Looking for the Runaway Heavenly Maiden - Chapter 98

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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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98.

He was smiling, yet his eyes gleamed with a razor-sharp intensity.

“Do you truly believe a mere monkey could stand against me, Hand Ogeong?”

A piercing whistle cut through the air.
In an instant, countless razor-edged shards materialized, encircling Hand Ogeong.
The fragments suspended in the void seemed poised to pierce through his body in a single breath.
Yet Hand Ogeong remained utterly unmoved.

“A mere monkey, you say? I haven’t heard such words in ages. But what makes you different? Just a mere human, after all.”

Hand Ogeong’s eyes blazed with golden light. In the same instant.
A deafening crack echoed.
The Ruyi Staff embedded itself in Gihyeongrang’s neck. Yet Gihyeongrang grasped the staff lodged in his throat without the slightest concern.
The palm touching the staff burned with an intensity that seemed to incinerate flesh itself.
Gihyeongrang’s eyes ignited with golden radiance.

“You can already see it with your own eyes, Hand Ogeong. Do I still seem like a mere human to you?”

The torrent of flames could not break the Evil God.
The inferno that had coiled around Gihyeongrang’s throat now ensnared the Ruyi Staff itself.
In an astonishing instant, the flames consumed the staff. Hand Ogeong recoiled in shock, retreating rapidly.
In that moment, the razor-sharp fragments from the void descended upon him.

“Damn it.”

Hand Ogeong swung the staff, and the flames that had wrapped around it were extinguished by the newly formed torrent of water, fragments dissolving into the blaze.
Having regained a moment’s stability, Hand Ogeong faced Gihyeongrang.
Gihyeongrang appeared utterly composed, as though my attacks were nothing to him.
The staff had clearly pierced through Gihyeongrang’s neck, yet it remained unmarred.
Hand Ogeong tightened his grip on the staff.
His purpose was merely to buy time. Even if Gihyeongrang’s attacks landed, he would emerge unscathed.
Now was the opportune moment while Gihyeongrang’s attention was diverted. Now, I had to reach the space where the Evil Spirit dwelled.
But the problem was Cheonuyhua, who could open that path.
Jeong had died before my eyes. Jeong was Cheonuyhua’s longtime companion.
Jeong had always been by Cheonuyhua’s side. Even after he and she parted ways, Jeong remained at her side.
Had it not been for Gihyeongrang, their bond would not have ended so tragically and meaninglessly.
Cheonuyhua needed to compose herself soon. If she could not, I would have no choice but to reveal my true form.
That would destroy this plan.
I glanced downward. Cheonhaerang and Cheonuyhua still remained inside the Turtle Shell.
Beyond the Turtle Shell lay Gihyeongrang.

‘Wait, what is this…!’

Hand Ogeong shifted his gaze.

Crash—!
The golden staff and the blackened blade collided head-on.

“You seem to have your mind on the princess, Jade Emperor.”

Yueul was smiling at him, having appeared without warning.
In less than a moment, his opponent had changed.
He cursed lowly. It was a painful mistake.
He needed to kill Yueul and move on. Yet in this instant, locked against Yueul’s blade, he could sense it.
Yueul was different from before. At full strength, he was comparable to Gihyeongrang before becoming the Evil God.
Clang—!
Hand Ogeong twisted the staff. The golden staff transformed into a sharply gleaming blade.
He lifted one corner of his mouth and spoke.

“Very well. Then from now on, I’ll focus only on you, Eul.”

* * *

Cheonhaerang grew anxious. He needed to move now, while the Jade Emperor held Gihyeongrang’s attention.
But his sister couldn’t seem to gather her wits properly.
If the Jade Emperor hadn’t restrained her, she would have already bolted from the Turtle Shell.
Who was that woman, anyway? How had his sister become so close to her?
Could she have been an old friend?
I understood my sister’s anguish—witnessing the death of someone so dear to her, and by her own hand no less, would be devastating beyond measure.
But this was not the time to surrender to grief. We had no time to spare.
Cruel as it was, I had to set emotion aside and push forward. We’d come this far—I couldn’t let it all fall apart now.

“Sister. Please, come back to yourself. Please?”

Cheonhaerang pleaded desperately.

“Oh my. Still drowning in sorrow, I see. It appears my performance was perfectly tailored to your sister’s tastes.”

A voice dripping with mockery pierced Cheonhaerang’s ears.
He turned his head. He should have been facing the Jade Emperor.
Yet somehow, Gihyeongrang now stood before the Turtle Shell. From his hand, pressed against it, flowed that same pitch-black energy as before.
The black aura swiftly engulfed the Turtle Shell.
Cheonhaerang bit his lip anxiously. At this rate, the Turtle Shell would shatter soon.
I had to hold out until my sister regained her senses. To do that, I’d need to summon another spirit guardian.
But could my body withstand it? I had my doubts.
I had failed to endure it before.

‘Still… I have to try.’

Cheonhaerang steeled himself. Right now, only I could protect my sister.

Keeeeek.

A fierce wind erupted. Within the swirling gale, Eungryong materialized.
Simultaneously, dark clouds gathered across the sky.
Whoooosh!
A torrential downpour crashed down as if to destroy everything.
The demons struck by Eungryong’s rain writhed in agony, their bodies riddled with holes, burning from within.
Yet Eungryong’s rain had no effect whatsoever on Gihyeongrang.
Gihyeongrang remained unchanged. Phoenix fire coiled around his arm, but ultimately faded away.
The spirit guardian’s attacks could not touch Gihyeongrang.

“Why wouldn’t Father have given me these trivial things?”

Cheonhaerang met the golden gaze of Gihyeongrang.
The truth had finally been revealed.

“Hello, Cheonhaerang. My younger brother.”

Crack.
A fissure split across the Turtle Shell.
Gihyeongrang laughed.

“Brother. You should possess only what befits your station.”

Clang—!
In the moment the Turtle Shell shattered with a sharp, metallic sound, light erupted from somewhere.
Brilliant radiance spread across the ground, pinning Gihyeongrang in place.
He quickly discovered azure chains coiling around his body. It was not difficult to discern who wielded them.
It wasn’t difficult to find out who the Master was.

“You really do love your younger sibling dearly, sister.”

He had deliberately shown her Jeong’s death. Perhaps Hand Ogeong’s demise would shatter Cheonuyhua’s mind completely.
No, wait.
Cheonuyhua’s weakness was not Hand Ogeong alone.
Gihyeongrang slowly parted his lips.
Cheonuyhua’s weakness wasn’t only Hand Ogeong.
Yeonhwa.

Yeonhwa.

Cheonhaerang flinched. He knew that voice far too well.
Father. Gihyeongrang was mimicking the Patriarch’s voice.
Cheonhaerang understood. His sister’s greatest weakness might very well be their father.
There was no help for it. The plan had deviated somewhat, but stopping Gihyeongrang took priority now.
In fact, killing Gihyeongrang now would be a blessing.
Whether I could actually kill him… remained uncertain.
Fortunately, my body felt intact.
A teal blade gleamed sharply in Cheonhaerang’s grip.
He seized the hilt with all his strength and lunged toward Gihyeongrang.
Clang—!
The screech of clashing blades echoed across the space. Cheonhaerang stared at Gihyeongrang in disbelief.
He knew it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.
His mind understood that this was Gihyeongrang’s transformed shape.
Yet knowing all of this, his lips moved differently.

“…Father.”

Wind swept through.
The space shifted. It was a place far too familiar to Cheonhaerang and Cheonuyhua.
The Heavenly Realm.
Baekokgyeong.
The azure chains binding Gihyeongrang’s form unraveled with a soft whisper.
Cheonuyhua knew. That was Gihyeongrang.
Gihyeongrang, mimicking their father’s appearance and voice.
An ability of the Evil Spirit.
An Evil Spirit that could transform freely to enchant people.
A woman before a man, a man before a woman.
A family member before those who had lost their kin.
It burrowed into the human heart this way, enchanting and consuming its prey.
Gihyeongrang wielded that power.
To enchant Cheonhaerang and Cheonuyhua.

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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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