Sahyeon was wearing that damned mask, currently disguised as a stuttering servant. He looked meek, utterly stripped of his usual swagger. Still, I actually flinched.
Because the eyes under that mask were very real. And right now, they were locked on me without a hint of wavering.
For a breathless moment, we just stared at each other. Then, like nothing happened, Sahyeon dipped his head and stepped aside. Only then did air finally rush back into my lungs.
What the hell. Why was I holding my breath over that bastard?
I forced myself to casually resume browsing the weapons, acting like nothing was wrong. Of course, my senses were still stretched tight all around me.
Judging by Moyong Muhyeok’s and Moyong Sohae’s oblivious faces, they hadn’t noticed a thing when I’d hurled that hidden dart outside. Probably because Sahyeon had hovered close enough to block their view.
Anyway, it seemed wise to wrap this up and get going. Sohae looked about done with patience, and who knew when that ruckus outside might come spilling in here.
I picked out a small wooden dagger for Hyangah, the ribbon whip that Muhyeok had insisted on, and grabbed a few of those plum blossom wrist darts like the one I’d just used. Or tried to pay for them, anyway.
“Shopkeep. By chance, could I ask if any customers here might have seen—”
Fuck. Dang Iheon.
Of course it was Dang Iheon. The men he’d apprehended earlier were nowhere to be seen, probably dragged off by underlings. But he still held two of the plum darts I’d thrown, the tips stained faintly with blood.
“These came flying from this shop. Are they yours?”
Was this guy actually insane? Why the hell would he track down the person who helped him? If he was here buying torture implements to wring out those criminals, fine—but this?
Just then, our eyes met across the shop. Dang Iheon’s went wide.
“Yeonhwa…?”
“…Uh, hey. You’re here.”
Not sure what else to say, I awkwardly lifted a hand. Naturally, the oldest among us, Moyong Muhyeok, stepped forward. Dang Iheon quickly clasped his hands in a formal greeting.
“So the Young Master is accompanying you as well.”
“Yes. I took Yeonhwa out to browse the market. She’s always so eager to go out with her brother, and I’ve been too busy until now.”
“With such a caring brother, Yeonhwa must be very happy.”
“You flatter me.”
This was exactly what drove me nuts about the orthodox clan types. Any time they met face-to-face, it had to turn into this flowery, bloated exchange that meant absolutely nothing.
“By the way, Young Hero Dang, what brings you here today?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. We just detected some suspicious activity nearby, so I came to investigate. Have you perhaps seen anyone unusual or noticed someone carrying hidden weapons?”
“There’s only been us here. If there’d been any suspicious movement…”
Muhyeok shot me a brief look. My gut twisted, but Dang Iheon seemed to understand even without the rest of the sentence, nodding solemnly.
“Of course. With Yeonhwa present, I’m sure you’ve kept watch quite thoroughly.”
“Yes. I’m sorry we couldn’t be of more help.”
“No apologies needed.”
They went on trading serious remarks while I just dug my toe into the floor, wishing desperately for this conversation to end so we could all go our separate ways.
A moment later, Moyong Sohae finally came down from upstairs. Probably took so long because they’d been packing up her chair and fussing over her. She rushed over with a startled look, then stood quietly, eyes fixed on Dang Iheon—though somehow I felt her reason for watching was different from mine.
Then, before the conversation even properly wrapped up, Sohae slipped in.
“Young Master Dang, what a delightful surprise to meet you here. I was just out browsing weapons with my sister. Though admittedly, it was a bit overwhelming for me…”
“Ah, I see.”
“Did you come to look at weapons too?”
Dang Iheon seemed even more flustered by her sudden friendliness than he’d been by running into us.
“N-no, not exactly browsing. I came to ask a few questions. Have you noticed anything unusual around here?”
“There was no one else. Truly, who would come to such a rough shop? I was hardly interested myself, so I sat and could see everyone—and if anything was suspicious, it was how very delighted my sister Yeonhwa was to be here.”
Sohae covered her lips with a sleeve and let out a tinkling laugh. Her eyes curved into perfect gentle crescents.
Yeah. Guess she really hadn’t enjoyed this place.
Made me feel weirdly sheepish. I’d shown how thrilled I was earlier without a care. Maybe I’d looked like a total brute.
Dang Iheon kept glancing awkwardly at me with an uncertain smile.
What? Why do you keep staring? It got so uncomfortable I actually turned away. Just in time to spot Sahyeon dropping a few coins onto a vacant anvil.
No one paid attention to the move—he was just a lowly servant, after all. Only I saw it.
He hadn’t bought anything here, so that must’ve been payment for the plum darts I’d chucked out the window.
And sure enough, when our eyes met, that bastard winked again.
Goddamn it. Even I had to feel a little grateful by now. Maybe I’d stop by the apothecary later and get him medicine for his “eye condition.”
“It feels like fate to meet this way. Why don’t we all go to Taehyeon Pavilion for a nice meal together?” Sohae suggested brightly.
“Mm…”
Muhyeok only gave a noncommittal hum. Didn’t look too keen. Dang Iheon also seemed reluctant to accept such a sudden invite.
“Thank you for the kind offer, but I really must be off. I’ve urgent business to attend to. Please invite me again next time.”
Dang Iheon declined gracefully. Sohae’s lovely brows pinched in disappointment. She lowered her gaze and spoke sweetly.
“I only suggested it because I was so pleased by this chance meeting. I didn’t mean to impose.”
“Not at all. I’m grateful.”
With her invitation shot down, Sohae simply retreated.
In the end, Dang Iheon left without learning anything. Which made sense—small concealed weapons like these weren’t usually counted or tracked individually. They were mass-produced and stocked in bulk. No shop would keep a ledger of every last dart.
Still, my conscience was clean. I’d even paid for them, and in a roundabout way, settled some of my debt to Dang Iheon. That put a bit of bounce in my step.
I’d bought everything I needed. Since I’d only managed morning practice today, I was itching to get back and train more. Sohae was chattering by my side—“Look at this, my lady! Look over there!”—but it barely registered.
Just then, the Young Master approached with a soft smile.
“You must be quite tired after all that walking. Why don’t we have a cozy meal here before heading home? I know how much you enjoy the market at night.”
I hesitated. Not for long. I’d be eating back at the Moyong Clan anyway.
The place Muhyeok took us was surprisingly humble. Not some grand restaurant like Taehyeon Pavilion, but a shabby noodle shop with battered tables and chairs set up on the street.
At the next table over, an old woman was feeding greasy broth to her runny-nosed grandson. Half of it dribbled down his chin, but he still seemed to love it.
“Do you remember this place, Ahwa?”
Muhyeok sat down easily at the largest table. I shook my head without thinking. His smile turned a bit wistful.
“I see. I suppose we did drift apart once I became Young Master. Whenever we snuck out to the market, we always sat right here.”
“Ah, so this is that spot.”
“Yes, yes. So it comes back to you now? Shall I order the usual beef noodles for you?”
I shook my head again.
“No. Noodles with double meat. Broth barely visible. Add chili oil and scallions. Oh, and five skewers and two dumplings on the side.”
“A-all that?”
“I’m very hungry.”
“It’s wonderful to see you eating so heartily.”
Muhyeok nodded, delighted, then turned to Sohae as if to ask what she’d like.
Sohae… seemed completely stunned by the state of the place. She perched on the very edge of her chair like she might tip off at any second. Eventually her servants had to spread her outer robe over the seat before she’d properly sit.
“I-I’ll have the same as my sister.”
She looked like she’d nibble a bird’s portion, but maybe she had a surprising appetite? Meanwhile, the one who probably should’ve ordered more—Muhyeok—only got a single bowl of noodles.
The servants gathered at another table to eat with his permission. Hyangah and Sahyeon joined them.
Soon food began to pile up. The table was so small it looked like it might collapse under the weight.
The shopkeeper came out grinning. From the way he called him “young master,” it was obvious Muhyeok had been coming here since he was little.
“Well now, young master, it’s been ages! Anything you want today is on the house—just say the word!”
He must’ve fed them plenty when they were broke kids.
Muhyeok gave a booming laugh, clasping the floury old hands.
“I’ve never forgotten how you fed us so well when we ran away from home with empty pockets. Even if I paid with interest, it wouldn’t be enough. We eat a lot more now, so let me pay double.”
“Haha, you certainly do eat more these days. Never seen an order this big!”
The shopkeeper greeted me too. I didn’t know him, so I just gave a vague nod while dumping chili oil and scallions over my noodles. Then I dunked a dumpling into the dark broth and shoved it in my mouth.
The two men kept chatting. I was busy eating. Meanwhile, Sohae hadn’t even touched her chopsticks, just stared at me in horror.
“Why are you watching me instead of eating? You ordered all this.”
When I asked, her eyes went even wider in shock.
“Good heavens… I only said I’d have the same, and now there’s all this—this stuff…”
Whatever. If she didn’t eat, that just meant more for me. I focused back on my meal.
But before I could even get a few more bites down, I spotted someone staggering over. Sohae tensed instantly.
Grinning like an idiot, swaying on unsteady feet… of course.
“Oho, brother?”
Moyong Gyeom.
He’d clearly just come from guzzling himself stupid at some tavern. He seemed thrilled to see us, bounding closer—then froze when he spotted Muhyeok.
If only he’d stayed away. But no, he slunk back over and gave an exaggerated clasp-fist salute. Practically mocking.
“Well now, fancy meeting such esteemed folks here!”
Still had bruises on his face and was wandering around like this. Amazing.
I didn’t even snort, just kept eating. Muhyeok’s expression darkened as he motioned the shopkeeper back inside.
“You’re drinking too heavily, even this early. I’d hate to see you make a scene and hurt yourself again.”
There was a faint chill in his sigh.
Probably a reminder of the beating Gyeom took last time.
Even drunk, he clearly understood. He grit his teeth and glared at me. I gave him a bored look right back. Gyeom dropped his gaze immediately.
Then, true to his cowardly nature, he turned on the easiest target—his sister. He gave Sohae a sly grin.
“You’re not even going to greet your dear brother? Why sit there like a lump of wood?”
People said Sohae wasn’t to be underestimated, but to me she always seemed like any other slightly fussy flower raised by a big clan.
Except now, as she kept her gaze firmly off him, she looked… rather ruthless.
I knew that look. The kind of cold rage that bubbles up when you have to tolerate something filthy you’d rather never touch.
Apparently, just because you had “Moyong” in your name didn’t mean you all got along like me and the three idiots.
Sohae suddenly stood and spoke sweetly.
“Brother, what a surprise. Shall we step over there and speak privately?”
Her voice was sugar itself, but I’d seen the disgust in her eyes. It was kind of impressive, honestly. She led Gyeom off.
Things felt awkward for a moment. Then Muhyeok looked at me and spoke in his calm way.
“Pay it no mind. Just keep eating, Yeonhwa.”
“Was already planning to.”
I shrugged. A bit startled, sure—but not my problem. Except the next thing he said made me actually spit my noodles.
“Be careful. It seems Gyeom’s holding quite a grudge over how you beat him last time.”
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