Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 287
>Chapter Title: Yuhwa
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Yuhwa.
She could hear the sound of blades. Their sharpness, their softness.
Yuhwa was not the strongest swordsman among those Kang Seol had raised, but she was the most beautiful.
Her understanding of the sword had reached beyond it being a mere tool for slaughter—something more.
“Don’t make me laugh!”
The serpent ghost, having lost an entire arm.
It still had four arms left, but its balance was already broken.
Only four arms remained.
“It’s over. Foolish creature, a waste of that name. I wanted to enjoy it more.”
Doeoksini muttered, and Seolhong’s body glided forward.
Ssslruk…
[Seolhong uses Sword Song: Dream Severing.]
[The slash’s attack range greatly increases, and the sword’s durability does not decrease even if the cut fails.]
Chwaaaaak…
In an instant, all of the ghost’s arms were severed.
Before the arms could even hit the ground, Seolhong called all the swords back.
“Uh… uhhh…”
The ghost, having lost all its arms, staggered back in stunned dismay. Despair flickered in its eyes.
Sssuuu…
Around Seolhong, all the swords the ghost had wielded floated up.
Kang Seol watched Seolhong and recalled something from long ago—the time in the heavens when they decided Yuhwa’s path.
- Isn’t it a shame?
- What do you mean?
- Yuhwa, I mean. You’ve raised her this far. Sending her to the Dragon Palace feels like… If we just let her wander freely, surely…
- Well…
- Hmm?
- It’s just my thought, but either way, this seems much better…
Kang Seol hadn’t wanted to impose his wishes on the horse. What the horse wanted was what he wanted.
- Yuhwa looks happy.
How far would Yuhwa’s wish reach?
‘…That’s!’
[Seolhong uses Ultimate: Blade Frenzy.]
[The Sword Song: All blades influenced by bonds gain free will and unleash attacks all at once.]
[Attack speed increases by 50%, and each attack consumes 2% of the blade’s durability.]
[Continues until 20% durability is consumed.]
The five swords floating in the air began shredding the ghost’s body from all sides.
Pshuk!
Pssshhhhk!
Swords moving at tremendous speed.
In an instant, something that had been there turned into an unrecognizable lump of meat.
A near-Transcendent powerhouse had been utterly defeated by Seolhong, who had gained Yuhwa’s enlightenment.
Clap…
Clap…
Doeoksini clapped from beyond the curtain.
“Not bad, not bad at all. This might be worth a shot.”
Ssssususu…
The curtain parted.
“You’ve come looking for the yaksha, haven’t you?”
As the curtain drew back, the true appearance of Doeoksini, who had hidden within, was revealed.
The ferocious fangs and massive body were gone; instead, a young girl stood there.
Cute little fangs that could be mistaken for buckteeth, bright sparkling eyes.
Yet, unlike her appearance, the power she emanated was no joke.
“Follow me. I know someone who can help with hunting the yaksha.”
* * *
“Life is nothing but torment…”
This was long ago, when Khan was succeeding Hongcheon’s reign.
He had already left many heirs, and Khan’s situation seemed stably established.
The one who sought the dragon’s breath had drunk the dragon’s blood at the end and now sat as a corpse on the throne.
Boredom.
Weariness and comfort had brought Hongcheon, who hadn’t yielded even to the evil dragon’s corrupted breath, to his knees.
“Life cycles, yet I alone stand still.”
Star-like firearms had been scattered across the continent, and the blazing flames had become ashes.
Warmth lingered within, but it was no longer a flame.
Dragon Emperor Hongcheon had not yet died, but he was not living either.
He couldn’t count every moment of the years he had lived, but memorable ones existed.
For example, the cultural entertainments that returned every month.
“Today, the most famous woman in Khan will have an audience. You can look forward to it.”
Banghyu’s face looked a bit younger.
Hongcheon evaluated Banghyu’s worth as ‘a prime minister useful to Khan’.
Banghyu was sincere toward Hongcheon.
He poured all his energy into breathing life into him.
As if Khan would decline if Hongcheon did.
“Nothing delights; all is tedium. A lifetime of honed skill reduced to mere spectacle—how can human life be so fleeting?”
Joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure had long vanished from that life; only anguish and emptiness remained.
After slaying the dragon, Hongcheon had died too.
No, he should have.
If only he’d known he would linger so pointlessly.
Ssssususus…
Mist descended.
Only Hongcheon and Banghyu watched this vast stage.
Realizing that made the effort of whoever was to perform feel wasted.
If shown to another living being instead of him, they would surely applaud. What he could offer was at best pity for their effort.
Taaak-!
The sharp sound of the gong signaled the start of the performance, and soon the woman on stage began to move.
At that moment, Hongcheon’s drooping eyelids stopped falling.
The sound of the string instrument filled the stage.
It was pleasant to the ear, but to Hongcheon, mere noise.
Compared to the movements of the woman continuing on stage.
“This can’t… be…”
The ice was melting.
The biting cold of winter passed, revealing the spring where buds sprouted.
From the woman, he saw seasons.
Seasons symbolized the flow of time and the prosperity of all things.
Hongcheon abruptly stood, sensing something in a mere woman’s gestures.
“Stop… stop the dance…”
Drop…
The string sound stopped.
But the woman on stage continued dancing.
A sword dance as if her soul itself danced.
Banghyu shouted.
“The Dragon Emperor commands you to stop the dance!”
Yet the dance persisted.
The man who had struck the gong to start pleaded.
“Your Majesty, once the dance begins, it cannot stop.”
“…Why not.”
“She never stops dancing until the stage ends.”
Even a dragon could not halt her dance.
In this moment, Hongcheon awoke.
He was alive.
He felt life in the flower blooming from the sword.
Banghyu glanced at Hongcheon’s face and slammed his head to the ground.
“Y-Your Majesty…”
Tears welled in the eyes of the man who had lost all joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
In the scattering ashes, he had found an ember.
The woman danced on stage without strings or cheers—a gift from the heavens.
Yuhwa was a woman sent from the heavens.
Drenched in sweat, Yuhwa ended her dance with the final pose.
Dragon Emperor Hongcheon should have punished her for defying his solemn command to the end.
Yet, unconsciously, his hands moved.
Clap… clap…
Clap… clap… clap…
Applause came unbidden.
Something beyond mere technique.
“…What is your name?”
For the first time in his life, Hongcheon asked a dancer’s name.
The dancer smiled.
“Yuhwa.”
The sword dancer Yuhwa.
“A fine name.”
Time passed, Yuhwa left, and the Dragon Emperor alone remained, gasping as he stared at the candle wax.
At the flame that was dying—no, surely to extinguish.
“Yuhwa… Yuhwa…”
The hazy light seemed to mirror his remaining life.
“You still dance in my dreams…”
* * *
At the same time, the ghost realm buzzed even busier than the present world.
Chiwu said to Doeoksini, who walked around grinning ear to ear.
“She was a kid?”
“How insolent! A mere beast dares!”
“Beast!? Hey!”
“Quiet down, all of you. Don’t act so frivolously.”
Guihon wrestled with Chiwu.
Kang Seol couldn’t help but chuckle after seeing Doeoksini’s small true form.
“It was all an act?”
“Better call it sorcery. Fooled you, didn’t I?”
“Not the real body…”
“Real yet not real. No one knows if the girl or the giant is my true form.”
“…….”
“Curious?”
They rode a large palanquin, swaying as it moved. Whenever it passed, hideous ghosts bowed their heads low.
‘Impressive presence. As expected…’
The dignity befitting the lord of the ghost realm.
No one here seemed to dare defy Doeoksini.
“Late as it is, welcome to Pleasure Castle. I need to take you near to introduce my tea master, so I’ll answer your questions on the way. Don’t ask too deeply; I can’t cover everything.”
Finally welcomed, they could finally ask. Chiwu, who had waited for this, pressed Doeoksini.
“Ugh…”
“Why are the Three Ghost Generals the Ghost King? Are you preparing Hwagmu’s revival? Did you revive Eodeuksini?”
“One question at a time is best, but teaching manners to a beast in this short time is impossible. I’ll explain.”
Chiwu’s question differed from what Kang Seol wondered.
Doeoksini answered him.
“The Three Ghost Generals is a term humans made up. Before Hwagmu rose, Eodeuksini, Geusondae, and I ruled parts of this ghost realm together.”
“You were already kings.”
“You could say that. Though our power was split three ways. Then the evil dragon Hwagmu appeared to us. He subdued us with force and headed to the present world.”
“So you still…”
“Listen to the end. Unlike Eodeuksini and Geusondae, who endlessly craved power, I had little interest in the present world. Humans are a delicacy, but to me, who’s lived eons, they’re tiresome. So… I bided my time.”
This was a fact Kang Seol knew.
The reason Doeoksini was little known in the world tied to this.
“While Eodeuksini and Geusondae were distracted by the present world, I returned to the ghost realm, sealed the borders, and claimed all the overflowing power and authority. How’s that? Understand now that I’m different from Eodeuksini and Geusondae?”
“What about Hwagmu, then…”
“No relation. I hate that lizard. What else but run if we meet?”
“You had nothing to do with Eodeuksini’s revival?”
“I know nothing of it. Eodeuksini sealed forever suits me fine.”
Chiwu asked.
“What’s your goal?”
“Right now, same as yours.”
Doeoksini grinned.
“Hunting the yaksha.”
Kang Seol asked her.
“Can you suppress the yaksha’s sword… that power?”
“Isn’t that why you came here?”
Kwarrrung!
Thunder boomed.
Looking out, a tree had been struck by lightning and burned.
“Wall date wood. Tea master will like it.”
“Who is this tea master you’re introducing?”
“Tea from the master is exquisite. Sometimes better than liquor. He’ll let you try too. We’ll finish talking there.”
Kkiiik…
A house that seemed it would collapse if lightning struck. Strangely, someone lived there.
“Oh… Tea master! You’re inside.”
Clatter…
Sounds of preparing tea came from within.
“You’re not alone today.”
Kang Seol tilted his head.
‘Sounds familiar…’
Doeoksini laughed.
“Some useful humans flowed into the ghost realm. Thought I’d introduce them to my tea master and get some tea.”
The one Doeoksini used polite speech with.
“Please sit. I can serve tea anytime.”
Soon, the voice’s owner entered the room.
Sssuu…
The tea master set teacups on the table and poured the tea.
A rich aroma filled the room.
Scent always evoked memories.
The fragrance spread from nose to brain.
“Still not drinking tea?”
With a gentle smile, the house’s master asked Kang Seol.
A familiar face.
He looked a bit worn from hardship, but a mystical aura emanated from him.
[Powerful ally ‘Ha-mun’ appears in this adventure.]
[Powerful ally ‘Ha-mun’ joins as your ally in this adventure.]
Orgo’s descendant, Ha-mun.
The one he’d parted with in Nobira without farewell was here.
“…I won’t refuse today.”
Kang Seol reached for the teacup.