Shon Mokum spoke again, his tone suddenly grave as the laughter faded.
"Very well, Sao Ham. We've enjoyed reminiscing—but now, it's time to speak seriously."
Sao Ham raised a brow, forcing a light chuckle.
"And why the sudden stern face?"
Shon Mokum cut him off with a single phrase:
"The Blood Sect."
The air froze.
Sao Ham's expression stiffened, and silence swallowed the room.
One of them spoke in disbelief,
"You mean… the sect that was annihilated four hundred years ago?"
Shon Mokum shook his head slowly, every gaze fixed upon him.
"No. This time, they operate under a different name—the Crimson Shadow Sect."
Shon Mobai sucked in a sharp breath.
"T–The Crimson Shadow Sect?!"
Shon Mokum continued in a low voice,
"I'm telling you this because only the five of us know the truth. Even within Murim, only the Nine Grand Masters are aware of their existence. My father informed me—and I came at once to warn you."
Outside, beyond the hall's walls, Sao Ham's four children played innocently with Shon Ai. Their laughter echoed freely, a cruel contrast to the heavy silence inside, where all five men watched them with troubled eyes.
Shon Mokum fixed his gaze on his old friend.
"Sao Ham, you are my friend—but keeping the Sao Family Manor isolated like this will only hasten its ruin."
Sao Ham clenched his fist.
"Then what must be done?"
"I've already taken the first step," Shon Mokum replied.
"I invited the Dai Family."
Dai Shia's eyes widened.
"My family?"
"I also summoned the Su Family," he continued.
"I intend to form an alliance."
"An alliance?" Sao Ham and Dai Shia echoed in unison.
Shon Mokum inclined his head slightly.
"Forgive me for acting without consulting you, Sao Ham."
Sao Ham shook his head and smiled faintly.
"No. We are the ones who should thank you. You acted for our sake."
Their eyes met—an understanding forged by years neither time nor fear could erase.
---
"L–Lord! My lord!"
Urgent knocking struck the door.
Sao Ham turned sharply.
"What is it?"
The servant bowed.
"Lord Dai has arrived with his eldest daughter. Lord Su has also arrived, accompanied by his son. They request an immediate audience."
"So quickly…" Sao Ham muttered.
"My brother!" Dai Shia exclaimed and hurried toward the entrance.
The moment the doors opened, she said warmly,
"Brother, I never expected you to come personally, Dai Mo."
Dai Mo laughed heartily.
"How could I not come to aid my brother-in-law? Oh—and you even brought Dai Ya."
Dai Shia gently took her niece's hand, smiling.
"I've missed you, Aunt."
Sao Ham gestured politely.
"Please, come inside."
—
At the far edge of the manor walls, hidden from sight, Sao Hyun sat alone—his arms raised toward the sky, trembling violently from exhaustion.
"…How much longer must this continue?" he whispered.
"I'm so tired… would it be wrong to sleep, just for a moment?"
His body finally gave in.
Minutes passed.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
A shadow stood before him.
He scrambled upright, arms shooting skyward as panic overtook him.
"I–I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
His eyes were squeezed shut—he didn't dare look.
Then came a small, puzzled voice.
"Why are you apologizing?"
He had been bracing himself for screams… for pain.
But when he finally opened his eyes, a beautiful girl stood before him, staring curiously.
His face flushed red, words trapped in his throat.
She tilted her head.
"Who are you? And why are you apologizing?"
"I–I'm… Sao Hyun," he stammered.
She blinked.
"You bear the Sao name. Are you the lord's son?"
He nodded weakly.
"Yes… the fifth."
"Then why do they treat you like this?"
His gaze dropped.
"Because… my mother was different."
"Different?" she asked softly. "Where is she now?"
Silence.
"She's dead."
The maid's cruel words resurfaced in his mind, bitterness clouding his silver eyes.
---
Without warning, Shon Ai grabbed his hand and smiled.
"Come. Let's go play outside."
He didn't refuse.
They slipped away quietly—then ran, laughed, and chased one another through the grounds like ordinary children, untouched by cruelty or fate.
Meanwhile, inside the meeting chamber, the elderly head of the Su Family rose.
"Ho ho… since matters are settled, I shall take my leave."
The Su and Dai families departed.
At the same moment, Shon Ai returned.
Her brother frowned.
"Where were you, Sister?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she cast Dai Shia a fleeting look of disdain.
Dai Shia's expression darkened.
That insolent girl… how dare she look at me that way?
She did not know that only half an hour earlier, Shon Ai had been sitting atop a tree—laughing beside Sao Hyun.
---
She had looked at him seriously then and said,
"If you suffer this much… why don't you run away?"
"Where would I go?" he asked.
"That," she replied softly,
"is something you must discover yourself. That is your future."
Now, Sao Hyun stared at the setting sun, its dying light reflected in his radiant silver eyes.
As night approached, he returned to the same spot—arms raised, waiting.
Waiting for darkness.
Waiting to escape forever—
from this hell,
and from the hell that was the Sao Family Manor.
---