The Hangang river is the northernmost tributary of the Yalu river in BuYeo Kingdom.
The water of the Han is partially yellowish due to the mud and soil particles from soil erosion. Though with the fact that it is yellowish there are rich nutrients that flow in the river and are not available in other rivers.
But still the Hangang river had been abandoned for a very long time and the name had faded in the people's memory.
Heo Yeong hye stood on the shore of the waltzing sand atop the worn-out yellow earth spotlessly. The hair on his forehead is slightly messy from the gentle breeze and his amber eyes were flickering with mesmerised light that was as impenetrable as the gorge with every glance.
He was standing on nothing but the country's desolate lanside, but it looked as if he was standing in the country's richest land.
It was unknown how long he had stood there but his ethereal handsomeness looked like the scorching sun and his expression was laden with spirit as he gazed down at the pair of phoenix eyes in front of his Hanok across the other side of the river.
It was so peaceful hearing the melodious voice of his wife.
Concurrently outside their Hanok is his wife, Minseok sitting on the grassland singing as she maintained eye contact with Heo Yeong hye across the other shores of the Hangang river. The husband and wife both held each other gaze and it seemed as thought they are communicating with each other.
The water, like a witch oil,
burnt yellow and white,
The time of the world regime.
The world where the darkness is weak,
And the light is strong,
Where the rich and the poor are equal.
Then Minseok heard a pippin voice, soft, low and clear, raised in the familiar shure song. Little Heo Yeong ho joins Minseok in singing as he emerges from inside their Hanok.
The witch oil turned around the regime of the world,
It's burned blue and black,
The world where the darkness is strong,
And the light is weak,
Where the rich are strong,
And the poor are weak.
The three years old boy snuck to his mother like a nimble cat and sat down beside her. Little Heo Yeong ho pursed his lip as he placed his head on his mother's lap, then they continued singing together.
Who will turn the regime of the world,
Back to its rightful position.
His voice is sweet, but not overwhelmingly luscious like his mother. It is more subtle, and smokey like the colour of a summer leaf. His voice is simply raw, a pure form of emotion. It feels like words someone speaks just to fill an awkward silence.
It is a peaceful atmosphere embers after rainfall, perfect for moving off the river.
Heo Yeong hye's lip turned up in a smile while looking at his little family. The song sound like a sad one but it is quite a peaceful melodious relaxation thanks to his wife beautiful voice.
Some years back, he and his wife had fled to this abandoned river to escape from the one searching for him. The one he knows he couldn't fight against.
His once best friend but an overnight enemy of his_ Kim Byeon In.
They have been living just like the Hangang river; abandoned and forget. Living like a dead river is favourable for him and his wife but Heo Yeong doesn't know when their peaceful settlement will come to an end. The feeling of getting caught hadn't for a day escaped his mind. He was living in fear and regretting every moment of his life.
He regrets ever spying for the Han Nation and blames himself for his foolish decision. He betrayed the trust of friendship between him and Kim byeon In and most importantly HIS COUNTRY
But had he not done that, then Minseok would have been in danger or may have perished.
Now it is all late and he must pay the price for his betrayal with his family life. A deadly poisonous price that burned terribly inside his heart like a flaming fire.
But no matter what happens, he had promise to protect his family from paying the price for his betrayal… That was the least of his responsibilities. Hence, he will once again choose his wife and son against his country and friendship if it come to the worse scenario.
He looked at his family on the other side of the river and vowed in his mind "I will protect the two of you, no matter what happens."
Heo Yeong hye's eyes suddenly quivered as he felt a sense of danger. He subconsciously narrowed his eyes and tilted his head forward "Why doesn't it feel like we are being watched?"
A chill crept up to his body as the danger sensation was utterly seeming real. The kind of danger that comes from his fear becoming real. It caused Heo Yeong hye to tense up, then his eyes shot up at alert.
Right immediately, his eyes fell to the dense forest behind his house, he turned his line of sight as a trace of icy protecting intent sprang from his amber eyes, however it clashed with a pair of icy killing intent emitting from hazel eyes.
These two pairs of eyes maintain contact, across the shore of the Hangang river.
Heo Yeong hye's side of the shore was a desert sandy soil pervaded by a stormy sand that shifted beneath one foot at every step. The side above the other was surrounded by endless forest, and shaped lush hilltop toward Heo Yeong hye's Hanok which is layered loess. The figure stood proudly on the hilltop, behind him were a group of young youths dressed in a black attire, and armed with their weapons, stalling at alert.
As Heo Yeong hye stared deeply at the figure, the line between his brow deepened because the silhouette seemed too familiar to him .It's definitely Kim Byeon In. There is no way his eyes will be playing tricks on him.
His heart sank with a thump at the realization.
This was the first time he was setting his eyes on those hazel pairs of eyes in the last seven years and he just happened to be caught off guard like this, which put his family life at risk.
On the other hand Minseok had sensed her husband's disturbance and the smile on her lip faltered when he noticed Heo Yeong hye trembled. Her eyes traced where Heo Yeong hye gaze was fixed to, it landed in the hilltop behind their house, and there she saw some sillothette behind the leaves blades. Minseok felt her leg stiffened and she gasped in fear, noticing the sword in their hands, and precisely seeing those hazel eyes of Kim Byeon In.
Alarmed by his wife's reaction, Heo Young hye somewhat shaken in fear but he was not too frightened as his eyes unwaveringly watched Kim Byeon In whose eyes were eerily. He could instinctively sniff a sense of danger from Kim Byeon In, so he immediately took to running inorder to save his family but without warning the sand shifted beneath his feet and he stumbled forward. His heart lurched as he flared his arm like a madman. He was able to catch himself as the sand strength subsided. He slid his leg to gathered his strength and fling himself forward, then he resumed running.
"Shall we move now Your Majesty" General Heukchi asked courtesy awaiting Kim Byeon In command.
Kim Byeon In nodded expressionlessly as he shifted his gaze away from the running Heo Young Hye to Minseok and a spark lit up in his eyes. A feeling of warmth washed over him as he looked at the woman he loved.
But…
Yes, this was the same woman he was in love with but was flatly rejected as she chose his friends over him. Getting reminded by those horrible experiences of rejection reopened Kim Byeon In wounds as it escaped with his bright shooting eyes, leaving him with nothing but emptiness and despair in his now pierced heart.
'why did she have to reject him'
His anguish came from the betrayal of the one he loved the most in his life.
He loves Minseok so much… so much!. He loved her so much that he was ready to leave the throne seat and the title of the crown prince for their love to bloom, but all of that was just his own little fantasy as it meant nothing to Minseok. She considers him being obsessed and opted to abduct with Heo Yeong hye.
Meanwhile General Heukchi had signalled the youths, and they started descending down the hill toward the family. A subtle smirk turned up on his lip the closer they get to their prey. This is the seventh year that Kim Byeon In had ordered him to locate the family whereabouts but the order had a delay as it was difficult finding them. But earlier this morning the informant he had assigned to look for them finally contacted him saying that he had found their location here at Hangang river. Never in his wildest imagination did he ever think of Hangang river. Heo Yeong ho sure knows what is best for him.
Though General Heukchi didn't have any idea that there is another reason for Kim Byeon In persecution of Heo Young Hye family or maybe he doesn't care to know as it also happened that his own father who was the chief general of Buyeo, at the time during the war with Han Nation was killed.
Right now, nothing matters to him than to avenge his late father and his previous king's death. Revenge had completely taken over his body that he couldn't care about the family fate.