2

Some Things Are Better Hidden in Plain Sight

The first thing that Nokdu noticed was the man's cold stare. He had the most beautiful eyes but the glare that he was on the receiving end of at the moment felt like it was strong enough to kill a person.

Nokdu swallowed and the swordsman marched away without a word. It happened so fast, Nokdu doubted he even acknowledged him.

That was intense.

Nokdu spent the rest of the day exploring the village and its workings. He found out that a lot of the women, including Dongju, worked at the distillery making alcohol and food for the Kisaeng House. More importantly, he also happened to spot some of the Muwoldan women working there, instantly deciding that lending a hand would be the best way to infiltrate the group and learn more about who was actually running things and giving orders around here. Unfortunately, his attempts to befriend the women led to a misunderstanding causing a fight in the kitchen where both he and Dongju ended up with burns.

"Did you really think that telling that woman she looked ugly helped?" Dongju sighed as Nokdu wrapped bandages on her palms later that evening in their room.

"What? She looked so unhappy that she had been mistaken for a kisaeng… I was just trying to be helpful," Nokdu pouted, unable to think of a reason why that woman in the kitchen had gotten mad at him earlier.

"Don't you know that sometimes people just want someone else to tell them something they can't tell themselves?" Dongju exclaimed, trying to make Nokdu understand. "The next time you hear anything like that just go 'Oh my, really? I can't believe it!'"

"I can't believe... what?"

"This is one of those times you just agree with a person to make them feel good about themselves," Dongju explained. She frowned and looked at him. "How do you not know this, you're a woman."

"What?" Nokdu panicked and sat up. "I mean –" He grabbed the tray of food they were eating out of and stood up to walk out of the room. "Let me go clean these dishes," he said, hoping he had successfully changed the topic.

Later that night as he lay in bed, he reflected on another day gone by without being able to locate the person behind his family's attacks. He knew he had to be patient but was worried there was only so long he could go without the fear of being recognized and caught.

Almost on cue, he felt something move on his back. He was lying flat on his chest but it felt as if his skirt was gently being lifted up. He thought he might be dreaming until he felt a pair of hands at the waistband of his pants. His eyes snapped open and he turned to the side to see Dongju with her hand outstretched towards him. He jumped and pushed her off, staring at her in horror.

"What on earth are you doing?! Have you no fear of God?!"

"What? It's an ointment. I wanted to apply it to your burned bum; I figured it might be hurting you too," she said simply. Nokdu nearly choked.

"My bu –? What are you – How can one woman do this to another?!" Nokdu shrieked.

"You're acting weird again," she shook her head. "Ah, whatever, do what you want… I have bigger priorities right now anyway," she pulled up her covers and went to sleep.

Nokdu shuddered as he went back to bed again.

Staying undercover is getting more challenging with time. I need to hurry.

x-X-x

Yoon was used to the King dropping by his quarters late at night for a game of Janggi. His majesty's insomnia was a problem he was well aware of and with the information Yoon had about his past, it was almost understandable.

I know I wouldn't be able to sleep if I killed my only son to keep my throne.

"Don't take it easy on me because I'm your King. Are you letting me win, Yoon?"

"Of course not, your Majesty," Yoon replied earnestly as he always did. "You are good at this."

"You know who else was good at this?" the King mused. "Jung Yunjeo."

Yoon's hands stilled mid-move when he heard that name from the King's lips. He didn't speak and the King continued.

"He was absolutely unrelenting when he played, never taking back a move even if I asked. Such a stubborn man." Yoon could feel the King's eyes trained on him as he continued to speak. "The night he buried his son, it was by your sword that he was killed, wasn't he?"

Yoon's mind instantly went back to that rainy night at the edge of the cliff where he had his blade raised over his head to kill Yunjeo, only to be interrupted by the cry of the baby who was thought to be stillborn, which had changed everything.

"Live like you're dead," he told Yunjeo.

"Of course, your Majesty. I made sure of it," Yoon responded to the King, keeping his face blank lest his eyes gave away the truth.

"Yes, that's good. I know you wouldn't lie to me, my most trusted friend," the King said with a smile that was making Yoon nervous.

What he didn't realize that the King's paranoia wouldn't let him rest and that later that night, his Majesty would order his guards to continue their search for Yunjeo.

x-X-x

"Oh my, really? I can't believe it!" Nokdu chanted to himself under his breath as he walked towards the brewery for work. He hoped that Dongju's advice for getting along better with the women would help him out; he needed to bond with them if he had any hopes of getting the information he needed.

Ah, Dongju. He was suddenly reminded of the strangest moment from last night.

"What are you –? Seriously…" Nokdu jumped at the sight of Dongju rubbing her back against the cupboard when he returned to the room after doing the dishes.

"You won't help me change clothes so my back is now itchy!" She whined. Nokdu sighed and without another thought, grabbed her shoulders, made her sit on her bed and began to scratch her back.

"Oh! That's nice," Dongju said happily as he cautiously continued. "A little lower please. Yes, a little more. Still lower," she went on and Nokdu paused as his hand had approached the bottom hem of her blouse.

Ba-dum ba-dum. Ba-dum ba-dum.

Nokdu swallowed.

What is this feeling?

He promptly ceased what he was doing and tucked himself into his bed, completely looking away from her.

"Come on… why did you suddenly stop?" He heard her groan but didn't dare to face her right now as he felt his cheeks get warm.

No, this can't be happening.

Did he… like this girl?

"Argh, this is ridiculous," Nokdu muttered to himself and nearly walked into someone; he looked up to see the last person he wanted to face right now. Min Deul-re, the woman with the limp that he had followed here was now staring at him.

She didn't speak but lightly bowed to him. Nokdu bowed back, averting his eyes immediately. He didn't think she would recognize him but remembered that she was the one who drew his sketch for the team to find him, making it risky for him to be in close contact with her.

I should just keep my distance from her as much as I can.

He decided not to go to the brewery since she appeared to be heading there and walked towards the kisaeng house instead. He was not too far away from the main gate before he realized…

Min Deul-re was following him.

He began to walk faster as inconspicuously as he could but could see her keeping up, even with her limp. He thought he heard her call out to him once but by then, he had approached the gate where he heard another voice.

"Lady Kim!"

Nokdu saw Administrator Geun running towards him and didn't know whether to be annoyed or relieved.

"Lady Kim!" Geun said, looking worried. "I heard you got burned!"

"Yes...?" Nokdu replied, not sure where the conversation was going.

"Oh dear…" Geun looked like he was about to cry. "Here, take this ointment," he said, offering him a tiny jar. "I fell down recently and the physician gave me this for scars."

Nokdu wasn't paying too much attention to what Geun was saying but could see that Min Deul-re was still there waiting for him near the gate. He needed to make her go away and did the first thing that came to mind. He grabbed Geun's outstretched hands in his.

"Gamsamnida," he said in the sweetest possible voice he could emulate. Fortunately for him, Min Deul-re took that as a cue to leave and disappeared from his line of sight.

Unfortunately for him however, Geun seemed to be having a stroke from the sudden unexpected contact with the girl he was apparently in love with.

"Argh, seriously…" Nokdu shook his hands off and looked at Geun, who was now pressing the back of his palms to his face. "Why did you have to like me of all people?"

"Tell me where you got burned. Let me put the ointment for you."

"Sure, it's right here," Nokdu said matter-of-factly, aiming his bum at Geun, who immediately looked like he was going to have a stroke.

"I can't do that!" Geun shrieked and Nokdu tsked at him.

"Your perversion is making your nose bleed," he shook his head and took the ointment off his hands. "I'm leaving."

"Don't get me wrong, Lady Kim! This is just because my scars got infected!"

Nokdu thought he'll give another crack at entering the Brewery when he happened to notice Dongju with her bandaged hands carrying her laundry in a basket.

This girl…

x-X-x

Dongju sat at the riverside where the other women were washing their clothes and began to unwrap the bandages on her hands. She sighed, seeing they were still pretty sore.

"Well, laundry needs to be done," she muttered to herself and pulled out the first piece of clothing when suddenly someone snatched it off her. "Wait, what –" She started and her eyes widened as she saw it was Lady Kim who had taken her garment and was already washing it.

"What were you even thinking?" She scolded her as she scrubbed Dongju's clothes. "Your hands could get infected!" Dongju frowned.

Why is Lady Kim being nice to me?

"I can do it myself!" She groaned and tried to grab her clothes, which Lady Kim easily kept out of her reach.

"Just remember, this is a one-time thing so don't get too used to it," Lady Kim reminded her a she began to beat the clothes with the washing paddle. "If you get hurt, I'll be the one that has to deal with it and that's the only reason I'm helping you."

"Fine," Dongju mumbled and she took another garment from out of the basket to put underneath where Lady Kim was sitting, when she stopped rinsing and looked at her.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought I'll put this here so you can sit comfortably while you wash, since you burned your bum too."

"Why are so obsessed with my bum?" Ah, seriously…" Lady Kim shook her head and got back to work while Dongju couldn't help but smile.

Come to think of it, Lady Kim has always been caring for me even when we are fighting.

Later as they sat in the meadow of yellow flowers on the way back to the kisaeng house and Lady Kim applied ointment on her hands, she couldn't help but think of her mother.

It feels nice to be taken care of. This is nice.

"By the way, what are you always thinking about so much?" Lady Kim asked softly, breaking Dongju out of her thoughts. She shrugged.

"I was wondering…" Dongju began, looking away and feeling shy all of a sudden. "…if I can call you Eonni now." For a few moments, she didn't hear a response and looked up at Lady Kim to see her looking at her strangely.

"No," she said plainly and Dongju frowned.

"No? Okay… Wait, are you younger than me? I'm born in the year of the lamb so –"

"I thought you were born in the year of the snake."

"What?"

"What?"

Dongju narrowed her eyes at her. "You're acting weird again." Lady Kim shook her head.

"Erm, I have to go," her words came out in a rush and she hurried away leaving behind a puzzled looking Dongju.

"Why did she think I was born in the year of the snake?" Dongju scratched her head. "When have I ever spoken –"

Wait.

Her eyes went wide as she remembered.

"It's all your fault!" Dongju, dressed as a man, grabbed the man's collar.

"What? My plans got messed up because of you!" He retorted.

Dongju scoffed and let go of him. He looked nice enough, but the fact that he had come in the way of something she had been preparing so long for made her blood boil.

"Argh, you're such a peasant. Talking to you is a waste of my time," she sneered at him.

"Peasant? Yah! How old are you, huh? I was born in the year of the snake. When were you born?"

"Ooh, the year of the snake? By the year of the snake I had already mastered the Cheonjamun and had memorized all of Four Books and Five Classics!" She lied confidently, hoping the man would finally back down.

"How dare you…"

"Both of you be quiet!" A voice came from the other side of the cell, immediately shutting both of them up.

Dongju shook her head in disbelief.

That man looked a lot like…

No, there's no way.

x-X-x

Nokdu was mentally kicking himself as he walked home ahead of Dongju. He just needed to get away from her for a bit.

"I was wondering… if I can call you Eonni."

Nokdu knew he had to lie to keep his cover intact or to come up with a very good reason. But as soon as he saw her face look up at him, his heart began to race and he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

"No."

"Aish! Was I being too nice to her?" Nokdu groaned. "But I can't help it, I do care for her –" Nokdu gasped and held his palm to his face. "Oh no, what if she saw me blushing? Ah, everything is just so strange, I don't –" He stopped when he heard the sound of bells chiming in the village. He hadn't even realized it had already gotten dark till he saw all the women suddenly rushing to put out their lamps and head into their homes.

What is happening?

"Lady Kim!" He heard someone call out to him softly and grab him by the wrist to the side. He turned to see it was Bok-Nyeo of the Yeolnyeodan.

"What's going on?" Nokdu asked a very panicked-looking Bok-Nyeo. Before she could respond, the bells rang closer and both their heads turned towards the direction of the noise. They peeked from behind a wall, but Nokdu could see a priestess in a deep red and black dress flanked by two women in white ringing a bell as they walked through the village that had now gone completely dark and silent.

"The Shaman is praying to the skies to console all the widows that had to face wrongful deaths. Something bad could happen if you walk around like this," Bok-nyeo explained in a low voice.

"Something bad like what?" Nokdu questioned her.

"Souls that bear deep resentment are roaming around the village. So, we must keep our doors closed and turn all the lights off."

"What?"

"You should follow me to my house, Lady Kim. Some widows who ignored the warning ended up disappearing. You should –"

Nokdu didn't wait for her to finish and snuck away; he saw the chaos in the village as the perfect distraction that would provide an opportunity for him to explore and really see what was going on. He pulled a dark fabric from a clothes line nearby for cover and began to discreetly follow the Shaman who was now moving out of the village and further away.

Soon enough they were in the woods and Nokdu could see the procession heading upwards to what looked to him from the distance like a temple. He pulled the cloth over his head and lay low beneath the pathway that led to the shrine as he watched the woman in red enter alone. The women in white who had escorted her stayed back and were joined by many others who then stood on guard along the pathway.

Just when Nokdu thought that was the end of it, he heard more movement from right above him. He immediately cloaked himself, hoping he was completely obscured from the view of the women on look out. Once the sounds faded away, he dared to take a peek and saw a line of people in dark hoods now proceeding into the temple. One of the shrouded figures turned to the side and Nokdu managed to catch a quick glimpse of the person's face.

A man?

In his anticipation to take a closer look, he lost his footing and nearly slipped. The noise of the gravel instantly put the whole line of women in white on full alert and Nokdu could see other Muwoldan women had cropped seemingly out of nowhere with their bows trained in his direction. He heard the arrows let loose and nearly yelped until he saw a wild boar not too far away from him was what ended up being their target.

He saw the Muwoldan step down to make sure there was nothing suspicious and he had to think fast. He quickly grabbed a rock and threw it further in the direction of the dead boar and watched as the women halted and changed their course while Nokdu easily escaped in the opposite direction back to the kisaeng house.

Or at least, he thought he did.

x-X-x

Kim Ssook rushed to the spot, knowing from experience that she couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling in her gut when a team of her soldiers went to investigate the rustle in the bushes. Something told her it could be a decoy and when she turned to look in the opposite direction, just about managed to catch a flicker of someone running away from there with a black hood flapping behind them.

It has to be the same person. There's no way I'm letting you go so easily this time.

She whistled again, signaling the others as to where she was and continued to run in the direction that she had seen him go until it led her to the place that she was most worried he would end up.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, she looked around at the bright lanterns that lit up the bustling Kisaeng House, frustrated knowing he could be anywhere in there.

She saw Madam Cheon step out and look at her questioningly. Kim Ssook explained the situation to her and decided she would have to comb through every room at the kisaeng house in order to find the man. Madam Cheon led her to the hallway with the guest rooms and Kim Ssook proceeded to look into each one, making sure she heeded Madam Cheon's request not to disturb the guests.

However, when she approached the fourth door in the hallway, the lady stopped her.

"That is Kim Yeo Wool's room," she said firmly and Kim Ssook hesitated for a moment before she nodded and moved on to the next.

In all the time that Kim Ssook had been part of the village, all she really knew about Yeo Wool was that he was the only man who resided at the Kisaeng House. She rarely saw him but had heard the other kisaengs describe him as a man who "has a mysterious charm and loves dressing up more than most women." Back then she hadn't been sure about what that meant but over time realized there was a reason behind the Madam Cheon's strict no-disturbance policy when it came to his room… for the safety of Yeo Wool and his particular flavor of clientele.

She moved on to check the next room.

x-X-x

Nokdu hurried as discreetly as he could, dropping the sheet he was using as his cover on the way as he tried to blend in with the people moving about on a busy night at the kisaeng house. He caught a glimpse of Kim Ssook entering the gate before he slipped into a corridor full of guest rooms.

I need to find a place to hide.

He walked by a few rooms that he could tell were occupied till he reached what seemed like a storage space at the end of the hall. He popped his finger through the door's paper paneling to check if it was empty but before he could really take a look, he saw Madam Cheon in the distance and knew he had run out of time. He barged into the room, only to find himself toppled over Dongju who was now flat on the floor.

"You?! Get off me!" Dongju's voice blared in Nokdu's face as she pushed him off her. "What are you doing here?!"

"Oh? I was just…" He noticed she was holding a pair of scissors in her hand. "I thought you might need a trim so –"

"I was actually looking for you," Dongju interrupted him. Nokdu blinked.

"Me? Why…" Nokdu's eyes widened as Dongju suddenly gripped the scissors and pointed at him.

"Because I know who you are."