Han Yi-won and his bodyguard left to bring Soo Jin and Ari inside.
Kale was left alone with the warriors.
As soon as master Han and Song-ho left they all stepped back from him.
They didn't dare leave or make a sound.
Kale chose a corner and stood there immersing himself in the shadows.
His head was facing the door where they would come in.
The light was so bright.
It slowly started dimming down as he felt their presence getting closer.
He was staring.
But he was calm and composed.
Waiting.
The laughter could be heard behind the wall.
Han Yi-won walked in laughing with his brother.
Kale's eyes kept watching behind them.
First came her small and frail arm.
Time slowed down for him.
She slowly walked in, hair hiding her face.
With her small fingers and her raised arm, she pushed her black soft hair behind her ear.
Small red lips.
Her baby eyes looked sharp yet curious, looking around the center and the warrior who stood at the side.
An incomparable beauty that could mesmerize and melt the coldest of hearts.
But surprisingly she didn't take the breaths of the men around.
Because they all bowed their heads down.
They all felt it.
The gray eyes that stared at her so intensely.
The energy emitting from the monster who came for her.
They didn't dare look up to her.
Even Song-ho.
She was wearing a black suit and a white shirt.
She looked professional and confident.
Her eyes swept across the men.
She felt watched, but none of them had their heads up.
She stood quietly in the background while her father and uncle exchanged words.
"I thank you once again for this favor, brother. I really, can't thank you enough."
Han Yi-won almost felt embarrassed by his words. "Brother don't say that she is my niece before anything. Here, come see the man I have chosen for her. Come on Ari."
"Ah," he already chose? She thought sighing.
She bowed down slightly and walked up ahead to her uncle shyly.
She still looked around and everyone was bowing, whispering, and looking at each other.
"This why I told you guys you didn't have to come here. The man I will show you no one here dares fights him so it wasn't even a competition anymore," boasted her uncle.
"Sir Kale," spoke master Han as he met a light coming from the shadows of the corner.
He walked out.
The sounds of his steps made the men around bow their heads harder and spoke no more.
Ari noticed.
It seemed like from the beginning, they weren't bowing for her uncle or his bodyguard.
From his posture, he looked composed.
As if each move he made with his body was consciously calculated, as if it was a dance.
His hands were white, the veins were noticeable more than anything.
He had many rings on his long fingers that looked soft.
Too soft for a warrior, she thought.
His build could be considered average-wide with the men here.
Why were they bowing to him?
Why sir?
Who was this-
Before she could even manage her thought properly their eyes met as he was walking toward her.
He was tall, with flawless white skin as if he was a doll, with nice-looking lips, a small nose and ears with a beautiful purple gem piercing in his right ear, sharp and well-drawn dark eyebrows, and soft black hair falling on the sides of his eyes.
Their eyes never wanted to leave each other at that moment.
His eyes.
His deep, gray eyes.
Their chilly coldness left.
His expression softened.
Ari was caught in his starry eyes.
She couldn't say a word.
She was never looked at like that.
It wasn't desire for her.
It wasn't out of love nor lust for her.
It was like, his eyes could speak to her.
That they said, finally, you are here.
Finally, I stand before you.
Ari didn't have time to be confused.
She was caught, in the gray eyes that stared at her, slowly, as if they wanted to capture every moment of her.
He stood before her.
Soo Jin watched this interaction.
And so did Han Yi-won and Song-wo.
this man didn't take his eyes off her.
This soft look at least made master Han lower his guard a bit.
If he was someone whom Ari knew before, a stalker of some sort.
He and his bodyguards, coupled with the rest they gathered outside were ready to fight even if they didn't know the full capabilities of this man.
Even if it meant throwing it all.
But who could do anything in this situation?
This man stared at her, like she was someone special to him...
Soo Jin broke the silence.
"Do you know him from somewhere?"
Ari finally broke free and looked at her dad for a moment before shaking her head.
"N-no, dad."
"I apologize if that was rude of me sir," spoke Kale as he bowed down a bit.
If the gods who lived in the celestial imperial plain saw this scene they would freak out.
Kale, bowed his head to someone other than his family.
Soo Jin stared at him for a moment.
"It is fine, just make sure this doesn't interfere with your work, son."
Soo Jin didn't want to be on bad terms with the bodyguard his brother prepared.
He called him son.
This would make the immortal gods faint.
While Ari was spacing outside looking around he watched how his brother was acting like a big shot came down here.
Little did he know it was countermeasures for them to risk their lives.
He still heard from his brother he was a strong man.
And even now how he called him this young man Sir.
He probably was someone above the 7th rank for sure.
But even receiving such respect from Han this young man was still humble to bow down his head for him.
He couldn't say more.
In his heart, this was too much from his brother but he couldn't say it aloud.
He was always gifted extravagant things by Han Yi-won and refused them.
This was the only day he couldn't refuse since it implicated his daughter's safety.
He turned around and looked at his brother in gratitude.
Han Yi-won noticed and stopped Soo Jin from saying a word.
"Since you are already here, let us go for a drink tonight it has been a while."
Soo Jin laughed and he held Han Yi-won by the shoulders to walk away.
"I am sorry my dear, I will be leaving first."
"Be safe father, uncle."
Soo jin stared at Kale one more time, and nodded at him before leaving.
Kale slightly nodded back as he watched him take his leave.
Song-wo was left with them.
"I will follow master Han, be careful on your way back."
"Thank you, sir Lee, you too."
Ari was polite in her interactions.
The bodyguard left.
She looked around the center one more time, but she ignored Kale next to her.
She didn't dare look at him.
She took a deep breath and also walked out.
Kale followed her.
She walked up to her car.
Her father left with her uncle.
"I will drive," his deep voice brought shivers down her spine, as she forgot he was there for a moment.
"Oh, okay." She still didn't meet his eyes and gave him the keys.
Kale didn't mind.
But he thought it was cute how her eyes flustered as she was trying to avoid his.
Her hands were trembling as she handed him the key hurriedly and wanted to turn around the car.
As she did she suddenly stumbled upon his body in front of her.
"Ah," she was surprised. She again, didn't hear him walk.
She raised her eyes unconsciously to meet his.
They were calm, steady, unfazed.
She was caught in his pace.
She didn't know why she calmed down so fast and regained her posture.
He didn't say a word and opened the door for her.
She nodded her head thanking him and went in the car.
She watched him as he made the turn in front of her.
She kept staring at his hair that hid his face from the side.
It looked so soft.
He got in the car.
Ari sat straight as she was nervous, and looked out the window.
Kale didn't see her but he could feel every move she made.
Which made this more entertaining for him.