Geom Mugeuk lay on the roof, gazing up at the sky.

It was very unusual to see him looking upward like this — he usually stared only at white walls.

At that moment, someone spoke beside him.

“Even if you look at the sky, you only choose the white clouds, right?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes behind the mask brightened with a smile.

“Did you return safely?”

“Thanks to you, yes.”

The person speaking was Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk rose to his feet. Then Duke Dok entered the courtyard. Duke Dok’s appearance always gave off a clear and calm impression.

But this time, Geom Mugeuk had definitely experienced how terrifying he truly was beneath that fresh exterior. His poison mastery was art, and its results were deadly. He was the only person who could put his hand into the poison pouch of the heretic world’s top poison master.

Sensing their gazes, Duke Dok spread his fan with a soft whoosh and gracefully entered.

Geom Mugeuk stood and lightly bowed with folded hands.

“You have worked hard.”

“Not at all. I just followed the plan. The plan was excellent.”

Then Geom Mugeuk said,

“If it weren’t for Duke Dok, we would never have pulled this off.”

Now he truly understood why his father valued Duke Dok and why the martial world feared him.

Duke Dok looked up at Geom Mugeuk and asked,

“Do you say that to everyone you meet?”

Geom Mugeuk knew what he meant—he wanted to hear that.

“Yes. Until the last time I speak to my father.”

A satisfied look crossed Duke Dok’s eyes upon hearing the words he wanted.

With a soft rustle, he closed his fan and walked inside.

“Ah. After being in the brain prison, looking at the sky feels so good.”

Geom Mugeuk sat while Geom Mugeuk and Duke Dok both stared at the sky.

After a moment, someone entered through the front gate and said,

“I’m back.”

Seodaeryong had returned from the town with food. His arms and hands were full of fresh ingredients to cook.

“I’ll prepare the meal. Please wait a moment.”

Seodaeryong spoke looking at the ground.

Long green onions covered his face, but he wasn’t ignoring them. He just couldn’t meet Geom Mugeuk’s eyes.

“There were many fresh ingredients today. I learned a dish from the inn’s cook that we hadn’t made before. I’ll make it delicious for you.”

Seodaeryong muttered awkwardly without meeting Geom Mugeuk’s gaze. Geom Mugeuk smiled watching him, knowing he hadn’t even noticed Geom Mugeuk was there.

“Thank you, as always.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Seodaeryong’s gaze sank further into the ground.

“Of course it’s my duty. Oh, and last night I dreamed that Master Lee was coming back. Our Master Lee has a knack for making us miss him secretly.”

Geom Mugeuk said to him,

“I should have not come until you missed me desperately.”

Startled, Seodaeryong looked up.

“Master Lee!”

Ingredients fell from Seodaeryong’s arms, wide-eyed.

Whish—

The falling ingredients floated in the air by Geom Mugeuk’s telekinetic technique. Just as keys floated in the prison, now onions, vegetables, and meat hovered.

Seodaeryong hurriedly collected them.

Seodaeryong couldn’t hide his delight holding the abundant ingredients. Geom Mugeuk knew that if Geom Mugeuk hadn’t been there, he would have flown to the roof and hugged him tight, buried in green onions.

“Go tell that boy. We have taken revenge, so live your life.”

Seodaeryong choked up as he listened. He had been thinking about that boy throughout the journey.

“Yes, I will surely tell him that this is the next Cheonma’s martial way.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“My brother might hear it too.”

Then Seodaeryong quickly added,

“I will also tell him this is the disciple’s martial way.”

Geom Mugeuk leapt up.

“Let’s eat. I’m hungry. Hey, are you crying?”

“Not crying. The onions are just too spicy.”

With the uncut onions, Seodaeryong went inside.

Before following, Geom Mugeuk looked up at Geom Mugeuk standing on the roof.

Their eyes met, and they nodded slightly.

Though they always ate separately, Geom Mugeuk always met his eyes like this before meals. It made him feel like they were eating together.

In the evening, Gowol and Pungcheon Gyoju joined.

“Disciple!”

“Master!”

The two were always the same.

“Now the filthy and dangerous medicines won’t be circulating anymore.”

Pungcheon Gyoju praised Geom Mugeuk and Duke Dok’s efforts.

“Duke Dok, you worked hard too.”

“It was a good experience.”

“Must have been interesting.”

Pungcheon Gyoju was secretly envious. Having devoted so much to me, I thought to spend some time with him separately someday.

After greetings, we all sat together.

While we took care of Aecha and True Poison Master, Gowol had completed research on the next target.

“The next target is Yeobulgye (呂不改).”

Before his explanation, I asked a question.

“After two died in succession, wouldn’t Yalyulhan be suspicious?”

“Of course he will. But what can we do? The subordinates witnessed the two fighting with blades. Plus, one was intoxicated with frenzy. They will have to think it was just bad luck.”

“No need to call in the remaining two?”

“No. Also, Yalyulhan is someone who hates yielding to outside pressure.”

Going further,

“Since it already happened, they will look for replacements. He’s not the type to look back.”

“There must be many people. Heretic world’s second-in-command is allying with top heretic masters, lining up.”

At that moment, Pungcheon Gyoju spoke up.

“If Yeobulgye dies too, then their thoughts will change. They won’t believe it’s just coincidence three times.”

Hearing that, Gowol laid out the next plan.

“So before Yalyulhan learns of Yeobulgye’s death, we plan to eliminate Yalyulhan.”

“What about the last of the Four Elite Guards?”

“He always stays close to Yalyulhan. He must be dealt with as well.”

Kill Yeobulgye, and before his death is known, eliminate Yalyulhan and his last subordinate — in other words, take out all three almost simultaneously.

“Good! Let’s do that.”

I agreed without hesitation.

“Thanks. I’ll submit detailed plans soon.”

Then Duke Dok suddenly asked.

“If we kill Yalyulhan, Satan Alliance will suspect us, right?”

I answered on Gowol’s behalf.

“I have one solution for that. Not sure if it will work yet.”

Duke Dok looked at me with disbelief. Honestly, I didn’t know either. I had no idea what awaited us.

“First, tell me about Yeobulgye.”

Gowol explained.

“Yeobulgye has a rat tattoo on his chest. He manages hundreds of brothels in Central Plains and is called the King of Night. He tattooed a rat as a sign of his intent to make money at night without sleeping.”

“What’s his personality?”

“He’s equally cruel. Kidnapping women, stealing daughters from houses fallen into disgrace and into the Flame King’s domain, using all sorts of vile means to create his Nightless City. He has immense lust, many women suffered at his hands. There are rumors old courtesans sell their bodies to men learning strange sexual arts.”

If Jisaeng had to die because of the celestial herb, and Aecha and True Poison Master died from frenzy, then he too deserved to die.

Having received permission from my father to deal with Yalyulhan and the Four Elite Guards, I intended to take out every last one. If not us and the Majons, who else could eliminate the King of Night? Especially one protected by Satan Alliance’s second-in-command.

“He is expanding brothels across Central Plains, recently trying to expand into Guizhou.”

At that moment,

Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“Guizhou?”

“Yes.”

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned cold.

Guizhou housed Cheonhwa Pavilion. The woman Cheonhwaju Yeojung, who liked Geom Mugeuk, was there too.

Geom Mugeuk looked at me. Without a word, I said,

“This time, I will assist Soma.”

Geom Mugeuk nodded and stood up, then left.

Everyone looked at me, but it wasn’t my place to explain.

“We leave early for Guizhou tomorrow. Prepare yourselves.”

After the meeting, Gowol and I shared tea.

“This matter needs more care.”

I told Gowol about Cheonhwa Pavilion, Yeojung, and the relationship with Geom Mugeuk. At least the military needed to know.

“The net heaven spread is flawless.”

I silently nodded.

Learning Geom Mugeuk had a deep connection to Cheonhwa Pavilion, Gowol worried.

“If we slip, our identities might be exposed.”

“Soma knows well. No need for great worry.”

“When someone you like gets involved, unexpected variables arise.”

“There are no variables. You can trust me.”

Gowol smiled at my confidence.

“Why the smile?”

“I wondered if Master Lee has someone he trusts so much.”

“You know, Investigator Seo, Ian, Lord Jang — all trust him equally.”

Yet there seemed something special about Geom Mugeuk.

“May I ask something?”

“What?”

“Have you considered that those you trust might betray you?”

He seemed concerned seeing how deeply I bonded with people.

“Planned betrayals are rare, right? Unless someone is bribed, most betray because of disappointment or other reasons.”

Gowol nodded, listening carefully.

“Disappointment is subjective. Leaving due to disappointment may label one a traitor. Sometimes the one who lets go is the real betrayer.”

I shared my belief about parting ways.

“If someone wants to leave me, I will see them off with more respect than when we met. I won’t call them traitors.”

Gowol smiled.

“In times like this, you seem like the older brother rather than me.”

“Because I’m an old kid.”

I must have more sincere talks with Gowol. The more he understands me, the better soldier he’ll be. Without such effort, only traitors will be made.

At that moment, someone appeared.

“Can I join?”

It was Pungcheon Gyoju.

“Of course.”

He sat with us.

“Looks like you lost some weight.”

As if waiting to hear it, Pungcheon Gyoju’s expression brightened.

“Someone keeps nagging me. I have no choice but to lose weight. Men should have sturdy charm.”

Gowol, serious before, now showed a different side.

“The Gyoju was once fat.”

“I know. That’s why I’m training hard!”

Due to Pungcheon Gyoju’s martial arts, not moving much caused more weight gain.

“You still have to lose more. Not done yet.”

“Enough nagging! Bring wine and meat! We’ll finish it all today!”

If one only heard this conversation, who would think this man was Pungcheon Gyoju? Who would think he was the shackled man from before?

Seodaeryong joined.

“How was it? With Soma?”

“Scary.”

“Not just scary, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you came back buying food, you talked a lot.”

“Don’t you know people talk more when scared?”

But it wasn’t just fear.

“Honestly, it was bittersweet. Every time I brought food to Soma, my heart thumped so loudly I could hear it. That strange tension, it’s addictive.”

Then someone spoke from behind.

“Addiction is my specialty.”

It was Duke Dok.

“What are four men doing drinking tea?”

He didn’t like alcohol but sat down anyway, making a remark.

“We were talking about Investigator Seo’s addiction to Soma.”

“Soma isn’t easy to please, I bet.”

Seodaeryong took the chance to tell us,

“I wasn’t going to say this… but Soma is a picky eater. He ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) doesn’t eat the same food consecutively. So I wander the marketplace like a rain-soaked wolf, wondering what side dish to buy today, what to cook tomorrow…”

Then Seodaeryong saw everyone’s eyes turned behind him.

He frowned.

“...No, please say it’s not true.”

Geom Mugeuk sat beside Seodaeryong and said,

“I was raised delicately, so I’m a bit picky.”

Seodaeryong bowed deeply.

“I’m tight-lipped. Kill me.”

“For every bit my mouth has shortened, your lifespan shortened too. That’s fine.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s joke, Seodaeryong grabbed his head and everyone laughed.

Geom Mugeuk looked perfectly fine. He seemed happier and more cheerful than usual. That’s when I realized.

“Yeobulgye, you’re in big trouble.”