Editor: VCubed
Chapter 97
After the matter with Seo Pyeong-oh was concluded, Master Dang once again switched to his fatherly demeanor.
“Yerin, do you have any plans to visit the Four-Gates Fortress this time?”
“Well, I’m not sure…” Yerin trailed off ambiguously.
She did consider it.
The land she had acquired from the Four-Gates was worth inspecting since she had ventured outside of the North Sea Fortress. It wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the land she had entrusted to Hyuk Min-woo.
But…
‘I might annoy father if I answer too hastily.’
Yerin looked at her father with a guarded expression.
“Instead, why don’t you visit home since you’ve come out to the Central Plains after a long time?”
The clan head smiled kindly.
“I’d like to leisurely see my daughter’s face after so long.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“I believe you’ll definitely come.”
Master Dang said jovially before bidding farewell to Master Jo Ha-seong.
“Well, I should be going now. Lord Jo, let’s meet again next time.”
“Please return safely, Master Dang.”
After bidding farewell to the clan head, Yerin and Doyul greeted Lord Jo Ha-seong and Youngju.
“We are indebted to you this time.”
“Take care.”
“No, thank you for saving my life.”
Jo Ha-seong, who showed a sign of submission to the two, soon smiled warmly.
“I’ll count on you for the North Sea Fortress branch of the Jo Yangpyo Nation in the future.”
“We will do our best.”
Meanwhile, Youngju was in a frenzy as if she were saying goodbye forever.
“Sister, will we see each other again?”
“Of course.”
Yerin had to use all her wits to pacify Youngju.
“Jo Yangpyo Nation has a branch even in the North Sea Fortress, right?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“So, you can visit the branch later and meet me in the North Sea Fortress, right? Right?”
Yerin affectionately comforted Youngju.
“It’s a promise!”
“Then, I want to see you too.”
After nodding several times, Youngju finally parted ways with Yerin.
Meanwhile, Yerin felt a sharp, piercing gaze on her side.
‘Husband, there’s no need to glare at me like that…’
Afterward, Yerin and Doyul left the inn.
Doyul suddenly asked a question.
“Do you intend to visit the Four-Gates Fortress, my lady?”
“I’m still not sure. I’m considering it. However…”
Yerin, who had been momentarily lost in thought, spoke up.
“When you don’t know the other party’s intentions, sometimes it’s worth confronting them at least once.”
Upon reflection, there were many suspicious actions from the clan head this time.
Setting aside the attempts to pry into Yerin’s abilities, there was something unsettling about the haste to conclude the conversation during the discussion about the blood pact at the Mulin Alliance.
“But suggesting this to Doyul might be somewhat uncomfortable.”
The long-standing animosity between the North Sea Ice Palace and the Four-Gates Fortress was sensitive enough to make discussing it painful.
However…
“If that’s what the lady wishes.”
Doyul nodded earnestly.
Huh?
Unexpectedly, Yerin blinked her eyes blankly at his response.
“Can I really do that? Visiting the Four-Gates Fortress might make the Fortress Lord uncomfortable…”
“I would do more than the lady.”
Doyul added firmly with a bitter smile.
“Just promise me one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Always prioritize the lady’s safety above all else.”
Doyul cautiously held Yerin’s hand.
“Things like the North Sea Ice Palace or the Kamora… They’re not important compared to the lady.”
“…Yes, I will.”
Touched by his affectionate words, Yerin shyly nodded her head.
As the tender atmosphere unfolded between them…
– Hey, you two!
Bark!
The dog barked loudly.
It was Mannyeonbingjeong.
– I’m here too.
“…”
“…”
Doyul and Yerin looked at Mannyeonbingjeong in bewilderment.
Whether they responded or not, Mannyeonbingjeong urged them impatiently with its fluffy tail hitting the ground.
– I know you’re a loving couple, but can you stop being affectionate now?
“Okay, let’s go.”
Sigh, thank goodness.
Yerin trembled as she walked ahead.
Then…
“Do spirits not understand the concept of tact?”
Doyul grabbed Mannyeonbingjeong’s scruff with a stern smile on his face.
Snap!
Mannyeonbingjeong thrashed around desperately.
– Let go of me! Let go!
But there was no sign of Doyul releasing his grip.
Mannyeonbingjeong called out pitifully to Yerin.
– Contract holder, the Lord of the Fortress is tormenting me! Please scold him quickly!
However, Yerin completely ignored Mannyeonbingjeong’s cries.
‘I can endure that much!’
Afterward, Yerin and Doyul intended to leave immediately for the Four-Gates Fortress, but unexpectedly, they ended up staying one more day due to an uninvited guest.
That person was none other than…
“What? The leader of the Mulin Alliance?”
Yerin blinked her eyes widely at the Mulin Alliance member standing before her.
The Mulin member politely nodded.
“Yes. They said they felt uncomfortable letting you leave like this after coming a long way.”
Despite the polite words exchanged, the bottom line was that they wanted to treat them to a meal.
The two of them exchanged subtle glances.
‘Well, there’s no need to refuse, is there?’
‘That’s what I think.’
After all, the other party was much older than them and the leader of a significant faction in the martial world.
Considering their position, it wouldn’t be courteous to reject outright, and…
‘Plus, we haven’t properly discussed the disappearance of Baeksolryeon’s body before.’
With that concern in mind, perhaps this was an opportunity to finally confront the leader of the Mulin Alliance.
“All right.”
Following the guidance of the Mulin member, the two headed towards the Mulin Alliance.
As they reached the entrance of the Mulin Alliance, Yerin glanced briefly at Mannyeonbingjeong.
“Solmi, would you like to wait outside for a while?”
“Bark!”
Although Mannyeonbingjeong complained with a dissatisfied bark,
“Here, have this while you wait.”
“…!”
When Yerin offered a snack provided by Youngju, Mannyeonbingjeong quickly quieted down.
Yerin affectionately patted Mannyeonbingjeong’s head as it chewed on the snack.
“If you wait quietly, I’ll give you more when I come back. Okay?”
“Bark!”
“Good.”
Leaving Mannyeonbingjeong behind at the reception hall of the Mulin Alliance, Yerin and Doyul followed the member inside.
They expected to be guided to the main hall, but instead, they arrived at a modest pavilion located in the center of a simple garden.
The leader of the Mulin Alliance, with a contemplative expression, gazed at the lush shade of the trees.
“Master, the Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace and the Lord of Kamora have been brought here.”
Upon the member’s call, the leader of the Mulin Alliance glanced back briefly.
“Yes, thank you for coming all this way.”
The leader of the Mulin Alliance greeted Yerin and Doyul with a warm smile.
The two of them respectfully bowed.
“We greet the Leader of the Mulin Alliance.”
“Nice to meet you. I called you two suddenly, and I’m grateful for you to come.”
The leader of the Mulin Alliance nodded and gestured for the member to leave.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes, Master.”
After the member left, the leader guided the two to their seats.
“I heard you were planning to leave soon, but is there something that kept you here?”
The Mulin leader asked with a somewhat curious expression.
“It seems I’ve inconvenienced busy individuals,” the Mulin leader mused.
“No, not at all. How could we miss the opportunity to meet you, Master?” Yerin replied respectfully with a slight bow.
“And it wasn’t such an urgent schedule anyway.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We were just planning to make a brief stop at the Four-Gates Fortress before returning to the North Sea Palace.”
“The Four-Gates Fortress… I see.”
As the Mulin leader pondered for a moment, a spark seemed to light up in their eyes.
“By the way, I heard that the North Sea Ice Palace owns land in the Four-Gates Fortress. Did you receive it through transfer from the Gatekeeper?”
“Yes, in exchange for supplying Seluchu.”
“That was a wise decision. To ensure a stable food supply, there’s no place like the fertile land of the Four-Gates Fortress.”
As they exchanged a few more words, the meal arrived elegantly.
“Please, enjoy.”
The Mulin leader invited them to eat.
Doyul and Yerin picked up their chopsticks in unison.
As they enjoyed their meal, the Mulin leader sighed and spoke up.
“There have been reports of successive disappearances in various parts of the Central Plains. Do you remember?”
“Yes, we remember,” Doyul nodded.
“Despite the urgency to find the missing individuals, not a single person has been found yet.”
The Mulin leader couldn’t help but grind their teeth in frustration.
