criminals. The way he spoke made it sound as if he himself had nothing to do with the production of the Enlightened Mind Tea. As Dang Ran-yeong's gaze turned towards them, the criminal curled up and seemed to try to get closer to Cheong-ra instead. It was an extremely frightened gesture. Cheong-ra became curious about what Dang Ran-yeong had done to them.

"If you have more questions about this matter, come back again. My offer still stands."

"By offer, you mean that World's Greatest..."

Cheong-ra trailed off. What on earth could be the prize of the World's Greatest Beauty Contest that the owner of the White Jade Merchant Group was so obsessed with? While pondering with a furrowed brow, he grabbed the collar of the criminals who had been squirming like worms and had finally reached near his feet, and pulled them up.

The criminal looked relieved instead. Cheong-ra roughly pushed the criminals away, disliking the look in their eyes towards him, especially after they had harmed the people of his sect and run away. These people were no longer part of Moon Lake Sect.

Although they had finally caught the criminals, it wasn't accomplished by his own hands, so he felt uneasy, and both his body and mind were exhausted beyond measure.

"Young Master Baek Ri."

As he was about to drag the criminals out, Dang Ran-yeong called his name. When he turned around, the man's eyes glowed with a green light in the flickering lamplight of the darkness. Under the still cold gaze, his handsome mouth curved into an arc.

"I can grant whatever you desire."

Cheong-ra's face became expressionless. It was to hide his wavering heart, but the other spoke again as if he could see right through that heart.

"If you just accept my deal."

Cheong-ra hurriedly turned his body and quickened his steps, pretending not to have heard anything. As he left the basement, he heard a low sneer behind his back.

"When you make up your mind, come find me in Chang'an."

***

Although they had found the criminals they had been searching for all this time, the faces of Geum-hye and Mu-gwang were not bright at all. It was for the same reason as Cheong-ra. Not believing Dang Ran-yeong's words that one had died, they began to search the rest of Xiangyang.

But soon, Xiangyang became noisy. It was because Mi-a, the woman who had approached Cheong-ra claiming to be his lover and telling lies, was found brutally murdered. The attention that was already focused on them became uncontrollable, so they had no choice but to hurriedly leave the city. If something were to happen, they might even lose the criminals they had captured.

With the help of the Beggar Sect, they left the city before the sun rose. As they camped for consecutive nights to return as quickly as possible, deep fatigue appeared on their faces.

"I don't like it..."

Geum-hye, with her arms crossed, glared at the criminals while roughly chewing on dried meat. Mu-gwang also sent a terrifying gaze with a fierce scowl, even though they were returning to the sect earlier than expected. Since they couldn't glare at Dang Ran-yeong, they were taking out their frustration on the criminals instead.

On the other hand, Cheong-ra stared at the flickering campfire with a face deep in thought. His face looked so miserable, as if he had gone through all the hardships of the world and was exhausted, that Geum-hye looked at her junior brother with sympathetic eyes.

"Junior Brother Baek Ri, you've been through a lot this time. Just look at that face full of worries."

Cheong-ra, who had only been thinking about taking a hot bath and sleeping soundly when they returned to the sect, hid his startled feelings and smiled slightly as if everything was fine. Seeing that smile, Geum-hye's sympathetic gaze deepened.

"I've been through a lot too."

Mu-gwang interjected, but when Geum-hye pretended not to hear, he grumbled about discrimination. However, it wasn't sincere, so he soon clicked his tongue.

"Being too handsome isn't always good. If you looked just like me, life would be easy and good."

In Moon Lake Sect, they often compared the appearances of the rough-looking Mu-gwang and the beautiful Cheong-ra. It was an environment where an ordinary person might feel inferior. However, having been friends for over ten years and seeing Cheong-ra being harassed by countless people, Mu-gwang was satisfied with his own appearance. Even this incident wouldn't have escalated so much if Cheong-ra's appearance had been just moderately good-looking.

"No, Mu-gwang. Still, being handsome is better..."

Mu-gwang pretended not to hear Geum-hye's words and said,

"By the way, shouldn't we feed those guys too? We'll have to carry them if they collapse."

Mu-gwang, who had finished his meal quickly, spoke in an unwilling tone. The criminals handed over by Dang Ran-yeong were, for some reason, obedient and compliant. Even when their gags were removed, they didn't attempt suicide. Nevertheless, they treated the criminals with distaste. It was because of things like this.

Although they had received fasting pills and water to drink, and were clearly hungry and thirsty, they didn't immediately touch them. Instead, they muttered something and repeatedly bowed in a certain direction before finally starting to eat. It was clearly strange behavior, and every time the criminals did this, it was very irritating and worrisome.

Fortunately, nothing unusual happened until they returned to the sect. Thanks to the letter they had sent in advance, Gong Hyeok-rin was waiting for them outside the gate by the time they arrived.

"Geum-hye! Junior brothers!"

Gong Hyeok-rin, who had rushed over in one breath, spread his arms wide and hugged Cheong-ra and Mu-gwang tightly, patting their backs firmly.

"To think you've captured the criminals, the three of you have done a great service. You've been through a lot. The master will praise you greatly too."

The faces of the three listening to Gong Hyeok-rin's words were not bright at all. If they had really captured them with their own strength, it would have been good, but they had just been played by Dang Ran-yeong, so they couldn't be purely happy. Seeing the faces of the three, Gong Hyeok-rin was puzzled.

"What's wrong? Are you all very tired? Why do you look like that?"

"...Let's see the master first. We'll tell you there."

It wasn't a story to be casually discussed in a place with many ears. When Geum-hye gave him a look, Gong Hyeok-rin, sensing that something had happened, nodded.