Flustered people tend to show all sorts of reactions. But once it goes past a certain point, they just freeze up and lose their words. That was exactly the situation for the people in the meeting room right now.
'What?'
'Why is he here?'
'Zhongnan?'
Faint groans leaked out here and there. The only stroke of luck was that almost no one had seen Hyeon Jong's face with his mouth hanging wide open without a shred of decorum, since everyone was too busy staring at Jin Geum-ryong.
"Um..."
Then, someone appeared to break this maddeningly awkward shock.
Step. Step.
A man revealed himself from behind Jin Geum-ryong. Unlike Jin Geum-ryong, who was so cold that a chill seemed to flow from him, this man had a rather gentle countenance. The man smiled brightly at the Mount Hua people and gave a fist-palm salute toward Hyeon Jong.
"I am Lee Song-baek, the junior disciple of Zhongnan. I greet the Alliance Leader."
"Gah."
"Young Master Lee?"
"Good to see you, Mount Hua people."
Lee Song-baek smiled sheepishly.
"I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
Jin Geum-ryong frowned slightly. At that, Lee Song-baek flinched and quietly took a step back.
"This doesn't seem like the place for personal conversations."
"Hmm."