This is not a matter of quietly waking up, but even touching to wake is not an easy task.

Earlier in the hall, when Yu Sung Sabaek sensed a problem with the formation, he gave instructions to me and Ha Hyun, ran outside to get his bearings, and brought Sajeo and me here – the time it took was barely a quarter of an hour.

The fact that he was able to break that in such a short time means the opponent is quite a skilled sorcerer.

‘If that person decides to flee alone…’

It seems he is confident he can escape without being caught. Even if it’s not actually the case, he seems to believe so. It’s true that sorcery is like a shortcut in escape situations.

His leisurely stance of standing still and smiling supported that assumption.

“It would be better to hurry rather than act more foolishly. Don’t you agree, Master Yu Sung? If I’m not the eldest young master, then you should start by finding where the real eldest young master is.”

Instead of replying further, Sabaek kept his eyes on the opponent and quickly instructed me and Sajeo behind him in a low voice.

“Ha Jin, Ha Heun. Go back, inform the others of the situation, and search the estate again. I will catch this person and join you soon.”

“Understood. Be careful, Master!”

Sajeo answered without hesitation and immediately grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes!”

Certainly, leaving rather than staying would be less interfering and more rational for Sabaek.

As I was running back the way we came, led by Sajeo, I suddenly felt an impulse and turned my head to look at Sabaek’s back again. But although I meant to look at Sabaek, I ended up making eye contact with the fake eldest young master over his shoulder.

He was quietly smiling at me, already far away.

‘No… what is this?’

Yu Sung Sabaek is a direct disciple of Hwasan who learned the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, and also one of the current Jemun Gakju’s direct disciples. He has certainly reached the pinnacle, so one cannot deny he is not someone to be taken lightly.

Nevertheless, that person just disregarded Sabaek right in front of him. No matter how confident he is, it was excessive.

Then it means he must have something else prepared, without a doubt.

‘…No. Sabaek must know what I know.’

I tried hard to calm my mind. I don’t think Sabaek will be defeated by that person. There’s no point in worrying now that we’ve come this far.

I should believe in Sabaek and prioritize searching the estate again to find the real eldest young master, as he said.

But.

‘See you again later.’

He clearly mouthed those words just now.

I furrowed my brow and turned my head. But my mind couldn’t clear up. Suddenly, this morning’s events came to mind again.

‘Back then too…’

That person had clearly told me we would meet again.

Apart from trusting Sabaek, an unpleasant premonition that I would really see that person again someday burrowed into my mind.

The estate was turned upside down. It couldn’t be helped.

A suspicious person using sorcery was pretending to be the eldest young master.

Moreover, that person even broke the formation that had been improving the condition of the Dan family’s children. He is currently being chased by Sabaek, but we need to start searching for the real eldest young master now. We don’t know what state he might be in.

Given this explanation, it would be stranger if the Dan family head, the owner of the estate, remained still.

Not only the family head but even his wife rushed out. The servants and warriors employed by the trading company also started searching every corner of the estate with torches. With so many people holding torches, the inside of the estate looked as bright as day.

‘Or maybe like it’s on fire.’

Suddenly, the memory of ‘Ha Heun’s’ family being exterminated came to mind.

The flickering crimson flames all around. The smell of burning wood in the nostrils. The anxious atmosphere. The chaotic and noisy space.

Come to think of it, it was strangely similar to now.

Although it’s not something I experienced, since that memory is in my head, my mood becomes quite gloomy.

But I couldn’t just play alone because of that.

‘It’s not like my body won’t move.’

Just as I raised my head to try moving somewhere, it happened.

“Sajeo.”

Suddenly, a hand stretched out from behind and firmly gripped my shoulder.

“Ah!”

I turned around, startled.

Actually, there’s only one person who would call me Sajeo, but even so, it would be stranger not to be surprised by this kind of approach.

“Wh-what? Why?”

“Why? It seemed like there was a problem, so I grabbed you.”

“No, that.”

Wasn’t he just behind me until now? How can he be so sure when he couldn’t have seen my expression?

But there really is a problem, so it’s even more embarrassing. As I failed to continue speaking, Ha Hyun narrowed his eyes.

“Is it because of what you were about to say earlier?”

“N-no, it’s not that…”

I thought about brushing it off, but at that moment I remembered that I had told Ha Hyun about my family being exterminated not long after we first met.

Right, it’s already a story he knows.

It should be fine to just be honest. My current feelings might improve if I tell someone.

“First, what I was going to say earlier was that the eldest young master seemed suspiciously strange for no reason. I thought it might be sorcery, so I suggested we go find Yu Sung Sabaek.”

“Ah…”

Ha Hyun immediately made a face of understanding.

“And then this happened right away.”

“That’s right. And just now, I was just…”

I let out a small sigh.

“Just remembering the past… The atmosphere and seeing the fire gave me a feeling similar to back then, so I felt a bit off. But strictly speaking, it’s not like someone has invaded now, so it’s okay. We need light to find people in the dark.”

As I continued speaking, I also reaffirmed to myself.

This is not a memory I experienced. It’s just in my head because I unintentionally saw what ‘Ha Heun’ went through.

I raised my gaze that had been lowered for a moment and looked at Ha Hyun again. Although I had only said it was an old memory, Ha Hyun seemed to understand what I meant, and his face quickly turned worried. He looked around with slightly troubled eyes and then spoke.

“Then why don’t you just say you’re not feeling well and go rest?”

“Don’t say such nonsense.”

Ha Hyun strangely rushes forward in situations like this. In fact, he probably knows he shouldn’t, but he sometimes blurts out such things anyway. It’s awkward to say harsh things to someone who is sincerely worried, but sometimes I wonder if this is okay.

“Then how about staying here to protect the Dan family’s children without going far? I don’t mind switching with you.”

His expression was still serious, so I sighed again and added.

“It’s better to move. Then I’ll think less about it.”

“…If you say so.”

With that conversation ended, I could finally set out to search for the real eldest young master.

Yu Baek Sabaek went to look for Yu Sung Sabaek, who hadn’t returned despite a considerable amount of time passing, and Ha Hyun stayed to protect the Dan family’s children as discussed, so Ha Jin Sajeo and I dispersed in different directions.

We found the eldest young master nearly an hour after starting the search.

The servants asked for my help as I happened to be nearby, so I was able to confirm the details of the eldest young master right after the initial discoverers.

Even though nearly dozens of people had been moving, it seemed like he really couldn’t be found, but when I heard where the eldest young master was found, I thought it made sense.

“We never thought we’d have to search there. Really…”

The servants clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

According to them, the eldest young master was crammed into a huge jar they didn’t even know existed, inside a storage room of a secluded pavilion where people rarely set foot.

‘But doesn’t that mean the culprit is inside?’

After all, they managed to take the eldest young master there without being discovered.

I kept my mouth shut for now, not wanting to dampen the servants’ excitement at finding the eldest young master, but I made sure to remember the location where he was found.

Then I checked the pulse of the real eldest young master, who was stretching his body for the first time in days. We didn’t know how long the fake eldest young master had been impersonating him, so we had to handle him carefully.

‘It would be good if Yu Baek Sabaek were here.’

But he’s not, so there’s nothing we can do.

His pulse was so faint that I could barely detect movement even after focusing intently. Upon closer examination, judging by the fact that his body wasn’t severely emaciated, it seemed he hadn’t been confined for more than three or four days.

In the dark night under the flickering torchlight, it was difficult to assess his complexion, so I gave up on that aspect. Still, I could conclude that although his body was weakened, it wasn’t to the point of imminent death.

“Hmm.”

“How is he, sir?”

Originally, I had only learned some basic first aid methods and wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about medicine.

If he had been a critically ill patient on the verge of death in just a few minutes, even I would have done something despite my inadequacy, but otherwise, my hasty intervention wouldn’t be of much help.

I handed the eldest young master back to the servants and only gave some advice.

“He’s weakened but seems to be at a level where he can recover. It would be best to have him examined properly by Sabaek when he returns. For now, take the young master, clean him up, and let him rest in a warm place. If he regains consciousness, just moisten his lips with some water. His pulse is weak, so please let him stabilize first.”

“Ah, understood!”

“I will…”

I pondered for a moment. What should I do now?

We’ve found the eldest young master, so half the problem is solved. But despite quite some time passing, the Sabaeks hadn’t returned.

I’m not sure how skilled that impostor is, but the Sabaeks are by no means weak people, so it was definitely strange that they hadn’t returned for this long.

“…I should go look for the Sabaeks.”

“Yes, I’ll relay that message.”

One person carried the eldest young master on his back, while the rest of the group surrounded him, and the servants quickly moved away.

After watching their retreating figures for a moment, I also started moving.

‘Actually, in this situation, it might be better to just follow them, but…’

I was still bothered by how the fake eldest young master had consistently shown interest in me. It’s also strange that he deliberately revealed his true identity only to me.

I was planning to go to that wall first. That person had been standing leisurely at the shadow boundary of that wall the whole time. He even told me we’d meet again while in that position, so he might have left some kind of mark.

‘I’ll check and quickly return if there’s nothing.’

It wasn’t difficult since I remembered the location. Just as I had made up my mind and was about to use my inner energy to run there.

“Please help! Master!”

A servant who had come around the corner of the rear pavilion spotted me and shouted while running as if about to fall.

“We’re under attack! The young master and young ladies! The other Hwasan master is also in danger!”