It had been a long time since the Moyong Clan’s estate had been this deathly quiet. With the culprit finally caught, the martial artists who’d been rushing around could finally rest.
Still, if you looked around carefully, plenty of pavilions had their lights still on. It meant most of them couldn’t sleep for their own reasons.
I’d snuck out without telling Hyangah, so I made sure to erase my presence and walked the darkest paths I could. I’d been to the dungeon once before to see Soowa, so I remembered the way.
The two Moyong Clan martial artists standing guard flinched when they saw me.
“I want to see Sohae.”
“The Clan Head said no one’s allowed in.”
“I have permission. I just want to say goodbye to my sister, who’ll never see the sun again.”
“She’s been dangerous. Just stopped screaming a little while ago.”
“With two martial artists as strong as you guarding her, what could go wrong?”
I grinned up at them. A little flattery works wonders, regardless of the political situation. Sure enough, the two men stepped aside with weary resignation.
“…If anything seems off, call out right away.”
“Of course.”
I nodded and stepped into the dungeon. The damp, musty air wrapped around me like a wet blanket. This was Moyong Sohae’s new home now.
My shadow stretched long across the hallway.
Funnily enough, she was in the same cell Soowa had once been locked in, all the way in the back. If she’d been in one of the outer cells, she could at least watch people come and go. They’d shoved her deep into the dark so she couldn’t even have that.
The dungeon was pitch black, like a tomb. The torches lining the hallway gave off barely any light.
Sohae didn’t appear to be anywhere in sight, probably crouched in the farthest corner.
“Sohae. Mind a little chat?”
Even though I spoke softly, my voice echoed sharply off the dungeon walls. A moment later, something stirred in the dark. Sohae crept forward, slow and unsteady, into the faint glow.
She looked so gaunt and expressionless I almost didn’t recognize her.
“…Moyong Yeonhwa.”
I guess she’d officially tossed out “sister.” Not that I blamed her. What use was politeness when you were stuck in a pit for the rest of your life?
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“……”
“This must be your first time in a dungeon. Anything uncomfortable?”
I asked with a smile. I expected her to snap back immediately, but surprisingly, she didn’t. She just stepped a little closer and grabbed the bars.
“I was hoping to ask you something if we met.”
“Go on.”
“Why did you let me live?”
Now that she was standing closer, her eyes were clearly visible. They were filled with resignation—and confusion.
“You had your chance to kill me.”
“Oh, that?”
I was honestly surprised at how naïve she still was. A scoff slipped out before I could stop it.
“Sohae. How could I possibly kill you? After everything we’ve shared.”
“……”
“Being trapped in here forever is going to make you suffer a lot longer. That’s the punishment. Wasting away, constantly longing for everything you once took for granted.”
“What…?”
Her face twisted in shock and fury. The emptiness in her eyes ignited with madness again. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You really are stupid. Did you think I spared you out of pity? That I was soft?”
“Moyong Yeonhwa!”
“I’ve had nothing to do but think while rotting in my room thanks to you. So I thought long and hard.”
“You fucking bitch!”
“I thought about the best way to make you suffer.”
If the guards outside heard me, it’d probably raise some eyebrows, so I held back from laughing out loud. But I didn’t stop the grin tugging at my lips.
Sohae’s face was twisted like a demon’s. The slap from earlier had left one cheek bruised and swollen, making her even uglier.
“Playing the innocent all this time, just to do this? You’ll rot in hell—!”
“Yawn. You’re boring me. At least be creative with your curses. This weak-ass shit is just embarrassing.”
“What?”
“Sohae. Since this’ll be our last chat, let me teach you something. See, when it comes to cursing someone out…”
I gestured at her and leaned in, shielding my mouth like I was sharing a secret. Then I unleashed every crude, disgusting insult I knew, a decade’s worth of verbal poison in one go.
Sohae’s face instantly turned pale.
She probably thought she’d seen everything, but I’d bet she’d never been hit with filth like that before.
Since I woke up in this life, I hadn’t had a chance to really let loose like that. It felt amazing.
I straightened up with a smirk. She was still frozen, clearly in shock.
“…You… you…”
“That’s how you curse, got it?”
She stared at me with the dumbest look on her face, then collapsed in a heap. I casually brushed dust off nonexistent hems and added:
“Not that you’ve got anyone left to use it on. Maybe just yourself. But hey, who knows. If your dear grandpa ever lands in the cell across from you, keep practicing. You’ll want to be ready.”
With that, I felt my anger start to settle. I could finally breathe a little.
“Well, take care. Stay alive, don’t die, and have a lovely life.”
“Moyong Yeonhwa… Moyong… Yeonhwa…”
She just kept mumbling my name like she’d gone crazy. I turned around—but then remembered something.
“Oh, right.”
Sohae looked up at me like she was possessed.
“Remember that story I told you before?”
“…What…”
“The hunter died before he could even get the tiger or the deer. Tsk, what a shame.”
I put on a theatrical pout, then finally turned for real. As I walked back down the long corridor, a banshee’s scream tore from the cell behind me.
I thought her tantrum was over. Guess not. The two guards ran inside in a panic.
“Are you alright?!”
“Yeah, as you can see. I think the poor girl can’t sleep with all this light. It’s too much for someone who’s lived so gently all her life. So sad… Would you mind dimming the lights?”
“Pardon? But…”
“Come on. She needs her rest. Do it for me, won’t you?”
They exchanged glances, clearly unsure. But eventually, they nodded. Given my position, they couldn’t really say no.
“You’re very generous. Understood. But if the prisoner acts up, we’ll have to relight them.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
I stepped out of the dungeon, putting on a properly sorrowful expression. Once I was sure no one else was around, I let out a quiet chuckle.
With total darkness comes isolation. All she’ll have left to look at is herself—her twisted thoughts, her shattered pride.
In darkness, even the tiniest noise becomes thunder. Bugs scuttling around will feel like they’re crawling straight into her brain. The shadows will chew through her body and her mind.
That was payback for what she did to my energy center.
As for Moyong Pae, he was still untouched. But I’d deal with him eventually.
For now, I’d done what I came to do. Time to head back and sleep like the dead. And after that…
But the thought didn’t finish. My legs were starting to feel heavy. My steps slowed, like I had sandbags tied to my feet.
“…What the hell.”
I’d walked far enough that the dungeon was completely out of sight.
Revenge, complete. No suspicion left behind. Moyong Sohae would suffer until the day she died.
Now all I had to do was keep moving. My energy center might not be what it used to be, but I’d just act like it never happened. Train, rebuild, grind again.
That’s always been me. But this time… why did it all feel so fucking hollow?
No excitement. No satisfaction. No catharsis. If anything, I felt a little…
“Sad?”
The sudden voice made me flinch. Sahyeon was standing in the shadow of a wall.
“Sad? Me?”
What the hell did I have to be sad about?
I answered dryly. But… maybe he wasn’t wrong. Maybe knowing your own emotions is harder than reading someone else’s.
Sahyeon didn’t press. He just walked toward me slowly, not smiling like usual.
“Don’t think you’ll sleep anytime soon. Want to chat for a bit?”
“Chat? In the middle of the damn night?”
“……”
“Fine. Where we going?”
Sahyeon smiled faintly and walked ahead. I stared at his back—somehow looking taller than usual—and followed. Not like we had many cozy places to talk.
Of course, the spot he picked was our usual hideout. No chance Dang Iheon would show up now, so no interruptions.
We sat where we always did.
Sahyeon said we’d talk, but stayed quiet. I didn’t know what to say either, so I just stared at the sky.
“…It’s clear.”
You wouldn’t believe something awful had happened. The sky was full of stars, the moon so bright it seemed unreal.
We sat there in silence for a long while.
When the mess in my chest had settled a little, Sahyeon finally spoke, his voice quiet.
“Moyong Pae’s being moved tomorrow morning. To the annex next to the closed ward.”
“Oh, really?”
“And Sohae’s residence… sounds like they’re keeping it empty for now.”
“Hm.”
Sohae’s quarters weren’t huge, but they were packed with expensive stuff, thanks to her old man’s influence. Most of it would go to the clan—or just gather dust. Which meant a few pieces might…
“You’re probably allowed to take some of the things there.”
“Shit. You scared me.”
How did he know? I swear this bastard reads minds sometimes.
“It’s all over your face. You say one thing, but your expressions are honest.”
“That’s a first. No one’s said that before.”
“They probably just didn’t have the guts.”
“Rude.”
I gave him a light punch in the shoulder. He was definitely thinner than before. Must’ve burned through a ton of energy healing me. And he’d been sick too, before that.
“…So that’s how you knew I was feeling off?”
I asked, slightly sheepish. Sahyeon didn’t answer. He just looked at me, then smiled faintly. And like magic, a soft breeze passed between us. His long black hair, tied up high, fluttered gently in the wind.
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