Page 29 of Gumiho Kiss
He closed his empty hand into a fist and nodded toward a group of buildings just ahead.“Is that it?”
* * *
“Yeh,” Chin Sun answered.They approached the large compound, which was situated on the southern end of Sokju.The school was a branch of the Bureau of Interpreters, responsible for both training up official interpreters and producing textbooks about the languages of Joseon’s neighbors.Most schools specialized in the language of the country nearest them, but Sokju’s school employed experts in Mandarin, Japanese, and Jurchen.Uncle was one of Sokju’s most esteemed interpreters, for he was fluent in all three languages and had single-handedly translated more foreign books than any other interpreter in Joseon.
Chin Sun smiled at Mr.Park as she made her way to the entrance gate.Her decision to try befriending the enigmatic bodyguard so she could learn his weaknesses was going well so far.The way he’d clammed up when she’d mentioned family hinted at a traumatic past, whereas the warmth in his eyes while speaking of Young Master Kang had revealed his deep respect for her betrothed.
Unfortunately, neither tidbit seemed helpful for retrieving her fox bead.She had to keep digging.Eventually, he’d share something she could exploit.
Besides, it was in her best interest to be on good terms with Mr.Park since he and Young Master Kang were friends, and she’d probably have to see him from time to time.She wasn’t being friendly because she was interested in him.
Not even a little.
Inside the compound, scholars, teachers, and servants sauntered about the grounds.A group of students circled around a teacher in the midst of a lecture about Japanese funeral rites while male servants used brooms to sweep up fallen leaves around the pavilions.The school included an examination hall, cafeteria, library, assembly hall, and various classrooms.Small storage sheds sat at the back of the compound.Beautiful red maple trees towered in clusters around the pavilions, providing lovely shaded areas for outdoor study.
Women weren’t normally allowed on campus, but Uncle’s prestige at the school allowed Chin Sun to come and go as she pleased.Not that she abused this privilege, for she knew how important Samchon’s reputation was.She’d only been to the school a half dozen times or so over the years, but taking Uncle some lunch was a great excuse to chat with Mr.Park about topics she might not otherwise have been able to.
Chin Sun meandered across the compound, keeping her pace slow.Samchon was probably in his classroom right now, preparing for his next lesson.“So, Mr.Park, how long are you?—”
A high-pitched scream rent the peaceful atmosphere, drawing several scholars and teachers outside, Uncle included.Mr.Park leaped in front of Chin Sun, while she instinctively got into a defensive stance before she remembered she was supposed to be a defenseless noblewoman right now.
“Who was that?”someone asked, nearly identical expressions of fear on everyone’s faces.
A young scholar stumbled out of the library, red streaming down his robe and face ghastly pale.He held one hand tight to his stomach, fingers drenched with blood.He stopped in front of the nearest group of scholars.
Those in the courtyard gathered around him, talking all at once.“What happened, Tae Hee-ah?”“Are you all right?”“We should call for a physician.”
The young man, Tae Hee, took a gasping breath.“Gwishin!”He gestured back to the pavilion, then collapsed on the ground, blood pooling around his body.
What?Chin Sun’s mouth went dry.An impostor?Her gaze went to the library, hand itching to grab the eunjangdo dagger concealed in her hanbok.
Mr.Park strode forward and gently rolled the scholar over, exposing what was clearly a stab wound to his stomach.He knelt down and pressed two fingers to his neck.After a moment, he rose and said in a somber voice, “Someone go to the police bureau and tell them there’s been a murder.”
The entire compound went as silent as a tomb; even the birds, which had been twittering happily up until now, seemed to sense the gravity of the announcement and ceased their songs.
When no one moved to do as he’d directed, Mr.Park clasped the nearest student’s arm.“Did you not hear me?A student has been stabbed to death.Go!”He shoved the young man toward the gate, then pulled out his hwando.“Everyone else, get to safety.Gwishin might still be on the premises.”
Panic ensued as everyone scrambled for the exit, knocking each other over in their haste.Mr.Park ducked into the library alone, a single salmon swimming against a current of chaos.Uncle spotted Chin Sun in the crowd and urged her to follow, hiking up his robe so he could move faster.
She nodded, but as soon as he turned, she hurried toward the library.Powers or no powers—she wasn’t going to run away when people were in danger.She pulled out the knife she’d brought in case of emergency, ready to cut down this impostor or die trying.
Chapter11
The Reaper
Hyun Soo barreled forward, adrenaline shooting through his veins.This was it.The chance he’d been waiting for.Gwishin wouldn’t escape him a second time, especially not now that a student lay dead who would still be alive if he’d only caught the vigilante sooner.He’d wavered the past few days, wondering whether Gwishin thought himself some sort of hero to the common people, but now Hyun Soo was certain—for a cold-blooded killer like Gwishin, justice couldn’t come swiftly enough.
He pulled open the library’s latticed door and stepped into a forest of books.Stacks upon stacks filled the shelves, hitting him with a pungent dose of their earthy scent.His eyes homed in on a red trail along the floor, so he followed it to a back corner.Where it stopped, papers lay scattered about the floor, along with a candlestick and writing brush.Signs of a struggle.
But no sign of the perpetrator.
Hyun Soo’s eyebrows drew together.The library had a single door, and no one had left after the victim.Had Gwishin gotten out before the scholar did?
Something about that conclusion didn’t make sense, but nothing about this incident was adding up.Gwishin had never been spotted in broad daylight before, nor had he ever attacked someone on school grounds.
A flash of white drew Hyun Soo’s attention back toward the front of the library.Flowing robes and a gleaming sword?—
Hyun Soo hurtled forward, blade clashing with the intruder’s before he’d even fully registered whom he was fighting.A bearded ahjussi with a large nose and crazed eyes smiled at him, his manic expression catching Hyun Soo off guard.His opponent took advantage of Hyun Soo’s distraction and knocked his sword out of his hand.
