Page 13 of Gumiho Kiss
“His presence was most comforting,” Sang Mi interjected.
Chin Sun’s hand slipped, but she barely noticed the broth that sloshed out of her bowl.She glanced at Sang Mi, but the girl was focused on Uncle.
“After all these Gwi—” She cut off at her father’s sharp look, then stumbled onward.“Uhh ...sightings, I was glad to have him there to keep us safe.”
Heat rose in Chin Sun’s belly.If Sang Mi had just kept her mouth shut, she could have gotten rid of Mr.Park and not had to worry about him anymore.Why had she gone and?—
“Is that true, Chin Sun?”Samchon turned, a single eyebrow raised.
“Y-yeh, of course.”She smoothed away the anger from her expression, though it still blew over her heart.Sang Mi had unwittingly backed Chin Sun into a corner; now there was no way she could share what had happened with the bandits without exposing her cousin’s lie.
“Hmm ...”Uncle took a bite of cucumber, chewing it slowly as he continued to watch her.
Chin Sun smiled innocently until he looked away and directed another school-related question to Sang Ook.She tried not to sigh in relief.
Did I say something wrong?Sang Mi mouthed across the table.
Chin Sun broke eye contact, too frustrated to give her a response.Covering up for her cousin was taking more of a toll than she wished.
When the meal came to a close, Chin Sun announced, “I believe I shall retire for the evening.”
“Did you not want to read with me?”Sang Mi asked.The two of them had a habit of enjoying stories together in the evenings whenever Chin Sun brought home a new book.It was also a good time to discuss the things they didn’t want Samchon or Sang Ook to know about, which mostly involved Sang Mi’s frequent romantic interests.
Chin Sun shook her head.“I have a slight headache coming on.Forgive me.”
Her voice was perfectly sweet, concealing the bitterness swimming through her thoughts.Sang Mi may be ready to talk now after ignoring her all afternoon, but the girl’s impulsiveness had ruined Chin Sun’s mood.Perhaps it would do her good to be the one snubbed this time.
Aren’t you being rather petty, Chin Sun?her conscience argued.
She brushed aside the invoked twinge of guilt.She had the right to be petty after all the trouble Sang Mi had caused.
Uncle frowned.Chin Sun wasn’t prone to poor health, so even something as mild as a headache must have sounded odd to him.“Should I ask Ah In to bring you some tea?”
She shook her head a little too strongly.“No, I should be fine once I get some rest.Thank you, Samchon.”She bowed and took her leave, ignoring Sang Mi’s puzzled brow.
* * *
The sky was coated with pearly white stars when Chin Sun crept into the courtyard, then leaped over the wall and onto the main road.She’d observed Mr.Park patrolling the property for almost an hour before she’d made her move.He always paused in his sweep when he reached the back of the manor, giving her ample time to slip out unseen.
No men besides police officers were about now, for it was after curfew and only women were allowed on the city’s streets.On three occasions, patrolmen marched by, so she hid behind the nearest building until their clomping footsteps faded into the night.She knew the officers’ routes so well now, she could practically skirt by them in her sleep.
She told herself to stay alert.Her carelessness at the magistrate’s office had given her the wound in her shoulder.She didn’t want any further mistakes.
The injured area was still very tender, but the brief skirmish this afternoon didn’t seem to have done her any harm.She didn’t like admitting it, but it had been a good thing Mr.Park was there.While she could have taken them all on and won, she may not have been able to walk away unscathed.Especially not while pretending to be a delicate noblewoman.
By all rights, she should still be resting, but the conversation she’d overheard at the magistrate’s office contained valuable information Min Joon would want to know about.
“In ten days’ time, meet at the agreed-upon location to trade,” Hong whispered, his Japanese so stilted Chin Sun almost couldn’t decipher it.
“What guarantee do we have that you’ll be there?”the pirate asked.
Hong didn’t speak for a moment.“How could you doubt me when my entire reputation is on the line?”His voice was low, angry.“You just make sure all the sulfur is ready for transport.”
If the pirates were smuggling sulfur into the country, it could only be for a single purpose: gunpowder.What Hong needed it for, Chin Sun had no idea, but if she got the information to Min Joon quickly enough, perhaps he could intercept the goods and stop whatever the magistrate was planning.Or maybe he’d want to watch the exchange to find out where the sulfur was being delivered.Either way, all she needed to do for now was drop her note off at the abandoned hut at the edge of the woods, then she could sneak back into her bedroom and get some much-needed rest.
Chin Sun hadn’t been to the hut since Min Joon had tipped her off about the magistrate’s clandestine meeting.The inspector lacked Gwishin’s stealth and had asked her to listen in on Hong’s conversation.He’d also advised her to be discreet, which certainlyhadn’thappened, so he would probably give her a good tongue-lashing the next time they met.
The moon was bright as Chin Sun arrived and stepped into the straw-roofed hut, illuminating the dark space and casting ominous shadows along the inner walls.Neatly stacked papers rested atop an old table, along with a small lantern ready for use.Two chairs leaned against the wall nearby.
