It wasn’t Hae-hyun who answered Jae-ha’s question—it was the jade doll. It nodded so vigorously that Jae-ha worried its head might fall off. Clearly, it knew something about the Cheonrok.
And as if that weren’t enough, the jade doll didn’t stop at holding Jae-ha’s finger—it started climbing up his arm. Its stubby body wobbled as it struggled to keep balance, clinging desperately so it wouldn’t fall. The sight was almost pitiful.
“Just toss it.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“…Doesn’t seem like it.”
Hae-hyun shot the jade doll a glare full of distaste, as if its mere existence bothered him.
Still, if it was something the Cheonrok had left behind, it might be useful in tracking him down. Watching its trembling jade legs, Jae-ha felt a pang of sympathy. He lifted his arm and placed the doll on his shoulder. The jade doll scrambled up eagerly, as if it had been waiting for the chance.
Knock, knock.
Both of them turned toward the door. Who would come at this hour?
Silence stretched out. If the visitor had any common sense, they would’ve taken the lack of response as rejection. But of course, Jae-ha’s hope went unanswered.
Clunk. Without warning, the door swung open. Hae-hyun immediately moved in front of Jae-ha, shielding him with his back.
A tall, slender woman stood in the doorway.
Her body was wrapped in plain black cloth, neat but stark. Not even the simplest hair ornament like those worn by fortress servants such as Hyo-min adorned her. A cloth wrapped around her neck veiled the lower half of her face. Even Jae-ha, who knew little about Celestial Realm attire, could tell this was not how an invited guest was supposed to dress.
If he had to put a name to it—she looked exactly like a thief.
“They said it was a lone armed woman.”
The guard’s words from earlier echoed in his head. So this must be her.
“Are you Nam-yeon?”
The woman’s voice cut sharp and cold at Hae-hyun. Though most of her face was hidden, the glimpse of her eyes and nose ridge alone carried a hard, unyielding edge.
“And who are you supposed to be?”
But Hae-hyun wasn’t about to be outdone. His curt reply revealed no manners at all. The woman’s brows shot up.
“Such fine etiquette for a brat.”
“Says the one barging into someone else’s room uninvited.”
“You little—!”
Her eyes blazed. A sudden gust slashed past, and a sharp hiss popped near Hae-hyun’s shoulder. Alarmed, Jae-ha checked him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s nothing.”
Hae-hyun’s face was perfectly calm. The woman, on the other hand, exhaled in exasperation.
“I show a little restraint and you act like you’re untouchable.”
“Who asked you to?”
It was obvious neither had any interest in a real conversation.
Already rattled by an intruder’s attack, Jae-ha thought how miserable it would be if the room was wrecked too. For the sake of the absent host’s peace, he stepped between them.
“Hello.”
“And who the hell are you?”
She glared at him, but less fiercely than at Hae-hyun. Jae-ha smiled politely.
“I’m Seo Jae-ha. And you are?”
“…Yeong-bin.”
Her sudden shift to compliance made Hae-hyun’s gaze darken, but Jae-ha kept his voice smooth.
“What brings you here in the middle of the night?”
“I didn’t come for you. I came for him.”
It seemed Yeong-bin had mistaken Hae-hyun for Nam-yeon. Given how confidently he stood like the master of the room, the confusion was understandable.
She pointed at Hae-hyun with certainty. Jae-ha gave an awkward smile, unsure if clarifying would help or hurt.
Then Yeong-bin suddenly stepped inside, shutting the door with a snap. Almost at once, footsteps thundered down the hall. The metallic clinking in the noise struck Jae-ha as familiar, and Hae-hyun muttered,
“You really brought the entire guard with you.”
Yeong-bin’s eyes narrowed like blades.
“You do realize killing you right here is one way to keep you quiet.”
“Go ahead and try.”
“No—you’re right. That’d be foolish.”
Jae-ha quickly steadied Hae-hyun, nudging him back, and looked at Yeong-bin. Whatever this was, they couldn’t stand around arguing all night—and fighting was out of the question.
Besides, they’d already stirred up trouble with the guards. By now, the search probably wasn’t just for one armed woman but for a two-person robbery team. Jae-ha tried a different approach.
“Then how about this? Whatever it is you’re after, we’ll cooperate. How’s that sound?”
“I don’t need your help.”
Her voice was cold, but as soon as she addressed Jae-ha, her hostility dropped a notch—still sharp, but nothing like when she faced Hae-hyun.
“You’re here to question Nam-yeon, aren’t you?”
He could’ve revealed the real Nam-yeon right away, but waking someone who’d just been knocked out was risky. Better to hear her out first.
Yeong-bin’s gaze flicked between them, wary, but the guards’ growing commotion in the hall forced her hand. At last she snapped,
“Tell me where the Baeksa fruit is kept.”
This was exactly what happened when they banned things too tightly. With the Baeksa fruit and Hwanggwaju locked down completely, thugs like this barged in to wreak havoc.
Jae-ha did know of one tree that still bore fruit. Should he tell her? He hesitated—until Hae-hyun spoke up.
“You’re Tamlang Seonggun’s lackey.”
The atmosphere around Yeong-bin shifted instantly. Gone was the faint looseness from before. Murderous intent poured off her, filling the room with suffocating tension.
Hae-hyun edged forward, shielding Jae-ha completely. Only Jae-ha’s head peeked out from behind his broad shoulders.
“You’d better watch your mouth.”
Yeong-bin gave a vicious laugh—an admission in all but words.
Seriously? After all that pomp about vows and promises, Tamlang Seonggun’s plan was to send underlings to steal Baeksa fruit? If this was how the Celestial Realm’s highest officials behaved, no wonder things were such a mess.
“Everyone knows how obsessive Tamlang Seonggun is. And there aren’t many in her residence reckless enough to try something like this.”
Hae-hyun spoke with an almost casual calm, as if her threats didn’t reach him. His attitude only sharpened her hostility. Jae-ha noticed Yeong-bin’s hand twitch, as if she was about to draw something.
“You know what happens if you go back empty-handed.”
“Shut it.”
“And you’re desperate not to let that happen.”
Hae-hyun smirked. Yeong-bin didn’t strike, torn. The only thing holding her back was her belief that Hae-hyun was Nam-yeon. If she was wrong, one rash move would ruin everything.
The hallway noise swelled—doors opening, guards barking, their search closing in. Time was short.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“…What kind of deal?”
Her voice was low, guarded. Hae-hyun jerked his chin toward the hall.
“Draw those guards away. Every last one of them.”
“What?”
“Then I’ll give you this.”
From his robes, he produced a jade talisman. Yeong-bin’s gaze fixed on it warily.
“And what’s that?”
“A pass that’ll take you to the Baeksa tree.”
No sooner had he spoken than a white flash burst from Yeong-bin. Hae-hyun deflected it easily, then teasingly waved the talisman.
“The next one I’ll block with this. It’s already spent, so I don’t care if it shatters.”
“…You’re not Nam-yeon.”
“Ha.”
Hae-hyun chuckled and shrugged, smug enough to make even Jae-ha flinch.
“Took you long enough to figure it out.”
