Geommugeuk stepped into the main hall.

Clean-shaven and neatly groomed, he wore a stylish new martial uniform and robe. With each step, he captured everyone’s attention.

It wasn’t just because he was handsome. He carried a strange aura that drew people in. A calmness that only those who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts possess, combined with a mysterious yet noble presence no one else could imitate.

Jin Haryeong did not recognize Geommugeuk at first. The pure admiration that surfaced the moment she saw him:

“Cool!”

He was truly cool. If someone asked her what kind of person she liked, she thought she could simply say, “That one.”

She wasn’t the only one thinking that. Women stared at Geommugeuk in awe. Men, too, found themselves drawn to his presence.

“Who is he?”

“No idea. Who could he be?”

“A little-known swordsman, maybe?”

“Handsome!”

Comments like these openly floated around.

Drawing all eyes, Geommugeuk walked toward where Jin Haryeong and Josin stood.

“Why is he coming to us? Oh, is he someone Josin knows?”

As she pondered this, Geommugeuk greeted her first.

“Jin Sojeo, you’re here too.”

Jin Haryeong flinched in surprise.

“He knows me? Who is he to act so familiar?”

His voice sounded familiar, yet even after hearing it, she couldn’t place him. The difference between the Geommugeuk she knew and this one was huge.

“Could it be you don’t recognize me?”

She really hadn’t recognized him at that moment. Someone with a similar voice, yes, but not the same person.

“Who are you?”

“You told me to speak up if anyone bothered me. Do you think I’d help you then? I don’t recognize you, so I might end up bothering you too.”

At that, Jin Haryeong’s eyes widened. Those were her exact words—“If someone bothers you, tell me. Your friend is the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.”

“Could it be? You!”

“That’s right. It’s me.”

Unintentionally, Jin Haryeong let out a startled scream.

“I don’t know if it’s worth screaming about, but yes, I am Geommugeuk.”

Those clear, deep eyes, so uncharacteristic of a servant—seeing them again, it was truly Geommugeuk.

A chill ran through her body. Every hair on her skin stood on end.

Having such a handsome man nearby was already thrilling, but to find out this was the Geommugeuk who was her servant?

With a trembling voice, she asked,

“What happened?”

“I shaved my beard, tidied my hair, and bought new clothes.”

Josin beside her was equally flustered.

He was so shocked and confused he couldn’t react. He just blinked and stood there blankly.

At first, he hadn’t recognized Geommugeuk either. Proud of his own appearance, he felt repulsed when he saw someone more handsome.

That was why he had been upset from the moment Geommugeuk appeared.

He was annoyed that a better-looking man attended the banquet, and when that man approached him and Jin Haryeong, Josin’s nerves went on edge. What’s this bastard? Why’s he coming this way?

Josin nearly shouted curses in disbelief.

This completely ruined his plans. He had intended to erase the mystery and bring out plainness, but now the real mystery had jumped out. Worse, he had paid money to bring it out himself.

Geommugeuk greeted Josin, who was standing behind.

“By the way, Lord Jo gave me money to buy clothes.”

Jin Haryeong looked at Josin in surprise.

“Really?”

“Ah, yes.”

Jin Haryeong misunderstood the situation.

“Oh, so you really decided to apologize. Honestly, I didn’t trust you before. Sorry.”

“No.”

Josin really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He immediately sent a secret message to Geommugeuk.

—You bastard! Get lost! Get out of here now!

It was a message to leave the banquet, but Geommugeuk interpreted it as a cue to walk toward the late-stage candidates.

“Oh! There are so many expensive and rare dishes. Can I eat as much as I want? Oh, there’s alcohol here too. It smells wonderful.”

Everyone watched his every move. Geommugeuk didn’t care about the attention. He enjoyed the food and drank, acting as if he were the host.

Jin Haryeong approached him entranced, followed by Josin muttering “Damn it.”

“You really look different.”

“Well, I usually look a mess.”

“Why didn’t you dress like this before?”

“What reason would a servant have to dress up?”

Seeing Jin Haryeong’s sparkling eyes aimed at Geommugeuk, Josin grew anxious.

He had to change the situation somehow. Trying to break the spell would only deepen it.

Josin sent a harsh secret message to Geommugeuk.

—Hey, you bastard! Why did you come all dressed up like that?

Geommugeuk looked at him with a “You told me to dress up” look, and Josin had no retort.

Besides, he hadn’t really dressed up much—just shaved, tidied up, and bought new clothes. Yet Geommugeuk shone.

Josin desperately needed to pull Geommugeuk down.

“You really dressed up to impress our Jin Sojeo.”

“Yes, I tried to look good on purpose.”

Jin Haryeong’s cheeks flushed slightly as if she took that as a compliment.

Josin grew more worried.

He should have acted awkward and forced, but the servant looked like he naturally suited this elegant attire.

Moreover, he acted like he wasn’t embarrassed to admit “I dressed up because of the banquet.” That made him seem even more confident.

“Coincidentally, your martial uniform matches Jin Sojeo’s color.”

“That’s true.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Josin sent a secret message to one of his men to approach Jin Haryeong.

While Jin Haryeong greeted him briefly, Josin took Geommugeuk aside.

“You crazy bastard! Do you want to die?”

“Why?”

“I’ll host a banquet tonight inviting the late-stage candidates. If you want to lose the spell over Jin Sojeo and get 100,000 nyang, or lose 100,000 nyang and die by my hand, it’s up to you.”

“What should I do?”

“You need to do things that make the woman lose affection. Act arrogantly, pick fights, throw tantrums! Got it?”

Josin never thought he’d say such nasty things aloud. If he could, he would have ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) just killed him.

But he was desperate. Before the new spell stuck, he had to disgrace him somehow. He was furious to the core.

“Then give me the money first.”

“What?”

“I’ll do it if you pay 50,000 nyang now and another 50,000 after.”

“You bastard! Do you want to die?”

Josin raised his hand to strike, but Geommugeuk wasn’t afraid.

“That’s how deals work. I have to live too.”

“You rotten trash!”

At that moment, Jin Haryeong walked over. Josin lowered his hand and smoothed Geommugeuk’s clothes.

“Our servant really looks like a different person.”

Geommugeuk said,

“As I said before, it’s thanks to the lord.”

“Honestly, you gave the money for our Jin Sojeo.”

“You’re truly generous and wonderful.”

Geommugeuk didn’t spare praise for Josin.

Josin felt an uneasy sense as if he had opened something best left closed.

But he couldn’t back down.

He changed the topic.

“This time, I plan to make a big investment in the Martial Alliance from the main sect.”

When Josin brought up business, Geommugeuk stepped aside.

Josin boasted about his family and money, but Jin Haryeong kept looking at Geommugeuk chatting with other late-stage candidates. Especially when a female warrior laughed heartily at something Geommugeuk said, Jin Haryeong clenched her fist.

How could Josin not know her feelings?

Even though Josin stopped talking, Jin Haryeong kept staring only at Geommugeuk.

Josin’s expression hardened.

Suddenly, Jin Haryeong felt a chill and turned her head. Josin was silently staring at Geommugeuk. The snake she thought gone returned in her heart.

“Such a man is truly wasted as a servant, isn’t he?”

“What can you do about a fate you’re born with?”

Her answer sounded regretful. Josin was truly angry.

A pointless rage welled up.

He sent another secret message to the late-stage candidate he had told to talk to Jin Haryeong.

—Provoke a fight with that bastard. Beat him without mercy.

The message went to Ho Yeong (胡英).

Ho Yeong was an ambitious figure eager to impress Josin and grow his clan. So he accepted the order without hesitation.

Ho Yeong asked Geommugeuk,

“I see you carry a sword. Have you learned martial arts?”

“Yes.”

“How did a servant learn martial arts?”

“My master is a great man.”

“Can you teach me a move from that great man?”

Everyone looked curious.

When Jin Haryeong tried to stop him, Josin said to her,

“Aren’t you curious how much martial arts that servant learned?”

Of course, Jin Haryeong was curious, but worry came first.

“Still, he’s not at a level to fight late-stage candidates, right?”

“Ho is from a prestigious family; he won’t hurt that servant.”

Then Geommugeuk said to Ho Yeong,

“Using swords will cause injuries, so let’s compete with palm techniques.”

“Fine.”

Ho Yeong was secretly baffled. He hadn’t expected such a willing opponent.

If he pretended to break an arm or leg, Josin would be satisfied.

“Then please go easy.”

“Fine. In my whole life, I’ve served and competed in martial arts tournaments. What a great day this is.”

Ho Yeong was careless. Showing nervousness was embarrassing for him.

Ho Yeong’s fist flew toward Geommugeuk, who dodged not lightly but narrowly avoiding falling. Laughter burst out here and there.

Ho Yeong threw another punch; again, Geommugeuk rolled on the ground to dodge. Ho Yeong laughed looking around as if hunting Geommugeuk down.

“This is too boring…”

“Watch out!”

At that shout, Ho Yeong turned his head.

Bam!

Geommugeuk’s punch sent Ho Yeong flying. He had let his guard down and took a solid hit. As he fell, he broke a table, splattering food onto Josin’s clothes.

Josin, already furious, exploded.

“Damn it!”

Meanwhile, Geommugeuk rushed to check on the fallen Ho Yeong.

“Luckily, he’s not seriously hurt.”

Seeing Geommugeuk checking the opponent’s injury and contrasting with Josin’s cursing over food stains on his clothes made Josin embarrassed. Everyone said nothing, but the contempt in their eyes was clear.

What infuriated Josin most was that Jin Haryeong ignored him completely and only looked at Geommugeuk.

“Sorry, I got too excited.”

Geommugeuk apologized to the watching late-stage candidates.

Jin Haryeong stepped forward for him.

“This isn’t something to apologize for. The one who wasn’t focused on the match was at fault.”

Everyone nodded at Jin Haryeong’s words. At least in this fight, Ho Yeong had been careless, so he couldn’t blame Geommugeuk’s surprise attack.

Jin Haryeong said farewell to Josin.

“Well, I’ll go for today. You too.”

She took Geommugeuk and left the banquet hall. Behind them came the sound of crashing. No one knew what broke, but everyone knew who caused it.

Geommugeuk and Jin Haryeong walked back along the moonlit path.

She was worried about Geommugeuk again.

“This has made you more dangerous.”

Suddenly, Geommugeuk said,

“Friend.”

Jin Haryeong was startled.

“Why so surprised? Didn’t we agree to be friends?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Friend, you’re the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter, Hubei’s Number One Beauty, and a top contender in So-ryong-jeon. You’re at your best when proud and elegant. This worrying side of you doesn’t suit you.”

After a moment, Jin Haryeong said,

“Can I trust you then? Can you make sure I don’t die miserably and leave me with a lifetime of guilt?”

“I can.”

“Really? How can I believe that?”

“Because we’re friends. Trust your friend.”

“You said proud and elegant suits me, but I’m not that kind of woman. I’m thoughtful, worried, timid, don’t like meeting people, and don’t know how to heal wounds. So please, don’t scare me later.”

“All right, I won’t.”

It was ridiculous, but she believed Geommugeuk’s words. Without reason, she believed.

Then Geommugeuk said,

“Promise me one thing.”

“What promise?”

“If something strange and incomprehensible happens in your life, you’ll come find me and tell me.”

This wasn’t just about the Cheonmyeonghoe incident. It was also for when signs of that trouble inevitably come to the Martial Alliance someday.

“Moments like that in my life…”

No matter how much she thought,

“It’s now, isn’t it?”

Geommugeuk smiled faintly.

“Yes, whenever something strange and incomprehensible happens, promise me. Now, let’s go back.”

Jin Haryeong silently watched Geommugeuk’s retreating figure. She suddenly thought that, like he said, rather than needless worry, it was time to show the proud and elegant Hubei’s Number One Beauty.

She began to quicken her steps toward Geommugeuk, who waited ahead calling her.