Jang Eun Sook sat on the tall tree with her back straight with her eyes were still fixed on the burning study in Lord Baek's residence. The fire lit up part of the yard, and thin smoke slowly filled the sky. She didn't move. Her sword and bag were beside her, hanging from a branch. Her face was calm. Cold. Silent.
Suddenly, a coughing sound broke the stillness.
A servant, who had been asleep inside one of the inner rooms suddenly woke up. He rubbed his eyes as he sniffed the air. He could smell something was burning.
He ran outside. "Fire! Fire!" he shouted when he saw the guards lying unconscious and the study burning with flames.
In seconds, voices echoed across the compound. More servants came running. Water was fetched. Shouts and cries filled the air.
"Get water! Bring more buckets!"
"Someone please save our Master!"
Eun Sook watched from the tree. Still not moving. Her eyes stayed on the door of the study. The fire was now strong. It had touched the furniture. The smoke was heavier than before.
Just then, a horse galloped in fast. Seo Jin jumped down from it, his face was tense. He looked around and saw the entire place in confusion. His eyes moved to the burning study.
"What happened?" he asked quickly.
"The study!" a servant cried. "Lord Baek is still inside!"
Without thinking, Seo Jin grabbed a bucket, poured water on his arms and sleeves, and ran straight to the door. The heat was very strong, but he didn't stop. He kicked the door hard. He kicked once. Then twice. Then third time, it broke open.
Smoke rushed out from the study. Seo Jin covered his nose and moved in quickly.
There, in the middle of the burning room, Lord Baek lay flat on the floor. In a pool of his own blood.
Seo Jin's eyes quickly scanned the body. There were no signs of burns on his skin, and he wasn't gasping for air.
Then he saw the cut. A clean slice across the neck. Obviously a cut from a sword.
"Lord Baek has been assassinated," Seo Jin muttered under his breath. His heart raced.
"My Lord!" a servant cried behind him and ran in. He helped carry the body out, tears falling down his cheeks.
"My Lord… please wake up…"
Outside, the fire was slowly dying out. But the tension was rising.
In fury, Seo Jin grabbed one of the guards by the neck and pushed him hard against the wall.
"What happened!?" he shouted. "You were on watch! How could you let this happen?"
The guard's hands trembled. "I… I don't know My Lord… I was awake… and then suddenly… my body felt heavy."
"Dont you dare tell lies to me!"
"I swear, my Lord. I am not lying. I don't remember sleeping. But when I woke up… I found this…on my neck" He pulled something from under his collar, it was a tiny dart.
Seo Jin stared at it. "When did it happen?"
The guard looked around. The fire was still fresh, smoke still rising. "It can't be long ago. Maybe a few minutes. Not more than that."
Seo Jin let go of him and turned. His mind was moving fast.
From the tree, Eun Sook quietly climbed down. Her mission was done.
She walked carefully, making sure no one saw her. Then she slipped into the woods behind the residence.
Seo Jin looked around. Something didn't feel right. His instincts kicked in.
He turned to a servant. "Watch the body. Don't let anyone touch it. None of you should leave here until I am back!"
Then he ran to the back of the house. There was a narrow path that led into the woods. He took it.
Leaves brushed past his arms. Branches cracked under his boots.
In the woods, Eun Sook moved quickly. She reached a small tree where a black horse was tied. Na Mu had left it for her. Just as planned to help her escape after her mission.
She pat the horse's head gently. Then she wore a black mask to cover her face and mounted the horse. With a little nudge, the horse began to move.
She didn't know she was being watched.
From a distance, Seo Jin saw the moving figure. A black horse. A person riding it, dressed in black, face covered.
He didn't think twice. He bent quickly and picked up a small stone from the ground, and brought out a simple catapult he always carried. With one clean shot, he aimed and fired.
The stone hit the horse hard.
The horse neighed loudly and raised its front legs in fear. Eun Sook lost control. Her hands slipped from the horses reins. Her body flipped off the horse and landed roughly on the ground.
Her bag flew to the side. Her bun came loose. Her long black hair spilled out.
"Ah…" she groaned softly, holding her side as she tried to rise.
Seo Jin stepped out of the shadows. His sword was now in his hand. He walked slowly toward her.
Eun Sook turned. Her eyes met his.
He stopped.
She had picked up her sword, and in her other hand, she had sand and dried grass.
The moonlight helped him see her face better now. Her hair. Her black outfit. Her scent.
It was her.
He said nothing. But in his heart, it clicked.
The woman who killed Lord Hwang.
The woman who left behind perfume and a clean sword wound.
"You…" Seo Jin whispered.
Eun Sook didn't answer.
He raised his sword.
She waited.
Then, as he stepped closer, she suddenly threw the sand and dried grass into his face.
"Agh!" Seo Jin covered his eyes. The dust blinded him. He staggered backward.
Then came a sharp sting.
A dart hit him on the neck.
He turned, trying to find her face one last time.
But all he saw was a shadow walking away.
And then… everything went dark.