Geom Mugeuk could feel Chwima’s resolve.

That she had decided to kill everyone involved in this matter.

Once she made up her mind, it was a decision he could neither interfere with nor was allowed to interfere with. Because this was the decision of the Little Pill Master.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Ian. She was staring at Chwima with flushed excitement. Ian also instinctively felt it. What kind of resolve Chwima had made. A resolve all the more terrifying because she wasn’t intoxicated.

Geom Mugeuk then looked at Hanseol.

‘Do you feel it?’

How could Hanseol not feel Chwima’s emotions? But she could not understand ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) them.

‘Why go this far?’

It didn’t seem like a relationship worth going this far for. If she truly cared for the woman, she wouldn’t have stayed apart. Exchanging letters and drinks only once or twice a year. Wasn’t that all their relationship was?

Even though humans deceive and trick people while staring straight into their eyes, what could there possibly be in a relationship where they hadn’t even seen each other’s faces?

However, one thing she sympathized with.

“It’s true I have doubts about Wonju’s death.”

Geom Mugeuk said to her.

“Please actively help Binggung resolve this case.”

“What do you want?”

Geom Mugeuk looked at Chwima. He intended to leave this entire matter to her.

But Chwima gave an unexpected response.

“Let the Little Pill Master decide. A smarter person should use their head.”

“You just made such a clever deduction earlier, though?”

“That was because I know that person well.”

You can tell Chwima is a smart person just from this kind of judgment.

Chwima looked at Geom Mugeuk and said with her eyes:

— Take me to those bastards.

Geom Mugeuk answered with his eyes:

— I will, without fail.

Geom Mugeuk then said to Hanseol:

“Just grant me one favor. No other help is needed. That one favor is enough.”

Hanseol was curious. What kind of favor would be so important that only one was needed?

“Let the Little Pill Master join our investigation team.”

At the unexpected request, Hanseol’s eyes widened.

“Let’s solve it as a team of four!”

Chwima and Ian were greatly impressed.

If Hanseol joined, there would be no need to ask her separately for favors in the future. Moving together, they could handle most of what Binggung could do.

It was literally the moment when, if the devil asked, “What’s your wish?” the answer would be “To have you.”

And this request hid one more secret intention of Geom Mugeuk, unknown to Ian and Chwima. Because the Blood King might target her, he wanted to keep her close.

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

Hanseol almost said she would refuse. Being around people was something her instincts rejected.

Still, she didn’t refuse immediately because she also felt that Wonju did not commit suicide. If so, for Binggung’s sake, the evil must be found.

“You are helping even now, aren’t you?”

“But you’re not helping as the same side, are you?”

“!”

That was true. She accepted this proposal independently and told her mother she wanted to learn more about who the Little Pill Master was. Actually, it was more precise to say she wanted to show that the rumors were exaggerated.

‘Become allies with them?’

Hanseol looked at the three with a newfound feeling.

What a strange combination. That excessively beautiful Suha came all the way to the North Sea to save the husband of a woman who gave her a glass of water.

Chwima, who was abstaining from alcohol, said she would take revenge for someone she sometimes exchanged drinks and letters with.

That scammer-like Little Pill Master, praised as a transcendent being, invited her to join.

Hanseol shook her head with an expression of disbelief. But her decision was the opposite of her actions.

“Fine, I’ll join, too. But there’s a condition.”

“Speak.”

“While handling this, you must hide nothing from me.”

“Good, I will tell you everything. But promise me: don’t refuse to listen. Don’t say your ears hurt.”

So Hanseol became a member investigating this case. But the real mountain she had to overcome was just beginning.

“Then move your residence immediately. I think you should live with Ian.”

“Move residence?”

“Why are you so surprised? We are family now, so of course we sleep together, eat together, and think together.”

Family? Hanseol regretted her decision to join. Allowing herself to become part of this was already a big decision.

‘What exactly do you want from me?’

Despite that resistance, Geom Mugeuk ignored it and said to her:

“There is power in the experience of eating and sleeping together. Take this opportunity and try it.”

Hanseol looked at Ian. Sleep with that woman? She had never shared a room with anyone.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk took care of Ian.

“Sorry for deciding without prior consultation.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Ian said to Hanseol:

“Grant me the honor to be with the Little Pill Master.”

Chwima added a word.

“This is important to me, so please, Little Pill Master, make an exception.”

Though reluctant, Hanseol finally agreed.

“Fine, then.”

Not because of the two of them. Hanseol had just started sparring with Geom Mugeuk. She would prove that he was just someone who uses words to manipulate and exploit others.

“What should we do now?”

Not only Hanseol, but Chwima and Ian were also at a loss. What investigation to conduct now? Should they meet more people nearby? Or look over battlefield records?

Fortunately, Geom Mugeuk was already standing on the path they should take.

“You should question. Why Wonju? Among the many people of Binggung, why was it specifically Baekjuseolwon’s Wonju who had to die?”

And Geom Mugeuk found the answer in one person. Politely, because Hanseol was present.

“I believe the answer is already known by the Little Pill Master.”

The two women’s gazes turned to Chwima. Everyone was surprised, but Chwima was the most shocked.

“I know the reason?”

“Yes. Even if you don’t know who killed her, you know why she was killed.”

“I don’t know.”

Chwima was flustered as if being accused of being the culprit, but Geom Mugeuk was firm.

“No, you do know.”

There was a reason Geom Mugeuk believed that.

“Wonju had no problems even within Baekjuseolwon, and she was not someone who had mastered strong martial arts. She had no power, grudges, or secrets. Then what could the reason be?”

Why did Geom Mugeuk say Chwima knew? That final sentence contained the reason.

“Her death must be related to alcohol.”

When the carriage entered Bukhyeolmun, Yangjung finally felt relief.

‘I’m back home.’

The carriage stopped only when it reached the deep main hall of the inner courtyard.

Yangjung got off the carriage. His father had not returned in the same carriage. They might have talked along the way, but they didn’t.

His father was angry. Yangjung understood that. Bukhyeolmun was more precious than his own children. It was natural for his father to be angry given the heavy damage from this incident.

On the other hand, once home, Yangjung’s resentment toward his father lessened.

When the hostage exchange was demanded, he was abandoned, but still, the North Sea Binggung negotiated and saved him. After all, he survived.

His father was alone in the main hall. He had already dismissed all the warriors who usually guarded it.

‘He must be planning to blame me for my mistake.’

Because he wouldn’t want to ruin his son’s honor in front of his retainers. Feeling his father’s consideration, Yangjung’s heart softened more.

“Father.”

His father silently turned his back and stared out the window. That back felt more unfamiliar and frightening than usual.

Yangjung blamed the Demonic Sect without hesitation.

“I never expected the Demonic Sect to intervene.”

Then Bukhyeolmun Master coldly asked,

“Why did you say that?”

“What do you mean?”

“The location of the laboratory.”

At that moment, Yangjung’s heart sank. He had forgotten that he revealed every possible place where the captured people might be.

‘I said it to survive. They refused hostage exchange and abandoned me, so I did it to survive!’

But normally, the two were not the kind to have such frank conversations.

Suppressing his rising emotions, Yangjung spoke as Geom Mugeuk had instructed.

“It was to lure them there and capture them. If the laboratory had been moved, I believed a secret defense would have been set up at the new location.”

But it didn’t work on his father.

“If you had to tell because they threatened to kill you, you should have told a false location. I only know that place. You should have denied it clearly.”

‘It was a life-or-death situation, Father!’

Yangjung made no excuses. It would have been good if the scolding ended here, but the real reproach was about to begin.

“Because of you, Hwangsu died.”

Hwangsu was the one conducting experiments there.

‘So? Is that death more important than my survival?’

That had been his bottled-up thought for a long time. But he could not say it. It would only fuel his father’s anger. His father would dismiss it as childish whining that couldn’t distinguish right and wrong.

“I was wrong. I won’t make this mistake again.”

But his father did not forgive him.

“Leave.”

“!”

“Go to Jeollang and do not return until told to.”

Jeollang was too far from here. Being sent to Jeollang was like a death sentence for Yangjung.

Shocked by his father’s attempt to expel him, Yangjung felt betrayed.

His father made his two sons compete for succession. He did not favor the eldest. So Yangjung had hope. He could become the heir.

So he did everything he could.

For Bukhyeolmun, and for his father. He did all the things that must never be known to the world.

But now he understood. He was not dreaming with his father. The dream was his alone.

“I refuse. I won’t leave!”

Yangjung yelled. Until now, he had been too afraid of his father to show his true feelings, but now he would not hold back.

“I did everything you told me. Kill if you said kill, kidnap if you said kidnap. And now you tell me to leave? No!”

‘Used like a hunting dog. If the child is a hunting dog, what the hell is the father?’

Words he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud. But it was a resentment he could have voiced when thinking of what was to come.

Thud!

With the sound of flesh tearing, Yangjung’s words and movements stopped.

His head dropped down, and he looked at the bloody sword blade piercing through his chest. Maybe because of shock? It didn’t hurt.

He had seen many people stabbed through before, but this sight felt too unfamiliar.

Who could it be? Someone who could enter here?

Slowly turning his head, he saw the person who stabbed him was the one he had first thought of.

Yangseok, the eldest son of Bukhyeolmun and his older brother.

They had always regarded Yangjung as an eyesore during their succession fight, so doing this was nothing.

The one Yangjung could not understand now was his father. The one silently watching this scene. Yangseok would never dare do such a thing without their father’s permission. If he refused to leave, then the order was to kill.

“...If that’s the case, why did you save me?”

A resentful question drew out a cold answer.

“I cannot let Bukhyeolmun’s bloodline die at another’s hands. Only our hands can kill.”

It was nonsense. If so, they should have at least done the hostage exchange. Not kill, but somehow send him to Jeollang. If he refused, they should have persuaded or at least gotten a transfusion and sent him. His father would have done so...

Yangjung’s resentment ended there.

Puuuuk!

The sword was roughly pulled out, and Yangjung spewed blood from his chest, collapsing and dying on the spot.

Jukyu and Hwangchu, who had been kidnapped with Yangjung earlier, had already been eliminated.

Bukhyeolmun Master said to Yangseok,

“The Demonic Sect’s Little Pill Master is staying at Binggung and has begun investigating this matter.”

“We will cut off all tails that could connect to us.”

“This is a matter of life and death for our sect; handle it carefully.”

“Leave it to me.”

After Yangseok left, Bukhyeolmun Master looked down at his dead son. It hurt, but it was bearable. If Bukhyeolmun collapsed, that would be unbearable.

Chwima was walking in the courtyard.

‘I know the answer. The answer is inside me.’

Geom Mugeuk’s guess seemed plausible. She was not someone who would make enemies. If she got caught in a conspiracy, it must be related to alcohol.

As she walked, she pulled out the letters she had exchanged with that person and read them. Then she stopped to read another letter. She looked up at the sky, thought, and walked again.

Ian watched Chwima from the window inside the room.

“Chwima-nim seems to have many worries.”

Hanseol said nothing and sat on the bed. She hadn’t even unpacked her luggage.

“Do you regret deciding to join?”

Hanseol only sent a cold glance but remained silent.

Ian didn’t speak further and looked out the window again.

Outside was serious, and inside was serious, too. Geom Mugeuk, who caused such great worry to these two, had gone out for a while saying he had business.

Then Hanseol suddenly said from behind.

“Don’t you think you’re being deceived?”

Ian turned and looked at Hanseol.

“By the Little Pill Master?”

Hanseol nodded.

Ian could tell how Hanseol viewed her. That she thought Ian was deceived and used by Geom Mugeuk.

Ian thought about just smiling once but decided against it. It was okay to think that about herself, but she could not stand Geom Mugeuk being seen that way.

“Maybe.”

She said this almost like a confession.

But that was the start of her ‘let’s get to know Geom Mugeuk correctly’ campaign.

“Because of being deceived like that, I cured the side effects of the martial art I learned. I didn’t say it, but the side effects troubled me a lot.”

Ian didn’t reveal the specific side effects.

“Because of being deceived like that, I learned swordsmanship I never dreamed of, became the head of an organization I never could have dreamed of leading, and even became the adopted daughter of someone I never dreamed of in my life.”

Hanseol wasn’t curious about what swordsmanship or organization that was, but she was curious about who the father she never dreamed of was.

“Who do you mean?”

Ian honestly answered. It wasn’t a secret anyway.

“It’s Master Gwonma, the Demonic Sect’s Master.”

Hanseol was surprised that Ian was Gwonma’s daughter.

‘This woman is Gwonma’s daughter?’

Was that why the Little Pill Master cherished her? No. Ian said now that she only became Gwonma’s daughter because she met the Little Pill Master.

“Because of being deceived like that, I became drinking buddies with Hwangcheongakju and Magunju, and the one who was going to be the next Demonic Sect Master became the leader of the organization I lead.”

None of what Ian said was ordinary, so Hanseol suspected she was lying. But would she dare lie to her openly? The truth would come out anyway.

“And now, I’m talking with the Little Pill Master of the North Sea Binggung. If I hadn’t been deceived by our Little Pill Master, I’d probably be guarding the door outside.”

Ian’s gaze was clearer and calmer than ever.

“Isn’t a life lived deceived fine enough?”

Not only to clear misunderstandings about Geom Mugeuk, but also because others might have just let it go.

But strangely, Hanseol wanted to tell her the truth properly. That frosty Little Pill Master didn’t seem like a personality she would like.

“It’s hard to believe, right? Sometimes I don’t even believe it myself. I often wonder if it’s a dream. That’s why I told you before to try trusting once. Ah, now I should say it differently.”

After a short pause, Ian said,

“Try being deceived by the Little Pill Master once.”

Their gazes intertwined in the air. Hanseol couldn’t understand it and didn’t believe it. But Ian’s clear eyes held no trace of deceit.

Just then, Chwima hurried into the room looking for Geom Mugeuk.

“The Little Pill Master? Where is the Little Pill Master?”

“They went out, saying they had business. What’s the matter?”

Chwima was a bit excited, and that was understandable.

“I had the answer inside me!”