Camellia 60

Being weak was a sin. It was a truth he’d heard so many times it had hardened in his ears, but the moment he truly felt it in his body, another thought came.

Why hadn’t I tried to become stronger?

Why hadn’t I ever been ashamed of my weakness?

Tang Yujae had only learned the most basic level of movement techniques. Carrying his sister on his back made it even harder to gain speed.

But he clenched his teeth and ran. When he finally reached the edge of Gyehong Moutain, a massive iron fence appeared before his eyes, forged from steel retrieved from the ocean floor. The venomous iron fence was built to prevent servants from escaping the clan and to divide the Tang estate from the outer village.

Realizing his sister had regained consciousness, Yujae urged her.

‘You have to hold my neck tightly, Tang Yuwon. Do you understand?’

Yuwon nodded from his back. At once, Yujae climbed the fence with one hand while still supporting her legs with the other.

The venom coating the fence ate at his vision. His breath slowed. He could feel the toxins invading his organs, slowly pushing his body toward death.

But Tang Yujae didn’t stop.

Then, after climbing over one venomous fence, another identical one appeared before him. And then another. That was when the boy realized it.

They were trapped inside an illusion formation, a monghwanjin. (Dream illusion formation)

So then, how could a monghwanjin be broken?

Tang Yujae barely kept his fading consciousness together. His throat felt like something sharp was lodged inside.

And then, a woman’s voice snapped him awake.

–You must recognize that this is a mirage. A mirage is nothing more than an illusion. Once you understand its emptiness and falseness, no wall will be insurmountable, no stone unbreakable. Do you want to live? Then first, cast aside your fear. If you know a mirage is only a mirage, the formation cannot harm you.

It was a powerful sound transmission. His ears burned as if scorched by fire. He opened his mouth to ask who she was, and she answered.

–I don’t have the kindness to break the formation for you, but I have enough decency to help lives struggling to survive.

He had to grasp at any straw. He had no idea who this woman was, but staying in the formation meant certain death.

So Tang Yujae reminded himself that the monghwanjin was only an illusion. But no matter how much he shouted or kicked, the iron fences didn’t disappear. The first fence he climbed had been real. The poison soaking into his fingers had turned them a deep purple.

Yujae closed his eyes and focused. He took in the chill of dawn and traced the source of his fear.

What am I afraid of? What is holding me back?

His heartbeat slowed. It wasn’t the poison. His mind, once clouded, cleared. With his eyes still shut, Tang Yujae stepped forward.

I’m afraid of my weakness, of not being able to protect anyone.

I’m afraid of being useless, unable to save anything.

In truth, he had welcomed the journey to Haedong. There, he wouldn’t be the heir who disappointed everyone. He wouldn’t be the fool who couldn’t keep up with even the basics.

So did I just want to run away?

Would becoming strong mean I’d no longer have to run?

It was as he took one final step.

Soft sunlight brushed his skin. The thorny grass scraping his ankles was gone. When he opened his eyes, a vast reed field stretched before him instead of the village road. The rustling sound of reeds swaying in the dawn breeze filled the air.

At the center stood a swordswoman wearing a bamboo hat. Her waist-length hair was white as snow, so pale it looked bleached, giving her a stunning and elegant appearance.

She had pale blue-gray eyes. She said gently,

‘It’s an Illusory Transfer Formation. A type of shifting formation.’

Yujae asked, startled.

‘…Did I break the illusion formation?’

The woman’s lips curved into a faint smile.

‘Hardly. If you had the strength to break the Tang clan’s defensive formation, the girl on your back wouldn’t be in that state.’

‘Then why…?’

‘I opened the path for you.’

‘…I heard you don’t act out of kindness.’

Insolent words for a savior. But the woman laughed as she pushed back her hat.

‘Warriors from the North Sea occasionally offer small favors to live with a bit of dignity. It’s not kindness, just a minor favor. Let’s leave it at that. I happened to pass through Sacheon as a guest and received warm hospitality. I’ll repay that by saving you two. Come. I’ll take you to my brother. He’s the kind of man who’s obsessed with kindness. He’ll take care of you both and teach you well.’

The fact that she had set up a formation near the Tang estate proved she was a master of exceptional skill.

Tang Yujae stood still and asked,

“…If I asked you, Grand Master, to help our clan, would you refuse?”

The woman clicked her tongue.

‘An outsider cannot interfere in internal power struggles.’

As expected. She had already said she was from the North Sea. It made sense that a martial artist from the Ice Palace wouldn’t want to get involved in the Jungwon.

Why she was even here wasn’t his concern. Yujae stepped forward and bowed.

‘I know it’s shameless, but please take care of my sister, Grand Master. I must return. Someone’s waiting.”

The woman saw it in his eyes and accepted the unconscious girl without a word.

In her arms, Yuwon reached out to Yujae. Hearing her call his name, the boy took her hand and smiled.

‘I’ll definitely come back. So you have to survive too.’

Yuwon’s consciousness was slipping fast. She had held on well until now. There was no stopping her brother now.

Before her strength completely gave out, she took off her wrist prayer beads and put them on his wrist. She managed to whisper,

‘We’ll meet again. This is so I’ll recognize you.’

Yujae replied calmly,

‘Yes. Don’t cry until then. Hang in there.’

And with that, he parted from his sister.

He had to return to Gyehong Moutain. To find Hayeon, who had stayed behind. He had promised to protect her. Even if he failed to keep that promise, he couldn’t leave her alone to die in that poisonous forest.

Tang Yujae, who had been lost in his reminiscences, came to his senses when Seonwol-do vibrated violently, sensing something wrong. He stared irritably at the silver ring, which was trembling like it wanted to escape. Only then did the buzzing on his finger stop.

Plop. Plop. Black blood onto the ring.

“…Here we go again.”

Yujae pressed his palm to his brow. His decaying body was begging to be purified. Black blood poured from his eyes and soaked his cheeks. He had thought the yin energy was gone after spending time with the bride, but it must have only been suppressed by the blood fiend’s yang energy.

As he stepped out of the shrine, Yujae raised the now-pale ring to eye level and muttered,

“Do you think I’ll harm your master?”

If Seonwol-do had a voice, it would have screamed, What do you mean ‘think’? Didn’t you already tear his danjeon apart?

Yujae chuckled faintly.

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill him.”

Then added after a slight pause,

“But I will violate him.”

Ziiiiing, ziiiiing! Seonwol-do buzzed violently in protest.

Yujae ignored it without a care. Finally, it was time to take his bride.

The thought of burying himself in that hot body to release the yin energy made his sinking mood lift slightly.

He was sorry to Yuwon, but it seemed he wouldn’t be keeping that promise.

His suppressed inner energy was roaring now. To vent his frustration, Tang Yujae planned to use the troublesome bride. If he crushed that self-righteous man who pretended to be a noble martial artist, he might find a new kind of pleasure.

With what little reason he had left, Sahyeol Amje headed for his bride’s chamber.

The lovely face that once told him to endure and blossom like a plum tree in winter floated to mind.

Let’s see just how much you can endure.

He was on his way to shatter the righteous soul engraved on his bride’s chest.

His steps were light as air.