YCHW Ch 5

It was the very moment he roughly pulled Yoonso, and Yoonso pushed against his chest. His lower abdomen pulsed with a jolt, and immediately, something touched the tips of his fingers.

It was not the man’s body. It was something like a skein of thread. A dark, gloomy skein of thread that had no form but could be clearly felt. The moment he flinched his fingers in bewilderment, the Yongrin’s eyes flew wide open and he staggered. Yoonso did not miss that chance and pushed the man with all his might.

The Yongrin’s eyelids closed, and the strength left the hand that had been gripping Yoonso. Then, unable to steady himself, he collapsed in a single motion. Yoonso, trembling finely, stepped back a few paces and looked down at the man with his eyes wide as saucers.

What in the world just happened?

Yoonso’s gaze turned to his own left hand, stretched awkwardly in the air. Yoonso grabbed his left hand with his right and let out a trembling sigh. The sensation of something rising up from his lower abdomen and escaping through his fingertips before he could even stop it was vivid. Could it be… his guardian star?

It had been a long time since he had blossomed, and he had felt the guardian star stirring within him before, but this was the first time it had ever escaped. But as for why the Yongrin had collapsed like this…….

Yoonso snapped out of his thoughts and surveyed his surroundings. He could not figure out what on earth had transpired, but the more important thing was that he had gained a stroke of luck. He hurriedly gathered his fallen bundle, then carefully reached out a hand and held it under the man’s nose.

Fortunately, he was breathing, so Yoonso turned right away. The weather was still cold, but he would be fine since he was a Yongrin. The time for the fortress gates to close was approaching, so he could not delay any longer.

Without a single glance back, Yoonso sprinted with all his might. The place where he was born and raised was growing distant, but nothing left behind in that house could hold him back.

𓇢𓆸

The sky, growing intensely bright with the dawn, stirred up a sense of unease.

During the night, he had not even carried a lantern for fear of attracting the attention of mountain beasts or thieves, and had focused solely on finding his way by the moonlight. For that reason, not even a speck of idle thought had arisen, but now that his surroundings were clearly visible, his heart eased a little, and yet the worries he had postponed came rushing in.

If that Yongrin were to wake up or be discovered early, the pursuit would also begin swiftly. So he had to hurry more, but his soles felt as if they were on fire. It was only natural, as he had walked for nearly *four sijin straight without any rest.

He had not been lazy in training his body for this day, but this was the first time he had walked for so long. On top of that, he had not slept a wink, so it was difficult to overcome the fatigue.

Still, he comforted himself by thinking that it was a relief he would soon be able to stop at the planned village and continue his journey by using a *sema or getting a ride on a cart. His soles felt like they would burst, and he was thirsty and hungry, but he squeezed out what little strength he had left and quickened his pace.

Around the time he crossed one gentle hill, he heard signs of people from the other side. He saw a group of men gathered not far away. Yoonso slipped onto a side path and moved forward slowly, hiding his body among the trees.

As he got closer to the group, their identities became clear. Men clad in animal hides were surrounding one tall man while holding swords, and it looked for all the world like he had run into bandits.

The tall man was also armed with a sword and was well built, but it was as clear as day that he had no chance of winning against six bandits. The swords the bandits held were also practically axes, and they looked terrifying.

It would be a stroke of luck if they only took what he had. If anything went slightly wrong, it was obvious they would harm him carelessly, regarding a human life as less than that of a single ant. Yoonso chewed on his lips and fumbled at his waist. The only weapon he had was a single dagger, and even if he helped the man, he could not guarantee that he, with no real combat experience, would escape without a single scratch.

The thought that if the man had been a little later, or if he himself had been a little faster, he would be the one in that spot, sent a chill down his spine. Yoonso squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them, and stealthily began to move. He felt sorry for the man, but right now, while all attention was on him, was when he had to quickly get away from this place.

“Stop struggling and take it off!”

“I said hand it all over, don’t leave a single piece of underwear behind!”

The cackling voices of the bandits were utterly cunning. Yoonso bit his lips so hard he could feel a pang of pain and peeked over the tree. From this side, he could only see the man’s back, but he was probably terrified. Yoonso’s face turned pale as he sympathized deeply with the man’s feelings.

“They say you reap what you sow, but it seems you people have nothing to fear.”

At the cold voice, Yoonso’s feet, which had been moving stealthily, faltered. Contrary to Yoonso’s assumption, his voice was firm and even felt somewhat relaxed, not like that of an ordinary person [beomin] facing bandits.

“Hmph, I can’t stand a scholar’s preaching. Hand over everything you have, and we’ll at least spare your life.”

“I must make an example of you here, so that no more people will suffer damage.”

He’s saying he’ll spare your life if you just hand over what you have. You might as well just give him all the money…! Yoonso, though it was not his own business, fidgeted and watched the situation over there.

Does he have something to rely on? But the man was alone, and no matter how skilled he was in martial arts, it was impossible for him to handle six men by himself without a single scratch. Such things were only possible in hero novels.

Was it a bluff, or was it a noble sense of justice, willing to sacrifice his life to truly reduce the number of future victims? Soon, one of the bandits raised his hand high. Without a moment more to think, Yoonso pressed his body tightly against the tree and shouted.

“Stop!”

As the surroundings instantly became quiet as a mouse, goosebumps rose on his forearms. Dammit… Why did I interfere? He could not understand himself for being so meddlesome when he had to get on his way as soon as possible.

“Who’s there!”

The sharp presence that flew from beyond the tree trunk was felt distinctly. Yoonso, with a look of dismay, pursed his lips and then raised his voice.

“My servant has gone to the government office to report your atrocities! The government troops will arrive soon, so do not add to your crimes!”

He could hear the bandits murmuring. At the sign of their agitation, Yoonso repeatedly muttered the same words under his breath as if in prayer. Let it work, please let it work…!

“Hahahaha!”

But contrary to Yoonso’s wishes, a burst of laughter swept through the bandits. Then a ruffian who had spat out a rough gob of phlegm cackled and opened his mouth.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that the government troops are slower than slugs?”

“Another scholar who’s rolled in from who knows where, I see?”

“Instead of going to the government office, it would be faster to go to that Hwasicheong or Changsicheong place!”

“Those folks would be too busy whoring to have any reason to come all the way here, would they?”

What are they talking about?

The Hwasicheong established in each military unit were guarded by Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa. Are they comparing the union of a Yongrin and a Yeongchunhwa for protection to whoring? Then the chang in the Changsicheong they speak of means to sell one’s body…….

Yoonso’s thoughts, which had turned cold, could not continue any further. Thwack, with a loud noise, the tree trunk he was leaning his back against shook, and Yoonso, startled, clapped both hands over his mouth and barely managed to swallow a scream.

“Courage without power is not even recklessness. I’ll kill you first!”

He heard the sound of the bandits’ footsteps running towards this spot all at once. He should have been running away for his life, but his legs were trembling so much he could not move. He put strength into the soles of his feet, but his body, exhausted from the long journey, instead lost its strength, and Yoonso ended up collapsing right there.

He could not die so futilely like this. As a myriad of emotions crossed his mind and tears welled up in his eyes, Yoonso pulled out the dagger tucked at his waist.

Soon, a shadow fell over his head. When he lifted his head, his eyes met with a man with a bushy beard, and the ruffian bared his yellow teeth and grinned from ear to ear.

“Here you ar….”

“Ugh!”

Though there was no more space to retreat, he scooted his bottom back and swung the dagger. But it did not even reach the bandit’s body, only managing to slash his clothing.

The moment Yoonso, who was trembling like a person drenched in cold water in the middle of winter, readjusted his grip on the dagger, the man’s neck suddenly snapped with a jerk and he collapsed. Yoonso, unable to do anything, froze and stared with wide, round eyes at the dagger that had pierced the man’s neck.

When, and from where, did this fly from…?

Just as he was blinking blankly, the gushing red blood seeming completely unreal, pained voices erupted from behind him.

Clutching the fallen leaves on the ground with his trembling fingers, he stealthily peeked his head out to look behind him. And then, what he saw before his eyes was the hem of a long robe, spreading softly just like a fully bloomed lotus flower.

The tall man in the dark blue long robe, who just a moment ago had been isolated in the middle of the bandits, was moving among them as if dancing, elegant and fast.

The sword, sheathed neatly in its scabbard, accurately stabbed the ruffians’ vital points, and the bandits who had been so full of vigor unbelievably began to fall one by one without even putting up a fight. A few of the remaining ones, flustered, wildly swung their axe-like swords, but the man avoided the random attacks just by twisting his body and tilting his head.

Finally, when the man arrived before them, the bandits could not even let out a single scream before they could block his attack and slowly crumbled.