Chapter 48: Sword Demon Receives a Kiss

Behind the lodgings.

Hoyun wandered with his hands clasped behind his back and a sulky look on his face.

“Tch! So stingy. If you’re going to give it, just give it. Why attach conditions?”

“This sword? Haha, you’ve got a good eye. I don’t really need a sword anymore, so I’ve just been wearing it decoratively.”

When Moyong Sangcheon gave a somewhat favorable response after a pause, Hoyun had gotten his hopes up.

But then—

“Hehe, alright. If you accompany me to Shandong, I’ll give it to you there. Things are noisy with the chief strategist, so I have to head to Henan. It gets lonely for an old man to go alone.”

Shandong bordered both Henan and Anhui, and Moyong Sangcheon was requesting company until then.

Hoyun wouldn’t have to alter his route, but traveling with a superior was still inconvenient.

― You brat. That’s actually merciful of him. What lunatic demands a sword from a swordsman?

“It was originally my sword.”

― By that logic, what in this world isn’t yours? Try claiming a stray dog on the street as yours too.

“Are you jealous? That I’m interested in another sword?”

― Wh-what!? How dare you talk like that to this magnanimous me, as vast and grand as the earth!

While Hoyun bickered with Cheonraegeom, a gentle sound of footsteps echoed—

Step, step, step.

A woman in white, clad in court attire, appeared, stepping lightly over the moonlit path.

With neatly combed ebony hair and dark brown eyes shining with starlight, Jeongal Ahyeon approached Hoyun like a deer, her long legs moving gracefully.

Shhh…

As she stood beside him, a fresh sandalwood fragrance entered Hoyun’s nose, calming his heart.

They stood together in silence, gazing at the same moon.

After a while, Jeongal Ahyeon spoke first in that peculiar atmosphere.

“I’m glad the children came to their senses.”

“Huh? Ah, yeah, I guess.”

Hoyun recalled Seocheon-gi crying and bowing his head in gratitude.

The children, including him and Narin, were taken to Jinju-eon to be examined for aftereffects.

That’s why he had asked Moyong Yul to take care of the Red Rat.

“That boy seemed so grateful to you. I heard you let him defeat you?”

“I let him win.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. He just seemed desperate.”

“Hehe…”

Jeongal Ahyeon smiled gently at his answer and nodded.

“Hoyun, do you know?”

“Know what?”

“You shine.”

“Huh?”

When Hoyun looked at her with a confused expression, she spoke with affection in her brown eyes.

“You probably don’t realize how warm and bright your light is. If I had to describe it with a color, it’s a clear orange, like the sun.”

“…”

“That’s why so many people follow you. The Grand Commander, the Iron Sword Division, Sangwan-hye’s brother, Moyong Yul, and others.”

“…Light, huh.”

Hoyun recalled something Cheonraegeom had told him a year ago:

― You are in-gan (人間). And “gan (間)” is the sunlight shining through the cracks of a door (門). It’s only natural for humans to follow light.

He had always thought he was chasing the light. He never considered that he might be the light himself.

“Is that a good thing?”

“Depends on what you make of it.”

“On what I make of it?”

“Do you want to share your light with others?”

Hoyun remained silent at her question.

She then pointed to the stars in the night sky and continued.

“Light is clearest in the dark. So those who come to you are probably drifters desperate for light.”

“…Drifters?”

“They’re weary from wandering aimlessly in a vast, dark sea. They want something to follow. That’s when light flashes—telling them to come this way.”

Tap.

She brought down her finger and lightly poked his forehead.

“Can you take responsibility for them? Guide them in the right direction?”

“…What do you want me to do about it? I never told them to follow me.”

“Hehe, I’m not telling you to do anything. Stars just need to shine where they are. That’s enough.”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Hoyun shrugged.

“Well, I don’t know about shining. I’ll just live however my feet carry me. That’s how it’s always been, and always will be.”

“Then… can I be beside you as you do that?”

At Jeongal Ahyeon’s sudden proposal, Hoyun’s brow twitched.

As if he had expected this moment to come.

“You’re here for an answer now that the Baekga Sword Tournament is over, right? I…”

Just as he nodded to answer—

“Shhh!”

Jeongal Ahyeon pressed a finger against his lips and shook her head.

Then, with a playful smile, she said,

“You’ve already done everything I asked. You shone in the tournament and proved yourself worthy of me.”

“You really…”

“The engagement with Moyong Cheol is off. My father’s scale is extremely sensitive. But that’s not the only reason.”

Swish.

Jeongal Ahyeon leaned closer to him.

Her silky hair curtained around him, blocking the outside world.

In that isolated space, their eyes met.

“During the two weeks we were apart, I thought deeply. Do I want you just as a refuge to escape?”

“…”

“I thought so much it hurt. I didn’t care about others’ opinions. I realized only one thing mattered.”

“…”

“I don’t want a savior. I want a companion. Someone to walk beside me, to hurt with me, to cry and laugh together.”

Slowly…

Her face drew closer.

And then—a moist, warm sensation imprinted itself on his lips like a seal of fire.

Whether time stopped or flowed, he didn’t know. She slowly drew away.

Her black hair parted, and the cold air cooled the lingering heat.

Under the moonlight, Jeongal Ahyeon’s blushing face was visible.

“I want you, Hoyun. If you share even a little light with me, I’ll give you everything I have.”

“You…”

“I’m returning to the Jeongal clan tomorrow. I’ll resume martial arts training that I paused for three years, and build my own power within the clan.”

“What?”

Hoyun frowned.

“Didn’t you say… you hated your clan?”

“I did. But through this, I realized. If I want to walk beside you, I can’t run from anything.”

Her dark brown eyes were firm like earth after rain.

She had been deeply shocked by Hoyun’s battle with Baek Jongwoo.

And she realized—

Only a phoenix could stand beside a dragon like Namgung Hoyun.

“So, I’d like to postpone your answer. Tell me when I’m fully ready.”

“…”

“When that time comes… maybe you can kiss me while looking down at me?”

“…”

“It’s just a brief farewell, little husband.”

Step, step, step.

Jeongal Ahyeon began to walk away.

She knew if she stayed any longer, she wouldn’t be able to leave.

Though she left, Hoyun chuckled at the faint lingering scent of sandalwood.

“Ha, what a sly woman…”

As he brushed his lips—

He realized.

He had been caught.

By a single white thread that had approached him shyly.

[Later That Night]

Step, step, step.

Jeongal Ahyeon walked alone.

The flush on her face had finally faded.

Just as she smiled at the memory of what happened, she stopped.

“Hey!”

“Eek!”

Rustle!

At her sudden shout, Moyong Yul jumped out from the nearby bushes.

“Hehe, what were you doing?”

“W-What were you doing, acting like that out in the open?!”

“What do you mean?”

“T-To do that in front of everyone…”

“Don’t worry. No one saw except a little rat hiding on the wall.”

“…!”

As Moyong Yul’s eyes widened, she smiled.

“You’ve got quite a talent, huh?”

“Y-You knew?!”

“Hehe, I’m more capable than you think, kid.”

Step, step, pause.

Jeongal Ahyeon placed her hands on her hips. Moyong Yul squirmed like a guilty child.

“You’ve got a twisted hobby, don’t you?”

“I-I didn’t do it on purpose…”

“Were you spying on Hoyun?”

“No!”

“Then why?”

“B-Because… I wanted to learn how to be like him…”

Moyong Yul fidgeted with his hands.

Jeongal Ahyeon’s smile deepened.

“So you were drawn to the light too?”

“…”

“Is that why you hated me? Afraid I’d steal your light?”

“…”

As he stayed silent, she chuckled.

“You’re still young.”

“…What?”

His brow twitched at her teasing.

“I’m of age too!”

“I don’t mean your age.”

“…Then what?”

“Your resolve.”

She slowly leaned down, meeting his eyes.

Moyong Yul blushed and shrank back.

“How long do you think you can stay by Hoyun’s side?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Soon, you’ll understand what I mean. Hoyun is already a dragon ready to ascend.”

She stroked his messy hair gently.

“Only those prepared can stand in the light. Rather than guard against me—guard yourself.”

“…Myself?”

“A swan on water looks calm, but beneath, it paddles furiously.”

Then she gave a parting remark filled with meaning.

“When you see Hoyun next, I hope you’ll still be by his side.”

Step, step, step.

Jeongal Ahyeon disappeared into the night.

Moyong Yul remained frozen in place for a long while.

[The Next Day]

The Jeongal clan left Liaoning.

A few days later, a group of people departed the Moyong clan.

“Send the captured spy to the Flesh Punisher. Extract as much information as possible.”

“Yes.”

“What about the search for the missing Third Young Master?”

“Ongoing.”

“Approach with the possibility that the Flesh Curtain abducted him. I’ll allow some conflict if needed.”

“Understood.”

Even while giving orders, Moyong Mugeol was busily reading reports and jotting down directives.

It was clear the recent Baekyak Villa incident had damaged the Moyong clan’s honor.

But with proper handling, the disaster could be minimized.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

Moyong Gyeom remained silent even after receiving orders.

When Mugeol questioned him, he cautiously asked:

“Are you sure about this? Sending the Fourth Young Master to Anhui?”

Pause!

Mugeol’s brush stopped.

Then he resumed writing and said:

“What choice did I have? He looked ready to hang himself from the beam if I didn’t let him go.”

“Still…”

“I’ve informed him properly. He’ll understand.”

“If so, that’s good.”

Gyeom nodded, reassured. Mugeol smiled faintly.

‘That was the second time.’

That child had come to ask something of him.

The first was when he wanted a blue-eyed cat just like Mugeol’s.

The second was days ago—asking to be sent to Anhui.

‘More precisely, to the Namgung clan… or to Namgung Hoyun’s side?’

That name had come up often recently.

Lost in thought, Mugeol gave one more order.

“Send a message to the Beggars’ Union. I have a job for them.”