Chapter 45: Sun and Moon 3

Jin So-hye declared boldly, “He’s my man,” then looked at Baek Moo-jin with wide eyes. It was a look seeking confirmation from him.

“Right?”

Lee Mong-yeom also looked at Baek Moo-jin. But his gaze held a meaning entirely different from Jin So-hye’s.

‘Is that really true?’

Baek Moo-jin usually maintained a stoic expression, but the moment he heard Jin So-hye’s honest and bold declaration, a smile played at the corners of his mouth. Lee Mong-yeom’s awkward expression also made Baek Moo-jin smile. But with Lee Mong-yeom watching, it was awkward to laugh out loud.

Baek Moo-jin deliberately put on a serious face while activating his playful side.

“I’m not quite sure about that.”

For a moment, Baek Moo-jin felt a jolt, wondering if sparks had just flown from Jin So-hye’s eyes.

‘Whoa, what’s this? Her gaze just changed.’

When Lee Mong-yeom looked at Baek Moo-jin with a look that said, ‘I knew it,’ Baek Moo-jin replied calmly but firmly.

“The young princess is my woman.”

“This guy is seriously…”

Lee Mong-yeom stared at Baek Moo-jin with an utterly bewildered expression. Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye exchanged glances and smiled. Lee Mong-yeom sighed and said.

“Are you two mocking me right now?”

“Not at all.”

“No way.”

Lee Mong-yeom’s voice started in a very low tone but gradually turned into a shout.

“When exactly did you two meet? Huh?”

“Not long ago.”

“Not long… Then when did things become like this? Did Lord Baek know the other party was the Young Princess of the Sunghwa Palace and deliberately approach her?”

“What?”

When Baek Moo-jin glared, Lee Mong-yeom quickly shifted his gaze to Jin So-hye and raised his voice.

“What on earth do you intend to say to the Palace Master, Young Palace Master!”

Jin Sohye glared at him and said.

“I’ll say it well.”

Lee Mong-yeom suddenly gave a sly smile, then glared at Baek Moo-jin and said.

“Are you aware that marriage proposals are being exchanged?”

At those words, Jin Sohye frowned instead.

“Matchmaking?”

“Why are you pretending not to know? I mentioned it last time…”

Jin Sohye spoke, her displeasure evident.

“Marriage proposals can be canceled. We haven’t even met yet, and you’re talking as if it’s already settled? What kind of nonsense is that?”

Lee Mong-yeom shook his head.

“It’s not someone you can dismiss so easily.”

“Where was it? I gather it was discussed while I was away.”

“This isn’t something I can discuss here.”

Hearing this, Jin Sohye searched her memory, then stiffened. Jin Sohye deliberately shared her conjecture, intending to inform Baek Mujin.

“Since you can’t speak of it, it must be one of the Nine Heavens. A faction belonging to the Nine Heavens proposed the marriage alliance as a condition for withdrawing from that place, right? Father’s plan to use that to bring down the Nine Heavens is wrong. To use my marriage alliance for such a purpose. And the Nine Heavens are connected to the Sunghwa Palace and…”

She stopped herself from saying “inappropriate.” She knew the conversation would inevitably turn to the Snow Mountain Hundred Families.

Lee Mong-yeom remained silent because of Baek Moo-jin. It concerned the fate of Seonghwa Palace, something he couldn’t discuss in detail before outsiders.

But Baek Moo-jin could tell from Lee Mong-yeom’s expression that Jin So-hye’s words were somewhat accurate.

‘The official is telling me something useful.’

Baek Moo-jin had already resolved not to be swayed by Jin So-hye’s circumstances. Regardless of what Woo Sa said, he was satisfied with having gained information about the Nine Heavens Alliance.

As the conversation kept veering unpleasantly off course because of Yi Mong-yeom, Jin So-hye stood up and said.

“Both Lord Baek and I must return soon. I’ll see Lord Baek off and be right back. Please stay here, Woo Sa.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded and addressed Yi Mong-yeom.

“We’ll meet again.”

But Yi Mong-yeom only responded coldly.

“Take care.”

2.

Only after they entered a path devoid of Seonghwagung’s warriors did the two men speak.

“Don’t worry about it. What the guard said. I’m not interested.”

“Right.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded. Truthfully, Baek Moo-jin didn’t care much either way. Whether it was Gucheon, the Five Great Families, or the Southern Martial World, what did it matter to him? But when Jin So-hye saw Baek Moo-jin nod indifferently, she suddenly asked a completely opposite question.

“Doesn’t it bother you?”

Baek Moo-jin blinked in surprise.

‘What is this? She tells me not to care, then immediately asks if I don’t care?’

Even women often don’t understand their own hearts, so how could Baek Moo-jin possibly know? Still, he knew this was the moment he needed to placate Jin So-hye.

Baek Moo-jin changed the subject.

“What should I call you now? Just So-hye?”

“Yes. No?”

“What? Yes, no? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Call me Hye-ah. That’s what my family calls me.”

“I see.”

He wondered what difference it made whether it was So-hye or Hye-ah. Anyway, Baek Moo-jin nodded.

“Got it. And handle the Gucheon matter properly.”

“Take care of it?”

Baek Moo-jin said with a sly grin.

“Make sure no conflict arises with me. I might just go and destroy everything myself.”

Baek Moo-jin wanted to grab his forehead after saying that. When Jin So-hye burst out laughing at his bold words, spoken for once with her feelings in mind,

“Who knew you could say something like that?”

Baek Moo-jin barely stifled a sigh. He felt truly fortunate that no one had overheard their conversation. Anyway, after gauging Jin So-hye’s reaction, Baek Moo-jin nodded as if he’d realized something.

‘Hmm, so this is how I should speak. But it’ll be hard to say it like this every time. Somehow, it gives me goosebumps… I definitely need to speak up.’

Regardless of whether Baek Moo-jin was berating himself or not, Jin So-hye cheerfully nodded and replied.

“I understand. I’ll go and handle it properly.”

Baek Moo-jin suddenly looked at Jin So-hye and said.

“So-hye, listen carefully.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“You mustn’t doubt me.”

“When did I ever?”

Jin Sohye, who usually appeared bold in front of others, looked visibly tense when Baek Moo-jin spoke with such gravity. He deliberately maintained that serious tone as he continued.

“Trust me.”

Feeling Jin So-hye might be half-listening, Baek Moo-jin pressed both hands against her cheeks and met her gaze.

“I said believe me. No matter what happens from now on. I’m being serious. Got it?”

Jin Sohye remained silent for a moment. She looked into Baek Moo-jin’s eyes and finally nodded.

“Yes.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded back.

‘She must have understood.’

It happened to be a quiet roadside. Suddenly, Jin So-hye glanced around nervously, then threw her arms around Baek Moo-jin’s waist and rushed forward.

Startled, Baek Moo-jin let out a cry like an old man.

“Whoa! What is this… Why? Why? Why!”

Jin So-hye lifted her head while still clinging to him, gazing up at Baek Moo-jin. This only made Baek Moo-jin feel even more embarrassed. He couldn’t bring himself to voice his inner thoughts.

‘She’s got such a fiery personality. Surely not all women in the world are like this?’

Of course, women like this were rare. Baek Moo-jin just didn’t know it. In a way, it was normal for him to be flustered.

Jin So-hye, gazing up at Baek Moo-jin, lightly pressed her lips to his. But she showed no sign of stopping there. Baek Moo-jin, who had tried to back away, was held fast for a long while, barely enduring Jin So-hye’s relentless assault. Above all, the unseemly slurping sounds seemed to echo uncomfortably loud, making Baek Moo-jin feel like he might faint.

‘Please… Stop!’

The moon, which had been alone in the sky, was now staring down at the two of them. Only after Jin So-hye stopped her relentless kissing assault did Baek Moo-jin, who had nearly suffocated, gasp for air while staring at the ground. For Baek Moo-jin, it was arguably the most exhausting moment since descending the mountain.

The farewell between the sun and moon on this quiet moonlit night was quite a raucous affair.