Page 38 of Gumiho Kiss (Realm of Eternal Blossoms #1)

The Reunion

C hin Sun tramped up the mountain, rolling her eyes when she glanced over her shoulder and saw how far behind Min Joon had fallen.

“Do you need me to carry you? We could get there a lot faster,” she mocked.

Her friend grumbled under his breath but didn’t take the bait, climbing at the same, steady pace he’d maintained for most of their journey.

They’d been doing this for the past few days, stopping to eat and rest when Min Joon grew too exhausted, then picking back up where they’d left off as soon as he was ready.

Much to Chin Sun’s frustration. With her gumiho powers restored, her speed and stamina far outweighed her friend’s, meaning she spent a lot of time waiting, waiting, waiting.

She’d nearly left him several times, but whenever she was ready to succumb to the temptation, Hyun Soo’s scolding voice would pop into her thoughts. “Going into a fight unprepared is the quickest way to lose your life.”

Even though it tested her patience, bringing Min Joon along was smarter than going alone.

He was a skilled negotiator, fighter, and held a certain level of authority as a police inspector.

Besides, Gwishin couldn’t testify about this illegal operation, whereas Kang Min Joon’s word held significant weight since he belonged to one of the most powerful yangban families in the region.

During her waiting stints, Chin Sun often shifted into her nine-tailed fox form, which allowed her to scout ahead and circle back with greater speed than her human legs afforded.

She’d ached to walk on four paws again, become part of the forest in a way humans could never understand.

Her senses picked up so much more this way, including the faint tracks leading up the mountain.

They had to be Hyun Soo’s; they just had to be.

It was evening when their path evened out. They must be getting close now. Chin Sun stopped and leaned back against a thick tree to give Min Joon time to catch up. She examined her nails, willing them to transform into claws, then shorten again.

Agh, why were humans so slow?

When Min Joon finally appeared, she took a breath to speak, but he gave her a dark look as if to say, Don’t you dare.

Chin Sun shut her mouth but didn’t try to hide her amusement.

Min Joon grumbled some more as he passed, but he didn’t engage with her.

She placed her hands behind her head and shut her eyes with a satisfied grin. Having an advantage over her friend again felt good.

“Get up here. I can see the base,” Min Joon called.

Chin Sun’s eyes flew open, and she pushed off from the tree. She came up on her friend’s right as he gaped at a large fortress tucked into the side of the mountain. Torches illuminated the tops of the walls and watchtowers, evidence of the enemies lurking within.

Chin Sun had to stop herself from gaping, too. “That’s not something for overtaking a city,” she pointed out, ignoring the fear shooting down her spine.

“Indeed it’s not,” Min Joon said vaguely.

What in the world was it for? Protection against Jurchen attacks?

Relations between Joseon and its northern neighbors were complicated, with frequent skirmishes occurring near the border despite Joseon’s best efforts to end the bloodshed.

Or perhaps it was meant to be a place to hole up in the event of a Japanese invasion?

Chin Sun turned to Min Joon. “The first thing we need to do is locate Hyun Soo. He can tell us what we’re dealing with here.”

“Agreed. Except . . .” Her friend’s head swiveled, one eyebrow raised. “Hyun Soo’s safety isn’t our first priority. Protecting the people of Sokju is. If it comes down to it, can I count on you to make the hard call?”

Heat blossomed in Chin Sun’s cheeks, but she met Min Joon’s eye steadily. “I haven’t lost sight of our objective. And I won’t let the people down.”

He nodded, satisfied, then his lips twisted into a wry grin. “Then let’s go find your bodyguard.”

The pair split up when they reached the treeline; Min Joon would explore the southern wall while Chin Sun explored the west, then they’d regroup in an hour.

Clouds shifted in front of the moon, casting the world into deeper darkness.

Chin Sun summoned her fox eyes, checking for guards.

One on the nearby watchtower and another patrolling the wall.

Hmm. No sign of Hyun Soo yet. If she could get up to the watchtower roof, perhaps she’d be able to spot him from there.

She stayed under the shelter of the trees until she was directly across from the tower, then darted over to its base and ran her fingers over the stone. There were no places to grab on and even her superior jumping abilities were no match for something this tall.

Chin Sun held back a curse. She’d thought getting her powers back would mean the end of problems like these, but as soon as she really needed them, her gumiho abilities couldn’t help her. Pathetic.

She turned away from the tower, searching for another spot that offered a good view. A nearby ridge looked promising, so she veered in that direction.

Sudden explosions thundered in her ears, drawing her attention back to the fortress. Smoke billowed in the air, followed by angry voices and rumbling feet. Was Min Joon attacking the base?

No, he wouldn’t do something like that when they’d only just gotten here. He would have reconvened with her first. But if not him . . . ?

Chin Sun sprinted to the ridge, chills running through her body.

She clambered to the top, hoping against hope that she’d reach Hyun Soo in time.

From her new position, she could see a slew of warriors running to and fro inside the base.

Some were dealing with the impact of the explosion, which had started multiple fires and collapsed an entire building.

Others swarmed the ground near the western wall, where a dark silhouette stood surrounded.

Chin Sun’s fox eyes zoomed in on the masked figure, taking in his broad shoulders, muscular physique, and hair tied at the back of his head. She gasped, heat radiating through her chest.

Hyun Soo. He was alive.

But not for long. The soldiers had completely encircled him, and a tall officer stood in the center with a hwando at Hyun Soo’s throat.

“Surrender,” the officer ordered. Something about him niggled at the back of Chin Sun’s mind, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Hyun Soo raised his hands, but before Chin Sun realized what was happening, he slammed his shoulder into a spearman’s face and created an opening in the circle. He dashed toward the fortress gate, the angry soldiers trailing behind him.

Chin Sun smiled, pride surging through her. That was the man she knew. She’d worried needlessly. Still . . .

She dropped from the ridge onto the western wall, grateful the guards were too distracted by the spectacle to notice her. She crept past a few, then leaped onto the roof of a nearby barracks.

Hyun Soo was facing off against a large group of swordsmen now, looking as cocky as he had the night they’d fought on the streets. He slowly pulled out his sword, and even though his mouth was covered, she was certain he was smiling in anticipation.

It was a feeling she experienced each time she donned her mask. A heady mixture of fear and exhilaration as her sword clashed with her opponent’s. Not the desire to kill, but the thrill of the fight itself, of grappling against an adversary and finding out who would come out on top.

And based on Hyun Soo’s confident stance, it was safe to say he didn’t doubt whom the victor would be.

Chin Sun scowled. No one had the right to look that good in a life-or-death situation.

He was supposed to be struggling—just a little bit—then she could swoop in and rescue him.

She sat down at the edge of the roof, slightly disappointed, and let her feet dangle over the side.

Perhaps she should go check on Min Joon since Hyun Soo clearly didn’t need her help.

An arrow zipped through the air, slicing Hyun Soo’s cheek before he ran for cover.

Chin Sun was on her feet in a heartbeat, swinging toward the source of the unexpected attack. A stocky man on the roof next to hers was in the midst of nocking another arrow.

She whistled, startling the archer so greatly that his next shot flew straight up into the air. He whirled around, eyes narrowing as they landed on her.

“Looks like you need to work on your aim,” she said. “Want to practice on a moving target?”

The archer reached for his next arrow, but by the time he’d grabbed it, Chin Sun was already an arm’s length away from him, hwando raised. His face paled, and he turned to flee, but she didn’t give him the chance.

With a quick slash to the throat, he tumbled backward, plummeting to the ground with a thud.

Hyun Soo’s deep voice reached her ears. “Identify yourself. Did Governor Choi send you?”

Chin Sun’s heart gave a joyous flutter, impatient to reunite with the one she loved and declare her feelings. “Not exactly,” she called down.

Hyun Soo stepped out from the shadow of the barracks beside the one she stood atop. Recognition flooded his eyes, followed by a warmth that made Chin Sun’s knees go weak.

Keep it together, Chin Sun. You can’t let yourself come undone with a simple look. At least wait until he tells you how much he missed you. She sheathed her hwando and jumped down, landing gracefully at his side.

Hyun Soo grabbed her hand and yanked her under the shelter of the barracks. Once he’d checked that no one had seen them, he turned to her, the warmth gone from his eyes. “What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly.

Annoyance sparked in Chin Sun’s chest. She’d come all this way, and this was the welcome she received? Had she been wrong in thinking he’d be glad to see her? Had his feelings for her vanished that quickly?

Chin Sun inclined her head toward the man she’d just dispatched. “Isn’t it obvious? I came to help you. But perhaps I shouldn’t have since you don’t seem to want me here.”