IDMV 09

Chapter 09

Not long ago, Wicheonso had been following traces to find the sacred relic that had disappeared from the Cheonsin Church’s report.
By chance, his pursuit led him to Cheonsang Lake, located at the far end of the Hot Rock Valley (Yeolamgok) in the southwest of Cheonsan.

Cheonsang Lake is the second-largest lake in Cheonsan, and Wicheonso thought that perhaps the heat of Hot Rock Valley might make it a suitable hiding place for the sacred relic.

Even for Wicheonso, entering the Yeolamgok, which belonged to the Yeomhwa family, without evidence was impossible. So he was simply wandering around the perimeter of Cheonsang Lake.

Then, from the edge of the canyon, he thought he heard a woman’s voice.

The next moment, he saw a woman in white fall into the water.

Without thinking, Wicheonso jumped into the lake.

The woman was sinking beneath the surface.

Not knowing who she was, he swam toward her.

Cheonsang Lake was deep, and the water was as cold as ice. Moreover, the woman’s clothes would become heavy when soaked, making it difficult for her to reach the surface.

So Wicheonso reached out to her.

The woman remained completely still, as if the dark blue lake was swallowing her and she had no choice but to wait.

When Wicheonso finally reached her, her tightly closed eyes opened.

Her hazy eyes fixed on him, and strength returned to her limp arms.

Though difficult to see clearly because of the bubbles, her lips unmistakably formed the words:

• “Baek-ah.”

At that moment, Wicheonso’s eyes widened.

It must have been a coincidence. Or perhaps he had seen wrong.

As soon as he held the hand she extended toward him, her eyes closed again.

Thanks to that, Wicheonso was able to pull her up from the depths of the lake.

It didn’t take long for him to bring her out of the water while holding her. Fortunately, her chest moved slightly, but her lips were pale, and her body shivered violently.

The situation was serious.

His subordinates, waiting by the lake, were shocked when they saw the woman Wicheonso had rescued.

“Master, did you jump in knowing who she was?”
“Who?”
“Judging by her hair color, she seems to be Sojeo of the Seoksan branch, a guest of the Yeomhwa family.”

That was when he first learned about Jeok Heerin.

Why had this woman said the name “Baek-ah”? Was it a coincidence?

Wicheonso brought her to the Yeomhwa family, but he couldn’t shake his doubt.

Later, he reunited with her at Bukhyang-ro.

Because she was unconscious, he took her to his secluded residence and watched over her while she slept.

“She seems so fragile…”

Just like when they first met, her collarbones were pronounced from being so thin.

Her pale skin seemed untouched by sunlight, and her wrists were unnaturally thin. Her delicate movements reminded him of a young, fragile deer just learning to walk.

And yet, she had faced Hyeomryeong Doma.

“Moreover…”

Though it was only a fleeting moment, she had deftly dodged Hyeomryeong Doma’s attack with astonishing speed.

Her movement had seemed to freeze for a moment.

“She used a divine technique beyond imagination.”

Could a mere woman really wield such a technique?

The Yeomhwa family had carefully hidden her from the world, and indeed, the daughter of the Seoksan branch seemed to possess special abilities.

After remaining still for a long time, she cried as soon as she awoke.

The reason was unknown, but it seemed that her long-suppressed grief had finally burst forth.

She was a woman full of secrets.

Wicheonso became curious about what she was hiding.

So, when she opened her eyes, he deliberately removed his mask to reveal his identity.

He wanted to see how she would react upon realizing who he was.

Even after locking eyes in the lake, she did not remember him.

“Is it true? Or does she not want to be entangled with me?”

A slight smile tugged at Wicheonso’s lips.

“It doesn’t matter. She’ll remember me eventually.”

Whether through fascination or fear, it didn’t matter. As long as she remained in Cheonsan, she would eventually learn about him.

Wicheonso covered his beautiful face with his mask again and picked up the sword he had left leaning by the table—a divine weapon bestowed by the cult leader himself.

With his crimson robes fluttering, Wicheonso stepped outside, followed by his subordinates.

“Master, will you interrogate Hyeomryeong Doma personally?”
“Of course. He must have taken the sacred relic.”
“I’ll prepare everything.”

As his subordinate was about to bow, Wicheonso asked,
“When will Sojeo’s wedding be?”
“In less than a month, I believe.”
“I’m very curious why Cheonjon has not yet allowed Sojeo’s marriage.”
“Shall we find out?”
“Yes. Discreetly.”