Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 33

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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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33.

Despite having done nothing wrong, my conscience pricked at me relentlessly.
I quickly opened my mouth.

“No, that can’t be right. What are you talking about?”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Okay. I’ll trust you.”

Cheonhaerang spoke with a hint of playfulness.
Still, since it was a positive response, I exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.

“Then I’ll walk you to your room. Come on, Jiho.”
“Y-yes….”

I walked alongside Cheonhaerang.
It was a quiet night where even the sound of insects faded away.
Silence settled between us without any conversation, yet it didn’t feel awkward at all.
My heart simply misbehaved a little.
Every time our shoulders brushed past each other, I thought my heart would fall right out of my chest.
It was inevitable, I suppose. Now that I had acknowledged my feelings, my heart ran wild with even greater abandon.
I had to exert tremendous effort to appear fine, to act as though nothing was amiss.
I even repeated the reality to myself like a mantra—that we were just friends.
Before I knew it, we had arrived at my room. Part of me felt regretful, yet another part felt relieved.

“Well then, Jiho.”

A soft voice pierced through the silence of the night, burrowing into my ears.
I turned my head to look at Cheonhaerang.
He smiled—a radiant smile like the moon shining brightly.

“Sleep well.”

It was an affectionate farewell.
Suppressing my wildly pounding heart, I barely managed to respond.

“…Yes, you too.”

Watching Cheonhaerang’s retreating figure, I found myself lost in thought.
Perhaps I would never forget that smile for as long as I lived.
Even if Cheonhaerang were to marry someday.

* * *

Jet-black hair swayed in the wind. The man who had been gazing toward some distant place lowered his eyes to the ground.
It was hard to believe that a malevolent spirit lay sealed beneath this earth for over a thousand years, given how serene everything appeared.
Gihyeongrang then shifted his gaze toward the school. The darkened school at night emanated an eerie, unsettling aura.
Of course. During the day, it had been suppressed by yang energy, but now was the hour of yin energy.
Gihyeongrang raised his hand. With a sharp snap, intricate threads of pure white light became visible.
The densely woven light enveloped the entire school.
It was a barrier created to guard the seal of the malevolent spirit.
It appeared formidable. It was only fitting, given that it bore Cheonuyhua’s touch.
Cheonuyhua.
The one who had remained at the Patriarch’s side the longest—his first bloodline.
And thus, Cheonuyhua’s blood ran deep.
But what if purity were tainted with evil?

Before long, a dagger had appeared in Gihyeongrang’s hand. He drew the blade across his palm.
Blood flowed from where the blade had passed, dripping steadily onto the ground.
And the blood traveled along the threads of light.
For a moment, the threads of light turned crimson, then faded back to white before vanishing entirely.
The wound that had remained on his palm also disappeared without a trace, as if it had never been.

“Master.”

Gihyeongrang turned his body. Resting upon Gyeong’s outstretched hands, bowed before him, was a heart.
The heart of a living human—a child not yet come of age.
Gihyeongrang grasped the heart. The unceasing heart pulsed within his palm.
A heart freshly extracted from the child, brimming with vital essence.
When nine hearts are offered, the seal binding the malevolent spirit shall shatter.
Black smoke enveloped the heart before dissipating. Gihyeongrang released his grip.
The heart fell limply to the ground, only to be pierced moments later by a long blade.
The heart, impaled by the sword, slowly dissolved into the earth like water seeping into soil, and for a brief moment the ground flushed crimson before returning to its natural state.
When the sword too vanished, nothing remained in its place.
The school, locked in silence, was peaceful.
As if no one had ever come at all from the beginning.

* * *

Chirp. Chirp.
The sound of birds drifted through the window, and bright morning sunlight filtered into the room.
Jiho, whose eyes were still heavy with sleep, blinked before rising from bed and stretching.
I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly. Yet I had slept so soundly. Perhaps that’s why my body felt refreshed without a single ache.
After washing up thoroughly in the bathroom, Jiho browsed through the clothes in the room’s wardrobe.
Yesterday, finding no pajamas, I had checked the wardrobe on a whim and discovered these clothes were already prepared.
As if someone had anticipated my arrival and prepared everything in advance. The sizes fit perfectly too.
Though I wore my school uniform yesterday, today I thought I’d change into comfortable casual clothes.
Jiho selected a simple crewneck shirt and black slacks.
It was just as I finished changing.

“Miss, Seowangmo requests that you join her for breakfast.”
“…!”

I barely managed to suppress a sound, but I was truly startled. I thought my heart would stop.

Taking a small breath to calm my racing heart, I replayed the message in my mind.

‘Seowangmo? Seowangmo is asking to have a meal together?’

With Seowangmo?

It was so awkward yesterday. If I had to eat with her too, I might lose my appetite.

‘…No, wait. Surely it won’t be just the two of us?’

With that thought, I steadied my resolve and answered.
In truth, as Seowangmo’s guest, I had no choice but to accept her invitation.

“Yes! I’ll be right there!”

I had assumed—surely—that it would be just the two of us.

“….”

It was just the two of us. Truly, just the two of us.
I had expected Yeonhwa, or Cheonhaerang, or even the Jade Emperor to appear, but there were only two of us.
Even as I saw it with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe it.
I wanted to ask if anyone else was coming, but I couldn’t ask. There was no one to ask.
The celestial maidens of Cheongyeokgyeong must have certainly learned the art of concealment. They vanished in an instant before I could even strike up a conversation.
I glanced nervously at Seowangmo, who sat at the head of the table, and hesitantly took my seat.
The single place setting before only me and Seowangmo was as good as confirmation that only the two of us would dine.
The delicious aroma of the food stirred my nose and stomach, yet I had no appetite.
Why must I have breakfast with Seowangmo? Couldn’t I eat in my room like yesterday?
I couldn’t fathom Seowangmo’s intentions at all.

“You must be hungry. Eat.”
“Ah, yes, yes!”

I answered hastily and picked up my spoon.
I sipped the soup while stealing glances at Seowangmo.
Her expression remained as indifferent as yesterday. Unlike me, who felt endlessly uncomfortable, she seemed perfectly at ease.

‘…Right. Since I’m eating anyway, I might as well enjoy it without worrying.’

I gathered my composure and began eating with determination.
Unaware that Seowangmo had been watching me from some point onward.

Seowangmo observed Jiho eating with impeccable table manners, her gaze lingering thoughtfully.
Ryujiho. The youngest daughter of General Ryuibum, commander of the Baekho division of the Sabang Gun.
Rumors of how General Ryuibum doted on her had spread beyond Baekokgyeong all the way to Cheongyeokgyeong.
This Ryujiho was also a child who had once stayed here in Cheongyeokgyeong.
A precious child. She had drawn Cheonhaerang out from the darkness and into the light.
It was something I could never have accomplished in a lifetime.
After all, I was uncertain whether I could even love Cheonhaerang in the first place.
He was born after I shattered a lifetime of faith and loyalty.
Unlike the other children I raised in my own arms, I had never properly held Cheonhaerang.
Perhaps, in truth, I am using such a child for my own purposes.
To take revenge against that man.
I thought everything had burned away, leaving only ash—yet it seems an ember still smolders within me.
Still, my desire for that child’s safety was no lie.
That is why I granted permission. That man would never help Cheonhaerang anyway.
An indecisive man if ever there was one. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call him a man driven mad by love.
The mere thought of him filled me with sudden displeasure, so I hastily redirected my attention back to the child before me.

‘…Has she been going hungry…?’

In any case.
While being Baekho was certainly the greatest obstacle, it was ultimately a problem that would resolve itself. I had no intention of making an issue of it.
To be honest, the family itself posed a far greater problem than her status as Baekho.
Would General Ryuibum and his sons truly permit Jiho’s marriage?

‘…Well. My son must be strong enough to overcome such trials.’

With such thoughts, Seowangmo pushed a dish toward Jiho.

“Try this as well. It is quite delicious.”

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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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