The courtyard was deathly silent, save for the whispers of discontent rippling through the crowd. Jang Uk stood at the center, his back straight despite the weight of judgment pressing down on him. The missing spirit plaque had been his undoing, but his defiance had been brewing long before this day. 

"Jang Uk," Master Park Jin's voice rang out, sharp as a blade, "for the dishonor of losing your spirit plaque and your repeated disregard for the rules of Songrim, you are sentenced to one hundred lashes. After this, you will be banished. Do you accept your punishment?"

"I accept," Uk replied, his voice calm, though his defiant gaze was unmissable.

The air was thick with tension, and among the crowd, Seo Yul, Dang-gu, and Hae-rin stood frozen in disbelief. Hae-rin's fists clenched at her sides, her whole body trembling.

"This is insane," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He lost his spirit plaque, not his loyalty. How can they do this to him?"

"It's not just about the plaque," Dang-gu murmured, his voice subdued.

"It's everything. Uk's been testing Master Park's patience for months. This was the final straw."

"That doesn't make it right!" she shot back, her voice rising. Heads turned, but she didn't care. "A hundred lashes? He could die!"

"Hae-rin." Yul's voice was calm, though his eyes betrayed his worry. He stepped closer, his presence steadying.

"You need to stay calm. If you lose control, you'll only make things worse for him."

"How can you be so calm?" she snapped, turning on him. "Uk's about to be whipped in front of all of Songrim, and you're standing there like it's just another training session!"

"I'm not calm," Yul said quietly, his voice steady but firm. "But this isn't about us. It's about him. Do you think he wants us to create a scene and draw more attention to his humiliation?"

Hae-rin's jaw tightened, her breath hitching as her anger and helplessness warred within her. Dang-gu, standing on her other side, placed a hand on her arm.

"Yul's right," he said, his voice unusually serious.

"Uk wouldn't want us interfering. We have to trust him."

Her gaze flickered back to Uk, who had already removed his outer robes and stood tall, his back exposed. Every muscle in his body was tense, braced for the punishment to come. Her heart ached at the sight, but her voice was small when she whispered,

"He doesn't deserve this."

"No," Yul agreed softly. "He doesn't."

The first lash cracked through the air, the sound of leather meeting skin reverberating like a thunderclap. Uk didn't flinch, but the force of it sent a shudder through the crowd. Hae-rin's hands flew to her mouth as if the strike had landed on her own body. Tears stung her eyes, but she forced herself to watch.

"Damn them," she muttered under her breath. "Damn all of them."

"Hae-rin," Yul's voice was soft but insistent. He stepped in front of her, his eyes meeting hers. "Breathe. Don't let your emotions control you."

"I'm trying," she bit out, her voice cracking.

"But it's too much. This isn't justice—it's cruelty."

"It is," Yul said simply. "But we can't help him if we let it consume us. You're stronger than this."

Another lash fell, and this time, Uk staggered slightly but didn't cry out. Mu-Deok, standing just beyond the line of onlookers, took a step forward. Her face was pale, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Jang Uk..." she whispered, her hand reaching out, but he turned his head just enough to stop her. 

"Don't," his eyes seemed to say.

Hae-rin noticed the silent exchange and felt her anger flare again. "This is wrong," she said, her voice rising.

"We can't just stand here and do nothing. We have to—"

"We have to trust him," Yul interrupted, his voice firm. He placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her.

"Uk is stronger than you think. He's enduring this for a reason. Don't let your anger dishonor his choice."

"His choice?" she repeated, incredulous.

"Do you think he chose to be whipped and humiliated like this?"

"Yes," Yul said quietly but confidently.

"Because he's making a point. And he's stronger than this."

The lashes continued, each one carving a crimson path across Uk's back. His breathing grew heavier, but he remained standing, his defiance unbroken. Hae-rin could feel her composure slipping, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill.

"Why aren't they stopping?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "He's bleeding. He's—"

"Hae-rin," Dang-gu interrupted gently.

"Look at him. He's not breaking. Don't break for him."

She shook her head, her vision blurring. "I hate this," she whispered.

"I know," Yul said softly. His hand remained steady on her shoulder.

"But don't let that hate control you. We'll help him when this is over."

Finally, the lashes stopped. Uk's body sagged slightly, but he didn't collapse. The crowd began to murmur, expecting the punishment to be over, but Uk raised his head, his voice hoarse but clear.

"I'm not done," he said. "Master Park, if I am to leave Songrim, let the last blow come from you."

A stunned silence fell over the courtyard. Master Park's expression flickered briefly with hesitation, but his voice remained steady.

"You wish for me to deliver the final strike?" he asked coldly.

"Yes," Uk replied, his gaze unwavering.

"If I am to be cast out, let it be you who sends me away."

The crowd held its breath as Master Park stepped forward. He took the whip from the guard and paused, his eyes briefly meeting Uk's. Then, without hesitation, he delivered the final blow.

The force of it sent Uk to his knees, but he didn't cry out. His silence was deafening, a quiet defiance that spoke louder than any words could. 

Mu-Deok was the first to move, rushing to Uk's side as he struggled to rise.

"Jang Uk," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Let me help you."

"I don't need help," he muttered, though his voice was weak. "I just need to leave."

Hae-rin watched them, her heart breaking with every step they took toward the gates. "This isn't over," she said, her voice trembling with determination.

"I don't care what it takes. We'll bring him back."

Dang-gu nodded, his usual humor absent. "We will. But for now, let's figure out how."

Yul turned to her, his calm presence steadying her once more. "We'll find a way," he said quietly. "But first, let's make sure he survives this."

Later, in the quiet of Songrim's infirmary, Hae-rin stood beside Seo Yul and Dang-gu as they faced Master Park Jin. Her anger simmered beneath the surface, but Yul's earlier words echoed in her mind, keeping her grounded—for now.

"Master Park," she began, her voice trembling with suppressed fury, "you've made your point. But you know as well as we do that Jang Uk doesn't deserve this."

Master Park's gaze didn't waver.

"Uk made his choice. So did I. Focus on your duties, all of you. The Soul Shifter case demands your attention."

Hae-rin opened her mouth to argue, but Yul gently placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. She shot him a glare, but he shook his head subtly. Not now, his eyes seemed to say.

Forcing herself to stay silent, she turned away, her fists clenched. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.