Chapter 6.5: He who Protects the Future Part II

Author's Notes: Really sorry about the division, but before I knew it I already had thirteen thousand words and I was not even done yet, thus I decided to post the first nine thousand as part 1.

To:alwaysfaith That is actually a wonderful suggestion, it would give the scene a deeper sense of emotion. I've edited chapter 6 to incorporate some of your ideas, I hope you don't mind.

To:faith2012 I'm so glad you like it, I had so many doubts about Part 1 that I really didn't want to put it up by itself as it didn't contain much that impacts the couple. But I really wanted to explore more about Eun Soo as the original series hardly scratched the surface of her character. I still have hopes that Song Ji Na will write volume 3 of Faith so we can get more insight to Eun Soo's character. As I said previously, I really love Eun Soo.

Disclaimer: A Korean wedding can be a very complicated thing. From gift giving to ceremonial rituals, I've done extensive research and watched countless of videos, the more I know, the more dizzy I become. I'm sorry, but I just can't do it. Especially since CY doesn't have any family present, so it would be kinda sad to follow any tradition as a Korean wedding is a union of two families and not just two people. So what I have is a more simplified modern version instead (a lot of modern Koreans also do it this way), otherwise you guys will have to wait a few more months for this chapter to be done. So please understand. Also the same disclaimer from previous chapters apply.

edits: Changed the way Eun Soo calls her father from 'appa' to 'abeoji' to stay true with the tv series version, also added a back hug and etc in the library scene courtesy of alwaysfaith.

...

"The temple is gone." Eun Soo looked at Choi Young in fear. "It was supposed to be here but now its gone. I think we have changed the future."

Choi Young tightened his hold on her shoulders as she seemed to be lost in her fears. "Imja, this change you are talking about, what harm does it do?"

The question made Eun Soo hold her fears at bay as she began to think. Well, they lost a valuable cultural heritage, but aside from that it didn't really affect anything much. What she was most concerned about were its implications to Choi Young's future.

"Let's go back home." Eun Soo said as she started walking back. "I need to check the history books for more information." Choi Young followed.

As soon as they got back, Eun Soo rushed to Choi Young's room to look for her history books. Most of the books in the shelves were about medicine but she knew she kept her old textbooks as well so it must be there somewhere.

Choi Young looked at the books with her although he didn't really know what it was she was looking for. He couldn't read any of the texts on the books anyway so he merely looked at them to occupy himself as he didn't want to bother her.

Finally Eun Soo found one and began skimming through the pages. When she gave a sigh of relief, Choi Young felt relieved as well. He wasn't sure about what really worried her but he guessed it was something about what they had left behind in Goryeo.

"That is the book that records the events on earth?" Choi Young asked.

"It's a book that records history, yes." Eun Soo responded. "You are still in history and it still says we managed to take back Gaegyeong so everything should be fine. This means we are still able to go back."

Eun Soo was finally smiling again and this lightened Choi Young's heart. However, the news that they had to take back Gaegyeong meant they had lost the war and he wasn't too happy about that.

"It's okay." Eun Soo reassured him. "The King is safe. He still rules Goryeo, so everything is going to be fine."

"What King?"

Eun Soon turned towards the speaker and saw her mother on the doorway. Seo Yun had seen Eun Soo rush inside the house and unable to fight against her curiosity had decided to check on what her daughter was up to.

"I was just telling Choi Young something about history." Eun Soo lied as she closed the textbook and placed it on her hand bag.

And what would that have to do with assuring Choi Young that the King was safe? Seo Yeon thought to herself but she let it go. She'd sensed from before that her daughter was hiding something. And a wedding in a weeks time, there was definitely something behind it. However, she was going to believe in her daughter. If it was something she needed to know about then Eun Soo would tell her.

"You need to book the function hall and choose from the menu options." Seo Yun said waiving a list in her hands.

Eun Soo immediately went to her mother to take the list from her. She waived the list at Choi Young. "Now food, this is the part I cannot miss." she said as she walked towards Choi Young's bed and flopped down onto it. "Hmmm... they seem to have more choices than I thought they would."

Choi Young looked at Eun Soo then at her mother. He expected disapproval in her mother's eyes at Eun Soo's actions but instead there was a tender longing on her face that made Choi Young wonder at her thoughts.

"You need to help me with these decisions too oppa." Seo Yun had flopped down on that same bed Eun Soo was sitting on. The man she was talking to was lying face down on one side of the bed with a book in his hands. He seemed to be deep in study but he still turned to her to give her a smile.

Seo Yun shook her head away from her thoughts as she faced Choi Young. "You need to watch what she chooses, else she'll order enough to feed a battalion." And then she left.

Choi Young sighed as he walked over to where Eun Soo sat. It seemed Eun Soo's parents were as unpredictable as their daughter. Eun Soo had the papers pressed in the bed and her head was bent down in concentration, marking circles on some items. She seemed to have already marked a lot. "Your mother said not to get too much."

Eun Soo raised her head and gave him an innocent look. "I'm not." Then she looked back down to encircle another item. "I'm just making sure we have enough. Don't worry I might not be good at cooking but I am an expert when it comes to eating."

Choi Young could only shake his head as he chuckled to himself. How her mother expected him to stop Eun Soo from doing anything was beyond him. He would rather fight the entire Red Turban army than have an argument with her.

Then she was suddenly standing and calling for him to follow. "Let's go book the function hall."

...

The next day the whole village was in a buzz with excitement. The village was small so as soon as their one and only function hall was booked everyone became a party to their wedding. The excitement was such that it seemed like they were preparing for a festival.

The moment Eun Soo got out of her room she was swept away by three girls who immediately started talking about gowns and cakes and flowers. One of the girls who was the oldest of the group at age twenty-one, was the tailor shop owner's daughter and she had brought with her piles of white cloth for Eun Soo to choose from.

Eun Soo was sitting on the couch with the piles of cloth between her and the tailor's daughter who sat at the other end. The other two girls sat on the mat on the floor facing her.

"We don't usually make wedding gowns without a month's notice at least, but eomma said she would make it in five days time so euisanim can try it on." The girl said excitedly. Eun Soo remembered her name was Hwan Mi Ran, she was but a little kid when Eun Soo last saw her however, she knew her mother Hae Chae Won quite well.

Even as a child Eun Soo was someone who could not sit still. There wasn't much to do in the village as such she had tried all the jobs there was to try. Sewing was one of those things she did not excel at, however she still came to the shop to admire the dress designs as well as entertain everyone with enchanting stories which the seamstresses proclaimed had inspired their creativity.

The other girl Lee Seung Ah was nineteen and was learning the ropes to take over her family's bakery. "Appa said he can't leave euisanim to make her own cake because it might look like melted ice cream." She said this in a shy, almost fearful voice. But she smiled when Eun Soo laughed.

Eun Soo remembered the village baker Lee Ki Moon shouting at her to leave as he was loosing profit with her help. He had such a temper. Though she had broken more eggs into the floor than into the bowl so his wrath was actually justified. But Eun Soo still came by every Sunday, and despite Ki Moon's grumbling the child had been a ray of light in his otherwise austere life after loosing his wife during childbirth. They had only been married for a year and the loss had almost broken him apart.

Jo Soo Hee however was more excited about something else rather than the wedding. She was the daughter of Jo Dae Su, owner of the village supermarket and the richest person in their area. His younger brother Jo Dong Ha had been Eun Soo's crush for the longest time and Dae Su had never failed to tease Eun Soo about it. Like Seung Ah, Soo Hee was nineteen.

"Euisanim, please tell us how you met each other." Soo Hee's eyes were bright with curiosity. "I heard euisanim's groom is really hot. The girls at the function hall said so. Where is he from? Does he have any siblings?"

"Soo Hee-yah that's not very polite." Mi Ran reprimanded glaring at the younger girl.

"That's alright." Eun Soo said with a smile in her voice. "And you don't have to address me so formally. We are all family here, so can you call me eonni instead?" The girls nodded happily.

She could understand the craving for excitement that the girls felt, she knew life in the village could be stiffing and anything new was a welcomed diversion. "I really hated him when I met him." Eun Soo started, the storyteller in her getting into the mood. "I called him a psychopath because he had such cold eyes so devoid of emotion. He commanded me to follow him and cure someone as if he owned me, he made me so angry."

Instead of being repelled by the description the girls seemed to be more intrigued and thrilled. "So how did the two of you fall in love?" Seung Ah asked forgetting her shyness as her curiosity for romance got the better of her.

Eun Soo actually had to think about it. "I'm not really sure." She looked at the girls' confused faces and explained. "Even though I hated him, and was extremely mad at him, I couldn't stay away. I was always concerned about him, always wanted to see him, always wanted to be near him... I must have been the crazy one, right?" she said with a chuckle.

But the three girls were shaking their heads in disagreement. "I think that is so romantic." Seung Ah said with a sigh.

"So when Eun Soo-eonni was no longer angry at him, you realized what's left is just wanting to be with him." Mi Ran said concluding Eun Soo's story herself, clutching dramatically at her heart.

"So how did you find out he loved you? Did he confess? How?" Soo Hee was always the more aggressive of the three and spoke boldly.

Eun Soo thought for a moment before she replied. "Well, there was this other person who wanted to marry me for his own convenient reasons and Choi Young-ssi came barging in asking me to stay with him instead."

The statement made the girls giddy with excitement. But Soo Hee wasn't done with her questions. "Did Eun Soo-eonni really plan to marry that other person."

"Of course not." Eun Soo replied without pause this time. "But he was a really powerful person and I didn't want him to use his authority to hurt Choi Young."

"He is not going to appear here and try to stop your wedding, right?" Mi Ran's eyes were now wide with concern. "Is this the reason why Eun Soo-eonni is trying to wed in haste?"

Eun Soo brought her index finger to her lips as if letting the girls know it was their secret. The girls nodded their heads in eager support. "But you don't need to worry, Choi Young-ssi has served the army for years, he is a really good fighter and he has powerful connections as well, so we should be alright. He has always protected me." Eun Soo reassured them with a smile.

"As a person named after the great general, Eun Soo-eonni's groom seem to be just as cool like in the books." Mi Ran said in awe.

"Maybe I should go get a career in the city like Eun Soo-eonni so I can meet a man." Soo Hee spoke passionately. "Are there plenty of men like him in Seoul?"

Eun Soo smiled at the question. "Not that I know of. But then I didn't really meet him in Seoul." She told them with a wink which made them more wide eyed.

"Who did you not meet in Seoul?" Choi Young had just entered the living room to see Eun Soo surrounded by giggling young girls. At first he had thought to just leave them alone as he didn't really want to get involved in talks between the female gender. However when she mentioned meeting someone in Seoul he became curious as to what she was talking about.

Eun Soo's smile brightened further as she turned towards him. "I was just telling them about how I met you."

Choi Young looked at her in disbelief. "Really?"

This made Eun Soo laugh. "Don't worry I left out the gory details and just gave them tidbits of information." She said the last part to the girls with another wink seeing as they were now gaping at Choi Young as if seeing a celebrity. "Anyway, girls meet Choi Young. And this is Mi Ran, Soo Hee and Seung Ah, they are currently helping me with the wedding preparations."

Soo Hee immediately rose and offered her hand. "So nice to meet you."

Remembering what Eun Soo told him about a handshake, Choi Young took her offered hand in a light grasp which she immediately shook up and down. The other girls followed suit.

"The girls at the function hall were not lying, you are so hot!" Soo Hee blurted out just as the last handshake was done which made her friends look at her in aghast. Mi Ran pushed her back down on the floor afraid of what she may say next. She looked at Choi Young in silent apology, not knowing what to say. Seung Ah sat back down with Soo Hee, clutching at her arm.

Choi Young looked at Eun Soo in confusion. She was watching the whole scenario in amusement. "She just told you that they find you extremely attractive." Eun Soo explained.

He looked really uncomfortable upon hearing her words that it made Eun Soo almost take pity on him, but he actually faced the girls and bowed his head in their direction. "Thank you." he said which made the girls blush uncontrollably.

Eun Soo pulled at Choi Young's sleeve laughter still alight in her eyes. "I think you should get out of here before they drop dead in your feet."

Choi Young left still befuddled by what had just transpired. The preparations continued with the girls continuously asking Eun Soo questions about Choi Young. Soon the whole village was talking about nothing but the couple and their wedding.

...

"You look so beautiful." Seo Yun said with misty eyes as Mi Ran finished putting on the final touches of Eun Soo's make up. The four of them including Soo Hee were in the function hall's female dressing room getting Eun Soo prepped for her wedding.

Eun Soo's wedding gown was a gorgeous mix of a modern wedding gown and a Korean Hanbok. The top was a tube in glittering mother of pearl colors, that left her shoulders bare. A thin pale yellow ribbon was tied into a bow just below her left breast with one ribbon's tail reaching the tip of the gown that had sunk into the floor, while the other only reaching halfway. Laces in the form of flowers trailed from on top of her left breast up until the bow and then splitting into a huge balloon of coverings into the sides, meeting on the back in a long trail. The skirt was in shears like that of a traditional hanbok all in pure white with the laces falling over it. The gown was really long that even with high heels, it covered both Eun Soo's shoes.

On her neck was a simple diamond collar necklace and she wore diamond earrings in the form of teardrops.

Eun Soo looked towards the door expecting Choi Young to appear but it was still closed. It had taken her awhile to get ready so he should be done by now. This had been the tenth time she had glanced at the door. Why was he not here to come and get her yet?

Her apprehension at having Choi Young out of her sight for too long was something new to Eun Soo. Back in Goryeo, she had always been good at occupying herself with other things whenever he was away. But the incident with Taizu had her on edge and made her afraid that he would somehow disappear back to the past without her.

She strode towards the door and opened it hoping that he was merely waiting outside. When she didn't find him there she decided to walk to the men's dressing room instead.

"Wait Eun Soo-yah, where are you going?" Her mother called. But Eun Soo merely pulled her dress up and began walking faster.

"She never does anything if she doesn't understand the reason for it." Jo Dong Ha said with a laugh. "Even our teachers had a hard time telling her to do anything, but she got really good grades, so they all loved her."

Dong Ha had been helping Choi Young with his suit but they had been done a long time ago. Choi Young had on a three piece white tuxedo. The jacket was white with a light gray lining at the collar that went down to the waist line, the color of which complemented the light gray vest. The rest, including the pants, shirt and even the bow tie was all white.

Upon finishing, Dong Ha declared that it was still too early and that Eun Soo was probably still getting ready. Although he wanted to see her, Choi Young instead leaned on the closet door listening more on Dong Ha's stories about Eun Soo.

In the past few days, he had heard so many tales of her childhood and teenage days that he could probably write a book about it. She was like a whirlwind, except that instead of leaving destruction at her wake, she left smiling faces instead.

"But at the same time she always has to do something." Dong Ha was chattering on. "If she believed something was unjustified, she could not leave it alone. If it weren't for that audaciousness, she probably would have become the most popular girl in school, seeing that she had both beauty and smarts."

Choi Young had began to feel uncomfortable. He always loved hearing about Eun Soo, although he'd mostly gotten stories about her through married couples who were about ten to twenty years her senior, some have also been from women her age who had gone to school with her. But for some reason, hearing it from a man her age who seem to actually know her so much didn't sit so well with him.

He was about to suggest they wait outside her dressing room when the door opened slightly and a head peeked in.

"Imja?" Choi Young said in surprise.

She opened the door wide as she entered in her full wedding glory, marching up to him in annoyance. "What's taking you so long?"

Dong Ha who had been gaping at Eun Soo as soon as she had barged in, quickly checked his watch. "But we are still thirty minutes early for the photography session."

Eun Soo glanced at him as if just noticing he was there. "Dong Ha-yah, your niece needs help with something. Go help her out."

Dong Ha looked dubious. "Soo Hee? What would she need me for? Where is she anyway?"

Eun Soo was looking at him as if he had gone daft. "Just go?"

Dong Ha finally understood. "Ah! I'm sorry," he told Choi Young. "I need to go help my niece, see you later." he said as he left in a rush. But he stopped as soon as he got to the door and he chuckled as he addressed Eun Soo. "You still haven't changed a single bit Eun Soo-yah." he said before he left, closing the door behind him.

As soon as the door closed, Choi Young walked towards Eun Soo, looking her over. She had never looked so beautiful as she was today. Her red hair was draped in curls on her right shoulder, with some of her hair piled on top of her head leaving small curls to fall and frame her face.

Her lips were tinted in a light shade of orange, almost like the sky during sunrise. And her shoulders and arms were bare except for her jewelry. He quickly pulled his thoughts away from her bare skin as he looked into her eyes. "Dong Ha was just telling me more stories about you."

Eun Soo frowned at that. "And what did he say?"

"He said you were both smart and beautiful." Choi Young said nonchalantly. "He seems to like you a lot."

Eun Soo gave a small laugh. "We were really close when we were in grade school, then he turned sixteen and started liking demure and sweet girls." Eun Soo shook her head at the memory. "I would actually make him lunch boxes and tail him around in campus trying to get his heart back, I even posted a picture of him in my room... I must have been crazy to do that." She said the last words softly as if speaking to herself. "But he was both rich and popular and..."

"Imja." Choi Young interrupted as he took another step towards her so there was almost no space between them. "I don't really want to hear anything about him."

Eun Soo narrowed her eyes contemplating what he just said. Then she moved her head from side to side as if trying to study his expression. "Whoa, are you jealous?" she said in a teasing voice.

Choi Young didn't answer. It was illogical, he knew. It wasn't as if he believed Eun Soo was still attracted to the man, it might be arrogant of him, but he was confident that Eun Soo cared about him more than anyone else, past or present.

It had nothing to do with that at all. It was just that the thought that she had shared so much more memories with another man other than him twisted at his heart. It was not something that she had control of and definitely not something she could change, so there was no logic at all to feeling the way he did. And yet, he could not stop his heart from aching while she talked about that person.

Eun Soo had not really believed it to be true when she'd teased him, but when he didn't say anything she began to regret telling him about Dong Ha. Thinking about it, she felt stupid. It was their wedding day so why in the heavens would she even talk about a topic like that.

It became one of those very rare moments when she was rendered speechless. She wanted to explain but what was there to say? She knew he wasn't jealous about her relationship with Dong Ha, a man who would wait four years for a woman was not that kind of insecure person, which left only one thing, he was not happy about her memories with him.

Hence, she decided to skip the topic for now. She moved a step back and twirled in front of him. "So what do you think of my dress?"

Choi Young actually frowned at her question. In Goryeo, only Kisaengs would dare show as much skin. But then he had seen Eun Soo on what she called 'shorts' and a 'tank top'. At that time he had wanted to cover her with a blanket but everyone seemed to think it was normal so he had resisted the urge.

Although he'd tolerated her clothing habits since they were in her world, he still did not understand how men in heaven could allow having their women be so exposed. Plenty of times when he saw men gawking at her in wrong places, he wanted to cover her up or slash their eyes, or both.

However, he could not deny that she looked extremely beautiful in the dress. He met her eyes and gave her a slight smile. "You look like something that came out of a mystical painting."

The compliment surprised Eun Soo. But then she smiled back. "You look really gorgeous as well, you will probably have all the girls swooning before the wedding is through."

Choi Young sighed. "I think I've just lost all my dignity as a warrior."

Eun Soo laughed at that. Then she encircled her arms around his waist and spoke whilst looking down at his chest. "You know, I have so many good memories both in this world and in Goryeo, but do you know what the happiest memory in my life is?"

Then she raised her head to meet his eyes not waiting for him to speak. "It was the moment when you asked me to stay with you. And that memory overshadows any other that I've had in my life."

Choi Young felt overwhelmed with emotion at her words. He raised his right hand to touch her cheek.

Eun Soo eyes were locked into his. "Let's make more memories together." It was a promise, and Choi Young nodded unable to get any word out.

At that moment the door opened and Mi Ran peeked in. "I'm sorry to bother you guys but you need to get down for the photo session."

Eun Soo smiled before she released her arms from his waist. Then she turned to follow Mi Ran with Choi Young walking behind her.

...

The function hall was a multipurpose facility used by the village for multiple events, weddings included. Thus, they had everything prepared to make the room quite similar to that of a wedding hall. The aisle was set in the middle between rows of seats which usually separated the bride and groom's guests.

In this case, the seats were filled by everyone in the village who could attend without care to which side of the family the guests belonged to. Eun Soo's mother was seated in the front seat with another empty seat beside her reserved for her husband. Seo Yun had on a traditional hanbok unlike her husband who was wearing a black modern tux.

The announcer, who was a plump man in his forties, took his position on the side of the stage to start the ceremony.

"The wedding of Choi Young and Yoo Eun Soo will now commence. The honorable Gwon Nam Il will preside as churye (Master of Ceremonies)."

Gwon Nam Il was also the village's Saemaul leader and was a close friend of Eun Soo's father. In most weddings, it was the groom's family who actually chose the churye but the whole village had taken Choi Young as one of their own, just like Eun Soo's family, and all family divisions have been set aside.

"The groom will now enter the hall." The announcer continued after the churye took his place at the podium which was at the center of the small stage. A soft processional music started to play.

Choi Young walked down the aisle in quick, long strides which was met with sweet sighs by some of the girls seating on the sides. The serious expression on his face did not change their mood at all as they gushed about his good looks.

The moment he reached the podium, he gave a small bow to the churye before turning to face the entrance.

"The bride will now enter the hall." This time the music changed to something louder but with a slower beat and Eun Soo entered the door to walk down the aisle, escorted by her father.

Unlike Choi Young, Eun Soo's steps were slow. The aisle was quite narrow and her gown was huge and heavy. A long veil had been placed on top of her hair and she held a bouquet of white and yellow cornelian cherry blossoms.

Eun Soo's eyes misted as soon as she entered the hall. Eun Soo was not the type of person who cried at weddings. Although the wedding this time was her own, it wasn't the occasion that made her so emotional.

She had not seen the wedding hall since yesterday when they came to get instructions on how the wedding would progress, thus the bouquets of yellow aster flowers that decorated the sides of the aisles took her completely by surprise.

Aster was not a flower that grew in their area and she wondered how Choi Young managed to get so many of them. Her eyes met Choi Young's who gave her a small smile as he waited near the side of the podium. Her eyes never left his during the whole procession as she did her best not to cry at the thought of the flowers.

But the memories swirled all over her starting with when she had offered him the flower as a gift, then finding out he had kept the flower inside the aspirin bottle, up to her desperation to send him a message by planting the flowers on the spot that he had laid dying. Then she remembered the flowers swaying beside the tree where she found him waiting for her.

Before she knew it, she was standing before Choi Young and he was offering his arm for her to take. She clutched at his arm as if it were a lifeline. Ho Jun took the seat beside his wife.

"Thank you." Eun Soo whispered as soon as her father left the stage.

Choi Young looked at her as if asking: For what?

"For waiting for me all those years."

"I will always wait for you, even if it takes forver." Choi Young was smiling down at her as he spoke the words.

Eun Soo felt like she was going to bawl her eyes out and was thankful when the announcer spoke, cutting through her thoughts.

"The bride and groom will now bow to each other."

Eun Soo released her hold on Choi Young's arm as they gave each other respectful bows. Then they turned to face the churye. The next events went like a blur to Eun Soo. The churye read their vows which they both affirmed. Rings were exchanged, then a chaste kiss, after which the churye gave his words of wisdom for the couple. And then it was over.

"The bride and groom will now give their greetings."

Eun Soo and Choi Young both faced Eun Soo's parents first and gave a deep bow. Then they faced everyone and gave another bow. The guests applauded and the recessional music was played as Choi Young and Eun Soo walked down the aisle, this time as man and wife.

...

Eun Soo was drunk. After the wedding reception the couple, along with Eun Soo's parents went home and that's when Eun Soo started a drinking session.

As Ho Jun could not drink much, Eun Soo delighted at taking his share of drinks and it wasn't long before she was already slurring her words. Seo Yun had no compunction against drinking but she seemed to have more tolerance to alchohol than her daughter as she managed to drink as well as serve heaps of food at the table.

"Not once have I ever imagined myself marrying a warrior." Eun Soo told Choi Young as she waved her bottle at him. She had stopped pouring from awhile back and had started to just drink from the bottle. "Especially not one that came out from history books."

"Imja, you are talking nonsense now." Choi Young pried the bottle away from her grasp, at least he tried to as being drunk seem to have given her more strength as she pulled the bottle and drank from it instead.

Choi Young gave her parents an apologetic look which Ho Jun answered with a laugh. "We are the ones that's sorry for giving you such a troublesome daughter."

"What?" Eun Soo said glaring at them. "I'm a wonderful daughter. I study hard, I work all day, and still I managed to bring you this amazing man who believes in loyalty and duty. Isn't he something? How did you manage to get all those aster flowers anyway?"

"The people in the village helped me with it." Choi Young finally managed to pull the bottle away from her. "That's enough drinks for you!"

But Seo Yun was laughing. "I hope your new wife doesn't drive you insane before you even start your marriage."

"Hey, I'm a good wife." Eun Soo grumbled as she reached out for a new unopened bottle. "As long as you feed me well that is." she was smiling drunkenly at him as she said this and Choi Young chuckled despite himself.

Since when had it been that he found smiling and laughing as a norm each day? This smiling person beside him was now his wife, and that alone filled his heart with so much joy that smiling and laughing alone was not enough to express it.

A knock came to the door and Choi Young volunteered to answer it seeing as Seo Yun was busy keeping the bottles out of Eun Soo's reach. He was surprised when a child stood behind the door. It was one of the kids in the village, Choi Young had seen him before.

"There is a man who wants to see you. He said he will be waiting at the cornelian cherry tree near the greenhouse."

Choi Young wasn't sure the kid got the right person. He had met a lot of acquaintances in the week he had been in the village and they had all been really friendly. But he could not think of one who he was close enough to actually ask to go meet him at this time of night.

"Are you sure the message is for me?"

The kid nodded then passed him a piece of paper before turning to walk away.

Choi Young eyes followed the retreating figure before opening the piece of paper. He might need to have Eun Soo read the message for him. But Choi Young paled as soon as he saw the characters in the paper. It was in Chinese and it read: Has the General abandoned his King?

Choi Young looked into the direction of the living room and saw his in-laws were busy keeping Eun Soo away from more alchohol. He slipped out of the door and slid it close behind him.

The greenhouse wasn't very far from Eun Soo's house and soon the single cornelian cherry tree was in view. It was about eight in the evening and it was already dark outside, but he could still clearly see the figure of a man leaning on the tree.

Choi Young studied the man as soon as his features became clearly visible. He was not someone he had met before. He was in black jeans and a black shirt thus he didn't really look like someone who came from his world either. However, Choi Young was wearing jeans himself so he could not be really sure.

"You sent me a message." Choi Young spoke first.

Taizu had been observing Choi Young as he approached. Even in modern clothing, the man still exuded strength and power. However there was a slight difference to the intensity of his aura. It felt calming instead of fierce.

Taizu stopped leaning on the tree to face Choi Young. "Yes, unfortunately I cannot delay any longer than this. Anything past tomorrow will open a portal to a different time and then it will be too late."

Choi Young narrowed his eyes at his words. "Explain the message you sent me, starting with who you are."

"You can call me Taizu." he replied. "And I am someone who can open the portal to send you back to your world. If you don't go back by tomorrow it will be too late to retake Gaegyeong among other things. Your role in history will be erased. And this place you are living now might be erased along with it."

"And why should I believe you?" Choi Young asked calmly.

"Because she does." Taizu's response was immediate. "The reason she is so confident that you will be able to go back is that she knows I will open the gate for you. We cannot risk changing history."

At his words Choi Young took a step forward and Taizu could see his aura had turned menacing. "And how do you know her?"

He must be Eun Soo's guardian of some sorts because he always seem to be watching out for her. He was the one who threatened me to break up with her when I had been planning on proposing. He was really scary.

Jung Min's words came back to Choi Young and lightning started crackling all over his body. He raised his right hand and sent lightning to strike at Taizu but he blocked it with a shield of wind.

Wind powers. This time Choi Young was now really angry. He concentrated the lightning on his right hand as his anger rose at the thought of what this person had almost done to Eun Soo. "You almost killed her. And you dare show yourself in front of me. You must be ready to die."

But Taizu looked unfazed. "So you will kill me, and then what?" his voice was calm. "She is alive because of me. You say you will protect her? How? By bringing her with you in a land filled with war and death where she is wanted at every turn by people who wants to take advantage of her knowledge? A place where very powerful people send someone like me to get rid of her in order to preserve history?"

The lightning in Choi Young's hands started dying out at his words. But Taizu continued "Yes, I shot her, I shot her so you can take her back to where she belongs. You think that gate just opened by itself just when you needed it the most? I opened it for her to enter. So if you really want to protect her, then you will go back to where you belong in history and leave her here."

Choi Young clenched his fist as the lightning disappeared. Taizu sighed his last words. "I am just a warrior like you. Even if you get rid of me, they will merely send more people, and they will not care about her like I do. They will do anything to get rid of her."

"Why do you care?" Although Choi Young asked the question, his heart was not really interested in his answer as at the moment it was dropping lower into the pits of his stomach ready to crumble at the slightest pressure.

"She saved my life."

"From the poison?" Choi Young found that a bit hard to believe. If Jung Min had been referring to this person as Eun Soo's guardian, then he could have killed Eun Soo at anytime before that incident.

"No, from way before that."

If you feel that guilty then you need to start by righting the wrongs that you have done. If you die, then the people who had suffered to get you to this point would have suffered needlessly. Don't you think you are just running away?

Her bright smile as she looked up at him seared Taizu's memory. She had offered her hand to him and he had taken it.

"If I stay..."

"You can't." Taizu interrupted the question. "You are too important in history not to make any difference. I know you people like to call this place heaven, but you must already know that it is not. Whatever you do in Goryeo affects this place. If you don't go back, everything that you see here might no longer exist. Including her."

When Choi Young still hesitated Taizu sighed. "I will open the gate here, in this same spot, by sunrise tomorrow. It will be open for five hours so make your decision by then. If you bring her with you I will not stop you. I think I have already done everything I can to save her, the rest is up to you."

...

Seo Yun was already cleaning up when Choi Young got back. Eun Soo had her head slumped at the table fast asleep. Ho Jun got up to try to move her. "I'll go bring her to her room."

"I'll take her." Choi Young offered as he walked to where Eun Soo was sitting. Ho Jun sat back down, leaving Eun Soo to Choi Young. He watched as Choi Young took Eun Soo carefully in his arms. Seo Yun opened the door for them and then closed it behind them.

She looked towards her husband before she left for the kitchen. Ho Jun was calmly taking a sip from his drink. She had wanted to ask Choi Young about where he had been as he had disappeared for quite some time. But the dark look in his eyes as he came back prevented her from saying anything.

Inside, Choi Young placed Eun Soo on her bed then arranged the blanket to cover her. He sat at the side of the bed to watch her sleeping. She moved in her sleep raising her left arm as if reaching for something. "Are you there?"

Choi Young captured her outreached hand and laced her fingers with hers. "I'm here." He almost choked at the words, knowing this would be the last time he would be able to say those words to her.

No matter how much he thought about it, that other person was right. Bringing Eun Soo back to Goryeo would just be placing her in harms way. He had thought to always protect her but talking to Taizu made him realize that he had merely been too arrogant. If she was being targeted by people who can open portals to different worlds, then even if he had the ability to fight them all, it can only mean he had to be beside her at all times.

The problem was he knew that could never happen. They were going back to a warring nation. There will be many times where he would have to leave her for days to go to battle. How would he be able to protect her then?

He still remembered when she had been kidnapped by Gi Chul while he had been out defending his King. At that time he had not been left with a choice. But this time he was given one. He had the choice to leave her somewhere safe, in her world, or take her with him and leave her in the midst of danger.

If he would but decide with his mind, the choice was perfectly obvious. But his heart rebelled at the mere thought of it. His heart was in agony and he felt like it was going to break apart at any moment.

A small voice escaped her throat and he realized he had been squeezing her hand so hard. He tried to slip his hand away but she held on to it tightly. He bowed his head and squeezed his eyes shut trying to control his emotions.

Then he opened his eyes and looked down at her sleeping face. "I'm not very good with words so I might not have told you clearly, but by now you should already know how I feel about you."

With his other hand he touched her cheek. "I love you Eun Soo." Tears fell from his eyes and he had to release her cheek to swipe at them. Then he bent down and kissed her softly on her forehead. "I will always love you."

Then with his resolution set, he hardened his heart and pried her hands away from his placing it slowly down. Then he walked out of her room and went to his to change.

...

It was still an hour before sunrise but he decided to go there early. He wanted to talk to the man named Taizu to assure himself that no one would dare harm her in this world. He had donned back on his black robes and boots. The house was silent as Choi Young walked towards the living room door.

He glanced at Eun Soo's room, her door was closed and she was probably still sleeping. He wanted to go see her for the last time but he stopped himself. His heart was already hanging by a thread, it will not take much for it to fall and shatter. He had to go now.

A figure was leaning on the tree as it came to view. Taizu must have come early as well. But as he drew closer it became obvious that the person wasn't Taizu and Choi Young stopped on his tracks as he realized who it was.

The person started walking towards him in quick angry steps. "You are not going anywhere without me."

Choi Young could not say a word as he was too busy steeling his heart for what would come next. This was what he had dreaded the most. To face her like this and see the pain and sorrow in her eyes. It was hard enough to bear his own pain, but he knew he would carry hers forever as well.

"Go home." He said in a cold voice.

Eun Soo threw the hand bag she was carrying at him. "How dare you. How dare you make decisions for my own life. So you want to protect me by leaving me here forever? Why do you get to be the only one who decides that? It's my life, I choose what I'm willing to risk it for and what not!"

"Imja." Choi Young's voice was still cold as ice and it scared Eun Soo more than his temper. The moment he had left her room she had sobbed for hours alone in her bed. She knew Choi Young too well to recognize a 'goodbye' when she heard one. Taizu must have talked to him, there was no other reason she could think of why he would act this way. She knew it was going to be really hard to convince Choi Young to take her with him now. Once he had decided on something, he was just as stubborn as her.

She could always cross the portal after him but she was afraid that she might end up in a different time than where he would be. And how long would it take for her to find him again. Another four years? She didn't even know how the gate had opened the last time.

"I am going back to a war." Choi Young was speaking in the same frosty voice. "I have to protect the King as well as the kingdom of Goryeo, I really cannot bear any more burden than that."

His words were like an arrow to Eun Soo's heart. Being Choi Young's burden had been her number one concern since she'd fallen in love with him. The fact that Choi Young had been captured, put to prison, stolen the king's seal as well as labelled a traitor, all because of her laid heavily on her heart. It was the main reason that she had not been able to push the issue of her staying in Goryeo before he had made the offer.

For a long time she had wanted to ask him if she could just stay by his side instead of going back. But as a person who was a burden, she had really no right to ask it of him. Hence, she had been so happy when he'd asked her to stay and promised to protect her forever.

Thus hearing him say he could not bear her as a burden made her feel like her heart had broken apart.

Choi Young took hold of her wrist and started dragging her back towards the house. But Eun Soo fought off his hold, that he either had to release her or hurt her with his grip. Choi Young let go.

"So what about your promise to protect me? Does that mean nothing now? How can you protect me if you are not with me?" Eun Soo challenged as soon as he released her wrist.

"If you stay here then you will be safe."

"Because if I go with you I will just be a burden that you don't want to carry." She didn't even phrase it as a question.

"Yes." Choi Young could not look her in the eye. He knew he was hurting her and his heart throbbed with her pain as much as his own. He had to find a way to stop her from saying anything more as the thread that held his heart had began to stretch and if it broke his heart would shatter and he didn't think he would be able to pick up the pieces after that.

Eun Soo felt like she could hear the cracking of her heart. However, she knew he didn't mean it. I will always love you. He had said. She knew that right now he was just saying what he believed could get through to her and make her stay. The knowledge didn't make his words any less hurtful but it gave her the courage to stand up to him.

She stepped closer to him and tried to look him in the eye. But he wouldn't meet her gaze. "I don't care." Eun Soo declared as she stood up straighter to glare at him. "I don't care about things like being a burden. But tell me, look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want to be with me anymore and I will let you go. Tell me you don't want me anymore and I will let you leave." She was crying now but she continued. "Tell me you never want to see me again and I will remain here and stay without you."

Choi Young clenched his teeth to keep himself from breaking apart. How could she ask him to say those things when he could barely stand with just saying 'yes' to not wanting to carry her.

"Just tell me!" Eun Soo shouted and the thread that held his heart broke flooding him with a million shards of pain.

"How?" He finally met her eyes and the pain he saw in them made the shards of his heart bury deeper and deeper into his soul. "How can I tell you I don't want to be with you when every part of me wants to be near you? How can I tell you, I don't want you when you are the only one I want whether in heaven or in earth? How can I tell you I don't want to ever see you again when just the thought of leaving you makes me feel like I am dying?"

Tears were now falling fast in Eun Soo face but she ignored it to cup at his cheek. "Then take me with you."

"I can't" His voice was hoarse with unshed tears. "I need to protect you."

"Then let me stay with you."

"I can't always be there."

"Then I will follow you to where you are."

"It's too danger..." He wasn't able to finish his sentence as Eun Soo stood on the tip of her toes and brushed her lips against his. Unlike the other times when she'd kissed him, her lips lingered on his, brushing once and then twice before letting him go. Her lips were wet with her tears and he was left with the imprint of her kiss even after it was over.

"Let me keep my promise too." Eun Soo was looking up at him with a small smile despite the tears pouring on her face. "I promised never to leave you again, please let me keep it."

Choi Young looked down at her tear streaked face and then at those smiling lips that had just touched his. He closed his eyes as a groan of defeat escaped him and he bent down to capture her lips with his own.

He kissed her hungrily as if he was a man deprived of water and her lips were sweet wine. When she opened her mouth to kiss him back he inclined his head to deepen the kiss, moving his lips over hers as if he could not get enough of her. Her arms snaked around his neck to hold on to him and he placed his right hand on the small of her back to support her as the kiss went deeper and deeper. And then he was trailing kisses down cheek and her neck and into the hollow of her collar bone.

Unbidden, his left hand crept up to cup her right breast which made Eun Soo gasp in surprise. She almost stumbled as Choi Young released his hold on her, shocked at himself. They were outside in a public area, and although it was still dark, it was not impossible for an early riser to be suddenly up and about. And he had... he had lost all sense of propriety.

He looked to meet her gaze expecting to see shock and mortification but she only gave him a small embarrassed smile. She had picked up her hand bag and was offering her right hand to him which he took in a daze. Then she was leading him to the small shack that was her uncle's.

Eun Soo released Choi Young's hand as he closed the door behind them. She placed her bag on the table then turned to face him. Choi Young moved to stand in front of her, looking at her doubtfully. "Imja, are you sure about this?"

"I'm your wife am I not?" she answered, meeting his doubtful gaze with a reassuring smile. Choi Young didn't need any more encouragement than that. He held her neck in one hand and claimed her lips once more in a fervent kiss that left Eun Soo clinging to him for support. Then he started kissing her more slowly. The heart that had been shattered into pieces was slowly being mended with each brush of their lips. He was still scared that he would not be able to protect her. But the feel of her softness pressed into his hard frame reassured him they will be alright. As long as they were together they would find a way. We will be okay. He surrendered to the cravings of his heart.

...

NEXT Chapter 7: The Kingdom of Goryeo - Choi Young and Eun Soo are back in the past, however six months has already passed since they left Goryeo and Gaegyeong had already fallen. On their way to meet the King they are besieged by Red Turban Troops. It seems like their leader General Sha Liu has ordered the capture of the great doctor. But for what purpose?

Author's notes: A korean modern wedding is actually quite fast and not that memorable at all. I did my best to add some personal stuff to the wedding to make it more emotional but I'm also thinking of adding a paebaek to this chapter. I'm still thinking about it.

I also thought long and hard on whether to write a love scene. In fact I actually started to write one and had placed bold disclaimer warnings at the title part. But it just didn't suit this couple at all. Graphic desire is really not what they are all about. I'm not saying they don't have any, but it's just not for display. I might edit this chapter if I suddenly think otherwise.

So we are going back to the past which means we won't be seeing the couple always together like in the future timeline, and they just got married, I know. Well, it's a hard life for them.