Dr-r-r-rrr!
Piyooou.
Black Cat muttered as they looked down at Ho Cheon-an, who was snoring away.
It was truly a breathtaking scene.
“Seriously, you.”
Seo Mun-yeon, unable to contain her anger at Ho Cheon-an’s behavior, stormed out of the room. The group followed her to comfort her.
Only Black Cat remained next to Ho Cheon-an, prepared for any possible mishaps.
Watching Ho Cheon-an snore reminded Black Cat of their first meeting.
Ho Cheon-an had been in conflict with Yu Sa-yeon over a comrade issue.
No matter if Black Cat was beside him or not, he would sprawl out and scratch his belly while reading martial arts novels the next day.
Recalling that moment, Black Cat silently laughed.
Honestly, seeing Ho Cheon-an walking away nonchalantly after giving the clients clinging to his pants a good kick was almost deadly funny.
Back then, they never imagined they’d develop into a romantic relationship.
“Senior.”
Black Cat gazed at Ho Cheon-an. Instead of the nameless Iryu Martial Artist, there was now a renowned Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist known far and wide, recognized by a single alias anywhere in this vast world.
Even so, he lay sprawled out just as he did during his Sacheon Outcast days.
That consistent demeanor brought peace to Black Cat’s heart.
It had been quite a while since they had become lovers, but Black Cat hadn’t enjoyed the sweetness of being in a relationship at all.
The only change after becoming lovers was that they could now slap each other’s shoulders without hesitation.
Of course, Black Cat understood Ho Cheon-an’s situation. He had no peace of mind, as they never knew when an Entity of the Blood Sect might arrive.
Still, it was true that it felt a bit disheartening to wonder if he truly treated her as a lover.
Lately, an added feeling of guilt had arisen.
There were many reasons for the House of Jegal’s failures to create an array formation, but Black Cat’s Nine Yin technique had significantly contributed to that.
A situation where they were burdens to each other.
Perhaps stepping away from the array might actually help Senior.
Such thoughts weighed heavily on Black Cat’s heart.
Dr-r-r-rrr!
Piyooou!
Those negative thoughts melted away with Ho Cheon-an’s steady breathing.
No matter how dire the situation was, Ho Cheon-an always solved problems with astoundingly creative methods.
Since the first meeting to this day, that image had never changed.
So this time, as always, Black Cat believed in Ho Cheon-an and followed his lead, feeling that they could overcome any obstacle together.
Such confidence emerged.
“There’s really no need for men and women to be so cautious around each other,”
Black Cat thought, suppressing the urge to poke Ho Cheon-an’s cheek while he slept peacefully and turning their head towards the group.
“I wonder if they’re doing well.”
*
“What the heck! That insolent fellow!”
Seo Mun-yeon exploded with anger, and the others just exchanged nervous glances. Usually, it was Hyeok Gi-rin who would step up and sweat buckets trying to calm her down in situations like this.
“On behalf of Senior Ho, I apologize for his rudeness.”
“Why is that Miss apologizing on his behalf! I will confront him directly!”
After initially fuming, Seo Mun-yeon managed to restrain her anger upon seeing Hyeok Gi-rin drenched in cold sweat.
It was ridiculous for someone sleeping to cause trouble for an innocent lady.
“Phew.”
As Seo Mun-yeon let out a long sigh, Hyeok Gi-rin cautiously spoke up.
“Well… we actually have our reasons for needing the array formation.”
Seo Mun-yeon mulled over Hyeok Gi-rin’s words while trying to cool her boiling insides.
Reasons.
Upon rehashing it, it was quite a peculiar story.
Jeomchang Faction. Tang Clan. Outcast Faction. Sacheon Outcast. And now the Brain Knife Outcast, who might as well be an independent rogue.
What need did such individuals have to form a successful formation used only for capturing an entity?
While pondering that, Seo Mun-yeon shook her head.
“I won’t listen.”
What did those reasons matter? Seo Mun-yeon had no intention of handing over an array to anyone.
Especially not to a martial world thug sprawled in someone’s bedroom!
Seo Mun-yeon scanned her companions, desperately trying to calm herself, including Hyeok Gi-rin, and the others, who were caught in a dilemma. Then there was Tang So-yeol, simply watching from the sidelines.
When Ho Cheon-an sprawled out, the reactions of the group were telling.
The confusion melded within those reactions was not a act, not in the least.
Seo Mun-yeon clicked her tongue at Hyeok Gi-rin.
Ho Cheon-an caused the mess, but it was Hyeok Gi-rin feeling sorry and doing the apologizing.
It was hard to treat someone suffering under such a fool harshly.
“I will never hand over the array formation, but I can at least offer a room to those innocent parties.”
“Thank you, Seo Mun-yeon, Master of Formation.”
And thus began their bizarre cohabitation.
*
After taking a nap, they moved to a different spot.
In a ‘D’ shaped house, they laid out a mat right in the center. No matter where anyone wandered, they had to notice them due to the strategic positioning.
Though Seo Mun-yeon trembled, there was nothing she could do.
In plain terms, even if I were to… well, you know, make a mess here, she’d have no choice but to look on.
“Black Cat, do you have any martial arts novels?”
“Of course not!”
So reprimanded, Black Cat handed over a bag of fried rice snacks.
How could they never get tired of each other, really?
If Okryong brought in corn, would Black Cat’s bag of rice snacks turn into a popcorn bag, or would it remain as rice snack bags?
While mulling over such pointless thoughts, they munched on the snacks.
“I’ll help!”
“Thanks, but no.”
“No! Please let me help with this!”
As Seo Mun-yeon simmered in patience while cooking, Hyeok Gi-rin desperately tried to lend a hand.
“It’s fine…!”
Seo Mun-yeon was about to snap but paused.
Of course, no one could stay mad when a cute person like Hyeok Gi-rin looked up at them with those puppy eyes. With a long sigh, Seo Mun-yeon muttered reluctantly.
“Alright, you can take care of that side.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“There’s nothing to thank me for.”
Hyeok Gi-rin entered the kitchen, smiling brightly, followed quietly in by Yeo Il-ye and Tang Do-yeon.
After failing to stop Yeo Il-ye and Tang Do-yeon, who slipped past, Seo Mun-yeon sighed and glared at me.
I scratched my belly while watching her.
Seo Mun-yeon, who had been staring at me like a caterpillar, suddenly turned her head and went into the kitchen.
After a good laugh, I sprawled out.
“What are you trying to do? Did you make such an awful first impression before even negotiating?”
Black Cat’s worried gaze followed me.
Indeed, my actions might have crossed the line. To truly persuade Seo Mun-yeon, a genuine attitude was needed, and my behavior was closer to a blatant interference than persuasion.
No matter how heartfelt the backstory, few would give opportunities to an unlikable character.
Yet, this was also a calculated move.
“Everyone seems to be doing well.”
I remembered the events at the House of Jegal.
It was quite embarrassing, but when I was deceived by a ticket scalper and was blinded by rage, honestly, all I could think about was smashing them to bits.
After an exhilarating revenge and a clear head, I started considering new means afterward.
But while I was busy dealing with that scalper, my companions had carefully plotted a way for us to sneak into the House of Jegal.
In that moment, I felt it.
I could really trust those moving with me.
Even when I was blinded by anger and completely forgot that entering the House of Jegal was my objective, my companions had thought of a way to enter for my sake—and they succeeded splendidly.
So today, I recklessly acted on that trust.
This would be called the good cop, bad cop strategy.
I would play the role of the troublesome Seo Mun-yeon while my companions would seize the opportunity to win her heart.
Of course, I hadn’t given them a single hint.
To deceive the enemy, you first deceive your own side.
In order to outsmart a keen-minded Master of Formation, I had no choice but to hope they would adapt without any hint from me.
And they were indeed acting as I wished, so all I had to do was keep up the troublesome charade.
“Ah-ha.”
Black Cat grinned and poked my cheek.
For some reason, my face felt hot, and I looked away.
How to put it?
I never expected it would feel so embarrassing to admit I trusted my companions to move just like they were now, as I intended.
“Hey, look at this cute Senior~”
Black Cat grabbed my cheek and stretched it.
“Stop it.”
“Come on, we’re lovers, so this much is fine.”
Why were they so touchy, even though it wasn’t like Hyeok Gi-rin’s squishy cheeks?
After a good while of them touching my face, Black Cat got up.
“I should at least help with the meal preparations.”
Black Cat dashed off to help set the table. I watched as Seo Mun-yeon was arguing with my companions.
Typically, guests show good manners towards the host, but the host also owes some courtesy to the guests.
Regardless of approval or disapproval, it’s only proper to allow guests to unwind after a long journey and ask for their needs.
Here I was, a total uninvited guest sprawled out in someone’s bedroom.
Seo Mun-yeon, not kicking out any of her uninvited guests, was already a courteous person and a person of integrity.
However, why did this virtuous Seo Mun-yeon explode at me as soon as she saw me and reject my request without even hearing the conditions?
I needed to uncover that backstory.
Then I had to persuade Seo Mun-yeon.
For some reason, it seemed that this was not something I could overcome as the person who’d made a bad first impression but rather something my companions needed to work through.
I contemplated my hardworking companions.
I would trust them.
I would believe in playing my part.
That’s why I sprawled my limbs wide and closed my eyes.
It was now the perfect time for a nap.
