The Unsurpassed Maiden

"So, Zhong Yu-ssi? Can I ask you a quick question?" Mi Young asks while looking at the man who was busy assessing all the doors around them.

For some reason, the door where Hae Choon went into vanished, which made the black haired girl feel really worried for her companion. However, Zhong Yu said that Hae Choon would be alright since he's a strong and genius person. Mi Young kept her mouth shut after that.

And now here they are, with the black haired girl following closely behind Zhong Yu while the other party continued to assess each door.

"What kind of question is that?" The tall man says while looking closely at another door.

Mi Young thinks about it for a few seconds before asking the question even without the man's permission. "Why didn't you tell any of your friends about you working for the Great Sage?"

"I don't work for him. I work 'with' him." The man corrects.

The black haired girl mumbled a small apology before she continued with her question. "Anyway, why did you keep silent about it? They were pretty worried, you know."

"Why would they be worried?" Zhong Yu asks like what Mi Young said was a joke.

The black haired girl looks at him with confusion. "Because they are your friends?"

"Friends? I'm not friends with them!" The man says while moving on to the next door.

The young student looks even more confused now, "But teacher Ning Gwang said you are one of her friends!"

"I used to be." The man corrects once more. However, even though he sounded arrogant there is still some hint of sadness that came with his voice.

"Used to? That's not what Lady Ning Gwang said though."

"Why? What did she say?" Zhong Yu asks, voice getting softer than usual.

Mi Young shrugs before saying, "That you are one of her dear friends and that you never took the time to visit them anymore which just saddens her a lot."

"She's s-sad?" Zhong Yu asks.

Mi Young didn't even waste any second before she nodded at the man's question. "Uhn. She's suuuper sad. Lady Ning Gwang even said that she misses you a lot."

"R-Really?" Zhong Yu asks while looking at the black haired girl now.

Mi Young wanted to laugh at his puppy eyes. It's as if the idea that Lady Ning Gwang thinks so much about him brings so much joy to him. Even though the other party looks more of an excited kid than a legendary person in front of her, the black haired student kept her mouth shut.

"Uhn. She said that it would be best if you could have accompanied her during her lonely days." Mi Young continues while sounding so sad, to make it more realistic for the other man.

"She really said that?"

"Yes. And she also mentioned that it would have been better if you're the one stuck with her." Mi Young added while eyeing the man who looks rather confused by now.

"Why? Who is she stuck with?"

"Your twin."

"Ning Gwang and Zhong Liu are together in the same area?!" Zhong Yu suddenly announces. He looked so shocked and at the same time couldn't help but feel angry at the sudden thought. "Why? Why would Ning Gwang want to be with Zhong Liu?!"

"It seemed like it was a coincidence. Lady Ning Gwang never thought that teacher Zhong Liu would be teaching at the school as well." Mi Young says with a dramatic voice.

"Zhong Liu must have followed her." The man says with a grim voice. He clenches his fist to the side while he looks at the ceiling above them. "That sly fox. I'll get to him later."

Mi Young's ears immediately perked up upon hearing what the other party had said. It seems like her plan was working. The black haired student let out a fake cough before saying, "C-Can I accompany you when you go meet them?"

"Why?"

"W-Well I missed Lady Ning Gwang and…and I could help you be with her since I'm her beloved apprentice!" Mi Young says while giving the man a very convincing look.

"You're right. You could totally help me with her." The man says while rubbing his chin like he was thinking hard.

The black haired student nodded her head earnestly. "Yes. And I could help you apologize to her for the years of not showing up."

"And you could help me apologize to her for the years that I didn't show up." The man repeats like a robot. When the thought finally sinks inside his mind, he lets out another huge grin before giving the black haired girl a thumbs up. "You're right! From now on you are my apprentice as well."

This time, it was Mi Young's turn to be shocked. She never imagined that her little trick with the man would result in her being his apprentice. Mi Young could never believe her luck. And now, the only thing she needs to do is to convince the man to help her friend.

"S-Since I am now your apprentice and would help you get Lady Ning Gwang, can you also please help me with something?" The young girl asks while looking at the man  with her puppy eyes.

Zhong Yu didn't even spare her any glance before saying, "Sure! As long as it is within my power!"

Mi Young wanted to do a celebratory dance after hearing the man's words but she made sure to keep her excitement all to herself to not blow up her cover. "Can you help me find Hae Choon and my other two friends?"

Zhong Yu looks troubled for a second. "The Great Sage told me to assist you only. He didn't mention about helping you find your friends."

Uh oh. Mi Young has to think of some excuse. She quickly gives the man a huge smile before saying, "But Lady Ning Gwang really likes men who help other people! In fact, my other friend, Kwang Soo, who was also missing, is one of her apprentices as well! It would really be great if you could find him."

"He's Ning Gwang's apprentice?" Zhong Yu asks, looking like he's about to reconsider Mi Young's offer.

"Uhn." The young girl replies while nodding her head. "And she also specifically told me not to lose Kwang Soo during this mission!"

Zhong Yu thinks about it for a few minutes before finally letting out a sigh of defeat. "Fine. I'll help you. But I would only lend out a hand if I think you won't be able to handle the situation anymore. Okay?"

That was more than okay with Mi Young.

So with another determined nod, the black haired girl nodded her head before giving the man an 'ok' sign. "Yes! Thank you so much!"

"Anything for Ning Gwang's apprentice!" Zhong Yu replies with another smile.

"So? Now that we have settled everything, where do we need to go next?" Mi Young asks, vice sounding more confident than ever even though there are still a lot of things to do. This time, she thinks she can handle anything as long as the Great Sage keeps his trust on her.

"Ah right. May I ask how you chose that door earlier? I mean, of all the doors there, why that door?" Zhong Yu asks, eyebrows furrowed and voice suddenly serious.

Mi Young blinks at the man. "Because it had the brightest glow?"

"Brightest glow?" Zhong Yu repeats. Then something clicks inside his mind. "Did you try to feel out the auras of these doors?"

The black haired girl nodded her head at that. "Uhn. Why? Is something wrong?"

"And did you try to feel out the auras of all the doors here?"

Mi Young nodded her head again.

Then, Zhong Yu sighs. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why?"

Zhong Yu looks at her once more before saying. "Follow me."

The young girl immediately followed after the man as he started to walk on the other side of the room where there are more doors. They stopped in front of a door that looked like it was made from wood.

"What's this?" Mi Young asks while pointing at the door.

"Try to feel its aura." Zhong Yu instructs.

The black haired girl bites her lip at first before she raises her hands, calls out her mana and gathers it to try and see the aura of the door.

The moment she sees the aura of the wooden door, Mi Young's feet felt like it was going to collapse soon.

She feels someone drag her back to reality before she completely passes out. The black haired girl turns to the tall man with widened eyes before asking, "Why? Why didn't I see this door before?"

The black haired girl looked at the wooden door once more and all she wanted to do was cry.. If she was more careful and if she really did feel out all the doors here, why did she miss this one? Hae Choon couldn't have gone missing if they entered the right door from the very start.