THE CURSED ONE - THE BOY WHO CHALLENGE DESTINY

Clue - 2

The sun still did not fully arise when Hyung Jae awoke and prepared to do all his works as gungjeon gyeongbi as usual, his today's job was to guard the city front gate. Guarding the front gate was the part of gungjeon gyeongbi's job that he liked most as he can watch many types of persons in the queue to enter the city, from travelers, merchants or warriors like him always entered the city every day. Today he saw the queue to enter the city much longer and usual, many of them seem to be a traveler who wants to enter the city.

Hyung Jae has stood still for a few hours and he can not control his boredom as he found no interesting thing that happened in the front gate except queue after queue. If it was not because of his mission to find the boy, he already resigned as he was very bored to do similar works every day. He actually wanted to become a free man again as a wanderer just like his previous self, but he knows that he needs to be patient and hold on until he found the boy and today might be the day as he suspected Jai’s family knew something about the boy. He planned to go to Jai’s house this noon when he has his break time. With his power as gungjeon gyeongbi, he will threaten Jai’s family to give the information about everything that they hide.

It is midday now as the sun straightly on top of everyone’s head, the break time has arrived. Hyung Jae goes to Mandook’s office to ask for his permission to come back late after the break. Mandook who knew all of Hyung Jae’s story from Eung Sa, The Prison Commander, giving him his permission directly. Mandook is and always a warm-hearted soldier, he feels empathy for the boy that Hyung Jae has looked for especially after he knew if the boy’s mother has passed away and he might be lonely somewhere. Mandook even tells Hyung Jae if he needs any backup from gungjeon gyeongbi he will ask someone to accompany him, but Hyung Jae refuses the offer as he wants to go alone.

Hyung Jae wanted to immediately arrive at Jai’s house, but before he stopped by in The Full Moon Long’s Food House as he wants to fill his stomach first. He feels as if the foods in here were the best foods according to his tongue. Today was his fourth time coming here, the waiter already knows what his preferred foods and without his order, he starts to prepare the foods.

“Hello, Mr. Hyung Jae, nice to see you again.” The food house owner said.

Hyung Jae finally knew that the food house owner's name was Cha Jang when he came here for the second time right after he was formally appointed as gungjeon gyeongbi two weeks ago, that time he came with wore his uniform just like today. Hyung Jae remembered if Cha Jang was very afraid when he saw his arrival with this uniform, Cha Jang was afraid if he will take revenge on him after their last incident here, but he finally can release his easy breath after knowing that Hyung Jae never took that incident seriously.

“Ah… Mr. Cha, how about business today? Smooth as usual?” Hyung Jae said. He tries to be friendly.

“Yes, Mr. Hyung Jae, our shop customer has increased twice in this week, I think it was because of the Hwang Ma Festival which will be held 4 days again, many peoples from the neighboring city started to came here just to watch the festival.” Cha Jang said in happiness.

“Hwang Ma Festival? I heard about it before but I never attend the festival, and it will be held 4 days from now?” Hyung Jae said.

He knew about the infamous Hwang Ma Festival since long ago, every year in Imperial City, a festival for remembrance of the great warrior Hwang Ma the first emperor will be held. Now it makes sense why today the number of travelers who entered this city increased dramatically. Even though he works as gungjeon gyeongbi but he doesn’t know if the festival will be held in 4 days again as he only focused on his duty and on his mission to find out the boy.

“Yes, you must see it at least once, Mr. Hyung Jae, there will be so many attractions, performances, dances, etc. and the most important thing is that Manjing, The Emperor, will come out to meet the peoples.” Cha Jang explained.

Hyung Jae thinking deeply, he actually planned to immediately resign from gungjeon gyeongbi and go out of this city if he found the boy in Jai’s house today, but he might gonna wait a few days again to watch the festival, especially because he wants to see Manjing, The Emperor, directly.

“Okay, Mr. Cha, thank you for this information.” Hyung Jae replied politely.

The food arrives when Hyung Jae finishes speaking.

“Your food has arrived, Mr. Hyung Jae, I hope you enjoy it, and special for you I’ll give you a 30 percent discount today.” Cha Jang said.

“Woah… you’re very kind, Mr. Cha. Thank you.” Hyung Jae said with happiness.

“It’s nothing, Mr. Hyung Jae, I just got a lot of profit recently.” Cha Jang said.

“Well then, I will gladly accept it. Hope your business will get better and better, Mr. Cha.” Hyung Jae replied.

Cha Jang then goes away as Hyung Jae will start eating, Hyung Jae picks to eat on the 2nd floor near the window as usual. He always loves the view from the window upstairs which has become his favorite part of this food house.

Hyung Jae finished eating in no time as he wants to immediately interrogate Jai’s family. He left the food house once he has paid his bill and start walking in the directions of Jai’s house. In his way, Hyung Jae thinking about how to interrogate Jai’s family as he never did any interrogations before. He thinks about it too seriously until he doesn’t realize if he has arrived at Jai’s house.

Hyung Jae then knocked on the door and the same hard face man comes out from the door.

“Hello again, Mister, I am Hyung Jae, member of gungjeon gyeongbi. I’d like to meet with this house owner to ask some questions.” Hyung Jae said, this time he also introduced his name and showing his plaque.

The hard face man seems to be surprised to know if Hyung Jae was a gungjeon gyeongbi, his treatments towards Hyung Jae changing 180 degrees.

“Yes, Sir, please wait, I will ask my Madame first.” That man said.

He closed the door and going inside, a moment later he come back and opened the door.

“My Madame will meet you, please come inside, Sir.” That man said.

Hyung Jae entering the house that he has secretly entered last night. That man leads him to one of the big rooms in the house and asked him to sit down and wait for his Madame to arrive.