Chapter 36: Become the disciple of the main woman.

Should I get involved or not?

Sure, I knew the masked guys were assassins and likely bad news, but do assassins only go after good people?

Getting involved and revealing my face to someone whose identity I didn’t know didn’t seem like a smart move.

But—

“Of course, I came to meet that guy, but I also heard Tianlong Pavilion’s Tianlong liquor is a rare treat, so I traveled all this way with high expectations… Are you really not going to serve me…?”

Seeing a kid (at least in appearance) plead so sadly started to soften my heart.

“Ugh.”

With a small sigh, I walked over.

Might as well not upset a master…

“Waiter.”

“Oh, Lady Seoran.”

The waiter recognized me as I approached. I’d become familiar here from visiting with Baek Yeon.

“She’s someone I know. Just serve her.”

“Well… but…”

Tch.

I gestured for him to come closer.

He leaned in, bringing his ear near.

“She took the wrong elixir as a kid, so she looks like that, but she’s an adult. She’s from a high-ranking clan, so you don’t want to upset her—you never know what could happen.”

“…Oh no.”

His face paled, and he quickly asked me to wait before rushing inside.

Phew, it worked?

‘Good thing I’ve built some trust.’

This is why reputation matters…

Then—

“Hm, thanks, kid!”

The Rejuvenated master, who’d been watching, spoke to me with a brightened expression.

I gave an awkward smile and shook my head, signaling it was no big deal.

But—

“Since I owe you one, I’ll forgive you for yesterday.”

“!”

Her casual words made me freeze.

‘Yesterday… forgive me…?’

She knew who I was.

Seeing me stiffen, she grinned mischievously, like a child.

But her words were anything but childish.

“It’s rude to spy on warriors like that. Remember that, kid.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

I quickly nodded.

I thought she was too focused on fighting the assassins to notice me…

Did I underestimate a master’s perception?

She’s Rejuvenated, after all… That entire area was probably within her field of awareness.

Snapping out of it, I bowed again.

“Thank you for your leniency.”

My skin prickled with chills.

If she’d wanted to, I could’ve died yesterday.

She waved off my formalities.

“No need to be so polite. By the way…”

She trailed off, stepping closer.

Being roughly the same size, our eyes met naturally.

‘…!’

And then, I saw it.

Something behind her innocent facade.

‘Can’t… breathe…’

An overwhelming pressure choked me, my vision blurring, as her youthful voice brushed past my ear.

“Hm, I wasn’t sure yesterday, but up close, it’s clear… Oh, my bad.”

As she stepped back, I could finally breathe again.

Thump, thump, thump.

Clutching my chest, I collapsed to the ground.

‘What… was that?’

I didn’t even have time to notice my sweat-soaked back.

I looked up at her with instinctive fear.

“Oh ho…”

She gazed down at me, grinning with intrigued eyes.

“A body this sensitive? I’ve finally found a vessel for my legacy.”

“…?”

“Kid, how about becoming my disciple…”

But—

“Miss, the Tianlong liquor is here!”

“Tianlong liquor!”

Her words were cut off by the waiter’s booming voice.

Her attention instantly shifted, and she giggled foolishly, heading toward him.

Taking the chance, I forced my trembling legs to move and fled Tianlong Pavilion.

‘Ha…’

My head throbbed from the aftermath.

Pressing my temples, I hurried away.

‘I’ll… come back to Tianlong Pavilion later.’

For now, I just wanted to get back to the safety of the clan.

“Phew.”

A sigh escaped as I thought it over.

I’d just come out to prepare for Baek Yeon’s birthday—how did I end up in this mess?

That innocent-looking child hid a monstrous presence.

The aura she exuded was like facing the Clan Leader… no, even stronger.

And it wasn’t intentional—just the natural energy leaking from her was that overwhelming.

I couldn’t even fathom her level.

“I never want to meet her again…”

Shuddering, I quickened my pace toward the Baek Clan.

The outside world was too dangerous.

—

I trudged back to the clan, where Dowan, who’d allowed me a brief outing during training, greeted me.

“You’re back?”

“Yes…”

Noticing my listless response, he tilted his head.

“What’s wrong? Why so down? Did something happen out there?”

“…Oh.”

Right, I should tell him.

The encounter with that overwhelming presence had left my head foggy, making me forget.

Snapping to attention, I stammered urgently.

“Just now, at Tianlong Pavilion! The one from last night…!”

“?”

But then—

“Where’s Wooncheon?!”

Boom!

A massive shout echoed through the Baek Clan estate.

“What the…?”

Dowan, startled, looked around.

But I froze the moment I heard the voice.

For several reasons.

First, that shout, powerful enough to be considered a sound technique, shook the entire estate.

And it was unmistakably a child’s voice, still tinged with a youthful lilt.

Plus, it was slurred, as if drunk.

And most importantly—

Wooncheon. Baek Wooncheon.

The name of the current Baek Clan Leader.

In other words…

Some drunk kid was storming into the Baek Clan estate, shouting the Clan Leader’s name.

“…Damn it.”

I couldn’t help but curse.

All the pieces came together, and my mind reached a conclusion about her identity.

Dash!

I bolted out of the training hall toward the main gate.

“Could it be the master from yesterday?”

“Yes, I think so!”

When did he catch up?

Before I knew it, Dowan was running beside me, keeping pace.

His expression grew serious as I nodded.

“Calling the Clan Leader so casually… It must be her.”

“Her?”

“I’ll explain later. I’m going ahead.”

Whoosh!

With that, Dowan sped off, vanishing from my sight.

‘Her’?

‘Why leave out the most important part…?’

I felt a bit cheated, but what could I do?

As I kept running, I reached the main gate.

A few warriors had arrived before me, standing respectfully.

But their faces were filled with unease.

And no wonder—

“Wooncheon! Tell that Wooncheon to come out, hic!”

“P-Please, Venerable Chaos Divine Mother, calm down…”

She was completely wasted.

The girl, who looked about my age, was so drunk she was staggering, her outer robe dragging on the ground. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

‘I wasn’t even gone that long…’

It hadn’t even been a full shichen (two hours), and she was this drunk? She must be incredibly weak to alcohol.

Why did she make such a fuss over Tianlong liquor…?

Feeling bewildered, I cautiously approached.

“Oh!”

Spotting me, her face lit up with a goofy grin.

“Aha, right! The kid from earlier, hic!”

“…”

“Why’re you here—oh, right. No wonder I felt Wooncheon’s vibe, hic! Perfect, perfect!”

Mumbling incoherently, she stumbled toward me.

And then—

“Kid!”

“…Yes, Venerable.”

In a slurred, booming voice, she shouted—

“Become my disciple!”