The man who had come to find Biyeong responded with a solemn expression, “That child has passed away.”

As if a sudden blackout occurred, Biyeong’s vision became pitch black. His hands began to tremble slightly, and it felt as if a large stone had wedged into his throat, making it difficult to breathe.

“It seems the child, abandoned in the mountains without a mother, was the root cause. On the day of the return, the child suffered and…”

“Are you sure? Could you have seen it wrong?”

“I’m sure. I saw with my own eyes as the child was laid to rest in the ground.”

News about his long-lost sibling after 20 years turned out to be tragic. Biyeong couldn’t believe it unless he saw it with his own eyes.

Unable to trust the man’s words, Biyeong, with bloodshot eyes, threw a question at him, “Where is the place where the child is buried?”

The place he followed the man to was a vacant lot on the mountainside not far from the capital. As they ventured into a more secluded area, a small tombstone rose in a well-kept place. The surroundings of the tomb had grown wild, untouched by human hands for a long time.

The size of the tomb buried in weeds was modest, and one might easily overlook its presence.

Biyeong, led to the front of the tomb by the man, remained motionless, gazing down at the small grave. Without any movement, he extended the coin pouch towards the man, who spoke, “This is the place.”

“…”

Biyeong, unmoving, gazed down at the small grave. The man who received the pouch bowed slightly and left.

The cold and sharp winter wind brushed against Biyeong’s deserted heart.

A melancholic voice, filled with sorrow, struggled to escape Biyeong’s lips, “Why are you buried here…”

An abandoned tomb untouched by anyone’s attention or touch. The smaller the tomb felt, the more overgrown it seemed with neglected weeds, making the tombstone look pitiful and poignant.

Biyeong had often suspected the possibility that Makgeumi might not be alive. He just wished he could have known about life and death.

However, he never expected to encounter Makgeumi in such a desolate state.

With his legs losing strength, Biyeong sat down in front of the tomb, powerless. He swept away the neglected tomb’s dirt with his palm.

“All this time… How lonely must you have been…”
The man who received the pouch bowed slightly and left.

The cold and sharp winter wind brushed against Biyeong’s deserted heart.

A heavy voice filled with sorrow strained to escape Biyeong’s lips.

“Why are you buried here…”

An abandoned tomb untouched by anyone’s attention or touch.

As the tomb’s size felt smaller, and the weeds surrounding it grew thicker, the tombstone looked pitiful and poignant.

The possibility that Makgeumi might not be alive had been suspected. There was a wish to know about life and death.

However, encountering Makgeumi in such a desolate state was unexpected.

With his legs losing strength, Biyeong sat down in front of the tomb, powerless. He swept away the neglected tomb’s dirt with his palm.

“All this time… How lonely must you have been…”

On the day he escaped from the Min Sangju’s house into the forest, he shouldn’t have hidden alone. He should have followed his mother, not sent the two away.

If he had awakened a little earlier, if he had found his sibling a little earlier, could he have saved Makgeumi?

Regret overwhelmed Biyeong, who had lost his family, and he vaguely called out the name of his only blood relative who had been sought for 20 years.

“Makgeum…”

His voice was soaked with moisture.

“My sibling, Makgeum…”

He never expected the unrealized life to be so wretchedly discarded.

Biyeong’s shadow collapsed weakly in front of the small grave.

His slightly trembling shoulders looked pitiful on this day.

“This can’t be… This can’t be happening…!”

As if tearing off the flesh, the unhealed wounds burned like fire. In the bitter and painful emotions, Biyeong’s throat choked.

Makgeumi had left this world. Yeonwoo had also left his side.

What had he been living for all this time? What remained?

With Biyeong’s despair, the sky also crumbled.

In the vague sense of loss, his life felt ephemeral and futile.

The only strength that could sustain him and the reason to live, Yeonwoo, was no longer there.

Everything he tried to protect was gone. Everything he cherished slipped away.

In the overwhelming sense of loss, he lost direction and purpose.

As Biyeong clenched the weeds growing on his tomb, the roots were pulled out ruthlessly.

Gone were the longing and mourning feelings, leaving Biyeong with only one thing.

“I will seek revenge.”
After the deaths of my mother and sister, it was clear that Minsangju was behind it all.

If it weren’t for Minsangju, my mother and sister would not have met such a futile death.

“I will make Minsangju pay for making my mother and Makgeumi die…!”

With nothing to lose, there was no hesitation.

I will vividly show the price paid for touching my blood, for trampling on innocent lives.

I will bestow upon Minister Min the agony that would make him wish for death.