Chapter 5.3: Past relationships [Part 2]

After running away from Woo's residence, Yeon-jin didn't stop until she reached the backyard of the servants' quarters. She turned the corner of the building and, after making sure no one was around, leaned against a pillar and slid down to the ground. The bowl she had been holding slipped from her arms and rolled across the floor with a clatter.

Yeon-jin buried her face in her knees. In the beginning, it was just greed—no, ambition. She had nothing to her name, so the moment she received the Chief Internal Officer's offer, she grabbed it without hesitation. It was the only chance she had to escape a life with no future..

She even thought she was lucky to receive such a reward just for passing along a few updates and bringing meals to Woo every morning, without directly getting involved in any murders.

It was a huge misunderstanding. The reason the First Internal Officer offered such a generous price wasn't for the effort—anyone could have done that much work. It was because, the longer this went on, the more Yeon-jin would slowly carve up and sell off her own conscience.

They were trying to buy a person's heart with money, so of course, they had to pay a high price. From the start, this was a terrible deal. The buyer knew exactly what they were getting, but the seller didn't even realize what they were giving away.

Yeonjin had only felt happy at the time—happy that her body could rest and that she had a large sum of money in her hands. But now, even though only a month had passed, she shuddered at the thoughts she once had.

"Next time, please just... bring it as it is. L-like today."

She recalled the words of a man who had nothing, not even a sound body. Under the roof of the Hee-do Won, if there was someone lower than Yeon-jin, it was definitely Woo. Watching the third officer berate a servant, slap him, and ordering someone to bring a whip, she even felt relieved that she was not the target of such treatment.

That shallow sense of pity had now wrapped itself around Yeonjin's neck, choking her.

She had thought she could do anything, but that was just the naive thinking of someone who had never truly put anything on the line. She hadn't considered what emotions this work would bring her or what she would have to endure.

"W-what you're doing right now… it's far too dangerous, like walking a tightrope."

Yeon-jin's decision to run away was not because Woo had seen through her. Nor was it out of fear of Seo-mun Geumryeong.

Yeonjin was angry—angry about things she couldn't take responsibility for, things she wasn't even supposed to.

"...ha."

As she sorted through her emotions, a breath she had been holding in finally escaped her lips. She lifted her head slightly from where it had been buried in her knees, revealing only her eyes, and was captivated by the breathtaking view of Hee-do Won. The earthly Seocheon Garden, built for the youngest disciple whom the Lord of Black Sky Clan cherished above all else. It was said that the only thing missing from this place was the half of the Queen Mother of the West.

'This is insane.'

She had only ever desired what was within her reach, what was appropriate for her. But now, for the first time in her life, she was experiencing a crushing sense of helplessness. Still, as someone who had always been trampled upon, it infuriated her that she couldn't interfere in this matter—that she wasn't even supposed to.

Even if the one behind it all was the Lord of Black Sky Clan.

Forcing herself not to dwell on it, Yeonjin let out a bitter smile. It was knowledge she had no business possessing, something she had deliberately tried to push beneath the surface. On the very first day she took the mission, Woo had already known—he knew that Yeonjin was working for Seo-mun Geumryeong and that the Lord of Black Sky Clan stood behind her. The reason he had mentioned it to Yeon-jin must have been simple. He wanted her to silently carry out the orders of the First Internal Officer. No, more than that—he wanted her to follow the will of the Lord of Black Sky Clan.

People like Yeon-jin, who live at the bottom, are quick to pick up on things. It's because they live a life where they never know when or where lightning might strike. That's why she could recognize Woo's kindness. Even when he was struggling with his own troubles, he still worried about those who might get caught up in his mess. But Woo's kindness didn't feel warm to Yeon-jin. Instead, it cut through her skin, sank into her bones, and turned into a guilt that stabbed at her heart.

Very slowly, and quietly.

Lost in deep thought, Yeon-jin had been watching the scenery of Hee-do Won when, little by little, her eyes widened.

And then, suddenly, a realization struck her.

'If this isn't something I can take responsibility for… then I need to find someone who's capable enough to know what's going on.'

Why would the Black Sky Lord, who hated this person so much, send him to Hee-do Won so easily, even going so far as to act in secret?

Why had Ye Jin-rang, who was powerful enough to shake the world, not acted personally and instead ordered the First Internal Officer to place Yeon-jin as his eyes within Hee-do Won?

This baffling contradiction pointed to one person.

'Third Disciple, Ye Kang-oh.'

Yeon-jin slowly stood up. Maybe it was because she had been crouching for too long, or maybe it was the tension creeping up her entire body—but her hands and feet tingled.

***

Early in the morning, Kang-oh was out for a walk, busily picking flowers in the garden. It had already been a few days since he had promised to bring fresh flowers to Woo after seeing him still holding onto a withered peony. But in that time, a heavy rainstorm had swept through, breaking most of the flowers and scattering them on the ground. While the sight of the flower petals scattered after the rain was beautiful, Kang-oh could only feel disheartened. He was unable to bring flowers to Woo right away. With no other choice, he had been walking through the garden every day, checking the remaining buds to see when they might bloom.

And finally, today, Kang-oh was able to spot a flower that caught his eye. After all that waiting, Hee-do Won's vast courtyard—so large that people sometimes called it the Black Sky Clan's Western Flower Garden—had finally gifted him enough flowers to fill his arms and more.

He gathered a bundle of bright red azaleas in full bloom, then noticed a cluster of small yellow forsythias nearby and picked those too. As he walked, his eyes landed on some tiny daffodils, so he carefully added them to his collection as well. Just a few days ago, no matter how hard he looked, the flowers had all been weak and drooping. Now, they had blossomed beautifully, and his hands instinctively reached out to gather more.

In the end, Kang-oh found himself holding what felt like a small garden in his arms. He told himself he needed to sort through them, but he couldn't help stroking the petals with a hint of reluctance.

Who knew when the next spring rain would come? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to bring Woo as many flowers as he could today. That thought only grew larger in his mind.

As he walked toward the main building of Hee-do Won with the flowers in hand, Kang-oh lifted his head at the sound of soft footsteps. It looked like she was returning from somewhere, slipping in through the side gate used by the staff of Hee-do Won.

'I don't think I've seen her around earlier.'

Perhaps it was because he had spent more time than usual admiring the courtyard, but Kang-oh assumed their meeting was just a coincidence—until he noticed that Yeon-jin was holding something.

"Porridge?"

He had seen that same servant bring a bowl of porridge to Woo before. This was already the third time. The first was when Kang-oh had been about to punish that servant. The second was when he was on his way to take Woo to Honamgak and had run into Yeon-jin in the hallway. And now, here it was again.

Something was off.

The food in Hee-do Won was always prepared in its own kitchen. Ye-jin Rang had expanded his residence so much that it was impractical to bring in food from outside. Even the regular servants ate meals made in Hee-do Won, so there was no reason for Woo's food to come from elsewhere.

Moreover, he had felt puzzled when Woo, despite recovering from his illness, was still only being given porridge. It had bothered him enough that he had ordered the servant to ask the physician whether Woo could eat a proper meal.

The flowers in his hand crumpled slightly as he instinctively tightened his grip. But his face remained completely unreadable. He noticed the servant was about to enter the main building. Without a moment to think, Kang-oh quickly moved to position himself in front of Yeon-jin.

"...!"

The tray in her hands trembled slightly.

A quick glance at the bowl confirmed his suspicions—the porridge wasn't steaming. It had already gone cold.

"Is that Woo's breakfast?"

"Yes, Third Disciple."

Yeon-jin lowered her head and spoke politely.

"You're still serving porridge. Didn't I tell you last time to ask the physician if a proper meal would be possible?"

"…The physician said that since the guest has a weak stomach, it would be best to start with a light meal."

"Ah, I see. That makes sense."

Kang-oh gave a small nod at the slightly shaky voice trying to explain itself. It wasn't unreasonable—after all, even after taking Woo on walks on purpose, his body still didn't seem to be gaining any strength.

But that alone didn't explain this strange behavior.

"Still, why is this being brought in from outside?"

"I receive it daily from the medical quarters. They boil porridge there every day for the patients."

The explanation was much smoother this time. It sounded reasonable—almost as if it had been prepared in advance.

"Even so, serving cold food to a guest of Hee-do Won… It seems the kitchen has gone downhill while I was away."

"I-I apologize."

"Hmm…"

Kang-oh paused as if he was going to let this slide.

The servant, head bowed, was so consumed by anxiety that she seemed to be holding her breath. The tension in the air kept building. Kang-oh waited—waited until that servant had unknowingly backed herself onto the highest cliff's edge. Sometimes, fear itself was more effective than torture in forcing someone to speak.

This method of manipulating emotions was something Ye-jin Rang often used. The fact that he was now using what he had learned from his master to deal with his master's own schemes made Kang-oh's insides churn. Still, he finally opened his mouth.

"In that case, let me ask you this. If I were to overturn this bowl—"

A crooked smile curled at his lips.

"—Would that put you in a difficult position?"

Without needing to press further, the pale expression on Yeon-jin's face already provided the answer. Feeling displeased, Kang-oh coldly tossed out his next words to the trembling Yeon-jin, who stood frozen, her head lowered.

"Follow me."

He could hear the clattering of the dishes as the hand holding the tray trembled. However, Kang-oh did not look back as he moved forward.

In the place where the flower petals had fallen, a more tragic weight settled in Kang-oh's heart. Like a fallen magnolia, bruised and blackened, he swallowed down the emotions threatening to surface. All he could do was tighten his grip on the flower he had already crushed.

Unexpectedly, Kang-oh did not head to Woo's quarters. Instead, he made his way to Hee-do Won's kitchen.

Although it was still the season of spring, the kitchen was filled with heat and fire. The workers in the kitchen were sweating profusely, as if summer had already arrived.

"Bring the oil! Oil!"

"Where's the cleaned fish?"

"Did you take the vegetables out of the steamer?"

The kitchen was bustling as the staff worked to prepare a meal for the master of Hee-do Won. But the moment Kang-oh suddenly appeared, everyone froze in place. Never before, since the founding of Hee-do Won, had the Third Disciple stepped foot in the kitchen.

Some even widened their eyes in shock—not just because of his presence, but because, for once, he was holding flowers instead of a sword.

"My lord, is there something you need?"

A woman, who had been directing the other kitchen staff, approached Kang-oh and bowed her head as she spoke. Perhaps due to the heat, her sleeves were rolled up, revealing arms marked with burns from hot oil and scars from handling knives. This sturdy cook, with muscles built from using heavy kitchen tools, had served Ye Jin-rang for over ten years before being assigned to Kang-oh's side.

"I need you to prepare one more meal."

At his unexpected request, a hint of curiosity flashed in the woman's eyes.

"I will prepare it right away."

"And this—"

Without ever glancing at Yeon-jin, Kang-oh took the bowl of porridge from her and handed it to the head cook.

"Dispose of it."

The cook, perhaps out of habit, brought the bowl close to her nose to smell it, furrowing her brow in confusion. However, upon hearing Kang-oh's command, she nodded obediently.

"Understood."

"From now on, take a bowl from this servant every day and dispose of it. Personally."

As the head cook of Hee-do Won, she was busy, but how could she defy the command of the Third Disciple?

"I will keep that in mind."

Since there was no question of why, Kang-oh turned sharply and left the kitchen. Yeon-jin hurriedly followed behind him.

Kang-oh could sense her presence right behind him, and it irritated him. But he didn't turn around and order her to leave Hee-do Won immediately.

Because he knew what kind of person she was—one of those who had no choice but to bow their heads and obey orders from above.

Moreover, The one who had given that servant the order was none other than his master, Ye Jin-rang—the Lord of Black Sky Clan and the greatest warrior of the dark path. Under this sky, there were only a handful of people who could defy Ye-jin Rang. Even Kang-oh himself had always obeyed his master's commands without question.

At least, until today.

After stepping into the main building, Kang-oh spread out his senses, confirming that no one else was around before coming to a stop. Yeon-jin, who had been following him anxiously, also halted and stared at his back, knowing that beneath his quiet exterior, his emotions were in turmoil.

"From now on, whenever you receive something, take it to the kitchen. I will personally check from time to time to make sure the food is properly disposed of."

"…Yes."

Yeon-jin bit her trembling lips. Seeing Kang-oh turn away as if that was all he had to say, she instinctively reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"A-Aren't you going to punish me?"

She asked, her hand gripping tightly in nervousness, turning pale.

"If I were to punish you, I would have to punish myself first."

Kang-oh was undoubtedly furious. But the reason he wasn't taking it out on this servant was simple—he knew exactly who that anger should be directed at.

He couldn't even think of going to his master to demand an explanation for this situation. All he could do was contemplate how to cover it up as much as possible without causing harm to Woo. In the end, punishing this servant would be nothing more than venting frustration.

Even if Yeon-jin were removed, someone else carrying the master's orders would take her place by Woo's side.

This wouldn't end unless he confronted Ye Jin-rang directly.

"Though it sounds ridiculous to say, but from now on, nothing brought in from outside should be given to Woo."

Kang-oh knew at least one thing—something about this whole situation was off. Since he was carrying out the Black Sky Lord's orders, this servant had to be even more careful with how she acted. In fact, over the past month, he hadn't seen Yeon-jin bring food even once.

Yet today, of all days, just when he happened to be out for a walk, he saw this servant entering from the outside.

It was just a hunch, but Kang-oh couldn't shake the feeling that Yeon-jin wanted to be caught.

"Th-that..."

The servant's trembling voice carried both distress and fear. It didn't seem like she was just acting. Even so, Kang-oh decided to throw her a lifeline.

"If that bowl of porridge ever ends up in front of Woo again…."

He paused for a moment, his lips twitching.

"I will eat it myself."

"Th-that...!"

Yeon-jin's eyes widened in surprise. She had anticipated that Kang-oh would come up with a way to protect Woo, but she never expected him to go that far.

"If... if that happens, I'll die."

Yeon-jin murmured, her face pale. If the Third Disciple was willing to risk his own life, then Woo, who was on the other side of the scale, would be saved. However, this situation had grown too large for Yeon-jin to handle.

It was just yesterday that she had decided to take a gamble against the Third Disciple. Just as Woo had said, if the Black Sky Lord was backing the First Internal Officer, then the only one who could stop him was Kang-oh. The great Ye Jin-rang, who feared nothing under the heavens, had secretly placed a spy in Hee-do Won because he didn't want Kang-oh to notice.

She knew that if the Third Disciple learned about the porridge that Woo ate every day, he would not let it slide. Hadn't he casually instructed the physician to prepare a "proper meal" before? If things went according to plan and Kang-oh caught wind of it, Woo would never have to eat that gruel again. That was why she deliberately stalled on her way to see the First Internal Officer—so she could return to Hee-do Won at just the right time, when Kang-oh would be on the move.

Even a single attempt at this was dangerous, so Yeon-jin had been on edge the entire time. Fortunately, the Third Disciple had keenly noticed her strange behavior. Most high-ranking figures wouldn't bother paying attention to a mere servant, but Kang-oh was different. More precisely, when it came to Woo, he abandoned his usual indifference.

By easing up on her caution and diligence just a bit, Yeon-jin realized how precarious the tightrope she was walking truly was. Woo had been right.

"This isn't a threat directed at you, so there's no need to be scared."

Kang-oh glanced at Yeon-jin and added, "This is a threat aimed at someone who values my safety."

"..."

Speaking so irreverently about Ye Jin-rang, not only the Black Sky Lord but also his own master, was beyond reckless. However, Yeon-jin could not muster a single word in response and simply bowed her head. For those who lived at the bottom, pretending not to see or hear was a fundamental quality of survival.

As he watched Yeon-jin lower her head, looking just like Woo, Kang-oh's insides burned with a nameless emotion. He clenched his right hand—the one that wasn't holding a flower—trying to suppress it.

He squeezed so hard that his calloused fingertips, worn dull from constant training, dug into his palm.

Blood dripped from the wounds on his palm, staining the floor of Hee-do Won, but Kang-oh didn't care.

"If anyone asks you why you didn't carry out your orders properly, just say it was to stop me."

"Th-that..."

"In exchange for taking all of this on... I'll at least make sure you get to keep your life."

This was something she had planned and set in motion, yet Yeon-jin's eyes trembled. She saw the blood dripping onto the wooden floor—drops of blood falling from Kang-oh's hand.

"You…You should at least apply some medicinal ointment," she urged, panic evident in her voice.

In response to Yeon-jin's alarmed words, Kang-oh replied nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.

"It's fine. I'll take care of it myself. Go to the kitchen and tell them to bring food to Woo's quarters."

"Ah, understood."

As soon as she hurried away, Kang-oh slowly opened his palm. It hurt, but he hadn't expected so much blood to flow. his hand to cover his eyes, he leaned against the wall, his face looking slightly worn. His legs, strengthened through relentless training in martial arts, should have held firm—but right now, they felt as if they could give out at any moment.

A creeping sense of exhaustion slithered toward him, opening its jaws as if to swallow him whole.

But Kang-oh endured.

What right did he have to claim exhaustion? While he had been idly picking flowers without a care in the world, Ye Jin-rang had been making his move against Woo.

His steps, unsteady at first, gradually regained their usual steadiness. With each stride, his pace grew firmer, his expression unreadable—his lips set in an unwavering calm, as if nothing had happened.

Finally, as if nothing had happened, Kang-oh came to a stop in front of Woo's quarters.

But beneath his calm exterior, his mind was in complete turmoil. He was angry at his master, whom he had always respected and followed, for doing something so wrong. And he felt ashamed that he had made the wrong choice regarding his master's affairs.

For the first time in his life, filled with a shame he had never known before, Kang-oh sought Woo's permission.

"May I come in?"

Woo, who had been wondering why Yeon-jin was taking longer than usual, was startled to hear Kang-oh's voice outside the door. "P-please, come in."

As Kang-oh opened the door, he quietly took in the sight of Woo, who was rising unsteadily from the bed. At least, after their agreement, it seemed like he was resting on the bed instead of the floor—that was a relief.

Perhaps sensing Kang-oh's gaze, Woo lowered his head deeply.

"W-what brings you here at this hour...?"

Meanwhile, Woo felt anxious. Yeon-jin would soon arrive with the porridge. He didn't know what was in it, but knowing it was sent by Ye Jin-rang, he was worried about Yeon-jin and Kang-oh running into each other.

On top of that, Yeon-jin's composure had already been deeply shaken yesterday. If she saw Kang-oh now, she might be even more startled

"I was wondering if you'd like to have breakfast together." Kang-oh responded in a calm, even tone, as if he had just thought of it that morning and it wasn't a big deal. Woo felt a bit relieved but still glanced around nervously.

"If... if that's your order…"

If this had been the usual Kang-oh, he might have stepped back a little at Woo's hesitation. From the start, he had avoided having meals with Woo—not just to maintain distance but also because he didn't want Woo to feel forced into complying with his requests.

"Then I'll take that as a yes."

Striding confidently into the room, Kang-oh sat down across from Woo. Woo's eyes widened in surprise. He had thought that if they were to have breakfast together, they would need to go to Kang-oh's room, but unexpectedly, Kang-oh had settled into his own quarters.

"Are we not moving to another place?"

"I told them to bring the food here, so there's no need to move."

Woo's eyes widened slightly at Kang-oh's words. It seemed he had never even considered the possibility of rejection—he had simply given his order from the start. As the Third Disciple of the Black Sky Clan, he had no need to ask for a mere servant's opinion. But maybe Woo had grown too used to the consideration Kang-oh had shown him until now.

'I've become too comfortable.'

Woo suppressed the prickling sensation in his chest and muttered to himself.

He had been treated far too well—and it was making him forget his place.

"Breakfast is ready."

The voice of a servant outside the door pulled Woo from his thoughts. As the door opened, the waiting servants entered, setting down the morning meal in front of Woo and Kang-oh. Woo's eyes widened in surprise—among them, he spotted Yeon-jin. He instinctively followed her movements, hoping to catch a glimpse of her expression for any answers about this strange situation, but she never looked back. She simply placed the bowl she had brought on the table and stepped away.

'What happened to the porridge?'

There was no way for Woo to find out. Instead, the table before him quickly filled with dish after dish. Although it was morning and one might expect a light meal, there were at least three bowls containing meat dishes. There were steamed, grilled, and fried options, showcasing various cooking methods. On one side, there was a rich stew that must have taken considerable effort to prepare. Despite Black Sky Clan being located inland, the dish was filled with a variety of seafood, something rarely seen here. Both porridge and rice had been prepared, along with an assortment of stir-fried vegetables and dipping sauces.

The table, which was already quite large, was running out of space. Just as Woo thought that surely this was all, a burly servant appeared carrying in an entirely new table. The sight of more dishes being placed on it made Woo feel a sense of overwhelm.

He had never been someone who ate much in the morning. Now, with all the different food aromas filling the air, he was starting to feel a little dizzy.

Once everything was set, the servants bowed politely and stepped back.

"Let's eat." Kang-oh said as he picked up his chopsticks.

Woo, pulling the bowl of porridge closer, expressed his gratitude.

"I-I'll eat well."

At Woo's words, Kang-oh gave a brief nod, his expression unreadable.

"Mm."

The ensuing meal time was quiet, but it was an awkward kind of quiet. The only sound was Woo scraping his bowl, the clinking of his utensils breaking the silence. The awkwardness felt like chewing on stones, and before he realized it, Woo glanced up—his eyes landing on Kang-oh.

In contrast to Woo's hesitant eating, Kang-oh had a healthy appetite. He was taking generous portions of meat and vegetables, enough to catch Woo's eye even while he was eating.

Despite eating a lot, he didn't seem messy or gluttonous. He never swallowed before thoroughly chewing, and he never spoke with food in his mouth. From time to time, a satisfied look would cross his face, making it clear that he wasn't just eating out of necessity—he was genuinely enjoying his meal.

Is this what they mean when they say just watching someone eat can make you feel full?

As time passed with Woo's hand still, Gang-o seemed to notice and turned his gaze toward him. His gaze fell to Woo's bowl, which was still nearly full of porridge, before asking, "Does the food not suit your taste?"

"N-no, that's not it."

Like a child caught doing something wrong, Woo waved his hands in denial. He said it wasn't true, but even as the words left his mouth, he realized that the reason he was stammering now was completely different from usual.

It was because he had been secretly watching Kang-oh—only to be caught when their eyes met. The shock had been too much.

No matter how many colorful side dishes were laid out or how perfectly grilled the meat in front of him was, all he did was gulp as he watched Kang-oh eat. Realizing this made embarrassment wash over him

"M-My stomach... it's just not feeling well..." It was a terrible excuse. Woo bit his tongue, knowing full well that there was no way Kang-oh would believe something like that.

"Oh."

However, Kang-oh immediately set down his chopsticks and adopted a serious expression.

"You're not feeling well, and yet you were forcing yourself to eat? I'll call the physician right away."

As he spoke, Kang-oh stood up abruptly, his demeanor so forceful that it seemed he was ready to storm over to the medical quarters and drag a physician back with him.

Woo nearly dropped his utensils in a panic and waved his hands. "N-no, it's fine! I'm fine! It's just that I'm not used to eating so much for breakfast."

Despite Woo's desperate explanation, Kang-oh only frowned, clearly unconvinced.

"You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"

"N-no, not at all. t's just that it's morning, so I don't have much of an appetite…"

Kang-oh's expression eased slightly as he sat back down, mumbling to himself. "I see. I've heard there are people like that."

While he acknowledged the existence of those who lacked an appetite at breakfast, it was clear he didn't quite understand it.

To Woo, who still remembered Kang-oh as a scrawny boy who barely got to eat, those words felt a little unfair. At the same time, he felt relieved. Maybe this was why Kang-oh had grown up so well—because he had never gone hungry. He realized that he had been able to enjoy a variety of meats and fresh seafood, rather than just rough food like wild greens gathered from the mountains.

Sealing Kang-oh's memories had been a desperate measure on Ye Jin-rang's part, but looking at him now, Woo could see its own advantages. The adult Kang-oh showed no signs of the shadows of hunger or deprivation. He had no memories of hunger, of cold, or of struggling to survive.

The little black chick that had come into Woo's care—once so hesitant, watching its new guardian's every move—had grown into someone who ate and dressed however he pleased.

Woo had brought the young boy in hopes that he might be a clue to his father's death, but ever since he became the Lord of the White Virtue Clan, his days had only grown busier. Because of that, he never had the time to properly look after the child. Even when they occasionally crossed paths, the awkwardness between them kept him from showing any warmth.

The person Woo had assigned to care for Kang-oh gradually neglected him more and more. If he hadn't noticed how the boy never seemed to grow and finally decided to look into it… who knows what might have happened to the child...

When Dan Baek-hun suddenly died, Woo had been forced to take the position of clan lord. And with that, he had every excuse—calming those who opposed having a young leader, absorbing the former lord's forces, adjusting to his new duties… Yet, Woo could not shake off the guilt that weighed heavily on him, no matter how many justifications he conjured.

That was when it began. The moment the boy, once nothing more than a clue, became someone he kept by his side and looked after himself.