Chapter 7. I Am Not a Scoundrel
I was caught in a moment of panic, unable to move or think clearly.
I came here seeking a safe house to escape my disciple’s deadly intent, only to run into him once more. It felt hard to breathe.
What would my disciple think of me now? Had he already heard about my search for a safe house? Not yet? If he had, would he find it suspicious? Or dismiss it as a mere preference? No, there was no way.
My disciple was too smart for that. He would definitely find it suspicious.
Damn it.
Could he possibly infer that I retained memories from before my regression?
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear the sounds around me. My ears rang. I stared blankly ahead, only coming back to my senses when I felt a strong gaze.
The head of the Yu clan was looking at me with piercing eyes. Did I make it too obvious that I was checking my disciple’s reaction?
The intensity of his stare snapped me back to reality.
I hid my fear and forced a smile—the kind that was perfect for deceiving others.
Luckily, Seon-an, growing impatient from the lack of response from his grandfather, asked again.
“Grandfather? Who is this person?”
Finding it difficult to ignore his grandson a second time, the Yu clan head replied.
“He is an esteemed guest.”
Then, he glanced at the 13th prince, as if seeking confirmation that he had answered correctly.
‘The Yu clan head isn’t telling Seon-an about the 13th prince. Why not? Is it a secret that the 13th prince came to the gambling hall? But isn’t it okay to tell his grandson?’
More importantly, Seon-an didn’t recognize the 13th prince’s face at this point.
In my past life, he had known, but how did Seon-an learn about the 13th prince back then?
Damn it.
My memories were jumbled. I could remember the major events, but the details were mixed up. Meanwhile, Seon-an responded with a confused voice.
“An esteemed guest?”
His gaze shifted to the youthful-looking 13th prince.
He seemed unable to believe that his strict, intimidating grandfather would call such a young man an esteemed guest. I chose to stay silent, pretending not to know anything.
I felt sorry for Seon-an, but I couldn’t be the one to break the silence and acknowledge the 13th prince.
‘But the Yu clan head must know who I am. Seon-an introduced me by name, Yo Yo-hwa.’
There was no way someone who knew the 13th prince wouldn’t know my name.
Since becoming his master, whether in good or bad terms, my name was always associated with his.
“Yes, an esteemed guest.”
“Does Grandfather have young guests like him often?”
The Yu clan head narrowed his sharp eyes but didn’t scold his grandson. Instead, he seemed at a loss for a reply and turned to me.
“Your friend is looking for a safe house, is that right?”
So, you’re willing to throw me under the bus to save your grandson, old man.
“Yes. Around ten, correct, Yo-hwa? Ten, right?”
I might need to write a will as soon as I get home.
Grandfather and grandson are digging my grave together.
I shouldn’t look at the 13th prince at times like this.
But before I knew it, my eyes were already on him, curious about his reaction.
Ah, I shouldn’t have looked. He was looking at me with a smile. It was a smile, sure, but it was the same smile he had when he was about to give me poison.
I quickly shifted my gaze to the Yu clan head.
Maybe it was because my nemesis was smiling ominously right beside me, but the fear I’d felt towards the Yu clan head had vanished.
With the poison prince beside me, the head of the Yu clan seemed as harmless as plain water. Still, my answer was already decided.
If it were just Seon-an, I could change my answer, and he’d go along with it. But the Yu clan head was different. He didn’t know me and was close to the 13th prince.
If a friend of his grandson suddenly changed their story upon seeing his student, it would definitely raise suspicions.
“Yes. Ten.”
All I could do was answer as if there was nothing strange about it. The Yu clan head asked again.
“Why do you need a safe house?”
Seon-an, perhaps feeling guilty as the situation escalated, protested with a hint of irritation.
“Grandfather, why do you need to ask that? I’m sure there’s a reason.”
“The reason matters greatly. The nature of what is to be hidden can change the level of risk involved. Who knows what could be hidden inside a safe house?”
It was no use.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, who’s to say whether you’ll be hiding yourself or a bomb in that safe house?”
“Grandfather, what would someone who spends their time studying have to do with a bomb? You just don’t want to help, do you?”
With every word Seon-an said, the Yu clan head’s gaze on me grew colder. It didn’t seem like my imagination. After listening to Seon-an’s complaints for a while, he finally ignored him altogether and turned to me.
“What’s the purpose of this safe house, Young Master Yo? My imprudent grandson may not give a proper answer, but I expect one from you.”
His sharp voice and tiger-like gaze reminded me of all the tales of the Yu clan head’s fierce reputation that Seon-an had told me in my past life.
“I…”
I forced myself to open my mouth and muttered blankly. I struggled to keep my gaze from drifting toward my disciple.
My mind felt foggy.
I knew that hesitating too long would make me look suspicious, but I couldn’t think of what to say. I had only thought about needing a safe house, never that I’d be questioned by the Yu clan head about it.
“I…”
As I faltered, Seon-an began fidgeting, glancing at me nervously. I couldn’t help it—I glanced at my disciple. He was watching me with a benevolent smile.
He must have been enjoying my discomfort. I turned back to the Yu clan head, who was narrowing his eyes. No, old man, Seon-an is right. Why would I hide a bomb in a safe house?
His expression made my blood boil. But telling the truth was out of the question.
I had to lie.
But what kind of lie? Something that wouldn’t seem suspicious but would be believable.
‘I have it!’
A sudden idea flashed through my mind, and I quickly replied with a determined expression.
“I want to have ten homes.”
“!”
I’m trash. I may have acted like a womanizer, but I’d never gone this far. Still, it was better than saying, “I’m looking for a safe house because the 13th prince here will kill me in the future.” Better to play the scoundrel than to arouse suspicion and die sooner than expected.
“Hmm.”
But the look the Yu clan head gave me—like I was garbage—was painful. To receive that kind of look from someone who had made his mark in the shadows… Still, I kept my serious expression as the Yu clan head turned to Seon-an.
“Is he always like this?”
Seon-an answered with an awkward smile.
“Yes, he’s always like this.”
I desperately hoped that Seon-an’s words weren’t sincere but rather an attempt to defend me. The Yu Clan Head clicked his tongue.
Suppressing the urge to find a hole to crawl into, I maintained my smile.
“Apologies, Young Master Yo. A proper safe house is extremely rare and acquiring one takes a great deal of effort. I’m not inclined to waste such a precious resource on a frivolous young noble’s nighttime escapades.”
Even after everything I’d done, the Yu Clan Head made it clear he wouldn’t provide a safe house, effectively making a fool of me in front of my disciple!
“I’m willing to pay any amount.”
I quickly suggested, but as soon as I mentioned money, the Yu Clan Head’s expression grew colder.
“To impress our clan with wealth, Young Master’s family vaults would not suffice.”
Looks like he doesn’t care for talk about money. Damn it. What do I do now?
“Take Young Master Yo away, Seon-an. And don’t trouble me with such matters again.”
Even as anxiety churned within me, the Yu Clan Head’s voice grew bored as he spoke to Seon-an.
“Grandfather…”
Seon-an whined, but the Yu Clan Head didn’t even flinch.
“Now.”
He fully turned his attention away from us, facing the 13th prince, signaling that he wanted no further conversation.
With the situation as it was, Seon-an glanced at me with a troubled expression. I looked at my disciple, who wasn’t looking my way but wore a faint, mocking smile.
Seeing that, a wave of anger surged within me.
My disciple was terrifying, but the resentment I felt toward him was stronger.
It was humiliating to be embarrassed in front of him.
Damn it, why did I make such a pathetic excuse?
Because that 13th prince was here! Because he intended to kill me! And now he was smirking at me as if amused by the whole ordeal!
“Let’s go.”
Oblivious to my frustrated thoughts, Seon-an gently tugged my arm and whispered in my ear.
“Let’s leave for now. I’ll try asking Grandfather again later. He’s probably just showing off because there’s someone important present.”
As soon as Seon-an said that, my disciple’s smirk vanished. Did he hate seeing me whispering with someone else? Either way, there was no choice left. I answered weakly.
“All right.”
I glanced back into the room one last time, regret pooling in my chest, when suddenly, my eyes caught the decorative game board set on a small table.
I hadn’t noticed it earlier, being too preoccupied with the Yu Clan Head and my disciple. Seeing the game board reminded me of a story Seon-an once told me before my regression.
–Grandfather always plays that game when he’s deep in thought. If he gets stuck, he leaves it as is until he finds a solution.
One time, he told me, a guest appeared after the game had been stuck for three years. The guest had asked to rely on the Yu Clan Head for protection, but the head had scoffed and dismissed him.
–Why should I treat you as an honored guest?
Any normal guest would have backed down, but this guest calmly looked around the room, spotted the game board, and approached it.
He moved one piece, saying, “Two spaces forward,” and the Yu Clan Head, seeing this, was delighted and welcomed the guest as an esteemed guest.
Could this be that game board? Could I use that story to my advantage? Was this the right time?
When Seon-an told me that story, he mentioned that the game had been stuck for three years. Does this timeframe fit within those three years?
“Yo-hwa?”
Seeing me stare blankly at the game board, Seon-an shook my arm.
Instead of going with him, I slowly walked toward the game board.
Standing in front of it, I became half certain. This was indeed the time when the Yu Clan Head was stumped on his game. Hope surged within me.
What if I used that story now? Would it work?
I know I shouldn’t change the future, but this is such a small thing, right?
My disciple doesn’t know my every move; surely minor events outside the palace could be altered.
‘Let’s do it.’
With newfound resolve, I looked at the game board and spoke boldly.
“You’ve hit a mental block, haven’t you, Grandfather? That’s why you judge people hastily and your game is stuck.”
“Yo-hwa!”
Seon-an gasped, calling my name in shock.
But I kept a smile on my face and met the Yu Clan Head’s gaze. His expression had hardened.
“You’re quite impudent, Young Master Yo.”
His look was as fierce as a tiger emerging from its den, but the presence of my disciple next to him strangely emboldened me. I spoke again, daringly.
“The room is spotless, but there’s dust on the game board alone. It’s not meant as mere decoration, is it? You’ve been stuck while playing by yourself, haven’t you?”
To my relief, my words seemed to have an effect.
“You talk big. If you’re so confident, why don’t you find the solution, Young Master Yo?”
The Yu Clan Head’s voice was cold, but he made the offer.
“Well, I’m not particularly skilled at this game.”
Suppressing a victorious grin, I feigned indifference while carefully scanning the board, trying to remember what Seon-an had said about moving a piece “two spaces forward.”
But Seon-an hadn’t told me which piece it was. Think, Yo Yo-hwa, think. Which piece would change the course if moved two spaces forward?
‘There!’
I found it. Steadying my hand, I picked up the piece and moved it precisely two spaces forward.
Then, I looked up at the Yu Clan Head with a smile.
But before I could fully turn my head, he had already stood and walked briskly over, his sleeves sweeping dramatically.
The old man, as fierce as a tiger, inspected the board with sharp eyes. Even my disciple approached slowly, standing next to me to examine the board as well.
My heart pounded wildly. Would it work? The silence stretched as the Yu Clan Head stared at the board, then, at last, he turned to my disciple and, with a smile, said:
“Indeed, like master, like disciple.”
My heart, which I didn’t think could beat any faster, felt like it was going to burst. I looked at the Yu Clan Head in fear.
‘Does that mean…?’
The Yu Clan Head smiled wider, looking from the 13th prince to me, driving the nail of my anxiety deeper.
“It’s amusing how both master and disciple solve this old man’s problem the same way.”
“!”
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