YCHW Ch 26

“What are you looking at?”

The man who had bumped Yoonso’s shoulder was the one picking a fight. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a young master from some wealthy household, so Yoonso silently averted his gaze. But perhaps that irritated the man, as he grabbed Yoonso’s arm.

“Are you ignoring me?”

“I’m sorry. I thought it would be better to step aside for you.”

Trying to back away politely, Yoonso felt the man’s grip tighten on his arm. Though he had kept his eyes lowered to avoid trouble, he had no choice but to look at the man again. The way the man’s gaze slowly scanned Yoonso’s face felt unsettling, making his body stiffen slightly.

“You were planning to buy this, weren’t you?”

“…”

“Think you can afford it with what you’ve got? Well, I could toss in some of my pocket change if you need it.”

The man suddenly started acting high and mighty. Worse, the fingers touching Yoonso’s arm subtly caressed his skin, which was deeply unpleasant, prompting Yoonso to shake his head and try to pull away.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t planning to buy it, just looking. I’ll be on my way…”

“Pocket change not good enough for you? My pocket change is more than you’ll ever touch in your lifetime.”

The man’s other hand reached for Yoonso’s cheek. The sensation felt like insects crawling over his skin, sending shivers of disgust through him. The man’s eyes gleamed repulsively, and Yoonso, unable to comprehend why this lunatic was acting this way, felt his face pale.

“Let me go.”

“You’re probably spreading your legs for your master without getting a single coin. Think carefully. One word from me, and I could free you from him.”

Finally grasping the man’s intentions, Yoonso’s face hardened with indignation. What kind of depraved life had this man lived to make such a vile proposition to someone he met on the street? Yoonso didn’t even want to understand.

In truth, what the man offered wasn’t a suggestion or an invitation but something closer to coercion. Judging by Yoonso’s modest attire, the man likely thought he could treat a lowly person this way. But any child of four or five would know there are things you can do to a person and things you must not, regardless of their status.

“No. Let me go.”

“Do you know who I am? When I offer you money—argh!”

Yoonso kicked the man’s shin, and as the man let go in surprise, Yoonso immediately turned to flee. But before he could take a step, his collar was grabbed, yanking him back. Biting his lip, Yoonso swung his foot backward with all his might.

“Aaagh!”

The sensation of something soft under his foot made him shudder. Seeing the man collapse, screaming in agony and rolling on the ground, it seemed Yoonso had unfortunately struck his groin.

Though he felt as if he were the one in pain, shrinking back, he couldn’t miss this chance. Without looking back, Yoonso bolted.

“Hey! Grab that bastard!”

Catch him? A bad feeling washed over Yoonso, and he glanced back while running, spotting a bear-like man chasing after him.

Of course, a young master like that wouldn’t roam the streets alone.

Damn, damn, damn! Yoonso pushed through the crowd, running for his life. He absolutely couldn’t get caught. That man was a shameless scoundrel, and being caught would mean nothing good—it was clear as day.

Running forward without looking back, he felt the pursuer closing the distance, sending a chill down his neck. Why did he have to run into someone like that in the marketplace, of all places? To make matters worse, the crowd ahead thickened, hindering his escape. Life was absurdly unfair, and he was on the verge of tears.

As he scanned for an alley to slip into, the bustling crowd suddenly turned as dark as an ink painting, and only one person walking toward him shone with vibrant color. Though the man stood a head taller than others, his dark clothing shouldn’t have stood out so vividly.

“Hyung-nim!”

Yoonso raised his hand and shouted toward Hwi. Hwi, who had been approaching while looking at Yoonso, furrowed his brow for a moment.

Yoonso never imagined he’d use such a familiar term for Hwi. Hearing “hyung-nim” out of the blue must have stunned Hwi, but Yoonso felt his quick thinking in that fleeting moment was justified.

If a servant struck someone, the responsibility would fall on their master, but if the younger brother of someone important struck another, wouldn’t they ask for the reason instead? Especially if it was in self-defense against harassment. And above all, it was Hwi. Even at a glance, that scoundrel would likely recognize Hwi wasn’t an ordinary person.

“Hyung-nim! Hyung-nim!”

Finally reaching Hwi, Yoonso grabbed his arm, panting heavily. Hwi’s gaze lingered on Yoonso before shifting to the burly servant chasing him. The bear-like man hesitated in front of Hwi, and Yoonso let out a sigh of relief.

“Did you catch him? Did you catch him?”

Soon after, the scoundrel limped over. It must have hurt quite a bit, yet his determination to catch someone was remarkable.

“Hey, you…!”

“Hyung-nim!”

Yoonso, practically clinging to Hwi, looked up at him, sending a pleading glance to play along. But with Hwi’s usual impassive expression, it was hard to tell if he understood.

“That guy grabbed and harassed me. He touched me here and there… He treated me horribly!”

Hwi’s gaze moved from the arm and cheek Yoonso pointed to, then to the scoundrel. The man flinched when their eyes met but quickly raised his chin, acting haughty.

“Look here, is this guy your brother? He damaged my precious… ahem, ahem. My precious part, so I can’t just let this go…”

“Hyung-nim! If it’s you, hyung-nim, you can handle a guy like him with a single word, right?”

Yoonso raised his chin as boldly as the man, glaring like a small animal puffing itself up before an enemy. He fiddled with the precious hairpin Hwi had given him, showing it off.

He had no intention of standing around debating right and wrong with such a person. Even if Hwi was a wealthy merchant, a man like that would likely dismiss him as a mere commoner, so Yoonso needed to assert Hwi’s untouchable status with meaningful words.

As expected, the scoundrel’s bravado faltered as he eyed Hwi’s attire. Feeling one final push was needed, Yoonso racked his brain. He could subtly imply he was a scholar who sneaked out in servant’s clothes to avoid studying, then express remorse and generously forgive the man…

“Indeed.”

Hwi’s low voice cut through Yoonso’s thoughts. A cold smile, like a crescent moon in midwinter, curved his lips.

“Right now, if need be.”

In an instant, Hwi drew the longsword from its sheath at his waist and approached the man without hesitation. Panicked, Yoonso hurried after him, grabbing his sleeve and whispering.

“You’re… just trying to scare him, right? Right?”

Perhaps Hwi judged that intimidation through force was more effective than words. But when Hwi grabbed the burly servant blocking his path by the neck and flung him aside in the blink of an eye, Yoonso was utterly dumbfounded.

“W-What are you? D-Do you know who I am? If you knew—argh!”

The scoundrel, stumbling back in fear, tripped over his own feet and screamed. All eyes in the marketplace turned toward them. Yoonso lowered his head to avoid their gazes and tugged at Hwi’s sleeve.

“That’s enough…!”

“Aaagh!”

Suddenly, Hwi raised his sharpened sword and thrust it downward, and Yoonso, horrified, squeezed his eyes shut. The man’s final scream was followed by the muffled murmur of the crowd.

Yoonso’s hand, clutching Hwi’s sleeve, trembled uncontrollably. Had he really killed him? It was unbelievable that Hwi, who hadn’t drawn his sword even against bandits, would kill someone in a crowded street. And if that tragedy happened because of Yoonso…

Biting his trembling lips, Yoonso steeled himself. If the man was truly dead, he couldn’t just stand there, paralyzed by fear. Murder was a grave crime, so he had to find a way to protect Hwi.

“Ugh, sob…”

Snapping his eyes open, Yoonso saw the man, crumpled on the ground, sobbing with tear-streaked cheeks. The sword was embedded in the ground right beside his face, and his crotch and the dirt beneath were soaked.

As Yoonso grasped the situation, a tangle of complex emotions churned in his mind. He let out a sigh, drawn from deep within.

Hwi effortlessly pulled the sword from the ground and sheathed it. Thinking the matter was settled, Yoonso was about to relax when Hwi suddenly drew the sword, still in its sheath, and raised it, striking it down hard toward the man’s hand on the ground.