SYM 30

Eun-hyeon let out a low sigh. Though he wanted to grab Physician Yang again, he couldn’t muster the strength.

“What do you mean he’s not at the Namgung residence? Then where is Great Hero Ha?”

“Ah, well, even if you ask me that…”

A startled Eun-hyeon grabbed Physician Yang’s arm. Physician Yang waved his hands in confusion trying to shake off Eun-hyeon’s grip, but couldn’t dislodge the firm grasp on his sleeve.

“Ah, Young Master, please don’t do this. You still need to rest, so please lie down…”

“I’ll lie down after you answer just this. Where is Great Hero Ha right now?”

At Eun-hyeon’s words, Physician Yang let out a sigh. Seeing the Young Master’s gleaming eyes and persistence, it seemed he wouldn’t let go until receiving a satisfactory answer.

“How would I know… I’m just someone who works at the Namgung residence…”

“Haven’t you heard anything at all? Wouldn’t someone of Great Hero Ha’s status attract attention wherever he goes?”

Physician Yang glanced around the empty room once.

Having worked at the family residence for a long time, Physician Yang knew well that martial artists could do mysterious things unimaginable to ordinary people. Like being hidden when seemingly no one was there, or hearing whispers from dozens of meters away.

Even though he couldn’t confirm whether a masked figure was perched on the roof or if a martial artist was lurking in the distance, he instinctively lowered his voice after glancing around.

“The Family Head told us not to say anything that might disturb the Young Master’s peace…”

“Wouldn’t not knowing make it harder for me to find peace? I won’t mention your name if the Family Head asks. What exactly happened?”

“Hah… You were kidnapped after going out with the White-Robed Divine Dragon alone, weren’t you? The Family Head held Great Hero Ha responsible and ordered his expulsion. I only heard briefly, but it seems Great Hero Ha hasn’t left Hefei yet.”

“Fa-Father ordered his expulsion… because of me?”

Physician Yang looked uncomfortable seeing Eun-hyeon’s expression, as if hearing something unbelievable. Having worked at the Namgung family for so long, he knew well how Eun-hyeon was treated within the family.

“…How would I know the Family Head’s deep thoughts? That’s just what’s been said. Young Master, please rest now. I’ll take my leave.”

Physician Yang rose after saying this. He was clearly hurrying to avoid being caught by Eun-hyeon again.

Eun-hyeon could only let him go with a sigh.

“Why would Father…”

Wasn’t Namgung Juwon supposed to be indifferent to Namgung Eun-hyeon?

Even the kidnappers knew that, so why was he suddenly getting angry now?

Was it because he thought the Namgung family had been disrespected?

If that was the case, he should have punished those perverts, why chase out innocent Un?

Hearing that Un had been expelled left him feeling very uncomfortable.

“I didn’t even get to properly thank him…”

He recalled Un’s face before losing consciousness. Eun-hyeon had assumed he would be handsome, seeing him in person exceeded his expectations. Even as Ha Yeo-un he had a perfect warrior’s physique, and as the Heavenly’s Demon there was no comparison.

No, the Heavenly’s Demon’s skills far surpassed his previous life’s abilities, so he couldn’t even estimate how powerful he was.

He had felt proud seeing how well his disciple had grown up without him…

“…This won’t do.”

Just as Eun-hyeon shot up from his seat thinking he should talk to Namgung Juwon, the door opened.

“Did you call, young master?”

“…Soseo?”

Eun-hyeon slightly furrowed his brow. Something about Soseo’s appearance seemed off.

Soseo slightly turned her head, avoiding Eun-hyeon’s eyes.

Eun-hyeon looked around. Come to think of it, this wasn’t his usual separate quarters.

“Shall I bring your meal?”

“No. Let’s eat in my room. Now that I’m up, I should go back to my room.”

“About that…”

Soseo made a strange expression and mumbled at Eun-hyeon’s words. Eun-hyeon’s brow furrowed again.

Had Soseo always been this hesitant to speak in front of him? Why was she being so cautious?

“The Family Head ordered that you be moved here, young master.”

“…Here?”

“…The inner quarters.”

“Here is… you mean the inner quarters?”

“…Yes.”

Eun-hyeon looked at Soseo, then surveyed the room once more.

When he first opened his eyes here, he thought they had placed him near the medicine hall where the physicians were.

But the inner quarters…?

“Why would…”

This was unwelcome news in many ways. Not only would it be harder to move freely, but more importantly, he could clearly foresee Madam Hwang, who saw him as a thorn in her side, making an even bigger fuss.

He didn’t understand what change of heart had prompted Namgung Juwon to do this. In any case, this change was not at all welcome from Eun-hyeon’s perspective.

“Um… young master, sh-shall I bring your meal?”

Soseo was still standing by the door, cautiously watching Eun-hyeon. Usually she would have come and gone as she pleased, but today she seemed particularly subdued.

“Ah, right! Soseo, have you heard where the White-Robed Divine Dragon went?”

“Th-the White-Robed Divine Dragon?”

“Yes, do you know where he’s staying after leaving the Namgung residence?”

“I-I wouldn’t know. Young master, wh-what about your meal? The Family Head told us to pay special attention to your meals…”

Eun-hyeon let out a low sigh.

“…Again with the Namgung Family Head.”

Soseo’s cautious behavior was probably due to Namgung Juwon as well.

“Hah, alright. I understand. Go prepare the meal. How long will it take to prepare…”

“It won’t take long! I’ll serve it right away!”

Before Eun-hyeon could finish speaking, Soseo answered loudly, gave a quick bow, and disappeared.

Eun-hyeon furrowed his brow watching Soseo. Thoughs he still left before being told to go, she definitely seemed different from before.

* * *

After leaving Eun-hyeon’s room, Soseo wiped away cold sweat and sighed.

How had she ended up in this situation?

But there was no time for laments. Soseo ran to the kitchen without stopping to catch her breath.

After Eun-hyeon’s kidnapping, the Namgung residence felt like walking on thin ice.

After the incident, Namgung Juwon seemed to think someone within the household had leaked information about Eun-hyeon’s outing. He hunted down everyone working at the residence like catching mice. It was a bolt from the blue for those who had acted freely, thinking Eun-hyeon was outside the Family Head’s concern until now.

Everyone’s sins were thoroughly confessed, from those who had embezzled food and money meant for Eun-hyeon to Soseo who had disrespected him. While most who had embezzled money or goods were expelled, Soseo, whose only offense was being disrespectful to her master, got off with just a scolding.

But that was only the beginning of Soseo’s troubles.

“I’m here for the Young Master’s meal.”

“Ah, we’ll prepare it right away, wait a moment!”

Soseo instructed the kitchen to prepare the meal and went outside. The kitchen was always busy, so no one paid her any attention.

Just as Soseo was biting her lip slightly and looking around…

“Soseo.”

“…Huh? Si-Sister Hwa-ran.”

The voice belonged to Hwa-ran, who used to share a room with Soseo.

Hwa-ran, who worked under Madam Hwang, was so well-dressed she could be mistaken for a noble lady at first glance.

Though normally Soseo would have envied her and tried to get close to her, today she wished they hadn’t met.

“You’re doing everything Madam ordered properly, right?”

“…O-Of course.”

Soseo forced a smile while looking at Hwa-ran. Hwa-ran made a sullen expression and came right up to Soseo’s face.

Coming so close their lips almost touched, Hwa-ran whispered softly in Soseo’s ear.

“Madam will be coming to check personally soon.”

Soseo’s face turned pale. Hwa-ran turned and disappeared without waiting for Soseo’s response.

Soseo watched Hwa-ran’s retreating figure, then bit her lower lip hard and headed to the well.

Pretending to drink water, Soseo waited until no one was around, then carefully took out a paper from her clothes. She quickly wrote a few characters with charcoal instead of a brush, then slipped the paper between the wall.

The contents of Soseo’s message were that Eun-hyeon had awakened and Madam Hwang would be coming.

“How did I end up like this…”

Soseo had been acting as Madam Hwang’s spy through Hwa-ran. She would report on Eun-hyeon’s daily life in exchange for pocket money and accessories from Hwa-ran.

Since Eun-hyeon’s daily life wasn’t particularly noteworthy anyway, she didn’t feel much guilt about it.

The problems started when Madam Hwang began making increasingly excessive demands. Soseo had no choice but to follow them. Then recently, someone in a black mask came looking for her. The masked figure already knew that Soseo was Madam Hwang’s spy.

They threatened to expose everything about Soseo’s role as a spy unless she reported to them about Eun-hyeon and Madam Hwang.

Soseo, who had always been particularly perceptive since childhood, instinctively knew that if she refused the masked figure’s words, having her role as a spy exposed would be the least of her problems—she wouldn’t survive.

Since then, Soseo had been acting as a double agent, reporting about Eun-hyeon and Madam Hwang to the masked figure.

Soseo let out a deep sigh.

She really wanted to cry.