IBMMA 46

If something like today were to happen again, Mu-wol wouldn’t know what questions I asked others, or what others said about him. In other words, even if someone tried to drive a wedge between us, he wouldn’t know.

If it were someone else, that might be fine—but wait, he’s someone I have to spend my whole life with? If things go wrong, it could become a huge headache. It would be better if I just answered within reasonable limits myself.

‘That must be what he was thinking.’

Burying my face in Mu-wol’s chest, I looked up at him. His eyes, without the slightest wavering, were fixed only on me. Just like the day I promised not to ask anything, I reassured him.

“Yes, from now on, if I’m curious about anything, I’ll make sure to ask you directly, husband.”

Still, it was quite impressive—Mu-wol believing I would understand his hidden meaning, and me actually catching on perfectly.

‘This must be what they call a perfect match between husband and wife.’

We really are meant for each other. I gently stroked his back again and again.

‘But just how badly must he have been betrayed to ask something like that?’

I felt sorry for him. But I couldn’t deny that it worked out well for me.

‘Now that suffocating feeling in my chest will ease a lot.’

I scooted closer to Mu-wol.

“Then, husband, can I ask you a question right away?”

“As many as you like.”

My eyes lit up as I asked,

“I’m curious about the kind of people you usually spend time with.”

“Sister-in-law!”

The young swordsman jumped up.

“Isn’t that something I could tell you too? If anything, you should ask something else!”

You don’t start by poking at someone’s sore spot. You begin with light questions and gradually move deeper. I blinked innocently.

“But that’s the only thing I can think of right now.”

“No, why are you like this, sister-in-law?! You know how many things I want to know about Mu-wol!”

He pleaded earnestly.

“I beg you, please ask what I want to know instead—”

“Don’t try anything with my wife.”

“…Yes.”

After silencing the young swordsman once more, Mu-wol immediately answered my question.

“I usually associate with four people. One of them, as you already know, is that guy.”

The young swordsman grinned, resting his chin on his hands.

“And there’s a friend named Yeon Choryang, who has devoted his entire life to researching elixirs.”

“He learned martial arts in the first place just so he could travel freely in search of elixirs. Always a pitiful fellow.”

“Why pitiful?”

“No matter how hard he tries, he can’t beat someone who just gets lucky.”

“…That’s true.”

There was even a rumor that a man who had dedicated his entire life to finding elixirs lost his mind after seeing a village child dig up a thousand-year-old snow ginseng in the back mountain.

“Recently, he’s become obsessed with an elixir called Gongcheongseokyu and is suffering even more because of it.”

“Gongcheongseokyu?!”

Mu-wol and the swordsman both nodded. It was one of the rarest elixirs in the Central Plains.

“I’ve heard that just a single drop can drastically increase one’s internal energy, but it’s extremely rare, and every time it’s found, it leads to a huge conflict.”

“Oh? Seems like you’re quite interested in elixirs too, sister-in-law?”

“I don’t know much about others, but I know about Gongcheongseokyu. It caused quite a stir about ten years ago.”

A master of immense skill—someone who had even fought in the great war between righteous and demonic factions—had gone missing while searching for it.

The swordsman stroked his chin seriously.

“That guy better not disappear like that master.”

“He values his life, so he’ll take care of himself.”

Mu-wol continued describing Yeon Choryang.

“He’s usually quiet and introverted, but extremely passionate about research. The moment elixirs come up, his eyes completely change.”

“And he’s a bit creepy too. He’ll stand in a corner reading books and suddenly start grinning to himself.”

“Still, there’s much to learn from him.”

With that, Mu-wol finished talking about Yeon Choryang.

“Next, I’ll introduce a friend named Ju Jeokyeom. As you can guess from his name, he comes from a prestigious family that has practiced fire arts for generations.”

“…You really can tell just from the name.”

“He’s currently training in the southern regions. He has strong pride and a quick temper, but he’s also easygoing, so he gets along well with people.”

“More than anything, he’s fun to be around. We get along really well.”

“That’s why people don’t put Jeokyeom and Unyeop in the same place. It gets unbearably loud.”

“Hey! What’s wrong with being a bit loud?!”

Now only one friend remained to be introduced. It must be the one from Sichuan. Unlike the others, I had heard of him before, so I was especially curious.

Just what kind of person was he?

With a pounding heart, I looked at Mu-wol. Soon, he spoke.

“Lastly, I’ll introduce a friend named Dang Gyeom.”

“…Dang Gyeom?”

I quickly raised my hand.

“He’s from Sichuan, right?”

“Yes.”

“…You’re friends with someone from the Sichuan Tang family?!”

The Sichuan Tang family was famous for poison techniques and hidden weapons, and one of the Five Great Families alongside the Namgung clan.

Wait—weren’t those major factions hostile toward Mu-wol? I had to ask.

“Is the Tang family friendly toward you?”

“No.”

Mu-wol denied it firmly, which only made me more confused.

“Then how are you friends with Dang Gyeom…?”

“Oh, Gyeom is at the very bottom of his family’s hierarchy. So it’s fine.”

“Our situations are similar in many ways, so I feel at ease around him.”

…Their casual tone while saying something so shocking left me speechless again.

The swordsman waved his hand.

“Is it just your circumstances that are similar? His personality is also quite… hmm.”

He suddenly fell into thought, making me curious.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know whether to call them similar or different. He’s as easygoing as Mu-wol, but he really loves his friends.”

“Ah, is that why he made Mu-wol buy a house?”

“Exactly.”

The swordsman laughed.

“His ultimate goal is to tie all of us down in Sichuan. Creepy, right?”

‘…Is that really easygoing?’

Not living together—but tying them down? Dang Gyeom was clearly no ordinary person either.

“He’s currently in closed-door training, right?”

“Yeah. He won’t come out for another month. Haha, I’m already curious how he’ll react to Mu-wol getting married.”

“….”

For some reason, I felt like he’d react more strongly to the fact that Mu-wol had settled in Anhui than to the marriage itself.

‘Come to think of it, not a single one of his friends is normal.’

Which made me want to meet them even more.

Sincerely, I said,

“If I get the chance, I’d love to meet your other friends as well.”

“Sure, we should all gather for a drink someday! If it’s you, you’ll get along well with them.”

I looked at Mu-wol expectantly.

“When the time is right, may I invite them, husband?”

“I think I should be the one asking for permission.”

Mu-wol smiled softly.

“May I introduce you to my other friends?”

“Of course!”

If he only introduced me to Unyeop, the others would surely be upset.

‘But what should I prepare then?’

Should I prepare like today? I wasn’t sure, so I just stared at the grilled eel on the table.

Misinterpreting my gaze, Mu-wol placed a few pieces of eel onto my plate.

Not wanting to embarrass him, I accepted it right away.

‘But he gave me the tail again.’

He should eat some himself. Just as I picked up the tail with my chopsticks—

“Oh, by the way, Mu-wol.”

The swordsman suddenly called out.

Mu-wol casually responded while serving me more food,

“What is it?”

“What about your plans for children?”

“….”

Even the carefree Unyeop couldn’t escape being a man of his time.