Chapter Twenty: The Guardian of the Riverbend
The day has finally come of their departure. Advisor An Jiho and Kyung Mi and Concubine Yeona see them out as they were the trusted ones to look over the palace while the both of them are away; especially An Jiho for he would be handling not only his but also the Emperor's affairs. On the other hand, Kyung Mi would be assisting Concubine Yeona at handling the Harem while Haneul is away.
"Farewell, cousin. Your Majesty, don't forget my pieces of advice." Yeona bid her goodbye as she hugged her favorite cousin tightly. Wangchul just scoffed remembering something unpleasant while Haneul was left puzzled. She thought, 'Maybe it's a strategy for those monsters.'
"Safe travels. Have a safe trip. Come back in one piece, your majesties." The stiff Kyung Mi said full of worries as if sending her children to college. All of them chuckled lowly and assured the agitated lady in waiting.
"Your Majesties, especially the Emperor, please do come back as soon as possible." An Jiho said in a low spirited voice paired with his exhausted face. It was a tough job for him but considering how loyal he was to the Emperor, it's counted as nothing.
Whilst they walk away together with the troops; minute after minute Haneul would feel excited. Especially when she was also dressed as the Emperor but in a Lady's style.
As they both looked at the map while facing south; riding each other's horses, Haneul knew that it was the beginning of their long journey.
When they finally reached the border of the central town, Haneul; for the last time, looked back at the palace that is visible even when they're kilometers away. To avoid the townspeople, the Emperor ordered to depart at dawn, the town was dead silent as if no living thing was there. You can only hear the faint whistle of the cold air and see the dancing leaves that freed themselves from the trees.
For the first time in her new life, Haneul had stepped outside the town. Outside the borders was a silent road in a forest. It seems like they had to pass the forest before going to the neighboring town. The forest appeared to be vast and thick that it would take them one day and one night before entering the borders of the next town.
Wangchul tried to explain to Haneul that they would be leaving no choice but to sleep outside. Haneul, who was very up for adventures, of course, did not have a problem with that. It would be just like a school camping, minus the weird monsters lurking around the forest at night though.
As they go deep inside the forest, Kim Daehan; the representative of the Imperial Faction, and Jeon Junsoo; the representative of the Aristocratic Faction, approached Wangchul and Haneul to report. "Your Majesties, our team had done scouting the area. It appeared that there is a Riverbend nearby." Kim Daehan said while bowing.
Doing her job as the Emperor's mouth, Haneul smiled gently and nodded. "Very well. We have traveled quite too far. Tell everyone to get to the lake and have a rest for a while. It's also time for lunch anyway."
Hearing this, the two representatives smiled at the Empress with relief. They have been marching for hours non-stop— from dawn till midday. Should the Empress had not come along, they could only get a rest not until the sun sets for sure.
Wangchul looked at Haneul with a smiling face and nodded, he then leads the way to the Riverbend they discovered.
Seeing the crystal clear water in the little Riverbend, everyone cheered and dashed their way to the water. Some took off their shoes and dipped their feet at the lower part of the Riverbend; some drinking and filling their water containers at the higher part of the Riverbend where the water is fresh and some just flopped down the shore of the Riverbend because of exhaustion.
Haneul secured Hualian, her mare, at a grassy part for her to have something to eat.
While patting the chewing Hualian, Wangchul approached Haneul. "Your horse is eating well, how about the master?" he asked in a gentle tone.
Just as she was to give a response, Haneul felt her stomach shrank lightly. She then turned her face at the Emperor, "I'm hungry."
It was then she noticed that Wangchul was carrying a food box packed in a red silk cloth. Wangchul raised it and smiled, "Let's eat the food Kyung Mi packed for us."
They took a quick walk— looking for a place to eat until they saw three rocks lining up. Two rocks at the size of a chair and in the middle was a flat rock taller than the other two. It was a table set made by nature.
Wangchul placed the food box at the table; making the red silk an alternate table cloth and his cape a cover at the rock Haneul would be sitting.
"Wangchul-ah, there is no need." Haneul stopped him.
Wangchul, however, just ignored her and even tapped the cape that is now placed as a cover. "Come sit, Han-i."
Right at that moment, Haneul knew that she could not stop Wangchul from making an imperial cape down to a rock cover. She just shook her head lightly and settled down. Wangchul followed him from settling down afterward.
'Might as well sit at a priceless cape. Whoever knows when will this opportunity happen again?'
Seeing the food Kyung Mi had prepared for both of them, Haneul was hungrier than earlier. She picked up a chopstick and immediately dug in.
They finished the hearty meal and marched their way back to the Riverbend where their troops had taken a rest.
Walking side by side in the forest, the two suddenly heard a faint series of screaming.
"HELP!"
"A MONSTER!"
It was exceedingly peaceful at the inner forest where they are at the moment, and since the Emperor possessed stronger-than-normal senses, the moment he heard, he instantly looked at Haneul. Unexpectedly, Haneul could also hear the cry for help albeit the fact that they are not so near to the Riverbend where it was coming from.
Haneul thought that it was a normal thing to hear them. However, Wangchul's reaction was as if she shouldn't have heard what he also hear. Wangchul wanted to question Haneul but the troops are the top priority as of the moment. The two of them rushed back at the Riverbend.
The people who were enjoying the cold water at the lower part ran away barefooted and the people who were drinking at the higher part dashed; forgetting their water containers.
It appeared that the guardian of the Riverbend did not fancy having visitors and shooed them away. It was a blue water snake dragon, its eyes were raging and its nostrils were letting out a shower of water. It was aggressive enough that if it could sight any living thing, it would kill it without any second thought.
Seeing the huge monster, Wangchul shouted— waving his unsheathed sword frantically, "Everyone, immediately evacuate!"
Seeing that Wangchul was ready to take down the raging monster, Haneul also picked up her bow and pulled an arrow.
When the water snake dragon spotted one of the people who was leisurely playing with the waters a while ago, its pupils shrank and its head charging towards the direction of the scared and panicking person.
Haneul immediately placed an arrow; stretching her arms for a better and accurate aim. In a swoosh, the angry water snake dragon who was chasing its prey halted. Its cheeks were pierced by a sharp arrow and as a result, its blue blood continuously trickled down from the fresh open wound. The water snake looked at its cheeks and looked at Haneul.
"Uh oh.."
Haneul gulped the lump on her throat and faced the water snake dragon.
Haneul heard Wangchul tsk-ed. "Han-i, you should've just let it target someone other than offering yourself."
Wangchul immediately pulled her to get on his back and positioned himself when he saw that the water snake dragon is now changing its direction. Instead of the first prey, it charged towards the direction where Haneul is.
"Should I let my subordinate die in front of me then?" Haneul protested.
When the water snake dragon was only a meter away from them, Wangchul raised both of his arms; ready to slice the water snake dragon in half.
However, Haneul pulled him back and pressed the water snake dragon's nose to lift her in the air. Its head slightly tilted and Haneul made it an opportunity to touch the blue jewel on the water snake dragon's forehead.
Seeing Haneul who is now on top of the water snake dragon's face; carelessly touching a jewel on its forehead, Wangchul shrieked in agitation, his arms have subconsciously been lowered down. "Haneul! What in the world are you doing?!"
Howbeit, Haneul did not reply nor look at him but was only focused on the water snake dragon. Haneul has a vast knowledge of every monster that they would encounter. Its name, origin, strengths, and even weaknesses, because everything was stated in the book.
The plain-looking jewel glowed as it felt the warm touch of Haneul's hand. A Guardian is only aggressive when it comes to their territories being damaged by humans. Someone must have done something wrong for the water guardian to take action.