Page 16 of Gumiho Kiss (Realm of Eternal Blossoms #1)

Dol Sam had more than made up for what Hyun Soo had done by standing beside him when no one else would.

By all rights, Dol Sam should have abandoned him when he’d been suspected of espionage.

Instead, he’d refused to believe Hyun Soo capable of such a grievous crime, even after he’d been tried and convicted.

“It sounds like he would say the same thing about you. You’re a hero,” Lady Lee pointed out.

Hyun Soo shook his head. “I’m far from a hero.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice.

A hero wouldn’t be estranged from his father. He would have proven his innocence instead of giving up.

Dol Sam’s words came back to him: “There was nothing else you could have done. If your father can’t see the good person you are, that’s his own problem. Your conduct was completely honorable. I’ve only known you for a short time, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that you were framed.”

He appreciated his friend’s support, but Hyun Soo’s discharge hadn’t affected the Kangs’ family name. It had affected the Parks’.

“Don’t devalue yourself, Mr. Park.” Lady Lee was firm, gaze unwavering. “When I was in danger, you jumped in to save me, too, and that was completely on your own. So even if you try to convince me otherwise, I’ll still say you’re a hero.”

“You really believe that?”

“I do. And even though we didn’t start out on the best of terms, I also know you would have done it even if it wasn’t your job.”

“There’s no way you could know that.”

Something flickered in the woman’s eyes, like she was recalling a memory. “Yeh, there is.”

Before Hyun Soo could respond, Lady Lee halted in front of a blacksmith shop.

Scythes, knives, hoes, and sickles hung on the wall next to a small stone forge with still-glowing embers.

A large water wheel was situated outside, tirelessly revolving to power the blacksmith’s craft. “Stop here for a moment.”

Hyun Soo wrinkled his nose, keeping some distance between himself and the entrance. Of all places, why here? If the family needed tools, surely Pyung Ho could have made the trek. Blacksmiths were cheonmin, not people a noblewoman should be associating with.

“Ahjussi,” Lady Lee called, seemingly unaffected by her slovenly surroundings.

A stinky ahjussi emerged from the back of the shop, clothing in tatters and hammer in hand.

His hulking form was reminiscent of a moon bear, with small, sad eyes and a wide, upturned nose.

He frowned at Lady Lee before dipping his head in a deep bow.

“Agasshi, it’s an honor to have you in my shop, but I’m afraid I’m not ready with your order just yet. ”

The noblewoman bowed in return. “That’s not why I’m here. How is young Hee Joo?”

The burly man’s expression softened. “She’s doing as well as can be expected. I’m hoping to be able to get some medicine for her soon, but until then, she has to stay close to home to preserve her strength. Thank you for asking after her.”

She motioned for Hyun Soo to come over. “This is Mr. Park Hyun Soo, my new bodyguard. He has something for you that may help.”

He sidled up on Lady Lee’s right, eyebrows squished together. What was she talking about? He didn’t have any?—

Lady Lee snatched a bag from his hand and passed it to the blacksmith. The man accepted it with a blank look, then his bearded face split into an overwhelmed grin.

“Thank you, agasshi,” he sputtered, tears forming in his eyes. “This will mean so much to my family.” He bowed to her, then Hyun Soo. “Thank you. Thank you both.”

Lady Lee’s lips turned up. “Please give my best to your wife and daughter.”

After the blacksmith had promised to do so, the pair turned to leave, only to be blocked by a troupe of performers and onlookers gathering in the street. Spectators laughed and clapped as men with multicolored robes and long white streamers sang and danced in time with drums and gongs.

Hyun Soo stretched out his arm to keep people from getting too close to his mistress, but the crowd was too big. A man in a straw hat shoved between them, and before Hyun Soo knew it, Lady Lee was lost amidst the unfamiliar faces.

“My lady? Lady Lee!” he cried, head swiveling in all directions.

A hand latched onto his, and when he looked down, there was his mistress, grinning up at him. “It’s all right, Mr. Park. I’m here.” She pointed down a bend. “That direction will take us to my uncle’s school.”

Hyun Soo tried not to notice how warm her hand felt in his as she led him away from the throng. Tried not to think about how happy she’d looked when she’d given that blacksmith rice for his sick daughter. Tried not to remember that cursed dream of her leaning in to kiss him.

But when she finally let go, he gave up trying, unable to shake the disappointment flooding his veins.

He closed his empty hand into a fist and nodded toward a group of buildings just ahead. “Is that it?”

* * *

“Yeh,” Chin Sun answered. They approached the large compound, which was situated on the southern end of Sokju.

The school was a branch of the Bureau of Interpreters, responsible for both training up official interpreters and producing textbooks about the languages of Joseon’s neighbors.

Most schools specialized in the language of the country nearest them, but Sokju’s school employed experts in Mandarin, Japanese, and Jurchen.

Uncle was one of Sokju’s most esteemed interpreters, for he was fluent in all three languages and had single-handedly translated more foreign books than any other interpreter in Joseon.

Chin Sun smiled at Mr. Park as she made her way to the entrance gate.

Her decision to try befriending the enigmatic bodyguard so she could learn his weaknesses was going well so far.

The way he’d clammed up when she’d mentioned family hinted at a traumatic past, whereas the warmth in his eyes while speaking of Young Master Kang had revealed his deep respect for her betrothed.

Unfortunately, neither tidbit seemed helpful for retrieving her fox bead. She had to keep digging. Eventually, he’d share something she could exploit.

Besides, it was in her best interest to be on good terms with Mr. Park since he and Young Master Kang were friends, and she’d probably have to see him from time to time. She wasn’t being friendly because she was interested in him.

Not even a little.

Inside the compound, scholars, teachers, and servants sauntered about the grounds.

A group of students circled around a teacher in the midst of a lecture about Japanese funeral rites while male servants used brooms to sweep up fallen leaves around the pavilions.

The school included an examination hall, cafeteria, library, assembly hall, and various classrooms. Small storage sheds sat at the back of the compound.

Beautiful red maple trees towered in clusters around the pavilions, providing lovely shaded areas for outdoor study.

Women weren’t normally allowed on campus, but Uncle’s prestige at the school allowed Chin Sun to come and go as she pleased.

Not that she abused this privilege, for she knew how important Samchon’s reputation was.

She’d only been to the school a half dozen times or so over the years, but taking Uncle some lunch was a great excuse to chat with Mr. Park about topics she might not otherwise have been able to.

Chin Sun meandered across the compound, keeping her pace slow. Samchon was probably in his classroom right now, preparing for his next lesson. “So, Mr. Park, how long are you?—”

A high-pitched scream rent the peaceful atmosphere, drawing several scholars and teachers outside, Uncle included. Mr. Park leaped in front of Chin Sun, while she instinctively got into a defensive stance before she remembered she was supposed to be a defenseless noblewoman right now.

“Who was that?” someone asked, nearly identical expressions of fear on everyone’s faces.

A young scholar stumbled out of the library, red streaming down his robe and face ghastly pale. He held one hand tight to his stomach, fingers drenched with blood. He stopped in front of the nearest group of scholars.

Those in the courtyard gathered around him, talking all at once. “What happened, Tae Hee-ah?” “Are you all right?” “We should call for a physician.”

The young man, Tae Hee, took a gasping breath. “Gwishin!” He gestured back to the pavilion, then collapsed on the ground, blood pooling around his body.

What? Chin Sun’s mouth went dry. An impostor? Her gaze went to the library, hand itching to grab the eunjangdo dagger concealed in her hanbok.

Mr. Park strode forward and gently rolled the scholar over, exposing what was clearly a stab wound to his stomach. He knelt down and pressed two fingers to his neck. After a moment, he rose and said in a somber voice, “Someone go to the police bureau and tell them there’s been a murder.”

The entire compound went as silent as a tomb; even the birds, which had been twittering happily up until now, seemed to sense the gravity of the announcement and ceased their songs.

When no one moved to do as he’d directed, Mr. Park clasped the nearest student’s arm. “Did you not hear me? A student has been stabbed to death. Go!” He shoved the young man toward the gate, then pulled out his hwando. “Everyone else, get to safety. Gwishin might still be on the premises.”

Panic ensued as everyone scrambled for the exit, knocking each other over in their haste. Mr. Park ducked into the library alone, a single salmon swimming against a current of chaos. Uncle spotted Chin Sun in the crowd and urged her to follow, hiking up his robe so he could move faster.

She nodded, but as soon as he turned, she hurried toward the library. Powers or no powers—she wasn’t going to run away when people were in danger. She pulled out the knife she’d brought in case of emergency, ready to cut down this impostor or die trying.