Chapter 681: PAID

The table was free of alcohol despite being surrounded by men.

It was truly a strange and curious sight.

Perhaps that’s why it stood out? I could feel people around us glancing over at this spot.

Ignoring their stares, I took a sip of the tea in front of me.

‘It probably isn’t just because of that.’

The absence of alcohol wasn’t the reason we were drawing attention.

“Isn’t that the Bisungdo?”

“I heard a rumor recently that Bisungdo was spotted at the Alliance. So it was true.”

“He really is ridiculously handsome.”

It was partly because of Peng Woojin, sitting across from me, calmly eating with his chopsticks.

“And the one next to him… is that So Yeomra?”

“So Yeomra? Why would you suddenly bring him up?”

It was also because of me, sitting here eating dumplings with him.

“From what I heard, there was a young man Bisungdo seemed to know. Turns out, it was none other than So Yeomra.”

“So that person next to him is So Yeomra? I can’t quite see his face clearly….”

“No, not that one. The one beside him.”

“Beside him? That would mean… gasp!”

“They say So Yeomra is a ferocious-looking youth. I thought that couldn’t be true, but… well, it really is.”

What exactly was so true?

What were they even talking about?

I wanted to get up and confront them immediately, but I held back. I was used to this kind of treatment by now. The fact that I’d grown used to it was pathetic and sad in its own way.

“Yes, that young man was once called the youngest Hwagyeong in history… though, of course, eventually…”

The rest of their words didn’t reach me, but it wasn’t hard to guess what they were saying. It was probably something like how it was a lie or just baseless gossip.

It didn’t particularly bother me.

I had never denied or confirmed the rumors in the first place, and I actually preferred the current situation where the rumors had begun to fade away.

The problem was…

“Hey, your chopsticks are trembling.”

“…!”

…the reaction of the person sitting next to me. It was far more intense than my own.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing….”

He pulled his hood down even further, as if trying to make sure his face wouldn’t be seen.

“If you’re going to cower like that, why did you even come out to eat?”

“Now, now, don’t be too harsh,” Peng Woojin interjected, lightly moving his hand to slide a plate of dumplings closer to the trembling monk.

“Young Master Gu, this gentleman must have really wanted these dumplings if he came all the way here. I completely understand.”

“Thank you…”

“To think that they’d be so delicious that someone would go against reason to come for them. It just proves how incredible this place’s dumplings are, doesn’t it?”

“…”

“…”

I see. That was a backhanded insult.

It was a high-level insult disguised as a compliment, something I’d never even thought to try.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘…This guy.’

There was something to learn here. This was definitely worth taking note of.

I couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or sarcastic because Peng Woojin’s expression was utterly sincere.