Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 96

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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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96.

Jiho appeared perfectly fine, just as she had claimed. There wasn’t a single visible wound on her.
But one could never know what lay beneath the surface.

“Wait a moment.”

Yeonhwa took Jiho’s hand in hers.
Startled by the sudden contact, Jiho looked toward Yeonhwa, who stood with her eyes closed as if searching for something.
In that moment, Jiho felt a cool energy flowing into her. She quickly recognized it as Yeonhwa’s aura.
Soon the energy withdrew and Yeonhwa opened her eyes, regarding Jiho with an inscrutable gaze.
I had wondered if she might have overextended herself, but she seemed surprisingly intact. Nothing was broken or destabilized.

‘How curious.’

The thought arose in Yeonhwa’s mind even as relief washed over her.

“Thank goodness.”

Having finished her examination, she released Jiho’s hand. Jiho awkwardly clenched the hand that had felt the unfamiliar warmth, trying to hide it.
Just as she was wondering what to say, a soft voice pierced through her thoughts.

“If you can’t sleep, shall we go see the flowers?”
“Pardon?”
“Flowers bear no sin, after all.”

It was a cryptic remark. Bewildered, Jiho followed Yeonhwa’s gaze.
The moon was obscured by clouds, and only starlight fell upon the dark night.
Within that darkness, the blooming yellow flowers shone with ethereal brilliance.
Gazing upon them, it felt almost like a dream, and Jiho found herself gasping in wonder.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to her. This was the House of the Patriarch and Human Woman.
If this tree had not originally been here, then who had planted this flowering tree…?

“Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s a cornelian cherry blossom. It blooms around this time of year, before the fruit sets in summer.”

A quiet explanation shattered her reverie. Jiho turned her head.
The woman standing before the cornelian cherry blossoms seemed like a fleeting phantom.
To speak of it so casually, as if it were nothing.
How much had the princess endured? Jiho couldn’t fathom it.
If I had been in the princess’s position, what would I have done?
Rather than gaze upon this tree, wouldn’t I have had it cut down long ago?
In that sense, it befitted her station as princess—an patience beyond mortal reach.

“Your eyes seem to be saying, ‘How can you possibly leave this tree standing?'”

Yeonhwa’s voice carried a hint of laughter, but Jiho didn’t notice and hastily lowered her head.

“My apologies, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn. Please forgive my presumption.”

Yeonhwa was startled by Jiho’s sudden formality.

‘Was I really that serious…?’

Fearing Jiho might actually kneel, she hurried to speak.

“No, there’s no need for that. We’re going to be family anyway. You can relax more.”
“…Pardon?”

Jiho lifted her head involuntarily in confusion. Their eyes met.
Mischief glimmered at the corners of Yeonhwa’s eyes as they crinkled with warmth.

“Why? You’re going to marry Cheonhaerang, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes?”
“How disappointing. If you’ve come this far, Cheonhaerang should take responsibility. You two share a bond that transcends life and death.”
“No, Your Highness, what do you…”

Jiho’s mind spun into chaos, and she couldn’t form proper words. Watching her, Yeonhwa burst into bright, genuine laughter.
Her crystalline laughter rippled through the silent night.
Jiho found herself mesmerized, gazing at Yeonhwa. The princess laughing beneath the softly glowing blossoms seemed utterly unreal.
So she could smile like this.
Who had stolen her laughter all this time?
Was it the Patriarch, or the Unknown Man visible behind her?
Jiho’s eyes suddenly met the Unknown Man’s. He shook his head—a silent signal to say nothing.
Turning her gaze back, Jiho met Yeonhwa’s eyes. A tender smile graced the princess’s face.

“That’s right. Marriage is a matter for the distant future. We need time to enjoy romance too. But right now, we have more pressing concerns. Jiho.”
“Yes, Princess Yeonhwa.”
“We’re going to eliminate the Evil Spirit. To do that, we need to enter the Demon’s Space. But a problem has arisen.”
“What problem?”
“It’s no longer the Demon’s Space.”

The gentle smile faded from her face. Yeonhwa continued.

“Gihyeongrang has already become an Evil God.”
“…!”

Jiho’s eyes widened. What had been mere speculation now solidified into certainty.

“And now that space has become Gihyeongrang’s Dimensional Space. We must infiltrate it.”
“….”
“To do that, we need something to draw Gihyeongrang’s attention, even if only briefly.”

Jiho’s pupils trembled.
She grasped immediately what Yeonhwa meant.
Something to draw Gihyeongrang’s attention. The answer to that was already clear.

“Of course, I won’t use you as bait again, Jiho. You can rest assured of that.”

Was she sincere? To forgo the most certain method? Jiho found herself unable to believe it so easily.

“But your choice is necessary. Will you stay here, or will you come with us?”
“….”
“If you wish to go with Cheonhaerang… we will follow your wishes entirely.”
“….”
“Then think it over carefully tonight.”

Yeonhwa tapped Jiho lightly on the shoulder as she passed.
In the place where only yellow petals had settled, Jiho stood for a long time.

* * *

Cheonhaerang stirred in his sleep and discovered his hand was empty. Consciousness crashed over him like a wave.
He bolted upright from the bed. The spot beside him had grown cold—she had been gone for some time.
His heart plummeted. He scrambled from the mattress and rushed toward the door.
The moment his fingers closed around the handle, the door swung open with a soft creak.

“Cheonhaerang?”

There she was—the one he’d been searching for. Without hesitation, he pulled Jiho into his embrace.
The cool night air clung to her skin.

“What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”

Caught off guard in his arms, Jiho felt him trembling faintly and asked while patting his back.
Cheonhaerang offered no response. So she simply remained there, held against him.
Thump-thump. His heart raced wildly before gradually steadying, its rhythm echoing in her ears.
How long they stood like that, she couldn’t say. Finally, Cheonhaerang spoke.

“When did you wake up?”
“A while ago. I slept so much this afternoon that I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I went out for some air. Were you looking for me?”
“Yes. You were gone. From now on, don’t disappear without a word. Understood?”
“….”

His voice trembled, unable to mask the anxiety beneath. Jiho found herself speechless.

“But I need your choice. Will you stay here, or will you come with us?”

“If you wish to go with Cheonhaerang… we will honor your decision entirely.”

Yeonhwa’s words echoed through my mind.
Just as I wish for Cheonhaerang’s safety, he too would wish for mine.
Moreover, the situation now transcended ordinary circumstances.
It was painfully clear that Gihyeongrang was targeting my heart.
If that were the case, Cheonhaerang would surely object to me following him.
Especially to using myself as bait.
After Yeonhwa departed, I pondered deeply for a long time.
I would follow Cheonhaerang wherever he went. I couldn’t bear to remain here alone, trembling in anxiety.
I wanted to be his strength, standing beside him.
To do that, I needed courage.
The courage to face that suffocating, spine-chilling moment once more.
I had also considered a way to reassure Cheonhaerang.
I couldn’t be certain this method would work on Gihyeongrang.
But with the Jade Emperor’s power… wouldn’t even a momentary deception be possible?
Even if it were but a fleeting instant, if Cheonhaerang could strike down the Evil Spirit…
I believed with absolute certainty that he could do it. So I spoke.

“Cheonhaerang.”
“Mm.”
“Will you listen to what I have to say?”
“…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Cheonhaerang gently pulled me away from his embrace.
I gazed into his eyes, luminous and vivid even in the darkness, and smiled.

“Like I’ve said before, wherever you go, I’ll follow you.”
“…”
“Even if it means descending into the abyss itself, because you’ll be there.”
“…”

Cheonhaerang had no words to offer.
It was blindly devoted. A recklessness that rushed forward despite knowing the end.
He knew he should point this out. Yet instead, he simply drew me close once more.
It was a night when the moon hid itself behind clouds.

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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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