Late afternoon the next day Jin-Ri was at an abandoned portion of the village looking for any citrus plants. "Why is it so dense in this part of the village?" She mumbled refusing to move any forward because of the overgrown vegetation. She was about to go back when she noticed a faint light coming from one of the supposed abandoned houses. Irresistible curiosity crept in prompting her to investigate.
The door creaked eerily as she pushed it open peeping inside, when it seemed no one was there she entered. Once inside the room, her eyes started to water from the sting of what seemed like a powerful stench. She covered her nose as she continued to scan the room. In a corner of the room, she saw a dead person. Her heart broke for the old man. She moved a little closer "What a pitiful state, I better call the villagers to have him buried"
Just as Jin-Ri was about to leave, she felt a hand grip her wrist like it was trying to win a tug-of-war. She looked down and saw the corpse holding on for dear life! Out of nowhere, the corpse sat up, eyes popping open like a vampire, "What are you doing in my house?" Jin-Ri's eyes went wide, and she started shaking like a leaf in a windstorm. She opened her mouth to scream, but it was like her voice took a vacation.
The corpse popped up like it just heard the dinner bell, looking like it hadn't eaten since the last ice age. It towered over Jin-Ri like a gorilla, and the smell of? It was like a combination of old cheese, stale vinegar, and regret. She tried to let out a scream, but it was like her voice was still on strike. Instead, she started flapping her arms around like a chicken trying to take flight, silently pleading, "Help! I'm too freaked out to scream!"
The corpse shouted at her "Get out of my house!" Jin-Ri, now resembling a confused cat, nodded and pointed to the door, but before she could bolt, she fainted like a character in a play. The corpse stood there, looking more bewildered than a startled duck.
"Wake up, sleepyhead! Are you alright, young lady?" Jin-Ri slowly opened her peepers. "Thank the stars you're okay!" the voice said, sounding like a relieved old coot.
Rubbing her eyes, Jin-Ri replied to the voice that definitely had a few gray hairs. "What a nightmare! I was stuck in this ancient house, and then this… this zombie popped up and looked like he wanted to turn me into a snack!"
"That's a real fright! How about some apple cider vinegar to calm those nerves?" the voice suggested, presenting a glass like it was a magic potion. "Sorry for yelling at you a while ago, I was startled I don't usually yell like that"
"Don't worry…about it sir? Wait a minute the one that screamed at me…was the corpse from…my nightmare" Jin-Ri caught a whiff of the vinegar and thought it smelled suspiciously like the stench from her nightmare. Turning around slowly, she was met with a toothy grin from the corpse.
Jin-Ri's face twisted up like a pretzel, her lips sticking out like a toddler who was about to cry. "EEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH!" she wailed, causing the corpse to leap up and join the chorus with an equally ear-curdling scream "EEEEEEEEEEHHHHH!"
For a moment, it was a scream-off of epic proportions. Then with a move that could make Young-Sik envious, Jin-Ri launched herself from her seat, soaring over a table. "You're dead! You're supposed to be dead! For the love of all that's spooky, STAY DEAD!" she hollered, her voice echoing through the house.
The house door suddenly swung open and in came Young-Sik, Jin-Ri quickly ran behind the prince "Your sword? Where's your sword? Give me your sword!"
"What?" Young-Sik protested, but before he could react, Jin-Ri already pulled it out from its sheath
"Stay away from us you zombie! I have a sword and I think I know how to use it" Jin-Ri warned the so-called corpse. Her hands shook as she strained to lift the prince's weapon
"Give me that!" Young-Sik snatched the blade from Jin-Ri's trembling fingers. "You're embarrassing me, you know that?" he teased, eyeing his flustered court maiden.
"But he's a walking dead guy!" Jin-Ri exclaimed; her eyes wide as she ducked behind the prince for safety.
"I'm not dead, you little pest!" the old man grumbled, irritation dripping from his voice.
"Really?" Jin-Ri asked, her heart racing, desperate to confirm she wouldn't end up as a zombie snack.
Jin-Ri stole a glance at the prince before bowing to the old man, her embarrassment palpable. "I'm really sorry… it's just the smell, and you were lying there so still… and, well, you're rather old."
"It's just the apple cider, dear. And at seventy-three, I suppose I am a bit of a relic. But what do you kids know about getting older?" The old man sighed, giving in to the humor of the situation.
Young-Sik's eyes widened at Jin-Ri's comment, and despite his own embarrassment, he bravely asked, "Do you live here all alone, sir?"
The old man retrieved the chair that Jin-Ri had accidentally knocked over and sat down with a heavy heart. "Sadly, yes," he said, his voice filled with an aching sadness.
Jin-Ri, feeling a deep sense of empathy, joined him on the bench. "Where are your family?" she inquired gently.
The old man's gaze drifted away as he spoke, his voice thick with nostalgia. "They are in the Hong-dai province," he said. "My son and his family went there to visit his in-laws. They were supposed to return after three weeks, but when the plague struck our village, they never came back. I guess it's better this way; at least I know they are safe," he added, a faint smile breaking through his sorrow.
Young-Sik mustered the courage to ask "I apologize but I must ask, It seemed to me, you are not afflicted by the plague in the village. Do you not eat the same food they do?" his curiosity piqued
"I'm old young one, my teeth have all rotten away. I drink from the same well, But I can only eat porridge that I prepare myself" The old man explained.
Young-Sik and Jin-Ri looked at each other, here is living proof that their discovery was right. "Thank you and again we're sorry to cause you discomfort…we'll be taking our leave," Young-Sik said to the old man.After the two bowed, they left the old man's house.
Outside, the two shot their hands in the air, they were now positive that their plan would work. Amid their triumphant moment, tragedy struck again. "Your Highness, come quick it's Physician Kang" a court maiden shouted as she ran towards the two. Young-Sik and Jin-Ri looked at each other and with haste wore their protective coverings and ran to the village hall.
"When they arrived, they saw, Physician Kang, lying in bed profusely sweating, coughing and convulsing violently. Jin-Ri clasp her hands over her lips "Your Highness, what could this mean?"
Breathing heavily, Young-Sik gave an ominous response "It means, I was wrong and we can't protect ourselves from it"
With a swift motion, Young-Sik leaned in towards the writhing patient, his heart racing. The prince fought to keep Physician Kang steady, fearing for his safety amidst the turmoil. During their struggle, a fierce movement of the hand from Physician Kang ripped the protective cloth from the prince's face. Before he could recover it, the convulsing patient erupted in a harsh cough, sending droplets flying onto the prince.
Young-Sik quickly stood away from Physician Kang and wiped his face of the air droplets that landed on his face. He stepped out of the village hall with Jin-Ri following him. She wanted to approach the prince, but Young-Sik stopped her "No, don't come near me" The prince told Jin-Ri "Call Captain Gi…now!"
Moments later, donning a protective covering, Captain Gi went to the prince, and like Jin-Ri Young-Sik stopped the captain a distance from him "You called your Highness?"
"Send a message to the capital…use the flag system! Send this exact message" The prince's voice a collection of strength and fear, of hope and helplessness
On the second day's morning, the guards at the southern gates caught sight of a Chiongsun soldier waving a white flag from afar. They were curious as he dismounted and began to communicate a message using their flag system. (This method is a hidden way for the Chiongsun military to convey messages, where the combinations of flag positions—up, down, left, or right—and which hand is used to hold it (left or right or both hands) stand for letters.)
The guard squinted his eye as he read the message "Village…dangerous…cordon" He then shouted "A horse prepare a horse"
Later at the courtroom, the same soldier barges in at the assembly "Your Highness" he bowed to the King "Prince Young-Sik sends a message with the flag system" King Seo-Jung's heart raced worried why the flag system, not a note or a messenger "What is the message?" He inquired, prompting the soldier to speak up
"Your Highness the message is as follows, Village dangerous, condition critical, cordon off, no in no out, even me" The soldier sadly reported
The King staggered back, threatening to fall, and his eunuchs all ran to his aid "Even me? My Son, does that mean that Prince Young-Sik also succumbed to the plague?" The King asked, his voice trembling and his thoughts filled with scenarios of how his son might have suffered
"Forgive me, your Highness, that is just what the messenger sent…it is unclear yet what fate befell the prince and his court" The messenger explained delicately afraid that he might cause the frail King more dilemma.
"My horse…PREPARE MY HORSE!" He shouted, the crowned prince and Queen Eri ran to the King's side both intending to persuade the King to not leave the safety of the palace.
"Your Highness, you cannot, the travel to Haan may be too much for your heart" Queen Eri pleaded to the King
"Her Majesty is right father…please stay. The prince knows what he is doing and he is aware of the risk as a physician" Man-Ju explains to the King, in hopes he would not do anything to complicate his health.
"ALL OF YOU, LEAVE!" King Seo-Jung told the ministers present in the assembly.
As the Ministers vacated the courtroom, Minister Gi strolled over to Minister Lim "What do you think? Did that plague claim that brat?"
"If only I had your confidence that things were that easy" Minister Lim scoffed at Minister Gi who he thought was a sniveling simpleton. "I however do not leave things to uncertainty, If the prince is to die I want to be certain that he does"
Once the courtroom was empty, King Seo-Jung addressed the Queen "I used to have three sons, I already lost one…you want me to stand idly by and let another son slip through my incompetent hands?"
"Father…that was not what mother meant. We simply want you to think of yourself and your health" Man-Ju delicately explained to his father their intentions
The King turned, his eyes filled with a storm of emotions as he laid a hand on the crowned prince's shoulder. "My son, there will come a time when you will truly comprehend my anguish. When you have your own children, you will fight tooth and nail to protect them from the world's cruelty."
King Seo-Jung turned on his heel, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Man-Ju, desperation clawing at his throat, reached out one last time. "Father, please, think this through," he pleaded, his voice trembling with the fear of loss.
"Stay if you wish, my son," the king replied, his tone unyielding, a fortress against the tide of emotion. "I will not stand idly by while your brother suffers. I refuse to bury another child without doing everything in my power to save him." The finality in his voice echoed like a death knell, leaving Man-Ju feeling hollow and helpless.
The King stepped out of his residence donning his military uniform. Outside, a legion of soldiers waited for him. The King mounted his horse, he was about to give the order to march when he was joined by two unexpected companions. "Physician Go, Scholar Im…please tell me you are going to join me in safeguarding your pupil"
"We are Your Highness," Minister Im said to the King, informing him that they too would help the prince.
"Also I can't let my King, ride into Haan without his physician" Physician Go added, his voice assuring the King that he was there to support him
The King took a deep breath and then gave the order "March forward!" he bellowed, his voice deep and resonating like a drum of war.
Back in Haan village the day before. Prince Young-Sik ordered his entire court to retreat to the safety of their camp. Jin-Ri however protested "Your Highness, you can't do this alone…please let us help you"
"I can't risk the rest of you getting inflicted as well. Stay there all of you that's an order" Young-Sik addresses his court "As of now, no one is allowed to enter or go near the village hall. Please remain here, all of you do what you can from this side" Young-Sik turned around to return to the village hall, where all of the afflicted were gathered.
As Jin-Ri beheld the prince advancing fearlessly toward peril, a wave of emotion washed over her. His unwavering courage and selfless nature stirred something deep within her, causing her to see the prince in a new light, and she was more captivated by him than ever.