Blade
On the deck of a ship cutting relentlessly through the rushing water, Dang Hyeongeuk and Namgung Cheon stared out at the Yangtze, where the sunset seemed to be melting into the river, their faces hard with tension.
The transparent, flower-shaped jade ornament mentioned in the letter tied with a blue cord.
It had been described as so vividly lifelike that it seemed it would tremble at the slightest breeze, with each petal containing some subtle essence of the Tang Family’s martial arts. As far as they knew, there was only one such ornament in existence.
“Garyeong. Though by tomorrow you will no longer be one of us, never forget that you will always be a member of the Tang Family.”
Unlike the family’s usual custom of taking in a son-in-law, this time they had been forced to let her go because of who the other party was.
He had thrown himself into the intricate carving for more than half a year, sleeping less and less as he worked for her sake—how could he not remember?
Dang Hyeongeuk still remembered the day he placed the jade ornament in Dang Garyeong’s hands with crystal clarity.
Even as tears filled her eyes, she had tried so hard to smile brightly, afraid of worrying the family. The memory still twisted painfully at his heart.
If he had known that would be the last time, he would never have let her go like that.
Swallowing the bitterness deep in his chest, Dang Hyeongeuk then thought of the name written in the letter.
Cheongwol.
How could a young woman from Qinghai Province have come to the Tang Family carrying his sister’s jade ornament?
More than that, it seemed she had no idea the ornament was connected to the Tang Family at all.
The only thing they had managed to learn was that she herself had declared she was on extremely close terms with the owner of the ornament.
Could it truly be that Namgung Cheon and Dang Garyeong’s child had come back alive?
And yet, she was said to have given birth to a son.
With nothing making sense, Dang Hyeongeuk’s brow furrowed deeply.
Could it be...
If the woman who brought the ornament was the descendant of the enemy who had harmed Garyeong and her child...
Before he knew it, a thin thread of killing intent had begun to leak from Dang Hyeongeuk’s body.
Whether the purpose was mockery or reconciliation, he had no intention of accepting either.
“Brother.”
Just as his emotions were about to erupt, Namgung Cheon’s voice came from beside him.
Dang Hyeongeuk snapped his head around. Namgung Cheon lowered the bamboo hat over his face and spoke in a calm voice.
“I understand how you feel, but the others are frightened.”
At that, Dang Hyeongeuk looked back and saw that several people on deck were indeed watching him with fearful eyes.
“...My apologies. You are the one most troubled right now.”
Only then did Dang Hyeongeuk draw back his agitation and swallow a dry breath.
Now that he had children of his own, he understood. He knew just how violently emotion must be surging in Namgung Cheon’s heart at this very moment.
And even Namgung Cheon was holding himself in with such desperate restraint—how could he, standing there being called brother, show such shameful behavior?
“Perhaps I’m just getting older, but I seem to grow more and more impatient by the day.”
Dang Hyeongeuk let out a short sigh and bent slightly, gripping the railing with both hands.
For some reason, the night on the Yangtze felt as if it were arriving especially slowly.
“The same goes for me. I hope the wind blows a little stronger tomorrow.”
Namgung Cheon nodded slowly in agreement, but his own patience was also nearing its limit.
A woman instead of a man. Could it be that Im Yuguang that bastard...
On the day one month had passed since Cheongwol left Kongdong Sect, So Gayul voluntarily stepped down from her position as sect leader and withdrew.
All the elders and disciples tried to persuade her to think again, but her resolve was too firm, and they could do nothing but yield.
I must spend the rest of my life repenting for the sins I’ve committed and lighten the burden, if only a little.
She might have had a sharp tongue, but where was there anyone who had lived as blamelessly as she had, that she should be speaking of sins?
Everyone found it strange, though they thought perhaps she was merely acting modest and didn’t take it too seriously.
Unhak, the man Cheongwol considered her senior brother, was one of the few who saw it differently.
After letting the tea roll into his mouth and tasting its faint bitterness on the aftertaste, he asked carefully, “Sect Leader, why did you step down so suddenly?”
So Gayul shook her head and held the hot teacup in both hands.
“I am no longer the sect leader, so mind your words. I fear someone else may hear you.”
“Since no new sect leader has been chosen yet, I’ll keep calling you that until then.”
Had he grown a little too much like Cheongwol over the past two years?
So Gayul gave a small laugh, as if admitting defeat.
“Do as you please. In any case, what brings you here?”
“...Must there be a reason for me to visit? I simply came to ask after your well-being.”
Even as he said it, So Gayul caught the trace of curiosity hidden in Unhak’s eyes.
“You’re curious too, then. Why I gave up the seat of sect leader.”
Indeed, could age and experience so easily be deceived?
Unhak nodded and admitted it honestly. “I won’t deny that I had such thoughts.”
At his tone, which somehow reminded her of Cheongwol, So Gayul lowered her gaze to the teacup in her hands.
Still Water, Deep Mirror.
It was a principle she had emphasized to Cheongwol again and again, and yet when it was truly needed, even she had failed to uphold it properly.
So I wasn’t even a good teacher.
Bitterness gathered as she looked at Cheongwol’s face reflected on the tea’s surface.
“There’s no special reason. It’s exactly as I said—it’s to repent for my sins and lighten them.”
“...”
At that, Unhak could say no more.
Though he had become close to So Gayul because of Cheongwol, she was still the former sect leader and he was only a second-generation disciple.
By all rights, the difference between them was too great even for this private audience and this easy exchange of words.
How could he dare ask what sins she was speaking of?
For a long while, heavy silence settled between them.
The room was filled only with the sounds of tea being sipped and cups being set down, until at last Unhak broke the awkward stillness first.
“...Still, I wonder how Cheongwol-doobu is doing. I don’t know what she’s trying to do, but you only said it wouldn’t be easy, so I can’t help worrying.”
He had meant it simply to change the mood, but for some reason So Gayul’s face darkened even more.
“You needn’t worry about that.”
“...Pardon?”
If she could ease even a little of her guilt by pouring it into an empty teacup...
So Gayul’s eyelids trembled faintly before she closed her eyes tightly.
“The day that child came here, it was already as good as finished.”
An orphan raised to regard as family the mortal enemy she could not possibly share the same sky with.
And worse, she herself had become the enemy’s blade, now being swung toward that child’s true family.
Even though she had known this was coming and kept her mouth shut, she would surely sink to the very bottom of hell.
But what choice did she have?
The only one left who could truly close the eyes of the loved one who had never been able to wash away his grievance was herself.
Until her lips bled from being bitten so hard, So Gayul pictured the karmic retribution that would soon come for her.
If I can free even a little of the burden in your heart, I’d gladly offer this wretched neck.
Looking at Ak Seo-ah, who sat on the bed with a prim expression, Cheongwol felt that something was different from usual.
She was someone who never stopped talking for even a moment, so why was she so quiet today?
Could something have happened with Dang Gangjin of the Tang Family?
Unable to contain her curiosity, Cheongwol edged closer and asked, “Ak Seo-ah-sojeo, why are you saying nothing today? You know very well I live for the joy of hearing your voice.”
Mocking her speech style playfully, she saw Ak Seo-ah glance at her sidelong.
How strange.
Where had the friend who admired righteous heroes and had always chased after them gone?
Cheongwol could hardly endure that indifferent gaze.
“Seo-ah, what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
As Cheongwol sidled up beside her and whined, Ak Seo-ah finally broke into her familiar bright smile.
“I seem to have fallen into deep thought without realizing it! To say that it was the fault of Cheongwol-sojeo would be completely absurd!”
So saying, Ak Seo-ah pulled Cheongwol, who was beside her, into her arms.
As the softness of a woman’s chest pressed in so tightly that she could hardly breathe, Cheongwol blushed despite herself.
Even though she now had the same body, why did touching another woman’s chest still make her so ashamed?
“It’s all thanks to Cheongwol-sojeo. I truly am grateful.”
She had done nothing at all, so what on earth was this sudden gratitude for?
There was definitely something odd about Ak Seo-ah today.
“Seo-ah, did something happen with Brother Dang?”
At that, the arms that had been holding her so tightly suddenly loosened.
“...”
When Cheongwol cautiously lifted her eyes, Ak Seo-ah was still smiling—but there was something cool, almost chilling, in her expression.
The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.
Yet her eyes had not curved at all.
“Cheongwol-sojeo. I don’t think there’s any need for you to call Sogaju Dang Gangjin your brother.”