Morning came.
All through breakfast with the family, the atmosphere was oddly stiff. No one urged anyone else to eat more, no one burst out laughing over nothing.
It made sense, given what was waiting for us.
And yet the one who’d caused all this, Moyong Yeonhwa, just came back from her morning training and dug into her food like she was starving. Didn’t seem troubled in the slightest.
Moyong Cheon and Moyong Ha tried opening their mouths a few times, but Moyong Muhyeok stopped them with a look. It clearly meant, don’t say anything that might spoil her appetite.
The twins were infamous for never losing a war of nerves — not even against their eldest brother. But in situations like this, especially with their mother present, they completely folded.
So Yeonhwa just ate heartily, like always. Only after she’d emptied her bowl and set her chopsticks down with a satisfied look did the Clan Head, Moyong Wi, finally broach the real topic.
He suggested they talk for a bit in his study.
Yeonhwa nodded calmly, like she’d been expecting it all along.
“Yes, Father.”
At that single word Father, Moyong Wi flinched slightly. All that firm resolve he’d built up wavered in an instant. Whether Yeonhwa knew it or not, she walked off lightly toward the study, like a butterfly. (At least, that’s how it looked from Moyong Wi’s hopelessly biased eyes.)
The Clan Head Moyong Wi, Lady Eon, and the Young Master Moyong Muhyeok all took their seats. Yeonhwa sat at the very last spot.
Moyong Wi took a moment to find his words before finally speaking.
“So. I heard you raised the largest donation at yesterday’s event. Because of that… people everywhere are talking about how impressive the Moyong Clan’s youngest daughter is. How bold, how full of spirit.”
His face twisted into a complicated expression. It almost sounded like praise, but also like he was scolding her in a roundabout way.
Lady Eon watched her husband’s face, then quietly sighed. The corners of Moyong Wi’s mouth were twitching. Clearly he was trying not to smile like a fool.
She slipped her hand under the table and lightly gripped his thigh. Only then did Moyong Wi snap out of it and clear his throat.
“Ahem. But Yeonhwa. I understand your heart was in the right place, wanting to take the lead on something good. Still, what you said yesterday could become an opening for attacks on the Moyong Clan, inside and out. Especially since you’re my precious daughter.”
Maybe because he’d scolded her so gently, Moyong Yeonhwa just sat there sipping her tea, showing no real reaction. After a brief pause, her eyes went wide and she tilted her head. If anything, she looked even more confident than usual.
“But I honestly don’t understand.”
“Mm. Yes, I suppose it’s hard for you, having grown up so protected under our clan’s roof. But—”
“Aren’t other sects and noble families also living off territory fees and protection money? That’s why the unorthodox clans have such a shit—”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, they have such a hard time pulling that crap off. Right?”
Moyong Wi nearly choked on the sheer number of questionable words there, but decided to let it slide. For now, he nodded. That was when Moyong Muhyeok, who’d been quietly listening, spoke in a gentle, reasoning tone.
“But it’s still something you’ll be criticized for, wielding the clan’s power so openly in a formal setting and selling our connections for gold. It could draw people who want to buy ties with the Moyong Clan. Whether we accept that or not, ugly rumors might spread.”
“And why is that a problem?”
Moyong Yeonhwa just blinked those already large eyes even wider, looking bright and innocent as ever.
“It’s not like I was chasing personal profit. I didn’t do what other officials do, quietly taking gold just to share a meal. That man bought my piece at an auction, didn’t he?”
Moyong Wi had already heard all about that piece. Just hearing the description, he could easily imagine the atmosphere.
Of course, to him as her father, it was the most precious work in the world. But he knew outsiders would find it baffling. So there was no way Yeonhwa’s argument would fully land.
He struggled for words to explain the situation to his daughter. Especially since it wasn’t like she was entirely wrong.
That was when Yeonhwa dropped her eyes slightly and said,
“Father. It’s true I grew up sheltered. But I was taught it’s right to help people when I can. And the ones who told me to do whatever I wanted, who promised to support me no matter what… were… my family.”
Her voice trailed off at the end, sounding a little uncertain, but then her gaze settled on Moyong Muhyeok. He remembered exactly what he’d insisted on back at the market.
He really had said it. And he still meant it.
“The Hwaan Tea House is bound to draw the attention of bandits or unorthodox clans soon. No one can stop that. But helping its owner is something I can do. I said I would, and I did. I secured money to feed the starving while handling our responsibilities — how is that wrong?”
The more she spoke, the more her shoulders squared, brimming with conviction.
Moyong Wi knew his daughter’s nature well. Since she was small, once she’d made up her mind, nothing could bend her. Maybe it seemed reckless on the surface, but that was simply how she was.
Even now, that stubbornness was unchanged, though her way of expressing it was. She was speaking so clearly, so firmly, almost like someone else.
When did she grow up this much…
He barely managed to hold back tears. He wanted to carve every word she’d just said into stone and look at it every night before bed. How satisfying that would be.
Just then, the Young Master Moyong Muhyeok spoke gently.
“…Yeonhwa. I understand your heart. And you’re right. But the name of the Moyong Clan isn’t something you can gamble with on your own righteous instincts. Too many people bear this name for that.”
Moyong Muhyeok’s eyes flickered briefly to Lady Eon, who still hadn’t spoken.
Moyong Yeonhwa just stared down at her half-finished tea and asked quietly,
“Then is the only thing I can risk for chivalry… my life?”
“What was that?”
“But I probably couldn’t even bet that, could I? Everyone’s so desperate to protect me. So what am I supposed to uphold my sense of honor with? No, before that. Brother — what do you think chivalry is? Turning a blind eye to the risk one person faces, just to save everyone’s reputation?”
For a moment, both Moyong Wi and Moyong Muhyeok sat there with their mouths hanging open. They’d never once imagined words like that would come out of Yeonhwa’s mouth.
This was the same youngest daughter who only ever fussed over what to wear, which hair ornaments were prettier, who was betrothed to whom…
Then, Lady Eon, who’d been silent all this time, finally spoke in a calm voice.
“This conversation is straying too far. The Clan Head is busy today; best we continue this another time. For now, Yeonhwa, you may go. Muhyeok, stay.”
She didn’t get an answer to her question, but Yeonhwa rose obediently, dipped her head, and left the room in quick, light steps.
The room fell into a hush.
Once Yeonhwa’s footsteps faded completely, Moyong Muhyeok let out a laugh.
“It’s almost a shame we can’t go brag about her somewhere.”
“More than a shame. I’d like to carve it on every cliff face in every famous mountain.”
Both men finally let out what they’d been holding in, clutching their chests at the same time.
“She speaks so sharply and clearly — who’s daughter could that be? They say by the time you realize it, your children have already left your arms. I didn’t think she’d grow up this fast… it stings a little.”
Moyong Wi’s eyes grew damp with sentiment. But he didn’t get to stay in that tender mood for long. Because Lady Eon spoke quietly, yet with absolute clarity.
“I am disappointed in both of you after this.”
Always gentle Lady Eon saying that made the two men jump like they’d been caught stealing. Especially Moyong Wi, who might have been the Clan Head of the mighty Moyong Clan that ruled a corner of the Martial Arts World, but still flinched at one word from his wife.
“What do you mean, my lady? Tell me how I failed, and I’ll fix it immediately.”
Lady Eon set her teacup down slowly.
“It was enough to simply caution her to be more careful next time.”
“My lady…”
“She held a great conviction in her heart and acted on it. Why couldn’t you praise her for that? She accomplished it all on her own, yet everyone just scolded her — how does that make sense? Rewards and punishments should be clear.”
Both men shut up like they’d had their mouths glued together.
Lady Eon was never one to speak frivolously. They quickly lowered their heads in agreement.
“I suppose I let my worry for my sister cloud my judgment. That was my mistake.”
“I’m her father, and I still keep seeing her as a little girl — I made the same mistake. My lady, please don’t be upset. I’ll be sure to praise her properly for what she did right.”
Only then did Lady Eon’s faint frown smooth out. She nodded slowly, took a sip of tea, then murmured to herself.
“Seeing her today… I truly thought she’d grown so much. Almost wondered if that child really came from my own womb…”
* * *
Every time I swung my sword, I silently praised myself. Nobody else was going to admire my genius reflexes, so I had to do it on my own.
Honestly, when I was dragged off to the Clan Head’s study earlier, the mood had been heavier than I’d expected. I thought to myself,
‘Well, shit, that’s it for me.’
I’d figured they all doted on Moyong Yeonhwa so much that I could get away with saying that much without hearing a peep. But even the Young Master had pulled this scary face, which threw me off a little.
Still — who was I? A member of the unorthodox clans, and… a drunk. When you sit around in taverns, you hear plenty of orthodox bastards, mouths full of spit and righteousness, debating shit. Most of the time, their debates circled around “honor” and “chivalry.”
Like someone had decreed they could only ever discuss that.
Truth be told, I still didn’t really get whatever “honor” or “chivalry” those orthodox bastards were always harping on about. But one thing was clear — if you threw those words around, pretty much anything you did was instantly justified.
And this time, it wasn’t even that much of a stretch to spin it that way. Honestly, it was a pretty damn good on-the-spot improvisation.
Maybe that’s why I was in such a good mood after wriggling out of it clean. Even my sword felt light today. A cool breeze blew over my sweaty forehead.
At this rate, maybe I’d even do some extra work and wreck my thighs after practice.
I finished my last move with a satisfied flourish. Right then, as if waiting for me to sheath my sword, there was a rustle from the bushes.
“If you’re here, just come out.”
I said it lazily. A moment later, Sahyeon emerged. He looked more tired than usual, though that bright smile as he came out with his hands clasped behind his back was the same as ever.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I was seeing him since we split up in those bushes outside the Hwaan Tea House. Sahyeon spoke.
“You’ve got no sense otherwise, but your ears work like a ghost’s.”
“Obviously. Who do you think I am.”
I was riding high on confidence right now, so even that snark from him sounded like praise. I went to give him my usual friendly shove on the shoulder. But weirdly enough, my hand just sliced through empty air.
The bastard had dodged me.
“What the hell?”
I grumbled, feeling awkward. Our eyes met, equally awkward.
That was when I finally noticed his clothes properly. They were black, so it hadn’t stood out right away, but up close you could see brown stains here and there. Even the back of his neck looked stiff and crusted over — probably from dried blood.
If all that was blood, it had to be quite a lot.
Sahyeon casually brushed off his clothes like nothing. Then, like he meant to steer the conversation away, he opened his mouth with his usual smile — but I beat him to it.
“That your blood?”
It must’ve been the last thing he expected me to ask, because Sahyeon went silent for a moment. Then he shook his head. I let out a long sigh, somehow feeling drained.
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