SYM 39

Ha Yeo-un didn’t take long to completely shake out Yeo Muho’s soul.

By the time he was finally released from Ha Yeo-un’s grasp, Yeo Muho’s eyes were completely glazed over.

“Young Hero Yeo, I have some matters to discuss with the Young Master.”

“Ah, yes! Great Hero Ha, please talk between yourselves. I j-just came out for a meal, so I think I should be going now.”

No sooner had Ha Yeo-un finished speaking than Yeo Muho stood up with a bow. He fled as if his feet were on fire, afraid someone might try to stop him.

Watching this, Eun-hyeon felt sorry for Yeo Muho.

After sending Yeo Muho away like that, Ha Yeo-un looked at Eun-hyeon and let out a short sigh.

“Young Master. I heard a story about a foolish person on my way here, would you like to hear it?”

“What?”

Eun-hyeon asked back at the sudden statement. Ha Yeo-un continued regardless.

“In a certain village, there was a fair-faced maiden who once almost got kidnapped by a worthless local ruffian who had fallen for her. Because of that, her family was extremely worried, but the problem was that this maiden would readily follow anyone who asked her to go somewhere. She would compliantly follow even a complete stranger or a water carrier she had met just once.”

Eun-hyeon finally realized this was meant to mock him and shot Ha Yeo-un a sidelong glare.

“Hmph, I didn’t come out without any thought. And Young Hero Yeo is someone I’ve met and exchanged greetings before.”

Though this was Eun-hyeon’s attempt at justification, Ha Yeo-un merely curled up the corners of his mouth in a smile as he looked at him.

“Oh my. I had no idea the Young Master was so sociable. Well, I suppose the number of meetings doesn’t matter among martial artists. One meeting is enough to become sworn brothers.”

He must be quite angry.

Eun-hyeon sighed inwardly. The way Ha Yeo-un’s lips were firmly set suggested his anger wouldn’t easily subside.

“Then, in your opinion, what kind of relationship do we have?”

“Great Hero Ha and myself?”

“Since we’ve gladly shared pleasures while I served for your enjoyment, we can’t call it sworn brotherhood, so let’s see. Perhaps lovers?”

“W-what are you suddenly saying…!”

Eun-hyeon’s face instantly turned bright red. He looked around to see if anyone might have overheard their conversation.

Watching Eun-hyeon’s reaction, Ha Yeo-un calmly continued.

“Unlike some, I’m not someone who knows how to lie… I can’t say we didn’t do what we did. We may not have shared the joys of lovemaking, but we did share something similar, didn’t we?”

“No, th-that was for treatment! Why do you keep saying things that cause misunderstandings? And when did I ever lie…”

“That Young Hero Yeo earlier didn’t seem to properly know who you were?”

Annoyed by Ha Yeo-un’s retort, Eun-hyeon glared at him before looking away.

Though everything he said was wrong, the truth mixed in made it difficult to argue back.

“Even a newborn puppy would have that much self-preservation instinct, but how could someone who isn’t lacking in any way, who was kidnapped not long ago, be wandering around like this? Is it bravery, foolishness? Or is it just pure deficiency?”

Though Eun-hyeon glared at Ha Yeo-un, he paid no attention. In the end, it was Eun-hyeon who raised his hands in surrender first. It was true that his actions were careless considering how recently he had been kidnapped.

“I didn’t do it without any thought.”

“Oh? So there was thought involved? I’m really curious what kind of thought that was.”

“Young Hero Yeo is someone whose identity was certain from our meeting at the Sect banquet earlier. And as we talked, it seemed there was important information that shouldn’t be missed, so I just came along.”

At Eun-hyeon’s words, Ha Yeo-un’s expression hardened as he struck the table with his fan.

“My, the world would surely end without the Namgung Eldest Young Master. How impressive. Though your martial arts might be lighter than a feather, your sense of justice must be heavier than all the righteous martial artists combined.”

Eun-hyeon fell silent with a sigh. It seemed nothing he said now would make any difference.

“But it seems the Young Master is making one big misunderstanding.”

“Me? What do you mean…?”

“Just because someone is from the righteous faction doesn’t mean they can be trusted.”

“I know that much.”

“No, the Young Master doesn’t know.”

The playfulness disappeared from Ha Yeo-un’s face. Eun-hyeon blinked at his heavy, serious tone.

“Didn’t you easily trust and follow that Mosan Sect Taoist simply because he was from the righteous faction? You say it was for information, but what if he had tried to kidnap you? Or secretly harm you? What would you have done then? Can you be so sure that someone from the righteous faction wouldn’t do such things?”

Eun-hyeon fell silent.

Perhaps his confidence had become excessive as his health improved from its previous state where even daily activities were difficult. Hearing Ha Yeo-un’s words, he realized he had thought too lightly of the situation. He had unconsciously assumed that someone from the righteous faction wouldn’t use underhanded methods.

Come to think of it, he had always been like this. Whenever someone claimed to be from the righteous faction, he would trust them without doubt and end up being deceived or betrayed multiple times.

His disciple Cheong-un had found this trait of his quite frustrating…

Now he was getting angry on his behalf. It felt somehow strange.

“I was short-sighted. I’m sorry if I caused you worry.”

At Eun-hyeon’s apology, Ha Yeo-un closed his mouth on what he had been about to say. Seeing Eun-hyeon’s dejected appearance made him sigh. Though he had been furious when he saw him going out alone with someone unknown, seeing him so downcast now made him uncomfortable.

How did someone like this emerge from between the cryptic Namgung and the fox-like Jegal?

Namgung Eun-hyeon resembled his master in many ways. Even down to this lack of cunning and easy trust in people.

He didn’t need to have inherited those traits.

His master at least had martial arts to protect himself, but Namgung Eun-hyeon didn’t even have that. Perhaps that’s why. Watching him made Ha Yeo-un fear he might end up like his master.

That was why he anxiously circled around Namgung Eun-hyeon.

Though he hadn’t told Eun-hyeon, Ha Yeo-un had actually assigned Amhon guards to protect him. Even today, he had followed after receiving a report from the Amhon Unit about Eun-hyeon’s outing.

He had been dumbfounded watching from afar. How could he act so friendly with that shabby fellow when they’d barely known each other?

Originally, the plan had been just to watch from a distance.

Though Eun-hyeon, lacking martial arts, hadn’t seemed to notice, he wasn’t just being followed by Amheon. Some of Namgung Juwon’s personal guards were also constantly following Eun-hyeon. With both Amheon and Namgung Clan’s elite guards protecting him, it was practically impossible for any problems to occur.

He wouldn’t have come out if Eun-hyeon hadn’t been acting so friendly with that strange Taoist.

“Sigh, if something like this happens in the future, just call for me instead. I’m saying you don’t need to handle everything personally, Young Master.”

Eun-hyeon looked at Ha Yeo-un with puzzled eyes.

…Saying he would come if called. Was the position of Demon Cult Leader that leisurely?

Though Cheong-un was pretending to be a righteous expert for some reason, he wasn’t really from the righteous faction. Eun-hyeon secretly suspected that while Cheong-un acted proper in front of him, he must be quite different in his role as Demon Cult Leader.

But it was strange in many ways to see him act this way as Ha Yeo-un.

“I appreciate the offer, but I will have no reason to call for Great Hero Ha.”

Eun-hyeon looked at Ha Yeo-un after taking a deep breath. If this kindness stemmed from pity, it would be right to draw the line here.

“What relationship do we have that would warrant such requests? Just because the previous incident happened while I was with you, there’s no need to feel responsible for me. Though I may lack martial arts training, that’s no reason for you to look after me.”

“…No need to look after you?”

“Look at the people around us right now. This might not resonate with you, Great Hero Ha, as you’ve likely spent your whole life among martial artists, but these are all ordinary people who know nothing of martial arts. Yet they don’t live their lives constantly under someone’s protection. They have their own lives to live.”

Eun-hyeon drained the teacup before him.

Seeing Ha Yeo-un’s blazing gaze made him feel parched.

“Though I am indebted to you, Great Hero Ha, aren’t we merely people whose paths crossed by chance? While I’m grateful for your help until now…”

“…You’re telling me not to interfere anymore?”

Ha Yeo-un cut in, interrupting Eun-hyeon’s words.

“If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

“No, no. I understand perfectly well what the Young Master is saying.”

“Thank you. Then I shall…”

“Wait. Isn’t the Young Master’s meaning that we’re nothing to each other, so I shouldn’t involve myself in your affairs? In that case, we simply need to become something to each other. Isn’t that right?”

“What?”

“I’ve thought briefly about what kind of relationship would be suitable, and it seems ‘lovers’ would be best. Don’t you think so?”

Ha Yeo-un looked at Eun-hyeon with a brazen expression.