The Shadow King

17.

YOONGI WALKED UNDER THE MOONLIGHT, slowly approaching the hut. He saw Xiao Chen from the distance, sitting outside playing his bamboo flute. Some of the neighbours were sitting outside, listening as the old man played tunes he learned as a young boy in rural China. The melodies seemed to flow like the Yeongsan River.

"What a lovely tune." Yoongi said, taking off his old tattered satgat and sitting down next to Xiao Chen.

"I heard there is a great ball to be held at the palace in a few nights." The old man said.

"Yes, I know." Yoongi rubbed his hands together. The cold chill swished through the small village. "The moon is quite low tonight."

"I know."

"Sometimes, I wonder if you're actually blind. How could you know that the moon is close?"

The old man laughed and laughed. "Jin Tae and his wife were here a few hours ago and told me the moon would be low tonight which is why I decided to come out and play for everyone."

"Are you prepared?" he asked Yoongi.

Yoongi knew why he asked that question. "Of course I am. I've let this go on for too long and its time my brother paid for everything he's done, including killing Sandra."

"This might be a mistake, one that you have to bear with you for the rest of your life. Won't that burden be too heavy to carry, young man? Think about it."

Yoongi let out a long sigh, "Not as heavy as the burden of my parents' death and Sandra. Not to mention being kicked out of my own home like a dog. My brother deserves what's coming to him."

His rage worried Xiao Chen to no avail. The old man was concerned about Yoongi's safety and his mental state because he knew that the pain one carries for too long turns into hate and that hate can quickly turn into a violent rampage and that is what Yoongi was set on doing.

Xiao Chen was determined to talk Yoongi out of whatever he had planned. It wasn't worth it at all. "Yoongi, listen to me. I know you feel betrayed by him but think about what will happen after. What if you actually kill him?"

"Then he'll be dead." He deadpanned.

"No, you'll be left all alone."

Yoongi turned to the man, "I've been alone all my life so nothing would change. Actually, I think the whole Kingdom would be better off without him."

He was indeed the most stubborn person Xiao Chen had ever encountered.

"I can't stop you, no matter what I say. Therefore, I hope nothing happens to you at the ball and that you'll realize what an enormous mistake you're making. But just remember that sharpening your knives and daggers will only make your situation worse."

The old man got up ever so slowly and walked inside the small hut. Yoongi could hear him mumble something to himself but he didn't care much about his opinion. His mind was already made up. His brother was going to pay for what he did and he would pay for it in cold blood.

Yoongi continued sitting outside, the cold crisp air making him shiver slightly. He thought about what Xiao Chen had said to him but he couldn't help but be blinded by hate. His brother took everything from him, sure he lost a great deal more than Yoongi, but that still wasn't an excuse. He had to feel Yoongi's wrath.

It took the Mins years and years to build Geum Byeol into what it is today an all Yoon Seok has done is destroy it. He had tainted the family name and spat on his parents' graves and in a few nights, everything will be back to normal.

Yoongi went to bed but hardly slept a wink.

***

The palace was buzzing with activity in the early hours of the morning, and so was Seokjin's house. All the men had gathered there and were all sat around the small table in the kitchen. Namjoon was all set and ready to tell Taehyung and Hoseok what he had told Seokjin.