By the time I returned after finishing my conversation with the Gyecheon Gate Master, the sun had already set.
Upon entering the branch, I went inside without any particular inspection, and the place I arrived at right after was the quarters prepared on one side.
It was a fairly spacious area prepared for our battalion.
Ha-!
Hup-!
Sounds of martial exertion reached my ears. They were voices coming from the training ground on one side of the quarters.
It seemed they were engrossed in training.
I turned my steps toward that place.
The training ground wasn't very large, so there weren't many people. Counting them, they didn't exceed ten.
Furthermore.
'They're all the ones I expected.'
The guys the Alliance attached were nowhere to be seen; only the ones I had personally selected were visible.
They wouldn't be able to practice their sect's unique martial arts out in the open. Were they doing simple physical training?
I waved my hand slightly.
Whooosh-!!
The energy gathered inside merged and slipped out the window.
The squad members who felt the phenomenon turned their gazes this way.
"Commander?"
"I told you to rest, but you really don't listen."
"You're here."
"Yeah, nothing happened?"
"Yes. Thanks to the branch's consideration, we've been resting comfortably."
"This isn't exactly resting, but... Anyway. Where are the other guys?"
"They are probably in their respective assigned quarters."
"Is that so?"
I asked a question I already knew the answer to and shifted my gaze.
It was to remember the faces of the guys training.
I'd have a use for them later, so I needed to get a look at them.
"Vice Commander Dang."
I pointedly called out Dang So-yeol, who happened to be training with them.
At my designation, Dang So-yeol widened her eyes and answered.
"Ah, yes."
"I have something to say, so come to me as soon as you finish training. You can come by the Hour of Hai, right?"
"Ah, understood."
After delivering the message, I immediately turned my back.
My business at the training ground was done. I strolled around the quarters, looking for people.
Not long after that.
"...Hmm?"
I witnessed a rather subtle scene.
"So shiny."
"Y-young lady... p-please stop."
"So shiny."
A wooden porch at the back of the quarters.
Bong-soon and someone were sitting there. There was no need to check who it was.
Because there was only one guy with a head that shone so brightly in the middle of the night.
However.
'...What the hell are they doing?'
Why was Bong-soon touching that shiny head?
That was my only question.
"Hehe. It's fascinating. It feels good."
"Nngh, ugh..."
The hand movements stroking without hesitation. It was relentless, like rubbing a round ball.
The bald monk being touched like that had flushed red up to his ears and was out of his mind.
'...'
What should I even call that?
The sight of Shaolin's greatest hope becoming a plaything in Bong-soon's hands...
It was a shape too awkward to even express.
Especially.
'That crazy girl is really playing with him like a toy.'
As if there was something to her touch, the monk—Shaolin's Divine Dragon—had reddened down to his scalp.
That bastard...
'...Seems he's brimming with more dark desires than I thought?'
For a monk to have such dark intentions.
How could he inherit the will of Buddha like that?
He even secretly ate meat, didn't he?
Last time, I caught him secretly eating meat dumplings.
Recalling that, conviction naturally sets in.
'Shaolin is doomed.'
The Divine Dragon was certain to become the Abbot someday, but with him in that state, Shaolin's future was bleak.
Ah, of course, it was none of my business.
"Hmm."
Should I sneak up and tease him? Ask if he's skipping training and lecherously enjoying her touch?
'That would be fun.'
Just imagining it brought to mind the Divine Dragon's reaction, making my heart flutter in anticipation.
It hadn't even been a few days, but the Divine Dragon was a much more fun guy to tease than I expected.
I seriously contemplated doing it for a moment... but ultimately turned my steps away.
It would no doubt be incredibly fun, but now wasn't the time for that.
'As for Wi Seol-ah or Namgung Bi-ah...'
They weren't seen at the training ground. Were they resting?
'They aren't the type to rest, though.'
It didn't seem like they'd be resting. They originally didn't like training where people could see them, so if they were training, they'd probably be doing it in a quiet place.
I wanted to go find them, but I had to suppress this as well.
If I were to look for people, there was Cheol Ji-seon and that guy Seong Yul.
'Those guys... they'll do whatever they want.'
I had absolutely no interest in them.
From the start, I had given Cheol Ji-seon work to do as soon as we arrived.
'Seong Yul hasn't finished recovering yet, so it's awkward to use him.'
After the duel with Pang Woo-jin, Seong Yul's recovery hadn't fully completed.
The Divine Physician said that the regeneration speed felt a bit slow for a martial artist.
'Is it the aftermath of Cheonsalseong?'
It could be.
If it was slow when Seong Yul's realm wasn't even low, then there was a problem.
So, I planned to check this part later.
How to check... wouldn't it work to break one part of him and calculate the recovery speed?
'Not bad. That sounds good.'
It was the most accurate and fastest way to check.
Naturally, Seong Yul's opinion didn't matter. Still, since I had some affection for him, I could just break it a little less painfully.
Anyway, around the time I was walking while organizing things one by one like this.
"Oh my. Really?"
"Hahaha. That's right. So at that time, I..."
"More importantly, this time in Henan..."
As I reached my destination, I could hear amiable voices from afar.
Laughter mixed with multiple voices. Hearing that, a smile naturally formed on my face as well.
A vivid sneer, that is.
'They're at it again.'
As I approached hiding my mockery, the situation gradually came into view.
Several figures were gathered at the pond in front of the quarters.
Looking at it, it seemed most of the people who didn't come out to train were there.
The problem was...
"Hahaha. Brother Jin, isn't that a bit of a bluff?"
"What? Bluff?"
"No, I was just a bit surprised to hear you faced a hundred at once. Ah, you didn't take offense, did you? It was just a joke."
"Ha...hahaha. Of course I wasn't offended. I said it knowing it was a joke too."
"Anyway, starting the month after next, the merchant guild is holding a famous festival, you see..."
Endless exchanges of conversation. They looked close at first glance, but the psychological warfare within was incredibly intense.
Hiding swords within their smiles, they continuously poked at each other's weaknesses.
It felt like watching a deep and unpleasant political arena.
The absolute mess of it all made me feel stifled.
'Phew.'
I wondered what on earth they were doing, but knowing the reason, I had nothing more to say.
That was a kind of struggle.
The struggle of males trying to win a precious female.
"Isn't that right, Lady Yeon?"
"Hoho. Yes, it truly seems amazing."
"Ahem..."
At the small agreement, one male's face flushed red.
The other guys were no different.
"So last time..."
"No, well, the Merchant Guild Leader said to me..."
To add just one more word.
To gain a bit more of the female's agreement.
Most of them were digging up all sorts of ideas to strike up a conversation. I wondered why they were acting so desperately, but the bigger problem here was...
'There were way too many males. But there was only one female.'
The female those numerous guys wanted was only one.
"Hoho."
The woman smiling bewitchingly behind her covered mouth.
Yeon-hong, one of the people I brought, was precisely that female.
When she smiled softly, the reactions of the men around her were extreme.
Their eyes were filled with vicious dark desires, and the sight of them desperately scheming to somehow seduce her was truly laughable.
How much murkier would the situation get with competition thrown into this dirty political arena? It was a perfect scene that cleanly resolved the curiosity I once had.
'How truly impressive.'
How could they be so desperate? It was a part I couldn't understand.
Also, the fact that they could throw themselves at just one Yeon-hong like that was the same.
'Good grief.'
Yeon-hong wasn't the only woman. Wi Seol-ah or Namgung Bi-ah. Also, the Vice Commander Dang So-yeol was a woman too, but they didn't pull such strange stunts around those kids.
The reason being.
'Probably because they were too far out of reach.'
Their ranks were just too different to even try anything.
I figured that was probably the reason. Ah, occasionally there were guys who tried to approach them, so I glared at them slightly or beat them down with my aura, could that also be a reason?
That could be. Whatever it was, it was at the point where they sometimes glanced but couldn't approach.
In such a situation, Yeon-hong's existence was like a timely rain in a drought.
She was beautiful, but her appearance didn't reach the absolute extreme, while the atmosphere she carried within was deeply bewitching.
To compare, like a precious object you might be able to obtain if you put in the effort?
This meant it was the perfect state to make the men desperate. And thus, the result was the current situation unfolding.
The struggle surrounding Yeon-hong.
In order to gain her favor somehow, they hid swords within their words while pretending to be refined.
Maybe that's why they thought they were being desperate in their own way, but...
'There's seriously no bullshit like this bullshit.'
From my perspective, it only made me laugh in vain.
Should I sort it out once? No, there was no need for that. Yeon-hong... if it was her, she must have something in mind.
Recalling it with conviction, I moved my steps toward that direction.
At the same time, I called out to the woman who was softly smiling.
"Yeon-hong."
When I called out with a presence, the conversation instantly stopped and gazes flocked to me.
The men looked at me fiercely, thinking I was another competitor, but upon confirming it was me, they all shot up to their feet.
"C-Commander!"
"We greet the Commander."
"...Yeah, right. Have you all been resting well?"
"Yes...!"
Their reactions were uniformly sharp. It seemed beating them down a few times on the way to Sichuan had an effect.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your rest, but I'll be taking Yeon-hong. I have something to say to her separately."
"Ah..."
"Ah, under...stood."
Their voices were dripping with regret.
These bastards...?
'The person involved isn't saying anything, so why are you guys feeling regret?'
I was dumbfounded.
I let out a slight sigh and turned my eyes. I looked at Yeon-hong, who had stood up along with them.
Yeon-hong was making her characteristic smile, covering her mouth.
"Should I go now?"
"Yeah. Follow me."
"Understood."
Yeon-hong, who bowed her head, walked out through the group of men.
Even so, she offered a slight smile toward the males.
"It was fun, young masters. Please tell me more stories next time too."
"Ah... hehe, of course!"
"Please speak to us anytime!"
She skillfully scattered her net.
Looking at it, it didn't seem like they could easily escape it.
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue briefly and turned my back.
"...Let's go."
"Yes."
Like that, the two left...
"..."
"..."
Silence visited the gap between the remaining men.
The relationship was originally formed around Yeon-hong, so when left to themselves, they had nothing to say.
They were all competitors; what conversation was necessary?
Just not spewing malice at each other was the best they could do.
So, just as they were about to quietly end the gathering again.
"Um... you know."
One of the fish opened his mouth.
"The Commander and Lady Yeon. Does anyone know what relationship those two have?"
"..."
"..."
At the carefully brought-up topic, everyone stopped moving.
What kind of relationship did the Commander and Yeon-hong have? This was something they wanted to ask but hadn't bothered to bring up.
"S-Surely. Do they have *that* kind of relationship?"
"Hey, don't say such nonsense. The Commander already has a fiancée."
One man brought it up, saying it wasn't even funny.
It was a widely known fact that the Holy King was engaged to Geom Mu-hui, who had defeated the Silver Wolf Sword.
"Of course. With a fiancée like that, would he even look at another woman?"
The shock from when they first saw Geom Mu-hui still hadn't faded.
Can a person truly be that beautiful? They were in the same battalion and came to Sichuan together, but honestly, even looking at her was hard.
Leaving such a fiancée to have a different relationship with Yeon-hong? It was unbelievable.
...However.
"But seeing how he acts..."
"...Hmm, right...?"
A few recalled.
"Just looking at the Seomwolgeom... or Vice Commander Dang. It's a bit different, isn't it?"
Seomwolgeom Wi Seol-ah and Dok-gwon Dang So-yeol.
They were as beautiful as Geom Mu-hui, and the squad members knew something about them.
"Last time, I looked at them for just a bit too long and almost got killed by the Commander..."
To be precise, he didn't die, but he almost wet himself from the death glare that looked ready to kill.
"I just thought about casually talking to her for a bit, but got warned to stop barking like a dog. I really thought I was going to pass out then."
The Commander's face when he said that was so terrifying. He really almost lost consciousness.
"Seeing this, doesn't it seem like the Commander treats those young ladies specially?"
"That's..."
"Besides, there's a rumor going around, you know."
"Ah...! That rumor?"
Hearing the words, everyone recalled it at once.
The most famous rumor about the Holy King that had spread throughout the Central Plains.
The Holy King, unlike his heroic demeanor, possessed the face of a ghost,
and had a thick lecherous streak that coveted beautiful women, always keeping beauties around him.
That was the rumor.
Recalling that, the men were enveloped in anxiety.
Perhaps.
Just perhaps.
"Then, L-Lady Yeon also..."
"Don't tell me... with the Commander...?"
Could those two also have that kind of relationship.
Such a suspicion rose in everyone's minds.
******************
While the men were grinding their teeth, soaked in their respective delusions, I entered the room with Yeon-hong.
My belongings were already organized and laid out in the room.
It seemed the branch side had prepared it.
"Phew."
I let out a sigh upon entering the room.
By then, Yeon-hong had already entered.
The room, lit by lamps as the night deepened.
Just as a subtle atmosphere was flowing, I looked at Yeon-hong.
Her impression bathed in the light was exceedingly bewitching.
Especially her slightly smiling eyes at the corners of her lowered eyes.
The unique sensation that men liked. It was filled with such a feeling.
I quietly watched Yeon-hong like that...
"Now, then."
I said in a considerably lowered voice.
"Please take it off now."
Hearing the words, Yeon-hong slightly brushed her hair behind her ear.
"Oh my, can't we just talk like this?"
"...That appearance is a bit uncomfortable for me, you see."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So please take it off."
When I said it firmly for the second time, only then did Yeon-hong move.
Swish. Swish.
She began to calmly take off her clothes. There was no hesitation whatsoever.
Originally, it was a relationship where there was no need to hesitate in the first place.
Swish-!
Rustle-!
The clothes gradually coming undone.
The clothes fell fluttering to the floor, and I nodded in satisfaction as I watched.
'Now it's a bit more worth looking at.'
I looked at Yeon-hong with clearer eyes.
Yeon-hong, who had taken off her clothes, surprisingly wasn't naked.
Despite clearly taking off her clothes, for some reason, she was wearing a black martial uniform.
And.
Riiip---!!!
She abruptly grabbed her skin with her hand and tore it off, and a new face appeared from inside.
That was precisely the 'man' called the master of the night and the king of assassins.
"Am-wang."
Am-wang.
That was Yeon-hong's true identity.