Shinwoong politely bowed his head.

“I am Shinwoong. I didn’t expect to meet you in person. Thank you for saving Nari’s life twice.”

Shinwoong’s demeanor was so certain that Yeonwoo couldn’t make any excuses, denying that she wasn’t a woman.

Facing Shinwoong’s firm assertion, Yeonwoo had no rebuttal.

“… How did you know?”

“First, the way you treated Nari when she was injured before was the same as this time. Up to this point, it could be considered a coincidence.”

Shinwoong calmly explained.

“Secondly, I’m sorry, but when you collapsed, I checked to see if there were any injuries. ”

“Ah…!”

Yeonwoo was the one who had flipped Geon’s blood on the way here. That was why Shinwoong seemed to have examined Yeonwoo’s body to check for injuries.

Yeonwoo remembered that she had untied her belt while treating Geon’s wounds. As she felt the curves symbolizing a woman beneath her jacket, she became aware of her feminine aspect.

Shinwoong spoke gently as if trying to reassure Yeonwoo.

“There was no other purpose than treatment, so you can rest assured.”

“…”

Yeonwoo’s chest began to thump randomly.

She hadn’t imagined getting exposed like this.

“Do not let Nari be caught under any circumstances. Please don’t mention it.”

Responding to Yeonwoo’s earnest plea, Shinwoong slowly closed and opened his eyes.

Why would she hide her identity to the extent of deceiving Geon about her gender?

Although Yeonwoo’s identity was dubious, considering she brought Geon this far to save him, it seemed she didn’t have any harmful intentions.

Shinwoong chose to trust Yeonwoo.

“Since you’ve saved Nari’s life twice, I don’t think you have any ill intentions towards her. I’ll keep the secret. Everyone has at least one thing they can’t talk about and lives with it.”

“…Thank you.”

Yeonwoo inwardly sighed in relief and bowed her head slightly to Shinwoong.

She had a strange belief that this person exuded a calm and stable atmosphere, so he would keep his promise.

“It’s the first time Nari has brought someone here. Moreover, I never dreamed it would be a woman.”

Geon had never brought anyone to Shinwoong’s cabin, not even once.

The fact that he revealed this place despite being injured indicated that Yeonwoo had a significant presence in Geon’s life.

Seeing Yeonwoo nervously hiding her true identity, Shinwoong changed the subject.

“But anyway, Nari seems to be worried. Every time you visit, why does she look like that…”

Yeonwoo, silently listening to Shinwoong’s words, asked.

“Do you know who might be attacking Nari?”

Shinwoong tilted his head in response to Yeonwoo’s question.

“I can’t say there’s absolutely no speculation, but I can’t say for sure. Have you seen their faces?”

“I couldn’t see them closely because they wore masks.”

When Yeonwoo dealt with the bandits, there was an opportunity to examine their faces. However, she went to gather herbs right after dealing with them.

Since Geon’s life was in urgent danger, she didn’t have time to think about it.

Shinwoong answered with a concerned tone.

“It won’t be easy for us to find out anything on our own.”

A brief silence fell between the two.

Shinwoong had asked about the cause of Geon’s injuries for over a decade but had never received a proper answer.

Perhaps it was because he knew it wouldn’t help to tell him.

That much was certain: the people who intended to harm Geon were dangerous.

Standing up, Shinwoong asked, “Would you like to see Nari’s condition?”

Nodding her head, Yeonwoo followed Shinwoong.
Entering the adjacent room, Geon was seen sleeping on the spread-out floor mat.

Shinwoong whispered softly to Yeonwoo.

“He’s in a state of unconsciousness. We can only hope he wakes up on his own with Nari’s power.”

Upon Shinwoong’s words, Yeonwoo approached Geon with cautious steps.

Although his complexion had improved since she last saw him, Geon’s breathing was still rough, and cold sweat covered his face.

Yeonwoo dipped a towel in the cold water in a basin, squeezed out the moisture, and carefully wiped the sweat from Geon’s hot face, like handling fragile pottery.

At that moment, Geon, as if in pain, unconsciously groaned.

“Ugh…”

Seeing his condition, Yeonwoo involuntarily opened her mouth.

“Are you okay, Nari?!”

Geon, who had lost consciousness, couldn’t respond.

Yeonwoo sent a desperate look to Shinwoong, asking if there was no other way, but his response was a silent shake of the head.

Staring down at Geon with a face that seemed like she was about to cry, Yeonwoo cautiously reached out and gently held his hand.

Through the joined palms, she could feel his body temperature.

“Nari, you have to endure.”

Geon’s long eyelashes, resting on his closed eyelids, subtly twitched. Watching his eyebrows tremble slightly, it looked like he was fighting a fierce nightmare.

Yeonwoo’s small and delicate hand tightly held Geon’s.

“I believe you can endure.”

What kind of strength or belief was contained in Yeonwoo’s words? His tense expression gradually eased, as if finding peace for his troubled soul.