I’d been drifting in the dark for what felt like a long time.
Then, all of a sudden, a strange voice rang out, echoing directly in my head.
“Are you afraid of death?”
No, not strange. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I’d heard this voice before.
“I fear something else more. Want to know what it is?”
That was the last voice I heard before I died. That bastard. The one who drove me to the edge—who finally made me choose death. The Heavenly Demon.
And now, the scene unfolding in front of me… it was something I was never supposed to see.
The Heavenly Demon strolled leisurely around someone who was dying. He even patted the dying person’s shoulder gently.
“I was born for a reason. Just like you were. Failing to fulfill that purpose—that’s what makes you a loser.”
“…You piece of shit…”
“You’ll die soon, but don’t feel too bad. Your purpose ends here. You’ve done your job. You can die now.”
“You’re saying… kuhk, you’re saying I was born just so you could use me?”
“Exactly. You really are a quick one. That’s why I liked you. There are too many dumb bastards in this world.”
What an absolutely sick thing to say. Sure, the Martial World treats human life like trash, but even so, no one else gets to decide the worth of someone’s life.
“I won’t forgive you…”
Maybe it was because their internal energy had been drained completely—or maybe it was just the extent of the damage—but the dying person’s face was so ruined I couldn’t even tell who they were.
The Heavenly Demon knelt on one knee and gently wiped their face with his sleeve.
Then he said, “My friend. You really are naive, aren’t you.”
“……”
“Forgiveness… is a mercy the strong bestow on the weak.”
Krrk.
With that awful sound, the ragged breathing finally stopped. Still clutching the Heavenly Demon’s shoulder like they’d never let go—even in death—someone died in vain.
The Heavenly Demon gently tapped the corpse’s shoulder and pried the hand off.
“Farewell. I hope we meet again in another life.”
That was it. With that short farewell, the Heavenly Demon stood up. His eyes glowed red, having drained every last bit of life from the dead. Then tears began to roll down his cheeks.
He’s crying?
A full-body shiver shot down my spine. I’d never felt this kind of fear before. Or disgust.
He killed someone… and then hoped to meet them again in another life. What kind of lunatic says shit like that?
And now he’s crying? Like a tiger skinning a deer alive and then weeping over its flesh.
“…Haa.”
The Heavenly Demon quietly wiped his tears and let out a long breath.
Then he muttered, “I have got an uninvited guest. Sneaking around like a damn rat.”
Goosebumps tore down my back. I was sure I’d suppressed my presence… but he sensed me before I even tried to run.
Or maybe… he knew I was here the whole time?
Last time, I ran before we locked eyes. His underlings gave chase, and I got hurt escaping.
But this time, for whatever reason, our eyes met.
No—more like I couldn’t not look. It was like being caught in a trance.
Those red, tear-damp eyes stared straight into me. A slow grin spread across his face. And then, black energy started pouring off him like smoke.
It was so overwhelming the air around him felt twice, no—three times as heavy. Just facing him made my knees buckle.
My heart pounded faster. Then faster still, until all I could hear was a booming throb that swallowed up every other sound.
Run. I had to turn and run. Now.
My instincts were screaming. But I couldn’t move. I was still frozen, spying on that nightmare of a scene.
Then, suddenly, a horrifying thought crept in.
What if everything that happened in the Moyong Clan was just a hallucination?
Or worse, what if I actually died from the poison, and this is my second death, starting all over again?
Either way, I was about to die again.
At least last time, I chose to jump.
Now, I’d die like a fucking idiot, helpless, with all my internal energy drained.
And after all the shit I did to survive this second life? Just to die like this? No way. Hell no.
Faces from the Moyong Clan flashed through my mind. Most of them were… kind. Something Seol Danhae never would’ve expected. That kind of warmth.
“You fucker… you think you get to kill me twice?”
“Twice? You know me?”
I didn’t bother answering.
I kicked into motion.
They say once you’re ready to die, you can do anything. And me? I’ve already died once. I had more resolve than anyone.
I will survive this.
I clenched so hard I tasted blood. My legs twitched. Just barely—but it was enough.
Hell yes. That’s more like it. You’re my legs! I trained you for this!
The Heavenly Demon kept walking toward me. His lackeys, sensing their master’s intent, were closing in too.
My breathing was ragged. My heart thundered. I raised both hands with all the strength I could muster.
“…Take… this…”
“What was that?”
“Take this, motherfucker!”
I socked him a punch and spun around, bolting forward. My body was finally under control again.
My lungs were burning. Every vein pulsing. My nerves were taut, snapping tight.
I’d forgotten this feeling, but now I remembered it all too well. That horrible, lonely isolation.
No one around me was on my side. Every last one of them wanted me dead.
Still—whatever the odds, if I lived, I won. That was all that mattered. I fixed my eyes on the exit ahead and ran.
But no matter how far I ran, the exit didn’t get closer. Not one inch. I stretched my arm out with everything I had, but it was the same.
I don’t know how long I ran like that. The door, once right there, vanished altogether.
The world turned red. Then darker, until it was a blackish blood color. Then just black.
Even the sounds of pursuit behind me started to vanish, one by one.
Finally, everything was still. No footsteps. No voices. I slowed down, eventually stopping altogether.
My sweat-drenched body cooled rapidly.
I was back in the dark again. I should’ve felt relieved… but instead, panic prickled under my skin.
“…Anyone there?”
I called out. A little sheepishly.
No answer.
The silence was loud. I could hear everything my living body was doing. Breathing, heartbeat, blood flow.
Then I looked down.
Cold sweat.
I was standing at the cliff’s edge—right where Seol Danhae had died the first time.
Below was a black, endless abyss. Death itself waited beneath.
One more step and I would’ve fallen.
The alarm in my brain blared again.
Run! Get out of here! NOW.
But my legs wouldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I felt lost.
Hell, I didn’t even know if I’d ever had a path to begin with.
“…Ha… ha ha…”
My legs shook. A bitter laugh escaped. My heart pounded with dread. And as always, my brain started to claw for any kind of way out.
Right. I should go back. Try another path. If I retrace my steps, maybe…
Wait. Is this even my breath I’m hearing? Am I really alive?
“…Maybe I’m already dead…”
If so… whose breathing is that?
Then—
A faint breeze brushed my left ear.
“Unfortunately… not yet.”
A soft voice spoke. Right next to me.
I was so shocked I couldn’t even scream. Every hair on my body stood up.
The Heavenly Demon.
I thought I lost him.
Before I could turn—he was already in my face.
“Are you afraid of death?”
“Fuck yeah, asshole!”
I screamed and bolted upright.
Thunk!
Pain exploded across my forehead. I looked around, panicked. But it wasn’t him—it was someone else, clutching their nose.
“…Dang Iheon?”
It was Iheon. I was gasping like I’d just surfaced from underwater. I shrank in on myself and glanced around, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
My room. Moyong Yeonhwa’s room.
“My lady!”
Hyangah rushed over, on the verge of tears. Moments later, the door slammed open and the whole family flooded in. In a flash, they surrounded me, joy and worry mixing on every face.
“Ahwa! Are you all right? Please say something—can you recognize me?”
“Wait—we need to call the physician—!”
“Right! Right! Someone, go fetch the physician now!”
“Yes! He just stepped out to the Medicine King’s Hall, I’ll go now!”
“Yeonhwa, are you fully awake? Are you in pain anywhere?”
The room turned into a damn fish market in seconds. And I just sat there, stunned. Like this was all some kind of dream.
That voice—the one that had haunted my ears—still clung to me, sticky and vile.
But dream or not, someone had to say something.
My voice was rough, probably from how long I’d been out. I forced it to work.
“…Too loud.”
Everyone went dead silent. Moyong Cheon muttered like he’d seen a miracle.
“Holy shit…”
Then he threw both arms in the air.
“She spoke! Yeonhwa spoke, big brother! She talked!”
“Thank heavens. Oh, thank heavens. What a miracle. Just opening her eyes was enough—but she spoke!”
…I’m not a damn toddler, you know. Why are they acting like I just said my first word? Look at them wiping away tears like proud parents. This is exactly what happened the first time I woke up in the Moyong Clan.
Honestly. Loud, annoying bastards.
And yet… part of me wanted to cry too.
Goddamn it. I missed them. So much.
No one here would ever know the nightmare I just had.
My forehead was swelling from that headbutt, but whatever—Iheon looked just as relieved. He checked my pulse and let out a shaky breath.
“You’re safe now, Yeonhwa.”
He said it quietly, just loud enough for me to hear without drawing the others’ attention. I gave him a faint nod.
“How long was I out?”
“It’s been over seven days since the banquet ended. Not once did you open your eyes. Everyone’s been worried sick.”
Iheon paused for a moment, then closed his eyes, focusing on my pulse. I watched his face. He looked exhausted—like he hadn’t slept a wink.
So did the rest of my family. Especially Moyong Muhyeok… he looked like hell. Like he hadn’t done anything but worry about me.
My neck prickled with guilt. I didn’t know where to put my hands. Just… awkward as hell.
So many people had nearly lost their minds thinking I was going to die.
Maybe it was worth it, busting my ass to come back.
“Well… not dead, so it’s fine.”
I said it casually, tossing the words out.
Lady Eon suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. She smelled like wood and flowers. It was a kind, gentle scent.
“Yes. That’s all that matters, my sweet girl. This mother of yours will be grateful for the rest of her life that you came back to us.”
Her words hit me like a hammer to the chest. My eyes stung for no reason at all. I barely held back tears.
Moyong Cheon chimed in, voice slightly raised.
“Yeah, being alive’s what counts. We can get your internal energy back lat—”
“Uh, Cheon!”
Moyong Wi snapped at him, cutting him off. But it was too late.
I slowly lifted my head from Lady Eon’s shoulder.
“What about my internal energy?”
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