Chapter 40
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It wasn't until nearly one shichen had passed—about two hours—that I finally remembered why I'd come here in the first place.
"Oh, right. What did you call me for?"
"Ah, yeah."
Ma Hye-hyang steadied Ak Jung-hae as he tried to sit up haphazardly. Leaning back against the headboard, he bowed his head toward me. I froze mid-reach for a peanut from the plate.
"Thank you. That's what I wanted to say. I should have come to you, but I still can't move around."
"...It wasn't me who saved you. It was Father."
"I heard all about it. You sent Senior Ui-gang because of your dream, and even then you weren't reassured, so you brought a physician along? Oh, right—did he chew you out a lot?"
I shook my head.
"No. He didn't scold me."
"Really? Senior let it slide just like that?"
"Yes."
To follow Father with the physician, I'd lied to Aide Sim, claiming Father had ordered me to fetch one. The situation was urgent, and no one suspected a child of such brazen deceit—they took my word as gospel. After all, I'd already rubbed onions in my eyes and wailed like a banshee. What was a little white lie? Better to act first and face the music later.
But surprisingly, just like Ak Jung-hae's reaction, I hadn't been scolded.
"That's weird. Senior didn't say much about you kidnapping a physician."
"Exactly... Wait, kidnapping?"
"Huh? Wasn't it?"
"No!"
I'd gotten the physician's proper consent! Sure, I'd barged into his place late at night, and a group of obvious martial artists showing up at dawn to request his company had clearly terrified him...
"Hahaha, just kidding. Look at your face."
Ak Jung-hae reached out and pinched my cheek. I swatted his hand away, hopped off the chair, and bowed politely.
"Well, seems like you've said what you wanted. I'll be going now."
"Already?"
"Yes! Anything else?"
"Not really, but..."
The thanks were clearly an excuse. He was just bored lying around and wanted company.
Just then, an inn waiter slipped in cautiously.
"Young master, here's what you requested."
"Why'd it take so long?"
"Didn't they finally catch that kidnapper? The streets are packed—everyone's out gawking."
Caught? He'd escaped, but the rumors said otherwise.
As the waiter passed me, a wave of sweet scent wafted over. My head turned instinctively to follow it. Ak Jung-hae and Ma Hye-hyang chuckled softly.
"What's that?"
"Yongsu-tang."
Yongsu-tang was a type of candy made by stretching malt syrup into threads and winding it into a spool-like treat.
Ak Jung-hae grinned mischievously.
"They say this candy shop's yongsu-tang is famous. I bought it for you... but if you're leaving, oh well. Sigh, I don't even like sweets much. What to do with it?"
I plopped right back into the chair as if I'd never meant to leave.
"I think I can stay a bit longer."
Ma Hye-hyang and Ak Jung-hae burst out laughing. As I was about to pop some yongsu-tang into my mouth, commotion erupted outside. Moments later, a disciple from the Yeongjo Gate—we were coordinating with them—rushed in with news.
"Hero Baek Ri has returned."
"Father?"
I bolted up, vaulted the doorsill, and raced down the inn stairs, nearly tumbling. I threw myself at Father as he walked in.
"Father! You're back!"
His stern face hardened further as he gripped my shoulders.
"You're covered in dust."
Ma Hye-hyang, following behind, spoke up.
"Senior, you're back early. Any trouble?"
She had good reason to ask. Namgung Wan was missing. So were Tang So-yong and the other Namgung family warriors who'd gone with them—only Aide Sim trailed Father.
Then I spotted what was beside Aide Sim and went wide-eyed. Father nodded toward it.
"I came back first because of this child."
Ma Hye-hyang beamed.
"A survivor?"
I'd thought, Obviously not, but Father's nod left my jaw dropping.
A survivor? There was definitely no one left alive last time.
The child was filthy, his ordeal etched into every inch. Pale skin so thin veins showed through, a scrawny frame draped in torn, ill-fitting rags that only emphasized his frailty. Matted hair half-hid his face. Yet even in that grime, his striking features stood out.
Then our eyes met—his glassy black pupils like dark jewels. My heart plummeted.
...What is this?
My pulse thundered uncomfortably. Inspecting him, I noticed something off.
Isn't he a kidnapping victim?
But he was unnaturally calm for one—expressionless, really. Shouldn't he be terrified, confused?
Father asked me then,
"Ri-yeon, what's that you're holding?"
"Oh, this? Big brother Jung-hae bought me a snack. I was gonna share, but then Father came. Want some?"
Unwrapping it released a sugary wave; Father furrowed his brow.
"...No, I'm good."
I giggled and offered it to the child instead.
"Hi. Want some?"
"......"
He stared blankly, not taking it. I pressed on casually.
"It's from a famous place here. Try it."
"......"
I half-forced a piece into his unresponsive hand.
"I'm Baek Ri-yeon. What's your name?"
"......"
He glanced up at Father. Who stared back with his usual impassive face—the kind that made small talk impossible. The child moved his lips slowly. That's when I spotted it: a teardrop-shaped mole beneath his left eye.
...Huh?
My mouth fell open blankly. I realized where I'd seen this child before.
How could I forget? That crooked smirk as my head came off, those slyly curving eyes. The memory of my beheading was still vivid.
And as if stamping my guess true, a small voice like thunder clapped in my ear.
"......Yahul."
The candy slipped from my limp fingers, scattering to the floor.
Yahul. The black curtain of this novel didn't appear until far later in the story. And even then, no one knew he was the black curtain at first. He was just known as the infamous captain of the Demonic Cult's Thousand Kills Squad—powerful, but little else.
That hidden black curtain, Yahul, risked exposure to kill me personally, and I still didn't know why.
His true identity only trickled out past the midpoint. He was originally from a righteous Murim clan. But for some crime, he was thrown into the Villain's Valley as a child.
Villain's Valley. A prison run by the Murim Alliance for the worst offenders. No guards needed—once in, no one came out. Infamous for it.
Yet Yahul escaped... and burned with hatred for the Murim Alliance.
What crime had he committed? Even Namgung Ryu-cheong tried digging, but there was nothing more. Everyone who knew his childhood was gone. No need to ask who did it.
So...
Shouldn't he be in Villain's Valley right now?
And there were definitely no survivors last time?
Snapping out of my shock, I was back in the room, teacup demurely in hand.
I need to talk to Father.
I headed to the room next door where he was staying. Empty.
I grabbed a passing waiter.
"Excuse me, have you seen my father?"
"Ah, that young master? He just left the inn."
What? He left again? Dropping a bombshell and bailing!
"Thank you."
I bowed to the waiter, stood there a moment, then walked off.