"With Sahngjon's will made clear, why would he bother to disrupt Wicheong?" Ung countered. "He retreated without any further attempts. He must have given up by now. We weren't the only ones who witnessed what happened at Haewol Cave."
Seong shook his head. "He never relied on Sahngjon in the first place. Sahngjon's will was always an excuse. If he'd been truly faithful, he would have lured at least one Emissary Divine when he left. Hwan never even went near the Ministry."
"Even so," Ung argued, "would he try to fight against the Guardian after witnessing flames erupting from the water and the sea parting before his very eyes?"
"You know he's not one to back down easily," Seong countered. "If Hwan is behind Yoon, shaking us from the shadows, we will regret giving in to the Ministry's demands."
Ung couldn't entirely dismiss Seong's concerns. Hwan was the type to destroy what he couldn't have. The proof was Myeonghyeon Seung's death and his son, Ryang's disappearance. Even setting aside his disgust for Yoon, if Hwan was still alive, they had to be cautious about accepting Yoon back. No, will caution even be enough? It could never be.
"First, question Yoon and confirm the meeting place with that servant," Seong instructed. "There might be something more there. Once that's confirmed, then we'll send someone to Nahmgyo."
"Understood," Ung replied.
"How many troops can we mobilize without being noticed by Dahnians?" Seong asked.
"We've recently reduced the standing army," Ung explained. "Excluding the troops defending Wicheong, we have less than a hundred. Why do you ask?"
Ung's wrinkled eyelids flickered with anxiety.
"We need to find Hwan," Seong declared.
Ignoring Ung's immediate sigh, Seong continued, "Hwan is a descendant of the Royal House of Wi. If he has committed a crime, he must be brought here and punished in the name of the Guardian of the Azure Scripture. Moreover..."
Ung looked at him anxiously. Seong hesitated for a moment before finishing his thought.
"He said Yirahng was carrying his child."
"Is that true?" Ung asked, surprised.
"I heard it when I last saw him," Seong confirmed. "He said I'm going to have a nephew..."
Ung was momentarily speechless at the unexpected news, but he soon replied firmly, "Guardian, it is the law that the blood of the Celestial Scions does not mix with that of the Latecomers."
"If we had strictly adhered to that law, Wi wouldn't have fallen," Seong retorted.
"Whether our ancestors upheld it properly or not, the law is the law," Ung insisted. "Hwan's very existence is a threat to the Guardian. To break the law and create a mixed-blood offspring is even more ominous. Besides, you know Yirahng. When Hwan first brought her here, the Ministry, and even the former Guardian, demanded her immediate execution, claiming she was cursed by Sahngjon. He ignored them and kept her by his side, and what happened in the end?"
Anger crept into Seong's voice. "What does that have to do with Yirahng? At least Hwan was most human when he was with her. If there were any problems caused by her, it was because we tried to separate them."
"Yirahng is a cursed beast," Ung spat. "She committed acts even more insane and cruel than Hwan. You say he was most human when he was with her? He might have seemed happy. That's because Yirahng always encouraged his already excessive eccentricities. Why don't you remember any of that? If that woman dares to carry the seed of the royal lineage, it is right to leave the child in her womb to die for the sake of the future."
"How can you say such a thing!" Seong exclaimed.
Seong's voice rose, and Ung's tone became equally agitated.
"What do you intend to do after finding them?" Ung demanded. "What punishment will you impose on Hwan to make him pay for his crimes? If it must be death, can you personally execute your own brother? The only one qualified to execute a royal is the King, the Guardian."
Seong's heart froze, pierced by the words. "If I must execute him," he said heavily, "then I will."
But his resolve seemed weak, unable to even meet Ung's eyes. Ung continued his relentless questioning.
"What will you do with the child if it's born safely?" he pressed. "You mentioned bringing them here, so it seems you intend to let the child live. But when that child grows up, won't it seek to avenge its father? A child does not remain a child. It grows up to become a king, a general, a usurper."
However, Seong's resolve remained unshaken. "After four years of no news, I finally know where they are," he explained. "This isn't about sentimentality. As long as I don't know whether he's dead or alive, or where he is and what he's doing if he's alive, neither Ryang nor we will ever be safe. I cannot continue to carry this anxiety."
"But, Guardian..." Ung began.
"You said Hwan is dangerous," Seong interrupted. "Whether I kill him or keep him alive, the surest way is to have him right in front of me. Whatever your concerns, I will find him. I'll decide what to do with him afterward."
Ung let out a deep sigh. His wrinkled lips twitched as if he wanted to continue arguing, but he gave up trying to persuade Seong.
"If you are determined," he conceded, "then do as you wish. I will arrange the appropriate troops. But I have one more piece of advice."
Seong looked up with weary eyes, urging him to continue.
"Send all the sailors Yoon brought with him," Ung instructed. "And kill them all. You can accept Yoon, but not the sailors."
"Why spare Yoon and kill his men?" Seong asked. "Is it because only Yoon is a Celestial Scion?"
"Do you intend to keep swordsmen swayed by Yoon within Wicheong?" Ung countered.
Seong was firm. "I won't kill them."
"Guardian," Ung began.
"You just criticized me for wanting to disband Wicheong," Seong interrupted. "And now you tell me to kill those who have returned seeking Sahngjon's will? If they simply wanted to escape Hwan, there were plenty of places they could have gone. Why would they risk their lives and even steal a ship to return to Wicheong? They did so because they believed we would accept them."
"Then why do you hesitate to accept them?" Ung retorted, his voice rising.
Seong was speechless. He couldn't easily dismiss Ung's words, remembering how Ryang had almost died because he couldn't let go of his compassion for Hwan. To be cold-hearted, Ung was right; it was the correct choice to completely eliminate Yoon's influence. But taking lives to eliminate an uncertain threat was not a choice Seong could make.
"I cannot kill them," he declared, "though I might cast them out."
"If you don't intend to accept them, you must kill them all anyway," Ung insisted. "We haven't even reclaimed Birahng yet. Do you intend to let those who know of our existence live and spread out into the world? These are people who have already stabbed their comrades in the back. Choosing to kill them to protect others is not something to reproach yourself for."
Seong's eyes wavered, overwhelmed by Ung's almost violent insistence. Ung pressed his advantage, urging him to make a decision.
"Decide, Guardian," he pressed.
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The meeting chamber filled again, and Seong took his seat. Once everyone was settled, the soldiers dragged Yoon back in. Seong addressed the prostrated Yoon in a cold voice.
"Jang'gyeong Yoon, lead the way to the place where you met with the servant, Dara. The Ministry of Emissary Divine will take soldiers and follow you to first confirm the location where the secret messages were left. After that, I will send someone to Nahmgyo."
Cheongro's lips curled into a subtle smile, likely believing his demands had been adequately met, but Norahn remained impassive. Seong continued, "And I will summon Cheon Hwan to Wicheong."
Yoon's head shot up in surprise. "Guardian, but Wicheong has no ships..."
"Don't you have the ship you arrived on?" Seong countered.
Yoon stammered, unable to answer.
"What's holding you back?" Seong pressed.
Yoon managed a courteous smile. "Though he remains with only Yirahng, Hwan is not one to be underestimated."
"And you betrayed him," Seong mentioned pointedly. "Because he wasn't one to be underestimated?"
"We escaped while Hwan was away," Yoon explained. "If we'd thought we could kill him easily, we would have. Why would we leave secretly and risk future trouble?"
"I will provide ample troops," Seong assured him. "You know the geography of that island well, so all of you will assist. I will also send Kyeongseon Joon, the son of the High Commander. Joon has become strong enough to rival him."
The Kyeongseon father and son looked up in surprise. Joon was merely startled by the sudden mention of his name, but Ung seemed apprehensive about sending Joon to face Hwan. Is the only thing old men do worry and fret over the young? Ung's anxiety was evident, but Seong wanted to place his trust in Joon's steadfast spear and sword rather than the old man's fears.
Yoon, however, was also uneasy about Joon. More than his concern for Joon, his fear of Hwan was so great that he wasn't even ashamed of his own cowardice.
"Hwan has also become incredibly strong over the past four years, clashing swords with countless Soyeolish pirates on the sea," Yoon warned. "You cannot imagine how he fights now."
Yoon's hands, gripping the floor, trembled. His face was pale. But the more fear Yoon showed, the more resolute Seong became.
"Hwan kidnapped, injured, tortured, and attempted to kill the High Councilor, my loyal subject and blood relative," Seong declared. "Before that, he caused the death of the former High Councilor, who raised and taught him like his own son, and he has yet to pay for his crimes. He must come to Wicheong and face justice. He should not be left to wither away alone on some nameless island, but receive the punishment in the name of the Guardian of the Azure Scripture. That is my will."
"But, Guardian..." Yoon began.
"Jang'gyeong Yoon," Seong interrupted, "didn't you say you regretted your past actions and would pledge your loyalty to me?"
"My sincerity is absolute," Yoon insisted.
"I will not debate with you. This is an order."
Seong turned to Joon. "Kyeongseong Joon, bring my brother to me."
Ung still seemed reluctant, and Yoon's expression showed he couldn't accept the order, but Joon bowed his head obediently.
"Your will be done."
Seong rose from his seat. He left the chamber, leaving behind his unsettled subjects. He sensed no one following him. He could hear the voices of Ung and Norahn, their conversation growing urgent. The situation would become clearer once the Ministry of Emissary Divine confirmed the meeting place, but there was one more way to be certain. There was one person he hadn't summoned to the meeting chamber from the beginning: Yeong.