Vol 2 Chapter 5. Past Ties Part 4

“If that happens, I’ll be the one to die.”

Her voice trembled as she murmured. If Kang Oh put his own life on the line, then Woo, on the other side of the scale, would live. But the game had grown far too large for Yeonjin to handle anymore.

It had only been yesterday that she decided to take a chance on the Third Disciple. If the First Overseer was acting under the Lord of Heukcheon’s command, then only Kang Oh stood a chance at stopping them. Yae Jinrang, who feared nothing beneath the heavens must have planted those eyes in Heedowon to avoid Kang Oh discovering the truth.

If the Third Disciple ever found out about the porridge Woo was being fed each day, he would never let it slide. He was the one who had casually told her to ask the physician if Woo could start having proper meals, wasn’t he? Banking on that, she had deliberately stalled while delivering updates to the First Overseer, timing her return to Heedowon to match when Kang Oh usually took his morning walk.

Even a single attempt was enough to put her at risk, and so Yeonjin had been unable to relax for even a moment. Fortunately, the Third Disciple had caught on to her suspicious behavior in just the way she’d hoped. Most highborn wouldn’t spare a second glance at a maid, but Kang Oh was different. Or rather, when it came to Woo, he abandoned his usual indifference.

Just by dialing back a bit of caution and diligence, Yeonjin had been caught. It made her realize how dangerous the tightrope she’d been walking truly was. Woo had been right.

“This isn’t a threat against you, so there’s no need to be afraid.”

Kang Oh glanced at her and added,

“It’s a warning for someone who actually cares about my well-being.”

“….”

To speak like that about the Lord of Heukcheon, his own master, was nothing short of irreverent. Even so, Yeonjin could only lower her head in silence. For those who lived at the bottom, survival meant knowing when to feign ignorance, when to shut their eyes and ears to what they understood all too well.

Yeonjin lowered her head, just as Woo often did. Watching her, something stirred violently inside Kang Oh, a feeling too tangled to name. To keep it down, he clenched his right hand into a fist. The blunt edges of his nails, worn from years of training, pressed into his palm until blood began to well.

It dripped onto the wooden floor of Heedowon, but Kang Oh didn’t even glance at it.

“If they ask why you disobeyed, say it was to stop me.”

Yeonjin opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“In exchange for taking the fall, I will make sure you stay alive.”

Even though this was what she had intended from the beginning, her eyes began to tremble. The blood falling from Kang Oh’s hand caught her gaze.

“You should apply medicine to that.”

“It’s fine. I’ll handle it. You go to the kitchen and tell them to bring Woo his meal.”

Kang Oh responded flatly, as if Yeonjin’s pale-faced concern was nothing of importance.

“I… I understand.”

As the maid quickly retreated, Kang Oh opened his palm. He’d known it would hurt, but he hadn’t expected this much blood. Raising his hand, he shielded his eyes and leaned back against the wall, his face drawn with fatigue. His legs, hardened through years of martial training, felt so weak he thought he might collapse then and there.

A creeping helplessness surged upward, threatening to swallow him whole.

But Kang Oh endured.

Who was he to sit down and rest just because he was tired? While he had been idly picking flowers, Yae Jinrang had already set things in motion against Woo.

He started walking again. His steps were shaky at first, but soon steadied. As he moved, the tight line of his lips returned, and the calm, unshaken mask he always wore settled back over him.

Kang Oh came to a stop outside Woo’s quarters.

But beneath the calm he wore on the surface, his heart was in turmoil. He was angry. Angry at his master’s unjust actions, and ashamed for having to act against them. And so, burdened by a shame he had never known before, Kang Oh did something he’d never done before.

He asked for permission.

“May I come in?”

Woo, who had been wondering why Yeonjin was late today, was startled by the sudden presence outside his door.
“P-please come in.”

Kang Oh stepped inside and quietly took in the sight of Woo sitting up on the bed. At least he seemed to be keeping their promise, staying off the floor. That alone was something of a relief.

Noticing Kang Oh’s gaze, Woo quickly lowered his head. “What brings you here at this hour…?”

A tight knot of nerves coiled in his chest. Yeonjin would be arriving soon with the porridge. He didn’t know what had been put in it, only that it came from Yae Jinrang. The thought of her crossing paths with Kang Oh unsettled him. After how shaken she’d been just the day before, he was afraid of what might happen if she saw him now.

“I thought we might have breakfast together,” Kang Oh said in an easy tone, as if it were a simple idea that had come to him just that morning. Woo felt a small wave of relief, though his eyes still darted around nervously.

“If… if that’s what you wish…”

If it had been the old Kang Oh, he might have backed off at Woo’s hesitation. He had never insisted on eating together before, partly to keep some distance and partly because he worried Woo might agree just out of obligation.

“Then I’ll take that as a yes,” Kang Oh replied and took a seat across from him. Woo blinked in surprise. He had expected they would go to Kang Oh’s quarters, not that he would stay here in his own room.

“A-aren’t we going somewhere else?”

“I had the food sent here. No need to move.”

Woo’s eyes widened slightly at Kang Oh’s words. He hadn’t planned to leave room for refusal. It was a command from the start. A man like the Third Disciple of Heukcheon had no reason to ask for the opinion of a mere servant. And yet, Woo had grown too accustomed to the consideration Kang Oh always showed him.

You’ve gotten spoiled.

The thought pricked at the corner of his chest as he quietly scolded himself. He was receiving treatment far beyond what he deserved, and it was making him forget his place.

“I’ll bring the breakfast in,” came a voice from outside, scattering his thoughts.

The door opened, and the waiting maids began to carry the trays in, setting them out before Woo and Kang Oh. Woo blinked in surprise. Among the ones serving the meal, he spotted Yeonjin. He tried to follow her with his eyes, hoping to catch a glance or an answer in her expression, but she never once looked back. She placed the tray she had brought on the table and stepped away without hesitation.

What happened to the porridge?

His question had no answer. All he could do was watch as a seemingly endless array of dishes was set before them, the kind of breakfast that made Woo widen his eyes. For a breakfast, it seemed oddly excessive. There were already more than three dishes of meat. Steamed, grilled, and deep-fried. On one side sat a soup that looked like it had taken considerable effort to make, filled with seafood rarely seen in Heukcheon, a landlocked region. Both rice porridge and steamed rice had been prepared, along with an assortment of stir-fried vegetables and sauces.

The table was already quite large, yet it was starting to run out of space. Woo had just begun to think that surely no more dishes would come when a broad-shouldered attendant entered, carrying another table. That, too, was soon covered with plates. Woo couldn’t help the overwhelmed look that crossed his face.

He was never someone who ate much in the morning. Now, with the sheer variety of aromas rising from the spread before him, he felt slightly dizzy.

Once everything was in place, the attendants bowed politely and withdrew.

“Go on,” Kang Oh said, lifting his chopsticks.

Woo pulled the porridge bowl closer and offered a quiet word of thanks.
“Th-thank you for the food.”

Kang Oh gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable.
“Mm.”

What followed was a silence so deep, it nearly rang in their ears. The only sound was the occasional clatter of Woo’s spoon scraping the bottom of a dish. The awkwardness weighed heavy, like swallowing stones. Woo glanced up and found himself looking straight at Kang Oh.

Compared to Woo, who only picked at his food, Kang Oh had a noticeably heartier appetite. Even mid-meal, Woo found his eyes drifting toward him, watching as Kang Oh steadily ate both meat and vegetables with quiet precision.

Yet for someone who ate so well, he never seemed gluttonous. He didn’t swallow until he had fully chewed each bite, and never opened his mouth until he had finished. The way he occasionally paused, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face, made it clear that he was truly enjoying the meal.

Woo had stopped eating, his hands resting idle as the silence stretched on. Time seemed to drift past unnoticed, until Kang Oh finally looked up and caught sight of the nearly untouched bowl in front of him. He asked quietly, “Is the food not to your liking?”

“N-no, that’s not it,” Woo replied, flustered. He waved his hands quickly, like a child caught doing something wrong. Even as he spoke, he realized the reason he was stammering today wasn’t the same as usual.

He had been sneaking glances at Kang Oh, and the moment their eyes met, it startled him more than expected.

No matter how colorful the side dishes were or how perfectly the meat had been grilled, the realization that he’d been unconsciously swallowing at the sight of Kang Oh eating brought a rush of embarrassment.

“My… my stomach doesn’t feel great…”

It was a poor excuse, and Woo knew it. Kang Oh wasn’t someone easily fooled by such clumsy lies. Woo bit his tongue.

“Is that so.”

But Kang Oh immediately set his chopsticks down, his expression turning serious.

“Were you forcing yourself to eat even though you felt unwell? I’ll call the physician right away.”

Even as he spoke, he was already pushing his chair back. His energy was so abrupt and direct that Woo was sure he’d barge into the infirmary and haul a doctor over his shoulder if he had to. Panicked, Woo nearly threw down his spoon as he waved his hands.

“N-no, really, I’m fine. I just… I’m not used to eating this much in the morning.”

Kang Oh frowned. “You’re not just saying that to put my mind at ease, are you?”

“N-no. It’s just that… I don’t usually have much of an appetite in the morning.”

Kang Oh’s expression eased a little as he sat back down and muttered to himself.

“I’ve heard there are people like that.”

He spoke in a tone that suggested he understood the concept, but didn’t really relate to it.

Woo felt a little wronged. He still remembered Kang Oh as someone who had once been so thin he looked like he’d barely eaten a thing. But at the same time, he was also relieved. Perhaps the reason Kang Oh had grown so strong and healthy was because he never lacked proper meals. Instead of foraging for rough greens in the mountains, he had all the meat and fresh seafood he could want.

Originally, sealing Kang Oh’s memories had been a desperate measure taken by Yae Jinrang. But seeing him now, it didn’t seem like such a bad decision. As an adult, Kang Oh bore no trace of hardship. There was nothing in him that hinted at a life of hunger or deprivation.

The little black chick that came into Woo’s care never asked for anything. It didn’t beg for food or clothes. It simply watched its new guardian in silence, too timid to speak up.

Woo had taken in the young boy in hopes of uncovering clues about his father’s death, but as the newly appointed Lord of Baekragung, his days quickly filled with duties. He hardly had time to look after the child, and even when their paths crossed, he struggled to act warmly. The person he had assigned to care for Kang Oh began to neglect the child more and more. If Woo hadn’t noticed how sickly he looked and taken a closer look, who knew what might have happened to him.

Woo had countless excuses. He had inherited the title after Dan Baekhun’s sudden death. There were those who opposed being led by someone so young. He had to absorb the influence of the previous lord’s loyalists, learn his new role, and stabilize his position. But none of that eased his guilt.

And before he realized it, the boy who had once been nothing more than a clue was someone he had started to care for with his own hands.

…….

A martial artist crossed the central courtyard of Baekragung and came to a stop before the Lord of Baekragung’s office. The person standing in wait before the closed door cupped his fists.

“Leader.”

Paeng Soso waved both hands, signaling that there was no need for formalities, and said,

“Announce me inside.”

As one of the Lord of Baekragung’s closest confidantes, Paeng Soso could have pushed open the door and entered without Dan Woo Hyo saying a word. But the man thought to himself that even in trivial matters, she remained as rigid about etiquette as ever.

“Let her in.”

Just then, a deep voice laced with potent inner strength rang from within. Dan Woo Hyo already knew Paeng Soso had arrived. The more advanced a martial artist became, the sharper their senses tended to be.

Feeling the immense strength of the master he served, the man opened the door wide. Paeng Soso strode in with bold, steady steps.

The Lord of Baekragung’s office was not lavish but carried an air of refinement and serenity. Paeng Soso had been there when this place was first built.

It was here that she had been appointed Leader of Ikhyeong by the former Lord of Baekragung, Dan Baekhun, who had also promised her unending honor and glory. She had knelt before him and sworn her loyalty. Though her abilities had at times been overshadowed by her sworn brother Seo Mun Seho, Dan Baekhun was the only true lord she had ever served.

So long as the legacy of Baekragung endured, Paeng Soso believed, neither she nor her descendants would ever see the end of their fortune.

With that conviction, her heart had once pounded like a wild steed galloping across an open plain.

Even as youth cooled and the days of fighting for honor and righteousness faded into the distance, the memory of that moment remained. Even when living fully in the present, the past had a way of clinging to her, perhaps because those who once stood beside her were no longer there.

Because even the mightiest mountain, one that seemed unshakable, would one day fall.

Paeng Soso lifted her head. In the very seat where Dan Baekhun had once welcomed her, Dan Woo Hyo now sat. His striking beauty resembled not his father’s, but rather Seol Buyong’s. As a flicker of longing threatened to cross her face, she steadied her expression and spoke.

“My Lord, if it isn’t too much trouble, may I have a moment of your time?”

Dan Woo Hyo, who had been absorbed in reviewing the affairs of Baekragung, lifted his head. His beauty, often said to be unmatched not only within the righteous path but even across the entirety of the demonic path came into view. They said only Yae Jinrang could rival it.

“If it concerns Leader Paeng, of course.”

His voice was slightly hoarse. Paeng Soso responded with concern in her tone.

“My Lord look exhausted.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

Woo Hyo gave a bitter smile. Though he always had to show strength, he nodded at her words because Paeng Soso was not just a confidante, but his closest ally. She had been a founding figure when Baekragung was established, and a loyal servant to his father. After the death of the former Lord, Dan Baekhun, she could have withdrawn into seclusion among the senior elders, yet she remained at the front lines, quietly lending her strength to Woo Hyo.

With the leader of Ikhyeong, the most formidable force in Baekragung, Woo Hyo couldn’t help but lower his guard in return.

“If someone is troubling you, please allow me to deal with them.”

Dan Woo Hyo sighed.
“I’ve just been too caught up chasing my father’s shadow. I’ll get through it, little by little.”

Though he said that, he was facing one wearisome day after another.

No one had expected Dan Baekhun to die. He was in the prime of his life, and as a martial artist of immense strength, he wasn’t someone who should have fallen so easily. Woo Hyo had been trained extensively since birth, but taking on the title of Lord of Baekragung, the very pillar of the righteous martial world, was a heavy burden.

No matter how skilled a martial artist he might be, or how overwhelming his power, there were still those who nitpicked his lack of political finesse. Even flatterers who had never dared show themselves during Dan Baekhun’s time began to slink in, whispering sweet words in an attempt to curry favor.

Some openly criticized him, claiming that no matter how brilliant his talent, it was natural for someone his age to lack proper experience. Even among his father’s most loyal men, there were those who, in private, treated Woo Hyo with a careless familiarity, as if he were still just a child.

Having to assert authority in front of such familiar faces was not only exhausting. It felt unnatural.

If things were this tangled within Baekragung itself, the situation outside was even more troublesome. Among the allies Dan Baekhun had forged during his lifetime, there were some who now questioned the judgment of the young lord, trying to wrest leadership for themselves. Some fed the newly instated lord false information to stir conflict between rival sects and sow discord for their own sect’s benefit. And the Murim Alliance, never fond of Baekragung’s dominance, was now quietly moving to suppress it. It was no different from having enemies on every side.