IDMV 08

Chapter 08

Wie Cheonso remembered me after all.
Perhaps my bright hair alone had made it impossible for him not to recognize me.

“Well… I’ve lost my memory,” I answered, keeping my emotions as flat as possible.

Wie Cheonso seemed unbothered. It was as if he didn’t think I was lying.

“In that case, allow me to introduce myself. I am Wie Cheonso,” he said nonchalantly.

“I apologize for troubling you. I didn’t expect that traitor to attack even you,” he added.

But there was not a trace of regret in his eyes. If anything, he seemed intrigued.

“It’s fortunate that you’ve mastered martial arts. Otherwise, like the others, you would have fallen victim to the Absorbing Life Technique.”

My heart dropped.

He had discovered that I could use martial arts—of all people, the Third Master.

Recalling the fight with Hubling Doma, I realized I hadn’t used the distinctive techniques reminiscent of Sangcheondang. That was at least a relief.

“If you hadn’t helped me, I would have met the same fate,” I said.

“Is that so? Well, you did lose consciousness at that time, so that could be the case,” he replied.

I could clearly sense suspicion in his eyes. Still, I kept my composure and acted indifferent.

“Thank you for your help, Master. If it’s alright, I’ll take my leave now.”

I tried to step back from him as casually as possible.

Rustle.

A red sleeve blocked my path.

Startled, I lifted my head. Wie Cheonso was silently kneeling before me, his approach so quiet I hadn’t sensed him at all. My breath caught.

An impossibly beautiful face loomed in front of me.

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

He was testing me again.

His mesmerizing eyes under long lashes were fixed on me.

Below a proud nose, his lips curved perfectly.

“I am very curious why the bride-to-be of the Yeomhwa family, who has been confined for ten years, has come outside,” he said.

His mouth curved gently, but his eyes showed no hint of a smile.

Fortunately, I had prepared an answer.

“I came out for wedding preparations. Then I got swept up by the crowd and lost my way for a moment.”

I kept my voice as calm as possible, though my throat had gone dry.

“I see. Then shall I carry you home as I did that day?”

“No, thank you. My party is probably looking for me,” I replied.

He seemed to find my words amusing, a faint smile lingering on his face. Meeting that expression made my back muscles tense.

“Understood,” he said.

Unlike Yeom Ho-pyeong, who might have grabbed my neck, he answered surprisingly obediently.

As he stood, the red sleeve of his robe fluttered lightly. I, still bowed, rose to my feet.

Wie Cheonso picked up a feathered fan from the table opposite him and dropped it at my feet. It was a signal that I was free to leave.

Just as I bent to pick it up and depart—

“Wait.”

He called me back.

“Miss Jeok, I personally took care of you when you were unconscious. In the martial world, one ought to repay a favor,” he said, tilting his head slightly.

His brazen tone made me unconsciously inhale sharply.

It was because he had missed Hubling Doma that I had been in danger. And now he was speaking of repayment as if nothing had happened.

“Once again, thank you for saving me, Master,” I said, bowing quickly to give him no opening.

His gaze remained fixed on me. The pressure was immense.

Why had he bothered to reveal himself until I had awoken?

A man who adorned himself like a peacock, hunting heretics and traitors in a frenzy of blood, rumored to have killed his bride on their wedding day for being “annoying.”

Considering his eccentric reputation, perhaps his interest in me was just another whim.

Yet I didn’t believe in coincidences.

He had watched me quietly until I woke, and from that I could tell: the Third Master, Wie Cheonso, hid a sharp, penetrating gaze beneath his flamboyance and caprice.

So in this situation, I had to keep my distance to avoid being ensnared.

“If there is a chance to repay your favor, I shall do so,” I said politely, bowing. There was some sincerity in my words—he had saved Heerin, allowing me to survive.

“But I am merely a powerless woman. I doubt I could be of any help to you,” I added. A gentle warning not to expect much from someone confined in the Yeomhwa family.

“You are still just a woman, yet perhaps you may be of help,” he replied enigmatically.

Then he added:

“Since Cheonjon has allowed the marriage between the Yeomhwa heir and Miss Jeok, soon you will belong to the Yeomhwa family.”

He spoke as if it were acceptable to extract something from me now that I wasn’t yet part of the family. It was a significant remark, but I did not respond further. I didn’t want to entangle myself unnecessarily.

“I shall take my leave now.”

“May you return safely,” he said, letting me depart.

❖ ❖ ❖

Putting the feathered fan over my head, I stepped into the corridor. Wie Cheonso’s subordinates guided me outside.

From various parts of the hallway, the raucous sound of people drinking and talking could be heard—those who had stayed up all night.

Stepping outside, I realized this was an inn.

The sky outside was dark, and the lanterns along the North Road were extinguished. It seemed still very early in the morning.

A carriage waited in front of the inn.

A familiar woman stepped down and greeted me.

“Miss Jeok, are you alright?”

Her face was familiar. She had been one of the attendants near Yeom Liri and had delivered the letter from the Eleventh Brother.

“The Eleventh Brother kept his promise,” I thought. Thanks to him, Wie Cheonso had let me leave peacefully.

Supporting me, the attendant helped me onto the carriage steps.

Once the carriage started moving, the persistent gaze on me disappeared.

When the carriage had left the North Road behind, I asked the attendant,

“Are you from Sangcheondang as well?”

Her expression stiffened before she nodded.

“My name is Okhyang. I was ordered to escort Miss Jeok safely home. Please take this,” she said, handing me a fairly thick letter.

Inside was a letter written in code by the Eleventh Brother.

Miss Jeok, this contains the information you requested. Burn it immediately after reading.

The thick letter surely contained details about the current state of the martial world and the demonic sects, as well as the Third Master, Wie Cheonso.

“If there is more information to deliver, go through Okhyang,” it said.

Holding the letter, I asked,

“Will it take long to reach the Yeomhwa family?”

“You should arrive within the Hour of the Tiger (3–5 a.m.). I will escort you to your quarters then.”

Beside her, Okhyang had placed the attendant’s clothing. It seemed she intended to disguise me as an attendant.

I nodded in understanding, then carefully unfolded the letter to read its contents.

As expected, it briefly outlined the last ten years in the martial world:

• The Collapse of the Heretical Faction: Among the righteous, heretical, and demonic sects, the heretical faction was shattered.

• Conflict Between Cheonho Alliance and the Demonic Sect: The two factions divided the martial world.

• Death of the Cheonho Alliance Leader in Battle Against Cheonma: The Cheonho leader fell, and Cheonma lost momentum.

• Cheonho Alliance Appoints a New Leader: A new face now leads the alliance.

“Quite a lot happened while I was gone,” I thought. Ten years was indeed a long time.

Turning the page, my body froze.

[The name of the new leader is—]

Seeing that name, my breath caught. Ashen rage filled my lungs, my heart pounding violently as if it would burst from my chest.

The one who had sent assassins to kill my disciple Baek-Ah and me had become the Cheonho Alliance leader.

My fingers tightened, whitening at the joints. I had to contain this anger. If I showed any weakness in front of Okhyang, the Eleventh Brother would learn of it and wonder why I reacted this way.

Gathering myself, I forced the rage down and turned the page.

“Memorize this for now. I need to destroy this letter before entering the Yeomhwa family,” I thought.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to the next page, which contained information on Wie Cheonso. I focused on the details to distract myself from my anger.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Master, Miss Jeok has taken the carriage with the attendant. I observed her closely, but there was no suspicious behavior. Shall we continue monitoring?”

“No need,” he replied.

Wie Cheonso’s gaze lingered on the bed where Jeok Heerin had stayed. When she had collapsed in the street, he had immediately discerned her identity—the feathered fan had fallen, revealing her light brown hair.

‘The Yeomhwa family’s bride-to-be, Jeok Heerin.’