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nThe eleven warriors of the Jong family glared at Gyeongwan and Yoo.

nThe situation no longer seemed like one that they could avoid.

nJust then, one of the Jong warriors came forward.

n“Why don’t we change the location.”

n“And why should I?”

nHe smirked.

n“We can’t just ignore what we’ve heard and stay as we are. If what the prince said is true, you should be beating us to a pulp, no?” said the Jong warrior civilly, although his body language clearly spoke otherwise as it exuded tension.

n“So we should change locations for a simple sparring.”

n“If we’re going to engage in such, let’s have it here. After all, we don’t know when the prince will be back.”

nThe Jong family’s warrior smirked.

n“He will probably take a while.”

nGyeongwan looked at him questioningly and asked.

n“I heard that the only person I should be cautious of in the Golden wall clan was you, but it seems like that’s not the case.”

nThe warrior looked at Gyeongwan meaningfully as he replied.

n“Don’t you think it’s careless of him to leave his guard all alone. This is unthinkable in our Jong family.”

nGyeongwan replied immediately.

n“Really? But isn’t that what just happened here. The Confucius left earlier on and you, his guard is here alone, no?”

nThe Jong family warrior looked at him dumbfoundedly.

n“If that was a joke, I suggest you don’t try that elsewhere. It’ll only further disgrace the Golden Wall clan’s bad reputation.”

nGyeongwan looked at the warrior motionlessly.

nSomething from what the warrior just said had caught his nerve.

n“Further disgrace?”

nThe Golden Wall Clan’s reputation was not exactly the best. But it had no reason to be referred to as bad.

nThe recent doings of the Prince may have caused some speculation and rumors about the clan. But it wasn’t sufficient to have a lasting effect on the clan’s reputation.

nRather, it had a positive effect. Afterall not anyone could be called the king of ambition.

n“Well, if going to a quieter place scares you, I have no objections with staying where we are. But don’t you find it too narrow here? After all, we might end up causing a disturbance to our surroundings.”

nAs the Jong warrior suggested the change, he glanced at the room of the Yeon residence where the doctor was seated nearby.

nGyeongwan and Yoo caught his glance and frowned.

n“Let’s go.”

nGyeongwan agreed and turned to Gyeong and Gal.

n“Both of you should stay here with the doctor and once the prince returns, update him.”

nThe two seemed stunned at his suggestion.

n“You mean it’s only going to be the two of you?”

n“You don’t even know where you’re going and yet you’ll follow blindly?”

nGyeongwan nodded nonchalantly and changed his focus to the remaining Jong family warriors.

n“It seems like no matter where we go, it won’t be far off from the Yeon residence. Don’t you agree?”

n“Yes, there is a place nearby. Well…there’s no issue even if all of you were to come.” replied the Jong warrior.

nTo his reply, Gyeong and Gal insisted on tagging along.

nHowever, Gyeongwan was adamant.

n“No, both of you please listen to me. The person you need to protect is not either of us. It is the prince.”

nTo these words, neither of them could hold out.

n“Fine, but please be careful.”

nGyeongwan nodded meaningfully and looked to Yoo.

n“Let’s go.”

nYoo smiled brightly and followed gyeongwan and the warriors.

nGyeong and Gal watched in silence as their figures walked away.

n***

nTaesan and Woong who had left together had returned.

nGyeong and Gal tilted their heads at the sight of them together.

nIt was hard to believe that anything had happened when the two of them were so calm.

n“It can’t be….”

nTaesan ignored the two and walked towards the doctor.

n“Where is everyone.”

n“They went for a sparring match.” replied the doctor gleefully before turning his gaze toward Woong.

n“Aren’t you too okay to be true.”

n“What, were you expecting something?”

nHe suppressed his urge to reply “Obviously” with immense strength.

nThe repercussions of such a reply seemed detrimental for now.

n“So what are you going to do?” asked the doctor.

n“We agreed to have dinner together later. It..should be fun.”

nGyeong and Gal looked questioningly at Taesan and Woong.

nWoong was too calm, unlike before.

nWhereas Taesan was the same as before.

n“No way…can’t be. You know what kind of person Woong is.”

nGyeong had a senseless thought and smirked as he shook his head.

nNothing must have happened as they seemed too clean and fine.

nHad something happened, there should at least be a sign of a scratch or two.

nOn the other hand, it also didn’t make sense that Woong came back without doing anything.

nHe was the worst form of humankind. Logic and reasoning were absent in his dictionary for sure.

n“How long has it been since they left? Is it about time for them to be back yet?”

nTaesan asked to which the doctor replied.

n“It hasn’t even been an hour.”

n“It’s already nearly an hour and they’re still not back?”

n“Come on, there were eleven of them. Do you seriously expect them to be back so soon?”

nTaesan shook his head.

n“No, there’s only eleven of them. They should be done and back already.:

nGyeong and Gal stared at them shocked.

nWhat on earth were they saying?

n“Once we go back, train them up double.”

nThe doctor rejoiced and replied.

n“I will diligently accept your command, my prince. Hahahaha!”

nHad Gyeongwan or Yoo heard this conversation they would have had a spasm.

nOf course from Gyeong and Gal’s point of view, the whole conversation seemed absurd.

n***

n“Phew. Honestly, I was uncertain…but it seems it was true.”

nSaid Yoo with eyes full of excitement as he looked at Gyeongwan standing next to him.

nUnlike Yoo, Gyeongwan seemed composed.

n“I believed in the prince.”

nThis was his genuine belief. And the only reason why he followed the Jong warriors to this place.

nLast night Taesan had called Gyeongwan and Yoo and taught them how to deal with the Jong family.

nAs though he had already observed and analyzed their weaknesses.

nHe was surprised when he heard this.

nIt was hard to believe it was true.

nThat’s how Yoo felt at least.

nAs for Gyeongwan, he unwaveringly believed Taesan.

nEven so, there was a hint of anxiety that still resided in him.

nThe anxiety disappeared once they met the Jong family warriors.

nTheir stance, vigor, and every movement reminded him of what Taesan had taught them earlier on.

nHe was certain. Taesan was a genius.

nAnd just as he had believed, the result was in front of his eyes.

nEleven Jong family warriors lay sprawled on the floor moaning in pain.

nThey weren’t dead, but they would not be able to move for a while.

nIn his mind, he wished he could smash them into pieces, but he restrained himself.

nDoing so would only give the Jong family an excuse.

n“So…what do we do now. There’s no one who would believe us. We should have brought Senior Gyeong and Gal.”

nIf they did, they would have been their witness.

nYoo looked at Gyeongwan remorsefully. Afterall Gyeongwan was the one who had stopped them from coming along.

nGyeongwan’s reply took Yoo by surprise.

n“It was the Prince’s instruction.”

n“What?”

nYoo stared blankly at Gyeongwan.

n“Why would he…”

n“He told me not to trust those two.”

nYoo’s face turned cold. Taesan would not have said so without reason.

nGyeongwan looked at Yoo as he continued.

n“And after all, this kind of happening is nothing.”

nYoo looked at the warriors on the floor as she listened to Gyeongwan.

n“You’re right. No one would believe it. After all, they did say they were trained soldiers.”

nWho would believe that the two of them had defeated eleven of the Jong family warriors.

nEven they themselves would be in denial.

n“Let’s go back, the prince must be waiting.”

nYoo looked worried.

n“The prince…do you think he will be okay?.”

n“He said he won’t kill him so should be fine.”

nAlthough that was not what she was asking about, it seemed foolish to worry for the prince so she let it go.

n***

nNightfall approached and everyone gathered in the dining area of the Yeon residence.

nGyeongwan and Yoo were seated side by side next to the other warriors but were busy sensing out Taesan.

nThe reason for their behavior was due to Taesan’s words when they returned.

n“You lack training.”

nThey were shocked at his comment. The two looked to the doctor reflexively, whose wide smile was ingrained in their mind.

nThe two surrendered to their fate and found it difficult to focus on the food.

nOpposite the two were the Jon family warriors, they sat and ate in silence.

nIt was not a pleasant atmosphere.

nBut the worst atmosphere was where the head of the Yeon residence and Harin was seated.

nThere sat Taesan, Woong, and the doctor, who were considered honored guests.

nHarin never took her eyes off taesan.

nDespite the continuous attention, woong seemed unfaded and fully engaged in his meal.

nTo be honest, Woong who had been staying at the Yeon residence the past few days had been rather unsightly so his current appearance came as a surprise.

nPerhaps that was why the people seated near these main guests couldn’t seem to keep their eyes away from them.

n“I heard the two of you met separately today……”

nHarin was shocked by these words from the head of the Yeon family.

n“Is this true? Are you alright?”

nHarin asked Taesan with wide eyes.

nTaesan looked at her in disbelief and asked whilst pointing towards himself.

n“Are you seriously asking me?”

nHarin nodded with worried eyes.

n“Then who else would I be asking?”

nTaesan smirked and looked towards Woong before saying.

n“We had a pretty serious chat. Shall I say that we put all our energy into this chat.”

n“What? What kind of conversation was that….”

nHarin’s face flushed slightly. As she expectantly wondered what Taesan might have said to Woong.

nShe could somehow guess. With these happy thoughts, she looked at Taesan.

nTaesan engaged Woong.

n“We discussed what we’re going to do from now on. Didn’t we?”

nWoong flinched at Taesan’s question and answered softly.

n“Yes, we did.”

n“When you talk to someone, isn’t it considered bad manners to not meet their eye?”

nWoong flinched again before turning his gaze towards Taesan.

nThe moment their eyes met, Woong’s face turned pale. And he was revisited by the feeling of his spirit being ripped off.

nThen all of a sudden they were surrounded by a horrible stench.

nWoong had wet himself.

nWhat a sight it was for everyone to see.

n“What…What is this….!”

nHarin was appalled and left in a hurry.

nShe was already in close proximity to Woong, which made the stench even more unbearable.

nEveryone looked at Woong appalled.

nEveryone but Taesan.

n