'What's wrong with her?'
Jin Sa-wol, feeling Jo Geom-ok's piercing gaze, observed her.
Jo Geom-ok was staring intently at Jin Sa-wol. Her red, plump lips were mumbling as if she were about to say sothing, and her jade-like white skin sparkled in the sunlight.
'Is she going through puberty?'
Jin Sa-wol spoke to Jo Geom-ok, whose face was a mixture of annoyance and a smile.
"If you have sothing to say, say it."
"What do you an?"
"You look like you have sothing you want to say."
Feeling Jin Sa-wol's gaze, Jo Geom-ok turned her head and asked.
"Did things go well with Ae-hwa?"
"We finished it well."
"What was it about?"
"Ask Ae-hwa."
Jin Sa-wol answered as if he had no great emotion towards Jo Geom-ok's interest and then moved his feet.
Son Ae-hwa was currently cleaning around the room where Jin Sa-wol was staying.
"Where are you going?"
"To the gisaeng house."
At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Jo Geom-ok frowned and stuck close to his side. Jo Geom-ok's apple scent tickled Jin Sa-wol's nose.
"Do you rember? When we were young, you always protected
by my side."
"When we were young, you called
'oppa'."
"You rember."
Jo Geom-ok stopped walking with a surprised face. But Jin Sa-wol did not stop walking and continued on. Jin Sa-wol was not interested in what Jo Geom-ok was thinking.
"You rember..."
Jo Geom-ok frowned her beautiful eyebrows and looked at Jin Sa-wol's heartless back. She felt a bittersweet feeling.
Jin Sa-wol, who had entered the gisaeng house, stood in the pavilion located in the large pond with Jo-rim.
It was a place where no one ca and went.
Jo-rim, unlike before, spoke in a very gentle voice.
"I heard about the Esoteric Sect from my brother. He said you went through a lot of trouble."
At Jo-rim's words, Jin Sa-wol looked at her with a hardened expression.
Conscious of Jin Sa-wol's gaze, Jo-rim shrugged her shoulders.
"If you have sothing to say, say it. Your expression is a bit... reluctant. Innkeeper."
"Your tone is ticklish. You said you often spend the night with my brother, has your personality changed too? You sll like a woman."
"I'm treating you like an innkeeper, aren't I? You don't like it?"
"Be comfortable."
At Jin Sa-wol's words to do as she pleased, Jo-rim smiled.
"You brought a burden, didn't you? Son Ae-hwa. She was under
for a while."
"It's a relief that you know each other."
"She was a Flower Ghost. Especially Ae-hwa, she likes blood. What's the reason for keeping such a woman as a maid?"
"Because it's convenient to run errands."
At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Jo-rim knew that he had not brought her because of affection.
Il-hu approached and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation. The master of the Golden Flower Pavilion is in the guest hall."
"Alright."
Jin Sa-wol, as if he had expected it, headed for the guest hall.
* * *
Dozens of horses and two four-horse carriages entered through the main gate of the grand inn. One carriage was from the Martial Alliance, and the other was a carriage with the flag of the Ice Palace.
The master of the Golden Flower Pavilion of the Martial Alliance, who got out of the carriage, was a middle-aged man in his mid to late forties with a protruding belly and a chubby face.
He, wearing a blue long robe and a cape, was guided by Bi-sun and headed for the guest hall.
From the other carriage, a young man in white slowly got out.
He was a handso young man in his early twenties with a tall stature and jade-like skin.
"It's big."
The young man, who had looked around the main building of the grand inn, smiled at the considerable scale of the inn.
The young man, who took out a folding fan and held it in his hand, slowly passed the main building and looked around the inn. Behind him, four maids followed quietly. A little further away, two middle-aged won wearing black and white martial arts uniforms were with them.
Because he was a young man with a striking appearance, the eyes of the people who ca and went in the inn were temporarily on him.
"Oh my? Young Master Leng."
Namgung Ji, who was coming from the front street, greeted the young man cheerfully and approached him.
"Miss Namgung."
"What brings you from the Ice Palace all the way here?"
When Namgung Ji asked, Leng Yushan, the young master of the Ice Palace, the Jade-Faced Young Master, smiled.
"I was on my way to the alliance and heard that the Gangnam Grand Inn was famous, so I ca to see it for a mont."
"This place is famous."
"But why is Miss Namgung here?"
"I work here."
Namgung Ji smiled and answered. At the words that she worked, Leng Yushan showed a surprised expression.
"Why is Miss Namgung...? Is there a reason for you to work?"
"My father told
to work. He said that's the only way he can entrust
with the alliance's work."
"I see."
At Namgung Ji's words, Leng Yushan nodded as if he understood and said.
"Then may I ask Miss Namgung to guide ? Please give
the best room."
"Then let's go to the guest hall instead of here. The Golden Flower Pavilion Master is here now, so the general manager is there."
"Alright."
Hearing Leng Yushan's answer, Namgung Ji headed for the guest hall with him with a happy face.
Namgung Ji, who had crossed the wall of the guest hall, greeted Woo Jeong-bong when she saw him.
"Hello, brother."
"Miss Namgung."
Woo Jeong-bong smiled at Namgung Ji's bright voice and then his expression hardened when he t Leng Yushan's face.
"It's been a long ti."
"It's been a long ti."
Leng Yushan smiled and bowed his head with a cupped fist. Although he showed a polite appearance, Woo Jeong-bong's expression did not change.
Since the Ice Palace was in the middle of the orthodox and evil factions, Woo Jeong-bong instinctively kept his distance from Leng Yushan.
"Why did you co all the way from the Ice Palace? Are you perhaps traveling the martial world?"
Although Woo Jeong-bong asked, Leng Yushan's gaze was not on Woo Jeong-bong.
Leng Yushan was staring at Jo Geom-ok, who was visible over Woo Jeong-bong's shoulder. As his eyes t hers, the look in Leng Yushan's eyes changed.
"Where are you looking?"
Although Woo Jeong-bong asked, Leng Yushan passed by him and approached Jo Geom-ok.
"It's been a long ti."
At Leng Yushan's smile, Jo Geom-ok silently looked around and then hurriedly turned her body and left the guest hall.
* * *
Jin Sa-wol, who was sitting in the guest hall, briefly turned his gaze out the window and then looked at the Golden Flower Pavilion Master sitting in front of him.
The Golden Flower Pavilion Master, Wang Yao, who had a thick pig-like chin, showed the gentlest smile possible and stroked his rat-tail-like beard.
"Please forgive Do Jeong's rudeness. Shouldn't the punishnt be given by the alliance? Don't worry about Do Jeong's punishnt. I will definitely punish him. You will never see him at the inn again. I promise."
The Golden Flower Pavilion Master was a very busy person. And he was not a person that anyone could et.
The pavilion master level of the Martial Alliance was a person with greater power than the heads of most small and dium-sized sects.
Hundreds of martial arts sects tried to form connections to enter the Martial Alliance, and in the process, people like Do Jeong were bound to appear.
"Understood."
Seeing Jin Sa-wol, who answered with an indifferent expression, Wang Yao spoke even more gently.
"Do Jeong's nose has gotten high because he only deals with martial arts sects. Please forgive him for the sake of the Alliance Leader's face."
As Wang Yao even ntioned Namgung Min, Jin Sa-wol had to change his expression.
"Please don't worry. I will hand over Do Jeong. Please take him with you."
"Thank you."
Wang Yao let out a long sigh and stroked his chest as if relieved. Since the Gangnam Grand Inn was a very important place for the Martial Alliance, he could not treat the innkeeper, Jin Sa-wol, carelessly.
Wang Yao and Jin Sa-wol chatted for about an hour and then parted. When Wang Yao left the inn, he dragged Do Jeong out, tied him up like a criminal with a rope, and left.
Bi-sun approached Jin Sa-wol, who was standing at the main gate of the inn, watching the warriors of the Martial Alliance moving away.
"The young master of the Ice Palace is here."
The mont he heard his words, Jin Sa-wol instinctively turned his body.
"Where?"
"He's with Guard Jo."
At Bi-sun's words, Jin Sa-wol walked towards the guesthouse with quick steps. Woo Jeong-bong approached.
"I'm going to the gisaeng house now. Shall we have a drink together?"
"What about martial arts training?"
"We can do it tomorrow."
"Let's have a duel tomorrow."
"Tsk!"
At Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong, as if the taste of alcohol had been ruined, turned his body and headed for his room. Watching him, Jin Sa-wol headed for Jo Geom-ok's residence.
* * *
"Why did you co?"
"You're saying sothing disappointing, noona."
At Jo Geom-ok's cold voice, Leng Yushan frowned as if he were sulking. The two were standing in the wide yard, and Jo Geom-ok had her back to Leng Yushan.
"Just tell
the reason why you ca."
"Since Alliance Leader Jo is also dead, I thought you would have nowhere to go, so I ca. Instead of staying in a place like an inn, how about going to the palace with ?"
"The palace?"
"We're siblings. I'll take care of my sister who has nowhere to go."
At Leng Yushan's smile, Jo Geom-ok felt a chill. Of course, it was because of Leng Yushan's martial arts, not his emotions.
"We're not siblings. And you have no business taking responsibility for my life."
"There's no need to deny it. Because I think so."
At Leng Yushan's words, Jo Geom-ok shook her head.
When he was young, he was kind and gentle, but after going to the Ice Palace, his personality had changed like that.
"Let's go together."
"Just go back. I'm doing fine."
"What's the problem?"
Leng Yushan's expression hardened, as if he didn't like Jo Geom-ok's refusal.
"What do I lack? I, the young master of the Ice Palace, like you, noona. What do you think will happen when the people of the world find out that you were an abandoned child of the Esoteric Sect? If Alliance Leader Jo were alive, he would have been a shield, but he's not here now, right? So let's go with . I'll protect you."
At Leng Yushan's words, Jo Geom-ok smiled with a face of disbelief.
"Protect ? Do I look like such a weak person?"
At Jo Geom-ok's appearance of emitting a strong fighting spirit, Leng Yushan took a step back.
"Are you angry? I didn't say it to hurt your pride. I said it because I was worried. Noona. We went through hardships together when we were young. If there's no one to rely on in this lonely martial world, there's nothing lonelier than that, right? So let's live together from now on."
"The reason I'm dealing with you is because we went through that ti of hardship together when we were young."
Jo Geom-ok, as if she had said all she had to say, turned her body.
"Just go."
Jo Geom-ok, who had spat out a word, showed a flustered expression when she saw Jin Sa-wol standing in front of the door.
"Noona."
Leng Yushan, who was turning his body, also looked at Jin Sa-wol standing in front of the door.
Leng Yushan instinctively felt that the atmosphere between Jo Geom-ok and Jin Sa-wol was unusual.
Swish!
Leng Yushan slightly raised his right hand and emitted a cold air. A haze-like energy rose from his hand.
"I don't know who you are, but don't think about interfering in the affairs between a man and a woman and go on your way."
Although he felt killing intent from Leng Yushan, Jin Sa-wol turned his gaze to Jo Geom-ok.
Jo Geom-ok took a step to the side and pointed at Leng Yushan with her hand.
"This is Leng Yushan, the young master of the Ice Palace, Young Master Leng. And that is Jin Sa-wol, the innkeeper of this inn, Young Master Jin."
At Jo Geom-ok's words, Leng Yushan lowered his hand and looked Jin Sa-wol up and down.
"I thought the innkeeper would be a toad-like guy with a greasy belly... This is unexpected."
At Leng Yushan's words, Jin Sa-wol looked Leng Yushan up and down. Leng Yushan, who looked to be a head taller than Jo Geom-ok, was reliable.
The appearance of a young boy was nowhere to be seen.
"You've grown a lot."
At Jin Sa-wol's words, Leng Yushan frowned. He felt bad because a guy he had never seen before was acting like he knew him.
"Do you know ?"
Leng Yushan approached one zhang in front of Jin Sa-wol. His height was a little taller than Jin Sa-wol's.
Leng Yushan, who was looking down at Jin Sa-wol with his shoulders spread like a neighborhood thug, was full of spirit.
One zhang was a very close distance to Jin Sa-wol.
Just as Jin Sa-wol's hand was about to move forward, Jo Geom-ok reached out her hand and blocked Leng Yushan's front.
Swish!
Jin Sa-wol's figure appeared one step in front of Leng Yushan like a ghost. But Jo Geom-ok's arm was blocking Jin Sa-wol's chest.
Jin Sa-wol's right hand, which had gone forward, stopped right in front of Leng Yushan's neck.
"Don't."
At Jo Geom-ok's voice, Jin Sa-wol looked at Leng Yushan indifferently and then smiled.
"It's been a long ti, San."
Swish!
Jin Sa-wol, who was about to grab his neck, turned his hand and grabbed Leng Yushan's shoulder. Leng Yushan's shoulder shook slightly.
(End of Chapter)
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