Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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19.

* * *

After parting ways with Jiho, I immediately called my sister, but she didn’t answer. No matter how many times I tried, only the dial tone echoed in my ear.
I headed to Yeonhwa’s house. But she wasn’t there either.
Then there was only one place left for me to go. Without a moment’s hesitation, I made my way to the school.
After the students had left, the school bathed only in the crimson glow of sunset carried an eerie, desolate atmosphere.
Concealing my presence so no one would catch sight of me, I crossed the playground instead of heading directly to the Principal’s Office.

Wuuong.

The Eight Trigrams Bell rang throughout my walk.
Finally, I reached the spot where the thing I’d seen in the car had been standing.
An empty space with nothing remaining. Was the bell ringing because of the taint left behind by a malevolent spirit here?
Or was there still a malevolent spirit within this barrier?
My sister wouldn’t fall to a mere malevolent spirit.
But if it had penetrated this far into the barrier, things were different.
I spoke softly.

“Lin.”

A small light burst forth. Something emerged from within that radiance.
It resembled a deer, yet its head was like a dragon’s, and the antlers on its back scattered in the wind.
And its body shimmered brilliantly with five-colored light.
It was the Qilin, Lin—one of the Four Spirits I could command through the Eight Trigrams Bell.
Lin cried out softly, delighted to meet its master after so long. It rubbed its head against my body.
I stroked the Qilin’s head and spoke.

“Lin, find the malevolent spirit.”

Neigh! Lin whinnied in response and bolted forward in an instant. The white fur sprouting from Lin’s hooves scattered in the wind, making it appear as though she were galloping across clouds.
After sending Lin off, I gazed quietly at the school. The campus, nestled in silence, appeared utterly serene from this vantage point.
Completely unaware that a being slumbered beneath this very ground.
It was a matter of ages past. Not even faded history remained.
Before the Korean peninsula was divided into three kingdoms and unified into the Divine Kingdom—during those days of fierce warfare.
Born from the blood-soaked earth were the malevolent thoughts of humans.
Evil itself.
My father, the Jade Emperor, descended personally into the Human Realm and sealed away that evil, creating a barrier.
And he commanded a celestial maiden to guard the barrier.
My sister, Princess Yeonhwa, the Jade Emperor’s first bloodline.
Gihyeongrang desired that evil slumbering beneath this land.
He desired the malevolent spirit.
It must never fall into his hands.
The mere thought of what my sister had shown me in that fleeting moment made it feel as though I couldn’t breathe.
That was the moment.
Slash!
Along with the sharp sound of wind being torn apart, white light suddenly erupted from beneath my feet.
But the light was quickly blocked and could not advance. I turned my body.
It hung suspended in the black void I had sent forth. The beam of light likewise could not cross a certain boundary.
As if demonstrating the gap between him and me.

“…Gihyeongrang.”

Simultaneously, arrows flew from all directions.
The arrows were aimed solely at one man. Gihyeongrang.
Yet as expected, the arrows crumbled to gray ash before even reaching Gihyeongrang’s side.

“My, what a fervent welcome, Your Highness.”

Gihyeongrang stood in that place with absolute composure.
Wearing the appearance of Kim Jeonghyeon, the homeroom teacher of 2nd Year Class 4.

“You still remember even my name. How truly honorable.”

How could I ever forget that name.

“If I could become your brother, there would be nothing more glorious, Your Highness.”

The child I once was possessed an innocence beyond compare. Or rather, I was foolish.
Nothing had changed even now. I failed to recognize what stood right before my eyes.
I simply followed him, believing him to be my homeroom teacher. Just as I had once followed him like a true older brother.
The one I called brother might very well end up killing me.

“Will you run away again this time, just like before?”

This was about when Cheonhaerang had saved Jiho.
The moment Gihyeongrang, whom I had searched for so desperately, finally revealed himself.
At Cheonhaerang’s words, Gihyeongrang burst into laughter. Then he spoke.

“Running away, Your Majesty? No, no. You already know this, don’t you?”

Clang!
The sharp friction of blades rang out violently.
In an instant, Gihyeongrang closed the distance to Cheonhaerang, and their swords clashed.
Gihyeongrang mocked the trembling hand that blocked his blade.

“You cannot land even a finger on me, Your Majesty.”

The vast difference between us. That was what he meant.
Cheonhaerang read the context hidden in Gihyeongrang’s words.
He knew it well. The one who inherited the most of Father’s blood was my eldest sister.
Only someone of that caliber could face Gihyeongrang head-on in this manner.
But if my full strength alone wasn’t enough, couldn’t I employ a different method?
I possessed the Eight Sovereigns’ Seal.
I am the master of the Four Spirits.
Whoosh.
A fierce wind swept through. The clear sky was suddenly shrouded in dark clouds.
Gihyeongrang’s composed expression twisted.
Gihyeongrang tried to retreat hastily, but crimson flames engulfed his body, making it impossible to escape easily.
It was the fire of the Phoenix.
Gihyeongrang clenched his teeth. It was a treasure I had so desperately desired.
And one of those treasures belonged to this mere child.

“Just your pathetic—!”
“You’re right. I cannot land a finger on you. But what about this power?”

Screeeech.
A beast’s cry pierced the air. It was the cry of the Responsive Dragon.
Immediately after, torrential rain poured down.
Gihyeongrang felt as though his body was being consumed by the downpour. The Responsive Dragon’s rain melted away whatever its master desired.
The Phoenix’s flames and the Responsive Dragon’s rain.
Immense powers far too grand for a mere child to wield.
What I had yearned for, Cheonhaerang possessed so effortlessly.
Therefore, my inability to forgive Cheonhaerang was nothing but a natural consequence.
As though he had never shown such a disheveled state, Gihyeongrang regained his composure.
Gihyeongrang met Cheonhaerang’s gaze and grinned wickedly.
In that instant, Cheonhaerang’s concentration wavered without his realizing it. Gihyeongrang did not miss that opening.
In a flash, darkness engulfed Cheonhaerang’s vision.
It lasted only a moment. Or so Cheonhaerang thought.
Crash!
Along with the sound of something shattering, he heard a desperate voice calling out to him.

“Cheonhaerang! Cheonhaerang!”

Ah, it’s my sister.
It seemed Rin had found my sister.
With that thought, Cheonhaerang lost consciousness.

* * *

Meow.
After school, she headed straight to the academy for a long class, and was now on her way home.
The sun had set, and a pale moon hung in the darkened sky. It was a baby cat that appeared before Subin, who trudged along with exhaustion.
Subin’s feet came to a stop. The tiny kitten was so adorable that it captured her weary gaze completely.
Whether it was a pet that had gotten lost or a stray kitten born to a feral mother was unclear, but one thing was certain—it showed no fear of humans.
Meow. The kitten approached with a soft cry, stopped at Subin’s feet, and rubbed its head against her leg. It was like what people called a “dog-like cat.”
The kitten was so adorable that Subin’s heart fluttered.
Crouching down, Subin looked around before gently reaching out her hand. The way it followed people so readily suggested it wasn’t a stray after all.
Then Subin carefully stroked the baby cat’s head.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

The baby cat, naturally unable to answer like a human, only meowed in response.
Subin smiled brightly. Seeing such an adorable kitten seemed to give her some strength.
Enchanted, Subin continued to stroke the baby cat’s head before suddenly coming to her senses.

“Oh, I should find the owner.”

In that instant, a deep shadow stretched across Subin’s head.
Goosebumps erupted across her entire body. A chill ran down her spine.
Subin slowly lifted her head with a creaking sound.
And.

“Hello. I’m the owner.”

Kyaaaah—!
In the wake of that piercing scream, nothing remained.

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