Waiting
Meeting that suspicious, probing gaze, Cheongwol immediately regretted her rash move.
She had resolved to take revenge, so she should have always kept the worst-case scenario in mind.
But what was done was done. As the young clan leader of the Tang Clan, Dang Gangjin was not likely to fall for such a clumsy lie, and even if she told him the truth, it was doubtful she could get the jewel back.
While she stood there, unable to go forward or back, the situation only tilted further and further toward disaster.
— If you give up the jewel and push the Sunflower Manual to its extreme, you might be able to escape.
— Your friend will be in a difficult spot, but first you should deal with the crisis.
— How are you supposed to leave Sichuan with the Tang Clan hunting you? Never mind revenge—you’ll be meeting your grandfather in the clouds before long.
As her mind frayed under the pressure, the hallucinated voices returned, tightening around Cheongwol’s heart.
She had expected the jewel to be no ordinary one, but of all things, it was entangled with the Tang Clan?
— That so-called master of yours... did she really not know it would come to this?
“...”
That final hallucination struck like lightning, and the last of Cheongwol’s fraying composure began to collapse.
Unhak had once told her that hallucinations were like another self, a being that gnawed at the heart and fed on doubt.
And yet these voices were doubting So Gayul?
Had she truly gone mad?
Cold sweat began to slick her skin, and her lips trembled faintly when a warm hand covered hers.
“...Seo-ah.”
Ak Seo-ah smiled gently at Cheongwol, then turned and addressed Dang Gangjin with solemn sincerity.
“Older brother. I have no intention of meddling in clan affairs beyond my station. But it seems Cheongwol has circumstances she cannot speak of, even to me. For my sake, could you let this pass just once?”
It would not have mattered even if she had asked in a more ordinary tone; that, too, should have changed nothing.
Dang Gangjin was the young clan leader of one of the six great clans, the Sichuan Tang Clan, and he had a duty to uncover the truth about the jewel.
That should have been the end of it.
“Seo-ah. If you make such a small request sound so grave, you’ll make me terribly sad.”
Yet for some reason, Dang Gangjin simply smiled broadly at Ak Seo-ah.
“You always say that, though. There’s never anything you ask of me.”
“There are things I want, but they’re things I must work toward myself, not ask of you.”
Only after seeing Ak Seo-ah smile did Dang Gangjin turn his gaze back to Cheongwol.
“From the look of things, I can tell there’s something you can’t speak about. Since Seo-ah has asked me as well, I won’t pry into the details... but there is one thing I should confirm. Would that be all right?”
At his words, Cheongwol, who had just begun to let her shoulders loosen, clenched her hands tightly in her lap.
“...If it’s something I can answer.”
“Good.”
Dang Gangjin’s gaze, gentler than before, settled on her.
“The owner of the jewel—was that person someone precious to you?”
It was a question that did not require a precise answer to understand the relationship he was guessing at.
Still, Cheongwol knew he had already yielded a great deal, so she slowly nodded.
“Yes. They’re very precious to me.”
Hearing the answer he had more or less expected, Dang Gangjin quietly let out a breath of relief.
In truth, he had no particular desire to know everything either.
Given that he had handed over a jewel carved with exquisite flower motifs, the cherished person Cheongwol spoke of was surely a woman.
Moreover, the only person he knew who might dare to inscribe the subtle mysteries of the Tang Clan’s martial arts was, within the clan, probably only his father.
If a man and a woman were exchanging jewels, then they must be quite close; even if he dug further, all it would do was stir trouble, with no benefit to the clan at all.
There was no advantage in probing too deeply, and Cheongwol seemed reluctant to reveal the jewel’s owner, which suggested she had her reasons as well.
So it was best to end things here for both their sakes.
The only problem was the strange sense of déjà vu he had felt from Cheongwol ever since she first entered the room.
Could it be that Father... with another woman...
If he uncovered the truth, not only would his mother be shocked beyond measure, but if mishandled, it could even damage the clan leader’s authority.
And yet if he simply pretended not to know and let it lie, that face—so oddly reminiscent of his younger sister, Dang Sohye—kept pricking at his conscience.
Should he choose the clan, or follow his personal curiosity?
In that brief moment of hesitation, he finally decided to choose both.
...I should send a letter and ask about the jewel.
Thinking that over, Dang Gangjin felt his mood lighten considerably.
“I understand. Thank you for answering so honestly.”
Cheongwol, who had unexpectedly gotten the jewel back so easily, stared at him.
“...You really won’t ask anything more?”
“Is there more you want to say? It doesn’t look that way to me.”
Despite Dang Gangjin’s easygoing, almost teasing manner, Cheongwol found that she somehow did not dislike him.
Ak Seo-ah had asked him to let it go, yes, but he had also prevented what might have become a major disaster. It was only natural that Cheongwol felt that way.
“That was all. Thank you, Young Clan Leader.”
As Cheongwol gave her brief thanks, Dang Gangjin let out a small laugh.
“Our Sohye should learn a little from you.”
“Right, how is Sohye doing?”
When Dang Sohye’s name came up, Ak Seo-ah leaned slightly forward and asked Dang Gangjin.
“Well, since the young clan leader of the Seomun Clan arrived, I’ve scarcely been able to catch a glimpse of her.”
After their brief meeting with Dang Gangjin ended, the expressions of the two women as they returned to their room were strangely similar.
...An engagement with Dang So-nyeo...
The problem that had tormented her for so long had finally been solved. She had thought that all she needed now was the courage to speak her heart.
They had not even exchanged formal words yet, but if he had come all the way to the Tang Clan himself, then it seemed he was not entirely without feelings either.
But when had that even started?
Even when they occasionally appeared at gatherings of the younger generation, there had been no sign of anything like this between them.
“Haa...”
Ak Seo-ah was just about to release a deep sigh when Cheongwol’s sigh from beside her reached her ears first.
After all that talk about being friends with Seomun Hwi, why was she sighing like that?
“What is it, Cheongwol-sojeo?”
Having already reverted to her usual speech, Ak Seo-ah’s question drew an embarrassed expression from Cheongwol.
“Nothing. I was just thinking about something.”
She said that, but her eyes were trembling far more violently than they had when she spoke with Dang Gangjin, so there was clearly something wrong.
“...Is it by any chance because of Seomun Hwi-gongja?”
“Huh?”
Was she even trying to hide her feelings?
Seeing Cheongwol flinch and shudder in alarm, a smile spread before Ak Seo-ah could stop it.
“So that’s it, then. It’s all right. So-in was quite startled by the news of Seomun Hwi-gongja’s engagement as well.”
How wonderful it would be if that were truly all there was to it.
After parting from Kongdong Sect and becoming a woman, until she had arrived here at the Tang Clan, Cheongwol realized she had forgotten something very important.
Hwi doesn’t know I’ve become a woman.
Before leaving Kongdong Sect, she had written in a letter that there had been a slight change because of her martial arts, but from the way things stood now, it was obvious he had not even read that much.
If they met like this, then never mind whether he recognized her or not—she would be exposed to Ak Seo-ah as having once been a man.
...That lecher. And he still had the nerve to sleep beside me and bathe with me?
As the image of Ak Seo-ah’s face twisted in disgust rose up vividly in her mind, Cheongwol swallowed hard.
It had not been intentional, but once she had begun deceiving them, she could not be discovered now.
That alone was the only way the two of them could remain friends.
“...Seo-ah, thank you for helping me earlier when I was speaking with the Young Clan Leader.”
“It was only natural between friends. And it’s nothing compared to what Cheongwol-sojeo has done for our siblings.”
“I don’t think of it that way, but... could I ask one more favor?”
Seeing the troubled look on Cheongwol’s face, Ak Seo-ah seemed to realize this was no ordinary matter, and her expression grew serious as well.
“Just say it. So-in will help with anything if it concerns Cheongwol-sojeo!”
“Thank you!”
Unlike her usual composed self, Cheongwol grabbed her hand at once, leaving Ak Seo-ah momentarily flustered.
“So, what do you need me to help with?”
After taking a breath, Cheongwol opened her mouth in a voice so small it was almost a whisper.
“...Could you tell Hwi to come to the room where we’re staying? There are things we need to talk about alone.”
It was understandable that she wanted to share a long-awaited reunion, but alone?
Ak Seo-ah’s face darkened before she could stop it.
“Cheongwol-sojeo, don’t tell me you, too, have feelings for Seomun Hwi-gongja...”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Cheongwol truly wanted to know what part of her words kept inviting this misunderstanding every single time.
Though the frantic denial felt strangely unsettling, if the girl herself denied it, what more was there to say?
“All right. I still need to greet Dang So-nyeo anyway, so while I’m there, I’ll pass on Cheongwol-sojeo’s words as well.”
Hearing her agree, Cheongwol finally looked relieved and smiled.
“I’m glad I became friends with you.”
Cheongwol, unable to keep a lid on her feelings, suddenly threw her arms around her, and it was clear she was somehow even less like her usual self than before.
The change was a little strange, but also oddly heartwarming.
“So-in is also glad to have become friends with Cheongwol-sojeo.”
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