The split spirit dissolved into the air, fading away as smoke. It was the process of complete annihilation. Yet, to think that this being, who was once my father, would now be erased from existence, unable to even wander the nine heavens forevermore…
– Does it bother you that much?
“Not at all.”
Then, does it please you?
“Yes.”
It is only natural to feel good after vanquishing an evildoer. This has been the case for an exceedingly long time.
– What a strange fellow.
“Haha.”
I turned my steps without hesitation. There was no leisure to observe the spirit’s total annihilation.
At this very moment, Gayoung Jin is losing consciousness, slowly dying. I must bring the Elixir of Life to her before her final breath crosses into the River of Death.
“By any chance, does anyone here know where Bigo is located?”
Jade Flower was with me the entire time, so she wouldn’t know. But I looked at Tang Sobaek and Hong Ryun for an answer.
“Huh? Is there some sort of Bigo in Mucheon Gorge?”
Hong Ryun blinked and repeated the question.
“Bigo? Are you talking about the Repository of Enlightenment?”
Tang Sobaek responded with the implication that she knew something.
“That’s right, the Repository of Enlightenment.”
“I actually know where it is.”
“Miss Tang, do you really know the location of the Repository?”
“Yes, I just came back from there.”
“…Why do only the two of you know things that I don’t…”
Could Tang Sobaek have been coming from the Repository? In that case…
“Miss Tang, may I inquire why you visited Mucheon Gorge?”
As I cautiously asked, I received the answer I dreaded.
“I came to retrieve the Elixir of Life.”
“…”
Jade Flower made a sound as if swallowing her breath. Things had become complicated. Of all people, how could Tang Sobaek also be looking for the Elixir of Life?
Since I owe her my life, I can’t ask her for help freely…
“You seem uncertain.”
“Mm…”
“Don’t worry too much. If my guess is correct, there should be more than one Elixir of Life.”
In the midst of this, Tang Sobaek spoke reassuringly.
“Are you saying there could be more than one Elixir of Life? What does that mean?”
“It’s not certain, so let’s go and see. If you don’t know the way, just follow me. I’ll guide you.”
With that, Tang Sobaek took the lead as if guiding us. Despite her small stature, her figure seemed quite dependable, and I followed her instinctively.
“Byul Rak, don’t overdo it.”
The cool voice belonged to Jade Flower.
“You just escaped from being entranced by black arts. If you feel dizzy at all, don’t hesitate to say so.”
Her unusually warm tone didn’t match her typically cold voice.
She’s changed a lot. Even during wartime, I never saw her care for others like this.
I like how Jade Flower is now. People should have this kind of humanity.
“Thank you for your concern, but wouldn’t it be better if you took care of yourself first?”
“Take care of myself?”
I pointed at various parts of her body.
Each spot was marked with injuries, torn clothes, and bleeding wounds.
“Did you suffer any internal injuries?”
“…! It’s fine. There’s no need for you to worry.”
“What nonsense. I can clearly see from your trembling voice that you’ve injured your dantian.”
I slowly extended my hand to rub Jade Flower’s lower abdomen. She started in surprise but quickly settled down.
“Though I can’t use internal energy right now, I can still help calm your energy.”
The state of Jade Flower’s dantian, which I could directly sense, was worse than I’d anticipated.
It wasn’t entirely unusable, but it was serious enough to require recuperation for a while.
To have taken such wounds in order to protect me was touching.
Uuung…
“Ah…”
As I calmed her dantian, we continued to follow Tang Sobaek.
From behind, I heard Hong Ryun’s despondent voice.
“Why… why do Wen Shu and I not have anything to talk about…?”
What exactly did she mean by not having anything to talk about? As I pondered this, Hong Ryun naturally grabbed my arm.
“Th… You, benefactor…”
“Hm?”
“Are you not curious about how I’ve lived until now?”
Unaware, Hong Ryun’s bosom pressed against my forearm, and it seemed like she was rubbing against it.
The sight was very inappropriate, so I quickly withdrew my arm.
“I’m curious, but I don’t see a need for the arm-hugging.”
Hong Ryun’s complexion immediately changed at that moment.
“E? Ah, uh…”
Her pink eyes were on the verge of shedding pearl-like tears, her expression becoming increasingly moist.
No, that wasn’t quite right.
As Hong Ryun’s pink eyes grew gradually watery, her voice trembled.
“After such a long time since we met, why is there nothing between us… Have you arrived too late…?”
“…”
“Chop… How long have I waited for this moment… Why do I have no shared memories with you…?”
“! Just, hold on!”
Hong Ryun’s eyes seemed hollow. It felt like something unusual was about to happen if I left her be, so I quickly looped my arm with hers again.
“Wha…?”
Then, Hong Ryun immediately brightened, as if nothing had been wrong, and became flustered.
…What an extraordinary person.
*
“Hey, are you awake?”
An arrogant and conceited voice echoed.
“If you’re awake, say something. If you keep acting like this, Namgung Bin will come in.”
Slightly lost in an absent state, Soeun Yu soon recalled her thoughts upon hearing that.
Fleeting memories of Byul Rak’s childhood emerged.
Remembering relying on the edge of the Azure Light Sword while pondering bleak past events, and extending a helping hand during his perilous moments.
“Not good? Did losing consciousness once damage your brain? Why are you staring off into space?”
Of course, it couldn’t compare to the countless sacrifices and favors bestowed by Byul Rak.
Still, the fact that she had offered help, despite her physical and mental frailty, brought Soeun Yu considerable joy.
“Tch, you dimwit.”
Nevertheless, despite the constant jeering from Blood Demon beside her…
“Hehe.”
It was impossible to suppress the elation that made her feel as if floating towards the heavens.
“What exactly did you do? With that blasted Azure Light Sword. What did you do that made you collapse to the point of vomiting?”
“Azure Light Sword… Ah, where is the Azure Light Sword now?”
“What are you asking? It should still be where you dropped it when you fainted. Look down.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing Blood Demon’s curt reply, Soeun Yu looked downward dejectedly.
In the direction of her gaze lay the Azure Light Sword, abandoned where she had lost consciousness.
She momentarily felt resentment towards Blood Demon for not tidying it up, but quickly reminded herself that he lacked limbs and shook her head in resignation.
Crack…
– Maiden, have you regained your senses?
As she habitually grasped the sword hilt, the voice of the Azure Light Sword’s spirit reverberated.
“Yes… Might you possibly prepare now?”
– Seeking your lord once more? Hmph, you must know when to rest after pushing yourself.
“I’m fine. I can still endure.”
– That may be your view. Objectively speaking, maiden, you need rest at this moment.
“As soon as I confirm the condition, I’ll withdraw. That much should be fine, right?”
– …
The Azure Light Sword perceived it as if a puppy were pleading earnestly.
After a brief contemplation, the Azure Light Sword began reflecting Byul Rak’s image in its blade.
– Just a moment.
Swish…
“Ahh!”
From Soeun Yu’s slightly parted lips issued a sigh born of anticipation.
She didn’t anticipate Byul Rak acknowledging her efforts,
Dared not even entertain such a thought.
There was only concern about whether anything had occurred during her unconscious state.
“Uh…?”
Reflected in the blade were four figures.
A single green-eyed girl leading ahead impassively, guiding the other three.
Behind her, a white-haired woman tenderly caressing her lower abdomen, walking carefully.
And there were the two opposite genders with arms interlocked, as if one was being detained.
Recognizing them from the Seven Flowers Battle, Soeun immediately identified the green-eyed girl and the white-haired woman.
Poison Blossom and Jade Flower, the outstanding female figures representing the Sitian Tang Family and Kunlun.
Jade Flower naturally accompanied Byul Rak, which wasn’t surprising, but where had Poison Blossom come from? The lost beginning intrigued her.
However, there were two people more captivating than those two women.
“Let me tell you what I did that time… I pulled out the eyes of all the obnoxious ones and scattered them in the Yangtze River… Master, are you not listening to me?”
“No, I am.”
“Liar! Then tell me what I just said!”
“Ah… weren’t you saying something about defeating the Thousand Assassins Sword Emperor…? Ahem…”
“Yeeeekk…!”
The pink-haired woman who had her arm linked with Byul Rak was someone Soeun didn’t know.
Still, at a glance, the amicable atmosphere between the two was evident. There was no trace of hostility.
At first, it appeared as though the woman was scolding him, but upon seeing her bright eyes, Soeun realized the emotion wasn’t genuine.
It seemed not just her, but Byul Rak also seemed flustered while laughing heartily.
It was a beautiful scene.
A perfectly matching pair of mandarin ducks.
Two intertwining lotus threads.
“Who is she…? I’ve never seen such a woman around Master…”
Recalling a certain scene from the travelogue, Soeun quickly deduced the identity of the pink-haired woman.
“They say in the world there’s only one lineage with pink hair… So it must be her, the girl Master saved back then.”
Soeun focused her gaze on the pair again.
The subtle but persistent bond between Byul Rak and that woman could be felt even by just observing them.
“Beautiful…”
The woman in the blade’s reflection was exceptionally lovely.
Vitality flowed from her shimmering irises, and her supple figure possessed a perfect balance never seen before.
A woman that suited the lonely and solitary Byul Rak well.
“It’s for the best…”
It was something she should genuinely rejoice over. And indeed, Soeun felt joy.
At the existence of such people who hadn’t abandoned Byul Rak.
And at the presence of such an excellent woman who could replace her beside him.
“Congratulations…”
It was something she ought to celebrate.
Byul Rak’s happiness is her happiness too. The fact that such a precious woman stood beside Byul Rak deserved nothing less than sincere congratulations.
Only.
Only…
“My heart stirs with a little pain, despite knowing better.”
A little? No, it was quite a lot.
Enough to distort her mind and disrupt her breathing.
“I’d like to be by your side too…”
A dream she knew impossible.
She lacked the qualification.
She shouldn’t even dare to entertain such thoughts.
“I won’t dream of something like being by your side…”
Still, despite knowing better.
The cruel wind of baseless hope kept blowing.
“I wish… not necessarily by your side… I don’t mind standing behind… or just standing behind your back…”
The breeze kept teasing her heart cruelly because she knew it couldn’t be.
If only it had been her in that position.
If only it had been her…
How wonderful it would have been…
