Onset (3)

Chun proceeded to bring the tray containing tea on the table. Sungho immediately advised Hyun Sik and Seok to take a seat and drink the brewed tea to warm themselves.

While Sungho watched Hyun Sik who appeared enraged, he absentmindedly picked the cotton cloth on the floor and moved beside him. He then continued by dabbing the cloth onto the grown man's fair yellowish-brown, coyote hair, which was damped from the rain.

After witnessing Hyun Sik's towering temper, and Seok who seemed disappointed from his slow reaction when an unexpected visitor came into their surprise, the atmosphere in the room became more rigid.

A guard who had a protector. And even managed to sneak in a bunch of his men. Who was he? Sungho knew Daewon couldn't simply be the general's nephew. The one he assumed was a mere soldier, a general's nephew appeared as someone more extraordinary.

That's right. Daewon seemed offended when Sungho claimed he was simply a soldier. Then was he… a general like Hyun Sik? And at that age he would be known as incredible. By all means, Sungho thought Daewon appeared around the same age as Hyeon Ju.

'Kwan,' he recited the name in his head. Seok must be shaken after the unforeseen meeting and disheartened that he could not notice the presence of the stranger and act way sooner.

'Is he an assassin?' If all the twenty men were a clone of that man, didn't that only mean Daewon had already won their bet? 'A bunch of men that are duplicate copies of that person. That's crazy.'

"Ugh. Is that why he's so confident?" Sungho unknowingly mouthed his thoughts.

"Sister."

Sungho heard a call from Hyun Sik that made him recover his composure immediately. "Yes, brother?"

"He didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"He did not..." A short answer was enough. Other than being rude and teasing, making fun of him since he had regained his consciousness, Sungho could not agree more than possible that Daewon didn't do anything absurd to him.

Soon as Sungho gave his response, the room went hushed again. The two individuals sitting at the table were quietly sipping the tea that his court lady had brought for them. As he could no longer bear the silence, Sungho decided to speak.

"Brother, what would happen to us after the assassination?" He had wanted to ask this question sooner, yet he could not find the right time to do so.

Once the king was killed, what would happen to them? It was unquestionable that the people of Hwangmok would despise their clan if they would remain sitting in the land. It was bound to happen. Perhaps it would be better to live somewhere far where no one would know nor recognize them.

'Yes, without a doubt we have to look for a place to live our new lives.'

"Hm. Firstly, I need to ask the soldiers if they will remain standing on our side." Hyun Sik paused for a moment then continued, "But surely, none would want to serve us since we won't be able to pay them."

After hearing his statement, Seok barged into their conversation. "I'll serve you for the rest of my life without asking for any payment! I'll continue serving the clan through hundreds of generations, general, " was his determined decision.

"What are you saying? You're exaggerating. You need to build your own family and live your life," Hyun Sik reasoned out.

"I won't be able to live my life without fulfilling my promise to the former head of the clan. That is to serve you and Her Highness."

"Ha-ha... Seok is a stubborn one," Hyun Sik bantered, "Speaking of, we need to earn money after this. Do you have any suggestions on how, sister?"

Just in time when he received the question, Sungho finally finished drying Hyun Sik's hair and lowered the damped cotton cloth in his possession. "Hm. What is our clan good for?"

"Teaching archery?"

"Then let's do that, brother. Let's build a small training institution," he replied with a smile on his lips, beaming as he stated his idea.

"That's a good one. Training and teaching archery will do," was Hyun Sik's accord, seemingly looking at the books when something caught his attention. "What's this paper?"

Hyun Sik pulled the paper that Sungho had inserted between the books when it went dry yesterday. "That's… brother Baek Hyeon's drawing," he asserted as he watched the man stared down at the picture.

"... Sister," said a low mumble. "I promise to avenge our clan. So I want you to endure until then."