"He never," Sobi insisted.
"Such touching devotion," Hwan remarked. "To Cheon Seong, and to Norahn... You claim to be a mere Emissary, unworthy of speaking of Sahngjon's will, yet your loyalty seems to contradict that."
He paused, then asked abruptly, "Why did Ryang give you so much gold? Did you also warm his bed like Dara?"
Sobi's face flushed with anger. "Do not insult the Emissaries," she said.
"Don't get so worked up," Hwan said dismissively. "I'm not asking because of your background. I'm asking because of Ryang's history. And the Ministry's."
"Your assumptions are disgusting," Sobi spat. "How could someone like you, a royal descendant, understand the fear of death, the worry for those left behind?"
"So you accepted his generosity to ensure your survival if things went wrong?" Hwan taunted.
"I never took it lightly," Sobi retorted. "And I never imagined using it for myself. The Guardian and His Mirror will keep the flags of Wi flying in Birahng."
"His Mirror?" Hwan questioned, his interest piqued. "Has Ryang been given a new title?"
Sobi, unsure what he might glean from her words, remained silent.
"Putting aside the question of Sahngjon's will," Hwan continued, "why are you so certain that Norahn will uphold it?"
"Do not undermine the foundation of the Ministry," Sobi pleaded. "What do we have left to fight for without that faith?"
Hwan slowly rose from his seat, and Sobi tensed. He approached her, then knelt on one knee, meeting her eyes.
"Let me teach you something Norahn failed to," he said. "Wi, my Cheon-Wi, was destroyed not only by corrupted Emissaries, but also by those like you."
Sobi glared at him, and Hwan elaborated, "Those who turned a blind eye to obvious sins, those who foolishly believed they could revive a tree rotten to its core."
"How dare you make such accusations?" Sobi retorted. "I have never ignored the problems within the Ministry. The High Emissary is different from his predecessors. As long as he leads, the Ministry can purify itself."
"If you truly believed that," Hwan interrupted, "Ryang wouldn't have chosen you. He saw the doubt in your eyes. That's why he befriended you, why he showed you such kindness. It's easy to manipulate someone like you with honeyed words and promises. It's a valuable skill Ryang possesses."
"That's not true," Sobi insisted.
Hwan pressed on, "Norahn betrayed Sahngjon once. Or rather, it was his mother who betrayed Sahngjon. Our ancestors created many absurd customs. The one I find most baffling is primogeniture, especially the insistence on passing the throne only to sons. That stubbornness nearly destroyed our nation countless times, and ultimately, it did. The High Emissary's succession is even more absurd. The High Emissary can only have one son. If a daughter is born, she's killed. The mother who bears the son is also killed when he reaches the age of ten. Can you comprehend this?"
Sobi remained silent.
"Most obeyed," Hwan continued, "but there were those who resisted. Norahn's mother was one of them. The problem was that she ran away with the High Emissary's only heir while we were in hiding. Unfortunately, she didn't make it beyond Birahng. And the Emissaries were ruthless. They killed her in front of Norahn. A woman who was once an Emissary herself."
"I've heard that story," Sobi said quietly.
"Norahn awakened to his powers on the day the star fell," Hwan said. "Have you ever wondered why?"
"I do not presume to fathom Sahngjon's will," Sobi replied.
Hwan leaned closer, his gaze intense. "Norahn is not your savior," he whispered. "He's a relic of the past, clinging to a broken system. Open your eyes and see the truth."
Sobi clung to her principles, trying to evade his questions, but Hwan's gaze was relentless, trapping her in his unwavering scrutiny.
"I was stabbed through the heart by Jongwon Soh," he stated. "Keumpyeong Hui took a blade meant for Yirahng, his body nearly split in two. And Cheon Seong? He nearly drowned, clinging to Ryang like a fool in the depths of the sea. By now, you should understand what a Celestial Scion must endure to reclaim their true nature. Norahn has already crossed the threshold of death. Long before you entered Wicheong, at the hands of those elders who revere him as their High Emissary."
"What are you trying to say?" Sobi asked.
"Norahn is long overdue to produce an heir," Hwan continued, ignoring her question. "If Cheon Seong truly intends to reclaim Sunyahng, as the letter suggests, there's no more time to delay. What choice will Norahn make, having witnessed his own mother's death? Will he defy those fearsome elders and establish a new order in this new era? Or will he succumb and betray the expectations of his loyal Third Emissary?"
Sobi couldn't answer, her mind reeling from the recent events. Hwan, seeing her turmoil, smiled triumphantly.
"I'm curious about his answer as well," he admitted.
Sobi lowered her gaze. As Hwan reveled in his petty victory, a quiet voice emerged from her small frame.
"You said you understand why the High Councilor sent me," she said, her voice steady despite her trembling hands. "I also understand why the late High Councilor didn't choose you."
Hwan's smile faltered, and Sobi met his gaze.
"You're unfit to be the Guardian of the Azure Scripture," she declared. "You're nothing but a ruthless, deceitful imposter."
"So a mere Emissary dares to speak of Sahngjon's will," Hwan warned.
Sobi braced herself, accepting her fate. She met his gaze with a courage born of resignation. After a long silence, Hwan finally spoke.
"I'll send you back when autumn comes," he said, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Alive."
Sobi's heart pounded with a fear more profound than death.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"You're the only Emissary I have," Hwan replied. "I'll use you as my envoy. I'll write down the message for you, so you don't have to burden your little mind with memorizing it. But before that, I have a task for you here in Ju."
Sobi flinched, dreading his words.
"Keumpyeong Hui is out there every day, tending to the sick," Hwan continued. "You will also go out into the city and spread the word of Sahngjon's will, the will that placed me as the Guardian."
Sobi's eyes widened in defiance. "You murdered eight Emissaries who served under me," she spat. "I will not speak of Sahngjon's will for you."
Hwan chuckled. "Now I understand your insolence. Yes, I remember. My hands are already stained with the blood of Emissaries."
He reached out and gently placed his hand on her head. Sobi didn't flinch. Hwan admired her courage, but he wouldn't tolerate defiance.
"You're clearly not afraid of death," he said. "But the deaths of others... that might be a different story."
Sobi, unable to maintain her composure under Hwan's intense scrutiny, finally faltered.
"Don't harm the soldiers," she pleaded. "If you truly believe you're the Guardian, then they are your soldiers too."
"A moment ago, you claimed I was unfit to be the Guardian, a mere pretender," Hwan scoffed.
Sobi's voice rose in desperation. "Don't play games with people's lives!"
"I'm not playing games," Hwan retorted. "I haven't spoken a single word in jest."
Sobi's frustration and anger mingled with the humid air, her breath escaping in ragged gasps. Hwan rose from his seat.
"If you want to save them," he declared, "fulfill your duty as an Emissary."
"You were the one who abandoned your duty, who committed a heinous crime, and left Wicheong Palace," Sobi countered.
"It was Cheon Seong who abandoned his duty," Hwan corrected her. "He's the one who committed the crime."
"What are you talking about?" Sobi asked, her eyes wide with confusion.
"Ask Ryang when you return," Hwan said dismissively. "Or you can confront Cheon Seong yourself."
He turned to leave, then paused by the window, watching the rain intensify.
"The monsoon is strong here," he remarked idly. He glanced back at Sobi. "I'll send you new clothes before nightfall. You'll start your duties tomorrow."
He left Sobi's chambers and headed towards the small tea room adjoining his bedroom. If not for her white robes, he would have dismissed her as unremarkable. But her defiant eyes, filled with contempt as she declared him unfit, were burned into his memory. He found her arrogance laughable, a mere Emissary questioning the Guardian's legitimacy. Yet, her words sparked a flicker of anger within him, a feeling that wasn't entirely unfamiliar.
"Is anyone there?" he called out.
An attendant entered and bowed.
"You mentioned someone like an Emissary here in Ju," Hwan said.
"Are you referring to Seojeok?" the attendant asked.
"Bring him to me."
Half a day passed before Seojeok arrived. It was already afternoon, but the monsoon rain, thick and heavy since dawn, had darkened the sky, making it seem like early morning. Seojeok, his aged body frail and hunched, prostrated himself before Hwan. Unlike the Wi Emissaries, who wore white, Seojeok was adorned in a colorful robe with intricate patterns.
There were those in Soyeol who studied the Azure Scripture and the commentaries, preaching to the people, like the Emissaries. But they didn't dare call themselves Emissaries or wear white robes. The Soyeol people called them "Acolytes(照口先生)." No one knew who the first Acolyte was, but it was their ancient title.
"I hear you're the one who gave Jongwon Soh his name," Hwan remarked.
"That is correct," Seojeok rasped, his voice thick with phlegm.
"Why didn't you seek me out after Jongwon Soh's death?" Hwan asked.
"I was merely awaiting my punishment," Seojeok replied.
"Punishment?" Hwan's interest was piqued. "Those who bowed before me were all loyal subjects of Jongwon Soh. None of them begged for punishment. Have you done something to deserve it?"
"I failed to understand Sahngjon's will and protect my lord from his recklessness," Seojeok confessed. "How could I possibly have the audacity to cling to life?"
"So your loyalty still lies with Jongwon Soh," Hwan observed.
Seojeok, flustered, prostrated himself again. "My words have committed a grave sin," he pleaded, "but my loyalty lies solely with Sahngjon. I served my former lord because I believed he was the true king, sent by Sahngjon to bring peace to the Hundred Isles. But I witnessed the primordial power and the true Guardian chosen by Sahngjon with my own eyes. Why would I cling to my former lord? I only pray that he has found peace and returned to the light beside Sahngjon."
Hwan chuckled. "Is there a temple near the city where sermons can be held?"
"The place where I reside is such a place," Seojeok replied.
"The Emissary from Nahmgyo will start preaching tomorrow," Hwan instructed. "Make the necessary preparations by nightfall. And send someone to guide her tomorrow morning."