Wait, he knew I beat up Moyong Gyeom?
I just stared dumbly at Moyong Muhyeok. He let out a small sigh.
“There’s no need to look so surprised. Gyeom’s a scoundrel—so hopeless it’s laughable. Dim-witted and dull, to the point it’s questionable whether his skull’s even capable of holding a proper thought…”
For the first time ever, I almost felt sorry for Moyong Gyeom. Really… wasn’t that a bit overkill? Compared to this, me literally punching him might’ve been a kindness.
“Anyway, the fact that he’s been clinging so stubbornly to such an absurd lie this long, even when it gains him nothing and shreds his pride—that’s what made Father and me wonder what was actually going on.”
I slowly stirred my noodles with my chopsticks, brain racing. It was only the Clan Head’s and Young Master’s speculation—so wouldn’t it be smarter to just keep denying everything?
Before I could settle on an answer, Muhyeok spoke calmly.
“The reason I didn’t question you about it directly is because I figured you must’ve had your reasons. That, and that child came to me with Sahyeon.”
“That child?”
“The collateral who gave testimony that day.”
“Oh, the one with the bloody nose… wait. Why?”
And with Sahyeon, too? That’s weird. Why hadn’t that bastard said anything to me?
“He confessed. Gyeom was so drunk he couldn’t stand, and when that boy tried to fight back, he managed to knock him over. Then you, standing nearby, stepped in and… corrected him a little.”
“…Uh…”
“He said you did it on his behalf, to defend him. Hearing it all, I could finally see why Gyeom and Elder Pae are reacting the way they are.”
I couldn’t immediately find anything to say. Because I had lied. If this ended with them locking me up or banning me from training, I’d be screwed.
But then Muhyeok said something so unexpected it froze me in place.
“Well done.”
“…What?”
He even dropped a dumpling into my bowl and gave me a gentle smile. Normally he seemed stiff and stoic, but when he smiled like that, he honestly looked so kind.
“To think, without me knowing, our Yeonhwa grew into someone willing to stand up for the weak. So thoughtful and righteous.”
Was that really something meant for me to hear?
It felt like my mind had just gone blank, like I’d taken a solid hit to the head. I stammered out the first thing that came to mind.
“Yeah… I guess.”
Truthfully, I’d never felt much of anything for Moyong Muhyeok. In my past life, by the time I came to exterminate the Moyong Clan, he was already long dead—so I didn’t have any debt hanging over my head.
I did want him to stay alive at least until I could make my escape, but that was just strategy. It’d be easier for me to slip away if he stayed standing. That was all.
But sitting here, looking at him watching me with such gentle eyes—praising me for something I’d always thought I needed to hide—it… it did something weird to my chest. Made it all warm and squirmy.
Of course, the person he was proud of was Moyong Yeonhwa. Not Seol Danhae, infamous scourge of the Martial Arts World.
Then again, the one who’d actually beaten up Moyong Gyeom was Seol Danhae. Even if it hadn’t been for any noble reason.
Muhyeok placed another side dish into my bowl.
“Yeonhwa, as long as the things you want don’t endanger you, this brother of yours will always be on your side. If you ever need help, just say the word.”
“Yeah, yeah. Didn’t we already go over this?”
“I know. Your brother tends to nag. But true feelings should be spoken over and over, endlessly, for as long as one lives.”
Suddenly, something heavy pressed into one corner of my heart. It almost sounded like he knew he wouldn’t have long to keep saying these things.
And the truth was… no matter how diligently he tried to express his heart, it wouldn’t be enough. Because he’d die soon.
I still hadn’t figured out exactly how Moyong Muhyeok would die. But things destined to happen didn’t just vanish.
Sure, I’d stopped Sahyeon for now, but that was temporary. Once I ran off, it’d be over. Or before that—even the people who’d ordered the assassination in the first place might send someone else, deciding Sahyeon had failed.
Why did he die? Was it really Sahyeon who killed him in my past life?
I found myself staring blankly at him before blurting out,
“Have you been feeling sick lately? Coughing more, tightness in your chest, dizzy spells, blood in your urine…”
Muhyeok looked at me like he couldn’t believe his ears, then shook his head.
“Ah, no, wait. Ahwa. What sort of nonsense is that about urine and the rest? Who in the Moyong Clan is healthier than this big brother of yours? Not a single thing’s wrong with me.”
He laughed, a bit taken aback, then proudly declared it. Even factoring in older brothers’ tendency to bluff, he genuinely seemed fine. He didn’t look pale or frail at all.
“My Ahwa’s even looking out for my health now. Do I look that bad? Is it the heavy workload?”
He awkwardly ran a palm down his cheek, murmuring as if worried he’d aged. Honestly, his skin was still disgustingly smooth.
“I dunno about all that. Just—stay healthy. It’s a good thing to be, you know?”
I scooped up some bloated noodles with broth and stuffed them in my mouth. The thickened soup went down hot, warming me all the way through.
I kept my eyes locked on the food. For some reason, I was afraid if I looked at his face again, that weird itchy feeling would start squirming around in my chest.
Muhyeok was quiet for a moment, like I’d startled him. Then he gave a soft laugh.
“Alright, my Ahwa. Since you worry so sweetly, I’ll just have to live for a thousand years.”
“Yeah, sure. Live a thousand, or ten thousand years.”
Not that I’d be around to see it. Still better than dying early. I started shoveling food in faster.
***
Sahyeon was a man of secrets—and talents.
If he had one skill that beat them all, it was probably the way he could erase his presence, snuff out every trace of himself.
Especially now, wearing a mask and playing the humble servant, he was so faint it was hard to be sure you’d even met him a moment ago. If that’s what he intended.
After eating, Sahyeon rose with the excuse of fetching water, free to slip away as he pleased. No one spared him a glance.
What he was most curious about was the conversation between Moyong Sohae and her dear brother Moyong Gyeom.
Carrying a basket and acting like a peddler, neither sibling so much as guessed he was from the Moyong Clan.
Sohae was glaring daggers at Gyeom, her voice low and venomous.
“…Humiliate me again, and I’ll tell Grandfather. Now get lost.”
“Hah, vicious bitch. You play the delicate blossom so well over there, so frail and innocent, but before your own brother there’s nothing in those eyes.”
“If I had even the slightest thing to gain from you, I’d flatter you right now.”
“I wonder what poor bastard will end up taking you as his bride. Can’t wait to see that.”
“At least thanks to him, you’ll keep stuffing your face and puffing up your worthless pride, so be grateful and behave yourself, even if you don’t know who he is yet.”
Sahyeon applauded inwardly.
Damn, Moyong Sohae had more bite than he’d ever guessed.
Unlike that other table—where the siblings were almost too close—these two were downright vicious. And honestly? This was the more entertaining side. Even so, Sahyeon’s eyes occasionally flicked back to check on Moyong Yeonhwa. Who knew what blunder she might make next, chatting alone with the Young Master.
Then Sohae’s face twisted with open contempt.
“Go crawl off and play your dice games all night, hole up in some brothel and guzzle wine. If you screw up even one thing I’ve planned, I won’t wait for Grandfather—I’ll kill you myself.”
“I don’t give a damn about your petty schemes! As long as I can ruin that woman with my own hands…”
“Still shameless as ever. Try putting some powder on those bruises, would you? Stop disgracing the family.”
“You little bitch, you think you can mouth off to your exalted brother just because I let you—!”
Gyeom raised his arm, hand cocked to strike. Sohae didn’t even flinch, just stared coldly up at him.
His arm jerked a few times, like he might actually do it, but in the end he just spat curses and dropped it. Then he turned and kicked the stacked baskets right next to Sahyeon.
Sahyeon let out a pained groan, scrambling to gather the fallen goods. Gyeom looked down at him like he was something stuck to his shoe.
“Got to sell this shit to eat, huh? Then don’t hawk it right by me, you filthy wretch. Now fuck off!”
Head bowed low, Sahyeon quickly gathered his things and shuffled away. His hunched back and flustered movements were the very picture of a wandering peddler. But under the brim of his hat, his eyes glittered with icy ridicule.
Over at the other table, Moyong Muhyeok and Moyong Yeonhwa had mostly finished eating and were sipping tea. Muhyeok seemed to be savoring the fragrance, while Yeonhwa threw hers back in one gulp and made a sour face.
Under his hat, Sahyeon couldn’t help but chuckle. The distaste from moments ago finally faded.
How could someone be so spectacularly bad at playing a role, yet still be so brazenly, ridiculously confident? There wasn’t a trace of the Moyong Clan’s precious pampered daughter in her—but nobody suspected a thing.
Sure, they were only seeing her briefly. But it was fascinating. In fact, when he finally finished his business and left the Moyong Clan, what he’d miss most might just be watching her.
Then Muhyeok asked gently, glancing at Yeonhwa slumped with zero decorum in her chair.
“People are releasing wish lanterns today, even though it’s not a festival. Would you like to do one too?”
“No.”
Yeonhwa refused without even pausing to think. Muhyeok looked surprised, and even Sahyeon, eavesdropping, felt a flicker of curiosity.
“You used to love them. Writing your wishes down… Let your brother buy you the prettiest lantern. Ok?”
She still turned him down.
Even now, down by the stream, a few children were giggling, setting lanterns afloat. They drifted off slowly, tiny points of light probably carrying some modest little dreams.
Watching that, Yeonhwa murmured,
“If my lantern was the only one that sank, it’d just piss me off.”
Muhyeok was understandably puzzled.
“How could that happen? And if it did, I would just keep buying new ones until yours floated.”
It was about the kindest thing anyone could say. But Yeonhwa didn’t respond again. Sahyeon found himself stealing a look at her face.
Shockingly… she looked tired. Like someone who’d already lived their whole life. He stared a moment longer, then abruptly looked away.
Truly… what a strange woman.
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