Chapter 32: The Inevitability Named Coincidence (4)

“I did have something I wanted.”

It was a strange statement. So Yeonshim tilted her head in confusion.

“Do you mean that your feelings have changed now?”

“Hmm.”

After a moment of stroking his chin, Seoryang nodded.

“To be honest, it was a bit of a dilemma, but I’ve decided to let it go.”

“So, you mean to say that you initially wanted something in return for giving me the secret martial arts technique, but now you’ve decided not to?”

“Yes.”

“You’re going to give me this precious technique for free?”

“Yes.”

So Yeonshim spoke as if she couldn’t understand.

“Why are you showing me such kindness?”

“Well… it’s quite complicated to explain.”

Seoryang scratched his head, his face a mix of awkwardness, relief, and a hint of lingering regret.

Despite her shock, So Yeonshim didn’t miss his expression, nor the sincerity it conveyed.

After a moment of contemplation, Seoryang asked:

“I’m talking about someone who has been afflicted with the madness of inner energy.”

“Yes.”

“Since Wonju is important to you, you must have tried to obtain the Chinggu-sayeochal to save them, right?”

So Yeonshim didn’t respond, but her silence was an affirmation.

“Well, if the person had harmed me or was clearly a scoundrel, I wouldn’t have done this, but Wonju isn’t that kind of person, is he?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Not knowing is one thing, but now that I know, I don’t want to trade a human life.”

“…!”

“I do feel a bit of a loss, but as I said, I’ve left out the core technique. So….”

Seoryang smacked his lips.

“Well, I wish for the recovery of the person you care about.”

“….”

So Yeonshim’s face was filled with confusion. She couldn’t tell if she was talking to the Third Prince of the Cult or a soft-hearted novice merchant.

Seoryang sighed inwardly.

‘Damn, what a foolish thing to do.’

Human emotions are truly peculiar. Even if reason says otherwise, if the heart feels uneasy, it keeps hesitating.

This situation is no different.

A life spent as an assassin, leaving nothing behind, and dying without a trace. Naturally, he deeply despised his profession.

While his own life was the most important, he didn’t want to ruin others’ lives. He pursued individualism but didn’t want to be selfish.

His deep-seated dislike for the profession of an assassin stemmed from this. He had to extend his life by killing people he didn’t even know, let alone have any grudge against.

One such experience was enough. Unless his own life was in immediate danger, he didn’t want to play with the lives of unknown people.

‘It will leave a bad feeling in my heart anyway.’

Rather than being troubled by it constantly, it’s better to follow what his heart tells him, even if it feels regretful at the moment.

“Prince.”

“Yes, speak.”

“Are you serious?”

“Would I lie when I’ve already set up a good night with wine, knowing I’d be caught anyway?”

So Yeonshim looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“You’re showing me such kindness because you’re in a bad mood?”

“Really, that’s the case.”

“If you don’t like the deal, you could just not make the deal, right?”

“…Huh?”

Seoryang’s face momentarily froze.

Seeing this, So Yeonshim couldn’t help but chuckle.

“…Well, that’s true….”

“….”

“It is. That’s right.”

With a troubled look, Seoryang stared at his wine glass and then emptied it with a sigh.

“Alright, take it.”

“Because you’re in a bad mood? You’ve never even met that person, right?”

“People are killed even if they’ve never met. So, what’s the harm in saving someone?”

While not entirely wrong, she never expected such words from the Third Prince, known as a tyrant.

Seoryang grinned.

“Besides, thanks to Wonju, I’m in a much better mood.”

“You’re in a better mood?”

“I didn’t expect to sit with that guy. I got to punch the face of the guy who was sharpening a dagger behind my back, so it feels great.”

So Yeonshim’s face hardened.

The struggle for succession among the candidates was a given in the Cult of Evil. Or, for that matter, anywhere in the world.

But if one had thoughts, they wouldn’t openly express them. A careless word could come back to haunt them.

What was once a battle of nerves among candidates could now be seen as a lack of candidates.

‘What is this…?’

Is he lacking in thought, or is it a trap?

‘A trap? Highly calculated?’

So Yeonshim’s eyes narrowed.

‘Is there something else he’s aiming for?’

The more she thought about it, the more things didn’t add up.

People can change, but there are limits. She had never met him in a private setting, but she knew the Third Prince’s character well.

Cold, cruel, and unforgiving. A man with a deep desire that could never be satisfied unless he was number one.

Now, he was showing all his weaknesses. While people can change with the right trigger, this seemed a bit extreme.

“Are you feeling uneasy?”

Caught off guard by the question, So Yeonshim flinched.

Seoryang smiled.

“It seems you’ve never received unconditional kindness.”

“…Not that I haven’t, but never so unexpectedly.”

“I would feel the same way.”

Seoryang refilled his glass and continued.

“If it makes you feel uncomfortable, you could often provide simple side dishes at the inner courtyard’s restaurant. Isn’t the management of ingredients handled by the Joyful Garden side?”

“….”

“The flavor is good, but the aroma is too strong. Consider the people who prefer simple dishes.”

So Yeonshim quickly regained her composure.

Seoryang’s face was calm as he emptied his glass. His aura was serene, and his eyes clear.

After a moment, So Yeonshim sighed.

“I feel uncomfortable.”

“I expected as much.”

“To avoid feeling uncomfortable, I should give something in return, right?”

“Now that you say that, I don’t want to receive it.”

“May I ask the reason?”

“I really dislike feeling uncomfortable.”

It was truly incomprehensible. His tone was light, but his expression was sincere. However, a disciple of the Cult’s leader wouldn’t show such kindness without a reason.

“I want to hear it. What did you initially want from me?”

“It’s meaningless now that I’ve decided to let it go.”

“But there might be some leftover materials.”

Seoryang scratched his head.

“I just wanted to get a map of the internal organizations and a list of key figures.”

“…?”

So Yeonshim tilted her head.

“A map of the internal organizations and a list of key figures…?”

“Yes.”

“Why…?”

“I have my reasons.”

So Yeonshim changed her question.

“Of course, you wanted it for a reason, but why specifically from me?”

“I can’t go to the military department, can I?”

With that, So Yeonshim nodded.

And she understood why the Third Prince wanted it.

He wanted to see how the Cult looked from the eyes of others, to get information from a third party’s perspective.

“Alright, prepare the ink and paper. Or do you want to memorize it? I don’t mind either way.”

So Yeonshim turned her head.

In the distance, a masked man appeared. It was Yeonil, her most trusted subordinate.

“Prepare the ink and paper.”

“Yes.”

Swoosh.

As Yeonil disappeared like a wisp of smoke, Seoryang smiled.

“Quite a high-level concealment technique.”

“I got lucky and obtained a good concealment technique.”

“Does Wonju also know it?”

“No. I….”

“You made a good decision. It seems to be a concealment technique from the north. While it might be useful now, it will corrupt your demonic energy over time.”

“…?”

Seoryang shrugged.

“Concealment techniques are not inherently compatible with demonic arts. Fundamentally, concealment techniques are about contraction, while demonic arts are about expansion.”

“…!”

“High-level concealment techniques require a very fine contraction of inner energy. Naturally, this will suppress the expansion and emission of demonic energy. It’s like wearing tight clothes and trying to eat; digestion won’t happen.”

“Such….”

“If you care about your subordinates, tell them to drop it. It’s a hundred times better to cultivate demonic arts during that time.”

So Yeonshim’s mouth twitched. She had never heard such martial principles before.

Seoryang frowned and put down his glass.

“Damn, it feels like I’m stabbing my stomach without even getting drunk. I can’t even drink white wine now.”

Seoryang grumbled continuously.

As she stared at him blankly, a subtle demonic energy rose from So Yeonshim’s body.

A demonic energy that even a high-level expert couldn’t detect. But Seoryang could read the flow of the demonic energy she emitted.

‘He’s sending a mental message.’

A moment later, Yeonil returned with ink, paper, and a thick stack of documents.

So Yeonshim laid out the paper in front of Seoryang and ground the ink while speaking.

“While I don’t doubt the quality of the martial arts you’re giving, the situation requires me to verify it. Please understand.”

“Of course, it’s only natural.”

“And from what I can see, if the martial arts you mentioned are indeed optimized for healing….”

Swoosh.

She placed the inkstone next to the paper and pointed to the stack of documents.

“I will give you the classification documents of our organization’s structure and relationships.”

Seoryang’s eyes deepened.

“It’s quite a lot.”

“It has to be. The reason is that the Joyful Garden side has meticulously compiled detailed information on the characteristics and secrets of each individual.”

Seoryang was surprised.

“You conducted your own investigations?”

“Yes.”

“You couldn’t have done it secretly every time… and people allowed it?”

“To manage a household, you need to know what people like and dislike, right?”

“Hmm.”

“Some of the information is based on my speculations and rumors, which might be far-fetched. It might be inconvenient to read.”

While she said this, the content compiled by the Joyful Garden’s leader was of considerable value.

In other words,

‘The person you’re trying to save must be worth taking such risks.’

He intended to end things on a good note but ended up receiving such a treasure. It felt strange.

Seoryang, who had been quietly observing So Yeonshim, picked up the brush.

“I’m not trying to blackmail you, so there’s no need to worry.”

* * *

So Yeonshim watched Seoryang and Madongphil’s retreating figures.

Yeonil expressed a low concern.

“Lady.”

“Yes.”

“It might be dangerous.”

If that information fell into the wrong hands, it could lead to political pressure, if not an attack.

So Yeonshim smiled.

“I received a much greater gift. We need to show our sincerity too.”

“….”

“And….”

After a few moments of hesitation, So Yeonshim turned her body.

“I’m tired. I’ll rest for today.”

“Yes.”

She looked up at the sky. The full moon seemed brighter than usual.

Was it the brightness that made her eyes narrow?

“Indeed, how will he move?”

She thought she knew everything about the key figures in the Cult, but meeting someone who shattered her confidence.

A person whose thoughts were hard to fathom. That’s why she took a slight risk by revealing the information. She thought showing this hand would help her understand the Third Prince better.

After that, the content about the Third Prince in those documents would be completely revised.

“Ah, and Yeonil.”

“Speak.”

“It’s best to drop the concealment technique you’re learning.”

“…?”

“It’s only useful for surprising people.”

“…Understood.”