Chapter 32

"You said you made one exactly like it and gave it to me as a gift because it was such a precious item!"

Mi-a, who retorted without giving an inch, appealed with pearl-like tears.

"Didn't you spend a long night with me at the inn ten days ago? Are you abandoning me now because it tarnishes your reputation? You know well that I love only you, Young Master. I could give my life for you, but I can't bear to have our relationship denied like this."

People who felt sympathy for her earnest plea shouted at Cheong-ra, saying it was about time he accepted her. While Cheong-ra, who couldn't think straight due to lack of sleep and felt suffocated, took a deep breath, Mi-a appealed with her long eyelashes trembling.

"Is it because Moon Lake Sect opposes our relationship? Because this humble girl comes from a lowly courtesan background..."

Cheong-ra's eyes turned cold. For him, Moon Lake Sect was the most precious place in the world and where his family-like people were. It was not a place that the con artist before him could dare to mention. Just as he was about to rebuke her for daring to speak of Moon Lake Sect, someone stepped forward.

"Lies! That woman is a lying con artist!"

Someone shouted as if reading Cheong-ra's mind. Geum-hye, who had been cracking her knuckles with a popping sound, and Mu-gwang, who had been scowling fiercely, brightened up and turned their heads. Standing there was a woman. But her eyes and voice seemed familiar somehow.

The woman who came out pushing through the onlookers immediately rushed forward and attacked Mi-a. The attack was so sudden that everyone thought Mi-a would be hit, but surprisingly, she dodged it nimbly. It was clearly the footwork of someone who had learned martial arts, so the eyes of the martial artists present sharpened. Mi-a's face, who had reflexively avoided the attack, also showed dismay.

"Look at that footwork! What courtesan in the world would have learned martial arts unless she's from the Beggar Sect!"

Only after hearing the clear, ringing voice did Cheong-ra realize the identity of the person and was surprised. Although she was disguised by covering her chin scar and adding flesh, it was clearly Silver Lotus Twin Claws Hwan-hong. Having instantly drawn everyone's attention, she shouted loudly.

"This wicked woman originally lived in Shandong, where she luckily learned martial arts and then extorted commoners as a street thug. She was originally ugly, but after learning the Immortal Technique, her appearance changed, and she went around seducing men and causing trouble. My sect also suffered serious damage because of this woman!"

"Wh-what are you saying! I've never learned the Immortal Technique! I was pretty from the start!"

Mi-a shouted in bewilderment. Somehow, to Cheong-ra, she seemed genuinely wronged. Cheong-ra, who had learned a similar martial art but not exactly the Immortal Technique, felt inwardly guilty. Hwan-hong snorted and attacked viciously.

"If you're not going around seducing men, why did you cling to Young Master Jang Sa-eop, then to Namgung Hyeon-sang? And now that you're caught between the two and in a difficult situation, you're clinging to Young Master Baek Ri!"

"Don't try to mislead with lies! Aren't you also slandering me because you like Young Master Baek Ri?"

Mi-a glared at Hwan-hong with murderous eyes. For a moment, a red light flickered in her pupils. Cheong-ra, who had been watching her closely and surveying the surroundings, froze. Dang Ran-yeong was sitting on the wall behind the onlookers, watching the situation expressionlessly. When his eyes met Cheong-ra's, he smiled as if to show off.

"Moreover, this woman has even learned the Art of Seduction! She absorbs life energy just by being close, so everyone should be careful!"

At Hwan-hong's words, everyone was shocked and stepped back. Then, their gazes naturally turned to Cheong-ra, who looked haggard from lack of sleep. Their faces recalled the rumor that he had spent a night with Mi-a at the inn ten days ago. Mi-a vehemently denied it, jumping up and down.

"Art of Seduction! What do I lack that I would learn such a wicked martial art!"

"Of course, Young Master Baek Ri has no relationship with this vixen. The man who held hands with the vixen and went to the inn ten days ago was another man. At that time, Young Master Baek Ri had another duel with the Green-Eyed Poison Dragon, was defeated, and suffered internal injuries, which is why his complexion looks so poor."

Hwan-hong testified plausibly, saying she knew this from the workers at the White Jade Merchant Group. Cheong-ra's face turned red with shame as he recalled that night when he was not just defeated but one-sidedly beaten up. That face rather made the onlookers feel more trustworthy.

"Oh my, he was brutally defeated twice by the Green-Eyed Poison Dragon, so it's understandable he couldn't say anything..."

"I heard they're about the same age, but if there's such a difference in their levels, wouldn't it be embarrassing?"

The onlookers whispered. As the situation turned this way, Geum-hye and Mu-gwang didn't know what to do and just looked at Cheong-ra's face. Sensing that the situation had turned unfavorable from the piercing gazes of the people, Mi-a gritted her teeth. As she glared at Hwan-hong with murderous intent, someone from the crowd shouted "Vixen!" and threw something.

Since it had been revealed that she had learned martial arts, Mi-a tried to dodge this time, but for some reason, she couldn't and was hit. Cheong-ra noticed from the unexpected curved trajectory of the thrown gourd bottle that it was a high-level throwing technique.

The thrown object appeared to be a gourd bottle of alcohol, and as it broke, a transparent liquid splashed. Although it smelled like just fragrant alcohol, Mi-a screamed in pain. For a moment, Cheong-ra thought it might be poison, but her skin seemed perfectly fine.

Then Mi-a raised her head with a wet face and glared at the onlooker who had thrown the alcohol bottle at her.

"You, how did you..."

Mi-a's venomous words were cut short. It was because everyone who saw her eyes gasped and shouted loudly.

"Her-her eyes turned red!"

"It must be a sign of learning a wicked martial art!"

Mi-a, with her face hardened, stared intently at Cheong-ra. It was a gaze of despair and anger, but it didn't seem to hold a grudge. She then used an astonishing level of lightness skill to leap over people and fled.

"Catch the vixen!"

The martial artists present, filled with a sense of justice, drew their weapons and chased after Mi-a. It all happened in an instant.

"No! How dare that thing try to harm our Cheong-ra!"

Geum-hye, who had belatedly come to her senses, was furious to the core and ran after them. Watching them quickly disappear, Mu-gwang tore at his hair. As he looked back and forth between Geum-hye and Cheong-ra, not knowing what to do, Cheong-ra pushed his back.

"Quickly go after Martial Sister and help her. I'll stay here and sort out the situation. We don't know what kind of strange abilities that person might have!"

"Alright, I'll see you at the inn later!"

Relieved that the situation was resolved well, Mu-gwang chased after Geum-hye with a more relaxed face. Now all eyes were on Cheong-ra, who was left alone. He took a deep breath and composed his expression. Then he turned to face the murmuring crowd with a calm face. With an expression of admiration on his handsome face, he cupped his hands and bowed politely.

"I was almost caught in a difficult situation due to a false accusation, but thanks to your help, the situation has been resolved well. I, Baek Ri Cheong-ra, express my gratitude to all of you."

Of course, the onlookers had merely watched. Nevertheless, when the beautiful young master sincerely expressed his gratitude, people unconsciously nodded in agreement.

"I knew from the beginning that Young Master Baek Ri was innocent."

"I also thought that woman was suspicious from the start!"

Although he felt bitter about how quickly their attitudes changed when they had been pointing fingers at him just moments ago, he was still relieved that the matter was resolved well. No, he had to be relieved. If only all of this hadn't been helped by Dang Ran-yeong.

"Now that this has happened, I must go and inform my master as soon as possible."

As Cheong-ra mentioned his master and started to move, people finally began to disperse and make way for him. Now he noticed that Dang Ran-yeong, who had been sitting on the wall, and Hwan-hong were nowhere to be seen. Instead of looking for them, Cheong-ra walked straight ahead without hesitation. He wasn't surprised when Dang Ran-yeong appeared again at the corner he turned.

"...Dang Ran-yeong."

Cheong-ra's gaze towards Dang Ran-yeong was confused and unable to grasp anything. The matter was resolved well, but everything was questionable.

He didn't understand why a woman who seemed to have learned martial arts from the criminal underworld had approached him, or what her purpose was. He didn't know why Dang Ran-yeong appeared wherever he went, or why he deliberately put him in a difficult situation and then helped him.

Regardless of whether the other party was confused or not, Dang Ran-yeong nodded his head.

"It's good that your companions aren't here. I have something to give you, so follow me."

Normally, it would be foolish to follow someone whose intentions are unknown like this. However, although Cheong-ra sent a wary look, he ended up following Dang Ran-yeong as if bewitched.

He had been doing foolish things that he had never done before since meeting this person, and he couldn't help it. His instincts kept overriding his reason.