"Ugh... I'm dying, I'm really dying." Wei Honglian's face, with her sunken cheeks, was quite a sight to behold. Although a significant portion of her internal and external injuries had been treated, bandages still wrapped around various parts of her body. However, the reason her face looked so haggard wasn't due to the unhealed wounds.
Wei Honglian glanced sideways. Seo Ryang sat leisurely with his fingers interlocked, exuding a relaxed air, while Ma Dongpil sat with his eyes closed, radiating his usual stoic demeanor. A look of exhaustion appeared on Wei Honglian's face.
"Prince, aren't you tired?"
"Yawn! What do you mean?"
"The interrogation."
"What's tiring about that? You just answer the questions as they come."
"Right. The problem is they keep asking the same questions hundreds of times."
Seo Ryang chuckled softly.
An assassin is a symbol of patience. Before one's martial arts reach a certain level of mastery, one survives solely on patience. Naturally, this level of interrogation is nothing. There were times when he waited for a target for ten days, drinking only water and maintaining the same posture. Three days of interrogation is hardly worth mentioning.
"Well, even if the Prince is fine with it," Wei Honglian's expression soured.
"Why are you so relaxed? Aren't you tired?"
Ma Dongpil opened his eyes. There wasn't a trace of fatigue on his face. Unlike Seo Ryang, he hadn't slept for three days, yet his eyes showed no signs of redness.
"It's bearable."
"Wow, you call that bearable?"
"Staying awake for three days and nights to protect a target is nothing. Especially when it's a safe interrogation, there's no reason to complain."
Assassins and bodyguards are opposite professions. But the commonality between them is the need for extreme patience and vigilance. An assassin struggles to break through a bodyguard to eliminate their target, while a bodyguard must prepare for the assassin's blade that could come from anywhere.
Seo Ryang was once called the emperor of the assassination world, and Ma Dongpil was a bodyguard of exceptional talent. For the two of them, three days of interrogation was almost like a vacation.
Wei Honglian shook her head.
"I really don't get it."
Seo Ryang chuckled.
"The ones who won't understand are the guys in the next room."
"Keke." Wei Honglian gave a thumbs-up. Just moments ago, she had looked like she was about to die, but now her face was full of joy.
"By the way, that was amazing."
"What was?"
"That guy, Qi Weizhang or whatever, you sent him packing right in front of him. It felt so satisfying."
Seo Ryang glared.
"Is that the issue now? Because of you, what could have been a simple matter turned into a big mess."
"But thanks to that, you really gave them a good blow, didn't you?"
"It was just luck."
"It didn't seem like just luck to me. Your words were sharp as a blade back then."
Ma Dongpil's gaze turned cold.
"Watch your words in front of the Third Prince."
"Got it, you boring guy."
After casually dismissing Ma Dongpil, Wei Honglian turned back to Seo Ryang.
Seo Ryang shook his head.
"It wasn't my words. It was because of my status as the Third Prince that I could push them like that."
"But the result was good, wasn't it?"
"That's true."
"What do you think will happen next?"
"I don't know."
Ma Dongpil, also curious, looked at Seo Ryang.
Seo Ryang, who seemed deep in thought, scratched his head.
"I really don't know."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Why not? Am I some kind of fortune teller? How would I know what's going to happen in the future?"
"You seem to know everything, though."
"Know everything? Not a chance."
Seo Ryang drank the water on the table. It was so cold it felt like it would freeze his throat and stomach.
"I just did my best to create the situation I wanted. If I knew the future, I would have known you'd act so recklessly."
"That's true."
"But just for fun, let's make a prediction..."
Seo Ryang stroked his chin. His unshaven beard over the past three days had made it quite rough.
"Hong Weimen will probably return home after the interrogation."
The two nodded in agreement. The only difference was that while Ma Dongpil remained expressionless, Wei Honglian's face twisted like a ghost.
"Unless he commits treason or something equally serious, the Law Enforcement Hall won't easily touch his disciples."
"That's likely."
Seo Ryang thought it was due to the illusory power of his status, but Ma Dongpil and Wei Honglian didn't think so.
The disciples of the sect leader didn't have any special power, and everyone in the sect knew that. They held high status but no official positions. Yet, they were rarely punished because they were chosen by the gods. Unlike ordinary sect members, they existed somewhat outside the bounds of the law.
At least, that's how it seemed on the surface.
"From what I can see, Hong Weimen isn't the type to forget grudges. He's smart enough to know when to be patient, but after being humiliated by me repeatedly, he'll probably draw his sword soon after returning."
Wei Honglian stuck out her tongue.
"So he wasn't serious before?"
"He was serious. But this time, he'll come at me with everything he's got."
"Would he really go that far?"
"Why wouldn't he? He's been humiliated in front of the Joyful Garden Master, his family, and now the Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement Hall."
"..."
"He's not in a position to think things through now. Before anger, he'll have to consider the eyes of those around him. He can't just let it slide."
Ma Dongpil, who had never deeply considered such relational dynamics, looked confused. But Wei Honglian agreed with Seo Ryang.
"Perception, that's important."
Constantly worrying about how others see you can wear you down. But for those who dream of power, nothing is as important as face. If Hong Weimen doesn't show something this time, he'll definitely be pushed out of the power structure.
"The Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement Hall, what was his name again?"
"Jin Xingzhu?"
"Right, Jin Xingzhu. Don't worry about him. The Law Enforcement Hall will handle him."
"Even if we didn't, he's just a minor figure. No need to worry about him."
"Right, good observation."
"So we just need to be wary of the Fourth Prince?"
"That's..."
Seo Ryang paused and stared at Wei Honglian.
Wei Honglian's expression turned awkward.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You're not planning to stick with us, are you?"
"...Huh?"
"Your job is done, right? You caught Song Kyung, and you gave the Fourth Prince a good blow."
"..."
"The money you took will be buried too. If Hong Weimen isn't a fool, he won't add another petty charge while he's on the defensive."
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
"It seems our time together is over, right?"
"..."
"Wasn't the feast supposed to last five days? Today's the last day, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, but..."
Seo Ryang pulled a string on the ceiling.
A moment later, a Law Enforcement Hall member entered.
"You called, Third Prince?"
"Can we let Wei Dazhu go now?"
"Huh?"
"She's just a victim here. The interrogation is over, so why keep her tired and send her off?"
"Ah, that's..."
"Besides, the Demon Subjugation Squad's feast ends today. Starting tomorrow, they'll be back in the field. Why keep someone who's not a suspect here?"
"..."
"Talk to the higher-ups. Let her go. If there's more to investigate, summon her later. Besides, I and the Third Captain of the Law Enforcement Squad will still be here."
The Law Enforcement Hall member bowed after some thought.
"I'll report to the higher-ups. It won't take long for a response. Please wait a moment."
"Alright, thanks."
After the member left, a subtle silence filled the room.
For some reason, the air felt heavy. Ma Dongpil, who had been glancing at Seo Ryang, decided it wasn't because of him. His expression was too relaxed for that.
'Then...?'
Ma Dongpil looked at Wei Honglian.
'...'
Wei Honglian's face was expressionless. She didn't seem angry, but she didn't look happy either.
'Why is she like this?'
As Ma Dongpil wondered inwardly.
"I can't live if I don't wipe after I poop."
"What are you talking about?"
"If we started together, we should finish together. How can I just leave like this?"
Seo Ryang chuckled.
"We started together, but our goals were different. Your fight is over, but mine is still ongoing."
"..."
"Don't meddle unnecessarily. Leave when it's time to leave. No need to stay here and tire yourself out."
Another strange silence fell.
This time, Seo Ryang also seemed uneasy and glanced at Wei Honglian. She was still staring at him with an unreadable expression.
"What? Do you have something else to say?"
"...Not really."
"Really, what a dull girl."
At that moment, the Law Enforcement Hall member returned, much faster than expected.
"The higher-ups have approved. Wei Dazhu of the Demon Subjugation Squad may leave."
As soon as the words were spoken, Wei Honglian stood up and walked to the door. But she didn't leave immediately. She stopped at the door, seemingly lost in thought for a moment, then turned around.
"I got beaten up quite a bit, but thanks to you, Third Prince, it was fun."
Seo Ryang waved his hand.
"Thanks to you, my heart skipped a beat for the first time in a while. It was a good experience."
"Take care of yourself."
"You too. Train hard so you don't get beaten up again."
Wei Honglian bowed her head and left the room.
Ma Dongpil cleared his throat.
"Somehow, Wei Dazhu didn't seem too happy."
"You felt that too?"
"Yes. She seemed quite disappointed."
"Come on, what's there to be disappointed about?"
"..."
"Did I make her feel that way, you think?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure either..."
Seo Ryang grumbled.
"Well, if she's disappointed, she's disappointed. I don't need to worry about that."
"That's true."
"Let's rest now. You should get some sleep too. You haven't slept for three days."
Ma Dongpil's expression turned awkward.
"Actually, I'm not sleepy."
"Really? That's strange. Are you feeling unwell?"
What was truly strange was Seo Ryang.
What kind of sect member could sleep peacefully in the Law Enforcement Hall? Unless you were as thick-skinned as Wei Honglian, it was naturally hard to even doze off.
"By the way, I wonder how Jinho is doing. Well, Aenghwa dotes on him so much."
"He's probably doing well."
"That's likely."
The two chatted for a while.
Clang!
The door opened, and someone entered.
Surprisingly, it was Qi Weizhang.
"Greetings, Third Prince."
"Long time no see."
"There's someone who wishes to see you. Will you come?"
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
"Someone who wants to see me? Who?"
"The Head of the Law Enforcement Hall."
"..."
"And the Fourth Prince is already on his way there."
Ma Dongpil looked at Seo Ryang in surprise.
Seo Ryang smirked and stood up.
"Dongpil, you should head back to your quarters now."