Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: A Butterfly's Dream
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Huh? Where is this?
The place where Guard Huang opened his eyes was a flower garden where splendid blossoms bloomed as if competing to show off their beauty to one another.
A cool breeze blew, shaking the flower buds, and his body lost its balance along with them.
Damn it, falling... Huh? Wings?
As he instinctively moved his arms to steady himself, he realized they weren't arms but wings. Large wings etched with dense, beautiful patterns.
Could I have turned into a butterfly?
At first, he was puzzled, but as he flapped his wings and his body lifted into the air, flying toward the sky, a refreshing sensation washed over him.
Heh, who would have thought such a thing could happen...
It felt so vivid that he couldn't tell if it was reality or a dream.
What on earth is going on?
He had no idea why this was happening to him, but it felt too good.
Wasn't flying through the sky the innate desire of humans bound to the ground?
He flapped his wings, cool wind brushing against him, his body gliding leisurely among those beautiful flowers.
Ah, this is wonderful.
He wanted to savor it just a little longer.
Rumble, rumbllle.
A ferocious roar came from somewhere, and when he looked up, the sky was filled with dark clouds, as if rain was about to pour down.
Oh no, just when I discovered this joy...
Wet wings would be trouble, so he had to avoid the rain.
He flapped furiously, but he stayed in place.
No, it was as if he were caught in a spiderweb, his body completely immobile.
What happened? I was flying just moments ago...
He glanced up at the sky, and the dark clouds twitched and parted, revealing a massive head amid a flash of white lightning.
A dragon, its scarlet eyes brimming with ferocity, glared fiercely at the butterflied Guard Huang.
N-no way, is it targeting me?
Guard Huang's body stiffened instantly, like a frog facing a snake.
Terror, fear...
And the ferocious dragon opened its enormous maw, bellowing thunderously.
"You insolent pest!"
"......!"
His eyes snapped open.
"I'll kill you! I'll behead you right now and hang your head at the gate as a warning!"
"......"
What the hell happened?
Guard Huang blinked, and the world came into sharp focus.
It was a familiar room.
He knew it without even rummaging through his memories.
Hwiam Hall, Yu Hyun's room...
"Let go! I said let go!"
"......"
Yu Seong-hwan, face flushed red, screaming that he would kill him while his arms were held by Dam Cheon-u.
This was familiar too.
While serving Yu Hyun, he'd been through situations like this more than once or twice...
But did the young master mess up again? Why is he so furious?
Guard Huang tilted his head in a daze, then carefully surveyed his surroundings.
An empty... bottle rolling on the floor?
"......"
As he slowly rolled his eyes, he finally recalled last night's memories.
'Here, drink.'
'Drink more.'
'Let's drink till we drop today!'
"......!"
The liquor Yu Hyun had kept pouring without pause.
Strangely, it made his mind hazy and sapped his strength.
Then Yu Hyun had said he'd check on So-pi for a moment, stood up, and turned away...
"......"
That's where Guard Huang's memory ended. He reached back and touched the back of his head.
A lump the size of a fist protruded there.
Ah! So that's what happened.
Only then did Guard Huang realize what had befallen him.
Yu Hyun had knocked him out.
"You stupid bastard! I told you to guard him, and you get drunk and pass out? You ungrateful wretch! Today I'll definitely kill y—urk!"
"......"
Yu Seong-hwan bellowed with bloodshot eyes, then clutched the back of his neck.
"Th-this! Hurry and take Seong-hwan to the infirmary!"
As he toppled backward, Jang Se-yong rushed in to check his pulse, and attendants with a stretcher poured in, carrying him out.
Amid the commotion, Guard Huang just blinked vacantly.
"Sigh, you fool. What were you thinking..."
"I'm sorry."
Guard Huang drooped his shoulders and bowed his head at Dam Cheon-u's reproach, laced with sympathy.
"It's Scatter Energy Poison."
"Pardon?"
"He got it from the imperial physician. It was probably in the liquor you drank."
"Ah..."
No wonder he felt so drained.
"You had a dream too, didn't you?"
"......Y-yes."
"Mystic Illusion Incense."
"......"
"Just in case you wouldn't wake from the knockout, he lit three sticks of Mystic Illusion Incense. That cunning rascal..."
Guard Huang turned to where Dam Cheon-u pointed and saw the ashes of completely burned incense sticks.
Staring blankly at the pale ashes scattering into the air, Guard Huang's body slumped as if crumbling away.
Ah, young master.
Why do you do this to me?
What did I do so wrong to deserve this ordeal?
It was then, as Guard Huang laughed like a madman with a dazed expression.
"The Thousand-Li Steed from the stables is gone. The tracks head south, so it seems the young master rode off on it."
"Damn it, that blasted brother-in-law."
Deep furrows creased Dam Cheon-u's brow.
Thousand-Li Steed.
It was a prized horse among prized horses, said to cover a thousand li in a day.
And it wasn't bought at some horse market—it was a treasured gift from the emperor...
Out of all the horses, he takes that one?
"Whew, how is it your fault? It's all because of that immature brother-in-law..."
"......"
"That's not important right now. He left a letter. He says he's stopping by the Nangong Clan alone, then heading to Huangshan. He says not to blame you since it's not your fault..."
"......?"
"What are you doing, man? He asked to prepare five of my Pureblood Horses—not quite Thousand-Li Steeds, but still. I want to chase him myself, but I have to manage the manor... You hurry after him."
"Pardon?"
"Why are you standing there dazed? What if something happens to him—do you know what that would mean?"
"Ah!"
"I'll handle your father-in-law, so take the guards and ride to the Nangong Clan! If you hurry, you can make it in six days."
"Yes!"
Guard Huang snapped to attention and bolted out like lightning.
"Sigh... This isn't the time. He's already had a day's head start on the Thousand-Li Steed. If he rode through the night, he must be at least at the edge of Anhui, in Xiaoxian County. I need to send messenger birds to the Nangong Clan and nearby garrisons for help. Make sure that damned brother-in-law doesn't veer off anywhere."
Dam Cheon-u clenched his fist, crumpling the letter, and hurriedly left Hwiam Hall.
* * *
"Young sir..."
Yu Hyun, who had been cheerfully playing a tune for once, suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
Was it his imagination? It felt like someone would come running any second, asking if he called.
*Ahem.*
Anyway, he felt great.
No longer needing to watch anyone's expressions was pure bliss.
It was like shedding a massive burden—his shoulders felt light, and even the exhale filling and leaving his lungs was utterly refreshing.
I really should travel alone. This sense of freedom...
No annoying tagalongs...
Anyway, it had been four days since he knocked out Guard Huang and rode the Thousand-Li Steed nonstop.
If they'd found Guard Huang and his letter, his father-in-law wouldn't have stayed put, no doubt.
He'd surely sent pursuers under the guise of protection, and probably already reached out to the Nangong Clan.
Not just that—perhaps he'd even asked the authorities for cooperation. Rivers, highways, every checkpoint had soldiers inspecting travelers, warrants in hand.
It might be for something else, but their setup screamed his father-in-law's influence.
So he'd followed mountain paths, skirted Hefei where the Nangong family seat was, and finally reached a small village at the foot of Huangshan.
That emperor-gifted horse is worth every penny.
No wonder that Lü Bu guy went gaga over the Red Hare and handed over Dong Zhuo's foster father's head.
Covering over three thousand li in just four days without rest...
*Snort.*
Was it because the beast sensed his gaze, almost spiritual as it was?
As if announcing its own fatigue, the Thousand-Li Steed snorted roughly.
"Don't worry, we're almost there. I'll treat you to the finest feed soon."
*Whinny, snort.*
That rascal. Nodding its head like that. Answering me?
Yu Hyun gently stroked its neck and looked toward the distant lights.
The village of Ganyeop, nestled at the northern entrance to the massive Huangshan.
Not a large village, but one he absolutely had to visit.
Because the people there knew every nook and cranny of Huangshan.
*Creeeak.*
After tying the Thousand-Li Steed to a post, Yu Hyun entered the inn.
"Who's there?"
"......"
Perhaps because it was well past mealtime and even the drunks had left?
The owner, dozing at the counter, rubbed his eyes at the sound and grumbled irritably.
*Clink.*
"......"
Without a word, Yu Hyun set down a small but heavy pouch from his bosom.
The owner peeked inside the untied pouch, spotted the faintly gleaming silvers, and his eyes widened like a blind man regaining sight. He shot up and bowed precisely at the waist.
"Welcome! We at Mountain Stream Inn, Ganyeop's finest, are honored by your presence. We provide cozy beds for instant sound sleep, mountain and sea delicacies that melt in your mouth, and tea or liquor on demand—items that will leave you in awe!"
"......"
The innkeeper rattled off his well-rehearsed welcome in one breath.
"Best feed money can buy for the horse. Have bathwater ready beforehand, and for food... enough for two, no, three people."
"Ah, do you have companions?"
"I'm eating alone."
"......We'll prepare it as fast as possible."
The owner, pausing at the "three portions for one," shouted toward the kitchen.
"You lot! Sleeping on the job? Light the fires and start cooking! Where's A-Sam? Heat the bathwater quick, and bring the premium feed to fatten up the noble guest's fine steed. Hurry, hurry!"
"......"
The owner's quite accommodating.
And I only gave him two silver taels...
Yu Hyun chuckled, sat down, and waited for the food while addressing the owner.
"Hey."
"Yes!"
As Yu Hyun slapped another silver tael on the table, the owner darted over like he'd heard a ghost.
"Is this the village made by those herb gatherers?"
"Ah, you knew. Yes, indeed. Our Ganyeop..."
He'd only asked if it was, but the owner launched into the village's history from the beginning.
It was more than he'd hoped for, but with no food yet, Yu Hyun sipped warm herbal tea and listened quietly.
The small village of Ganyeop at the foot of Huangshan started as a few huts where herb gatherers lived.
Huangshan was so deep and rugged that few people ventured there, leaving untouched herbs growing in clusters everywhere.
With herbs aplenty, gatherers flocked from all over, and eventually traders joined, forming a small community.
Where there are no people, not just herbs but beasts multiply quickly.
Hunters soon settled in, followed by merchants handling pelts and workshops crafting goods from them.
Thus, it grew to its current hundred households.
Through chats with O Hyun, the Anpyeong County branch chief, Yu Hyun had gleaned this spot—known for herbs and hunting.
Why? Because now he needed to find Child Ginseng.
But he didn't know exactly where in Huangshan it was.
Even the fact that the minions of chaos got it from Huangshan was hard-won intel, costing countless Beggar's Sect spies their lives.
To pinpoint it, he needed a guide with years of Huangshan experience. That's why he'd come to Ganyeop.
"Hmm, not a big village, so you must know everyone here, right?"
"You bet! Born and raised here. I know not just villagers but passing merchants too!"
Yu Hyun added another silver tael, and the owner thumped his chest proudly.
"Perfect."
"Pardon?"
"I need someone who knows Huangshan inside out. Herb gatherer or hunter."
"Pardon? How?"
"......"
*Clink.*
Sensing the question, Yu Hyun added yet another silver piece instead of words.
"I know just the guys—bosom buddies. If they've got families, I'll drag 'em by the collar!"
The owner scooped up the three silvers and bowed deeply.
......Good thing I returned to a wealthy place like Yu Clan Manor.