I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 168

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Stand back!”

 

Yunhui’s guards risked their lives to block the evil spirits. They were in terrible shape, overwhelmed by the evil spirits that wouldn’t fall no matter how many times they were struck down.

 

Even with burst blood vessels, torn clothes, and covered in wounds, they didn’t give up.

 

“Grrrk…!”

 

Myeongdo, gripping the evil spirit’s wrist, walked forward step by step. The guards cleared a path following Myeongdo’s movements. Desperation filled Myeongdo’s face as he crossed through the chaos.

 

The moment the evil spirit’s back touched the wall, he pressed its wrist against a lantern hanging on the wall, burning it.

 

The five blessings cord that Yeomga had tied around the evil spirit’s wrist was magnificent.

 

In a white flower field, a turtle held a water lily in its mouth. A tiger sat beside it, and yellow butterflies flew above their heads.

 

The five blessings cord, densely embroidered with a mother’s desperate heart wanting to give all the world’s good things, burst into flames. The moment the white cord turned to ash and crumbled away,

 

“Aaah!”

 

Seonghui suffered a fatal wound from Yunhui’s sword. As he collapsed, all the evil spirits lost their strength and fell with a thud.

 

Myeongdo hurriedly pulled talismans from his chest. Then with urgent hands, he scattered the talismans in the air. Yellow paper fluttered about.

 

Like the lanterns the two had seen together that day, the talismans briefly decorated the sky.

 

“You must attach them to the evil spirits’ faces!”

 

The guards and Yunhui picked up the talismans and did as Myeongdo instructed. The writhing evil spirits finally became still. The palace commotion subsided. Everyone checked on Yunhui’s safety with panting breaths.

 

“Your Highness…!”

 

“Yes. You’ve all worked hard.”

 

However, Myeongdo alone couldn’t join them. Myeongdo put the remains of the five blessings cord in his palm and clenched his fist as if crushing it.

 

Myeongdo walked toward the throne.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Kneeling, Myeongdo bowed his head and spoke to the King.

 

“I must go to Baek Yeongji.”

 

He thought of Seoryeong again. It wasn’t like there were many people around her either. How frightened must Seoryeong be, going alone to meet Yeomga. Tears welled up in Myeongdo’s eyes again.

 

“…Is it not finished?”

 

“Yes. That is correct.”

 

The King readily nodded his head.

 

“Take the troops and go protect her.”

 

Myeongdo raised his gaze. The eyes of the King who wanted to protect the nation and Myeongdo who wanted to protect Seoryeong briefly met.

 

Soon, a group of soldiers leaving the palace raised clouds of dust. Horse hooves relentlessly struck the ground, moving forward. Blood vessels clearly bulged on Myeongdo’s hands as he gripped the horse’s reins with clenched teeth.

 

The end of the five blessings cord tied desperately around his wrist fluttered in the wind.

 

Please endure. Please keep the promise. Please live until the end.

 

Now Myeongdo goes to fetch Seoryeong. As promised.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Seoryeong didn’t remove the binding tool until she finally arrived at Baek Yeongji.

 

Myeongdo might not have entered the palace yet, and if he had entered the palace, he might not have defeated the fire demons yet, so she wanted to protect him as much as possible.

 

The moment she removed the binding tool, Yeomga would notice everything.

 

Seoryeong fumbled through her chest with trembling hands. All she could grasp was a single talisman. Seoryeong had given all her talismans to Myeongdo. Except for this one.

 

The promise she made to Myeongdo that she wouldn’t die. That was a lie.

 

The moment she gave all her talismans to Myeongdo, Seoryeong prepared for death. She wanted to save him at least this much, even if it meant this.

 

It was a life she had decided to sacrifice long ago anyway. There was no need to regret it.

 

So Seoryeong would return to nothingness with Yeomga, just like this.

 

Seoryeong put the talisman in her palm back into her chest. Her heart holding the talisman beat hotly.

 

“Hoo…”

 

A signboard reading Baek Yeongji stood at the village entrance. Seoryeong took it in with her eyes while breathing shakily.

 

On her wrist, now empty without the five blessings cord, hung the binding tool that Jeongan had made by hand.

 

Clatter. Clatter. When Seoryeong touched it several times, the wooden beads made sounds as they bumped into each other. It sounded just like the wooden bell Jeongan used to strike.

 

Seoryeong briefly placed her bracelet-wearing hand over her heart. Her pounding heart could be felt through her palm.

 

“Hooo…”

 

Seoryeong took another deep breath. The sun was already setting beyond the village guardian post at the village entrance.

 

Like that moment when she first met Myeongdo, the red burning sunset light covered one side of Seoryeong’s face.

 

When the dim shadow fell across her nose bridge, Seoryeong hesitated no longer.

 

Snap-.

 

The binding tool broke, and the wooden beads fell to the ground one by one.

 

That was when it happened.

 

Hee-hee-heek! Hee-hee-hee-heek! The sound of children laughing shrilly, Bang-! The sound of violently striking kkwaenggwari, rustling sounds of cockroaches moving, the sound of singing funeral songs asking when they’ll return if they leave now, jingling bell sounds, the sound of anxiously beating janggu, swoosh the sound of bamboo leaves hitting against the wind. All of it rang out together.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Seoryeong gasped at the divine power that suddenly rushed at her. Bang! Lightning struck the clear sky.

 

She could feel how much divine power Yeomga possessed. It was so heavy she felt like she’d be crushed to death. She finally realized she truly had to risk her life.

 

She was afraid. She missed Myeongdo. Even biting the tender flesh inside her mouth couldn’t stop the tears from forming.

 

But Seoryeong stepped forward. Then another step, another step…

 

Seoryeong walked with clenched teeth.

 

Toward where Yeomga would be.

 

Toward the end.

 

“Huh? Huh huh?”

 

Red spots were appearing on the bodies of people passing by Seoryeong. It was the work of plague demons.

 

They clung to humans’ backs, sat on their shoulders, and spread disease while tickling them.

 

Yeomga’s curse was just beginning.

 

The people with red spots appearing on their bodies were invitations guiding Seoryeong. Right at the fork, walk straight then left again, and then deep inside…

 

“Aaah! Mom!”

 

“It hurts, it hurts…!”

 

“Mother! Father!”

 

Screams erupted from all directions. Those who couldn’t bear the sudden pain scratched their bodies frantically and rushed out into the streets.

 

If hell existed, wouldn’t it be this place? Seoryeong thought as she passed by them.

 

Finally at the end. A bamboo barrier appeared again at the corner of Baek Yeongji, as if welcoming Seoryeong. Seoryeong lifted the rotten sacred rope with her hand.

 

Jingle-. The bell hanging on the sacred rope swayed as if welcoming a dear guest.

 

Beyond it, Yeomga was there.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Yeomga wore a Hahoe mask on her face. Then she waved one hand. The evil spirits with talismans covering their faces moved their hands in sync.

 

Boom boom boom boom.

 

Boom boom boom boom.

 

Gaunt hands moved busily over drums covered with thick leather. Low, deep sounds echoed through the space. The leather covering the drums looked particularly soft. Like a young child’s skin.

 

Wheeee-.

 

A sharp noise like cutting through wind arose from the flute’s end. An evil spirit with a horrifyingly split mouth pushed breath into the instrument’s end, mimicking human breathing. The flute sounded like the screams of the dead.

 

Zing-.

 

When she roughly swung her arm to strike the gong as if breaking it, Yeomga extended her opposite arm.

 

Her garment, which had appeared dark black, shone with a subtle purple light under the moonlight. On the mat with burn marks here and there, Yeomga took off her shoes.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Enjoying the blowing wind, Yeomga began to dance. Eerie melodies flowed from the instruments each evil spirit held. The ritual ground had begun.

 

“Heaven and Earth Declaration with Long Rain and Thunder, Wind Blade Flesh Tear…”

 

Yeomga’s voice, declaring to heaven and earth to bring long rain and thunder, trembled with joy.

 

Each time she danced, the ends of her flowing sleeves fluttered in the wind.

 

“Binding Sinner’s Judgment and Blessed Also Punished together, rolling them all around—how could this not be delightful!”

 

Yeomga spread both arms wide and raised them straight up to the sky. Yeomga’s body trembled violently.

 

“Steal Child’s Life Give to Old, thus Bitter Fate Without End—.”

 

Yeomga unfurled the curse scripture written in her own blood with one hand. The densely written curse scripture was nearly as long as Yeomga’s height.

 

Yeomga pulled out a talisman with her other hand. As she chanted an incantation, it caught fire.

 

Finally it burns. The world, this damned world without Yeomga burns.

 

Acrid smoke rose from the curse scripture. She briefly held the end of the curse scripture and gazed at it intently.

 

As if recalling the past.

 

Then she immediately climbed onto the ritual knife positioned on the left.

 

Standing barefoot on the sharp ritual blade, Yeomga began bouncing up and down without hesitation.

 

Now Yeomga could no longer hide her emotions. She was giggling with overwhelming joy. Yeomga’s voice was piercingly high as she shouted in excitement.

 

“Overturn Heaven and Earth!”

 

Yeomga, who had never shown emotion before, could be felt smiling brightly even behind her mask. Yeomga treading barefoot across the razor-sharp blades was completely insane.

 

“Topple Mountains and Seas!”

 

Something that was not human.

 

“Disturb Yin and Yang!”

 

Before long, everyone watching the scene had palms damp with cold sweat. They prayed desperately for Seoryeong to come. Just when despair set in that if she was even slightly late, Yeomga would open her maw wide and devour the nation,

 

“Lose Soul and Spirit!”

 

At last, their savior arrived.

 

“Yeomga!”

 

It was Seoryeong.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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