At this moment, the forty-five young male captives were led into the purification chamber. For two days prior, they had been forbidden from eating or drinking, for should they feel the urge to urinate after the purification ritual was complete, their wounds would reopen and the agony would be unbearable.
"Na-eun, I am afraid. What shall we do? I wish to escape this place." A new young friend Min Na-eun had just made clutched his hand tightly, not noticing that Na-eun's hand trembled ever so slightly as well.
"Yi In-jo, I too am afraid, but we cannot flee. If we flee, we die. Do you not see how terrifying those guards are? A single step outside, and a sword would strike us down without warning."
"B-But... but those people... they will cut off that thing of ours. And they said there is only a five in ten chance of survival. Is that not as good as dying?"
"If you enter the purification chamber, you still have a five in ten chance of survival. But if you walk away and flee, there will be no chance of survival at all. You choose then, whether to have that thing cut off or to have your head severed." Min Na-eun tried to speak calmly, though in his heart, he was no less afraid than Yi In-jo. Yet, as Na-eun was older and In-jo much smaller and more delicate than him, Na-eun chose to act as an elder brother in this moment when they had no one else.
His mother had never told him what a eunuch was. The young boy had only learned of the position of eunuch three days prior. Na-eun was utterly terrified. Would it be like having an arm or leg cut off? Would he then become crippled, incomplete? If he were to meet his mother again, how would he tell her that this son of hers had been ordered to have the part between his legs removed?
But... was it not better to have a small piece of flesh cut off than to have an arm or leg severed? The young boy tried to think positively, for he did not know what that private part was for, or what purpose it served beyond passing water.
"You are still fortunate to have a five in ten chance of survival. But I, I am already twelve years old. The older one is, the less chance of survival, they said," the oldest boy turned to them, speaking with a tremble. After that, no one spoke another word, merely waiting for the summons from within.
One person after another entered. Not a single child emerged to tell them what lay inside, what had happened, or if they were still alive. All that could be heard were cries of agony and mournful groans, terrifying the remaining children, to the point where some even wet themselves.
"Min Na-eun, enter." The voice was sharp and high, like a blade carving through the heart of the one called.
"I go first. If fate allows, we shall meet again." Na-eun slowly withdrew his hand from In-jo's grasp.
"You must survive. We must enter the imperial palace together."
That was the last sentence Na-eun heard, along with the twenty pairs of remaining eyes fixed on him with dread.
The young boy took a deep breath, closed the door, and walked a little further to see a purification bed. Three people stood there. One was dressed like a physician, which Na-eun knew because he saw dark, dried blood staining his coarse linen clothes. In his hand, he held a gleaming, sharp scythe-like knife.
"Lie down."
Na-eun lay flat. Then, two assistants seized him, tying his arms and legs, stuffing a cloth into his mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue or screaming during the castration. They swiftly pulled down his trousers.
The young boy squeezed his eyes shut tightly, clenching his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He felt someone handling his private part, turning it this way and that.
"Hmm... this young boy has a well-formed organ. More interesting than the other children. Though small, it is well-proportioned for a child. It would be a waste to remove it entirely. What do you say? Should I remove it all, or only the two golden sacs?"
"I say cut off only the golden cluster, leaving just the small shaft for passing water. That will suffice."
"I agree. I too feel it would be a pity to remove it entirely. It is rare to encounter such a beautiful male organ. Even Master Yuan himself has remarked on it."
"Little one, you are truly fortunate to have met Master Yuan. His castration skill is the finest in the capital. Once healed, and with good medication, there might not even be a scar."
"Can you two cease your chatter? There are still many more children remaining." Master Yuan held the young boy's inner thigh with one hand. "Hold this little one firmly. I shall begin."
"Uggggghhhh!!!!"
Suddenly, Min Na-eun felt agonizing pain for the first time in his life. The young boy screamed in his throat, thrashing wildly. Tears seeped from his temples. He dared not open his eyes to see what was happening. Though only one part was severed, the pain radiated throughout his entire body. The young boy could not bear the agony and lost consciousness.