Chapter 58 Late at night, after the light treatment had been completed and she was left alone in the dim room.
Raising herself, Yeo Il leaned back and asked Jin Cheong-ak, who stood by the window looking down the road where the sun had set,
"Did you know?"
Recalling how uncharacteristically solemn he had been, she could not dismiss the Murim Alliance Leader's claim as mere speculation.
And yet, as Jin Cheong-ak himself had said, if Yeonghwang Yuse and the Heavenly Demon Cult had joined hands, there was no way he would not know.
Whatever independent movements he made outside the cult, she had long known that he had maintained steady communication with the Heavenly Demon Cult over the past few years.
He rolled a pebble between his fingertips and, without taking his eyes off the scenery beyond the inn, spoke slowly.
"…It does not please me to be in a position to give such an answer."
His tone was flat, yet she sensed he had wrestled with the matter for some time.
"I truly did not know."
"If you did not know, then the truth likely lies closer to what you do know."
"You truly think so?"
His eyes narrowed.
"If I do not know… that means the Jin family does not know, and even within the main palace, aside from a few, information is kept tightly sealed."
"..."
"Or perhaps even the main palace is unaware."
If the main palace was unaware, then the Cult Leader was unaware. Which meant the likelihood of a traitor was high.
"And the possibility that they are deceiving you?"
"Hm. Though it wounds my pride, I should consider that as well."
Yeo Il had yet to reveal to him that Namgung Soyo was Ye So-gun. She still could not gauge how he might use that information.
In the end, it was not only Yeonghwang Yuse that sought Namgung Soyo—the Heavenly Demon Cult had its purpose as well.
Whether there is a traitor or it is the Cult Leader's design… what is certain is that they aim for the Righteous–Demonic War.
Using Ye So-gun as justification.
What a disaster.
A complete disaster.
Being entangled with Yeonghwang Yuse was unavoidable. But if the Heavenly Demon Cult itself moved directly to target Namgung Soyo, that was another matter entirely.
It was a path she herself had chosen. There was no one to blame.
If things worsened, perhaps it would be better to seize the Namgung Clan's Register of Death and vanish, abandoning the name Namgung Soyo altogether. If she could only locate the Register, which even the Namgung Clan had yet to find…
"You seem to have more to ponder than I do."
Feigning indifference, she replied,
"I did not expect it to grow this troublesome."
"Is that so? Such lament does not suit you. Had you known, would our Yeo Il still have wandered the martial world in accordance with an old man's dying wish?"
"A meaningless supposition."
Chuckling softly, Jin Cheong-ak rose and sat beside her.
"Do you know something, Yeo Il?"
Though the corner of his lips curved upward, his expression was far from pleasant.
"Of all the versions of you I have seen, the you now appears the most like a living person."
"Who are you calling a corpse?"
He ignored her irritation.
"I find that fact somewhat pleasing… and yet it unsettles me. Yes. Unsettling is the right word."
"..."
"I prefer you unfortunate."
His cool, faintly blue eyes traced her impassive face.
"Solitary, as if wholly alone in the world. Willful. Never opening your heart. You, playing the shy and fragile young lady of a great clan while stirring trouble here and there…"
He blinked slowly, as though searching for the proper expression, then exhaled softly.
"That is simply Namgung Soyo."
She did not fully understand what he was rambling about.
Jin Cheong-ak had always possessed a firm inner world and a darkness she had no desire to peer into.
One fact, however, was clear.
It was only natural for him to wish for her misfortune.
Jin Cheong-ak was a free man. She had bound him like a dog, leaving him no room to move. If he called her the true enemy of his life, he would not be wrong.
"If you dislike it so much, then strike me from behind as you used to."
At her words, his gaze blurred slightly, as though recalling not-so-distant days.
"You were admirable then. Like a wild beast."
Did he wish to raise one? The thoughts of a young master from a great clan were beyond her.
Yeo Il rose from her chair and turned away.
"I will indulge your nonsense only this long. Save the rest for another time."
"Cold. Since you are already listening, why not hear one more thing?"
"Summarize it in a single sentence."
"Very well. It is simple enough."
Despite his brisk reply, he did not speak again until long after she had removed her outer robe and slipped into bed.
"Forget what I said. Consider it sleep-talking, Yeo Il."
Muttering to himself, Jin Cheong-ak gazed at the red lantern flickering in the distant darkness beyond the window.
"To be honest, I do not quite know what I am saying either."
Once spoken, who could gather words back?
Yeo Il watched his face fade into the night's darkness, then closed her eyes without answering.
She had no wish to think deeply about her relationship with Jin Cheong-ak. That was surely the correct course.
The schedule for the official martial arts tournament began.
As the first participant of the year, Namgung Hui-myeong was set to compete on the very first day.
Before the sun had fully risen, he completed his breathing exercises and began his first task of the day.
Namely, becoming Yeo Il's leech.
Time is short. Please go out and warm up.
It was the fifth time she had urged him.
Just go. Please.
"Hm."
Fortunately, after scoffing and lingering through the fourth urging, Namgung Hui-myeong finally rose.
"There is not much time left. I should begin warming up."
At the long-awaited good news, Yeo Il's expression brightened.
At last, he was leaving.
Let me see how much he has grown.
She scribbled on a sheet of paper.
Take me with you.
"…What? No. Stay quietly in your room. I have been keeping you company so you would not grow bored. Just two days ago you were carried out pale-faced, and now you want to invite more trouble?"
Keeping her company? She nearly wished to use her voice to refute him, but restrained herself.
With Brother Hui-myeong beside me, what is there to fear? Perhaps because I have spent my life within the quiet of the clan residence, breathing the air outside in such unfamiliar surroundings brings me joy. It will greatly aid my recovery.
Namgung Hui-myeong did not respond.
She wondered if he had begun daydreaming, but his breathing suggested otherwise.
She waited patiently.
After a long while, his voice came, subdued.
"…After what happened to you at my side, you still think I can protect you?"
So that was it.
She had wondered why he had been clinging to her unnecessarily these past days.
For all his fiery temper, he was quick to sink into self-reproach. As Seol-yeong might put it, he had the tendencies of a child.
She nodded.
She could almost picture him sitting there with a sullen expression, so she added another line.
You are far more dependable than Brother Jeok-myeong. Truly.
"Are you in your right mind? Why?"
Brother Jeok-myeong gifts me a few sets of clothing. But Brother Hui-myeong always comes to spend time with me like this.
Which is precisely why you are a nuisance.
The beauty of clothing is only felt against the skin. But your concern, Brother Hui-myeong, I feel with my whole being. That is why I am more at ease with you.
Therefore, take me with you.
"Ahem. Well… yes. I do pay you more attention. Soyo, if you insist so much."
His voice carried a strange note of excitement as he approached.
"It is too noisy nearby, so we must move a little. Hold on tight."
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