Chapter 123: Just Because Part 8

Seol Tae Pyeong had already honed his blade to the utmost limit.

That was also the reason why Yeon Ri did not let her guard down while continuously warning Seol Tae Ppyeong to be careful.

Because as long as Seol Tae Pyeong didn’t let his guard down, she couldn’t imagine a future where he would be defeated by the White Demonic Spirit.

Wham!

As Seol Tae Pyeong’s final strike hit the White Demonic Spirit, cracks began to form in the barrier that covered the sky above the inner palace.

It may have been the energy of the Heavenly Dragon, capable of overturning even time and space, but it was only natural that it would collapse if its caster lost its life.

At least he didn’t hesitate until the very end.

Yeon Ri, who had pulled out the Jade Leaf sword, stood up from her seat while groaning.

Though it was a weapon the Vice General wielded effortlessly, it was no small task for her to lift it with a woman’s strength.

Still, Yeon Ri steadied herself and stood tall as she gripped the sword firmly.

Very few could wield the energy of the Heavenly Dragon, and because that energy itself was shrouded in mystery, almost no one understood its true nature.

And so, people didn’t know that once it was fully mastered, the energy of the Heavenly Dragon allowed one to overcome even death once.

White Demonic Spirit Ah Hyun would revive at least once, even if it was killed.

Since she had once used the Heavenly Dragon Energy herself, she understood this. When the Heavenly Dragon Energy that filled the inner palace disappeared and the aura of the White Demonic Spirit completely dissipated, no one would realize this truth.

If left alone, it would hide somewhere within the palace once again and pray for resurrection.

Such was the nature of these special demonic spirits that were personally created by the Plague Demonic Spirit. They could not be killed easily. Whether it was the Moon Demonic Spirit, the Sun Demonic Spirit, or the White Demonic Spirit, each of them had clung desperately to life until the very last moment.

If they weren’t dealt with completely, they would come back to haunt them later.

This was why Yeon Ri had slipped into the main palace with the Jade Leaf Sword in hand.

Boom! Boom!

Thud!

Cracks appeared in the pillar of light pouring out from the inner palace, and soon it began to break apart and collapse like shattered glass.

The twisted flow of time and space slowly started to right itself, and the inner palace within began to return to its original form.

The soldiers gathered from the main palace and the Truth Insight Terrace stood with mouths agape.

The maids, who had strained to protect their mistresses inside the inner palace, also looked up at the scene in awe.

Sunlight streaming through the cracks in the shattered barrier felt as if dawn was breaking after a long night.

The fragments of the barrier which drifted down like snowflakes in winter adorned the sky.

The glimmering shards that were scattered like grains of salt in the sky looked like stars shining in broad daylight.

Yeon Ri closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again to gaze up at the sight in silence.

“Finally…”

It had been such a long journey.

She had overcome the crown princess consorts of the Vermilion Bird Palace, the White Tiger Palace, the Azure Dragon Palace, and the Black Tortoise Palace.

She had killed the Moon Demonic Spirit, the Sun Demonic Spirit, and the White Demonic Spirit.

Through countless deaths and cycles of reincarnation, Seol Tae Pyeong had finally reached the end of his last journey.

Up until the moment before killing the Plague Demonic Spirit, he had faced every hardship perfectly without losing a single life.

Amid the countless repetitions of these trials, she had finally grasped a single chance, the brightest possibility she had ever known.

But instead of feeling overwhelmed or deeply moved, Yeon Ri simply closed her eyes and smiled.

She had always done so, and she would continue to do so.

Tap.

[Heuk… Heuk…]

Just then, a familiar figure of a demonic spirit emerged from beyond the alley while dragging itself forward.

It was a creature that had somehow managed to cling to life after fleeing from the broken seals of the inner palace.

Yeon Ri picked up the sword she had drawn and strode toward it.

The creature’s eyes went wide with surprise as it caught sight of Yeon Ri approaching from a distance.

She was dressed in a simple maid’s attire, not in the court robes of the Heavenly Maiden, and her hair was now much shorter than before and neatly tied back.

Yet, even so, the demonic spirit instantly recognized who the maid approaching from afar truly was.

“Well~you went through quite a lot, didn’t you? Mhmm”

What exactly had taken place inside the inner palace was unclear.

One thing was clear, however: that creature had surely tried to kill Seol Tae Pyeong and had failed in a truly absurd fashion.

It must have been consumed with grief and frustration and wanted to take revenge on the world that had betrayed it. And no one knew this feeling better than Yeon Ri.

But even so, the Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong was not someone who could be defeated by mere hatred.

Hatred hurled at the world would only circle back and harm oneself in the end.

Once, she herself had been filled with hatred toward the world.

To think of what inner turmoil Seol Tae Pyeong must have endured while facing that part of herself… It pained her greatly.

How difficult it must have been for him, even if it was a demonic spirit, to cut down a creature wearing Yeon Ri’s form.

And that was why… she had warned Seol Tae Pyeong time and again.

No matter what form the White Demonic Spirit might take, he must never hesitate.

[Heuk… Heuk… You …]

The figure of the White Demonic Spirit revealed in the darkness….. looked pitiful beyond words.

Its lips were chapped, its cheeks were swollen, and one of its eyes was bruised.

… It was the face of someone who had been beaten like a dog, without a hint of mercy.

“……”

Though she wouldn’t say it herself, she had once been quite beautiful back in her days as the Heavenly Maiden.

Because her weight would creep up if she didn’t watch it, she had been more diligent than anyone in maintaining her appearance. All in order to preserve her elegant figure.

Yet, here she was, looking at herself beaten to the point of being unrecognizable… and Yeon Ri couldn’t help but think to herself,

…If I ever clash with Tae Pyeong-ah, I’ll just talk my way out, no matter what, and let’s avoid being rude …

Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong.

His punches made no distinctions between men and women.

The title of Heavenly Maiden was long gone, and if she wanted to survive, she would just have to throw herself flat on the ground… Yes, if she made a mistake, she would really get herself knocked down…

After putting that precious information firmly into her mind, Yeon Ri picked up the sword.

The battered and broken White Demonic Spirit had already lost the powers of the Heavenly Dragon.

Now it was nothing more than a dying enemy who could be subdued by anyone with only a blade in hand.

[It… doesn’t make sense…]

As Yeon Ri raised her sword, the White Demonic Spirit who was in a near-death state spoke in a voice full of despair.

[What… meaning is there? To save a world this twisted and vile… what meaning could there possibly be to you…?]

Its bleeding face twisted with agony.

“…….”

White Demonic Spirit Ah Hyun was herself at the height of her hatred for the world.

Thinking back, there had been such a time. She had looked at everything with hostility, was convinced that anyone who didn’t revere her was insulting her, and she placed no value on this miserable world.

Yeon Ri lowered her gaze momentarily, as if embarrassed, while still holding her sword.

“Still clinging to your pride, huh… Yeah, that used to be me… Ugh, it’s embarrassing.”

[What… did you say…?]

“Are you still living with that grand delusion about saving the world or whatever? Living like that with so much tension won’t get you very far~. You’ve got to relax a bit if you want to get through life.”

Yeon Ri sighed and then spoke with the weariness of someone fed up with it all.

Only then did the White Demonic Spirit sense the traces of time etched into Yeon Ri’s gaze. Her body may not have aged, but the marks of time on her soul were far beyond what any ordinary young woman would carry.

The White Demonic Spirit’s eyes trembled as it looked at Yeon Ri and it eventually asked slowly,

[How many times… have you reincarnated…?]

“Counting each one would be absurd.”

[A life spent meeting death over and over again in the same chain of time… can that even be called living?]

“Sorry, but I don’t bother with those kinds of philosophical questions.”

Her mindset was so carefree, it was as though thinking itself had slipped out of her brain.

The White Demonic Spirit’s fingertips trembled again and again. The creature couldn’t believe that this was her future self.

“Let’s not live bogged down by overthinking. What’s the point of a reason to live? You just live.”

Thud.

With that, she thrust the Jade Leaf sword into the White Demonic Spirit’s shoulder.

The White Demonic Spirit’s scream of pain echoed sharply.

***

Step, step.

Seol Tae Pyeong staggered out of the ruined Heavenly Dragon Hall. He could barely hold his body upright.

When he looked up, the once large full moon that had loomed as though it could cover the entire world was gone.

That full moon, once the only friend of the White Demonic Spirit, had merely been an illusion, a vision created through the energy of the heavenly dragon.

Now that the seal on the inner palace had broken and the flow of space and time had returned to its natural course, the setting sun hung in the western sky.

The situation had finally reached its end.

Seol Tae Pyeong let out a deep sigh of relief and looked around.

“Huff… huff…”

Each time he subdued a special demonic spirit, he felt as though he was pushing his body to its absolute limits.

Even so, he thought that this time had been easier than with the Sun Demonic Spirit. Pyeong Ryang had truly forced him to draw upon his strength until the very last ounce in their battle of pure power.

All those who had been under the influence of the White Demonic Spirit’s Taoist magic now lay unconscious. The maids were scattered across the inner palace grounds.

The countless spirit beasts that had filled the sky as if to smother it had also vanished completely. At last, this chaotic nightmare had come to an end.

Surely, he could finally let down his guard and get some rest.

The moment he allowed his body to relax, he felt it.

Thud.

The White Princess caught his collapsing body and placed one of his hands over her shoulder to support him as she helped him to his feet.

“If you lose consciousness from that much blood loss in a place like this, there will be lingering aftereffects.”

“White Princess… When did you get here…?”

“When that monster’s power disappeared, everyone under its influence lost consciousness. That bought me enough time to move.”

Seol Tae Pyeong was a good two hands taller than the White Princess.

Though there was a vast difference in their physiques, she strained under his weight and helped him out of the Heavenly Dragon Hall step by step.

The barrier that had surrounded the inner palace had crumbled, which meant it wouldn’t be long before the soldiers of the main palace arrived in droves.

They would tend to those who had collapsed and bring the situation under control.

“Hold on just a bit longer. Once we reach the main gate, you’ll be able to hand yourself over to the soldiers.”

“White Princess, your wounds are serious too. Please see to your own injuries first.”

“Don’t worry about me. From my perspective, having helped the Vice General right to the very end works strongly in my favor.”

White Princess Ha Wol.

She was known as the venomous viper of the inner palace, one who would never lose her composure in any extreme situation.

However, she spoke to Seol Tae Pyeong frankly with a smile that showed no trace of venom.

“Just think how impressive it will look when I’m seen helping the Vice General at the very end. While the other crown princess consorts are still reeling and lost in confusion, here I am, calm and doing what needs to be done. My reputation will surely benefit.

“……”

“For my sake, then, you’ll let yourself be used as a tool, yes?”

Though she said it in that way, there wasn’t a single lie in her words.

She was simply someone incapable of helping others out of pure goodwill. Once Seol Tae Pyeong understood that about her, he found that even the fact she was supporting him held a unique significance.

“You went through a lot. You’ve saved the inner palace once again.”

The White Princess chuckled lightly as she supported Seol Tae Pyeong who was bleeding profusely.

Come to think of it, it had been ages since the White Princess praised anyone with genuine intent… Even she found it quite astonishing.

With that, Seol Tae Pyeong who was supported by the White Princess made his way toward the middle gate.

When he looked to the sky, a huge cascade of light poured down like a shower of stars.

***

Jolt

Jin Cheong Lang came to her senses only after she had been urgently escorted back to the Azure Dragon Palace by the soldiers.

By the time she opened her eyes, most of the immediate issues had already been handled.

It had been nearly two days since she lost consciousness after being attacked by the White Demonic Spirit.

Ah… my bed…

Jin Cheong Lang raised herself and sat up on the lavishly decorated bed.

Her whole body was weighted down with fatigue, though thankfully, there were no serious injuries.

Given the chaos the White Demonic Spirit had stirred up in the inner palace, things would likely remain noisy for some time, so it would be best to rest as much as she could while she had the chance.

“Ugh…”

When she tried to rise from the bed, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her, and she dropped her head again.

She somehow managed to shake her head, get up, and open the wooden window to let in the fresh breeze from outside.

“Phew…”

As she stood there, letting the cool dawn breeze wash over her body, faint memories of the recent past gradually began to surface.

Right… How humiliating it was… the Azure Princess had fallen completely under the White Demonic Spirit’s spell.

And.

And then…

– So, go on and take notice of me.

– It’s so warm~

– Tae Pyeong-ah~, Tae Pyeong-ah~.

– There are just too many thieves in the inner palace trying to steal the Vice General…! Please, stay by my side, Tae Pyeong-ah…!

Amid the refreshing dawn breeze, a sudden wave of heat rose within her.

Finally… Jin Cheong Lang remembered in full detail the disgraceful scene she had caused.

Regardless of how she had been controlled by the White Demonic Spirit…

There was no one in the world as appallingly pathetic as she had been.

“…….”

Right now, Jin Cheong Lang wanted nothing more than to hang herself and die on the spot.

Bang!

She slammed her forehead against the tea table. She was frustrated beyond reason.

The red swelling on her forehead was nothing compared to the misery of the shame twisting and surging in her chest.