Audiobook

The Tale of Lee Dae-bong - Part 3

As the story resumes...

Lord Jang-hwa, unable to see his daughter Ae-hwang married, and witnessing Dae-bong and his father sent into cruel exile, was consumed by a grief he could not suppress. This deep sorrow soon turned into a heavy illness.

Bedridden, and sensing his time in this world was drawing to a close, he took his wife's hand in his left, and his beloved daughter Ae-hwang's hand in his right.

With tears falling quietly, he whispered... "Life and death are determined by heaven, and I cannot defy my fate. I must now become a guest of the afterlife. But my heart breaks for Lord Lee and his son, who are doomed to become lonely spirits in the cold sea. And my poor daughter... your life is now the most pitiful of all. If only you had been born a man, you could wash away this father's bitter resentment. But as a fragile woman... when will the deep anger in my heart ever be cleansed?"

He pleaded with his wife to guide their daughter in goodness. Then, looking at Ae-hwang, he wept, "Oh, my Ae-hwang... how can I close my eyes and leave you behind?"

Holding her hand, he shed his final tears and departed this world. His wife, Lady So, overcome by the sheer weight of the tragedy, lost her strength and followed him into the afterlife on that very same day.

In the span of a single day, the young lady Ae-hwang was left entirely alone beneath the vast sky. The household echoed with sorrowful weeping. Ae-hwang fainted from the overwhelming grief, but the servants carefully tended to her. She woke, gathered her fragile strength, and with the quiet dignity of a great commander, arranged the funeral rites and laid her parents to rest.

Time flowed like water... and Ae-hwang blossomed into her sixteenth year. Her beauty was unmatched in the world, with skin like pure snow and hair like dark clouds. Yet, despite being a young woman, her spirit was majestic. Her bright eyes held the wisdom of a phoenix, and her voice, though clear, carried a profound strength—like coral chiming gently against a jade plate. Her intelligence and grace were without equal, and soon, her name echoed throughout the entire nation.

During this time, the Right Prime Minister, Wang Hui, had a son named Seok-yeon. He was a young man of striking appearance and exceptional literary talent. The Prime Minister, doting on his son, sought a bride of equal measure. Hearing of Ae-hwang's virtue and beauty, he invited her distant relative, Jang Jun, to his home.

"Your older cousin has passed away," the Prime Minister said, "so you must oversee the family's affairs. Act as a matchmaker for me, and unite my son Seok-yeon with your niece, Ae-hwang."

Jang Jun gladly agreed. He returned home and sent his wife to gently propose the marriage to Ae-hwang. But the young lady answered with firm grace.

"Aunt, I am grateful for your kind words. However, while my parents were alive, I was already betrothed to the son of Lord Lee. I cannot, and will not, break that promise."

When Jang Jun heard of her refusal, he visited her himself.
"The distinction between husband and wife is the great law of humanity," he argued. "Life is unpredictable, and heaven can be cruel. With your father gone, you and I are all that remain of our bloodline. I sought a perfect match for you. The Prime Minister's son is brilliant and heroic. Do not be stubborn. Furthermore... Lord Lee and his son were sent into exile, ten thousand miles away. Who knows if they are even alive? If you waste your youth waiting for ghosts, your beauty will fade like the setting sun, and you will only sigh at the meaningless passage of time."

Ae-hwang replied, her voice calm but unyielding.
"My fate is harsh. I have lost my parents and stand utterly alone. Even if my choices seem foolish, I must follow the righteous path. Let alone the fact that Wang Hui is the enemy of my betrothed. For you to flatter a villain and try to lure your helpless niece... it is deeply shameful. Please, do not step foot in my house ever again."

Struck by her snow-like purity and fierce resolve, Jang Jun returned to the Prime Minister and relayed everything. Undeterred, Wang Hui smiled a dark smile. "Force the marriage," he commanded. And so, they began to scheme, setting a wedding date in secret.

Meanwhile... deep in the western seas, the destiny of Dae-bong and his father was unfolding quite differently.

The Dragon King of the West Sea called forth two young celestial boys. "The loyal Lord Lee and the heroic Dae-bong have been framed and cast into the sea. Go quickly, and save them."
Riding upon leaves that turned into small boats, the two boys glided swiftly across the endless waters.

Lord Lee had been swept away by the dark waves. In the dead of night, half-conscious, he saw a small boat cutting through the wind and rain. The boy gently pulled the old lord from the freezing water and comforted him. When Lord Lee recovered his senses, he thanked the boy.
"I am here by the command of the Dragon King," the boy softly replied.

In the blink of an eye, the boat touched the shore of a vast, uninhabited island. The boy told him they were three thousand miles from the capital, then vanished like an arrow. Left alone, Lord Lee sustained himself on wild fruits and washed-up fish, listening to the chilling wind, surviving day by day while weeping for his lost family.

At the same time, the young Dae-bong, having lost consciousness in the turbulent waters, was hovering near death. From the southern sea, another small boat appeared. The boy aboard quickly pulled Dae-bong from the dark abyss.

As Dae-bong caught his breath, he saw the boy in azure robes, holding a jade token and a golden staff. Dae-bong bowed in deep gratitude.
"Who are you... and how have you saved my dying life?"
"I am from the Dragon Palace of the West Sea. I have come by the King's command."

"The grace of the Dragon King and your kindness will be etched into my bones. How can I ever repay this debt?" Dae-bong asked. "Please, tell me... where am I?"
"This land is Cheonchuk," the boy replied. As Dae-bong stepped off the boat, he asked where he should go to survive.
"Look toward Mount Geumhwa. Within it, lies a temple named White Cloud Hermitage. Go there, and you will find someone who can help you." With those words, the boy rowed away into the mist.

Following the boy's guidance, Dae-bong journeyed into Mount Geumhwa. White clouds drifted peacefully over the majestic peaks, and the waters flowed in quiet harmony. It was a world entirely apart. Flowers bloomed on every branch, painting a serene landscape. Crystal streams cascaded down cliffs, white cranes flew in pairs, and the distant call of a cuckoo bird echoed, gently stirring his hidden sorrows. The scenery was breathtaking, but thoughts of his parents brought quiet tears to his eyes.

At last, he reached the temple gates. Carved in large golden letters was the name: Mount Geumhwa, White Cloud Hermitage. As the evening sun began to set, the weary traveler sought the master of the temple.

An old monk, wearing a patched robe and holding a bamboo staff, slowly walked out... greeting the young man who had arrived at this quiet refuge.