Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 81

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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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81.

The bookshelves were packed tightly with volumes. Many appeared to be famous works from the Human Realm.
Yerim glanced casually across the shelves before making her way toward the desk positioned in the center of the study.
The desk, clearly crafted from premium solid wood, was immaculate—nothing upon it save for a desk lamp.
Yerim opened the desk drawer.
The drawer was empty. The others were the same.
It seemed this desk had scarcely been used at all.
Yerim exhaled softly and moved on. Since nothing was on the desk, only the bookshelves remained.
Honestly, she wasn’t even certain whether what she sought was in this study, but she decided to search as thoroughly as she could while she had the chance.
Yerim meticulously combed through the bookshelves. Several titles were familiar to her.
As she examined countless volumes, one book suddenly caught her eye.
A book with a pure white cover bore no title.
Yerim stopped in her tracks, tilted her head curiously, and withdrew the book.
The cover displayed neither text nor illustration—nothing but pristine white.

‘What is this?’

Yerim opened the book. That was when it happened.
Whoosh.
Suspended in the air, the pages turned of their own accord. Yerim blinked in surprise, her eyes fixed on the book.
The rapidly turning pages finally halted at some point. Then the book began to glow.
This was no ordinary book.
In an instant, the Jade Emperor’s words flashed through her mind.

[The Heavenly Seal distinguishes between good and evil.]
[Moreover, only those recognized as its master may use it freely, and its appearance can be concealed as well.]

With a brilliant flash, something shimmered above the glowing book before vanishing.
Then, as if it had never shone at all, the book returned to stillness.
Yet it unmistakably revealed itself to be no ordinary tome.
The white cover bore text, and pages that had been blank moments before were now densely filled.
In other words, it had transformed into a perfectly ordinary book. Just a common novel.
“…Sigh.”
Yerim exhaled softly. One could truly say that divine artifacts were different.
Now she could fully accept the Jade Emperor’s words.
Gihyeongrang had never become the master of this divine artifact. Instead, he had hidden Seon Igyeong within this ordinary book.
Even placing barriers around it so no one could find it.
Yet the divine artifact shattered that barrier and revealed itself of its own accord.
I found Seon Igyeong. But there was a problem. How could I remove this book from the manor without being detected?
If I carried this book, Gihyeongrang would surely notice.
Unless the aura Gihyeongrang had placed on this book could be concealed.
In fact, the greatest problem was escaping this manor itself.
Yerim understood that Gihyeongrang did not fully trust her. Even if he were to release her, watchful eyes would certainly follow.
Perhaps she had become nothing more than bait for Gihyeongrang.
The best solution for now was simply for the Jade Emperor’s messenger to return.
Yerim glanced toward the door. There was no sign of it opening. It seemed Gihyeongrang had not yet returned.
She hoped desperately that the messenger would come again before Gihyeongrang returned.
‘…No, wait. Gihyeongrang isn’t here right now.’
When Gihyeongrang was present, she couldn’t freely use her phone or anything else.
But now he was absent. Yueul was also outside this door.
I didn’t know what possessed him to leave me alone….
For once today, I could dress in ordinary clothes. Yerim pulled her phone from her pocket.
It was the phone she had hidden from Gihyeongrang.
Since arriving at this manor, she had never charged it, but fortunately it was in power-saving mode. The battery still had some life left.
She could send at least one message.
Yerim glanced toward the door once more. This time she also checked the window.
Then, slipping her body behind the bookshelf, Yerim quietly tapped the screen.
It was a message to the Jade Emperor.

Seon Igyeong found. Hidden in book with Gihyeongrang’s barrier. Messenger needed.

* * *

We successfully traversed the spatial boundary. Yeonhwa exhaled in relief as she recognized the familiar surroundings.
The space she had transported us to was the training ground used by Jiho and Cheonhaerang.
It lay deep within a mountain meadow, protected by a barrier she herself had erected.
Yeonhwa checked on the children.
“Is everyone alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Your Highness, are you unharmed?”
“What about you, sister? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. For now, it should be safest to stay here until the Jade Emperor arrives.”
Jiho and Cheonhaerang nodded obediently. Then Cheonhaerang examined Jiho.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yeah. I’m really fine. What about you? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. I’m perfectly fine.”
Cheonhaerang smiled brightly. Seeing that smile, Jiho could finally feel at ease.
She exhaled an inward sigh of relief and returned his smile warmly.
“Thank goodness.”
If it hadn’t been for the Spirit Sword, we might have been captured by the Evil Spirit’s fragments.
Just imagining what would have happened after that made Jiho’s skin crawl.
“But Your Highness, how was Yueul able to bring the Evil Spirit’s fragments with him?”
“That’s the thing. It suggests the Evil Spirit is quite cooperative with Gihyeongrang.”
Even if it had some ulterior motive, why would it lend itself to Yueul instead of Gihyeongrang?
Yeonhwa couldn’t easily accept this. Simply because Gihyeongrang broke the seal? Such a simple reason?
There was no way the Evil Spirit wouldn’t see through Gihyeongrang’s hidden agenda. So why cooperate so readily?
Or perhaps it wasn’t cooperation at all, but coercion.
In fact, it was an extremely obvious premise.
To absorb the Evil Spirit that had broken its seal, Gihyeongrang would need to be able to force it.
They would need to become completely one body.
Which meant…
“…Is Gihyeongrang becoming the Evil Spirit itself, sister?”
“…”
At Cheonhaerang’s question, a chilling silence fell among the three of them.
If Gihyeongrang was becoming the Evil Spirit itself, then the unsealed Evil Spirit and Gihyeongrang could easily merge and become even stronger than before.
The Evil Spirit was already growing stronger.
It was difficult even to imagine. Cheonhaerang’s hands trembled for a moment. He tried to hide them, but Jiho had already noticed.
Jiho took Cheonhaerang’s hand. Then she smiled tenderly and spoke.
“It’s okay, Cheonhaerang. Everything will be fine.”
“Jiho…”
“I’m here, and the Princess is here, and the Jade Emperor is here too. So everything will be okay.”
Cheonhaerang’s eyes, fixed on Jiho, began to glisten. Then his actions showed no hesitation.
Cheonhaerang pulled Jiho into a tight embrace.
“Yeah, Jiho. Thank you.”
Yeonhwa gazed at Jiho and Cheonhaerang, who clung to each other, with eyes that had grown cold without her realizing it. Soon she turned her head away.
Beyond the barrier, rain continued to fall in a steady patter.

* * *

Haah. Haah. Yueul breathed heavily, his breaths ragged and labored.

“After all, you cannot defeat Hand Ogeong, can you?”

My master’s words echoed through my mind.
Of course I knew. That I could not defeat Hand Ogeong.
But even after absorbing most of Cheongan’s power, I never expected it to be this futile.
I was barely managing to block the staff Hand Ogeong wielded, and with the Five Elements attacks coming at me simultaneously, I couldn’t gather my wits.
My attacks couldn’t even leave a scratch on Hand Ogeong.
I had borrowed the Evil Spirit’s fragments with my master’s help, but they all proved useless.
That’s why I couldn’t give up. I clenched my teeth.

“If you’re urging on the Four, I’ll gladly accept, Eul.”

His mocking words pierced my ears. At the same moment, the staff flew toward me.
That was when it happened.
Clang—!
Yueul’s eyes widened. Someone had blocked the attack before me.

“M-Master….”

At the arrival of the long-awaited protagonist, Hand Ogeong’s lips curved upward.

“It’s been a while, Gihyeongrang.”

Clang! The staff and Gihyeongrang’s sword clashed against each other. Gihyeongrang’s lips curved diagonally upward.

“Indeed. It’s been far too long, Hand Ogeong.”

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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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