𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧 !

「 𝟎 𝟐 𝟎 」

As you walk alongside Yi Zaha within the premises of the Cloud Rain Society, the smell of blood and flowery incense mixing as one, he slowly stops walking. You do as well, looking up at him with a curious look.

"My name." He starts, leaning down closer to your face with his hands behind his back. A stray piece of hair falls from over his shoulder.

"Your name..?" You echo back, already knowing what he was trying to get at.

He frowns, staring at you longer, not moving a singular inch, not allowing you to look away either.

He will win this time.

"Great brother, I have to ask for a reason why—" You sigh, trying to come up with a compromise.

"I just cannot be your brother." He answers, curt. He does not leave space for negotiations or settlements. You will refer to him by his name and not by great brother, or union master, or—

You're pouting.

Pouting.

Why?

Not able to fight against that bottom lip you've stubbornly poked out, he retreats. He will get you next time.

He's back to his towering height, walking outside calmly, making sure you kept up with his pace. The sun has already gone up, brightening up the gloomy courtyard filled with the men who have surrendered. They sit on their knees, hands kept strictly on their lap as they await whatever fate has bestowed.

"Hear me, Cloud Rain Society." Yi Zaha begins, and you prepare to sit through one of his speeches once more, "Even after I had a good night's sleep, had a nice breakfast, and kept waiting while day drinking, Professor Su did not come to surrender, so he has been executed."

He pauses for a while, carefully watching the subordinates of the deceased old man.

"Those who have still not understood the situation and want to fight, come at me. I will send you to your leader. Those who don't want that, follow my people's orders. That is all."

Yi Zaha does not receive an answer, only a moment of silence.

"Alright. We're also part of the Cloud Rain Society from now on." Yi Zaha turns toward Gunpyeong, who responds with a confused face.

"Get changed. Change into the clothes of the dead. If that's not enough, then take them from the injured. Or you can get some fresh ones inside."

You rush inside, not wanting to change from blood drenched clothes to another pair of blood drenched clothes. It doesn't take you long to step over the puddles of blood and dead bodies, a locker room open for you to take advantage of.

As you search for clothes that could fit you, you come across a uniform big enough to fit on your sect leader. You take the neatly folded clothes out and set them aside for you to bring out with you later.

By the time you're done changing, you return outside to find Yi Zaha being held back by White Tiger as he angrily tries to swing his sword toward the captives. He's seething, spitting out curses as he insults the kneeling group of men for their sins.

"You can kill them after they fulfill their roles as fodder. There are too many people like them." White Tiger reasons, "Since Professor Su is dead, please introduce a new lfe to them—like you did for us."

At his words, Yi Zaha calms, sighing as he returns his sword back in its scabbard.

You giggle at the scene, moving to help your other junior brothers pull the clothes off of the dead. You see Red Monkey standing by the side, her arms crossed. Your eyes meet hers and she brightens up, "Don't worry about me, sister, Union master has ordered me to stay with Dokgo and watch over the remaining people."

You nod, waving her goodbye before going back to Yi Zaha, who is once again angry as he talks to an executive from the Black Pearl Fort. The fool with the buzz cut and caterpillar eyebrows. He hands the union master bloodied clothes—absolutely drenched in blood with cuts and rips at the seams.

Yi Zaha's face twists in irritation and disgust as he holds the robe up, "Bring me something cleaner. In what world would I have a chest injury like the dead fool who wore this? I look fine." He throws the clothing back at the executive.

"Pull yourself together, you fuck."

"Why are you swearing at me? I was only trying to help."

He's probably the only person who could back talk Yi Zaha like that.

You giggle to yourself, patting your union master on the shoulder, prompting him to turn towards you. "Great brother, I brought cleaner clothes." You hand him the same clothes you had found in the locker room, still neatly folded. He sighs out of relief, taking it in his hands. "I don't know if it's my mind demon or my blood pressure going up because I'm surrounded by so many idiots these days, but my head is beginning to hurt."

He groans, shamelessly beginning to strip away his current clothes.

You turn away immediately, back facing him to give him some privacy.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

You together with your comrades amongst the bushes, watching as one of your people limp towards the gates of Elder Hornless Dragon King, arm clutching the other as he dry heaves. His clothes are bloody and his face is battered in large bruises.

He drops on the floor weakly, a loud thud resonating within the forest.

"He's an amazing actor." Yi Zaha comments.

"I told him to act that way."

You turn towards White Tiger, "Is he really acting?"

He shrugs, "Well, he was actually stabbed too. Great method acting if you ask me."

The poor actor pushes himself off of the ground with a pained grunt, making his way towards the closed doors. He bangs on the metal hatch desperately, weakly shouting for help.

An old man opens the door, immediately helping the young man support himself. "Wha—Aren't you from Cloud Rain Society? What happened!?"

"We're currently in an all-out war against the Black Rabbit Union. I came to request for reinforcements from Senior Dragon King."