Blood-Red Eyes
In response to my question, Young Master Yu-jin wore a troubled expression as he countered.
"What do you mean?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm not sure which of the things I saw I wasn't supposed to see."
"Ah......"
Well, even if Young Master Yu-jin seemed precocious, he was only ten years old.
He was still too young to judge what he shouldn't have seen among the things he'd witnessed.
They surely knew that.
So what they were wary of now was something so suspicious that even a ten-year-old boy might mention it to his parents or others.
I smiled and said,
"Just tell me about anything recent that stuck in your memory especially, or seemed strange."
At my words, Young Master Yu-jin groaned in thought but seemed unable to recall anything clearly.
Is he about to cry?
As someone with no hobby of making children cry, this was troubling.
He must have instinctively buried the memory because it felt dangerous.
Was dragging it out the right thing to do?
But letting it pass like this would be even more dangerous.
Then, a thought flashed through my mind.
He said he'd seen something he shouldn't have.
That meant focusing on sight, not touch, smell, or hearing.
Human memory is better than one might think.
A trigger could unlock related memories—even buried ones.
And the sense that reacts most sharply to visuals is color.
"Please wait a moment."
I stepped out of the pavilion. Just then, Uncle was approaching.
"Ah, Uncle!"
"Are you and Jeong-ho alright?"
"Yes, everyone's safe."
"Good. The head of the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group has returned to his headquarters."
It seemed Uncle had seen him off.
"And he said to hear the details from you."
"He must be in a hurry."
The leader must have told Uncle that because he knew the situation couldn't be hidden.
Assassins from another merchant group had infiltrated to target his grandson, and he'd mobilized his own warriors to stop them.
It was impossible to cover up, and it wouldn't be courteous to the other side anyway.
"Actually......"
I explained the whole story to Uncle.
"What? How could such a thing happen!"
Uncle sighed deeply at my account—and rightly so.
"Um, Uncle, I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"Could I borrow some silk samples for a bit?"
I borrowed the silk samples from Uncle's office.
They were swatches of various colors and textures, cut into small pieces, numbered, and bound like a book.
Orders were placed using these as needed.
As I reentered the pavilion, Young Master Yu-jin hung his head with a dejected face.
"I'm sorry. No matter how hard I think, I can't remember."
"It's fine. That's why I brought this."
I laid the silk samples on the couch and said,
"Looking at these colors might bring back something related. Shall we start?"
"Yes."
I slowly turned the pages, conversing with Young Master Yu-jin.
Blue......
"There were a lot of people wearing this color in Beijing."
"It's in fashion."
"This green......"
"It's called jade green too."
"Mother's hair ornament is this color."
I eased his tension like this, unraveling his memories bit by bit.
Several colors passed, but nothing noteworthy emerged.
Finally, red.
Not the bright red favored by women, but a slightly murky red.
Blood-red, perhaps?
Young Master Yu-jin's face stiffened at the sight. Something was there!
"This...... I've seen this color before."
He explained slowly.
"When I went to Beijing with my parents this time, I got bored and nagged my nursemaid into playing hide-and-seek. I was hiding in a dark corner of the mansion when an uncle came by. Then an auntie approached and they talked."
Nothing unusual so far.
In a large mansion, men and women occasionally trysted in secluded spots.
"Then the auntie turned her head and looked right where I was hiding. Our eyes met."
"Oh no!"
"But...... her eyes......"
Young Master Yu-jin pointed to the blood-red silk swatch I'd opened.
"They turned this color."
What?
He continued.
"I was so startled I got caught...... The uncle yelled asking who I was, and I came out...... But by then, her eyes weren't that color anymore."
"I see."
That was what Young Master Yu-jin wasn't supposed to see.
"Huh? But why didn't I remember it until now?"
"Because it was scary."
I gently stroked his head.
"It was so frightening that your subconscious buried it deep."
"......"
Tears streamed from his eyes at my words.
"Y-yes. It was scary. It felt like she wanted to tear me apart."
Damn, I really don't enjoy making kids cry......
But right now, letting him cry was the right answer.
Such memories don't fade forever, no matter how deeply buried.
Better to resolve it now than let it cause problems later.
So how to resolve it?
Simple.
Turn the frightening experience into a good one—or something trivial.
"Thank you. Thanks to your memory, we can protect the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group."
I continued.
"You saw that woman in the Beijing mansion, right?"
"And I know who that auntie is."
"You do?"
"Yes. She's Uncle Jun-min's maidservant."
"......Pardon?"
"And I overheard people saying she's going to become Uncle Jun-min's concubine this time."
I recalled memories from my previous life.
Seong Jun-min, then a sub-leader of the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group, had succeeded the leadership, and he already had a principal wife.
But soon after, the principal wife died, and the former maidservant who became his concubine took her place.
Hoo, anyway, eyes turning red then returning to normal......
Whatever the reason, it was definitely strange.
From their side, they had reason to kill Yu-jin.
But this wasn't pitying them. No matter the reason, killing an innocent child for their goals was unforgivable.
It deserved heavenly punishment.
Returning to my quarters, I paused.
Seo-hyang the Little Lady was asleep on the large table, hands pillowed under her head.
Come to think of it, it was already the end of the chuksi hour (1-3 a.m.).
She should have been fast asleep, but she'd waited for me and dozed off here.
Sleeping like that, her whole body would ache tomorrow.
I pulled back the covers on my bed, lifted her gently, and laid her down.
Then tucked her in.
I could have taken her to her own room, but it was winter, and the air outside was chillier than usual.
I didn't want to wake her.
I was always grateful to her.
Without her help, someone might have died or been injured by now.
This time too.
Having her by my side, with her ice crystal eyes that see the future—perhaps it meant heaven had plans for me.
Was saving her heaven's will?
Or finishing my revenge with her help?
Maybe both.
I turned from the bed and sat in the chair at my desk, recalling what Young Master Yu-jin had said.
A woman whose eyes turned blood-red......
I'd have to ask Master about it.
She was clearly approaching Seong Jun-min to cause trouble.
That raised a question.
Was she directing Seong Jun-min, or cooperating with him?
Either way, her having Seong Jun-min grilled by the leader wouldn't please her.
Her options: save him or silence him by killing.
In my view, the latter was more likely.
The faint demonic aura I'd sensed saving Sub-leader Seong Cheong-min was from a sleeping incense.
A vicious kind that weakens the will.
I'd encountered similar ones before—all tied to the Murim Alliance.
Providing even that to make Seong Jun-min leader meant he'd lose value if cast out.
Would those who ordered him to massacre his nephew spare him, knowing too much?
No way.
So acting now was key to catching their tail.
I stood.
Hoo, no sleep again tonight.
Being able to pull all-nighters like this was thanks to Master knocking me out and letting me sleep deeply recently.
Not that I want to admit it.
Suddenly, I paused.
Wait—then that red-eyed woman is connected to the Murim Alliance?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group's prison, Seong Jun-min, the leader's fourth son, had been dragged in.
He'd been sleeping well when the sudden event left him stunned, but he quickly rallied and shouted.
"You bastards! What do you think you're doing?!"
"We're just following the leader's orders."
"What? Father wouldn't do that!"
He gripped the iron bars protesting, but the warriors who'd brought him left, and the guards ignored him.
Then a voice came from beside him.
"It seems Yeom Cheon has confessed everything already."
Hoarse and broken, but familiar.
Turning, he saw Song Pyeong—the one who'd failed to kill his nephew Seong Yu-jin and brother Seong Cheong-min.
His former bodyguard.
Hands bound to the wall, he spoke to Seong Jun-min.
"Yeom Cheon was dragged to the torture chamber earlier."
"What? Yeom Cheon? This is ridiculous...... There's no one Yeom Cheon couldn't kill......"
Yeom Cheon was a peak expert sent by his backers.
He'd sent him figuring no one higher—Super First-rate or Transcendent—would be at a mere branch, not even the main house.
Anyway, Yeom Cheon's failure meant Seong Yu-jin lived.
Fury boiled over; he bellowed at Song Pyeong.
"Damn it! This is all your fault! If you hadn't failed! If even the first attempt had worked!"
Song Pyeong just looked at him bitterly, despite the venomous blame.
When had it started? When had his lord become this man?
"But Father believed me. Even when you pointed at me as the mastermind, he believed my innocence. He'll believe me this time too. Yes! Father! Father!"
Song Pyeong watched Seong Jun-min bellow with a bitter expression.
Despite agonizing torture, he'd never named his backers—yet his lord seemed to know.
Then.
Thud.
The guards suddenly collapsed. From the shadows emerged a woman in maid's garb.
Seong Jun-min brightened.
"Hwang-min! Is that you, Hwang-min?"
"Yes, my lord."
"How are you here?"
"How could I stay away when my beloved is imprisoned?"
She cupped his face.
"Look how gaunt you've become. Oh heavens......"
"Min-ah......"
"We must flee now. Your brother is trying to kill you. But your father is on your side—just hide a bit. Everything will return to normal."
"Sounds good."
A key emerged from Hwang-min's sleeve; she unlocked the prison door.
Song Pyeong frowned and yelled.
"This is too suspicious. Hwang-min! What are you really?"
"What?"
"You're no ordinary maid! Things changed for the lord since you appeared."
"What are you talking about?"
"Yes! Shut your mouth, Song Pyeong! Hwang-min is a good woman!"
"My lord, come with me quickly!"
Song Pyeong shook his head vehemently.
"Don't follow her, my lord!"
But ignoring the desperate plea, Seong Jun-min followed Hwang-min out.
All the entrance guards were down.
Was the air colder than usual?
Outside, Seong Jun-min's mind cleared gradually.
'Huh?'
It felt like waking from a dream. Something was off.
Hwang-min was an ordinary maid.
How could she take down all those warriors?
More strangely, he'd never doubted her.
And......
Recalling his actions sent chills down his spine.
'Did I really do those things?'
He stopped; Hwang-min turned, urging.
"My lord! No time—hurry!"
"Min-ah."
"Yes?"
"Who...... are you? What have you done to me?"
"What do you mean? I only did it for you, my beloved......"
"Who are you?"