Yeong Chunhwa

Chapter 7

I wasn’t sure whether to confirm or deny. I didn’t want to reveal my whereabouts, but on the other hand, I desperately needed help. All I had were a few maps and an official tablet, and that wasn’t enough to navigate the journey smoothly. Moreover, I realized it would be impossible to arrive safely at Yehang under these circumstances.

I had planned and contemplated my escape for quite some time, but the reality I faced wasn’t easy. Apart from my current difficult situation, choosing someone as a companion was also a risky decision. Of course, there was no guarantee this man would help me…

“This works out well. I was just inconvenienced by not having someone to command, but now you can follow me.”

“…Why should I do that?”

“Is there any reason not to?”

The man quite brazenly looked So Yun-seo up and down slowly. Yun-seo followed his gaze and examined his own appearance.

With his hair tied up and secured with a hairpin as if he’d gone through the coming-of-age ceremony, and with the makeup washed off, he would appear to be a proper and ordinary young man without any suspicious features. However, since he was wearing the most worn-out clothes he had taken from Yeondeok, anyone could guess his circumstances.

“Since the lady I served has sent me away, I am no longer a servant.”

“Anyone can be used as a servant if you pay them enough.”

The man’s assumption that he could naturally use Yun-seo as a servant wasn’t unpleasant—rather, it was fortunate. Being seen as the precious son of some noble family would have been worse for him.

“But why are you traveling alone, sir?”

“I was rushing to trade, waiting for some valuable items… but it was all for nothing, so I’m on my way back.”

“If I may ask, what is your occupation?”

“I work with a merchant group.”

If he was with a merchant group, it meant he wasn’t an official or nobleman, which was somewhat reassuring. It also made sense that his destination was Yehang, and it seemed like Yun-seo might receive more help than expected. However…

“Even if you were in a hurry, did you really come alone like this?”

“I detest being late because of keeping up appearances. Even if you hurry considerably, it’s the nature of this business to often come up empty-handed.”

“Without any luggage?”

“I sent the luggage ahead.”

The man answered curtly, then suddenly put his finger to his lips and whistled long and loud. Startled by this unexpected action, Yun-seo tensed up and looked around vigilantly.

Not long after, the sound of something approaching could be heard.

It wasn’t human footsteps. It was the sound of horseshoes striking the ground. Soon, a sturdy red horse appeared between the trees, running like an arrow. Yun-seo turned to the man in astonishment.

“Suddenly, a horse…”

“I sent it ahead so it wouldn’t get hurt if we encountered bandits.”

The horse’s mane gleamed as though it had been well-fed and cared for. The man stroked the approaching horse’s head with familiarity.

“So, are you coming?”

The man’s eyes were indifferent as he turned to Yun-seo. As if he had nothing to lose.

Clearly, Yun-seo was the one who needed this arrangement. Traveling with a man who could subdue six bandits by himself would at least guarantee safety. It would also reduce time wasted on the road, and traveling as a pair would make it easier to avoid suspicion if someone were tracking them.

But was this unfamiliar man truly not dangerous? Or would he lead Yun-seo into a dead end?

Though he agonized over it, this was a problem without a clear answer. The only certain thing was that escaping from the residence was the extent of his capability. Even that had been closer to luck than skill. The road ahead would be extremely difficult for someone as ignorant of the world as himself to navigate alone.

“Before we go, may I ask your name?”

The man raised one eyebrow as if he’d heard an unexpected question.

“Hwi.”

“Hwi… Which family’s Hwi are you?”

“Would you know if I said I’m from the Seo family?”

Seo Hwi. It was a family name he hadn’t heard before. Because his father had made him learn about families holding important positions in the central government or border regions, Yun-seo knew the surnames of major noble families even though he hadn’t wanted to.

Well, if he wasn’t from a noble family, it made sense that Yun-seo wouldn’t know his family. Hiding his relief and somewhat embarrassed feeling, he shook his head, and Hwi asked:

“What’s your name?”

“I’m… Jang, Deok-yun.”

Trying to answer quickly without hesitation, he ended up mixing Yeondeok’s name with his own. Although he realized his mistake, he reassured himself that it would be difficult to find any connection between the names Jang Deok-yun and So Yun-seo.

He had only thought about how to escape from the house that imprisoned him, not going so far as to come up with an alias. From now on, he would need to keep future considerations in mind. A commoner’s life, not the future Yeong Chunhwa of the So family with a promising future. Thinking this way, his heart suddenly swelled.

He actually liked the hastily made-up name. Jang Yeondeok, Jang Deok-yun. Don’t they sound like brothers? Remembering Yeondeok, whom he had to leave behind, Yun-seo’s expression momentarily darkened.

“For a servant, you’re quite particular. Are we done now?”

“Well… but what about me makes you trust me enough to travel together?”

He desperately needed help, but in this harsh world where bandits could harm innocent people, what made the man allow this companionship? Though he said he worked with a merchant group, he didn’t seem to be a laborer, and he clearly had high status—if he was even more ignorant of the world than Yun-seo, that would be troublesome.

Hearing Yun-seo’s question, Hwi snickered and lowered his head. As the man’s face came closer, Yun-seo hesitated and took a step back.

“I don’t trust you. I trust myself.”

It was just a momentary sneer, but it somehow softened his icy expression. Yun-seo blinked at the afterimage of the vanished smirk, then understood his meaning.

Of course, this was a man who had defeated six bandits without even a tear in his clothing. He could easily subdue someone like Yun-seo with the flick of a finger. That could be either a blessing or a curse for him. Hoping it would only be a blessing, Yun-seo bowed deeply.

“Then I will accompany you to Yehang. I will try my best to ensure you have no discomfort, so please be understanding.”

“You’ll have to try very hard. I’m just as particular as you are. Now, get on.”

“Will both of us ride one horse? Two men will be too much weight for the horse…”

“For someone who doesn’t look like you weigh even a sack of rice, you certainly talk a lot.”

The way he looked Yun-seo up and down was quite rude. Yun-seo bristled and squared his shoulders.

“Despite appearances, I’m a capable man!”

“Who said otherwise?”

Though he was clearly mocking him, perhaps because his cold impression had softened, it wasn’t unpleasant. Yun-seo ignored Hwi and approached the horse, then hesitated.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve never ridden a horse before…”

Perhaps because of his two previous escape attempts, his father had spared no expense in teaching him everything from embroidery to archery, but horseback riding was strictly forbidden. The reason given was that there would be no need to ride horses even after entering the palace, which was why Yun-seo had never even been near a horse.

“You’re going to require a lot of effort.”

Hwi sighed, then suddenly grabbed Yun-seo by the waist and lifted him up. Yun-seo screamed and floundered before Hwi placed him on the saddle, whereupon he leaned forward and hugged the horse’s neck. As noble as its owner, the proud horse just glanced at Yun-seo and shook its head lightly.

Soon after, Hwi lightly mounted behind Yun-seo. He grabbed the back of Yun-seo’s neck to straighten him up and took the reins. Uncomfortable with being embraced in the man’s arms, Yun-seo straightened his back, but Hwi pressed against Yun-seo’s chest with one hand.

“Stay still. If you’re uncomfortable, this fellow will be uncomfortable too.”

Barely suppressing his body’s impulse to jump at the sudden contact, Yun-seo tried to relax his posture. The sensation of the man’s chest against his back was vivid, awkward, and uncomfortable, but it clearly stabilized his position, so there was nothing he could do.

Since this was his first time riding a horse, his heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and fear. Yun-seo was calmly feeling his heartbeat when he suddenly felt a tickling sensation in his lower abdomen and furrowed his brow. He couldn’t understand why his protective energy was suddenly stirring. Could it be the aftermath of yesterday’s incident…

“Ugh…!”

When Hwi lightly kicked the red horse’s hindquarters, the horse lurched forward. On top of the horse that was running like a fish in water, Yun-seo’s thoughts scattered instantly. He swallowed his screams and exclamations while firmly gripping the edge of the saddle.