Tangmunjeon - Chapter 364



Only Krnovel

Flowers waiting for a hero

Seeing the Ice Palace Princess collapse and die as if her soul had left her body, Dang Mu-jin realized what to call the poison.

The water of the soul.

There is no name that suits you better.

My whole body felt limp and as if my energy was draining away. My lower abdomen felt strangely empty.

However, Dang Mu-jin was satisfied with even that feeling of fatigue and emptiness. Isn’t this proof that, like swordsmanship and martial arts, the Yongdok technique stands shoulder to shoulder with countless other martial arts?

The existing poison technique was only at the level of entangling various poisons. However, the Kyeonhonsu was the result of taking it to a completely different level.

However, Dang Mu-jin was not in a position to leisurely enjoy the afterglow.

Although Dang Mu-jin was also in a desperate situation, there was someone who was even more desperate than Dang Mu-jin.

“Dang Mu-jin, save Seol-hwa!”

Hyun-gong shouted. Of course, Dang Mu-jin also planned to go check on Seol-hwa’s condition.

But there is one thing we need to do first.

Dang Mu-jin approached Baek Hyang-ah, who was pinned against the wall, and pricked her with acupuncture points to help her forget the pain, then pulled out the swords that had been stuck in her shoulder and stomach.

However, Baek Hyang-ah’s body was twisted in pain. Since her energy and blood were all distorted, the acupuncture point was not completely effective.

“Ugh, ugh.”

Baek Hyang-ah struggled to get up and stood up with a confident expression.

Blood kept flowing out of Baek Hyang-ah’s shoulder and stomach. Despite the fact that her stomach had been punctured, there wasn’t much bleeding.

Dang Mu-jin didn’t bother to look closely at Baek Hyang-ah’s condition.

Dang Mu-jin knows, Baek Hyang-ah knows, and even Hyeon-gong knows.

Baek Hyang-ah, it’s already too late.

Not only the assemblyman, but even the great gods would not be able to save Baek Hyang-ah. Just like other warriors who have drawn out Jinwonjinki, Baek Hyang-ah will burn out her life for a short time before meeting death.

But there was a thought that came to Hyun-gong’s mind.

Hyun-gong did not know the name of the poison, Zanbaek-hyeol-dok, but he knew how Seol-hwa extracted the poison and put it in her body.

It is certain that the poison is drawn to yin energy. If so, wouldn’t Baekhyang-ah also be able to draw the poison from the snow?

But I couldn’t easily open my mouth. It was such a shameless request.

Since your death is near, aren’t you asking her to accept her suffering and death for the sake of the story? Aren’t you asking her to accept a more painful and quicker death?

It would have been nice if Hyeon-gong had been on good terms with Baek Hyang-ah, but Hyeon-gong and Baek Hyang-ah were enemies.

But there is no other way. Hyun-gong prostrated himself in front of Baek Hyang-ah.

“Baekhyang-ah. Save Seolhwa. Please, please…”

I didn’t know what Baek Hyang-ah would ask for. Would she ask me to give up my limbs? Would she gouge out my eyes? Or would she ask me to break my danjeon or offer up my head?

That was okay though. Hyungong was ready to accept all those conditions.

But Baek Hyang-ah did not discuss the conditions.

“let’s go.”

“Are you saying you’ll save Seol-hwa?”

“It’s not because of your request. It’s because it’s a fairy tale.”

Baek Hyang-ah said that, then gathered her remaining internal energy and stretched out a sword filled with yin energy to the corpse of the Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord.

When he was alive, the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace was completely unmoved by Baek Hyang-ah’s ice spell, but now, the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace’s body was frozen in an unsightly state.

Baek Hyang-ah, groaning in pain, kicked the corpse and destroyed it.

Even the most cruel of people would not take their anger out on a corpse. However, Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong did not reprimand Baek Hyang-ah for such behavior. Rather, it was fortunate that it stopped at that level.

Baek Hyang-ah held her breath for a moment, holding her knees with her hands.

Hyun-gong knew what he had to do.

“Get up!”

*

Dang Mu-jin recalled his memories and arrived at the place where he had met Seol-hwa.

“There it is, there it is!”

Fortunately, Seolhwa did not leave the spot. Seolhwa was half buried in the snow.

Dang Mu-jin belatedly understood why Seol-hwa had refused treatment. Seol-hwa had hoped that Dang Mu-jin would help Hyun-gong as soon as possible.

Dang Mu-jin and Hyun-gong ran straight to check Seol-hwa’s condition. Her body was cold, and her breathing was-

There wasn’t any.

Dang Mu-jin also put his hand on Seol-hwa’s neck. As expected, there was no pulse.

However, Seolhwa was smiling with satisfaction. If Hyungong had saved Seolhwa and died, Hyungong would have been able to smile like that too.

Hyun-gong asked Dang-mu-jin with his chin trembling in disbelief.

“T-Can you cure it? Please, please···.”

But Hyun-gong’s voice was not filled with hope or anticipation, but only despair.

The poisonous blood had already penetrated through Seolhwa’s blood vessels and reached her heart. The blood flowing from the corner of Seolhwa’s mouth had already hardened.

That’s why Dang Mu-jin shook his head.

“Ahhh, ahhhhh!”

Hyun-gong broke down at the sight and howled like an animal.

Even the sound of the blizzard could not drown out Hyun-gong’s screams.

Baek Hyang-ah bent her knees and hugged Seol-hwa’s body tightly.

The blue-eyed woman who regarded him as a sister.

Baek Hyang-ah got up from her seat.

And then she untied her hair. Her long hair was blown around in the snowstorm and tangled in messy waves.

Dang Mu-jin raised his head and asked Baek Hyang-ah.

“···What do you plan to do now?”

It was a question that sounded strange at first glance.

Asking someone who doesn’t have much time left about their future plans.

But that wasn’t a question about what you’d do while you’re alive, it was a roundabout way of asking where you’d like to be buried when you die.

Baek Hyang-ah was betrayed by the North Sea Ice Palace and lost her last hope in life. She would not want to be buried in the North. That was what Dang Mu-jin thought.

However, Baek Hyang-ah’s story was different from what Dang Mu-jin expected.

“What should I do? Of course I should be buried in the North. That’s why I came all the way here.”

“what?”

“I promised to return my body to the northerners in exchange for the Eternal Ice Crystal. I promised that to Seolhwa as well.”

A story that was completely incomprehensible. Dang Mu-jin asked involuntarily.

“Speaking of sensible words. I lost my chance to survive because of the Ice Palace Princess, and how can you say such things?”

Then Baek Hyang-ah burst into laughter.

“You’ve lived a really different life from me.”

“···what do you mean?”

“In my life, the North wasn’t a bad place. Even including Binggungju, Sosanggakju, and Daebyeokgakju.”

Baek Hyang-ah closed her eyes as the wind blew against her. Memories of the Bukhae Ice Palace flashed through her mind.

Seolhwa and her younger siblings, who considered themselves as siblings.

When I went out into the village, people would talk to me with curious expressions.

The little kids who approached slowly and opened their eyes wide.

The village youth who secretly showed their favor.

People who blocked the demonic cult’s unmanned forces with their bare bodies.

Baek Hyang-ah said.

“I just dropped a couple of drops of ink on a piece of pure white paper. Other people might be disappointed that the pure white paper got dirty. But I know that there are many places on the paper that are not stained. The paper is still white, and the Ice Palace is still a place of refuge for my heart.”

“but-”

“Enough. This is my decision.”

And just as Dang Mu-jin was about to say something, Baek Hyang-ah cut him off. And then she spoke forcefully.

“I’m not stupid. I came to the North prepared for something bad to happen. Do you think I’ll be manipulated again now? Do you think I’ll be chased by an Ice Palace Lord, and frantically search for a new resting place while reveling in my anger? No way. I’ve decided to be buried in the North, and that’s what I’m going to do. No one can change my decision.”

Now, no blood flowed from Baek Hyang-ah’s wound. This was because the wound was half frozen.

But Baek Hyang-ah somehow looked carefree. Like a child who plays in the rain and gets all her clothes wet, yet still smiles innocently.

Baek Hyang-ah said to Dang Mu-jin.

“I have one last favor to ask.”

“What favor?”

“Tell people that I killed Seolhwa and Binggungju.”

“what?”

“Why? Are you unhappy that I’m trying to make a name for myself?”

It is unlikely that this story was brought up just to create such resonance.

Since Dang Mu-jin was the head of the Dang family, he could understand what Baek Hyang-ah meant by that story.

Just as Dangmujin is the pillar of the Dang family, Binggungju is the spiritual support of the northern people. A house without a support cannot exist.

If it becomes known what happened inside the Ice Palace, the North Sea Ice Palace will collapse in no time.

To the northern people, the martial arts of the North Sea Ice Palace had to be invincible.

Even the warriors who were famous in the Central Plains, and the warriors of Sapha and the Demonic Cult, had to kneel before the Northern conqueror. That way, this land of nothing but ice could remain a paradise for the Northern people.

If the Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord was killed, it had to be the result of Ice Palace’s martial arts.

Dang Mu-jin belatedly remembered that Baek Hyang-ah had used the Ice Palace Master’s body to cast an ice spell. It wasn’t a venting of anger. It was simply the result of foreseeing this and making a judgment in advance.

There was no need for Dang Mu-jin to come forward. After the northern people confirmed the body of the Bukhae Ice Palace Lord, they would think that Baek Hyang-ah was a villain.

Dang Mu-jin asked Baek Hyang-ah.

“The people of the North will hate you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to die soon. I have no brothers, no children, no family. I’ve been away from the communist faction for a long time. There’s no one in this world who will be cursed because of me.”

A life lived alone.

Baek Hyang-ah was saying that everything was actually a good thing.

“People will dig up your grave.”

“There will be no grave for me. I will quietly disappear beneath the snows that never melt. Let all wander around looking for me, chewing on their grudges.”

Baek Hyang-ah shook her head slightly and brushed away the white snow that had piled up on her head.

“The people of the North will wander for a long time in search of the devil who murdered the princess and her daughter. My name will be passed down through generations. I consider that a form of immortality. I will die, but I will not disappear.”

Baek Hyang-ah was not swayed even by Dang Mu-jin’s opinion.

As if saying that she would do whatever she wanted until the end, Baek Hyang-ah did not bend or compromise her opinion at all.

“This is the end of my request. Goodbye.”

Baek Hyang-ah smiled brightly as she said her final goodbyes.

And then he turned around and started walking somewhere.

Even at such a young age, his back looked so tired.

Soon Baek Hyang-ah’s figure disappeared into the snowstorm. Hyun-gong was still sitting there blankly.

Hyungong would need more time to calm his mind. Dang Mujin took off his thick fur coat and covered Hyungong with it, then headed in the direction where Baek Hyang-ah had disappeared.

Because Baek Hyang-ah’s pace was not fast, Dang Mu-jin was able to find her in no time.

“Hyang-ah!”

Baek Hyang-ah said she would be buried alone in a place where no one would come. It was absurd to think that Dang Mu-jin would follow her.

However, Baek Hyang-ah smiled faintly at Dang Mu-jin. At least it was clear that she was not offended.

Dang Mu-jin walked beside Baek Hyang-ah.

Baek Hyang-ah stumbled a little bit every time the wind blew strongly. Her steps were also getting slower.

In the end, Dang Mu-jin crouched down in front of Baek Hyang-ah and stuck his back out. Baek Hyang-ah hesitated for a moment and then rode on Dang Mu-jin’s back.

“Tell me where you want to go.”

“North, north.”

That was the end of the conversation. Dang Mu-jin walked silently through the snowstorm.

There were many things he wanted to say, but Dang Mu-jin couldn’t open his mouth because he was afraid that Baek Hyang-ah would have a hard time with that.

How long did it take to walk like that?

Baek Hyang-ah, who had been carrying him, twisted her body slightly.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“no.”

The conversation has begun.

“Wouldn’t you regret being buried in the North?”

“at all.”

Baek Hyang-ah moved slightly behind his back and spoke in a slightly weak voice.

“I’ve learned how to live. The important thing is to let go of malice and remember kindness. Even if the last thing I encounter is malice, I never forget that I have received much greater kindness from countless people.”

A strong wind blew. A ray of light poured through a gap in the clouds. The snowstorm was gradually weakening.

Baek Hyang-ah asked quietly.

“If only things had been just a little better, you and I…”

The voice broke off for a moment. Was the end near? Dang Mu-jin quickened his pace.

Fortunately, Baek Hyang-ah’s story did not end there.

“···Couldn’t we have been friends?”

“Definitely. And still a little bit now.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Baek Hyang-ah relaxed and leaned against Dang Mu-jin’s back, letting out a sigh.

Dang Mu-jin walked, feeling faint breathing behind his back.

Before we knew it, a snow-covered coniferous forest appeared.

“are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

Baek Hyang-ah’s voice became quieter. Dang Mu-jin walked even busier.

And then I found a clearing in the coniferous forest.

A small, naturally formed open space between the trees. However, it was fully exposed to sunlight, not obscured by the shadows of the trees.

Dang Mu-jin intuitively realized that he had to stop here.

I wanted to tell Baek Hyang-ah that this was where she would be buried. I thought that Baek Hyang-ah would definitely be satisfied.

But Dang Mu-jin did not open his mouth. Baek Hyang-ah had already stopped breathing.

“···.”

Dang Mu-jin put down Baek Hyang-ah and started digging the ground.

As I dug through the snow almost to my waist, dark dirt was revealed.

Dang Mu-jin dug up the dirt as well. Then he placed the white incense into the dirt.

Baek Hyang-ah curled up into a ball and laid down on the ground.

Baek Hyang-ah said she didn’t want a grave. That’s why Dang Mu-jin didn’t make a high mound. Instead, he gently swept the dirt and covered Baek Hyang-ah lightly. That was all Dang Mu-jin could do.

Dang Mu-jin stepped back a little and waited for the wind to blow.

A strong wind blew through the coniferous forest. The cold wind pushed away the thick snow and blew it away, leveling it.

Before long, the place where Baek Hyang-ah was buried became indistinguishable from any other place.

But the sunlight still shone brightly there.

Baek Hyang-ah said that she would return the elixir to the people of the North. One day, a peerless elixir containing the energy of extreme yin would grow on the spot where Baek Hyang-ah sleeps.

Baek Hyang-ah was on the verge of death, but she hoped for immortality. Baek Hyang-ah dreamed of immortality even through infamy.

But such immortality was temporary.

Baekhyang-ah’s true immortality will continue through the elixir that will grow on top of the place where Baekhyang-ah sleeps.

The elixir left behind by Baek Hyang-ah will give birth to a hero from the North.

At the spot where the hero died, an elixir will bloom again to welcome the next hero.

No one will know, but all of this may be a result of Baek Hyang-ah’s decision.

One day, a flower that will bloom on Baek Hyang-ah’s grave will grow while receiving the cold sunlight without any regrets and welcome the next hero.

Dang Mu-jin turned around and left the coniferous forest.

Before I knew it, the clouds had disappeared and the snowstorm had stopped. The wind had died down and the snow had stopped fluttering.

Dang Mu-jin looked at the path he had walked and the path he had to return to.

The footprints I left behind as I walked had long since disappeared. I could see an endless snowy field.

And there was a sky so blue it was annoying.

Finally, Dang Mu-jin thought of Baek Hyang-ah.

Northerners would say that the white fragrant herb is a devil or a witch.

However, Dang Mu-jin will remember Baek Hyang-ah as a woman who never gave up despite countless ills and hardships, and as a queen who slept in the snows of the North.

Dang Mu-jin took a deep breath.

And I walked towards the gap between the pure white snowfield and the blue sky.