NOVEL NEXT Chapter 193
Chapter 193: The Heart of a Wife – Illustration
Heavenly Horse Hall.
The tallest royal chamber within the Heavenly Horse Church Headquarters. This enormous hall, serving as the Sky Tower and nearly surrounded by the inner fortress, was now collapsing and burning.
Whoosh!
In the midst of the blazing hall stood he.
Cheonma Baek Murang.
One of the three great gods of the Heavenly Horse Church.
With a blank expression, he gazed ahead.
“I never thought an old man like Changma could instigate such a massive rebellion all on his own from the start.”
Dark flames flickered in Cheonma’s eyes. The Heavenly Horse Divine Eye, a technique of the Cheonma Vision, manifested. His aura expanded. Yet, even with the Cheonma Divine Eye, he couldn’t pinpoint the exact location of the faint presence lurking in the shadows.
It was a master.
An absolute master who had reached the same realm as him.
The last official report he had received was that Changma had raised a revolt. And Cheonma didn’t believe those words.
There was no way that a mere Changma could destroy and burn the Heavenly Horse Hall, evading the Cheonma Divine Eye.
Taking a stance, Cheonma channeled an overwhelming evil energy, turning it into a terrifying force.
“Don’t hide like a rat; show yourself. If you want to behead me and take the throne of Cheonma, then speak up. We do not recognize cowardly scum hiding like vermin as our Cheonma.”
“Our school, huh.”
A displeased voice oozed with a sticky tone, echoing from all directions.
It was an art of the Six Harmonies.
“Baek Murang. Since when did you cherish our new religion enough to dare utter ‘our school’?”
Shift!
As the shadows began to form, thick mist enveloped the area.
From the dense fog emerged a handsome man with black hair clad in dark attire.
Seeing him caused Cheonma’s brows to furrow.
“………You are…….?”
“Yes, now you recognize me, Baek Murang. It is I. The Cheonma Seo Choryang you thought you had killed has returned as Hyeollumajon!”
Seo Choryang.
Upon hearing that name, Cheonma’s expression of indifference shattered.
That was the name of a former Cheonma—a name he personally killed and buried beneath the earth, now standing before him exactly as he was before his death.
Seeing Baek Murang’s expression break, Seo Choryang—no, Hyeollumajon—smiled.
Yes.
It was this day. To reach this day, Seo Choryang had endured. The moment he lost to Baek Murang, even when he bit down on the poison in his molar and fell into a state of suspended animation.
Even when he woke up, having been transported to the Blood Sect Headquarters with the aid of Changma.
He received the blessing of the supreme being to restore his lost martial arts and learned the Blood Essence Absorption Technique, feeding on the vital blood of many.
Having recovered, he even killed the previous Four Great Lords and rose to their ranks as well.
Hyeollumajon had not forgotten his current grudge.
Tears of blood flowed from his eyes.
“………Today, I will…… reclaim the new religion from your hands and offer it to the supreme being!”
As Hyeollumajon’s dark attire fluttered, dense blood mist began to rise from his body.
This all happened before Jeoksawol had arrived.
*
At the same time.
Gongdong Sect Main Base.
Geumhu had finished her day’s duties and remained in the reception hall, taking a fine brush to jot down her diary in a blank book.
Since she was sharing rooms with So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin, she was alone in the guest room.
Moonlight seeped through the bars of the window.
Sigh… Ohhh!
“Dear Sangong, today marks the final completion of repairs at the Gongdong Sect hall. Despite my dear father, Jeonyeong, continuously refusing my financial assistance, I did not give up and continued to plead with him. I did well, didn’t I? Please commend me when you return.”
Swish.
Geumhu Eun Seol-ran was writing her diary in the format of a letter to Sangong. It was her secret diary that she couldn’t show to anyone yet, not even to him. But she dreamed of the day, when he would become of age and defeat her in a martial arts contest.
That night, she planned to show her diary to him during their intimate time together.
Gasp!
Lost in her thoughts, she gripped the brush with her left hand as her cheeks flushed red.
What kind of reaction would Sangong have when she showed him the diary?
Whether scolding, liking it, or feeling shy, she could accept any response from him as his wife.
Hmm. Even in the absence of Sangong, the Gongdong Sect feels quite picturesque; nonetheless, I really miss him.
She penned down her thoughts.
In the absence of Sangong, she had accomplished many things within the Gongdong Sect. From preparing a welcoming banquet for his return to overseeing the repairs at the sect and providing financial support.
She had even gotten closer to Lady Seoharin and her father, Jeonyeong.
The Gongdong Sect would eventually become her future in-laws. It wouldn’t be too bad to grow close before the marriage.
Though So Geom-hu followed her around, creating some awkwardness, it was of no concern.
Despite having enjoyable days, Geumhu still felt a void.
Her hand trembled as her yearning for Sangong intensified with each memory of his charming visage.
Sangong, I can’t suppress my longing for you, no matter how hard I try…
She wanted to see him.
She missed him. The only one who would be her husband in the past, present, and future.
His voice, his touch, his scent, and his appearance were vividly drawn in her mind.
Her worry and longing grew stronger knowing he was heading towards the Demon Sect.
Drip.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. She must not cry. It was her duty as a wife to wait for her husband who was out in the world.
“……….I, the wife waiting for my husband on the battlefield, will wait for Sangong!”
Geumhu wiped away her flowing tears and gathered her resolve once more.
“Sangong, you must not get hurt in the Demon Sect.”
With that thought, she reached for the prayer beads on her wrist, offering silent prayers for Sangong’s safety.
*
Right after Jeoksawol left.
We decided to camp here as per her suggestion. Given the emergency situation, keeping watch was naturally essential.
Excluding the regressed Sosumahu, the four of us—Heuksaryong, Sahyeong, Baek Cheon-hwa, and I—agreed to rotate the watch.
The order was determined fairly, and I, unfortunately, ended up with the second watch duty.
Even so, I thought I should at least sleep, so I drifted off.
“Saje, wake up.”
The voice of Sahyeong, the first watch, reached my ears. Snap! My eyes snapped open reflexively.
Crackle, crackle.
The campfire was burning steadily.
“Ah, you’re awake, Saje!”
Hug!
Sahyeong pulled me back into an embrace. It seemed she really wanted to hold me these days. There didn’t seem to be anything strange happening while I was away.
“I’ll keep watch now. You can go sleep, Sahyeong.”
“No, no. That’s not necessary. If you’re awake, I’ll stay awake too.”
At my words, Sahyeong shook her head and burrowed further into my side.
Snore, snore.
Everyone else was still asleep. The only sounds were from the crackling campfire.
Regardless, I could tell Sahyeong wouldn’t budge if I suggested she sleep.
No helping it, I sighed internally.
“Alright then. But you really should get some rest if you’re tired.”
“Okay!”
Sahyeong nodded enthusiastically, beaming with joy.
“I caught a snake nearby for you to eat! How about that? I did well, didn’t I?”
Swish.
Sahyeong presented a skinned snake, leaving only the fleshy meat for me to see. Huh? When did she prepare this?
“Well done.”
After all, snake meat is a tonic known to boost vitality.
If Sahyeong had gone through the trouble to get it for me, a simple thank you was in order.
Just as I was offering my thanks…
“Ugh…”
The Sosumahu behind me stirred.
She swayed slightly and blinked her eyes open slowly.
“…Daddy…?”
My gaze met the sleepy eyes of the Sosumahu.
Daddy?
What a ridiculous feeling it was to hear “Daddy” while on watch.
I couldn’t help but find it absurd.
“Jiyagi, I can’t sleep…”
The drowsy Sosumahu nestled in my arms, whining softly.
As an absolute master of her realm, she clearly wasn’t going to escape this predicament.
This was ridiculous.
“…”
Sahyeong’s face stiffened.
The snake skewer in her hand swayed uncertainly.
The previously cozy atmosphere turned cold. Despite sitting around a campfire, I felt the temperature drop.
“Uncle’s also here! Hello to the handsome uncle! Jiyagi wants to eat the skewer too!”
Sosumahu flailed her hands as she spoke.
“Jiyagi.”
Sahyeong’s gaze locked onto Sosumahu.
She quickly re-skewered a fresh meat stick and started roasting it by the fire.
“Uncle, how handsome do you think he is?”
Suddenly? Out of the blue?
While Sahyeong asked the question, Sosumahu giggled and responded.
“The most handsome in the world! Uncle is the best!”
“Thank you.”
A smile crept onto Sahyeong’s lips. But… Why would she want to check with a regressed Sosumahu?
“Well then, if uncle were a woman, what would that be like?”
Sahyeong posed another question.
After pondering for a moment with her finger on her lips, Sosumahu declared.
“Then, she would be the prettiest in the world! Among a hundred beautiful ladies, she would be the most beautiful!”
Did she find 100 a lot?
Hearing that, Sahyeong finally wore a contented smile.
[Did you hear that, Saje? Jiyagi says I’m the most beautiful in the world!]
Sahyeong’s thought echoed in my head.
What should I say in response?
[That’s not an incorrect statement.]
I candidly admitted my feelings. It wasn’t false; in reality, Sahyeong was indeed as stunning as Jeoksawol. Hearing my words, Sahyeong’s face turned crimson.
[Hmph. Anyway, Saje, I’m prettier than Yeomwang. My niece Jiyagi also confirmed it!]
[Understood.]
The unexpected mention of Yeomwang ended the telepathic exchange with Sahyeong. She then handed a perfectly roasted snake skewer to Sosumahu.
“Alright! Since you answered correctly, here’s your prize!”
“Wow!”
A skewer was promptly placed in Sosumahu’s mouth, quieting her down.
“Here, Saje.”
Sahyeong handed me a freshly roasted skewer. I bit into the snake meat. Hmm, it tasted like it would boost my vitality.
Just as I was absorbed in the delicious snake meat…
“Hey, Saje.”
Suddenly…
Sahyeong grabbed my arm.
The earthy scent of wildflowers wafted from her.
“What is it?”
“I need to tell you something…”
Just as Sahyeong trailed off…
Her expression hardened abruptly. Sahyeong’s eyes dulled heavily.
“Something’s coming.”
The moment her words ended, I sensed a presence as well. I needed to wake everyone up. Just as I thought and moved…
Ding!
An unsettling bell rang out, signaling Monday’s arrival.
“Ugh, ugh, uaaaahhh!”
Sosumahu trembled all over.
Thud.
The snake skewer she had been holding fell to the ground. Sosumahu fainted.
Ding!
Again, the bell rang, echoing.
[It’s good to see you again, Lee Cheol-soo.]
A sinister voice filled my mind.
Gangsimajon.
He had returned once again.