Chapter 8 ….
At the Mouth of the Yesung River
For a moment, So-hyang was speechless, her legs giving out, and she barely managed to stay standing by gripping the doorframe.
Her face, swept by shock, shook her head.
“Th-That can’t be…”
She had waited, exhausted, hoping she would return. But So-hyang had already convinced herself that her daughter was dead. That was the only way she could survive. Only then could she ease the guilt she felt toward the daughter she bore. In the next life, she prayed endlessly, asking her daughter not to be born as a gisaeng’s child and to attain blissful rebirth.
Even if she were alive, So-hyang hoped she would never return to the kyōbang again.
Now, as her daughter—who had grown up so quickly—took step after step toward her, So-hyang’s fingertips trembled.
“Mother…”
It had been a long time since she had spoken the word aloud. Just saying it on her lips threatened to bring tears, so she had refrained from uttering it. But now, the word slipped out: Mother.
So-hyang turned her head, eyes closing, as her powerless cry escaped.
“My daughter is dead.”
“Oh, ma’am. How can you say such a thing when your daughter has returned safely before you? Surely you must recognize her; there’s no way you wouldn’t.”
“Why are you all standing around instead of preparing to welcome a guest? Did you forget that today, the Gukgong promised a distinguished guest?”
At So-hyang’s scolding, the gisaengs scattered.
Even the usually timid hall servants wiped their tears with their aprons and slipped into the kitchen.
“Mother…”
Seoryeon mustered courage again and called out.
Even after more than ten years, her mother was still beautiful. The woman who had always been strict as a tiger toward her but gentle and smiling to others now had faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
“Who do you call mother? My daughter is dead…”
But seeing her daughter’s face now, standing close and facing her, So-hyang’s throat tightened.
She had grown up beautifully. Without a mother, she had thrived, rendering So-hyang’s fears meaningless.
“I’ve come…”
“Why have you returned? If you hated me, you should have never come back.”
A daughter returning to her gisaeng mother’s embrace could only become a gisaeng again.
“I’ve come to take care of you, Mother.”
“To serve me now, after all this time? It’s unnecessary. Go away.”
So-hyang deliberately spoke harshly.
She wanted her daughter to leave without lingering regrets.
If Ye-in had left because she disliked her, she should have walked away and never returned. Her mother should have been forgotten.
“You have to leave with me now.”
“Leave? I would never abandon Haewolgak.”
Haewolgak was a kyōbang under the Goryeo royal household. Because it had produced the finest ye-in, So-hyang had received treatment comparable to that of a noble. She and Haewolgak were one and the same. She would never leave the place where she had devoted her entire life.
“There’s no time. They’ll arrive soon.”
Seoryeon grew anxious, sensing it would not be easy to persuade her mother.
“They?”
“People of the Gukgong will arrive shortly.”
“…!”
“I… became the Gukgong’s adopted daughter.”
“You—became the Gukgong’s adopted daughter?”
All eyes in the kyōbang turned to Seoryeon, not just So-hyang’s.
“Seoryeon became the Gukgong’s adopted daughter?”
“Good heavens.”
Even a frail old man, just by catching the Gukgong’s attention, was rumored to gain immense influence. Everyone sought to be noticed by him at any performance he attended.
“But why do you insist on leaving?”
Her daughter had always been difficult to read, but this decision was even more baffling. Everyone watched, curious, waiting for her answer. Why reject such fortune?
‘Because this isn’t the end.’
Gukgong was the type of man who could hold not only her but everyone around her hostage through this marriage.
Seoryeon had thrown herself into it solely for the safety of the Gui-salmun brothers and her master, who lived in seclusion at Beopcheon Temple. Knowing that they risked their lives to protect her, she could not render their efforts meaningless.
At that moment, Yu Won-seok dashed in urgently.
“Seoryeon! Hurry! The Mokjadan has started moving.”
“I’ll explain on the way. Please, go with me, okay?”
Despite Seoryeon’s desperate plea, So-hyang remained unmoved.
“I am not going.”
“Mother!”
“Even if you run, do you think you can escape the Gukgong?”
This was So-hyang’s seasoned judgment. She had encountered countless officials, but the Gukgong was different. His cunning was impossible to predict, and he possessed a relentless obsession with acquiring whatever he wanted.
Others envied Seoryeon for being adopted by the Gukgong, but So-hyang immediately sensed impending danger.
“If you want to keep your life, stay quiet.”
“The Gukgong said he would find my father.”
“…What?”
This meant the Gukgong would target Seoryeon’s father. Whatever else happened, the world must never know.
“Have you decided where to go?”
“To Songguk.”
“I’ll prepare the luggage.”
The sun set at the mouth of the Yesung River, where a single boat was anchored. Small, yet large enough to carry ten people comfortably. With favorable winds, it could reach Byeoklando quickly.
Soon, a hunched boatman emerged from the interior.
“The boat isn’t ready to depart yet.”
“I was sent by Elder Goksan.”
The boatman brightened.
Elder Goksan.
It was a code among them. Goksan was the hometown of Master Cheok Jun-gyeong. Among those secretly communicating with Cheok Jun-gyeong, he was simply called Elder Goksan.
“Hurry aboard. It will be difficult to navigate once it gets darker.”
Seoryeon stepped onto the deck first, followed by So-hyang.
Whoosh.
An arrow shot toward them.
It was aimed at Seoryeon, but So-hyang instinctively shielded her daughter.
The arrow grazed So-hyang’s shoulder.
“Mother!”
“Leave me behind.”
So-hyang pushed Seoryeon away coldly.
“I won’t!”
“You’ll only be a burden if we stay together like this.”
“No! We will never be separated again!”
Seoryeon shook her head violently like a child throwing a tantrum.
She helped the reluctant So-hyang to the deck.
Then more arrows rained down.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Bang!
Yu Won-seok, protecting them, drew his long spear and deflected the incoming arrows.
“Take Mother and go quickly!”
At Yu Won-seok’s urging, Seoryeon finally climbed the deck.
As they neared the deck completely, Yu Won-seok staggered, unable to dodge an arrow aimed at his leg.
“Take care of Mother.”
Seoryon entrusted her mother to the boatman and drew her twin swords.
She deflected incoming arrows and approached Yu Won-seok.
“I said go! Why are you coming back?”
“I’m going! I’ll go even if you tell me not to. Can you shut that mouth of yours?”
Seoryeon dragged him under the deck, forced him to sit, and pulled an arrow from his shin.
“Ugh.”
Blood streamed from the wound.
Seoryeon wrapped his injury with the black cloth from her hair.
“You act so proud, yet you’re hurt by just a scratch.”
Despite her teasing, Yu Won-seok’s expression was serious.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m going. Sa-hyung will go too.”
Yu Won-seok knew she wanted to protect him, but he had work remaining. He needed to seize an opportunity to eliminate the Gukgong. Only then could Seoryeon be free.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sound of many footsteps echoed across the deck.
Seoryeon, sensing danger, leapt to the deck.
The Mokjadan, clad in black uniforms, had already taken control of the deck.
She quickly counted them. Twelve in total.
Judging by their stance, they were likely unskilled. Their masters’ genuine fighters were probably sent to Beopcheon Temple.
So this number was manageable for Seoryeon alone.
Twin swords in hand, she crouched low.
The enemies rushed at her with swords slanted downward.
‘Raising the sword from below requires double the effort.’
The force concentrated at the lower body.
Seoryeon struck at their legs without hesitation.
“Argh!”
Targeting only the ankles, she severed tendons, causing them to collapse.
Known as the “Leg-Cutting Sword,” it was perfect for her small frame. Quick, precise, and elusive, no one could stop her.
Now, only five remained.
But she only saw four.
‘Where is the fifth hiding?’
Using her ki sensing technique, she sought the remaining one.
Splash.
An enemy lunging at her fell off the deck into the river.
Behind her, Sa-hyung Yu Won-seok stood.
Seoryeon smiled in relief; Yu Won-seok returned it.
“Mother?”
“She wasn’t on deck. I think she’s hiding below.”
“Leave this to me and go to Mother.”
Seoryeon nodded and hurried below deck.
“Mother! I’m here. You can come out now…”
She spotted two shadows resembling her mother.
The shadows slowly revealed themselves.
“…!”
“The Gukgong is waiting, Lady.”
