That was the lesson Hwi imparted.

“The moment you let your guard down, you die!”

A simple truth spoken by the greatest bodyguard of the era.

Geom Mugeuk knew well how difficult it was to uphold that single line. The truths that are hardest to keep are always the simplest.

“Ah! This is serious.”

Geom Mugeuk feigned distress, but it wasn’t really an act.

“My life has far too many moments of letting my guard down—partying, drinking! Even dancing sometimes!”

Though he said that, there were precisely two occasions when he truly let his guard down.

“When I’m with my father, that’s pure letting my guard down. Whether an assassin attacks or not, my father will block it!”

In truth, even when with his father, he was tense—not from fear of an ambush by others, but because of his father.

The closer their relationship grew, the more tense he became. It meant the time for mistakes was near.

The only moment when he truly relaxed all tension was when inside the Dimensional Shift Technique.

Ah, that wonderful place, just thinking of it brought peace.

The comfort of lying on the scorching sand, hearing the cries of seagulls and waves, a single creature crawling along the shore.

Of course, now there was one more place. When soaking in the hot spring surrounded by snow, all worries in the world faded away.

Thinking of that place with assassins in mind made him realize how precious it truly was.

“Ah, even now, while listening to you, I’m letting my guard down.”

Hwi smiled. He had smiled faintly several times before, but this was the first time he smiled so pleasantly.

“So you’re letting your guard down too, sir?”

Then Hwi nodded obediently.

“That’s right. If I’d been ambushed now, I’d be dead.”

“We would have died together then.”

Hwi spoke carefully.

“I’d have died first.”

A true bodyguard never wants to witness one thing.

No matter how many horrors or terrifying things one sees, even if they see the sword pierce their own heart, there is one thing they never want to see.

The death of the one they must protect.

Just as Ian threw herself for me, Hwi was ready to die first.

“Perhaps that is the only blessing given to a bodyguard.”

What more could be said? He had already proven himself through death.

I had protected my father all my life, and I liked this man who shared death with me.

Therefore, I can promise this.

In this life, such a thing will never happen.

That was the reason I endured the hardships and regressed.

So I will never let my guard down.

“Sir.”

“Yes, Little Pill Master.”

“I will keep your words in mind and be sure to pass them on. Thanks to you, Hwi, I survived!”

After killing the Blood King and returning, I would be sure to convey these words.

Whether my sincerity reached him or not, Hwi smiled.

“You must be tired. Go inside and rest.”

“Yes, you rest as well.”

As I entered the building and walked down the corridor, I saw Hwi still standing in the courtyard outside.

He looked up at the night sky with a face lost in thought.

Come to think of it, it was the first time I’d seen Hwi standing beneath the moonlight.

Geumcheonbang arrived at Geom Mugeuk’s residence.

Lately, he hadn’t been sleeping well, troubled by his son’s troubles. The fact that his son had hired assassins was a great shock to him.

Above all, he could never forgive that his son had been influenced to put out the contract with the assassins.

Of course, he didn’t know yet.

Separate from his son, the outcome was already decided. From the start, they were nothing more than grass caught in a fight between beasts.

He even considered confronting his son.

But having entrusted things to him until now, meeting him now felt burdensome.

So he planned to meet with Geom Mugeuk first before deciding.

“I must fix this somehow.”

Even if his son had been influenced to hire assassins, his son could not avoid responsibility. That was the core of today’s visit.

“Does he really know who placed the contract?”

When Geom Mugeuk visited him, he seemed to sense something.

He had come to confirm that for sure. If he did know? The fact that he came alone without his subordinates was thinking of just that case.

“If it doesn’t work, I’ll have to settle it with money.”

He hadn’t even greeted Geomyeon’s father or uncle yet. Curious what kind of person they were.

Knocking on the door, Hwi came out to greet him.

“How may I help you?”

“Are you perhaps Geomyeon’s father?”

“No. I am Yeon’s uncle.”

“Ah, I see. Pleased to meet you. I am the head of the Geumryong family.”

The subordinate brought by the daughter. Strictly speaking, no need for such formality.

But seeing Hwi, he unconsciously shrank back.

“I want to meet Geomyeon’s father.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll inquire inside.”

“Please do.”

Since the clan head came, shouldn’t he be let in no matter what? If he were sleeping, would they send him away?

Thinking about this and that, Hwi returned.

“Please come in.”

Hwi led him to Geom Woojin.

“The head of the Geumryong family has arrived.”

“I will attend.”

Geumcheonbang entered the room; Hwi followed. Now he was an uncle, not a bodyguard.

Geom Woojin, who was standing by the window looking outside, turned and looked at Geumcheonbang.

The moment their eyes met, Geumcheonbang’s body hairs all stood on end. The presence was incomparable to the intimidation he’d felt meeting Hwi earlier.

“I am Geumcheonbang, head of the clan.”

Though his cover was the head of the Seodo faction, Geom Woojin introduced himself.

“I am the father of Yeon.”

Though he had led many people in the merchant guild, he had never met anyone with such a strong aura.

“Unfortunately, something unacceptable recently happened at the main house. I apologize for that.”

He apologized first, then asked about his wellbeing.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”

“No.”

His short answers revealed nothing, so Geumcheonbang tried to read his true intent from his expression.

But rather than true intent, their eyes met and Geom Woojin instinctively lowered his gaze.

“This is not an easy opponent.”

Just like his son Geomyeon. They were no ordinary father and son.

Could it really be that they came as the daughter’s subordinates?

An awkward silence flowed. Though skilled at leading conversations, he strangely found no words.

Nothing was uncovered. If this continued, a banishment order might be issued at any moment.

Then suddenly, Geom Mugeuk’s words came to mind.

“Your son suggested you come see me and ask ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) for advice.”

“Me?”

Apparently, it was news to him.

“He told you to visit and learn how to be a parent who can beat their child. He said you were the best at that.”

At last, a strange smile appeared on Geom Woojin’s face.

“How does one beat their own child?”

After a pause, Geom Woojin answered.

“I am losing too.”

Hwi lowered his head slightly. He dared not smile at the leader’s words. The leader’s admission of defeat?

Though joking, Hwi knew it was no mere joke. The leader had been losing lately, even at fishing.

Seeing Hwi smile with his head bowed, Geom Woojin asked him,

“What do you think?”

“How would I know without children?”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

It sounded like having children only made it harder to find the answer.

Though caught off guard, he could not be careless in answering the leader’s question.

“I don’t know about winning or losing against children. But I once heard this.”

Though the leader asked, Hwi answered Geumcheonbang because those words were what he needed.

“Children grow up watching actions, not words.”

Geumcheonbang’s heart grew heavy. How could he not understand the meaning behind those words?

If you cannot beat your child, it means you cannot beat yourself.

In that, Geumcheonbang felt deep shame.

His son believed nothing could not be solved with money.

Geom Woojin said to Geumcheonbang,

“Is that so?”

“Thank you for the wise words.”

They did not confirm whether these men knew about the contract his son had placed.

But today’s visit was not only about regret for raising his son poorly.

Just as he was about to leave after greetings, Geom Woojin said something unexpected.

“My son seems to think well of you.”

“!”

To Geumcheonbang, those words sounded like the son was offering forgiveness.

Hearing those words, a small breath of relief pierced the suffocating pressure in his heart.

Hopefully that was what it meant.

Geumcheonbang bowed slightly and left after greeting again.

After seeing him off, Geom Woojin said to Hwi.

“Do you have a hidden child somewhere?”

A compliment that he answered the earlier questions well.

Hwi just smiled quietly.

After looking out the window with Geom Woojin for a moment, Hwi cautiously said,

“The assassin behind this must be no ordinary person.”

Geom Woojin silently nodded.

Hwi knew. Though the leader seemed carefree, he knew many things. He received the chief commander’s reports every time.

He knew how assassins were moving now. The best of the best were in motion.

But even knowing that, the leader just watched.

What kind of Little Pill Master must the leader be watching?

Probably something deeper than he himself could see.

Because he could not see that far, and so…

“I have a request, leader.”

Geom Woojin looked surprised and stared at Hwi for a moment.

“Have you ever asked me for anything before?”

“It’s the first time.”

“What is it?”

“It is something I should not dare to say. Please forgive my disrespect.”

Geom Woojin quietly waited for Hwi to speak.

“For now, I want to be assigned as the Little Pill Master’s bodyguard.”

He was no one else but the demon’s bodyguard. He was the person who should never take his eyes off the demon for a single moment. Here the demon was eating, there the Little Pill Master might meet death, but he was not to go there.

He had lived with such a heart, yet now he was making such a request.

Geom Woojin said firmly,

“I must refuse.”

Hwi bowed politely.

“Yes, leader. I apologize for my improper words. I will accept any punishment for this great disrespect.”

Then, something unexpected came from Geom Woojin.

“Hwi, I command you.”

“Yes, leader.”

Hwi folded his hands crisply and tensed. It had been a long time since he had received a formal order.

“Until this matter is resolved, guard the Little Pill Master.”

Startled, Hwi looked at Geom Woojin.

Looking into his eyes, Geom Woojin said,

“This is my first request in life, but I cannot let it be a mere request to guard my son.”

“!”

“I have been saving my requests for you.”

Hwi looked at Geom Woojin with burning eyes and answered more resolutely than ever.

“I accept your command, leader!”

“From now on, sir will guard me?”

I was surprised by Hwi’s words.

“It is the leader’s order.”

“My father suddenly gave that order? That’s impossible. You know, right? He’s not the kind of person who throws his son off a cliff and sets a net below.”

I looked quietly at Hwi.

“He said he will protect me, right?”

“No. It was the leader’s order.”

He was no liar, so I could tell by his voice and eyes that this was something he had volunteered for.

I wondered what he was worrying about so deeply under the moonlight that day—he was worried about me.

“If it wasn’t an order, I would never have left the leader’s side.”

Hwi denied it to the end. He wanted it to be thought that my father cared for me.

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore. From now on, though I will be with the Little Pill Master, I am like a person who doesn’t exist.”

Of course. Few could find a hidden Hwi.

Would the Blood King notice?

Then, suddenly, my father’s words came to mind.

—If you send Hwi ahead, you take responsibility and protect him.

My father sent Hwi to me both to protect me and because he trusted I would protect Hwi.

Hwi probably only thinks about protecting me, but we have to protect each other.

“Sir, I look forward to working with you from now on.”

“I look forward to working with you too.”

Of course, in this situation, a joke was necessary.

I raised both hands happily.

“Then from now on, I’ll let my guard down with peace of mind!”

Just as Hwi smiled,

Our gazes simultaneously turned toward the door.

Hwi showed the ultimate stealth of the era and vanished without a sound.

Soon, there was a knock on the front gate.

Opening the door, I was surprised to see Myeongshin standing there.

With eyes that revealed nothing, he said,

“I don’t have ten million nyang, but I have enough for a drink. How about it? Care to have a drink with me?”

Sir was right. The moment you let your guard down, assassins come calling.