As Jin-Ho galloped toward the borderlands, the sound of his horse's hoofs muffled on the dirt road, and the wind rustled the high grasses along the narrow mountain trail. Proof of the prince's favor and a reminder of the weight of his duties was a royal banner that fluttered from his saddle. His task was straightforward: inform a border commander and settle a dispute before it turned into a war.
However, Mei Lin's final words, "Loyalty alone won't keep you alive," reverberated in his head as he continued to leave the capital. He was tense because of the way she had stared at him as if she knew a secret that he didn't.
He urged his horse more quickly and repositioned the blade at his side. He reminded himself that this was his opportunity to prove himself. But like a storm brewing in the distance, the uneasiness in his stomach persisted.
Yun Zhen was crouching under a rocky outcrop at twilight, keeping an eye on the road Jin-Ho would shortly be traveling. His fellow guild members waited close by, silent and lethal. Although they had previously ambushed royal envoys, this mission was unique.
Zhen's thoughts were racing, but his hands were solid. When the time came, what would he do?
He remembered Kaida saying, "Friendships are just chains." You must break them if you wish to live. However, the idea of bringing his blade down on Jin-Ho caused a pain in his chest that was almost regretful.
Master Chu had made it quite obvious that the guild came first. Hesitancy was not an option. But even though Zhen knew that he wasn't ready to let go of the past, he found himself nervously tracing the hilt of his blade.
One of the assassins pointed down the trail and muttered, "Get ready." Jin-Ho would arrive.
Sensing danger, Jin-Ho's horse abruptly reared as the sun sank, obscuring the woodland. Arrows hissed through the air before Jin-Ho could respond. One scratched his arm, while another got stuck in the saddle.
"A surprise attack!" Jin-Ho pulled out his sword and snarled. From the brush, five cloaked killers emerged, moving with deadly accuracy.
Instinctively, Jin-Ho swung his blade, preventing a blow to his heart. He had to walk after his horse ran away. As the assassins got closer, Jin-Ho's training took over; every step was planned, every action was exact.
With a barrage of blows, he pushed back two assailants in a furious battle. However, these killers weren't your typical bandits; they were like shadows, waiting for him to do anything. Thoughts were a whirl as Jin-Ho parried strike after blow, his muscles burning. How were they aware of his mission?
The world froze for a heartbeat when Jin-Ho's blade struck a curved dagger. Behind the mask were familiar eyes.
"Zhen?" Incredulous, Jin-Ho muttered, his voice breaking.
As the weight of realization struck them both like a hammer, Yun Zhen's hand trembled on the dagger's hilt. Both buddies stood on opposite sides of a battlefield, momentarily frozen in a state of betrayal and confusion, and neither moved.
"You went with them?" Jin-Ho inquired in a quiet, wounded voice.
Under the mask, Zhen's jaw tensed. "You ought not to have attended."
Explanations were not necessary. Jin-Ho had to lift his sword as another assassin pounced at him. The moment of hesitancy was short-lived, as survival instincts took over. The conflict was far from done, whether friends or not.
The sound of steel hitting a tree as Jin-Ho and Yun Zhen engaged in combat—no longer as brothers but as opposing warriors reverberated throughout the forest. Each hit was weighed down by years of unresolved feelings. Zhen fought with remorse, and Jin-Ho with frustration.
Both men pushed themselves to the limit throughout the vicious battle. Jin-Ho, however, was outnumbered. Zhen acted instinctively, deflecting the deadly blow with his blade as another assassin aimed it at Jin-Ho's back.
"Zhen" Jin-Ho opened his mouth to say something, when Zhen cut his arm, knocking him back.
Zhen growled, his voice tense with annoyance, "Go." "You don't own this fight."
Blood loss caused Jin-Ho's vision to waver, but he was still able to smile bitterly. "Are you not still in there?"
Zhen remained silent. He took one more look before turning and vanishing into the woods. Knowing that he had been spared by his friend's blade, but for how long? Jin-Ho gripped his bleeding side.