He lives…
"So… my younger brother lives. He lives… does he not?"
Jin Musik stepped forward and seized So-un's arms with both hands.
Like a man soothing a child—yet unable to conceal the tremor beneath his gaze—he searched the boy's eyes.
"He lives… he does…"
So-un nodded, reluctantly.
He could not lie any further.
"If this truth reaches the Imperial Palace, the Jin family will be eradicated. Total ruin. The Emperor fears General Jin Mugwang's strength—his renown, his command, his victories over the barbarians. Not only the Emperor, but those who placed him upon the throne fear him as well. They will strike Jin Manor and take hostages. That is why I am here. I believe the enemy has already learned the truth. General Lee sent the summons by willow-leaf arrow because the enemy has discovered the General lives. The General is alive. I do not know where—but he lives. We staged his death. We left belongings behind and let the world believe he had fallen. We believed it would allow him to flee safely and spare Jin Manor from suspicion. General Lee departed this place to search for him. The summons has been issued. We are preparing for battle. We may not fight here—but we must establish a final defensive line, enough to buy time for the household to escape. The traps being built outside assume armored troops will advance. Even if we fight beyond the gates, the Manor must be able to endure on its own."
Jin Musik's knees weakened.
He grasped one knee tightly, the veins in his aged hand rising like cords beneath the skin.
With his other hand he seized the edge of the table.
The table did not shatter.
But his hand trembled.
"You have borne much… more than I knew. I should not lose my composure, yet… my heart moved too quickly. Tell me everything."
So-un nodded and spoke calmly.
"On the day we reached the capital—when the Chancellor came—General Jin resigned his post. We followed him. Near Mount Boku, he disappeared. He left his outer robe hanging from a tree, his shoes beneath it, and the items he always carried upon his person. We built a false grave and spread word of his death. That is why nothing has happened—until now. General Lee left men behind and went to search for him. Mere survival was not enough."
"In recent days, former members of the White Dragon Corps have begun gathering in response to the summons. This means the Emperor may already suspect the General lives. Or soon will. He will seek to erase his own miscalculation by eliminating any potential threat. Jin Manor will be struck not for rebellion—but as leverage. A hostage. If they hold the family, the General cannot act. The summons means the General has been found. It also means the Palace may know—or will know. That is why Jin Manor stands at the edge of catastrophe. We concealed this to prevent the rumor of his survival from spreading. But now… the head of this house must know."
When So-un finished, he lowered his head.
Jin Musik stroked his beard and exhaled heavily.
Moisture gathered at the corners of his eyes.
"And I knew nothing… nothing at all…"
Silence filled the room.
The devotion of the White Dragon Corps.
The quiet sacrifice of this boy.
The weight pressed against his chest.
After a long while, Jin Musik spoke again.
"Do you believe sixty men can stop the Imperial Army?"
"It will be difficult. We once shattered Gateglib's great host—but not all have gathered yet. The enemy will be many. We will likely die. But if our deaths save even one more life, we ask for nothing else. And this is only the beginning. The White Dragon summons spreads uniquely. More will come."
"Would it not be wiser to raise the white banner and surrender?"
"If we surrender, the General is bound. He would walk to the capital and offer his own head. Even then, the Manor would not be spared. They would brand us traitors and eradicate nine generations. The Black Blades would leave no one behind."
Jin Musik nodded slowly.
"Then what do you intend?"
"We hold them first. Then we endure. We withdraw if necessary. And afterward… we strike."
He did not voice the final thought.
If Jin Manor survives—
he will go to the Palace himself.
"Do you truly believe you can hold them?"
So-un lifted his eyes and nodded like a boy.
"Yes."
He did not say that he could stand alone before a thousand.
"Uncle… if you will support the preparations, it can be done."