Chapter 163: The Rose-Colored Glasses Gain Another Layer

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk stepped into the main hall.

He had shaved his beard clean and arranged his hair neatly. He wore a splendid new martial arts uniform and a long robe, capturing everyone's attention with each step.

This wasn't just because he was handsome. He had a strange, captivating aura. He exuded the ease of someone who had neared the pinnacle of martial arts, along with a mysterious, noble atmosphere no one could imitate.

Jin Haryong didn't recognize Geom Mugeuk. A pure sense of admiration washed over her the moment she saw him.

How handsome!

He was truly handsome. If someone asked what kind of person she liked, she felt she could just point and say, "That man right there."

She wasn't the only one who thought so. The women stared at Geom Mugeuk, completely captivated. The men's gazes were stolen as well.

"Who is that?"

"I don't know either. Who is he?"

"He's a Master I've never seen before?"

"He's so handsome!"

Such comments flowed openly from the crowd.

Capturing everyone's attention, Geom Mugeuk walked toward Jin Haryong and Cho Sin.

Why is he coming toward us? Ah, is he someone Cho Sin knows?

As Jin Haryong thought this, Geom Mugeuk greeted her first.

"Miss Jin, you're here too."

Jin Haryong flinched in surprise.

He knows me? Who is he to act so familiar?

His voice was familiar. Even after hearing it, however, she couldn't recognize him. The difference between the Geom Mugeuk she knew and the Geom Mugeuk of this moment was that vast.

"Don't tell me you don't recognize me?"

She truly didn't recognize him. She thought he might be someone with a similar voice, but the idea that he was the same person never crossed her mind.

"Who are you?"

"You told me to let you know if anyone bothered me, didn't you? At this rate, how are you going to help me? You'd probably join in on the bullying without even recognizing me."

Jin Haryong's eyes widened. Those were her exact words. She had told him to speak up if anyone bothered him and to say the Murim Alliance Chairman's granddaughter was his friend.

"No way! You!"

"That's right. It's me."

Without realizing it, Jin Haryong let out a sharp scream.

"I'm not sure if this is something to scream about, but yes, I am Geom Yeon."

Those clear, deep eyes were so unlike a servant's. Looking again, it was indeed Geom Yeon.

A thrill ran through her body. All the hairs on her body stood on end at once.

It was nerve-wracking enough to have such a handsome man standing so close, but this man was that servant, Geom Yeon?

She asked in a trembling voice, "What happened?"

"I shaved my beard and tidied my hair. I also bought and wore new clothes."

Cho Sin, standing beside her, was just as flustered.

He was so shocked and bewildered that he couldn't react. He just stood there blankly, blinking his eyes.

At first, he too had not recognized Geom Mugeuk. As someone who took great pride in his own appearance, he felt a sense of repulsion whenever he saw a man more handsome than himself.

That was why he had been in a bad mood from the moment Geom Mugeuk appeared.

It was bad enough that a guy more handsome than him was at the banquet, but his nerves frayed when the man started walking toward him and Jin Haryong. What the hell, you bastard. Why are you coming this way?

But what? This guy was that guy? That filthy servant was this guy? No way. Absolutely no way!

Cho Sin honestly almost shouted and spewed curses.

He couldn't believe that bastard was this handsome.

This would completely derail his plan. The plan was to erase the mystique and reveal ordinariness, but instead, true mystique had emerged. What made him even angrier was that he had even given him money to bring it out.

Geom Mugeuk greeted Cho Sin, who stood behind him.

"The Young Lord over there gave me money to buy and wear new clothes."

Jin Haryong looked at Cho Sin with a surprised face.

"Is that true?"

"Ah, yes. It is."

Jin Haryong misunderstood the situation.

"Oh, so you really decided to apologize. To be honest, I didn't believe you. I'm sorry."

"No."

Truly, Cho Sin was in a state where he could neither laugh nor cry. He immediately sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk. [You bastard! Get lost! Get the hell out of here!]

He meant for him to leave the banquet, but Geom Mugeuk seemed to interpret it as an instruction to move away from their spot. He walked over to the prodigy members.

"Oh! There are so many expensive and rare dishes. Can I eat as much as I want? Ah, there's alcohol here too. The aroma is excellent."

Everyone watched his every move. Geom Mugeuk felt no pressure from their gazes. He ate the food deliciously and drank the alcohol. His actions were natural, as if he were the protagonist of this place.

As if possessed, Jin Haryong approached him. Muttering, "damn it," Cho Sin followed her.

"You seem like a completely different person."

"That's because I usually go around looking so messy."

"Why didn't you dress like this before?"

"What reason would a servant have to dress up?"

Seeing Jin Haryong's eyes sparkle as she looked at Geom Mugeuk, Cho Sin's heart grew urgent.

This was not right. This was not right at all!

He had to change this situation somehow. He had tried to remove the rose-colored glasses, but now it seemed an even stronger pair was being put on.

Cho Sin sent an irritated telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk. [You bastard! Why did you come here dressed so handsomely!]

At that, Geom Mugeuk looked at him. His gaze seemed to say, You're the one who told me to dress up and come, and Cho Sin couldn't refute it.

Besides, it wasn't like he had particularly dressed up. He had only shaved his beard, tidied his hair, and bought new clothes, but Geom Mugeuk still shone.

Cho Sin had to drag Geom Mugeuk down somehow.

"You dressed up to the nines to look good for our Miss Jin."

"Yes, I deliberately tried to look cool."

Jin Haryong's cheeks turned slightly red, as if she heard it as him saying he had dressed up for her.

Seeing that, Cho Sin grew frantic.

Damn it! This isn't working either.

He was supposed to look awkward, as if he had forced himself to dress up, but that servant bastard looked naturally suited to such luxurious clothes.

At the same time, his actions openly declared, 'I dressed up for this banquet,' without any shame. That, in fact, made him seem even more confident.

"Whether by coincidence or not, your martial arts uniform is the same color as Miss Jin's, as if you matched them."

"It seems so."

Unable to watch any longer, Cho Sin sent a telepathic message to one of his men, telling him to strike up a conversation with Jin Haryong.

While Jin Haryong was briefly occupied with the man's greeting, Cho Sin took Geom Mugeuk to a corner.

"You crazy bastard! Do you want to die?"

"What's the matter?"

"Do you want to remove the rose-colored glasses from Miss Jin's eyes today and get a hundred thousand taels? Or do you want to lose a hundred thousand taels and die at my hands? It's up to you."

"So what should I do?"

"You have to do something that will make a woman lose all affection for you. Act arrogant, pick fights with others, and act like a drunken lout! Got it?"

Cho Sin never imagined such words would come from his own mouth. Had he ever tried to tear someone down so sordidly? He would have just killed them instead.

But he was desperate right now. He had to humiliate him somehow before a new pair of rose-colored glasses stuck to her eyes. He was truly irritated to the core.

"Then give me the money first."

"What?"

"Give me fifty thousand taels, and I'll do it. Then give me another fifty thousand when I'm done."

"This bastard! Do you want to die?"

Cho Sin raised his hand to strike him, but Geom Mugeuk wasn't afraid.

"That's how deals work. I have to make a living too."

"You worn-out piece of trash!"

Just then, Jin Haryong walked toward them. Cho Sin lowered his raised hand and adjusted Geom Mugeuk's clothes.

"Our servant Master truly looks like a different person."

At that, Geom Mugeuk said, "As I said before, it's all thanks to the Young Lord."

"Honestly, it was money I gave for our Miss Jin."

"You are truly generous and wonderful."

Geom Mugeuk did not spare any praise for Cho Sin.

Cho Sin felt an uneasy feeling, as if he had opened something that should never have been opened.

However, he couldn't back down like this.

Cho Sin changed the subject.

"This time, our main branch intends to make a large investment in the Murim Alliance."

When Cho Sin brought up business, Geom Mugeuk stepped aside.

Cho Sin eagerly boasted about his family and his wealth, but Jin Haryong's gaze kept drifting toward Geom Mugeuk, who was talking with the other prodigy members. Jin Haryong clenched her fists when a female warrior listening to Geom Mugeuk's story burst into laughter.

How could Cho Sin not know what was on her mind?

Even though he had stopped talking, Jin Haryong only looked in Geom Mugeuk's direction.

Cho Sin's expression hardened.

Jin Haryong suddenly felt a chill and turned her head. Cho Sin was silently staring at Geom Mugeuk. The snake that had vanished from her mind reappeared.

"It's a real shame that a man like that is a servant. Don't you think?"

"What can be done about a fate one is born with?"

A sense of regret could be felt in her answer. Cho Sin was truly angry.

Damn bitch! How dare she ignore me like this?

Useless anger surged within him.

He sent another telepathic message to the prodigy he had earlier ordered to speak to Jin Haryong.

[Provoke a duel and fight that bastard. When you beat him, beat him mercilessly.]

The prodigy who received the message was Ho Yong.

Ho Yong was an ambitious man who wanted to grow his family's influence by getting on Cho Sin's good side. He accepted the order without hesitation.

Ho Yong asked Geom Mugeuk, "Seeing as you carry a sword, have you learned martial arts?"

"I have."

"How did a servant learn martial arts?"

"It's because my master is an excellent person."

"May I have a taste of the martial arts passed down by that excellent person?"

Everyone wore curious expressions.

As Jin Haryong tried to stop them, Cho Sin said to her, "Aren't you curious, Miss Jin? What kind of martial arts that servant has learned, and how much?"

Of course, Jin Haryong was curious, but her worry was greater.

"Even so, he wouldn't be skilled enough to compete with the prodigy members."

"Martial artist Ho is the scion of a prestigious family. He won't injure that servant."

Just then, Geom Mugeuk said to Ho Yong, "Using swords might cause injury, so let's compete with fists and feet."

"Very well."

Inwardly, Ho Yong was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected him to agree to fight so readily.

I'll make sure to break one of his bones.

If he broke an arm or a leg while pretending it was a mistake, Cho Sin would be more than satisfied.

"Then please be gentle."

"Alright. To think I'd have a duel with a servant in my lifetime. What a wonderful day."

Ho Yong was off his guard. It would be shameful to even show a hint of tension.

Geom Mugeuk dodged Ho Yong's fist. He avoided it by stumbling precariously, almost falling over. Laughter erupted from here and there.

Ho Yong's fist flew again, and this time too, Geom Mugeuk dodged by rolling on the floor. Ho Yong, who had been cornering Geom Mugeuk like prey, looked around and laughed.

"My, this is so bland…"

"Watch out!"

The moment he turned his head at someone's shout.

POW!

Geom Mugeuk's fist sent Ho Yong flying. He had let his guard down and taken a solid hit. As he fell, he crashed into a table, and the food on it splattered, soiling Cho Sin's clothes.

Cho Sin, who was already furious, could not hold back and exploded.

"Damn it all!"

On the other hand, Geom Mugeuk ran over to check on the fallen Ho Yong.

"Fortunately, he's not seriously injured."

The contrast between Geom Mugeuk, who checked his opponent's injuries first, and his own cursing because food got on his clothes made Cho Sin feel awkward. No one said anything, but the gazes directed at him were filled with contempt.

What made him even angrier was that Jin Haryong paid him no mind at all and only looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away in my excitement."

Geom Mugeuk apologized to the watching prodigy members.

On their behalf, Jin Haryong stepped forward and said, "It's not something to apologize for. The one who wasn't focused on the duel is at fault."

Everyone nodded at Jin Haryong's words. In this duel, at least, Ho Yong had been caught off guard, so they couldn't blame Geom Mugeuk's surprise attack.

Jin Haryong bid farewell to Cho Sin.

"Well, I'll be leaving for today. Come on, you should go too."

Jin Haryong left the banquet with Geom Mugeuk. From behind them, the sound of something shattering, CRASH, was heard. She didn't know what broke, but she knew who broke it.

Geom Mugeuk walked back with Jin Haryong along a moonlit path.

She was once again worried about Geom Mugeuk.

"You've become more endangered because of this."

Then, Geom Mugeuk said abruptly, "My friend."

For a moment, Jin Haryong was startled.

"Why are you so surprised? Didn't we agree to be friends?"

"No, you're right."

"My friend. You are the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman, the First Beauty of Hubei, and a top contender in the Young Dragon Tournament. You are most like yourself and most wonderful when you are proud and elegant. This constant worrying about someone doesn't suit you."

After a brief pause, Jin Haryong said, "Then can I trust you? Are you confident you won't get caught by a guy like that and die a miserable death, making me feel guilty for the rest of my life?"

"I am."

"Really? How can I believe that?"

"Because we're friends. Try trusting your friend's words."

"You said being proud and elegant suits me, but I'm not that kind of woman. I'm a timid person who overthinks, worries a lot, and has many regrets. I don't like meeting people, so I don't really know how to shake off my wounds. So you can't surprise me later."

"Okay, I won't."

It was absurd, but she found herself believing Geom Mugeuk's words. There was no basis for her trust, but she believed him.

This time, Geom Mugeuk said, "In return, you have to make me one promise."

"What promise?"

"That if something strange and incomprehensible happens in your life from now on, you will definitely come find me and tell me."

He wasn't just talking about the current matter with the Heavenly Enlightenment Society. He was also speaking of a future time when signs of that incident, which would one day befall the Murim Alliance, would be felt.

"A moment like that in my life is…"

No matter how much she thought about it.

"Right now?"

At that, Geom Mugeuk gave a faint smile and said, "Yes, just like now, if something strange and incomprehensible happens, you must. Now, let's go back."

Jin Haryong silently watched the back of Geom Mugeuk as he walked ahead. A thought suddenly occurred to her. As he said, it might be good to show the proud and elegant side of the First Beauty of Hubei, rather than worrying needlessly.

She began to walk toward Geom Mugeuk, who was waiting up ahead, asking if she was coming.