"They're scheming with those Sungian heathens behind our backs," Soh said.
"Not if the letter to Dong'gyeong is a deception," Jahan countered.
Soh raised an eyebrow, and Jahan continued, "They may try to disguise it with flowery words, but Wi and Sung are like oil and water. Whoever wrote that letter, if they truly believe Wi and Sung share the same beliefs, they're fools. Alliances without shared purpose are fleeting, shifting with the tides of profit and loss. Even if they use us as bait, their alliance won't last. And they wouldn't even consider an alliance, let alone covert support, if they couldn't keep it secret. Despite recent grievances, Sung and Dahn share a blood bond. Do you think they've forgotten that?"
"So they send us a letter, revealing their identity and asking for support?" Soh questioned.
"They know they have nothing to lose by appealing to Sung," Jahan explained. "They probably didn't expect actual support, but they figured it wouldn't hurt to try. But their intentions towards us are entirely different."
"So the letter to us, not Sung, is the genuine one?" Soh clarified. "We share a common cause with them?"
"Our ancestors shed blood in Sun River, fighting for the same light of Sahngjon," Jahan said. "They must be counting on that loyalty. Their words may be arrogant, but they're desperate. We're the only ones they can truly trust."
Soh scoffed. "They're naive to believe that loyalty remains unchanged."
Jahan and Jeong'wu exchanged glances.
"I don't care what the previous kings of the Hundred Isles did," Soh declared. "I have no intention of upholding that foolish loyalty. What did our ancestors gain by serving Wi? Countless lives lost in a foreign land, and in the end, this is how they treat us."
Jahan pressed on, "That's precisely why we must join forces with them. Even if they gain power in Nahmgyo, they'll barely have enough troops to cross the southern sea, let alone a fleet. Surely they realize they have more to gain from us than from Sung. We need the flag of Cheon-Wi. With their flag at the forefront, we can cross the southern sea unopposed. Once we land, they'll receive not loyalty, but a hefty payment demand. How will they control us once we're on the mainland?"
Jeong'wu lowered her voice and cautioned Jahan, "I understand your enthusiasm, but don't encourage reckless action. If their plan succeeds, we won't be facing a single house. We'll be facing a nation, perhaps even two, across the sea. We haven't even unified the Hundred Isles yet."
But Jahan was resolute. "With the Guardian of the Azure Scripture in Ju, it won't take a month to bring all Hundred Isles under Jongwon's rule."
Jeong'wu was wary of Jahan's eagerness. "The Guardian of the Azure Scripture? You want to trust and welcome someone we barely know? We don't even know if he's truly a royal descendant. But he managed to goad Baekan Yujeong into a duel, defeat him, and seize his warship. He's calculated and confident. He won't be a mere piece."
"And he's a captive," Jahan countered. "Even the Isleless King can't defeat a hundred men alone. We have nothing to fear from someone we can execute at any moment."
"Don't underestimate the weight of royal blood," Jeong'wu warned. "If word spreads that we killed a descendant of the Cheon royal family, it could damage the King's reputation."
She turned to Soh and continued, "It's true that our ancestors made reckless decisions based on naive faith and loyalty, and paid the price in blood. But the people of the Hundred Isles have never abandoned Sahngjon's light. We cannot afford to disregard our relationship with the Cheon royal family."
Jahan interjected, "You're right. The weight of a royal descendant is not insignificant. That's why having a descendant of the Cheon royal family could open up the land route to Dong'gyeong. If both the sender and the bearer of the letter are genuine, we could leverage that to our advantage."
Soh remained silent. Jeong'wu, sensing the ambition stirring within his lord, offered her counsel in a measured tone. "Your Majesty, while Jahan's words hold merit, I urge you not to rush to a decision. If the letter is genuine, they will surely send an envoy before the monsoon season begins. If you carefully consider your options and formulate a plan beforehand, you'll be prepared, regardless of their intentions. If they truly intend to initiate action, they will likely reveal their hand when the autumn winds begin to blow, in Sunyahng, Dong'gyeong, and Birahng."
Soh turned to Jeong'wu. "Do you think Sunyahng knows about this situation?"
"There have been rumors of surviving remnants," Jeong'wu replied. "They must have their suspicions, but they likely lack the resources to investigate and eliminate them."
"If we were to support their restoration, who should we back? Cheon Seong or Hwan?"
"First, confirm which one is the true heir," Jeong'wu advised.
Jahan interjected once more, "Whoever finds and wields the lost sword of the Cheon royal family becomes the true heir. We need to open communication and gather more information, including the whereabouts of the sword. Shouldn't we prioritize who is more suitable, rather than who is the true heir?"
"If you truly believe in Sahngjon," Jeong'wu chided, "don't even suggest such a blasphemous notion as impersonating a Celestial Scion."
After the brief meeting with his advisors, Soh ascended to the highest tower in the palace and looked out over Ju. The city wasn't far from the sea. On a clear day, like today, one could see all the way to the horizon. Ju wasn't his birthplace, but he had left his true home at such a young age that he no longer remembered it. He considered Ju his home and loved it as such. Unlike the other islands, with its vast plains, Ju was the whole world to young Jongwon Soh. It was his continent. But as he grew older and his influence expanded, Ju became both land and sea to him.
The Hundred Isles were surrounded by the sea, and though it appeared boundless, its paths were blocked by the changing seasons, its temperament unpredictable and volatile. If this land was truly where those cursed by Sahngjon were exiled, then the punishment, the suffering, was enough, even if he didn't know what sins his ancestors had committed to deserve such a harsh fate. Is it merely a pipe dream to receive divine grace and cultivate crops in the vast plains of the continent in this new era? He had always valued Jeong'wu's wisdom, but this time, he found himself strangely drawn to Jahan's fantastical advice.
Night fell as he envisioned a horizon he had never witnessed, his mind still in turmoil. Should I visit Seojeok and seek Sahngjon's guidance? Seojeok was his advisor and teacher, the one who had given him the name Jongwon and established his lineage when he first raised his flag and began his conquest. But Soh dismissed the thought. Sahngjon, speaking through Seojeok, had often offered comfort and eased his guilt, but he had never provided a clear path forward. All the plans that had guided him through trials and tribulations were born from the depths of his own solitary mind. And there was someone in the palace who was closer to Sahngjon's incarnation than Seojeok.
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Ju's palace dwarfed that of Seomy. Hwan, who had never lowered his black sails, had never set foot in Ju, even while traversing Soyeol's seas. This was his first time seeing the palace. The palace walls were imposing, and the top of the tower seemed to disappear into the clouds, even with his eyes squinting against the blinding sun. Gazing at the palace, Hwan thought of Sunyahng, a place he had also never seen. He wondered if the original palace of Sunyahng, burned down by Yeongshin Hyeon, had been as imposing, reaching for the heavens.
After a brief wait at the gate, they were led inside. Hwan had been worried about Yirahng's discomfort, expecting to be confined to a dingy cell. Instead, they were led to a clean room with comfortable bedding and six servants to attend to their needs. They were soon provided with a bath to wash away the fatigue of their long journey. Soh had also provided them with fresh clothes, and Hwan's outer robe was black. It wasn't adorned with colorful embroidery, but the deep, rich dye held a quiet dignity. As he looked at the garment, Hwan sensed a subtle message from Jongwon Soh.
Later that evening, a physician arrived and meticulously examined Yirahng. After the physician left, Yirahng rested her head on Hwan's thigh and asked, "Why are they treating us so well?"
"Because I'm a royal descendant," Hwan replied.
"So our child will be treated like this wherever they go? Just because of your bloodline?"
Hwan smiled faintly. "That's right."
A wave of complex emotions washed over him as he spoke. He wouldn't have faced such a tumultuous life if he hadn't been born a royal descendant. Yet, it was that very bloodline that allowed him to take risks even in the direst of situations. It was a strange irony. And now, another bearer of that bloodline was growing within Yirahng's womb.
They heard footsteps outside, and the door opened to reveal Chuya, clad in ornate armor. Her face was hidden behind her helmet, but Hwan recognized her as the commander from the harbor.
"Come," she said. "My father summons you."
Hwan's lips curled into a slow smile. "Your father? Are you Jongwon Soh's eldest?"
"I am," Chuya confirmed. "I am Chuya, eldest daughter of Jongwon Soh."
Hwan glanced at Yirahng, and Chuya reassured her, "My father is honorable. You needn't worry for her safety."
"If those are lies," Hwan threatened, "I'll tear your tongue out before I slaughter every last member of your bloodline."
Chuya scoffed. "I understand your bravado, but you'd do well to watch your tongue before my father. This is for your own good. If you're truly the last descendant of the Cheon royal family, you shouldn't die needlessly over a few careless words."
Hwan merely smirked and remained silent. He followed Chuya, surrounded by soldiers, climbing countless stairs and navigating a maze of corridors until they reached a door. Chuya left him there. Light flickered from within the room, casting a single shadow on the paper door. The air was still and silent. Attendants opened the doors, and a sharp blade flew out from the gap.
Hwan twisted his body to the right, narrowly avoiding the attack. The blade changed direction, slashing horizontally. Hwan ducked lower, kicking his right leg out to create distance. He drew a dagger from his robes and, sliding through the narrow space between the floor and the blade, plunged it into his attacker's neck. The attacker died without a sound.
Hwan caught his breath and looked up. A man sat hunched over a tea table in the center of the room.
"Is this Ju courtesy?" Hwan asked. "Or is it Jongwon hospitality?"
He pulled the dagger from the dead man's neck, and the body slumped to the floor, blood gushing from the wound. Soh calmly poured himself a cup of tea, seemingly unfazed by the blood splattering on the floor.
"I'd heard rumors of the Isleless King who defeated Baekan Yujeong," he said. "I wanted to witness your swordsmanship for myself. It seems the rumors of your winged blade were not exaggerated."
He frowned slightly, his eyes scanning Hwan's blood-soaked figure. "But you look smaller and prettier than I expected."
"And you look older than I expected," Hwan retorted.
Though his words were meant as an insult, they held a grain of truth, and Soh let out a hearty laugh. He composed himself and replied, "Indeed, I am Jongwon Soh. I've heard of your ambitions. You've come to claim my loyalty?"