Chapter 8.2 - Lady of YeonSung 08 (CheongRyu Hall) part 2 (1/2)

“Ha, haa, ha…”

Even though it was summer, the water of the Silk River was very cold. Like ghostly hands, the underwater greenery waved as they tried to pull them down. Only after searching the depths like crazy did Yujo finally find him sinking into the riverbed.

Yujo used all her strength as she grabbed the man and swam up. Above the surface of the water, she could see the shadows of the men searching for them on horseback.

Because the flickering light of the flames was at her back, she couldn’t see the men’s faces, but their murderous spirit was proof enough. The problem was the light. Floating above the black waters of the river, the light illuminated them so clearly.

Did Princess Muyeo escape safely?

Where did Jewol disappear off to?

She heard the men’s shouts. Someone was pointing at them. Yujo paled and hugged the unconscious man as she plunged back into the water. An arrow barely missed her shoulder as it silently shot through the water. She felt as if she were stuck in a nightmare.

How long had it been? She barely managed to crawl to shore. The man remained limp and could barely walk.

“Hey! Get ahold of yourself!”

His whole body was as cold as ice.

Did he die already?

Yujo quickly lifted her finger up against his nostrils. Her finger was also frozen stiff. He was barely breathing. She heard someone whistle. She also heard the neighs of horses coming from far away. The lights of torches flickered as the men searched the riverbank.

They needed to hide. No matter what.

Yujo grabbed the man. He was taller than the average man, and he was a lot bulkier as well. He was also half-unconscious, so he was very heavy. She began to slap his cheek.

“Wake up! If you don’t want to die a dog’s death here! Hurry!”

Dragging his heavy body on her own was impossible. However, it would only be a matter of time before they were caught like this. Yujo frantically shook him.

Thankfully, the man opened his dim eyes.

“Ah, please get up.”

“Alright, I get it, so stop hitting me. I’m gonna die from the pain.”

“If we remain like this, we’ll really die! Hurry, get up.”

Yujo ordered him in a stern voice. With much difficulty, the man got up on his feet. They needed to run now. No matter what!

Yujo grabbed the man’s hand and headed into the field of reeds. The reeds hit the pair of them from all directions, but they couldn’t stop here.

Every time she heard the sound of footsteps, Yujo felt as if she’d have a heart attack. A while later, she found a small cave near the riverbank. They went inside and hid.

She could still see the faint glimmer of the torchlight outside. Thankfully, the cave was dry, but she could smell the faint smell of moss and animal excrement.

Was this a wildcat’s den?

Yujo managed to lower the man and anxiously perked her ears for any sound. The sound of neighing horses, rough shouts… They were all so close. In the black darkness, Yujo grit her teeth.

Please, please go away.

The man’s breaths became rougher. Their hands and feet were beginning to feel numb and cold. If they stayed like this any longer, they’d both die.

“Wait here for a little bit. I’ll be back soon.”

Just as she was about to get up, the man’s hand grabbed her wrist.

“What?”

“…Don’t go.”

The man whispered.

“Don’t tell me… Are you scared?”

“Yeah, I’m scared. Don’t leave me alone in the dark.”

Ha! How was he able to joke around right now?

As she glared at him, the man grinned back at her. She found it fascinating that he was still able to smile in their current situation.

“I need to get them off our scent.”

“If you leave them alone, they’ll go away on their own.”

“But…”

“Don’t go… You’ll get hurt.”

Yujo froze at his words. She looked at him before sitting down next to him. His back was still bleeding. Although they were out of the water, she needed to tend to his wound as soon as possible. However, she was still nervous about their pursuers outside.

“Hey.”

If he was still bleeding and fell unconscious in his current state, there’d be no hope for him. Yujo called out to the man quietly.

“Are you okay? Don’t fall asleep. I don’t think I can carry you.”

The man chuckled at her whisper.

“I guess I am pretty heavy.”

She glared into the darkness. She recalled Jewol’s face again. The Heukra was…

What was going on? What about this man? Did he see the Heukra? Did he see Jewol?

“Did you see it?”

“See what?”

At his question, Yujo didn’t say any more.

“Nevermind.”

A silence settled down between them. They heard the commotion get louder outside.

Everything was chaotic. She couldn’t stop thinking about how Jewol had tried to kill Muyeo. What happened? Why? Why did he deceive me?

They had been close for the past seven years. She had trusted him like she trusted Brother Yuha. She trusted him, so she came to YeonSung. Because she trusted him, she married him.

What if all of this was a lie…?

Yujo’s body shook with dread and disappointment.

Suddenly, it was quiet outside. It seemed that their pursuers were going down to the riverbank to continue their search. She was worried about the man’s wounds.

“Turn around. I want to check and see if you’re still bleeding.”

“How will you see in this darkness?”

“Isn’t it better that we’re in the dark?”

Wouldn’t it be more embarrassing to see him without his clothes?

“Take off your clothes. I can’t see you, but I think my eyes have adjusted a little bit to the darkness. I think we should at least check and see if you’re still bleeding.”

The man let out a groan, and Yujo heard him take off his clothes next to her. Yujo continued to worry. She needed something to bind his wound. She hurriedly ripped her inner skirt.

She felt the pursuers go lower towards the river. They were going to bring out the dogs soon. They mustn’t let out any sound until then.

“Are you done?”

“Yeah.”

Yujo cautiously stretched out her hand in the darkness. She felt his sturdy body. It was his back. She could feel his trained muscles twitch underneath her fingers.

“It’s on my right shoulder.”