“Where the hell have you been?”

Josin greeted Geommuguk with an angry face. He had been waiting quite a while at the guesthouse before finally meeting him.

“I was just out getting some fresh air.”

Josin couldn’t even imagine that Geommuguk had met his father and even the Martial Alliance Leader on his way back.

And that Josin himself was Geommuguk’s prey. He had come of his own free will, sticking his head into the tiger’s mouth.

“You sure are carefree for a mere servant.”

He pulled out a dagger from his chest. It was the dagger he wanted to give to Jin Haryeong but couldn’t—engraved with words congratulating his victory.

“Should I stab your master with this? Seems like a perfect ending for this whole mess.”

“The best ending for this matter would be if you, Lord Jo, married Jin Sojeo, and I received one hundred thousand nyang.”

“Then you better earn your keep.”

“You have to receive money before you can earn your keep.”

“How much do you think it’s worth, if I don’t stab your neck with this dagger?”

Josin was nervous that the marriage might not happen as planned. Especially since Cheolgon had come in person and pressured him for the wedding, Josin had to get it done somehow. He had never waited for anyone his whole life, yet here he was, waiting for Geommuguk at the guesthouse like a lover.

Geommuguk looked down at the dagger on the table and said,

“It’s time for a knockout.”

“A knockout? What knockout?”

“Living as the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader, how many heirs of noble families do you think she’s met? They all brag about their family, their money, their martial arts, but from her perspective, how pathetic and boring must that be?”

Not long ago, Josin himself had bragged about his money and family, so he had no words to say.

“We have to show her something different from noble heirs.”

“So what is that?”

“Pretty women, ugly women, kind women, mean women, young women, old women—there’s one knockout that will make them all fall. This.”

Geommuguk raised the dagger, attempting to stab Josin. Josin quickly grabbed Geommuguk’s wrist.

“You’re trying to kill me? Do you want to die?”

“This.”

“What?”

“Save her from danger. A man who saved her life. What more could she want?”

Josin’s eyes widened. He thought, This is it. How had he not thought of this before? He felt a late sense of regret.

“It’s an old-fashioned method handed down for hundreds of years, but it’s always effective. What in the world is stronger than a debt of life? But you have to plan carefully. Jin Sojeo is perceptive.”

Geommuguk already sensed that Josin was halfway convinced.

“Oh, and one more very important thing! You have to entrust it to someone reliable. If anything happens to Jin Sojeo, like injury or death, Lord Jo’s life will also be at risk.”

Geommuguk predicted that if Josin was connected to the Cheonmyeonghoe, he would seek help there. Such an important task could not be given to just anyone.

“You must never use anyone from the Jo family. If it gets revealed later, it would be a disaster. Is there a skilled and trustworthy person completely unrelated to this who could overpower Jin Sojeo?”

Upon hearing that, Josin thought of one person.

Cheolgon.

That terrifying man was definitely suitable for the task. Whether he would accept was uncertain, but there was hope. His mission was to marry Josin and Jin Haryeong as soon as possible. He had even come himself to press the matter, so he was eager too.

Geommuguk noticed Josin thinking of someone.

Feigning ignorance, Geommuguk said,

“Don’t drag me into that dangerous business! I’ve done all I have to.”

Of course, his tone implied please include me. People always want to do what they are told not to. And now Josin had every reason to want Geommuguk involved.

“You have to help me to the end.”

“I absolutely hate dangerous things.”

Josin imagined the moment he would appear to save the servant and Jin Haryeong when they were in danger. Showing a contrast to that incompetent guy. Yeah, no need to complicate things. This would be the end.

“And you have to bring Jin Sojeo out. If I bring her and the villain appears, everyone will think I manipulated everything.”

“Fine. I’ll help. I have to get paid too. If this happens after Jin Sojeo officially joins the Alliance, the Martial Alliance will launch an official investigation.”

Even without that reason, Josin’s mind was restless.

“Don’t leave the guesthouse until I contact you.”

“Understood.”

Josin hurried away. Geommuguk quietly followed behind.

At a shabby warehouse near the Martial Alliance, Josin met Cheolgon.

“I told you not to contact me unless it’s a matter of life and death.”

“This is that important. I need your help just this once.”

“What is it?”

“If you help, you can marry Jin Haryeong.”

Cheolgon made a face as if to say What nonsense is this?

“Kidnap her. Then I’ll appear and rescue her.”

Cheolgon almost swore in disbelief.

“Listen, Lord Jo. Are you drunk?”

“To be honest, I talked big, but Jin Sojeo has no intention of marrying me right now.”

Josin was honest. He judged that pleading would work better than schemes on this cold, scary man.

“If I pressure her to marry me now, how could I? If it was another woman, I’d force the marriage by threat if needed, but she’s the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter. I’m desperate enough to try this.”

“Do you really think such a cheap trick will work?”

“That’s why I need you. Someone capable enough to fool Jin Haryeong. Someone who can surely subdue her without hurting her.”

“So you want me to overpower Jin Haryeong, then you’ll show up to save her? You think she’d believe that if you chased me away with your skills?”

Cheolgon thought Josin was weaker than Jin Haryeong.

“Why do you think I’m weaker than Jin Haryeong?”

Josin revealed his qi. It was sharp and not inferior even compared to Jin Haryeong. Josin had a hidden trump card.

“Your mission is to marry me to Jin Haryeong, right? If you miss this chance, you’ll never complete your task. Honestly, I don’t care. You want to force the marriage; what do I care?”

Cheolgon thought about it. Though it was a ridiculous proposal, if it worked and they married, he would have completed his mission.

“You want me to grow into a big tree? Then sometimes you have to fertilize the sapling to grow it well, right?”

After a moment’s thought, Cheolgon nodded.

“All right. Let’s try.”

Cheolgon’s acceptance made Josin’s face brighten.

“Oh, and make that servant idiot a cripple during the process. Cut off an arm, cut off a leg.”

Cheolgon openly showed annoyance.

“If you hate him so much, why not just kill him?”

“I want to see how she reacts when he’s in a miserable state.”

Josin coldly smiled imagining the servant crippled. Did Jin Haryeong feel sorry and keep that guy for life? Absolutely not.

“If he shows such self-sacrifice, I’ll respect him.”

He just wanted to see that Jin Haryeong was a petty, worthless woman.

Josin still thought Jin Haryeong was a filthy woman who cared for the servant instead of him. Even if married, he would never love her.

Cheolgon secretly thought Josin was pathetic. Maybe because he was stupid or young, but he would never think like that himself.

“Let me know when time and place are set.”

Cheolgon left first, Josin followed.

Two others appeared at the place they vanished: Geommuguk and Martial Alliance Leader Jin Paecheon. Jin Paecheon had announced a retreat for several days but was secretly moving with Geommuguk.

Jin Paecheon was shocked by Josin’s true nature. He had to forcibly hold back the urge to rush out and smash him.

“Why aren’t we capturing that Cheonmyeonghoe guy here?”

“Our target isn’t that guy. Even if he’s skilled, he’s just a disposable pawn. No matter how much we interrogate, it won’t lead to the Cheonmyeonghoe leader.”

From appearances so far, the Cheonmyeonghoe leader wasn’t someone who could be caught by wiping out one subordinate.

“Then what’s the plan?”

“Our target is Josin.”

“What will you do with Josin?”

“We’ll push him to the gates of hell. When Josin is backed into a corner, let’s see how Jo Ibaek reacts. He’s the one who will lead us to the Cheonmyeonghoe leader.”

Jin Paecheon admired Geommuguk’s intelligence and relentless drive. If not for the heretic Ma Lord, he would have done anything to make Geommuguk his son-in-law.

But Geommuguk was a potential enemy to orthodox martial arts. Too dangerous.

Hiding those thoughts, Jin Paecheon said bluntly,

“Four days left.”

The next day, Jin Haryeong put on her treasured martial robe and left her residence.

Geommuguk had invited her to Dongho (East Lake).

Riding horses, she felt good all the way. At times like this, she confirmed how hypocritical she was.

The better she felt, the more painful it was.

Behind these feelings was the idea that she could never marry the servant, or didn’t want to.

And she knew she could never cross that line of status.

While thinking this, they arrived at Dongho.

After silently staring at the lake for a while, Geommuguk spoke first.

“Someone said you have to be better at parting than meeting.”

“Why say that all of a sudden?”

“I’m leaving in a few days.”

“What?”

“Thanks for everything.”

She was surprised by Geommuguk’s words.

“Where are you going?”

“My hometown.”

She felt regret. She liked being alone and had few friends, but none that felt this close. She wanted to say don’t go but didn’t.

But she wasn’t responsible for his life. If he joined the Martial Alliance, he’d be busy and they wouldn’t meet often.

“Later, become the Martial Alliance Leader.”

“What?”

Just then, someone ambushed her from behind. Distracted by Geommuguk, she didn’t notice the approach.

Turning around in surprise.

Cheolgon, masked, quickly subdued her acupuncture point. Overwhelmed by skill and surprise, she couldn’t resist.

Of course, Geommuguk had sensed the approach from afar, preparing for any eventuality. There might have been other variables.

Cheolgon’s gaze turned to Geommuguk.

Jin Haryeong shouted,

“No! Not him! Don’t kill him!”

She thought the masked man would kill Geommuguk. If she was the target, there was no way he’d spare the servant.

“No! Please! Let him go!”

Despite her desperate cries, Cheolgon stepped forward and aimed to cut off Geommuguk’s arm with one stroke.

At that moment!

Cheolgon’s sword stopped midair. A huge presence was felt behind him. Goosebumps rose all over, survival instincts screamed to flee. Any other time, he would have run without looking back.

But his body wouldn’t move. He was drowning in an endless sea with no island or boat around.

Desperately pulling up his inner energy, he turned his body.

A massive tsunami rose before him—Martial Alliance Leader Jin Paecheon was standing right behind.

“Damn!”

Trying desperately to escape again, he was subdued in an instant. Even the best couldn’t last a second against Jin Paecheon.

Cheolgon couldn’t understand this.

Originally, after cutting the servant’s limbs, Josin was supposed to appear and rescue her. So why not?

If things had gone wrong, Josin should show up now, explain with a smile, say he played a prank to get on Jin Haryeong’s good side, and smooth ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) things over. Say he’s my subordinate.

But Josin never appeared.

A chilling thought came to his spine.

Had Josin sold him out to the Martial Alliance? Otherwise Josin wouldn’t have failed to show.

Meanwhile, Geommuguk noticed Josin hiding in the distant forest.

The split between Cheolgon and Josin was exactly what Geommuguk wanted.

Josin watched from the forest, shocked by the leader’s appearance.

What would he say to the leader? That he disguised the kidnapping to rescue her? Then the marriage would be forever ruined. And how explain Cheolgon?

He couldn’t just stay there. He couldn’t let Cheolgon be caught like that.

He wanted to leave but couldn’t move his feet. He thought he was afraid of the leader, but it was actually Geommuguk’s qi pushing him back invisibly. He was too scared and confused to notice.

“Damn it!”

Eventually, Josin decided to retreat first and manage the situation. Turning away, his body moved without control. He left without looking back.

Jin Paecheon released the acupuncture point from Cheolgon.

“Grandfather! Why did you come here?”

“I’ll explain everything later.”

Now it was important to proceed with the plan.

Jin Paecheon and Geommuguk nodded at each other.

Jin Paecheon lifted the subdued Cheolgon in his side and soared into the air, vanishing instantly. His ascent technique was truly admirable.

Jin Haryeong asked Geommuguk,

“What is all this about?”

She sensed something was happening that she didn’t know.

“Let’s go back too. No time for this here. Can you handle dizziness when using lightness skill?”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you handle it?”

“I’ve never felt dizzy while using it.”

“If you feel dizzy, close your eyes tight. Don’t vomit on my back.”

Geommuguk turned and lowered his body.

“Get on my back. No time, hurry.”

The situation was serious, so she climbed on Geommuguk’s back. You want to run while carrying me? Why? I’m not even hurt. She was just watching to see what would happen.

“You worried I’d get dizzy if I ran carrying you? Aaaaaah!”