Chapter 674: I Tolerated the Candied Fruit, But...
Chapter 674: I Tolerated the Candied Fruit, But...
“Good grief! Sa-in is actually buying candied fruit!”
Geom Mu-geuk and Geom Mu-yang were huddled in the shadows of an alleyway, peeking out to spy on the pair.
“The shopkeeper’s hands are shaking as he hands over the treats. He’s absolutely terrified of Sa-in’s face,” Geom Mu-yang chuckled softly.
It was a bit of an exaggeration, but one thing was certain: Bi Sa-in and candied fruit skewers were a visual mismatch of epic proportions.
“Do you think those two are...?” Mu-yang trailed off, but Mu-geuk knew exactly what his brother was getting at.
“They aren’t dating yet.”
“How can you tell?”
“If they were, they would’ve bought one stick and shared it.”
The skewer Bi Sa-in had purchased was loaded with about a dozen pieces of fruit. It was more than enough for two people, yet Bi Sa-in had bought two separate ones and was currently handing one over with stiff, formal politeness.
“Here, this is for you.”
“Thank you.”
Han Seol accepted the skewer. “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 as though he hadn't eaten one since he was a small child; he couldn't even recall the last time.
Han Seol took a bite. “It’s delicious.”
The two resumed their walk, munching on their treats. A small smile played on Mu-geuk’s lips as he watched them. Seeing the two of them walking together under the warm sunlight felt remarkably fresh and pleasant.
Of course, it wasn't an easy relationship.
The North Sea Ice Palace was a sect that leaned toward the Orthodox Faction. While perhaps not as extreme as a union between the successors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance, a romance between the heirs of the North Sea Ice Palace and the Unorthodox Path Alliance was still a diplomatic nightmare.
Good luck, friend.
Naturally, the words that actually left Mu-geuk's mouth were the exact opposite of his thoughts.
“So, while I was out there risking my life and bleeding, you were enjoying the spring breeze and a little romance, eh?”
“You didn't risk your life, did you? You didn't shed a single drop of blood either,” Mu-yang pointed out.
Mu-geuk ignored him and moved quickly. “Brother, this way.”
He moved with the practiced stealth of someone infiltrating the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader’s private chambers. “I have to hear what they’re talking about!”
Mu-yang followed close behind. There was never a dull moment when he was with his younger brother. The two found a new piece of cover and ducked behind it. In the past, Mu-geuk had spied on Jin Ha-gun and Jin Ha-ryeong; today, he was doing it with his own brother.
“Look at that. He’s subtly using his body to block the crowd so they don't bump into Miss Han. Hey, friend! You can't do that! You have to act indifferent! Women like bad boys!”
Mu-yang, however, had a different reaction. “What’s wrong with that? It’s a heartwarming sight.”
Mu-geuk glanced at his brother. Mu-yang was watching the pair with a soft, nostalgic gaze. Judging by his expression, he looked as if he were reminiscing about an old flame.
Come to think of it, had his brother ever had a woman he liked? Given his personality, he wasn't the type to gossip about such things. Mu-geuk would probably have to get much closer to him than they were now to ever hear that story.
Then again, the same applied to Bi Sa-in. Mu-geuk only knew for sure because he’d caught him red-handed today; Sa-in wasn't one to wear his heart on his sleeve.
“It might not even be romance,” Mu-yang mused. “He could just be treating her well because she’s the Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace.”
“Look at his eyes before you say that. That bear of a man is head over heels.”
At his brother’s prompting, Mu-yang observed their gazes. Compared to Han Seol, who was looking around at the sights with wide-eyed curiosity, Bi Sa-in was looking only at her. Whenever Han Seol happened to glance back at him, he would instantly whip his head in the opposite direction.
“The speed at which he turns his head is like a flash of lightning,” Mu-geuk whispered. “He could probably dodge my sword at that rate.”
Unaware that he was being observed, Bi Sa-in was focusing all his attention on Han Seol. He felt a deep sense of responsibility for her safety until the moment she returned home.
He had been truly happy when Han Seol came to the Unorthodox Path Alliance headquarters to find him. She had said she would come, but he had harbored a nagging doubt. Would she really travel all the way to the heart of the Unorthodox Path just to see him?
But she had kept her promise.
Bi Sa-in had treated her as his most honored guest, showing her around the headquarters and the various regions within the Alliance’s territory. Then, an urgent matter had forced him to return to the Alliance for business. Naturally, that should have been the moment they parted ways.
— If you would wait for me, I will return once I’ve handled this business. There is a place I desperately want to show you.
He had felt a pang of regret at the thought of her leaving without seeing the most beautiful scenic view in the region, which he had been saving for last. He didn't know when she might visit again—in fact, it might have been the last time.
He hadn't expected much. They had already seen many places, and more importantly, she would have to wait over twenty days for him to finish his work. It was an unreasonable request, yet she had readily agreed.
— Yes, I will.
Han Seol had waited for Bi Sa-in to finish his work. He was more moved by the fact that she had waited than the fact that she had visited in the first place. He wanted to ask her someday, if the opportunity ever arose: Why? What was in your heart that made you wait?
And so, the two of them were able to stand side-by-side before a magnificent waterfall. Just as they were about to truly part after seeing that final vista, the message from Mu-geuk had arrived. Thanks to that, his connection with her continued even here in Wuhan.
“If the crowds are uncomfortable, we can go into a tea house or a tavern,” Bi Sa-in suggested. If those places were too crowded, he was fully prepared to just rent out an entire establishment.
Han Seol shook her head. “No, looking around the market is more fun.”
Because of Jin Ha-gun’s celebration, peddlers from across the Central Plains had gathered at the Wuhan marketplace. There were many sights to see that weren't usually available.
“I’m certainly getting my fill of the Central Plains on this trip,” she remarked.
She hadn't expected her journey to turn into an odyssey like this. She had seen the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Unorthodox Path Alliance. That alone was a grand journey, but now she was even standing before the headquarters of the Murim Alliance. If she managed to tour the Murim Alliance headquarters this time, she would be the only martial artist in the history of the Ice Palace to have visited the seats of power for the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions.
“Next time you come to the North Sea, I shall be your guide,” she offered.
Bi Sa-in was taken aback by the unexpected invitation. “May I really go?”
“Of course.”
Bi Sa-in immediately imagined climbing a snow-covered mountain with her. At first, he had been attracted to her because she was his ideal type physically, but after spending time together, he had grown fond of her personality as well. She wasn't overly familiar, yet she didn't keep him at a cold distance either. He liked the measured, appropriate boundaries she maintained.
Come to think of it, meeting Miss Han was also because of that friend.
If it weren't for Mu-geuk, she wouldn't have come to the Central Plains in the first place. In a way, Mu-geuk had forged the beginning of this connection. Initially, he thought she was only interacting with him because Mu-geuk was their mutual link, but Han Seol moved independently of Mu-geuk. She had sought him out at the Unorthodox Path Alliance, waited for him there, and traveled to Wuhan by his side.
That realization made him even more grateful, and his heart leaned toward her even more. However, he didn't reveal those feelings. He didn't want to burden her.
“If you’re hungry, there’s a place called the Wuhan First Restaurant at the end of this street,” Bi Sa-in said. “Their food is a delicacy, so let’s eat there.”
“You must have visited Wuhan often.”
In truth, Bi Sa-in had only been to Wuhan once, and that was when he was a small child. Why would the successor of the Unorthodox Path Alliance have any reason to visit Wuhan, the heart of the Murim Alliance? Even the 13 Wolves of the Unorthodox Path were currently waiting on the outskirts of the city. He was only here because he had been invited to a gathering of friends; Wuhan was not a place his kind could enter lightly.
“No. Instead, I did some studying.”
A slight smile touched Han Seol’s lips at the mention of "studying."
“I happen to have a subordinate who is from here,” he added.
One of the 13 Wolves did indeed hail from Wuhan, but he had been away for so long that he was useless as a guide. In the end, Bi Sa-in had requested data from the Shadow Pavilion, the Alliance’s intelligence organization. He had tasked them with identifying the best restaurants and sights in Wuhan. It was likely the first time since the Shadow Pavilion’s inception that such a trivial request had been made.
Regardless, he couldn't bring himself to say he’d gone to such lengths, so he simply credited a subordinate.
Han Seol looked back and said, “I’m fine, but I think those two might be hungry.”
She walked over to the Twin Frost Swords following behind them. The couple was looking around the Wuhan streets for the first time in ages, chatting about how the city had changed.
“You two should go to the Wuhan First Restaurant down there and start eating,” Han Seol told them. “We’ll look around a bit more and meet you there.”
Sa Han, the husband of the Twin Frost Swords, started to protest that they couldn't leave her side, but he was promptly dragged away toward the inn by his wife, So-bing, who scolded him to "have some damn tact."
Just then, Bi Sa-in whipped his head around. He felt as if someone was watching him. But when he looked, there was no one where he sensed the gaze.
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Come, let’s go.”
From behind a cart where Bi Sa-in’s gaze had just lingered, the heads of Mu-geuk and Mu-yang popped out.
“That sly fellow! He even got rid of the obstacles so they could be alone.”
“It looked like Miss Han was the one who sent them away, though?”
How could Mu-geuk not know? Han Seol was walking with him because she felt something for him too. If she disliked him, she wouldn't have stayed with him for a day—no, not even for an hour.
“Sa-in is taking out his coin purse again. He never buys me a single meal, yet he’s throwing money around for her.”
This time, he was buying a decorative tassel for her scabbard.
“If you’re going to buy it, buy a matching pair! Ugh, he really has no wits about him.” Mu-geuk let out another groan. “Ugh! I can't stand this.”
“Why now?”
“He just brushed her hand while trying to attach the string to the scabbard.”
“That can happen.”
“Yeah, and because of that 'thing that can happen,' Sa-in’s face turned bright red.” Mu-geuk was reading every single one of their expressions using his New Eye Technique. “Pretending to be that innocent doesn't work these days!”
“Either treat him like a naive fool or a playboy. Pick one,” Mu-yang sighed.
In the meantime, Bi Sa-in and Han Seol walked toward a small crowd.
“Step right up! Throw a dagger and hit the center to win a prize!”
The prizes stacked to the side were dolls. There were dolls of martial artists holding swords, and animals like dragons and tigers. Some were made of cloth, others carved from wood. When he saw her gaze linger 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 up. Doing this kind of business in front of the Murim Alliance? And in front of a place crawling with martial artists, no less?
As if there were nothing to calculate, Bi Sa-in took the dagger and threw it lightly the moment he received it.
Thwack.
The moment he threw the first dagger, Bi Sa-in tasted the bitterness of the world. The dagger did not hit the center.
That’s impossible!
Bi Sa-in paid the fee again and took another dagger. This time, he examined the weapon calmly; it was a defective product with terrible balance. But would a defect stop him from hitting the mark? He was Bi Sa-in.
Swish.
He missed again.
“No, this is...”
Flustered, Bi Sa-in paid the fee a third time. He didn't know the exact trick, but these daggers seemed designed to veer off course if thrown with proper technique. The higher one’s martial arts, the harder it was to hit the target.
Watching him try again, Mu-geuk sighed. “Ah! He’s going to lose all the points he’s built up until now.”
It was a problem if he kept failing, a problem if he beat up the shopkeeper for cheating, and a problem if he just gave up and left. Mu-yang agreed with Mu-geuk’s lament. However, he also understood Bi Sa-in’s heart. Could he really quit in front of the woman he liked, even if it was just for the sake of his pride?
It was then, when Bi Sa-in had failed for the fifth time, that Han Seol pointed to one of the dolls. It was a small bear doll tucked away in a corner.
“I want that one.”
Flames erupted in Bi Sa-in’s eyes. He threw, and threw again. Finally, on the tenth try—Thwack!
The dagger hit the target precisely. It seemed a few properly balanced daggers were mixed in with the rest; the man wasn't a complete fraud. The shopkeeper grinned as he brought over the bear doll.
“Congratulations, Master!”
Bi Sa-in didn't get angry. He spoke to the shopkeeper with a mix of jest and cold sincerity. “Don't do this business in front of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. You’ll be stabbed to death before you even get to ten tries.”
The shopkeeper replied with a broad grin. “That’s why I only do it in front of the Murim Alliance!”
Before they knew it, Mu-geuk and Mu-yang had moved close enough to hide within earshot. Mu-geuk whispered to Mu-yang, “Seeing as he can say that even after looking at Sa-in’s face, that shopkeeper has more guts than the masterminds we fought.”
Mu-yang nodded in agreement.
Bi Sa-in carefully dusted off the bear doll and handed it to Han Seol.
“It’s so cute. Thank you.” Han Seol smiled as she took the doll.
With the doll in one hand and the candied fruit in the other, Bi Sa-in and Han Seol passed right in front of where the brothers were hiding. Watching them pass while they crouched behind a cart, Mu-yang asked curiously, “Why are you just letting them go? I thought you were going to jump out and startle them.”
He thought Mu-geuk had approached this closely specifically for that moment.
“I was going to.” Mu-geuk’s gaze followed Han Seol.
There were several reactions she could have had earlier. She could have told him to stop and leave, she could have just waited, or she could have gotten angry at the shopkeeper for cheating. Instead, she said she wanted the doll. Mu-geuk thought that choice was the best one for both of them. It didn't throw cold water on the moment; rather, it lifted the mood. It was a wise choice that ended the awkwardness 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, Mu-geuk’s eyes smoldered as he looked toward Bi Sa-in’s retreating back.
“Coming here in secret! I tolerated the candied fruit, but a bear doll? This, I cannot let slide.”
His gaze was unmistakably that of someone plotting something devious. Mu-yang inwardly offered his condolences to Bi Sa-in.
I don't think I can protect you, friend, so I’ll apologize in advance.