“Yeah, that guy is kind of weird.”

Back at the Namgoong estate, when Seolhwa told Hwarin about her encounter with Zhuge Hwi, Hwarin just nodded like she already knew.

“He’s really good with formations and mechanical arrays, so I’ve talked to him a couple times. But he’s... odd, especially with how proper he looks.”

“In what way?”

“He’s the kind of person who can’t stand even the slightest irregularity. When he writes, every line and column has to be perfectly aligned. If he’s choosing steel balls, he won’t touch one with even the tiniest scratch.”

Seolhwa had already picked up on that when she entered his manor.

He was a man of rigid discipline, someone who hated disorder.

“Oh! And once he sets a goal, he absolutely has to achieve it. Doesn’t that freak you out a bit?”

So that’s why he was so obsessed with getting her to drink the tea.

“He probably would’ve gotten you to drink it no matter what.”

“Has he ever done that before?”

“Huh?”

“Forced someone to do something?”

Hwarin tapped her chin, thinking.

After a long pause, she shook her head.

“Now that I think about it... no. Maybe I just haven’t seen him often enough?”

“I don’t think that’s it. I’d say it’s more like...”

He didn’t force people—he planned, calculated, and made sure things played out the way he wanted.

He was constantly using his sharp mind to get results.

“And the way he’s strict about rules—it’s not just empty talk. He sets those standards for himself first and follows them.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, better than someone who just talks a good game.”

There were plenty of people whose mouths ran faster than their feet.

There’s a saying that a true gentleman acts first, then speaks from experience.

In that sense, Zhuge Hwi was a gentleman.

Hwarin’s brow twitched.

“Unni... don’t tell me...”

“Hmm?”

“Are you interested in him?”

“Interested?”

Seolhwa didn’t even pause before nodding.

Hwarin’s eyes went wide.

“Wha—wait, really? You are?” 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

“He’s interesting.”

Madmen were always interesting.

They were the ones who sometimes made real things happen.

And to Seolhwa, connections with people who hadn’t been part of her previous life felt... special.

Encounters with the unknown—conversations with strangers.

That newness sometimes reminded her she was still alive.

So of course she was curious.

“!!”

Hwarin’s mouth opened and closed, speechless.

Then she mumbled, “Oh no... Brother Peng really wanted to meet her...”

“What was that?”

“Ah—nothing! I just remembered I’ve got something to do! Bye!”

Hwarin bolted out of the room.

A moment later, Seolhwa saw her running away past the window like she was escaping danger.

Resting her chin in her hand, Seolhwa watched her go with a smile.

Completely unaware of the chaos that would follow.

****

[Regarding the man you asked about—Zhuge Myeong—your suspicions appear to be correct.

His movements overlap with those of the Phantom Thief, and according to eyewitnesses, the thief was described as short and small. Zhuge Myeong fits that description exactly.

If Zhuge Myeong truly is the Phantom Thief, then you may be the first person to uncover the truth behind his identity.

We hope this lead brings you closer to someone who can help you reach your goals.]

After her visit to the Zhuge Clan, Seolhwa had Hao Gate investigate Zhuge Myeong.

He was the younger brother of the current clan head—the so-called “madman” Zhuge Hwi had mentioned.

Short and small-bodied...

She’d have to confirm it for herself, but the idea of the Phantom Thief being someone from a prestigious clan was definitely intriguing.

A noble-born thief.

If he really had disappeared without a trace, she wanted to know why he turned to stealing in the first place.

Knock knock.

Someone rapped at the door.

Sensing Yeo Yul’s approach, Seolhwa burned the letter and called out to come in.

The door opened, and in walked Yeo Yul.

Perched comfortably on her shoulder was the Imugi, who had vanished for a while—now sitting like it owned the place.

The way it looked down at Seolhwa from her shoulder was oddly fitting.

“My lady, the Clan Head is asking for you.”

Seolhwa noticed a bit of candy stuck to the Imugi’s mouth and nodded.

“Alright. I’ll head there now.”

She left her quarters and made her way to the main hall.

Inside were Namgoong Mucheon, her father Cheongun, and the Chief Administrator, Namgoong Mun—all wearing serious expressions.

After greeting the three, Seolhwa took her seat.

Their eyes on her... felt odd, somehow.

“What did you need, Grandfather?”

“Mm.”

Namgoong Mucheon cleared his throat and got to the point.

“We’ve secured the support of the major clans. Now it’s time to convince the martial sects. Before we send envoys, I wanted to ask your thoughts.”

At this point, asking for Seolhwa’s opinion was natural.

Namgoong Mucheon had always listened to her, even when she was a child.

And Seolhwa had never forgotten that kindness.

“There’s no need to convince every sect.”

“Agreed. I thought the same. Among them, the Five Great Sects are key. Most importantly—Shaolin.”

Shaolin was the most powerful and respected of all sects.

Their martial arts, based on Buddhist teachings, gave them influence not only in the martial world but among the common people as well.

With so many flocking to them, they were vast—and formidable.

“Shaolin is stronger than all five of our clans combined. Worse, they reject all dealings with the outside world, including noble clans like ours. It’s hard to even think how we could convince them.”

Seolhwa agreed.

Shaolin’s pride was as legendary as the Tang Clan’s.

No power in the Central Plains dared look down on them, and they knew it.

That pride is the real problem.

They were so confident, they even said things like “All martial arts under Heaven begin with ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Shaolin.”

Arrogant words—but no one dared to argue. Because they were Shaolin.

Would they even listen to someone from a clan, not a sect?

Still, it wasn’t hopeless.

If they wouldn’t listen?

Then she’d make them.

“Do you remember the incident with the Great Pill?”

All three reacted immediately.

Namgoong Mucheon exchanged a look with the Chief Administrator before turning back to her.

“You mean the one you intercepted?”

“Yes.”

“Come to think of it, didn’t the Flying Wind Sword investigate that?”

“They did. But aside from meeting me, they found nothing.”

Even with Seop Mugwang and the Flying Wind Division on it, they’d come up empty.

Cheongun spoke up.

“Lord Seop’s division was the backbone of our clan’s intelligence. He wouldn’t have been careless.”

The Chief Administrator nodded.

“With his personality, no chance he slacked off.”

“The fact they found nothing means Shaolin sealed the leak thoroughly. Which means there was something they had to hide.”

Namgoong Mucheon nodded slowly.

“The one who made that deal with Shaolin was Nomon, the former Plum Blossom Sword. So even Mount Hua didn’t have much information.”

By the time Nomon returned from his journey, he’d already become an enemy.

In the chaos that followed, the issue was buried.

“I think Master Nobaek might know something.”

“You mean Nobaek-ja?”

“Yes.”

Nobaek had worked alongside Nomon in the deal with Shaolin.

He had to know something.

“I’ll go.”

The three men stared at her.

“You want to go?”

“I’m the one who stole the Great Pill. If anyone’s going to Shaolin, it should be me.”

Namgoong Mucheon hesitated.

She was young, yes—but she was also one of the top fighters in the entire clan.

She could protect herself, assess situations quickly, and adapt better than anyone.

Objectively, no one was more suited for the task.

But even so—sending her?

“There’s another place I want to stop by on the way.”

“Where?”

“The Zhuge Clan.”

All three men froze.

Cheongun opened his mouth, forcing his voice to stay steady.

“Seolhwa... don’t tell me... you plan to meet with Young Master Zhuge...?”

“I do. I have something to give him.”

Of course, that was just a cover—she intended to meet the Phantom Thief.

To get to his hiding place, she needed to cross the Zhuge Clan’s walls.

But forcing her way through their arrays and traps would be too risky.

That’s where the Namgoong name comes in handy.

It opened doors—even Zhuge Clan gates.

She didn’t really need to meet Zhuge Hwi, but she could always say she was returning the favor for the tea he served her.

But the look of shock on the three men’s faces was undeniable.

Unaware, Seolhwa said with a bright smile:

“Could you send a message to the Zhuge Clan for me?”