Hwan ventured deeper into the forest, the sound of the waves fading with each step. The dense foliage of the small island swallowed the sea's echoes, creating an eerie silence. Ahead, a clearing bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun beckoned him forward. He unburdened himself of his swords and daggers, their familiar weight against his skin, and lay down on the damp earth, the scent of soil and decaying leaves filling his nostrils. The sky, peeking through the canopy, was painted in fiery hues of orange and red. He thought of the blinding light that had erupted from beneath the water in Haewol Cave. There was no other way to interpret it. Sahngjon had bestowed upon Seong what he had denied Hwan.
What had I expected? To drown Ryang, to eliminate an obstacle, to satisfy the thirst for revenge that had burned within me for years? There was no doubt about that. But had I truly wished for Seong's death? When the cave entrance disappeared beneath the waves, he hadn't hoped for his brother's demise, nor had he expected his survival. All he'd felt was a dull ache, a sense of emptiness, as if a part of him had been submerged and lost. But now, with Seong alive and victorious, that feeling was gone, replaced by a bitter resentment.
He longed for Yirahng's embrace, to bury his face in her warmth and find solace in her presence. As if sensing his unspoken desire, a soft cheek pressed against his chest. He didn't open his eyes, recognizing her familiar scent and warmth. She had approached silently, her presence a gentle whisper in the stillness of the forest.
"What will you do now?" she asked.
Hwan hesitated, then answered, "What is there to do?"
"You saw what happened."
"What did you see?"
"Sahngjon abandoned you."
Yirahng's words were blunt, her tone devoid of sympathy. Hwan feigned indifference.
"And what has changed?"
Yirahng didn't answer.
"Nothing has changed," Hwan continued. "I knew it from the beginning."
He opened his eyes, the fading light casting long shadows across his face.
"I knew it all along," he repeated, acknowledging the truth he had been denying.
He had clung to destiny out of desperation, but each time he risked his life, he was met with Sahngjon's indifference. Everything that came so easily to Seong—the power, the recognition, the love—had been denied to him. The more his anger and frustration grew, the more Seong's pity grew as well, and that pity was what made Seong shine so brightly. Perhaps he had never been Sahngjon's chosen one, but merely a tool, a sharpened blade to shape the true Guardian of the Azure Scripture. Even today's setback must have been part of Sahngjon's plan. Even Ryang, who had always scorned him, calling him an abomination who should never have been born, was wrong. He was meant to be born, for Seong's sake.
"Will you give up now?" Yirahng asked.
"I told you, nothing has changed. I won't stop."
"What's the point of struggling when Sahngjon has already made his choice?"
His resolve, questioned even by his lover, felt heavy—a lonely burden. But Yirahng's doubt only strengthened his determination.
"If Sahngjon has already made his choice," Hwan declared, "then whatever I do must be part of his plan. Whether Wicheong, or this world, meets its demise, it will be the end Sahngjon has chosen."
"What will you do?"
"It won't be boring, that's for sure."
Yirahng scoffed. "You're insane."
Hwan pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. "I need time," he whispered. "Please be patient, just for a few days."
Yirahng nodded silently. Hwan's frustration and anger simmered beneath the surface. He vowed to fulfill the purpose for which Sahngjon had created him, to find his own place in this world, a place where he could stand tall, unshackled by the destiny that had been forced upon him.
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For seven days, the lord of the Black Wings remained hidden within the forest, refusing to emerge. The ship, its sails furled, lay anchored near the shore, exposed to the relentless sun and the salty sea breeze. Keumpyeong Hui, worried about Hwan's well-being, would venture into the forest at mealtimes, carrying freshly caught fish and shellfish cooked over an open fire. Yirahng, her senses sharp, would hear his approaching footsteps and emerge from the shadows to retrieve the food, disappearing back into the dense undergrowth. Hui had no way of knowing if Hwan was eating, but he continued to bring food every day, hoping for the best.
Hwan's turmoil remained hidden, unseen by Hui, Yoon, or the rest of the crew. His silence was unsettling, a stark contrast to his usual boisterous energy. It was a prolonged silence, a deep introspection that none of them had witnessed before.
The crew members gathered in small groups, their whispers echoing across the deserted beach, their faces etched with worry. Hui, irritated by their restlessness, would retreat to a secluded spot to practice his swordsmanship whenever he wasn't fishing. The polished blade sliced through the air, its movements precise and controlled. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying the scene at Haewol Cave, the parting of the sea, the impossible feat that had defied all expectations. Has Sahngjon chosen Seong after all? Has he abandoned my own lord? The thought filled Hui with a profound sense of betrayal and loss. He shook his head, trying to dispel the doubts that plagued him. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, falling onto the sand.
Hwan had been the one to place a real sword in Hui's hands for the first time. He still remembered the warmth of Hwan's hand on the hilt, the weight of the blade in his own inexperienced grasp, the metallic scent of the sharpened edge. Hwan's gaze had been stern and demanding as he taught Hui the art of swordsmanship. Every time Hui stumbled and fell, Hwan would stand over him, his voice low and steady, urging him to rise again. He never left Hui lying on the ground. He always forced him back on his feet, his methods sometimes bordering on cruel. Was it simply because I am the last of the Keumpyeong bloodline, one of the few remaining Celestial Scions? Whatever the reason, it was thanks to Hwan's relentless training that Hui had survived the past four years, while countless other swordsmen had come and gone. He didn't need to question his loyalty. The brief glimpse of Sahngjon's power that day couldn't erase the years of devotion and camaraderie. He wouldn't abandon his chosen leader, even in the face of Sahngjon's apparent rejection.
For seven days, Hwan remained in seclusion, and for seven days, Hui waited. On the morning of the seventh day, Hui awoke early and stretched, his body stiff from sleep. He emerged from his tent and stepped onto the beach. It was still early, and the other crew members were nowhere to be seen. A sudden chill ran down his spine. His instincts drew his attention towards the Black Wings. He saw the crew pushing a boat out to sea, their figures small and frantic against the vast expanse of water. Yoon was among them. But Hwan and Yirahng were nowhere to be seen. The chill intensified, solidifying into a certainty that something was amiss. He sprinted towards them, his voice echoing across the beach.
"Stop! Stop that!"
Yoon, spotting him, jumped off the boat and waded towards the shore. The other crew members, their hands hovering over their swords, watched Hui approach with wary eyes.
"Brother, are you insane?!" Hui shouted. "What are you doing?!"
Yoon sighed and grabbed Hui's arm. "Just come with us."
Hui wrenched his arm free. "Come with you? Are you betraying the Guardian?!"
Yoon grabbed him by the collar. "Get a grip! Cheon Hwan is finished! If you stay with him, you'll either rot on this island or become fish food! We were wrong. You saw it with your own eyes at Haewol Cave!"
"What does Sahngjon's will matter?!" Hui retorted. "Whether we surrender to Wicheong or leave this place forever, we must follow the Guardian! He never abandoned us. We can't abandon him either!"
Hui's eyes were filled with a desperate plea, but Yoon only scoffed. "Never abandoned us?" he spat. "Look at me! Do you have any idea what I endured in that Princess's camp?!"
"You chose to endure it," Hui retorted, his gaze unwavering.
The mockery vanished from Yoon's face. He shoved Hui back and drew his sword.
"You little bastard..."
Hui, regaining his balance, drew his own sword, its tip aimed menacingly at Yoon's throat. Despite his youthful appearance, Hui was no match for the group. A few of Yoon's men stepped forward, their swords drawn, but Hui didn't flinch.
"If you truly believe Sahngjon's favor has shifted to Seong just because of that one incident," Hui challenged, "then convince the Guardian yourself. Don't betray him like this. Bring him back to Wicheong. Cheon Seong will welcome him back."
Yoon scoffed. "You keep calling him 'Guardian,' but do you even understand what that means? There can be only one Guardian of the Azure Scripture. The moment Hwan returns to Wicheong, he's no longer the Guardian. And do you think he'll submit to Cheon Seong just because I ask him to? After four years of serving him, you still don't understand him?"
"Do you even understand?" Hui countered. "Do you know who the Guardian is, and yet you betray him?"
Yoon faltered. "Are you threatening me?"
"It only sounds like a threat because you're doing something wrong."
"Something wrong?" Yoon laughed bitterly. "You're one to talk. Was it righteous and just of you to follow Cheon Hwan and abandon Wicheong four years ago? You were the one who threw Myeonghyeon Seon to the ground, who held a sword against her, your own sworn sister! You were the traitor then! Cheon Seong was the rightful heir!"
"Everything I did was for the Guardian!" Hui shouted back. "Then what was it all for, for you?! Why follow him, endure all those hardships, only to betray him now?"
"Because staying in Wicheong meant certain death!" Yoon spat.
Hui was momentarily speechless.
"I left to survive then!" Yoon continued. "And I'm returning to survive now!"
His men stepped closer, their swords raised. Hui stood his ground.
"I won't betray him."
"Suit yourself." Yoon sneered, then gestured for his men to lower their weapons.
Hui felt a surge of shame at Yoon's final act of mercy. He bit his lip, his anger and frustration simmering. He couldn't fight them, couldn't bring himself to draw blood against those he had once considered comrades.
Yoon turned to leave, heading back towards the boat. Just then, a furious roar echoed from the forest.