Camellia 157

The skin where his husband’s hand had brushed still tingled faintly, but there was no time to sit and wallow in resentment. That alone was enough to make Seolyeong rise to his feet again.

“I have things I need to do.”

If Sahyeol Amje was doing everything in his power to drive him away, then he was doing everything he could to cling to his hem. Before he knew it, the end of a season had crept close.

Yeonhu Mountain remained blanketed in snow year-round regardless of season, but Seolyeong still hoped that, when spring came, it would bring blooming flowers suited to it.

He liked spring blossoms that endured the worst of winter almost as much as those that bloomed in winter itself. Whenever he looked at those small, fragile petals that blossomed after weathering the bitter cold, he often thought, If even you tiny things can survive those cruel days, how can I let life pass me by in despair?

So Seolyeong straightened his back and stepped forward with purpose, carrying the hope of welcoming the new season in the arms of the one he loved.

The reason Tang Yujae fled Gwanju Hall wasn’t just because he wanted to ignore his bride’s seduction. Black blood dripped from his nose and fell onto his robes.

Black fluid spilled from his eyes, ears, and mouth, the undeniable signs of a body approaching death. If he had been a moment slower, he might have collapsed disgracefully in front of his wife. He wiped the rotten-smelling blood from his skin and finally opened his mouth.

“You said I could hold out for a month.”

He sounded irritated. No matter how temperamental and unpredictable the imugi could be, it had never lied about its predictions. It had always been honest with Tang Yujae, which was the only reason he didn’t find the creature coiled within his mind unbearably intolerable.

The imugi clicked his tongue.

–Your Qi is losing its way, moment by moment. The flow around your upper danjeon has become muddled.

“Why?”

–Aftereffects of traversing the net of time, what else?

It was the backlash from the moment he had finished reading the Saseogyeong and used the Cheonma’s martial arts to traverse the past. The technique created by the previous Cheonma, refined through solitary training, had been a true apex art worthy of the Cheonma Divine Sect, but it came with severe side effects.

Unless one had trained in seclusion to embody that martial art, symptoms were bound to appear. It was only thanks to Tang Yujae’s body containing divine beast energy that it hadn’t worsened. Now that he had vomited all the corrupted blood, his body began to stabilize again.

The imugi added, in its own way, gently.

–But you should be able to last until next month. Don’t worry too much.

“When will the Heavenly Gate open?”

–That depends on the heavens.

The Heavenly Gate was a staircase of infinite light that appeared when someone worthy of entering the celestial realm was invited. Only those who had transcended the mortal world could even perceive it, and only those qualified to reach the heavens could climb it.

If the Heavenly Gate were to open earlier than expected, he would have no choice but to leave his bride in the middle of this snowy mountain.

The moment his death was made public, the remaining pavilion lords would begin swarming the Yurigung. And they weren’t ones to act like Sayanggak Lord or Jipilgak Lord. They were more akin to Mae Somyeong of Okhaenggak, fanatics, wrapped in devotion and obsession toward the Cheonma, completely divorced from common sense. Whatever chaos they caused wouldn’t even come as a surprise.

“I need to get him off this mountain soon.”

At Tang Yujae’s muttered words, the imugi chimed in like it was making small talk.

–So what? At worst, he’ll just be buried with you. I hear when blood fiends are beheaded with a spiritstone weapon, they release an immense amount of yang energy. A real shame not to taste that before ascending.

The divine beast that was kind to humans felt not a shred of pity for a blood fiend’s death. As that leisurely voice rang on, Tang Yujae’s worry deepened.

That lunatic bride of his wouldn’t be easy to deal with. If he wanted to get that ridiculously persistent and gutsy blood fiend down the mountain, he would need a different method than the one he used on Yuwon. And so, starting that day, Tang Yujae began plotting various ways to lure Seolyeong out beyond the palace gates.

First, he sent a maid who was about to descend the mountain to visit the Gyo-mo. Yeonhwa Hall, restored after Haeseong Pavilion, still smelled faintly of smoke, but its appearance was now tolerable. Seolyeong sat in the tearoom, focused on gathering Qi.

Since breaking through to the next realm, the density and flow of his Qi had changed entirely. The energy paths he had once stabilized were now useless. He had to return to spiritual refinement.

With Sahyeol Amje constantly throwing his heart into chaos, it wasn’t clear if he could keep training properly. But he was in the middle of filtering out idle thoughts, concentrating on pulling together only the clearest intent.

He sensed quick, light footsteps skipping toward him from afar. A girl had come running from the maids’ quarters and was now walking the path to Yeonhwa Hall.

‘My senses have definitely sharpened.’

Even with his eyes closed, he could picture her movements perfectly. He’d heard that those who meditate long and reach enlightenment may awaken spiritual sight. The ability to see, hear, and touch what ordinary people could not. It felt as if he was already approaching that level. All five senses had become keenly alert.

By the time the girl passed under Yeonhwa Hall and along its long corridor to reach the bedroom, Seolyeong opened his eyes, and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. It had been a very satisfying meditation.

“What brings you here, Myeongseo?”

The small, pale-faced maid flinched, stopping mid-greeting. The door hadn’t even been opened, how had he known it was her? A shiver ran down her spine.

Seolyeong calmly explained.

“If you refine your senses, you can recognize someone’s presence just from the flow of their Qi.”

Only then did Myeongseo timidly open the bedroom door. Gold leaf glittered like stars above her head. She stepped past the silk drapes and offered a formal bow.

“The servant of the Cheonsin greet the Gyo-mo on behalf.”

The proper address felt almost awkward to Seolyeong.

“What’s with the formality today?”

Myeongseo had always been a cheerful, lively girl. She usually treated him like an older sibling, close and informal. Her stiff behavior now was far from normal. What could it mean?

While Seolyeong mulled over the odd change, the girl finally spoke.

“Myeongseo of the Hong clan will now return home. My eldest brother has done well selling medicinal liquor and sent word that I no longer need to serve in another household. I came to thank you, Gyomo, for your kindness.”

“So, there was such good news. It sounds like quite the blessing.”

Seolyeong responded with a teasing smile, and Myeongseo blushed and smiled shyly in return. He also smiled gently back.

“Thank you for coming to see me before leaving. I’m happy you didn’t forget. May you stay healthy always, even after returning to your family. Now let’s see. There should be something here I can give you to take home.”

As Seolyeong rummaged through the sandalwood chest, Myeongseo frantically shook her head.

“No, Gyo-mo. This girl..”

“Shh. You’re seeing your family again after a long time. If I send you back empty-handed, people will think poorly of me. Don’t worry, just take it.”

“That’s not it… There’s something else I wanted to ask you.”

“Oh?”

Caught off guard, Seolyeong blinked. Myeongseo took a deep breath and, with a solemn expression, got to the point.

“I’m afraid of wolves on the road and bandits who prey on women traveling alone. So, if it wouldn’t trouble you too much, would you accompany me down to the village?”

The truth was, Myeongseo feared neither wolves nor bandits. Whenever the maids had to descend the mountain, the Cheonsin always sent reliable escorts with them.

The lie sat heavily on her face. If Sahyeol Amje’s subordinate hadn’t visited the maids’ quarters and told her to say this, she never would have tried such deception against such a kind person. Guilt made her eyes well up. She avoided Seolyeong’s gaze.

Seolyeong, sensing everything she was trying to hide, muttered quietly.

“…That Tang Yujae bastard.”

So this was how he planned to drag me out of the Yurigung?