The Black Wings cut through the calm waters, leaving Birahng behind. The sea remained serene, the waves gentle as the ship sailed east, then turned south. The deck was a hive of activity as the crew adjusted the sails to catch the wind, their movements efficient and silent.
Cheon Hwan stood at the stern, his back to the wind, just as he had when they left the western shores. The summer breeze carried a salty tang, a reminder of the sea that was his domain. He remained silent, feeling the wind whip through his hair, the warmth of the sun on his skin, the gentle rocking of the ship beneath his feet. The turmoil that had consumed him slowly subsided, replaced by a sense of calm. The crew kept their distance, and Yirahng, perched on the railing, watched him.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, the Black Wings reached its secluded anchorage. A small island, fringed with a sliver of beach and a cluster of trees, emerged from the twilight. It was Hwan's sanctuary. As they lowered the anchor and prepared to disembark, a figure emerged from the trees, running towards the shore. Hwan squinted, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Yoon?"
It was Jang'gyeong Yoon. He splashed through the shallow water, his eagerness evident as he approached the approaching boat. His face was scarred, the skin puckered and discolored, but his eyes, filled with a desperate joy, were unmistakable.
"Guardian! Guardian! I have returned!" he shouted over the crashing waves.
His voice was filled with elation, but Hwan's expression remained impassive. As the boat neared the shore, Yoon noticed his lack of enthusiasm. Hwan was usually reserved, but today, his indifference felt different, colder. Yoon stepped off the boat and bowed deeply before him.
"Look at me," Hwan commanded.
Yoon lifted his head, and Hwan's fingers grasped his chin, tilting it from side to side. Yoon flushed under his intense scrutiny.
"Your burns have healed well," Hwan remarked.
"They weren't serious," Yoon replied. "They healed quickly."
Hwan released his grip. "I was worried when I heard you were confined in the Princess's encampment," he said. "Your courage was commendable. But it seems the Myeonghyeons outsmarted you and won the Princess over."
Yoon cringed, sensing the underlying disapproval in Hwan's words. "I was certain the Princess would take the bait," he explained. "But somehow, the Myeonghyeon siblings appeared before me. Fortunately, they didn't recognize me..."
"Wicheong and House Myeonghyeon simply took the necessary measures," Hwan countered. "Your plan was flawed."
Yoon bowed his head in shame. "I apologize."
"How did you escape?" Hwan asked.
Yoon looked up, a hint of pride in his eyes. "It wasn't easy, but I managed to win over the Princess's Royal Attendant. He didn't reveal everything to me, but he knows about Wicheong. And about House Myeonghyeon being their financial source. I don't know why he hasn't exposed them to the Princess, but he wants them eliminated."
"That Royal Attendant is a Sungian spy," Hwan revealed.
"What?" Yoon looked up in surprise.
"Wicheong has been trying to contact Sung through him," Hwan explained. "I don't know the extent of their negotiations."
"That's impossible..." Yoon trailed off. What has transpired during my absence? He shook his head. "Even if they made contact, they couldn't have secured their cooperation. Otherwise, the Royal Attendant wouldn't be so hostile towards House Myeonghyeon. He released me to undermine them, to expose them as traitors and have them eliminated from within Wicheong."
Hwan looked at him with pity. "I don't know the extent of their negotiations either. All I have is the letter intended for Sung. I wouldn't be so certain if I were you. If you hadn't been so overconfident, you wouldn't have been confined and tortured."
Yoon, his face flushed with shame, lowered his head again.
"How long have you been waiting here?" Hwan asked.
"Only a day," Yoon replied. "As soon as I escaped from the encampment three days ago, I went to the spot where Dara used to leave the secret letters. I found a fisherman and convinced him to take me here in his boat. I've been waiting for you ever since."
"And the fisherman?"
"He's fish food now." Yoon smirked, but Hwan simply ignored him and walked past.
"Regardless of the circumstances," Yoon called out, hurrying after him, "now that we have the Royal Attendant in our grasp, we can finally eliminate House Myeonghyeon from Wicheong. I can return to Birahng and..."
Hwan stopped and turned to face him. "The Royal Attendant is in our grasp?"
"Yes."
"And you're confident you can manipulate him this time?"
"I won't fail again," Yoon vowed.
But Hwan remained unimpressed. He stared at Yoon, his gaze piercing and intense. Yoon, though intimidated, couldn't look away.
"Why does the Royal Attendant want to eliminate House Myeonghyeon?" Hwan asked.
"I don't know the exact reason," Yoon admitted. "But our goals align. That's what matters, isn't it?"
"Why do you think you failed to sway the Princess? Have you considered that?"
"That's..."
"What does the Princess desire?"
Yoon faltered, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
"You failed to understand her desires," Hwan stated coldly. "And you failed. Even now, you don't understand why the Royal Attendant wants to eliminate House Myeonghyeon. And you will fail again."
He turned and walked away, heading towards the forest, leaving Yoon standing on the beach. Yirahng, who had been watching from a distance, hurried after him.
Yoon watched them disappear into the thick foliage, then turned to face the crew. Their expressions were grim, their eyes downcast.
"What's wrong with all of you?" he snapped, his voice laced with irritation. "I barely escaped with my life, and you all look like you've seen a ghost!"
He had been excited to reunite with Hwan and plot their next move, using Hongyoo as their piece. He couldn't understand their sullenness. Even though he had failed to manipulate the Princess, he had risked his life for their cause. They should be welcoming him back as a hero, not treating him with such indifference.
Keumpyeong Hui approached him cautiously. "Brother, a few things have happened while you were away."
"What things?"
"Can you believe everything I tell you?" Hui asked hesitantly.
"How can I believe anything before I hear it?" Yoon retorted, his frustration growing.
Hui glanced around, then pulled Yoon aside. They sat down on the warm sand, and Hui recounted the events of the past few days. Yoon's expression shifted as he listened. He was pleased to hear about Hwan capturing Ryang and poisoning him with Crystal Haze, but his face hardened when Hui described what had transpired at Haewol Cave.
"Don't be ridiculous," Yoon scoffed. "Cheon Seong performing miracles? That Cheon Seong?"
"Whether you believe it or not, it happened," Hui insisted. "We all saw it with our own eyes. I couldn't believe it either, but I can't deny what I saw."
Yoon let out a hollow laugh. Hui continued, "There's no need to bother with House Myeonghyeon anymore. Even if Ryang survived today, he won't live much longer. The Guardian kept him locked in the cabin, burning Crystal Haze day and night. Even if he survives, he'll be driven mad."
Yoon sneered. "If what you say is true, then why worry about House Myeonghyeon?"
Yoon sprang to his feet and stalked away, his anger a tangible presence in the quiet twilight. He followed the shifting line of the tide, his footsteps leaving fleeting imprints on the damp sand. As darkness closed in, he found himself perched on a barnacle-encrusted rock, the last vestiges of the setting sun painting the water trapped between the rocks a deep shade of purple. He stared at his reflection, his breath catching in his throat. It was the first time he had truly looked at his scarred face. His heart ached with a bitter resentment as he met his own gaze. If Hui's words are true, if the crew hasn't been collectively hallucinating, then what has this sacrifice been for?
He traced the uneven contours of his cheek, the skin rough and puckered. Though his face was forever marred, the blood that flowed through his veins remained unchanged. He was Jang'gyeong Yoon, and he would continue to live as Jang'gyeong Yoon, even if it meant abandoning his former name and glory. What will I have to sacrifice this time to reclaim them? He thought of his grandfather, Jang'gyeong Hahn, who had crossed the northern border and come to Birahng, leaving behind his family and his wealth. He had started anew, even if it meant bowing his head to Myeonghyeon Sahn, the very man he had driven away. Even the noble House Myeonghyeon, with its unwavering loyalty to Wicheong Palace, had resorted to selling the bodies of young courtesans and peddling soul-corrupting drugs to survive. There was no line they wouldn't cross to preserve their legacy.
The last rays of sunlight faded, and his reflection dissolved into the encroaching darkness. Is this my place to live, or to die? Or simply to exist, forgotten and insignificant? His fingers stirred the water, distorting the remaining traces of his reflection. He bit his lip. If he couldn't die, if he couldn't fade into obscurity, then he would have to choose once again.