The Secret Revealed (2)
Deep into the night, in the Lord's chambers of the Murim Alliance.
A low groan escaped from the Murim Alliance Lord's bedroom.
Ak So-gun writhed as if trapped in a nightmare, sweat pouring from his brow.
The woman sleeping beside him shook him awake.
"My Lord, My Lord."
Ak So-gun's eyes snapped open, and he jolted awake.
He exhaled the breath he'd been holding in his sleep all at once.
"Huuuuaaaah!"
Though awake, he was still dazed, and the woman asked him,
"Are you all right?"
Wrapped in the blankets around her naked body, gazing at him with concern—it was none other than Bi-gak Lord On Byeok-hwa. The two had been sharing a bed.
Both were unmarried, so there were no moral issues. But with her holding such a key position in the Murim Alliance, rumors were inevitable if word got out.
Only one person knew: Pung-geuk-an, the head of the secret bodyguards. Whenever she visited the Lord, all other guards were dismissed, and only Pung-geuk-an stood watch.
"Did you have a bad dream?"
"No. I'm fine."
"You're drenched in sweat."
The moment she reached out to wipe his sweat, Ak So-gun roughly slapped her hand away.
"I said I'm fine!"
"I'm sorry."
It was unlike his usual self—sharp and irritable.
On Byeok-hwa felt more worry than offense. Lately, the Lord had been growing increasingly on edge. There was no clear reason, yet he couldn't control his own anger.
"Haaaah."
The sigh he let out felt like ominous smoke billowing from lava on the verge of eruption.
"Sorry about that."
Ak So-gun patted her shoulder once with a gentle tone, then rose from the bed. Despite being over seventy, his body remained robust.
"Is something troubling you?"
"No."
"You've barely slept well these days. I'm worried."
For a moment, Ak So-gun seemed about to speak, then held back. On Byeok-hwa could tell. He was on the verge of shouting, 'I said I'm fine!' but barely restrained himself. Clearly, he was losing control of his rage.
"I'll step out for some air."
Ak So-gun dressed and left the room.
On Byeok-hwa watched his retreating figure with deep concern.
'Is it because of Baek Dae-ju?'
The only recent change was Baek So-cheon's return as Hyun-cheon-dae leader. All these shifts had started after he came back.
Yet the Lord had thrown a celebration for Hyun-cheon-dae without fuss and even returned Gui-yeong Geom to him. At times like that, it seemed their relationship had mended... but really, Ak So-gun lately was impossible to read.
'What on earth happened between you and Baek Dae-ju?'
She was just as curious as Baek So-cheon.
As Baek So-cheon headed home after parting with Cheon-geuk, he halted before the front gate.
"Who's there?"
His quiet question flew toward the shadows at the end of his gaze. Someone stood there—not hiding, just leaning against the darkened wall.
The figure stepped into view. Baek So-cheon was stunned upon recognizing him.
"My Lord?"
Incredibly, the uninvited midnight visitor was Ak So-gun.
"So-cheon."
Ak So-gun's voice was different from usual—not soft and warm, but rough.
"What brings you here?"
Baek So-cheon tensed inwardly. He had to prepare for the worst.
Baek So-cheon readied himself to channel inner power at any moment. Now he could draw it directly from his meridians throughout his body, faster than from his dantian.
He scanned for presences around as Ak So-gun approached. The Lord wouldn't come alone. Sure enough, he sensed the hidden secret bodyguards nearby.
By then, Ak So-gun had reached him.
Up close, Baek So-cheon was shocked again.
His face was flushed red, sweat pouring like rain. Even at the Bi-gak banquet hall, he'd been red-faced and sweating, but this was worse. Ak So-gun looked on the verge of collapse.
"Are you unwell?"
"No. I'm fine."
If the Lord's condition was this bad, the bodyguards should have intervened. Their inaction suggested a strict order not to.
At least it didn't seem like an assassination attempt. He wouldn't bring guards just to kill him openly. Still, Baek So-cheon stayed vigilant.
"I came because I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Ak So-gun suddenly seized Baek So-cheon's hand. Baek So-cheon nearly countered with inner power, but it was just a grip, so he held back.
"So-cheon, tomorrow's decisive battle ends it all. How do you feel?"
"...?"
The out-of-nowhere remark left Baek So-cheon baffled. He had no idea what Ak So-gun meant.
"You're nervous, right? Me too. But we'll win tomorrow's fight for sure. If we kill Yeom Hwa-sin tomorrow, we end this war."
At first, it didn't register, but as he listened, it clicked. These were the words Ak So-gun had spoken to him on the eve of the final battle with the Black Heaven Alliance Lord.
'Why bring up that day all of a sudden?'
But Ak So-gun pressed on, unheeding. He wasn't in his right mind. He was the Ak So-gun from three years ago that day.
"Want to hear a confession?"
Just like then, Ak So-gun grinned sheepishly and bared his heart.
"Truth is, lots of people envied you. That's why there was so much scheming and slander. But I never listened to them. I trusted only you. You know that, right? Even my second son likes you more than me. But I'm fine with it. I see you like my own child."
He was repeating his words from that day verbatim.
Suddenly, memories of that day flooded back, stirring Baek So-cheon's emotions.
Yes, this was their bond.
That was why, over the past three years, he couldn't leave the Alliance and kept agonizing over his relationship with the Lord. He truly respected him, and the man had cherished him in return.
"Honestly, I'm human too—how could I not feel jealous? Every warrior I knew admired and followed you. Hearing we'd lose this war without you—how do you think that made me feel? If I'd liked you even a little less, that jealousy would've consumed me. But..."
Baek So-cheon focused more on Ak So-gun's condition than his words. His face had grown even redder since arriving, so flushed it seemed ready to burst.
Ak So-gun finished the day's final words with a dazed expression.
"...I really like you."
The moment he spoke, the Lord collapsed backward.
"My Lord!"
Baek So-cheon rushed over and checked him. His breathing was ragged—his state was dire.
The secret bodyguards promptly revealed themselves.
Pung-geuk-an hurried forward and cradled Ak So-gun.
"We'll take him back to the Lord's chambers first."
He ordered his men.
"Fetch Divine Physician Ban Wol-ryang immediately!"
Pung-geuk-an leaped toward the Lord's chambers with him in his arms.
It was a bolt from the blue, utterly unforeseen.
Baek So-cheon had no idea what had happened.
He followed swiftly to the Lord's chambers.
In the bedroom, Divine Physician Ban Wol-ryang examined the Lord.
Outside, all the pavilion lords had gathered upon hearing the news. If something happened to the Lord's body, it was protocol to inform them while keeping it top secret.
Je-gal Hyeon approached Baek So-cheon.
"What exactly happened?"
Everyone awaited Baek So-cheon's answer.
"He came at night and said strange things."
"What things?"
"He spoke of three years ago—that day. The words he said to me on the eve of the final battle. He wasn't in his right mind."
"My god!"
Am-yeong-gak Lord Hwang Jong-shin, listening nearby, looked incredulous. He briefly suspected foul play by Baek So-cheon, but dismissed it. With Pung-geuk-an and the secret bodyguards present, Baek So-cheon couldn't lie.
"Has he fallen into qi deviation?"
"Perhaps."
Everyone sighed. With war looming, qi deviation in the Lord would be catastrophic.
Hwang Jong-shin berated Pung-geuk-an for failing his guard duty. Pung-geuk-an said nothing.
On Byeok-hwa stayed silent too, blaming herself. There had been signs even when they were together in the bedroom.
'I should have gone with him.'
But wandering with the Lord late at night would look suspicious. She should have stopped him instead.
'My Lord.'
She loved him deeply. Their feelings had blossomed after she became Bi-gak Lord.
Ak So-gun had fallen for her first.
His persistent courtship won her over; they shared values. Aside from his baffling treatment of Baek So-cheon, he was worthy of respect.
Then Ban Wol-ryang emerged.
"How is he?"
Everyone crowded around.
Ban Wol-ryang reported gravely.
"He's suffering high fever, with qi and blood flowing erratically. Medicine and acupuncture aren't stabilizing him. He's in critical condition."
"Critical?" Everyone was shocked.
Je-gal Hyeon spoke for them.
"Is it poison?"
"Not poison."
"Qi deviation, then?"
"Doesn't seem so."
"Then what?"
"I need more treatment to know."
Even the Divine Physician couldn't ease the symptoms or pinpoint the cause. The gravity was clear.
As he returned inside, Pung-geuk-an addressed them.
"This must be handled in absolute secrecy. Lingering here risks leaks, so please return and wait. We'll notify you of any changes."
The pavilion lords departed.
"Baek Dae-ju."
On Byeok-hwa followed Baek So-cheon out.
"Yes, Pavilion Lord."
"What happened?"
"Just as I said."
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Her bluntness convinced him she wasn't involved.
"I wish I were. If I was hiding something, at least I'd know what it was."
Now Baek So-cheon turned the question on her.
"Are you hiding something from me, Pavilion Lord?"
"No."
She didn't mention her relationship with the Lord. Anything else, maybe—but not that.
'This is definitely tied to Baek Dae-ju.'
It was a woman's intuition, and a subordinate's as well.
But Baek So-cheon felt it too. He'd caught her subtle flinch at his question.
'She's hiding something.'
Each reached their conclusion.
"I'll take my leave."
Baek So-cheon left the Lord's chambers.
The next day came, and the one after, but the Lord's condition worsened.
Despite every remedy from the Divine Physician, he didn't improve. If anything, he declined further.
On the third night since collapsing, two unexpected visitors arrived at Baek So-cheon's home.
Cheon-geuk and Na-sa-rin.
Na-sa-rin got straight to it.
"You said there was a red dot in his pupils, right?"
"Yes."
"Ah! My old age has ruined my memory."
She'd suddenly recalled a forgotten detail. One cause for red dots in both eyes.
"To avoid disaster, answer me honestly from now on. Can you trust me and do that?"
Na-sa-rin minded her manners. Her urgency meant dire stakes.
"I will."
"Was that man the Murim Alliance Lord?"
Direct as an arrow. A question not to ask, an answer not to give—but Baek So-cheon answered truthfully.
"Yes."
"Is he all right now?"
"No. He's collapsed."
Baek So-cheon answered honestly again.
"How long since he fell?"
"Third day."
Na-sa-rin dropped a bombshell.
"Your Lord won't survive the night. If you want to save him, take me to him now."