It was a world that had been rewound several times.
The currents of countless possibilities flowed in various directions, but all those currents continuously rewound and became things that never happened. This had already occurred dozens of times.
And so… the rewound history became something that had never happened and was settled into a new flow. The painted-over histories hid whatever trials lay beneath them from everyone.
…Surely, it had to be that way.
– Must you go?
– …Azure Princess.
It was raining.
The court robe that was now in tatters looked like rags.
The rain, falling drop by drop, did nothing to quell the flames that grew fiercer in the half-ruined Heavenly Dragon Hall.
The flames of the Plague Demonic Spirit could not be extinguished by mere raindrops. It was a cursed flame that burned everything until only ashes remained after it was ignited.
– If you go, you will die.
– ……
– Why do you go, knowing you will die?
Surrounded by flames on all sides, Jin Cheong Lang held onto the end of Seol Tae Pyeong’s sleeve.
It was too weak of a grip to stop Seol Tae Pyeong from moving forward. However, that weak touch seemed more heavy to him than a weight of a thousand pounds.
Looking up at the Plague Demonic Spirit roaring in the distance, Seol Tae Pyeong clenched his teeth tightly.
To move forward, many things needed to be shaken off. One of those things was the arm of the Azure Princess who held onto Seol Tae Pyeong’s sleeve and kept telling him not to go.
Taking that barely grasped hand and pulling it away seemed more painful than tearing off his own arm.
The ground was covered with bloodied corpses.
They were the bodies of those killed by the Plague Demonic Spirit. Even the most distinguished warriors of the Red Palace were nothing but fodder before the king of spirits.
– I owe you my life. Are you telling me to stand by and watch you walk into your death? That… would be too cruel to me.
– Azure Princess, More than half of the people of the imperial capital will die.
– You can resent the world a little more. Just don’t go.
Seol Tae Pyeong turned around and held the Azure Princess’s hand tightly.
Then he lowered himself to meet her eyes before speaking with a compassionate expression.
– When I think back to the first time we met at the Azure Dragon Palace, you have indeed become very strong. Without someone as naturally gifted as you, I wouldn’t even think of facing the Plague Demonic Spirit.
- ……
– You were the one who opened a path for me when I was oppressed and without a proper position due to my origins. Years have passed since I first saw you bedridden in my childhood, but not once have I forgotten that grace.
– Tae Pyeong-ah… why are you saying such things… such things…
The grip on his sleeve tightened. Seol Tae Pyeong gently held her hand and closed his eyes as he spoke.
– The memories of looking up at the moon together at the White Immortal Mountain, secretly sharing tea behind the Azure Dragon Palace, running through the midnight hills practicing Taoist magic, all these memories are treasures I wouldn’t trade for anything. My life found its light because of you, Azure Princess.
– Tae Pyeong-ah…
– Do you understand, Azure Princess? Because of you, I could finally find a bit more love for the world. You taught me the beauty of life.
Warmth spread through Seol Tae Pyeong’s hand as he held the Azure Princess’s hand gently.
The Azure Princess knew this warmth well. It was the warmth of the hand that wiped away her tears whenever she was in distress.
– That’s why I must go. You once told me it was okay to resent the world a little, but I think the world is quite a beautiful place. After all, there are people like you in it. That alone makes it worth protecting.
– If this is how it ends, I wish I hadn’t given you my heart. If I had known my love would lead you to your death… I wouldn’t have held you dear. I should have been cold and pushed you away, even if you reached out to me when I was bedridden with the divine fever.
– Don’t blame yourself too much. I don’t know why, but even without the great blessing of meeting you Azure Princess, I feel I would have still thrown myself into the world. It’s an instinct I have.
The Azure Princess cried profusely. Seol Tae Pyeong held her tightly and gently stroked the back of her head repeatedly.
She buried her head in his chest several times while trembling but Seol Tae Pyeong’s resolve seemed firm.
Therefore, she had no choice but to accept it as always.
The grip on Seol Tae Pyeong’s sleeve gradually loosened. As the hand finally fell away, Seol Tae Pyeong used his calloused thumb to wipe away the Azure Princess’s tears.
He stood up, smiled confidently as always, and spoke.
– I cannot promise I will survive.
However, even if I die… I will wait for you Azure Princess in the next life.
No matter how the world changes or how the heavens twist, let’s meet again.
In a paradise without demonic spirits or social differences, let’s share endless stories.
We can talk about the snacks we ate, the weather, and the flowers in the garden… Sometimes we’ll argue and make up awkwardly, play pranks, and have serious conversations. We’ll become indispensable to each other.
Not as a descendant of a traitorous clan and the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace…. but just as someone who is naturally by your side.
Let’s do that. When we meet again, let’s embrace once more. When that time comes, will you be my life companion?
Crash!
“Huff… huff…”
The Azure Princess fell off her bed and started breathing heavily.
After shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she felt a tingling sensation throughout her body.
Though she usually didn’t have such bad sleeping habits, she had fallen completely off the bed.
She couldn’t clearly remember what kind of dream she had; it was all blurry. As she sat up and looked in the mirror beside her, the Azure Princess was startled.
Tears streamed down her cheeks non-stop. If one were to exaggerate, the tears fell like a waterfall
Her chest trembled so much that despite the warm weather, it felt like the middle of winter.
“Ugh, huff…”
Feeling her body in a strange state, the Azure Princess quickly opened the window to let in some fresh air.
The cool night breeze brushed her skin, but the inexplicable trembling didn’t seem to subside.
Creeeak
“Azure Princess. What’s going on… Azure Princess?! Are you badly hurt?”
“No… no… it’s not that…”
When Headmaid Hui Yin approached her in a panic, the Azure Princess hurriedly wiped her face with her sleeve.
However, she couldn’t suppress the overwhelming emotions rising from an unknown source.
“Azure Princess… did you have a nightmare?”
“A nightmare… it was strangely different from a nightmare…”
The hazy memories teased the Azure Princess’s mind like a fog, but she couldn’t clearly identify the source of her emotions.
“It feels like I’ve forgotten something… something I must never forget… I forgot it…”
“Azure Princess…”
Headmaid Hui Yin was trying not to appear too flustered and she gently patted the Azure Princess’s back. It seemed necessary to calm her down for now.
Years had already passed since Seol Tae Pyeong had left to hunt the demonic spirits, and during that seemingly endless time, she hadn’t seen him. Even after his return, he rarely showed his face and now he had been kidnapped.
It was no wonder the Azure Princess felt so troubled.
“It seems that the Azure Princess’s heart is troubled by the rumors that Commander Seol has suffered a great misfortune. He’s a strong man, so don’t worry too much.
“I miss Tae Pyeong…”
Hui Yin shuddered.
Though she had noticed the Azure Princess harbored special feelings for Seol Tae Pyeong, it was the first time she heard her refer to him so directly as Tae Pyeong.
There was a strange sense of discord in her demeanor.
As if she had always called him Tae Pyeong.
“Right now… I want to go see him…”
“Huh?”
The next words from the Azure Princess made the color drain from Hui Yin’s face.
It won’t be easy to take Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong to our side, but it’s worth it.
Late at night in the Heavenly Dragon Hall.
Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun sat alone. She was finalizing her last plan.
If she could capture the Black Moon leader and integrate him into Seol Tae Pyeong’s faction, she would finally begin to secure a proper position for Seol Tae Pyeong.
The high officials in the palace would start to be wary of him, and from that moment on, she would need to be even more cautious.
Having failed to assassinate Crown Prince Hyeon Won, Cheong Jin Myeong would become a criminal of high treason.
At that time, as long as she could come up with a justification that could absolve him of his sins… she could enlist one of Cheongdo’s greatest demonic spirits hunters, Cheong Jin Myeong, as her subordinate.
At the moment he tried to lay hands on the Crown Prince, he could not avoid capital punishment, but if they could make it appear that he had been deceived by Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon, they could avoid the death penalty. If he didn’t get the death penalty, she might be able to get the sentence reduced somehow with her status as Heavenly Maiden.
If Seol Tae Pyeong was able to use Cheong Jin Myeong like his limbs,
It would be as if a powerful general had acquired the most renowned horse in the world.
Yes… soon, the Moon Demonic Spirit will invade Cheongdo Palace… I can use that…
A special demonic spirit which was known for disguising itself in human form to create chaos, was soon going to devour one of the high officials and impersonate him.
By skillfully using the existence of the Moon Demonic Spirit, she could find a way to extract Cheong Jin Myeong and bring him under Seol Tae Pyeong’s command. She had already shared some of these specific strategies with Seol Tae Pyeong.
But…
Ah Hyun’s plans were always impressive.
…why do I feel uneasy?
However, the world often treated her harshly. As if it was deliberately undermining her.
It felt as if some unseen force was obstructing her plans.
Alright, let’s keep our spirits up. This is the first time Tae Pyeong has made such an effort after all.
Despite all of the repeated attempts to capture the special demonic spirits, this was the first time Seol Tae Pyeong had managed to gather all four of the crown princess consorts’ wooden tablets.
Sometimes he had only managed to secure the Azure Dragon Tablet, the Vermilion Bird Tablet, the Black Tortoise Tablet, or the White Tiger Tablet… At best, he had collected two of the tablets.
But unlike the previous rounds, this time he had executed the task so perfectly that it seemed unlikely he would ever have such an opportunity again. All four crown princess consorts had their eyes fixed on Seol Tae Pyeong.
He can do it… He can do it…! Our Tae Pyeong can definitely do it…!
After brainwashing herself like that, Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun clenched her fist tightly.
Swish!
After the Black Princess dodged a strike so fast it was almost invisible, she suddenly felt a sense of unease.
The Black Moon Leader’s sword which was moving at an unbelievable speed far exceeded the Black Princess’s own level of skill.
It was the kind of swordsmanship that could easily cut her in half in the blink of an eye.
However, despite repeatedly drawing and swinging his sword, it only sliced through empty air.
…Is he holding back?
The Black Princess lightly leaped back and landed on a tree. She looked down at the Black Moon Leader who was dusting off his sword tip.
His movements were precise and devoid of unnecessary motion. His skill was undoubtedly high.
If he wanted to cut me down, he could have done so already… Is he hesitant because I am a person of high status?
If he were the kind of person who cared about such things, he wouldn’t have kidnapped the Inner Swords Commander in the first place.
The Black Princess tried to gauge the Black Moon Leader’s level again from a distance. However, before she could gather her thoughts, the Black Moon Leader was already right in front of her.
“Ah!”
The Black Princess was startled and tried to leap away, but the Black Moon Leader grabbed her ankle and pulled her down. Then he held her tightly in his embrace.
No matter how skilled of a martial artist he was, it was not easy to match the Black Princess in speed. The only reason he could close the distance was because the Black Princess had momentarily lost focus.
Since he couldn’t miss this opportunity again, the Black Moon Leader leaped and rolled down under the tree as he held the Black Princess.
Crash!
Snap! Snap!
The two rolled through the midnight forest. When they finally stopped, the Black Moon Leader who regained his balance first firmly pressed Po Hwa Ryeong’s slender shoulders.
He pressed her upper body tightly to the ground and looked down at her with an intense gaze. Perhaps it was because of the moon rising behind him, a deep shadow was cast over his face.
“Haa… haa…”
“Huff… huff…”
Only the sound of their heavy breathing filled the midnight mountain.
A warrior of his caliber was hard to read, even when he was right in front of her. Po Hwa Ryeong found it nearly impossible to discern the energy emanating from him.
However, only his eyes were engraved in Po Hwa Ryeong’s eyes.
His intense eyes shone fiercely through the gap in his white hood,
A certain aura rising from those wild and young eyes seemed to attract Po Hwa Ryeong.
Feeling the force that pinned her down completely, she couldn’t help but notice his sturdy build and the veins bulging on his forearms.
The physical gap between a man and a woman was immense. When the other party realized this, it was common to feel an overwhelming pressure that made them lose control. For someone as physically weak as Po Hwa Ryeong, it was even more so.
Since only the sound of their heavy breathing filled the air, Po Hwa Ryeong felt a shiver run through her heart.
I’ve… I’ve gone mad! What am I thinking in a situation like this…!
Was I always such an easy woman?
Po Hwa Ryeong felt deeply flustered by this inexplicable fluttering in her chest. But wasn’t it strange? She couldn’t even see his face. Who would have a trembling heart in such a situation?
She felt a strange sense of déjà vu from the Black Moon Leader’s wild power…. and a part of her might have thought he was somewhat manly.
Yes, Po Hwa Ryeong was like a butterfly freely gliding through the air.
She was faster than everyone. So she had rarely been caught, seized, or restrained by anyone.
Since entering the Black Tortoise Palace, her skills have become so advanced that it seemed impossible for anyone in the world to capture her.
“The leader has captured the Black Princess!”
“Bring the ropes! For now, let’s let the leader decide the next steps, but let’s restrain her first! If she escapes again, we’ll never catch her!”
The Black Princess acted alone because she was confident she would never be caught.
No one, regardless of who they were, could restrain the Black Princess who was gifted with the power of the divine fever.
If she witnessed anything, she could simply run back to the main palace and report it.
In fact, the Black Princess had discovered the Black Moon Unit members plotting in the wild mountains of the Hwalseong District.
After checking on Seol Tae Pyeong’s condition, she planned to return to the main palace and report everything.
But…
I’ve been caught…!
She cried with whimpering sounds. Just like a rabbit that had its food taken away.
That was exactly what the Black Princess looked like as she was taken into the cabin while being held captive by Team Leader Geo Jin.
The Black Moon Leader who had demonstrated unbelievable strength quickly captured the Black Princess and handed her over to Team Leader Geo Jin, then disappeared. It seemed he intended to go to the cabin first to check on the prisoners’ condition.
After her wrists and ankles were completely bound, she was carried in like a sack by Geo Jin.
Knowing the cruel Black Moon members wouldn’t release her, the Black Princess had no idea what kind of report she could give if she returned to the main palace in this state.
Even then, the image of the Black Moon Leader she had looked up at under the moonlight seemed to linger before her eyes.
Every time she had such thoughts, the Black Princess wondered if she was truly mad. It hadn’t been long since she had managed to erase Seol Tae Pyeong from her heart, and now she had such feelings again.
There had to be a limit to falling in love so quickly. So why in such a dire situation … Even just seeing his spirit and bravery made her feel as if she had met a long-lost loved one…
Though it’s said the best way to forget someone is to fall for someone new, she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
Oh… A fickle woman like me might be better off in a temple…
As she whimpered like that, the Black Princess could do nothing but be dragged away helplessly.
Creeak
“…!!!”
When Geo Jin opened the door to the cabin, a bound man who was lying amidst the chaos inside came into view.
The man’s face was familiar.
Indeed, it was Commander Seol Tae Pyeong. The man Po Hwa Ryeong had been desperately searching for.
At that moment, Po Hwa Ryeong wanted to call out Seol Tae Pyeong’s name and make a fuss, but given their current situation, she had to keep her mouth shut.
However, Po Hwa Ryeong could only shoot beams of light at Seol Tae Pyeong with her eyes filled with sparkling tears.
“……”
For some reason, Seol Tae Pyeong was sweating profusely as he kept an eye on Geo Jin.
From the looks of it, he seemed to have suffered greatly from various tortures. Seeing that brave and spirited man sweating so profusely, she could only imagine how much he had endured here.
The Black Princess whimpered again as she looked at Seol Tae Pyeong. Genuine concern for her long-time friend was dripping from her gaze.
“Well… I’ll report to the leader, so stay here and don’t do anything foolish! Uh, not that you can do much since you’re all tied up anyway…”
…Geo Jin too was sweating profusely but that didn’t register in the sight of the Black Princess who was being carried.
It was a small blessing.
Bang!
When Geo Jin who had been issuing threats left the cabin, Po Hwa Ryeong started wriggling on the ground as she approached me.
“…Tae Pyeong-ah, are you okay?”
“……”
I chose my words carefully and answered very slowly.
“I feel like I’m going to die…”
“Ahhh… What should I do…”
Seeing Po Hwa Ryeong look around the place in worry…. a strange sense of guilt washed over me.
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