GTHWCS~07

CHAPTER~07

Even in the pitch-black night, the man’s skin gleamed pale and flawless—radiant like snow under moonlight.

His long, sharp eyes were cold yet mesmerizing, and that natural air of arrogance surrounding him only made his presence more suffocating.

—Hey, did you say I killed you?

The voice—half amused, half indifferent—sounded like it could snatch her life away at any moment.

Please spare me, please…!

Yeong-won had no idea how many times she’d screamed that plea silently with her eyes squeezed shut.

“No! I can’t die now—!”

She shot up with a cry, breath ragged, only to realize that daylight had already broken. Birds were chirping somewhere nearby.

It was her fifth morning on Mount Jeokbyeok.

“Miss? Did you have another nightmare?”

Instead of answering, Yeong-won wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and temples.

Since the day she’d entered Jeokbyeok Mountain and seen the horde of spirits and grim reapers in the mist, she had been haunted by nightmares every night for five days straight.

“Miss, are you feeling unwell? Shall I massage your neck a little?”

“No, it’s fine. Yesterday, I saw wild strawberries nearby. Let’s eat some and start moving.”

They hadn’t found a proper cave to rest in, so last night they’d slept leaning against a tree. Every movement now sent a sting through her aching bones.

Grimacing, Yeong-won steadied herself against a tree trunk and exhaled a heavy breath, her eyes clouded as she looked into the thick forest.

As she had feared from the start, they still hadn’t found Jejado.

The fog that rolled in from time to time disoriented them, and wild beasts had begun to appear more frequently, forcing them to flee for their lives again and again.

A snake had even fallen from a tree, and the mushrooms and herbs they’d eaten in hunger caused rashes and stomach cramps.

And that wasn’t the worst of it.

Once, they’d seen people—men with wild eyes, clutching sickles and hoes, broken shackles still dangling from their ankles.

Escaped convicts from Jejado, without a doubt.

But then, without warning, those men turned their weapons on each other.

Flesh was cut. Heads rolled.

Yeong-won and Sorae had hidden, trembling, terrified they might be noticed next.

Remembering that day made Yeong-won sigh heavily.

Perhaps she’d simply been lucky so far. She had scratches and bruises, but at least she was still alive.

Yet, as her hope faded, a creeping thought spread through her like mold—

If we don’t find Jejado today… will we die tomorrow?

“Today, we’ll find it for sure, Sorae. Let’s hold on a little longer.”

Yeong-won forced a smile, trying to lift her sinking spirits. Sorae nodded firmly.

“Yes, Miss. We’ll find Jejado today. I heard a magpie cry this morning—it’s a good omen!”

Perhaps it really was.

Late that afternoon, Sorae—weak from hunger—spotted wild grapes among the bushes and excitedly rushed toward them… only to lose her footing and tumble down the slope.

Startled, Yeong-won reached out after her and fell as well, rolling all the way down.

Her whole body throbbed in pain. Her neck burned where something had scraped it, and her shoulders and knees were bruised and stinging.

But the fall turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

When they finally got up, trembling and sore, they found themselves facing a hazy village that seemed to emerge straight from the mist.

“Miss… did we finally find it? Is this Jejado?”

“I think it is.”

As Yeong-won stepped forward, the mist that had wrapped around her like a shroud suddenly dissolved like a mirage.

Before her eyes spread a scene so breathtaking it seemed painted by divine hands.

Towering stone peaks surrounded the land like folding screens, and at their feet stretched a vast village—so large it could hardly be taken in at once.

Atop a gentle hill stood a grand mansion—majestic walls, imposing gates, black-tiled roofs rising like whale backs, and countless courtyards connected by tall pavilions. It all merged with the cliffs behind it, forming a view that stole her breath away.

Below the hill, countless thatched and log houses spread across the plains, arranged neatly along smooth, straight roads that resembled a checkerboard.

Streams of jade-green water shimmered as they flowed through the village, while fields and paddies stretched endlessly beyond.

On the slopes, cattle, horses, and sheep grazed peacefully among hills carpeted with colorful flowers and trees.

It was paradise—pure and serene.

Yeong-won’s nose stung as she gazed at the beauty before her. Turning to the dazed Sorae, she smiled.

“Sorae, I think we’ve finally reached Jejado.”

“Then… does that mean we can finally eat a proper meal?”

“What?”

“The people of the Geom clan wouldn’t be so heartless, would they? They’ll feed us, right?”

Half laughing, half crying, Sorae’s question made Yeong-won chuckle.

“Don’t worry. If they won’t feed us, I’ll beg on the streets to make sure you eat.”

“You promise, Miss?”

“I promise!”

Feeling lighter than she had in days, Yeong-won quickened her pace down toward the village.

After about an hour’s descent, they reached the entrance.

A large black stele—about ten feet high—stood beside the road, likely marking the founding of the village.

“Miss, this place is huge! I thought it would be a small mountain village, but it’s so big and lively!”

As they drew closer, Sorae’s eyes widened.

Stalls lined both sides of the wide street, selling vegetables, meat, fabric, pottery, and woodwork. The air was filled with the scent of food, and people bustled everywhere.

It felt just like the bustling west market of Hanseongbu.

Drawn in by the noise and savory smells, Yeong-won and Sorae’s steps quickened—

only for them to freeze the moment they entered the street.

“…Miss, didn’t you say the rumors about Jejado being a haven for criminals were false?”

Sorae’s voice trembled. Yeong-won couldn’t answer.

Her father’s words came back to her.

—Does it make sense that a lawless land could exist where even the government cannot reach? Do you think officials who live on honor would allow such a stain? It’s all just rumor.

—But Father, they say it’s a paradise for escaped convicts. Maybe it’s true.

—Nonsense. Jejado is a beautiful, peaceful land where flowers bloom all year, the climate is mild, crops are plentiful, and disasters never strike. When the time comes, I’ll take you there myself.

Father… you were wrong.

Because Yeong-won could now see that most of the people walking the streets looked exactly like those escaped convicts Sorae mentioned.

They were tall, broad, with scruffy beards and scarred faces. Their clothes were tattered and patched; some wore old animal hides.

Axes, bows, swords, and iron clubs hung from their belts. Their expressions were fierce—wild like starving dogs.

One look at them, and Yeong-won’s stomach clenched in fear. The memory of convicts slaughtering each other flashed before her eyes.

But she forced herself to breathe.

At least… they were not as terrifying as the spirits and grim reapers she’d seen her first night on Jeokbyeok Mountain.

“Miss, what should we do? Do you think the Geom clan really lives here, as Master said?”

Sorae whispered nervously.

“I believe they must. The Geom clan wouldn’t be of minor standing. We can ask someone.”

“Ask… who?”

Sorae’s face twisted in despair, and Yeong-won had no answer.