Chapter 7: The Kingdom of Goryeo Part II

Author's Notes: Okay guys, I have finally decided to continue this story. However, it will come in short entries. Meaning the chapters will be divided into several parts and I will update little by little.

I am really sorry for this mode of update but I find I can concentrate more on writing when I write in small chunks. So please bear with me.

Thanks a lot for reading.

...

The place was dark except for a flickering light coming from a candle on a huge table in the middle of the room. How huge the room really was no one can tell but in the darkness it seemed like there was no end to the amount of space filled with nothingness, not even a single sound.

Taizu walked briskly towards the man sitting on the chair behind the table which seemed to be the only fixture of the entire place. He went down on one knee as he got nearer.

"I have failed my mission, master. I will accept whatever punishment you shall meet."

There was a long time of silence before the man whose face was obscured by the darkness decided to speak. "I asked you to simply take care of one woman. You, my most trusted vizer who has never failed a mission, is telling me you have been unsuccessful? You failed at a task that you specifically asked to handle yourself? Is that what you are saying?"

Had it been any other vizer in Taizu's place they would have cowered in fear or be doing their best to assure the master that they would take care of it right away. But Taizu stood up instead and answered the question with one of his own.

"The general managed to cross the gate with the girl into the future and has managed to bring her back with him to the Goryeo period. How is that possible? You said so yourself that the business with the general is already taken cared off and that the girl is done with her mission here. If that was the case, then their entry to the portal would have been blocked. Has your all mighty eyes failed you now?"

Only Taizu would dare say such words to the master.

"It seems that I have treated you too much like a son that you have become quite arrogant." The master replied.

"Well then it's a good thing you don't have any children of your own." Taizu replied nonchallantly.

Had anyone been there to hear his words they would have been shocked and terrified. They would have expected the master to strike him down into ashes in an instant. But instead the master laughed.

And then he too stood. "There are no mistakes on my knowledge of the future. As it is now, the general should be able to fulfill his tasks without the woman and thus he has no need to go into the future and she to be in his time."

"But he was able to do so." Taizu said thoughtfully. "Could he be one of us then?" The idea had been playing in his mind since Choi Young had managed to cross into 2012. "Could he be a vizer as well?"

"Impossible." The answer from the master held no room for doubt. "It must be woman who has caused this paradox to happen."

At that Taizu actually laughed, although his laughter held no mirth in it. "Now that seems harder to believe. If the great general Choi Young with his super strength and lightning powers cannot be a vizer then it cannot be a simple plastic surgeon. She can barely even protect herself much less hold the powers of a vizer. My master's all powerful visions must be getting faulty."

"I need you to get rid of her." The order was given out as if the master had not even heard Taizu speak. "Go and make it a priority."

Taizu was surprised and confused. "But if she's a vizer shouldn't we win her over to our side instead. Wouldn't she be valuable..."

He wasn't able to finish his words as the master cut him off. "Eliminate her and redeem yourself to me." The order seemed set on steel. "Go now!"

Taizu walked out more confused than when he got in. But although he was close enough to the master to give voice to his thoughts he was still a soldier and an order was an order.

"Ageha." The moment Taizu left the room the master's voice rang into the darkness. A cloud of smoke appeared in front of him which formed into a figure of a man. It was the same messenger who constantly reported to Taizu.

"Bring Zhao and Aku to me. Tell them I have an urgent mission for them." he told the messenger. Although his voice was calm it was filled with urgency.

"Immediately." Ageha answered with a bow. He walked towards the left corner of the room and pulled a lever. Suddenly that part of the room was filled with light and before him stood a huge machine made of steel gears. A few seconds later the gears started to whirl.

...

"Ugh! I told you these clothes are just too heavy, why do people in your era want to torture themselves with layers of clothing."

Eun Soo and Choi Young were walking towards the village of Tongsan. They were finally back to Goryeo. They have met a few people along the way and found out that six months have already passed since they left. But it didn't seem like the people had much information yet on the situation on Gaegyong, that or they were just unwilling to talk about it. The whole area had been part of the Dongnyeong prefecture, the towns of which Choi Young had recently taken back from Yuan, hence most people residing in the villages still spoke the language of Yuan.

Choi Young had gotten really proficient on the people's native language given the years he spent conquering back the lands that Goryeo had lost. And although Eun Soo had stayed only a year in Yuan territory she had learned some bits and pieces of the language as well.

However, the people they talked to either didn't understand or only had little knowledge because all the information they were able to gather was that the defense had failed and the King had escaped. As to any specific details, no one can say.

Still, Choi Young was able to pay someone for a set of clothes for Eun Soo and a temporary sword for himself. The clothes of which Eun Soo wore with a heavy heart.

"If I just wear the outer layer, it wouldn't be too bad." Eun Soo had asked Choi Young with a hopeful look in her eyes.

But Choi Young glared at her. "And have you walking with your arms and legs bare?" He was incredulous at the idea.

"I have shorts." Eun Soo complained. "And the thing already covers way down to my knees."

"No." Choi Young was resolute. "I tolerated your clothing then because we were in your world, and it seemed your world had different standards. But we are in my world now and I will not have my woman walking around like a brothel girl."

"Are you calling me whore?!" Eun Soo was indignant. "What a chauvinistic prick. Women have the right to wear whatever clothes they desire without having to be called a whore. What era do you think you live..." Eun Soo's words trailed off as she realized how idiotic her argument was going to sound. So instead she grabbed the clothes from his hands angrily and turned around to find a place to change.

But Choi Young's right hand took hold of one of her shoulders and turned her around. "Imja..." he seemed to be having a hard time looking for the right words to say. Eun Soo sighed as she covered the hand holding her shoulders with her own. "I know." she said with a small smile before she removed his hand and continued to walk away.

Choi Young continued to stare at her back until she disappeared behind a huge rock positioned near two tall trees.

When she came out, Eun Soo seemed to be back to her usual cheerful mood although she still made some complaints about the clothes from time to time. But he could see the laughter shining in her eyes and knew she was teasing him more than she was complaining. She had also smartly tied her hair into a bun to make it less noticable.

Finally they reached a tavern in Tongsan and Eun Soo was glad to find a place to rest her feet and eat. It was still early eve and the sky had just started getting darker . Choi Young hoped that he could meet some soldiers on reconnaissance missions so he could get more information. Otherwise he would have to wait until they have journeyed to Pogu and he could visit the army stationed there. The faster he got the information the better, so he could quell the apprehension that was weighing his heart. Thus, he was disappointed when he didn't see any soldiers as they entered. He thought of going to another tavern but he saw how tired Eun Soo was and immediately set his other worries aside.

Fortunately, as soon their food was served a group of four soldiers entered the tavern. They were busy chatting as they took the empty table near the one Eun Soo and Choi Young had occupied.

"I'm just really unlucky." One of the younger ones complained. "Had I enlisted two years ago and been assigned at this province I would have been part of the war to reclaim this place. Now that I'm here, the war has been brought to Hwangdo instead. And they are not pulling us out there anytime soon less someone attack our borders."

The soldier on his left thumped him in the head with a laugh. "You are lucky, you mean. They burned the whole imperial palace to the ground. Had you been there, you'd be nothing but soot by now."

Choi Young's blood ran cold at what he heard, but he put on an act of drinking his wine slowly as he continued to listen to their conversation.

"I'd have been a hero." The younger man said confidently. "I might not have turned the tide of battle but I could have been one of the people who got the King out safely. You people just have no eyes for glory."

The guy on his right laughed louder. "I have my eyes set on staying alive. And with the Wu Dal Chi surrounding the King I doubt you'd find a time to shine anyway."

Choi Young could not take it anymore. He had to know more. Had their escape provisions worked efficiently or had they been forced to go another route? How much was the casualty report? The King should be safe since no one was talking about a change of ruler, but how about the Queen? How had the defense on the palace failed so miserably to have allowed the enemy to burn it all to the ground? The imperial palace was surrounded by high mountains and was layered with fortresses, not to mention the six units of imperial guards protecting the capital.

But he got up and asked the most important one. "Where is the King stationed now?" Choi Young asked like an officer asking for a report.

The four soldiers looked up at him with suspicion. "And who is asking?" The one furthest to the right asked. The normal reaction from soldiers when being ordered about by a civilian would have been a sword drawn or a punch to the face. Soldiers were an antsy lot. They already had their superiors as well as the nobility to grovel to and didn't take it easy on anyone else trying to demean their status. But the authority in Choi Young's voice gave them pause. For a moment there, they actually thought of standing up and giving him a full report. That was before they saw his civilian clothing and were beseiged by indignation.

"Have the Red Turbans setup base in Gaegyong? How much forces do they have?" Choi Young continued his questioning with impatience.

The soldiers looked really pissed now and Eun Soo who was busy enjoying her meal had to put down her spoon. She stood up then pretended to swoon right into Choi Young.

Young's fast reflexes allowed him to catch Eun Soo effortlessly but the act had the desired effect Eun Soo wanted, which was to transfer the soldiers' attention to her.

"I'm so sorry." Eun Soo said pretending to just recover, "It has been a really long journey and we have been really tired. My husband here insisted that he wanted to enlist, he has such a loyal heart. I'm really sorry if we bothered you kind sirs."

The soldier's suspicion vanished at her words. "Don't worry pretty lady," One of the soldiers smiled at her. "It's not like it's really a secret. If you want, we can tell you all about it."

"Oh thank you so much for your graciousness." Eun Soo gushed. "Soldiers of Goryeo are such nice people, no wonder my husband has always wanted to join the army."

She gave Choi Young a pointed look as she said this and Choi Young sighed getting her meaning. He should be more careful next time.