Byeok Taesan hadn't believed a word when Soso passionately described Yeon Harin's beauty.
And now, at this very moment, he silently apologized to her.
He confirmed once more the universal truth: a truly beautiful person is undeniably stunning to anyone who sees them.
"Young Master…"
A hint of regret shimmered in Yeon Harin's eyes.
It seemed she had heard rumors about his frequent visits to the courtesan house lately.
"Soso must have told you."
At Byeok Taesan's muttering, Yeon Harin shook her head.
"No, Soso isn't that kind of girl."
How could she be so certain?
After all, he'd only known Soso for ten days.
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to voice this thought.
"There are a lot of rumors about you these days, Young Master."
Byeok Taesan gave an awkward smile.
Thinking about it, it would have been stranger if rumors hadn't spread.
For the past ten days, the screams of courtesans had been shaking the walls of the Fragrant Flower House daily.
Even for Byeok Taesan, this was something unavoidable for now.
It was a minor side effect of the new Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.
Byeok Taesan looked Yeon Harin straight in the eye.
She was even more beautiful up close.
From a distance, he had thought she was among the top ten beauties, but now, seeing her up close, she easily ranked in the top three.
Yeon Harin stepped closer, a sorrowful expression on her face, and shook her head.
"Please stop."
Byeok Taesan gazed silently at her.
Stop? He couldn't do that.
He wasn't going to just quietly lay down and die, after all.
When Byeok Taesan didn't reply and only continued to stare at her, Yeon Harin spoke again.
"Please don't harm yourself because of me. Even if you do, I will never give up."
He wasn't harming himself; he was trying to survive. But there was no need to explain that to her in detail.
Telling her he used to be the Heavenly Demon wouldn't make her believe him, and even if she did, that would bring its own complications.
"Instead of going to the courtesan house, why don't you just come to me?"
At her words, Byeok Taesan instinctively clicked his tongue.
But now wasn't the time to give in to those words.
Right now, he needed to conserve his strength. Acting recklessly could destroy the tower he had painstakingly built.
'So she thinks I'm doing this to push her away.'
Byeok Taesan organized his thoughts briefly, scratching his cheek before speaking.
"Well… I don't know if you're aware, but the fortune given to me by the Golden Wall Merchants is…"
"A thousand gold coins, a manor, and a few courtesan houses and taverns. Is there anyone in Wuhan who doesn't know this?"
Even though his words implied she might be interested in his wealth, Yeon Harin didn't lose her composure.
"Do you remember this is the third time you've brought this up? I'll give you the same answer as before. Just bring yourself. I'm more than capable of providing for one Young Master."
With that, Yeon Harin stepped closer again.
Now, they were almost touching.
She tilted her head up to look at Byeok Taesan, her face just inches from his.
"I'll never give up. So, please… don't give up on yourself either."
Byeok Taesan took a step back, scratching his cheek again.
"I've never given up, though."
Yeon Harin's eyes widened.
It was the first time she'd heard such words from him.
"Young Master…!"
She clasped her hands together tightly, gazing at him with tear-filled eyes.
Her heart swelled with emotion, believing her sincerity had finally reached him.
For Byeok Taesan, who had never experienced this kind of emotional exchange before—or rather, had never experienced anything like it—it was incredibly awkward to watch.
"Well, I'll be going now."
Byeok Taesan quickly left the scene, almost as if fleeing.
Yeon Harin continued to watch his retreating figure, her expression still one of awe and gratitude.
"So shy…"
A gentle smile graced her lips, so beautiful it would leave anyone spellbound.
The thought that her efforts had finally borne fruit made her even more satisfied.
Just then, a tall, fit woman approached her side.
The woman, with a sword at her waist, was Yeon Harin's bodyguard.
"Young Lady, it's time to return."
"Already?"
"The manor lord was very clear this time: no delays."
Since she had deliberately come here to see Byeok Taesan, she would be slightly late if they didn't hurry.
Yeon Harin let out a soft sigh.
"Fine, let's go."
As she followed her bodyguard, she kept glancing back in the direction Byeok Taesan had gone.
* * *
"I'll never get used to this."
As the Heavenly Demon, people had always looked at him with only two emotions: awe and fear.
When faced with his unfathomable power, people could only revere him—or fear him.
But ever since becoming Byeok Taesan, the emotions people showed toward him were always the same: pity.
If anyone had looked at him that way when he was the Heavenly Demon, their blood would have painted the ground red by the end of the day.
Shaking his head at the thought, Byeok Taesan heard a voice call out from behind him.
"Are you heading to the courtesan house again today?"
Byeok Taesan stopped and slowly turned to face Cheon Kyungwan.
Although his tone was usually devoid of emotion, today it felt even colder.
"Why? You don't want to come along?"
"It's not that, but I thought you might want to rest for a day."
Byeok Taesan looked at Cheon Kyungwan with an intrigued expression.
"Doesn't sound like you're worried about me."
"You misunderstand."
Byeok Taesan chuckled and turned away.
"Feelings don't always work the way you want. Do as you please."
"I said you're mistaken."
This time, Cheon Kyungwan's voice carried a mix of discomfort and irritation.
Byeok Taesan slowly turned back around.
Cheon Kyungwan flinched at his expression and gaze.
Despite being someone so physically weak that a single finger could end him, in that moment, Byeok Taesan exuded the presence of an overwhelming master.
Cheon Kyungwan didn't understand why he felt this way.
Since the day he first held a sword, he had never been so intimidated—not even by the strongest opponents.
And yet, here he was, unnerved by a sickly man who couldn't even be called a scholar.
Byeok Taesan gave Cheon Kyungwan a sharp glance, his eyes glinting faintly.
"Not bad, huh?"
Normally, hearing such words would have only made Cheon Kyungwan more displeased. But oddly enough, he didn't feel that way this time.
Byeok Taesan tapped the side of his head lightly with a finger and said,
"Think carefully about who you're talking to and what you're saying from now on."
He spun around and strode away.
Cheon Kyungwan stood rooted in place, staring blankly at Byeok Taesan's retreating figure for a long moment.
* * *
The formation experts of the Fragrant Flower House had to check the Heaven-Sealing Array daily for anomalies.
However, the array had no issues.
The only time the array showed signs of irregularity was when Byeok Taesan stayed in one of the rooms.
The owner of the Fragrant Flower House treated the matter quite seriously.
"So, what's the conclusion?"
Faced with the owner's question, the formation experts exchanged nervous glances, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
The owner's frosty gaze settled on one of them.
"Well, um… based on my investigation, there's no sign that the array was tampered with."
"So, you're saying the Golden Wall Merchant's second son managed to manipulate the array without touching it? I didn't realize he was so skilled."
"N-no, that's not what I meant…"
One of the experts, realizing the tense atmosphere, quickly spoke up.
"There is a way to distort the array's effects without directly interfering with it."
The owner's sharp eyes locked onto him.
"And why didn't I know about this method?"
"Because only Cheon Gwe-Seosaeng could ever use such a method."
"Cheon Gwe-Seosaeng?"
The owner's expression twisted.
Cheon Gwe-Seosaeng was a legendary figure known for unparalleled expertise in formations and mechanisms.
The expert hurriedly elaborated.
"There are rumors that Cheon Gwe-Seosaeng created several unique devices."
"Unique devices?"
"Tools capable of distorting the flow of energy, temporarily neutralizing or disrupting the effects of formations."
"So, you're saying the Golden Wall Merchant's second son has one of these devices?"
"That's as far as I can reason with the information I have."
The owner sighed deeply.
It seemed unlikely that Cheon Gwe-Seosaeng was involved in this.
Still, it was necessary to verify.
Ignoring this issue could jeopardize the Fragrant Flower House's reputation and future.
"Dismissed. Double-check the array."
The experts quickly filed out, relieved.
Left alone, the owner muttered while staring at the empty floor.
"He'll come again today, won't he?"
A voice answered from above.
"That's the expectation."
The owner bit her lip lightly.
"Keep an eye on him."
"I haven't yet completed my surveillance of the Falling Blossom House's master."
"Put that on hold and prioritize this."
"Understood."
The owner's gaze turned icy.
"There's no chance Cheon Gwe-Seosaeng is involved, is there?"
"None."
"What about the devices he supposedly created?"
"The Golden Wall Merchants might have acquired one by chance. Shall we investigate further?"
The owner shook her head.
"If we observe him properly tonight, we'll know everything. No need to stir up trouble unnecessarily. The Golden Wall Merchants are not to be taken lightly."
"Understood."
The owner, lost in thought, drummed her fingers on the armrest of her chair.
"For a man supposedly living on borrowed time to suddenly start frequenting the courtesan house—and ours, of all places? There's no way that's a coincidence."
Her eyes glinted coldly.
* * *
When Byeok Taesan returned home, Soso greeted him warmly.
"Young Master! I heard you met Miss Yeon today!"
Byeok Taesan stared at her in disbelief.
"How do you already know that?"
It hadn't even been that long since he left Yeon Harin and made his way home.
Soso smugly raised her chin and placed her hands on her hips in an exaggeratedly confident pose.
"Nothing escapes my eyes in Wuhan, Young Master. Hmph."
Byeok Taesan let out a chuckle.
At first, he had nearly killed her, but now he had grown used to her antics.
They were tolerable, even amusing at times.
'Come to think of it, I've adapted to things quite well.'
Aside from the pitying looks people gave him, he found most things bearable.
"By the way, what's with Master Cheon's expression?"
Soso's comment made Byeok Taesan glance back. Cheon Kyungwan hadn't left yet and stood at a distance, his face as stoic as ever.
But to Soso, something seemed off.
"Did something happen? He looks like he's deeply wronged."
Byeok Taesan alternated his gaze between Soso and Cheon Kyungwan, now intrigued.
"You can tell all that?"
"Of course! His expression is so different. How could I not notice?"
Thinking it was quite a talent, Byeok Taesan shrugged and headed inside.
"If you're so curious, why don't you ask him yourself?"
* * *
Shortly afterward, Byeok Taesan's expression turned peculiar as he listened to Soso.
"So… you're saying he has feelings for Yeon Harin's bodyguard?"
"You didn't know? He's been devoted to her for ages."
Byeok Taesan laughed in disbelief.
So that's why Cheon Kyungwan reacted so strongly. He must have assumed Byeok Taesan harbored feelings for Yeon Harin.
Still, Byeok Taesan figured he had done his part by offering some advice earlier.
"But why does he care whether I go to the courtesan house?"
"Because when Miss Yeon worries about you, Lady Yu worries about her."
Lady Yu referred to Yu Seoyeon, Yeon Harin's bodyguard and the one Cheon Kyungwan was infatuated with.
Byeok Taesan let out a wry laugh.
"Well, this is entertaining."
Such situations were virtually unheard of in the Demonic Cult, where he had come from.
Though it irked him in some ways, it also piqued his curiosity.
"Interesting."
Byeok Taesan murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
* * *
Soso interrupted his thoughts.
"Young Master."
He turned his attention to her.
"They say the Heavenly Divine Healer will arrive within the month."
Byeok Taesan frowned.
"No need. Tell them I know my body best and don't need a quack like him."
"But they've already spent a hundred gold coins just to bring him here. Isn't refusing a waste of money?"
Byeok Taesan scoffed.
"Spending a hundred gold to examine a thousand-gold body? And it won't end there, will it?"
Soso's eyes widened, and tears began to well up.
"Please don't say such things. Your body can and will be healed."
"Fine, fine. Stop crying. It's annoying."
Byeok Taesan turned his head away, clearly displeased.
It seemed he would have to meet this so-called Heavenly Divine Healer after all.