Camellia 59

They tore through the mountainside, not even registering the nameless poisonous plants brushing against their skin. They knew they could shake off their pursuers if they followed the path Hayeon had shown them, but their minds couldn’t focus. There wasn’t even a handful of room for such thought.

‘They’re running, they must be the Cheonma’s bloodline!’

The warrior’s voice carried internal energy. Yuwon, unable to withstand the force of it, twisted her ankle and fell. This time, it was Yujae who lifted his sister up.

Since she was expected to marry into another family, Yuwon had never been taught martial arts. She hadn’t even received basic training. That was why, just the shouts of the warriors alone were enough to make her crumble.

‘…I-I can’t run anymore.’

The forest was thick with poisonous plants and steep terrain, which allowed them to remain hidden for now. But once dawn broke, even that would become impossible.

A decision had to be made. Yuwon let go of Yujae’s hand.

‘Leave.’

‘Don’t say something so stupid. Get on.’

Yujae turned his back to her. Yuwon weakly clung to her younger brother. Her strength was fading fast.

Yujae had built up resistance to poison from his years of climbing Gyehong Mountain. But Yuwon hadn’t. She had no martial training and no resistance. Her body was taking damage by the second.

She touched her stinging skin. Swallowed the bitter saliva pooling in her mouth. Then muttered,

‘Find Hayeon, and go down the opposite side of Gyehong Moutain.’

There might be help in the nearby villages. That hope was all they had.

Yuwon pushed Yujae away with everything she had.

‘Go, you idiot! The ones who can live should live! What’s the point of dying here together?!’

But her brother wouldn’t move. He kept trying to carry her.

‘If you die here with me, I’ll hate you forever.’

Tears welled up in Yujae’s eyes.

‘Even after I die, I’ll still hate you. So please, please go, Yujae…’

‘No.’

He answered stubbornly. Yuwon, limp in his arms, couldn’t resist as he hoisted her onto his back and ran. When one shoe slipped off her foot, Yujae kicked away the other and kept going.

Fortunately, Yujae managed to find the path Hayeon had shown him. He focused his energy into his danjeon to stay conscious. His vision cleared, and the trees and dirt path sharpened into focus. It wasn’t a special ability. Anyone who trained in breathing techniques could do this. But never before had Yujae been so thankful for his martial training.

‘Huff, haah…’

But they never made it to the cabin. A masked man caught up to them first.

He leapt from between the trees, swinging a massive sword at Yujae’s neck. Clang! A piercing clash exploded through the forest. The sound of steel against steel.

Someone had appeared, wrapped in a sword aura as blue as the ocean, her ash-gray hair whipping through the air. Swords exchanged at unbelievable speed. At the deafening clang, Yuwon screamed. Yujae hurriedly covered her ears.

A sea-blue blade aura burst forth. The wave of internal energy swept through the forest like a storm.

‘You… you’re the Cheonma’s…’

The masked man couldn’t finish his sentence. He fell dead.

The girl landed softly and turned, sheathing her sword gleaming under the moonlight. The howling wind began to die down. She spoke.

‘Twelve are dead. Eight remain.’

That was how many masked men had followed the siblings to Gyehong Moutain. No doubt many more were still wreaking havoc at the estate. There was no going back. No matter how painful, they had to run forward.

‘Go to the village, orabeoni. Hide among the people.’

Yuwon had fainted from the shock of the sword aura. The girl approached and gently stroked Yuwon’s cheek as she lay unconscious on Yujae’s back.

‘I promised I’d make her bouquet for her wedding… Guess you’ll have to do it instead.’

A bitter smile rose to her lips.

‘Orabeoni.’

Dawn was breaking. The navy sky was quickly turning blue, and sunlight slipped through the cold breeze. Leaves rustled nearby, signaling the remaining pursuers were close.

‘I heard there’s a bird called a peregrine falcon in Haedong.’

Under the sunlight, the girl was a mess. Her ash-gray irises were pierced with blue pupils. Yujae instinctively understood she was drawing on her innate Qi.

‘It’s a brave bird. It flies close to cliffs without slowing, crosses seas without fear of waves.’

Hayeon tied back her blood-matted hair. She was drenched in so much blood, it was hard to tell if her hair was gray or red. Her body was covered in wounds. Gashes on her arms and thighs were so deep that flesh was exposed.

Yujae asked, fearing the worst.

‘…Hayeon, did you…’

Did you come looking for us?

But the words didn’t come out. His chest burned. His eyes turned red. He gritted his teeth to keep from crying, but it didn’t help. His breath hitched, as if a blade were lodged in his chest. Hayeon smiled like she understood.

‘This must be the will of the heavens.’

She looked calm.

‘If we wait any longer, Orabeoni and unnie will die.’

Hayeon send their approach, she turned to Yujae and threw a poisoned dagger. It pierced the foreheads of two men instantly.

‘I’ll survive.’

No. Both she and Yujae knew she wouldn’t.

Dark blood spilled between her teeth. She had pushed her innate Qi too far. Her internal energy was rebounding. The veins in her eyes had all burst. It was the sign of qi deviation, just like the books described. With that, she said goodbye.

‘Thank you, Orabeoni.’

Hayeon leapt. She disappeared in the opposite direction, back the way they had come.

Yujae wanted to chase after her. But Yuwon was asleep on his back. Someone had to be left behind.

Tears streamed down his pale cheeks. The cold wind lashed at his face like it was screaming at him to survive. Yujae started to run toward the village.

It felt like his body responded to desperation. His legs were light. His mind cleared. The urge to turn back surged through him. His heart screamed not to leave Hayeon behind, not to survive at her expense.

So he ran harder.

‘Yujae…?’

It was when they reached the mid-slope. Yuwon opened her eyes. Her vision bounced up and down. Dizzy, she clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from vomiting.

‘Just hold on. We’re almost there.’

Her little brother was carrying her. Yujae planned to take Yuwon to the village, then return to Gyehong Moutain. No matter what, he couldn’t leave Hayeon alone. That kind of survival would be too shameful.

Yuwon couldn’t bring herself to look at Yujae’s soaked, bloodied face. She buried her face in his neck and took a deep breath. The shock refused to leave her mind.

What happened to Hayeon?

She wanted to ask. Where was that child now? Was she still in the mountain? Were they the only ones who had run away? But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Because that silence, was too cowardly. She hated herself for it. If she asked, Yujae might leave her and go back for Hayeon. She was terrified of being left behind. So she couldn’t speak. She wanted to whip herself for it.