He was quick-witted. It seemed Ak Mujin had something he wanted to say to him privately. Was it really okay to meet with Ak Mujin alone without reporting to Elder Yeo in this situation?
But deep down, he didn’t think Ak Mujin would harm him. For 15 years, Ak Mujin had treated him very kindly, and he had even arranged a safe house far away from the Demonic Cult for his family. Even though he had lost his memories, seeing Ak Mujin’s face reminded him of those times, making it difficult to refuse.
Chun-wol glanced at the two guards for a moment, then spoke slowly.
“Well then, would you like to choose your clothes yourself, Young Master? It would be good to dry your hair as well.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Ah, thank you so much!!!
Ak Mujin took a step forward, inwardly shedding tears of gratitude. As soon as he did, the guards standing with him also began to move. Seeing this, Chun-wol said politely:
“…Ah, since we’re going to an area with many women, could you two please wait outside if possible?”
“…”
“I have my own guards, so there’s no need to worry about getting in trouble with Elder Yeo. Don’t worry.”
Chun-wol smiled gently, reassuring them as much as possible. The guards exchanged glances for a moment, then nodded hesitantly but eventually agreed.
***
Ak Mujin followed Chun-wol to the front of a room. Chun-wol entered, accompanied by the man who had been following her. The two guards escorting Ak Mujin hesitated at the entrance but decided to wait outside at Chun-wol’s signal.
Although they were only separated from the guards by a door, Ak Mujin’s heart pounded at finally having the opportunity to talk with Chun-wol.
“This place isn’t used often, but we’ve properly maintained the clothes in case honored guests like yourself visit the Demonic Cult, as today.”
As if to confirm Chun-wol’s words, two women inside were already organizing fabrics and dusting off hanging clothes. Most of the prepared clothes were men’s wear, neatly arranged by color, which Ak Mujin found quite pleasing.
“However, since you have a slender build, Young Master, you should choose from this section.”
Saying that, Chun-wol led Ak Mujin to an adjoining room separated by a door. Ak Mujin blinked.
“Ha-dong. Wait here.”
At Chun-wol’s authoritative voice, the man who had been following him bowed his head respectfully and remained in place. For a moment, Ak Mujin found it strange that Chun-wol didn’t mind being alone with him. Even when they shared drinks or light refreshments during his time as Vice Leader of the Demonic Cult, they always had their respective guards with them.
Curious, he entered the room, but there weren’t as many completed clothes as he expected. Ak Mujin thought it must be a space for cutting and sewing clothes.
Chun-wol closed the door to the adjoining room and seated Ak Mujin at a table in the center. There was a large embroidery frame in the room, with a peony design in progress.
Ak Mujin watched as Chun-wol opened a chest of organized clothes and began examining the contents.
“Um… Why did you come in alone with me? Even if I’m ill, I’m still a man.”
At those words, Chun-wol let out a light chuckle. He turned to him, pulling out a long robe made of dark blue silk.
“What could a Yin Person do to another Yin Person?”
Ak Mujin’s eyes widened at those words. How did he know he was a Yin Person? Did high-ranking courtesans like Chun-wol have some insight to recognize fellow Yin Persons?
However, even a Yin Person could do anything if they had ill intentions. So what made Chun-wol confident enough to remain alone with Ak Mujin in this small room?
“No, even so…”
“I know.”
Ak Mujin began to mutter worriedly, but Chun-wol interrupted him and continued:
“Someone who was so kind to me wouldn’t do anything bad, even if they lost their memories.”
Ak Mujin felt a bit dazed. Realizing he was so trusted by Chun-wol made his heart warm. Although he hadn’t done those things for him expecting anything in return, it felt incredibly fulfilling to have it come back to him like this.
“You… haven’t lost your memories, have you?”
Chun-wol asked carefully after some thought, and at that question, Ak Mujin glanced sideways at the door. Even though they had entered and closed the door, given the poor soundproofing of the era, their conversation would likely be audible outside.
Noticing his unease, Chun-wol smiled gently to reassure him.
“It’s alright. Everyone beyond that door is my person. There’s no chance of our words leaking out.”
Ak Mujin let out a quiet sigh. Even if Chun-wol suddenly turned on him after showing such kindness, he was still the only one he could trust in this situation.
Receiving his worried gaze, Ak Mujin finally nodded with his eyes lowered. Chun-wol let out a sigh at the sight.
“How did your form change like this? Are you hurt anywhere else? What on earth happened?”
Ak Mujin smiled faintly as if to say he was fine, but Chun-wol’s face was filled with sympathy.
“…A few months ago, when I was dispatched to track the Myriad Flying Snow Records, I was struck by someone and hovered between life and death. Due to that fatal wound… my form changed.”
He thought he should tell him his story to ask for his help. As his calm voice began to resonate softly, Chun-wol covered his mouth with his hand and looked at him.
“The change in form isn’t a big deal. However, I lost all my inner force from that strike.”
Honestly, the change in form was still a huge shock to Ak Mujin, but he lied without hesitation, thinking it wouldn’t look good to dwell on such things.
“If I return to the Demonic Cult like this… death is all that awaits me, now that I’ve become useless.”
Chun-wol’s expression grew increasingly serious at the mention of ‘death.’
“The Myriad Flying Snow Records… I’ve heard of it too.”
Ak Mujin listened intently to Chun-wol’s words.
“Although everyone tries to keep it quiet, there’s a widespread rumor that the First Young Master instigated the theft of the Myriad Flying Snow Records. If even I, who am outside the Demonic Cult, know this rumor, the Cult Leader must have confronted the First Young Master about it.”
Having said that, Chun-wol added, as if remembering something:
“And they say Gu Poison was found in the body of the one who stole the Myriad Flying Snow Records.”
Gu Poison?
Gu is a parasitic insect that lives in a person’s body, controlling them and inflicting terrible pain if the host doesn’t act according to its will. If such a thing was found in Cheon Dan-ho’s body, he must have had no choice but to move as someone commanded while he was alive.
Now the picture of the story seemed to be coming together. The First Young Master fed Gu Poison to the cult traitor Cheon Dan-ho to control him. Then he lured Ak Mujin to a place far from the Demonic Cult to dispose of him.
Also, being the First Young Master, although it wouldn’t have been easy given his situation at the time, he would have had some access to where the Myriad Flying Snow Records were kept.
“It all fits together. The First Young Master’s actions were clearly aimed at you, Ak Young Master. If you uncover the mastermind, couldn’t you at least avoid death?”
However, doubts also arose in Ak Mujin’s mind. Would someone with neither skill nor backing have wanted the ‘Vice Leader’ position so badly? Even if he disposed of Ak Mujin, who was the Vice Leader at the time, that position was not one he could aspire to.
Ak Mujin felt uneasy. Somehow, it didn’t seem to cleanly separate from the First Young Master. He furrowed his brow and asked Chun-wol:
“Is the Vice Leader position vacant now?”
“No. Recently, the Third Young Master became the Vice Leader.”
At the mention of the Third Young Master, Ak Mujin felt his suspicions about him suddenly become more prominent. If it was Joo Mu-jeong, there’s a high possibility he could have devised such a scheme and enticed the First Young Master. He probably encouraged the First Young Master, who felt inferior to Ak Mujin, and tried to snatch the Vice Leader position for himself as a bystander. If that’s true, he succeeded in the end.
But in reality, Ak Mujin had no lingering attachment to that position. It wasn’t the right situation, and he had no desire whatsoever to return to the Demonic Cult, so there was no point in thinking about it further.
But Chun-wol seemed very sympathetic and indignant. Ak Mujin responded in a calm voice, as if to comfort him,
“Anyway, I have no intention of bringing up that matter again.”
“What? Why…”
It was unexpected words for Chun-wol. He thought the reason Ak Mujin had called for him was surely to regain his past glory.
But on the other hand, thinking about it, he always seemed to lack any kind of lingering attachment. Things like ambition to climb higher, or the desire for power that all Demonic Cultists had.
“The First Young Master is already dead. And even if I uncover the mastermind and bring them to justice, my position in the Demonic Cult, where I can no longer do anything, will only become more precarious.”
“……”
“So, it’s a difficult request, but… could you help me escape?”
Chun-wol’s eyes wavered for a moment.