Chapter 10
She slowly walks in the middle of the forest at night, footsteps crunching from twigs and plants littering the ground. With the full moon as her guiding light, she reaches the lake hidden in the forest. The place is serene with only the insects and birds accompanying her, she approaches the water and dips her hand, testing the feel of it. Delighted of the cold feel of the water, she looks around. When she was certain that she is alone, she begins undressing, carefully putting her clothes on the ground. With only her undergarment left, she proceeds in the water to bathe.
She plays in the water, enjoying the feel of it in her body. She laughs loud into the air, her voice being carried in the wind.
From a tree in the other side of the lake, a wounded man clutching his abdomen watches the girl bathe in the water. He stands resting hidden in the tree. He didn't mean to spy on her but he was there first.
He had been in this forest for days. It wasn't an easy route back to their kingdom but it is the shortest. With his condition right now, wounded, weak and hungry, he doesn't think he could last long. He stumbles to this lake thirsty, dreaming of drinking and bathing his wounds. He was about to step in the open when he sees her on the other side casually strolling. He went back to the trees and decided to observe. She doesn't seem dangerous, petite and pretty. Her long mahogany hair is a sharp contrast to her milky white skin. He sees her slowly undressing up to her undergarments. He glances away, trying not to peek. He doesn't want to be disrespectful to her.
A few heartbeats and he starts hearing her laughter and the splash of water, enticing him to look back. He unconsciously glances at her. With her body being outlined by the light of the moon, she looks like a deity about to ascend. He smiles, amused, the irony of the situation doesn't elude him. He's dying but all he can think about is being modest in front of a girl who doesn't even know he's there.
Slowly, unconsciousness is claiming him. He sways and falls to the ground.
She turns on her side surprised, hearing the crunching of twigs and plants. She spots him in the ground unmoving. Afraid of the man who came out of nowhere, she stills in the water, her heart pounding hard. She observes him. When the man didn't move after a while, she takes to her side of the lake, taking her clothes and running to the trees. She hurriedly puts her outer garments on her. As she walks away, she couldn't help but be curious. She hurries back to the tree and peaks at the man, he still hasn't moved. She contemplates whether to approach him or not. He looks bloodied and wounded. Her sympathy and curiosity winning over self-preservation she slowly approaches him, careful to trace her path in case she needs to run. She goes into the water and crosses the lake to the other side. She reaches him after a few minutes and sees him still unmoving. Up close his face is covered in matte blood and dried hair. She goes down to the ground beside him. She gently touches his face, parting his dried hair to the side. He looks young and serene.
Ha Jin opens her eyes to the bright room of Hae Soo. A month like this and she had became accustomed to Hae Soo's soft pillows and sunny room. She sits-up feeling groggy, her head pounding, her heart racing, her eyes narrows and her hands grasps on her bed sheet seeming to hold on into something.
Heol! These dreams had become so vivid ever since I got stuck here but why can't I remember his face every time?!
Chae Ryung announces her presence in the door and comes in, not waiting for her answer. Hae Soo had taken to sleep well into the morning that she had become used to waking Hae Soo herself. To her surprise, Hae Soo is wide-awake at this early hour, staring on her bed sheet.
"Agassi Chal Chu-mu-syeoss-eo-yo (Good morning) (1)?!"
Chae Ryung approaches Hae Soo and sits on her bed. She puts her hand on Hae Soo's forehead sensing if she is sick. Hae Soo looks at her confused.
"I'm fine Chae Ryung-ah" Ha Jin answers, taking Chae Ryung's hand away from her forehead.
"I was just worried that you might be sick seeing as I didn't need to force you to wake-up. Are you alright? Do you need anything?" Chae Ryung explains.
Ha Jin looks at Chae Ryung remembering that today is her last day here. It's the day of the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual and tonight is a full moon. She had been waiting for this day to test her theory.
She hugs Chae Ryung tight. It dawns on her that she doesn't know anything about Chae Ryung's life. There is nothing in history about her, not even a mention in passing. She feels bad that she was too busy learning about Hae Soo's life that she wasn't able to pay much attention to her friend. She breaks their hug to look at Chae Ryung.
"Chae Ryung-ah, have you ever like someone?" Ha Jin asks curious.
Chae Ryung blushes from Ha Jin's question. She thinks of the time when she was still living with her first owner the 9th prince. He had always been nice and patient with her. He had taken her in when no household would hire a small nine-year old servant. Her Prince Won might not stand out among the sons of King Taejo but to her, he would always be her prince.
"Oh! There's someone isn't it?" Ha Jin assumes, teasing Chae Ryung " Dau-me neun (later), let's have you pretty-up for the lantern festival. I'll make sure he notices you well."
Ha Jin feels that prettying Chae Ryung up is the only thing she can do for her friend before she leaves. She hopes that whoever Chae Ryung likes would appreciate her when he sees her at the festival.
Chae Ryung stands from Hae Soo's bed, flustered. She tries to hide her blushing.
"The 8th prince and Lady Myung Hee had requested for you to join them for breakfast today. Let's not keep them waiting." Chae Ryung changes their topic.
It's twilight and Ha Jin walks with Lady Myung Hee and Yeonghwa at the palace grounds. They had met with Queen Hwangbo earlier to accompany her to the courtyard of Hoegyong Hall (2) where the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual will happen.
It's Ha Jin's first time to walk inside the Manwoldae Palace (3). She can't help but be in awe with it. During the 14th century, due to the Red Turbans invasion of Korea, the palace was looted and burned to the ground. No existing paintings or writings about the palace survived. To be able to walk and experience the palace ground at its peak makes Ha Jin completely speechless. She can't believe she had opted to not come here at first since it will foil her plan but seeing the palace now lighted with hundreds of lantern and decorated with her favorite celadon ceramics everywhere, it was worth the nervousness and anxiety she's feeling right now.
Queen Hwangbo leads the four of them with YeonHwa a few steps behind to her right and Myung Hee to her left. Ha Jin loops her arms with Myung Hee's left arm, marveling over the massive wooden balustrades and bluish celadon ceramic roof tiles around her. At their back are the court ladies of Queen Hwangbo. As they pass through the gates going to the inner courtyard, they run into Lady Sukmok of Im Shik Clan, a royal consort, mother to the 10th Prince and daughter of Wang Gyu, a high ranking official of the court.
Prince Eun walks besides her mother, accompanying her. Trailing them behind their backs are Lady Sukmok's own court ladies. Both of their parties stop and give greetings to each other.
"It is a nice night to have all the royal families gather and have a feast, isn't it" Queen Hwangbo says her pleasantries.
"Yie, your highness." Lady Sukmok answers in greetings.
Eun sees Hae Soo besides Myung Hee and calls out on her.
"Hae Soo-Ya, waseo! (you came!)" Eun greets Hae Soo standing beside his mother.
"Is this the lady you've been talking about my little prince?" Lady Sukmok inclines her head to get a better view of Hae Soo behind Queen Hwangbo.
Everyone glances at Hae Soo including Queen Hwangbo.
"Yie eomonim." Eun answers happily.
Hae Soo bows in greeting, flustered to be meeting so many royalties tonight. She stands closer to Myung Hee.
Myung Hee suddenly becomes nervous. She had known that the royalties and the nobles will be gathering at the palace but she didn't anticipate to be meeting Eun's mother, whose quietly observing her Hae Soo right now. Probably considering if she's a good match for his son or not.
"Agassi neun cheong-mal ye-ppeo-yo.(You're very beautiful.)" Lady Sukmok assesses Hae Soo's physique.
Ha Jin shyly bows to thank Lady Sukmok, a few red starts coloring her cheeks.
Lady Sukmok had heard so many things about Hae Soo from her son everyday for the last month that she feels like she had known her for as long her son had. She approaches Hae Soo, observing her closer. Eun moves with his mother, standing beside Hae Soo's left and smiling.
From Lady Sukmok's point of view, Hae Soo's physique is quite good, small and not towering or dominating for his son. She has a good complexion and looks healthy enough to carry a son. She seems bubbly and bright the way Eun had described her.
Lady Sukmok extends her hand to touch Hae Soo's arms, "Why don't you visit me sometime. Let's have some tea at the pavilion behind my quarters."
"Ne, Hae Soo, you're going to love the scenery there." Eun tells Hae Soo, putting his arms over Hae Soo' right arm. He then turns to his mother and say, "I'll bring her to visit you one of these days eomonim."
Ha Jin elbows Eun to take his arms off of her, unable to say anything in response. She awkwardly smiles at Lady Sukmok unaware of her intentions. In the dim light of lanterns and the last remaining sunlight, the little change in Myung Hee's face is not noticeable.
"Omo, at this rate, our little Hae Soo would get married earlier than my Princess Yeonhwa then." Queen Hwangbo says good-naturedly, happy to be hearing a wedding in the horizon.
"Ei eomonim, gwaen-chanh-sub-ni-kka, (it's fine) I'm sure my father, the king, has a good family in mind to marry me into." Yeonhwa replies, smiling.
Yeonhwa never particularly liked Hae Soo nor did she found out about Yo's intention for pushing this marriage, having Hae Soo as an in law to the 10th prince family doesn't really affect her. So she doesn't care. It will not make Hae Soo any higher than her unless Eun becomes the next king, which she doesn't see happening at all.
"Kuereom (Then), I'll see you in the feast after the ritual? My little prince needs to run along now. Please excuse us." Lady Sukmok bows to leave her greetings.
Eun takes his hands from Hae Soo, "I'll see you later then Hae Soo-ya,"
He bows to the other ladies and their party leaves, leaving a bewildered Hae Soo in her stead.
"I guess a certain congratulations are in order?" Queen Hwangbo tells Hae Soo and Myung Hee.
"A-nim-ni-da! I mean, Jeo-song-hab-ni-da (Let me apologize) your highness, how about we get going instead. We might be late for the feast if we keep standing here." Myung Hee bows to apologize to Queen Hwangbo, changing topics.
"Yie, we should be going." Queen Hwangbo smiles to Hae Soo and turns her back to lead her party once more.
They commence walking. Ha Jin still confused, spaces out, lost in her thoughts.
"Unnie, what are they talking about?" Ha Jin whispers to Myung Hee.
Myung Hee turns to Hae Soo "Don't you have something to do in the plaza? Why don't you run along then and I'll follow you later."
Myung Hee starts worrying for Hae Soo again. She had never told her that the 3rd prince had informally proposed for the 10th prince and her engagement over dinner. She had trusted the 8th prince' word that it would not be easy to get the approval of the 10th prince' mother's clan but meeting her now and seeing her being warm to Hae Soo, Myung Hee knows Hae Soo had passed Lady Sukmok's first impression of her. She liked her Hae Soo.
"Jinjja? (really?) You're allowing me to leave unnie?" Hae Soo asks shocked, momentarily forgetting her question.
"Why don't you get your lantern at home and wait for me and the 8th prince later at the plaza. What do you say? You should enjoy the lantern festivities like every young people should." Myung Hee softly dismisses Hae Soo trying to not let her run into more of the 10th prince' family in the palace.
Ha Jin's anxiousness momentarily lifts. She'd been trying to think of ways on how to leave Myung Hee's side the whole day. She doesn't know what changed Myung Hee's mind but she thanked her luck all the same. She looks at Myung Hee, feeling the familiar separation anxiety. It would be the last time she would see her. She hugs her tight, silently saying her goodbye.
The feast commences at the courtyard of Hoegyong Hall. The whole place is decorated with black and gold ornaments. All the nobles who are watching are scattered on the corridors of the grounds. The center is turned into a stage where the princes and other performers will perform. The stairs are laid with massive black carpet with dragons and phoenix decorating it. At the top of the stairs are three thrones. The largest and positioned at the center is the king, on his right is Queen Yoo and on his left is Queen Hwangbo. The other royal consorts and court officials have their own table at the stairs, over looking the courtyard.
The princes gather at the corridor adjacent to the massive stairs waiting for their turn to perform. All of them are wearing red robes and holding their masks and swords except for Yo whose wearing a black robe with a fur collar. Yo would be playing the role of Chang Soo, a ritualist who uses spells to cast away evil spirit. He stands leaning on the wall, silently observing the grounds. He doesn't see the crown prince nor his brother So. His heart races on his chest, nervous. He looks at the performers on both sides of the courtyard, his people, masked.
The crown prince and So stands hidden in one of the corridors near the courtyard, exchanging masks and robes. Ji Mong stands a few feet away functioning as a look-out.
"I'm sorry my brother, for having you do this for me." Mu apologizes to So as he helps his brother into his robe. "Please know that I never want you in danger. I've already had a talk with our father, I'm working on not letting you go back to Shinju after this."
So looks-up to his brother, unable to say anything.
Mu was sincere when he told So before that he wants him to start living in the palace again. Even if his brother didn't agree to exchanges places with him tonight, he would still have talked to their father to bring So home.
Of the four sons of Queen Sinmyeongsunseong, Mu considers So as his closest and most favorite brother. When they were kids So is his only brother who approaches him and asks him to play. All his other brothers were either too polite or too scared of his position as crown prince. So had always treated him like a normal older brother instead of a crown prince who would compete with him in the throne someday.
When So got adopted to Shinju, Mu was six years old. He remembers asking their father why So is being sent away when it was really Yo who was originally planned to be adopted to the Kang family. He had thrown a tantrum and asked their father to bring So back but his father slapped him hard across his cheeks instead. He had never seen their father that angry and sad at the same time. He was forbidden to ask about So again.
It would be three years before So was allowed to visit in the palace. When Mu heard that So is visiting in the next few days, he was so excited. He had prepared so many stories to tell him, even asking his court ladies to prepare a sumptuous dinner for both of them. When So finally came, he was different. He is not only wearing a mask to cover the scar on his left eye but his brother seem to have gotten good at being stoic and covering his emotions. He no longer smiles nor talks a lot. He's just… there. At first he had tried to ask what happened to him but So had never answered him.
Over the years of So's visit, Mu would come to like this new So as a different person from the brother he had lost when he was six. If anything, this new brother of his is more mature beyond his age. He doesn't like to talk about himself but he always listens to whatever stories he tells him, without any judgments or reservations.
He looks at this So in front him now.
"I thought you'd finally want to come home for good." Mu finishes tying his robe on So, giving him a reassuring smile.
Mu reluctantly hands So his four-eyed mask, another pretense, another façade that would bury his brother. The irony of it doesn't escape him. He had hoped to rid him of his mask one day but all he's done is hand him another one, asking So to protect him with his life.
He clasped So's shoulder on both sides, trying to convey his sincerity of being grateful to him.
"That would be nice Hyungnim, komapsubnida." So bows in gratefulness.
The moon had risen and Ha Jin has only few hours before it gets to it's highest to the sky. She comes back to their compound and finds Chae Ryung attending to some chores. She drags her to her room and sits her in front of her vanity cabinet. She starts putting make-up on her, prettying her up.
Taking the three lanterns with them, Chae Ryung and Ha Jin walks in the plaza. The place had always been full of people but tonight is different. The plaza had came to life with different lanterns hanging everywhere, stalls of games and food are scattered around. Theater performers are staging their puppets and small plays. People are busy gathering in front of bare trees hanging their lanterns, making their wishes.
They rush from one stall to another eating and playing games. A train of people following a drum performer passes them, dancing at its wake. Ha Jin pulls Chae Ryung along side her and dances with them. As they near a bare Cherry blossom tree, Ha Jin opted to stray from the trail of people and stops in front of the tree.
"Are you going to hang your lantern now Agassi?" Chae Ryung asks catching her breath holding the lanterns.
Ha Jin nods in response still looking at the tree.
"Aren't you going to wait for Lady Myung Hee and the 8th prince?" Chae Ryung asks.
Ha Jin glances to Chae Ryung smiling melancholic, "I wish I could."
She takes one of the orange lantern from Chae Ryung, "You can have the other orange one, I have two anyway."
"Mwo? (What?) Ei Agassi" Chae Ryung reluctantly holds the two lantern in her hands, looking at it
"Wae? Su-won-i eopss-eo? (Why, don't you have a wish?)" Ha Jin raises the lantern that Chae Ryung is holding.
"Kuenyang, it's an orange lantern Agassi." Chae Ryung points out.
"And?"
"Do you really not know the meaning of it? Why do you have two anyway?" Chae Ryung ask putting her hand down.
"That one is bought by the 8th prince, this one is a gift. I didn't know the colors have meaning?" Ha Jin looks at her lantern.
Chae Ryung looks at the lantern that she's holding and then to Hae Soo. She wonders if she heard it correctly that the lantern she's holding came from the 8th prince.
"An orange lantern is to illuminate a heart's true desire, if you get it as a gift it means the person whose giving it wants you to know of their heart's feelings for you."
"Ah jinjja? (really?)" Ha Jin nods thinking of Jung.
The other night when Jung walked her into her room, they saw this lantern at the side of the door, pushed away when she quickly run out of her room earlier. Jung took it and hand it to her, he says its his gift and that he hopes he would finally remember but seeing as she isn't doing anything other than thanking him, Jung guesses that she still don't remember. He had smiled at her assuring her that it's fine. He then walked away.
Then this lantern would be a wish and apology for both of them. I hope they cherish each other well and find happiness when Hae Soo returns.
"You can have that orange lantern. Go on." Ha Jin tells Chae Ryung again.
"Eii Agassi." Chae Ryung doesn't want to take the lantern she's holding, now knowing that it came from the 8th prince.
Chae Ryung wonders if her lady understands what she just told her. Hae Soo seems to be oblivious to the fact that it was a gift from the 8th prince. A gift. She looks at her lady, thinking if she should point it out to her.
"A-ni-go-deun (It's not like that) (4), Chae Ryung-ah stop looking at me like that. I know what you're thinking." Ha Jin glances back at Chae Ryung "The 8th prince only bought me this because it matches my ribbon the other day."
Chae Ryung still couldn't stop staring at Hae Soo. She doesn't know if her lady just doesn't want to acknowledge it or she really doesn't understand it.
"Just take it, uh! It's my last gift to you. Hae bado dwaeyo (Go on, it's alright if you take it)!" Ha Jin makes Chae Ryung take the lantern no matter what.
"Why do you keep saying things like that? Like your leaving and never coming back?" Chae Ryung asks worried.
"Kue nyang. Daume neun (later), don't forget to give the purple lantern to Myung Hee unnie, alright?"
"Wae? Oedi kayo (where are you going?)" Chae Ryung asks.
"Ei just make sure unnie gets her lantern."
Chae Ryung reluctantly receives the orange lantern. Ha Jin looks around for the yardstick before Chae Ryug can ask some more questions. She sees it beside the trunk of the tree and takes it. They hang their lantern together. With eyes closed and their hands put together, they each make their wish.
Wearing the four-eyed mask and black ceremonial garment of a Fangxiangshi (5), So stands in the middle of the courtyard, surveying his grounds. In front of him is the massive stairs of Hoegyong Hall. On both of his sides are drummers lining the sides of the stage. They start playing. Nervous, he takes the two steps up the courtyard and walks to the center, starting the dance.
Over the years, under the command of his father, King Taejo, So was taken under the tutelage of General Park Soo Kyung, King Taejo's trusted general. It was to be kept secret that So is learning martial arts and sword fighting for two seasons a year.
As he stands in the middle of the courtyard, he remembers every move, every slash, the rush of adrenaline as his fork sword cuts in the air. So turns in circle and flies, losing his self in the routine. He completes the introductory dance of the ritual as his father looks at him approvingly.
From all sides, performers in white robes and masks enter the courtyard and pave the way for the entrance of the Jin Ja (6) and Chang Soo. The Jin Jas takes their place behind So.
On the top stairs, Ji Mong turns to the king and announces that the ritual is ready to commence. King Taejo gives his signal and a gong is played. Three beats and the ritual dance commence. So gracefully leads the ritual with his brothers circling him, changing places with him. A few more steps and the beat changes as the performers playing monsters are introduced. They join the princes in the courtyard. The Jin Ja scatters in the courtyard leaving the Fangxiangshi to cast the monsters away. They circle So and commences a pretend sword fight.
"The seja (crown prince) is pretty graceful with sword fighting." Queen Hwangbo observes, complimenting the crown prince.
"Mu-ya had practically lived in the battle fields since he was 14." King Taejo answers, proud of his first son.
Queen Sinmyeongsunseong starts being nervous, this is the part where their plan to assassinate the crown prince takes-off. She looks for his son Yo and sees him standing at the corner of the stage. They make eye contact.
As So chases the monsters, he began feeling anxious. Their exchange of parries is becoming fiercer. It's no longer a pretend parry. He can feel its force in his fork sword, pushing him on his feet. Pretty soon, black-clad masked men start flying in the courtyard surrounding him.
Realization catches up with everyone. This is no longer part of the staged ritual but had turned into a coup, with the masked black-clad men intending to kill the seja.
"Protect the king!" Ji Mong shouts.
Soldiers run to take their place in front of the king, forming a barricade. In the courtyard, a few masked black-clad men lunge at So all at the same time. He manages to block their sword and parries back, scattering them. Jung, Wook, Yo and Mu join So at the center, evening the fight. The masked black-clad men attack the princes scattering them from their formation. Yo manages to bring his fight beside an oblivious So. He makes an eye contact with masked black-clad man his fighting with and together they orchestrate to make it look like their still fighting but their aim is to struck at the seja. They run pointing their sword together at So. So manages to see them coming and dashes to his side, their sword grazing his left arm. He falls down. Another masked black-clad man attacks So, flying above and is about to struck him when Mu, blocks the sword and send the man flying away.
Outnumbered and out skilled, the masked black-clad men, retreats and starts flying out of the courtyard. A few more minutes and the last assassin runs out and the fighting comes to a halt. Everyone takes out their mask except for Mu and So.
King Taejo runs to the seja, worried that he was cut on his arms. He manages to reach him in the courtyard and clasps both of his shoulders asking if he's alright. He takes the mask off of him, revealing So underneath. King Taejo steps back surprised. Everyone looks at So, wondering why he had taken the role of Fangxiangshi, when it was Mu's place.
Queen Sinmyeongsunseong makes an eye contact with Yo, angry. Yo looks at his brother So, frustrated. He shouts to the soldier to catch the assassins, signaling for his people to go after their own assassins.
Wook looks back to his brother So, contemplating whether he should help him or he should go after the assassins.
"Royal soldiers, follow me!" Wook issues a command to hunt for the masked-black clad men.
"Mu-ya? Oe-di nya-go? (I said where are you?)" King Taejo looks around for his first son.
"Yeo-gi-ib-ni-da pyeha (I'm here)" Mu answers taking his mask off, feeling ashamed.
King Taejo approaches his first son, worried.
Queen Sinmyeongsunseong walks towards So. She stops in front of him. So looks up still clutching his wounded left arm.
"Eomo…"
So wasn't able to finish his word, his mother slapped him hard on the face.
"How dare you disgrace the royal family by pretending to be the seja?!" Queen Sinmyeongsunseong bends her frustration on So.
Mu runs to his brother's aid, standing in between the queen and his brother.
"I asked him to take my place." Mu turns to his father "Jeo-song-hab-ni-da Pyeha, we did not mean to disgrace the royal traditions. My brother saved my life."
King Taejo looks at his 4th son. He constantly worries for him ever since he was young but showing preference for him in front of his queen will only put So in more dangerous situation.
"I'll come after the assassins, pyeha." So stands-up and bow, dismissing his self, not wanting any more excruciating minutes in front of his family.
Ha Jin stands in front of the forest beside the plaza, gauging if she could brave the dark forest ahead. She doesn't have a lighted lantern with her. She looks up in the sky, the full moon almost reaching its highest peak.
I guess it's just the moon and I then. It's bright enough anyway. Chae Ryung says, It's not that far from the top. A little closer to the falls.
Will it be easy to find that falls? Stupid Ha Jin, losing consciousness at crucial moments like that.
She looks around making sure no one notices her. All the people are busy with merriment. She turns back to the forest. Holding onto her chima, she takes a deep breath filling her lungs with cold air. She enters the forest with only the light from the moon guiding her path.
So wonders around the forest, looking for a trace of the assassins who had opted to run there and escape. Oblivious to the pain that the cut on his arms is making, he runs as fast as he could. Thoroughly searching, tearing to the trees.
The assassins gather deep in the forest. Yo stands in front of them, counting each of the men. He had sent a group of ten assassins in the courtyard plus twelve of his own men given by his uncle. There are only nine masked black-clad men one is missing. He wonders where did the last one run to. Yo stands nervous on his feet. No one must know he was the one behind the assassins in the palace tonight.
Ha Jin trudges upward in the forest, nearing the middle. She starts hearing a gush of water to her left.
That must be the falls Chae Ryung was talking about. She says when I start hearing the gush of water nearby it means I'm near the cave already. I just have to stay in my right.
As the grounds where Ha Jin walks levels, she hears a few movement ahead. She listens. Someone seems to be talking. She veers to her right until she comes upon a group of people all clad in black, gathered. She hides to the nearest tree she could find. Against her better judgment, Ha Jin had curiously stopped to observe.
Nearing the top beside the waterfalls, an assassin chances upon So and flies above him to attack. So blocks the sword and parries back. They dance under the moon, each unwilling to stop. So full of anger, puts all his force in his sword. His madness consuming him.
Yo can't wait for the last of his assassin to come. Someone might come and discover them. He makes an eye contact with his men at the back of the assassins and signals to have them all killed.
Under the light of the moon, Ha Jin can see clearly a few men getting stabbed each by a sword. A few of them who became aware of what's happening tried to plead or run but the capable men at the back systematically barricaded around them and slashed at them indiscriminately. Shocked by what she's witnessing, Ha Jin covers her mouth, biting into her hand, stopping herself from screaming. Years of experience of watching violence in tv and movie houses had never prepared Ha Jin to witness not just one person getting killed but a group of them. She steps back panicking. She runs to the other direction scared.
So and the assassin stops exchanging parries for a moment. They circle each other nearing the cliff in the waterfalls. So's mind races as to how to keep this assassin in front of him from fleeing or dying. He needs him alive for information.
"Do you think you can get out of this forest alive?" So tries to negotiate.
Silence. The assassin continues circling with So.
"If you tell me whose behind this, I will speak to the king about a pardon for you. I am after all a prince, it is in my power to grant you one." So lowers his sword displaying trust.
The assassins just look at So unable to say anything. He waivers for a bit and looks around. He spots a girl running towards them. So side glances to where the assassin is looking and sees Ha jin coming towards them.
Ha Jin was too shocked to register where she's going. She runs with no destination in mind, completely forgetting that she needs to get to the Damiwon. Focused on not tripping on her chima and getting as far away as possible, she looks up and sees So a few meters ahead but her mind didn't register the assassin in front of him.
"There are… pe… people… de.. dead" Ha Jin stammers trying to tell So.
So was surprise to see Ha Jin in the middle of the forest. He looks at her fully, momentarily losing his focus on the assassin in front of him. The assassin uses this to dash at unaware Hae Soo and grabs her as a hostage. The assassin drags Hae Soo near the cliff of the waterfalls, putting his sword at Ha Jin's neck.
"Eomma! (mother)" Ha Jin calls out to her mother as she panics.
So couldn't believe Hae Soo's impeccable bad timing. He was getting somewhere with the assassin but with Hae Soo's sudden appearance, his efforts with the assassin flies away. He looks at Hae Soo, marveling how she had managed to survive all this time with her bad luck. He tries a different approach with the assassin.
"Chueg-yo." (kill her) So tells the assassin.
"Mwo?!" Ha Jin's eyes widens in horror.
From fleeing to a group of men being murdered to being a hostage with a blade in her neck, the gravitas of how dangerous the period she had fallen into, finally hits Ha Jin. She looks at So, fully assessing him.
He's bluffing right? He must be.
"Hae? Chuegora (You can't? Go on, kill her), she's no one anyway." So raises his sword, leveling at Hae Soo's chest. "or should I do it on my own? I could run this blade in her chest straight to you."
With two swords threatening Ha Jin, her anger suddenly flares-up. She knew she was no one in this period nor in her period but it's her life So is talking about. She had managed to survive in her time and in this time. She would never give her life that easily no matter what.
Ha Jin stills in her captor's arm, feeling the blade cutting into her neck. She looks at So with so much hatred. She will not beg for her life, not with this man, not with anyone.
Kuere, even in this period, I can't just depend on someone to save me. I will have to save myself on my own.
Ha Jin starts observing her environment. In her front is the vast dark forest hiding the dead bodies of the people she had seen murdered. At her back is the waterfalls, high and cold. An idea occurs to Ha Jin.
Does it really need to be the Damiwon? All I need to do is drown myself under a full moon right?
Will the fall kill Hae Soo?
Ah mol-la (nevermind)! I'm dying anyway. Better that it's my choice.
So observes Hae Soo, sensing that something had changed in her. He was sure that she wanted to be saved a while ago but now she seems to not care anymore. He tries to step closer, his sword still at Hae Soo's chest. The assassin backs a few steps to the cliff, dragging Hae Soo with him but Hae Soo seems to not care. She had looked at him with so much hate, sending a chill up his chest. He had never seen a cold Hae Soo before not even after she saw him lost control at the market. As So temporarily waivers, bringing his sword an inch down, the assassin loosens his blade around Ha Jin's neck. Ha Jin is about to make her move, when a flying knife struck downs her captors' forehead, instantly killing him.
Wook arrives with the royal soldiers, saving Hae Soo at a nick of time. As the assassin falls, Ha Jin lets herself be drag down to the cliff, falling into the cold dark water below.
"Andwae!" (NO!)
So runs after a falling Hae Soo, reaching for her. He throws his sword to the ground and jumps after her without any hesitation.
1 a form of good morning which literally means "did you sleep well"
2 throne room
3 official royale palace during Goryeo
4 It doesn't have a direct English word, its somewhere along "I told you it's not true", an emphasis on refuting the former statement that the other person just said.
5 a monster-hunter acting as representative of the rite
6 the princes who celebrate the ritual
Editor's note:
Mianheyo T_T between writing chap 8 and publishing chap 9, something feels off with the succession of events that I was writing. I wasn't supposed to write about the Lantern Festival yet. I was so focused with writing Baek-Ah and Myung Hee's back story and establishing the myth of the daughter of the moon that I totally forgot that the Lantern Festival happens during May and not November. After I published chap 9, I've re-watched ep 2 and 3 and finally found out what's wrong with my story. It was the mask festival that is simultaneously happening with the Spiritual Cleansing Ritual and not the lantern festival. I'm so sorry for the inaccuracy. Since I can't take it back, we'll just go with the lantern festival at this time. :(
I can't find the 10th Prince's mother's name anywhere. I just assumed that since Taejo married Lady Sukmok after Lady Dongyangwon of the Pyeongsan Yu clan (Won's mother) and she has one son, I made her Eun's mother. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Thanks for reading! I'll try to do a better job next time.