YCHW Ch 1

By nature, the Dragon God cherished the human world and would occasionally descend upon this land in human form. One day, while wandering through the sea of people as he often did, he discovered a man trying to help an old woman in distress.*

The Dragon God’s whim was like the wind. Sometimes it rose with enough fury to uproot an ancient tree, and at other times it was so still it could not even tickle a person’s downy hair. A fortunate person might be saved by a single gesture from him, while an unlucky one would sometimes be caught in his indifference and suffer a great injury.

Instead of passing by, the Dragon God helped the man rescue the old woman, and the man expressed his deep gratitude to the Dragon God. As their eyes met, the Dragon God and the man were instantly captivated by one another.

They pledged their lives to each other at first sight and shared the joys of a loving union.

However, a mere mortal, even one who had won the Dragon God’s sacred heart, could neither live forever nor conceive a child. The anguished Dragon God, seeking to overcome this, journeyed up the Samdocheon River, which flows between the world of the living and the world of the dead, to a small island rooted in the middle of the river.

This island was Hwado, the Isle of Flowers, where strange and mystical flowers grew. It was cared for and managed by Granny Hwabeon, and the celestial gods would sometimes descend to enjoy it for their amusement, making it a paradise permitted only to them. On this island grew a flower that, when eaten, would grant a womb capable of bearing a god’s seed. The Dragon God, avoiding Granny Hwabeon’s watch, plucked it and returned to the human world to feed it to the man.

The man instantly conceived the Dragon God’s child, gave birth, and ascended to the heavens with the Dragon God.

The Dragon’s Scion, who possessed divine powers from birth due to his Dragon God’s blood, grew to be an unparalleled figure, founded a nation, named it Yeong, and ruled over it. The nation ruled by the Dragon’s Scion received the Dragon God’s protection and achieved an era of great peace and prosperity; truly, all things went smoothly.

However, while it would be wonderful if all worldly affairs went as planned, it is a difficult thing even for a noble god to know the future. The flowers of Hwado were originally forbidden from ever entering the human world or the netherworld. The moment the flower plucked by the Dragon God left the Samdocheon River and entered the human world, it sowed a seed and left a path.

A forbidden path that should never have existed disrupted the boundary between the living and the dead, and unholy things, coveting the sacred energy, rushed toward it. A path becomes a gate, and a gate is bound to open one day.

About fifty li from the capital of Daeyeong stood Yongrim Peak, where the Dragon God used to descend to the human world. A long time after the Dragon God’s ascension, around the time the sacred dragon’s blood had thinned in his descendants, on a spring day when new shoots sprouted and flowers bloomed, the base of Yongrim Peak collapsed with a roar that shook the heavens and the earth, and a gate opened.

As the gate opened, unholy things literally poured out, and the entire Geumju region was instantly transformed into a living hell. People, regardless of age or gender, were trampled under the feet of beasts, meeting deaths more brutal than being drawn and quartered or dismembered by a thousand cuts. The homes they had built over their lifetimes were torn to shreds, worth less than a single sheet of paper.

When even the elite army urgently dispatched from the Imperial Palace could not hold them back, the capital too became like a candle in the wind before the rushing horde of beasts. The entire nation fell into despair, and the only thing they could do was pray.

For several days, humans offered themselves as sacrifices, taking their own lives and praying with utmost earnestness day and night. The Dragon God answered their prayers and awakened a latent dragon.

The Seventh Prince, who was wise and discerning but had been overlooked by everyone in the Imperial Palace because his mother was of humble status, gained power through the Dragon God’s blessing. He tore the sky and overturned the earth, subduing with his bare hands the beasts that could not be caught even with swords and spears.

After a fierce and desperate struggle, he succeeded in temporarily closing the Gates of Hell, and the entire nation danced with overwhelming joy. But the Seventh Prince, having overused his power, lost his strength and reached the brink of death, so the celebration was also but a fleeting moment of joy.*

With the ever-present threat of the Gates of Hell reopening at any moment, and the only hero capable of salvation hovering on the verge of death, everyone’s worries grew. It was then that a young girl arrived in the capital and sought out the Seventh Prince.

The girl was a kind and good-hearted person who lived with her widowed mother in a small village near the capital. She was known not only for her character but also because one day a deep fragrance had suddenly begun to emanate from her body. The girl’s scent was the same as that of a rare flower said to grow only in Yongji, the Dragon Lands, which the Dragon God frequented and cherished. The girl considered this a sign from the Dragon God, and as soon as she heard the rumor that the Gates of Hell had opened, she came up to the capital and sought out the Imperial Palace.

The imperial family, grasping at straws, permitted the audience of the humble girl. The moment the girl approached the Seventh Prince and extended her hand, the color returned to his deathly pale face and he began to breathe again. This wondrous miracle was also the Dragon God’s blessing. Everyone was filled with awe and knelt before the girl.

The Seventh Prince, having returned from the very gates of the netherworld, was deeply moved by the girl’s touch, formed a bond with her, and made her his consort.

Thereafter, the Gates of Hell opened again, but with the Dragon’s Scion and his guardian, there was nothing to fear. Furthermore, thanks to the Dragon God’s grace in sending down his scales from the heavens, people with the power to help the Dragon’s Scion save the world appeared in various places. They were called Yongrin, Dragon Scales, and were treasured and appointed to important positions.

Not only that, but those who would protect the Yongrin also began to appear one after another, following the Yongrin. They were said to have bestowed an eternal spring upon the Dragon’s Scion, the Yongrin, and the nation, and so they were called Yeongchunhwa, Flowers of Eternal Spring, and were appointed to stay by the Yongrin’s side.

And so, a profound peace settled over Daeyeong.

𓇢𓆸

“So, the Dragon God is a thief?”

“What? Young Master, what a terrible thing to say…! You should not say such things.”

Yeondeok jumped, protesting how he could compare the noble god to a mere thief. Yoonso closed the book and tilted his head.

“But if the Dragon God hadn’t stolen the Yeongchunhwa, none of this would have happened, right?”

“Stolen? What is there that a celestial god cannot use? It is thanks to the Dragon God’s care that you, Young Master, can eat delicious sweets, read books like this, and sleep well, is it not?”

“Is the Dragon God really looking after us?”

“Of course. And they say that the will of the gods is something humans cannot dare to comprehend. Even when a god seems harsh, there is a path they have prepared for us, or so I’ve heard.”

Yoonso put the book down and became lost in thought. He was well aware of the Dragon God’s nobility and divinity, but he had doubts about the idea that his will always flowed in a direction beneficial to humans. In truth, the Dragon God was such a distant being to Yoonso that these stories did not resonate with him very much.

“Young Master, that is not what is important right now. The sun will be setting soon, so you must get ready to go out.”

“Ah, right!”

Yoonso’s face lit up as he checked the view outside through the open window. However, when Yeondeok subsequently brought a comb, Yoonso furrowed his brow. He was displeased that his hair, which had been tied in the morning and was perfectly fine, was being fussed with again.

“Yeondeok, you seem to have forgotten that I am a boy.”

“My, my, just because you’ve had your birthday, does that make you a proper man now?”

It was clear he was being teased, and though his temper flared, Yoonso calmly held his tongue. As Yeondeok said, he had turned eight today. Therefore, it was only right that he handle such a trivial matter with generosity and composure.

“It is my blessing to serve someone as lovely as you, Young Master. Thanks to you, I have the fun of doing your hair every day. And besides, I can only touch it like this while you are still young. When you are older, would you even give me the chance?”

He had heard the remark that a boy was pretty, not boyish, until he was sick of it. Yoonso admired his older brother and wished to be like him, so it was not a pleasant thing to hear. He did not understand how, despite being born of the same mother, his brother was sturdy and manly while he was so frail.

However, Yoonso believed that he too would become like his brother when he grew a little older, and since the compliments about being pretty and lovely ultimately came from goodwill, he did not scold Yeondeok. He merely dangled his legs, which did not reach the floor, and urged him to finish quickly.

Today was a special birthday, different from the previous ones. The capital’s night market was held once every fortnight, but until now, he had not been allowed to go, for the reason that it was dangerous and crowded. But in celebration of his eighth birthday, his father had given him permission to go to the night market, and so he was just about to set out with Yeondeok and a guard.

“All done.”

“Let’s go quickly! We can’t be too late.”

Yeondeok firmly tied the money pouch, a gift from the master of the house, to his waist and called for the guard who was waiting. As Yoonso crossed the courtyard with the two of them, he spotted someone approaching this way and broke into a broad smile.

“Brother!”

“Where are you off to?”

“To the night market. Father gave me permission.”

“I see. This must be your first time at the night market, then?”

“Yes. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

“Just because you’re excited, you must not run around like a mudskipper. And never wander off alone. Understood?”

“Yes! I will keep that in mind.”

Wongyeong patted Yoonso’s head and then glanced behind him. He instructed Yeondeok and the guard to take special care of Yoonso before taking his leave.

Moved by his brother’s kindness, who took the time for his younger brother despite being busy with his studies, Yoonso could no longer contain his joy and ran ahead. Yeondeok, following behind, cried out desperately.

“Young Master! You’ll fall!”

By the time they reached the entrance of the night market, darkness had thickly settled over the sky. A boisterous noise arose from the lantern-lit street, and people of all sorts stood before the market stalls, examining goods or haggling. The faint sounds of drums and flutes could be heard, as if a play was being performed somewhere.

Yoonso, who was firmly clutching Yeondeok’s sleeve in adherence to his warning to never let go, stood with his mouth agape.

The daytime market and the nighttime market were strikingly different in color. The taverns in the distance, brightly lit with red lanterns, looked just like fully bloomed red plum blossoms. Merchants selling delicious snacks not seen during the day were hawking their wares here and there, and performers showed off their skills amidst the crowd, collecting money.

Although he had run around like a wild child, it had always been within the embrace of his father and mother. The friends he associated with were either young masters who had been raised as delicately as he, or Yeondeok. Since learning to read, he had devoured countless books and believed there was not much he did not know, but Yoonso now realized how very small his world had been.

“Yeondeok.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“This is the first step.”

“Pardon?”

If he could, he wanted to pick up a brush right here and now and capture the scene unfolding before his eyes. And someday, when he writes his travelogue, he would begin it with this very moment.

“Didn’t I tell you? That I would travel around the country and write a travelogue. To do that, I must first know what happens here in the capital.”

“Yes, you are very wise.”

“You will go with me too, won’t you?”

“Of course. Where the needle goes, would the thread not follow? A man’s word is his bond, you know? You can’t change your mind when you’re all grown up, you hear?”

As Yoonso smiled with satisfaction, his chubby cheeks pushed up.