I felt relieved that the traitor was the Spirit Mazon.

What if the traitor had been one of the other Mazons? Even if he lived another life in this reincarnation, I wouldn’t have felt at ease seeing him.

Now I could guess one thing.

There was Baek Cheong-gyeong in the Martial Alliance, and the Spirit Mazon at the main sect, so surely someone in the Satan Alliance was plotting as well.

I even felt hope. Until now, the Flower Weapon had seemed like a natural disaster—an unstoppable, absolute force of nature. But now I understood those events were the result of meticulous preparations over many years.

Cheongseon’s eyes returned fully to normal.

Regaining her senses, she saw Saujong’s corpse before her and sighed deeply.

Then, seeing me there, she was startled.

“Little Pill Master?”

She immediately blamed herself. She knew everything except that she had been under spirit control. She clearly remembered applying the spirit control technique on Saujong because she couldn’t endure it.

“I fell for his provocation.”

Looking at the corpse with a complicated expression, she seemed regretful, as they had once been close in body. Now it ended in tragedy.

“I have no face to meet the Little Pill Master.”

Her voice trembled slightly. She seemed truly sorry and embarrassed for having killed Saujong after entrusting him to me.

“I can’t understand him at all. That man acted like he wanted to die to me. He did the same before, but today he was clearly determined.”

Since it was done, I comforted her.

“He wanted to die by a Mazon’s hand. If he was determined and provoked, there was no choice.”

“No. No matter what he said, I should have endured more.”

She was genuinely remorseful. Yes, to live as a Mazon, she must control her emotions no matter the provocation. This would be a great lesson for her.

“He deserved to die. But Saujong was a martial artist from the Northern Sword Family, so we can’t just bury this case.”

Worry crossed Cheongseon’s face. If this issue became public, it would cause scandal.

“Mazon.”

“Yes, Little Pill Master.”

“Can you trust me to the end?”

Her eyes trembled slightly. Being a source of strength when someone is cornered is a great responsibility. She nodded.

“Leave the rest to me. For now, go back. The corpse will be handled by Hwangcheongak.”

As she was about to leave, she asked me,

“How did you find this place?”

I couldn’t tell her about Hwanyeo.

“I was secretly monitoring Saujong. There was a report that he was going to meet a Mazon, so I came to see what his intentions were.”

“I see. Though I’m sorry to say this, I’ll leave the aftermath to you, Little Pill Master.”

Cheongseon bowed respectfully and left.

Alone, I looked down at Saujong’s corpse. He said he knew Ilhwa Sword Lord’s weakness, but that died with him.

Hwanyeo.

Just as before regression, her nature was the same—using someone fully, then disposing of them.

If Hwanyeo was in the garden, where was Hwanwang? Nearby? Or somewhere else?

After leaving the guest hall, I headed straight back to Hwangcheongak.

Seodaeryong was curious about my sudden departure mid-conversation. If he hadn’t mentioned the flowerpot, I might not have thought of Hwanyeo.

“Saujong is dead.”

Seodaeryong was surprised. He had just been reporting on Saujong’s surveillance. Hearing he was dead so soon was startling.

“As expected! When the Little Pill Master rushes out, the villains inevitably die.”

Half-joking, half-serious, I shook my head.

“This time, it wasn’t me.”

“Then who killed him?”

“The Spirit Mazon.”

Seodaeryong asked in shock,

“What exactly happened?”

I only told Seodaeryong that the mastermind was the garden’s owner.

“That woman used Saujong to cast spirit control on the Spirit Mazon.”

“Is that possible? Ah, although the Spirit Mazon is still young.”

“Still not an easy task. Those opponents aren’t to be underestimated.”

Seodaeryong’s expression grew serious. A conspiracy against a Mazon was grave.

“Do you know who the garden woman is?”

Even Seodaeryong couldn’t be told her true identity as Hwanyeo, so I shook my head.

“Stop special surveillance and instead monitor the garden quietly with skilled people. These are people plotting against the Mazons. Only track their major movements from afar. And send executioners to retrieve Saujong’s corpse.”

“Understood.”

It was unpredictable how Hwanyeo would act next. Since she cast spirit control, she might leave or stay nearby to manage the control on the Spirit Mazon.

“What will you do now?”

This matter couldn’t be solved by me and Hwangcheongak alone. Although the spirit control didn’t affect me, I couldn’t remove it from others.

“I’ll send a letter ordering the only person who can resolve this to return immediately.”

“Who?”

“The only one. But two will come.”

“I lost.”

The old man admitted defeat. He was famous nearby for his skill at Go. About a month ago, a young man came seeking lessons, paying for each game.

At first, they played handicap games because of the skill gap, but the young man improved with each game and eventually defeated him. His skill increased so fast it was hard to believe.

“How did your skill grow so quickly? Were you deceiving me from the start?”

The student was Gowol. He smiled, left the lesson fee beside the board, and stood.

“This has been a good learning experience.”

It was a farewell signifying he would no longer come.

“One more game!”

But the old man had already lost three consecutive games.

“Don’t be too upset. It’s thanks to your teacher’s good instruction.”

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader watching nearby spoke to the old man.

“That’s right. The student was always a Go master. A sly fellow who tricked the old man to show a comeback.”

But the old man didn’t agree, and the angry remark bounced back on the Sect Leader.

“You look even slyer yourself.”

The Sect Leader squatted beside the old man.

“Oh, maybe it’s because you only play Go you don’t know people well. I’ve never been called sly in my life.”

“Everyone was cautious because you looked sly. Probably never had a chance to be sly yourself.”

The Sect Leader’s teasing backfired, and he got angry.

“I’m a martial arts master. Don’t speak so recklessly.”

“I’m eighty-seven in two days. What will you do?”

The two exchanged fierce glares. The old man, unafraid of death, won the stare-down.

From afar, Gowol called out.

“What are you doing? Hurry up!”

The Sect Leader angrily scattered the stones on the Go board.

“Being old is great!”

Gowol jumped lightly and descended to the gate where the Sect Leader stood. From behind came the old man’s shout, “Sly fellow!”

They left the house.

“Being old means nothing to fear.”

“Not that he’s not afraid. It’s because he’s noticed the Sect Leader’s kindness. He read all the moves.”

“Why do you treat him so kindly but look down on him so much?”

“Honestly, I haven’t treated him kindly. I just kept complaining nearby about being bored, hungry, and when it would end.”

“What? You became friends with the Go teacher so fast? Did you two plot this?”

Gowol smiled and quickened his steps.

“Now let’s go to the next branch.”

“Again? Now that I’m a Go master, let’s just go back.”

Before becoming a master, Gowol said he wouldn’t return, but it was just an excuse. He was putting all his effort into ensuring the intelligence organization Eunyul ran smoothly. Visiting branches, checking, overseeing. Even without a leader, making sure everything ran systematically.

“The Little Pill Master won’t ignore this. He only appears when needed to help or share info. Truly our military strategist! Only praises in words.”

He glanced back nervously, expecting Geom Mugeuk to appear behind him whenever he insulted him.

“Don’t wish for the Little Pill Master to come?”

“What nonsense!”

Sometimes I missed Geom Mugeuk. Sometimes I insulted him more, hoping he’d appear saying, “You’re insulting me again.”

“That ungrateful fellow forgot about us. We make him money.”

Except for top-secret info sent to Geom Mugeuk, other info was sold to martial artists. The income ran the organization.

Tongcheongak was directly operated by the Demon Sect, but Eunyul was different. It was impossible to run this vast spiderweb organization across the Central Plains with only Geom Mugeuk’s money.

“Lee Gongja is greedy.”

“Not greedy. When he came last time, he gave a big sum personally, ordering it for personal use.”

“If you put him through so much trouble, he should give something. But what about me? Why only you?”

“The leader is rich.”

“That’s no reason. Being rich means no hardship?”

Then Gowol said something unexpected.

“I’ll take care of his hardship.”

“Why you?”

“Because the leader’s voluntary hardship was for me, not the Little Pill Master.”

Then Gowol pulled something from his chest and handed it to Pungcheon’s Sect Leader.

Seeing it, Pungcheon’s Sect Leader was shocked. It was a deed to a house, and he was the owner.

“You said you wanted a house in the Central Plains? This is your house.”

His hand trembled holding the deed.

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader wanted a house in the Central Plains. When drinking with Gowol, he sometimes talked about buying a house. As Sect Leader, his grand dream was to expand into the Central Plains, but said even wandering freely, it was hard to get even a small house.

Buying a house in the Central Plains would make him feel he truly settled there, leaving the Outer Garden behind.

“I bought it with money from the Little Pill Master and my accumulated salary.”

“Why did you buy it?”

Gowol replied calmly,

“I thought the leader should have a house. It’s my gift.”

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader was deeply moved. Though he had received countless precious gifts, none made him so happy.

“I’m rich.”

“I know. You could buy hundreds more.”

“Thousands maybe!”

“But you never bought one. Why? When we traveled the Central Plains, you could’ve bought one in every region.”

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader didn’t reply. Gowol knew his thoughts precisely.

“I wondered if it was right for me to buy one. Still, I’m a former Pungcheon Sect Leader. I felt sorry for juniors in the Outer Garden.”

How did he know? That thought was definitely there.

“No need to feel sorry! Why should you? We made you leader, set up places, and you went off.”

Then Gowol gave another reason.

“You probably watched the Little Pill Master’s mood. You went out helping the military and bought a house. You didn’t want to show that side.”

Of course, that was also true. He knew himself too well.

“Why care about Lee Gongja’s mood! If I say I’ll buy it with my money, I will.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

But the decisive reason was this.

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader explained, looking as if I didn’t understand his heart.

“I can’t just buy a house for myself. If I buy one, I have to buy a nearby second one and live as neighbors. I can’t buy just for myself. I need to consult you. You’re so busy working, how could I say, ‘Let’s look at houses’? Why? Don’t you want to? Don’t you want to live next door?”

Their eyes met in the air.

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader looked away and muttered,

“How can you be a military strategist when you don’t even understand the person beside you? Lee Gongja, you chose the wrong person! Bring that old Go teacher and make him your military strategist! That sly old man would be a hundred times better.”

Then Gowol pulled something else from his chest.

“So I bought another house nearby. This one’s in my name.”

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader stood as if stunned. He stared at Gowol blankly for a while, then suddenly asked,

“Smaller than my house, right?”

Gowol laughed loudly.

“I know your character well. No, I bought a small one.”

“That’s fine.”

“The leader’s house won’t compare to your old house. Don’t be disappointed later because it’s small.”

“I’ll be disappointed! I am the Pungcheon Sect Leader! The former Pungcheon Sect Leader!”

Pungcheon’s Sect Leader stared into the distance. Looking at Gowol, he felt like crying. Receiving the house was good, but knowing Gowol bought a house next door was ten times better. That was the real gift.

“I’ll build your house later—the biggest in the Central Plains. Bigger than Lee Gongja’s.”

That was Pungcheon’s Sect Leader’s heart.

At that moment, a subordinate came to deliver a letter.

“Who is it?”

“The Little Pill Master.”

“Is that why I curse so much? Sending letters to make me do work on such a good day? Tell them no! Say I won’t do it!”

Gowol handed the letter to Pungcheon’s Sect Leader.

“They say they need the leader’s help, not mine.”

The Sect Leader was startled and widened his eyes.

“Me? Not you? Are you sure? They really need my help?”

The Sect Leader’s shoulders rose dramatically as he complained.

“What? They have nothing else to take, so now they want to use me?”

“Should I send a letter saying you won’t come?”

The Sect Leader gave in.

“Let’s go back and see the new house!”

Following his brisk steps, Gowol said,

“The house we bought is on the opposite side from the main branch.”

The Sect Leader pretended not to hear and walked faster.

Gowol laughed and followed. Finally, they were returning to the main branch. It was a pleasant return after successfully completing their mission to organize the intelligence network.

Unlike at the Go teacher’s house earlier, this time Pungcheon’s Sect Leader was waving and urging from ahead.

“What are you doing? Hurry up!”