"There's no one like me," Hwan replied.

"Because you're one of the Scions?" Yujeong scoffed.

"There's no Scion like me, eithter"

Yujeong threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Well, one thing's for sure," he said, "you certainly wield a sword like one."

He remembered their first and only duel, the day Hwan had arrived on Seomy. Hwan's swordsmanship was a sight to behold, his movements fluid and graceful, yet filled with a youthful ferocity that had taken Yujeong by surprise. He had been a renowned warrior in his youth, but against Hwan, he felt like a clumsy novice. Hwan's sword danced around him, a blur of motion that was both elegant and deadly. Before they had even exchanged five blows, Yujeong knew he was defeated. He felt the sting of the blade as it sliced through his flesh, his blood staining the sand. Hwan had aimed for his throat, but the blade had stopped just short of its mark, a cruel reminder of Hwan's power and his mercy.

Yujeong glanced at his left hand, its missing fingers a constant reminder of that day. "I wonder what would happen if you faced Jongwon Soh," he mused.

Hwan had heard the rumors about Jongwon Soh, the young king who had never been defeated. But he had also learned how quickly rumors could spread and how easily they could be manipulated. He scoffed at Yujeong's thinly veiled challenge.

"If that day comes," he said. "The new Wi and Soyeol will be ruled by one king."

"At least you speak like a king," Yujeong remarked.

Hwan carried himself with an air of authority that belied his current status as a pirate lord. He spoke of the future with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, his gaze fixed on some distant horizon. Yujeong, intrigued, leaned forward.

"I've always wondered," he began, "why you spared me that day. You could have taken Seomy, become its king. But you left with nothing but a ship and a handful of men."

"I have no desire to rule over a worthless island," Hwan said. "The Black Wings was all I needed."

"Even a worthless island is better than nothing," Yujeong countered. "What's so special about being the Isleless King?"

Hwan looked down at his palm, his fingers tracing the lines etched on it. "That was my first long voyage," he mused. "I almost died, you know. I've told you the story. I fought for my life all night, unsure if I was still in this world or already in hell. When the storm finally subsided and I saw the coast of Soyeol, I felt a strange sense of liberation. On land, you don't realize how powerless you truly are. The comfort, the ignorance, it makes me weak. But the sea, the storms, they make me strong."

He looked at Yujeong. "And besides," he added, "if I had killed you, I wouldn't have such a valuable ally to help me fulfill Sahngjon's will."

"You also got a fine ship and someone to help maintain it," Yujeong chuckled.

Hwan's lips twitched in amusement.

Yujeong's smile faded, his eyes hardening as he met Hwan's gaze. "The Black Wings is no ordinary vessel," he said. "I traded my son's life for that ship. Don't think for a moment that I gave it to you because I was swayed by Jang'gyeong Yoon's silver tongue. That boy thinks he's clever, but he's a fool. I've dealt with countless men like him, their mouths full of honeyed words, their hands full of gold and silver."

"You still lost to me," Hwan countered. "That's why you gave me the ship."

"You were a nobody," Yujeong scoffed. "A boy barely out of his teens, with a face as smooth as a baby's bottom. I could have refused your challenge, no matter what Jang'gyeong Yoon said."

"Then why did you fight me?"

"None of the countless men who came begging for my favor ever claimed to be the last of the Cheon royal line," Yujeong explained. "It was... intriguing. I thought you were a madman, but there was something about you... It was like a sign from Sahngjon. So I made a wager with Sahngjon, with my life as the stake. I believed that if you were truly a Scion, the rightful Guardian, you wouldn't fall to my blade. And you didn't."

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"Such faith," Hwan mused, a hint of mockery in his voice.

Yujeong ignored him. "As you get older, you realize there are many things in this world beyond your control. Most things, in fact. And you turn to Sahngjon. Because in this chaotic world, only the light of Sahngjon remains constant."

"That's disappointing to hear, coming from you," Hwan remarked.

Yujeong frowned. "The Scion mocking faith?" he scoffed. "And you claim to be the chosen one?"

Hwan shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Sahngjon doesn't offer pity or compassion," he said. "He sees only allies and enemies. He bestows his light upon his children, but his enemies receive only darkness. It's simple, straightforward."

"I also know what Sahngjon's will is," Yujeong said, stroking his knee. "I've watched you turn a captured Sungian warship into the Black Wings. I've seen you instill fear in even the most skilled warriors. I have no heir to inherit this island, no ambition to rule the seas. My grandfather dreamed of sailing up Sun River, but he died bleeding into the West Sea. Only my father returned. Baekan has already shed blood for Wi. Now, I only wish to see Sunyahng bathed in the light of Sahngjon again before I die."

Yujeong's fervent declaration of faith, however, was met with a cold silence from Hwan. He couldn't fathom the old man's blind devotion. Though he believed in Sahngjon's will, he wasn't about to risk everything on a prophecy.

"When will you return with the sword from Birahng?" Yujeong asked, breaking the silence.

"The sword will not be leaving Birahng," Hwan replied. "The Baekan fleet will have to come and claim it."

Yujeong frowned. "So you expect us to sail to Birahng and risk being blown out of the water before you even show us this so-called proof?"

"They may see you as nothing more than Soyeolish pirates," Hwan countered, "but with me by your side, you will be seen as Sahngjon's holy warriors. Once I capture Nahmgyo, I will raise the Wi flag and welcome you ashore." He gestured towards Hui. "I'll send him to Seomy when the time is right. Then you set sail for Birahng."

"And once you capture Nahmgyo," Yujeong mused. "Dongrahng and Seorahng will follow. What preparations must Baekan make?"

"You'll need to remove those pesky Dahnians from Birahng," Hwan instructed. "And if you can capture the king's precious daughter, all the better."

"Dealing with those cannons is the only obstacle," Yujeong muttered.

"We'll find a way," Hwan assured him.

Yujeong didn't question his plan or ask about the rewards he expected. Wealth and power proved more persuasive motivators for the Soyeolish than any religious zeal. Hwan couldn't shake his doubts about Yujeong's true intentions.

"Are you sure you desire nothing?" he asked. "If you leave Seomy, Jongwon's fleet will seize it. You'll have no safe haven to return to."

Yujeong shook his head. "The future is uncertain," he replied. "Squabbling over territory is a fool's game. What matters to Baekan is the light of Sahngjon. He will reward us for our faith."

"Do you believe in me?" Hwan asked.

"I believe in the light of Sahngjon," Yujeong replied.

Hwan didn't press further.

"When do you depart?" Yujeong asked.

"Tomorrow."

"I was hoping you'd stay longer," Yujeong said with a sigh. "But I suppose you have urgent business to attend to. Rest well tonight."

Hwan nodded.

"When we meet again in Nahmgyo," Yujeong said, "I will greet you as a loyal subject. I doubt we'll have another chance to chat like this."

Hwan, with Yirahng and Hui in tow, retired to the room prepared by Yujeong. The air was thick with steam from the heated bathwater. Hwan and Yirahng immersed themselves in the fragrant water, the scent of tea leaves filling the air. Yirahng, lulled by the warmth, fell asleep against Hwan's chest. He gently stroked her back with one hand, the other absently swirling the water.

Hui knelt respectfully, his gaze occasionally flickering towards Hwan. The Guardian seemed relaxed in the company of his lover. Hui had never been this close to Hwan for so long. He had never heard him speak so much. Usually, Hwan dismissed everyone when discussing important matters, and Hui had never been privy to such conversations. A sense of pride swelled within him.

Though Hwan had been unusually talkative today, Hui still couldn't decipher his true intentions. Yujeong had pledged his allegiance only after they captured Nahmgyo. But how can we achieve that when Wicheong Palace still remains under Cheon Seong's control? After four years with Hwan, Hui felt more like a Soyeol pirate than a Scion. Sunyahng, even Nahmgyo, seemed like a distant dream.

"I misunderstood him," Hwan said, breaking the silence.

Hui straightened, startled. Yirahng, however, remained asleep. Hwan was speaking to him.

"I didn't realize he was so devout," Hui replied, a nervous smile on his face.

"I’m talking about his naivety," he retorted.

"What?" Hui asked, confused.

Hwan chuckled, shaking his head. Hui couldn't understand his amusement.

"The Black Wings returns to Birahng tomorrow," Hwan announced. "You will remain in Soyeol. I have a task for you."

"What is it, Guardian?"

"I'll tell you in the morning. Rest for now."

"Yes, Guardian." Hui bowed deeply and retreated to the adjoining room.

Hwan watched the steam rising from the bathwater.

"Jongwon Soh..." he murmured.