I Will Find You
"Yu-won. Tonight was wonderful too."
Sunlight filtered through the window, warmly illuminating the bed where Yu-won and Yeon lay after their night of passion. Seeing his utterly exhausted face from all the exertion, she smiled. Was it because he had such talent in martial arts that he was equally gifted in bed? His yang energy had thoroughly dispelled all the pent-up longing she'd accumulated over long years.
Gazing at his face brought a flood of memories of their time together.
*
Yeon had always assumed she'd live her life alone. At first, it was just mild interest in the boy she'd taught for a month, who had joined the Heavenly Demon Guard. But before she knew it, her gaze was always drawn to Yu-won. He occupied her thoughts constantly, so she made him her personal bodyguard. As her direct guard, Yu-won began to win her heart with his eloquent speech and impeccable conduct.
She'd never had a romantic relationship, never enjoyed conversing with anyone. But with Yu-won, every talk was filled with comfort and joy. It was inevitable that she'd fall for him. As the saying goes, the thief who learns late strikes the hardest. Time with him was like a drug to her, and soon she couldn't even imagine life without him. He had to be by her side. Only in those moments with him could the ice around her heart melt, allowing her to be her true self.
Then one day, disaster struck. The Murim Alliance sent a letter proposing harmony. She, who valued time with Yu-won more than conquering the world as a demonic overlord, went alone to the meeting place specified in the letter. She believed that in a village swarming with hundreds of witnesses proclaiming righteousness, they wouldn't resort to treachery. They preached justice and chivalry so loudly—she trusted they'd uphold it at least at the agreed-upon meeting for unity.
But they didn't.
The Alliance leader, who had agreed to come alone, arrived surrounded by numerous Super Peak and Fire Realm experts. The room where the Heavenly Demon entered first was laced with an enormous quantity of energy-dispersing poison. She noticed immediately and rushed out, but even for the Heavenly Demon with resistance to most poisons, functioning normally right after inhaling energy-dispersing poison was impossible. Her movements severely restricted, she was gradually overwhelmed by the onslaught of masters.
"Such cowardice... Is this the justice and chivalry you screamed about?"
"..."
No one answered. Everyone there knew their actions were wrong. But the Heavenly Demon was too strong. If they didn't kill her now, in a few years she'd grow even mightier, shatter the Murim Alliance, and usher in demonic dominion. This was their best shot, even if it meant abandoning justice and chivalry, even risking their lives—to leave a better future for their descendants.
And the plan nearly succeeded.
Dozens of experts dwindled to two against the poisoned Heavenly Demon, but Yeon no longer had strength left to twitch a finger.
"To corner me like this... Impressive work. If not for now, you'd never have killed me."
The Alliance leader, missing an arm and a leg.
"I pay my respects to your prowess and will grant you a clean death."
The Shaolin abbot, spilling entrails from a hole in his gut, yet still clinging to life. Both bore mortal wounds that would kill them soon after, but they had just enough left to finish the Heavenly Demon.
Is this the end...?
She'd lived without regrets, true to herself, leaving no lingering attachments.
But now, she harbored the strongest attachment of all.
I want to see Yu-won.
She'd told him not to come, trusting she'd instilled proper awe for the Heavenly Demon and obedience in him. He shouldn't appear here.
As she prepared to end her own life...
Thunder roared from a clear sky where no storm brewed.
Rumble.
Boom!
Lightning like what she'd once seen with Yu-won—but now ink-black, striking not a tree, but people.
The two experts, resigned to death but debilitated, couldn't react. Their forms vanished amid dust.
"It's okay now. I'm here."
His face appeared—where he shouldn't be.
A hallucination?
No. As thunder faded, Yu-won cradled her collapsing body and spoke.
"You took so long after the time we agreed, so I came checking if you'd overworked yourself... and found this mess. Good thing I didn't come for nothing, right?"
She'd allowed casual speech in private, but never permitted him to come here. He'd defied the Heavenly Demon's command. He deserved punishment.
She had only one punishment for him.
"Yu-won..."
Her voice, barely squeezed out, was faint. To hear it, he brought his face close to hers.
"Yeah...?"
With a puzzled look, she whispered softly.
"Marry me."
She, untouched by any man, would keep him forever.
That was Yeon's punishment for Yu-won.
Gathering her last strength, she kissed his lips and lost consciousness.
*
Eight years into Yu-won and Yeon's marriage, just thirty minutes shy of Yu-won's thirtieth birthday.
Lying side by side in bed, Yu-won spoke to her.
"Yeon-ah. Remember?"
"?"
Nude beneath the sheets, she looked at him.
"When we married, I told you. I'd die at thirty. I asked if you'd still marry me."
She nodded.
"I said I have no intention of being with any man but you, so no matter how long you live, I'll love only you forever."
He looked sad.
"Don't do that."
"What...?"
"In thirty minutes, I'll die. After I'm gone, you—a Manifest Realm master—will live far longer than all your years so far. Asking you not to forget me is just my selfishness."
Why joke like that? I'm right here—why would you die? She should laugh it off.
But his face was deadly serious, like a man facing imminent death.
"Why...?"
"I didn't say because I was afraid you'd be scared. Truth is, I'm not from this world. I was reborn here through a god's power from another world, with a lifespan of thirty years. And when I move to the next life, I forget all emotions from this one..."
Anyone else saying this, she'd dismiss. But her beloved, more serious than ever, claiming little time left—who could doubt him?
"No way to stop it...?"
"I racked my brain... Unless I surpass the god who gave me this power, no."
Inevitable death approached. She couldn't stay composed. Tears welled in his eyes, moments ago so calm.
"Yeon-ah... I don't want to die... I've lived so hard... So much I've built here... You're here... Why must I die? Why...!"
Rage boiled. Too much unfinished—too many bonds, too much attachment. His greatest love right before him.
One phrase from his five lives: [Memories carry over to the next life, but emotions do not.]
He had to forget this overflowing love, these emotions, and live anew. That terrified him. The thought of casually viewing these memories, of no longer loving her—it was unimaginable.
As he wept endlessly, Yeon pulled his head to her bosom.
"Yu-won."
She called him tenderly.
"Yeah..."
Calmed somewhat by her voice and heartbeat, he replied.
"You said this life isn't your end, right?"
"Uh..."
She smiled faintly.
"Then I will come find you."
"What...?"
"By any means, I'll track where you are and come to your side. So don't tell me not to love you anymore."
Her expression grew solemn.
"Don't make the one who loves you more than anyone a fool."
He'd thought to spare her feelings but hadn't deeply considered hers. He'd pitied her being left alone but presumed to dictate her heart.
Choking back sobs, he apologized.
"Sorry... I didn't mean it like—"
She cut him off.
"I didn't say it expecting an apology. Believe in the one who loves you more than anyone, and whom you love more than anyone."
Faith.
What she asked of him.
"Losing feelings for me? What's the problem? I'll devote all my strength to make you love me again. So stop crying."
She smiled brightly at him.
Unable to show only tears at the end when she went this far, Yu-won smiled back.
"Got it. I'll believe. Yeon-ah."
His final words before vanishing from the martial world.
As his breath stopped, his body dissolved into dust, leaving no trace—like he'd never existed. Silence filled the room.
But the lingering warmth on the sheets proved he'd been there.
After Yu-won vanished, Yeon wept there for a long time. Blood tears, the first she'd ever shed, stained the sheets red.
"Wait for me."
No matter where you are, what you're doing—I will come meet you again.
She swore it to her heart.