"We've passed the critical point."
At Kang-oh's call, the physician, drenched in sweat, returned. He regretted not having done more—if he had known how much the Third Disciple was concerned, he would have done more than just prescribe medicine, even using acupuncture. He rubbed his hands together in remorse.
"I understand. You may go now."
"Yes. Please call me again if the patient's condition worsens."
The physician bowed deeply as he exited, and Kang-oh sat down beside the bed, observing Woo, who appeared much calmer now. The person who had been delirious with fever, mumbling unintelligible words and tossing in the air, was now peacefully asleep again. His complexion was still far from healthy, but it was much better than before.
'Who would have thought his body was this weak...'
Kang-oh looked at Woo's face with the affection one might have for a puppy. He had thought that as a grown man, Woo would have some level of strength, but he never expected him to be so ill. Reflecting on it, the environment in the mountains had not been particularly favorable. Moreover, he had been living in near-homeless conditions while injured, so it was no wonder he had fallen ill.
Having come to terms with the reasons behind Woo's condition, Kang-oh leaned down to wipe the sweat from Woo's forehead. At that moment, Woo slowly opened his eyes, drawn by the shadow looming over him. Kang-oh froze in place, as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
Kang-oh was about to explain that he was simply nursing Woo back to health when he realized that Woo's eyes, fixed on him, were unfocused. It seemed Woo was still drifting somewhere between dream and reality. As he brought the damp cloth to Woo's cheek, the man blinked several times, as if confirming something, and then a fragile yet indescribably warm smile graced his lips.
It was a smile reminiscent of the sunlight on a June afternoon.
"I'm glad..."
'Glad that you're safe.'
Woo's lips moved faintly. For a moment, Kang-oh was stunned. The soft, radiant smile Woo directed at him wasn't the one Kang-oh was accustomed to seeing. That warm and gentle expression belonged to someone who understood the beauty of sunlight shining down upon them. It was a smile that could only come from someone who had experienced happiness and joy, someone who possessed their own complete emotions.
It was not the expression of a wretched person who trembled and bowed their forehead to the ground in submission when meeting their superior.
Kang-oh's gaze faltered as he regarded Woo, who he had approached with a mix of sympathy and a sense of responsibility. What was it that he was glad about?
It was impossible to shake him awake and ask about the reason for that smile, the meaning behind the words of relief. It was better to dismiss them as feverish nonsense or idle sleep talk.
"You're only saying that because you're in pain." Though there was no one to hear him, Kang-oh muttered to himself. His eyes remained fixed on Woo's still face. For some reason, Woo's expression looked more peaceful than before, which was enough to make Kang-oh feel a little more at ease.
***
As Woo regained his senses, he realized he was lying on a bed. Startled, he rolled off and landed on the floor, causing the damp cloth that had been resting on his forehead to slide off.
Why was I lying here?
Woo glanced at the luxurious silk sheets with a troubled expression. They were incomparably lavish—light as butterfly wings and warm—but to him, even the rough wool blanket he was used to felt better.
He felt uneasy.
All he needed was a roof that didn't leak and a room that kept out the wind. He Even in a crumbling hut, Woo had once found solace in being far away from Kang-oh. No matter how valuable the surroundings were or how comfortable this environment was, he felt no joy.
Hee-do Won was beautiful enough to be the subject of admiration among Black Sky Clan, but Woo had experienced better in the past. If he had never possessed such things, perhaps he wouldn't have known the difference. But lying on that soft bed, wrapped in fabric worth more than gold, did nothing to erase the ugly human within.
As he surveyed the room, he noticed signs that someone had been caring for him. A wave of shame washed over his face.
He hadn't expected to endure such poison while being unwell, but he never imagined it would come to this. He suspected that his destroyed core, more akin to that of an ordinary person than a martial artist, made it difficult for him to endure. Gathering the basin and the wet cloth, he stood up.
Somehow, returning these items to their place himself felt like the only way to ease his mind.
Woo's judgment was not quite as sharp as usual after just waking up. Part of it was due to the lingering effects of the fever, and part of it stemmed from the Solitary poison. He felt uncomfortable with the fact that he had been lying in a bed, and even more so with the knowledge that an unknown person had been caring for him. He wanted to do something—anything—by himself.
Above all, the voice of Pang Dan-joo blaming him mercilessly in his dreams haunted him. This auditory hallucination had tormented him for the past ten years. Although he had gradually begun to forget that voice in recent times, the nightmares brought on by the poison reminded him of Pang Dan-joo's tragic end and her curse.
It was as if his sin-stained life was cursed to be denied even the blessing of forgetfulness.
Woo stumbled forward unsteadily, aimlessly wandering the corridor. Throughout his steps, he didn't encounter anyone. Considering the usual number of people stationed in Hee-do Won, it was a rare stroke of coincidence..
As he attempted to descend the stairs, he suddenly realized he was barefoot.
"Oh..."
What should I do? For a moment, he hesitated, then bitterly smiled. The thought that he couldn't step on the bare ground because he had no shoes struck him as absurd, as if he had returned to being the Lord of White Virtue Clan with just a single dream, clinging to unnecessary dignity over something trivial.
His feet touched the ground. The grains of dirt tickled between his toes. As he looked around aimlessly, wondering where to go, he spotted a small building attached to the main structure of Heedo-won. He had a gut feeling that if he went there, he might encounter a servant there. It was common for servants to remain close by to serve their masters when needed.
This was a fact he had learned after coming to Black Sky Clan and working as a servant.
The path to the left of the courtyard was somewhat obscured by landscaping. The trees concealed it so well that one could hardly notice a person passing by unless they were paying close attention. As Woo moved along the path, his bare foot struck a stone, causing him to stumble. Though Hee-do Won was well-maintained, this particular route, used primarily by servants, inevitably had a few scattered pebbles. Fortunately, most of the protruding rocks had been removed and the ground smoothed out, making it safer to walk barefoot without sustaining serious injuries.
Still, carrying something heavy made it difficult to maintain balance. Woo squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for a fall. He didn't mind getting hurt, but the thought of the noise he would make if he fell was already dizzying.
"Why is a patient wandering around?"
A voice asked as someone steadied him to prevent him from falling. The low tone, which seemed to have a growl to it, made Woo's back tense.
It was Kang-oh.
"I-I just wanted to put this away…"
Kang-oh, noticing something, didn't even bother to listen to Woo's excuse. With an incredulous tone, he asked, "Barefoot?"
It was a talent in itself to surprise someone every time they saw him, but this was pushing it a bit too far.
The garden next to Hee-do Won was a place Kang-oh often strolled through. He had a fondness for flowers and plants, sometimes even sketching beautiful blooms or trees he saw from afar to keep as mementos. When he did, Jin-rang would sneakily take those drawings and search for similar plants to bring back and plant in the garden. It became the duty of Hee-do Won's gardeners to match the flowers and trees Kang-oh liked with the surroundings, ensuring everything blended beautifully in every season. Over time, this garden became a space Kang-oh would visit whenever he returned to Black Sky Clan.
Jin-rang was thrilled to discover something Kang-oh liked, even if he couldn't expand Hee-do Won itself, he could certainly enlarge the courtyard. Thus, while Kang-oh was away, the courtyard was gradually being expanded.
After being unsettled by watching over the feverish Woo, Kang-oh had been wandering the courtyard. It was a way for him to cultivate his mind. Just as he thought he had gathered himself-until, on the way back along the path, he sensed a presence nearby. Turning his head, he saw the top of someone's head moving quickly through the bushes. Peering between the carefully planted tree branches, he caught a glimpse of a familiar face—it was Woo.
At first, Kang-oh doubted his own eyesight, thinking he must have been mistaken. But when Woo stumbled, he used his skill to rush over and catch him around the waist. As a result, the basin of water Woo had been carrying splashed all over the ground.
That was where the real problem began. As Kang-oh instinctively lowered his head, he saw Woo's bare feet.
Covered in dirt, holding a water basin that was clearly heavy—what on earth had this man been thinking?
He had been carefully laid to rest because he had been so ill. And yet here he was, like this.
Woo curled his toes under Kang-oh's gaze, but it didn't hide the fact that he wasn't wearing shoes. If anything, his bare ankles became even more noticeable.
"Your clothes are short, too," Kang-oh muttered. His eyes swept over Woo, noticing details he hadn't paid attention to before. Not a single thing seemed satisfactory to him. Without realizing it, he clicked his tongue, and Woo shrank his shoulders in response.
"First, let's do this."
The first priority was to take Woo back to a room, but the dirt on Woo's feet bothered him. Without another word, Kang-oh picked Woo up and set him down on the railing of Hee-do Won. Startled, Woo clutched the basin tightly to avoid showing his unease.
"Hand it over."
When Woo had stumbled, some water had splashed over the edge, but it hadn't soaked his clothes. Kang-oh snatched the basin from Woo, placing it down on the ground. He then took the towel Woo had been holding and soaked it in the water.
It was a sight that would leave anyone dumbfounded: the Third Disciple of the Black Sky Clan bending over in front of a servant, tending to him. To an onlooker, it might even appear as though the Black Sky Lord's cherished youngest disciple, treated as delicate as glass, was lowering himself before some lowly man.
But Kang-oh himself seemed utterly indifferent, while Woo, whose heart nearly leaped out of his chest, waved his hands frantically.
"P-Please, you shouldn't be doing this!"
"Stay still." Kang-oh spoke calmly as he used a damp cloth to wipe Woo's feet.
Although Woo was flustered, Kang-oh had no other thoughts in mind. He simply believed that he needed to get the newly fever-free patient back to his room. Since water and cloth were already at hand, it made sense to clean off the dust and dirt before laying Woo on the bed without having to soil the sheets.
However, as Kang-oh worked, he noticed Woo's foot twitching beneath the cloth. Without thinking, Kang-oh's fingers brushed against the sole of Woo's foot, tickling him. Startled by the unexpected sensation, Woo reflexively kicked out in surprise.
Despite the sudden movement, Kang-oh's grip remained firm, holding Woo securely. Realizing he had almost hit Kang-oh, Woo immediately lowered his head in shame..
"I-I'm sorry."
"It seems you're ticklish. I'm a bit clumsy with this sort of thing, so I apologize," Kang-oh replied nonchalantly, then wrapped his arms around Woo's waist to lift him up. As he had noticed before when bringing him to Hee-do Won, Woo's body was shockingly light, as if it were nothing but bones and skin.
"I-I can walk! I can do it!" Woo shouted, his eyes squeezed shut. It was the first time he had raised his voice like that in front of Kang-oh. Kang-oh nodded in response to Woo's insistence.
"Did you wash your feet so well that you want to walk? Then I'll set you down."
However, Kang-oh's arms remained firmly supporting Woo's body. When Woo squirmed, trying to get down, Kang-oh added with a mischievous expression, "If I let you down now, I suppose I'll have to wash your feet again before you step onto the porch."
"Oh, no... not that..."
Without realizing it, Woo shot a resentful glance at Kang-oh. Kang-oh, feigning innocence, asked, "So you really enjoy my service? You want to get down and walk so badly?"
"That's not it at all!" Woo desperately denied, his voice rising in pitch.
Kang-oh found his reaction amusing and teased him further. "It seems I have a knack for washing other people's feet, considering this is my first time. After all, my master always praised me for learning quickly."
It hadn't been long since he had claimed to be clumsy at washing someone else's feet, yet here he was, shamelessly boasting about his own skills. Woo realized he was no match for Kang-oh's playful banter.
Moreover, if Jin-rang found out that he had made his precious disciple wash someone else's feet, Woo would likely end up skinned alive and turned into a rug.. With that thought in mind, Woo ultimately had no choice but to surrender and let Kang-oh carry him.
As the resistance in his arms faded, Kang-oh moved forward with a light heart. However, that feeling lasted only until he reached the building. The moment he stepped onto the porch, Woo practically leaped out of his arms, eager to escape.
Kang-oh furrowed his brow slightly. It wasn't because he was upset by Woo's clear rejection. Rather, he felt an unexpected emptiness as Woo left his embrace.
No matter how thin Woo was, he still had a certain weight, and losing that sensation left Kang-oh feeling oddly hollow. At least, that's what he told himself as he leisurely followed the limping Woo.
Finding Woo's room was easy. The sliding door was wide open, and Yeon-jin stood outside, her face pale with panic as she shuffled nervously. When she saw Kang-oh following behind Woo, her expression turned to one of sheer horror, as if she might faint on the spot.
"While you were away, this man was wandering outside. Do you have an explanation?" As silence fell, Kang-oh finally spoke.
Yeon-jin, trembling like a leaf in the wind, collapsed to her knees, bowing deeply.
This strictness stemmed from the fact that most of the people affiliated with the Black Sky Clan were either from demonic path or unorthodox factions. When Ye Jin-rang founded the Black Sky Clan and became its leader, he believed it was necessary to firmly control these wild and unruly martial artists. Thus, he established strict regulations, and anyone who violated them faced severe punishment. These rules extended even to ordinary people working within the Black Sky Clan.
For the servants, as long as they didn't make mistakes, there was no risk of angering a skilled master and getting harmed. However, in a situation like this, where the fault was clearly their own, they could face pay cuts or even fired. The most terrifying thing was being dismissed without any chance of reconsideration.
"I'm sorry. I just went out to get some porridge..."
Half of it was a lie. She had actually gone to report to the First Internal Officer that Woo hadn't woken up. Seo-mun geumryeong had instructed her to get the porridge, saying it would help improve Woo's condition.
"Starting today, there's no place for you in Hee-do Won. Go to the chief servant; she will change your assignment." Kang-oh said bluntly, trying to pass by her.
Her eyes trembled slightly. She had only recently been assigned to watch over Woo at Hee-do Won by Seo-mun geumryeong. If she were to leave Hee-do Won now, it would prove she failed to handle an important task properly. She could only imagine what the chief internal officer might do to silence her.
Thus, even though the Third Disciple's punishment was relatively light, it felt to Yeon-jin like a death sentence.
At that moment, Woo, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up.
"I-I went out on my own."
Kang-oh and Yeon-jin both paused in surprise.
"...So? If that child had given a heads-up to another servant before leaving, you wouldn't have been wandering outside alone."
Kang-oh's words were not wrong. However, Woo, trembling with his head bowed, continued to speak.
"Then, I too should be punished for causing trouble to the Third Disciple by going out on my own."
"…"
Kang-oh raised an eyebrow, as if to say, 'Is that how you want to play this?' But with his head lowered, Woo couldn't see the expression on his face.
"…You will be confined for a few days."
"Th-Thank you."
Yeon-jin bowed so deeply that her head nearly touched the ground. In that brief moment, it felt as if life and death had hung in the balance, and cold sweat poured down her back.
Kang-oh, seemingly uninterested in her, turned to Woo and casually tossed out a question.
"Is that enough?"
"Y-Yes?"
"I asked if you wouldn't request punishment anymore."
Over Kang-oh's shoulder, Yeon-jin desperately shook her head. Woo nodded, feeling a mix of reluctance and resignation.
"Y-Yes…"
"That's settled then. I've brought you back to your room, so you should rest. You've been starving while you were sick, so make sure to eat all the porridge that this servant brought."
At that admonition, a hint of color returned to Woo's face. He instinctively sensed that Kang-oh would now leave him alone.
"P-Please take care."
"…"
Kang-oh glanced at Woo's face, then quickly turned and walked away, his steps growing distant as he disappeared beyond the hallway.
Only after Kang-oh had completely vanished did Woo slowly lift himself up. He stood there, fixated on Kang-oh's retreating figure. Yeon-jin, who had been too weak to rise from the floor, caught a glimpse of the emotions that flickered across Woo's face. The cowardice had vanished, replaced by an indescribable depth in his gaze, one that seemed to hold the essence of the Third Disciple. It felt like watching a boat on a lake—neither moving forward nor backward, stuck without direction.
Turning his head, Woo made his way back to the room with slow, deliberate steps. As Yeon-jin, lost in thought, rose unsteadily and tried to follow.
Once inside the room, it was Woo's question that snapped Yeon-jin out of her daze.
"Can-can I eat this?"
He pointed to the porridge in the white ceramic bowl and asked. Remembering the excuses she had made while with Kang-oh, Yeon-jin hesitated for a moment, even though it was a situation where she should naturally nod in agreement.
She was concerned that the porridge might be harmful to Woo. But the truth was, she didn't know whether it contained poison or medicine. It was simply the porridge that Seomun Geum-ryeong had instructed her to deliver, and the discomfort of giving it to him weighed on her.
It was a fleeting sense of guilt, a shallow sympathy.
Once the fact that Woo had helped her faded, she would regret her hesitation. If she messed up and lost the First Internal Officer's favor, her life would become miserable.
Caught between practical concerns and gratitude, Yeon-jin hesitated. Meanwhile, Woo had already picked up the spoon as if he had already received her answer. Unable to stop him, Yeon-jin watched anxiously as he brought the spoonful of porridge to his lips, her fists clenched tightly. She felt as if her palate was drying out from the tension.
The moment before Woo opened his mouth felt like a century to Yeon-jin.
"Wait!"
"…?"
Woo looked at her in confusion. Yeon-jin forced herself to maintain a calm expression as she asked, "It's too cold. I'll get you a fresh bowl."
It was a crazy thought. But if she didn't stop Woo now, she felt she would regret it later.
Stepping closer, Yeon-jin reached out to take the bowl of porridge from Woo, but it was he who refused her.
"I-I'm fine."
Woo shook his head gently but firmly. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but he seemed to know that there might be something in that porridge.
With his refusal, Yeon-jin found herself powerless to intervene, watching as Woo brought the spoon to his lips. It was a relief that the target of her surveillance was so obedient, but it also filled her with unease.
When she had received the bowl from Seomun Geum-ryeong, Yeon-jin had thought that Woo might refuse it. Given his poor condition, it was clear that the Chief Internal officer had summoned him for anything but good intentions.
Even she, who had only been a guide, couldn't shake her doubts. Why was Woo accepting everything so readily?
Was he trying to deceive himself? Yet, with just one servant's eyes watching him, she couldn't fathom what he intended to do. Yeon-jin was inwardly distressed, and before she knew it, she asked, "Why... why did you help me?"
After speaking, Yeon-jin realized she had acted on impulse and bit her lip. Her curiosity had always been a double-edged sword. Sometimes, it strangled her, and at other times, it gave her opportunities. She couldn't guess how things would turn out this time.
"You are... a person from Seo-mun Geumryeong's side, right?" Woo asked after taking a bite of the porridge. The slight furrow in his brow suggested that the taste was not to his liking.
"…Yes," Yeon-jin replied.
After all, there was no point in hiding something that Woo likely already suspected.
"If y-you go, someone else will come," Woo continued, swallowing another mouthful despite the displeasure evident on his face.
"A-And if someone else comes, they might suspect that I've done something."
As Yeon-jin listened quietly to Woo's words, she realized something strange. Despite using a metal spoon on the ceramic bowl, there was not a single clink to be heard. Here was a mere servant, yet he seemed to possess an ingrained sense of dining etiquette.
With her keen curiosity, Yeon-jin was observant enough to notice the details. She focused on Woo's hands, which, though roughened by labor, moved with a peculiar grace. There was an elegance in his actions that belied his status as a servant.
Yeon-jin's gaze meticulously scanned the man before her. From his hands to his shoulders, there was a neat line, and aside from his slightly hunched back, his waist stood quite straight. Her eyes naturally drifted to his face, where Woo was still moving his lips, continuing his speech.
"I-I have no reason to refuse. I-If keeping you by my side can reassure the Grand master of Black Sky Clan, t-then I have no reason to object."
His words sounded resigned, but there was a hint of calculation behind them. What Woo had mentioned wasn't just the First Internal Officer; it was the mighty ruler of Black Sky Clan, Ye Jin-rang. After all, the only one who could command First Internal Officer Seo-mun Geumryeong like a servant in all of Black Sky Clan would be Black Sky Lord himself. To think that the Black Sky Lord was behind all of this…
As Yeon-jin realized this, she couldn't help but be startled, and her gaze unintentionally met Woo's. Their eyes crossed—her startled look meeting Woo's lowered, avoiding stare.
"...?"
A soft sigh escaped Yeon-jin's lips in that instant.
She had always found it frustrating that this man stuttered when he spoke. She had thought that his tendency to avoid eye contact was simply a result of being a servant. After all, she had witnessed him groveling for forgiveness, enduring harsh treatment from the Third Internal Officer without a hint of rebellion.
But in that moment, Yeon-jin began to understand why Woo always kept his head down.
His eyes were different. The soul within was completely unlike that of an ordinary human. It was neither cowardly nor empty, as Yeon-jin had initially guessed. Rather, it felt like the silent integrity of a pine tree bent by the cliff or a rock worn away by waves.
Yeon-jin's gaze, having briefly caught a glimpse of Woo, wavered, unsure of what to make of it.
'This is unexpected.'
Yeon-jin's turmoil was quite evident. Noticing her reaction, Woo instinctively hunched his body. For the first time, the sound of the spoon clattering against the bowl broke the silence, and his movements became increasingly awkward. With his neck craned forward and his head tilted almost into the bowl, he appeared to be ravenously licking the porridge from the bottom. Yet, this was a poor disguise.
Yeon-jin saw the light fade from Woo's eyes, watched as he became increasingly hollow. His once upright posture crumbled, and the manners he had unconsciously maintained slipped away. In an instant, it was as if the boy had aged into an old man. The confident demeanor, the graceful movements, the neat appearance that had seemed so natural transformed into that of a servant bowing before a whip.
Was it a trick of the light? Or an illusion brought on by a moment of emotion?
Now Yeon-jin understood the answer. She gathered the empty ceramic bowl and stood up. As she moved to open the sliding door, she hesitated, her lips parting slightly.
"I will be confined for a while,so I won't be able to come for a while."
Originally, she wouldn't have felt the need to explain anything to someone like him; she would have simply gone about her business. But today was different. Yeon-jin could not ignore what she had seen.
"I will send a polite attendant temporarily. I'll make sure to speak to them so that you won't be inconvenienced while staying here."
What had started as mere politeness had transformed into genuine concern from her heart.
With this incident, Yeon-jin would not refuse the First Internal Officer's orders or stop monitoring Woo. It was far too late to withdraw. However, Yeon-jin had developed a respect for Woo. He had elevated from someone she could disregard to a guest at Hee-do Won that she must serve.
It would have been right to do this from the beginning.
With her decision made, Yeon-jin felt a weight lift from her heart. She walked gracefully, her steps light as she crossed the corridor of Hido-won.
It was spring, a time of blooming flowers.