Dreams of the Northern Battlefield
Dan Hyunwoo hadn't dreamed in a long time.
For about ten years, it felt as though he'd been submerged in deep darkness, simply sleeping.
Yet the scenery from the last time he had dreamed now unfolded before him once more.
In the dream, Dan Hyunwoo saw the days shortly after he had founded the Mumyeongdae.
The northern battlefield.
It was during the height of the war, when they were being pushed back.
Back then, he had stood in the midst of slaughter.
He had fought against tens of thousands.
Perhaps even more.
Those were the days when blood never dried on his sword.
For a year.
He crossed blades with the strong.
Stepping over the corpses of the dead, he piled up new ones.
And in the end, he faced the northern grand general, a royal who commanded tens of thousands, in a final battle.
There was no time to think about whether he would die or kill. He simply swung his sword down.
And before he knew it, he was alone.
Standing alone atop tens of thousands of corpses, drenched in blood.
Even Dan Hyunwoo himself staggered under countless wounds.
It was an alien sight.
So many people, yet he was the only one alive.
Tens of thousands, yet he was the only one breathing.
Then he suddenly realized.
There was one more living person.
Whooosh—!
Having killed so many, his dulled sword cleaved through the air to take one final life.
And it stopped just before striking.
The last survivor.
He was a boy of about ten years old.
The child stared at him without a trace of fear.
Those eyes, filled with bitter hostility, were fixed directly on Dan Hyunwoo.
He knew who the boy was.
The son of the northern grand general.
His father had lost his life to the sword Dan Hyunwoo held just moments ago.
His chest had been split open, and he had coughed up blood.
The moment their eyes met, Dan Hyunwoo sheathed his sword.
He turned his back.
Then the boy asked.
"You're not going to kill me?"
The boy's voice trembled thinly.
Stained with emotions swallowed by rage, it sounded as though he might burst into tears.
"If you don't kill me here, I will definitely take revenge."
At that voice, Dan Hyunwoo turned his head.
Righteous anger, and the intelligence to control it.
Also, innate, heaven-sent talent for martial arts.
The boy did not hide any of it.
It was everything a mere ten-year-old could show.
But Dan Hyunwoo turned his back again.
And left the boy without a word.
As he staggered down the path, he could feel the boy's gaze still fixed on him.
Yet he did not look back.
The great northern war of ten years ago, the Bukcheondaecheon.
Only two people survived: Dan Hyunwoo and the boy.
Dan Hyunwoo opened his eyes.
Instead of the blood-soaked battlefield, a familiar ceiling came into view.
"It's been a while since I dreamed of the old days."
He had tried not to think of those memories if possible.
Yet the door to memory had opened without warning.
He had discarded the sword he used back then.
Even though it had been bestowed by the Emperor, he left no attachment behind.
Because he could never wield that sword again.
"Haa……."
He let out a thin sigh.
Just then, he turned his head at the sound of knocking on the paper door.
"Is that you, Yuhwa?"
"Can I come in?"
"Yes."
Hwa Yuhwa opened the paper door and entered.
Then, upon seeing Dan Hyunwoo's face, she was startled.
"Your complexion looks pale."
"I just remembered the past. No…… I'm not in pain, so you don't need to check my pulse."
"You're definitely not in pain. But what kind of dream was it that even changed your complexion?"
"……The Bukcheondaecheon."
"Ah……."
Hwa Yuhwa nodded.
Even she, who had treated the imperial guards from the rear, knew.
How horrific that war had been.
As the sole survivor, Dan Hyunwoo had immediately begun dismantling the Janggang Waterway Stronghold afterward.
As if trying to erase the terrible memories of the Bukcheondaecheon completely.
Hwa Yuhwa spoke.
"This is perfect timing. Sehui has recovered quite a bit, and Mother suggested we go on an outing. How about a change of scenery for you too, Commander?"
"Now?"
"The three troublemakers are making lunch boxes."
Hwa Yuhwa spoke with an excited face.
Then she grabbed his hand and pulled.
"Hurry and wash up."
Dan Hyunwoo rose to his feet.
The dream, drenched entirely in blood.
It still refused to release his ankles.
But he stepped forward.
Following Hwa Yuhwa's pulling hand, toward where his family waited.
* * *
It was nice that Hangzhou was by the sea.
They spread out a mat and sat atop it, feeling the cool breeze.
Eun Doyun's laughter tickled his ears.
"Is it all right for me to be here too?"
Moyong Sehui asked worriedly.
Dan Yuseon smiled.
"This is also a gathering to welcome your return."
Saying so, he opened the lunch box.
The food made by the three troublemaker servants looked delicious enough to make one's mouth water.
"Let's eat."
With Dan Yuseon's words, the food began to disappear quickly.
Moyong Sehui thought it tasted as good as it looked.
Yet when she had offered to make the side dishes, why had they chased her out of the kitchen?
'I really missed this food.'
She had longed for it while away from the Dan Manor.
Jin Yeongyeong added Moyong Sehui's portion to a plate and said,
"These boys have really gotten good at cooking. There's nothing to criticize anymore."
With a face tangled in complicated emotions, Jin Yeongyeong continued.
"Honestly, when I look at Yu Sucheon, Jeon Akgwan, and Cheon Ilseong, my heart still isn't at ease, but they're not as hateful as before. It's strange."
Dan Yuseon nodded as if he agreed.
The ones who had tried to take everything after stabbing him with a poisoned needle.
Yet now, the desire to kill them had vanished.
"I don't know if time has made me this way, or if it's because of human affection."
"It must be because Father and Mother are magnanimous people."
"Magnanimous, don't say such nonsense."
Dan Hyunwoo shook his head.
His parents had been that way from the beginning.
But Dan Yuseon and Jin Yeongyeong seemed to think differently from Dan Hyunwoo.
"Hyunwoo, it's not because we're magnanimous. It's possible because you created the situation. You subdued those terrifying men of the world and resolved everything. We didn't do anything. What's more, we still haven't forgiven them."
"I barely did anything."
"No. Without you, we couldn't have even imagined spending such happy times. Hyunwoo, I don't know how fortunate it is that you returned. How fortunate that our son has grown into such a righteous and fine man."
"……."
"What's more, thanks to you, we regained our health. You even brought the physician Hwa and had us treated. This isn't something just anyone can do. You cared for your family with utmost sincerity. There's no one else in Hangzhou who could do that. You wouldn't find one even if you searched the entire Central Plains."
"Hmm……."
His face grew hot.
Hwa Yuhwa's grinning expression was also a little hard to bear.
He wasn't used to this kind of praise, and now even Moyong Sehui wore a similar look…….
Should he run away? While he was pondering, Dan Seoyeon began to speak.
"It's true that Brother is remarkable. From a young age, he was smart and could do anything. After growing up, he solved all the family's difficult troubles. And now that he's back, he's even fulfilling the filial duties he couldn't before."
"No……."
"Is that all? Thanks to Brother preparing everything, the Danhwa Silk Shop has become Hangzhou's finest silk store, producing silk that rivals the best in the Central Plains."
Stop! Please stop! Eun Hyeongyeom, I only trust you.
Even you, keep your mouth shut.
But without a clue, Eun Hyeongyeom opened his mouth.
"Hyunwoo was popular from a young age, and he really was impressive. Even when all those notable young ladies threw themselves at him, he didn't even blink."
Hwa Yuhwa slipped in slyly.
"That story sounds interesting."
"The daughter of Hangzhou's richest family said she'd marry him on the condition that she bring an enormous fortune, and the same went for the daughter of a high official. Their fathers all liked Hyunwoo too. He was just that outstanding a friend."
"Hmm……."
Hwa Yuhwa shot a sidelong glance at Dan Hyunwoo, who avoided her gaze.
Dan Hyunwoo's face grew increasingly hot.
Eun Hyeongyeom continued excitedly.
"But that guy Hyunwoo rejected all those excellent conditions. And strangely, that made him look even cooler. Thanks to that, there wasn't a single person who didn't like Hyunwoo. And…… he was a filial son even back then. Just like now."
"That's right. Brother was always someone who only yielded. And he's still the same now. Foolishly trying to hand over the Danhwa Silk Shop and even the position of head of the household to us."
If only Eun Doyun had stayed quiet too.
"When I saw him resolve everything in a single day during the Dan Manor's difficult times, I truly came to respect him. My goal is to become like Uncle when I grow up."
This was impossible.
The sinking feeling of shame, embarrassment, and awkwardness ended here.
Especially Eun Hyeongyeom—you needed to keep your mouth shut.
Dan Hyunwoo suddenly stood up from his seat.
"Hyeongyeom, Yuhwa says your skills have improved a lot lately. Let's see for ourselves."
"Suddenly?"
"Opportunities to use martial arts always come suddenly."
"Uh……."
Reluctantly, Eun Hyeongyeom stood and faced Dan Hyunwoo.
Eun Hyeongyeom's eyes changed slightly as he held his sword.
This might be a good chance to check the results of his training so far.
Tatatak—!
The footwork Hwa Yuhwa had taught him unfolded.
His legs kicked off the ground and quickly closed the distance to Dan Hyunwoo.
It was true that his skills had improved compared to before.
However.
"Kek!"
Dan Hyunwoo brushed off his hands.
Leaving the fallen Eun Hyeongyeom behind.
If only he'd kept his mouth shut when he had the chance—he could sacrifice himself for a change of atmosphere.
He hadn't hit him hard.
He had only pressed firmly on a weak point with the scabbard.
The scream-like sound must have come from surprise.
Right? Eun Hyeongyeom picked up his sword again and kicked off the ground.
"Kek!"
Again, brushing off his hands…….
Using his friend's sacrifice and suffering to escape his own embarrassment.
Watching this scene, Dan Seoyeon spoke.
"Mother, perhaps Brother……."
"It seems he's tormenting our son-in-law because he's embarrassed. Isn't that right, dear?"
"Hmm…… Thanks to Hyunwoo, our son-in-law is suffering. We should probably stop him soon."
"Really, Brother is too much! He used to run away when he was embarrassed before, and he's still the same now."
Hwa Yuhwa asked.
"You run away when you're embarrassed?"
"If he can't run away, his face turns bright red."
"That's an unexpected side. Hohoho."
"Indeed. He's perfect in everything else, but he can't handle embarrassment."
"Hey! Your father is the same way."
"Father too?"
"Stop before I run away."
"Hohoho."
The family burst into laughter, holding their stomachs.
Dan Hyunwoo also smiled contentedly while breaking into a cold sweat.
'It's good that the family is happy, but when will this embarrassment end?'
In the end, escape had failed.
The family had all noticed.
Eun Hyeongyeom spoke.
"Are you sparing me now?"
"……Your skills have improved a lot."
"Next time, go easy on me."
Dan Hyunwoo's moderate strength was like a thousand-pound boulder to Eun Hyeongyeom.
He collapsed, completely exhausted.
Dan Seoyeon quickly wiped the sweat from Eun Hyeongyeom's forehead.
"Brother, you should have gone easier. Our husband is about to pass out."
"……Sorry."
This guy had completely forgotten how he'd been doted on as a child and only took his husband's side.
Hwa Yuhwa watched the scene and grinned.
As if she had found a weakness.
What was she planning to do from now on?
Unexpectedly, Eun Doyun took Dan Hyunwoo's side.
"Father, Mother, a martial artist's weakness is a sin. Uncle was simply teaching him that. Also, a master's teaching is something you can't obtain even if you pay ten million gold."
"Well said, Doyun."
Dan Hyunwoo smiled and patted Eun Doyun's head.
What a commendable boy.
"Hyeongyeom, did you hear Doyun? From now on, I'll make you even stronger."
"Betrayed by my own son, and the solution is for only me to suffer?"
"……."
"Hey! Why aren't you answering!"
The family burst into laughter again.
"Hahaha."
"Hohoho."
The cool sea breeze brushed against his cheeks once more.
Dan Hyunwoo smiled.
Coming back really was the right choice.