Chapter 585: I’m glad.

Finding the woman wasn’t particularly difficult. No matter how vast Hanam-hyeon was, the person’s appearance was too striking. Even spreading a little information, I could find her quickly. Yes, her appearance was just too eye-catching.

Cyan-colored eyes.

A subtle chill felt in the air.

Even the alluring eyes and the aura emanating from her appearance.

It reminded me of the prim girl from the Moyong family I know.

If I had to find something else, it would be that the woman had white hair. No, if you focused, there were definitely other differences, but you could only tell if you looked very closely. What this means is that she resembled her that much.

Moyong Hi-ah.

That woman looked remarkably like Moyong Hi-ah. Though not to the level of being identical like Cheonma and Wi Seol-ah.

‘So, you’re saying she’s the Young Princess.’

The Young Princess of the Northern Sea.

To be precise, the fourth daughter of the Ice Palace Lord.

The pure bloodline of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, arriving in the Central Plains after decades.

And.

‘The troublemaker who suddenly ran away.’

The individual who caused trouble as soon as she arrived in Hanam.

Such a woman was wrinkling her nose. As if something displeased her. As I watched, wondering why she was acting like that, the woman spoke up.

“Nice to meet you.”

It started as a casual greeting. And she continued.

“Ah, so I’ve been found….”

Her voice was filled with regret.

“I thought I wouldn’t be found until evening, though.”

I tilted my head at the woman’s words.

“How did you find me? The plan was thorough… Hmm.”

Something.

What should I say?

“Sssip… Running away from home isn’t as easy as I thought. Right?”

“…”

Listening to the woman’s words, I felt like I had a lot to say. How should I express this?

‘Ah.’

Yes, I remembered.

‘Is it the dissonance?’

It was dissonance. Her playful tone was full of a somewhat scattered feeling. You might think, ‘What’s the problem with that?’, but this dissonance came from the woman’s appearance. An appearance that wouldn’t seem strange even if called twins with Moyong Hi-ah. She looked like she’d scold you with a cold, sharp voice, but acting like such a tomboy felt subtly off.

I looked at the woman, frowning slightly.

‘The Young Princess of the Northern Sea.’

A blood relative of the Ice Palace Lord who fought the Sword Master to a draw.

‘Hmm.’

Judging by her cultivation level, she’s borderline first-rate. She must be around twenty years old.

‘Considering her age, it’s not a bad level.’

It was a level ambiguous to call outstanding. Even if I don’t know the level of the Northern Sea well, in terms of the Central Plains, wouldn’t it be fair to call her a slow learner born into a prestigious family? That seemed like the right evaluation.

As I watched the Young Princess, having made that judgment.

“Excuse me.”

The Young Princess spoke to me.

“I know I’m pretty, but aren’t you staring a bit too much?”

“…?”

What? What did I just hear?

“You’ll make a hole in my face. Really… Men…”

The surroundings fell silent at her sighing words. Just as my expression turned sour from the unexpected remarks.

“…Young Master-nim.”

Tang Soyeol, who was beside me, approached cautiously and spoke.

“That young lady seems a bit strange.”

I agreed. Especially since she said that with a face resembling Moyong Hi-ah, it felt even more dizzying.

‘This won’t be easy.’

She is pretty, that’s true. It’s also true that she’s beautiful enough to have confidence. An appearance like that was extremely rare in the Central Plains.

‘It’s funny how many such people are around me, though.’

I’ve seen so many that I’ve developed immunity. If it were someone like my past self, a loser, they might have been staring simply because she was pretty.

Of course.

Naturally, it wasn’t for that reason now.

‘How did she escape with just that level?’

They say she escaped, shaking off not only the guards of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild but even her own escorts. I couldn’t figure out the reason.

‘No matter how I look at it, she’s not at that level.’

Just in case, I checked the martial artists of the guild; most were at the peak or had reached mature peak. They were definitely not low-level enough for the Young Princess to escape from. How on earth did that woman escape?

‘I thought maybe she’d reached the Hua Jing realm.’

She’s a blood relative of the Ice Palace Lord who fought the Sword Master to a draw, no less. I thought it was quite possible, but it seems not. It seems she used some other method.

‘I’m not interested in that far.’

It felt like digging too deep, so I gave up on it. Even having the time for that feels like a waste right now.

I looked at the Young Princess and said.

“You should return now. There are quite a few people waiting for you.”

Annoyance was mixed into my tone. I tried my best to hold it back, but it wasn’t easy.

Then, I saw a spark of interest in the way the Young Princess looked at me.

“Are you perhaps angry?”

Her gaze seemed curious.

What?

“Not angry, but… you’re a bit bothersome.”

I answered honestly. Because I wasn’t angry enough yet.

“Wow.”

As I spoke, the Young Princess suddenly burst out in admiration.

What the? What is she really?

‘Should I hit her?’

The thought crossed my mind before I knew it. It didn’t seem like she intended to tease, but it felt really strange.

“I’ve never seen anyone get angry at me before. The Central Plains are truly fascinating.”

“…What are you even talking about?”

It’s my first time too. Experiencing a woman this bothersome.

“Enough… You should go now.”

I approached. Getting closer, she looked even more like Moyong Hi-ah. There was even a mole under her eye. If I recall, Moyong Hi-ah had a similar mole, didn’t she? Is it just a coincidence?

‘…Never mind, that’s not important right now.’

A strange question arose, but I deliberately ignored it.

As I approached to grab her, the Young Princess smiled slightly and spoke to me.

“You won’t go easy on me or anything, will you?”

“Yes.”

I stated firmly, and she wrinkled her nose as if disappointed. Still, she seemed about to be caught obediently…

“Then that won’t do.”

Woong-!

“…Huh?”

Just as I was about to grab and take her, light suddenly began to emanate from the Young Princess’s body.

Damn it, what is this now?

Hwak-!

A chill surged towards my nose. It was a sudden event. At the same time, a change occurred in the Young Princess’s body. Her body was turning white.

What is happening?

Seeing my bewildered state, the Young Princess said something.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to do this….”

I don’t know what it is. For now, I struck her nape.

Ppaak-!

“Eek!?”

Then, with a shriek, the Young Princess rolled her eyes back and lost consciousness. The Young Princess collapsed onto the ground with a thud. Of course, I didn’t catch her. Looking at the woman who had fallen rather ungracefully, I said.

“Is she really crazy?”

I don’t know what she was trying to do, but my irritation surged. What the hell is this?

As I stared at the Young Princess with a deep frown.

“Young Princess-nim…!”

Someone appeared from behind with an urgent voice. It was a familiar voice, so I turned my head to see Moyong Hi-ah leaning against a wall, panting heavily.

“Found… Huh?”

Moyong Hi-ah looked this way and her eyes widened. The Young Princess collapsed on the floor, and me watching her. As if she couldn’t comprehend the situation, Moyong Hi-ah’s brow furrowed.

Seeing that, I waved my hand and said.

“Long time no see.”

Though not as much as the others, it had been quite a while since I last saw Moyong Hi-ah too. It had been a while since we last met because she said she was busy with work. I was about to say more out of gladness to see her.

“Young Master-nim.”

“Yeah?”

“…Is that, by any chance, the Young Princess-nim?”

Seriously, after not seeing each other for so long, instead of asking how I’ve been, she gets straight to the point. I felt a little disappointed, but I thought it was very characteristic of Moyong Hi-ah.

“This?”

As I nudged it with my foot and spoke, Moyong Hi-ah nodded.

“Probably.”

“…”

She didn’t ask if it was really her, so I’m not certain. Looking at her condition, it must be her. Perhaps because she confirmed it. I could see Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes gradually waver.

“Then… why is the Young Princess-nim like that?”

“I knocked her out because she seemed like she was trying to bolt.”

“You hit her? Knowing who she is?”

“Hit her? I just nudged her a bit.”

I adjusted it so there would be no lasting damage when she woke up. If I hadn’t adjusted, her head would probably have shattered.

As I said it nonchalantly, Moyong Hi-ah clutched her forehead as if it ached. It seems touching a blood relative of the Northern Sea is quite a problem.

“…Ugh.”

Even considering all that, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t say much to me. That’s natural.

‘If that’s the case, she shouldn’t have let her get away in the first place.’

The problem itself is that she let the Young Princess escape initially.

‘Judging by her condition, it seems Moyong Hi-ah was with her.’

I didn’t hear the details, but I could guess. That Moyong Hi-ah was part of the group bringing the Young Princess here.

‘Was that the task Madam Mi sent her for?’

I wondered why she sent her so far, but it seems it was for this. Figuring that out didn’t make me feel good.

‘Did she try to use the fact that Moyong Hi-ah is of Northern Sea lineage?’

The reason Madam Mi specifically sent Moyong Hi-ah. It’s because I think I know why. Since the other party is of Northern Sea bloodline, she probably judged that sending Moyong Hi-ah would be more helpful. It might be a reasonable reason, but the fact remains that Madam Mi used Moyong Hi-ah. I didn’t like that.

Of course, I won’t bring it up and mention it. Moyong Hi-ah would know better about this than I do. The fact that she went knowing that means she accepted it herself. It meant it wasn’t my place to argue about it.

I reached out and activated my technique.

Woong-! The Young Princess’s body floated up. I then tossed her straight towards Moyong Hi-ah.

“…!”

Moyong Hi-ah startled and caught the Young Princess’s body.

“Young Master-nim…! How can you just throw her like that!”

“I feel uncomfortable touching someone else’s body.”

It wasn’t because I felt burdened touching a woman’s body. It was because I felt uncomfortable touching it.

Hearing that, Moyong Hi-ah looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“Are you crazy… Using an application of my technique for that reason?”

An application of my technique, which one can only use upon reaching Hua Jing. She seemed dumbfounded that I used something like that just because I didn’t want to touch someone.

How one uses it is up to the person. How does it matter how it’s used? As long as I’m comfortable, that’s all that matters.

“Enough with the nagging, take her. We’ll talk later.”

As I said that, waving my hands dismissively, Moyong Hi-ah wore a puzzled expression.

“Later? Aren’t you coming with us?”

Her asking if I wasn’t coming meant she knew I was involved in this matter. I was curious about what business had entangled me in this.

“I still have something to do here. I’ll be there soon, so go on ahead.”

I still had things to do here.

[Young Master-nim.]

Tang Soyeol’s telepathic message calling me. She probably sensed the reason why I wasn’t going.

[I know.]

[Shall I catch them?]

As I heard her words, I turned my head. Towards the ceiling of a building.

“No, it’s fine.”

Was it a problem that I looked at the ceiling?

Tuk-!

A faint presence was felt from there. Soon, it gradually moved away. Are they trying to escape?

“I’ll go get them myself.”

Finishing my words, I kicked off the ground and leaped up.

---

Hwa-ahk-!

A masked figure moved, flying through buildings. Seeing the constantly changing background, I could feel how fast he was moving. While moving swiftly, the masked man swallowed dryly.

‘How did they know?’

How on earth did they notice? My concealment techniques should have been perfect. Surely, until the very last moment, I felt no sign of them noticing. The masked man recalled the situation just before, and goosebumps should have risen.

‘Our eyes met.’

Without any warning. Suddenly, the young man turned his head and looked at the masked man. He met that gaze and immediately attempted to flee. It was the eyes that were looking directly at him. Does that mean they knew I was there from the start?

I don’t know.

For now, I must escape.

‘I need to return to headquarters immediately.’

I have to go back and submit a report. These were the steps taken for that purpose.

‘Damn it.’

When the woman merely approached the formation, the masked man wasn’t particularly wary. When the woman looked directly at the formation’s location, he considered making a move, but… Even that consideration wasn’t for long. The order given to the masked man was precisely to watch over the formation until tonight, ensuring no problems arose. Why did a problem have to arise with this particular task?

‘Is it fortunate that at least the formation has no issues?’

It was a problem that they noticed him, but in the end, they wouldn’t know about the formation. That was enough. If I return to headquarters like this and submit the report properly, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

“Where are you going?”

“…!?”

The voice came from right beside him. He tried to twist his body, but…

Kwak-.

Someone grabbed the masked man by the neck and slammed him straight into the ground.

Kwa-ang! Kkwadeudeudeuk-!

His face was embedded in the ground. Due to the speed he was running, he was dragged forward. Thanks to that, a long track was formed on the ground.

Sudden impact.

Just as the masked man couldn’t properly grasp the situation.

Hududuk-!

The same touch as before grabbed the masked man’s hair and lifted him.

“Keuhuk…!”

“You even coated yourself in Ganggi amidst that? Not bad.”

Coating his face with protective Ganggi the moment he was grabbed. Someone who recognized this let out a slight exclamation of admiration.

This is dangerous.

The masked man, instinctively grasping the situation, tried to move. However.

Kkuk-!

“Ggeok!?”

The hand suddenly grasped the man’s cheeks, preventing him from closing his mouth. And then.

Dudeudeuk-!

“…Kkeueuk!!”

He reached in and grabbed, pulling out a molar. It was the location where the self-destruction poison pill was kept. A situation that unfolded in mere seconds. The masked man couldn’t even properly regain his senses. What he could still perceive was… No, there was only one thing he could see.

Eyes.

Even through his blurred vision, only the opponent’s eyes were clear. They were a clear blue, yet… For some reason, there was a burning sensation. Just looking at them filled him with a foreign feeling, as if his whole body was burning.

“Heok… Heok….”

Overwhelmed by an unknown fear, the masked man’s breathing grew ragged. The opponent briefly examined the pulled-out molar.

Ujik!

He crushed it with the force of his fingers. Then he looked back at the masked man.

“Interesting.”

On the lips of the young man saying that.

“What kind of bastard is this anyway?”

For some reason, a chilling smile was present.