Eun Sook held her bow tightly as she stood by the barn's exit. The cold wind brushed against her face, but her eyes stayed colder.
She lifted her bow and aimed it at Seo Jin, who was still fighting the barbarian leader. Her fingers touched the string, ready to shoot. But her hands hesitated.
Why couldn't she do it?
Her cold eyes twitched slightly.
Then, her aim shifted—just a little.
She remembered how the barbarian leader had struck Master Kwon with that heavy axe… how he didn't stop. She remembered his screams. Just there she could see Master Kwon. His blood, his lifeless body. Without thinking, she turned her aim and shot the arrow into the barbarian's chest.
The arrow landed with a thud, pushing the man off Seo Jin.
Eun Sook didn't wait. She turned to Gwang Woo, and both of them left the barn on their horses. The icy wind howled loudly now. The sun was barely out, casting a dull grey light over the valley.
Behind them, Seo Jin pushed the barbarian's body off himself and staggered to his feet. He saw the two riders leaving and immediately grabbed his bow. He pulled out an arrow and pointed it straight at them.
"Stop!" he shouted. "Turn around or I'll shoot!"
The horses stopped.
Eun Sook and Gwang Woo slowly turned around.
For the first time, Seo Jin got a clear look at the assassin. She was wrapped up in her scarf, her face hidden, but her eyes… those cold, empty eyes… they struck him. Something about them made his chest tighten. They looked very familiar. He had seen those eyes but couldn't recall where and when.
When Eun Sook began turning her horse again to leave, he fired an arrow. It hit the snow close to the horse's hooves. The horse neighed in panic and stepped back.
"I said get down! Now!" Seo Jin shouted.
Just then, the falcon flew down from the sky, circling above them. It was Eun Sook's bird.
Before they could get off their horses, the barn doors burst open again. The barbarian leader stumbled out, still alive. The arrow in his chest hadn't stopped him.
Seo Jin turned and shot another arrow.
Nothing.
It hit him but didn't stop him. The man growled and charged like a wild beast.
Eun Sook didn't flinch. She brought out a whistle from her clothes and blew it. She calmly raised her hand, and the falcon landed on her arm. She pulled out the message tied to its leg—Lord Jang's instruction. Without a second thought, she sent the bird flying back to the capital.
Meanwhile, Seo Jin fought the barbarian with all his strength, but the man was too powerful. Within moments, Seo Jin was pinned to the ground, the barbarian's large hands wrapped tightly around his neck strangling him.
"Shoot him," Gwang Woo whispered to her. "You have a clear shot. Kill him."
Eun Sook looked again. She pulled her bow.
She aimed.
But again… her hands trembled slightly.
The arrow left her bow—but it missed Seo Jin and struck the barbarian's hand instead.
The barbarian cried out and loosened his grip. Seo Jin used that moment to grab his fallen sword and drove it through the man's heart.
The fight was over.
Without a word, Eun Sook turned her horse and rode out of the valley with Gwang Woo.
At the edge of the ruined village, Go Nam stood guard with the old man. His bow was in his hand.
The moment he saw the two horses returning, he stepped forward.
"Stop right there!" he shouted. "Make any moments and I'll shoot!"
Eun Sook said nothing. She simply stared at him. Her expression was blank. No fear. No anger. Just those cold eyes again.
Go Nam lifted the bow higher.
"I said stop!"
But suddenly, the old man beside him grunted and picked up a cooking pot from the ground. With all his strength, he struck Go Nam on the back of the head.
"Ugh!" Go Nam dropped with a groan, falling to his knees.
The old man looked at Eun Sook with panic in his voice. "My Lady.... What should we do now? These people… they're after the Blood Blossoms."
"We should kill him," Gwang Woo suggested.
Eun Sook got down from her horse without saying a word. She walked over to the feeding horses and untied one of her small pouches. From it, she brought out a small bottle of tonic. She opened it and quietly poured it into the horses' food.
"He's clearly a new officer, so what difference will it make. We'll just leave him here." Eun Sook replied dismissing Gwang Woo.
Then she turned back to the old man. "If you want to live, come with us," she said. "Or stay here and deal with him when he wakes up. Your choice."
The old man didn't waste a second. He climbed up behind Gwang Woo and gripped the back of the saddle.
Eun Sook didn't look back. She got on her horse again, and the three of them rode out of Hwaju—leaving the dead, the silence, and Go Nam behind.