Cha Iran arrived, and the Secret Vessel reacted?
‘Could it be that she has one of the orbs?’
Geom Mugeuk was inwardly surprised.
It had never reacted when he met her before, but today, for the first time, it did.
Geom Mugeuk asked the Secret Vessel in his bosom.
‘Do you absorb things other than orbs? Are you the type to just gobble up anything when you're hungry?’
Of course, Geom Mugeuk knew well that wasn't the case.
He had clearly seen the symbols of the Secret Vessel and the orbs drawn on the mural.
In the end, it meant she had brought an orb.
Of the six orbs, only two remained.
The red orb, the Red Essence Orb, and the purple orb, the Purple Essence Orb.
"One of those two orbs is with Cha Iran?"
Geom Mugeuk's heart pounded.
He had never once thought that someone might possess one of the orbs the Secret Vessel absorbed.
Until now, they had always been stored as if hidden in the most secret places.
Was it because the Secret Vessel had reacted?
"Who knows? Something good might happen when we're alone."
Even the words she had spoken while walking over a moment ago sounded meaningful.
Could it be she knew he had absorbed the energy of the orbs?
Or was she unaware and just happened to carry the orb for some other reason?
What if she brought it knowing? Was her mindset something like, "If you can, try killing me and taking it"?
What would she do if I really did that?
Cha Iran naturally sat down next to Geom Mugeuk.
Normally, the reaction should have grown stronger, but it was different from usual.
As soon as she came closer, the reaction stopped completely.
"Aren't you going to congratulate me? I made it to the finals."
"Congratulations."
"It feels good to be congratulated, even if I had to fish for it."
An Hu-pyeong came over and quickly introduced Bi Sa-in.
"Miss Cha, this gentleman is the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance."
Cha Iran looked at Bi Sa-in and feigned a surprised expression.
At that reaction, An Hu-pyeong was inwardly pleased, subtly placing himself on the same level as Bi Sa-in.
‘Surprised, aren't you? Meeting the Young Lord of the Divine Flower Sect, and now the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance too?’
Such thoughts were the same for Bi Sa-in.
‘What do you think? First time seeing such a beautiful woman?’
Cha Iran smiled enchantingly and greeted Bi Sa-in.
"I am Cha Iran."
She had her own way of dealing with men.
Even without deliberately trying to seduce them, her gaze and smile when she greeted them could make a man restless and fall for her completely.
Bi Sa-in stared at her without a word.
He knew from the dispatch Geom Mugeuk had sent earlier that this woman intended to kill his Master.
However, he showed no hostility.
Geom Mugeuk arranging this kind of meeting so naturally meant that he trusted him.
As someone who would one day lead the Unorthodox Alliance, he naturally had to be capable of this level of emotional control.
Wasn't that woman, who was planning to kill his Master at this very moment, facing him without a single change in her expression?
"I am Bi Sa-in."
At Bi Sa-in's late reply, An Hu-pyeong was inwardly pleased.
He thought Bi Sa-in was so captivated by her that he was late in his greeting.
He naturally continued to take credit.
"For this special occasion today, I have rented out this entire place!"
He had to be the hero who made this meeting happen today, no matter what.
"I truly wanted to introduce Miss Cha to you, Young Alliance Leader."
"To me?"
Seeing the question in Bi Sa-in's eyes, An Hu-pyeong smiled and flattered him.
"I thought the two of you would look so good together."
He laughed heartily as he said this, but Bi Sa-in's reaction was different from what he expected.
"I believe this gathering today is inappropriate."
An Hu-pyeong asked in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"Is it right for these young ladies to be where you are?"
It meant that a representative of the tournament organizers should not be meeting privately with the women who had advanced to the finals.
‘The man who will become the Supreme Master of the Unorthodox Faction is saying something so stifling!’
He really wanted to say that, but.
"Since the Young Alliance Leader is here, everyone will understand."
"Are you using me as an excuse?"
"No, that's not what I meant at all."
Bi Sa-in did not bother to hide his thoughts or feelings.
He acted as he normally would, as if he didn't know her true identity.
He showed his natural self to Cha Iran.
She was no ordinary woman.
She had come alone to this place where he and Geom Mugeuk were.
It was likely because she thought they didn't know her identity, but even so, she had nerves of steel.
Cha Iran looked at Geom Mugeuk and said.
"Thank you for introducing such an esteemed person, but my heart is devoted to one."
There was an expression she only showed when looking at Geom Mugeuk.
An Hu-pyeong couldn't understand.
What was so great about that damn escort?
"It seems that escort has some charm that I'm unaware of."
Whatever it was, he planned to belittle it somehow.
"Can't you see it? I can see a lot in my eyes."
Cha Iran brought her face very close to Geom Mugeuk's.
So close that they would touch if she moved just a little bit closer.
Geom Mugeuk did not back away and met her gaze.
"This man's eyes are full of death, yet how can they be so clear?"
She spoke as if she could see that aura of death in his eyes, but Geom Mugeuk said nothing.
The one who spoke in Geom Mugeuk's stead was Lee Ahn.
"I have never once felt death in those eyes."
As Cha Iran slowly turned her head towards her, Lee Ahn added.
"One's own reflection tends to appear in the pupils of others."
It was a way of saying that the death ultimately came from Cha Iran herself.
A strange smile appeared on Cha Iran's face.
"This young lady truly likes this man."
"I am not foolish enough to dislike my escort."
It meant, how could she dislike the person who protects her life.
An Hu-pyeong, who was listening, stiffened.
It sounded as if her words were directed at him, who had just had a conflict with Sa Chu.
Moreover, from the very beginning, the attention of both women was focused on Geom Mugeuk, which displeased An Hu-pyeong.
He had always lived a life where he was the center of attention, but here, he kept feeling left out.
An Hu-pyeong picked up the wine bottle to fill Bi Sa-in's cup.
"Here, Young Alliance Leader. Please accept a cup of wine from me."
Bi Sa-in paid him no mind and only looked at the two women.
The wine bottle in his hand became awkward, and his face flushed.
Really, these people!
I'm the Young Lord of the Divine Flower Sect, and they treat me like this?
‘He's ridiculously fond of women.’
If that wasn't the reason, it would mean they were completely ignoring him.
In truth, Bi Sa-in was trying to figure out what kind of person Cha Iran was.
In a sense, she was a woman more deeply connected to him than to Geom Mugeuk.
If she killed his Master, he would eventually become the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
In other words, she was the woman who was trying to place him in the position of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
‘But for what reason?’
Was there something to gain by seating him, who was not yet ready, in the leader's position? Or was there another intention?
An Hu-pyeong struggled to calm his anger and spoke again.
"In this final, I cannot decide whom to support."
He was trying to show off his influence one way or another.
An Hu-pyeong used the word "support" rather than "cheer for."
He spoke as if he could influence the decision of who would be the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven.
"Which one do you support, our Young Alliance Leader? In fact, your support is the most important."
This time, Bi Sa-in responded to his words.
"What does my will matter? The will of the judges and the heroes is what's important."
"Aren't you in a position to overturn all those decisions?"
He had meant it as flattery for Bi Sa-in, but Bi Sa-in's reaction was cold.
"Are you telling me to do something unjust now?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"What I mean is, that's how great of a person you are. That's what I'm trying to say."
Facing that still-cold gaze, An Hu-pyeong downed his drink.
Something wasn't going as planned.
"Why is the food taking so long?"
An Hu-pyeong stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
Even when he got up, no one looked at him.
He was becoming even more furious.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and bring out the food!"
He yelled as soon as he entered the kitchen.
Just as he was about to take out his anger on the innocent chefs.
"Let's go back now."
Hearing a voice from behind, he turned to see Sa Chu.
The man who had yelled at him earlier was standing in a corner of the kitchen.
"What did you say?"
"I said, let's go back."
An Hu-pyeong walked towards him with an angry face.
At any other time, Sa Chu would have lowered his head and apologized, but today, he was staring right back at him.
"Do you even know what kind of gathering that is?"
"What kind of gathering is it?"
"What?"
It was a gathering with a clear purpose.
A place to look good for the Young Alliance Leader! A place to look good for Lee Ahn.
For this Sa Chu to act this way, knowing all that?
"Are you ignoring me too?"
"If I were ignoring you, I would have just stayed quiet and pretended not to know anything, like I always have."
He could feel it instinctively.
He didn't know why Sa Chu was doing this, but he knew he was saying these words for his sake.
He was being rude, but among everyone here, he was the only one not looking down on him.
"That is not a place for you, Young Master."
All four of them were people An Hu-pyeong could not handle.
Only he himself was unaware of this fact.
"Hide in a burrow and come out when the typhoon passes. The only reason you are safe right now, Young Lord, is because you are in the eye of the storm."
The typhoons had told him to be quiet, but he broke that warning.
Still, it was okay.
This was his final piece of advice for him.
Of course, An Hu-pyeong did not take it well.
"You arrogant bastard."
He knew the words were meant for his own good, but he was still offended.
He had lived a life where being told the truth made him feel bad.
"You'll have to be prepared for what comes later."
The moment An Hu-pyeong turned away.
Tap.
Sa Chu suddenly struck An Hu-pyeong's vital points from behind.
Not expecting this at all, An Hu-pyeong slowly fell asleep.
After calming the surprised chefs, Sa Chu opened the kitchen's back door and called for a subordinate who was waiting outside.
"The Young Lord has had too much to drink. Take him to his quarters and lay him in bed."
His subordinates carried him on their backs and returned to his quarters.
It was the last kindness he could show him before leaving.
If he stayed here in such an angry state, he would end up causing a big incident, even with the Unorthodox Alliance's Young Leader present.
The An Hu-pyeong he knew was that kind of person.
He wouldn't let him leave peacefully anyway, so he was planning to leave like this.
Just as Sa Chu was also about to leave through the back door, someone spoke from behind.
"Was it because of your younger siblings?"
He turned to see the First Wolf standing there.
His question was whether he had given up on his dream and stayed under An Hu-pyeong because of his siblings.
Sa Chu confessed honestly.
"No. I merely used my siblings as an excuse to make the easy choice."
If it had truly been because of his siblings, he would have tried again after their hunger was sated.
He earned good money, and following An Hu-pyeong around was easy.
At least here in Anhui, no one would dare pick a fight with the Young Lord of the Divine Flower Sect.
"Today, I realized. There are two kinds of impossibility. The kind that's impossible because you vaguely think you can't do it, and the kind that's impossible even after trying until you die. I've experienced the easy one, so now I'm going to challenge the difficult impossibility."
Sa Chu intended to newly join the Unorthodox Alliance.
The monthly pay would be incomparably lower than now.
Starting over at his age would be several times harder, and he knew that joining now and becoming one of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path was also impossible, but.
He was determined to give it a try.
He considered this reunion with the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path to be the last chance heaven had given him.
"If we meet again, I will greet you formally then."
Then, he added with an awkward laugh.
"Though I probably won't see you for the rest of my life."
Sa Chu respectfully clasped his fists in greeting, then turned and walked away.
When he was young, he had blocked the path of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path and thrown questions at them.
He thought that was passion and sincerity.
But there would be no more questions now.
He was old enough to know that true passion doesn't ask questions.
He knew that it begins before one can even ask.
The First Wolf silently watched Sa Chu's retreating back before coming inside.
"The Young Lord An has already returned."
At those words, no one asked why he had left early.
Geom Mugeuk was the only one who found it regrettable.
"Ah! The person paying for the drinks has left early."
At his joke, Cha Iran brought up something unexpected.
"How about we make a bet for the drinks?"
The bet she proposed was truly unexpected.
"Instead of just drinking, let's ask each other questions one by one. If you can't answer, you drink three penalty shots! The person who drinks the most penalty shots today pays for the drinks. Oh, and no expelling the intoxication with your energy to avoid getting drunk!"
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not the type to refuse such an interesting proposal.
Especially in a situation where they all had things they wanted to ask each other.
He thought she was the type who would rather drink the penalty shots than lie.
He himself had no intention of lying either.
"Alright, let's do it."
Since Geom Mugeuk had accepted, Lee Ahn and Bi Sa-in naturally nodded with interested looks in their eyes.
"Since I suggested it, I'll ask the first question."
Everyone readily nodded at Cha Iran's words.
After they all toasted and emptied their cups.
"I'll ask Escort Geom."
Her gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
"You like this young lady here as a woman, don't you?"
The very first question was a powerful one.
Lee Ahn was more surprised than Geom Mugeuk.
She never expected such a question.
"If you don't want to answer, you can just drink three penalty shots."
"There's no need for that. I will answer."
Geom Mugeuk glanced at Lee Ahn and answered.
"I do."
Cha Iran looked surprised.
"I was sure you'd drink the three penalty shots."
Lee Ahn felt like she was flying at Geom Mugeuk's answer.
Even if he only said it because of the bet, she was happy.
But she was displeased by Cha Iran's question.
‘So for the first question, she asks about me and the Young Cult Master?’
She wanted to ask her a question right away, but Geom Mugeuk went first.
"I've answered the question, so I will ask the next one."
"Go ahead."
"I will ask Miss Cha."
This time too, after everyone toasted and emptied their cups, Geom Mugeuk asked Cha Iran.
"Who is the person you trust the most?"
It was a question with many possible meanings.
She could answer with a family member, or her leader.
She could also answer with the person who came here with her for this task.
Cha Iran looked at Geom Mugeuk with a strange expression.
"I asked about someone you like, but you ask about someone you trust. Were you afraid I'd say it's you if you asked who I like?"
The woman who had been smiling so brightly answered the question.
"The person I trust the most is........."
Surprising words came from her mouth.
"It's someone you also know."
Geom Mugeuk stared at her with a surprised expression.
He couldn't understand what she meant by that.
"I won't tell you who it is, so you can die of curiosity. This is my punishment for your first answer."
She drank three penalty shots in a row, then put down her cup and asked.
"Now, who's asking the next question?"