Juyang Seonak walked toward the entrance of the guesthouse.

A martial artist from the Hwangdo Trade Guild recognized her and greeted.

“Miss Joo, have you arrived?”

“What is this about?”

“It’s nothing. If you wait inside, Lord Hwang will be here soon.”

Seonak looked at the man who had been fussing. She turned her head casually but secretly flinched inside.

The young, handsome man’s gaze was clear and deep. His appearance was hard to forget after just one look, and it drew her eyes.

Behind that youth stood a middle-aged man. He was not looking this way. With his arms crossed, he was watching the people passing by on the street.

At that moment, an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up and disappeared. Since it was her first time experiencing it, she did not know what kind of feeling it was.

In any case, the moment she saw the two men, she could sense one thing.

‘They must be father and son.’

Their faces did not resemble each other, but somehow their aura was similar.

And behind the middle-aged man stood another man.

‘A bodyguard?’

They were none other than Geom Mugeuk, Geom Woojin, and Hwi.

Hwi had wanted to eat separately, but Geom Mugeuk forcibly pulled him along. This trip was his and his father’s journey, but he hoped it would also become a trip for Hwi and his father.

At least during this trip, he wished Hwi would walk on two feet, not hide in secrecy. To meet his father’s gaze and eat together.

So this moment was precious time. Once the trip ended and they returned, they would go back to their original lives.

Why would he go to such lengths?

Because I know. I know Hwi’s life, who willingly gave his life for his father. He had guarded his father his whole life and ended his life by sacrificing himself in the end.

Seonak asked the martial artist from Hwangdo Trade Guild.

“Why are they not allowed inside?”

“Today, Lord Hwang rented this entire guesthouse.”

Seonak’s expression hardened.

The person who decided the meeting place here was Lord Hwang. It was strange that he insisted on meeting at this guesthouse instead of coming to the Joo Sword Family. It seemed he rented this whole place to flaunt his wealth.

Geom Mugeuk said to her.

“I am traveling with my father. We came a long way to offer my father this cuisine.”

She looked at Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin. Normally, she would have told them to go to another guesthouse and sent them away. That would have been better for them. More bad than good would come from entering.

But today’s choice was different.

“Let them in.”

“Lord Hwang said not to let anyone in.”

“I will take responsibility. Come, let us enter together.”

When Seonak tried to enter with the three, the martial artists still blocked the way.

When Seonak gave them a cold look, only then did they open the path.

“Thank you so much. Thanks to Miss Joo, I can serve food to my father.”

And so Seonak took the three inside.

She was not originally this kind of person.

‘Yes, it’s because I said it’s a trip with my father.’

She had thought of her deceased father throughout coming here.

“Was there a special reason it had to be this guesthouse?”

“Among the dishes here, the cold dish made with twelve kinds of vegetables and the duck boiled with good medicinal herbs are real delicacies. Good for health, too. I really wanted to offer them to my father.”

She envied the man before her.

If only her father were alive, she would treat him well. She would have bought him healthy and delicious food on this trip. But by the time she matured, it was already too late.

“Still, it was not a good choice to make a fuss to the martial artists of Hwangdo Trade Guild.”

Recently, Hwangdo Trade Guild’s influence had grown so much that she thought these men would know that. But the young man took them lightly.

“Even if it were the Martial Arts Alliance blocking us, we would have to enter. It’s my first trip with my father.”

Still, to bring up the Martial Arts Alliance so grandly? Without knowing what kind of place the Martial Arts Alliance was?

Geom Mugeuk looked at Geom Woojin and added.

“What kind of opportunity is this, anyway?”

Geom Woojin was following whatever his son wanted.

The most surprised by that was Hwi.

While Geom Mugeuk was fussing at the guesthouse entrance, the guild master quietly waited. Considering the guild master’s personality, that was unimaginable.

“Sir, please pick something you want to eat.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, you must choose. If you don’t choose, I won’t order. Did you hear that? Your stomach just growled? Ah, poor father of ours. Can’t even keep dignity…”

“I will choose.”

How could anyone beat Geom Mugeuk? Eventually, Hwi chose a dish.

Seonak, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) watching the scene, flinched in surprise. She unconsciously smiled at them.

“If anyone asks why you are here, just say my name. I am Joo Seonak of the Joo Sword Family.”

“Thanks to Miss Joo, I can become a filial son.”

As she was about to leave, she gave one piece of advice.

“If this is fate, then I say this from a good heart. Your two swords stand out too much.”

Geom Mugeuk wore the Geukpum Cheonjam Sword, and Geom Woojin’s sword was wrapped in bandages. Hiding their swords only made them stand out more. Actually, it wasn’t the swords that stood out — it was that she hadn’t realized she was staring at the two men themselves.

“If they unwrap the cloth, they’d stand out even more.”

“What do you mean?”

Geom Mugeuk only smiled. No matter how noticeable the sword was, he couldn’t just walk around central lands wearing the Cheonma Sword.

“Enjoy your meal. You don’t have to pay for the food.”

That was because they rented the entire place.

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think that will do.”

“What do you mean?”

“They probably didn’t pay for renting this place. We should at least pay.”

Seonak was startled.

“We heard them say they rented the whole place.”

“Then go ask the owner how much they agreed on as the price. Probably they didn’t decide on a price. Sneak past the martial artists at the entrance and quietly ask the owner.”

She went to speak with the owner.

“How did you know?”

The owner said, “It’s okay. Important guests are holding an important meeting, so I must help.”

In other words, they would not be paid properly.

“That’s typical of martial arts sects. They say they’ll pay later, but if they throw a bit for the food they ate on the way, consider it lucky. They rarely pay for the lost business from turning away other guests.”

Seonak’s face flushed slightly.

If so, taking credit for these people was a shame.

“I’ll check with Lord Hwang when he arrives.”

“If you ask him, think about who will suffer.”

She understood what that meant. The guesthouse owner would ultimately suffer.

“I’ll repay the favor I owe you when I get the chance.”

At that moment, a man entered the guesthouse.

“Miss Joo, you’re already here?”

He was Hwang In, the successor of Hwangdo Trade Guild. She had expected him to arrive with many guards, but surprisingly, he came alone.

Hwang In’s gaze naturally moved to the people with her as he approached.

“Who are these people with you?”

Then a martial artist at the entrance whispered to him what had happened before.

Hwang In was surprised. He had investigated Joo Seonak beforehand and thought she was not so meddlesome.

Since he had to step in or they might be thrown out, Seonak said to Hwang In.

“They are my guests.”

“Oh, I see.”

Hwang In responded smoothly but was inwardly suspicious.

‘She’s not the type to go this far. Maybe the investigation was wrong.’

Then one thought occurred to him.

‘Maybe they are allies pretending not to know each other.’

That might be the case. The head of the family must have been uneasy sending his daughter alone.

“I greet you, honored guests.”

Indeed, the three gave off an unusual aura.

No such people appeared in the prior investigation, so they must have been brought from outside.

“I am Hwang In of Hwangdo Trade Guild.”

Then Geom Mugeuk greeted him on behalf of them.

“We are just passing travelers, so you don’t need to mind us.”

Hwang In thought they were deliberately hiding their identities.

“Did they pay to be hired? Or are there still people left supporting the Joo Sword Family?”

Either way, it didn’t matter. Today’s matter wasn’t to be solved by force.

At that moment, the food Geom Mugeuk ordered arrived.

“Ah, Father. Try this first.”

As if they had really come to eat here, Geom Mugeuk focused on the food.

He put some food into small bowls and served his father and Hwi.

Hwang In’s certainty grew stronger by their behavior ignoring him.

“They are trying hard not to be suspected as allies.”

Anyway, martial artists have their pride!

If asked who is the easiest to deal with as a merchant, Hwang In could confidently say: martial artists. Such foolish pride.

“Well, shall we go, too?”

Hwang In sat facing Seonak in the middle of the guesthouse.

“Have a drink.”

Hwang In poured wine, but Seonak left the glass untouched.

“Why did you choose me?”

“I thought younger people tend to get along better.”

Seonak had never heard rumors about Hwang In. He had no particularly good or bad reputation.

“Why do you want to invest in us?”

“The guild always has one reason to join hands with a sword family. They need the family’s power.”

“Why not invest directly to build a sword corps inside the guild?”

“Of course, we are training martial artists ourselves. But do you know? In the martial arts world, merchants’ swords are not acknowledged. They are openly disregarded as swords bought with money. Because of that, it’s hard to find masters. They don’t want to be seen as sold for money. Honestly, don’t you think so, too?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Seonak could not deny it. She did have some such feelings.

“So, to do big business in the martial arts world, you need the name value of the Joo Sword Family. Ah, of course, don’t misunderstand. We don’t look down on you or your family. We want a mutually beneficial relationship.”

But Seonak did not want to join hands with them.

Not because she knew well about Hwangdo Trade Guild or the sword family’s internal affairs. Nor because she could predict the outcome of this cooperation.

It was because she could not trust her mother’s judgment. Her mother always made mistakes when desperate.

She knew she shouldn’t judge the matter so emotionally, but she kept having those thoughts.

Maybe her expectations were low? Compared to that, Hwang In seemed okay. She thought he would just be a braggart and womanizer, but he looked like a man with meaning and thoughts.

“How do you propose to join hands?”

“We merchants don’t trust promises. Only contracts.”

Hwang In handed her documents.

“This is the agreement that our guild and the Joo Sword Family will join forces. Read and sign it. Originally, the family head should sign, but since the head sent a proxy who is also the daughter, Miss Joo, you have full qualification. Take your time to read carefully. Documents to sign should always be read thoroughly.”

Seonak was secretly flustered. She had expected to talk today, but not that a contract would be drawn up.

‘Did mother know?’

One thing was certain. Mother would be pleased if she agreed with them and returned. Mother wanted to send her out dressed in a splendid palace gown.

She wanted to refuse and storm out, but thinking of the sword family’s situation and her mother, she could not.

Seonak began reading the agreement thoroughly.

Some parts were easy to understand at a glance; others were confusing even after re-reading.

Why are all these unnecessary words needed? Just erase them all and write this only.

She wanted to say so, but she could not specify what to keep.

Some phrases seemed essential; others seemed dispensable. It was ambiguous.

‘Knowing vaguely means knowing nothing.’

No, worse than ignorance. She was understanding unclear phrases vaguely and moving on.

Dare they toy with us?

She finished reading to the last page but found no clause to scold them about.

Should she just sign and give it to mother? Since it’s mother’s will, she’d tell her not to regret it later?

She wished it were a few years ago, when she was immature.

‘If only father were alive...’

At that moment, her gaze unconsciously shifted toward where Geom Mugeuk sat.

Maybe because this was an important place, they were quietly talking and eating. Only after paying attention did she hear their conversation.

“Tastes good, right?”

“It’s okay.”

“And sir?”

“Tastes good.”

“See? I said it’s good. Let’s visit every guesthouse in the central lands known for good food, kidnap the best cooks, and go! Or kidnap one cook per taste, three cooks total!”

At his joke, Seonak smiled unconsciously. Though it wasn’t a time to laugh, seeing them gave her an inexplicable sense of relief.

She had been having nightmares often and felt mentally unstable, but why did she feel so at ease now? Though these were people she met for the first time today.

Then her eyes met Geom Mugeuk’s.

Could a gaze joking like that be so deep?

Thinking so, she surrendered to fate.

She suddenly stood up, holding the agreement, and started walking toward Geom Mugeuk.

Hwang In was secretly surprised by her sudden action but watched carefully for now.

As she walked toward Geom Mugeuk, she thought.

‘This is madness.’

Today, her instincts were truly running wild.

“You said you’d repay your debt to me?”

“Yes.”

“Can you repay it now?”

“We are not merchants but martial artists. We cannot bear to be indebted.”

She handed the agreement to Geom Mugeuk.

“Then find a reason to tear this up.”