Around noon the next day, Jin Sa-wol, who had left his guest room, moved towards the Geumgak, which was under construction. Son Ae-hwa hurriedly approached him from behind and held out a letter.

"Here, this..."

"What is it?"

"It was found in Guard Jo's room."

Jin Sa-wol, who recalled Jo Geom-ok, unfolded the letter.

-Don't look for me.

A short message was written in large letters on the letter.

As Jin Sa-wol's expression hardened, Son Ae-hwa spoke again.

"The guards said they saw her leaving with the people from the Ice Palace in the morning."

"What?"

Jin Sa-wol, with a cold face, tore the letter and threw it into the air.

Flutter! The fluttering pieces of the letter covered Son Ae-hwa's face.

"Um..."

"Why are you reporting this only now?"

"I just found out."

At Son Ae-hwa's answer, Jin Sa-wol sighed and turned his body.

"It's a breach of contract."

Muttering to himself, Jin Sa-wol turned his body and walked slowly, then at some point, he unfolded his lightness skill and jumped over the roofs of the inn.

"He seems to care."

Son Ae-hwa muttered and ran to Bi-sun. She had to inform him that Jin Sa-wol had left the inn.

* * *

In the innermost golden room of the gisaeng house, a middle-aged man with a slightly protruding belly, a chubby build, and a greasy face was sitting.

He was Mun-hyeok, the master of the Hao Faction.

Next to him, a gisaeng with skin as fine as white snow, jade-like eyes, and cherry-like lips was pouring him alcohol.

It was Il-hu.

Mun-hyeok, who had drunk the alcohol, smiled with satisfaction, stroked his beard, and patted Il-hu's butt with his other hand.

"It's time to leave this place too. I knew this day would come, but it seems to have come too quickly."

"What do you mean?"

Although Il-hu asked, Mun-hyeok just smiled. Mun-hyeok, who had drunk another glass of alcohol, put down his glass when Jo-rim entered.

Mun-hyeok waved his hand at Il-hu. Il-hu stood up from her seat and went outside.

When the two were alone, Mun-hyeok poured alcohol for Jo-rim.

"A while ago, the Hwayeong Pavilion Master and the Flower Pavilion Master contacted me at the same time. It's the first time since I became the Hao Faction Master."

"It seems there's a big problem in the cult."

"I don't know about the cult, but it's with you."

Mun-hyeok raised his glass.

"They asked me to do a very difficult and arduous task."

Jo-rim, who had drunk the alcohol while listening to Mun-hyeok's story, put down her glass.

"Seeing as you've come to me to complain about a difficult task, it seems it's a task I have to do."

"That's right."

Mun-hyeok, who had slapped his knee, crossed his arms and lowered his voice.

"They told me to kill the innkeeper."

The smile on Jo-rim's face instantly hardened.

Mun-hyeok, as if he had expected it, stroked his beard.

"The Cult Leader himself gave the order."

At Mun-hyeok's words, Jo-rim tried her best to maintain a calm expression and said.

"Why did the Cult Leader order the death of the innkeeper? I'm curious about the reason."

"How dare a mere faction leader question the Cult Leader's order?"

"Since when has the Hao Faction been loyal to the cult?"

"Hmph! Heh heh heh!"

Mun-hyeok laughed loudly and then showed a cold expression.

"The Seo Mun family is loyal to the Heavenly God Cult. And I am also a person of the Seo Mun family. A faction leader should do what she is told. It is the order of the Flower Pavilion Master."

"I was surprised that you, the faction master, came to deliver the message in person when it could have been delivered by a carrier pigeon."

"I'm also surprised that a faction leader is asking for a reason."

As Mun-hyeok's eyes narrowed, Jo-rim smiled.

"I will follow the order."

"I expect you to."

Mun-hyeok, who had stood up from his seat, spoke to Jo-rim again.

"Bring his head as soon as possible."

"Yes."

Hearing Jo-rim's answer, Mun-hyeok went outside with a satisfied look. After he left, Jo-rim poured and drank three glasses of alcohol in a row.

When her stomach became hot, Bi-sun appeared in front of her without a sound.

"Did you hear?"

Bi-sun was silent. Jo-rim shook her head and drank alcohol again.

"You must have heard. Since we were together."

Jo-rim muttered and sighed with a pale complexion, like a person who had lost everything.

Bi-sun shook his head and grabbed Jo-rim's arm as she raised her glass to drink.

"It's still evening."

"Since my brother has left the cult, he has no worries, but my position... I shouldn't have heard it at all. Why were you next to me?"

"It was you who asked me to go with you since the Hao Faction Master had come."

At Bi-sun's words, Jo-rim shook her head. Bi-sun took Jo-rim's glass, drank it, and then said.

"There's something I prepared to use when the Demonic Cult sent an extermination squad in the past. It was to prepare a corpse to replace Brother Jin."

"Why didn't you use it then?"

"It wasn't the time."

Seeing Bi-sun, who was shaking his head and speaking, Jo-rim frowned deeply.

"The cult might be deceived since they don't know his face. But it's difficult to deceive Mun-hyeok."

Deceiving the Hao Faction Master was a problem, but deceiving the Flower Pavilion Master was also a problem. Neither of them were easy opponents.

Mun-hyeok knew Jin Sa-wol's face, and the Flower Pavilion had been watching Jin Sa-wol for a long time.

Bi-sun asked with a worried face.

"It's the order of the Flower Pavilion Master. Is it okay not to follow it?"

Jo-rim was silent. Although her expression was indifferent, her eyes trembled. It was not because it was the Cult Leader's order, but because it was the Flower Pavilion Master's order.

The fact that the Hao Faction Master had come to deliver it on her behalf also bothered her.

"The object of my loyalty is the Flower Pavilion and the Seo Mun family, not the Flower Pavilion Master."

She had to weigh what would be beneficial to the Flower Pavilion and the Seo Mun family. That was the authority of a faction leader.

"We'll discuss it when Brother Jin comes."

Bi-sun watched the silent Jo-rim and then left the golden room.

"Hu."

"Yes."

Il-hu appeared.

"The Hao Faction Master?"

"He has left the gisaeng house."

"You heard the story, right?"

"I heard."

"Confirm whether it's true or not."

"Yes."

Il-hu answered and then quietly disappeared.

* * *

Jin Sa-wol, who was unaware of the events at the inn, was entering the Yihwa Garden. The Yihwa Garden, which had two ponds, was located in the southern part of Jiujiang and was famous for its beautiful sunset.

A cloud bridge called the Yihwa Bridge was placed between the two ponds, and it was a place rumored that if lovers walked on it, they would get married, and if a married couple crossed it, they would have a child.

Unlike usual, the Yihwa Garden was quiet.

What Jin Sa-wol saw were the warriors of the Ice Palace. They did not block Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol passed by them and approached the large pavilion located in the center of the pond. On top of it, Leng Yushan and Jo Geom-ok were standing side by side.

The distance to the pavilion was over ten zhang, and the Black and White Twin Flowers were approaching to block Jin Sa-wol's front.

Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol ignored the Black and White Twin Flowers and jumped over their heads, flying to the pavilion.

"Stop!"

Although the Black and White Twin Flowers shouted at the same time and threw their bodies, Jin Sa-wol had already entered the pavilion.

Leng Yushan, who saw the suddenly appeared Jin Sa-wol, was startled and retreated.

'He jumped that distance?'

Leng Yushan was amazed at Jin Sa-wol's lightness skill. Even he couldn't cross ten zhang, and it was a distance that even the Black and White Twin Flowers couldn't fly in one breath.

"Brother."

"Why are you here with Geom-ok?"

"Well... I told her to stay at the inn, but noona said she would go."

Jin Sa-wol's gaze turned to Jo Geom-ok.

Jo Geom-ok stared intently at Jin Sa-wol with an indifferent face and then turned her head. She went down the pavilion and stood on the bridge of the pond.

"What's wrong with her?"

Jin Sa-wol had no emotions. Although he had such a heart, in that instant, he felt something hit his chest.

Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol quickly jumped onto the bridge and landed next to Jo Geom-ok. As Jin Sa-wol approached, Jo Geom-ok crossed the bridge.

"What on earth is your complaint? Tell me."

"Nothing."

"Nothing? You left a message not to look for you and disappeared?"

Jo Geom-ok shook her head and crossed the bridge. The carp in the pond moved along with Jo Geom-ok.

Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol blocked Jo Geom-ok's front. Then Jo Geom-ok pushed Jin Sa-wol's shoulder.

"Get out of the way."

"What?"

Jo Geom-ok walked again, and Jin Sa-wol emitted a cold prayer.

Jo Geom-ok, who had already crossed the bridge, turned her body and looked at Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol, who was standing in front of Jo Geom-ok, grabbed both her shoulders.

"If you have a complaint, tell me!"

As Jin Sa-wol's voice grew louder, a smile sat on Jo Geom-ok's face.

"You're angry."

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Jin Sa-wol showed a hardened expression and then let go of her shoulders.

'Me?'

Jin Sa-wol looked at his own hands. He felt the strength, perhaps because he had grabbed Jo Geom-ok's shoulders strongly.

"Let's go."

"What?"

"I've achieved my goal."

As Jo Geom-ok walked away, Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"I can't understand her."

Leng Yushan just watched Jin Sa-wol and Jo Geom-ok coming out of the Yihwa Garden. The Black and White Twin Flowers approached and asked.

"Is it okay to just let them go?"

"You said you would take her, but are you going to go empty-handed? The Palace Master was also looking forward to it."

"Next time."

Leng Yushan smiled and then got on the carriage.

Jo Geom-ok and Jin Sa-wol were watching the carriage and warriors of the Ice Palace moving away side by side.

Jo Geom-ok asked.

"What were you going to do if I really followed San-i?"

"I would have brought you back."

"What if I said I wouldn't go?"

"I would have brought you back by force."

Jin Sa-wol answered with an indifferent face and then walked to the inn.

Jo Geom-ok smiled as she looked at Jin Sa-wol's back. She didn't feel bad that he said he would bring her back even by force.

* * *

Jin Sa-wol, who had arrived at the inn, noticed that something had happened when he saw the expressions of Bi-sun and Jo-rim standing at the entrance of the inn.

"I have something important to tell you."

At Bi-sun's words, Jin Sa-wol nodded and headed for the detached courtyard with them.

Since Jo Geom-ok also had a sense, she kept her distance from them. Son Ae-hwa approached Jo Geom-ok's side.

"The Hao Faction Master was here earlier, and the atmosphere has not been good since then."

As Son Ae-hwa held her back, Jo Geom-ok sighed and asked.

"What is it?"

"I don't know either. They'll probably tell us if we wait."

"What about Senior Brother Woo?"

"He's with the monk now."

Son Ae-hwa was about to go to Woo Jeong-bong, but she frowned at the words that Yeon-il was there. Son Ae-hwa stuck to her side and said.

"Shall we have tea with the front faction leader?"

At the suggestion to be with Namgung Ji, Jo Geom-ok nodded. The two headed for the front where Namgung Ji was staying.

Jin Sa-wol, who had entered the golden room of the gisaeng house, sat in front of the tea table. There was no one within thirty zhang of the golden room.

Bi-sun looked around and then said to Jin Sa-wol, who was looking out the window.

"The Demonic Cult Leader has ordered your death. He gave the order directly."

"Directly? That's strange."

"He gave the order to our Rim-ah."

At Bi-sun's words, Jin Sa-wol turned his head. Jin Sa-wol smiled as he looked at Bi-sun, who was pouring and drinking tea.

"Rim-ah?"

Bi-sun shrugged his shoulders as he received Jin Sa-wol's gaze.

"Since when did the gisaeng house master become our Rim-ah?"

"That's not what's important."

At Bi-sun's words, Jin Sa-wol's smile disappeared.

"What about my sister-in-law?"

"She's meeting the Do Faction Leader."

The Do Faction Leader was a person from the Hao Faction. Of course, since Jo-rim had brought him, there was no big problem with his loyalty. Still, he had to be managed.

"It would be good to implement what we prepared before."

At Bi-sun's words, Jin Sa-wol nodded. It was the matter of preparing a corpse.

"Proceed."

As Jin Sa-wol gave his permission, Bi-sun smiled. It was important to proceed, whether the enemy was deceived or not.

Jin Sa-wol thought of Dokgo Hyeon.

If Dokgo Hyeon had betrayed him and told everything to the Demonic Cult Leader, it was understandable that the Demonic Cult Leader had ordered his death.

But what he couldn't understand was, if Dokgo Hyeon had betrayed him, there should have been a large-scale subjugation.

Because he had killed Cheon Woo-rin. Dokgo Hyeon also knew that fact.

'But he ordered my sister-in-law? Is he telling me to come?'

Jin Sa-wol suddenly thought it was an invitation.

"If he tells me to come, I should go."

"Where?"

When Bi-sun asked, Jin Sa-wol gave a strange smile.

"To the Demonic Cult."

(End of Chapter)