The woman from the Dang Family pulled Sori Hwa out of the store. After walking for a considerable distance, she abruptly stopped. Sori Hwa, regaining her senses, realized she had unconsciously followed the Dang Family woman. Her mind had been utterly adrift back in the clothing store.
“Sweetie,” the woman began, “you shouldn’t go to stores like that.
That place is notorious even in Xi’an’s commercial district.
They pressure you into buying clothes, display refunded items as new, and if caught, they speak to you rudely.
It’s an absolutely despicable place, I tell you?”
“Excuse me?” Sori Hwa replied.
“A friend of mine shopped there once and was absolutely furious about it.
When I saw you, I just had a feeling you’d end up buying everything the saleswoman had on her arm, so I stepped in to help.”
“…Ah.”
This young lady from the Dang Family seemed to have rescued Sori Hwa, sensing she was about to be fleeced. Indeed, the saleswoman’s swift removal of clothes from the hangers had been quite unsettling. Given Sori Hwa’s weakness against aggressive sales tactics, she might very well have bought everything.
“Thank you,” Sori Hwa said.
“Don’t mention it,” the woman waved off. “But you’re truly adorable.
How old are you? And where are your parents?”
“I’m twenty-two.”
“…Huh?”
Seeing the Dang Family woman’s disbelief at Sori Hwa’s answer, Sori Hwa quickly pulled out her identity tag (TL Note: A ‘hopae’ is a traditional Korean identification tag, often made of wood or ivory, used during the Joseon Dynasty.) and showed it. The woman scrutinized the tag repeatedly before clicking her tongue in astonishment.
“It’s real?” she exclaimed. “With this appearance, you’re older than me? You look like you’re barely a middle schooler!”
“Well, some people are just like that,” Sori Hwa replied. “So, I suppose you’re younger than me then.”
“Th-that’s right. I’m twenty-one.”
“Is that so? Thank you, anyway.”
“Wait, wait,” the Dang Family woman interjected. “Are you just going to leave like this?”
As Sori Hwa made to depart, the Dang Family woman quickly grabbed her arm. Sori Hwa tilted her head in confusion.
“Why not?”
“Weren’t you trying to buy clothes?”
“That’s true.”
“Can I come with you? I’m a fashion design major.”
The Dang Family woman pulled out her student ID from her wallet and presented it.
[ Chengdu University, Sophomore, Fashion Design Department – Dang Ria ]
“…”
Sori Hwa took the student ID, examined it, then looked up at Dang Ria. Annoyingly, despite being a year younger, Dang Ria seemed to tower over her by at least 20 centimeters.
“What does that have to do with me?” Sori Hwa asked. “We just met today.”
Sori Hwa’s question was perfectly valid. There was no connection, no plausible reason, for Dang Ria, a fashion design student from the prestigious Chengdu University in Sichuan, to accompany Sori Hwa on her clothes shopping trip.
“…You’re right, there isn’t,” Dang Ria conceded. “But.”
“But what?”
“What can I do when you’re just so incredibly cute!”
Suddenly, Dang Ria placed her hands on Sori Hwa’s cheeks and leaned her face in close. Caught off guard by the sudden, magnified proximity of the beautiful woman’s face, Sori Hwa was flustered.
“When I saw you outside, I immediately thought, ‘This is exactly the model I’ve been looking for!'” Dang Ria gushed.
“Long silver hair, a small face, mysterious red eyes, and even fair skin!”
Only when Sori Hwa’s discomfort became apparent did Dang Ria withdraw her hands, resuming her praise of Sori Hwa’s appearance. ‘So, her looks were the justification?’ Sori Hwa mused. If that was the case, Sori Hwa found herself with little to say.
‘Isn’t this just like how a harem protagonist can trip, accidentally lift a girl’s skirt, and she’ll still feel flustered in a good way, while in my past life, even performing CPR would get me accused of sexual harassment?’
Aside from that, a suspicion of ‘Is she crazy?’ did cross her mind, but the fiery temperament of the Sichuan Tang Family (TL Note: ‘Sichuan Tang Family’ or ‘Sacheon Dangmun’ is a famous martial arts clan in wuxia novels, known for their poisons and strong personalities.) was well-documented in countless other wuxia novels.
“So!” Dang Ria declared. “I really wanted to make you my model for today!”
“I’ll buy all your clothes!”
Dang Ria clasped both of Sori Hwa’s hands, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
“…You’ll buy them?”
Of course, Sori Hwa wasn’t swayed by the sparkling eyes. What truly swayed her was Dang Ria’s promise to buy everything.
“Of course! Don’t you know who the Sichuan Tang Family is?”
One might infer, given that the Shaolin Temple (TL Note: The Shaolin Temple is a Buddhist monastery in China, renowned for its association with kung fu. In wuxia, it’s often depicted as a powerful martial arts sect.) was publicly listed, that in this world, the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance (TL Note: ‘Gupailbang’ refers to the nine most prominent martial arts sects and one alliance in wuxia novels, often depicted as powerful organizations.) were major corporations, and the prominent families (TL Note: ‘Sega’ refers to powerful, aristocratic martial arts families, often akin to wealthy conglomerates in wuxia settings.) were chaebols (TL Note: A ‘chaebol’ is a large, family-controlled business conglomerate in South Korea.).
Therefore, if this young lady was a genuine scion of the Sichuan Tang Family, buying Sori Hwa’s clothes would be a trivial expense for her.
“Then, by all means!” Sori Hwa readily agreed.
“Great!”
A remarkably swift deal had been struck. To be honest, Sori Hwa was also curious, as this was her first encounter with someone from a renowned martial arts family straight out of a wuxia novel.
Sori Hwa’s usual sphere of activity was limited to the factory and her home in the hood, so she would never have coincidentally met a young lady from a prestigious family like the Sichuan Tang Family. In a way, this was divine luck. For some reason, her good fortune seemed to be piling up lately, leaving her in high spirits.
“You truly look like a doll,” Dang Ria murmured. “How can a person be so perfectly formed?”
“…My face, please.”
Sori Hwa gently pushed away Dang Ria’s approaching face with her hand. Beyond her beauty, Dang Ria’s eyes sparkling with an intensity that was frankly overwhelming.
“Normally, I really hate it when people touch me,” Dang Ria confessed, “but your skin feels so nice. I wish I could keep touching you.”
“…”
This young lady from the Sichuan Tang Family had a temperament so fiery that her expressions were incredibly direct. Even knowing she didn’t mean it in *that* way, Sori Hwa couldn’t help but entertain some strange thoughts.
Of course, she considered that this might be because she had lived as a man in her past life. Perhaps it was a perfectly normal expression between women. Having never met a peer after becoming a woman, she simply couldn’t know.
“But where are we going?” Sori Hwa asked.
Originally, they had been on a street lined with clothing stores, including the “Shark Lady” shop. Yet, for some reason, Dang Ria was now leading them away from that street, heading towards an even more bustling commercial area.
“We’re going to Changgung Department Store.”
“What? A department store?”
Sori Hwa was familiar with Changgung Department Store. Wasn’t it operated by the Namgung Family (TL Note: The Namgung Family is another prominent martial arts family in wuxia, often associated with swordsmanship and nobility.) , which used the ‘Azure Sky’ (TL Note: ‘Changgung’ (蒼穹) literally means ‘azure sky’ or ‘blue dome of heaven.’) as its symbol? She knew of it as the largest department store in Xi’an City, though she had, of course, never actually visited it.
In her past life, she had certainly visited department stores and knew that they didn’t only house high-end brands; there were plenty of mid-to-low-priced brands as well.
“What’s wrong?” Dang Ria asked, noticing Sori Hwa’s expression. “You’ve gone pale, as if you’ve never been to a department store before.”
“My skin is naturally pale,” Sori Hwa retorted.
“Ah, that’s true,” Dang Ria conceded. “How can it be so white?”
As Dang Ria reached out to touch Sori Hwa’s face again, Sori Hwa quickly stepped away.
“Stop touching me,” Sori Hwa insisted. “I’m not actually a doll.”
“Oh, alright. My apologies, my apologies. You’re more prickly than I thought.”
Dang Ria merely smiled, finding Sori Hwa’s reaction rather endearing.
Ultimately, they entered Changgung Department Store, located in the heart of Xi’an’s largest commercial district.
“…Wow.”
The moment Sori Hwa stepped inside Changgung Department Store, she gasped in admiration. Perhaps it was because they were in the Central Plains (TL Note: ‘Jungwon’ or ‘Central Plains’ refers to the historical heartland of China, often used in wuxia novels to denote a culturally rich and powerful region.), but its scale was truly different from any Korean department store. True to the Central Plains’ love for opulent decorations, all sorts of sculptures and ornaments hung suspended throughout the space.
“Aren’t you from Xi’an?” Dang Ria asked.
“I am.”
“But this is your first time at Changgung Department Store? I’m also visiting the Xi’an branch for the first time; I usually go to the one in Chengdu, Sichuan.”
“Uh, yes. I haven’t really had a reason to come.”
“Then where do you buy your clothes?” Dang Ria inquired, genuinely curious.
‘This damn chaebol heiress,’ Sori Hwa thought. ‘There are plenty of places to buy clothes besides department stores!’ ‘Though, admittedly, I haven’t bought any myself.’
“…Just, online or something?”
“Ah, online shopping malls. They’re quite good, I suppose.”
“But it’s much more fun to come out and shop for clothes in person.”
“I-is that so?”
“Of course, of course.”
Looking around, Sori Hwa noticed that everyone seemed to be impeccably dressed. Feeling shabby in her black Supreme cap and tracksuit, Sori Hwa instinctively hunched her already small shoulders.
Dang Ria led Sori Hwa to the elevator. A floor guide was displayed on the side panel; women’s apparel was on the third floor.
However, Dang Ria didn’t press the third floor button; instead, she selected the topmost floor, which housed restaurants.
“Are we going to the restaurant?” Sori Hwa asked.
“No? Haven’t you eaten?”
“I had lunch before coming out.”
“Mm, me too.”
Before Sori Hwa could even ask ‘Then why?’, the elevator arrived at the top floor. Dang Ria’s stride was confident and unhesitating, pushing forward. Sori Hwa, unable to voice her question, could only follow meekly behind her.
Dang Ria and Sori Hwa passed by several luxurious restaurants, heading towards a secluded corner on the top floor. On the marble wall of that corner, ‘VIP Lounge’ was inscribed.
“…Oh, um.”
“Come in!”
As Sori Hwa hesitated at the entrance, Dang Ria, who had already stepped inside, gestured for her to enter as if it were her own home. Having followed her this far, it felt awkward not to go in, so Sori Hwa timidly entered.
The moment they entered the VIP Lounge, a woman in a suit approached them.
“Welcome. May I have your name, please?”
“Dang Ria.”
As she spoke, Dang Ria took a black card from her wallet and handed it to the employee. The employee likely would have recognized her if this were the Changgung Department Store in Sichuan, but being the Xi’an branch, it seemed they didn’t know her face.
“Certainly, Ms. Dang Ria. Please follow me.”
It was the epitome of politeness. ‘Is it really okay to be dressed in a black tracksuit like this?’ Sori Hwa wondered. Dang Ria, meanwhile, followed the woman in the suit with an air of complete familiarity.
At the VIP Lounge’s info desk, the employee swiped the black card Dang Ria had provided, likely for identity verification.
“Your Natural Realm (TL Note: ‘Jayeongyeong’ (自然境) is a high-level martial arts cultivation realm in wuxia novels, often signifying mastery over nature.) tier has been confirmed, Ms. Dang Ria.”
‘Natural Realm, my ass!’ Sori Hwa fumed inwardly, utterly dumbfounded. To think they were using martial arts cultivation realms as department store VIP tiers! The ‘martial arts geezer’ (TL Note: ‘Mutteulttak’ (무틀딱) is a colloquial term combining ‘mu’ (martial arts) and ‘tteulttak’ (an onomatopoeia for an old person’s shuffling walk, implying ‘old-timer’ or ‘geezer’), often used humorously for someone old-fashioned or stuck in martial arts traditions.) within Sori Hwa was screaming, but she lacked the courage to voice it aloud.
The Natural Realm was a cultivation stage considered second only to the Profound Realm (TL Note: ‘Hyeongeyeong’ (현경) or ‘Profound Realm’ is often depicted as the pinnacle of martial arts cultivation in wuxia, surpassing even the Natural Realm.) in wuxia. As a young lady of the Sichuan Tang Family, she was apparently the highest-tier VIP at the department store. Suddenly, Dang Ria seemed to shine even brighter.
“Please take us to the PSR.”
“Certainly, Ms. Ria. We will guide you to the PSR.”
‘What in the world is a PSR?’ Sori Hwa wondered. The conversation was moving too fast for her to keep up. Nevertheless, Sori Hwa had no choice but to follow Dang Ria. Soon, they arrived at a luxurious-looking room.
The room featured a long row of empty clothes hangers, a large screen, and several comfortable chairs where one could stretch out their legs.
“Please wait a moment, and your personal shopper will be assigned shortly,” the employee stated.
“What would you like to drink? Today’s special tea is Rooibos Oriental.”
“I’ll have that,” Dang Ria replied.
“And for your companion?”
“Uh, uh. The same, please,” Sori Hwa stammered, surprised to be asked.
The lounge employee took their order, bowed politely, and exited, closing the door behind them. Sori Hwa was flustered; this was the first time in both her past and present lives that she had ever been in such a luxurious room.
“…What is a PSR?” Sori Hwa finally asked.
“Personal Shopper Room. Just sit down.”
Even with the explanation ‘Personal Shopper Room,’ Sori Hwa still didn’t quite grasp it. Dang Ria, meanwhile, had already stretched her legs out on a chair as if she were in her own living room. Sori Hwa awkwardly shuffled over and sat on the chair next to Dang Ria.
“…Look, even so, this is a bit too much, isn’t it?” Sori Hwa ventured.
“No, no, it’s really fine,” Dang Ria assured her.
“I’m buying them because I like you, so you don’t need to feel burdened at all.”
“My hobby is dressing up pretty girls, you see.”
‘Is this some eccentric hobby of the nobility?’ Sori Hwa wondered. Of course, it wasn’t a bad deal for Sori Hwa; in fact, it was an immense stroke of luck. It was just overwhelmingly burdensome.
At this point, Sori Hwa felt a certain pressure to show some interest in Dang Ria.
“S-speaking of which, what character do you use for ‘Ria,’ Ms. Ria? I use the ‘Li’ from pear tree…”
‘Shit,’ Sori Hwa cursed inwardly even as she spoke. ‘What kind of old-fashioned conversation topic is this? Is this a baduk parlor or something?’
Nevertheless, Dang Ria seemed pleased that Sori Hwa had asked such a question.
“Haha. Did you just come down from some mountain?” Dang Ria chuckled.
“Excuse me?”
Sori Hwa was flustered, suddenly struck by the truth. She had, in fact, spent five years living in the mountains. She even wondered if Dang Ria, being a chaebol, had investigated her background on the way to the department store.
“These days, it’s trendy not to use Hanja (TL Note: ‘Hanja’ refers to Korean names written with Chinese characters.) for names,” Dang Ria explained.
“It’s a global era, after all. People use names that can be easily pronounced abroad, so they don’t necessarily need a separate foreign name.”
“Especially since we have a lot of international exchange, we tend to name our children that way.”
“Ah, I see. That makes sense.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever been asked a question like that,” Dang Ria added.
This was a topic Sori Hwa had heard about even in her past life. Dang Ria continued.
“To explain ‘Ria,’ she was Jacob’s first wife and Rachel’s older sister.”
“Jacob?”
“Yes. The Tang Family is a Protestant household.”
As Sori Hwa pondered whether Dang Ria’s words were a joke or serious, Dang Ria’s phone suddenly rang. She answered immediately.
“Yeah.”
“Hey, Dang Ria!”
The voice of a man in his twenties came through the phone. Given the accusatory tone, perhaps he wasn’t her boyfriend?
“What is it, Dang Pedro?”
“Didn’t you say we’d meet at the Terracotta Army at 1 PM?”
“Oh, that. It’s canceled. Something came up.”
“Are you crazy, seriously?”
“Hang up. I’m busy.”
Curses could be heard from the phone, but Dang Ria ignored them and hung up. She then looked at Sori Hwa, smiling brightly again.
“Where were we?”
“…”
Sori Hwa remained silent. If she opened her mouth now, she felt the ‘martial arts geezer’ inside her might experience qi deviation (TL Note: ‘Juhwaipma’ (주화입마) or ‘qi deviation’ is a common concept in wuxia, referring to a dangerous imbalance or backlash of internal energy during cultivation, often leading to severe physical or mental harm.), so she had no choice but to stay quiet.
Just then, a knock sounded, and the lounge employee from earlier appeared, accompanied by a refined-looking woman in a semi-formal suit. The lounge employee carried a tray, presumably with the tea they had ordered.
“This is your personal shopper who will assist you with your shopping today, Ms. Dang Ria.”
The woman in the semi-formal suit bowed politely to Dang Ria. Regardless of what Sori Hwa thought, it seemed the serious shopping was about to begin.
