Chwacha-chwacha-chwaaang—! Chae-chaeng! Chwaaang—!

The vigorous clash and scrape of blades rang through the banquet hall.

Dazzling, kinetic movement drew awed murmurs from the crowd without effort.

In a flash, the second performance ended, and the mood of the feast climbed another notch.

As the second troupe poured out in a rush, Yu Gang—hidden among them—cast a look around and tried to slip away.

But the instant he angled off to peel out of the group, an attendant stepped in to block his path.

“...?”

“A distinguished guest summons you.”

“...Pardon?”

Yu Gang’s heavily darkened brows arched.

“You’ve been singled out by the honored guest. Please, this way.”

He didn’t know exactly what being “singled out” meant in the world of professional dancers, but he understood this much: this wasn’t a situation where he could sneak off unnoticed.

Yu Gang briefly considered bolting.

But if he ran now, it would cause a commotion, and a commotion drew eyes.

If their infiltration of the pavilion was exposed, So-and-so’s disciple might bolt as well.

‘What do I do...’

“If you refused to come, the distinguished guest told me to say this: ‘If you don’t come, you’ll be eating nothing but sesame porridge.’”

“...?”

Sesame porridge?

Why threaten to feed me sesame porridge out of nowhere...?

‘!’

When he attended Gong Cheon on Songshan, sesame porridge was the dish they often made when they lacked ingredients.

And the person he had run into while making that porridge was—

‘Seolhwa!’

Yu Gang’s expression lit in an instant.

“Please, lead the way. Quickly.”

Yu Gang followed the attendant without protest.

****

Why is he there...?

Why?

Seolhwa doubted her own eyes.

Yu Gang was among the troupe performing the second act.

Only then did Seolhwa recall the contents of the message slip he had sent via Seolmae.

[Dragon-Head Lord of the Beggar’s Union killed. Beggar’s Union Elder So-and-so holds the Sacred Object. Tracking So-and-so’s disciple. Moving to Shijiazhuang.]

She knew Yu Gang’s party was chasing the same thread she was.

It was just that she aimed to find the merchant-lord who had hidden So-and-so, while Yu Gang said he would pursue So-and-so’s disciple.

Their destination matched hers: Shijiazhuang.

She understood up to that point—but why.

‘Is he... dancing in that getup?’

Seolhwa immediately had an attendant fetch Yu Gang.

When the performance ended, the attendant brought him over.

Ryeong, who likewise recognized Yu Gang, was left slack-jawed.

A gaudy outfit that bared his abdomen and back.

Heavy makeup—eyes rimmed red and brows drawn thick. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

‘Why in the world is he dressed like that here?’

Arriving at the table, Yu Gang spotted Seolhwa’s party and broke into a delighted smile.

The heavy makeup even made that smile look sultry.

“Please be seated here.”

The attendant seated Yu Gang beside the head seat.

Yu Gang naturally took the spot, reached for a wine bottle, and poured.

At his brazen ease, Seolhwa knit her brows and sent a voice transmission.

— What are you doing here?

Yu Gang flicked a glance at the profile of the person seated beside him.

As expected, a human-skin mask.

— What do you think? Like I said in the message slip—I’m tracking So-and-so’s disciple.

— I’m asking why you’re here dressed like that doing this.

— There was no other way to get into the pavilion. I didn’t have time to secure an entry token, and they happened to be preparing a blade-dance.

— What if I hadn’t recognized you? If any of them had called you out...!

Under Seolhwa’s simmering stare, Yu Gang calmly filled her cup.

Jorr-reuk.

The rich floral scent of Hundred Flowers Dew unfurled between them like a tickle.

“What has you so uneasy? I’m right here at the honored guest’s side, am I not?”

“...!”

Even the motion of his hand pouring the drink was anything but ordinary.

Yu Gang met her eyes with a gentle smile.

“How is it? Do I look pretty?”

“...”

Their gazes held for a brief beat.

A lovely melody flowed through the banquet hall, and red sky lanterns lifted into the night.

‘...’

Seolhwa drew a short breath and, despite herself, turned her eyes away.

Her fingers twitched of their own accord; she curled them into a tight fist.

— ...So, is So-and-so’s disciple in this pavilion?

— That’s what Hugae said. But why are you here?

— The merchant-lord hiding So-and-so is said to be attending this banquet.

— I see.

It would have been nice to linger a little longer.

But the two of them had no time to waste.

With a look of regret, Yu Gang set the bottle down and rose.

“May I take my leave?”

The masked man beside the head seat gave a short nod and handed over his long coat.

It was a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ dark coat that could cover Yu Gang’s flamboyant attire.

“Thank you.”

Yu Gang accepted the coat with a slight bow.

— Be careful.

— You too.

He left at once.

Seolhwa tore off her veil and watched his receding figure in silence.

****

Behind the pavilion, where few people passed.

Stripping off the uncomfortable costume, Yu Gang scrubbed away the makeup with a damp cloth and recalled the look in Seolhwa’s eyes.

‘She was cold today.’

He hadn’t planned to act impish from the start.

He’d recognized Seolhwa and had been unable to hold back his joy, and something about her unusually cool gaze today brought out his stubborn streak.

Given their last conversation before parting, she at least didn’t dislike him.

But for a reunion after so long, he felt not the faintest hint of welcome from her, and that stung.

‘No. I said I’d wait.’

Even if the end of waiting was a refusal, he’d decided he wouldn’t sulk.

‘Was I a bit childish?’

Scratching the nape of his neck, he rounded a crooked lane—when a man suddenly lurched out in front of him.

“Whoops!”

“!”

Yu Gang’s quick movement barely kept them from colliding, but the water jar the man was carrying popped up between them.

If it hit the ground, it could shatter.

Tak—

Just before it struck, Yu Gang caught the jar by its mouth and averted disaster.

Fortunately, the jar was empty.

“My apologies. Are you all right?”

Offering the jar back, Yu Gang looked the man over.

The man staggered, shook his head hard, then groaned and lifted his face.

“Hey, watch where you’re....”

“...!”

Both men’s eyes rounded wider and wider as they recognized each other.

Yu Gang’s brows curved as he murmured, dazed.

“...Chunpal...?”

The man recognized Yu Gang as well.

“You...!”

Startled, he pointed a finger at Yu Gang.

A slow grin spread across Yu Gang’s lips.

“Hey, you...! Chunpal? It’s you, right?”

“Yeah, and you’re... ah, damn, what was your name again?”

“Yu—”

“Ahhh, you’re that guy, aren’t you? That crazy wastrel who said I’d only learn your name if I beat you in a fight.”

Yu Gang burst out laughing.

“Yeah. That’s how I was, back then.”

“So that’s why I don’t know your name, huh? You swaggering bastard.”

Glowering at Yu Gang, the man ended up laughing along with him.

As boys, the two had often fought and also shared food when Yu Gang wandered the streets.

As street children do, they naturally lost contact—and this was their first meeting in nearly fifteen years.

How could it not be a joy?

“Do you work here?”

Yu Gang handed the jar back and asked.

“Yeah. For now, anyway. You? What brings you here? Make it big or something?”

“Not exactly.”

After a brief hesitation, Yu Gang asked Chunpal:

“You’ll be around here, right?”

“For the time being?”

“I’m in the middle of something urgent. I’ll come back soon.”

Chunpal looked disappointed and puzzled, but he nodded.

“Do that.”

Meeting an old friend was a delight, but they had no leisure to catch up.

Yu Gang tapped him on the shoulder and hurried on.

Tadat—

‘The big tree beyond the wall. The big tree beyond the wall...’

He rushed to the rendezvous point; someone stood beneath the wall.

It was Golden Lotus Rain, who had slipped into the pavilion disguised as an attendant.

“Commander...!”

Golden Lotus Rain held out something wrapped in cloth.

Before Yu Gang arrived, Tang Hojin had passed over clothing and weapons from the far side of the wall.

“You were late—I thought something had happened. But where did you get that outfit?”

Yu Gang neatly folded the long coat, wrapped it in the cloth, and flicked it back over the wall.

“I’ll explain later. As for So-and-so’s disciple, I found—”

In that moment, an old memory flashed through Yu Gang’s mind.

“I got into the Beggar’s Union, you know? I’m even learning martial arts there! Just wait! Tomorrow I’m going to stomp you!”

It was the last conversation he’d had with Chunpal before following No Mun out.

As a child, Yu Gang hadn’t known what kind of place the Beggar’s Union was and thought the Chunpal who lost to him every day was just bluffing.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t sense Chunpal approaching at all.’

The lane may have curved out of sight, but there was no way he wouldn’t sense someone coming straight at him.

Yet he hadn’t noticed Chunpal’s presence until the instant before they collided.

‘He’s learned martial arts. And to a very high level.’

If what he’d said as a child about entering the Beggar’s Union had been true—

“I think I’ve found him.”

“Found... who?”

“So-and-so’s disciple.”

****

Tadat— tat—

Yu Gang and Golden Lotus Rain moved fast.

Now that they knew Chunpal was So-and-so’s disciple, they had to seize him before he sensed anything.

Chunpal was carrying a water jar.

And the path Yu Gang had taken led toward the well.

Tat— ta-at—

“!”

As they neared the well, Yu Gang frowned and drew his saber.

Golden Lotus Rain likewise gripped her bowstring.

— Take the nearest tree.

Tat—

Following Yu Gang’s instruction, Golden Lotus Rain angled toward the closest tree, and Yu Gang sprinted on with blade in hand.

“Mmph! Mmm! Mff!”

There at the well in the distance—

Chunpal, struggling and kicking, bound in the grip of men wearing black masks.