“I was awake all night, listening to every crack. I was worried that Miho will sneak inside the barn and see it.”

Man was laid on the big table covered by old sheet. He started to stink and Jae-Bong needs all his strength to not throw up. Yeong shin experienced worse.

“Miho was running around our house again.”

“If that’s a problem...” big man spoke through piece of cloth pressed to his face.

“No. He is a good kid. Nilah really likes him.”

Yeongshin was glad when he saw Jae-Bong’s son in the morning. He knew that he will be the best companion for Nilah. She had bad, restless nigh and woke up pale and tired. But she smiled at him and let him go, even though he wanted to stay with her.

“I didn’t noticed this, when we found him yesterday.” For the first time, he was really sick.

“Oh no...” Jae-Bong growl and leave the barn with pale face.

Man on the table had cut off his manhood. His crotch was just bloody mess.

Yeong shin covered him again and followed Jae-Bong outside.

Leader of village was sitting on the ground, white as snow with cold sweat on his forehead.

“I never saw something like this.” He mumbled and took little flask from his vest. It looked almost same like Byung Chul used to have. “Someone killed him and then violated the body?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Yeong shin sat down next to him and accepted the flask with alcohol. It was weaker than Byung Chul’s. “Someone who did this wants his victim to suffer. He enjoyed the torture. He did this and then beheads him.”

“But why? I don’t understand...” Jae-Bong hides his face in palms.

“It looks like revenge.” Yeong shin lay on his back with hands behind his head. “There is nothing we can do.” He thought how such a beautiful day could have so terrible secret. There really was nothing to do. He wasn’t investigator. He was best in tracking and there were no tracks. He search surrounding of that place, but only footprints were his or Jae-Bong’s. It was almost unnatural how clean of track that place was. The murderer knows what to do and how to hide his presence.

“Yeong shin!! Father!” Miho’s Scream stops his heart.

“Miho? What is it?”  

Boy was running to them with wide eyes. He barely can catch his breath. His face red and hair damp with sweat.

“Some weird man is heading to your house!” he stuttered that few word with struggle.

Yeong shin’s stomach drop and his blood froze.

He didn’t wait, grab his rifle and run. He didn’t care about Jae-Bong shouting behind him, or Minho trying to run with him. He was glad that kid can’t keep up. If that weird man is ‘that’ weird man, it will be bloody fight and he didn’t want him to see.

His lungs were burning when he run like insane. His muscles working with urge.

He run through the village, people were shouting and getting out of his way. But he didn’t care. He was trying so desperately to behave from their first day here, and now he act like rogue. They will leave if they have to. He was ready to sacrifice their house and life here. He was ready to sacrifice everything, just not Nilah.

He approaches the house. Everything looks fine from the outside, but he did not trust that sign and run inside.

And then he saw him.

Siting in their kitchen with wide smile on his face was Cho Beom Pal in all his glory.

Yeongshin lean on the wall and slide to the ground. His lungs hurt and heart missing the beats. Weird man, of course.

“Is that you my friend? You look like you see a ghost!” came laughter through loud buzzing in his ears.

He pressed his hot and damp forehead to cold metal of his rifle and closed his eyes because he starts to see light dots. “I should stay with His highness and hunt the dead. It was calmer life.” He mumbled and tried to catch his breath.

“Oh gods Yeong shin? What happened?” Nilah’s worried face appeared before him and dark shadows were dancing around.

“He throws himself inside like thunderstorm. I think he will pass out?” Beom Pal’s voice was coming from far.

“Yeong shin?” Nilah pressed damp cold cloth on the back of his neck and give him cup with cold water. “What happened? Are you hurt?” she was really worried and was trying to find any injury.

“I’m good. It’s nothing. Just Miho making mess.” He smiled and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He needs to calm his heart, nerves and brain. Wipe out all that disasters he was imaging.

“And I thought, you will be bored.” Beom Pal laughed and sat back on his place.

Nilah looked happy to see him. She was serving food and opened the bottle of soju.

“What are you doing here my lord?” she pours him a drink and one for Yeong shin. He drinks it with one gulp and pours himself another. His hands were still shaking.

Beom Pal’s face light up with pure happiness.

“I’ve got gifts for you two.”

“Gifts?”  Yeong shin raised his eyebrow, finally calm enough to enjoy Beom Pal’s unexpected presence.

“Yes, but first, drink!” he give Nilah her cup and took his. “Toast to your new life. I hope you two are married already.”

Nilah’s cheeks turned red and she cough.

“No, we are not. It’s complicated.” Yeong shin drink his cup with serious face.

“Oooh, don’t be like this Yeong shin! It’s not complicated! Marry this gorgeous lady before someone else will.” Beom Pal laughed, but Yeong shin’s face paled and knuckles of his fist turned white.

“Please my lord. Leave it.” Nilah laid hand on magistrate’s forearm. She saw how much pain his words make to her beloved man.

“I just don’t understand...” Beom Pal was still mumbling while he took out small package. It was something wrapped in silk paper. “You love her, she saved your life, and probably more than once, you dragged her from hell...just marry her you foolish...”

“Stop it!” Yeong shin’s nerves cracked. His fists hit the table with loud bang. Beom Pal grew silent but he had small mischief smile on his lips.

“There is nothing I want more than made Nilah my wife. I would be honoured to be her man...It’s ridiculous, because I’m her man already, I don’t care if it’s official. I belong to her. My every heartbeat belongs to her.”

Nilah was speechless, listening his words with glossy eyes and blushing cheeks. She was touched by his words.

“Here, my gift.” Beom Pal gives Yeong shin small package. He took it with questions in his eyes, still wildly breathing.

He opened it and for a while he was still like statue. He just lifts his eyes to Beom Pal and Nilah through she saw them gloss.

“How did you...?” his voice was trembling when he put his hands on the table holding his gift in tight grip.

“I’m very important man, remember?” Beom Pal smiled happily.

“What is it?”  Nilah was trying to recognise, what made him so touched that even his hands trembled.

“It’s my name tag.” Yeong shin whispered with tight voice.

It was little tag with the name ‘Seo Yeong shin’ and it was made from fine wood that was probably very expensive.

“It’s your new name tag. You are in the King’s favour.” Beom Pal smiled with satisfaction. It took him a long time to found Yeong shin’s name in books and bring him back to the world of living. He must talk to lot of magistrates, to negotiate and sometimes used just a little threat. Until he was holding two fresh pieces of wood.

“And this is yours.” He gave Nilah same piece of dark wood.

Her breath hitched and she covered her mouth to not let out loud sob.

“You are officially citizen of this kingdom.”

“Thank you my lord. I don’t know what to say...how to make it up to you.” She hugged him and didn’t think about, how inappropriate it was. She was just happy. Maybe more for Yeong shin than for herself.

“Don’t be silly. I’m glad I could help you.” Beom Pal shushed her and took the bottle “So, let’s drink!”

 Nilah never saw Yeong shin drunk. She was sitting on the floor with bottle in her lap, she felt her cheeks red and hot like in fever, but she wasn’t sick. She was drunk and happy...maybe happier she ever was.

She was singing old songs she remembers from home. It was drinking songs of her nation about sun, sea and honourable deaths and reunion with gods.

And Yeong shin was dancing. She was happily laughing when he was swinging in the centre of the room waving with his hands. His cheeks red as hers and eyes glossy.

She never saw him so happy, smiling so long and wide. She wants to cry with happiness.

And Beom Pal was dancing too. Wobbling around and trying to sing songs in language he didn’t even know.

It was a long night full of joy. And in the end of it Nilah was sleeping and Yeong shin was sitting outside with Beom Pal, watching night changing colours.

It was silent and peaceful moment.

“She is still scared.” He whispered into the dark. “She has nightmares and last night I found her scared to death, just because she saw shadow, or something.”

It was like throwing away heavy weight from his back. He was so glad that Beom Pal was there.

“I have this trouble too, sometimes.” Beom Pal admitted. “Nightmares or these weird feelings. Last time someone run behind me and I almost pissed myself because I thought it’s undead.”

Beom Pal was suddenly serious when he spoke.

“She is not scared of the dead. It’s the living that scared her the most. And I feel so helpless. All I can do is calm her.” He hated how he was fighting with invisible enemy. With her demons he couldn’t shoot or stab.

“You are doing great. Trust me. I had few mistresses but not a single one can’t stand my nightmares. When I woke up with scream, they always run away. And it hurts. Be with her it’s the best you can do.”

Yeong shin was looking at the magistrate with compassion. They were too damaged by games of Hae won Cho clan. Even their own member.