Chapter 868 ·The Stuffed Toy Is Not a Bear, but a Wolf

Lee ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Ahn was staring at a single iron sword in the weapon shop.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sword she was looking at was not one of the expensive, ornate blades displayed at the center. It was one of several swords standing behind the main stock, arranged almost like part of the background.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍innkeeper approached her cautiously.

“Do ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you like this sword? You’ve been looking at only this one for a while now.”

Having ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍run a weapon shop for many years, he had encountered countless martial artists. He had already sensed that she was a master who did not quite fit a place like this.

“For ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some reason, this sword keeps catching my eye.”

Perhaps the sword placed behind the ornate ones felt as though it was looking back at her.

Not to mention Geom Mugeuk. After meeting him, nearly everyone she encountered was a dazzling figure in the martial world. The Young Leaders of the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance, the Demon Supremes, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, Demonic Army Commanders, and Underworld Pavilion Masters. Even the subordinates she came across were people like Cheong Myeon and Cha Iran. As for their enemies, every one of them was a fearsome existence.

She herself, once a Guard Martial Artist, had been like that sword standing behind the splendid ones.

“Why don’t you draw it?”

“I feel like I already know what kind of sword it is without drawing it.”

The innkeeper’s gaze shifted to the sword at her waist.

“It seems you already carry a fine sword.”

Her sword was the Sun and Moon Sword, a gift from Geom Mugeuk.

“It was given to me by someone remarkable.”

At that moment, someone spoke from the entrance.

“Could that ‘remarkable person’ perhaps be that one over there picking out sleepwear?”

The one standing at the entrance was Jin Haryeong. She had naturally entered expecting Geom Mugeuk to be here, but instead found Lee Ahn. Geom Mugeuk was across the street at a fabric store, choosing sleepwear.

Lee Ahn smiled brightly at the friend she had not seen in a long time and answered.

“Probably.”

Jin Haryeong walked over to Lee Ahn’s side. The innkeeper quickly returned to his spot. What kind of day was this? Such beauties arriving one after another.

“What kind of trip is this, really? My brother even took leave for it.”

“According to the Young Cult Leader, it’s a journey to find himself.”

“He sure knows how to come up with excuses to play.”

Jin Haryeong sensed that Lee Ahn's aura was different from before. She could not pinpoint exactly what had changed, but one thing was certain.

‘She’s grown stronger again.’

Not only that, but her gaze and aura felt different as well. It was a woman’s intuition sensing some inner change.

Lee Ahn asked Jin Haryeong,

“Have you eaten?”

“No.”

“The skewers in this town are good. Let’s go, I’ll treat you.”

As Lee Ahn started to walk out, Jin Haryeong grabbed her arm.

“I’m interested in the Young Cult Leader.”

Despite the sudden statement, Lee Ahn neither looked surprised nor flustered.

“I know.”

“That’s all you’re going to say?”

“What else should I say?”

The gazes of the two women tangled in midair.

“You should question it. He calls you his heart, and yet your friend says she’s interested in him? You should at least call me shameless.”

Lee Ahn, who had been quietly watching her, glanced around before speaking.

“It’s dangerous to be arguing in a place filled with blades. Let’s go. An empty stomach only makes your temper sharper.”

But Jin Haryeong had already made up her mind before speaking.

“This isn’t something to talk about with a smile.”

There was something she had wanted to ask for a long time. Regardless of her own feelings for Geom Mugeuk, it was something that frustrated and puzzled her as a fellow woman.

“Why are you just staying still? That man calls you his heart. Do you think he’s joking?”

“No. No matter what jokes he makes, he’s not the kind of person who plays with someone’s feelings.”

“Then why?”

At Lee Ahn’s look, which seemed to ask, ‘Do you truly want to hear the answer?’, Jin Haryeong answered by stubbornly refusing to let go of her arm.

An unexpected answer came from Lee Ahn’s lips.

“I’ve never just stayed still.”

“!”

“Since the day I first met Young Master at seven years old until now, there hasn’t been a single moment when I’ve simply stayed still.”

Jin Haryeong, who had been silently staring at her, released the arm she was holding.

Lee Ahn moved first.

“Let’s go. You must be hungry.”

The two left the weapon shop and stood in front of it, looking across the street at the fabric store. Inside, they could see Geom Mugeuk talking with the shopkeeper. Seeing the shopkeeper burst into laughter, Jin Haryeong let out a small chuckle.

“I can’t with him. He’s chatting away over there too.”

At Jin Haryeong’s words, Lee Ahn looked toward the opposite side of the street.

“Your brother isn’t any different.”

Jin Haryeong turned her head and was startled.

Jin Hagun was assisting a group of medicine peddlers with a demonstration. Together with one of them, he held up a log that had clearly been cut in advance.

A muscular man ran in and smashed his head into the log they were holding.

Crack.

As the log split in half, the onlookers cheered.

Her brother mingling with medicine peddlers? It was something she had never even imagined.

“What kind of trip is this? Did everyone decide to go mad?”

“It’s my first time seeing the Young Leader laugh like that.”

As Lee Ahn said, Jin Hagun was smiling brightly.

“You’re right. I’ve never seen my brother smile like that before.”

After watching for a moment, Jin Haryeong spoke to Lee Ahn.

“Tell them I left ahead of them. I’m busy. I only stopped by to see your face.”

As she turned to leave, this time Lee Ahn grabbed her arm.

“Come with us on this trip.”

Jin Haryeong glared at her as if challenging her.

“You seem confident. I’m Jin Haryeong, the greatest beauty of Hubei. The granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader, and the younger sister of the next leader. Think you can handle me?”

“That’s not why I’m asking you to come.”

“Then why?”

An answer Lee Ahn had not expected even from herself came out.

“I want to travel with a friend too.”

“!”

“Young Master and your brother look so happy just being together as friends. I want to go on a journey like that someday too.”

Jin Haryeong scoffed.

“This really is a trip where everyone decided to go mad.”

Lee Ahn did not let go of her arm.

“The skewer stand is over there.”

---

“Happy birthday.”

Il-rang of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance presented a small box to Bih Sa-in.

“This is a gift we prepared.”

“I said I don’t need gifts.”

“It’s nothing much. Just a small token of my appreciation, so please accept it.”

When he opened the box, he found a golden wolf ornament, the symbol of the Unorthodox Alliance, meant to be worn on one’s clothing.

“It’s impressive.”

Bih Sa-in pinned it to his chest.

“You don’t have to wear it.”

“I’ll wear it for today. Thank you for the gift.”

Bih Sa-in expressed his thanks to the other members of the Thirteen Wolves standing behind as well. A trace of sincere gratitude passed across that fierce and rugged face.

“Thank you, all of you.”

The Thirteen Wolves cupped their fists in unison and greeted him.

“Happy birthday.”

Il-rang reported to Bih Sa-in.

“Ah, and we’ve reserved a VIP seat at the Sky Flower Pavilion. We also told them to prepare the dishes you mentioned.”

Normally, a grand banquet would have been held on the birthday of the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance. However, for the past few years, Bih Sa-in had forbidden any birthday celebrations.

He felt burdened by those who tried to curry favor with him through lavish gifts, found it awkward to exchange greetings with people he barely remembered, and did not desire all attention to be focused on him at a banquet.

Today, he intended to spend a quiet birthday at the Sky Flower Pavilion.

Just as they were walking toward it,

Swiiiiik.

A single dagger shot toward Bih Sa-in.

Clang.

Il-rang struck away the incoming dagger with his sword.

“An ambush!”

Four of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance dashed toward the direction the dagger had come from. The remaining nine surrounded Bih Sa-in and guarded him.

Those who had gone to track the attacker returned empty-handed.

“The culprit vanished without leaving a trace.”

Il-rang, who had deflected the dagger, could tell. It was not an attack meant to kill Bih Sa-in. If it were, it had been far too straightforward.

Sure enough, a letter was tied to the dagger lying on the ground.

Il-rang took out a small vial from his sleeve and lightly sprinkled it over the dagger and the letter.

“There is no poison on it.”

Il-rang untied the letter and brought it to Bih Sa-in.

As soon as he checked its contents, Bih Sa-in’s eyes widened in surprise. Just from his expression, it was clear the message was no ordinary one.

“What does it say?”

Bih Sa-in showed the contents to Il-rang.

—Come alone to the jujube tree estate twenty li to the west. If you do not come, Han Seol will die.

---

Bih Sa-in arrived at the estate.

Seeing the main gate tilted crookedly off its hinges, he could tell the place had been abandoned for a long time.

He passed through a courtyard littered with scattered gravel and trash and entered the central building.

As he stepped into the main hall, he saw four people inside.

At the center sat a woman on a chair. A black sack covered her head, making her face unrecognizable.

Around her stood three figures in black. They wore black martial attire and bamboo hats with veils, concealing their faces.

The man standing in the middle spoke coldly.

“Bih Sa-in, Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

His voice was extremely low, so low that it seemed impossible to produce such a tone deliberately.

“So you really came alone to save the woman.”

The man in the bamboo hat let out a sneering laugh.

“So the rumor that the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance is in love with the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace was true.”

Bih Sa-in’s gaze turned toward the woman sitting on the chair. His already intimidating face hardened, becoming even more fearsome.

“Why have you covered her face?”

“Because there’s something to ask. It would be difficult to answer if we were face to face.”

The man in the bamboo hat placed his sword against Han Seol’s neck and asked,

“Han Seol, do you know that the Young Leader likes you?”

After a brief hesitation, Han Seol slowly nodded.

“And do you like the Young Leader as well?”

Her hesitation was longer this time, but Han Seol eventually nodded again.

The man in the bamboo hat laughed.

“A beautiful love. A love where you’d give your lives for each other.”

At that moment, Bih Sa-in spoke bluntly.

“I have no intention of giving my life, though.”

A silence fell, as if they had misheard.

They had not. Bih Sa-in drew his sword without hesitation.

Wooooong.

Sword Force surged along his blade.

“You dare stage a hostage situation against me!”

The man in the bamboo hat pressed the sword closer to Han Seol’s neck and warned,

“Don’t try anything foolish. If you so much as twitch a finger, Han Seol dies.”

Bih Sa-in let out a long whistle.

Moments later, the Thirteen Wolves waiting outside the estate stormed in.

“If Han Seol dies, the Northern Sea Ice Palace will not remain still.”

Bih Sa-in did not even blink at the threat. Instead, he escalated it.

“I’ll make it look like the doing of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

The bamboo-hatted man flinched. The other two clearly showed signs of shock as well.

“Kill them all!”

“Then Han Seol dies!”

But the Thirteen Wolves charged forward in unison as ordered.

As they rushed in simultaneously, the masked man at the center shouted instead of killing the woman.

“Wait! We surrender! Cease attack!”

With the Thirteen Wolves closing in from all directions, their swords trained on them, the man in the bamboo hat slowly removed the black sack covering Han Seol's head.

The woman revealed beneath it was Lee Ahn.

A startled look crossed her face as she spoke.

“……Happy birthday, Young Leader Bi.”

Soon after, the man removed his bamboo hat as well.

It was Geom Mugeuk, who had disguised himself and altered his voice.

The other two removed their hats as well.

Naturally, they were Jin Hagun and Jin Haryeong.

Jin Haryeong said with a dumbfounded expression,

“We almost got killed trying to throw you a surprise birthday party, right?”

Jin Hagun also spoke in disbelief,

“You attacked without even confirming, even with a hostage?”

Lee Ahn fanned her face with her hand.

“I thought I was going to die from the heat wearing that.”

Geom Mugeuk shouted angrily,

“Are you insane? Lee Ahn poured her heart and soul into that performance. Are you out of your mind?! What if Miss Han had actually died!”

Not only Lee Ahn, but he himself had thoroughly concealed his energy, altered his voice, and even swapped his usual sword for an ordinary iron blade.

Bih Sa-in smiled leisurely and revealed the truth.

“I knew it was you from the start. Who else would dare kidnap Miss Han and send me such a letter?”

Bih Sa-in had known it was Geom Mugeuk’s doing.

Even his remark about pinning it on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had been to tease him.

“Trying to deceive me, were you?”

Bih Sa-in smiled in satisfaction, as if pleased with himself. The Thirteen Wolves also looked relaxed, as though they had known beforehand.

Geom Mugeuk, of course, and the other three naturally believed his words.

If they had truly thought Han Seol was kidnapped, he would never have brought the Thirteen Wolves. Nor would he have spoken of blaming it on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

But how had he known?

Before uncovering that, Geom Mugeuk did not miss this perfect chance to tease Bih Sa-in.

His counterattack began.

“Lies! You’re just making excuses because you got caught!”

By now, they all instinctively played along with Geom Mugeuk’s antics. Each of them chimed in as if waiting for it.

“I’m disappointed!”

“So this is the ruthless martial world firsthand.”

Following Lee Ahn and Jin Haryeong, Jin Hagun joined in as well.

“Have we been deceived all this time?”

“So it was all fake affection. Miss Han, you’ve been fooled. This cold-hearted successor of the unorthodox faction has no true feelings.”

Bih Sa-in, who had been smiling calmly, became flustered.

“I told you, I knew from the start! Don’t misunderstand!”

But once they had their prey, they had no intention of letting go.

The lead hunter was Jin Hagun.

He recalled something from the past, when Bih Sa-in had secretly strolled through the marketplace with Han Seol.

“That stuffed bear!”

Back then, Jin Hagun had realized their relationship upon seeing Bih Sa-in dressed in white, carrying a stuffed bear alongside Han Seol.

What a perfect setup! Geom Mugeuk’s eyes sharpened as he revealed the truth behind the stuffed bear.

“It wasn't a cute stuffed bear. It was a terrifying stuffed wolf, concealing its ambition to take over the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Look! He's even wearing it on his chest!”

Lee Ahn and Jin Haryeong chimed in,

“I think I’ll be scared every time I see a stuffed bear now.”

“I should start by throwing out the ones at home.”

The two women exchanged glances, smiling with their eyes. When else would they ever get a chance to tease and attack the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance like this? Being with Geom Mugeuk truly led to unimaginable experiences.

Geom Mugeuk remembered something else.

“Ah, that candied fruit you bought for Miss Han at the marketplace that day must have been poisoned too!”

He spoke to Jin Hagun with a sincere expression.

“I owe you an apology. Oversleeping, getting food on your clothes, showing off, gambling... none of that compares to this great evil. We failed to see the enormous truth lurking beneath the surface.”

“I accept your apology.”

Listening to them, Bih Sa-in shook his head.

“How long are you going to keep this up?”

“We’re not done yet! Not until we strip away that hypocritical mask of yours!”

A knowing smile returned to Bih Sa-in’s lips, as if he had been waiting for this moment. His final counterattack began.

“If you had said you kidnapped them instead, this trick might have worked. Then I really would have come alone.”

At last, the reason was revealed.

The moment he received the letter, he realized it was a prank.

Because someone stepped forward from among the Thirteen Wolves.

The person who had planned to dine with him today at the Sky Flower Pavilion was Han Seol, dressed in pure white.

Seeing her awkward smile, Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun shouted at the same time.

No way, you lot!

“So you all got together again without us?”

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