CHAPTER TEN

Baek-Hyun was too weak to carry a foot again. She stared back at where she had come. She had started seeing the roofs of houses and she smiled to herself, she was on the right track but she couldn't walk again. Her body was numb and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Her hair was sticky to her face and what added to her problem was the heavy wind that kept blowing her wet self. She was even scared it might blow her away. Her eyes had gotten used to the darkness but the rain that was beating towards her face made it difficult for her see but suddenly, she heard sounds among the trees. Something was coming, she stopped and watched with widened eyes. Then something suddenly jumped out of the trees towards her. It was a horse and someone was seated on top of it but Baek-Hyun couldn't see who it was. the person's cloak was flying and his face was covered by the hood of the cloak. Baek-Hyun retraced her steps and she began running back the way she had come. Her heart beat was unstable and she was going to shut down anytime soon. She couldn't even go anywhere safe from the horse and the horse suddenly galloped passed her and it stopped right in her front so that she couldn't run again. She stopped and retraced her steps. "Who are you?". she asked and Chi-Mae jumped down from the horse and walked to her. Her removed the hood from his face and Baek-Hyun looked shocked to see him. "Chi-Mae?" she called and he kept walking to her but she didn't trust him enough to stop taking steps away from him. She tripped and was about to fall but he caught her. Then he pulled her to himself and with one of his hands and with the other, he took off his cloak and covered her with it. Baek-Hyun was shocked. She wouldn't believe Chi-Mae was saving her but she clung unto him and he didn't throw her away like he always did. He took her to his horse and put her on it so that she seated one sided and he also climbed. "Ha!".

Baek-Hyun was speechless. She couldn't stop staring at him as they rode back home. Her hands were wrapped around his neck and her head on his chest. But he never for once speared her a glance even though he so wanted to look at her and see what she looked like in a vulnerable state. Baek-Hyun nearly slept off but the thought of Chi-Mae throwing her off the horse or slitting off her neck kept her awake. She couldn't trust him to that level. They stopped at the horse stable and Chi-Mae got down from the horse then he carried her down. He started walking away but she stopped him. "Chi… General". She called and he stopped. "Your… your cloak". She said and made to take it off but he stopped her because he could see she couldn't even talk without shivering. Baek-Hyun had a lot to say to him but she couldn't because she was dumbstruck. "You have the right to go anywhere you want and you got the entire palace shaken by your absence. Enjoy the attention while it lasts". He said and walked away. Baek-Hyun walked dejectedly and slowly back to her chamber. When she got there she saw Lady Bong Cha and Moon stand outside awaiting her. Moon ran to her immediately and Lady Bong Cha looked relieved. "Baek-Hyun, where have you been?". The woman asked but she couldn't reply. "My lady, you got everyone scared. Not too long ago Commander U-Jin left and Song-Yang as well". Moon said but Baek-Hyun could barely hear her. "Where have you been?". Lady Bong Cha asked again and stepped down to her. "I was just lost but I'm fine now". She said and the women could see she would pass out anytime soon. "Is that Chi-Mae's cloak? What are you doing with it?". Lady Bong Cha asked but she soon realise. "Chi-Mae found you?". she asked and Baek-Hyun nodded. "I'm sorry if I startled you, I just wanted to take a walk". Baek-Hyun said and the woman nodded. "Don't ever scare us that way again". The woman said and Baek-Hyun nodded. "Quick Moon, take her inside and warm her up". Lady Bong Cha said and they all went inside.

For the next few weeks, Baek-Hyun didn't see or hear from Chi-Mae. She didn't even see his break light. She did make efforts to look for him but she didn't get a glimpse of him. She was more quiet than she had been at home and she felt like a part of her was missing. Lady Bong Cha saw it and she suspected the reason but she was too scared to admit. All she could do was try to advice Baek-Hyun but no time always seemed to be right. Aya had all the time to humiliate Baek-Hyun and also her handmaid, Moon but Lady Bong Cha was somehow always there to save them. Wang, the captain for axemen returned from Sheongung and they heard of all the developments. In the stable, Princess Aya awaited someone. She looked tensed and a man in red cloak approached her. "What kept you?". she asked in a furious tone. "I'm sorry my Princess, the meeting with U-Jin took time". Wang apologized. "I called you here for something not quite usual. It's the foreigner that my brother had accepted into this kingdom. You know how Chi-Mae and I have been since we were children until now let's ignore the part that Chi-Mae has changed quite a lot in the part one year but I can fix that but the problem is that foreigner, Chi-Mae seems to be interested in her". Aya said desperately. "I'm sorry to question you my princess but the General seems to be invisible since I returned and I don't notice anything unusual with the two". Wang said careful not to annoy Aya. "Wang, I was just sixteen when I made you where you are today. You would have still been a common gate keeper if I hadn't stepped into your wretched life and made you the head of Axemen and yet you refuse me a simple wish". Aya said already furious. "I'm sorry my Princess, I'll just shut my useless mouth and obey your order". Wang said helplessly. "That is the spirit for the task. It isn't a stressful one. I just need you to use your mouth and talk and spoil the soldiers mind towards Baek-Hyun. Including U-Jin and Seong-Hyun. I need you to poison their mind her and the Chi-Mae too. I need him to hate her. Remind him of all the time we've been together and all the things we've done. Just do something about them and ruin them. this is just the beginning of the task Wang, a lot has to be done, I want her to be eliminated without any one of us being noticed". Aya said with despise in her eyes. "Your wish is my Command your highness". Wang said and Aya smiled. "I will reward you handsomely Wang, if you accomplish this task". Aya said and Wang bowed. "Thank you your highness". Wang said and turned to leave. He wondered what kind of foolishness was bugging Aya as he walked away. He wondered why anyone in his or her right frame of mind would ask another human being to get involved with the General's privacy. If he chooses to love Baek-Hyun and not her, then he was sure was as a result of her childishness. How could she even call her there just to tell him to do something so childish like use your mouth and make everyone dislike Baek-Hyun. He stared back at the stable but the princess was no more there. He was stuck in that insolence just because she helped him become the head of axemen long ago when she was but a child. Now she thinks he owe her the world.

The next day, Baek-Hyun could feel the day was going to be a good one. After morning exercise when they were cooking breakfast, she decided to ask Lady Bong Cha about Chi-Mae. "Lady Bong Cha, I was thinking maybe by chance you know where the General is, I haven't seen him for weeks now and I would like to return his cloak and also thank him for his help". She knew Lady Bong Cha would oblige if she had an idea but sadly, the woman had no idea. "Baek-Hyun, now feels like the perfect time to say this to you. I do not have an idea about the kind of affiliation you share with the General but you have to be very careful. You may have to forget about him because he is very different and unpredictable. If he needs his cloak, he will come get it. I would advise you to forget about him". Lady Bong Cha said and Baek-Hyun was shocked to know that was coming from her. How could she possibly forget that night? Forget him, forget everything. The peace that had been on her face since dawn vanished and uncertainties roused in her. "it's for your good Baek-Hyun". The woman said and Moon nodded to her as well. Later in the day still around sun set, Lady Bong Cha was going out and Baek-Hyun and Moon decided to escort her. As they walked on, they saw the court Lady and a number of maids arguing about something. "What is going on?". Baek-Hyun suddenly asked and they all started struggling to speak at once. The court Lady was speechless and she just watched them but somehow, Baek-Hyun got the message. They were arguing about who would deliver food to the General. Baek-Hyun suddenly looked delighted and Lady Bong Cha saw it and the maids started staring at her delightedly like they have found their saviour. "What?". Baek-Hyun asked but they just kept staring at her. "You want me to…" Baek-Hyun got the massage. Lady Bong Cha smiled at her and Moon too. They all have similar thoughts. It was a perfect chance for her to meet Chi-Mae. "Where exactly is the General?". Lady Bong Cha asked.

Moon led Baek-Hyun to Chi-Mae's chamber and she left her there in front of the door and wished her good luck. Baek-Hyun held the hamper that contained his food and knocked on the door and Chi-Mae asked her to come in thinking it was a maid but he was shocked when he saw Baek-Hyun go in with the creel in her hand. It was as if she suddenly forgot to walk and her step became unsteady. "What are you doing here?". He asked with dimmed face. "I brought your food". She replied and dropped the hamper on the table. "Why is it you?". he asked and she shrugged. "you hurry and eat, I have to wait and get the creel, I may miss my way if I have to return later". Baek-Hyun said and Chi-Mae stared at her. He was confused whether to send her away or not. "What food is it?". He asked and she shrugged. "I have no idea". She said and kept looking on. A while latter, Chi-Mae wasn't touching the food and he looked really tired. Dark circles were around his eyes and his eyes were cracked as he creased his brows to focus deeply on whatever he was doing. "You are not eating and I'm afraid the food may get cold". Baek-Hyun said but it was as if no one just spoke. She wanted to act nonchalant because of how he was trying to make her feel but she couldn't. he looked terribly tired and she was afraid she cared. "What are you doing?". She asked and he raised a brow and stared at her. "I can help if it is something I can help with". She said and tried to take a look at the paper and she found it was a map. "can you read?". Chi-Mae suddenly asked and Baek-Hyun dropped her face. She never expected that question but it came and she was somewhat embarrassed to reply because she knew all the girls in Hak-Kun could read and write both English and their home tongue. She only knew how to read her home tongue and she could write them as well. Chi-Mae stood up when she didn't reply and her face was bent low. He held her head up and said "do not bow, never keep your head low, didn't U-Jin tell you that?". Baek-Hyun shook her head. "Can you read?". He asked again and she shook her head. She was embarrassed and her cheeks flushed. "you can't help me if you can't read". He said and she nodded. He knew what she was feeling like and he hated that he was responsible for it. "Are you embarrassed?". Chi-Mae asked with a smirk and Baek-Hyun stared at him. "I'm taking your food away. I don't think you have the appetite to eat it". She said and began putting the bowls and spoons back into the hamper. "tell me. Tell me why you came this far just to see me". Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun stared at him as if he had lost his mind because she was sure he had. "You live a terrible life and no one wanted to bring your food because they were scared they may not return to tell the story". Baek-Hyun said and Chi-Mae smiled. "That it the point Baek-Hyun. No one can hurt you when you have no heart. They are too scared to even come closer". Chi-Mae said and it was Baek-Hyun's turn to stare. "Who hurt you? A war happened and everyone loosed a thing or two. Why are you acting like you are the only one that loosed something?". She asked and he smiled. "You know I wasn't really horrible when I returned from Tang but the rumour I heard them say about me changed me. I ensured that what they said about me was true. Isn't that thoughtful of me?". He asked with a sour face. Baek-Hyun was speechless; she didn't know what to say to him again. "you shouldn't always look like what people say about you. besides you are not totally horrible". She finally found her voice. "Why do you think so?". He asked. "I know so. I knew it that night when you came back for me. I've searched for you since to say thank you but I couldn't find you". Baek-Hyun said and Chi-Mae stared at her. Then he walked of his seat to her and there nothing between them again. Baek-Hyun also moved back as he came closer. She was scared he would strangle her or hold her jaw. "do I scare you?". he asked when he saw her recoil but she said nothing. Her eyes and her silence said it all. "My jaw hasn't healed completely". She said looking frightened and he laughed. "You think I'll hurt you?". "You always do". he stared at her for a while then he took a step closer and she didn't move but she dared and took a step closer to him as well "You always amuse me". He said with a smile. "thank you for coming back for me but I won't be entirely grateful because you let me get soaked before you came". she said without any smile and she wasn't looking at him. She had never really stared at his face. "I would have come with your cloak but I never knew I'll have to deliver your food". She said again. "I'll be on my way now". She said and went to carry the hamper. As she walked to the door, she hoped he would turn to her and call her back but he didn't until she got to the door. "Baek-Hyun. Forget about today. Do not remember I've been kind to you and forget about everything I have told you today". he said still backing her and Baek-Hyun didn't turn as well. But she stopped and listened to him. She wished he would say something more comforting, but that was all he said. Moon was waiting somewhere for her to come out and when she saw her mood, she thought it was terrible in there. "Oh my Lady, did he hurt you again?". Moon asked and Baek-Hyun faked a smiled and shook her head. Moon took the creel from Baek-Hyun and they started returning home. Moon was busy talking all the way and she didn't even notice Baek-Hyun's bad mood until they reached house and Moon went to return the creel. All through the day she wasn't bright and in the evening, she claimed to be sick and she curled up in the bed all day and the next morning too. Lady Bong Cha decided that something was wrong with her and she had a word with her. "What did Chi-Mae do to you?". she asked and Baek-Hyun shook her head. "you haven't been yourself since you came back from seeing him yesterday and I know Chi-Mae so would tell me what happened". The woman was no more asking, she was demanding and Baek-Hyun stared at her contemplating whether to say something on not. "Nothing is wrong with me, I just caught a little cold, it should clear off before today ends". Was what she ended up saying and the woman nodded. She knew Baek-Hyun was hiding something and she knew it was about Chi-Mae.

Later that morning, Baek-Hyun decided she wanted to take a walk and she refused to take Moon with her. Lady Bong Cha was fussing about it but she assured her that she would return in just a little while. She began walking to the temple again. She wanted to clear her head and think of what to do with herself because she knew she couldn't hide in Hak-Kun forever. it didn't take her much time to reach the temple like it did on the first day. She walked into the temple and she roamed like she did the other day but she decided to go to find a suitable spot. She walked to the back of the temple and there she found it. The offering alters where the pink and white veils danced melodiously to the rhythm of the wind. The stones. She touched them, they were mounted on each other heap upon heap. Some of them were really large, others were small. Baek-Hyun decided she also wanted to lay her own stoned and say prayers for Hana and herself. She took one of the stones and examined it. They were not just stones; they were smooth whetstones. Baek-Hyun could tell such stones were only found in a river or brook. She wondered if they spent all their lives walking by the waters to find such perfect whetstones. Well except they had a river somewhere where there were thousands of whetstones. She wished to leave to find the river that could give her those stones but she was too tired to start another journey and besides, she remembered she had promised Lady Bong Cha and Moon to be home quick. But what was she supposed to do? she loved the peace and calm and the sun was rising. She walked to a corner and sat dejectedly. "This place isn't for me. I have to go somewhere else, somewhere it will be easier for me to mix up and then I can find a way to save my family and I don't want to do that by taking someone else's life. That would make me as terrible as Gi". She lamented "Or maybe I should just run away". She said finally but then he was there. "Run away from what? And from who?". His voice was warm than she had ever heard it. Perhaps he was in a good mood. Baek-Hyun raised her face to see Chi-Mae behind her. She stood up and bowed. "General, what are you doing here?". She asked and he smiled warmly at her. She wondered if he was really smiling or it was just an illusion in her head. "it seems you want to take over my territory." Chi-Mae said and smile with his hands at the hilt of his sword. "I don't get you, your territory?". Baek-Hyun asked not smiling. "I come here anytime I want to be alone. This place is my hideout from life". His face looked serious. "Yeah". Baek-Hyun nodded. She was also hiding away from life. "so what's this place? I figured it's a temple, but why does it look abandoned?". She asked and Chi-Mae turned to look around. "it was a temple. No one often came here except to offer a very serious prayer because of its location. Just as you see it, it is very far away from where people live but it is still in Gywenn. Many years ago, the monks here used this place for fornications and they took in women here. They stopped doing their jobs for charity and the deceived the poor population into paying them before they rendered any services. They wasted all the donations that were made here and they even harboured thieves, still in this temple. Then soon, they started harbouring spies from Mounguen. They were martial art experts sent by Pat-Soo family, a very important family to kill Young-Jae when he was still a crowed Prince. We weren't really told their reason for doing so, but I heard they did it as revenge for the disputes the two families shared. I came here with Young-Jae ourselves with Chief Commander In-Su and we cleared this temple with our swords. There were piles and piles of bodies and a dead mountain was formed then we burnt the bodies to ashes". Chi-Mae smiled as he said those words, it looked to Baek-Hyun as if he was drunk with the blood of those men. At that time, she could believe if she was told that he was a beast. Chills were running down her spine and she was nearly shivering. It was a cold morning and it looked to her as if it would snow. "So no one comes here again". She asked and he nodded. "they fear the spirits of the Monks roam and demand revenge". He said and laugh. "How can you laugh about such things?". Baek-Hyun asked looking horrified. "Because it's funny". He said and took a step towards her. "Isn't it?" he asked and touched her face. "I don't find it funny". Baek-Hyun said simply and she removed his hand from her face. "I don't think you should be here then, because who knows, they may seek your blood". Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun frowned. "You should stop talking to me because soon you will tell me to forget about it". She said and walked to the stone offerings. "You can't have me in your head Baek-Hyun, I don't have control over the way I act at different times. I may be happy now and the next moment, I am all pissed up and annoyed. What will you do then?". He asked and walked to her. "I'll switch with you as many times as possible but not everyone can do that, you can stop yourself from unnecessary anger. I heard what you did in Gorgyeon. Why did you have to kill them? You would have given other judgements like I heard you did to Lieutenant Wang and his men. I don't know what you think of people but everyone deserves to live. You take people's life as if you can give one. Those soldiers you killed in Gorgyeon, some of them have families, others have people they love and people who loves them, killing them makes everyone suffer. What if you were in their shoes? And anyone would just walk up to you and kill? Who would happen to your loved ones?". Baek-Hyun asked and Chi-Mae shook his head. "I do not have one". He said and Baek-Hyun shook her head. "Lies! You have a lot of people that cares about you. Aya does, Lady Bong Cha does, Young-Jae; aren't you both like brothers? Okay let's say you don't have anyone that cares, what if those soldiers were to be your brothers or friends and they get killed because of a simple mistake? What would you then?". Baek-Hyun asked again and Chi-Mae was dumbstruck. "Chi-Mae, you are a human and you have a heart in there, you should try to develop a little empathy for fellow humans. Your soldiers, they love you but they are scared to show it because of how you are. You haven't seen they effort they put into training anytime you are there". Baek-Hyun said and held his hands. "Baek-Hyun, that isn't called love, it is called eye service and they all should die for it". Chi-Mae said and then it was his time to remove her hands. "Die for what?". Baek-Hyun yelled. "we all make mistakes Chi-Mae; no one should die for theirs. Mistakes is what makes us humans, if we don't make them then we could be immortal." Baek-Hyun was furious. "No one deserves to die for anything and your rough experience doesn't change anything". Then more coldly than ever, she said "If that is how free we are to kill, then I would have killed you since the first day I met you". Chi-Mae was speechless as he stared at her. Then he walked closer to her and pinned her to the wall then he held her hands and pinned them to the wall as well. "Is that because you were sent here to kill me?". His brows were creased and his hold was firm on her hands. "That is because of how you make me feel". Baek-Hyun whispered. "How do I make you feel?". He asked with a smirk and Baek-Hyun smiled back then she flipped him over so that his back was then on the wall and she removed her hairpin that held her hair to a pony tail and her hair let loosed. She used the hairpin and pierced his chest with it. She pierced it so hard and her hands trembled as she did. her hair covered her face that she looked a bit scary but not to Chi-Mae. The pain he felt was sharp and sudden, it was already there in him and his white shirt was already bloody. "This is how you make me feel". Baek-Hyun whispered and she stressed each word. It was the first time anyone had sent chills down in him. He held her hands and he trembled. She saw it, she saw what she wanted, the pain it flashed through his face and then, as swift as it came, it vanished and indifference surfaced, the very look she despised so much. She hated it when he stared at her with indifference. She wanted to believe that she mattered and that look always made her feel the opposite of that. She increased the pressure of the pin in his chest and he held her hands and slowly removed it. She didn't want to let go, she wanted to push it deep inside that he would spit out blood, but she couldn't. he hands trembled at his touch and so did her knees quiver. Then she fell on her knees before him and all he did was smile. "it didn't hurt". He said and she looked up at him "Because I didn't feel a thing". He said with the same creepy yet dirty smirk that was making her lose her rag. "How can you even smile?". She yelled and hit his legs. "because I have gotten used to it Baek-Hyun, and I hope you soon will". Chi-Mae said and held out his hands to her but she refused to take it so he carried her up to her feet and dragged her hand to his horse. Baek-Hyun was confused all through the ride home. She wondered whether she made a mistake by not killing him. She wondered if she would ever have such chance again. Most of all, she wondered if she could really kill him. "Ha!". Chi-Mae kept commanding the horse and distracting her thoughts. "I don't want to go home so quickly". She muttered and he stared at her. "it may snow and I have no sweater with me". He said and Baek-Hyun understood what he meant. He had no sweater with him to give her. "Why do you help me yet you are so mean?". She asked and he pulled over crazily and Baek-Hyun's heart was put to a stop together with the horse. She felt things bubbling in her and strong queasiness coming on her but she controlled herself. Chi-Mae didn't notice her sudden discomfort. He was also struggling with his demon. He so badly wanted to throw her off the horse but he struggled to keep himself in check. He closed his eyes to help him focus and his heart beat trembled. "If you keep asking too much questions, I will throw you off". he said with clenched teeth. "But I …" Baek-Hyun was going to say more but Chi-Mae used his hands and covered her mouth from behind. "Hush!". He said to Baek-Hyun's shock. Her heart sank in her chest and she wanted to yell to make herself feel better but she couldn't. She saw the veins that was popping out of his face and she hushed, just like he said. "Ha!". He said and the horse sped off. Baek-Hyun was dumb struck all through the ride and Chi-Mae was wondering what she thought of him.