"When? What visions?" Seong asked.
Yeong recounted the events calmly. "When the High Councilor disappeared, and right before we left for Hyangdo. Two times. I questioned Norahn because it was strange that there had been no signs before you awakened to your powers. He said he saw a vision of the High Councilor bound in Haewol Cave. When I asked why he hid it, he said he wanted to protect you, that he was afraid you would recklessly try to rescue him and be harmed by Cheon Hwan. I warned him never to hide a vision again. Then, the day before we left for Hyangdo, he came to me and said he had another vision. He saw the Third Emissary bowing before Cheon Hwan, who was engulfed in flames. Norahn was terrified and distraught. He begged me for answers, but I couldn't give him any. And I commanded him to remain silent."
Seong believed Yeong's account of Norahn's excuse. He wanted to know why Yeong couldn't answer Norahn, why she had hidden both visions from him.
"Why?" he asked.
Tears welled up in Yeong's eyes and spilled down her cheeks. "Maybe I wanted to believe in you," she confessed.
Seong couldn't bring himself to wipe away her tears. The warmth he had felt when he first saw her smile was now a cruel fire, burning him from the inside. He wished he could shield her from the pain and sorrow of the world, but it seemed she was destined to experience only hardship in the end.
"Even after you awakened to your powers," Yeong continued, "I couldn't shake off the feeling that you might not be the one. It felt like there was still a void in the world. The vision Norahn saw when you awakened was just the High Councilor bound in the cave. I didn't understand until the second vision. I understood why Sahngjon showed Norahn that future. He wanted you and Cheon Hwan to meet in Haewol Cave. If you had..."
"One of us would have died," Seong finished for her, preventing her from saying the words aloud.
Hearing about the visions calmed Seong's turmoil. A sense of resignation, long dormant within him, now took hold.
"Don't give up," Yeong pleaded. "If you do, you'll die. Cheon Hwan won't spare you or anyone who served you. You'll all disappear like ripples on the current."
"Even if I don't give up, won't everything eventually follow the path Sahngjon has set?" Seong asked. "No matter what I choose, I, and those who believed in me, will disappear."
"No! That can't happen!" Yeong cried.
Seong cupped her face in his hands. "I don't know what Sahngjon wants from you, what you're supposed to do," he said gently. "And I don't care. Do what you want, what you believe is right. I don't want to bind you. Sahngjon is enough. Even if he made you the Guardian Crimson... live as a human."
Tears streamed down Yeong's face as she blinked. Seong forced a smile.
"Remember what I said last spring?" he asked.
"What did you say?"
"I vowed to fight, to fight for the freedom of those who suffer, for the salvation of all," Seong reminded her. "It's the same for you."
The memory broke Yeong's heart. Seong kissed her tears away and whispered, "So don't hesitate."
Yeong couldn't offer any assurances or promises in return. She simply buried her face in his chest and wept.
After Yeong fell asleep, Seong returned to his room, opened the stone chest, and took out Yeom'myeol. The sword was still light in his hands. Unaware of his turmoil, the pristine blade remained silent. Seong slid his left index finger along its edge. The cut glowed with a faint, burning light, and a bead of blood welled up.
Yeom'myeol was a sword that destroyed its owner. Yet, even as he saw the glowing wound, the blood blooming on his skin, Seong couldn't bring himself to believe he was its true owner. A desperate hope bloomed within him—if he could wield this sword, defend everyone against Cheon Hwan's impending fleet, then perhaps it didn't matter if he was the rightful owner. But fear tightened its grip around his heart.
Ryang arrived early in the morning, shortly after Seong awoke. His eyes were shadowed, his face pale, his sleepless night evident. He bowed briefly to Seong, then presented him with a letter.
"What's this?" Seong asked.
"Letters for the other three cities," Ryang replied.
Seong carefully reviewed them. Though written in a calm tone, the message was one of defiance. Ryang seemed prepared for Seong to reject them, his expression determined. Seong's gaze was filled with reproach.
"I heard you imprisoned the families of Dongrahng and Seorahng," he said. "And Norahn... Can you handle the consequences?"
"The only consequence I cannot bear is defeat," Ryang said firmly.
"The High Emissary advocated for surrender after you left yesterday," he continued. "He claimed it wasn't the Ministry's official stance, but you know as well as I do that most Emissaries likely agree with him. There are Soyeolish merchants who left Nahmgyo before the Third Emissary's return. Cheon Hwan will undoubtedly extract information from them before setting sail. He'll learn about the Ministry's armament. We have to prepare for the worst."
"The worst..." Seong echoed.
Ryang's gaze drifted towards the open stone chest, landing on the unsheathed Yeom'myeol. A chill ran down his spine.
"Why did you take out the sword?" he asked.
"It's the most powerful weapon I have," Seong replied.
Despite the obvious answer, Ryang couldn't shake off his unease.
"Even with Yeong and me combining our powers, it will be a difficult fight," Seong admitted. "Even if we win, the losses will be devastating. And we'll have to face Dahn after that. I cannot... I cannot bear the thought of those sacrifices... yours, and everyone else's... if we lose."
"We all accepted the possibility of sacrifice long ago," Ryang said firmly.
His unwavering resolve pressured Seong, and he felt a sense of repetition.
"Is there no other option for you?" he asked.
"I will protect you, Guardian, even if it means sacrificing myself," Ryang vowed.
His unwavering loyalty left Seong with no other choice.
──────────
Jang'gyeong Yoon struggled against the soldiers who dragged him away, his mother, Keumpyeong Yu, following close behind.
"What's going on?!" he shouted towards Joon, who stood watching impassively. "What have we done? Explain yourselves!"
"It's to protect you," Joon replied curtly.
The soldiers bound Yoon and his mother, and Joon led the way out. The people, witnessing the commotion from beyond the fence, murmured amongst themselves. Ryucheon watched from the shadows.
Though House Myeonghyeon had maintained control of the four cities of Birahng throughout the summer with Sung's backing, the true power lay not with the siblings, but with Ryucheon. He exerted his influence quietly, remaining inconspicuous most of the time, then suddenly demanding an audience with Seong, needling him with questions about the past, making him uncomfortable. Ryang couldn't stop him. With another shipment of supplies due from Sung after Ryucheon reported on the summer's events, no one dared to cross him. In return, Ryucheon allowed Ryang to use his name to deflect the demands of the other three cities.
Seon, returning from seeing Sobi off at the harbor, wasn't surprised to find Ryucheon in her room. He sat there calmly, sipping tea. The fragrant tea that had helped her and Ryang endure the humid summer was also part of the supplies from Sung, so Ryucheon felt entitled to indulge. He also felt entitled to Seon's company, demanding her attention every night. Ryang's frustration grew with each passing day, but Seon, who enjoyed Ryucheon's company and the benefits it brought to House Myeonghyeon, didn't mind.
Today, however, even Seon was displeased by his presence. Ryucheon, sensing her coldness, spoke first.
"Your chamber was empty last night," he remarked. "I hear you were with the Third Emissary from Nahmgyo."
"There were... circumstances," Seon replied vaguely.
"I heard about it," Ryucheon said. "The Myeonghyeon sailors and soldiers returned as a sail of human leather?"
Seon scoffed. "Half of that sail was made from the Black Wings crew. You certainly have your sources."
"I'm not alone in Birahng," Ryucheon reminded her.
"Any news from your informants in Nahmgyo?" Seon asked.
"The Ministry?"
"Yes."
"I doubt that Third Emissary will be of any use," Ryucheon said dismissively. "But, no matter how well-armed the Ministry is, they're still a ragtag bunch with little training. As long as Seolyo Jin maintains control, Nahmgyo won't betray. The question is whether your four cities, even united, can withstand the horde of those damn seals."
"Is it all true?" Seon asked.
"About Soyeol?"
"You must have eyes and ears everywhere, even in Soyeol."
Ryucheon was briefly silent, then confirmed Seon's suspicion. "It's all true," he admitted.
"Did you know beforehand?" Seon asked again.
"I did," Ryucheon replied. "The news reached me directly, bypassing Nahmgyo and heading straight for Hyangdo. I heard how Cheon Hwan unified Soyeol, a feat as unexpected as lightning striking from a clear sky. I couldn't believe it. And I'm not talking about the miracles. I've seen enough of those here to believe anything those Celestial Scions claim. What I couldn't believe was that the one who achieved such a feat is your lord's twin brother. Why would you abandon such a man and choose your current lord instead?"
"We didn't abandon him," Seon corrected him. "Cheon Hwan cast himself out. Slowly, over a long time."
She clenched her jaw, poured herself a drink, and slammed the empty cup on the table.
"Judging by his actions," Ryucheon remarked, "it seems your brother is determined to die with you."
"Whether it's a path to survival or death, I'll find my own way," Seon declared.
"As you should," Ryucheon conceded. "But your options are limited. The only path that offers any chance of survival is to serve the man who killed your father. Can you do that?"
"Can you?" Seon retorted.
"I am," Ryucheon replied casually.
Seon was momentarily confused, unsure whether to pity him. Ryucheon, not giving her time to dwell on it, continued, "Or perhaps there's another concern. Do you think Cheon Hwan will accept your surrender?"
"He will," Seon said with a bitter laugh. "He'll be delighted. At least until he kills us."
"There's no need to be so pessimistic," Ryucheon countered. "I hear there were marriage proposals between your house and the royal family when you were younger. Your brother might not have that option, but you... you possess a valuable asset. The ability to bear a Celestial Scion heir."
Seon glared at him. "You want to discuss such matters with the woman you share your bed with every night?"
"That's precisely why I'm discussing it," Ryucheon replied. "We need to find a way to survive."
But Seon didn't sense any urgency in his words. "What about Sung?" she asked. "If we surrender to Cheon Hwan and ally with Soyeol, will Sung continue to support us?"
Ryucheon, who had been speaking casually, now hesitated. The relaxed smile he usually wore vanished, replaced by a thoughtful frown.
"Now that things have come to this," he said, "I'll be honest. I never cared about the outcome of this rebellion."