5

🌹 Where Loyalty Leads

There were still a few customers, fewer than before. Some avoided the inn, wary that Tian Ke or Qian'ai might be dangerous outsiders, even though they had quietly lived in the village for over two years. Others preferred to avoid trouble altogether by keeping their distance. But the swordswoman wasn't afraid. She kept coming back, as though something beyond her control drew her here.

Each time she came, Tian Ke quietly instructed Qian'ai and Yun Yuhua not to serve her—because she never came for food. The swordswoman noticed this, her gaze sweeping the room in a practiced way, lingering just long enough to hope someone would acknowledge her, only to be indifferent. Then, one day, after yet another round of being ignored, she stood abruptly and stormed out of the inn, her cloak sweeping behind her like a defiant flag.

Yun Yuhua watched her leave, a tight knot forming in her chest. The woman seemed so lonely, returning, not for food, but for something else. Someone. It was clear she was waiting for Tian Ke. But he had never given her what she longed for.

Yun Yuhua approached Tian Ke, her frown deepening as she spoke, her voice almost pleading.

"Ke Gege, you shouldn't be so harsh with her," she said softly. "I know she exposed you, but ignoring her like this… it's cruel. She must have her own pain."

Tian Ke exhaled, his frustration momentarily flickering in his eyes.

"We're here to serve people who come to eat," he said firmly. "She's just here to cause trouble."

"Ke Gege…" Yun Yuhua began, but her words faltered. She sighed, feeling the futility of the conversation, and walked away.

Tian Ke's ears reddened, and he muttered under his breath, "You're too kind to these strangers…" He returned to his work, but the murmurs of the main hall felt louder than usual.

In the main hall, Ruqi leaned toward Ae-shim, her voice low.

"Ae-shim. Gwanna," she said quickly. Ae-shim nodded, slipping an envelope from her sleeve and tucking it discreetly into her hands. Just then, Yun Yuhua entered and spotted Ae-shim heading toward the door.

"Ae-shim, I'll come with you," Yun Yuhua said, her voice light.

Ae-shim smiled and waited, her eyes soft. Yun Yuhua tossed her apron behind the counter toward Ruqi, then followed her out of the inn. Together, they walked down the familiar road toward the local government office.

"So, you still haven't talked to him?" Ae-shim asked, her tone teasing but with a hint of genuine curiosity. Yun Yuhua gave a soft, unreadable smile.

"He could be dangerous," she replied gently, her voice quieter. "I think it's best I keep my distance."

Ae-shim frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

"What a shame… he's so handsome," Ae-shim groaned dramatically, dragging her feet as they walked.

Yun Yuhua laughed softly, brushing off the teasing with a playful grin.

After delivering the envelope to the local government office, the girls began their walk back to the inn, the golden afternoon sun casting long shadows across the cobbled streets. The air was thick with the hum of busy vendors and passersby, but suddenly, Ae-shim stopped. Her hand latched onto Yun Yuhua's sleeve, her grip light, but full of wonder.

"Yuyu! Look! That pouch is so beautiful!" Her voice shone with excitement. Yun Yuhua followed her gaze to a small booth tucked between two larger stalls, its display of embroidered pouches swaying in the breeze like fragile ornaments. One in particular stood out—a deep crimson pouch, its intricate threads of gold shimmering like flames dancing in the light.

"Do you want it?" Yun Yuhua asked with a knowing smile, already anticipating Ae-shim's reaction.

"Yes!" Ae-shim squealed, practically hopping with joy.

Yun Yuhua chuckled softly, the sound light and easy, as she stepped toward the booth, the familiar scent of dye and fabric filling the air.

"Hello, young lady. What would you like to buy?" the vendor greeted with a practiced smile.

"This one, please." Yun Yuhua pointed to the red pouch.

The vendor plucked it from its place and handed it to her. "That'll be five coins."

She reached into her sash, fingertips brushing the cool metal as she counted out the coins, placing them neatly in the vendor's calloused hand.

"Thank you," she said with a gentle bow, the pouch delicate in her fingers like a promise just made.

She turned back toward Ae-shim, her voice warm with affection. "Ae-shim… I—"

"Yuyu!"

The shriek shattered the calm like glass. Yun Yuhua's eyes snapped up. Ae-shim was being seized—three men, rough and desperate, muffled her screams as they dragged her backward through the stunned crowd.

The red pouch slipped from Yun Yuhua's fingers, forgotten. Her breath hitched.

"Ae-shim!" she cried, surging forward, pushing past startled faces and outstretched hands. Her pulse roared in her ears like war drums. Fear constricted her chest, but her feet moved faster.

From the edge of the crowd, Seo Ju's gaze locked onto her. The panic in her voice, the terror in her eyes—it jolted something deep within him. It was the same way she had once looked at him when his blood had stained her sleeves. There was no hesitation in her fear. No calculation. Only instinct.

Beyond the village, the thugs dragged Ae-shim to the quiet riverbank, where the reeds swayed gently in the wind, whispering secrets to the night. One of the men shoved her down, the sharp thud of her knees hitting the damp earth echoing in the still air.

"Dragging her here wasn't worth it," one of them muttered, his voice a low rasp of irritation.

Ae-shim's body shook, her limbs frozen in terror. Her eyes darted between the men, the cruel glint of their raised sticks catching the fading light of the day. Her breath hitched, and her throat tightened, as if the air itself had become too thick to breathe.

"W-what do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling like a leaf caught in the wind. The men eyed her, their faces twisted in smirks.

"Your father owes us. He said you'd have the money to pay it back," one man sneered, his tone far too cheerful for the situation. Ae-shim's heart sank, and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying for something—anything—to change.

"I... I don't have money," she murmured, her voice breaking. The men laughed, a low, mocking sound that made her stomach twist.

"If you don't, then how did you end up wearing clothes like that?" Another man sneered, gesturing toward Yun Yuhua's fine garments. The laughter grew, harsh and mocking.

Suddenly, the first man who had spoken drew a dagger from his belt, its blade flashing in the dim light. He pointed it toward Ae-shim, and the girl froze, her body trembling in terror.

"Don't lie to us," the man growled, malice dripping from his words. "If you can't pay, we'll take something else. Start with those clothes."

Ae-shim's chest tightened, panic rising. But before she could react, a blur of motion streaked across the clearing. Yun Yuhua was already in the thick of it, her fist colliding with the thug's jaw with a sickening thud. He stumbled back, dazed, but his comrades surged forward to retaliate.

Yun Yuhua didn't falter. Her body moved with a fluid grace—every punch, every kick calculated. She blocked a wild swing, but the second thug was faster, his knife slicing through the air toward her. With a swift pivot, Yun Yuhua kicked him in the ribs, sending him crashing into the earth.

Another thug lunged, this time with a dagger aimed straight at her face. Yun Yuhua's reflexes kicked in, and she knocked it aside, the blade skittering into the dirt. But the men weren't done.

The fight grew chaotic. Yun Yuhua ducked and spun, narrowly evading another dagger aimed for her throat. She landed a hard punch to one thug's stomach, sending him reeling, but she was clearly at a disadvantage. Each blow she blocked seemed to wear her down, and the bruises were beginning to stack.

"Ae-shim!" Yun Yuhua shouted, her voice a strained cry of desperation.

But before Ae-shim could react, one of the thugs kicked her aside with brutal force, sending the girl sprawling to the ground. Time seemed to stop. Yun Yuhua's heart pounded, and her breath hitched in her throat.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Ae-shim—helpless and vulnerable—lay motionless on the cold, hard ground. Yun Yuhua's chest tightened as her gaze locked on her friend's form. The urgency crashed through her like a tidal wave.

With a scream of fury, Yun Yuhua launched herself into the fray. Her foot connected with the thug's groin, forcing him back with a grunt of pain. She didn't give him a chance to recover. Her heel smashed into his face with bone-crushing force, sending him careening into a tree. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless and useless.

Her hands trembled as she rushed to Ae-shim, pulling the injured girl to her feet. Ae-shim winced but managed a faint, strained smile, the effort tightening Yun Yuhua's chest.

"I don't want you to get hurt because of me," Ae-shim whispered, her voice fragile but brave. Yun Yuhua's eyes burned with unshed tears at the sight of her friend's selflessness.

But before Yun Yuhua could respond, a cold, oppressive presence brushed against the back of her neck. The sharp edge of a blade pressed lightly into her skin, and her breath caught.

She stiffened, eyes flicking to the man holding it—a shadow who had appeared from nowhere. His grin was wide, unsettling, as he appraised her. His eyes traced over her figure, too casual, too pleased with himself.

"Oh, a beauty who knows how to fight…" he purred, his voice oozing with amusement. Yun Yuhua's body froze. Her pulse quickened as she weighed her options. Her instincts screamed at her to fight, to move, but the weight of the blade kept her in place. One wrong move, and Ae-shim would pay the price. She couldn't let that happen. Not again.

The man's grin deepened, clearly relishing the control he had over her. But in her chest, the furnace of rage burned hotter. Yun Yuhua wasn't afraid—she was furious. She had never felt more trapped, more helpless. Just as she prepared to make her move, a sharp voice cut through the tension.

"Yuyu!" Tian Ke's voice was laced with panic.

Yun Yuhua's heart skipped in relief as she saw her brothers, Tian Ke and Qian'ai, rush into the clearing, their eyes wide with alarm. Tian Ke's face was twisted in worry, his chest heaving with exertion.

Seo Ju stood at the edge of the clearing, his expression unreadable. His gaze flicked over Yun Yuhua, then to Ae-shim, lingering just long enough to notice every bruise, every breath. Unlike the others, he didn't move—not yet. He remained still, apart. Watching. Waiting.

The thug with the sword leaned in, pressing the edge closer to her skin. Yun Yuhua's pulse hammered in her ears, her gaze flicking once more to Seo Ju. Was he going to help? Or was he going to stand there, watching her fight for her life as he always had—disinterested, indifferent?

But the moment held, a sharp, aching silence between them, and Yun Yuhua realized, as much as she hated it, that in this moment, only she could save herself.