Chapter 53: Deciding the Path (6)
Unexpected situations always leave people flustered. Everyone was the same. At the abruptly issued command, they all wore dazed expressions, and no one moved. But only Yang Sojin wore a cruel smile.
“What are you doing! Hurry up and behead him!”
At her sharp voice, the executioner hastily raised his sword, and the smile on Yang Sojin's lips deepened. This was the moment she had wanted.
So what if it was forced? So what if it was crude? The family head's fury was only natural. But she had only one goal: to draw out Jin Yeo-rip's reaction. And if that reaction brought intervention from her father, Geuman Yang Taek, it didn't matter how illogical the process was.
“P-please, spare me.”
Jang Il pleaded in terror at the gleaming sword raised high. He was at the very end among those who hadn't knelt in the rear garden. She had deliberately placed him there—the position farthest from Jin Yeo-rip, who would be approaching her. The moment Jang Il's head fell, Jin Yeo-rip would have only one course of action: lose his reason and attack her. He would surely act that way. If he was Jin Yeo-rip...
When she heard about the Beksan Band incident, and when Jin Yeo-rip had broken protocol to rush into the inner quarters to save So Hye and Hwang Ja-su, she had been certain. Whenever his actions burst forth, there was always a desire to save someone. He wouldn't hold back his anger; he'd forget his cool-headedness and act on emotion. And he'd point his sword at her. This crude scheme was aimed solely at that.
“Strike!”
At Yang Sojin's command, screamed with bulging veins, the executioner no longer hesitated and swung his sword toward Jang Il's neck.
“Damn it all!”
And Jin Yeo-rip kicked off the ground, pouring everything into a single step. Boom!
Sunbo—instant step, movement at extreme speed. He couldn't just stand by. He couldn't let someone die because of him!
“So you're going to try to stop it after all? Such an emotional fool.”
Yang Sojin's lips curled in thick mockery at the sight of him launching toward Jang Il. It changed nothing. No matter how swift his movements, the distance was too great. Jang Il would die. And everything would proceed according to her plan. She had no doubt.
In that moment—ping! A single flash of light sliced fiercely through the air. It was Hwang Ja-su's choice in that instant. He had seen Jin Yeo-rip leap toward Jang Il and realized his intent to save him.
“Gahk!”
The executioner's body jerked as something embedded in him, and in that split-second gap, Jin Yeo-rip collided with him. Thud!
Even a sword that had lost its aim didn't lose its sharpness. The downward slash grazed Jang Il's body, leaving a massive wound.
“Aaaagh!”
Blood sprayed profusely, and Jang Il's scream filled the rear garden.
“Physician Hwang!”
Jin Yeo-rip pressed the wound and shouted urgently, but Hwang Ja-su was already airborne.
“I'll examine him. Move your hands...”
“The blood.”
“It's fine. He'll have a scar, but no threat to his life.”
“Please save him. I beg you.”
“Yes.”
Hwang Ja-su smiled at Jin Yeo-rip's expression, filled with worry as if he hadn't just been furious at Yang Sojin moments ago. It reminded him of a certain lady who had always tried to soothe everyone's pain.
Hwang Ja-su hurriedly stanched the bleeding, and Jin Yeo-rip tore a strip from his luxurious robe to bind the wound. Everyone watched the scene.
“...Th-this...”
Only Yang Sojin wore a different expression from the rest. Hwang Ja-su's intervention was unforeseen. The moment the executioner collapsed and Jin Yeo-rip saved Jang Il's life, she had unwittingly shot to her feet. Jang Il was supposed to die. It would have been better for the future that way. His death would make the false charges against him real. And only then would Jin Yeo-rip lose his reason. But he had survived. Jin Yeo-rip had saved him right before everyone's eyes. The moment Jang Il escaped death, the plan went awry, and the atmosphere in the rear garden shifted strangely.
The Outer Market merchants, kneeling on the ground, glared at Yang Sojin with malice. She had tried to kill him, and Jin Yeo-rip had saved him. Hwang Ja-su's split-second choice had thoroughly ruined her scheme. In that case, she had to kill another one at least...!
“Hup!”
But Yang Sojin couldn't speak. Jin Yeo-rip's eyes, filled with rage and madness, were fixed on her. It was as if the surroundings had gone dark, leaving only his eyes visible.
“Are you truly going to do this? Do you want to see it through with me to the end?”
Yang Sojin was speechless at the chilling voice spreading through the air. The moment she opened her mouth, death seemed to creep closer.
“Very well. If that's what you want.”
Jin Yeo-rip's steps were like those of the Grim Reaper. With each footfall, her breath caught, chills ran down her spine, and fear made her limbs tremble finely. And he was so far away... Yet it felt like a sharp blade was pressing against her nape.
But it wasn't So Hye or Hwang Ja-su who stopped Jin Yeo-rip.
“Yeo-rip! Stop!”
“...”
“I said stop!”
As Yang Sojin hesitated like her spirit was suppressed, and the wall of Hwang Ja-su crumbled, opening the path into the inner quarters, Jin Ha-seong rushed in and blocked his son.
“Step aside.”
“I can't. This is my responsibility!”
“...”
“Trust your father!”
Jin Yeo-rip's eyes twitched at Jin Ha-seong's words laced with subtle anger.
“Trust me.”
“...”
With those repeated words, Jin Ha-seong blocked his son's path and shouted at everyone in the inner quarters.
“What do you think you're doing! Sheathe your swords and release the Outer Market merchants at once!”
“...”
“Are you deaf?!”
At the roar filled with fury, the executioners looked at Yang Sojin in bewilderment. But she gave no answer, and none dared ignore the family head's command. Clang. Someone dropped their sword. And that sound decided the executioners' actions. The family head's intervention had completely reversed the situation.
“Deputy Leader Wang! Have the Biwang Corps disarm the inner quarters' warriors immediately and detain everyone involved in this incident! I'll investigate personally!”
“Yes!”
At Jin Ha-seong's shout, Wang Seok replied loudly and grinned at the elders.
“Wouldn't it be better if you went yourselves?”
“...”
“With the family head's anger burning so fiercely, the elders who continued the meeting during this fiasco must have valid intentions.”
The elders' eyes shook violently. Wang Seok then addressed the Biwang Corps warriors.
“Escort the Lady to her quarters. Not even an ant should approach her.”
“Yes!”
Yang Sojin, who had been glaring at Jin Yeo-rip with gritted teeth, didn't resist the Biwang Corps warriors' hands. She was confined. The natural outcome of her crude scheme. None of it had made sense from the start.
“Hoo...”
With no choice due to his father's intervention, Jin Yeo-rip sighed and calmed the emotions amplified by the Twelve Flows. He turned and approached Hwang Ja-su.
“Will he be okay?”
“Haha, don't you trust me? I'm Hwang Ja-su. Hwang Ja-su!”
“That's why.”
“Pardon?”
Hwang Ja-su cocked his head sideways, furrowing his eyebrows in opposite directions at Jin Yeo-rip's worry.
“That's why... What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing special.”
“No, that's not it! What was that just now? There was definitely something!”
“He's really okay, right?”
“I said he's f— No, that's not the point right now! What did you mean by that earlier?”
“Hoo, well, it's a relief anyway. I really thought he was done for; my heart was in my throat.”
Though Hwang Ja-su pressed like he was interrogating, Jin Yeo-rip—who heard only what he wanted—patted his chest in relief. Just moments ago, his face had been beet red, looking ready to tear down the inner quarters.
“Haa.”
A short distance away, Jin Ha-seong watched his son bickering with Hwang Ja-su and patted his own chest. Though the meaning was slightly different. If Hwang Ja-su hadn't stopped the executioner in the nick of time? If Jang Il had died? He didn't even want to think of the consequences.
“That damn fool, why'd he have to rush into the inner quarters like that.”
Only now that his pent-up worry eased did Jin Ha-seong mutter pinches full of reproach toward his son.
“Looks good, doesn't it?”
“Hm?”
“People keep gathering, with those expressions.”
So Hye, who had approached, said with a grin. As she said, Outer Market merchants freed from their bonds gathered around Jin Yeo-rip, who was worried for Jang Il. Their expressions were all the same: gratitude for not abandoning them.
“Similar, right? To her.”
“...”
The one So Hye meant was Ak Seoyeonn. The one who couldn't easily turn away from those she pitied. Recalling her irritated Jin Ha-seong, and he grumbled unusually.
“Similar my foot! When did she ever act so recklessly! Enough nonsense—go get treated!”
“Pfft, you're pleased but taking it out on me.”
“Hey!”
“Your expression's already different from usual. Your tone too. And your face is red.”
Jin Ha-seong whipped his head away at So Hye's beaming words.
“It's menopause!”
“Pardon?”
It was out of nowhere. Using that as an excuse now...
“Wang Seok! We're heading back! I need to grasp this incident fully right away!”
“Yes, family head.”
Jin Ha-seong strode away deliberately. But soon, another worry plagued his mind. Geuman. How would he view this, and how would he act?
“Nothing's easy. Nothing at all.”
Jin Ha-seong, face furrowed, could only sigh. Still, it had gone well. He had held back well and saved the day well. If he had lost reason and harmed Yang Sojin, all the process would be skipped, and only his son's fault would spread as rumor.
But now, everyone would say it: Yang Sojin, greedy for the Cheongeumbang leader's seat, had concocted an absurd scheme and fallen into self-inflicted ruin.
“Geuman, this time I have plenty to say too. Because of your daughter's foolish mistake.”
“What did you say? Meet a woman? A woman!”
“...”
“Have you lost your mind?! Huh? Are you insane? Leaving your lord's side empty because of a woman?”
Not long after the inner quarters incident, Im Pilsaeng returned. And the moment he arrived, he was getting mercilessly scolded by So Hye. It was practically verbal slaps.
Sensing the danger, Hwang Ja-su had already slipped away under the pretext of buying herbs. He didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
“No, that's...”
“That mouth!”
“...”
“What right do you have to make excuses! Do you even know what happened? You think I can trust you with the lord's side like this? Huh!? Forgot already, living easy? What did she ask of you?”
“No, how could I forget that? I...”
“Someone who hasn't forgotten goes to meet a woman?”
“No, that's...”
“No what!”
Im Pilsaeng shot Jin Yeo-rip a sullen look, unable to even defend himself against the barrage that wrapped him tight. He felt wronged. This was all because of Jin Yeo-rip learning the Reverse Heaven heart method. But Jin Yeo-rip, burdened by his intense gaze, awkwardly stood and left.
“Goodness, look at me. I haven't even checked on Teacher yet.”
“Y-Young master. Leaving me like this, where to?”
Jin Yeo-rip callously ignored Im Pilsaeng's resentful glare. What was he supposed to do? So Hye had asked why he hadn't come with him, and he'd answered truthfully: he went to meet a woman.
Im Pilsaeng, about to grab the fleeing Jin Yeo-rip, had his collar seized by So Hye instead.
“You're not done yet! Spill it! What woman!”
“...”
“Oh? Not talking, huh?”
As So Hye rampaged, Im Pilsaeng explained in detail why he'd used a woman as an excuse to slip away: the heart method Jin Yeo-rip had learned. His trip to Shaolin because of it.
A while later, So Hye, who had listened silently, sighed and stood.
“What can we do? He's already learned it.”
“Will it be okay? Shaolin seemed clueless about the young master's heart method.”
“And if it's not?”
“Huh?”
“He seems to have chosen his path already.”
“Huh? What do you mean? Path?”
As Im Pilsaeng asked puzzled, So Hye smiled pleasantly.
“From now on, call him Lord.”