That night, in Jin Haryeong’s sleepless chamber, an unexpected visitor arrived—her grandfather, Jin Paecheon.

“Still awake?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we take a walk, just the two of us?”

“Sounds good.”

She walked out with Jin Paecheon. The warriors guarding the area stepped aside and concealed themselves respectfully.

“You’ve been worried because of me lately, haven’t you? I’m sorry, Grandfather.”

Jin Paecheon didn’t mention it, but he showed no sign of anger.

“You attended the banquet today?”

“Yes. It was hosted by Lord Jo of Jinryongjang.”

“How was it?”

He had never asked such a question before. If he had attended, he would have known Geommugeuk was there as well.

“Grandfather, have you ever had an impression of someone—like an animal or something else—when you looked at them?”

“I have. Even recently.”

The person Jin Paecheon recalled was Geommugeuk. The surprise and shock when he blocked Jin Paecheon’s momentum still lingered in his mind.

“This time, for the first time, I saw a snake when I looked at someone.”

Though she didn’t say Josin’s name, her grandfather knew who she meant.

Interestingly, Jin Paecheon didn’t ask who it was.

One might have expected him to defend Josin, but he showed no special reaction.

Taking advantage of the private moment, Jin Haryeong candidly expressed her feelings about Josin.

“Even if I must enter a political marriage, it won’t be with Lord Jo.”

Then Jin Paecheon said something unexpected.

“I have no intention of marrying you to Lord Jo.”

“Really?”

“I already have everything I need. Why would I want more?”

His firm words made Jin Haryeong smile brightly. Truly, her grandfather was a remarkable man.

“I knew you’d say that.”

She linked her arm with his.

“What’s a grown girl like you doing?”

“Just walking like this a bit.”

Jin Paecheon looked at his granddaughter with a loving smile. She was the only joy in his arduous life as leader. It seemed like just yesterday ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) she toddled around, yet she had grown so much.

“Were you ever upset with me?”

“No. I understand, Grandfather. What grandfather would like to see his granddaughter mixing with servants?”

“It’s not because he’s a servant.”

“Really?”

Jin Paecheon didn’t explain why. He must have thought it unnecessary to reveal Geommugeuk’s true identity.

Changing the subject, he asked,

“How is the So-ryong-jeon going?”

“I’m doing my best.”

“Confident you can win?”

“As you know, I’ve worked hard for this tournament. I will definitely win!”

Knowing that, Jin Paecheon hesitated. Honestly, he wanted to advise her to forfeit. Even knowing that the Cheonmyeonghoe had intervened, he wished she wouldn’t get involved.

But knowing her efforts, he couldn’t bring himself to tell his granddaughter to give up.

“Do your best.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

They walked a long time under the moonlight. Jin Paecheon noticed that with every step, his granddaughter recalled someone.

He guessed who it was… hoping it was only a fleeting youthful fever.

Returning from training, Seo Daeryong was in high spirits.

“Do you know how many people recognized me on the way back?”

“More precisely, how many girls pretended to know you?”

“You’re so sharp. How many?”

“That depends on how slowly you walked.”

On busy roads, especially where there were many women, Seo Daeryong would use his “turtle skill” to slow down. Then, if someone recognized him, he’d run up excited like a rabbit.

“Five?”

Seo Daeryong flinched.

“How did you know?”

“I analyzed your current excitement level.”

“No way. Were you protecting me? Worried I’d be in danger?”

“Oh! Now that you mention it, maybe. I’d never thought you’d be in danger.”

“...Because I’m reliable?”

“...Of course.”

“No! You forgot! What if I’m in danger and you just leave me?”

“Well, you get into danger, get taken hostage, get hurt—that’s how you become a true warrior. Why complain? You know that.”

“I refuse! I want to live quietly, uninjured, not caught up in conspiracies, just as an investigator training hard at Hwangcheong Gak. I train martial arts for health!”

“Upset? Because I don’t care?”

“No.”

“Actually, not caring might help you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if someone notices us, if I don’t care at all, they won’t see you as worth using. They’d think messing with you only risks revealing themselves.”

“Oh! You thought that far.”

“Of course. Better to live like a normal person.”

At that moment, Seo Daeryong looked out the guesthouse window.

“There’s our lord’s supporter coming.”

The person walking up was Josin. Seo Daeryong teased him mercilessly about shaving and getting new clothes.

“Well then, let’s scatter like normal people.”

Seo Daeryong hurried up the stairs.

A while later, Josin entered the guesthouse and sat across from me.

“Would you like some noodles? They’re delicious here.”

Josin sneered, as if now was no time to eat noodles.

Watching Josin, I thought that even villains need time to mature. The Josin who was the Sinryongga head and the Josin now were as different as my shaved and unshaved self.

“Should you have won that match yesterday? Or should you have gotten beaten?”

“I don’t know. Sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t enough. Jin Sojeo’s fallen for you even more.”

Josin drew a dagger.

“There’s no choice but to turn that proud face of yours into a checkerboard.”

If Josin had been younger, he might have taken me to the best restaurant in the area with a bright smile instead of drawing a dagger. He’d feed and flatter me to get what he wanted, never revealing his feelings until he succeeded. That would have made him harder to handle, like facing a Ma Jon. But now Josin was in my palm.

“You’d gain Jin Sojeo’s heart by using me. I know women’s hearts well. If I help, you can marry Jin Sojeo.”

Josin knew he had to marry Jin Haryeong. Rejecting this offer would be difficult.

“You think you know anything?”

“If I knew nothing, how could I have made Jin Sojeo fall for me?”

“All planned?”

“Of course. Every word and action is planned. Matters of love can’t be rushed.”

There was a wandering ronin who was a former womanizer. During breaks, he told stories that could easily entice Josin.

“What’s your motive for helping me?”

“Money, of course.”

“Now I see you’re quite something.”

Until the winner appears, Josin must be kept from causing trouble. When Cheonmyeonghoe approaches the winner in earnest, Josin’s behavior will reveal if he’s involved.

Until then, I must be the kind of man who scams women for money. So Josin can confide secrets in me—not because he trusts me, but because I’m the one who will kill him when it’s over.

“Do you know why Jin Sojeo avoids Lord Jo?”

“What?”

“She’s independent and hates forced marriage. Her rejecting Lord Jo and liking me is rebellion.”

Josin’s expression softened slightly. It meant it wasn’t because of him she disliked Lord Jo.

“Did she say that?”

“Must she say it? You can tell by her expressions.”

“So?”

“She’s focused on So-ryong-jeon. Pushing for marriage now won’t work. You should cheer for her to win.”

Josin nodded as if this was new to him. Men like Josin always think only of themselves, lacking understanding or consideration.

“Congratulate her on her match days.”

“Congratulate? Should I bring flowers or gifts?”

“Maybe if she wins, but winning the top eight would make gifts a burden. Just congratulate her verbally.”

“Then I should prepare a gift for winning.”

“Smart! Martial arts, family, even looks. Lord Jo is perfect in every way. If he chooses the right approach, Jin Sojeo won’t refuse.”

Josin smiled at my praise but his eyes still held unmistakable murderous intent. He was imagining the moment he’d use me and then kill me.

“You cunning bastard! If she sees the real you, she’ll be terrified and run.”

Standing, I said,

“Make sure you prepare 100,000 nyang!”

When I vanish like smoke from the Martial Alliance, this little villain who will be a future commander will disappear with me.

The moment Jin Haryeong extended her hand and asked to be friends with her servant was the moment she grabbed hold of her new life—not my hand.

Two days later, Seo Daeryong won in the top eight.

However, during the match, he suffered a deep wound when pierced in the shoulder by the opponent’s sword.

The attending warriors rushed over, carrying him to a tent where a medic awaited.

I ran after them.

While being carried, Seo Daeryong sent me a secret message.

—If I die, tell our drinking group comrades! This Seo Daeryong fought bravely and died without regret!

—If you have any last words, leave them. Should we give Lord Jang the right-hand position?

—No!

—Then who? Ian?

—No!

—Then who?

—I won’t give up that spot even if I become a ghost.

The medic finished treatment.

Fortunately, Seo Daeryong’s life was not in danger, but the wound was deep.

The Martial Alliance medic applied gold-talisman medicine and prescribed pills, recommending rest.

Back at the guesthouse, I sat Seo Daeryong down.

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

I infused a stream of internal energy through his back. My vital energy slowly flowed along his meridians, soothing the injury. Whether this was done affected how quickly he recovered.

“Thank you, it’s much better.”

“Don’t worry. I checked and luckily no vital meridians or bones were damaged.”

Seo Daeryong’s skill level made top eight his limit. His narrow win was thanks to luck, talent, and effort.

But he seemed determined to keep pushing.

“Can I enter the top four matches with this arm?”

Knowing his desire, I deliberately did not stop him.

“You have to. Bandage it tight and win, even if you can’t use one arm. This is too important.”

His answer surprised me.

“Yes.”

His obedient reply made me jump.

“Yes? You should say no! What’s a match worth if your arm gets hurt? Question it!”

“There’s too much riding on this.”

“What is it? What’s so important about the Martial Alliance tournament?”

“It’s the lord’s successor test. I have to win to pursue those guys.”

I stared at Seo Daeryong’s face. His eyes full of loyalty and passion finally avoided mine. Captured.

“You’re trying to impress and slip away?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Of course. That wasn’t like you at all. You’re the type who won’t give up an arm even if the sky falls.”

“Well done, Seo Daeryong! You’re great! Making the top four is enough! Praise!”

He laughed at my teasing and I laughed too, until he suddenly screamed from the pain.

“Ah! It hurts! Stop joking!”

“You’re the joke! Rest.”

As I left the room, Seo Daeryong asked,

“Really can’t go?”

His tone was serious now, wanting to continue.

“No.”

“It’s not just the successor test, but because of me. I felt a lot during this tournament. I want to try till the end.”

A silence fell.

“Investigator Seo, that path is hard to walk back from.”

“What path?”

“The path where you bandage your injured arm, bleed all over, limp, lose an eye, but keep going.”

That was how I was when gathering materials for the last great law.

Because I had lived that life, I wanted to stop him. Because I knew better than anyone how much it shaped a martial artist, I could not forbid him.

But once you cross that line and taste that world, you can no longer live quietly as a Hwangcheong Gak investigator training martial arts for health.

“At least this once, I want to try.”

“The next opponent will be hard to beat, even without injury.”

“Tell me the way.”

“If you overdo it, you might never use your arm again.”

“Then I’ll be your right arm. Or left arm, I guess.”

“You could suffer worse injuries.”

“Then let’s rest while we’re at it.”

The resolve in Seo Daeryong’s eyes matched my own from the past.

“Then don’t just sit there.”

He jumped up.

“Your fate always changes in the guesthouse.”

“You’re always there.”

Was it really the place or me? It must be that stubborn little man’s unwavering decisions.

I took him and left the guesthouse.

Burning with determination, Seo Daeryong shouted,

“Now, the training from hell begins!”

We strode toward the mountain where we trained.

I said,

“Not there, this way.”

I changed direction.

“There’s a place we must stop by first.”

We went together to the Central Plains battlefield. I withdrew 500,000 nyang there.

“Why are you withdrawing so much money?”

“We’re not going to hell. Training in hell with injuries would only ruin our bodies more.”

“Then where are we going?”

“Paradise.”

Startled, Seo Daeryong looked at me with a meaningful smile.

“We’re going to paradise. A paradise with a very expensive entry fee.”