The moon hung low over Songrim, casting long shadows over the courtyard as Jin-Mu paced quietly in the darkness. His mind churned with thoughts, his eyes narrow and calculating as he pieced together the pieces of the puzzle.

Naksu's body had been disposed of, but what if she wasn't truly gone? He'd seen this before—the soul-switching. He'd witnessed it years ago when the King's soul had been forcibly swapped with Jang Gang's. Energy and power could be lost during the transfer, but something remained... something like a trace.

Meanwhile, in a far corner of Songrim, Kil Joo had already departed in search of the Spirit Plaque, the next piece of Jin-Mu's grand plan.

In the early hours of the morning, the courtyard was alive with the sound of water splashing and breath gasping. Uk stood with Mu-Deok, sweat glistening on his brow as he tried his best to keep up.

"Focus, Jang Uk. Feel the water. The energy. Gather it," Mu-Deok instructed, her voice stern, but there was a flicker of patience hidden behind her usual teasing tone. He struggled to keep the flow of energy steady as he tried to summon the power of water through his body. Water was tricky—it was never still, always moving, always in flux. Uk frowned, frustrated.

"You need to focus more. You're trying to control it, not just move it. You can't just summon water like you're calling a dog." Mu-Deok's words were sharp, but her eyes softened a little as she saw his determination.

"I'll learn this quickly," Uk said, his jaw set.

"It'll only take me three months—just like Jang Gang took a year. Four years quicker than the average, don't forget!"
Mu-Deok scoffed, crossing her arms.

"You're not Jang Gang, kid. And I've already told you: no one's learned this in three months. But," she added with a smirk,

"if you think you can beat the odds, be my guest."

Just then, Mu-Deok dashed across the courtyard, her movements fast and fluid. Uk's eyes followed her in surprise, but his focus wavered for only a moment. He was determined to get this right. He wouldn't let this lesson slip away.

As Mu-Deok ran, however, she suddenly collapsed, her body crumpling to the ground in a heap. Uk froze, startled, as he ran to her side.

"Mu-Deok!" Uk knelt beside her. "What happened?"

She grimaced, sitting up slowly and clutching her stomach.

"Cramps," she muttered, "The body I'm stuck with is weak... this is so annoying..." Her voice dropped to a mutter.

"I should've gotten the stamina back by now..."

Uk watched her with a mix of amusement and concern, his frustration with the training momentarily forgotten. Mu-Deok tried to push herself up, but her body betrayed her, collapsing back down with an exaggerated sigh.

"Are you okay?" Uk asked, still hovering nervously.

She waved him off, clearly embarrassed. "I'm fine. I just... I've got a body that's not built for this kind of strain anymore. The last time I had a body this weak was when I was a servant at Songrim."

Despite her complaints, Mu-Deok hadn't lost the sharpness of her reflexes. With a speed that startled Uk, she twisted into a fighting stance, catching him off guard as she attacked. Her strikes were quick, controlled, despite her weakened body, and Uk struggled to keep up, defending rather than attacking.

"You think you've learned much?" Mu-Deok teased, landing another hit on him.

"You barely know how to fight, Jang Uk. Twelve teachers, and this is all you've got?"

Uk gritted his teeth, his frustration returning. "I'll get it! I just need more time."

"You've got plenty of time to learn how to get your punches right," Mu-Deok said with a grin. "But it's going to take a lot more than three months to get to Jang Gang's level."

Uk straightened, his pride stung but his resolve hardening. "I'll do it. Just wait and see. Three months. You'll see."

Mu-Deok rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "We'll see, Jang Uk."

Later that afternoon, as the sun dipped behind the horizon, Mu-Deok found herself outside, standing with Master Heo Yeom. She had been pondering something ever since her brief training with Uk. There was something... something powerful about him, something hidden within him that had yet to be unlocked.

As Mu-Deok watched him speak to the other elders, she realized—he was a vessel, a treasure trove of energy waiting to be tapped into. But how? How could she harness it?It was then that a thought struck her. She needed help. And who better than someone with knowledge of breath techniques? Someone like Seo Yul.

Later that evening, the trio—Mu-Deok, Uk, and Dang-Gu—made their way to the study where Seo Yul could be found. Yul was alone, as usual, and he looked up  when he saw them approach.

"Seo Yul, teach me how to breathe," Mu-Deok demanded, her voice teasing yet serious.

Yul raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Teach you how to breathe? Mu-Deok, surely you know how to do that already."

"No, I mean the technique," Mu-Deok replied, not missing a beat.

"The one you use to harness energy. That breathing technique."

Seo Yul's gaze flickered, but he remained calm. "You think you can learn it from me just like that?" He crossed his arms, his voice low and guarded.

"It's not something that can be taught so easily."

Dang-Gu, ever the mediator, chimed in, sensing the tension. "Don't pick on her, Yul. She's still weak. Just show her a little."

Mu-Deok, pretending to be offended, gave Uk a quick, sidelong glance. "You heard him, Jang Uk. You should be gentler with me. I'm still fragile."

Uk rolled his eyes but said nothing, the jealousy simmering just beneath the surface. Seeing Mu-Deok and Yul so close stirred something in him, something he couldn't quite identify yet. He didn't like it.

As the evening wore on, Mu-Deok managed to sneak her way closer to Yul in the study. She had one chance. Without a word, she stepped behind him, her fingers brushing against his chest, feeling his steady breaths as she tried to match her own rhythm to his.

She needed six breaths. Just six. But Yul stopped her at five, pushing her hand off with a swift, calculated move.

Mu-Deok, sensing the tension, smirked mischievously. "I'm in love with you," she said, her voice sweet and teasing.

Yul, ever the skeptic, blasted her back with a small burst of magic, sending her tumbling to the ground. "I'm not going to fall for your tricks, Mu-Deok. You're trying to learn my technique. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Mu-Deok picked herself up, brushing the dust off her clothes, but there was no denying the disappointment in her eyes.

"You're a hard one to catch, Yul."

Meanwhile, Hae-rin stood at a distance, her eyes narrowing as she watched the scene unfold. Her heart ached, a knot tightening in her chest as she saw Mu-Deok so close to Seo Yul. She tried to push the feeling away, but it was no use.

"Is everything alright?" Dang-Gu's voice broke through her thoughts, his expression one of concern.

Hae-rin nodded stiffly, her smile forced. "I'm fine. Just... distracted." But it was clear that her feelings were far from calm. She had seen enough. And with that, she made up her mind.

The cool night air settled over Songrim, but within the quiet garden, Hae-rin felt a heat rising within her, despite the calm around her. She had taken a walk to clear her head, but her mind kept spiraling back to what she had seen earlier—the way Mu-Deok had so easily closed the distance between herself and Yul. It was as if they had their own world, separate from everyone else.

She stopped in her tracks, shaking her head, trying to push the thoughts away.

Why am I thinking about this? , Hae-rin mentally scolded herself. It's ridiculous.

She had always been composed, focused on her training and her family. But now, with her emotions in turmoil, it felt like everything she had worked for was slipping through her fingers. It was just a passing moment, she told herself. Nothing to dwell on. Mu-Deok and Yul—whatever their connection was, it wasn't her concern.

"You're being foolish", Hae-rin thought. She wandered further into the courtyard, determined to rid herself of these thoughts, when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

"Rin! There you are!"

Hae-rin turned, her breath catching slightly as she saw her older brother, Park Ji-hoon, striding toward her with his usual carefree smile. She hadn't realized how much she needed to see him until now. His presence was always a comfort, a grounding force when her thoughts became overwhelming.

"Ji-hoon," Hae-rin said, forcing a smile onto her face as she greeted him. She quickly straightened up, brushing off her inner turmoil.

"You're back from your mission?"

He nodded, looking far too pleased with himself. "Yes, finally. It's been a long few days. I'm glad to be back here with you."

His smile softened, his eyes filled with warmth. "I've missed you, little sis."

Hae-rin's heart gave a small thrum at the familiar nickname. It always made her feel like a child again, even though she was no longer the little girl she had been when Ji-hoon had left for his missions.

"Well, you've been off saving the world, as usual," Hae-rin teased, shaking her head.

"You're impossible, you know that?"

"Impossible?" Ji-hoon smirked, clearly pleased by her response.

"I've been doing my best. You should be proud of your brother."

"Oh, I'm proud all right," she said dryly, rolling her eyes.

"Proud of how you've turned every bandit you come across into your personal fan club."

Ji-hoon chuckled, clearly unbothered by her teasing. "You should try it sometime. The whole 'saving the world' thing is exhausting, but it has its perks."

As they continued walking together, the warmth of his company seemed to ease the tension in her chest. He always knew how to distract her from her worries. And for once, Hae-rin was grateful for the interruption. Still, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of her mind, the one that wouldn't let her forget about Yul and Mu-Deok.

"So, what's been going on with you, huh?" Ji-hoon asked casually as they sat on a nearby bench under a tree.

"You've been pretty distant lately. Something bothering you?"

Hae-rin froze at his question. She didn't want to admit what was going on in her heart. She didn't want to acknowledge it, especially to her brother.No, I can't tell him, she thought. I won't let him see me like this.

"Oh, it's nothing," she said quickly, forcing a smile.

"Just the usual stuff, you know? Training, responsibilities—there's nothing to worry about."

Her voice was light, carefree, but Ji-hoon was looking at her with those sharp, perceptive eyes. He knew something was off. He always did.

"You sure about that?" He leaned in slightly, his tone becoming more serious.

"You've been acting...different. Like you've got something on your mind, and you're not telling me."

Hae-rin swallowed. She felt the familiar knot of emotions rise up in her throat, but she quickly masked it with a laugh.

"No, really, oppa. I'm fine. Nothing's wrong."

The words felt like they were lying in her throat. She wanted to tell him, wanted to confess what she was feeling, but she couldn't—because she didn't even fully understand it herself.Ji-hoon's gaze softened, and he sighed as if he'd heard the lie but wasn't going to press her for an answer. Instead, he shifted the topic, making Hae-rin grateful for the distraction.

"Okay, okay. If you say so," Ji-hoon said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But just remember, if you need someone to talk to, I'm always here."

Hae-rin gave a small nod, trying to push down the sudden wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "Thanks, oppa."

"Come on," Ji-hoon said, nudging her lightly with his elbow. "Let's take a walk through the garden. You can tell me all about how much you missed me while I was gone."

Hae-rin smiled faintly, relieved to change the subject. "I didn't miss you that much, oppa," she teased.

"Lies!" Ji-hoon laughed, standing up and offering her his hand. "Admit it—you can't live without me."

Hae-rin rolled her eyes but took his hand, allowing herself to be pulled back into their familiar banter. For tonight, at least, she would bury her feelings. It was easier that way, she told herself. After all, what could she possibly say?

Later that evening, Uk and Mu-Deok found themselves in the courtyard again, the cool night air settling around them as they continued their training. But Uk couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.

Mu-Deok's attention was elsewhere, lost in thought.

"Mu-Deok," Uk began, his voice lower than usual, "you're close to Yul, aren't you?"

Mu-Deok didn't answer right away. She only smiled, her gaze thoughtful.

"Close? Not quite. But you're jealous, aren't you?"

Uk didn't answer. But in his heart, he knew it was true.