Memory is a person’s entire life.
A collection of happy, sad, joyful, and desperate moments.
However, one cannot always recall every memory at every moment.
Because humans are selfish creatures.
We quickly forget memories that harm us and hold onto those that help us for as long as possible.
Yes, we ‘hold onto’ them.
Many think we forget memories, but in reality, we can never truly forget them.
We merely bury them.
Deep within the subconscious.
Somewhere far, far away, where they may never resurface.
And yet, even as people bury painful memories, the things that have shared their entire lives with them never forget a single moment.
The memories with their owners, the hardships they endured together, the paths they walked.
How can such things be erased?
Especially when that thing is an unparalleled divine artifact from the world of martial arts.
The Celestial Light Sacred Sword was one such divine artifact.
Celestial Light Sacred Sword — a sword that always reflects its master wherever they may be.
Yes, it gazes steadfastly at its master “whenever” and “wherever.”
Despite Namgung Cheolbin’s countless reincarnations, the Celestial Light Sacred Sword has pursued him through the fabric of time and space.
Whether Cheolbin abandoned the sword and left the Namgung household or not, the Celestial Light Sacred Sword has remained utterly faithful, gazing only at him.
For an ageless amount of time, the Celestial Light Sacred Sword allowed no other hands to touch it. Only its master could grasp its hilt.
This was possible for two reasons. First, due to the nature of the Celestial Light Sacred Sword, it possessed an unshakable belief beyond compare.
Second, the sword itself possessed the strength to do so.
The Celestial Light Sacred Sword had severed the necks of every human who tried to grasp it—not just in this cycle, but across all previous cycles.
Thus, Namgung Cheolbin had never allowed anyone to take the Celestial Light Sacred Sword.
Its pride and loyalty were so fierce that it would even rebel without its master’s permission.
And yet…
Clang—
“What… what is this? Why isn’t anything happening?”
“…”
It was acquiescing to someone’s touch so readily.
The Celestial Light Sacred Sword, known for its unbending obstinacy, which had even refused its master’s commands when necessary, was doing so willingly now.
“Aah….”
“What is this? Why do you act like this?”
“I’m sorry… I was wrong…”
“Why are you hugging the sword and crying? Has a spirit entered you?”
“I’m sorry… I apologize… O sword… no, Lord of the Sword…”
“Dear me… Has she finally gone mad?”
Against all logic, the Celestial Light Sacred Sword was accepting Soeun Yu.
After all, the sword only favored its master. Even though Soeun Yu was the wife of its master, the sword could never forgive her for handling its hilt so casually.
And more fundamentally, the Celestial Light Sacred Sword disliked Soeun Yu.
It loathed her deeply.
How dare she—!
– A woman who abandoned her lord!!
A woman who, without understanding her proper duties, betrayed her lord.
A woman who failed to trust her lord and fell for false rumors.
From the sword’s perspective, there was no way it could tolerate Soeun Yu.
“I’m sorry… I apologize so much… Lord of the Sword…”
– You… you cursed woman…!!!
But, the Celestial Light Sacred Sword couldn’t bring itself to cut down Soeun Yu.
After all, it couldn’t kill her.
Not when it knew the tribulations Namgung Cheolbin had endured for her sake.
Through myriads of years—longer than the changing of a hundred dynasties.
This was its master’s entire life.
The life he lived for the woman clutching its hilt now—a woman who hadn’t lived more than thirty-four years.
And killing her would be akin to invalidating its master’s entire life.
The Celestial Light Sacred Sword might be arrogant with pride, its vanity touching the heavens, but to the sword, nothing was more important than its master Namgung Cheolbin.
– Why, why have you come…!!
The infuriated voice of the Celestial Light Sacred Sword echoed through Soeun Yu’s mind.
A voice so dignified that it chilled the bones—a truly divine relic.
“I need your help.”
– Leave at once! Or else…!!
“What if I don’t…?”
– Of course, I will kill you…!!!
It was about to say when it suddenly remembered Namgung Cheolbin and hastily changed its words.
– I will punish you…!!!
“Punish me then.”
– What…?
“Strike me if you must, kill me if you will. Anything, just please….”
– What madness is this woman speaking?!
“Please, grant me one chance to see him again…”
– …What?
“I will beg, I will prostrate myself. Please, only you can do this.”
– You foolish woman…!!!
The Celestial Light Sacred Sword’s voice trailed off.
Had Soeun Yu’s sincerity reached it?
No, it was purely the Celestial Light Sacred Sword’s will.
Such a woman who didn’t understand her place and so arrogantly turned away a noble master should shed blood-tears for her transgressions.
– Change the place.
“What… place?”
– This place is unsuitable. Go somewhere people cannot see.
“I understand… I’ll go immediately.”
And with that, Soeun Yu left the basement, holding the sword carefully in her hands, following the sword’s command.
Though Blood Demon screamed in the background, with her limbs severed, she was unable to do much.
Thus, Soeun Yu proceeded unimpeded to Namgung Su-a’s room.
It was the only place in the Namgung household where no prying eyes could see.
Creak—
Soeun Yu’s silent footsteps entered Su-a’s sleeping chamber.
The room was chaotic, with objects scattered everywhere, indicative of the turmoil within Su-a herself.
Seeing it, Soeun’s heart ached. She believed all this turmoil stemmed from her actions.
“Show me now.”
– You damned woman.
“I want to see him…”
– The extent this blade can show is merely the last few months of its lord.
“That’s fine… It’s enough…”
– Hmph, go ahead and go mad after seeing him.
In the next moment, instinctively, Soeun Yu bit into the translucent blade of the Celestial Light Sacred Sword, and her mind opened to a perspective she had never seen before.
*
Namgung Cheolbin, now known as Byul Rak, after being cast out of the house he grew up in, ran wildly, stumbled, and finally reached an old bridge.
The sky tauntingly poured a heavy rain above him.
Byul Rak was soaked to the bone.
– Ah…!
Through Soeun Yu’s parted lips, a cry of longing escaped.
After all, she had been missing her husband even before revealing the truth, both emotionally and physically.
Her body convulsed, electrified by the sight of Byul Rak.
Though, all she could do now was “watch.”
“Ahahahahaah!! Why!! Why are you doing this to me!!”
Byul Rak gestured angrily upwards, directly towards the position where Soeun Yu stood.
An unseen projectile from Byul Rak’s finger pierced her heart.
– Ah… my love…
Soeun Yu reached her hand out desperately, but it passed through Byul Rak’s form to no avail.
She couldn’t touch him, she couldn’t speak to him.
All that was permitted was the right to watch.
With a fierce roar, flames erupted from Byul Rak’s hands.
Soon, a rock beside him began to glow red-hot.
Suddenly, Soeun Yu realized the differences between Byul Rak’s voice now and his tone back at the Seven Flowers Pavilion.
Her mind conjured a horrible premonition.
– No! No!!
But her cries fell on deaf ears within the memory of Byul Rak.
Her attempts to intervene were met each time with her form passing through him.
“Cough! Choak! Cough…!”
Finally, a rock was swallowed into Byul Rak’s throat.
– No, please stop! Why are you harming yourself…?
Uncontrollably, waves of tears streamed down Soeun Yu’s face.
As if there was still more to cry, her heart wrenched further at the sight.
Kwaah!
A long beam of energy shot from Byul Rak’s fingers.
The beam spun around his neck, severing his once silvery-gray hair in a single cut.
The long locks of hair scattered to the ground.
– What sin have you committed that deserves this…?
Kawooong!
“My name is… Byul Rak…”
Why did those words feel to Soeun like Byul Rak was declaring the end of their karmic connection?
That her husband, the man who loved her and was once Namgung Cheolbin, no longer existed.
So, it hurt even more.
– Hiccup… Cheolbin…
“Hiccup…”
Simultaneously, Soeun Yu outside the memory and the Byul Rak within it cried.
For the same reason.
Regret for the past. That was all.
“That’s the way it was supposed to be…”
– No… sir… It’s all my fault… You were meant to be a hero…
Slosh—
The flooded river waters steadily rose.
Byul Rak remained still.
With an expression of peaceful detachment, as if accepting his death.
– Sir?
– Sir! Sir!!
– Sir!! Please, wake up! You must rise now!
Though her cries were meaningless, Soeun Yu still screamed and struggled against the transparent barrier.
Until Byul Rak was either fortunately or unfortunately rescued by Namgung Su-a…
She screamed until her throat tore.
,
,
“My name is Gayoung Jin! I am the Grand Princess of the Taewon Jin Clan.”
“Gayoung—a fitting and beautiful name for one so noble.”
Inside a carriage, Byul Rak exchanged pleasantries with Gayoung Jin.
The atmosphere of their conversation was warm, and there was not a trace of hostility between them.
– Ah… Moooon Blossom…
That small trace of sadness belonged to Soeun Yu.
She was aware, in her head, that she had no right to speak.
Within the memories that the Celestial Light Sacred Sword showed, Gayoung Jin had been the one who believed in Byul Rak.
Unlike her.
The one person who believed in him across all the realms of the world.
– Hmm…
But, regardless, sorrow is sorrow.
Had she been in that place—had she believed in her husband unconditionally, even when the world turned against him—might the one sharing in this warm conversation have been her?
Had it been so, the one and only woman by Byul Rak’s side might have been her, after all.
This was the belated regret of a foolish woman who had missed her chance.
