Chapter 47

He was lying askew on a long couch draped with silk, one leg crossed, with his hand on his forehead as if he had a headache. Just like when Cheong-ra had seen him at the mansion in Xiangyang, he wore only a loose robe over his muscular upper body.

"What did you want to say?"

Despite Dang Ran-yeong's question, Cheong-ra forgot what he wanted to say and only moved his lips. He had never seen such a dirty, indolent, lazy, and chaotic place in his life. His fingertips trembled at the disorderly sight that could never be seen in Moon Lake Sect. The words "Why don't you clean up a bit?" rose to his throat.

Meanwhile, Dang Ran-yeong shifted and changed his position. With the room in such a state, it was no surprise that its owner wasn't neat either, with his clothes and hair disheveled in all directions. Cheong-ra took a couple more steps forward but recoiled at the sight of dust piled on the windowsill.

If someone he knew from Moon Lake Sect saw someone living like this, they would have scolded and reprimanded them. However, this was Dang Ran-yeong's space after all. It would be rude for Cheong-ra, who was just a guest, to comment on it. He held back and smiled.

"Why don't you tidy up a bit?"

...However, the sight before him was so terrible that he simply couldn't hold back.

Dang Ran-yeong acted as if he hadn't heard. Instead, he merely flicked his fingertips as if telling him to come closer.

Cheong-ra shuddered and carefully stepped into the chaos. After struggling not to step on ledgers, silk robes, and expensive odds and ends, he finally managed to reach Dang Ran-yeong's side. The Venomous Horned Serpent immediately raised its head and flicked its tongue. Cheong-ra's nerves were on edge, wondering if it was threatening him.

"I said I have something to say..."

Just as he was frowning at the complete lack of courtesy in receiving a guest, Dang Ran-yeong, who had risen groggily from his seat, reached out like lightning. Cheong-ra reflexively dodged the movement aimed at his vital point, but in the blink of an eye, the cotton cloth was caught by Dang Ran-yeong's fingertips and fluttered. It was ghostly hand techniques worthy of a member of the Tang Clan, no matter how many times he saw it.

"This looks better than when it was covered."

Dang Ran-yeong said with a satisfied face as he unwrapped the cotton cloth that had been around Cheong-ra's neck. Although it was healing quickly thanks to diligent application of ointment every day, bluish traces were still clearly visible. Unknowingly covering his neck, Cheong-ra took a few steps back to secure what he considered a safe distance.

"So, what did you want to say?"

Dang Ran-yeong asked, carelessly throwing the cotton cloth on the floor. Cheong-ra felt a strong urge to pick up the fluttering cloth and throw it away but resisted.

"First, this."

He placed the object he had carefully brought in his arms on the table piled high with ledgers like a mountain. Dang Ran-yeong frowned as he unwrapped the well-wrapped cloth. What Cheong-ra had brought was the ice jade he had received from Dang Ran-yeong instead of a thousand gold last time.

"Why this?"

"No matter how I think about it, it's not something I should accept."

Cheong-ra said firmly, shaking his head. It would be a lie to say he didn't covet this beautiful ice jade that looked as if it had been carved from ice. However, the more he held and looked at it, the more uneasy and uncomfortable he felt, thinking that keeping it might lead to some future trouble.

Dang Ran-yeong glanced at Cheong-ra once and then indifferently pushed the ice jade away with the back of his hand. Cheong-ra's heart pounded at the careless gesture that seemed as if he might knock it off to the side. He brought up another matter to the expressionless man staring at him.

"And I looked into it personally, but that World's Greatest Beauty Contest is only held in half a year, isn't it?"

Dang Ran-yeong, who had his arms crossed, tilted his head slightly. Then he asked in a sharp voice.

"Where did you get that information?"

Where else, isn't it obvious where a martial artist would get information? The Beggar Sect, or the Hao Sect.

And of course, as a righteous martial artist, Cheong-ra had asked at the Beggar Sect branch in Chang'an. He had also asked the branch leaders of the Beggar Sect in other regions before coming here, but they couldn't answer then. It seemed that being a big city, Chang'an's information gathering ability was different. Dang Ran-yeong immediately knew the answer from Cheong-ra's expression.

"That's not information beggars should know."

Cheong-ra kept his mouth shut instead of retorting that the Beggar Sect members weren't just simple beggars. Although Dang Ran-yeong was also a member of the Tang Clan and should be considered part of the righteous faction, for some reason, Cheong-ra felt that he was more likely to use the Hao Sect, which was part of the criminal underworld, rather than the Beggar Sect.

"Anyway, I have no reason to waste time here until then. Now that I know the place and the date, we can just meet there then, right?"

"Didn't you hear me clearly say to stay put quietly?"

Dang Ran-yeong spoke as he pleased, completely ignoring Cheong-ra's words. Slightly irritated by the consistent disregard, Cheong-ra retorted coldly.

"Who are you to me that I should listen to what you say?"

At this, a deep smile appeared on Dang Ran-yeong's lips. Unknowingly flinching at that gaze, Cheong-ra instead raised his head proudly. There was nothing wrong with what he had said.

He had to investigate the mastermind behind those who had sneaked into the sect and killed the expelled disciples, while also regularly sending letters to Moon Lake Sect to inform them of his well-being. Such important matters couldn't be entrusted or left to Dang Ran-yeong.

"If staying here is a waste of time, where and what do you plan to do until then elsewhere?"

This time, Cheong-ra had obtained other information while getting information about the World's Greatest Beauty Contest from the Beggar Sect. He heard that the Enlightened Mind Tea was spreading in Henan, so it seemed good to gather information there and then rejoin Dang Ran-yeong in half a year. However, instead of saying this readily, Cheong-ra replied coldly.

"So, as I said, who are you that I should report every little detail of my business to you?"

Even as he said this, he was inwardly watching Dang Ran-yeong's reaction. Since being strangled last time, Cheong-ra felt as if some part of his heart had permanently changed. Regardless of his inner feelings, he waited for the other's reaction, tense but not showing it outwardly. His heart was pounding.

Surprisingly, Dang Ran-yeong didn't get angry or threaten him. He just asked this with the same smiling face.

"Is that all you wanted to say?"

"I'll be leaving in a few days, so I came to inform you as a guest. I have no other business."

In fact, the twelve zodiac carvings did come to mind. However, this was too personal a preference to mention out loud. Since they were being sold in Chang'an until recently, wouldn't he be able to obtain them if he inquired around? He wasn't so out of his mind as to beg Dang Ran-yeong for them, forgetting his dignity.

"Then I'll be..."

As he said this and tried to retreat, Cheong-ra's body staggered. His eyes widened as he looked down at something caught around his ankle. It's natural for a whip to make a sound when wielded. But for such a whip to be tightly wrapped around his ankle without making any noise, it made his skin crawl at the other's extraordinary martial prowess.

"You have quite a variety of ways to be annoying."

As Dang Ran-yeong sneered and sharply pulled the whip handle in his hand, Cheong-ra's body was dragged along. Although he was smaller in build than the other, Cheong-ra was still a proper martial artist. His face paled slightly at the tremendous strength that easily pulled him. At the same time, his preferences being what they were, he was greatly attracted to such a person.

"Isn't Young Master Dang being excessively arrogant?"

Cheong-ra retorted, not backing down, and struggled to free his ankle. However, Dang Ran-yeong's skill with the whip was so adept that it felt like a live snake coiled around him rather than a whip. Dang Ran-yeong asked in a sweet voice.

"Seeing as you have nothing to say, did you enjoy what happened a few days ago?"

"No."

"Do you like having your neck strangled?"

"No! Who, who said I liked it...! Don't ever do that to me again!"

Cheong-ra shouted, glaring at the other with all his might. He didn't like having his neck strangled. He just liked the oppressive atmosphere, the act of being violently dominated to the point of submission. Hadn't he always wanted to be defeated and submit to someone like Dang Ran-yeong? Having his neck strangled like yesterday felt more like doing something for Dang Ran-yeong's pleasure rather than his own.

"People can't always do only what they like in life."

Dang Ran-yeong's answer was so absurd that Cheong-ra momentarily forgot what to say. Wasn't the person saying this someone who seemed to live doing exactly as he pleased more than anyone else? Then he made an unexpected proposal.

"Since you're here, why don't you stay for a meal before you go?"

"No!"

Slightly irritated, Cheong-ra resisted with all his might and kicked his legs. The whip tightened painfully, cutting off circulation. Having no choice, he moved closer to Dang Ran-yeong, and only then did it loosen a bit.

"Does Young Master Baek Ri like having his legs broken?"

"Really, who in the world would like such a thing?"

"Right? So, if your memory isn't bad, have dinner and go when I'm asking nicely."

Although he was smiling as he spoke, the content was very threatening.