Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon - Riverside Where Stars Flow
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Horse dung.
Cheon Hong couldn't sleep tonight either.
What was the point of this life?
Everything was destined to crumble to dust.
Even this world that seemed like it would shatter in her grasp felt utterly meaningless.
What significance could there be in a fleeting life that she was agonizing over like this?
Tears threatened to well up again.
But if she cried out noisily, Jin-ok would scold her.
As she considered pulling the covers over her head once more, she recalled the deep sleep from a few days ago.
The day she had slept so soundly.
Undoubtedly...
'If you can't sleep, come to my room.'
She was sure Sparkles had said that.
Her Left Envoy, who shone so prettily like a morning star.
She resembled the girl Cheon Hong had seen in her childhood.
"Mm. Ung. Since it's the Left Envoy's request, I have no choice."
Cheon Hong bolted upright and tiptoed out quietly so Jin-ok wouldn't hear, heading to find Geum-gang.
She poked her head into every room, peeking around.
'Mm. This is tricky.'
One particularly modest room caught her eye.
As befitting her status as Left Envoy, a nameplate reading "Left Envoy" hung there.
Knock knock.
"Mm?"
Geum-gang, with her sharp night senses, jolted awake at the faint sound.
She had been sleeping well.
Wondering what it could be, she opened the door to find a small child standing there alone.
'Can't sleep, huh.'
Since that clash with Jin-ok, she hadn't seen the Heavenly Demon's face for days.
Seeing her here now...
Geum-gang let out a long yawn and approached the Heavenly Demon, who extended her tiny hand.
"What brings you here?"
"The night is deep. I was just wandering about. Oh, these are your favorite snacks. Here, have some. Hehe."
A very small, sweet-looking pastry was placed in Geum-gang's hand.
Excluding the ones Ha Jin used to give her, it had been ages since she'd had any.
Imagining this little one toddling around made Geum-gang find her quite adorable.
Crunch.
"Mm. Delicious. Can't sleep tonight either?"
"I'm glad it's tasty. Mm. Sleep never comes easily."
Seeing Cheon Hong fidgeting, Geum-gang was reminded of her little siblings for some reason.
Her one cherished memory.
Because of that, she felt like showing a bit of kindness.
Just like Ha Jin had done for her.
"Then, how about a nighttime stroll with me?"
She held out her hand, and Cheon Hong jumped in surprise.
"No. If Jin-ok finds out, she'll scold me."
Jin-ok had forbidden Cheon Hong from leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall.
There were plenty of excuses, and though they didn't quite make sense, there was no helping it.
Cheon Hong was just a child, after all.
Geum-gang looked at the already deflated Cheon Hong and wondered just how harshly the girl had been scolded to be so timid.
You're the Heavenly Demon, and I'm the Left Envoy.
Do as you please!
Such words wouldn't work anymore.
But there were ways around it.
Geum-gang leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"We'll sneak out. Secretly."
"Secretly?"
Cheon Hong's eyes sparkled.
Yes, no child could resist those words.
"Yes, I'll escort you. Excuse me for a moment."
"Eek!"
Geum-gang scooped Cheon Hong up tightly in her arms.
Focusing all her nerves on her toes, she moved silently to the window.
The Heavenly Demon Hall sat at the peak of Cheon Peak.
Even outside, only mountains were visible.
But with the estate grounds nearby, it should be fine.
"Do you visit the estate often?"
"I... haven't gone out in ages. It's already been years. Are we really going?"
The two whispered to avoid detection in the dead of night.
To think she hadn't gone outside in years...
Even if the Heavenly Demon Hall was spacious, it was practically imprisonment.
"Then the estate grounds will be perfect. Are you ready?"
"Uh..."
Cheon Hong fidgeted without answering, then buried her face in Geum-gang's chest.
"I don't know...!"
Geum-gang knew children's speech well.
That meant she wanted to go.
"Then...!"
Geum-gang hugged Cheon Hong tight and slipped out the window without a sound.
"Mm. Did we make it out? Left Envoy, have I really come outside?"
Cheon Hong, eyes squeezed shut, had practically shoved her face into Geum-gang's bosom.
Geum-gang patted her back to rouse her.
"Heavenly Demon, look over there. Stars."
Cheon Hong hesitated, trembling, then lifted her head. Above Cheon Peak stretched a sea of stars fixed in the sky.
A cool summer breeze wafted up, lifting Geum-gang's spirits a bit.
"Waaah...!"
Cheon Hong's eyes finally sparkled like a child's.
How long had it been since she'd seen the sky?
Night must have meant nothing but dim halls to her.
"Pretty, so pretty. Left Envoy, the night is flowing."
What a fairy-tale way of speaking.
Geum-gang shared bits of the stories Ha Jin used to tell her.
"Do you know? The stars fall to the water's edge when we sleep."
It was a twinkling, pretty tale, but Cheon Hong shook her head, clutching Geum-gang's arm.
"You're telling fibs! I know better than that."
"If you're so curious, check with me tomorrow."
"Fine. What if you're wrong?"
"Mm. Who knows."
"Come out again. Again!"
"Sure. If I'm right..."
What to ask for?
Maybe something, anything.
Elixirs?
Martial arts?
"Mm..."
As worldly thoughts flitted through her mind, she caught sight of Cheon Hong's sparkling eyes.
'Ah.'
"Give me those snacks you shared earlier."
Geum-gang didn't want to exploit this child.
She decided to just treat her like a kid.
Cheon Hong pondered gravely, as if facing a weighty decision.
"Mm. Fine. They're my treasured snacks, though..."
She wiggled her fingers, then nodded decisively.
Geum-gang had been thrust into the role of Left Envoy, but she was starting to genuinely enjoy her time with the Heavenly Demon.
Even if she couldn't serve with true devotion.
"When you can't sleep, let's take walks like this. If I'm not around, wake the Right Envoy..."
"Yes! Let's do that."
Cheon Hong giggled, staring intently at the stars.
The scent of summer was drifting in.
Cheon Hong slept deeply for the first time in ages.
Perhaps because of the stars, she dreamed of nothing.
Tonight, and tomorrow night too.
"Mm!"
Her eyes snapped open as she sat up, feeling refreshed for the first time in so long.
Had she slept that deeply?
Still disheveled, Cheon Hong scampered to Geum-gang's room.
She wanted to greet her the moment she woke.
'Mm! Mm!'
Of course, Geum-gang was already up and training. The room held only neatly arranged bedding.
"Mm?"
Cheon Hong searched everywhere for the absent Geum-gang.
Running into Hee Yeon along the way.
"Right Envoy, have you seen the Left Envoy?"
"Pardon? Probably training somewhere in the estate..."
"Aww... the estate. Outside. Will you come with me?"
After yesterday, Cheon Hong felt reassured with either the Left or Right Envoy by her side.
But it was daytime, so she had no desire to venture out.
The Right Envoy took the Heavenly Demon's hand—her head barely reaching half the girl's height—and headed toward the training grounds.
This wasn't at all like the Heavenly Demon she'd imagined.
Toddling along, she looked just like a puppy.
"Ah, Geum-gang... I mean, the Left Envoy is over there."
Hee Yeon still couldn't get used to calling her Left Envoy or Right Envoy.
The title had come so suddenly, and compared to Ha Jin or Mu-heun, her martial prowess was downright embarrassing.
Geum-gang training by the window must feel the same.
"Ah! Right Envoy, look there. The Left Envoy! Left Envoy!"
Daring not to step outside, Cheon Hong waved her hands and beamed from the window.
Geum-gang, lightly dressed for training, chuckled and waved back.
Sunlight glinted off her sweat-soaked form, making her look like a celestial fairy even to Hee Yeon.
The Heavenly Demon leaned against the window sill, bouncing with excitement.
"Left Envoy, shouldn't we check if the stars really fell?"
"Stars?"
Hee Yeon tilted her head, and Geum-gang approached the window, propping her chin.
"It's our promise from yesterday."
Hee Yeon alternated glances between them, utterly puzzled.
Something must have happened between the Heavenly Demon and Geum-gang last night.
'Don't leave me out.'
With girlish thoughts, she perked up her ears to listen.
"Left Envoy, go check quickly."
Cheon Hong tugged at Hee Yeon's clothes, nagging insistently.
Like a child throwing a tantrum.
Up close, she just looked like a noble girl in red silk.
Geum-gang hopped over the window to the pestering Heavenly Demon and Hee Yeon.
"What if I said I lied?"
Geum-gang teased with a smile, drawing the exact reaction she wanted.
'How dare you toy with your master!'
She was meticulously pondering how to scold her.
"Uh... good point. Ah, Right Envoy! Right Envoy! You go too. Verify if the Left Envoy is telling the truth."
"The Right Envoy is the girl closest to me. She might lie with you. Right, Hee Yeon?"
"Ha."
Closest friend.
"Ehehe..."
Hee Yeon's hurt feelings melted away.
Caught in Geum-gang's scheme, Hee Yeon grinned, leaving Cheon Hong flustered.
"Heavenly Demon, shall we check together?"
"Eh? In broad daylight?"
"People go out during the day."
"Uh... not me."
She was scared again.
Not disgust, but genuine fear.
As the sweat-drenched Geum-gang leaned in close, a faint peach scent wafted curiously.
"Then we'll have to bring plenty of sweets. Hee Yeon said yes too."
"Eek!"
The Heavenly Demon's sweets were her hoarded treasures.
Rare treats Jin-ok rarely gave.
Hee Yeon, oblivious or not to her feelings, teared up at the honor.
"To me... sweets...! If the Heavenly Demon bestows them, I'll treasure them forever!"
Ignoring Hee Yeon's over-the-top fussing that wouldn't reach her ears, Cheon Hong thought it over and decided.
"Ugh... fine. Can we sneak out like last night? Holding me tight."
She didn't want Jin-ok to find out.
Worried she might scold the Envoys.
As anxious thoughts mounted, Cheon Hong grew a bit scared of the Cult Leader knowing.
About to insist night was better, Geum-gang suddenly scooped her up.
"Of course. Hee Yeon, let's go."
"Where to all of a sudden?"
Hee Yeon asked, bewildered, but Geum-gang wore a foolish grin.
"No idea. Somewhere with a stream. Follow the water sound, and we'll be there."
Golden Body.
Perking her ears, she could pick up the sound of water.
Hee Yeon stared at Geum-gang in exasperation.
"You're such a physical freak."
"Coming along?"
"You'd drag me anyway."
Jin-ok was busy regardless.
Vanishing briefly wouldn't cause issues.
Not her concern.
"Let's go, Heavenly Demon."
To Cheon Hong, Geum-gang seemed to sparkle with light.
'Like dawn.'
The bright dawn chasing away a sleepless night.
And so, the demon who touched the heavens and her apostles set out to find where the stars had fallen.
Babble babble.
The stream flowing gently, soothingly.
Hee Yeon hummed a tune, in high spirits from the rare outing.
A twinge of anxiety lingered, but with someone even more nervous beside her, it eased her mind.
"Shouldn't we head back? Where even is this? Eek..."
The Heavenly Demon shivering after barely leaving the hall was pitiful, almost like a small animal.
"Found it."
Geum-gang whipped her head around and kicked up a pebble.
Then stepped on it mid-air, launching forward at incredible speed.
"What..."
Without inner energy, lightness skill was impossible.
Its absence was fatal for any warrior.
With Ha Jin-level Golden Body completion, one could ride air currents, but that was beyond Geum-gang.
Her unique workaround.
Throw small objects to step on and leap.
Physically absurd, yet Geum-gang pulled it off naturally.
Various methods.
Carry marbles in her pouch, toss and step forward.
Shake trees to drop leaves and bound off them.
Kick up stones like that...
'Tch. Such a sloppy technique. Embarrassing.'
Remembering how ashamed Geum-gang had been, Hee Yeon was dumbfounded.
'You're monstrous enough already.'
Babble babble.
"Left Envoy, have we arrived?"
Cheon Hong refused to emerge from Geum-gang's embrace again.
She'd spent too long in the dim Heavenly Demon Hall.
Bright spaces weren't familiar yet.
"Yes, open your eyes."
"It's so bright. A few deep breaths..."
After breathing steadily, she slowly turned around.
Behind her flowed a riverside stream.
No stars as the Left Envoy had said.
Despite the bet, inwardly hopeful, Cheon Hong grabbed Geum-gang's collar in mild disappointment.
"Left Envoy, no stars. I win..."
Geum-gang knelt to meet the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
Then pointed far off.
"No, I win. Look."
Water jewels often bloomed by the shore, reflecting light.
Especially bright today.
"Ah, sparkling..."
"See?"
Surely the stars had fallen and scattered here.
Cheon Hong saw it.
Truly, the starlight was flowing.