A low groan echoed through the cabin. Yoon, his face a mask of pain, tossed and turned, unable to find relief. Even the simple act of opening or closing his eyes was a monumental effort. He was the only scholarly one who had followed Hwan when he left Wicheong Palace. Yoon's role was never to fight; Hwan wouldn't have allowed it. He had never been cut or stabbed, though he had swallowed his fair share of seawater during storms. But he had never experienced physical pain like this. Yet, even in his agony, he remained steady.

Hui stayed by his side throughout the long night. They were cousins, and the memory of Yoon's screams haunted him. Though the sight of Yoon's face filled him with dread, he couldn't help but stare, his eyes tracing the extent of the damage. The once handsome face was now a patchwork of raw, blistered skin, the flesh peeling away to reveal the raw wounds beneath. Once the burns healed, Hwan's purpose would be achieved; no one would recognize him. Hui thought of Yoon's face as it had been just a day ago, and tears pricked his eyes. But he quickly blinked them away, knowing that any display of weakness would only earn him Hwan's scorn. He dipped a cloth in a soothing ointment and gently dabbed at Yoon's face, but Yoon winced, a low moan escaping his lips. Hui quickly withdrew his hand.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'll be more gentle."

"Just leave it," Yoon rasped. He raised a trembling hand and pushed Hui away. He knew why Hui was fussing over him, and the sight of his anxious face filled him with a mixture of discomfort and pity. He looked at Hui. Hui, still bearing traces of his youthful innocence, was an anomaly among Hwan's crew. They all had a hardness in their eyes, a ruthlessness that came from years of following their merciless leader. Those who couldn't adapt didn't survive. But Hui, despite years spent on the open sea, still retained a gentle sadness in his eyes. His gaze was mournful, his heart soft. He followed orders, wielding his sword when necessary, but the sight of blood always pained him. After each raid, he would spend sleepless nights, haunted by the faces of those he had killed. Though Yoon didn't consider himself a sentimental man, the sight of Hui's anguish was almost unbearable.

"Why did you follow the Guardian?" Yoon mumbled, his facial muscles aching as he spoke. "Wicheong is no paradise, but it's certainly more comfortable than this. You would have been better off staying with Cheon Seong."

Hui blinked. Yoon clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"Such weakness."

Silence stretched between them. Yoon hadn't expected a response, but after a moment, Hui stammered.

"I wanted to become stronger, like him."

His voice was barely a whisper, but his words were clear.

"Why?" Yoon asked.

"Because I'm not," Hui replied.

"Did you think following him would make you stronger?"

"I once overheard a story about his childhood," Hui explained. "Cheon Seong was born healthy, but the Guardian was so small and weak that everyone thought he would die soon. But look at him now. He's stronger than anyone. Even the Soyeolish pirates fear his sword. I thought maybe I could become like that too."

"If that's why you came," Yoon said, "you should be training harder, not tending to my wounds."

Hui shook his head. "I'm not like the Guardian," he said. "That's what I learned on the Black Wings. He's strong because, well, because he's him. I'm not."

"And what about me?" Yoon asked. "I'm lying here, helpless, with burns covering my face. Do I look strong to you?"

Hui was taken aback by the question. He didn't know how to answer. Yoon continued.

"Strength isn't just about wielding a sword. Not everyone is meant to be a warrior. Look at Soyeol. They're all skilled with blades, but they're nothing more than pirates. They can't even establish a proper kingdom."

"But this is the path I've chosen," Hui replied.

Yoon, sensing his distress, offered a small comfort. "You've become much stronger, Hui. I've seen it."

Hui shook his head. "The Guardian is fearless. I don't think I could ever be like that, no matter how hard I try."

Yoon scoffed, his burned and disfigured face twisting into a grotesque grin. "Who told you such nonsense?"

He met Hui's wide, innocent eyes. "The moths that fly into the flames are the bravest of all."

Hui didn't seem to understand the analogy. He simply stared at his hands, his shoulders slumped. Yoon sighed inwardly.

"You don't belong on the Black Wings," he said. "You'll never survive under the Guardian."

"Perhaps he'll kill me," Hui mumbled.

"Do you honestly believe he's been this cruel to you because he wants you dead?" Yoon scoffed.

"I don't know."

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"If that were the case, you would have been dead long ago. The Guardian doesn't hesitate, and he doesn't give second chances. But he's kept you alive, hasn't he?"

Hui's eyes met Yoon's. "Why?" he asked. "Why would he..."

"Because if you die, House Keumpyeong dies with you," Yoon explained. "It's better to have as many houses of Scions as possible. Though, if I'm being honest, I'm not entirely sure why he's kept you alive. You've made some foolish mistakes. But one thing's for sure: once you earn the Guardian's trust, he'll never abandon you."

Hui's gaze swept over Yoon's scarred face, his words a mystery to him. "But why would he do this to you?" he asked. "Why would he be so cruel?"

"The Guardian does what is necessary," Yoon replied. "Everyone has a price to pay."

"And what price are you willing to pay?" Hui asked. "What do you hope to gain?"

"I'm not trying to gain anything," Yoon said. "I'm trying to reclaim what I've lost."

Yoon's mind drifted back to the tales of his ancestors' glory days in Sunyahng, stories passed down from his father and grandfather. Though those days were long gone, they felt as vivid as if they had happened yesterday. His grandfather, Jang'gyeong Hahn(翰), had been spared from the massacre because he had been in Sung with Kyeongseon Ung's father during the rebellion in Sunyahng. The capital of Wi, their homeland, was no more, and the blood-soaked flags of Dahn now flew over Sunyahng. House Jang'gyeong lost everything – their wealth, their status, and their loved ones who had remained in Sunyahng. Sung, which had supported the Yeongshin rebellion, refused to grant them asylum. Yoon didn't know exactly how his grandfather had ended up on Birahng, seeking refuge in Wicheong Palace. He could only assume that Myeonghyeon Sahn, Ryang's grandfather, had somehow contacted him after escaping Sunyahng. Yoon and his father were born on Birahng. If Wi hadn't fallen, Yoon wouldn't even exist. Yet, he yearned for the glory his family had lost.

"The Myeonghyeons may have some influence in Wicheong Palace," he said, "but they're nothing compared to us. They probably thrived after the fall of Wi. They have more now than they ever did in Sunyahng. But we're different. We weren't meant to be merchants on this tiny island, or pirates on the open sea. We're the Celestial Scions. And those slaves drove us from Sunyahng. We have to reclaim what our ancestors lost. I would endure this pain a thousand times over if it meant restoring our family's honor."

Despite his burns, Yoon's eyes burned with a fierce determination. He winced as he finished speaking, a wave of pain washing over him. Hui remained silent. He dipped the cloth in the ointment and gently dabbed at Yoon's face. This time, Yoon didn't resist. He gritted his teeth, stifling a cry of pain.

The Black Wings returned to the island and remained anchored there for six days. Hwan ordered his crew to fish and gather shellfish, which they boiled and mashed to feed to Yoon. The weather was still cool, preventing infection, and thanks to Hwan's meticulous care, Yoon's burns healed quickly, new skin growing over the wounds.

Hwan entered the tent where Yoon and Hui were resting. Hui, who had been dozing beside Yoon, jumped to his feet and bowed his head. Hwan gestured towards the door, and Hui, with another bow, scurried out. Yoon, awakened by the noize, sat up.

"Guardian."

"Stay there," Hwan said, taking a seat beside Yoon's makeshift bed.

"Is the pain bearable now?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over Yoon's face.

"Yes, Guardian," Yoon replied.

The new skin covering Yoon's burns had erased his former features, leaving him with a face that was unfamiliar even to Hwan. Though a pang of guilt flickered within him, Hwan couldn't afford to dwell on it. There was no time for sentimentality in this precarious situation.

"Tomorrow, you will land on Birahng and seek out the princess," he instructed. "Tell her about the Myeonghyeons, how they've established themselves in Nahmgyo under false pretenses. Tell her everything – their dealings, their wealth, their connections. Once the princess starts investigating them, they won't dare go near Wicheong Palace. Their supply lines will be cut off."

"But what about the secret tunnel leading out of the fortress?" Yoon asked.

"It's too narrow to transport supplies," Hwan dismissed. "They'll be lucky if they can even escape with their own lives."

Though Hwan's orders were clear, Yoon remained apprehensive. "If their supplies are cut off, it could lead to unrest within Wicheong," he argued. "The men we've gathered might scatter. You don't want Wicheong to fall, do you?"

"Seong won't last that long," Hwan said. "When their bellies are empty, they'll turn on him. He's not strong enough to withstand their resentment."

"If you intend to eliminate him, wouldn't it be easier to use Dara to poison him?" Yoon suggested.

Hwan shook his head. "Killing him won't be enough. To gain control of Wicheong, we need to destroy their faith in him."

"Is that all, Guardian?"

"That's all. And make sure the princess doesn't uncover the connection to Wicheong."

Yoon, however, remained apprehensive. He winced, his face still throbbing from the burns. "But revealing the Myeonghyeons' presence to the princess could lead her to Wicheong," he argued. "If their transactions don't match their records, someone is bound to notice the discrepancy. The Myeonghyeons refused to yield even when tempted by the founder of Dahn. They've amassed wealth and hidden themselves on Wi's sacred land. If there are discrepancies in their records, anyone with a shred of intelligence will suspect the presence of rebels."

"My uncle wasn't careless, and neither are Ryang and Seon," Hwan said. "No rebel would be foolish enough to keep only one set of records."

"But what if the princess decides to kill them?" Yoon argued. "Would they risk their lives to protect Wicheong?"

"They would." Hwan seemed certain of the Myeonghyeons' loyalty. Yoon, however, couldn't understand his confidence. He had witnessed Hwan's hatred for Ryang during their time in Wicheong.

"I don't know if I would trust their loyalty with so much at stake," Yoon said. "We don't know the princess's true nature. And surely the king wouldn't send an incompetent child on such a mission. She might be more difficult to control than we anticipate."

"Then it's your job to control her," Hwan said.

Yoon's expression remained troubled. Hwan, seeing his hesitation, placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You brought me the Black Wings," he reminded him.

Yoon recalled the trials they had faced together. The perilous journey to Soyeol, the desperate struggle to claim the Black Wings. They had faced countless dangers, but Hwan had always prevailed. Whether it was due to his sharp mind or his unwavering determination, Yoon couldn't say. But they had survived, and that was all that mattered. He nodded, accepting his mission.

"I won't fail you, Guardian."

"I trust you."

"What will you be doing while I'm on Birahng?" Yoon asked.

Hwan smiled. "Gathering allies."