The Jang Residence
The night fell quietly over the Jang residence, where Eun Sook, Na Mu, and Na Bi had just returned. The air was heavy with unspoken thoughts, and the only noise came from the crunch of gravel under their horses' hooves. At the entrance, Head Maid Servant Park awaited them with her eyes filled with worry. After bowing to Eun Sook, she delivered a serious message: "Young Lady, Lord Jang wants to see you in his study."
Eun Sook handed her sword to Na Bi, then without saying anything, she turned and walked toward Lord Jang Hyun's study, her footsteps echoing in the quiet halls.
Na Bi frowned, glancing at her brother Na Mu. "What happened at Cheongjeonghan after Young Lady left to discuss with Madam Jung? No one said a word on the way back. And why did Eun Sook suddenly change how she looks?"
Na Mu sighed, his face serious. "It's a long story, Na Bi," he began to explain what happened with Lord Seo. "We need to be careful from here on out."
As Eun Sook approached Lord Jang's study, she spotted Jang Yeon Woo lurking in the shadows. Yeon Woo's eyes, filled with jealousy, tracked Eun Sook's every step. Yeon Woo reluctantly gave her a quick bow before she headed into the study, leaving Yeon Woo simmering with envy.
Inside, Lord Jang Hyun sat behind a large desk, looking powerful and commanding. Eun Sook bowed deeply. "My Lord."
"Sit down," he said in a deep voice that brooked no argument. He handed her a letter, the parchment crinkling in her hands as she read it. She kept a calm expression.
"Take care of this within two weeks," he instructed.
Eun Sook nodded despite the weight of the task pressing heavily on her. As Lord Jang stood to leave, he paused, looking at her intently. "Where were you. I didn't see you when I came back. You weren't in your room or training?"
"I heard from Madam Jung that Hye Jin is back," she replied calmly. "I needed to handle it quietly."
"Handle it? I don't know why you kept that foolish woman alive till now," he reprimanded with his tone icy. "If anything goes wrong, it's your responsibility." He warned. "You looked worried, is there anything bothering you?" Jang Hyun inquired looking at Eun Sook's worried face
Eun Sook's jaw tightened. "My Lord, we have a problem—Seo Jin," she blurted out, remembering the mysterious figure she met after taking out Lord Hwang. "I don't know but I think he recognised me."
Lord Jang's eyes narrowed. "Who is Seo Jin?"
"I don't know much yet, but he seemed to recognise me from Lord Hwang's. It may be as a result of my sword," Eun Sook confessed.
"I'll look into him," Lord Jang said. "If he's a danger, you know what needs to be done."
With that, he left the study, his warning hanging in the air heavily. "I'm going to bed."
As the last lights flickered out at the Jang residence, an uneasy silence settled in. While the household slept, Eun Sook was wide awake, consumed by a fierce need for revenge. She practiced her sword techniques with fierce determination, sweat covering her, her breaths uneven, but she didn't stop. The night bled into dawn, and the first light of day threw long shadows on the ground.
Na Bi, up early to fetch water, stumbled upon Eun Sook's tireless training. Alarmed, she rushed over and snatched the sword from Eun Sook's grip. For a moment, fire flashed in Eun Sook's eyes, but then she calmed at the sight of Na Bi.
"Young Lady, you need to rest," Na Bi urged, her voice shaking with worry.
Eun Sook's face hardened. "I won't rest until my family is avenged. Everyone responsible for their deaths will face me."
Tears filled Na Bi's eyes. "Please, listen to me My Lady. You might hurt yourself—"
"Know your place, Na Bi!" Eun Sook snapped, grabbing her sword back. "Don't forget why we fight."
Na Bi's heart sank as she watched her master continue her grueling training. The burden of revenge was heavy, binding Eun Sook to a painful path.
As day broke, the shadows of night clung to the Jang residence, hinting at secrets and betrayals. Every swing of Eun Sook's sword drew her deeper into her own darkness. Her bright spirit had been replaced by a fierce promise of revenge.
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the estate, Na Mu worried about their precarious situation. Their encounter at Cheongjeonghan reminded him of the dangers surrounding them. As loyalties shifted and hidden threats emerged, no one felt truly safe. He knew Eun Sook's single-minded focus on revenge could either save them or ruin them.
Na Bi, though deeply concerned for Eun Sook, felt a dreadful sense of fear. The change in Eun Sook, her unyielding quest for revenge, and Lord Jang's cold orders cast a gloomy shadow over their future. What once was a noble hunt for justice now threatened to consume them all.
As days passed, tension filled the Jang residence. Every whisper of wind and creak of the floor seemed to amplify the unease. Servants spoke in hushed tones, their eyes flicking nervously around them. The atmosphere crackled with the anticipation of conflict.
Eun Sook's training sessions grew longer and more intense. Her body bore the signs of her relentless practice, and yet she pushed herself harder than ever. The fire in her eyes showed her unyielding resolve, bordering on obsession.
One evening, as the sun set and cast a haunting glow over the estate, Eun Sook found herself alone in the courtyard. The silence was heavy, broken only by the sound of her sword slicing through the air. In the dim light, her shadow loomed large, echoing her troubled past.
Na Bi watched from afar, her heart heavy with concern. She understood the depth of Eun Sook's pain—losing her family and the betrayal that shattered her world had forged an iron will. Yet in seeking revenge, Eun Sook risked losing herself.
In the quietness of the night, when the others were asleep, Jang Yeon Woo crept through the shadows, driven by her own envy. She watched Eun Sook with a predatory gaze, seeing her strength now as a weakness. She wanted to see her falter and take her place with Lord Jang.
Days turned into weeks, each one tougher than the last. The letter Lord Jang had given Eun Sook was a constant reminder of the task ahead. Finding out about Seo Jin was slow and difficult, leaving them unsure of whether he was a friend or foe. His presence loomed like a shadow.
Eun Sook's nights were filled with nightmares, her family's brutal deaths playing on repeat in her mind. She woke every morning with renewed determination, hardened by her dreams.
Na Mu and Na Bi stood by her side, their loyalty unshaken, though they feared for her well-being. The path of revenge was isolating, and they could see how it was changing her. Day by day, the Eun Sook they once knew seemed to slip away, replaced by a warrior driven by a single consuming goal.
As the deadline approached, the air grew heavy with tension in the Jang residence. The nervous energy among the servants, the fleeting glances, and hushed conversations hinted at the rising storm.