HSA 80

Namgung Eui, upon encountering Jin Geum-ryeon once more, sighed deeply. Supporting Namgung Munhong, whose Acupoint was still sealed, he addressed Jin Geum-ryeon and Ak Mujin.

“I didn’t expect to meet you twice in one day. …I have a question for you. Would you mind coming this way?”

“Eui-ya!”

Namgung Munhong, even with his Acupoint sealed, couldn’t hide his agitation and called out to Namgung Eui.

Clearly, after parting ways with Jin Geum-ryeon, Namgung Eui had hoped he would leave quietly without causing any trouble. Yet, less than half a day later, he was facing him again at the scene of an incident after receiving a report. It was enough to give him a headache.

Ak Mujin, or rather, the original author Ahn Do-hyun, felt like a parent who had failed to teach their child properly. With a solemn face, he followed Namgung Eui to the first floor along with Jin Geum-ryeon.

‘He really called Namgung Eui.’

Ak Mujin grumbled through Telepathic Transmission, and Jin Geum-ryeon chuckled in response.

‘You talked so much about Young Master Namgung, I called him out so you could see him one more time.’

Of course, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t pleased, as he had been racking his brain on how to see Namgung Eui again. However, the fact that Jin Geum-ryeon had blown things up this much just to show Ak Mujin Namgung Eui one more time was simply absurd. Whether Jin Geum-ryeon knew Ak Mujin’s feelings or not, he was moving forward with a nonchalant attitude.

When they arrived on the first floor, Martial Alliance members were supporting two Namgung Clan warriors who had sustained minor injuries, and Pungcheon Baek was sitting on a dilapidated table, undergoing questioning.

“Hmm…. So you’re saying the Namgung Clan people started the trouble first?”

Just as Pungcheon Baek was about to answer the member’s question, Namgung Munhong shouted from afar.

“No, no! That man attacked me with Finger Flicking Skill first!”

One of Pungcheon Baek’s eyebrows shot up immediately. Since the Namgung Clan was a strong pillar of the Martial Alliance, it was obvious that Namgung Munhong’s words would carry more weight. As if to prove it, the faces of the members, who had been looking at Pungcheon Baek with displeasure from the start, became even more distrustful.

However, if Namgung Eui was here, the situation would flow a little more fairly. Sure enough, Namgung Eui handed Namgung Munhong over to the members and then looked back and forth between Pungcheon Baek and Jin Geum-ryeon.

“I need an explanation of what happened. I need to hear both sides.”

The members stirred, but there was no wavering in Namgung Eui’s expression. He silenced the members as Pungcheon Baek began to speak and listened attentively to his statement.

Ak Mujin would have applauded several times already if he could. He couldn’t hide his smile as Namgung Eui, whom he already liked, was doing things that pleased him even more. Fortunately, he was wearing a Human Skin Mask, or else his foolishly grinning face would have been exposed to the world.

He’s perfect no matter how you look at it. At this rate, he’s flawless as my baby’s boyfriend!

Moreover, the fact that they were in opposing camps struck Ak Mujin’s heart deeply, so he couldn’t give up on this stock.

…Am I too immersed in Doujinshi?

Ak Mujin’s mind was quickly struck with the thought that he had somehow become an extreme Doujinshi fan. Huh? I’m not that far gone, am I? Confused, he quickly shook his head and clenched his fist tightly.

Jin Geum-ryeon, standing beside him, stared at him for a moment as he shook his head, seemingly lost in thought.

“…Is Manripyo’s statement true?”

Pungcheon Baek told the truth as it was, and after hearing the explanation of the situation, Namgung Eui turned to look at Namgung Munhong and the Namgung Clan warriors. They retorted, even more agitated.

“But those Evil Sect bastards staged a play to mock our clan! As a member of the clan, how could I stand idly by!”

“A play is just a play. Uncle, do you really think those absurdities are part of our clan?”

“That’s….”

Namgung Eui’s tone made it sound like he already knew the contents of the play being performed here. Well, since he was at the forefront of the patrol, it would be strange if he didn’t know.

Namgung Eui slowly approached Namgung Munhong, placed his hand on his shoulder, brought his face close, and conveyed his words through Telepathic Transmission. The excitement on Namgung Munhong’s face gradually subsided, and soon it darkened. He nodded calmly and lowered his eyes.

Having confirmed that Namgung Munhong had understood properly, Namgung Eui now turned to Pungcheon Baek. He had been displeased with the situation of being investigated despite not having done anything wrong, but he was willing to watch and see since Namgung Eui was listening to both sides fairly.

“This matter was caused by a misunderstanding, so I ask that you understand and let it pass.”

“Ha, you hit someone and then just ask them to let it pass?”

“Then, shall we go to the Martial Alliance and pursue this matter further?”

When Namgung Eui spoke sternly, Pungcheon Baek had nothing more to say and closed his mouth. If he made a big deal out of this by going to the Martial Alliance, it was clear that the situation wouldn’t flow well for him as a member of the Evil Sect, no matter how righteous Pungcheon Baek was. He sighed lightly and looked at Namgung Munhong.

“I must receive an apology, though.”

At those words, Namgung Eui looked at Namgung Munhong. Namgung Munhong was completely dispirited, and even after his Acupoint was released again by Namgung Eui, he hesitated and awkwardly put his hands together in front of him.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…I was just trying to get a meal, but I never have any luck where the Martial Alliance is involved.”

With that simple apology, Pungcheon Baek clicked his tongue and immediately left the inn. Although the situation had been roughly resolved, Jin Geum-ryeon couldn’t be left out. Namgung Eui turned towards Jin Geum-ryeon.

“Lord Jin. This is the last time I’m letting this pass. Next time, the personal guard will come directly.”

Jin Geum-ryeon smiled.

“The reason I called Young Master Namgung was to ask a simple question.”

A strange light flashed in Namgung Eui’s eyes. ‘Called’ meant that the person responsible for this situation was Jin Geum-ryeon himself, wasn’t it? With his mind even more complicated, he stood silently, wondering what Jin Geum-ryeon was going to say.

“Young Master, do you perhaps… have any interest in getting to know me better?”

Huh?

Ak Mujin’s eyes widened. Namgung Eui also seemed unable to properly understand what he was saying, and his expression twisted strangely. He tilted his head slightly and asked him.

“What….”

“I’m asking if you are willing to share feelings with me that are more than just friendship.”

Jin Geum-ryeon cut him off and retorted without hesitation.

The venue fell silent. No one, including Ak Mujin, could open their mouths carelessly.

…No. You can’t do it like this! There’s an order to confessions! First, you build up mutual affection, confirm each other’s feelings, and then, when you judge that it’s time to confess….

Ak Mujin wanted Jin Geum-ryeon to get along with Namgung Eui more than anyone else. But not like this!

Did Jin Geum-ryeon not consider his reputation as the Evil Cult Lord of the Sandow Union? He stared at Jin Geum-ryeon with a face full of astonishment. Everyone in the inn did.

What on earth was going on? Was the Evil Cult Lord really confessing his feelings to the Patrol Captain of the Martial Alliance right now? Or was this a new method of humiliation? All sorts of questions were floating around in the minds of the people at the scene.

“…What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Ha! If this isn’t an insult, what is!”

Namgung Eui, who had been spaced out for a while, finally managed to ask, and Namgung Munhong, who was standing next to him, also came to his senses and shouted.

“Eui is the heir of our Namgung Clan. He recently took in a virtuous Yin Person bride as a proper Yang Person! Don’t even think about tarnishing his reputation with pointless rumors!”

Namgung Munhong stretched his neck and shouted at the top of his lungs, veins popping out. And the moment he heard those words, Ak Mujin screamed inwardly. He already had a wife!

Frankly, he didn’t care if he was a Yang Person, a Yin Person, or an Ordinary Person. In a world where men could get together, how important was such a constitution? But if he already had a wife, that was a different story.

…No, isn’t it said that the rice cake that’s already taken looks bigger? It could burn even more brightly….

Ak Mujin frowned. The more he thought about it, the more tempting it became, and the more he felt that Namgung Eui’s position was neither here nor there. He had a strong feeling that he had been barking up the wrong tree, but when he tried to give up on the couple he had been so enthusiastically supporting, he felt quite disappointed.

On the other hand, he also felt a sense of futility. It took so much effort to figure out who the main character was. He had even dragged in an unrelated Evil Sect master and started a fight. It was his fault for choosing the wrong path from the start, but it was undeniable that this was proceeding quite inefficiently. At this rate, would he even be able to find Jin Geum-ryeon’s real partner?

As Ak Mujin stood blankly, confused after losing a promising(?) candidate in an instant, Jin Geum-ryeon smiled and looked at him.

“Young Master Namgung is already married. It’s a shame.”

Ak Mujin also looked at Jin Geum-ryeon. He was saying it was a shame, but his attitude showed no regret at all. Could it be… that he called Namgung Eui back just to let me know this fact?

You could have just told me!

“Annihilation Sword!”

At that moment, Namgung Eui suddenly shouted like a thunderbolt. No wonder, the person who had made him come out twice wasn’t even feeling sorry, let alone showing any consideration. Rather, his attitude was playful and lighthearted. Moreover, Namgung Eui had already turned a blind eye to Jin Geum-ryeon once, so he couldn’t stand by and watch any longer.

In the end, Namgung Eui drew his sword in an instant and began to wield his swordsmanship.

“There’s a limit to how much I can tolerate! If you continue to play around like this, I will make a decision now, Lord Jin. Lightning Thirteen Sword Thunder!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Namgung Eui began to attack with tremendous speed. Then, the members also judged that they couldn’t stand idly by and drew their weapons, rushing towards Jin Geum-ryeon. Seeing this, Ak Mujin’s body moved before his mind could even think.

“…Ahn Do-hyun!”

Jin Geum-ryeon, who had been leisurely parrying Namgung Eui’s attacks, shouted towards Ak Mujin.