Yujeong scoffed, but he sat up, his posture straightening. "Are you here to repeat that ridiculous tale about reclaiming Sunyahng?" he asked gruffly.

"I have a far more noble and compelling story to tell," Hwan replied, a sly smile playing on his lips.

Yujeong's gaze lingered on Hwan's face, then flickered towards Hui and Yirahng, who knelt behind him. "Aren't you going to dismiss them?" he asked.

"They're here to observe," Hwan replied.

Yujeong chuckled. "As the king wishes," he said, bowing his head in mock deference.

"You're not a king anymore, are you?" Hwan taunted.

Yujeong laughed, shaking his head. "Let's be honest," he said. "Are any of the so-called kings on these islands true kings? They're just petty lords squabbling over scraps of land. One less, one more... it makes no difference."

"There's a new king on Ju, though," Hwan remarked. "He seems to have united the other islands under his flag."

Yujeong's eyes gleamed with amusement. Hwan was referring to Jongwon Soh, the young conqueror of Ju, the main island of Soyeol. Ju was the island that produced the most significant amount of grain, and its ruler traditionally held sway over the other islands. But its fertile lands were also a constant source of conflict, its rulers changing as quickly as the tides. Hwan was well aware of this history, but even with his limited knowledge of Soyeol, he recognized that Jongwon Soh was a formidable leader. He was a young warrior, barely in his thirties, like most Soyeolish kings. In Soyeol, where martial prowess was revered, a young warrior could rise to power with a single victory. But those who gained power through the sword often lost it just as quickly. In a land where strength was paramount, age and experience were often liabilities. Yujeong, though not yet fifty, was considered old by Soyeol standards.

"Jongwon may be on a roll," Yujeong said, "but there always have been others like him. They all failed to establish lasting dynasties. They're all just fleeting shadows."

He seemed confident that Jongwon's reign would be as short-lived as those of his predecessors.

"Don't be so complacent," Hwan warned. "Jongwon's fleet is practically at your doorstep."

"They've been there for a while," Yujeong replied dismissively. "If Jongwon has any sense, he'll know there's nothing worth taking on this island. If I were him, I'd set my sights on richer territories."

"But conquering Seomy would earn him the reputation of defeating the White Sea Ghost(白海鬼)," Hwan said

Yujeong chuckled. "If that's his goal, then he has a long wait ahead of him."

Though Yujeong's relaxed demeanor seemed precarious, there was a reason for his confidence. The laws of Soyeol varied from island to island, but one law remained constant: obedience to the strongest. And Yujeong, once a formidable warrior, had ruled these islands with an iron fist. It wasn't so long ago.

"Continue your story," Yujeong prompted.

"Sahngjon has sent the Guardian Crimson," Hwan said.

The Guardian Crimson. Yujeong's face hardened at the mention of it. He remembered that night vividly, the star blazing across the sky above Soyeol. He had stood on the balcony of his castle, watching it until it disappeared over the horizon. The King's Star, he had thought, his heart filled with a mixture of hope and dread. The Soyeolish, like the people of Wi, had long awaited the Crimson Star. They yearned for the new world promised by Sahngjon, a world free from the harsh realities of their existence. This longing was woven into their blood, passed down through generations. Yujeong was no exception.

"The star," he mused. "We saw it here on Seomy as well. But it faded over the horizon. There were rumors that it fell on Birahng."

"Those rumors are true," Hwan stated.

"You saw it yourself?" Yujeong asked, his eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and longing.

"It fell into the sea where the Black Wings was anchored," Hwan explained. "I pulled the Guardian Crimson from the water with my own hands. She told me that Sahngjon had made his decision. Now, it is my destiny to fulfill the prophecy of the Azure Scripture and build a new world in Sahngjon's name. You will see it soon enough."

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Yujeong's gaze hardened as he scrutinized Hwan's face.

"You don't seem to have gone mad," he murmured.

Hwan remained silent.

"If what you say is true," Yujeong pressed, "where is she now?"

"I can't tell you yet."

Yujeong took a sip of water from a cup beside his bed. "If what you say is true," he said, "then Baekan will pledge its allegiance to Wi."

His answer was surprisingly docile, far from the defiance or aggression Hwan had expected.

"Without any conditions?" Hwan asked.

Yujeong shook his head. "There are no conditions when it comes to following the light of Sahngjon. It is our duty."

Hwan let out a short, humorless laugh. Though Yujeong didn't see him as delusional, Hwan couldn't help but think the old man was the one who had lost his mind. He believed in Sahngjon's will, but he wasn't about to risk everything on blind faith. He had seen those consumed by religious fervor in Wicheong Palace, their minds teetering on the brink of madness. Yujeong's blind faith wasn't unfamiliar, just incomprehensible.

"The Wi people may have scorned us," Yujeong said, his voice filled with a quiet pride, "but we have always remained loyal to the Wi royal family, to Sunyahng, the seat of the Guardian. Though your ancestors failed to protect their homeland, we never forgot. Even when the Azure Scripture was defiled by those Dahnian heathens, even when Nahmgyo betrayed Sahngjon, we never lost our faith."

"That's reassuring to hear," Hwan remarked. "Should I expect your loyalty to endure?"

"If what you say is true, then yes," Yujeong replied. "You are the last of the Cheon lineage. And Sahngjon has sent the Guardian Crimson to you."

"Don’t you doubt my words?" Hwan asked.

"You're not one for empty boasts," Yujeong replied. "I believe you. But not everyone will. I may be the last to bear the name Baekan, but the loyalty and faith of my people are not mine alone. Those belong to every man and woman who fights under my flags. I need proof, something to show them."

Hwan scoffed. "Faith that requires proof is no faith at all."

"Faith is weak," Yujeong countered. "To reclaim the glory of Sahngjon, we need both swords and unwavering faith. Without tangible proof, most will hesitate to cross the sea. Even the sharpest blade can falter when wielded with doubt. How can we hope to defeat the Dahnians with wavering hearts?"

Hwan considered his options. He couldn't reveal the existence of Wicheong Palace or the Guardian Crimson. There was only one thing he could offer.

"There are two swords hidden on Birahng," he said. "One belonged to House Cheon, the other to the Myeonghyeons. They're not in my possession at the moment, but if you bring your forces to Birahng, I will show them to you."

"The sword of House Cheon?" Yujeong asked. "The one that can only be wielded by a true heir?"

"That's the one."

"That would be compelling proof indeed," Yujeong mused. But despite his interest, his expression remained troubled.

Hwan shook his head. "Proof means nothing to the people," he said. "They chase illusions. Do you know how many charlatans have claimed to be the last prince of Wi, or the true heir to the High Emissary Divine, all because of those rumors about a prince and the High Emissary escaping the massacre? They were all captured and executed, of course. But I guarantee there are others out there, even now, spinning their tales. They have no proof, yet they still manage to deceive the people. The princess of Dahn is currently on Birahng. Dahn, a nation that couldn't even dominate the southern islands after half a century, has sent a princess and a fleet of warships to Birahng because of a falling star. What do you think that means?"

"Just tell me," Yujeong grumbled. "I don't have the patience for riddles."

"The king fears his own people," Hwan explained. "He doesn't trust them."

"And do you trust yours?" Yujeong countered.

Hwan scoffed. "The founder of Dahn was once a subject of Wi."

"So you intend to build a new world with people you don't trust?" Yujeong remarked. "That's a novel concept."

"I need people to build a new world," Hwan said. "But that world will be for the chosen few. Those like you, Baekan Yujeong."

"The pirate lord of a cursed island?" Yujeong scoffed.

"In the new world, even Sahngjon's covenant will be renewed," Hwan said. "Blessings and curses will be rewritten."

Yujeong smiled. "Let's hear your plan, then," he said. "Simply showing up with a sword and a few tall tales won't win you any followers. You need to capture a fortress, establish a base before you can gather an army."

Hwan's gaze hardened, his eyelids lowering slightly. "Let me correct one misconception," he said. "Nahmgyo did not betray Sahngjon. We owe our survival to Seolyo Jin's loyalty."

"Are you saying she will open her gates for you?" Yujeong asked, his brow furrowed.

Hwan shook his head. "Not while my brother still lives."

"Then you'll need more than just faith," Yujeong remarked. "You'll need a sword."

"Is there a difference?" Hwan countered.

Yujeong laughed, his shoulders shaking. "Not really."

"Should I take that as a pledge of allegiance?" Hwan asked.

"I already gave you the Black Wings," Yujeong replied.

Hwan scoffed. "You gave me a captured ship," he retorted. "It’s me who turned it into the Black Wings."

"A captured warship?" Yujeong argued. "It was the Sungian warship. No one has ever captured one of those, before or since."

"That's confidence bordering on arrogance," Hwan countered. "There's always someone stronger, someone better."

Yujeong held up his left hand, its missing fingers a stark reminder of his past battles. "Someone like you?" he challenged.