“I received a reply from my sister!”
From early morning, Yoo Gyeong arrived with an excited expression. I wonder if Hyeok Gi-rin is really that happy.
“She says she wants to talk face-to-face! Hahaha! It seems your advice really worked!”
“That’s good to hear. Congratulations.”
“Wahaha! It’s all thanks to you!”
However, based on Hyeok Gi-rin’s reaction yesterday, something felt off. There was considerable dissatisfaction lingering in Hyeok Gi-rin towards Yoo Gyeong. Exactly what that dissatisfaction was, I couldn’t pinpoint…
“Still, I think it might be too early for you to celebrate just yet.”
“Hm…?”
“While it’s true that Dujak’s sincerity was acknowledged… it’s hard to see the situation positively.”
Yoo Gyeong’s complexion suddenly became sober.
“Alright. Let’s hear your thoughts. I’ll listen.”
“I sent a letter, so it’s quite possible she felt obligated to reply, don’t you think?”
Yoo Gyeong needed to raise the tension a bit. Watching Hyeok Gi-rin from yesterday, it seemed they had some complaints, but rather than let time pass without meeting, they probably thought it better to face each other directly.
How Hyeok Gi-rin organized their feelings while sending the letter was still a mystery to me. All I could guess was that there was a whirlwind of emotions inside Hyeok Gi-rin.
But meeting such a cheery Yoo Gyeong with that complicated state of mind… I’d imagine even I would feel quite worked up if I were Hyeok Gi-rin.
I needed to instill some caution in Yoo Gyeong.
“Um. That doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“Is that so? Even so, your sister must still have lingering feelings. After such a big fight, do you think a few lines in a letter would melt her heart?”
“That’s… true.”
Yoo Gyeong nodded.
“Alright. I understand now. From your sister’s perspective, it might be a matter of reluctantly forgiving you, and if I display too care-free an attitude, it could reignite her anger. I’ll have to tread carefully for a while.”
“Exactly. Relax her anger appropriately while achieving your goals.”
“Understood.”
There. That should be enough. At the very least, things wouldn’t escalate further.
Since Hyeok Gi-rin, for the time being, was inclined to reconcile, if Yoo Gyeong could just maintain caution, there was a good chance they could resolve things.
*
“Ahem… It’s been quite a few days since we last met at this hour.”
“Indeed.”
Hyeok Gi-rin glanced at the moon before turning to Yoo Gyeong. I didn’t detect even a speck of malice from my older brother, who seemed to be scrutinizing my expressions.
All I could feel from him was a pure desire to be forgiven by his younger sibling.
“Yoo Ya, I’m sorry. I admit that I acted on impulse.”
“I know you did it out of care for me. However, the methods you used were just a bit excessive.”
Yoo Gyeong took a sip of tea, feeling awkward under Hyeok Gi-rin’s reproach.
“Hehe. Even if you scold me, it’s nice to at least see your face. Isn’t this a precious moment?”
Hyeok Gi-rin nodded silently, and Yoo Gyeong let out a quiet sigh internally. I avoided being chased away, so slowly I’ll start to ease up.
“The moon is beautiful.”
“Indeed. Even though it’s a crescent, the night is quite bright.”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s heart wasn’t completely at ease. Yet, there was no longer any pursuit of blame. Or maybe it was that blaming felt impossible now.
‘Despite writing countless letters… my heart remains unmade.’
I struggled through dozens of papers for the right words, but ultimately, I could only say the usual pleasantries and offer a basic request to meet.
I held complaints about Yoo Gyeong but found it hard to pin down exactly what they were. I hoped that seeing each other would help shape my inner turmoil into something clearer, but it seemed the issues weren’t that simple.
Let’s start with reconciliation first. Perhaps time would resolve these worries.
With a smile, Hyeok Gi-rin said:
“So, how have you been?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you witnessed Senior Ho’s skills firsthand? You orchestrated a scheme at Dongchang, so it surely wasn’t an ordinary gambling table.”
“Uh… um…”
Yoo Gyeong froze and glanced at Hyeok Gi-rin. Seeing her reaction, Hyeok Gi-rin chuckled, teasing her.
“Pffft, I’m not mocking you, I swear. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to see Senior Ho’s tricks, but I’ve never seen her in action as a true gambler. I can only imagine how spectacular it must have been. I’m so curious about those stories!”
Yoo Gyeong blinked in surprise.
“It was impressive, yes… But, you’re saying you’ve never been to a gambling den with Ho Cheon-an? Didn’t you learn any techniques back then?”
“Haha, Senior Ho is not the kind of person you might imagine. They’ve never suggested I should try gambling or anything. All they did was show me their hand techniques for fun, and I asked to learn them because I wanted to show the kids that performance.”
“Good. I’m glad you’ve kept your distance from gambling.”
Yoo Gyeong let out a sigh of relief. Watching her, Hyeok Gi-rin felt the embers of dissatisfaction wriggling inside him. But it was such a faint squirm that he ignored it.
“Ahem… Well, it’s an embarrassing story, but it was truly remarkable. Have you heard of Cheonsanglu? It’s said to be the premier gambling venue in Nangyang, and the underground second floor’s gambling den is unrivaled across all of Nangyang…”
“Oh? What about it?”
“So…”
Yoo Gyeong slowly recounted the tale of how she trapped Ho Cheon-an. Regrettable as it was to say it out loud, she accepted this as part of her punishment and spoke with a flushed face.
Watching her like that, Hyeok Gi-rin felt some of his tension ease. Seeing his brother, unintentionally receiving punishment was oddly amusing.
What’s more, the story of Ho Cheon-an’s gambling prowess, displayed in the underground of Cheonsanglu, was fascinating in itself.
A tale of a gambling deity shattering the finest gambling tables in Nangyang alone, hosted by Dongchang; what more could be said?
Yoo Gyeong eagerly explained the scenario, and Hyeok Gi-rin listened with sparkling eyes.
“So, you mean to say that Senior Ho won 300 nyang of gold in a single day?”
“Indeed. With a calm expression, they combined the stakes and handed 800 nyang of gold over to Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi, and seeing those gold lumps completely shattered my sense of reality…”
Hyeok Gi-rin chuckled at Yoo Gyeong’s awestruck face. Yoo Gyeong, in turn, could only give a hollow laugh at Hyeok Gi-rin’s enjoyment.
“I can’t argue with that person anymore. They don’t seem to have a bad character at all, so… I’ll reserve my comments.”
Hyeok Gi-rin shot a disgruntled glance at Yoo Gyeong.
“Older Brother! Do you really have to say things like that? We were having a good time just now.”
“Hahaha! I’m sorry.”
Seeing Hyeok Gi-rin’s slightly flushed face, Yoo Gyeong felt her heart wobble, but she decided to drop this line of conversation.
An awkward breeze swept between them, but the overall atmosphere was warmer than before.
In that ambiance, Hyeok Gi-rin sensed part of the frustration that had entangled him coalesce into a single sentence and began to ponder. Is it wise to voice this now? After just managing to reconcile, is it proper to bring up such topics?
As he wrestled with these thoughts, Yoo Gyeong subtly inquired.
“Are you troubled by something?”
“…Perhaps.”
“Then speak your mind freely. Aren’t we siblings?”
At this question, Hyeok Gi-rin hesitated briefly before replying.
“Older Brother.”
“Hm?”
“If I were to say I wanted to live in the Martial World for life, what would you think?”
Yoo Gyeong’s gaze cooled. Hyeok Gi-rin held his stare steady on Yoo Gyeong, asking again.
“What if I said I wanted to live my life as Hyeok Gi-rin, the Grand Master of the Jeomchang Faction?”
Yoo Gyeong also looked into Hyeok Gi-rin’s eyes. Within them, seeing his sincerity made her reconsider the beautifully crafted lies she was about to tell and decided to speak her heart honestly.
It was time for a genuine conversation rather than a superficial truce, after all.
“Let’s set aside such fanciful hypotheticals for now.”
Yoo Gyeong matched her serious gaze with Hyeok Gi-rin’s.
“Alright. What are you truly curious about? Don’t try to gauge my reactions with such hypotheticals. Speak your mind plainly.”
This time, Hyeok Gi-rin was momentarily lost for words. At that moment, the lump in his heart hadn’t coalesced into anything specific enough to articulate. Seeing the frustration on Hyeok Gi-rin’s face, Yoo Gyeong nodded.
“Okay. Let’s start from the premise. I would adamantly oppose that idea.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I believe returning to the Imperial Family and living as Princess Yuya is the happiest outcome for you.”
In that instant, Hyeok Gi-rin saw Yoo Gyeong not merely as a foolish older brother, but as an Emperor.
Assurance.
With an air of unwavering confidence that seemed to permit no opposition or blame, Hyeok Gi-rin swallowed hard.
“I have spent many years in the Martial World. Does that mean you think I have been unhappy all this time?”
“No.”
“Then…”
“I cannot know everything about you, but I’ve heard your news periodically. I know you live well in the Jeomchang Faction. That you associate with excellent Taoists and kind-hearted children, and live harmoniously with your fellow disciples.”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s frustration surfaced alongside his curiosity. Yet, why did Yoo Gyeong oppose him living in the Martial World? How could she possess such steadfast conviction?
“I also don’t believe you’re living unhappily right now. But, do you believe the future you will feel the same?”
Future.
“Right now, you might just be one of the many recent entrants, but as time passes, you will inevitably become a senior member of your sect, and the issue of being a cross-dressing woman will only escalate dramatically.”
Hyeok Gi-rin fell silent. Watching this, Yoo Gyeong felt a pang of sympathy. But, since it was already a path chosen, what could be done? Eventually, this was a conversation that had to happen, and that time was now.
“From what I hear, another expert has emerged among the Hyeong-gyeong recently, right? I don’t know why it’s being kept secret, but the important thing is the value and influence of Hyeong-gyeong’s expert. It’s only natural that the Jeomchang Faction, having two Hyeong-gyeong experts, rises to the center of the Martial World.”
“…Yes.”
“Surely you understand how treacherous the Martial World can be, and how harsh the world outside is. Like the recent happenings in Sacheon City. If the Jeomchang Faction rises to prominence in the Martial World, what do you think will happen to you?”
Hyeok Gi-rin pondered that question deeply. What will become of me, he wondered?
“Will not the entire Martial World rally to oppose the Jeomchang Faction? They will scour for any blemish they can find within your faction… As the Grand Master of the Jeomchang Faction, wouldn’t you too be a target? If they discover you are a cross-dressing woman, what chaos might ensue?”
Hyeok Gi-rin couldn’t utter a word. Watching Hyeok Gi-rin biting his lip, Yoo Gyeong closed her eyes.
“That is why I believe… living in the Imperial Palace, rather than in the Martial World, would be your happiest existence. Ultimately, the higher you rise in the Martial World, the more tightly the identities of being a cross-dressing woman and a princess will bind your ankles.”
Yoo Gyeong lifted her cup and gulped down. The coarse action was not befitting the Emperor, revealing her inner turmoil.
“I’m sorry, truly sorry. Even though I know you decided on this path for my sake, I can’t help but speak harshly.”
Hyeok Gi-rin turned his gaze to the moon in silence.
Seeing him, Yoo Gyeong reflected. Most people struggle just to lead one life. Yet, Hyeok Gi-rin was trying to lead two lives. One as Princess Yuya. The other as Hyeok Gi-rin of the Martial World.
Amidst balancing those precarious dual lives, Hyeok Gi-rin surely bore heavy thoughts filled with the disparities of living two lives.
Thus, Yoo Gyeong silently watched over Hyeok Gi-rin, hoping he could sort through those concerns.
“Older Brother… thank you for being so open with me.”
Yoo Gyeong nodded quietly and Hyeok Gi-rin smiled back at her.
“The moon shines brightly tonight.”
“Indeed, it shines beautifully.”
The two continued to talk until dawn broke. However, the shadows cast over their faces did not fade away.
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