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"Pfft."

Despite her best efforts to hold it back, laughter eventually escaped through Mukhyang's plump lips.

"Did you just laugh? Please help me quickly. Do you have any idea how terrible it is to be rolling on the ground with another man?"

Gaesin, who was using his entire body to pin down the Hwasan faction man, couldn't help but shout out in frustration.

"Ah, I'm sorry."

Apologies are best served promptly. It was her idea to begin with, and laughing at the outcome was uncalled for. Mukhyang felt guilty. 'Now, what should I use to tie these guys up?' Then, she noticed the cloth tied around the inner sleeve of her garment. It was quite long, and when combined, it looked sufficient enough. After tying up the medicine man and the Hwasan faction man, Mukhyang looked down at them and asked,

"How far are the Martial Alliance and the Evil Sect entangled?"

There was no need to be polite to such characters.

"Do you think I'd tell you that?"

The medicine man shouted back with a vile tone, attempting to bite his tongue. Mukhyang moved to stop him, but the Hwasan faction man was quicker. The ropes binding them snapped, and the Hwasan man drew his sword. Simultaneously, the medicine man's throat was cut, blood splattering everywhere. Gaesin, who got blood on his clothes, was horrified.

"Damn it! Aaaah!"

As Gaesin threw his outer garment away in disgust, a knife was pointed at his throat.

"Touch Mihonsan, and I'll cut off every finger!"

"I, I didn't do anything wrong. I was just following orders!"

Gaesin, trembling, cried out. Mukhyang didn't want Gaesin to die and incur Jachim's wrath. She put down her hidden weapon and raised her hands, quickly thinking of a plan. 'It's a gamble, but I have no choice.' She swiftly threw a hidden blade, snagging the pouch of Mihonsan that had fallen to the ground.

"Stop! You can't just leave that there!"

The Hwasan man pressed the knife closer to Gaesin's throat as a trickle of blood ran down. Gaesin began to whimper, facing the threat to his life.

"Please save me, miss."

Gaesin started to sob, fearing for his life.

'There's still much information I haven't obtained; I need to keep him alive. I don't want to see Jachim saddened.'

"Release the hostage, and I'll give you this." "Shut up and hand it over!" "Isn't this what you wanted?"

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Mukhyang waved the pouch. The Hwasan man's face twisted in anger but released Gaesin.

"Now, are we done? Hand over the Mihonsan!"

The moment the knife left Gaesin's throat, Mukhyang threw her hidden weapon, piercing the man's throat. Blood splattered onto Gaesin's face, causing him to rush towards Mukhyang in panic. After frantically wiping his face with his clothes, Gaesin shouted angrily,

"Miss, my clothes are all dirty because of you!" "Is that how you speak to your savior?"

Since the statement was true, Gaesin was momentarily speechless. However, something seemed to dawn on him as he glanced at Mukhyang with irritation.

"I'm sorry for being ungrateful, but killing him means we lose a chance to gain information, doesn't it?" "We know where to get help, so it's fine. Finding out that the Hwasan faction is involved is a significant gain." "Then why did you ask me in the first place if you were just going to go there?" "I had to be sure." "Yes, yes, of course."

Gaesin's sarcastic tone did not improve Mukhyang's mood. She had gone out of her way to save him, after all.

"So, where are we going now?" "It's late; staying at an inn would be best. Lead the way."

A little spite was okay under the circumstances. They moved towards the inn in silence. However, Gaesin's mood improved the moment they stepped into the inn. Precisely when the ordered dumplings were neatly placed before him.

"Ah, miss. Are you taking care of my share too?" "I can't just let someone starve, can I?"

Gaesin's expression softened, reminiscent of when he ate the Dongpo pork.

"Thank you, miss. I will follow you for the rest of my life!"

Mukhyang listened to Gaesin's heartfelt words and moved on to the main topic.

"Is the Wudang faction also involved with the Evil Sect?" "Wudang? Shouldn't you be asking about the Hwasan faction?"

"Given that you haven't mentioned it until now, it appears you don't know either."

"Well, that's true. I've always just seen Shaolin on my errands. This is the first time the Hwasan faction has come up."

"So, while being in the Evil Sect, you've had absolutely no contact with the Wudang faction?"

"Yes. It might be beneficial to head there if you're seeking help."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Mukhyang stood up at that moment.

"Miss, I am now your servant. You don't need to doubt me so much."

'Sure, as if I would believe that.'

"Understood. Sorry for causing you concern."

Upon entering her own room, Mukhyang drafted a report for her mission.

"Completion of the Mihonsan task.

Suspicion of a connection between the Evil Sect and various factions.

Mihonsan, originating from the Evil Sect, seems to have deeply infiltrated the orthodox factions including Hwasan and Shaolin."

After finishing the letter, she tied it to the leg of a hawk that came to the window and sent it off.

"Aaah!"

Just as she released the bird, Gaesin's scream echoed from downstairs. Worried he might have been attacked, Mukhyang hurriedly descended to the first floor, only to discover a ludicrous scene. A single bird had entered Gaesin's tea cup to bathe.

'To freak out over just that...'

Gaesin screamed and dropped the cup, quickly retreating.

Ah, but there was a familiar piece of cloth tied around the bird's leg. It was the bird Mukhyang had treated the previous night.

"Oh, you followed us here."

Mukhyang reached out her hand, delighted, and the bird, having taken off from the shattered cup, landed on her palm.

"This isn't the time to be happy! That damn bird stole my dumplings and dirtied my tea cup... Ugh..."

Gaesin gagged repeatedly.

"Ah, young master..."

He looked pale as if struck by a bad thought.

But Mukhyang's focus remained on the bird.

"How did you know to follow us here?"

"Peep peep!"

"Are you answering? You're quite smart."

Mukhyang stroked the bird's head.

Gaesin sent a weary look towards Mukhyang, prioritizing the animal over him. Noticing his pale face, Mukhyang finally felt a twinge of concern.

"I was just fascinated by the bird's intelligence. Sorry for not paying enough attention to you."

"It's alright. I'll head up too. If you have more questions, ask them tomorrow."

"See you in the morning."