Chapter 29:
Incognito Journey (4)
“I shall personally take the head of that mountain beast!”
The man raising the royal sword of King Taejo, a treasure of the royal house, was none other than Yeonsangun.
His audacity is practically a national treasure… Ji-yeong thought.
Yet, it wasn’t entirely absurd. That massive sword might just be capable of severing the bear’s neck. But another question nagged at Ji-yeong: Does he even know how to wield a sword?
“Head Cook! Throw the snacks in your sack at it!” Yeonsangun shouted.
“Huh?” Snapping out of her thoughts, Ji-yeong realized the bear was charging toward her again. She steadied herself, grabbed the sack slung over her shoulder, and hurled it at the bear.
Thud
The sack hit the bear’s face, spilling its contents—umegi and other snacks—onto the ground. The sweet scent of honey coated on the treats wafted into the air. The bear, with its keen sense of smell, visibly hesitated, distracted by the aroma.
“Now, Captain! Gong-gil!” Yeonsangun commanded.
At his words, a red short robe and a navy scholar’s robe shot forward from either side. Two blades plunged deep into the bear’s flanks. They couldn’t kill the massive malgom, but they could pin it down momentarily.
[Roar!]
The bear let out a deafening roar, rearing its massive body. The sheer force of its struggle lifted the feet of Shin Soo-hyuk and Gong-gil, who had their blades embedded in its sides, off the ground.
If this continues, they’re in danger! Ji-yeong thought.
At that moment, she saw Yeonsangun, silhouetted against the moonlight, leaping forward with the massive sword raised high.
“How dare you!” he bellowed.
A flash of metal streaked downward like lightning.
Flash
As Yeonsangun’s feet lightly touched the ground, the bear’s colossal body collapsed like a felled tree.
Thud
The ground shook as if hit by an earthquake, marking the end of the mountain’s mightiest creature.
“Your Majesty, are you unharmed?” Shin Soo-hyuk rushed over, but Yeonsangun ignored him, gazing at the fallen bear with an expression of awe.
“At last… another of my dreams is within reach.”
“Your Majesty?” Shin Soo-hyuk asked.
“Such magnificent bear paws!” Yeonsangun exclaimed. “The finest ingredient, praised even by the sage Mencius! From a bear this size, they must be the best of the best. What do you think, Head Cook?”
Ji-yeong was momentarily speechless. Bear paws—specifically, the left front paw—were one of the eight delicacies known as paljin, a rare treat often mentioned in ancient tales from the Spring and Autumn period. Indeed, the paw of this massive malgom would be a top-tier ingredient.
Wait… did he charge at the bear so fearlessly just for its paws? Ji-yeong thought, dumbfounded.
As Gong-gil sheathed his bamboo sword, he tossed out a remark. “I had a hunch, but it’s just as I thought.”
“What?” Ji-yeong asked.
“His Majesty. His skill in performing the Cheoyong dance was exceptional, even to a lifelong jester like me. They say dance and martial arts are closely linked, and I figured he’d be skilled with a sword.”
So, all those mornings dancing together gave Gong-gil insight into the king’s abilities.
“Is that how it works?” Ji-yeong asked.
“Plus, from what I’ve seen, His Majesty exerts twice his strength when there’s something he wants to eat,” Gong-gil added.
“Ah… right…” Ji-yeong muttered.
At this point, nothing about Yeonsangun should surprise her. His every action was a parade of eccentricities. To summarize: he set out incognito, encountered a massive bear, and, driven by a desire to eat bear paws, wielded King Taejo’s sacred sword to slay it himself.
“However, something else is strange,” Gong-gil said, approaching the fallen bear and probing its head with his hands.
“What are you doing?” Ji-yeong asked, puzzled by his odd behavior.
“As I thought,” Gong-gil said, pulling something out—a large needle, nearly a span long, embedded in the bear’s head.
“This was stuck in its skull,” he said.
“For a human, that’s the amunhyeol point,” Shin Soo-hyuk added, observing. “It governs heat to the head. With a needle this size lodged there, it’s no wonder its aggression and appetite were out of control.”
“So, the bear’s sudden attack on us…” Ji-yeong began.
It explained the bear’s unnatural behavior—its extreme aggression and sensitivity to the snacks’ scent.
“Who would do something so cruel?” Ji-yeong asked.
“One thing’s certain: this needle didn’t end up here on its own,” Shin Soo-hyuk said gravely, a heavy silence falling over them.
If true, someone had deliberately driven the needle into the bear to provoke it into attacking them—a chillingly sinister ploy. If the king were killed by a bear during an incognito journey, no evidence of regicide would remain.
“Then…” Ji-yeong started.
“It means information leaked from the palace,” Shin Soo-hyuk said, wrapping the needle in cloth and tucking it into his robe, his brow twitching. Someone threatening His Majesty is close by.
At that moment, they sensed movement nearby.
“Who’s there?” Shin Soo-hyuk shouted, drawing his sword like lightning.
A torch flickered in the darkness. Then another. And another. Soon, they were surrounded by a growing number of torches.
It didn’t take long to realize Yeonsangun’s party was completely encircled by torch-wielding figures.
…
Gyeongbokgung, Sajeongjeon Hall.
“His Majesty is unwell and will not hold court for the time being. Please submit any matters in writing,” Doseungji Im Sung-jae announced, locking the hall’s doors under the cold gazes of the court officials.
His role was to conceal Yeonsangun’s absence during his incognito journey from the prying eyes of the court. Im Sung-jae vaguely understood why the king had ventured out in disguise: Someone in the court is after the Geumdeung, and if it falls into the wrong hands, a storm of bloodshed will follow.
Since Yeonsangun often absented himself for days on hunting or leisure trips, this excuse could buy time. Im Sung-jae could only hope the king would safely retrieve the Geumdeung.
He had another critical task.
“Doseung-gwan… when did you arrive?” Im Sung-jae asked, startled to find a gray-faced man standing behind him.
Doseung-gwan Park Won-jong, a man whose mere presence exuded a blade-like chill. Perhaps it was because he was a top martial arts graduate, widely regarded as Joseon’s greatest warrior. Or perhaps it was his innate nature. At thirty-five, he held the rank of second-grade military official, commanding the elite Geumsabok cavalry.
“I heard His Majesty has gone on an incognito journey,” Park Won-jong said, his low, metallic voice carrying an intimidating weight.
Trying not to falter, Im Sung-jae replied calmly, “He ordered it kept secret. However, he commanded you to lead the Geumsabok and prepare for deployment.”
Park Won-jong stood silently, pondering. For the king’s safety, the royal guard would suffice. The order to mobilize the Geumsabok carried deeper meaning, which he understood well.
“I obey,” he said coldly, vanishing as swiftly as he’d appeared.
…
Yeonsangun’s party was surrounded by torch-bearing figures wielding crude farm tools—sickles and plows. Though dressed in tattered peasant clothes, their faces were sharp with wariness.
“Who are you?” Shin Soo-hyuk demanded, sword raised.
“Who are you?” the strangers countered, equally guarded.
It seemed they needed to explain first to move forward.
“We’re just passing travelers. We have no intention of causing trouble,” Shin Soo-hyuk said.
“Then why are you armed?” one asked.
“Look over there. That should explain it,” Shin Soo-hyuk said, nodding toward the fallen bear.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they saw the massive creature. An elderly man, likely the village head, stepped forward.
“I’m the chief of a nearby mountain village. Last night, the sacred malgom turned ferocious and attacked people. That’s why we gathered our men to hunt it.”
“No need to worry. We’ve already taken care of it,” Shin Soo-hyuk replied.
The chief glanced at the bear again and nodded. “We came prepared for injuries, but you’ve spared us great trouble. Thank you.”
He bowed respectfully. “It’s late, and if you’re passing through, why not stay in our village until morning? We have little to offer, but we can provide a place to avoid the night dew and a modest breakfast.”
Noticing the group’s exhaustion from the fight, Shin Soo-hyuk looked to Yeonsangun, who yawned and nodded.
“We’ll need a kitchen to cook the bear paws. Let’s head to the village,” Yeonsangun said.
Bear paws again… Ji-yeong sighed. But after the tavern incident and traveling without rest, they needed shelter. Losing their horses to the bear’s attack left them burdened with supplies and weapons.
Maybe the village will offer some solutions, Ji-yeong thought hopefully.
…
A remote mountain village on the border of Gyeonggi and Gangwon.
Waking early, Ji-yeong surveyed the village. The soil was barren, and the villagers’ lives were even more impoverished than expected.
Even if the land isn’t fertile, I didn’t expect such poverty…
The chief had given them his house, lighting a fire to keep them warm. They’d even warmed bathwater, a rare chance for Ji-yeong to wash. But that was the extent of their hospitality.
The village was marked by stark poverty. The houses were thatched with tree bark, as rice straw was scarce in a mountain village unable to grow rice. Breakfast was a simple meal of dark buckwheat porridge, soy sauce, and wild vegetable side dishes.
“We’re a poor village, so this meager meal shames us,” the chief said apologetically.
“No, this is a feast. Thank you,” Gong-gil said cheerfully, digging in.
“I’ll eat gratefully,” Shin Soo-hyuk added stiffly, picking up his spoon.
A girl, likely the chief’s granddaughter, around seventeen or eighteen, smiled at them. The only one sulking was Yeonsangun.
“Didn’t I say I’d eat bear paws?” he grumbled.
“They’re being boiled in the kitchen, but it takes time…” the chief replied.
“No matter. I’ll wait. True delicacies are worth the wait,” Yeonsangun said.
Ugh, complaining about food even here? What an infuriating man, Ji-yeong thought, picking up her spoon.
Just then, a frantic voice came from outside. A villager, breathless, rushed to the chief.
“Chief, trouble! Tax collectors from the provincial office are here for the bangnap payment. They say today’s the final deadline.”
Ji-yeong saw the chief’s face turn ashen.
