Yeong Chunhwa

Chapter 2

Born as the second son of a noble family, Yun-seo was the youngest child, six years younger than his older brother Wongyeong, and was deeply cherished by all.

While Wongyeong had already passed the preliminary civil service examination and was waiting for the next test, bearing the entire family’s expectations, Yun-seo had no interest in pursuing an official position. Thanks to his brother who walked the righteous path, he could dream of a free life.

Yun-seo considered all of this a blessing and tried to be grateful and humble. He firmly resolved that when he was old enough to prepare his own traveling kit, he would travel throughout the country and write a good book documenting the lives of people regardless of gender, age, or social status.

“Let’s go over there first.”

Having skipped dinner and feeling a bit hungry, he was about to step toward a confectionery shop when suddenly his vision blurred. The figures passing before him appeared to split into two or three, and he felt dizzy.

“Ah…”

“Young master?”

As Yun-seo stumbled, unable to plant his feet firmly on the ground, Yeondeok hurriedly caught him. Yun-seo was aware that Yeondeok was tilting his head to examine his complexion, but he had no time to focus on that with the unpleasant sensation that followed. His chest pounded, and somewhere in his abdomen grew warmly tender before becoming turbulent as if insects were swarming inside.

“I feel strange…”

“Young master! Young master! Are you alright?”

Since they were on a busy street, the guards quickly surrounded Yun-seo’s body. He squeezed his eyes shut then opened them, shaking his head to regain his senses, but the symptoms didn’t improve at all. Fear suddenly welled up and tears sprang to his eyes. Despite this, he didn’t want to return home yet and was forcing strength into his heels when suddenly—

A scent brushed past his nose.

At the same time, his dizzy and blurry vision gradually became clear. Yeondeok’s hand, which was holding Yun-seo’s arm, suddenly tightened its grip. Though the boy’s strong hands hurt a bit, Yun-seo was grateful that he cared for him this much. Finally regaining some strength, Yun-seo exhaled a sigh and opened his mouth.

“I’m fine…”

But seeing Yeondeok’s face frozen white, Yun-seo couldn’t continue his words. Just as he was about to scold him for making such a fuss over a moment of dizziness, suddenly the hair all over his body stood on end.

Strangely, it was too quiet.

How could a market crowded with people be so silent? As he slowly turned his gaze, Yun-seo met their eyes.

The eyes of women, men, children, the elderly, beggars, performers, merchants…

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Yun-seo. In this nightmarish moment, while trembling from not understanding what was happening, Yun-seo sensed something other than the gazes.

A fragrance filling the marketplace. That fresh scent he had smelled just moments ago hung like a thick fog at the tip of his nose. And that scent was flowing from his own body like a spring.

He didn’t know what was happening. Unable to know what to do and perplexed, he stood blankly for a while until a man literally came flying toward him and paid his respects. The man wore a black-blue band around his head with a silver dragon with three claws embroidered on it.

He could guess the man was from Mount Yongrim, but he couldn’t clearly understand why he had appeared before him or why he was respectfully escorted back to his residence. Only after returning home and hearing what the Mount Yongrim man said to his parents did he barely grasp a clue, but even that was incomprehensible.

Me, a Yeong Chunhwa…?

That Yeong Chunhwa from the folk tales he had read before going to the night market—it was simply unbelievable.

The existence of Yeong Chunhwa wasn’t unfamiliar. The relationship between Mount Yongrim and Yeong Chunhwa had always attracted people’s interest and attention, making it a common subject not only in books but also in songs and operas.

But they were beings who existed only in such places. Those who lived hidden within the imperial palace, unseen. Those who, when the time came, would head to the hell realm to save the country. Though they existed in reality, they were like paper dolls running around only in books.

“Young master, don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine.”

At Yeondeok’s words, Yun-seo turned his gaze, which had been floating blankly somewhere, toward him. Strangely, Yeondeok’s face, which was meant to comfort him, looked haggard.

Yun-seo recalled the faces of his father, mother, and brother whom he had seen just moments ago. Awkwardly frozen expressions. Trembling eyes and flinching fingertips. Expressions that seemed unsure whether to be pleased or not.

When even the family he loved and relied on wore such faces, he truly didn’t understand how things were unfolding. Holding back tears that threatened to well up, he fidgeted with his fingers and prayed with his eyes tightly shut.

Dragon God, Dragon God. I’m just an ordinary child. The only thing I’m good at is reading books a little faster than others. Please don’t make me a Yeong Chunhwa. I know Yeong Chunhwa must go to the palace. I don’t want to be separated from my family. When I grow up, I need to travel around the world and write travelogues. Dragon God, if you’re watching, please have mercy on me…

The prayer ended abruptly at the sound of the door opening. The person who opened the door after a long wait was Yun-seo’s father, So Baek-guk.

“Father…!”

“Come quickly, hurry.”

With an excited and urgent expression, So Baek-guk grabbed Yun-seo’s arm and started walking. Though the tightly gripped spot hurt, Yun-seo couldn’t whine and only kept watching his father’s reaction.

Once outside, the atmosphere was somehow chaotic. Servants standing awkwardly wore expressions similar to his father’s, and unfamiliar people were seen throughout. Moreover, in front of the main building they approached, armed warriors stood guard.

A sense of fear gripped him, and he tugged at his father’s hand, but So Baek-guk paid no attention and led Yun-seo inside.

It was the outer room where only the most distinguished guests were received, a place where Yun-seo had never set foot before. Even amid his fear, curiosity arose, and he eagerly turned his head to take in the paintings and ceramics decorating the room.

“Now, sit here.”

So Baek-guk seated Yun-seo in front of a large banquet table.

In the center of the table, a curtain was hung, making it impossible to see the other side, but beyond the curtain, the silhouette of a person was faintly visible. And around that person, armed warriors stood guard.

Judging by the thickness of the silhouette, it was a man, but he didn’t seem to be a fully grown adult. Wondering who it could be to cause such a commotion and feeling a bit pouty that no one had given him any explanation, his lips jutted out. As he tried to glare at the person beyond the curtain, So Baek-guk pressed Yun-seo’s head to make him bow.

A heavy silence descended upon the outer room.

Soon, a hand quietly emerged from beneath the curtain. It was fairly large and beautiful, but there were calluses all over the fingers and palm. As he observed quietly, So Baek-guk subtly gestured. Yun-seo, reading the cue, placed his hand over the stranger’s.

As soon as their skin touched, Yun-seo flinched. Despite it not being the cold winter, the other’s hand was cold. Could they be in poor health? Out of concern, he unconsciously curled his fingertips to hold the other’s hand, and this time the other person showed signs of hesitation. Soon, the stranger bent his fingers to hold Yun-seo’s hand in return.

Holding the hand of an unknown man and staying still, he was intensely curious and anxious about the stranger’s identity. In an attempt to get a better view, he narrowed his eyes toward the curtain, but in that moment, Yun-seo squirmed as he felt a strange sensation coursing through his skin.

Instinctively, he tried to pull his hand back, but the other person, as if unwilling to let go, bound Yun-seo even more tightly.

“Ah, Father…”

Something was sweeping through his inside. If asked what that something was, he couldn’t provide any answer, but it was real. Yun-seo, with shoulders hunched, sought help from his father, but So Baek-guk only watched the joined hands with sharp eyes.

Today was supposed to be a special birthday, but he hadn’t even enjoyed the night market, and now, confused by the sudden events, even his father wasn’t helping him, so tears welled up. The man was still scanning him. It wasn’t that he felt a strange touch; it was more like the sensation of air floating inside his body.

Though he didn’t know what was being done, he could sense it was harmless, but he couldn’t just accept it positively. As he bit his lower lip with his small teeth and blinked his eyes rapidly, the stranger finally withdrew his hand.

Once again, silence filled the outer room, and a moment felt like an eternity.

When his tears had dried, the person on the other side of the curtain rose from his seat. As Yun-seo raised his head to ascertain the identity, So Baek-guk knelt on one knee and pushed Yun-seo’s head down.

All he could see was a silk shoe passing by the banquet table. Yun-seo followed that shoe to the end but couldn’t gather any information about the man.

“Wait here obediently.”

Soon, So Baek-guk stood up and left the room with those who had been guarding it.

Yun-seo was a son who knew how to be filial, but he wasn’t a child who blindly followed his parents’ words. Carefully tiptoeing to the door, he slightly opened the closed door and saw his father standing outside. He placed his ear against the door crack and concentrated on the sounds coming from outside.

“How is it?”

“He has potential. It’s still early, but you should prepare for the future.”

“…Potential!”

Potential? What potential are they talking about?

Yun-seo tried his hardest to hear more clearly, but their conversation ended there, and at the sound of his father returning, he hurried back to the guest room.

Though he tried to appear composed, he couldn’t shake off his anxiety and kept fidgeting with his legs before lifting his head. His father’s eyes were gleaming, and he was smiling from ear to ear.

“My son. Now you are the future of our family.”

Yun-seo’s eyes widened in confusion. His father had always held his brother Wongyeong and told him he was the future of the family, so it was a mystery why those words were directed at him now.

“Hey there! Take Yun-seo to the inner quarters.”

Yeondeok, who had been pacing outside, rushed in and took Yun-seo to the inner quarters. Even as they passed through the rear garden and entered the inner quarters, Yun-seo still couldn’t understand what had happened to him.

“From now on, Yun-seo will stay here. He must not go outside arbitrarily, and you all must guard and serve him well. Understand?”

“Yes!”

As the servants efficiently cleaned the inner quarters and the doors to Yun-seo’s confined space were closed one after another, Yun-seo could only blankly stare at Yeondeok’s perplexed face, unable to grasp the enormity of the misfortune that had befallen his life.

The day when the youngest Yeong Chunhwa in Great Yeong sprouted. On his eighth birthday, the day he had taken the first step toward his dreams, So Yun-seo’s life easily and pathetically tumbled onto an unwanted path.