Chapter 107
Doyul seemed to sense it, too.
“It doesn’t seem like they are welcoming us, does it?”
Doyul whispered softly.
If not for Hyuk Min-woo, who had stayed in Sichuan for a long time, they might have been openly wary of them. The atmosphere was cold.
“Is it because we’re outsiders?”
“But Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan. A city this large should have plenty of visitors.”
Doyul and Yerin couldn’t hide their suspicion. Hyuk Min-woo also looked somewhat puzzled.
“This is strange. It wasn’t this desolate before…”
“So, this is unfamiliar to you too?”
“Yes. Although it has been more than six months since I last visited the city, and I had heard it had become somewhat stagnant.”
Hyuk Min-woo tilted his head.
“But I didn’t expect the atmosphere to change this much.”
“Well… let’s go have a meal first.”
Yerin shrugged.
The inn they arrived at was a two-story building.
The first floor had tables for casual diners, while the second floor had private rooms for wealthier guests.
“Welcome!”
A waiter hurriedly came out to greet them.
‘Hmm?’
Yerin noticed the waiter’s anxious expression.
‘Why does he look so nervous?’
Judging by his expression, something seemed to be wrong. Hyuk Min-woo asked.
“Can we get a place on the second floor?”
“Ah… well.”
The waiter looked troubled.
“The second floor is currently occupied by other guests, so it might be difficult.”
“They haven’t rented the entire floor, so why is it difficult?”
“That is…”
The waiter hesitated briefly while glancing at the second floor.
‘Could there be someone important on the second floor? Even so, why is he so overly apprehensive.’
However, there was no reason to embarrass the waiter unnecessarily by insisting on going to the second floor.
Yerin intervened, gesturing to Hyuk Min-woo.
“Let’s just dine on the first floor.”
“But…”
“We’ll be fine.”
“Yes, we should listen to the madam.”
Doyul nodded in agreement.
‘…Even though they are the lord and madam of the Northern Ice Palace.’
Hyuk Min-woo couldn’t hide his discomfort.
But since Yerin, as the party involved, had spoken that way, there was no point in arguing to offer the second-floor seat.
The group settled at a corner table on the first floor.
“So, what’s so delicious about this inn?”
“Are there any preferences among the dishes?”
“We don’t have any particular preferences.”
“Alright then, please feel free to order comfortably.”
“In that case, let’s start with one serving of soba noodles, followed by ginger braised pork and stir-fried spinach with tofu…”
Hyuk Min-woo, who was eager, spread out the names of dishes as if to fill the table.
Suddenly!
With a loud crash, a waiter rolled onto the floor.
“Ow!”
A waiter tumbled down the stairs from the second floor, curling up in pain.
At the same time, a glass flew towards his face.
Clang!
Fortunately, the glass didn’t hit the waiter but shattered into pieces right next to their face.
Sharp shards scattered all over the waiter’s face.
“How dare this lowlife contradict me?!”
A sharp scream echoed.
Yerin somehow found that voice familiar.
‘Could it be?’
Yerin raised her head abruptly.
A young man staggered down the stairs, muttering.
He was dressed in flashy clothes, suggesting he might be from a noble family.
Despite his dashing appearance, he staggered and his flushed face revealed that he was heavily intoxicated.
And…
‘No, is that person?’
Yerin also recognized the person well.
“Who do you think I am!”
The person who continued to raise his voice loudly was none other than Dang Yejun, the sole heir of the Sacheon Hall.
Although they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, his distinctive cunning expression made him recognizable at a glance.
Hyuk Min-woo couldn’t hide his confusion.
“Um, you seem to be the heir of the Sacheon Hall…”
Even though he was a notorious troublemaker, the fact remained that Yerin was his superior.
“Uh, what should we do?”
“Shh! Quiet down, or you might get into trouble too!”
The guests dining froze in fear, completely intimidated. No one dared to intervene against Dang Yejun.
Growing even more aggressive, Dang Yejun grabbed the waiter by the collar.
“If I ask for food, you better bring it. What’s with all this talk!”
“W-We’re really out of ingredients!”
Terrified by his harshness, the waiter pleaded with a face full of fear.
“Just give me a moment, I’ll figure something out, so please let go of me…”
“Now, how dare you!”
Dang Yejun tightened his grip on the waiter’s collar, shaking him violently.
“Are you telling me, the heir of Sacheon Hall, to wait?!”
“Eek!”
“You vile creature!”
Dang Yejun glared fiercely, raising one hand threateningly.
“Should I break your arms and legs so you’ll come to your senses? Huh?”
“S-Sir Yejun!”
“Should I make you incapable of working as a waiter for the rest of your life?”
Watching his outrageous behavior, Yerin reached out with a frustrated expression.
She picked up a pair of wooden chopsticks.
“I can’t stand by and watch this.”
With a sigh mixed in her muttering, Yerin lightly moved her hand.
And…
Thunk!
The wooden chopstick flew forcefully, grazing Dang Yejun’s cheek before embedding into the wall, bringing a sudden stillness to the room.
“…”
“…”
All eyes swiftly turned towards them, yet Yerin remained expressionless.
“W-What…”
Dang Yejun, frozen in place, slowly turned towards her.
Their eyes met.
“D-Dang Yerin?!”
Dang Yejun exclaimed in disbelief, his mouth gaping open as if he might faint.
Yerin nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
“Long time no see, Yejun.”
“Y-You…!”
Dang Yejun recoiled in shock, staring at Yerin.
“Why are you here?!”
Meeting Dang Yejun after a long time revealed him as unchanged, lacking any respect for the madam of the Northern Ice Palace. Yerin calmly responded to his informal tone.
“You seem to have forgotten that the Northern Ice Palace owns land here in Sacheonsung.”
Dang Yejun was pierced to the core.
His face flushed red with anger.
As Yerin added fuel to the fire.
“The land that you personally transferred to us, don’t you remember?”
“What?!!”
Facing Dang Yejun’s glaring eyes, Yerin smiled lightly.
It was a serene smile.
“I’m here to inspect that land.”
“What nonsense are you spouting in front of me?”
“Isn’t it something I can’t say?”
Yerin shrugged as if nothing mattered.
“You legally transferred the land to the Northern Ice Palace. Why should I watch my words?”
“You shameless…!”
“I’ll take that as a compliment on my skill.”
Yerin nodded, looking Dang Yejun up and down.
“By the way, it seems quite a bit of time has passed since we last met…”
Her smile deepened, becoming a clear sneer.
“You still seem unchanged, Yejun.”
The implication was clear.
“It’s pathetic that you’re still living like a spoiled brat,” she taunted.
Dang Yejun, enraged, tensed as if he were about to lunge at Yerin.
“How dare you speak to me like that!”
But then, a calm voice interrupted the conversation.
“Yejun, please stop with the rudeness.”
“Rudeness?!”
Dang Yejun turned his head sharply, looking as though he had been slapped.
At the same time, his expression turned to one of confusion.
“How dare a member of the Dang Clan’s guards speak to the Yejun like that?”
Indeed, the one blocking Dang Yejun was a guard of the Dang Clan.
Despite Dang Yejun’s fierce gaze, the guard remained calm and composed.
“Miss Yerin has returned to Sacheonsung after a long time.”
“Miss Yerin?”
Dang Yejun doubted his ears.
But the guard simply nodded.
“Yes. Just as you are the heir of the Dang Clan, Miss Yerin is also a member of the clan.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Dang Yejun was furious, but the guard was unperturbed.
Instead, the guard turned to Yerin and showed her respect.
“Miss Yerin, it is an honor to see you.”
“…….”
Yerin furrowed her brow.
Though she had already left the Dang Clan’s name behind, the guard still treated her as a member of the clan.
“Back then, you wouldn’t even give me the courtesy of calling me ‘Miss.'”
Yerin sneered as she spoke.
“Don’t you think it’s too late to use your position as an excuse now?”
“The head of the Dang Clan instructed that Miss Yerin be treated with respect.”
Yet, the guard maintained a polite but firm demeanor.
“It’s like talking to a wall.”
As Yerin narrowed her eyes, Dang Yejun interrupted the conversation.
“Wait a minute!”
Stumbling, Dang Yejun walked right up to the guard.
The strong smell of alcohol was overwhelming.
Dang Yejun pointed at Yerin with a jerk of his chin.
“My father… asked you to bring that girl here?”
