"Will he come?" Yirahng asked.

  Hwan's gaze was fixed on the coast. Leaning against the railing, he replied nonchalantly, "he will."

  "That idiot?"

  "Because he's an idiot."

  "But what if he doesn't? What if no one shows up and that poor thing dies alone?"

  Hwan finally turned to Yirahng and answered, "We'll just send his body back."

  "Isn't that a bit too kind?"

  "I didn't say how we'd send it. As long as they can recognize Ryang's face, it'll be fine."

  Yirahng chuckled. Hwan embraced her from behind, his hand resting on her swollen belly. His eyes followed the waves as they began to lick at the entrance of Haewol Cave.

  "The tide is rising."

  ──────────

  The horse stumbled onto the beach, frothing at the mouth and collapsing onto the sand. Seong and Yeong were practically thrown from the saddle. Their faces were scratched and bloodied from their frantic ride through the forest. In the distance, Seong could see the entrance of Haewol Cave, partially submerged in the rising tide. Twice a day, the cave emerged from the sea, its name derived from the crescent moon shape formed by the water within. A ship with black sails unfurled was anchored not far from the horizon, a silent sentinel against the rising sun. Seong gritted his teeth. He could almost see Hwan's face, watching him from the ship, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. There was no time to waste on hatred. Seong waded into the shallow waves, heading towards the cave. The relentless tide made it difficult to move forward. Yeong remained on the beach, her gaze fixed on Seong.

  "Aren't you going to help us?" Seong shouted over the roar of the waves.

  "Your battle comes first," Yeong replied, her voice barely audible above the crashing surf.

  Seong saw her lips move, but he couldn't make out the words. Seeing Yeong's motionless figure and indifferent expression, he quickly abandoned any hope of assistance. There was no time to waste on persuasion either. He pressed on, wading through the water that now reached his thighs. Finally, he reached the mouth of the cave. Deep inside the darkness, he could make out Ryang's figure. Relief washed over him, blurring his vision. Ryang's face was pale and drawn, his body still. From a distance, Seong couldn't tell if he was alive or dead. The tide continued to rise, reaching Ryang's chest by the time Seong reached him. Ryang remained unconscious, unaware of Seong's presence. Seong grasped his face, his voice shaking.

  "Brother! Ryang!"

  Ryang's eyes fluttered open at the familiar voice. He wasn't in the afterlife, and it wasn't Hwan standing before him, but Seong.

  "Seong," he breathed.

  Relief flooded Seong. He pulled Ryang into an embrace. "Brother, you're alive. I wasn't too late."

  A faint smile touched Ryang's lips, but it quickly faded as his eyes filled with tears.

  "Why did you come?" he choked out before losing consciousness again.

  "Brother! Wake up!" Seong shook him, his voice filled with panic, but Ryang remained unresponsive.

  The water continued to rise. Seong dove beneath the surface, his lungs burning, and with all his might, he pulled at the chains that bound Ryang to the rocks. But the shackles held firm, refusing to yield. He surfaced, gasping for air, and dove again. He repeated this several times, but the tide was relentless, creeping higher and higher until it reached Ryang's neck. Reaching the chains became more and more difficult, and Seong's strength waned. Tears of despair welled up, but they were invisible in the swirling water. As Seong struggled against the encroaching despair, the tide finally rose above Ryang's head. His face disappeared beneath the waves. Without hesitation, Seong followed, his hand grasping Ryang's robes. He screamed in anguish, but his cries were swallowed by the water, transformed into bubbles that rose to the surface and vanished.

  He surfaced again, gasping for air, his grip on Ryang's robes unwavering. The water was dark and murky; if he let go, he would lose Ryang forever. He couldn't do it. He couldn't leave Ryang alone in the cold, suffocating darkness. He dove again, his hands searching frantically for Ryang's face. He found it and pressed his lips against Ryang's, breathing air into his lungs. When he resurfaced, only his mouth remained above the water. He took one last, desperate breath and plunged back down, giving Ryang the remaining air in his lungs. The chains were unyielding, cruel in their strength. As the dim light from the cave entrance filtered through the water, Seong felt his consciousness fading. He heard Ryang's fading breaths, a haunting echo in the cold water.

  Despair and resentment surged within him. Sahngjon was nowhere to be found. The resurrected king of Wi, the Guardian of the Azure Scripture destined to fulfill the prophecy – he had never aspired to such grand titles. He only wanted to protect those he cherished, to be with them. He should have realized sooner that he couldn't protect everyone. He should have ended his own life that night, instead of Myeonghyeon Seung's. He was filled with regret. It was Myeonghyeon Seung's blood on his hands, shed to protect Ryang and Seon. If he couldn't save Ryang, he couldn't bear to live with those bloodstained hands. He cried out to Sahngjon, begging to be killed in Ryang's place if there was any mercy left in the world. Seawater filled his throat, and death loomed before him, a dark and welcoming abyss.

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  With the last of his strength, Seong pulled at the chains binding Ryang. A jolt of energy surged through him, and a fiery warmth ignited within his dying body, a power that even the cold seawater couldn't extinguish. A blinding light erupted from him, illuminating the darkness of the cave. The flames that bloomed in his hands lit up the depths, and with a final, desperate surge of power, he tore through the chains that held Ryang captive.

  As the chains snapped, Seong's strength gave out, and he collapsed back into the water. His last breath escaped in a flurry of bubbles, and the crushing weight of the water suddenly lifted, the current swirling around him as he was swept towards the cave floor. He coughed, expelling water and gasping for air. He looked at his hands in disbelief, his fingers glowing with a faint red light that traced the veins up to his elbows. He had no time to comprehend what had just happened. He crawled towards Ryang's limp form, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. He reached out to touch Ryang, then hesitated, his gaze fixed on his glowing hands. He gently placed a finger against Ryang's neck, his breath catching in his throat. Nothing happened. Relieved, he pressed his hands against Ryang's chest, searching for a heartbeat. He pressed his ear against Ryang's nose, but there was no sound of breathing. He checked his pulse again, but there was nothing. Despair washed over him, and he pounded on Ryang's chest, his movements frantic, his voice filled with anguish.

  "We made it this far, I finally freed you, please... please don't die. Please, Ryang!"

  He looked up, his voice cracking with desperation.

  "Show me some mercy!"

  He struck Ryang's chest again, and with a sudden gasp, Ryang coughed, expelling seawater and taking a ragged breath. Tears streamed down Seong's face, and he laughed, a choked, broken sound. He pulled Ryang into a tight embrace, burying his face in his brother's wet hair. He could hear Ryang's faint breaths, a precious sound that filled him with a joy so intense it bordered on pain.

  "What... happened?" Ryang whispered, his voice barely audible.

  Seong pressed his forehead against Ryang's, his heart overflowing with emotion. "You're alive," he choked out, tears streaming down his face. "That's all that matters. Let's go home."

  Ryang managed a weak smile before slipping back into unconsciousness. A calm voice spoke from behind them.

  "Is he alright?"

  Seong looked up to see Yeong standing there, the water parting before her. He finally released Ryang and turned to look outside. A path had been cleared through the water, leading from the cave entrance to the beach.

  "You saved us," Seong breathed, his eyes filled with wonder.

  "Sahngjon saved you," Yeong corrected.

  "You parted the waters," Seong said. "You didn't follow me first, so why did you save us? You said this power shouldn't be revealed to just anyone."

  Yeong approached Seong, her gaze falling upon the red glow emanating from his veins. Seong flinched as Yeong reached out, but Yeong reassured him, "Nothing happened when you touched the High Councilor. It's alright. Let me see your hand."

  Hesitantly, Seong extended his hand. Yeong grasped his wrist, holding it up for closer inspection. Seong was bewildered, unable to comprehend what had happened to him.

  "The flames of Sahngjon," Yeong murmured. "This is not the only power of the Celestial Scions. Look at your body."

  Seong looked down at himself. The cuts and scrapes he had sustained during their frantic ride to the cave were gone.

  "Sahngjon has made his will known," Yeong declared. "I will now stand by your side and fight with you."

  Seong was bewildered. "But why...?"

  "The power of the Celestial Scions lies beyond death," Yeong explained.

  Seong's mind was still reeling. He looked at Ryang's pale face, his concern growing. "He's not well. Hwan wouldn't have just left him tied up here. We need to get him back and see to his injuries."

  Yeong nodded in agreement. Seong carefully lifted Ryang onto his back. He was heavy, his body limp and soaked with seawater, but Seong barely felt his weight, his steps light and his mind still reeling from the events of the past few hours. They walked towards the shore, the walls of water parting before them, creating a path through the receding tide.

  ──────────

  "I was wrong."

  Norahn collapsed onto the beach, his knees sinking into the sand. He looked at Yeong, standing alone on the shore, and then at the entrance of Haewol Cave, now hidden by the rising tide. The sand he had been clutching in his hands slipped through his fingers, a testament to his despair. The brilliant light that had erupted from beneath the water, the parting of the sea at Yeong's command – it all felt like a harsh rebuke from Sahngjon.

  Seong and Yeong emerged from the path between the walls of water, Ryang's limp form draped over Seong's back. Even from a distance, the red glow enveloping Seong's hands was clearly visible. The others – Kyeongseon Ung and Joon, Norahn, the Emissaries, and the soldiers – who had followed behind, prostrated themselves before Seong and Yeong as they reached the shore. Seong stumbled onto the dry sand, his strength finally giving out. Yeong lowered his hands, and the walls of water collapsed, the sea rushing back in. The Emissaries hurried forward, gently lifting Ryang from Seong's back and laying him on a stretcher, covering him with blankets.

  Norahn approached Seong, his eyes filled with tears. He bowed low, his forehead touching the sand.

  "Guardian of the Azure Scripture, my eternal lord," he choked out. "Please forgive the sins of this High Emissary Divine, who failed to stand with you in the light of Sahngjon."

  He wept silently. Seong looked down at him, remembering Norahn's desperate attempts to stop him, his unwavering loyalty even in the face of death.

  "I saw your true heart today, Norahn," Seong said. "I will never forget it."

  Norahn crawled forward and kissed Seong's feet, his heart filled with unspoken words.

  'I will never again turn away from the light of Sahngjon, from the path it illuminates.'

  Seong gently lifted Norahn to his feet. He turned his gaze towards the horizon. The ship with the black sails was slowly disappearing into the distance.

  "Where are you going?" he whispered, his eyes burning.

  ──────────

  The Black Wings lurched violently as Yeong parted the sea. Hwan gripped the railing, his gaze fixed on the unfolding scene. He stood motionless, his back to Yirahng, who sensed a flicker of doubt in his usually unwavering demeanor. The inexplicable flash of light from Haewol Cave, the parting of the sea at Yeong's command, Seong emerging unscathed with Ryang on his back – everything contradicted Hwan's carefully laid plans.

  Suppressing his unease, Hwan ordered his subordinates, "Turn the ship and head for open sea."

  His crew, stunned by the spectacle they had just witnessed, hesitated. Hwan erupted in fury.

  "Raise the anchor now!!!"

  His crew scrambled to obey. Hwan stood alone, his breath quickening. The sea before him stretched endlessly, the path forward shrouded in uncertainty.