Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 25

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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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25.

“…But.”

I answered curtly. The worry that had sharpened my nerves transformed into keen vigilance.
The Young Man, noticing my demeanor, waved both hands frantically with a flustered expression.

“Ah, I’m not a strange person. I just heard you joined our club, so I came out of curiosity.”
“Club?”
“Yeah. The teacher told me. She said you joined our club.”

The club. Right, I had agreed to join the Archery Club that Cheonhaerang was in.
And this afternoon was club activity time.
I would have to spend time alone in that unfamiliar place without Cheonhaerang.
Especially with my catastrophically poor archery skills.
In truth, the greatest problem wasn’t my skill but Cheonhaerang’s absence.

“You still look full of suspicion. Will you believe me if I do this?”

Saying so, the Young Man smiled brightly.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Yueul, the captain of the Archery Club. Nice to meet you, Jiho.”

Watching the corners of his eyes crease softly, I mentally noted that this face had probably made quite a few girls cry, and I relaxed my guard slightly.
Of course, I still couldn’t completely trust Yueul.
Cheonhaerang hadn’t appeared, and Kim Jeonghyeon had vanished.
Yeonhwa seeks to bring Cheonhaerang back.
This couldn’t possibly be coincidence.
I concluded that Kim Jeonghyeon might be that man.
That man was infiltrating this school.
This school where Yeonhwa openly resides.
There was no way Yeonhwa would be at this school without reason.
And the security of a school where Yeonhwa stays couldn’t possibly be this lax.
Which meant that man was either equal to or surpassed Yeonhwa in power.
So inserting a single subordinate wouldn’t be difficult for him.
The sight I’d witnessed when I fell into that man’s trap on my first day at this school flashed through my mind.
My hands trembled for a moment. The suffocating, dense malevolence. The vicious things erupting from everywhere.
Just recalling it made my vision spin dizzily.
At least, I don’t sense that same malevolence from this boy called Yueul.
But I can’t let my guard down.
The change in Yeonhwa’s attitude meant the situation had shifted from what it had been until now.
Of course, there was also the possibility that Yueul was simply a truly ordinary student.
Either way, I was prepared to draw my weapon at any moment.

“…Yeah, hey. Nice to meet you.”
“Me too. Oh, you just transferred recently, right? Still finding everything unfamiliar?”
“Yeah, well….”

Yueul began chattering away at me. His friendliness was somewhat burdensome.

“Have you ever done archery before? Is this your first time?”

I had done it before.

“No. I haven’t.”

Perhaps it would be better to say this was my first time, so my skill wouldn’t be embarrassing.
I made a very quick decision.

“Really? Then should I teach you? Since I’m the club president anyway.”
“No. That’s not necessary.”

A soft yet resolute voice cut through their conversation. My heart seemed to plummet.

I turned my head slowly.
Time felt as though it had stopped.

“I’m sorry, Jiho. Did you wait long?”

It was Cheonhaerang.
Indescribable emotions swirled within me. For a moment, I nearly rushed toward him.

“…Hello, Cheonhaerang.”

For an instant, Yueul’s expression hardened, though only Cheonhaerang noticed it.

“Hello, Yueul. The teacher seems to be looking for you. Don’t you need to go?”

Yueul simply gazed at Cheonhaerang without responding.
The atmosphere was shifting in an unsettling way. My joy at meeting Cheonhaerang was short-lived as I felt my entire body bristle with unease.
If it wasn’t my imagination, it was definitely an ominous aura emanating from Yueul.
My body went rigid. I felt as though I should flee, yet something held me in place.
But as quickly as it had appeared, the aura dissipated.

“Right? I should go then. See you later, Jiho.”

Yueul departed without a sound.
Watching his retreating figure descend toward the playground, I exhaled softly.

“Jiho, are you alright?”

His tender voice carried concern for me. Yet his worry should have been for himself first.
For some reason, I felt hurt. Cheonhaerang seemed callous. He appeared to know nothing of how I had felt all this time.
But perhaps with feelings like these, it might actually be easier to speak them aloud.
Cheonhaerang had drawn close without my noticing, gazing down at me with worried eyes. I lowered my head.
It was then that he sensed something was amiss.

“Jiho?”

I bit my lip firmly.
Why had he come now? What on earth had happened? Did he want to return to the Heavenly Realm?
Countless questions and words swirled in my mind.
I was worried about you.
I knew that single phrase would make Cheonhaerang incredibly happy.
Yet I also knew that now was not the time for such words.
But if not now, it felt as though I would never be able to say them.
I squeezed my eyes shut and finally opened my mouth.

“White Tiger of the West, Ryujiho.”
“….”
“By the command of His Majesty and Princess Yeonhwa, I have come to escort the Princess to the Heavenly Realm.”

Something shattered inside Cheonhaerang.
He had thought she was worried about him. He had believed that she had ventured out like this to find him, to see him.
Because she missed him.
But was that not the reason?

“…How could you….”

His throat tightened. Cheonhaerang clenched his fists and swallowed his words.
The words “Princess Yeonhwa” had come from Jiho’s mouth. It meant that even his sister’s command was involved.
Of course, he had anticipated as much. Was that not why he had sought help from the Kunlun Mountains?
To escape from the Patriarch’s grasp.
And yet. After going to such lengths.
A wave of emptiness crashed over him.
He had long known that his heart and Jiho’s heart were not the same.
He knew it.
But it felt as though Jiho had trampled upon his heart.
Whether thinking of now or our childhood, Jiho should never have been this way to me.
Cheonhaerang opened his mouth.

“Ryujiho.”

Gone was the affectionate way he once called out to me—Jiho.
It was all something I had brought upon myself.
I felt a sharp sting in my heart as I waited for what Cheonhaerang would say.

“Am I not even your friend?”
“….”
“Has my heart ever mattered to you, even once?”

It was not a question that Ryujiho of the Baekho Clan could answer.
From Jiho’s silence, Cheonhaerang read his answer.
A cold sneer slipped from his lips.
It was absurd. Even as his heart was being crushed beneath Jiho’s indifference.
And yet.
He found himself ridiculous—standing guard out of concern for her safety.
The reason he had approached Jiho when she was alone.
Yueul was not the vice-captain of the Archery Club.

* * *

Her vision was filled with rosy fruits hanging abundantly from the trees.
The vast plains overflowing with peaches of immortality.
Her mother’s Peach Orchard.

“Ha, so Cheonhaerang is here, they said.”

Yeonhwa did not believe it.
This guide would not willingly lead her to Cheonhaerang.
Not Cheongyeokgyeong, but the Peach Orchard.
As vast as this place was, there was nowhere to hide. Cheonhaerang could not possibly be here.
Of course, with his power, it might be possible.
But Yeonhwa could be certain. She could not fail to sense the aura of Cheonhaerang, who shared her blood.

“Hand Ogeong. Do you find me amusing?”

The fact that she called him by his true name rather than his alias meant she was truly furious.
Hand Ogeong realized that the eyes of the woman before him held not a trace of warmth.
Though in truth, those eyes had been warm toward him only in a fleeting moment long ago.
Hand Ogeong smiled as if unbothered and spoke.

“How could that be, Your Highness? How would I ever look down upon you?”
“Then what is this? Are you deceiving me?”
“When have I ever deceived you, Your Highness? I have always been sincere with you.”

It was a statement woven entirely from lies. She was no longer naive and foolish enough to be deceived by such words.
Yeonhwa turned away as though she had no further interest in listening. Then she spoke.

“I must see my mother.”
“As the princess wishes, always.”

Hand Ogeong bowed respectfully and walked ahead of Yeonhwa.
Yeonhwa moved forward while watching his retreating figure. From her palm, a small black bird suddenly burst forth and flew far into the distance.

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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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