Cheong-aeng hadn’t come in midway, nor had they spoken outside, so how did he know?
Ak Mujin racked his brain, recalling Cheong-aeng whispering to Jin Geum-ryeon before they entered the teahouse. Perhaps Jin Geum-ryeon had heard it then. Yet, he had waited for Ak Mujin and Chun-wol to meet. Realizing everything, he swallowed hard.
“…Did you deliberately create this opportunity?”
“If there’s something you need, it’s only right to do so.”
“…”
Ak Mujin stood silently for a moment, speechless. Jin Geum-ryeon lightly passed him and went down to the doorway. He knelt on one knee, found Ak Mujin’s shoes, and looked up at him. Only then did Ak Mujin turn around and watch what he was about to do.
“…”
He was speechless once more. He never imagined Jin Geum-ryeon would try to put his shoes on for him. Ak Mujin felt his ears burning and cleared his throat for no reason.
“It’s alright. I can put them on myself.”
“It’s best to leave quickly. Come here.”
No matter how urgent the situation, Jin Geum-ryeon didn’t seem willing to hand over the shoes he held tightly. Cheong-aeng chimed in.
“Let’s go quickly. There’s a limit to how long we can delay at the main building.”
At those words, Ak Mujin glared at Cheong-aeng and Jin Geum-ryeon alternately before quickly approaching and extending his right foot to Jin Geum-ryeon. Jin Geum-ryeon smiled with satisfaction, took his foot, and put on his shoe. Jin Geum-ryeon’s demeanor was impeccably gentle and soft. For some reason, the shoe felt even more snug than before, and Ak Mujin cleared his throat again.
“Let’s go.”
Ak Mujin, having put on both shoes, left the detached building with one hand behind his back. Cheong-aeng and Jin Geum-ryeon began to follow him.
Ak Mujin’s face was already flushed, so he couldn’t possibly stay behind.
*
When they were quite far from the village, Jin Geum-ryeon, who had been silently walking behind Ak Mujin, asked him,
“Where are you going?”
“Huh?”
Only then did Ak Mujin realize that he had been walking aimlessly, looking straight ahead to cool his cheeks. He stopped and turned to Jin Geum-ryeon.
“Uh… where should we go?”
“I thought you had a place in mind.”
Jin Geum-ryeon said. Ak Mujin looked around, checking for the Demonic Cult.
“The Demonic Cult… what happened to them?”
“They’re probably busy searching the Celebration Teahouse right now.”
“Chun-wol…!”
At those words, Ak Mujin immediately snapped to attention, his eyes widening. He was worried about Chun-wol and Seo-mok, who were still inside the teahouse. He unconsciously turned to go back, but Jin Geum-ryeon grabbed his arm to stop him.
“It’s alright. The manager has already gone into that room. He’ll probably say they met to buy tea leaves from the Fragrant Flower Pavilion for the Celebration Teahouse.”
The calm voice conveyed the information with such certainty that it inspired belief. Ak Mujin calmed down a little, nodded, and stood still. Only then did Jin Geum-ryeon release his arm.
After thinking for a moment, Ak Mujin looked up at Jin Geum-ryeon and asked,
“…Are you still planning on revenge?”
Jin Geum-ryeon blinked silently at those words. Then, he nodded immediately.
“Actually, I didn’t think I’d find out who my enemy was this quickly. I couldn’t act because I didn’t know who killed my mother, but now that I know, I have to take revenge.”
“The Martial Alliance Lord isn’t the one who killed your mother.”
Looking back at the situation, Namgung Mun, who had become the Martial Alliance Lord, couldn’t even get near Jin Sang-aeng because he was busy fighting Ak Mujin. There were too many Namgung Clan members and Crimson Kill Squad assassins threatening her in that chaotic state, so it was difficult to identify anyone specifically. Perhaps only the person who stabbed Jin Sang-aeng and a few others nearby knew for sure.
Moreover, if Jin Geum-ryeon really wanted to take revenge on the Martial Alliance Lord, it would be a direct confrontation between the leader of the Sandow Union and the leader of the Martial Alliance, which would inevitably lead to war. Ak Mujin felt like a boulder had been dropped on his heart.
But Jin Geum-ryeon replied smoothly,
“Even so, he threatened my mother, so he’s responsible. And he’s the head of the Namgung Clan now.”
Cheong-aeng noticed that their conversation was quite serious. She chose to move away from them for a moment.
“Then, what about me?”
“What does it matter to you?”
Jin Geum-ryeon replied lightly, as if he were saying something ridiculous.
“Isn’t the Martial Alliance Lord in the same situation as me? I also drove your parents to that place and threatened them. So shouldn’t you consider me an enemy too?”
The lighthearted attitude vanished from Ak Mujin’s voice, instantly becoming serious. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he turned his head sharply and said,
“…You and the Martial Alliance Lord… are different.”
“How are we different?”
Jin Geum-ryeon blinked once and stared intently at him, saying,
“We’re different. Very.”
How were they different? Ak Mujin had no idea. He just felt uncomfortable with Jin Geum-ryeon staring at him so intensely. He finally sighed softly.
“…Then, lead the way.”
Ak Mujin finally concluded. He would follow Jin Geum-ryeon for the time being and somehow return him to his original state, as in the original story.
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed that the Martial Alliance was half-destroyed and the Demonic Cult was being wiped out because Jin Geum-ryeon was chasing after Ak Mujin instead of ending up with Namgung Eui or Mae-yeong. Considering that Ak Mujin had suffered three years of hardship because Jin Geum-ryeon hadn’t followed the Doujinshi, even if he went into seclusion now, he might be dragged back to the Central Plains and suffer again someday. So it was better to finish everything before going into seclusion.
He was slowly planning to go to the countryside and cultivate a small garden, living with two dogs, a cat, and a few livestock… He wanted to be a reclusive master!
Still, thinking about how he was almost forced into marriage by the Demonic Cult and trapped in the Spirit Mausoleum, playing matchmaker in the Central Plains? It wasn’t impossible. As he looked up at Jin Geum-ryeon, Jin Geum-ryeon was still fixedly staring at him.
“Lead the way? Where to?”
“Wherever you want to go. Didn’t you say you were going to take revenge? Then we should go to the Martial Alliance.”
Jin Geum-ryeon’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected that. Then, he seemed to be thinking, and soon a light smile appeared on his face.
“…You seem worried that I’ll kill the Martial Alliance Lord.”
Jin Geum-ryeon’s voice sounded a little sulky as he said that. Ak Mujin tried to ignore it and pushed the thought away.
If they went to the Martial Alliance, he could meet Namgung Eui. Then he could get a glimpse of Jin Geum-ryeon’s thoughts about him. Or vice versa, what Namgung Eui thought of Jin Geum-ryeon.
Besides, he couldn’t just stand by and watch when he knew that the war between Righteous and Evil was about to begin. Well, he might be able to achieve Jin Geum-ryeon’s revenge without bloodshed. Thinking about that, Ak Mujin felt a great sense of responsibility.
“Still, I feel reassured that you’re coming with me.”
Jin Geum-ryeon said.
“What can I do to make you feel reassured?”
He had regained some of his Inner Force, but it was difficult to expect as much as before. If something happened to Jin Geum-ryeon at the Martial Alliance, or if Jin Geum-ryeon tried to destroy the Martial Alliance again, he wouldn’t have enough strength to save or stop him.
Ak Mujin was racking his brain with various thoughts when Jin Geum-ryeon’s answer attacked his vital point.
“Just… when I have someone I like by my side, I feel like I can do anything.”
The expression on Jin Geum-ryeon’s face as he said that could only be described as happiness. Ak Mujin couldn’t hide his shocked expression. Even seeing that, Jin Geum-ryeon just smiled.
“…You’re really…”
“I really do like you.”
Jin Geum-ryeon said without hesitation. Ak Mujin’s face turned red in an instant, having been confessed to in a defenseless situation, but he didn’t even notice it as he turned his head sharply and started walking aimlessly.
Why was he confessing so aggressively? And why did things have to get so twisted just because he saved his life once? Why didn’t Mae-yeong show up back then! No… it was all his fault for firmly believing that he had written the original story. Who else could he blame but himself?
As Ak Mujin sighed and walked silently, Cheong-aeng, who had been waiting beyond the bushes, revealed herself.
“That’s not the way.”
Jin Geum-ryeon said from afar.
Only then did Ak Mujin, who had been walking aimlessly, stop abruptly and glance back at him. Jin Geum-ryeon was smiling and pointing in the opposite direction.
“The Martial Alliance is this way. And Dongting Lake is there too. Let’s go see Yueyang Tower.”
…….
What sightseeing? Ak Mujin only wanted to check on Namgung Eui quickly. But Jin Geum-ryeon said, as if trying to squeeze into even the smallest gap,
“You like sightseeing, don’t you?”
Three years ago, during the months Ak Mujin and Jin Geum-ryeon traveled together to the Martial Alliance, Ak Mujin would admire the scenery whenever he had the chance. At the time, Ak Mujin thought that Jin Geum-ryeon didn’t care what he did or said, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Now, Ak Mujin and Jin Geum-ryeon began to walk side by side, just like back then. Cheong-aeng followed beside them.
“Actually, I was a little worried that you wouldn’t come after me when I stormed out of the teahouse.”
As Jin Geum-ryeon muttered, Ak Mujin naturally looked up at him. Jin Geum-ryeon’s face was quite serious and looked somewhat lonely, but he was definitely smiling.
“That was the first time I was so nervous.”
Ak Mujin could only make a bewildered expression. He wondered what Jin Geum-ryeon’s intention was in revealing his inner thoughts. Was he trying to gain sympathy? Or was he just saying it? Of course, he knew that he didn’t deliberately create secrets, but he wasn’t the type to say such trivial sentiments either. That’s what made it even more awkward.
Ak Mujin stared at him for a moment before turning his head sharply and silently moving forward.