Chapter 8

“A-Qing’s lacking common sense, but she’s not stupid.”

A-Qing knows the implications of this pathetic trash.

It was a desperate and relentless struggle by the women to somehow make connections with Oki-rin.

Out of concern, I might have poked her side playfully, suggesting that perhaps she should pick some up.

But A-Qing kept devouring the entire array of snacks from the Central Plain: fried pastries, steamed buns, boiled snacks, baked treats, and dried goodies while the trash throwing continued unabated.

Now, she walked lightly, just like in Kim So-wol’s “Azaleas,” as if she could tread on that handkerchief lying at every step.

If I were to pick up everything, I’d end up looking like a woman gathering leftover grains.

A-Qing stuck out her tongue.

“Wow. I’m sick of it. Totally over it.”

“I thought you’d say to pick it up.”

“How can I pick all that up? No way, I’d throw my back out.”

Suddenly struck by a thought, A-Qing asked.

“Will the owner come back to pick it up later?”

“Well…”

Pang Dae-san froze.

Would they come back to retrieve it? That’s quite embarrassing, isn’t it?

But just tossing it is problematic too. That’s quite inconsiderate.

Pang Dae-san shivered at that thought.

“They’ll probably send someone to do it later.”

“They’re going to search for it from there? Is there a professional in lost property recovery? Plus, it’ll get stepped on and knocked around.”

The women around Pang Dae-san were in a competitive relationship.

They’d casually block each other’s view while passing by, subtly drop items on top of others, or trample on each other’s goods.

“Do you think picking it up and selling it would make money?”

Pang Dae-san questioned his own ears.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“No, some of those look pretty valuable. They’d definitely come back to claim those.”

A-Qing pointed at a fragrant sachet rolling on the ground.

A handkerchief might drop easily, but its meaning isn’t so good.

It was a method of quietly informing a lover of a breakup to gift a white handkerchief.

The minimal requirement for a handkerchief shared between lovers was a red cloth embroidered with gold thread or something equally extravagant.

And thus, a well-to-do lady dropped her trinket.

Occasionally, there were women who dropped a fragrant sachet or hairpin, but even others couldn’t carelessly step on or lay claim to such expensive items.

Touching a woman who could throw such valuable bait could lead to dire consequences.

Conversely, if one had nothing to worry about, it meant that touching her was fair game.

Just like that person.

“What is all this junk?”

A short boy clad in clean white clothing stomped in, trampling on the purity of the fallen woman.

Next to him, a burly giant remarked.

“Looks like the trace of Oki-rin, doesn’t it?”

“Oh. Right. Pang-ahn! Are you here?”

“Why are you shouting? Just follow the gazes of the women. Yeah, he’s over there.”

“As expected of our Je-gal! So smart! Pang! A! Hoo!”

A-Qing checked the accomplishments as a habit.

The white-clad youth had an accomplishment of 86.

Oh wow, A-Qing gasped.

A record high among warriors.

And the giant had -19. Not bad at all.

It’s tough to build positive deeds.

In comparison, the amount of negative deeds piled up was enormous.

These were warriors who often took lives.

Even if they leaned toward negativity and had some negative karma, if it was just double digits, they could be considered to have lived a reasonably clean life.

With such a unique combination, A-Qing asked.

“Do you know him?”

“Yeah.”

For that, his expression didn’t look welcoming at all.

But Pang Dae-san had never been friendly with anyone, nor could she imagine that he would be.

It’s just his natural disposition, I guess.

The boy stepped into the group and shouted.

“Pang! Long time no see! Didn’t expect to meet here! Still shining bright, huh! Awesome!”

“Huang Bo Woon-cheok, it’s been a while.”

“Right! When did we last meet? Oh! What’s this! You’re with a woman! Maybe?”

“Absolutely not. No way.”

Pang Dae-san looked horrified.

“Ha ha, that’s rude! You need to understand women’s hearts better!”

Pang Dae-san’s mood soured dramatically.

Yeah, if someone pokes the dragon, this is how it goes.

But Pang Dae-san knew the little brat well.

He wasn’t malicious in the slightest, and had no awareness, so it was just a loss to express that.

Oblivious, the boy laughed heartily.

Though being small, it didn’t suit him at all.

“This is Je-gal Lee-hyun. Just a bro I know.”

“Pang-hyung, why the difference in titles?”

“You’re one of those. You were brought here deliberately, weren’t you?”

“The women are in a frenzy, so I thought it’d be perfect to introduce you, Pang-hyung.”

The little brat, Huang Bo Woon-cheok. Amazingly, he’s twenty-seven.

Yet, he looked like he was in middle school.

What? Twenty-seven?

Seeing A-Qing’s expression, Pang Dae-san added.

“He took the wrong medicine when he was young.”

“Ah.”

You can’t help it if he took the wrong herbal medicine.

A-Qing accepted that.

A small great hero, Huang Bo Woon-cheok.

A well-known gentleman in the martial world, he was called a small great hero despite his small stature.

Famous for his peak martial arts skills and upright behavior, he had a boisterous personality that seemed mismatched with his small frame.

And then, the giant, standing like a moving embodiment of muscle, was Je-gal Lee-hyun. His age? A fresh eighteen.

“Je-gal…? As in Je-gal Liang?”

A-Qing asked back.

A-Qing was aware of the Je-gal surname.

Because Je-gal Liang was too famous.

Why, that Je-gal? Weak but smart.

“Looks like he inherited too much blood from his maternal line.”

“Well, he’s my aunt’s son, so of course!”

“I’m satisfied. It’s time for the Je-gal family to shed the mold of frail scholars, don’t you think?”

Je-gal Lee-hyun replied, flexing his arms and showing off his biceps, performing what we’d now call a ‘front double biceps’ pose.

It was uncommon in the Central Plain, especially since he wore a sleeveless garment, letting his muscles and confidence shine through.

Mengxin Hyeonroe Je-gal Lee-hyun.

A man with the body of a beast and the intellect of a sage.

He was a rare talent born of the powerful physique of the Huang Bo Clan and the remarkable intellect of the Je-gal Clan.

Though his martial skills weren’t high, that’s not what people expected from the Je-gal family.

On the contrary, the elders of the family hoped for more ‘that’ aspect.

The Je-gal family ranked lower among the five great families but was still part of the distinguished five families of the Central Plain.

Yet, thanks to their overly accomplished ancestors, everyone on earth viewed the Je-gal family members merely as clever gentlemen.

That’s quite unfortunate.

Je-gal Liang was a man with the endurance of a steel man who survived 11 years of overwork after losing Yu Bi.

It made sense that such unfairness would result in the Je-gal family’s matches being focused more on improving their physique rather than marital alliances.

Still, the outcome remained a combination of the body of a sage and the intellect of a beast.

One seriously wondered if some curse had been placed as they even studied blood magically.

Amid it all, as Je-gal Lee-hyun showed both muscles and brains from a young age, it became a significant blessing for the family.

But for Pang Dae-san, they were unwelcome guests.

Pang Dae-san had a tendency to avoid peers with impressive nicknames. Small Great Hero, Mengxin Hyeonroe. And then there’s Oki-rin.

And Huang Bo Woon-cheok was quite the conundrum.

Is he a good person? Just a good person?

His mind was somewhat pure, but his awareness was atrociously lacking.

Plus, he would never tolerate injustice.

Even once, he stood up to a supreme master of martial arts over a slight injustice.

He just so happened to have it good, as that master smiled kindly and let it slide, or else he’d have surely perished long ago.

That’s how he earned the title of Small Great Hero.

In the end, being around Huang Bo Woon-cheok would tire you out.

And while Je-gal Lee-hyun was quite decent, the fatal flaw was that Huang Bo Woon-cheok was always by his side.

The famous infatuation of the Small Great Hero’s cousin was legendary.

“How did the Young Lady end up with our Pang-ahn?”

“We’re traveling together.”

“My brother is notoriously picky with women, so is it…?”

“Just friends. Friends. Friends my age.”

“Hey now, since when are there friends between men and women?”

“Right here?”

“It always starts like that. Then you fall for each other and become lovers, and then you know, right?”

In that unfamiliar Central Plain, the scent felt oddly familiar.

That tone of insistence to emphasize us.

Trying to meddle in my brother’s business, linking him with women in every possible way, what a behavior.

“Hey, why did C-line Choi Na-yeon give you coffee? Is this about the galbitang?”

“What are you talking about? She just gave it to me to thank me for driving her yesterday.”

“Oh, our youngest! Already sharing rides, huh?”

“No, it rained yesterday. I missed my bus, and since I’d seen her a few times standing there, I just gave her a ride.”

“Oh, our youngest! Quite the player, aren’t you? That’s how you approach.”

“It’s not like that!”

“Our youngest, always glued to that game of yours, never stepping outside.”

A senior from a year ahead in the line.

Not long after, he confessed to C-line Oh Ha-eun, got mercilessly rejected, and quit the company.

He certainly wasn’t a bad guy.

When he was urged to join a drinking party (disguised as a company gathering, voluntary attendance, always attended by married men), he was the good guy who would take care of his share too.

Later, seeing a new recruit who gradually became a loner for skipping all the gatherings, he learned that this was quite a kindhearted gesture.

Even after leaving, he’d often come around and treat me to a meal.

But spreading rumors about linking him with Choi Na-yeon in a desperate attempt to push him was a bit much.

A-Qing recalled the past.

Once bitten, twice shy.

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