On his way back to his room, Ak Mujin passed by Jin Geum-ryeon’s chamber and hesitated for a moment in front of it.
The faint light emanating from within suggested that he was not yet asleep. What on earth could be the reason for skipping dinner without any notice? Although his attitude towards Ak Mujin was annoying and his thoughts were inscrutable, he was, after all, his protagonist.
As the author who created Jin Geum-ryeon, it was inevitable that he would worry when he acted out of character.
To say he was in a bad mood, there had been no particular incidents while they stayed in Illusion Valley, and in the first place, he was a master at hiding his feelings. He was not the type to cause unnecessary worry to others.
Then, perhaps, just perhaps, was he injured while sparring with Seo Moon-gwang? Ak Mujin didn’t think Seo Moon-gwang would do that to Jin Geum-ryeon, but he did have a setting of handling poison and Hidden Weapon. As soon as that thought crossed Ak Mujin’s mind, he called out to Jin Geum-ryeon from outside the door, overcome with worry.
“Ahem. Are you there?”
At that moment, a sound like something falling came from inside the room.
Ak Mujin, with a surprised look, slid open the door, and Jin Geum-ryeon was standing right in front of him.
“Ah.”
Ak Mujin was surprised once again but tried not to show it as he attempted to discern Jin Geum-ryeon’s complexion. However, it was a dimly lit time with only a lamp providing light, so his face was not clearly visible.
“What is it?”
But hearing his calm voice, it didn’t seem like anything was wrong. Ak Mujin peered into the room past Jin Geum-ryeon’s arm, trying to see what had fallen.
There was nothing on the floor.
“Ah…. It’s just. I was just checking in since you didn’t come to dinner.”
Ak Mujin cleared his throat and put one hand behind his back. Jin Geum-ryeon looked down at him, seemed to smooth his hair, then turned his body to the side, stepping aside to allow him to enter.
“Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Ah, yes.”
He hadn’t intended to enter the room. Still, staying for a short while wouldn’t be difficult. He hadn’t properly assessed his condition either.
Ak Mujin took a step forward.
Jin Geum-ryeon closed the door, then came inside and immediately placed a cup on the table, pouring water into it. Ak Mujin looked at it, thinking of the tea Seo Moon-gwang had poured for him.
“You must have felt more comfortable without me.”
Jin Geum-ryeon smiled slightly, watching Ak Mujin sit down, then turned his gaze out the window.
“Well, I’d be more comfortable talking to anyone as long as they’re not trying to drive me to my death.”
Ak Mujin glanced down at the glass of water and then looked up at Jin Geum-ryeon, who was still standing.
Seeing him in a brighter place, his face was even more visible.
Ak Mujin, without realizing it, scrutinized Jin Geum-ryeon.
The face that he had only thought of as ‘pretty’ when he was young still retained that appearance, but the lines had become clearer, emphasizing his masculinity. His sharply upturned, thick eyebrows contrasted with his drooping eyes, which flickered and sparkled in the lamplight, and when those eyes turned towards him, Ak Mujin felt strangely awkward and scratched the back of his neck.
Jin Geum-ryeon’s lips formed an arc.
“Worrying about me was just an excuse, and you’ve come here to say you’ll stay after all, haven’t you?”
Ak Mujin flinched at those words, his body momentarily stiffening.
How did he know? Had he been eavesdropping in the reception room?
Ak Mujin kept his mouth shut to avoid showing his embarrassment, but Jin Geum-ryeon rested his palm on the table with a relaxed smile. Ak Mujin flinched slightly.
“What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t staying here better than going to the Martial Alliance?”
Ak Mujin blinked nervously.
He couldn’t understand why Jin Geum-ryeon was saying this. Wasn’t he the one who wanted to take Ak Mujin to the Martial Alliance? Jin Geum-ryeon, fixing his gaze on the confused Ak Mujin, continued.
“Anyone can see it, but well…. I’ll just point out that unless you have feelings for Master Gokju, it’s like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”
As expected. He wasn’t saying it out of good intentions. Ak Mujin released the tension that had been building up in his body and leaned back against the chair. This time, he felt a bit twisted by Jin Geum-ryeon’s pretentious attitude.
Who didn’t know that? But now that the suspicions he had about Seo Moon-gwang had been resolved, Ak Mujin had nothing to fear. He didn’t know what Jin Geum-ryeon knew about Illusion Valley, but on the other hand, it seemed like he was just trying to scare him because of the grudge he held against Ak Mujin.
“Are you saying my judgment is wrong?”
Jin Geum-ryeon smiled at Ak Mujin’s question.
“It’s not really a matter of right or wrong, is it? This matter.”
Jin Geum-ryeon poured himself a glass of water, took a sip, and then said to Ak Mujin.
“I sincerely hope that your judgment brings me a very enjoyable result.”
An enjoyable result? If it’s a result that Jin Geum-ryeon would enjoy, it could only be something that would cause Ak Mujin pain. Whoever wrote this protagonist, his personality was raised too preciously.
Ak Mujin furrowed his brow slightly, then relaxed it, pretending to be calm as he asked.
“Why aren’t you trying to reverse my decision? Have you given up on taking me to the Martial Alliance?”
Certainly, Jin Geum-ryeon’s attitude was a bit strange. He had been dragging him around as his parents’ enemy all along, so why was he giving up so easily? Or did he have some other scheme in mind?
Ak Mujin waited anxiously for Jin Geum-ryeon’s answer. Jin Geum-ryeon looked up at the ceiling for a moment, seeming to ponder, then blinked once and looked back at him.
“Honestly, I don’t know anymore. What I should do with you….”
Ak Mujin was uneasy with Jin Geum-ryeon’s ambiguous answer. Especially when he saw him smiling like that.
Moreover, he wasn’t just any protagonist, he was an overpowered one. All judgments could be tilted in his favor. Thinking that he shouldn’t let his guard down until the end, Ak Mujin stood up from his seat.
“Anyway, I’m going to trust my judgment, so if you’re thinking of opposing it, I won’t stop you.”
Even if he wanted to stop him, he couldn’t. Well, if a situation arises where Jin Geum-ryeon interferes, Seo Moon-gwang would handle it well. In this situation, Seo Moon-gwang was the only one he could trust. Jin Geum-ryeon, despite Ak Mujin’s provocation, simply looked at him quietly, showing no intention of stopping him.
“Then, have a good dream.”
Jin Geum-ryeon saw Ak Mujin off, coming all the way to the door of his chamber.
Ak Mujin glanced up at him, then, with an uneasy feeling, took his leave.
Late in the morning, Ak Mujin was standing in front of the Welcoming Water Pavilion’s main gate to see Jin Geum-ryeon off.
Beside him, Seo Moon-gwang was standing elegantly, fanning himself with a fan, and Jin Geum-ryeon, who had packed his luggage, was facing them, exchanging farewells.
His gaze lingered on Ak Mujin for quite some time.
“Young master An has ultimately chosen Master Seo Gokju. Since a man cannot go back on his word once he has spoken it, I will gracefully withdraw.”
As Jin Geum-ryeon spoke, looking at Ak Mujin, Ak Mujin could only offer a small smile. He still couldn’t believe that he was really leaving like this.
In fact, even when Ak Mujin laid his head down to sleep last night, he couldn’t sleep properly, thinking that Jin Geum-ryeon might challenge Seo Moon-gwang to a duel again, or come to Ak Mujin’s chamber in the middle of the night and take him away without warning.
The Jin Geum-ryeon he knew wasn’t the type to give up on something easily. Even now, as he saw him off, Ak Mujin was still on edge.
“I will take responsibility for Young master An and take good care of him, so don’t worry.”
Seo Moon-gwang said, looking at Jin Geum-ryeon as if to keep him in check.
“He’s such a handful that Master Gokju will have quite a bit of trouble.”
“Well, we’ll see once we experience it. How enjoyable it will be.”
Seo Moon-gwang and Jin Geum-ryeon continued their conversation, exchanging words back and forth.
Their faces were gentle and even their tone was amiable, but Ak Mujin’s heart was still pounding. He tried to ignore his anxiety and looked at Jin Geum-ryeon.
“Socheon, escort Young Master Jin.”
As Seo Moon-gwang spoke to the servant who was kneeling beside him, Socheon came forward and approached Jin Geum-ryeon. Finally, Jin Geum-ryeon, guided by Socheon, left the Welcoming Water Pavilion. Ak Mujin blinked as he watched his retreating figure.
Really, like this…?
He could escape him this easily?
Ak Mujin, even after finally facing the situation he had so longed for, couldn’t believe it and stood there motionless as Jin Geum-ryeon departed.
Seo Moon-gwang watched him, then opened his mouth with a smile.
“Hwaseo.”
“Yes, Master Gokju.”
“Seal Illusion Valley.”
Hwaseo bowed to Seo Moon-gwang and began to step down the stairs outside the Welcoming Water Pavilion. Ak Mujin, with a slightly bewildered expression, looked at Seo Moon-gwang upon hearing those words.
Why suddenly talk about sealing it? There hadn’t been any mention of that even when they were talking yesterday.
Seo Moon-gwang now came close to Ak Mujin, gently took his hand, placed his other hand on his waist, and leisurely moved towards the Welcoming Water Pavilion.
“Ah, I can walk on my own.”
“No. You still need more time for Nourishing Yang. Until you leave, I must take good care of you.”
Seo Moon-gwang said in a gentle voice, very affectionately. Ak Mujin somehow felt that his attitude had become excessively kind compared to yesterday, and his senses told him that this was not a good sign.
He cautiously tried to pull his hand away, but Seo Moon-gwang gripped his hand even more tightly and pulled him closer by the waist. Ak Mujin opened his mouth and thought for a moment.
“…Did you perhaps seal it for my Nourishing Yang?”
When he looked at Seo Moon-gwang’s face, it was very close. Ak Mujin couldn’t relax his guard and waited for Seo Moon-gwang’s answer, but he was simply walking towards the Welcoming Water Pavilion.
“If I’m right, you don’t have to do that. I’m leaving soon anyway…”
“Young Master Jin will no longer be able to trouble you.”
Seo Moon-gwang’s voice pierced his ears, cutting off Ak Mujin’s hurried words. Ak Mujin looked at him at the unexpected words.
“Forever.”
Seo Moon-gwang’s smiling eyes turned directly towards Ak Mujin.
Ak Mujin felt as if he had encountered something he shouldn’t have within those unwavering eyes.