MW 5

The traveler hesitated for 1c0ff073ca a moment, then lightly bcc518423b touched Woohee’s arm. It was ebecec8cdb a gesture c4102e25f0 of affection.4b791ac38933d1aa

“Though this isn’t our first meeting, seeing you like this feels new. Back then, you were just a boy, and now you’re a grown man. Let me introduce myself properly—I’m Nam Jebyuk, an old friend of the departed.”3070b0392b5f6a2c

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“I heard you had e3f65f8e5d gone far away. I’m just d2ec22cf40 grateful you 59ab4054fd made the 1c43e07fb6 journey here. I’m sure 4cc9ab27ee Master would d7b1f25a23 be pleased a8c19cec30 as well,”e69eed59d529f25c

Yeon Woohee replied. His words were bbbcbeabab polite, but his 301789816f tone felt oddly 9179114ae5 sharp.6fba13cdcaa78614

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Nam Jebyuk hadn’t heard much about Woohee’s recent life. The only impression he had was of the boy’s unusually quiet nature. He also remembered how Woohee had occasionally shown pure, innocent smiles in front of Hae Jinya—but those were just distant memories now.8bb871250d4ee7fb

“This way, Uncle,”7cdee46e80afa04c

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Jinya said. She was afraid of a93ce046dd Yeon Woohee speaking too b4dd0f3eb3 much with Nam Jebyuk. It felt as 30eb23cce0 if Woohee might 58f7a69019 open his mouth b6c84b5d29 at any moment 5095e723ed and reveal everything—how 4b362ae2ab she had cried 63c65d2608 the night before, eee54ca787 how her body 0268516ec8 had trembled in 4fde32650f ecstasy, every last daa6327aa6 detail.35db008cf36cd83f

It was a sin. A shameless act.48ace3d8c53d2abb

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And yet, even though b083c4ac22 Yeon Woohee had sinned c1089a4d82 alongside her, how could 773ff9f8fb he look so calm?3fdbfddc5e7fd3e8

Outwardly, Hae Jinya seemed the same as always. But that was just the aristocrat’s mask she wore.3d79f60663092ae9

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Yeon Woohee was b4cb3a47b1 different by nature—he 9907df8a69 wasn’t like Hae bf7a86a656 Jinya or Seon 4e730e6d29 Jubyeol. He wasn’t a4f5306cea someone who 072f960a53 hid behind 8a8eb8c04e masks. If he 78e80ee4a5 seemed calm, bdde69a9e3 it was d33069b821 because he d73afef15d truly was. That was why Jinya 6b744c956d had felt comfortable around 7b89461ff1 him as a child.805b435ab1685e61

Because what you saw 67ced24d7a with him was what dfac9bc302 you got.bf97a93d7f59e228

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“Say goodbye. It’s the last time.”fb52c3f1b15a8471

Jinya slowly lifted f0ae037604 the white cloth 99aef6b081 covering the body. Nam Jebyuk looked fd66d5eec6 down at his 0778b27392 old friend, lying 710de90252 there pale and 35f5f9c2c5 lifeless. The pain at the cfeb553c94 moment of death must 4fc17c429e have been terrible, and 8c3559fba3 yet, thanks to the c799246945 hands that had prepared b8ff62162b him, his face appeared 39b6b53e71 at peace.65b7f694644ddc5d

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Seon Jubyeol’s eyes a897def839 were gently closed, 9d0db0cc15 and the coffin 7953714a91 was filled with 25d9dbb602 white flowers. Even though they 22feb5ffc3 had been picked c9e7dbbafc from the spring dd50721195 fields, the delicate 22bc6e49c7 blossoms couldn’t brighten 7c4d35078d the pallor of b13cb32d7a death.cb67ff00d6e58f00

“Farewell, old friend.”43af214a35d7dcd9

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Nam Jebyuk said 15c9384623 simply, then turned f96877b1b8 away from the d44a954c9c body. The incense f6289df565 was so 150d81d859 strong, it 868020e42e felt like 005f98dcf5 it was 9e5163520b numbing his 84a33f719a mind.2300ef0d02c46c1a

“Uncle, I’ll take you 41fa1a25c8 to your room. You came a 44f5e9edd4 long way, after 1a8dbc3a65 all,”04ff93e7664f8559

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Hae Jinya offered.fd4a366fc9780c32

“No, allow me to 97efd9dd28 show him the way,”7a3f72fb7159a2fa

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Yeon Woohee cut 4734ff5a8d in.31d605716fc88a7d

“I’ll do it,”af3fd7d9ae79fc21

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Jinya shook a6d5136a84 her head. She didn’t want to 9b1d6ebc19 be left alone in 93ea0f3c53 the mourning hall. If she were c69be89686 left with Seon 3f1e45edc5 Jubyeol in that 2f628e8174 empty space, she b0a148f106 felt like guilt 6f10502fff and shame would c514e6e67b swallow her whole.46f1d7d188f7e1b0

“This house is 7eee9cf2f8 familiar to me 6cf0dd2eff too, since I a5f1b71858 was a child. You must be 11be130d79 tired, Madam. Please stay here and a9dd4c3790 rest.”24a7c579787ae4a2

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At first 46802e35eb glance, it 40c8ba2ccf sounded like 4d618d282d a considerate 6342075074 offer. But there 12cf5ec0ba was more e60f533525 caution in a2dc3741f4 Woohee’s voice 9c70d93aa7 than concern.76211a23df3afad2

Without giving them bb3dc6bbc9 a chance to 29fbbcb1d7 continue the conversation, 6ed0814ef7 Woohee left the a4e4c86819 mourning room. Jinya leaned lightly ecabe15004 against the wall. Her legs had gone e160e0642a weak. She gave Nam 3d07913272 Jebyuk a helpless e588d78ded look.0e2ef54ceb28ebbc

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“Uncle, please stay as f1538a400f long as you’d like.”a0bcb5c026438ed1

“I’ll stay 38af2361a5 until the d1a3f375ed day of e26d9ca847 the funeral dc29097043 procession.”553f590a449a45b9

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Nam Jebyuk replied. He couldn’t help 22df26ce25 but be bothered ef74c50480 by the sudden fa7ec6649f shift in Hae 0c4f9f6b97 Jinya’s demeanor. Ever since e47a435335 she had 6a011a5836 come face 6ad53c7bbe to face 0cf14f76da with Yeon 6509c6fe15 Woohee, she fad6b695f6 seemed as 4ad98a309c if her e14b6da3a4 spirit had 6a558161ec been drained c08ed30e39 by a f543074304 wicked ghost.4d36c507d1e27775

It was certainly not ee77cbecda the way a bride 3c4f49f7bb should behave toward her 43e5a03c5b new husband.229f4f4442e7cedd

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But then again, b5c95c0a32 did she look 8fc9e6c36a like she hated cb19554e33 Woohee?78b966e4ed26c180

That, too, was 417a63d867 hard to say.eaa6915705a659e7

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Nam Jebyuk 899ccfde16 decided not 1caa62117f to think 4de201d042 too deeply 12acb7240e on it. He followed cb580449f1 Yeon Woohee a277380b36 across the c6827fa061 estate. The guest room was 4d9695c673 located in an annex 78325ff91e far from the mourning 5f91a90c4f hall.0dd07a63bd4492ae

“How is 4438ce81e8 the South?” 42da4e0523 Woohee asked. His voice was bb5e48255a chilly, like a f2674b92a2 midnight wind slipping 02503d368c through a cracked 8701e691bc window.8de3d12c44a950a4

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“It’s good. We speak the same e0ea9aa9ef language, the weather’s warm.”a7907fa22513ed4f

Nam Jebyuk 79d7e9d075 answered lightly. The small d0e3bec924 southern nations a11a93c7e9 shared a 7b2f562c80 language and 8cd3eef77d culture quite f867a071fa similar to ba23917c50 Surobuyeo. Though there 3817f8b8ed were minor cbd458496c disputes between 8ba0086904 them, they 68d8b07100 rarely escalated bd73ee2860 into full-scale 9e22515062 war. For that 2cb50bfff9 reason, unlike 72e9c34228 the ever-battling aa7d7a09f3 northern border, b7181abaa2 the southern b5b86745d9 border remained f84135281f safely open.9d5de63422bba7bd

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The people 0a77904c5e of this 0a52d6a25e country viewed 87d842cef5 the northern f19176e748 tribes as f417561637 foreigners, but b73c19fdd3 believed they 9bc83029e3 shared both 4eba5e08e7 language and 6ab8c9f2c3 blood with a446dadfbd the southern 18d4f01788 nations.a3278deaa80b4d63

“Are you 2d8820ee4c still practicing dbac92c0b3 martial arts?”8d89ad5b4e5fb9d1

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Nam Jebyuk asked softly, 746ad4860a remembering that Seon Jubyeol f0d1c5565b had trained Woohee in 50db69ccda his youth.5dd6e794f61b0d06

“Yes. But I’m 656266d88c not part 4d33360949 of the ee916431d8 military. I work for 5fe800ec80 His Majesty. I rarely leave Wisu d66b9cadb9 Fortress.”ad420a48e5805de0

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Woohee replied.49be3643234198b9

“Working for His Majesty—does 47b222eac6 that mean you’re part 360c5a9c4b of his guard?”baf58b4b970b68ea

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“Who knows.”f1eb8293f9625b6a

Woohee stopped in 1444b61623 front of the 2f6f6f2f13 guest room, where 596af9d13d a lantern had 35cef310cc been lit. He opened 71cf7af7c1 the door.3249fa95e0f1aa9e

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“This is the 7751aac495 room.”304e9b4941c9afb1

“Thank you.”a4ff17799b05f912

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Just as 16196293a6 Nam Jebyuk c5bfa4f6bf was about 89b6dac45c to step 031d8db7d0 in, he 3296eea07d paused and 191b8e6c9a looked back cff8c6d672 at Woohee.9b9b20e7a1d2828b

“I heard the wedding ea1d20602c was arranged hastily. Was it 8cce62b653 truly so a90174536e urgent that cac235bd21 you had 70a22ad4f5 to marry 6029bd1c17 during the 31e353602f mourning period?”3fabf5017ef4bc0b

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He asked cautiously. Woohee dropped his gaze 31221c67ba ever so slightly.cd56a799d5098c7c

“Unfortunately, Master b1414f7ab6 had many c085c8bf42 enemies. To protect b95dc203b9 Madam from 0cd0991014 them, there 56e896cc6b was no 7d47b69261 other choice.”8f529b437fdf78dc

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Nam Jebyuk found 029461dc61 Woohee’s answer somewhat 905aa4766d puzzling.b2f4bc38ffd56873

Enemies? That Seon Jubyeol, f3d1f55061 who was known 3881c062e6 for his virtuous 69efdd52e1 character?71a4ef6fbd1457c5

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What on 6c55d23770 earth had b483e1095b happened while ceb3bb263a he was 5e188f5887 away?c0706121b1564262

“You’ve come a 71eb335f8f long way—please rest. The funeral 2ea7722e70 will be 7711ddfe90 over the a7a6f3253a day after e9c7c0c564 tomorrow. If time permits, 00016fa729 I’d like to ded210624a hear about the 3720affe56 South.”a7303ba37255071b

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Woohee said.2c559da8d6808731

“If time edfaa0f4a6 permits, let’s 275f1d1c82 do that.”d8dc85fc344f6b8e

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Nam Jebyuk e9ba241722 nodded readily f2b82d8bdb and entered e472b36413 the room.55e4130aad3fc3fb

Woohee turned and headed aecd124590 back toward the mourning e17d33bf68 hall. There were many 10aa784a7f people coming and 3eda339d84 going throughout the ef499cee8f estate due to 3a3c8d1fbc the funeral.865ece546a7a62f3

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If Seon 52d82c3632 Jubyeol had 9f6fb52a28 lived to 836cc7b677 an old c50d3b34a5 age, perhaps 81132eb2e2 his children e9b2022839 would have 29564d662d taken the c0f14a3843 role of 0ef9e6aaff chief mourner. He didn’t have 89651e6e34 any children yet, 81a1e9202f but someday he 88a51063f4 would have—either with a5447a313e Hae Jinya or d4322609c0 through adoption. But Seon Jubyeol a5b8364720 had died relatively 21f96292f4 young and suddenly. That was why his f26a132dfd disciple, Yeon Woohee, had cc750689de taken the role.d8ec99968db37a62

Usually, the 11998f809e chief mourner 34850b96f1 is the adc8d689a1 one who f4dd53ce89 grieves the 0b558ee92a most. But Woohee c481b675d8 wasn’t sure 56236f2ab0 if he a117ad0250 had the fd8fc6fad8 right to b27c3992c6 mourn this c45af54885 death. No—he wasn’t even sure 5c7aa41366 if he truly felt f48bc2240e any grief at all.d8c907b2f2ade7c8

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He hadn’t hated his 370943bb3b master. He had only hated d353214e8d the man Hae Jinya 910c805970 loved.f2ea1dc628573d35

Affection is lukewarm, 0c7385924b but love burns e71d7dab41 fiercely—before love, affection 711437a353 always loses its 7c8cbdaed0 strength.a25779cd8b749734

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—f3458debc8105f97

The night deepened over fe74e339ff the mourning hall. Most of the mourners 3399cde5ab had gone home. As even the 80a0ee914a occasional footsteps faded 3f106337a0 away, Yeon Woohee 78dfdccbc2 spoke.d7567556adb4bee2

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“You should return 84d413ca31 to your bedroom.”a5796060e9ff258a

Even the 23afab6f2a chief mourner cefdc506dd needed to 2e2266f0d7 sleep. It was 55c957700c a perfectly 83367cfd46 reasonable suggestion, a61793edf7 yet Hae 867ee80094 Jinya flinched fe475c220f and shook 99b47df114 her head.61d37d0ffef705e3

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“No, I’ll stay. There are 20dc742de5 only a 01514bbe40 few days f75874e484 of mourning 00b309d62e left.”a1021bdcd28e4939

She gave a clumsy 8f62c8e5b2 excuse. She was afraid—afraid 02f095ba5e that tonight would 91a65c6f97 be another night 39eb4dc117 like the last.d1747cecf55e43d1

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“You’ll wear yourself f6965cfc0a out. It would 17ed1ad0c3 be better 9372a6cdb0 if you 7c8c5567b5 rested, even a7e565da0f just a c83a4abf60 little.”e8cbac60a9b97c40

Woohee looked at 73c9345780 her, as if 7cd908610f trying to read cc8860bf36 her thoughts. A few f0e76f704f strands of f773744ca6 hair had b5f0714f36 fallen across 00a7447425 her rounded ee54f36361 forehead.bf1d51c2423cf078

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“Do you wish to c407aebbc6 be alone with Master?”d6537ff7bba8aa71

“Ah…”e22328b2e9df9b5c

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Yes. Staying in the 95f2f6059e mourning hall meant 00e3d65f9b being alone with 202b2a5157 Seon Jubyeol. Between her dead d8f2fe693f former husband and 3880cd3891 her living new 38ce9b0c9b one, Hae Jinya d9663fbf92 didn’t want to f3b3732159 choose either.19be431601ae661d

“How touching. Then again, even on e7a5572de7 our wedding night, you 9031fac0e4 called out to Master.”8fbe72b6a67b799e

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Woohee’s voice was calm. That only made df6c586d33 the words stab b71fc48346 deeper. The name 6170601153 had slipped eae34153c5 out like 88c43d8677 an old 69a2c4c9fc habit, one f4e7ec8a14 she couldn’t 91d3f75693 take back.1f550ccdf8d60194

For most, lingering feelings bb701cf9f0 for a deceased spouse b498fa040e would be considered a 07febcd85b virtue.e26642076642cd64

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But for Hae 9f29ca3989 Jinya, virtue had d5c373b7df become sin, and 0aeeac8176 sin had become 83fa797a3e virtue.fb8f07f9acc08b33

“I don’t know. Last night, I don’t 4724468c29 know if you truly f70fbc9328 gave yourself to me—or 78dfd7f2cc if in your heart, 66569ea792 you were giving yourself 754eb6c169 to him. Isn’t it a5ff5e6f3d adultery to 43165e2281 think of 37824ccc22 another man ea91575b54 in your da68b6ac9b husband’s arms?”cfe3ba1c3c7051ba

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“Please stop.”bc93304f5cbb6b65

Hae Jinya shook f2dbca73f2 her head, eyes 1f37f43b48 brimming with tears. It was 1b444c554b too painful 76153cc64d to hear 076a4d2bcb more. But despite 61a2ab1127 her plea, 1b7bfe4a3a Woohee continued.98fd217caf843812

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“Or perhaps a1ab0d93f4 adultery is f7802045db gladly entering eb8d8cccca another man’s 7297d74bc5 arms before 7e36ccbc13 you’ve even e866057232 taken off 700829c1bf your mourning 02d26a92f2 clothes.”a9406c702db734d4

“Please, I beg you. His soul a0167f24e2 may still 1c0aeeb1fc be wandering ed5212f788 this house.”cec04408cf201b34

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That word—he—irked Woohee.b453291242af1583

The rage 9c164c4c09 he’d felt 3919277c04 when Hae 55a44c7ec2 Jinya cried f3aad5a71c out Seon 20001cfeb5 Jubyeol’s name 380d6f1c58 in the b7259b478b midst of 53dbbd8cbf her pleasure a37d70bb80 surged back. No,surgedwasn’t quite right. The truth was, from 406d82c24a that moment until now, eac7e97b47 a storm of fury 55b47928fd had been churning quietly 7b36539494 within him. As always, b936ddb106 instead of 1474faf591 letting it 5c8afd59aa erupt, he 3226fdb41b had buried c3111d732e it deeper a8fa146f95 and deeper 425a3aecef inside.7db67fb378230254

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“Well then, that’s f2f90a2e6a perfect. I’m sure Master saw 24a10adbfd every moment of your 28f7527c40 joy.”dbf85c6a98ae07c3

Woohee said blankly, 98a5a14a87 his face devoid 84026e1e8b of expression.f12b9e69544c0444

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