"Ahh! Please save me!"

Gaesin, with only one arm left, wrapped his head with his arm, pleading with the children. Then, Mukhyang and Gaesin's eyes met.

"Miss, have you come to save me?"

Gaesin's eyes sparkled.

Mukhyang decided to ignore Gaesin's desperate gaze and leave. Hadn't she heard just yesterday? Not to get too deeply involved.

As Mukhyang showed signs of leaving, Gaesin desperately reached out his hand. Of course, Mukhyang easily dodged, but Gaesin managed to catch her attention once more.

"I'm really going to die here, miss. Please."

His voice was desperate, but it failed to sway Mukhyang's heart. After all, he wasn't particularly skilled in martial arts. There was no benefit to saving him.

It was then that Mukhyang spoke.

"If you take me with you, I'll truly be of help! Please save me!"

Hmm. Considering he disappeared so meaningfully yesterday, he seemed to know something. If lending this much help could unveil the relationship between the Green Forest and the Evil Sect, it would be a significant gain.

"Kids, it's not right to beat someone up like this."

"Oh! Sister?"

"But sister, this man called us beggars."

"He's a fool himself!"

"Still, you've beaten him enough, right? I have some business with this gentleman. Can you stop now?"

"Um... okay."

"If sister has business with him..."

"Tch."

The children, showing signs of reluctance, went back to their own play.

"Are you satisfied now? I assume you will keep your word."

Mukhyang's voice turned indifferent as she addressed Gaesin.

"So... if you take me with you, I'll tell you!"

"Why would I take someone who won't be of help?"

Protecting someone with a disability, especially someone who was Jachim's consort, would be too much trouble. Besides, as someone who harbored feelings for Jachim, why would she want to take him in?

"I can definitely be of help, ah, just a moment. Shh!"

Gaesin crouched and hid upon seeing Jachim passing by amongst the pedestrians over Mukhyang's shoulder. Mukhyang cast a puzzled glance at Gaesin's inexplicable behavior.

After enough time passed for Jachim to have gone by, Gaesin checked his surroundings to make sure he was really gone.

"Phew... that was a close call."

"So, what about my question?"

"I really can be of help! Despite being just a servant to the young master, I've overheard a lot."

That was likely true. Jachim was the deputy leader of the Evil Sect, and Gaesin had always clung to his side. As much as her pride was hurt, she had to admit it. She wanted to leave, but if information was to be gained, then so be it.

"Alright. Let's go together then."

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It was at that moment Gaesin's stomach growled loudly.

"Follow me. We'll talk over food."

Mukhyang smiled kindly.

She led Gaesin to the busiest tavern. The waitress approached their table.

"What's the best dish today?"

"Ah, we've received some excellent pork today. How about Dongpo pork?"

"Then, let's have that."

"Yes, thank you!"

Once the ordered dish arrived, Gaesin, as if possessed by a starving ghost, shoved the meat into his mouth. Mukhyang didn't even have a chance to pick up her chopsticks before the pieces of meat vanished.

"Ss, eating like this for the first time is truly amazing."

"Swallow what's in your mouth first, then talk."

Mukhyang said as Gaesin, his cheeks bulging, nearly cried.

After chewing the meat for a while and finally swallowing, Gaesin still looked touched.

"It's my first time eating so comfortably, miss. Thank you."

It was nothing special to Mukhyang, but apparently not to him. She averted her eyes from Gaesin, who sincerely expressed his gratitude. Regardless of their necessity to cooperate, Gaesin and she were rivals over the same man.

"Hmm, anyway, I'll tell you what I know. Though I'm merely a servant to the young master, from what I've heard, the young master scattered Mihonsan amongst those Green Forest guys. But what Mihonsan does exactly, or how it's used, I don't know, but it causes complete chaos. It drives people mad."

Mukhyang was momentarily stunned. Jachim had scattered such a dangerous substance like Mihonsan? As the deputy leader of the Evil Sect, it wasn't entirely out of character for him. Yet, the action itself was shocking. For what reason would he do such a thing?

Only that question circled in her mind.

"This information isn't incorrect, is it?"

She couldn't bring herself to say it seemed unlikely for Jachim to do such a thing, so she asked instead.

"I'm a slave to the Evil Sect people; of course, the story I tell must be accurate. Are you doubting me?"

Yes, the desire to believe it was a lie stemmed from her feelings, not the facts. For now, she had to believe it. Gaesin didn't seem like he was lying. The expression on his face as he devoured the Dongpo pork was genuine.

"Why then did you make such a meaningful statement yesterday about not getting involved too deeply?"

"That was just me trying to seem more important. I'm pretty good at bluffing. How did I do?"

Gaesin said with a mix of embarrassment and pride.

'So he's not in the Evil Sect for nothing. But I must stay alert. It's possible everything he said was a lie. I need to act with caution, considering that possibility.'

"Shall we get going?"

Having sorted her thoughts, Mukhyang stood up.

Gaesin, who had been reluctantly picking at the remaining bits of meat, hesitated before following her.

As they stepped out of the tavern, Mukhyang stood behind Gaesin.

"Lead the way."

"Where to?"

"Obviously, to the Green Forest's stronghold."

"Eeeeh? How can we go to such a scary place?"

"Weren't you the one who shot the arrow yesterday? Oh, but your arm is injured, so it couldn't have been you."

"That was done by my subordinates."

'It sounds like a lie.'

Being Jachim's consort, he might have had some underlings. However, it seemed unlikely for someone who was moved by a single dish of Dongpo pork to be treated that well. Mukhyang looked skeptically at Gaesin.

"Alright! I'll tell you the truth if you insist!"

Gaesin exclaimed as if caught.

"I was trying to escape from that man, ah, not a man, but a young master, and followed those people pretending to be someone I'm not. Is that okay?"

"Fine. Lead the way then."

"Ugh... alright. But you have to protect me."

"I will, so don't worry too much."

"I only know the place where Mihonsan is being traded, so don't expect too much."

Gaesin said with a somewhat frightened look.

"I won't blame you for not knowing much. It doesn't seem like a good time, so let's start moving. We can continue our conversation on the way."

As Gaesin took the lead into the woods, he glanced back at Mukhyang.

"It might take us about four days if we run. The meeting place might change by then, are you sure we should go?"

"If no one from the Martial Alliance is moving, then I should, shouldn't I?"

"I suppose... alright."

Resigned, Gaesin began to walk slowly. Who knew what could happen if they stumbled upon the trading scene.