The Flower Among the Flames

Chapter 23

The gates rumbled from the repeated pounding on the iron doors, shaking the very ground beneath everyone's feet. Soldiers were desperately trying to support the doors to prevent a breach. Even some of the Joseon troops began to help out. They all knew that their efforts to prevent the undead from entering the keep could only work for so long. All they could do now is wait and hope for the best. Zhao Meng secretly glanced back towards the two Men of Joseon with nervous eyes. Yul did not seem very happy nor did Seulgi. The subject matter is you. Zhao Meng shivered. What could they possibly have to say about her? Why did they leave the main group to talk in secret? Were they discussing some very negative thoughts about her? Some rumors perhaps?

Zhao Meng was immediately reminded of how she told Seulgi her past trauma. No. He would never. She may not know everything about the man, but she could tell he was not the rumor-spreading type. She felt her cheeks blush light pink. Maybe it had something to do with them becoming... visibly close. They were considered enemies outside of the castle after all. Yes. That had to be it. Yul was probably drilling Seulgi about how fraternization between enemies were a horrible mistake. Zhao Meng moved her fist to her heart subconsciously. It wasn't that big of deal, was it? Under normal circumstances, she could see the danger in such interactions, but in this case ⎯with what was going on in the castle⎯ she doubted they mattered as much as life or death.

She noticed that their secret talk was over and began to wonder what Seulgi would have said had this subject matter been brought up. Curiosity truly tormented her in those few agonizing minutes. When they walked away earlier, Zhao Meng tried getting Guan Liang to answer that question earlier but that masked woman shook her head in response. Speaking of which, that woman was really freaking her out. For one, she never spoke a word since she got there, but held a lot of influence over Yul's troops. Guan Liang was included. She'd never seen a man so frightened with just a simply glance.

"Sorry for the wait. We finished our little conversation." Yul sighed, coming up behind Zhao Meng with crossed arms over his chest. He was visibly displeased with what transpired in his conversation with Seulgi, but there was a hint of finality that came along with it. Zhao Meng peered behind the man quietly to see Seulgi talking to a group of soldiers by the stairs. He was avoiding eye contact as soon as he realized that she was looking at him. Zhao Meng felt slightly nervous with his reaction, but decided to leave Seulgi alone. She turned back to Yul and gave a weak smile. "So...what did you talk about?"

"Stuff." Yul grunted. Something about that answer did not seem right with her. He was hiding something. They were talking about me. Zhao Meng fretted in her head.

"Anything I need to worry about?" Zhao Meng asked, wanting to know some details to their conversation.

Yul breathed a sigh of exasperation. What would he say? He assumed that Zhao Meng had no knowledge with the investigation that Seulgi was conducted and wondered how well she'd take it. Not well, Yul determined in his head. Those two may be somewhat acquainted due to mutual conflicting forces, but Yul felt this knowledge would lead to dangerous outcomes. A few days of friendship could easily be erased by this.

"No." Yul shook his head. He hated lying but this was for her own good; for Seulgi's welfare as well. He continued, "I just had to remind him that as an officer of Joseon, he is not exactly welcome here. I mean, we are enemies, are we not?"

"Given these circumstances, I think we can save the fighting until after this is over," Zhao Meng said, feeling tired with saying the same thing over and over again. Were all officers this paranoid? Yul nodded slowly. "I suppose so. Will that gate hold?"

"So long as the zombies don't gain a conscience." Zhao Meng shrugged.

"How's that?" Yul barked a short laugh. She has a sense of humor, this one. He could respect that.