It was a lesson from Hwi.
"The moment you let your guard down, you die!"
A simple truth from the greatest escort of the era.
Geom Mugeuk knew.
He knew how difficult it was to abide by that one line.
How the truths that are always difficult to keep are simple.
“Ah! This is a big problem.”
Geom Mugeuk complained, though not entirely in jest.
“There are too many moments in my life when I let my guard down. I play, I drink! I even dance!”
Though I said that, there are only two instances when I let my guard down.
“When I’m with my father, I am the very definition of unguarded. Whether an assassin comes or not, my father will block them for me!”
In truth, even when I was with my father, I was tense.
Not because I was worried about someone's ambush, but because of my father.
The better our relationship became, the more tense I grew.
It meant it was about time for me to make a mistake.
The only moment I completely let go of all tension was when I was inside the Space-Time Displacement Art.
Ah, just thinking about it made me feel good.
The comfort of lying on that hot sandy beach.
The sound of seagulls and waves, a single crab crawling on the sand.
Of course, now there was one more place.
When I soaked my body in the hot spring surrounded by snow, I forgot all the worries of the world.
Thinking of that place with assassins in mind, I once again realized how precious it was.
“Ah, even now as I listen to you, Uncle, I am being careless.”
Hwi laughed.
He had smiled faintly several times before, but this was the first time he had laughed so pleasantly.
“You’ve let your guard down now too, haven’t you, Uncle?”
At that, Hwi readily nodded.
“That’s right. If I were ambushed at this moment, I would have died.”
“We would have died together, then.”
Then Hwi spoke cautiously.
“I would have died first.”
Something a true Escort Martial Artist would never want to see.
Even if they saw all the horrific and terrifying things in the world, even if they saw a sword piercing their own heart, there was one thing they never wanted to see.
The sight of the person they must protect dying.
Just as Lee Ahn had thrown herself in front of me, Hwi was also a man prepared to die first.
“Perhaps that is the only blessing given to an escort.”
What more needed to be said? He had already proven himself through death.
I like this man who protected my father his whole life and was with him even in death.
Therefore, I can promise.
In this life, such a thing will never happen.
That was the reason I went through all that trouble to return.
That is why I will never let my guard down.
"Uncle."
“Yes, Young Cult Master.”
“I will surely keep your words from today in mind and make sure to tell you this. I survived thanks to what you told me, Uncle Hwi!”
After I kill the King of Assassins and return, I will be sure to tell him this.
As if my sincerity was conveyed, Hwi smiled.
“You must be tired. Go inside and rest.”
“Yes, you should rest too, Uncle.”
As I entered the building and walked down the corridor, I could see Hwi still standing in the yard through the window.
He was looking up at the night sky with a thoughtful expression.
Come to think of it, it was the first time I had seen Hwi standing under the moonlight.
Geum Cheonbang arrived at Geom Mugeuk's residence.
Lately, he hadn't been able to sleep because of worries about his son.
The fact that his son had hired assassins was a great shock to him.
He could forgive other things, but he could never forgive the fact that his son had been influenced to hire assassins.
Of course, he did not know.
That regardless of his son, the result was already decided.
That from the beginning, they were merely grass-eaters caught in a fight between beasts.
He considered going to him and confronting him.
But having left matters with him to his son until now, he felt burdened to meet him at this point.
So, even if he were to meet him, he intended to meet Geom Mugeuk's side first and then decide.
'I have to sort this out somehow.'
Even if he had hired them under that person's influence, his son could not escape responsibility for this contract.
This was the key point of today's visit.
'Does he really know who hired them?'
When Geom Mugeuk came to see him, he seemed to know something.
He had come to confirm that for certain.
And if he did know?
The reason he had come alone, without even his subordinates, was in case that was true.
'If it doesn't work out, I'll have to solve it with money.'
He had not even exchanged greetings with the father and Uncle of the man named Geom Yeon yet.
He was curious about what kind of people they were.
When he knocked on the door, Hwi greeted him.
"How may I help you?"
"Are you perhaps Geom Yeon's father?"
“No. I am Yeon’s Uncle.”
“Ah, I see. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Clan Leader of the Golden Dragon Clan.”
He was a subordinate his daughter had brought.
Strictly speaking, he did not need to be so polite.
But the moment he saw Hwi, he felt intimidated without realizing it.
“I would like to see Geom Yeon’s father.”
“Please wait a moment. I will go inside and ask.”
"Please do."
Since the Clan Leader had come, shouldn't he be let in unconditionally? Was he planning to send him back if he was sleeping?
As he was having these thoughts, Hwi came out again.
“Please come in.”
Hwi guided him to Geom Woojin.
“The Clan Leader of the Golden Dragon Clan has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
Geum Cheonbang entered the room.
Hwi followed him in.
He was not here as an escort, but as an Uncle.
Geom Woojin, who had been standing by the window looking outside, turned and looked at Geum Cheonbang.
The moment their eyes met, every hair on Geum Cheonbang's body stood on end.
He felt a presence incomparable to the pressure he had felt when he met Hwi.
“I am Geum Cheonbang, who leads the Clan.”
Geum Cheonbang greeted him with a cupped fist, more politely than his usual greeting.
Although he had the cover identity of the Western Path Sect Leader, Geom Woojin introduced himself like this.
“I am Yeon’s father.”
Geum Cheonbang had seen many people while leading his merchant group, but he had never met someone who gave such a strong impression.
“Unfortunately, an incident that should not have happened recently occurred at our home. I apologize for that.”
After apologizing first, he asked about his well-being.
“Are you alright?”
"I am fine."
“Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”
“No.”
He could not learn anything from the short reply, so he tried to discern his true intentions from his expression.
But far from seeing his intentions, their eyes met and he unknowingly lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.
'He's not an easy opponent.'
His son, Geom Yeon, was also not ordinary.
They were not a typical father and son.
Were they really here as his daughter’s subordinates?
An awkward silence followed.
He was skilled at leading conversations from having met many people, but strangely, his mouth would not open.
He had not found out anything.
At this rate, he felt like he would be asked to leave at any moment.
Then, he suddenly remembered what Geom Mugeuk had said to him.
“Your son recommended that I visit you and seek your advice.”
"Me?"
It seemed to be the first he was hearing of it.
“He said I should visit and learn how to be a parent who can win against their child. That you are the best in that field.”
Only then did a strange smile appear on Geom Woojin's face.
“How can I win against my child?”
After a brief pause, Geom Woojin answered.
“I am also losing.”
Hwi slightly bowed his head.
He couldn't dare to show a smile at the Cult Master's words.
The Cult Master declaring defeat?
It was a joking answer, but Hwi knew it was not just a joke.
The Cult Master had been losing well recently, he had even lost at fishing.
Seeing Hwi bowing his head and smiling, Geom Woojin asked him.
“What do you think?”
“How would I know, being childless?”
“That’s why I’m asking.”
It sounded as if having a child would make it harder to find the answer.
He was flustered by the unexpected question, but how could his answer be careless when the Cult Master had asked?
“I do not know about winning or losing against a child. However, I have heard this before.”
The question was from the Cult Master, but the answer was for Geum Cheonbang.
Because he was the one who needed to hear it.
“A child grows up watching actions, not words.”
Geum Cheonbang's heart grew heavy.
How could he not know the meaning behind those words?
If you cannot win against your child, it means you cannot win against yourself.
In that respect, Geum Cheonbang was deeply ashamed.
His son was answering what he had shown him with the belief that there was nothing money couldn't solve.
Geom Woojin said to Geum Cheonbang.
“So it seems.”
“Thank you for your wise words.”
He could not confirm whether they knew about his son's contract or not.
But today’s visit was not just filled with regret for having raised his child poorly.
As he was about to turn and leave after saying his goodbyes, Geom Woojin said something unexpected.
“It seems my son has seen you all well.”
To Geum Cheonbang, those words sounded like this:
My son intends to give you a chance to be forgiven.
The moment he heard those words, he felt a small opening in his stuffy, blocked heart.
He hoped that was the intention.
Geum Cheonbang slightly bowed his head again in greeting and then left.
Geom Woojin spoke to Hwi, who had returned after seeing him off.
“Do you have a hidden child somewhere?”
It was a compliment for his good answer to the earlier question.
Hwi just smiled without a word.
After looking out the window with Geom Woojin for a moment, Hwi spoke cautiously.
“The assassin behind this must be no ordinary person.”
Geom Woojin silently nodded.
Hwi knew.
Even though the Cult Master seemed carefree, he was aware of many things.
He was receiving reports from the Grand Strategist every time.
He knew exactly which assassins were moving and how.
He also knew that the best of the best were on the move.
But even knowing that, the Cult Master was just watching.
How did the Cult Master see the Young Cult Master? He must be seeing something deeper that he himself could not see, right?
Since he could not see that far, that was why.
“I have a request, Cult Master.”
Geom Woojin looked at Hwi for a moment with a surprised expression.
“Have you ever asked me for anything?”
To Geom Woojin's question, Hwi answered respectfully.
“This is the first time.”
“What is your request?”
“It is something I should not dare to ask. Please forgive my impudence.”
Geom Woojin quietly waited for Hwi’s words.
“I would like to take charge of the Young Cult Master’s escort, just for a while.”
He was the escort of none other than the Heavenly Demon.
He was someone who should not take his eyes off the Heavenly Demon for a single moment.
Even if the Heavenly Demon was eating here and the Young Cult Master was facing death over there, he was someone who should not go there.
He had truly lived with that mindset, but now he was making such a request.
Geom Woojin spoke firmly to Hwi.
"I refuse."
Hwi respectfully bowed his head.
“Yes, Cult Master. I apologize for speaking out of turn. I will gladly accept the punishment for this great impertinence.”
Then, an unexpected word came out.
"Hwi, I command you."
“Yes, Cult Master.”
Hwi cupped his fists with a sharp sound and tensed up.
It had been a long time since he received a formal order.
“You are to escort the Young Cult Master until this matter is resolved.”
Surprised, Hwi looked at Geom Woojin.
Geom Woojin looked into his eyes and said.
“This is the first request you've made in your entire life. I can't let you waste it on something like protecting my son.”
“...!”
“Save it, and make a request for yourself.”
Hwi looked at Geom Woojin with a burning gaze and answered more vigorously than ever before.
“I accept the Cult Master’s command!”
“From now on, you will be my escort, Uncle?”
I was surprised by Hwi’s words.
“It is the Cult Master’s order.”
“Father suddenly gave such an order? That can’t be right. You know him too, Uncle. He’s not the type to throw his son off a cliff and put a net below.”
I looked at Hwi quietly.
“You offered to protect me, didn’t you?”
“No. It was the Cult Master’s order.”
He was not a man skilled at lying, so I could tell from his voice and eyes.
Hwi had volunteered for this.
I wondered what he was so worried about under the moonlight that day, and it turns out he was worried about me.
“If it were not an order, I would never have left the Cult Master’s side.”
Hwi denied it to the end.
He was trying to make it seem as if my father had done this for me.
“There is no need to be conscious of me. From now on, I will be a person who is with the Young Cult Master, yet not there.”
Of course, he would be.
The number of people who could find a hidden Hwi could be counted on one hand.
Would the King of Assassins even notice him?
Then, I suddenly remembered what my father had said.
—If you're going to put Hwi on the front line, you take responsibility and protect him.
The reason my father sent Hwi to me was not only to protect me, but also because he believed I would protect Hwi.
Hwi might only be thinking of protecting me, but we have to protect each other.
“Uncle, I’ll be in your care from now on.”
“I will be in your care as well.”
Of course, a joke couldn't be missing from this situation.
I raised both hands and rejoiced.
“Then from now on, I’ll let my guard down completely!”
It was right at that moment when Hwi smiled.
Our gazes simultaneously turned to the door.
Hwi demonstrated what the best stealth technique of the era was and disappeared without a sound.
Soon after, a knock was heard on the main gate.
When I opened the door, surprisingly, Myeong Shin was standing there.
He spoke with transparent eyes that revealed nothing of his inner thoughts.
“I don’t have ten million nyang, but I have enough money to buy you a drink. What do you say? Will you have a drink with me?”
You were right, Uncle.
The moment I let my guard down, an assassin shows up.