Chapter 5
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Drowning at Jungwon Valley
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A valley in the Central Plains, not far from Cheongam Mountain.
"Huff... huff..."
The palanquin bearers who had carried the palanquin collapsed like dogs in the fifth lunar month, tongues lolling out as they gasped.
Ten li.
Not a long distance by any means, but the problem was the passenger they carried.
Carrying Yu Hyun, who was massive like Mount Tai, for ten li...
No matter how you looked at it, it wasn't a job for humans.
"Water! This is it. This is perfect! How could I not have thought of this sooner? Kuhahaha!"
"......"
Standing before the clear, cold stream flowing merrily, Yu Hyun let out a beastly laugh.
"Yes! From now on, I'll train here every day!"
"......!"
The declaration hit like a bolt from the blue, and the bearers' eyes bulged in shock.
Ev, every day?
Round trip twenty li? Carrying that fatty??
Horrific visions of the future flashed through their minds, and in their sprawled positions, the two quietly fainted, seriously contemplating quitting.
But oblivious to their plight, Yu Hyun was simply thrilled by the water.
Splash.
The moment he dipped his ankles in, a chilling sensation shot straight to the crown of his head. It felt incredible.
Even the fine hairs on his body stood on end with delight!
Soaked in anticipation, he slowly waded forward.
Shallow water wouldn't do. It had to be deep enough to fully immerse his body.
His calves submerged, then his knees, thighs, waist...
Just a little more, a bit further...
It was the moment he took one more step.
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath his feet, and his body tilted sharply.
Startled, Yu Hyun flailed his arms to right himself.
But what was this?
He couldn't find his center of gravity.
"......!!"
Only after helplessly plunging in did he remember: in water, not only did weight lessen, but movements slowed too.
This was bad.
He hadn't even started his water training yet, and this damn body of his sank endlessly without any buoyancy to speak of...
Fuck, at this rate, he was done for.
Yu Hyun desperately called out to Guard Huang.
"Hwaaang! Chooong! Gluglugluglu..."
But the moment he opened his mouth, water poured in, and his frantic cries never reached the group waiting on the valley shore.
"Heh heh, look at that."
Unaware of the situation, Guard Huang smiled fondly at Yu Hyun.
How much must he love playing in the water to go so wild?
Splashing water everywhere with vigorous arm strokes—he looked just like a pig in its element.
"If I'd known he'd enjoy it so much even at waist-deep, I would've brought him out sooner."
"Agoglugluglu! (Save me, you lunatic!)"
"Such fine swimming strokes, too."
"Gyarrgrr, gyarr... (You oblivious bastard, I'm dying...)"
"Heh heh, trying to swim now?"
Guard Huang clapped in delight at Yu Hyun bobbing up and down.
"Krog, krogluglu."
Finally, Yu Hyun sank into the water like he was melting away.
"Heh heh, even diving? Impressive, truly impressive. Who'd have thought our Young Master had a talent for water arts."
Just as Guard Huang kept admiring, assuming it was mere playful diving, one of the bearers approached with a visibly panicked expression.
"Gu-Guard Huang?"
"Hm? What's wrong? He's fine. Let him enjoy a bit longer."
"N-No, it's not that... Doesn't he look like he's drowning?"
"Hm?"
"The way he looks..."
"Nah, no way? At that depth?"
"Truth is, this Jungwon Valley is a bit peculiar."
"......?"
"I've come to bathe here before... The bottom isn't even."
"What do you mean?"
"The water makes the bottom look flat, but there are spots that suddenly drop deep. More than a few. That's why a few people drown here every year..."
"......."
Only then did Guard Huang grasp what the bearer meant, blinking in a daze.
"So you're saying..."
"Yes. It's been a while since he dove..."
"......!"
Come to think of it, Yu Hyun hadn't resurfaced from underwater at all.
No way he was actually drowning?
What if that frantic splashing wasn't joy, but a desperate struggle for life?
"Y-Youuuung Maaasteeer!"
Paling, Guard Huang plunged into the water.
* * *
"What nonsense is this!"
"......"
Yu Seong-hwan bellowed at the people upon hearing the news and rushing over in a flash.
"Hyun was fine! Why would he drown? What the hell happened!"
"Well..."
They had no words, even if they had a hundred mouths.
Guard Huang knelt, trembling.
"The Young Master wanted to play in the water, so we went to a nearby valley..."
"What? Water play? You madman! The boy's barely started walking again—how could you let him play in water!"
"......"
"Even if he did want to, what were you, his guard, doing to let him get this bad!"
"Th-That..."
Guard Huang glanced up and met eyes with Jang Se-yong, who frantically rolled his eyes side to side.
Huang, you take this one.
Please.
Responding to that desperate gaze(?) with a distant stare of his own, Guard Huang then shouted with resolute determination.
"Patriarch!"
"......"
His booming voice pointed straight at Jang Se-yong, who flinched and blinked.
"Truth is, the Imperial Physician recommended water play to the Young Master."
"......"
As all eyes turned to him, Jang Se-yong sweated bullets and forced an awkward smile.
"N-No, what are you saying..."
"Isn't it true? You went on about buoyancy and how it's better in water, filling his head with ideas."
"L-Look here."
"The bearers heard it all!"
"......."
The bearers behind him nodded vigorously in agreement, leaving Jang Se-yong scrambling for an excuse when...
...What was this chill?
A shiver ran up his spine. Slowly turning, Jang Se-yong's vision filled with a monster-like figure, eyes blazing like it had aged a thousand years.
"Jang Se-yong..."
"......!"
A voice edged like a blade.
Eyes glowing white with venomous grudge.
"Heh heh, to think I trusted a worm like you as a friend..."
"L-Look, hear me out first."
Normally he'd jut his chin defiantly, but the guilt was too heavy now. Jang Se-yong unwittingly stepped back.
"Making excuses? As if hearing them would change anything?"
"......"
Amid eyes boiling with killing intent and a hollow laugh, Yu Seong-hwan reached for Dam Cheon-u's waist beside him.
Shing.
A chilling ring as the sword drew.
"Seong-hwan, calm down. Think rationally, like the world's top scholar. I didn't recommend it to Hyun exactly..."
"Shut it and stick your neck out! You senile quack! How dare you drive my precious son to death! I'll kill you for sure!"
"Eek!"
With Yu Seong-hwan's roar, a streak of cold white light arced in a massive parabola.
"F-Father-in-law! Steady yourself!"
As things turned dire, Dam Cheon-u hugged Yu Seong-hwan from behind, the blade grazing past Jang Se-yong's nose and slicing empty air.
"Let go! Let go, you damned son-in-law!"
"No can do. Someone's going to die at this rate!"
"Die? What's that to me? My son's dying!"
"Damn it!"
It was over. His eyes had rolled back.
Judging that Jang Se-yong might really die if left unchecked, Dam Cheon-u struck without thinking.
Thwack!
Unthinkable for his usual self, but no other way to save Jang Se-yong came to mind.
"...Y-You... mad... son-in-law..."
"......."
With trembling eyes, Yu Seong-hwan spat out a few words before slowly crumbling before everyone.
* * *
Not long after the commotion in Hwiam Hall.
Three figures knelt before Yu Seong-hwan, who sat in a chair with a white cloth—the mark of illness—bound around his head.
Guard Huang, who took Yu Hyun to the valley.
Dam Cheon-u, the son-in-law who punched his father-in-law unconscious while trying to intervene.
And Jang Se-yong, treated as the root of all evil, Yu Seong-hwan's old friend.
Kneeling to a friend? Absurd. But what could he do?
Right now, he was the sinner who nearly killed his friend's son with a slip of the tongue.
And not just any son?
The late child his friend had cherished his whole life, the last heir to carry on the Yu Clan, begged for on his wife's deathbed.
The boy he'd raised like gold and jade, fretting he'd fly away if not watched or shatter if touched?
Just days ago, the son who'd thrown a feast across all of Anpyeong County for merely walking again.
That son...
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect this."
"......"
Even as Jang Se-yong swallowed his pride to apologize, Yu Seong-hwan stared silently before spitting out a word.
"Where's Hyun?"
"H-He woke up last night."
"......"
"He just swallowed some water—no major harm."
"What? No major harm?"
Yu Seong-hwan's nostrils twitched violently.
"I'm sorry for suggesting the water. I know it was wrong, but I was so thrilled by his brilliant idea..."
"You madman... Every breath my son takes is a struggle."
"......"
Even as irritation rose at Yu Seong-hwan snorting and boasting about his son, the three said nothing.
"Fine. You're dying anyway, so make your excuses. Why? Why drive Hyun to death?"
"My friend, Hyun's like a son to me too."
"Like a son! Damn right he ain't!"
"Yes, not quite. But that day, I truly thought he was admirable."
"......."
"Do you know why he wanted to walk?"
"......."
"Because the Nangong Clan rejected the marriage proposal."
"What?"
At mention of the Nangong Clan, Yu Seong-hwan's brow furrowed deeply.
"I first thought it was brain damage, but Hyun had other ideas."
"Other ideas?"
"Yes. He realized after the rejection: he couldn't live like this..."
"......."
"He even asked me: any medicine to lose weight?"
"Lose weight?"
"Yes. He's finally snapping out of it, wanting to live again. That's why he kept walking. No other way with his weight."
"...That child."
Yu Seong-hwan's expression softened slightly at his son's unknown resolve.
"So I advised water exercise to fight the weight."
"Then... that's why?"
"Yes. How happy must he have been to rush to the valley that day?"
"Urgh."
"That child... wants to live differently from now on."
"......."
Yu Seong-hwan sank into heavy thought.
If Jang Se-yong spoke true, he himself wasn't blameless.
He'd raged at the Nangong Clan's rejection but ignored his son's heart.
Still, he couldn't just let this slide.
The physician endangered a patient; the guard neglected his charge's peril.
And above all...
Yu Seong-hwan's gaze turned to his son-in-law, Dam Cheon-u.
Dare to strike your father-in-law?
Fed and housed him all this time, and the bastard repays it like this!
Rising in fury again, gripping the chair arms, when—
Bang!
"......?"
The inner chamber door flew open, and a woman entered lightly.
Under brows like a new moon crescent gleamed eyes brilliant enough to steal hearts, skin flawless as white jade.
A middle-aged beauty who drew gasps of admiration from all.
"D-Dear?"
Dam Cheon-u, who had turned, rose awkwardly to greet her.
Yu Jeong-hye.
Yu Seong-hwan's daughter, Yu Hyun's sister, the woman managing Yu Clan Manor's inner household in place of the late Yu matriarch.
But she ignored Dam Cheon-u's call, gliding like a butterfly to stand before Yu Seong-hwan.
"Father."
"Yes, it's been a while. How went your trip to your husband's family?"
"Yes."
"Is your father-in-law well?"
"Yes. But the house seemed quite rowdy."
"......."
"I just came from seeing Hyun."
"I see."
"Yes. They said he nearly died."
"......."
At Yu Jeong-hye's words, Yu Seong-hwan glared murderously at the three before him.
"But, did he always love water play that much?"
"Hm?"
"I barely talked him out of insisting on going to Jungwon Valley."
"What?"
Jang Se-yong bowed his head deeply at her words.
"Hm, remarkable. Who knew the boy would want something so badly."
"This is all..."
As Yu Seong-hwan glared like he would devour him, Jang Se-yong's shoulders hunched endlessly.
"Father."
"Yes?"
"If he wants it so much, shouldn't we let him?"
"What? Send him to the valley? No. Who knows what'll happen next."
Yu Seong-hwan shook his head uncomfortably, and Yu Jeong-hye smiled brightly.
"Valley? I think you misunderstood."
"Hm?"
"Why go all the way to the valley for water play?"
"......."
Staring at the softly smiling Yu Jeong-hye, Yu Seong-hwan suddenly widened his eyes and slammed the chair arm.
"Ah!"
"Exactly."
"Ha! Of course. That'll do it."
"Yes, that should."
Dam Cheon-u gulped as the father and daughter instantly concluded and smiled at each other.
When those two clicked like this, it meant...
Shivering with foreboding, Yu Jeong-hye called to him.
"Husband."
"Y-Yes?"
"Our Hyun wants to play in water—how could we send him to that dangerous valley?"
"......."
"I've already told the Vice Steward to buy the land next to Hwiam Hall."
"Ah, that empty lot... why?"
"Make it."
"Make what?"
"A water play area."
"......."
Speechless, Dam Cheon-u stared blankly at his wife, who smiled demurely after dropping the bomb.
He'd forgotten.
That his wife, Yu Jeong-hye, was just as mad about her brother as her father.
Sigh, every one of them insane... Damn this son-in-law life.