Jeok Na-chal Dan Seo-wol.
When she first heard that her disciple was living with a man, she thought there must have been some mistake in the report.
It’s the Heavenly Killing Star. The one she raised herself.
Wasn’t this a child who didn’t even make friends, let alone hang out with boys? How could that child be living with a man?
Only a number of magical mantises daring to survive against a praying mantis could ever have a chance to speak to her, or so she thought. Just what kind of man could have stolen her disciple’s heart?
Surely, that child didn’t propose living together, so it must have been the man’s flirtation that led her disciple to this state. But Dan Seo-wol couldn’t easily picture her disciple being seduced.
Caught in an incomprehensible situation, she was filled with suspicion, but the continuous reports from the Chilgok County branch of Salmak left her no choice but to believe.
Her disciple is in a romantic relationship.
She had quietly celebrated the news of her disciple’s romance at the Salmak headquarters.
And now time had passed, and she regretted not paying much attention to teaching her disciple about male-female relationships.
“Ha! Really! Wow……! This is the first time I’ve seen someone so inexperienced! Why would someone with such enviable attributes… Hot! This is so absurd, Yukiko! My impeccable ninja techniques almost shattered! Truly, an overwhelming talent of the Heavenly Killing Star that could topple even ninja arts!”
The 6th assassin made a dumbfounded face at Cheon So-hee’s remark, realizing her blunder and quickly regaining her composure.
“What are you talking about?”
Dan Seo-wol let out a deep sigh inwardly while observing her disciple’s puzzled expression.
Her disciple wouldn’t think that a child believing kissing and holding hands would be brought over by a stork. She’s not that naive about relationships either; she had received education and had probably witnessed it firsthand during missions.
The problem was romance.
Even if she knew what it meant for a man and woman to marry and have children, romance was another matter entirely.
She was a child who had shown no interest in the affairs of men and women. With concerns about whether she’d go mad today or tomorrow, could this child have had any interest in romance or love?
Understanding the situation with the Heavenly Killing Star, Dan Seo-wol had not planned to teach her disciple in detail about the extraneous aspects of martial arts.
Ultimately, her daily life filled with growth, assassination missions, training, meditations, and more assassination missions at a closed place like Salmak had led her to a regrettable situation.
Dan Seo-wol chose her words carefully as she looked at her disciple.
“If the man in front of you is someone you absolutely shouldn’t let go, then giving him something you can only offer once in a woman’s lifetime when breaking up is one way to go.”
She spoke calmly as Cheon So-hee’s master.
“I gave him my first kiss.”
Cheon So-hee proudly boasted about her actions in response to her master’s words.
Somehow, that appearance looked like a baby bird just showing off its first flapping of wings, and it appeared quite adorable.
Who would have thought that such a seemingly unremarkable child could be like this?
“It’s true that a kiss has enough value. However, if you’ve promised an uncertain reunion, that may not suffice.”
It must have taken quite a bit of courage for that single kiss. Kissing meant not just thinking of him as a mere lover, but considering him as a soulmate, as a fiancé.
But this is a man who has captivated even the Heavenly Killing Star.
From Dan Seo-wol’s perspective, her disciple’s final action left something to be desired.
“Is it lacking?”
“A woman’s first experience is something to be given but once, a priceless treasure. Some squandering youths may take valuable things for granted, but if the man you mentioned truly has a sense of responsibility, he would deeply value it.”
Even a normal woman’s first experience cannot be valued, let alone an extraordinary child whose beauty cannot even be compared to others. On top of that, she is the one and only Heavenly Killing Star.
She was a childhood friend since they were young, met by chance in the vast Central Plains, and had a connection that fate could hardly define, like a Reverse Heaven’s Decree and the Heavenly Killing Star.
Even though she was her disciple, it would have been wise to find ways to emotionally bind a man like that. Dan Seo-wol felt a twinge of regret.
“He promised me. …Is that not enough?”
When mentioning her brother, Cheon So-hee spoke with the utmost trust in her voice, her eyes slightly trembling as if suddenly realizing that perhaps she was the one lacking.
“Hmph! Even if he promised, I’ve learned that men like to pick the flowers in front of them! If number 5 is smitten, he might already be nibbling away on another woman’s ample body!”
The 6th assassin pouted her lips and made smooch sounds.
Oh, how she wanted to slap those lips. Cheon So-hee frowned and, holding back her anger, spoke to the 6th with confidence.
“He would never do that.”
The thought of him dating another woman right after they broke up was completely unfathomable. Her brother would definitely not do such a thing.
He must be writing diligently, longing for her and hoping for the day when they can meet again someday.
“Oof! The thread of fate between you two looks so strong! Lucky Yukiko! Ninjya!”
The 6th assassin knew just when to tease and when to be sincere.
“Hehehe. To be this furious over a soul mate’s disparagement, I truly question if you are indeed my disciple. Yes, from my perspective, this looks like a fateful connection done by heaven. If he’s a man you’re confident in, he will surely wait for you.”
“Yeah. He definitely will.”
It was already a done deal. Fanning the flames of anxiety would not help her disciple’s training.
Dan Seo-wol smiled softly while looking at a Cheon So-hee who was unable to fully calm her nerves.
—————-
Assassins must never lose their composure in any situation.
Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation.
While the Salmak boasts of it with pride, this was a place created for the training of assassins, distinct from a typical trap that confuses intruders or repels them.
The Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation seeks out the weakest parts of the assassin’s mind, stimulating them through illusions, making them forget their calmness.
Even exceptionally skilled assassins could potentially suffer severe damage in here. Of course, it was not an easy institution to breach, even for the Heavenly Killing Star.
Cheon So-hee was caught up in the bewitched illusions within the Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation.
Even if he has made a promise, men will want to pluck the flower right in front of them! If number 5 is enamored, he might already be indulging in another woman’s ample body!
Her brother would never do that.
Despite her strong belief, surrounded by the mind-attacking effects of the Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation, even her firm resolve began to waver.
“Other girls won’t just leave him alone, you know?”
Yeah, her brother wouldn’t waver. But would other girls just let him go?
Cheon So-hee recalled the women who’d bothered Yoon Ho after the performance was over.
They were a real annoyance. Even standing next to the Reverse Heaven’s Decree, there was inexplicable irritation swelling up inside her at these women.
“Will he forever be my Yoon Ho?”
The unease fanned by the Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation stretched its head out. If I were to protect him, these things wouldn’t happen. What to do? I can’t even incapacitate a dangerous-looking woman without him knowing now.
“What if we just kill them?”
“Kill?”
“Yeah. Just kill them. Then we wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore, right?”
I want to kill them. I want to kill them. I will want to kill them. The sticky murderous intent stubbornly clings even as I push it away. Surrounding Cheon So-hee, is the malice and hatred aimed at her.
Yeah. Let’s kill. Just kill them.
If it had been the old Cheon So-hee, that sticky murderous intent would’ve boiled over.
“No. I don’t want to do that.”
Today’s Cheon So-hee was different from before. Even as the murderous intent boiled within her, it quietly simmered down.
“How come?”
The voice within the illusion asked, surprised.
“Because I’m with Yoon Ho.”
Cheon So-hee easily regained her senses in a place where she had barely managed to maintain her sanity, howling with murderous intent.
She felt him deep within her heart.
My brother. Kang Yoon-ho was in her.
How dare anyone touch my sister, he seemed to silently counter the murderous energy around her.
She gently caressed her soft lips. The energy her brother had shared with her still remained within her.
Though they were apart, they were together.
As she looked at her brother’s back, a comforting feeling accompanied her, and she passed through the illusions with a calm expression.
—————-
When Cheon So-hee emerged from the Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation, she saw the 6th assassin, who had entered with her master.
“Number 5! You’re slower than Yukiko! At this rate, Yukiko will soon surpass you!”
The 6th assassin laughed triumphantly, but it seemed the lengthy stay in the Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation was a bit much for her as she was unable to hide her beads of sweat.
“Let’s go to my room and have a meal. I’ll get someone to fetch the food. What would you like to order?”
“I’ll have kimchi donburi!”
Jeok Na-chal nodded to the 6th assassin before looking at her disciple. What a child who, despite showing little interest in food, cared enough for a gesture of consideration.
“I’ll have rose tteokbokki.”
When Jeok Na-chal heard a name of food she didn’t expect to come out of her disciple’s mouth, her eyes widened in surprise.
“You ordering food? That’s quite something. Is that what you ate with that man?”
For a child who would just eat whatever was given, for her to order specifically… this change surely had to be due to someone’s influence. Dan Seo-wol casually asked her disciple.
“Yeah. I remembered it as food I liked when I was young.”
Cheon So-hee spoke with a smile, as if wanting to boast.
“Yukiko’s heart is so fluttery! I didn’t hear that yesterday!”
“There seems to be quite a lot you haven’t mentioned yet. Let’s hear them as we walk.”
It was a child who lacked the words to express herself. Surely if she dug in, she would discover a sweetness unspoken.
Dan Seo-wol quietly hid her anticipation behind a relaxed visage.
——
“Is there something you don’t like?”
“It’s tasty but not great.”
Cheon So-hee replied while looking worriedly at her master.
The quality of the food was okay. But somehow, the taste was off. It was food that should have been delicious, but it strangely didn’t go down well.
Cheon So-hee’s expression darkened due to some strange gloom.
“Eating alone what you ate together with your lover could lead to that.”
“Ah….”
Cheon So-hee felt a small admiration for her master’s understanding statements.
Right. Her brother was there.
There was always her childhood friend brother, who gazed sweetly as they ate.
Even when she had half a mind to share an egg, he would split it for her, giving her back half.
Now, that brother was not with her.
Without him, even delicious food had no flavor.
“Hehe! Maybe you’re just tired of trying to eat three servings by yourself! Yukiko! I never knew Number 5 could eat so heartily! It feels like I’ve learned the ninja arts of gluttony!”
“Indeed… you’ve eaten quite a bit for someone who wouldn’t.”
Dan Seo-wol replied in surprise.
They had each ordered their food, but the rose tteokbokki was meant to be shared, so she had asked for three servings. However, while they were eating the food in front of them, most of the contents were already gone with only the broth remaining.
“…You shouldn’t leave tteokbokki behind.”
Cheon So-hee silently munched on the remaining tteokbokki.
It was perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of spice, thick and savory. Though it was piled high with cream, the spicy flavor delighted her mouth.
She imagined what it would be like to eat this with her brother.
Cheon So-hee intentionally cut the egg in half and left it uneaten.
“Hey! If you’re not eating that, I’ll take it!”
“Hey.”
————
“Your husband. There’s news.”
Dan Seo-wol watched the two bickering with a smile, then held out a paper bearing the news her disciple had been waiting for.
“Is it news about Yoon Ho?”
Cheon So-hee rushed in front of her master with wide eyes.
“You call him husband but don’t deny it.”
“……”
Cheon So-hee bowed her head, feeling slightly embarrassed, but she didn’t entertain the thought of denying her master’s comment.
“Seeing you shy, I can hardly tell if you’re the Heavenly Killing Star or just a village girl. This is what people mean by saying it’s useless to raise a female disciple.”
Dan Seo-wol sighed sadly, chuckling.
“Just tell me the news.”
“There are two good pieces and one bad piece. Which would you like to hear first?”
Dan Seo-wol presented three pieces of paper with news written on them to her disciple.
“Bad news.”
“Then read this one first.”
Bad news regarding her brother.
Could it be that he’s injured? In an instant, a myriad of ominous thoughts rushed through her mind.
As Cheon So-hee unfolded the paper, she felt a tension she hadn’t even felt in the Nine Palaces Bewilderment Formation.
But the news wasn’t bad for Kang Yoon-ho; it was bad news for Cheon So-hee.
‘Kang Yoon-ho. Bookstore manager. Currently managing the bookstore ‘Da Seo-gak’ alongside a woman named Lady Tang, the owner.’
“My brother… is living with a woman?”
