By Zephyria 
“Okay, according to the information, the pursuit team was heading to Anhui but suddenly split into two groups, one heading to Anhui and the other heading north. Judging from their movements, it seems Chun-wol intended to lure all the Demon Cultists, but seeing them split into two groups just before arriving in Anhui, it seems that plan failed. As soon as Chun-wol’s location is identified in detail, Haoh Gate will take charge of her.”
Ak Mujin received the report on Chun-wol’s movements, and his heart ached again. She seemed to have intended to lure them away while being chased herself. He rubbed his face roughly and swallowed a sigh.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Well, if you could explain her appearance in detail and provide something that can vouch for her, it would be easier to bring Chun-wol to the Sandow Union.”
However, Ak Mujin wanted something more, something he could do with his own body, but he knew well that it wouldn’t be good for Chun-wol if he appeared on the front lines. Jin Geum-ryeon, who had roughly guessed what Ak Mujin was thinking, said in a soft voice.
“Don’t feel burdened. If you really feel uneasy relying on us, how about granting me a favor after everything is over?”
Only then did Ak Mujin raise his head and look at Jin Geum-ryeon. Jin Geum-ryeon was looking at him with a faint smile.
“I swear I won’t ask you to do anything difficult. Really. I wouldn’t ask you for marriage, would I?”
At the somewhat playful words, Ak Mujin’s face, which had been stiff all along, relaxed, and a chuckle escaped his lips. Ok-ryeong ignored her master’s silliness and rolled up the map, tucking it into her sleeve.
“I will stay nearby for the time being and observe the situation. If you have any questions or anything more to tell me, please come to me anytime.”
Ok-ryeong, having wrapped up the situation, bowed politely to Jin Geum-ryeon and left the inner chamber. Only then did Ak Mujin release his hand from Moonless, which he had been anxiously clutching all along. It was then that he remembered he had intended to return it to Jin Geum-ryeon.
He barely managed to raise his hand and hand Moonless to Jin Geum-ryeon.
“…Thank you for lending it to me.”
“You could have kept it a little longer.”
Jin Geum-ryeon replied, smiling gently. He took Moonless and seemed to examine it here and there, then took out the sword hanging from his waist and replaced it with Moonless.
“This fellow seems to have enjoyed being by your side as well.”
Hearing those words, Ak Mujin burst into another small laugh. How could Jin Geum-ryeon be so considerate to Ak Mujin? After being rejected and treated so absurdly, one would have lost affection long ago, but rather, he was anxious every day, wondering if there was anything more he could do for Ak Mujin.
“Is it really…?”
As Ak Mujin began to speak, Jin Geum-ryeon blinked and looked at him.
“Is it really just me in your heart? Why don’t you hold anyone else at all…”
It would have been better if Jin Geum-ryeon had given a chance to someone else, even a little. Then I wouldn’t be wavering like this either. Saying that, Ak Mujin trailed off. He couldn’t quite look at Jin Geum-ryeon’s face.
“I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking about you ever since I first met you.”
The tone, as if he himself didn’t know, somehow burdened Ak Mujin with guilt. It felt like it had turned out this way because of his unnecessary intervention, and he kept blaming himself, thinking that if he had just left Jin Geum-ryeon alone from the beginning, neither Jin Geum-ryeon nor he would have had such a hard time.
“It would be stranger not to now.”
Regardless of what Ak Mujin was thinking, it was certain that Jin Geum-ryeon’s heart was still with Ak Mujin.
***
Joo Mu-jeong was in a very bad mood because he had been summoned by the Cult Leader in the morning and scolded thoroughly. It had been like this lately. He was the first to discover the deceased Ak Mujin, and he had been in charge of the Intelligence Division to which Chun-wol belonged until recently, so he seemed to be the instigator of this awkward situation.
It hadn’t been long since he learned that Ak Mujin was alive. It had only been about a month. He had urgently dispatched people upon hearing news that someone had used Demon Art in an area where no Demon Cult had been sent, and a large-scale investigation was conducted even within Heavenly Mountain. After searching so thoroughly, he was able to find a clue in a truly unexpected place. None other than the Spirit Mausoleum had been damaged.
Joo Mu-jeong, who belatedly realized this fact, searched the Spirit Mausoleum and discovered that even Ak Mujin’s body had disappeared without a trace, which became an opportunity for all of Heavenly Mountain to doubt his death once more. Moreover, according to information leaked from the Namgung Clan, the style of the Demon Art user was too similar to the style that Ak Mujin had learned from Jin Sang-aeng and used during his lifetime.
He couldn’t believe that two people had betrayed him right under his nose. Who would have even imagined that Chun-wol, who was the most obedient and capable, would do such a thing?
Enraged, Joo Mu-jeong punched the cabinet next to him, and the jade lion statue split in half. The murderous intent was felt even outside the door, so the Demon Cult standing outside hesitated and spoke very cautiously.
“V, Vice-Leader. News from Anhui.”
At those words, the floor seemed to rumble, and the door burst open, revealing Joo Mu-jeong’s murderous face. The Demon Cult lowered his head deeply and handed him a letter with trembling hands.
“Get lost.”
Snatching it, Joo Mu-jeong said fiercely and slammed the door shut. His face gradually distorted as he quickly checked the letter. It said that they had searched Chun-wol’s Sound chamber in Anhui, but no one was there, and they were able to find a torn Human Skin Mask. Joo Mu-jeong groaned annoyingly.
“Damn it…! Beon-hu!”
Joo Mu-jeong shouted and called his servant. Beon-hu, who arrived quickly, didn’t dare to open the door and waited for a response with his head bowed.
“Yes, Vice-Leader.”
“Release more Demon Cultists. Search every inch of where those bastards are!”
“Yes!”
The most urgent thing for Joo Mu-jeong now was to capture both Ak Mujin and Chun-wol. Only then could he recover even a little of the Cult Leader’s trust that had collapsed.
Perhaps the only slightly tricky thing was that Ak Mujin had to be captured alive. It didn’t matter if Chun-wol was killed as soon as she was found, but he thought that Ak Mujin should not be allowed to die so easily.
Joo Mu-jeong finally resolved.
That if he could just get him back, he would make him the Demon Cult’s seed bearer as was his original fate. He would throw away respect and dignity and use everything he could to humiliate Ak Mujin and make him live without being able to die. Vowing so, he crumpled the letter and strode out of his residence.
*
Ak Mujin, having handed over all the information he could to Ok-ryeong, had no choice but to wait quietly now. He was so anxious that he couldn’t stay still for a moment, to the point that not only Jin Geum-ryeon but even Cheong-aeng was worried about him.
He knew that others were worried about him the more he acted like this. But how could he be calm when people’s lives were at stake? Ak Mujin had already emptied two teapots and was still shaking his legs, handing the empty teapot to the servant.
“…You’re going to drink more?”
“……Yes.”
“……”
The inn where they were staying would have attracted attention if they didn’t receive guests, so they reopened for business the next day. Ak Mujin, who naturally moved his residence and stayed at the Sandow Union branch, waited for news of Chun-wol, avoiding going outside as much as possible.
How many days had passed? Ok-ryeong came to find Ak Mujin first.
“We found Chun-wol.”
“Really?”
Ak Mujin had been drinking tea so much that he wanted to go to the bathroom, but he was so surprised by the news of Chun-wol that he forgot about it and jumped up from his seat. Ok-ryeong entered Ak Mujin’s inner chamber with Jin Geum-ryeon and explained the situation to Ak Mujin.
“However, Chun-wol’s physical condition is not very good, so we have left her in Hebei for nursing for now, so it seems that the two of you will be able to meet a little later.”
“It’s a relief that she survived! Thank you, Mun. Thank you, Geum-ryeon.”
In fact, Ak Mujin was somewhat dazed because he didn’t think they would be able to find and protect her so quickly.
“I told you that you didn’t have to worry.”
Jin Geum-ryeon replied with a smile. But when Ak Mujin looked at her like this, Ok-ryeong’s complexion wasn’t very good.
“But… we couldn’t save the person who was with her. It was such a close call… The one Chun-wol called Seo-mok has probably fallen into the hands of the Demon Cult. I have no face, Great One.”
Seo-mok was with Chun-wol?
Well, he had also maintained a close friendship with Chun-wol, so there was no way he wouldn’t have been involved in such an important matter. The feeling of flying in the sky as soon as he heard the news of Chun-wol plummeted to the ground at once due to the following news.