Chapter 10

Later that day, Kim Jong-Seo and his two sons were sitting in his room, talking about the recent events.

"The Black Swords?" Jun-Ho asked incredulously. "But they are a myth, a legend told by the people to scare each other."

"That man out there was very much alive." Shin said darkly, a low grumble escaping his lips. His shoulder was bandaged, and it still hurt, making him feel slightly irritated.

"You say he had a tattoo on his right hand?" Kim Jong-Seo asked in a pensive tone. He was not looking at anybody in particular but gazing out the window of his room.

"Yes." Shin answered with a short nod. "On the back of his right hand he had a black mark representing a long sword."

"What about the other two? Did they have the same mark?" Kim Jong-Seo asked, continuing to look outside the window.

"No. We've checked but only the swordsman had it." Shin finished in a low voice.

They all remained silent for a couple of minutes, until Jun-Ho cried out in exasperation, drawing their attention on him.

"I still believe these Black Swords are a myth. Not many people have heard about them, and most of those who have, believe them to be a legend. Even if they had lived at some point, they should be long dead by now."

"Many years ago, the Black Swords were more than just a legend, son." Kim Jong-Seo said, finally turning his head and looking Jun-Ho in the eye. His expression was serious, and his eyes were narrowed. There was an overall air of concern covering his features. He continued to speak, looking at his son intently. "Many years ago, there was a group of warriors who could be hired for different jobs."

"Mercenaries." Jun-Ho supplied.

"Yes." His father agreed with a slight nod, his features twisting more in concern. "But unlike the rest of the mercenaries, this group could only be hired by the richest of men, because of the high fees they asked. It was said they never failed their missions, which made their skills legendary. Whether it was assassination or kidnap, they did it all so well, no one even knew it was them. They were masters at infiltration and no place escaped them, not even the Palace. Also, their motto was never to be caught alive. That way, if they were defeated in battle or captured, they would be unable to expose the secrets of whoever hired them."

"That's a bit extreme." Jun-Ho said with a grimace.

"But efficient." His father continued. "They were believed to be extinct, killed after their last mission by a nobleman of high status, who feared their power and influence. Of course, nothing has been proven as no bodies were found, but that is the rumor."

"So, there could still be Black Swords out there, alive and taking missions?" Shin asked, trying to hide the concern from his voice.

"No one knows for sure, but the sudden apparition of this man wearing their mark and killing himself as soon as he was defeated, does seem a bit too coincidental." Kim Jong-Seo said frowning.

"What will happen now?" Jun-Ho asked, shifting uncomfortably in his sitting position.

"The bodies have been taken by the police and we will have to wait and see what they can find." Kim Jong-Seo said.

"Is there any other sign by which they can be recognized, besides the sword tattoo?" Shin asked suddenly.

"Yes." Kim Jong-Seo replied with a strange expression on his face. "The Black Swords were all castrated as soon as they joined. That ensured loyalty to the group above anything else and it was believed to make them more obedient. It also proved most useful when they had to infiltrate certain residences. Eunuchs weren't suspected for entering the noblemen's houses or roaming around the royal court."

"Now that is what I call extreme." Shin said in a low voice, shuddering slightly.

"Tell me about it." Jun-Ho agreed with a slow nod. Then added quickly, turning to his father. "How come do you know so much about them?"

"Thirty years ago, I had the privilege of fighting one of them." Kim Jong-Seo stated calmly, a look of reminiscence appearing in his eyes. He ignored the young men's gasps and continued. "He was a worthy opponent, who gave me this as a reminder." he said, slowly pulling at his robes and revealing his left shoulder.

A thin long scar was visible on his aged skin, going round and towards his chest.

"What happened?" Jun-Ho asked in an awed voice, clearly impressed by his father's story.

"Evidently, I won." Kim Jong-Seo said with a slight amused expression on his face. "It was not easy, but I finally managed to disarm him. He killed himself with a hidden knife before I was able to do anything about it."

***

Kim Jong-Seo's meeting with Yoon-Yi had been thwarted by her sloppy attempt at running away. As it can be imagined, her escapade at the river resulted in her falling ill, thus having to postpone any interview until she was feeling better.

While the men of the house were discussing important business, Yoon-Yi was being cared for by Jung-Hee and the same servant girl who, unwittingly, provided the means for escape. Poor girl had been thoroughly punished for her lack of attention and was thus trying to make amends by assisting in the young miss's recovery.

Yoon-Yi's fever had grown alarmingly since she was brought to the house and it was now making her hallucinate. She kept squirming, trashing, and turning, as if fighting invisible bounds. Soft sobs and whimpers escaped from her mouth, proof of the internal pain she was feeling. Her white face glowed with a reddish tint due to the high temperature and her lips were chapped and dry. Jung-Hee tried to feed her medicines, but Yoon-Yi refused everything, making everyone feel desperate.

Right after dinner, Jun-Ho and Shin came to see how things were going with the convalescent. As soon as he saw Yoon-Yi's state, Jun-Ho ordered for the doctor to come as soon as possible. He also sent a servant to get more medicine.

Meanwhile, Shin positioned himself further back, trying to stay out of the way. He watched Yoon-Yi's writhing body with an odd expression on his face. A particular violent sob from Yoon-Yi's direction made Shin shudder slightly. He looked at her in a daze, unsure of what to do and unable to shift his gaze from her bright red face.

A sudden bustle jerked him out of his stupor. Jun-Ho was on his feet, talking rapidly with his sister. The servant had just left the room in a hurry and the door was left open.

"I'll go and ask about the doctor. He should have arrived by now." Jun-Ho was saying, his eyes narrowing in a worried expression.

"I will go with you." his sister said briskly. "You stay here." she continued in an authoritative tone, turning towards Shin, who was getting ready to leave as well.

"Me? Why me?" Shin said with a flinch. His eyes widened and he involuntarily took a step back.

"Because I need someone to stay here in case she needs something." Jung-Hee said, frowning at the young man. She nudged her chin in Yoon-Yi's direction.

She was still squirming, and her face was scrunched up in pain. In the meantime, her breathing had become shallow, soft wheezing noises filling the air.

Shin was just about to protest when Jung-Hee raised a hand to stop him.

"Shin, the servant will be here in a moment and we will be back with the doctor. I need you to stay here just in case. Do you understand?" she stared him down like a mother threatening her child to behave.

Despite his height and obvious strength, Shin could not find the courage to protest. He let out a deep sigh and nodded slowly.

"And Shin, please behave this time." Jun-Ho told him pointedly right before he closed the door.

Even though he was evidently displeased by the situation, Shin complied and took a seat on the floor. He was careful to position himself as far away from Yoon-Yi as it was possible in the small space they were in.

Two minutes had passed with nothing happening, except for Yoon-Yi crying out in pain a couple of times and Shin gazing at her apprehensively. He did not have a problem when he was hurting, but he never liked seeing other people in pain.

Despite the fact that he found the girl to be a burden and a very obnoxious person, Shin realized just how much Jun-Ho and Jung-Hee were starting to care for her. That meant if she hurt, they would be troubled as well.

When Yoon-Yi's stifled sobs finally got too much for him to ignore, he moved closer to her squirming form. He bent over the mattress, looking at her carefully. She shook her head a few times, calling out to someone, but it was in such a low voice Shin could barely distinguish the sounds. After a moment's hesitation, he raised a hand and placed it gently on top of her forehead. The skin felt hot under his fingers and Shin's eyebrows knitted together into a frown.

'She is having a very high fever. If it doesn't go down soon, it could be dangerous.' He thought to himself, gazing down at her flushed face.

At his touch, Yoon-Yi's breath hitched, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Are you the Grim Reaper? Have you come to take me away?" she whispered hoarsely, sounding like she was in a great deal of pain.

Being too absorbed in his thoughts, Shin had not noticed she was awake, and her voice startled him. His hand retreated from her forehead quickly and he tried to shuffle away from her, but her hand sprang up and grabbed him by the elbow. Shin was surprised that she had enough strength left to pull at him so strongly.

"I don't want to go there." Yoon-Yi continued to speak in a panicked whisper. "Please don't take me there."

Her eyes were gleaming with fever and it was clear she did not know who he was. Shin repressed a shudder and tried to push her hand away, but her fingers wrapped tightly around his forearm. He flinched, a sharp pain coursing through his arm. The hurt shoulder was protesting under Yoon-Yi's pull and he stopped struggling.

As soon as he stopped trying to move her hand away from him, Yoon-Yi visibly relaxed. Her breathing was still shallow and uneven, but the panic had left her feverish eyes. She gazed up at him with unseeing eyes, a small smile appearing on her face. Her fingers slid along his arm until they reached his palm. She grabbed it, gently pressing her fingers against his.

The feel of her skin against his made Shin feel a tremor across his body. Not realizing what he was doing, he bent down slightly, hovering above her face for a moment.

"You are a beautiful Angel." She whispered through a soft gasp of pain. Her other hand reached up for his face. "Will you take me home now? They are waiting for me there." she finished quietly.

Her eyes fluttered and closed. Her hand fell beside her body before it could reach Shin's cheek. The soft thud of her arm hitting the mattress shook him out of whatever he was doing. He wriggled his fingers out of her grasp and got up to his feet. A deep, slow breath came out of his lungs.

That moment the door opened, and Jung-Hee came back, followed closely by the doctor. Shin took that as his que to leave, grateful to be out of the room.