"Heavens! Sa-in is buying candied fruit!"
Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang peeked their heads out from an alley, spying on the two.
"The shop owner who saw Sa-in's face is handing over the candied fruit with trembling hands, terrified."
Geom Muyang laughed silently.
Of course, it was an exaggeration meant to be funny, but one thing was certain.
At the very least, Bi Sa-in and candied fruit did not go together.
"Could it be that those two..."
Geom Muyang didn't finish his sentence, but Geom Mugeuk knew exactly what his brother was curious about.
"They're not dating yet."
"How did you know?"
"If they were, they would have bought one and shared it."
The candied fruit Bi Sa-in bought had about ten pieces on a skewer.
It was more than enough for two to share, yet Bi Sa-in bought two and was handing one of them to her.
Their exchange was also very polite.
"Here, this is for you."
"Thank you."
Han Seol accepted the skewer of candied fruit.
"This is the first time I've had this since coming to the Central Plains."
In truth, it had been a very long time for Bi Sa-in as well.
He felt like he hadn't eaten it since he was a little kid.
He couldn't even remember when the last time was.
Han Seol took a bite of the candied fruit.
"It's delicious."
The two started walking again as they ate their candied fruit.
A smile formed on Geom Mugeuk's face as he watched them.
Seeing the two of them walking under the sunlight, they looked so fresh and lovely.
Of course, it was a difficult relationship.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace was a sect closer to the Righteous Path.
While it might not be as difficult as the relationship between the successors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and the Martial Alliance, the successors of the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Unorthodox Alliance also faced a difficult path to be together.
'Do your best, my friend.'
Of course, the words that came out of his mouth were the complete opposite.
"So while I was risking my life and shedding blood in battle, you were enjoying a romance in the spring breeze?"
"You didn't risk your life, did you? You didn't even shed a single drop of blood."
Geom Mugeuk pretended not to hear and moved quickly.
"Brother, this way."
Geom Mugeuk moved as swiftly as if he were infiltrating the Unorthodox Alliance Leader’s Hall.
"I have to hear what they're talking about!"
Geom Muyang quickly followed Geom Mugeuk.
There was never a dull moment with his younger brother.
The two found another spot for cover and hid themselves.
In the past, he had spied on the two of them walking with Jin Ha-gun, but today, he was spying on them with his brother.
"Look at that. He's subtly using his body to block people so they don't bump into Miss Han. Hey, friend! You can't do that! You have to act aloof! Women like bad boys!"
On the other hand, Geom Muyang had a different reaction.
"What's wrong? They look great together."
Geom Mugeuk glanced at his brother.
Geom Muyang was watching the two with a gentle gaze.
Judging by his expression, it seemed as if he was reminiscing about a past love.
Come to think of it, was there a woman his brother had liked?
Given his personality, he wasn't the type to talk about such things.
To hear that story, he would have to become several times closer to him than he was now.
Then again, the same could be said for Bi Sa-in over there.
He had been caught red-handed today, so it was clear now, but he wasn't someone who expressed his feelings well.
"It might not be romance. He could just be treating her well because she's the Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace."
"Say that after you've seen the way they look at each other. That bear-like fellow is completely smitten."
At his younger brother's words, Geom Muyang observed their gazes.
Compared to Han Seol, who was looking around in wonder, Bi Sa-in was only looking at her.
Then, if Han Seol happened to look at him, he would instantly turn his head away.
"The speed at which he turns his head is like a flash of lightning. He could probably dodge my sword."
Unaware that the two were spying on them, Bi Sa-in was focusing all his attention on Han Seol.
Until she returned, he felt her safety was his responsibility.
He was truly happy when Han Seol came to the Unorthodox Alliance headquarters to find him.
She had said she would come, but he thought she might not.
Would she really come all the way to the Unorthodox Alliance to find him? But she came to find him, just as she had promised.
Bi Sa-in treated her as an honored guest.
He showed her around not only the Unorthodox Alliance headquarters but also various regions under the Unorthodox Alliance's domain.
Then, a situation arose where Bi Sa-in had to return to the Unorthodox Alliance for urgent matters.
It was a situation where they should have naturally parted ways.
-If you would wait for me, I will handle my business and return.
There is a place I truly want to show you.
He was disappointed that he had to send her away without showing her the most beautiful scenery he had been saving for last.
He didn't know when she would come to the Unorthodox Alliance headquarters again.
No, this would be the last time.
Honestly, he hadn't expected much.
She had already seen many places, and besides, he would have to wait for more than twenty days for him to finish his work and return.
It was an unreasonable request, but she readily agreed.
-Yes, let's do that.
Han Seol waited for Bi Sa-in to finish his work and return.
Bi Sa-in was more deeply moved by the fact that she had waited for him than by her visit.
If he ever got the chance, he wanted to ask her.
Why, and with what heart, did she wait for him.
And so, the two of them were able to stand side by side in front of that beautiful waterfall.
Just as they were about to part ways after seeing the final view, the message from Geom Mugeuk arrived.
Thanks to that, their connection continued here in Wuhan.
"If the crowd is too much for you, we can go into a tavern or an inn."
If those places were also too crowded, he planned to just rent out the entire place.
At Bi Sa-in's words, Han Seol shook her head.
"No, it's more fun to look around."
The Wuhan marketplace was filled with all sorts of merchants from all over the Central Plains because of Jin Ha-gun's celebration.
So there were many things to see that she had never seen before.
"I'm really getting my fill of sightseeing in the Central Plains on this trip."
She never thought her trip to the Central Plains would turn out like this.
She had seen the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and even the Unorthodox Alliance.
That alone was a grand journey, but now she had come all the way to the front of the Martial Alliance headquarters.
If she had the chance to see the Martial Alliance headquarters this time, she would become the only person among all the martial artists of the Ice Palace to have visited the headquarters of all Righteous, Demonic, and Unorthodox Sects.
"Next time you come to the Northern Sea, I'll be your guide."
Bi Sa-in was surprised by the unexpected offer.
"May I really go?"
"Of course."
Bi Sa-in wanted to climb a snow-covered mountain with her.
At first, he was drawn to her because her appearance was his ideal type.
But this time, while spending time with her, he also came to like her personality.
She wasn't overly friendly, nor did she keep her distance.
He liked this appropriate distance she maintained with people.
'Come to think of it, my meeting with Miss Han was also because of that friend.'
If it weren't for Geom Mugeuk, she wouldn't have come to the Central Plains in the first place.
Geom Mugeuk had created the beginning of this connection.
At first, he thought she interacted with him because Geom Mugeuk was with them.
But Han Seol acted independently of Geom Mugeuk.
She came to the Unorthodox Alliance, waited for him there, and came to Wuhan with him like this.
That's why he was more grateful, and his heart went out to her even more.
But he didn't reveal his feelings.
He didn't want to burden her.
Bi Sa-in said to Han Seol.
"If you are hungry, there is a place called Wuhan's Number One Restaurant at the end of this road. The food there is a delicacy, so let's have a meal there."
"You must come to Wuhan often."
In fact, Bi Sa-in had only been to Wuhan once.
And that was when he was very young.
What reason would the successor of the Unorthodox Alliance have to come to Wuhan, where the Martial Alliance headquarters was located? Even the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path were currently on standby on the outskirts of Wuhan.
He had come because he was invited to a gathering of friends, but Wuhan was not a place one could enter carelessly.
"No. But I did some studying."
At his words about studying, a slight smile appeared on Han Seol's lips.
"I happen to have a subordinate who is from here."
One of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path was from Wuhan.
But it had been a long time since he left, so he was no help at all.
In the end, Bi Sa-in requested information from the Unorthodox Alliance's intelligence organization, the Evil Shadow Pavilion.
He asked them to tell him the most delicious restaurants and places worth seeing in Wuhan.
It was probably the first time since the Evil Shadow Pavilion was founded that they had received such an information request.
In any case, he couldn't bring himself to say he had gone to such lengths to find out, so he said he heard it from a subordinate.
Han Seol looked back and said.
"I'm fine, but I think you two must be hungry."
She walked over to the Ice Cold Twin Blades who were following her.
The two were looking around the streets of Wuhan, which they hadn't seen in a long time.
This place has changed, that place has changed.
They were reminiscing about how much had truly changed.
"You two, please go to Wuhan's Number One Restaurant down there and eat first. We'll look around a little more and go there."
Sa Han, the husband of the Ice Cold Twin Blades, said he couldn't do that, but he was dragged to the inn by his wife, So Bing, while being told to be more perceptive.
Just then, Bi Sa-in whipped his head around.
He had felt someone watching him, but there was no one where the feeling had come from.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Let's go."
From behind the cart where Bi Sa-in's gaze had just lingered, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang's heads popped out.
"Sly fellow! He even got rid of the pests to be alone with her."
"I think Miss Han was the one who sent them away just now."
How could Geom Mugeuk not know? Han Seol must have some feelings for him to be walking around with him like this.
If she disliked him, she wouldn't have spent a single day, no, not even a single hour with him.
"Sa-in's taking out his money pouch again. He won't even buy me a single meal, yet he's spending money like water."
This time, he was buying something else for her.
He was buying a tassel to decorate her scabbard.
"If you're going to buy it, buy two for a pair! Ugh, he doesn't have that kind of sense."
Then Geom Mugeuk let out another sigh.
"Ah! I can't take it anymore."
"Why?"
"Their hands just brushed as he was about to tie the tassel to her scabbard."
"That can happen."
"Yes, that can happen, but Sa-in's face turned red over it."
Geom Mugeuk was reading every single one of their expressions with his Divine Eye Technique.
"That kind of innocent act doesn't work these days!"
"Either treat him like a greenhorn or a playboy. Pick one."
In the meantime, Bi Sa-in and Han Seol went to where people were gathered.
"Come on, come on! Throw the dagger and hit the center, and you'll win a prize!"
The prizes piled up next to them were dolls.
There were dolls of martial artists holding swords and blades, and animal dolls like dragons and tigers.
Some were made of cloth, and others were carved from wood.
When he saw her gaze lingering on the dolls, Bi Sa-in stepped forward without a second thought.
"How much is the entry fee?"
Bi Sa-in paid the fee and stepped forward.
Doing this kind of business in front of the Martial Alliance? And in front of the Martial Alliance, which was teeming with martial artists?
Bi Sa-in didn't bother to think twice and, as soon as he received the dagger, threw it lightly.
Thwack.
The moment he threw the first dagger, Bi Sa-in tasted the bitterness of the world.
The dagger didn't hit the center.
'That can't be!'
Bi Sa-in paid the entry fee again and received a dagger.
This time, he examined the dagger carefully and saw it was a defective product with poor balance.
Just because it's defective, does that mean I can't hit the target? I'm Bi Sa-in.
Swoosh.
He missed.
"What is this..."
A flustered Bi Sa-in paid the entry fee again.
He didn't know the principle, but this dagger seemed to be made so that it would never hit the target if thrown properly.
A dagger that was harder to hit the higher one's martial arts skill.
Watching him try one more time, Geom Mugeuk sighed.
"Ah! He's going to lose all the points he's accumulated so far."
Continuing was a problem, beating up the owner for fraud was a problem, and just giving up and leaving was also a problem.
Geom Muyang agreed with Geom Mugeuk's sigh.
But he also understood Bi Sa-in's feelings.
In front of the woman he liked, could he stop, even if it meant his pride would be hurt?
It was when Bi Sa-in failed for the fifth time.
Han Seol pointed to one of the dolls.
It was a small bear doll in the corner.
"I want that one."
Flames erupted in Bi Sa-in's eyes.
He threw, and threw again.
On his tenth try, finally!
Thwack!
The dagger hit the target precisely.
There were daggers mixed in that flew properly.
The owner wasn't a complete fraud after all.
The owner brought the bear doll and grinned.
"Congratulations, Martial Artist!"
Bi Sa-in didn't get angry.
He spoke to the owner, half-joking, half-serious.
"Don't do this business in front of the Unorthodox Alliance. You'll be stabbed to death before you get to the tenth try."
The owner smiled brightly and replied.
"That's why I only do it in front of the Martial Alliance!"
By now, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang had come close enough to hear their voices and were hiding.
Geom Mugeuk whispered to Geom Muyang.
"Seeing him say something like that even after seeing that face, that owner has more guts than the masterminds we fought."
Geom Muyang nodded his head as if in agreement.
Bi Sa-in cleaned the dust off the bear doll before giving it to Han Seol.
"It's so cute. Thank you."
Han Seol smiled as she accepted the doll.
Holding the doll in one hand and the candied fruit in the other, Bi Sa-in and Han Seol walked past the spot where the Geom brothers were hiding.
Watching them let them pass while crouched behind a cart, Geom Muyang asked with a curious expression.
"Why are you just letting them go? I thought you were going to startle them."
He thought his brother had approached this closely just for that moment.
"That was the plan."
Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned to Han Seol.
A moment ago, she could have had several different reactions.
She could have told him to stop and leave, she could have waited, or she could have gotten angry at the owner for cheating.
But she said she wanted the doll.
Geom Mugeuk thought that choice was the best one for both Bi Sa-in and her.
It didn't throw cold water on the situation; rather, it lifted the mood.
A wise choice that ended the moment without making anyone feel bad.
"I'll let him off today for Miss Han's sake."
Of course, there was a condition.
"Just for today!"
"Then what about tomorrow?"
This time, Geom Mugeuk's eyes blazed as he looked at Bi Sa-in.
"He came secretly! I could tolerate the candied fruit, but a bear doll? I can't tolerate this."
It was definitely the look of someone plotting something.
Geom Muyang inwardly pitied Bi Sa-in.
'I don't think I'll be able to protect you, so I'll apologize in advance.'