“Wow, look at that! Let’s go over there!”

Seolhwa and Ung were dragged along by Hwarin’s excited hand into a nearby blacksmith’s shop.

“They don’t have this in Anhui! And this one too!”

Hwarin, brimming with excitement, explored the shop’s merchandise.

Even Ung, who had looked annoyed earlier, seemed intrigued by the swords on display and was now browsing through them.

“Big Sister, look at this.”

Hwarin approached, both hands clenched tightly.

“Hm?”

“Tada—”

She opened her hands to reveal a pouch, about the size of a fist.

The pouch was filled with metal beads.

“Do you remember this? It was the first gift you ever gave me.”

“Ah.”

Now that she mentioned it, Seolhwa did buy metal beads as a birthday gift for Hwarin four years ago.

The problem was that, because Hwarin had been kidnapped from Surochae, Seolhwa had to use most of them to leave a trail, leaving only five beads remaining.

When they returned to the Namgoong Clan, Seolhwa had explained the situation and handed the remaining beads to Hwarin, who had been delighted.

Thinking back, she remembered getting scolded by Ryeong for going to a blacksmith’s shop to buy a gift, but Hwarin had always preferred weapons over accessories anyway.

“I still have those metal beads, you know?”

See?

She didn’t even remember the hair ornament I gave her.

“Want me to buy you one?”

“Uh... really...? No, it’s... it’s okay....”

“Give it here.”

Hwarin hesitantly handed over the pouch.

It wasn’t like the young lady of the Namgoong Clan couldn’t afford to buy some metal beads.

This was simply her way of showing affection.

“Ung.”

“Yes, Big Sister?”

“See anything you like?”

“N-No, just looking is fine for me.”

“This looks pretty good.”

Seolhwa picked up a bundle of throwing daggers bound in leather.

“Do you know how to throw hidden weapons?”

“No, I don’t.”

“I’ll teach you.”

“Really?”

Ung’s eyes sparkled.

Seolhwa had been planning not to buy them if he wasn’t interested, but luckily, he looked eager.

After handing over gifts to both Hwarin and Ung, the three of them headed to the inn the blacksmith had recommended.

“This way...”

The innkeeper led them upstairs.

Compared to the noisy first floor, the second floor was more spacious and quiet.

After settling into their seats, the three of them ordered Hubei’s specialty dishes, as recommended by the blacksmith.

It was a spicy fish dish.

“Spicy food is famous in Sichuan though. I bet the next gathering will be at the Tang Clan, right?”

“Probably. They’re the only ones left.”

Hwarin, excited, talked about how she always wanted to visit Sichuan.

Ung was just about to chime in with a story about the throwing daggers he’d bought when—

“Well, well, look who it is.”

A voice came from behind Seolhwa.

It was one of the men who had been glancing their way for a while now.

“Aren’t you the young master from the Namgoong Clan?”

Ung and Hwarin’s faces stiffened instantly. Judging by their reactions, they clearly knew the man, but weren’t exactly thrilled to see him.

So those guys they mentioned in the carriage were from the Tang Clan.

Members of the Sichuan Tang Clan carried a distinct, subtle air of poison about them.

And this man reeked of it.

Ung stood with a stiff expression and gave a polite martial greeting.

“It’s been a while, Tang Young Master.”

Tang Gajin.

A familiar name.

A prodigal scion of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

He’d been called that even in Seolhwa’s previous life.

She’d heard rumors he possessed a Poison-Resistant Constitution. Maybe that’s why—pampered by his family, he had grown up arrogant and wild.

He was known for picking fights, poisoning people, and then covering it all up with money and family influence.

The fact that Seolhwa remembered someone outside the Namgoong Clan so clearly was proof enough of what a lunatic he was.

“It’s been a while, Ung. And hello to you too, Hwarin.”

Hwarin averted her gaze, only giving him the slightest nod.

“And who’s this?”

“My sister.”

“Ahh—her—”

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry, but we’re in the middle of a family meal. There will be plenty of time for greetings tomorrow, so would you kindly give us space?”

Seolhwa deliberately didn’t look back.

Nothing good ever came from getting involved with a reckless Tang Clan scion like him.

“Aw, come on. You’re sending me away already? Family meals happen every day, but clan gatherings are a rare chance for young heirs to mingle, right?”

Despite Ung’s polite request, Tang Gajin shamelessly pulled out the chair beside Seolhwa and sat down.

Another man from the Tang Clan took the seat across from him.

“Tang Young Master!”

“Relax, I’ll just say hello and leave.”

Tang Gajin waved dismissively as he studied Seolhwa’s face.

Seolhwa gave Ung a small nod, signaling she was fine, and turned to Tang Gajin.

The moment their eyes met, Tang Gajin’s lips curled into a crooked grin.

“I’ve heard plenty of rumors, Namgoong Sojeo. How old are you?”

“Funny, I haven’t heard anything about you. Shouldn’t one introduce themselves properly when meeting someone for the first time?”

Tang Gajin’s expression briefly stiffened.

But he quickly forced a smile back onto his face.

“I am Tang Gajin, eldest grandson of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

“I am Namgoong Seolhwa. I haven’t yet reached the prime of my youth.”

“Oh, so you’re younger than me.”

Apparently proud of being older, Tang Gajin chuckled smugly.

“Then I’ll drop the formalities, seeing as we’ve met like this.”

“Sure.”

“...What?”

Tang Gajin blinked at Seolhwa in disbelief.

“What did you just say...?”

“I said, sure.”

Stunned by her sudden informal tone, Tang Gajin’s mouth opened and closed silently for a moment.

“Didn’t I just say I’m older than you...?”

“You did.”

“Yet you’re so quick to drop formalities?”

“I thought you wanted to be friendly, seeing as you suggested it. Or was that not your intention?”

“Well, even if I did, shouldn’t you have at least asked...”

“Hwarin.”

“Uh, huh?”

Hwarin, who had been listening nervously, jumped at the sound of Seolhwa’s voice.

“What... Big Sister?”

Seolhwa turned her gaze back to Tang Gajin.

“See? That’s how close people talk when they’re actually familiar. If you don’t like that, maybe you should stick to proper formalities, Tang Young Master.”

Tang Gajin’s expression hardened.

Perhaps he considered it an insult—he couldn’t easily brush it off with a laugh this time.

Unable to hide his displeasure, he turned his head away.

Seolhwa calmly sipped her water.

After a brief silence, Tang Gajin forced a smile and looked back at her.

“Ah, right, there was something I’ve been dying to ask if I ever met you.”

“Hyung-nim!”

Ung, seemingly guessing what he was about to say, urgently tried to stop him.

But Tang Gajin turned his back to Ung completely, determined.

“Is it true you lived in a brothel? You know, during the time when the Namgoong Clan lost track of you?”

Seolhwa met Tang Gajin’s gaze directly.

Perhaps thinking he had struck a nerve, his smile deepened.

“Don’t tell me... you worked as a courtesan?”

“Hyung-nim!”

Bang—the table rattled violently as Ung slammed his hand down.

“I suggest you leave, Young Master! I won’t tolerate further disrespect!”

“And if you don’t tolerate it, what, you’ll fight me? Huh?”

“I’ll report this to Grandfather and file a formal complaint with the Tang Clan...!”

“It’s fine, Ung.”

Seolhwa placed her empty glass back on the table.

With an indifferent expression, as though the commotion wasn’t about her, she stood up.

“Technically, it wasn’t a brothel—it was a gambling house. Mostly, I cleaned.”

Not that kind of cleaning, but a broader kind—cleaning in every sense.

“I’ve never worked as a courtesan, unfortunately.”

“Ah, I see. I guess I was mistaken. Sensitive topic for a prestigious family’s daughter, huh?”

“It’s fine. When you’re that stupid, even malice comes off as accidental.”

“...What?”

“You’re making me repeat myself again. That’s twice now. Guess that’s another accident on your part, hm?”

“You little—!”

Tang Gajin lost his temper and swung his hand at her.

Ung tried to intercept him, but Tang Gajin was faster.

Just as Tang Gajin’s hand nearly reached Seolhwa’s head—

Crash—!

The crisp sound of shattering glass rang out as shards from a broken cup scattered to the floor.

“Argh...!”

Tang Gajin cried out, clutching his hand ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) in pain.

“...!”

“!”

Ung and Hwarin were stunned speechless by what they saw.

It happened so quickly, they could hardly believe their own eyes.

Did Noona really block his hand by grabbing the cup from the table...?

Or did she hit him with it?

But blocking with a cup, at that speed... was that even possible?

Anyone watching could see Tang Gajin had clearly struck first.

“Ugh...”

Tang Gajin groaned, clutching his bruised hand.

His face flushed red with embarrassment and pain.

And yet, despite the cup shattering, there wasn’t any visible blood.

His hand should’ve been cut by the shards, but outwardly, it looked fine.

At least on the surface.

“What a shame. I thought you were trying to hit me, so I blocked you without thinking.”

“You little—”

“I’m sure you didn’t actually intend to assault me, especially right before a gathering of the clans, right?”

Though his pride boiled over, Tang Gajin couldn’t utter a word.

He hadn’t even meant to hit her.

He just couldn’t stand that a filthy wench from the gambling dens dared show up at the gathering acting like a noble heir.

But if he made more of a scene, the elders of his clan would scold him, so retreating was his only option.

“Does it hurt?”

Seolhwa asked with a worried expression.

“It didn’t seem like I hit you that hard...”

It must’ve hurt like hell.

She had struck deep, after all.

Still, she’d refrained from breaking anything—for now.