“About that… if I said that… I’m a skilled fortune-teller…. you wouldn’t believe it, would you?”
Geom Woo-bin’s suspicious gaze was still fixed on Seo Seok-san.
No matter how quick-witted Seo Seok-san is, he couldn’t give a convincing explanation to Geom Woo-bin.
Some say that the truth is always the best way, but just this time, it was inevitable.
“Priest Yeon Geum-hong followed me?”
“It wasn’t a follow-up but prot…. ection. Wasn’t it strange that the Western Transportation Company suddenly asked you to deliver the liquor? So, Yeon Geum-hong followed you secretly. You did say not to protect you anymore, but since just this time is a special case….”
“It’s alright.”
“For real?”
“It’s nice to have someone who cares for me, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
“But, I hate being treated like a child by you priests.”
“I get it. From next time onwards, I’ll make sure that we don’t get caught…. no, we’ll not protect you.”
Seo Seok-san who made the promise asked quietly.
“But, I heard from Yeon Geum-hong that Namgung Hye-yeon seems to like you.”
“We’re just friends.”
“Where is friendship to be seen between a man and a woman in this world? It could be an amorous friendship.”
“An amorous friendship?”
“No, that’s not what’s important now….” Anyways, if it’s Namgung Se-ga’s daughter, then it’s alright. From generation to generation Namgung Se-ga’s daughter has been rumored to be pretty and intelligent. It’s not bad as one of the many women you will have in the future.”
“How can I have many women? You’re also quite-…!”
“There is a saying that it’s not bad for a hero to have three wives and four concubines. If it’s for you, then even seven people aren’t enough. Hehehe! It’s not bad if your first start is Namgung Se-ga’s daughter.”
“Does Namgung Hye-yeon like me for real?”
“Of course! Which woman on earth would be able to reject you? I’m an expert, trust me. Then, shall we practice for the one last time?”
“If that’s what you wish.”
Seo Seok-san’s grass flute play has begun.
Geom Woo-bin’s eyes closed at the warmth that got into his chest. He didn’t even know that his body was falling backward.
Seo Seok-san’s performance wrapped Geom Woo-bin like a warm blanket and guided him to the dreamland.
Seo Seok-san who was watching Geom Woo-bin felt something touching his chest. It is because of the streak of tear that was flowing from Geom Woo-bin’s eyes.
“Ha! What sad dream would make you shed tears?”
When considered, they don’t know anything about Geom Woo-bin’s past. Regarding the past of an eight-year-old boy, the blood-lions did not even ask if anything great happened, and Geom Woo-bin did not talk much about it either.
The blood lions’ childhood wasn’t happy, but they still had each other.
‘Abolition, now we will protect you.’
Seo Seok-san wiped Geom Woo-bin’s tears off.
Every time a person came opening the door of the boarding house Namgung Hye-yeon’s gaze went around, and soon she wore a disappointed expression.
‘Should I have told him the exact time?’
As she indecisively said lunch, she couldn’t know when Geom Woo-bin would come, or if he would even come.
“Young lady, you are going to be hungry, so let’s order the food first.”
Namgung Hye-yeon shook her head at the bodyguard, Jung Se-jeong’s words.
“No, I will wait and see a little longer.”
Among the three families of the Namgung Se-ga clan, Jang Se-jeong who belongs to the Seoseong-jangga family was particularly in charge of guarding Namgung Hye-yeon this time.
He was not older than thirty, but his swordsmanship was beyond the ability of the current Seoseong-jangga family. So, the honor of guarding the Namgung Se-ga clan’s precious child was given.
Namgung Hye-yeon’s stomach made a rumbling sound, and as soon as the door opened her head turned habitually.
“He’s here!”
Namgung Hye-yeon hurriedly closed her mouth as she was surprised by her high pitch tone.
“You’re already here? Have you been waiting long?”
“No, we also just came. Isn’t that so, uncle?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Hello. I’m Geom Woo-bin.”
As Geom Woo-bin greeted him politely, it was Jung Se-jeong who was embarrassed.
“I’m Jung Se-jeong, who is in charge of guarding the young lady.”
“Please talk comfortably. Did you order?”
Namgung Hye-yeon who was questioned replied saying, ‘I was going to do it when you come, so, I haven’t ordered yet.’
“Oh no, the precious young lady’s long-awaited guest has come.”
Seo Poong-sik thoughtlessly disclosed the truth. Geom Woo-bin greeted him warmly and ordered a variety of foods.
“Isn’t it too much?”
“Try tasting all of them. Since I’ll be buying them today. I have to pay the price for the sin of making you wait long.”
“I said I just came!”
“You’re annoyed. And you’ve got a lot of pride.”
As the waiter brought the tea Geom Woo-bin poured the tea to Jung Se-jeong in a polite manner.
“Please have it. It’s not expensive, but it smells good.”
He politely poured to Jung Se-jeong, but he carelessly poured to Namgung Hye-yeon with one hand, so the tea splashed out of the cup.
“Are you doing it too carelessly for me?”
“Huh? Do what?”
“You’re polite to my guard but not to me.”
“You’re my friend and this person is an elderly person to me. Of course, you have to be polite to elders.”
She didn’t feel good as he found out that she came too early, and the way Geom Woo-bin speaks bluntly made her angry.
“So, are you saying I don’t have good manners?”
“I don’t think it’s that. You said he’s your guard. But I don’t think it’s very polite?”
“What? Are you criticizing me now?”
“What’s with you again? I just said because you asked and I said it looks like it.”
“What do you know about me!”
Geom Woo-bin glanced at Namgung Hye-yeon.
“Puff….”
Geom Woo-bin sighed with pitiful eyes and asked.
“Do you think you have good manners?”
“Yes!”
“Good. As you say so, I can frankly ask you. So, what would be left if Namgung Se-ga is taken out from you?”
“Sorry? You’re doing this because you don’t know me, but I have talents in martial arts and I’m a person who’s known to be a genius in poetry, calligraphy, and writing!”
Jung Se-jeong who was next to her, not knowing what to do, made an agreeable response.
“Of course. The young lady is the number one genius in the Namgung Se-ga clan.”
“Did you hear that?”
“But eventually, even those, you’re able to get them because you’re the daughter of the Namgung Se-ga family’s head. That’s why I’m asking. What will be left with you if you take out Namgung Se-ga?”
Namgung Hye-yeon frowned as she was embarrassed. It was a question she had heard for the first time, and of course, it was a question she had never thought about before.
What would I be left with if I take out Namgung Se-ga?
She wanted to somewhat refute it…. but she couldn’t think of anything.
“Let me tell you. Now if you take out Namgung Se-ga there is nothing left for you except for just a pretty eleven-year-old woman.”
“An ele-, eleven-year-old woman?” Are you done talking?”
“No, I’ll just say one more thing. I think courtesy is the biggest reason to distinguish people from animals. So, this is the advice I’m giving you. Become a person who’s a little politer.”
As Namgung Hye-yeon moved the cup in her hand, the tea water covered Geom Woo-bin’s face.
“What kind of a lecture is that! A lecture! As I got along a little bit, it seems that you’re mistaken for being on the same level as me, I’m Namgung Hye-yeon, daughter of the Namgung Se-ga family’s head! You little kiddo selling liquor!”
Namgung Hye-yeon who screamed out loud left the boarding house with angry steps.
Namgung Hye-yeon came panting until the place the horse carriage was, turned her head slightly, and looked at the entrance of the boarding house.
She did so just in case, but as expected, Geom Woo-bin didn’t come after her.
She did not even take many steps, but her anger was gone and a regret remained instead.
‘I didn’t need to pour the tea water. It seemed hot, will he be alright?’
She seriously didn’t mean to do so.
She said whatever came to her mind as she was cross, even the words she hated the most popped out.
“Young lady.”
“Yeah?”
“You can even go now and compromise….”
“You also saw the advice that fellow gave me which doesn’t even fit me!”
“That-, that’s right.”
“He’s not even some kind of a school teacher. He didn’t need to tell me that much, don’t you think so?”
“Of course.”
“Bad guy, he didn’t come after me till the end.”
Namgung Hye-yeon opened the carriage door roughly.
“I’ll never see that fellow again!”
Geom Woo-bin who left anger and regret for Namgung Hye-yeon, was wiping his face calmly.
“Why did you fight with your girlfriend? You should be on good terms.”
“Kids grow up fighting, right? Hehe!”
“Anyway, the food you ordered has come….do you want me to wrap it for you?”
“Nope. There is someone to eat, so just bring it.”
“Huh? Where?”
“They’ll be here soon.”
“Is that so? Okay, I get it.”
Geom Woo-bin sent away Seo Poong-sik and spoke into the air.
“I know that you’re there, so just come out already, Priests.”
There was no response.
“Shall I throw the food and leave?”
As he said so, the blood-lions came in one by one through the entrance.
“Wow! We’ve come to the point where the abolition can finally see us! Amazing!”
Geom Woo-bin giggled as Do Pyeong-su was being too talkative.
“You know that I’m not up to that standards. Of course, I was expecting you’d be watching.”
In the meantime, the food that he ordered came one after the other.
“It’s my favorite ‘Mirror carp’ dish.”
“Oh? Even the ‘Red braised pork belly’ that I like is here.”
“‘Yuxiang shredded pork’? Isn’t this what I like? Jang Man-dok, even the ‘Eight-Treasure Vegetables’ you like is here.”
It was like the food that was ordered for the blood-lions.
“Abolition, even while you were meeting with a woman you had ordered food thinking of us. I’m moved!” Said Do Pyeong-su.
Seo Seok-san clicked his tongue towards Do Pyeong-su.
“Tsk tsk! Could the abolition have done that for real?”
“Then, are you saying that it was a coincidence that the abolition ordered these foods?”
“It’s not like it’s a coincidence….”
Seo Seok-san was startled seeing Geom Woo-bin’s face.
“He was thinking of eating with us in the first place. If that’s so, then that’s bad guy move.”
“Bad guy move? What’s that?”
“He deliberately made that Namgung Se-ga woman, no, Namgung Hye-yeon angry and kicked her out!”
“Why would the abolition do such a thing?”
“Hehehe! Sewage is a world of experts that you will never understand for the rest of your lives. Who is Namgung Hye-yeon? She’s the precious child of Namgung Se-ga who is pretty and is known to be a genius. It’s only natural for male flies to tangle here and there, don’t you think so?”
“I guess so.”
“To be honest, our abolition is so great that he can’t even dare to look at Namgung Se-ga’s daughter, but does Namgung Hye-yeon know that? Right now, for some reason, Namgung Hye-yeon is showing interest in the abolition, but it’s all about meeting him just once in every few months.”
“It’s quite a distance from Anhui province to here, so they wouldn’t meet often. So?”
“In a relationship between a man and a woman, if one moves out of sight, they have to move out from their mind as well. Moreover, when time passes, Namgung Hye-yeon would even have a guy who she can meet often. When Namgung Hye-yeon gradually forgets the abolition, we cannot blame her for her good choices in people.”
Do Pyeong-su still did not understand.
“What does it have to do with making Namgung Hye-yeon angry and kicking her out? It’s anyways not going to happen, are you saying we end this altogether?”
Seo Seok-san let out a deep sigh.
“That’s why you haven’t been able to be in a decent relationship even once.”
“Who can’t be in a relationship! Just the women I’ve met so far is, the women….”
“He’s destroying himself. He’s destroying himself.” Murmured Yeon Geum-hong.
“Forget about my relationship. You said that the abolition had other intentions? Abolition, is that really so?”
“It wasn’t that great.”
Geom Woo-bin added by scratching his head.
“It’s just that I wished to do it when I become a better person.”
“Wow! Indeed, our abolition!”
Seo Seok-san said as if he was more amazed.
“That’s what I realized when I was eighteen. Deal with it sincerely! Your opponent is a precious child, so I’m sure she’ll do more. Namgung Hye-yeon would probably not forget the abolition for at least three years.”
Yeon Geum-hong asked quietly.
“Looking at you saying that much…. then, do you also like Namgung Hye-yeon?”
Geom Woo-bin scratched his head.
“There is nothing as such, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with meeting her. She’s kind too. Anyways, I’m sorry for priest Seo Seok-san who taught me to play the grass flute.”
“No! I should blame my stupidity for not knowing that you have such great intentions.”
The mealtime was fun.
They were chatting and enjoying their meals, and someone approached their table.
As they turned their gazes they saw Dongssi-doga’s deputy head Dong Chang-min and a guy in his mid-thirties holding a sword in his arms.