"It's moving a lot more now," Yirahng remarked, her hands resting on her swollen belly.
"It's growing, that's why," Hwan replied.
"When will it come out?" Yirahng asked, her eyes blinking as she looked up at him.
Hwan chuckled. "They say it takes ten months, but who knows how many have passed? You don't know either."
Yirahng returned her gaze to her belly, gently stroking it as if soothing the restless child within. She had gained weight, her once gaunt frame now pleasantly rounded, making her even more beautiful in Hwan's eyes. Her touch was gentle and warm, but her face remained devoid of joy, her eyes avoiding his. Her lips twitched occasionally, betraying unspoken anxieties. Hwan waited patiently for her to voice her concerns.
Finally, Yirahng spoke. "Are you really going to fight Jongwon Soh?"
"Are you worried?"
"It's a daunting task, even for you. If you die in battle, our child will grow up never knowing its father..."
Hwan sat beside her and gently reassured her. "That won't happen. I promised you, didn't I? I'll make our child royalty."
Yirahng's voice trembled. "I'm so scared."
Is it the pregnancy that amplified her fears? Or is this challenge so reckless that even Yirahng, who is usually fearless, can't help but worry? There seemed to be no other path, but Hwan knew it was a gamble. He couldn't offer the same bravado as before. Yirahng, sensing his hesitation, swallowed her anxieties.
"Get some sleep," she said, gently brushing his hair aside. "You haven't slept much. Should I call Hui?"
"He's the one who hasn't slept," Hwan replied. "Let him rest."
Yirahng's words reminded him of Hui, and he headed towards the cabin where Hui slept. After reclaiming the Black Wings, Hwan had given Hui the cabin that Yoon used to occupy alone. He cautiously opened the door. Hui was fast asleep, his breathing deep and even, punctuated by the occasional snore. Hwan closed the door, careful not to wake him.
The memory of betrayal haunted Hui. He was constantly on edge, the cheerful smile that used to light up his eyes nowhere to be seen. Neither Hwan nor Hui slept soundly anymore. Even when Hwan managed to fall asleep, Hui would stay awake, watching over him. He would snatch brief moments of sleep only when Hwan was awake.
Hui's health was visibly deteriorating, yet he seemed more concerned about Yirahng than himself. Every day, he would massage her arms and legs, gently stroking her swollen belly. He couldn't tell if there was something wrong with her or the child, but he seemed to believe his touch could somehow heal her. Despite gaining the power to heal through his near-death experience, Hui was frustrated by his inability to see inside the human body.
Much later, when Hwan returned to the cabin, Hui was gone. He found him on the deck, staring at a row of fish laid out before him.
"What are you doing?" Hwan asked.
Hui jumped up in surprise and bowed his head. "Just... trying a few things," he mumbled.
Hwan examined the fish laid out before Hui. Most were barely alive, but the one in Hui's hand was flapping vigorously, as if trying to escape his grasp. Hwan chuckled, realizing what Hui was doing.
"You're healing them after hurting them?" he remarked.
"No, Guardian! I would never do such a thing!" Hui stammered, his head bowed even lower.
"Don't play coy with me," Hwan scoffed. "You've killed countless creatures under my command."
He paused, then asked, "Can you bring the dead back to life?"
Hui shook his head. "Once their breath has completely ceased, I can't revive them."
"I suppose even a Celestial Scion can't defy death," Hwan mused. He looked at Hui thoughtfully, then said, "Once the matters in Ju are settled, I'll find you a skilled physician. You can learn proper diagnostics and medicine."
Hui's eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed as he glanced at Hwan cautiously. "But, Guardian... what about the sword?"
"You'll continue with the sword, of course. What are you talking about?"
"Yes, Guardian."
Despite the reprimand, Hui's face lit up with excitement. Hwan turned away, a bittersweet smile gracing his lips. Once the matters in Ju are settled. He felt a pang of guilt for making promises with conditions. The promises he had made to Yirahng, to Hui—they could all end up as empty words. But if that were to happen, he wouldn't be alive to face their resentment. He couldn't bear to imagine their lives without him, so he pushed the thought aside. That day couldn't come.
During their voyage to Ju, Hui had shared the information he had gathered on Jongwon Soh during their previous visit to Soyeol, as per Hwan's instructions. Jongwon Soh was thirty-three years old, with five children from his first marriage, the eldest already seventeen. Like most Soyeolish men, he was known for his many lovers, and rumors suggested he had numerous offspring scattered across the islands. Whether he acknowledged them all was uncertain.
Piecing together Hui's information, Hwan could understand how Jongwon Soh had become the ruler of Ju and the most powerful figure in Soyeol. Unlike other swordsmen who earned their reputation through bloodshed and died young, Jongwon Soh avoided unnecessary battles, even if it meant tarnishing his image. But once he committed to a fight, he never lost. He was a strategist, choosing his battles carefully, ensuring victory before engaging. It would be difficult to provoke him into a duel, especially against someone with unknown origins. But if he accepted, it would mean he was confident of victory, making Hwan's chances even slimmer.
There was one positive aspect, however.
"He's not selective about who he meets," Hui reported.
"That's good news for us," Hwan replied, his expression unchanging despite his words.
"But there's always a long queue of people waiting to see him," Hui continued. "He doesn't discriminate, so there's always a crowd."
"We don't have that kind of time," Hwan said grimly.
"What will you do when we reach Ju?" Hui asked.
"What do you mean?" Hwan replied. "I'll meet with Jongwon Soh, of course."
"That's not what I meant..."
Hwan pressed. "Spit it out."
"It's about... them," Hui confessed, his eyes filled with a chilling detachment. He no longer used the friendly titles he once used for his comrades.
"Are you worried I'll be betrayed again?" Hwan asked.
Hui simply bit his lip and lowered his head.
"Don't worry," Hwan reassured him. "I don't trust them either. Jongwon Soh will protect us."
"Guardian?" Hui's eyes widened in confusion, but Hwan didn't elaborate.
"We can't dock the Black Wings in Seomy," he continued, changing the subject. "We're going straight to Ju. I'll have you disembark in a small boat before we reach the harbor. Land discreetly and head straight for Seomy. You need to meet with Baekan Yujeong and deliver my message. Make sure you succeed."
"I have to deceive Baekan?" Hui asked.
"Don't worry," Hwan said confidently. "Baekan might not have trusted Jang'gyeong Yoon, but he won't doubt your words."
Hui's gaze fell. "I've never spoken to him before."
He seemed to fear his own incompetence and felt guilty about deceiving Baekan Yujeong, who had shown him kindness. Hwan tried to reassure him.
"Trust me," he said. "Don't be anxious. There's no need for guilt. If Baekan suffers because of your deception, it's his own foolishness. I was betrayed by Yoon because I was foolish. I've rectified my mistake, and I'll make him pay when we meet again. It's the same for Baekan. There's no need for lingering resentment. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Guardian," Hui replied.
Hwan gripped Hui's shoulder firmly. "If something goes wrong and I die, you must return to Ju. Find Yirahng and my child, and protect them."
Hui met his gaze. "I will remember your words."
The Black Wings continued its voyage, rounding the coast and approaching Ju's harbor. As promised, Hwan had Hui disembark at a spot where he could easily land in a small boat. Before boarding the boat, Hui stepped back and bowed deeply to Hwan. Hwan watched the boat disappear into the distance. Hui, standing on the small boat as it drifted towards the shore, bowed once more towards his receding lord.
"Please, be safe, Guardian," he whispered.
Before Hui's heartfelt farewell could reach him, the Black Wings picked up speed and continued its approach towards Ju. In the distance, Hwan could see the naval forces bustling in response to the sight of the black sails entering the harbor. The Black Wings carried no cannons, and the crew were not prepared for battle, so Jongwon's soldiers, though wary, held back their attack. Their hesitation stemmed not from the crew's lack of preparedness, but from the ship itself. The Sungian warship that Yujeong had handed over to Hwan was easily the largest vessel in the harbor, its sleek form dwarfing the others. The soldiers of Ju knew that only one man sailed around Soyeol with black sails on such a ship.
As the Black Wings drew closer and dropped anchor, a woman who appeared to be a commander shouted from below, her voice rising towards the deck, "What is the meaning of this outrageous display?!"
Hwan emerged from the shadows and leaned against the railing. The commander immediately recognized his black robes.
"So you're the Isleless King," she sneered. She raised her voice again. "Whether you're the King of Seomy or the Isleless King or whatever you call yourself, you cannot enter Jongwon's territory with black sails!"
Hwan looked down at her for a moment, then grabbed a rope and leaped onto the dock with acrobatic grace. He landed lightly before the commander, the surrounding soldiers tightening their formation, their spears and swords poised. Hwan's voice was calm and steady as he announced, "I am Hwan, the sixty-second descendant of the Founder of Wi, of Cheon royal lineage."
The commander's eyes darted across Hwan's face, a mixture of suspicion and surprise.
"Go and tell your king," Hwan continued, "that I have come to claim Jongwon's loyalty."