Thump, thump-thump—
Soeun Yu hastily put on her outer robe and rushed out barefoot.
She traversed the lengthy corridors of the Namgung household. Only when she was struggling to catch her breath did she finally reach the end of the corridor, the entrance to the Namgung household building.
There, a group of people was gathered. There were individuals dressed in the attire of government officials, several members of the Namgung household, a few constables, and Bin Namgung, whom Soeun despised with all her heart.
Having come to meet the official who had requested her presence, Soeun momentarily flinched upon seeing Bin Namgung. She soon realized that he was registered as “legally” Byul Rak’s brother and tried to compose herself, though with difficulty.
“Madam, may I inquire about something?”
“…Why have the officials come?”
“Oh, you mean these people? It’s nothing much. As usual, they’ve come to collect the predetermined taxes—”
“Nonsense. I didn’t ask for the superficial details.”
Pretending to be dignified, Soeun regained her composure. Though the Namgung household’s prestige had faded, the title of the house’s matron still carried some weight.
On the surface, Bin Namgung was smiling amiably, but internally, his thoughts were churning.
What? Does she know why the official has come? Then, does she also know that Cheolbin Namgung is going to trial?
Already, her growing animosity toward him was concerning. If she does indeed know, the situation will only escalate negatively.
Why bring Soeun and Cheolbin together again, risking stirring up old feelings? Namgung Bin swallowed nervously.
‘Is what she says true? Or is she merely trying to probe me?’
As their sharp gazes crossed, an official standing on the side interrupted.
“Excuse me, are you Lady Yu of the Namgung household?”
“Yes, that’s me. I am the matron of the Namgung household.”
Hearing the answer, the official nodded, seemingly pleased, and extended the document he was holding. A small brush was included.
“Please, sign here first.”
“What is this…?”
“It concerns the forthcoming trial of the Sword Sage, your husband. It includes details such as the trial date. Please read it carefully and sign.”
Following the official’s instructions, Soeun skimmed the document before placing her signature, using the palm of her hand.
The official accepted the paper with a smile. Inside, Namgung Bin was troubled.
“Hmph… somehow, I scrounged together some funds and hired new witnesses, but what does it mean if Soeun Yu gets involved too…?”
If his ultimate goal had been the Sword Sage, he would have compelled her into a ‘submission contract’ by threatening her with weapons, regardless of what happened.
Namgung Bin’s ultimate goal is Soeun Yu. And now, she has even become someone senior in rank; he no longer even has access to her body.
What he desires is none other than Soeun Yu’s heart. That’s the only reason he’s been persistently striving this far.
“The trial date…will be in two weeks, right?”
“Yes, just come to the government office by then. Though, it’s not mandatory that you attend. That part is up to you.”
“No, I will go. No matter what happens, I must go. I can also testify if necessary.”
“—Testify? When you’ve seen nothing directly? What exactly do you plan to testify to? Surely you don’t mean to bring up that lip mark you left on Cheolbin’s face? If you do, I’d be grateful!”
Unaware that Soeun knew the situation regarding Byul Rak, Namgung Bin began harboring a favorable misunderstanding. Recognizing his misinterpretation, Soeun chose not to say anything more that could undo the confusion.
She knows more than Bin Namgung but considers herself much more foolish. In her view, it’s better to remain silent rather than reveal too much by opening her mouth unnecessarily.
*
I do not understand people.
Human beings are so deep and complex that someone as dim-witted as myself cannot fully grasp them.
Even after spending such a long time interacting with people, I am unable to truly peer into their minds. I can only vaguely speculate.
If I had been able to understand completely, I wouldn’t have been so grotesquely betrayed by Namgung Bin. Though this may be nothing more than tardy self-consolation, this is how I see it.
Humans are complex creatures, living for their purposes, desires, beliefs, and convictions. Or sometimes for someone dear who matters even more than these things.
The point is, there are no flat, two-dimensional people in this world. Good and evil coexist in everyone, and we can’t definitively say that someone embodies only one aspect.
However, that is when we exclude “inclination.”
When there is someone who is predominantly good with a little bit of bad, we call them benevolent. On the contrary, those who have much evil and a slight shred of good are labeled as malevolent.
A person fully made up of ten parts of either good or evil? It might exist. However, I haven’t encountered such people who seem to only come out in novels yet.
Even the two bandits I crushed during the Chilhwajeon, my father, the Heaven-Splitting Sword King, and even the Blood Demon who once, in a different event, violated me—all of them, although I hate to admit it, possessed some semblance of goodness.
Recently, a rather peculiar individual has latched onto me.
“Ughh… Master…”
“Hey there, Miss Ryun. Aren’t you being a little too intimate?”
“Instead, I like it… ah…”
“Let me humor you for just half an hour. After that, I expect you to let go.”
Her pink hands encase me as if I were her child. Right now, my face is buried in her soft bosom, and I’m being slowly suffocated by its weight.
Do you think men enjoy this treatment?
Absolutely not.
To me, Hong Ryun isn’t a woman; she’s just a grateful child, nothing more. Just like Gayoung Jin, she’s a sweet, lovely child.
“Child,” you say? Exactly. Who in their right mind sees a child as a woman? Naturally, the world perceives me as a pedophile, but that’s because of the false Sword Sage that Namgung Bin made, so I’ll ignore that.
Isn’t Hong Ryun already an adult? Of course, she is. But no matter that, the age gap doesn’t vanish just because her age might be close to mine.
Even if it were small, indulging in such vanity is a luxury I can’t afford—not with how tangled my relationships with women have become lately, and yet no stray thoughts cross my mind.
Waiiiing—
“Hmm? That’s a moth, isn’t it?”
“Seems it’s slipped in through the crack of the window. I’m going to open the door and let it out before it gets hurt—”
Pft—Snap!
“…!”
“Oh my! I didn’t know you liked moths so much! Next time, I’ll be sure to let them go alive!”
“I didn’t exactly say I liked moths, but…”
“R-Really? Then why were you trying to send it off gently?”
“Isn’t it only natural to preserve life?”
“Uuuuugh! I’m sorry! From now on, I’ll absolutely avoid killing! Or do you want me to cut my fingers? So I won’t accidentally kill someone again!”
Hong Ryun—
The real name: Pavilion Master of the Murder Pavilion, Saebyeong Sae-seong.
This woman is powerful. Strong enough to rival the fourth greatest in the world. Unless it were Cheonma of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, me, or the Vice Sect Master hidden within the Blood Cult, nobody could easily defeat Hong Ryun.
However, regardless of her strength, there is a lack of compassion in her, something often called “four virtues.”
She kills upon sight of life.
This absurd thought, to her, is an undeniable truth.
This isn’t strange considering the background she grew up in.
Hong Ryun was separated from her parents when she was around ten years old. Since her father, Hyeonhaetaetae, was a notorious figure in the martial world, she would have likely grown up seeing nothing but the battlefield of carnage.
A child is like a blank sheet of paper. A pure human with no taint or scent, an untainted child. The martial artists painted this child’s paper with crimson dye.
I’m included in that group since I taught her the martial arts she now wields. Though my intention was to help her protect herself.
Intentions aside, the result led to Sae-seong, so I can’t fully absolve myself of responsibility for her current disposition.
– This crazy son-in-law has started again
“Why are you doing this again?”
– Your pitiful guilt for strange things is just ridiculous.
“…Isn’t it true that this isn’t entirely my fault?”
– Pfft, how is that your fault… Hmm, well, now that I think of it, the one who killed the Blood Sea Great Great Lord was you. Fair enough, I can’t argue with you on this one. Indeed, you’re right this time.
While having a chiding conversation with Jin Woo-yong, Hong Ryun opened her mouth with a very apologetic expression.
“Excuse me, when do you want to cut it off…? Would you like to do the honors, my benefactor? Oh, whenever you’re comfortable! I’m ready anytime!”
“Why would I cut off your finger?”
“B-But, because of me, your heart…”
“Stay close to me. I won’t let you out of my sight for a second.”
“…Are you saying you want me to stay by your side…?”
When was she crying, anyway? Hong Ryun smiled brightly at me, glowing with pure and sincere happiness, devoid of any malice.
Hong Ryun is not inherently evil. After all, where in the world does someone born evil exist? She doesn’t take joy in evil. She’s simply unable to recognize evil actions for what they are. In other words, concepts like murder or theft don’t fall under her ethical framework.
At most, she knows not to do certain things in front of other people because she’s seen or heard it from someplace else. But that’s about it.
She’s undeniably kind and pure towards me, while at the same time, chillingly cruel towards others. This makes her actions unique because they stem not from malice, but from a complete lack of understanding that those actions are evil.
That’s why she’s peculiar.
Her intentions are righteous in her world, yet the methods she uses are too drastic, cruel, or outright evil.
“Of course! Even if you tell me not to, I’ll still stay!”
Blushing as she shouted, Hong Ryun looked earnestly at me.
“Uh, no… That’s not what I really mean… Of course, I’ll distance myself if you say so…”
Then, Hong Ryun droops her head like a well-scolded puppy, sweating profusely.
Who would imagine this person to be Saebyeong Sae-seong, the leader of the Murder Pavilion?
“Stop that.”
“N-Noticed, but… isn’t my utmost and absolute loyalty to Master… well, yeah?”
“Isn’t your most important concern supposed to be yourself? Stop worrying so much about me; don’t try to adjust everything based on me.”
“Hm… Though it won’t be easy, if that’s what you say…”
-Someone who spends their whole life only living for others like this young man might be perceived as being selfish. Like a pervert who secretly enjoys sacrificing himself for others.
“…Who said I enjoy it?!”
-Then, was it all pure altruism for the ten thousand years you went through this? Even a random passerby would laugh at that, boy.
“But this situation with her is different, isn’t it? My role was essential, whereas there’s no need for Hong Ryun to cater to everything I do.”
-Hmm, that’s just what you think.
It’s my thoughts? All I said was that Hong Ryun doesn’t need to live her life without a self, so what’s that supposed to mean?
It was just my consideration for her and a proposal done for her well-being, yet…
“Ugh… It feels like I’m drifting further from Master…”
Lowering her head in the gloom, Hong Ryun mumbles under her breath.
I don’t understand. I clearly told her to live for herself… Who would dislike such a life?
-The boy who’s spent his whole life living only for others still doesn’t get it after a hundred years. It’s not about self-sacrifice, but about connection.
Jin Woo-yong’s voice of mockery mixed with resignation reached my ears.
At that moment, Hong Ryun stepped back from me, seemingly prepared to do so naturally.
Why now? With a questioning look at her getting up, Hong Ryun immediately explained.
“Half an hour is up, Master.”
“Ah…”
There was an undeniable sense of regret. However, the discipline enveloping her outweighed the regret or longing.
So, she hadn’t forgotten about the half-hour limit I mentioned earlier? I had completely forgotten.
“Though, why specifically the half-hour? Was there any special reason? Are you heading to lunch now? Would you like me to cook?”
Determined not to lose this opportunity again, Hong Ryun bombarded me with rapid-fire questions filled with strong intent.
Shaking my head side to side, I replied softly.
“I must leave now.”
“Eh? You’re leaving? Where to?”
“Staying here is longer than I anticipated. It’s time to go, isn’t it?”
“Ah…”
Hong Ryun’s expression suggested she understood.
Yes, it’s time to go.
Back to the mainland. The vendetta against Namgung Bin needs to come to an end.
These past few days have been unusually peaceful for me, even somewhat happy. It would be nice to tuck these memories away in my heart and reminisce about them when I have some leisure in the future.
