Chapter 2: I think I’ve been kidnapped.

The streets of Nanchang, the capital of Gangseoseong, are usually bustling with countless people every day.

As the largest commercial district in Nanchang, this was only natural… but today, the streets were eerily empty, unlike usual.

That was because the warriors of the Baek Clan were on the move.

Kaaaah-!

Please, spare me! I beg you!

Screams echoed endlessly, carried by the wind.

“Have all the filth been dealt with?”

The leader of the Muyoung Corps, one of the Baek Clan’s armed forces, Muyoung Daeju, asked in a dull tone, as if such screams were all too familiar.

“Yes, Daeju. Thanks to the Young Master’s direct intervention, we were able to suppress them faster than expected.”

“It seems the Young Master was more than just a little angry.”

At his subordinate’s response, the Daeju gave a wry smile and shook his head.

‘Well, it’s an issue worth getting furious over.’

Clicking his tongue, the Daeju sheathed his sword and gazed at the grand entrance of a massive guesthouse.

This guesthouse, an eight-story structure, was practically a landmark of Nanchang’s commercial district, but as of today, its history would be completely erased.

‘Even though our Baek Clan has kept a low profile for a while, to think that human trafficking would happen in Nanchang, the front yard of the Baek Clan…’

The owner of this guesthouse had colluded with the unorthodox sects, committing the heinous crime of human trafficking, a deed that defied all human morality.

No matter how blinded by money, it was as if their guts had spilled out of their body—there was no other way to describe it.

Baek Kang, the Young Master of the Baek Clan, who had been busy with family matters for a while, led the Muyoung Corps, his direct armed force, and stormed this place as soon as he heard about the human trafficking in Nanchang.

As if that wasn’t enough, he personally charged into the guesthouse with just a single sword to punish the evildoers.

Lowly third-rate warriors could hardly stand a chance against Baek Kang, a master at the peak of perfection.

Thanks to the Young Master’s prowess, the Muyoung Corps was left with the minor task of cleaning up the small fry and handling the aftermath.

“The Young Master is coming out!”

Finally, a member of the Muyoung Corps shouted loudly to everyone.

As he said, a middle-aged man clad in a white robe slowly emerged from the guesthouse.

His robe was soaked in blood, but no one there thought for a moment that it was Baek Kang’s blood.

There was no way he would be injured dealing with the likes of the guesthouse’s warriors.

However.

All the members of the Muyoung Corps couldn’t take their eyes off the Young Master.

That was because he was carrying a young girl in one arm.

Her small frame suggested she was barely five or six years old.

Perhaps unconscious, the child’s body hung limply, completely reliant on Baek Kang.

“Young Master, that child is…?”

Muyoung Daeju asked Baek Kang in a puzzled tone.

At that, Baek Kang glanced at the child in his arms.

“She seems to be one of the commoners caught in the human trafficking. Remarkably, at such a young age, she killed someone to escape from that place.”

“…”

Muyoung Daeju stared at Baek Kang, dumbfounded by his words.

Killing someone was remarkable?

Even Muyoung Daeju, who had wielded a sword since childhood, couldn’t comprehend such a statement.

But he couldn’t contradict the Young Master’s words.

Nodding reluctantly, he said.

“I see. Then hand her over to me. I’ll look for a new place for her to live…”

“No.”

Baek Kang wiped the blood from the child’s face with a cloth handed to him by a servant and continued.

“She will serve as Yeon’s maid.”

“…Pardon?”

“Get moving. Don’t leave a single one of those involved alive, burn the guesthouse to the ground without a trace, and investigate the unorthodox sect that colluded with the owner.”

With that, Baek Kang strode forward.

The Daeju stared blankly at the Young Master’s retreating figure before shaking his head.

“…Yeon’s maid, huh.”

For some reason, the Daeju let out a sigh.

Normally, becoming a maid for a prestigious family like the Baek Clan would be a tremendous honor and a rise in status for a poor commoner.

However.

That entirely depended on… who the maid would be serving.

“Stay strong, little one.”

Muyoung Daeju sincerely prayed for the unknown child’s well-being.

*

“Ugh, so…”

I started rummaging through my hazy memories to make sense of the situation.

Right, I was definitely sold by my wretched parents and sent off as a slave…

If things had continued, I’d have ended up as some pig’s plaything, so I killed the guard watching me and started to escape.

“…Oh, right.”

As I thought about it, the events that had happened to me finally came back.

The last thing I saw was a martial artist in a black robe approaching me.

Which means…

“That guy kidnapped me and brought me here?”

…Why?

I understood the situation, but at the same time, I couldn’t make sense of it.

I have eyes, so I can assess my surroundings.

That middle-aged man was a powerful martial artist who could take down dozens in a single breath, and this place, at a glance, was clearly the residence of a prestigious family…

Why would he take an interest in me and bring me here?

Human trafficking, and now kidnapping?

“Seriously… I can never figure out what martial artists are thinking.”

Muttering softly, I dragged my heavy body off the bed and headed toward the door.

Creak.

The moment I opened the door.

“…”

A magnificent, sprawling estate unfolded before me, incomparably grander than the room I had just been in.

‘Wow.’

The moment I saw it, I instinctively knew.

This place, where I now stood, was undoubtedly the residence of a colossal family, far beyond what the term “prestigious” could capture.

My instincts, as mere Extra #34 in this martial arts world, screamed at me.

If I wandered around carelessly and crossed the wrong person, I was utterly screwed.

It seemed like staying quietly in this room until someone came for me was the only way to keep my head attached…

“Who are you?”

…Oh, am I already too late?

A young voice came from behind me.

I hurriedly turned my head.

There stood a young girl, her age matching her voice.

She looked to be in her early to mid-teens.

But her appearance was quite striking.

First of all, she was incredibly beautiful.

Though still just a child, her face was so refined that anyone would call her a beauty.

On top of that, despite it not being winter, she was wrapped head to toe in fur clothing, except for her face… and her exposed skin was remarkably pale.

And most importantly.

Her hair was pure white.

This martial arts world was based on ancient China, wasn’t it?

Like me, and everyone I’d seen in this world so far, people had black hair and looked Chinese.

In that context, with my years of experience as a reader, there was only one conclusion to draw from a girl with white hair.

‘She’s either the protagonist or a key character.’

She was undoubtedly someone who played a significant role in this world.

As I was thinking this, the girl’s face in front of me grew increasingly crumpled.

“I asked you, who are you?”

Perhaps because her features were so distinct, her scowl made her displeasure all the more apparent.

…Anyway, I should probably respond now.

I bowed politely and gave my name in this world.

“Ah, I’m Seoran.”

“…You know I wasn’t asking for your name, right?”

Hmm, was that not it?

But I don’t really have anything else to introduce myself with…

As I stared at her blankly, unsure of what to say, her face started to crumple even more.

“Are you ignoring me?”

“No way. I don’t have a spare life to risk.”

“Then why are you staring at me like that? Do you think I’m some kind of spectacle?”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head, genuinely puzzled.

Why is this kid, who’s so young, so paranoid?

She’s clearly a young lady from this prestigious family… Unlike me, she was born with a silver spoon. Shouldn’t she have a bit more grace?

But saying that out loud would probably get me rolled up in a mat and beaten.

I had at least that much sense.

In other words, the right move here was to quickly dish out some flattery.

I hurriedly raised the corners of my mouth into a wide smile.

“Because you’re beautiful.”

“…What?”

“Your hair and eyes are so pretty, I couldn’t help but keep staring.”

“…”

At my words, the girl’s face took on a dazed expression.

…What, did I mess up again?

After my words, a heavy silence fell between us.

The girl just moved her lips silently, saying nothing more.

After a long pause, her mouth finally opened again.

“What you just said, was it sincere…”

“Young Lady Yeon!”

Someone shouted from behind me.

A woman hurriedly approached us.

Though young, she wore a sword at her waist and was dressed in martial attire, clearly a warrior.

She bowed deeply to the white-haired girl in front of me.

“What is it?”

The girl asked, speaking down to her as if it were second nature.

“My apologies, Young Lady Yeon. The Young Master ordered that as soon as this child woke up, she be brought to his quarters.”

“…Father?”

…Father?

So, this girl was not just a direct descendant but one of the core members of this mysterious, massive family?

‘I need to make an even better impression.’

As I was thinking this, the woman gestured for me to come along.

Since the Young Master is calling for me, I suppose I have to go.

I nodded and quickly smiled at the girl, mouthing my words.

–See you later, Young Lady.

That much flattery should be enough, right?

Feeling satisfied, I followed the woman with a relaxed heart.