Fox Sister

The tears of the betrayed village shamaness welled up.

The cold, rigid face of Father who turned away from the truth was vivid in my mind.

And the truth that my younger sibling had spoken.

The reality that I would use them as sacrifices just to satisfy my own greed,

Pierced deep into my heart and left a sharp pain.

“Benefit all mankind.”

My Master’s voice echoed in my ears.

Faith and betrayal, resentment and teachings…

Were tangled like threads and filled me with confusion and chaos.

But even amidst the chaos, there was one emotion I couldn’t deny.

The boiling hot anger rising from deep within my chest.

It was this feeling that supported my body and mind right now.

“…No matter what you say, the fact that you killed my master won’t change!”

Though my voice trembled, it carried sharp anger and determination.

Hwi smiled lazily as if finding interest in my words and looked down at me.

His attitude seemed to mock me, which irritated my nerves.

“So… I understand the hatred.”

His voice left an unpleasant aftertaste, hiding laughter.

Without hesitation, I threw the red vial I was holding at him.

When it broke, flames erupted, filling the surroundings with the sound of burning.

But Hwi remained standing there unmoving.

His lack of reaction was unsettling.

“Indeed… then…”

He continued with a slow, sticky voice.

“…there’s no reason to spare you, who harbors such murderous intent.”

Step by step, he approached me.

Slowly,

Yet surely, like a predator closing in on its prey.

I felt suffocated.

Retreating involuntarily from the oppressive sensation squeezing my chest.

My blood froze.

My vision blurred.

Memories flashed by like a slideshow.

The day I left home, wandering lost…

Times with my Master.

I remembered the words that I wouldn’t live past twenty.

And understood.

My fate was to end here.

With nowhere to return to, nothing left to hope for.

After losing my Master, there’s a huge void in my heart.

A cold, fierce wind howls through the emptiness.

Then,

A black shadow appeared before me like a flash of lightning, breaking the silence.

Her long black robes fluttered, her waist-length hair danced in the wind.

Her powerful presence made the air heavy.

“Die…”

The word that escaped the man’s lips was filled with suppressed bewilderment.

His reaction had clearly changed.

Cold sweat ran down his face, revealing his panic.

The woman in black regarded him with quiet but sharp eyes.

Her presence was overwhelmingly intense.

I couldn’t help but hold my breath, even my fear seemed to freeze.

“Though you called me here…”

She spoke with a low, cold voice.

Her words were sharp and icy like a blade.

“…did you harm Hwi?”

Short as it was, her tone carried more than just anger.

Deep within her piercing voice lay indescribable sorrow.

One could feel her anger, sorrow, and cold resolve for revenge.

“Die… this woman is… the first sword of Joseon Master spoke of!”

Third Brother’s trembling voice barely escaped from behind her.

His face had gone pale, his frightened eyes shook violently upon seeing her.

“Young Lady Cheongyun, don’t look back and run.”

Hwi’s firm command rang out.

As soon as he finished speaking,

Third Brother didn’t hesitate to throw himself off the cliff without looking back.

The sharp sound cutting through the air accompanied his disappearing figure.

The desperation to survive was palpable.

The woman in black robes, Mara.

Her profile revealed between her flowing black hair was cold and firm like ice.

A quiet yet overwhelming presence enveloped the area.

Even the moonlight falling on her back seemed to cool down.

“Never thought… I’d be blocked by you.”

Watching Third Brother’s fleeing back, Hwi let out a faint smile tinged with melancholy.

His voice carried resignation and subtle wariness.

All traces of arrogance were gone,

Showing reverence for the woman’s presence.

“I merely wish to break the heavens and overturn this world,

Just as you have done.

Why do you block my way!”

His words were cries filled with madness and twisted admiration.

But the woman’s reply was cold and firm.

“That doesn’t concern me.”

Her voice was icy,

Lacking any trace of emotion.

“Because you’ve annoyed me. I’ll simply kill you.”

Together with her short declaration, the sword flashed like lightning.

We didn’t even see when she drew it.

By the time I realized, the sword already pointed at the sky above Hwi’s head,

And crimson blood spurted from his torso like a fountain.

Hwi twisted his lips into a crooked smirk and burst into manic laughter.

The sound echoed like reverberations.

Sticky black masses pulsed like veins from his body, distorting his form.

The wounds inflicted by the sword healed rapidly as if rewinding time.

“Seems the absorption of the Black Smoke Technique has finally completed…”

Hwi’s eyes glinted strangely.

“Truly worthy of you. Most admirable!”

The eerie aura emanating from Hwi made breathing difficult.

The cursed energy evoked a hellish terror as if the underworld descended to earth.

He respectfully bowed with the red hat in hand, completely different from his previous arrogant attitude.

He slowly raised his head as if with genuine sincerity.

“Therefore, I challenge you!”

Hwi’s pupils burned with fierce fighting spirit.

“If you block me, then even you shall fall!”

The woman didn’t flinch as she stared at Hwi.

There was no sign of wavering in her cold gaze.

Her calmness was like deep ripples, tranquil yet powerful.

“Doesn’t matter.”

The woman’s brief reply froze the surrounding air,

And immediately, I felt my body being lifted.

Looking up in surprise, I saw her carrying me while flying into the sky,

With Master’s bloody body in her other arm.

Confused, I looked around.

The wind brushed my face, and the receding scenery below felt strange.

It was like being in a dream.

The woman crossed the sky effortlessly as if she had wings.

Despite being cradled in her arms and feeling the wind directly,

I felt more awe than anxiety.

The sky stretching behind her was endlessly wide and blue.

“You’ve torn the talisman and brought me back to this land.”

Her voice cut through the wind clearly.

“I don’t know your relationship with Hwi, but it’s dangerous – stay out of it.”

Though brief, worry could be sensed beneath her seemingly uncaring tone.

Soon, she gently placed me and the injured Master on a grassy hillside.

“Since it won’t take long… please look after Hwi.”

Her intense gaze meeting mine held fleeting sadness.

I nodded silently.

In the blink of an eye, her figure disappeared like fading shadows,

Leaving only a gentle breeze where she stood.

Before I could blink twice,

A tremendous roar came from the direction of Mujin Temple,

And the black tower reaching toward the sky,

Hyegyeonru, collapsed like the bones of a giant monster.

Accompanied by a ground-shaking roar,

An enormous pillar of dust shot into the sky.

Though invisible to the eyes,

My skin detected the powerful fluctuations of energy.

Instinctively knowing two immense forces were colliding fiercely.

Like two colossal beasts roaring and battling,

Their overwhelming power shook the entire world.

Black smoke continuously rose from Mujin Temple,

And vibrations like heartbeats kept coming,

Making the surrounding trees sway violently as if a great earthquake occurred.

The faint groan brought me back to my senses.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, I turned anxiously to Master.

An unbelievable scene unfolded before my eyes.

Through the torn robe, a gaping red wound marred his chest,

So deep I couldn’t gauge its end, as if piercing through the heart.

The abdominal penetration wound was similar.

Large palm-sized holes continuously poured out crimson blood.

That he still managed to breathe despite these grievous injuries seemed miraculous.

Desperately pulling out the herb pouch from my sleeve,

I nervously applied the herbs to the wounds,

Muttering spells with my trembling voice while infusing all my magical power.

Faint green light enveloped the wounds from the herbs,

But the severely torn flesh only twitched slightly,

Showing no signs of healing.

Pouring more power again in desperation yielded the same result.

Seeing Master’s increasingly pale face,

I finally realized it was beyond saving.

My efforts were like trying foolishly to stop a mighty river with bare hands.

It was futile.

Confronting this undeniable fact,

A wave of despair surged from deep within my chest.

Drawing back my trembling hands,

I gently covered Master’s face.

Though dying, his eyes were surprisingly clear.

Quiet footsteps mingled with the gentle breeze reached my ears,

Leaving a resonant echo in the peaceful silence.

Turning hurriedly, I saw the woman emerging from the darkness.

Despite the fierce battle she just fought,

Not a single strand of her appearance was disheveled.

Her black hair still fluttered neatly,

And her gaze was calm like the night sky.

However, profound sorrow and loss could be seen in her eyes.

She slowly approached Master.

Her delicate fingers lightly touched Master’s bloodied face,

Carrying tenderness accumulated over long years.

“…Don’t die, Hwi.”

Her voice was low and quiet,

But the emotions condensed within were intensely powerful.

The mixture of sorrow, anger, and resolute will was

Overwhelming enough to rip one’s heart upon hearing.

“Even if you die, I’ll cut down King Yan himself to bring you back.”

Though her words sounded absurd,

They felt genuinely sincere.

Her tightly pursed lips trembled slightly.

Master struggled to open his weary eyes and weakly grabbed her hand.

The movement was extremely slow and weak,

But contained boundless sincerity and warmth.

“…Such experiences… once is enough, Seolhwa…”

Master’s voice trembled faintly,

But held tender affection like addressing a lover.

It sounded like his final comfort and reassurance for her.

“How can you say such things…!”

Seolhwa firmly gripped Master’s hand.

Her eyes reddened, ready to overflow with tears at any moment.

Her trembling voice carried a mix of sorrow, anger, and resentment.

“How… can you leave me behind…!”

Seolhwa’s cry tore through the night sky like a scream.

It carried unfathomable depths of sorrow beyond anyone’s comprehension.

Master gathered his last strength to speak.

His voice was as faint as breathing, trembling weakly.

“…My last… request…”

His voice carried the peace only those nearing their end possess.

“Let me… die according to my fate…”

With those final words, the strength left Master’s hands.

All movements ceased.

I could feel Master’s last breath dispersing into the air.

The fact that my Master, the pillar of my life, was truly gone was unimaginable.

Hot sorrow surged from deep within my chest.

But Master’s final expression was incredibly peaceful.

Like finishing a long journey and returning quietly to one’s origin like tranquil river water.

---