“You were much prettier.”

Geugak Sima effortlessly leapt over the trap. Cheonhwa Rujoo smiled brightly at his words.

“Don’t say that. I wasn’t that pretty.”

“No, to my eyes you were far more beautiful.”

Having weathered countless hardships, Geugak Sima showed unwavering composure even under this sudden surprise attack.

Still, his gaze was fixed on Ian. Indeed, no one could easily look away from such a stunning woman.

Up to this point, Geugak Sima hadn’t recognized Ian.

It was Cheonhwa Rujoo who noticed her first.

“Congratulations, Warrior Ian.”

She spoke calmly, as if she had known this outcome all along.

“Thank you, Rujoo.”

Upon hearing Ian’s voice, Geugak Sima was visibly startled.

His eyes widened as he asked,

“Surely you don’t mean that ugly heart? Surely not?”

He repeated the word “surely” twice, showing his surprise.

Ian smiled and said,

“Yes, that ugly but strangely talented heart.”

Geugak Sima jumped up and approached Ian, staring intently at her face. Under the pressure of his white mask, Ian trembled with fear.

He tilted his head.

“She looks somewhat alike, but no. Definitely not.”

He looked at me.

“Are you teasing me?”

“I am here to tease, yes, and that heart is indeed hers.”

“Really?”

Geugak Sima scanned Ian again.

“Impossible. No way!”

Strongly denying it, he looked back at Cheonhwa Rujoo, who nodded in confirmation.

Geugak Sima then asked me,

“What exactly happened?”

“This is her original form. The Stoneflesh Body Art side effect caused her to gain so much weight.”

“You’re saying she looked like this all along, but was guarding the Master? That’s the greatest waste of talent in our sect.”

At once, it was also the highest praise from Geugak Sima.

Ian smiled and said to him,

“That’s because I wanted to protect the Master.”

Of course, I was the one who corrected the facts.

“Do you think she did it because she wanted to? You know well how this sect operates.”

“The sect operates so ruthlessly that we have to play the roles of bodyguards and successors. However...”

His gaze returned to Ian.

“This case will be an exception.”

A new admiration filled Geugak Sima’s eyes—not just for her beauty, but for her sacrifice.

Cheonhwa Rujoo took Ian’s hands.

“You are so beautiful. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, follow me. I will complete this warrior.”

“Complete?”

“You don’t know how to put on makeup, do you?”

“...No.”

Did she ever have the chance to properly wear makeup living as a bodyguard all her life?

“There are times in life when you must fight with something other than a blade. For a woman, makeup is a weapon stronger than any sword.”

Cheonhwa Rujoo pulled Ian’s hand and left the room. Ian, curious about makeup, let herself be led.

“It’s frustrating. Let’s go too.”

“Good.”

We left the room with Geugak Sima. The surroundings of Cheonhwa Rujoo’s quarters were well kept, perfect for a walk.

“Being with the Master, it’s a series of amazing experiences.”

“You must be surprised. Even I was, having resolved the side effects of the martial arts.”

But the amazing experience Geugak Sima just mentioned was about the previous battle, not Ian.

“During that fight, I truly thought we might die at Baek Manggi’s hands.”

I hadn’t realized he was that strong.

But what was truly surprising wasn’t Baek Manggi’s strength—it was Geugak Sima honestly revealing his feelings.

“I felt the same.”

“But the Master killed him.”

“If it weren’t for Sima’s help, I would have died.”

That was an undeniable fact.

Geugak Sima stared at me.

“I think I know what Sima is thinking now.”

“What am I thinking?”

“Sure enough, the one who killed Seop Hon Majon was that guy!”

Geugak Sima laughed loudly.

“You’re wrong. I told you before, I already believed it. That’s why I fought Baek Manggi. If I hadn’t, I would’ve left without looking back.”

“You trusted me? To the point of risking your life?”

After a moment, Geugak Sima answered,

“Probably, yes.”

We walked in silence for a while. Sharing life and death forged a strong emotional bond between us. When Geugak Sima’s mask nearly got cut, I was truly furious.

That was the first time I realized how deep my feelings for Geugak Sima were. I think he felt the same.

Suddenly, Geugak Sima picked up a fallen branch and drew a line.

“How far have we come now?”

I took the branch and drew a line on the spot we had once called the survival line.

“I think we’ve come this far.”

This was exactly the place where we had been told we’d be spared.

At that moment, I saw—

Within the eyeholes of the white mask, he smiled. His true smile.

He laughed silently—not an angry laugh, but pure and natural.

I had never seen that smile even in my life before regression. Astonishingly, I saw it at the end of this journey.

“Of course, depending on how Sima and I act from now on, the line will move. We may advance further or return to the start.”

“What happens if you go all the way?”

“We’ll become true friends. Eat meals together, drink together, enjoy ourselves and fight. Save each other from danger. And when one dies first, we’ll pour wine at the grave.”

“All unnecessary, hypocritical, and burdensome things.”

“Once you do them, they’re nothing special.”

I don’t even expect Geugak Sima to want that far. Our initial goal was to reach the point of neither enemy nor ally. At least through this journey, I think we have achieved that goal.

At that moment, Cheongmyeon appeared where we stood.

He handed Geugak Sima something—it was the white mask.

“Here, as promised.”

Geugak Sima gave me the mask Cheongmyeon had brought.

He had promised to give me a new mask on the day I fought Baek Manggi—and he hadn’t forgotten.

“Thank you.”

I tried on the new mask. It was certainly lighter and more comfortable.

“It feels good. Probably won’t get sweaty either.”

“Cheongmyeon made it himself. He also made my mask.”

“Quite skillful.”

Cheongmyeon lightly bowed at my compliment.

At that moment, two people walked in.

Ian and Cheonhwa Rujoo, freshly made up. Geugak Sima, Cheongmyeon, and I were all surprised.

The made-up Ian looked like a completely different woman—captivating, sensual, intense, and glamorous.

“This warrior has such dignity that we tried a different atmosphere.”

It truly felt like seeing another unparalleled beauty. Is makeup a woman’s weapon? Then we were witnessing the greatest sword in the world.

“From now on, I’ll call you Pretty Heart, not Ugly Heart.”

Geugak Sima also seemed to like Ian’s transformation.

Then Cheonhwa Rujoo quietly said,

“Still prettier than when I was young, right?”

Geugak Sima coldly replied to Ian,

“Make sure you pay back the carriage fare!”

Meanwhile, as the conversation revealed the beautiful woman was Ian, Cheongmyeon was truly shocked.

“You’re saying this is Warrior Ian?”

He was so surprised that even the expression behind his mask was evident. Normally cautious and reserved before Geugak Sima, he forgot himself.

Realizing this late, Cheongmyeon stepped back.

Then Ian cautiously asked me,

“May I wear that mask?”

Considering the stares she had endured coming here, I understood Ian. She wasn’t the type to enjoy such attention.

“I don’t mind, but you must ask Sima’s permission. It’s his gift.”

Ian asked Geugak Sima.

“May I wear that mask?”

“No!”

Surely he thought, “I can’t see that pretty face otherwise.” That was my guess.

“Why not?”

“It will ruin the makeup I carefully applied. Whose makeup do you think that is?”

Geugak Sima gave the perfect answer to the end. Cheonhwa Rujoo gently pinched his arm in amusement—the only one in the world who could do so.

“If you want, you may wear it.”

“Thank you.”

Ian was delighted with Geugak Sima’s permission. She took the mask from me and put it on.

He looked at me and asked,

“How is it?”

“How could it not be? It’s deception to beauty and despair to all men.”

“You told me I should be happy. I think this will make me happier.”

I reached over and lifted Ian’s mask slightly.

“When we’re alone, wear it comfortably like this. Your mask will be looking at the sky then.”

“That’s good.”

Perhaps emboldened, Ian asked Cheongmyeon,

“Does the seduction technique work on you?”

Cheongmyeon didn’t understand the meaning and hesitated before answering. I guessed what she was about to say.

“With you, it always works. You’d break a cultist who’s been meditating for a hundred years.”

“That’s an exaggeration!”

“Wait and see. You’ll agree later.”

Ian added to Cheongmyeon,

“What I said before was a joke. I want you as the head of the organization I’ll create.”

Cheongmyeon was surprised by the unexpected words. Unsure how to respond, Geugak Sima said,

“You give a mask as a gift, and the first thing you do is try to steal my people.”

“Don’t misunderstand. Even before receiving the mask, Cheongmyeon was my first candidate.”

“You want him to give up the role of cultist and come lead your group? Are you aware of what you’re saying?”

“Yes!”

“Do you think Cheongmyeon is that foolish?”

“No. I thought he was someone with the courage to throw himself into a new life at least once.”

“Courage is an arrogant heart—you’re the best! Saying that in front of me.”

“I trusted the Master and just went for it. Sorry.”

She bowed politely to Geugak Sima.

I saw the conflict in Cheongmyeon’s eyes. Surely, a man would be conflicted with such a beautiful leader.

But I also thought this beauty might be a hindrance. Before the procedure, Ian might have gone. Now that she’s beautiful, some might not want to appear like a shallow person who leaves.

“Please think it over carefully.”

Cheongmyeon nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Geugak Sima said no more. Even if Cheongmyeon decided to go, he seemed like the type to send him off with a “You idiot.” If he showed such attitude, the line I had drawn in ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) my heart would move even further right.

Geugak Sima said to me,

“Master, let’s return now.”

“You go ahead. I’ll stay and play a bit with Pretty Heart before coming in.”

Not for me, but for Ian. She had shed her shell; now she should soar before returning.

Cheonhwa Rujoo saw through my thoughts perfectly.

“The Master is a truly good person.”

Then Geugak Sima replied,

“Don’t be fooled. The Master is the worst of villains. Don’t you see those masks? They were born wearing masks. Those two masked people standing there are the real ones.”

Cheonhwa Rujoo smiled and said,

“That’s why they fit so well together.”

Just as Ian and I turned to leave, I faced Geugak Sima again.

“Thank you for showing me a wonderful world. Please show me again sometime.”

Before parting, Cheonhwa Rujoo said,

“Master, please take good care of my brother from now on.”

Normally, Ian should have said, “Please take care of our Master.” But Cheonhwa Rujoo was teasing yet serious about entrusting Geugak Sima.

Had she seen something in our relationship?

At least one thing was clear—only Cheonhwa Rujoo truly cared for and understood him.

I smiled and said loudly,

“Yes, Rujoo, I will take good care of Sima.”

Leaving behind a bewildered Geugak Sima, I took Ian’s hand and turned.

“Let’s go, Ian. Time to see the Central Plains.”

From now on, your world will be completely different from before.