46 One That Is Fond With Tales

Her scrapes of used candles were deliberately laid down on the side of the altar and fishing out her long-white fan inside her sleeves.

So Eun didn't know if she hadn't noticed the two of them blocking her way onto the incense burner in the middle, just mindlessly doing her things aside.

So he had to move a little and returned his gaze to Han Min, but the other was already looking lost at the huge painting.

Then he remembered that Han Min was about to say his answer, so he settled to his right and glanced at his face.

Yet that is when the purple maiden raised her hand to light up the candles she was carrying, and at the same time, closed her eyes to pray.

Little did she know, her arm sleeves dangled so low, and it was enough to start a fire inside The Emperor's Temple.

So Eun, alert as always, immediately went up to her, planning to clap the fire out before it goes all the way to her actual arm. But then, he noticed firsthand that the lady was still praying, oblivious and unaware.

He'll cause a disturbance to someone praying with their heart, but looking at it, is waiting for her to finish while the fire burned her arm is perhaps, a bigger problem? 

He clapped the ablaze cloth with his bare hands, and inside a temple where every resonating sound will echo. The maiden screamed and flinch, causing the unlit candle in her hand to fall.

"Milady, Your sleeves caught on fire. I had to do it to avoid further accidents."

So Eun bowed before she even saw his face, Han Min was watching him the entire time while subtly observing the maiden.

"Oh No! You… You put out the fire, you don't have to feel wrong, I should have thanked you for saving my robe's life." Making sure the candles had been settled right on the altar, the maiden turned to bow at him too.

"Thank you, thank you! Without you, I must have been weeping with a burnt dress or a flaming arm outside."

So Eun bent once again and caressed his head out of habit.

"That won't do. I have to do the right thing anyway." He said it like he wasn't pondering about which act he have to do.

The maiden chuckled in return, unfolding her fan to rest it aside, and bringing two hands in front to introduce herself.

"I am Li Hua. I think I have seen you two before? May I know what is Young Master's name?"

So Eun exactly knew when and where did they see her. "I'm So Eun. The event you watch earlier at noon? We were there too, and happened to hear you talking to the ladies beside us."

Then he glanced at Han Min whose still standing at his usual spot.

As if an image flashed through her mind, Li Hua furrowed her eyebrows and widened her mouth when she remembered.

"Right, the show earlier? About the Phoenix and the Willow. That's why I guessed that your face seems familiar. Well, nice meeting you, So Eun."

The Deity nodded and offered her another genuine smile, and upon hearing the Tale again gave him time to recall what she said at the event.

When all was said and done Li Hua adjusted her sleeve and tried to spot the burnt area on it.

While she's at it, So Eun felt this time could be perfect.

"Uhm, Li Hua? Is it okay to call you that, or you are from an esteem sect?" He started and made Li Hua raise her head swiftly.

"No, no. It's alright to call me that. Besides, I only lived by the small sect next to the Lake with my old man."

She put down her sleeve and sends him a friendly smile again, poking her front to fish out something.

"Is that so, Li Hua. Uhh… The Phoenix and The Willow… You are really a devotee?"

His voice goes smaller and smaller by the end, and Li Hua stared at her and chuckled.

"Of course, I came to the event just for the tale, that's what you hear from me, right?"

"Yeah… about that.." He tried to look back at Han Min who still seem not interested in their conversation and hopes that he was not taking too much time here.

"What's the overall deal with that? I have been genuinely curious since I watched the dance tribute for them." So Eun laughed faintly and sigh a relief when Li Hua stopped what she was doing and looked at him with twinkling eyes.

"So you are interested? Shall I tell you all of it from the beginning? There was once a time--"

Then her demeanor shifted into a devoted supporter, and immediately immersed herself in a story-telling phase right there.

But So Eun knew better than stay here for a little longer.

"No! No! I'm completely fine with a summary and all, actually I'm completely fine with not hearing at all! Oh, right! I have matters to do, we should keep going.."

He was fast to turn his body to look at Han Min, yet Li Hua grabs his sleeve.

"I thought you are genuinely curious? Alright, alright. So, shall I continue or are you going to finish your matters first?"

The maiden was no doubt, charming and beautiful, almost the same age as Dong-Hyun, and she even looked younger with her confused face.

"Uhh…" So Eun spent a little longer staring at Han Min, only wanting to get a word from him if they are spending too much time in the Temple.

But the other has been busy staring at the painting that he didn't notice So Eun.

They were like that for a second, Han Min finally turning his head to look at him, then suddenly appearing baffled at So Eun's face. Seems like he doesn't know what So Eun's trying to say.

It goes on a few and behind them, Li Hua suddenly chuckled with her fist on her mouth.

Then speaking after seconds of silence.

"They were bestfriends." She crossed her arms in front, causing her complexion to appear rather serious.

Li Hua's eyes were closed, and a small smile was painted on her face, relaxed and at ease, looking like she will never get tired of growing excited and happy about telling her favorite tale to the people.

She halted for some time and lifted her head to give the two of them a quick glance.

"That was separated." She added. Then So Eun's attention completely averted. He faced the woman and made an expression of someone being interested.

Han Min, on the other hand, had his eyes turned to look at the woman too.

"Actually, I should have witnessed it with my own eyes back then, but I was just a little kid. Until the war broke out between the famous sects and a few more months after that, a certain tale emerged from it, then my mother introduced me to it."

Han Min and So Eun were left with a silence again. Li Hua subtly lifted her eyes to look at them and suddenly waved her hands.

"I'm sorry, the first thing I thought of when you asked about the whole summary was the fact that they were bestfriends at the start and the end."

She put both arms behind her and smiled sheepishly.

"I can't think of a perfect sentence to describe my favorite, but then the fact that they are bestfriends makes it all so comforting and beautiful, I realized that that was enough. Hehe."

So Eun noticed that Li Hua was the type of person to light up the whole room with her smile. And he can't help to reply with a warm smile too, and nodded his head.

"That sure is enough, it was wonderful." He bowed again and felt warmth spread through his insides. Although he wasn't the type to indulge himself with tales every so often, he couldn't believe that stories nowadays bring a lot of wisdom and inspiration to people.

"This is very dear to me, and became my solace when mom wasn't beside me." Her round cheeks when she smiled and laugh complimented her virtuous and enthusiastic personality.

Li Hua noticed that her fangirl side is slowly getting out of hand and become afraid that these people will never ask for more story-telling, so she went to So Eun's side and gestured at Han Min.

Promptly, changing the subject.

"By the way, if you don't mind, is he your friend?"

So Eun looked at the other and nodded.

"Yeah... He is.." Then let his eyes stare at him, but Han Min doesn't seem to be interested in the wall anymore and faced them both to put his hands in front,

"Han Min. Nice meeting you, Li Hua."

Li Hua examined him and just nodded her head, before stepping closer to So Eun's side. Her small shoulder nudging his arm.

"Where did you pick him? Aren't you a Deity?" So Eun had to take a double look at her to confirm if she was being serious.

Han Min on the opposite didn't reveal anything in his expression and stood there like a Palace Guard. Just blinking in the distance.