Lee Ho-jeong and Jin Geum-ryeon looked at each other, then back at the man named Seo Moon-gwang. The martial arts contest had become vague, so Lee Ho-jeong shook his hands.
“The contest isn’t over yet, but are you going to stop?”
Jin Geum-ryeon asked Lee Ho-jeong, who didn’t even have a sword, without losing his smile.
“…This time, my mistake almost injured my two Junior Brothers, so let’s stop here.”
Even as Lee Ho-jeong said that, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a poor excuse.
He cleared his throat and showed Jin Geum-ryeon the courtesy of clasping his hands in front, and Jin Geum-ryeon responded in kind.
“Then let’s call it a draw.”
“Hmm, hmm….”
Lee Ho-jeong himself thought he had almost lost, but thanks to Jin Geum-ryeon taking the initiative to say that, he was able to save face.
Seo Moon-gwang, who had been watching, looked at Ak Mujin and said, “The two of you put on a great martial arts display, but I was also impressed by the young master who jumped in to protect them.”
Then everyone’s gaze turned to Ak Mujin.
Huh?
“Ah, right. I forgot to thank you. Thank you, young master.”
The man called Junior Brother hurriedly bowed to Ak Mujin. As he did, he stared intently at Ak Mujin, his gaze seeming to hold respect, yet it was strangely persistent, making Ak Mujin feel a little uncomfortable.
“May I ask for the young master’s name?”
Seo Moon-gwang asked with a grin, and Ak Mujin was momentarily speechless.
What should I say?
He had left the Demonic Sect under the guise of death. Therefore, he didn’t know if he could use his original name, so he just mumbled.
“Brother Bang uses the characters Cheol and Yong for his name.”
Huh?
Who is Bang Cheol-yong?
Before he knew it, Jin Geum-ryeon was standing next to Ak Mujin, claiming that Bang Cheol-yong was his name. Seo Moon-gwang seemed a little surprised to hear that, but after a moment, he nodded and smiled.
“That’s a wonderful name. Do you have a nickname as well?”
Ak Mujin looked at Jin Geum-ryeon, then turned his head to Seo Moon-gwang and blinked.
“No, I don’t.”
Was it because it was the first time he had spoken since Seo Moon-gwang’s appearance? Seo Moon-gwang seemed impressed by Ak Mujin’s voice, as he stood there blankly with his mouth open for a moment.
“…Then you should have a nickname.”
Seo Moon-gwang said quickly.
“How about I give you the nickname Byeongra (碧羅)?”
Ak Mujin was a little dazed.
Why, why…?
Why are you bestowing a name on someone like me…?
Ak Mujin knew the dark reputation of his favorite character, so he felt goosebumps all over his body and a somewhat fearful feeling. As he stood there flustered, unable to find the words to say, Jin Geum-ryeon suddenly opened his mouth.
“It seems you are very fond of Brother Bang.”
Only then did Seo Moon-gwang realize that he had gone too far, so he took a step back and chuckled.
“Ah, I was just impressed by the young master’s courageous actions. Please forgive me if I was too rude.”
Ak Mujin shook his head.
“No, not at all.”
Jin Geum-ryeon stared straight at Seo Moon-gwang, and when he felt the presence of the Boatman behind him, he subtly changed the subject.
“The boat is coming.”
The ferry had just dropped off the Jongnam Sect Disciples and was empty again. The Hwasan Sect Disciples were a little agitated at the sight, but Jin Geum-ryeon spoke cheerfully before they could say anything.
“Brother Lee, would you allow this younger brother to board first?”
Jin Geum-ryeon lowered himself and asked cheerfully, and Lee Ho-jeong was momentarily speechless. Thanks to Jin Geum-ryeon’s consideration, he was able to save face, so he eventually stepped back and yielded the ferry.
The Hwasan Sect Disciples had no choice but to watch the boat leave once again.
It was then.
“There seems to be some space left on the boat, may I join you?”
Seo Moon-gwang asked Jin Geum-ryeon and Ak Mujin, who were about to board the boat. They looked at Seo Moon-gwang for a moment, then at each other.
‘Well, we haven’t done anything wrong, so let’s give him a ride.’
‘Okay.’
Jin Geum-ryeon conveyed his opinion through telepathy, and after seeing that Ak Mujin didn’t refuse, he nodded to Seo Moon-gwang.
As Seo Moon-gwang boarded the ferry last, the boat swayed slightly. The Boatman began to row away from the dock again.
Now, four Hwasan Sect Disciples were left alone on the dock.
“Thank you, young heroes. Thanks to you, I was able to get on the boat early.”
Seo Moon-gwang sat down in the seat opposite Jin Geum-ryeon and Ak Mujin. He stared at Ak Mujin for a long time before finally asking a few words.
“Now that I think about it, are you two perhaps, lovers?”
Seo Moon-gwang asked in his unique, gentle tone.
The moment Ak Mujin actually heard that tender tone, the affection for his favorite character that filled his heart warmed him. He had been dragged around by Jin Geum-ryeon’s coldness and abuse, so he must have missed this kind of kindness without realizing it.
But he couldn’t let his guard down yet.
The place where Ak Mujin lived was none other than a fanfic. This Seo Moon-gwang might have different settings from the original Seo Moon-gwang. What if he wasn’t the Seo Moon-gwang from the original story? What if he wasn’t the friendly Seo Moon-gwang, but the obsessive Seo Moon-gwang?
Ak Mujin blinked once, thinking that far.
No, right? Even if it’s a fanfic, Seo Moon-gwang’s object of obsession is Mae-yeong, not Ak Mujin, right?
Ak Mujin, who had thought that far, answered with relief, but Jin Geum-ryeon opened his mouth at the same time.
“Yes. We’ve been lovers for a long time.”
“No.”
Ah, why again!
Ak Mujin reflexively turned his head to look at Jin Geum-ryeon, who was also looking at him.
‘Weren’t we going to pretend to be lovers?’
‘Let’s keep it moderate.’
After they had a short conversation through telepathy, Ak Mujin looked back to see Seo Moon-gwang looking at them with a surprised expression.
“Which one of you… is right?”
“I am,”
“I am,”
This time, Ak Mujin and Jin Geum-ryeon’s voices collided.
Ak Mujin felt Jin Geum-ryeon glaring at him, but he stubbornly continued to speak.
“That’s… Hah, I think I confused Young master Jin.”
At those words, Seo Moon-gwang’s eyes lit up and he listened intently to Ak Mujin’s words.
Ak Mujin smiled awkwardly and looked straight at Jin Geum-ryeon. Jin Geum-ryeon, who met his gaze, frowned as if he was displeased.
“I was taken care of by Young master Jin at a pharmacy in Shanxi, and since then, he’s been following me around and taking care of me. I know what Young master Jin feels for me, and I’m grateful for that, but it’s also a bit of a burden for me.”
Ak Mujin spoke in a haughty voice, and Seo Moon-gwang nodded, making an “ah” sound.
Ak Mujin felt that Jin Geum-ryeon, the great Jin Geum-ryeon, was uncomfortable but couldn’t show it, and he wanted to laugh so much. He had been abused all this time without a chance to return the favor, but he was really happy to be able to repay him this time.
“So that’s what happened…. I just thought you two looked good together, so I asked even though I knew it was rude.”
Seo Moon-gwang covered his face with a fan as if he was shy, and Jin Geum-ryeon glared at Ak Mujin when he saw that. But Ak Mujin was so intoxicated with victory that he didn’t have the time to carefully observe what kind of expressions they were making or what they were thinking.
“…It seems that you are also going south, sir, but how far are you going?”
Jin Geum-ryeon asked Seo Moon-gwang as if he was trying to change the subject. Then Seo Moon-gwang shook his fan and readily replied.
“Ah, I’m on my way home. Illusion Valley is my home.”
Ak Mujin naturally knew that fact, but Jin Geum-ryeon was hearing it for the first time, so he exclaimed, “Ah.”
“Then, are you perhaps the master of Illusion Valley?”
“You could say that.”
Seo Moon-gwang said modestly.
Illusion Valley is a valley in Hubei that is known for having the most beautiful waterfall. It is not only beautiful. The temperature difference there is large, so many poisonous and medicinal herbs grow, and the well-trained disciples under the valley master are skilled in handling poison and Hidden Weapon, making them a difficult opponent if they become enemies.
“Now that I think about it, I know Young master Bang’s name, but I haven’t asked for this young hero’s name. What is your name?”
“Jin Geum-ryeon.”
Ak Mujin grumbled inwardly.
He called someone Bang Cheol-yong, but he was presenting a plausible name that Ak Mujin had pondered over for three days and nights.
But Seo Moon-gwang tilted his head for a moment when he heard the name, and soon folded his fan and clapped his hand.
“Could it be that you studied under Byeogwol Sword Mae-yeong?”
“How did you know?”
Jin Geum-ryeon was also surprised.
Only then did Seo Moon-gwang laugh and continue.
“I am an old friend of Mae-yeong. I heard a few years ago that he had taken in a child, but to meet that disciple in a place like this, the connection is truly deep.”
“Really? You were my master’s friend.”
Jin Geum-ryeon relaxed his expression and continued the conversation at the words that Seo Moon-gwang was his master’s friend.
Although he had been uncomfortable because of Ak Mujin until just now, he was very happy to meet his master’s connection outside the plum blossom forest, as he had no relatives in this vast land.
Seo Moon-gwang’s attitude when talking about Mae-yeong was very simple. It was the tone of someone treating a real ‘friend’, so Ak Mujin blinked.
‘This Seo Moon-gwang isn’t an obsessive maniac! Haha, I’m so happy to meet a writer with the same character interpretation as me!’
Ak Mujin had also given Jin Geum-ryeon a hard time thanks to Seo Moon-gwang, and he was very excited because he had finally met a character created with the same intention as his writing.
Besides, when he thought about it, if Seo Moon-gwang was really a good person, he might be able to coax him and get away from Jin Geum-ryeon before arriving at the Martial Alliance.
Ak Mujin’s eyes flashed.