Chapter 46 : Because That's the Reason I've Lived
"Wow... it has a different atmosphere from our place or the Namgung Family."
"It's big."
The three people who had arrived at the family estate of Do Eultae, the manor head of Geumseong Manor, stood with their mouths open, facing the huge, sparkling golden estate.
Perhaps because he felt burdened coming to such a large estate, cold sweat continuously flowed from Yu Dongyeop's forehead.
But the single-minded determination to see his son supported Yu Dongyeop.
"Who are you? The manor head has ordered not to let anyone in, so please go back."
Four escort guards of the Do Family blocked the entrance.
"Hello!"
Siu stepped forward first and bowed her waist politely, offering a greeting.
"I am Siu, a maidservant of the Jin Family. This is Young Master Jin Sohyun, the eldest son of the Jin Family."
"The Jin Family?"
The attitude of the escort guards, who had been showing a high-handed attitude, changed abruptly.
They bowed with a polite attitude.
"...I'm sorry. We have committed a rudeness, not knowing that you were from the Jin Family."
"No. It was I who came without notice, so you don't need to apologize."
"But... what brings Young Master Jin here?"
"I came to see Yu Dongyeop's son, Seobi."
As Yu Seobi's name was mentioned, the faces of the escort guards hardened.
Only then did they discover Yu Dongyeop, who was standing like a criminal behind Jin Sohyun and Siu.
"That man...! How dare he come here!"
The escort guards showed open hostility towards Yu Dongyeop.
And for good reason, because Yu Dongyeop's son, Yu Seobi, was either the culprit who had made the manor head's only son a vegetable, or he had kept his mouth shut, trying to protect the culprit even though he knew who it was.
"I'm sorry to say this to Young Master Jin, but that man cannot enter the Do Family estate. Also, the Young Master cannot enter without the manor head's permission."
"Shouldn't we find out the truth? To open Seobi's mouth, we need his father, Mister Yu."
"That man has already met his son. But even so, that brat did not open his mouth. Hoo! I'm sorry. Young Master Jin, please go back as well."
At the firm attitude of the Do Family, Jin Sohyun and Yu Dongyeop had no choice but to turn their backs and come out.
"Shall I send a message?"
"No."
"Yes... you and the Jin Family should not be in trouble because of me and Seobi."
Jin Sohyun grabbed Yu Dongyeop, who was about to give up and go back.
"Mister."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Do you know roughly where Seobi is imprisoned?"
"Seobi is probably..."
Yu Dongyeop searched his memory and recalled the time he had met Seobi.
"It was a small granary in the east. I think they said it was originally a place to store food. Why do you ask?"
Instead of answering, Jin Sohyun looked up at the sky.
"Is there about a shichen left until the sun sets?"
***
One shichen later.
Jin Sohyun, who had been taking a nap at an inn located a short distance from the Do Family estate, woke up.
"Haaam—! This is so troublesome."
If he could, he wanted to put everything down and just lie down for a few days.
"But I have to go."
For a lazy, affluent, and happy future, he had to save Mr. Yu's son.
Of course, if Yu Seobi was not guilty.
"Young Master! You're awake."
"Where is Mister Yu?"
"I think he dozed off. He probably hasn't been able to sleep lately."
"Stay with Mister Yu for a while. I'll be back after going out for a bit."
"Where are you going?"
"The Do Family estate."
With these words, Jin Sohyun flew out of the open window.
"Aack! Young Master! This is the third floor!!"
Had Jin Sohyun finally lost his mind?
Siu, who had run to the window in surprise, scratched her head when she couldn't see Jin Sohyun's figure anywhere.
"How did he get down?"
Leaving the puzzled Siu behind, the place Jin Sohyun, who had left the inn, headed to was the Do Family estate.
Since it was the estate where the manor head of Geumseong Manor lived, the security was very tight.
Between the high outer walls, guard martial artists in pairs of two and three were patrolling the surroundings with torches in their hands.
"It's been a while since I've done this, but it should be fine, right? Oh! What a hassle."
Jin Sohyun rolled his feet towards the Do Family estate, where darkness had fallen.
In an instant, Jin Sohyun's figure, which had assimilated with the shadows, swam through the darkness and kicked the outer wall with the tips of his toes.
Tadat—!
Jin Sohyun, who had jumped over the high outer wall of the Do Family estate with two kicks, held his breath and prostrated himself.
"Yu Dongyeop has brought the Slothful Young Master of the Jin Family."
"He probably thought he could get his son out using that brat who doesn't know the ways of the world."
"A shameless bastard! He should be grateful that we've kept his son alive until now!"
"So when does the interrogation start?"
"They say it starts tonight."
As the two guard martial artists passed by, Jin Sohyun, who had been lying prostrated right next to them, holding his breath, slowly got up.
"Eek...! There's no time."
Performing the stealth technique he had learned from the number one thief in the Central Plains, the Shadowless Thieving Ghost, Bieunggaek, Jin Sohyun's shadow crossed the huge Do Family estate.
Swoosh—!
Performing the Shadow Swimming Body, Jin Sohyun, who had crossed several walls like a snake slithering over a wall, found a small warehouse guarded by a whopping five martial artists.
The door of the warehouse was locked with three layers of locks, and the windows were covered with thick wooden planks so that not even light could pass through.
"Mmm..."
Jin Sohyun quietly climbed onto the roof of the warehouse and looked down.
"The interrogation is starting soon?"
"Yes. It seems the manor head has prepared thoroughly. There's a rumor that he has invited an interrogation expert who used to work in the authorities."
"That foolish brat will finally open his mouth."
"Haha! He has to! If he doesn't want to die."
Jin Sohyun, who was listening to the conversation of the Do Family's martial artists, extended his hand to the waistband of one of the martial artists.
Swoosh—!
Jin Sohyun, who had a single sword drawn from its scabbard in his hand, turned around.
'Let's move quickly before they notice.'
He had to get inside the warehouse before the guard martial artist noticed that his sword was gone.
Jin Sohyun imbued the sword he was holding with internal energy, just as he would with a flying sword, and then cut the thick wooden planks that were covering the window.
Slice—!
Jin Sohyun silently removed the sliced wooden planks and then pushed his body through the window.
Meanwhile, Yu Seobi, who was swallowing his tears, hugging his two knees with both hands inside the granary, was startled to see the shape of a huge snake crawling in through the open window.
He was so surprised that he couldn't even scream.
'A-A huge snake! They're going to kill me with a snake!'
Yu Seobi, who thought that Do Eultae would kill him using a huge snake, shed tears and closed his two eyes tightly.
'I'm sorry, Father...!'
While Yu Seobi was trembling in fear, the huge snake that had approached him extended its hand.
"Seobi."
Yu Seobi, who had opened his closed eyes, was startled to see Jin Sohyun, who had appeared right in front of him.
"Wh-Who are you?"
"There are still people outside, so you have to speak quietly. I'm Jin Sohyun. We've met once before, right?"
"Brother Jin?"
"Yes. It's me."
Due to the handsome face visible through the faint light, Yu Seobi realized that he was the real Jin Sohyun.
"Brother..."
"I've heard the rough situation. Do Yeong, the manor head's son, has become a vegetable, and you found him, right?"
"..."
Just as Yu Dongyeop had, Yu Seobi clammed up like a clam.
"An interrogation expert will be here soon."
At Jin Sohyun's calm words, Yu Seobi opened his closed mouth.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know exactly either, but he's probably an expert who enjoys finding out the truth through torture."
"T-Torture?"
"Yes. So you have to tell me now. What happened that day. If you don't, I can't help you."
"..."
Yu Seobi hugged his shoulders with both hands and trembled.
What on earth was making this small and delicate boy tremble in fear and yet unable to open his mouth?
The contemplating Jin Sohyun asked.
"It wasn't you, was it?"
Yu Seobi's eyes looked up at Jin Sohyun.
The boy's pupils were shaking greatly.
"Someone else did that to Do Yeong, but you can't say who it is, right?"
"...I... I..."
"A friend?"
Yu Seobi's face turned pale.
"For someone your age, the most precious person would be family or a friend. You and Do Yeong had another friend."
Yu Seobi's gaze, which had been wandering, not knowing where to look, stared at the empty air.
Soon, the boy's head dropped.
"Yunhwa."
"Yunhwa?"
"Mine and Do Yeong's... a very old childhood friend... and the child Do Yeong had feelings for."
The person who had first discovered Do Yeong, who had fallen into qi deviation and whose whole body had stiffened, was not Yu Seobi.
He had come to the Do Family estate to meet his friend who had returned to his family after a long time, and he had met his friend who had met with a misfortune at the appointed place.
And next to him was Yunhwa.
Age thirteen.
That small but cute and gentle girl was Do Yeong's first love.
And the reason Do Yeong had become a secular disciple of the Jongnam Sect was for Yunhwa, who had admired strong martial artists.
Do Yeong, who had returned after training in martial arts at the Jongnam Sect for the sake of the one he loved, had become a vegetable that night, his whole body stiffened.
The only person who had seen Do Yeong meet with a misfortune and who knew the whole truth was one person.
The girl named Yunhwa was the only one.
"Where did the child named Yunhwa go?"
"She ran away as soon as she saw me. Where she went... I don't know either."
"Then you've been silent until now to protect the child named Yunhwa?"
Yu Seobi, who had become gaunt from not being able to sleep or eat properly for several days, nodded.
"I was scared that Yunhwa would get hurt. I shouldn't have... but I thought Yunhwa might have some circumstances..."
Jin Sohyun placed his hand on the head of the crying Yu Seobi.
"Can I believe your words?"
"Yes. It's all true."
"It has to be true. Otherwise, I think I'll be in a lot of trouble. Of course, it's already a huge hassle."
Jin Sohyun, who had gotten up from his seat, hid in the darkness as he felt a presence at the door.
Soon, the lock was opened, and the martial artists of the Do Family rushed in.
"Follow us!"
The martial artists forcibly dragged Yu Seobi, who couldn't even walk properly because he had no strength.
"There's no time."
Jin Sohyun, who had been hiding in the shadows, came out through the window.
The next place Jin Sohyun headed to was the tallest building in the Do Family estate.
Jin Sohyun, who stood on the roof of the pavilion, imbued his two eyes with internal energy, and a blue light flowed from his two pupils.
The eyes of Jin Sohyun, who had opened the Heavenly Eyes, moved quickly and began to scan the people who existed in the Do Family estate.
'It'll be a problem if she's not here.'
Looking at Yu Seobi's physical condition, it seemed difficult for him to survive if he were to be tortured.
Even if he managed to save his life, it would be after he had already become disabled.
So before the full-scale interrogation began, he had to find the child named Yunhwa and find out the truth.
"Hoo—!"
Jin Sohyun, who could not find Yunhwa even with the Heavenly Eyes, moved from one pavilion of the Do Family estate to another and scanned the surroundings.
Jin Sohyun, who was running through the Do Family estate at a speed like the wind, kicking his feet, soon stopped abruptly.
"Hmm!?"
A girl came into his Heavenly Eyes.
Age between twelve and fourteen.
Although she had a cute face, a sadness that did not suit her age could be felt in the girl's two eyes.
Jin Sohyun, who had intuitively realized that the girl was Yunhwa, immediately approached the girl.
"Hoo! Hello?"
Despite Jin Sohyun's sudden appearance, the girl's reaction was indifferent.
"Hello."
"Are you Yunhwa?"
"Yes. Seeing that you've come to see me, it seems Seobi oppa has finally spoken."
Jin Sohyun realized that Yunhwa had been wandering around Geumseong Manor, hoping that someone would come to see her.
Jin Sohyun approached carefully and spoke.
"Seobi has been silent about you to the people of the Do Family until now to protect you."
"Is that so? He's a frustrating child until the very end."
Yunhwa smiled brightly and faced Jin Sohyun.
Although her mouth was smiling, the girl's pupils were empty.
"You came to see me because you wanted to know the truth, right?"
"That's right. Because you were the last person to see Do Yeong before he fell into qi deviation."
"I did it."
"You did it?"
"Yes. I used poison. It's a blood poison that is not life-threatening, but if the consumption of internal energy increases rapidly, the qi starts to flow backwards... and young martial artists who are still inexperienced in controlling their qi cannot control it. If they are lucky, they die, and if they are unlucky, they become a vegetable like Do Yeong."
Jin Sohyun, who had finally learned the truth, felt as if his blood were turning cold.
The one and only son of a family had fallen into qi deviation and had become a vegetable.
And the culprit who had done that to him seemed not to feel any guilt.
What made Jin Sohyun even more confused was the fact that the one who had committed such a vicious act was a girl who was only thirteen years old.
"Why did you do it? Did Do Yeong do something bad to you..."
"No. Both Do Yeong and Yu Seobi are very kind people."
"Then why!"
As Jin Sohyun asked in anger, Yunhwa said with a voice devoid of emotion.
"Because... that's the reason I've lived."
Crunch—!
With the sound of something breaking in her mouth, Yunhwa's body began to tremble.
"Damn it!"
Jin Sohyun, who had rushed to Yunhwa, realized that she had started to bleed from her eyes, nose, and mouth.
"Don't tell me... did she take poison?"
She had swallowed poison.
Jin Sohyun looked down at the dying Yunhwa with a blank face.
"Why... why are you doing this?"
Even at the moment of her death, Yunhwa did not say the reason.
He could not even know what had driven Yunhwa to her death, or why she had tried to kill Do Yeong.
All that was left for Jin Sohyun was the corpse of the girl who had committed suicide by swallowing poison.
(End of Chapter)