Jin Haryeong also appeared in the mirror.
"We all owe you our lives, yet you're trying to save everyone again."
If it weren't for Geom Mugeuk, neither she nor her brother would have survived until now. She had heard that the Lord of Cheonhwaru had survived thanks to him as well, and she knew that Bi Sain had also saved his life because of him.
The gazes of the two people inside the mirror turned toward the remaining person.
"Even if you commit a wrong, and someone kills you for it justly, I'll end up living a life full of anger. Maybe not every day, but on the days when I remember you, I'll burst into a rage. Just imagine it. Imagine me going through life taking my temper out on others."
Geom Mugeuk speaking words that hurt people, the complete opposite of how he was now? Jin Haryeong didn't even want to imagine it.
"But losing you to those who scheme and plot in the shadows? And in this place where I called you? I'm not doing this because of you. It's for me, who would suffer for the rest of my life. So don't even dream of getting hurt or dying!"
With that, Geom Mugeuk left the room first.
Jin Hagun turned to his younger sister and spoke calmly.
"This is why we should have come running the moment we received word."
To such a brother, Jin Haryeong had something she wanted to say.
"Don't give your heart too much to the Young Cult Leader."
"Why?"
"Because you'll suffer far more than him."
It was something she said in regard to losing one another. No matter what the Young Cult Leader said, she wasn't worried about him. To her, Geom Mugeuk was that kind of person. But she was worried about her brother.
Jin Hagun looked back at the mirror and straightened his clothes.
"I'm a selfish person too. Since I'm that kind of person…… I suppose I had such worries."
Just pouring out his worries to Geom Mugeuk had lightened his heart considerably. Yes, how could this path have been easy from the very start? Still, it was enough that there was someone who truly understood and supported him as he walked this difficult road.
Jin Haryeong had been inwardly surprised when Jin Hagun poured out his worries. She had thought he carried out his role as Myeolmadaeju because he truly loved it.
If the person he had confided in had been anyone else, she would have been jealous. Because it was a worry he had never once shared with her.
"You don't go giving your heart either."
"I'm not. And it's not as if giving your heart makes it happen."
At that, Jin Hagun suddenly raised his voice sharply.
"What's wrong with you?"
It wasn't the outburst of the Myeolmadaeju, but of her brother.
Of course, it was also a shout without follow-through. He couldn't very well tell her to get along well with the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader.
Jin Hagun whirled around and left the room.
Left alone, Jin Haryeong perched on the edge of Geom Mugeuk's bed and spoke.
"How do you give your heart?"
After a brief pause, she added in a low voice.
"I've already given it."
* * *
Jin Hagun and the Myeolmadae were deployed to Cheonhwaru.
"The alcohol is stored in this warehouse. When an order comes down, take it from here. Here is the list of alcohol as well."
Yeojeong took them here and there, teaching them what to do.
As he learned the work from her, Jin Hagun stationed the Myeolmadae martial artists in each room. He also had them draw up plans in advance for where and how to conceal their weapons, and how to evacuate the courtesans in an emergency.
The Myeolmadae martial artists had no complaints about this operation. They were men who already owed Geom Mugeuk debts from past events.
Rather, this kind of work in a pleasure house was fresh. How long had it been since they wore something other than martial uniforms?
The courtesans of the main branch were ones Yeojeong had personally handpicked, so they were not shaken by the recent series of changes.
Rather, the newly arrived Myeolmadae martial artists were the talk of the town among them.
Which martial artist was handsome, who was kind, who supposedly resembled whom.
Several days passed as they adapted to one another.
* * *
"Am I the only one this anxious?"
The person who blocked Jin Haryeong's path was Jin Hagun. He was holding bottles of alcohol in both hands and looked at his sister.
"I'm busy, a guest is waiting!"
Jin Hagun brushed past her and quickly ran off.
That wasn't all. The Myeolmadae martial artists had quickly adapted to the work as well. Among them were some who truly looked like they had worked here for years. There was even a martial artist who had received a love letter from a courtesan.
The Lord of Cheonhwaru also, as if nothing was amiss, looked after the courtesans and remained faithful to her role as the pavilion lord.
In the end, the person Jin Haryeong sought out was Geom Mugeuk.
He had shut himself inside his quarters, doing who knows what.
"Aren't you worried?"
"About what?"
"That right now, the Myeolmadae and the Myeolmadaeju are carrying bottles of alcohol in Cheonhwaru. Hasn't the secret already leaked by now?"
No matter how much this was the main branch of Cheonhwaru, it seemed the secret would leak. No, it must have already leaked.
"Yes, they must know."
"They know? Then doesn't that mean the folks who came from the merchant guild that day are thinking, 'Those guys carrying the alcohol are Myeolmadae martial artists'?"
"Exactly."
"But you're having us carry alcohol so peacefully?"
"They'll know everything. That I'm here, that the Myeolmadae has come. They probably even know that you followed along."
"Then shouldn't we strike Baekgye Merchant Guild first to find out who's behind this?"
"How?"
When he asked this, Jin Haryeong was the one flustered instead.
"Don't you have ways to make them talk?"
"You seem to be expecting some miraculous great technique to make them talk. We're the same as your people. Pulling out fingernails, burning them with fire."
"We don't do that sort of thing!"
"You do too."
Jin Haryeong couldn't strongly refute him. There was no guarantee that somewhere in the Murim Alliance's underground interrogation chamber, a skewer wasn't being heated red-hot.
"Anyway, why don't you do it? Our friend's life is on the line."
Then Geom Mugeuk answered calmly.
"Because our friend's honor is on the line too."
Jin Haryeong flinched.
Baekgye Merchant Guild belonged to the Sado Alliance. Attacking them without clear evidence would be an act of disregarding the Sado Alliance.
"If we strike, Sain should be the one to do it."
Jin Haryeong's face flushed slightly as she nodded in agreement.
"I was short-sighted."
Besides, they had officially invited Bi Sain now.
Then Geom Mugeuk spoke indifferently.
"That's why."
"Why?"
"It feels like they're deliberately dragging us in."
In that instant, Jin Haryeong's eyes widened in shock.
"Anyone can see that the current situation means I need to make contact with Baekgye Merchant Guild or find something out from them, right? Enough that you came here urging me why I don't strike. Do you really think they wouldn't think the same?"
She hadn't thought that far. If Geom Mugeuk's prediction was right? If the enemy was the type to dig a trap in Baekgye Merchant Guild and wait?
"Then aren't we in a really dangerous situation right now?"
Then Geom Mugeuk asked her back.
"Dangerous? For whom? The interior of Cheonhwaru is guarded by the Myeolmadae, the exterior by the Nameless Guest. And I am here, and Lady Soma is here too. You and Lord Jin are here, and Young Alliance Leader Bi will arrive leading the Sado Thirteen Wolves."
It was enough to make one blurt out, 'Is this really dangerous?'
"If you were the enemy, could you pull off some scheme in this situation?"
At Geom Mugeuk's question, Jin Haryeong shook her head.
"I would have fled without looking back."
Right. To defeat their side, one would need to start a war.
"But they're staying put. Not canceling the invitation either. That means they have a dangerous move up their sleeve."
There was one thing Jin Haryeong didn't understand in Geom Mugeuk's words.
"You wish for no one to get hurt or die, right? Then why aren't you avoiding this? You could refuse the invitation and strike Baekgye Merchant Guild together with Young Alliance Leader Bi."
Then unexpected words flowed from Geom Mugeuk.
"Then they wouldn't be able to use the move they've prepared."
Just as she was thinking, 'Wouldn't that be enough then?' she was startled.
"Don't tell me……?"
That 'don't tell me' was correct.
Geom Mugeuk nodded and spoke.
"Yes, I need to find out what that move is."
Jin Haryeong understood. That rather, Geom Mugeuk was trying to draw the opponent in.
"Why?"
"Because even if it isn't used now, it will definitely be used someday."
Words that resolved her doubt were added.
"Will I be there then?"
"!"
Geom Mugeuk was worried that that move would be unleashed where he was not present.
Upon Jin Hagun when he was not there, upon Bi Sain when he was not there, upon someone else when he was not there.
If it was such a powerful move, he intended to step forward and block it while he was here.
Jin Haryeong soon recalled what he had said while looking into the mirror a few days ago.
"None of us will be hurt or die. My gleaming demonic path is far too selfish compared to your righteous path to ever bear witness to such a thing."
Truly, how utterly selfish.
Worrying about others' safety to such a degree.
Worrying not only about the present situation before his eyes, but also about a future that might occur at any unknown time.
"Aren't you tired living like this?"
Geom Mugeuk had an unwavering belief in life.
"If people who don't have to die end up dying because I didn't live this way…… then it would be hard."
Saving those who should not die—that was the very calling of this life.
Geom Mugeuk spoke with a smile.
"Don't worry too much. If we die, they won't be safe either. The revenge of the cult leaders and alliance leaders of Majeongsa who lost their children and disciples would begin."
"Don't smile! It's not funny at all."
Her brother undoubtedly trusted Geom Mugeuk even more than she did. Since Geom Mugeuk had prepared for everything like this, he was probably just carrying alcohol with a light heart, trusting in him.
"What should I do? Should I wash dishes in the kitchen?"
"No. You protect the Lord of Cheonhwaru."
As Jin Hagun had done, Jin Haryeong readily accepted.
"I will. But unlike my brother, I can't promise to guard her to the death. I may not be able to protect her while dying, but I'll definitely protect her until the moment just before I die."
Geom Mugeuk said to her with a smile.
"Retreating only at the brink of death is harder than dying while protecting her, you know?"
* * *
Three days before Bi Sain's arrival.
Geom Mugeuk called everyone to his quarters. Geugak Soma and Jin Hagun, Jin Haryeong, and even Yeojeong.
Geom Mugeuk's desk was piled high with documents. They were the information gathered and sent by Tongcheongak and Eunwol up until now.
The people belonging to Baekgye Merchant Guild and their financial circumstances, their relationships with one another, their relationships with other merchant guilds. It was information that had thoroughly investigated Baekgye Merchant Guild down to the finest detail.
Geom Mugeuk conveyed the most important piece of information to everyone.
"Recently, Baekgye Merchant Guild completed expansion work. They widened the training ground, tore down old buildings, and erected new ones. And Tongcheongak discovered that there were special materials used in that construction."
Tongcheongak had investigated even the construction materials without missing a thing.
"It was a cover-up construction."
At Geugak Soma's guess, Geom Mugeuk nodded and answered.
"Yes. When we analyzed the materials, it seems they installed offensive mechanisms and formations. And of the highest grade at that. They say it will be extremely lethal."
At the mention of lethal mechanisms and formations, everyone's expressions grew grave. Those could not be easily installed, and even if one found a master craftsman capable of making them, it would cost an enormous sum of money.
Jin Haryeong spoke to Geom Mugeuk with a surprised expression.
"Your prediction was right. Baekgye Merchant Guild was a trap."
As Geom Mugeuk slowly nodded, this time Jin Hagun asked.
"What do you intend to do?"
Everyone's attention focused on Geom Mugeuk. He had already made up his mind before calling them.
"Destroying that place is something the Sado Alliance can decide later. For now, let's prepare a proper feast for our friend. Please prepare the finest alcohol and outstanding dishes."
Geom Mugeuk looked around at everyone and added.
"Only when the feast ends well can the real feast begin."
* * *
Deep in the communal cemetery at night, a wolf's howl echoed from afar.
Old tombstones that looked as though they would shatter at the slightest touch heightened the eerie atmosphere even further.
There stood Pyeongwi, Vice Lord of Baekgye Merchant Guild. He had been tense the entire time he waited for someone. And rightly so.
What he had been waiting for appeared in the darkness.
Flying through the night sky, floating in midair, was a palanquin.
The palanquin's atmosphere was unique. It was painted entirely black, as if a chunk of darkness had broken off and was moving on its own.
There were four people around the palanquin wearing black clothes and black veils. They too floated at the four corners of the palanquin and flew alongside it, and the energy they exuded was far from ordinary.
From the lanterns in their hands flowed a bizarre blue light that seemed like it could only come from a ghost's eyes. It felt like a palanquin connecting the underworld and the mortal realm.
Tap, tap-tap.
All living things in the palanquin's path died.
Birds and insects dropped down with pattering sounds, and flowers withered and died in an instant. Even the trees dried up and twisted.
The palanquin stopped in the air before Pyeongwi.
Pyeongwi spoke in a respectful tone.
"Tomorrow is finally the day."
Tomorrow was the day they had invited Bi Sain. Tomorrow night, he would meet Bi Sain personally at Cheonhwaru.
A woman's voice was heard from within the palanquin floating in the air.
"I sense fear from you."
It was a bewitching yet dreamlike voice that shook the listener's soul.
Pyeongwi's pupils trembled. How could he not be afraid? No matter how foolproof the plan was, he had to walk with his own two feet into a place where the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader, Geugak Soma, the Sado Alliance's Young Alliance Leader, and the Myeolmadaeju were present.
Again, a sweet woman's voice flowed from the palanquin.
"Do not be afraid."
A desolate wind blew, and clouds veiled the moon.
"The night is always on our side."