"Ah, you're back, Vice Leader."

Jegal Yeong walked right past the warrior, her face set hard.

The Azure Dragon Corps caught her mood and quietly edged out of her way.

They knew all too well that crossing her in this state only meant trouble.

Only two people could handle her.

The Leader of the Azure Dragon Corps.

And.

"Yeong. What's got you so riled up?"

Jegal Yeong spotted Namgung Jun lounging under the eaves, and her eyes blazed.

She marched over and dropped down beside him.

Namgung Jun chuckled.

"Came back empty-handed again?"

Jegal Yeong unloaded as if she'd been waiting for the chance.

"That's three days now. Three days straight, the great Dark Alliance Lord is out inspecting the streets of Hangzhou. Ha! Does that make any sense? He's avoiding me, and he isn't even hiding it! As if I go there every day because I want to see him!"

Her pride must have taken a real blow. She was more worked up than usual.

Namgung Jun shook his head with a sigh.

"Hah. I never thought he'd duck us that openly."

An emissary had come calling, after all. Receiving a visitor was basic courtesy.

"Dodging us like that only makes me more curious. What's he hiding?"

Having vented, Jegal Yeong seemed calmer. Her voice softened.

"I didn't get to meet the Lord, but I did meet the woman they call the Military Advisor."

"Oho. Really? And what's she like?"

"An insufferable witch."

"What?!"

Jegal Yeong's fine brows creased.

"Just what I said. An insufferable witch. I couldn't read her at all. And she made that flimsy inspection excuse sound perfectly convincing."

"Hm. Really?"

"Even if I'd met the Lord himself, with her beside him I probably wouldn't have learned a thing. So."

Jegal Yeong smiled meaningfully.

"Three days is enough."

Namgung Jun tilted his head.

"For what?"

"I've been turned away three days running. By now, anyone would expect me to lose my temper and stop going, wouldn't they?"

Namgung Jun's eyes lit up.

"And so?"

"And it's our first time in Hangzhou. The city deserves a look.…