Chapter 188 – Meeting (2)

“I sincerely congratulate you for achieving the unification of Jeong, Sa, and Ma with just one pawn.”

“….”

Is she dissing me?

Unexpectedly, Hong Yeon-hwa’s diss made everything go dark in front of my eyes.

I immediately put away my sword and ran towards Hong Yeon-hwa, regardless of my training or my pride.

“Yeon-hwa.”

I wanted to hug her and kiss her to make her feel better, but she jumped away and turned her head abruptly.

And then she said one sentence.

“I’m pissed!”

“What…!”

Unlike the previous time when she said it half-jokingly, this time I felt her sincerity.

It’s because until now, her “pissed” was also an expression of asking for comfort, so I didn’t avoid hugging or kissing her.

Just in case, I opened my arms wide and approached Hong Yeon-hwa.

Shack.

“Pissed!”

One more time.

Shashak.

“Blindfold!”

One more time…

Shashashak.

“Your breasts will be confiscated for a while!”

“….!”

That one sentence became the decisive blow, and the energy that was full of vitality was scattered into the air, and my inner strength that flowed smoothly through my meridians dried up.

Thud.

Eventually, my legs lost their strength, and I unknowingly fell to the ground. But I have no strength or reason to stand up again.

To be rejected by Hong Yeon-hwa… there is no hope for me to live anymore…

I stared at Hong Yeon-hwa with empty eyes, and then she ran towards me with a surprised look on her face.

“Ah! Why are you trying to commit suicide! Pull yourself together!”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who was holding a thick potion in her hand, probably wanted to use the method she mentioned before to correct my suicidal behavior.

But there’s no need for that…

I quietly opened my arms.

“Hug me.”

“Is that how you ask?”

Understanding my intention, Hong Yeon-hwa hugged my neck with her thin arms without hesitation.

Now my breath seems to be a little better.

“My breasts too.”

“Mmm… they’re here.”

After hesitating for a moment, Hong Yeon-hwa pulled my head towards her collarbone and buried it in her chest.

The soft texture, warm temperature, and Hong Yeon-hwa’s unique scent, which resembled a flower, were all there.

I feel like I can live a little now.

I wrapped my arms around Hong Yeon-hwa’s back and took a deep breath.

“Huuu…”

And then I lifted my head from her soft chest.

“What about a kiss?”

“Huh, really. I don’t know why I’m comforting you.”

While saying that, Hong Yeon-hwa brought her small lips closer.

Smack.

Chapter 189 – Meeting (3)

I felt a momentary tingling sensation on my lips, which quickly spread throughout my body and corrected the flow of my twisted energy.

“Hehe.”

“Ugh… what are you laughing at? Don’t forget, I’m still a little angry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“….”

No, why ask such a ominous question here…?

Hong Yeon-hwa chuckled at my rolling eyes and lifted me up.

“Right. You wouldn’t want to think that falling for Yeoryeong was a mistake. You’re that kind of person.”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who had just held my hand and pulled me along, now pointed to a pavilion in a corner of the training ground.

I wondered why there was a pavilion here… this place wasn’t originally designed as a training ground.

Due to the large number of Paengga’s soldiers gathered here, several training grounds were needed in addition to the original one.

It was one of the hastily constructed ones, so it must have been one of the original traces.

Due tothe height difference, I followed Hong Yeon-hwa with a wobbly posture, and she pointed to the pavilion as soon as we arrived.

“Sit here.”

“Uh, okay.”

As soon as I sat down as instructed, Hong Yeon-hwa climbed onto my lap.

But she didn’t lean back against me like usual, instead sitting facing me.

“Where are you looking? Don’t look away and just look at me.”

“It’s hard not to feel bone-chilling when you say ‘now’ like that.”

“That’s what I said, so it’s only natural.”

With a casual tone, Hong Yeon-hwa reached out and began stroking my face.

Her small, soft hands swept over my forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth, and chin in turn.

The familiar sensation that always put me at ease.

But Hong Yeon-hwa’s pink eyes were calm, and I couldn’t fully concentrate on the sensation.

After a while of touching my face in a slightly awkward atmosphere, Hong Yeon-hwa let out a sigh.

“Hoo… before, I just liked your handsome face, but now I’m scared. Who else will you seduce with this face…?”

“I’m not that handsome, am I?”

“Who said you seduced anyone with just your face? If you were born with this kind of charm, don’t go wagging your tail anywhere else!”

“I’ve never wagged my tail before…”

Hong Yeon-hwa shook her head.

“Hmph! Mang-i and Yeoryeong heard everything. The moon has always been able to charm people, so you’re not unusual. Let’s live together and help each other out for a long time. Even if everyone else hates you, I’ll never hate you. Is that wagging your tail?”

Squish, squish.

Hong Yeon-hwa grabbed my cheeks and blew air into them, making them puffy.

I was a little taken aback.

“Is that wagging your tail?”

“That’s right! Where did you learn such sweet words? I’m very suspicious!”

“I thought it was just ordinary comfort and tactics…”

“You don’t realize that you say incredible things so easily.”

Now Hong Yeon-hwa was even grabbing my nose.

It hurts a little.

But thanks to her, I think I understand what she’s trying to say.

I have memories from a past life. Memories from a slightly longer modern Earth life than my current one.

Naturally, I’m still influenced by them, and sometimes I don’t fully understand the values of this life.

Perhaps what impressed Samamaeng and Samayeoryeong about me was not the gap between me and an ordinary person from the Central Plains, but rather the gap between me and them.

I think even if someone can’t see, they can still like the moon. And compared to the various padrips I saw on the internet, Samayeoryeong’s way of speaking is cute…

But for people in this era who are sharp-tongued about disabilities and strong women, that may not be the case.

Even though the martial artists who can draw their swords at any moment live a relatively free life, they are not exceptions in terms of the era’s perception.

If Hong Yeon-hwa’s position as a concubine was established, allowing her to bring in a concubine was also one of those era-specific perceptions.

…This time, it seems a little too much.

Hong Yeon-hwa finally let go of my nose and carefully touched her cheek to mine, whispering slowly.

“Soso fell for that part of you, and I’m not much different…but I worry that if there are too many, you might eventually push me away.”

“Me? I would never do that. And there won’t be any more.”

“That’s right. You’ll say that. I know that well. I know, but…I can’t help but have the thought that maybe you’ll be okay without me.”

“If you have that thought, what kind of thought is it?”

“I’m just thinking that maybe you’ll be okay without me, but I can’t be without you.”

I stared at Hong Yeon-hwa’s face with disbelief.

“Really? Do you really think I would do that?”

Without saying a word, Hong Yeon-hwa lowered her head with a calm expression.

“No. I don’t think that anymore. After all, not long ago, you almost fell into poverty because of me. There’s no room for doubt now.”

And then, with a raised corner of her mouth, Baeshi pulled me into a tight embrace, pressing her body against mine as usual.

As if smelling me, or perhaps burying her own scent in me, Hong Yeon-hwa whispered into my neck.

“If you’re worried about that, can’t you just make it so you can’t leave the concubine?”

“What?”

“Both Bonnyeo and Soso are preparing something. It might be difficult right now, but it won’t take long, so you can look forward to it.”

“Can I ask what it is?”

“Well, then it wouldn’t be meaningful, would it? Of course, it’s not possible!”

Hong Yeon-hwa smiled playfully. I’m excited, but also a little anxious. Well, it can’t be a bad thing.

Feeling relieved that things were resolved somehow, I cautiously reached out my hand.

Rustle, rustle.

“Mmm…”

Hong Yeon-hwa’s pink hair brushed against my palm.

The sky had turned into a complete night beyond the darkness. I gazed at the scenery and silently stroked Hong Yeon-hwa’s hair.

For a long time.

Continuously.

***

The next day.

Myeongwoljin had arrived.

And the Mureimmang and Hwanggun declared an official meeting.

Of course, Hong Yeon-hwa, who would be the core of this war, was also called in.