Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 93

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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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93.

My heart lurched and plummeted. All the blood seemed to drain from my body.
Cheonhaerang clenched his fists to hide the trembling at his fingertips.
Jiho was surely harboring the same thoughts.
My mind felt bleached white. I didn’t even know what words to offer.
A terrible helplessness crashed over me.
For her, trembling in fear, all I could do in this moment was this.
Cheonhaerang extended his arms, drawing Jiho into his embrace and holding her close.
Warmth spread between them. Jiho placed both hands on his back as his hand gently patted hers.
A soft voice tickled her ear.

“I’m cold. I wanted to hold you like this.”

Jiho let out a faint laugh. Could another’s warmth truly soothe the heart so completely?

“Then there’s no help for it. I’ll have to keep you warm like this.”

With those words, Jiho quietly closed her eyes.
In Cheonhaerang’s embrace, her anxiety and fear melted away like snow.

* * *

Choosing the hour when the sun hung high in the sky had been a wise decision.
Yet Hand Ogeong could only regard Cheonhaerang with a stern expression.
Cheonhaerang, who had arrived carrying the now-sleeping Jiho, laid her beside his sister before leading Hand Ogeong to another room.
The room was fortified with a barrier to prevent sound from leaking out.
As Hand Ogeong listened to Cheonhaerang’s words, he came to understand why Cheonhaerang had sealed the room against sound.
He could only say what came next.

“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s more dangerous if Jiho comes with me. You said so yourself. What the Evil Spirit and Gihyeongrang are after is Jiho’s heart. A young divine beast’s heart.”
“That doesn’t mean going alone is any safer. Not without me or your sister.”
“You said it was our responsibility.”
“That wasn’t permission to throw you both into danger without any safeguards.”

The tension between them was absolute, neither yielding an inch.

“Jade Emperor.”

Cheonhaerang called out to Hand Ogeong desperately.

“You need to stay here and protect my sister and Jiho. My sister still hasn’t woken up yet.”
“Then I’ll reconsider once your sister awakens.”

Cheonhaerang had never faced the Evil Spirit’s true form before. It was far stronger than it had been in the past.
Even with the Sword of Spiritual Dao, for Cheonhaerang to face such an Evil Spirit alone…
I knew how this would end.
Above all, the yin energy of that place. The yin energy of the Sealed Land where the Evil Spirit was imprisoned was something even Yeonhwa struggled to endure.
Yet he intended to go there alone? At the very least, I should accompany him.
Faced with Hand Ogeong’s resolute refusal, Cheonhaerang asked with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“Do you see my resolve as nothing more than the recklessness of a child, Jade Emperor?”
“If I did, you wouldn’t have made it this far.”

It was an excessively hard shell. For Cheonhaerang, it was beyond breaking.
Cheonhaerang stared at Hand Ogeong with much left unsaid, then turned and walked out.
Watching Cheonhaerang’s retreating figure, Hand Ogeong soon averted his gaze and let out a small sigh.
To be honest, despite what I had said, I never truly believed he would obey me. He would surely slip away in secret.
Perhaps I should stay awake tonight and keep watch. It was at that very moment I thought this.

“You should have just permitted him.”

At the sound of the voice, Hand Ogeong turned his head. He blinked in disbelief before opening his mouth.

“Yeonhwa…! Ah, no, Your Highness. Are you well?”

Hand Ogeong hastily corrected his form of address. It was an old way of speaking that had slipped out unbidden.
Yeonhwa lingered over the name Hand Ogeong had called her. Yeonhwa. There was once a time when that name sounded sweet to her ears.
Looking back, it had been such a brief moment in time.

“I’m fine. So there’s no need for that expression.”

She no longer wished to see that face—one that looked as though it might crumble at any moment.
Hand Ogeong’s heart stirred at Yeonhwa’s frigid response, yet he could never let her see such turmoil.
He hastily composed his expression.

“Cheonhaerang will go regardless of your objections.”
“I am aware. His face was never one to surrender so easily.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“What would you have me do, Your Highness?”

Their eyes met. Observing the pupils that concealed emotion with practiced skill, Yeonhwa opened her mouth.

“Let him go as though you know nothing. What choice do we have?”
“You trust him that much?”
“And you? Do you still not trust him?”
“I believe concern and trust are separate matters.”
“You’ll follow him anyway. I’ve awakened now, so there’s no need for you to remain here.”

Though such thoughts had crossed his mind, he could not answer so readily now.
The image of her lying unconscious haunted his vision. No matter how he tried to shake it away, he could not.
It was his own mistake that had brought her to such a state.
She was always unfortunate whenever she remained at his side.

“I cannot simply follow blindly. I must persuade Cheonhaerang to devise a safer plan….”
“Then I will go with him.”
“…!”

Hand Ogeong’s words caught in his throat.
Ripples disturbed the quiet stillness. At last, meeting eyes that trembled with emotion, Yeonhwa spoke with perfect composure.

“You will remain here and protect Jiho.”

You will follow eventually regardless. Yeonhwa swallowed the rest and turned away. Her words were finished, and she moved toward the exit.
Yet the warmth encircling her wrist forced her to turn her head.
Yeonhwa glanced briefly at the hand gripping her wrist, then lifted her gaze. The man before her wore that face again—one threatening to crumble—as he looked upon her.
Yeonhwa spoke with icy precision.

“How presumptuous. You dare lay hands upon the princess?”

Yet the Unknown Man’s hand did not release her. Instead, he revealed an emotional turbulence I had rarely witnessed.
It was a sight that had been difficult to observe until now.
He had always been so self-assured. Even at the moment of parting, he had not openly displayed his emotions.
And now, at this late hour, he was finally showing what he felt.
In the past, I might have savored a grim satisfaction from this.
But now, well.
Had I not traveled too far to cling to such faded sentiments?

“…I… I will go.”

When the Unknown Man finally spoke, his voice trembled faintly.

“So please, Your Highness, remain here.”
“….”

Yeonhwa lowered her gaze slowly. His hand clung to her wrist as though suspended by invisible threads.
She shook his hand away. It seemed reluctant to release her, yet it fell away easily.
Yeonhwa answered without sparing him a single glance.

“Very well. Do as you must.”

With nothing more to say, Yeonhwa left the room without hesitation.
Left alone, Hand Ogeong stared at his empty hand before burying his face within it.
I should not have touched her.
Yet I did, in the end.

* * *

There was nowhere particular to go once I stepped outside. Cheonhaerang gazed at the tree standing in one corner of the courtyard, allowing my turbulent emotions to settle.
The tree, adorned with fully bloomed yellow flowers, was quite a sight to behold.
What flower could this be? I was lost in such musings when I sensed a presence and turned my head.
Upon confirming who stood beside me, I called out urgently.

“Sister! Are you alright now?”

Yeonhwa answered her brother’s concern with a reassuring smile.
Naturally, her mood was far more pleasant than it would have been had she continued to face Hand Ogeong.

“Then. Everything’s fine.”
“What on earth happened? What did Gihyeongrang do?”
“Why? Are you planning to take revenge? Is that why you said you’d go alone?”

Cheonhaerang found himself momentarily speechless.
I had made certain no sound would escape, yet I couldn’t fathom how my sister knew.
Moreover, had she already regained consciousness back then?
I was bewildered. In that confusion, my sister’s voice continued.

“Cheonhaerang. Do you know what kind of tree this is?”

It was a rather abrupt change of subject. I shook my head to indicate I didn’t know.

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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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