A Heart Bound for the Dragon (1)
Kaesong.
When I stopped by on my way to Pyongyang last time, it had been nothing more than a brief stopover. This time, however, it was our final destination.
"While it is famous as the capital of Goryeo, Joseon actually established Kaesong as its capital for a brief period as well. For two years before the capital was moved to Hanyang, and then again when King Jeongjong ascended the throne and returned here, before King Taejong's reign saw it move once more..."
Yeol Hayun babbled on excitedly before suddenly snapping her mouth shut.
"Forgive me. I fear I have monopolized the conversation with matters of interest only to myself."
"Not at all, my lady. I was listening with great interest," I replied smoothly.
"..."
"Do you enjoy history, Officer Oh?" I asked, turning to her.
"When the classics become too dry to bear, I often find historical records to be a welcome escape. Though, to be perfectly honest, I prefer the sensationalized romances to the dry, factual histories."
"!"
Oh Jayeon's desire flared instantly.
"Do you know of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Officer?" I asked.
"Of course I do. There is not a single military officer in the land who does not know of it."
As expected, this topic is the perfect icebreaker for her.
The more people there are, the harder it becomes to manage their desires.
Even with just the three of us—myself, Oh Jayeon, and Yeol Hayun—friction easily arises.
How much worse must it be in politics, where the desires of countless individuals entangle and clash?
It was bound to be a perpetual circus.
Yeol Hayun also seemed intrigued by the prospect of discussing the Romance of the Three Kingdoms with a military officer. She shifted her attention away from me and toward Oh Jayeon, upon whose back I was currently riding.
"Which figure do you favor most, Officer Oh?"
"Guan Yunchang is the one I respect the most, but I cannot help but feel a certain pity for Lu Fengxian."
"For me, it is Liu Xuande."
"Is it because he, too, was of the Long-eared race?"
"More than that, do you not find his talent for scheming utterly captivating?"
"Scheming? Surely Cao Mengde is the true schemer of the era?"
"Pardon? Surely Liu Xuande was the greatest, most deceitful hero of that age!"
"?"
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I comfortably watched the two of them engage in their lively debate from my perch on Oh Jayeon's back.
Yes, in a small group, it is always best for everyone to get along.
Though in larger organizations, such cozy familiarity often leads to collective ruin.
Joining in on the Three Kingdoms talk would be fun, but... perhaps I should let my brain rest for a bit.
Reading desires and constantly currying favor with others is an exhausting endeavor.
Especially for someone like me, who still retains the sensibilities of an ordinary man.
Riding a mount that navigated to our destination on its own was incredibly convenient.
Now this is what I call true autonomous driving.
After stopping by the local government office to pay our respects, we took some time to wash off the dust of travel.
"They say the strange occurrences at the royal tomb of the former dynasty only happen in the dead of night. We may have to stay up all night, so let us rest while we can."
.
.
.
Joseon had never been a land of thriving nightlife.
The distance between Neo-Confucianism and nocturnal revelry was as vast as that between a chaste noblewoman and a book of erotic paintings.
Yet, even the most virtuous lady might keep an erotic scroll hidden deep within her wardrobe.
The unique passions and desires that only the night air could stir were not easily suppressed, no matter how hard one tried.
Kaesong, the former capital of Goryeo, was situated in a basin entirely surrounded by mountains.
The tomb of King Taejo Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, lay in the western mountains, meaning we had to traverse the entire length of Kaesong's downtown to reach it.
"The west is in that direction," Yeol Hayun said, pointing.
As a picture-perfect scholar, Yeol Hayun's heart fluttered at the prospect of her very first nighttime excursion.
It was not a leisurely stroll but a royal mission, yet that very fact only lent the outing a strange, thrilling sense of deviance.
The world was painted in shades of black and amber.
The black was the darkness of night, and the amber was the glow of torches.
The cool night breeze brushed against our skin.
As we entered the city streets, we saw shops that still kept their lanterns lit even at this late hour. They seemed to be taverns, judging by the drunken laughter drifting out.
The coquettish, flattering voice of a male entertainer, likely employed by one of the establishments, reached my ears.
It sounded cheap. Vulgar.
Yeol Hayun reflexively glanced to her side.
Her eyes met mine.
I offered her a soft, gentle smile.
Yeol Hayun quickly averted her gaze.
Her face burned hot.
He is clearly a gisaeng, yet how is it that this man feels so utterly removed from such vulgarity?
Even my aunt might... if it were this man...
No, that is impossible.
The Left State Councillor's extreme cleanliness freak nature was not something that would vanish just because of a single exception.
Ugh...
Her aunt's command to find Han Seojin's flaws or weaknesses.
She was still diligently carrying out that mission. She fully intended to submit a proper report.
But...
The mere thought of reporting Han Seojin's flaws to her aunt sent a sharp, painful pang through her chest.
As we walked on, the commercial district gave way to residential areas.
Tiled roofs lined the streets closer to the city center, gradually giving way to thatched roofs the further out we went.
And finally.
"There it is," Oh Jayeon muttered.
She held up her torch.
Stone steps led up to the tomb, and a tall gate stood at the entrance. Even though it belonged to the previous dynasty, the royal tomb was still maintained with proper respect.
As the three of us ascended the steps, a massive earthen mound came into view.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Oh Jayeon swept her torch around once more, illuminating the area.
"..."
"..."
Silence hung heavy in the air.
Yeol Hayun asked in a hushed whisper.
"...It seems nothing is happening?"
Rustle.
"Eek!"
Startled, Yeol Hayun instinctively grabbed onto whatever was closest to her. Unfortunately for her, that happened to be my arm. Her ample breasts pressed firmly against my arm for a brief second before she hurriedly pulled away.
"I-I am so sorry...!"
"It is quite alright, Lady Scholar," I replied gently.
Yeol Hayun was utterly mortified by her own behavior. To think a woman would make such a pathetic show of herself just because she was frightened!
Pressing her body against his was embarrassing enough, but surely a man wouldn't harbor any wicked thoughts just from feeling a woman's breasts for a split second.
After all, unlike women, men did not react so easily to physical contact.
Oh Jayeon swept her torch around once more.
"Even if nothing is happening now, we must remain here for a while to observe. I shall patrol the perimeter first, so the two of you stay here."
But before she could take a step—
"What business brings you here?"
Was it a stroke of good fortune, or a curse?
They did not have to wait long. The very target they were searching for had appeared before them.
"!"
The three of them spun around in haste, their eyes falling upon a bizarre woman.
Her garments were stark white, and her hair was a striking silver-gray.
She was anything but normal.
"...What is your business here?" Oh Jayeon demanded.
"I have come to offer a memorial service."
Indeed, the woman carried a basket filled with ritual offerings, such as wine and rice cakes.
The sole military officer among the three stepped forward.
"I have heard reports of strange occurrences here of late. Is that your doing?"
"I know nothing of any strange occurrences. I merely perform a memorial service here once every seven days."
"And who are you to presumptuously offer sacrifices to the founder of Goryeo?"
"Whom I choose to honor is no concern of anyone else, is it?"
"Are you a descendant of King Taejo, or does your family owe its lineage to his grace?"
"No. I simply wish to pay my respects to the great dragon. Did he not sweep away a ruined land and usher in a new era?"
"...If your intentions are so pure, why do you sneak up here under the cover of night instead of coming by day? Living in Joseon, can you not fathom how such acts of devotion to a king of the fallen dynasty would be perceived?"
"...?"
The woman tilted her head.
"Why should I care about such trivial things?"
It was clear that words alone would not get through to her.
Oh Jayeon drew a hongsa—the red-dyed rope of the State Tribunal—from her robes.
"I am an investigator of the State Tribunal, Oh Jayeon of the Naju Oh clan. I must take you to the magistrate's office for questioning regarding your motives."
"Take me? You?"
The woman lifted her head.
"And how do you propose to do that?"
Her eyes were terrifying—pitch-black sclerae surrounding brilliant gold irises.
Reverse Eyes.
"A demon...!!"
Oh Jayeon drew the military sword at her waist. The blade gleamed with a cold, blue light under the moon.
"Ah..."
The woman clapped her hands together.
"I see. You are currently serving the dragon of the south."
"You two, get back!!" Oh Jayeon roared.
"But what a wondrous thing this is."
Before I could react, the woman gripped my chin and tilted my face upward.
"—"
To Oh Jayeon, it was as if the woman had vanished in the blink of an eye, only to reappear instantly right in front of me.
"How is it that a Cintamani is in a place like this?"
The woman offered a gentle, serene smile.
"Could it be that the founder of Goryeo truly looked upon me with favor and bestowed this gift?"
Blink.
"What an intriguing power. Peering into the desires of mortals... is that your Cintamani?"
The woman chuckled.
"You possess such exquisite beauty. I shall make you my man."
She leaned in, bringing her lips closer and closer to mine.
???
