“Let’s go up together!”

Seonak knew how strange that sounded. But since he had seen the letter in Geom Mugeuk’s arms, he couldn’t just send it to Binggungju.

At his words, Geom Mugeuk, who was about to ascend to the Palace Lord’s quarters, stopped in his tracks.

“Didn’t you say you were just coming down after seeing the Palace Lord?”

“That’s right. But didn’t you just feel a bit regretful? That we couldn’t see the Palace Lord together?”

“That was just a courtesy.”

As Seonak’s smile grew more awkward, Geom Mugeuk made a light hand gesture, signaling it was a joke.

“Come on, let’s go up together.”

Following behind Geom Mugeuk up the stairs, Seonak’s habitual smile disappeared from his face.

If that letter was indeed about Hyangseol Bingju, it must not fall into the Palace Lord’s hands. Because?

He had received Hyangseol Bingju from the Original Lord himself.

In front of Geom Mugeuk and Hanseol, he had firmly denied receiving it. If only Geom Mugeuk had been there, he might have just denied it as a frame-up by the Demon Sect, but Hanseol was also present.

If he, who everyone respected, spoke out of both sides of his mouth? It would look suspicious to anyone.

‘Did he prepare that letter in advance? Or was it received by courier? Was there enough time? Or is this a different letter altogether?’

Various thoughts tangled in Seonak’s mind. When he first came to him and brought up the matter of the wine, he thought it was just a test.

‘Did the letter really exist? And if the Palace Lord sees that letter?’

How should he respond? If the handwriting was analyzed, it would be proven that the Original Lord wrote it. Still, he’d have to claim it was a forgery, right? Since the opponent is the Demon Sect, there is some advantage. They would believe such a perfect forgery is possible.

“What are you thinking about?”

At the entrance of the Palace Lord’s quarters, Geom Mugeuk was looking back at him.

What was he thinking? He was thinking about slapping you in the back of your head and taking out the letter to burn it.

Seonak smiled and said,

“Nothing, just come in quickly.”

Geom Mugeuk and Seonak entered the Palace Lord’s quarters.

When Seonak, who had just greeted and left, returned, Binggungju looked at him with a questioning gaze.

“Oh, I met the Little Pill Master at the entrance, so we came up together.”

“I see.”

Normally, if you meet someone at the entrance, you greet and then each goes their own way, right?

That thought crossed her mind but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she was curious. It seemed like Geom Mugeuk had somehow forced Seonak to follow him.

‘Little Pill Master, what trick did you use?’

Geom Mugeuk began lightly warming up to deliver a decisive blow, starting with a pleasant anecdote.

“Do you know? I told the Palace Lord that Elder Seo is suspicious.”

Still, Seonak wore a composed smile that only someone with a clear conscience could show.

“In response, the Palace Lord said that Elder Seo is absolutely not such a person. She sternly scolded me.”

Seonak smiled brightly and expressed his gratitude to Binggungju.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“You’re the only one I trust.”

Until now, that was how it had been. All martial artists of Bukhaebinggung recognized this. Now Geom Mugeuk was beginning to saw at that ancient tree.

“Let me say again here, Elder Seo is the one I trust most. He has lived only for Binggung.”

Then Geom Mugeuk asked Seonak,

“Does Elder Seo also cherish the Palace Lord?”

“Of course. He cherishes the Palace Lord and Binggung more than himself.”

Geom Mugeuk stared at him intently and asked,

“Then why did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Why did you kill the Original Lord of Baekjuseolwon?”

Now Geom Mugeuk advanced further, pointing at Seonak as the one who killed her. The atmosphere that began with a smile instantly turned cold.

“What is the reason for insulting me like this?”

Both the interrogator and the accused were equally confident.

At that moment, Binggungju felt a slight sense of alienation.

He was Seonak whom she had known for a long time. Usually laughing heartily, but not an easygoing person. Especially sensitive about his reputation.

If the accusation of killing the Original Lord was false, Seonak would have shown more anger. No matter if the opponent was the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master. But now, she sensed some kind of withdrawal.

Critically, one phrase was missing.

— Then show me the evidence.

That was something Seonak would never say. Because then Geom Mugeuk would take out the letter from his arms and say, “Isn’t the evidence right here?”

Not knowing this background, Binggungju felt a strange sense of alienation. It was odd that Seonak had followed Geom Mugeuk back up again.

‘Is Elder Seo really being manipulated by such a young man?’

It was truly a surprising and new experience.

Then again, it wasn’t a situation she could comment on.

She herself had lost sleep after being told to watch over Geom Mugeuk.

Though it was nothing special to say, it stuck in her mind that Hanseol was still behind him, so she couldn’t sleep.

If so, she needed to look back sooner rather than later. Not just glance once like Geom Mugeuk said, but look back again and again. Keep looking back.

But she hadn’t even called her daughter separately yet.

Geom Mugeuk, who had confronted Seonak, turned toward Binggungju.

“By the way, today to see the Palace Lord...”

At the same time, Geom Mugeuk’s hand moved toward the letter in his arms.

At that moment, Seonak quickly intervened and changed the subject.

“Little Pill Master, I heard you spoke with Seol?”

At this moment, Binggungju noticed two things.

First, Seonak was not someone to interrupt others while they spoke. Even if he had objections, he would wait until the other finished and then speak calmly.

Second, the topic he interrupted with was about Seol?

The sense of alienation deepened.

Did Seonak want to say that? No, it was a spur-of-the-moment remark when Geom Mugeuk was about to take out the letter. More than anyone, Seonak knew this was unlike himself, but now he had to get through this moment somehow.

‘Would it be better to just deliver the letter and claim it’s forged?’

A moment of silence passed, then Binggungju saw a smile appear on Geom Mugeuk’s face as he looked at her. That look said: watch closely, see what kind of person your Elder Seo really is.

Geom Mugeuk turned to Seonak. The hand that was about to take out the letter naturally went down again.

“I mostly told them to get along well as mother and daughter. The Little Palace Lord is more delicate than she seems.”

“The Little Palace Lord delicate? I thought she had a rather strong personality among those with a late index?”

“Our Elder Seo seems to know the Little Palace Lord less than I do, whom he met just a few days ago. When you don’t look properly and judge roughly, that’s how it is. Prejudice only builds and you end up knowing less about the other.”

“You’re arrogant!”

Every word irritated, but Seonak kept talking to prevent the letter from coming out.

If they could just leave here forgetting about delivering the letter, they might get a chance to steal it.

Of course, even now, Binggungju’s feeling of alienation toward Seonak was growing.

And one more thought came to her.

She wondered if what Geom Mugeuk said earlier might also apply to herself.

She had piled up only prejudice because she hadn’t properly looked at Seonak.

How could she deny that she, too, carried the burden of Binggungju and had always run forward without looking back?

The stone Geom Mugeuk threw struck Seonak and kept rippling out, reaching even her.

“You said you’re going to Bukhyeolmun?”

“Yes.”

“Hurry up. It would be disrespectful if you’re too late.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled meaningfully at him.

“Very well.”

Geom Mugeuk greeted Binggungju.

“I will see you next time.”

Seonak felt relieved. Even if the letter was delivered, they would prepare somehow, but it was best not to deliver it at all.

‘Going to Bukhyeolmun? How can I get the letter out?’

Just as he felt relieved, Geom Mugeuk quickly turned to Binggungju and said,

“This is a surprise gift! I came to give this to the Palace Lord today.”

Only then did Seonak realize. Geom Mugeuk had been teasing him, hesitating whether to give it or not. Pretending to forget, he toyed with him until the very end. Damn him! As if I would just admit that if he gave it to me!

Binggungju took out the letter Geom Mugeuk handed her and read it.

Seeing the content, her face suddenly showed surprise. Seonak was certain it was that letter by her expression. Nothing else could surprise her so.

“It’s a /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ forged letter.”

Seonak said in a low voice.

“Last time, when the Little Pill Master came, he threatened me with that forged letter. But to be clear, I have never received Hyangseol Bingju.”

His tone was calm and steady. Now that he had said it to the Palace Lord, there was no retreat. He would forever be considered as never having received the wine.

Binggungju showed a puzzled expression and asked,

“What do you mean? Hyangseol Bingju?”

At that moment, Seonak’s heart sank.

‘So it wasn’t that letter!’

This was the real mockery.

It was something that should have been left alone, but he had brought up Hyangseol Bingju himself.

“May I see that letter once?”

Binggungju handed over the letter. It had several dishes and names of nearby taverns and restaurants written on it.

Seeing this, Binggungju understood why she was surprised. At the very bottom of the letter was written, “These are the dishes your daughter likes. Have a cozy time.”

“My subordinate, Ian, has been eating and sleeping with the Little Palace Lord lately, so he found out. The taverns and restaurants written below are the best places to have those dishes around here. I personally checked. So you can dine with your daughter in a different atmosphere.”

For the first time, Seonak’s expression broke down. Neither a smile nor a stiffened face, but a new expression appeared. It was anger. The target of the anger was not only Geom Mugeuk, but also his own anger and disappointment at having been played by such a cheap trick. He had clearly thought from the start it might not be true, but was swept away by the strange atmosphere and became convinced it was that letter.

But he did not know. Today’s mistake was not just a moment of bad judgment.

It happened because his order had already begun to collapse by Geom Mugeuk’s actions.

Still, the wall of the man called Seonak, built over many years, was thick. He smiled as if nothing had happened and composed himself.

“I overreacted because I thought that Little Pill Master was so skilled in trickery. Palace Lord, please understand. The Little Pill Master has been slandering me with misunderstandings.”

Binggungju nodded as if she understood everything.

“No matter what evidence the Little Pill Master brings, I believe in the Elder.”

“Thank you, Palace Lord.”

Seonak glared at Geom Mugeuk this time. He thought, I lost this time. Really lost.

“Little Pill Master, whatever your intentions, you won’t be able to break the trust between the Palace Lord and me.”

After saying that, Seonak politely bid farewell to Binggungju and left. He shouldn’t have come up in the first place. But that hateful guy was waiting at the entrance to hook him up, so he was caught.

With only the two men left, Binggungju asked Geom Mugeuk,

“What is the reason for provoking him so much? Are you trying to show me who he really is?”

If so, she thought the method was too dangerous and extreme.

Then Geom Mugeuk gave an unexpected answer.

“No.”

“No?”

“Yes, I want to reveal his true self, but not to show it to you, Palace Lord.”

“Then who are you showing it to?”

Geom Mugeuk did not answer but said goodbye and left.

“Be sure to visit the places written there. They really are your daughter’s favorite dishes.”

Geom Mugeuk descended from the Palace Lord’s quarters.

As he left the entrance, Ian rushed over urgently. Just from his expression, it was clear the situation was serious.

“Where are you?”

“Baekjuseolwon!”

She didn’t ask what happened. Since the incident had already occurred, the best thing was to hurry there as fast as possible. They raced toward the place at full speed.

They arrived at Baekjuseolwon in an instant.

There was a reason Ian came urgently to fetch her.

It was a sea of blood. Among the many corpses strewn about, one person stood. Binggung’s martial artists surrounded him in layers, pointing swords at him.

The person standing alone, covered in blood, was Chimma.