MB Ch 12

Whoooosh! Along with a scorching heat, Mujang’s right arm nearly melted off. He gritted his teeth and stepped back.

The spirit composed of burning stones opened its large mouth and roared at him.

“Get lost, small god. This is not the place for you.”

“Shut up.”

Mujang fixed his grasp on his sword and spit out his reply in a cold voice. He had already killed around thirty spirits on his way down here. If King Yeomra¹ found out, he’d truly be in trouble, but Mujang was not in his right mind. He knew very well that he had gone half insane. Even though he knew this, he couldn’t control himself.

“Crazy bastard.”

The spirit ground its teeth and sneered at him. A huge wave of fire crashed over Mujang. Mujang flew into the air. The fire quickly followed him up as it burned everything around it.

Not enough.

Mujang ground his teeth as he thought to himself.

He wouldn’t be able to kill it at this rate. His sword that flew like a black bird swung in the air, and the spirit’s body was sliced diagonally. The countless souls that had been trapped inside flew into the air as they cried out. Mujang looked at each and every one of them. Muyi was not among them.

“Damn it.”

Was he wrong this time as well?

“Don’t you think it’s time you stopped doing this?”

Suddenly, he heard a cold voice. As soon as he turned around, he saw a man with black hair sitting above the lake of fire. He seemed relaxed as if he were enjoying a good show as he looked down at Mujang. A graceful smile flashed on his beautiful face, but his dark purple eyes seemed bored. He was wearing gray silk robes, and there was a dark red earring dangling from one ear like a drop of blood.

Yeomra…

Mujang fixed his grip on his sword.

“How much longer are you going to throw this tantrum? No matter what you do, you will never be able to find your little sister.”

“Give her to me.”

“You really have a difficult time understanding. Have I ever let a criminal escape under my watch?”

Yeomra’s red lips stretched into a beautiful smile. However, his smile was not a good sign. Yeomra had a very strange habit of smiling wider the angrier he became.

“Go back to your prison before I kill you.”

“If I planned on going back, I would never have come here.”

“I’m giving you a warning for old time’s sake. Go back, friend.”

Yeomra ground his teeth and spoke again. Suddenly, two spirits came at Mujang from behind him. When Mujang pierced them with his sword, Yeomra’s eyes narrowed.

“Why don’t you just take care of this once and for all?”

Banra’s woman, who had been standing behind Yeomra, whispered to him. Yeomra smiled and turned to look at her.

“Do you want to die? I said he’s my friend.”

“But…”

“Shut your mouth. There’s a way to handle this guy, so…”

Yeomra turned his head and watched as Mujang shattered the door of Avici hell. He sighed.

“I heard Mago picked up something very delicious.”

Suddenly, Mujang’s hand stopped in the middle of brandishing his sword. He turned his head and glared at Yeomra. His face was full of murderous intent.

“Yes, the rumors have spread in the underworld. Everyone is antsy to watch. The child is growing well. How can you be doing all this over here at a time like this?”

Riiiip! The final spirit’s head flew in the air. The released souls cried out. Yeomra’s smile grew bigger.

Catching those things again would take quite a long time. Ah, this damned punk…

“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

Mujang burst up and glared at him.

“Ah, yes, that’s no surprise. If you keep going like this, you’ll be the first one to croak before the kid’s even born.”

Enraged, Mujang’s eyes pierced through Yeomra like arrows. If this punk wasn’t hurt and sick, he would really have been a big problem. But right now, Mujang was almost at death’s door.

Yeomra glared back at him with annoyance. Mujang did not care for Yeomra’s warning. For a moment longer, he glared at Yeomra before heading out of Avici hell.

“He’s quite irritated.”

Yeomra sighed as he watched Mujang’s back. Then he turned to his servants and commanded them to catch the released souls and bring them back.

* * *

Cough!

As soon as he returned to Mount Dongdae, a dark red lump of blood burst out of Mujang’s mouth. He covered his mouth as soon as he could, but the sticky blood seeped through his fingers and dripped onto the floor. Mujang supported himself on his sword as he gazed at the blood.

“Have you recently developed masochistic tendencies, sir?”

Suddenly, he heard a cold voice behind him.

Ran… He didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. Despite his use of honorifics, he would often mix it with informal speech. Mujang ignored his breach of etiquette.

“What about Bari?”

Mujang asked as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. There was no time. When he had been trapped on Mount Dongdae, the abundance of time had been dull and tiresome. But now, there wasn’t enough.

“She’s fine. Now that she’s forgotten you, she’s very peaceful.”

Ran answered with spite.

However, Mujang merely laughed. Thank goodness she was happy to have forgotten him. This was enough. He was truly relieved. As long as she was happy, as long as she had escaped her pain and suffering, he could not ask for more.

A smile stretched across his lips. His eyes were filled with a deep despair, but his lips were able to smile. It was quite fascinating.

“Yeomra will not harm you.”

With that, Mujang entered his crumbling house. Everything was broken and shattered. The only things left intact were his favorite chair and one large table. This table was the one he and Bari had used when they were studying characters.

“You went all the way to hell just to confirm that?”

When Ran asked, Mujang scoffed.

“Among other things.”

Then he chuckled and picked up the ink brush and began to draw on some paper that was unraveled on the table. It was a map of hell that nobody in the living world could understand. The paths were twisted together like a never ending maze. The entrances and exits were not easy to find. It was not an easy task navigating through the depths of hell.

“Even Mago does not enter hell as she pleases.”

Mujang put down the brush and gazed at Ran.

“Once you’ve come out with Bari, immediately enter the passageway to Seochon hell².”

Ran continued to look at Mujang with a cold gaze, but he helplessly drew closer and glanced down at the map. This was the plan to help Bari escape to the land of the living from the underworld without being caught by Mago.

“After we escape to the living world, do you think Mago will give up? There is no place in this universe where she cannot go.”

“Even if that’s true, we can’t give up.”

Mujang spoke in a heavy tone.

“At the very least, Yeomra will hide any trace of her for a short period of time.”

That is what he felt from Yeomra’s gaze today. He had killed so many spirits in order to call him out, but Yeomra had let Mujang leave alive. Additionally, he had called Mujang a ‘friend’ with that sarcastic voice of his. In the past, they had entrusted each others’ lives in the battlefield as they fought the mythical beasts, so he would definitely help Mujang out now. Mujang needed to trust that he would help.

“Ran…”

Mujang raised his eyes and looked at Ran.

“Please… I entrust Bari to you.”

“I’m helping Bari because she is my friend. It’s not because of your request…”

Ran spoke in a cold voice, but it did not seem like he hated Mujang as he did in the past.

“Okay, I  know. But I’m glad you’re by Bari’s side.”

Suddenly, he was overcome by another coughing fit. He began to convulse as hunched over and began to vomit blood once again. It was such a frightening sight that Ran grew pale.

“You’re dying.”

Ran spoke as if he were confirming it.

He knew. Mujang closed his eyes. He turned around and sat down in his chair. His body felt heavy and limp as it marched towards death. Whenever he pierced a spirit, he felt what little was left of his energy leave him. He had already gone way past his limit. However, he was relieved. He had managed to figure out a path through hell before he…

Even though the Heavenly Emperor was probably aware of the fact that Mujang had broken through the bounds of Mount Dongdae, he did take action. Mujang was also relieved of this fact.

The fatal internal wound was already causing his body to crumble from the inside out. Even if he looked fine on the outside, the destruction had already begun inside, and there was no way of stopping it. It continued to eat its way out.

It didn’t matter. Hadn’t it always been this way from the very beginning? Was it not his punishment to rot and die on this uninhabited, useless mountain? Because he neither ate nor drank, it was only natural for his body to become thin and lean. Even so, he was not hungry or thirsty. He did not even feel sleepy.

In the empty Mount Dongdae, the only thing that could be seen were the traces of the things he’d burned. Hong-yo had gotten angry and disappeared.

At times, he could hardly believe the illusions he’d created here.

He could hardly believe that she had been here. That they had gotten married. That they had lived for a short time as a couple. Even though he’d lived here for 2,800 years, only that short period of time was carved into his memories. Those moments had become his purpose.

The moments he and Bari had laughed together. The moments when he’d gazed into her eyes. The moments he’d entered her and they became one. The moment when she’d told him that she wanted to return from the land of the living and live with him. That moment had become his eternity. It was enough.

The child…

He hoped the child took after Bari.

Bari…

He hoped she would never remember him.

That was how it needed to be. It was how it should be.

His eyes stung with tears. It was probably because he was in a weakened state. Mujang gritted his teeth and held back the tears.

Once Bari and Ran left, he planned on going to Avici hell. The place where his little sister was. He was going to search for the undetectable traces of his sister and stay within the depths of Avici hell. It didn’t matter how long it would take. He needed to stay with his sister, the pitiful child.

He was no longer angry. He now realized the part his stubbornness had played in all this. He only hoped his sister would forgive him. He hoped she was not angry at all the things he had done. He hoped Muyi’s soul would be free.

Bari and Muyi… He hoped they would be free of him.

“I found something strange.”

Suddenly, Mujang heard Ran’s voice behind him. Mujang opened his heavy eyes and looked back at him. Ran was holding a bell in his hand.

“This is Bari’s bell.”

It was yellow as if it had been made from brass. The bell was made of several small bells. 

“What’s strange about it?”

Mujang looked at Ran’s blue eyes and asked.

“It doesn’t make a sound.”

As if to prove his point, Ran shook the bell here and there. It really didn’t make a sound. It should have jingled at the slightest movement, but it did not even move. Mujang merely stared at Ran.

“But Bari really treasured it, so I should give it back to her, right?”

What was he trying to say?

“Yeah.”

Mujang answered indifferently. Ran swiftly threw the bell at him. Mujang looked at him in confusion. Ran gestured to him with his chin and spoke.

“So take it to her.”

“What?”

“It’s something Bari treasured, so take it to her.”

What was he saying?

Even though Ran knew that he shouldn’t meet Bari again…?

“We agreed to meet underneath the willow tree tonight, so you can give it to her then.”

Ran said that and walked out. Mujang glared at him, but he stood up and began to look for a place to wash. For some reason, he felt energized.

Yes, he was only going in Ran’s stead. He was only going to give her the bell. It wasn’t anything big. He was just… going to meet Bari…

Holding the bell that would not ring, Mujang grinned.

* * *

A daisy fleabane was placed on the windowsill.

Bari picked up the flower and looked around with a heavy expression. It was definitely a sign from Ran.

Why did he want to meet?

Did he want to leave today?

Ran treated her kindly and warmly, but Bari still could not trust him. He said this place was dangerous, but her mother and her mother’s servants were all kind to her. Of course, putting one’s complete trust in someone always comes with some danger. Whether they were human or god, there was no one she could trust.

Bari walked to the garden when she suddenly came to a halt. She didn’t know why she was having such thoughts. Had she been betrayed? That was possible. The fact that the child’s father was not by her side means that something had occurred. Was it painful? Was it sad?

A breeze rustled through the branches of the willow tree. She suddenly had a feeling that willow trees symbolized farewells. Someone had told her this. Someone told her that, in poems, willow trees often represented goodbyes. They said that a long time ago, there were many willow trees at riverbanks, and many maidens had cried underneath them. Who had taught her these things?

Bari raised her hand and moved the branches of the willow tree to the side. The moonlight flowed down along the dainty branches. Bari’s eyes expected to see a boy with a lean figure who reminded her of the blue moonlight. However, she saw someone else instead.

It was Mujang.

Bari could not understand why her breath caught, why her heart raced, and why her heart ached.

It was probably due to the moonlight. Or it might be because he had lost so much weight. She had heard from Doah that he was sick, but she did not imagine his face would be this worn. Although it was dark, she could still see that his handsome face was now sharp, his jawline even more pronounced. His eyes looked even more sorrowful, and there was a red wound on his neck.

“Are you alright?”

He looked to be in such poor condition that she could not help but voice her concern.

“Ah, I’m fine.”

He spoke in a slightly stiff voice and averted his gaze. It seemed as if he did not want to look into her eyes. It was a bit awkward, so she fidgeted with her fingers.

“Ran asked me to give this to you…”

He spoke as if he had come here for business and held something out to her. Bari received the cloth bundle from him and opened it. She frowned.

A bell?

She tried shaking it, but it did not make a sound.

“What is this?”

When he heard her question, he answered in a stiff voice.

“I don’t know.”

“Pardon?”

“I just…”

He gazed at Bari.

“I came at Ran’s request. He told me you always kept this on your person.”

She looked into his shadowy gray eyes.

Suddenly, Bari’s heart ached. She didn’t know why this was happening, but it still twinged. Just looking at those eyes… A faint sadness seemed to rock through her.

Why? But before this question had fully formed, he averted his gaze. As if he had truly only come to run an errand, he began to walk away. Suddenly, he turned his head and asked her.

“How is your health?”

Why was he asking about her health when he was in such a poor state himself?

Bari frowned. She felt that Mujang should be more concerned about his own health.

“I’m very healthy.”

“Ah… that’s a relief.”

Then he really turned around and walked further away. Suddenly, she saw blue lanterns shimmering from inside the garden like fireflies. She could hear her mother’s voice speaking to the servants. Alarmed, Bari unconsciously grabbed Mujang’s sleeve and dragged him away. She brought them within the thicket of some bushes and hid.

“What brings Banya-nim here to grace us with his presence?”

Mago’s voice was filled with laughter, and her pleasant fragrance spread to their noses. Bari held her breath and stayed still. She could hear footsteps, and she could hear the sound of silk cloth dragging across the plants. The smooth voice of a man and Mago’s laughing voice continued to exchange pleasantries.

Gah, what am I doing?

Suddenly, Bari realized that her hand was clenched around Mujang’s sleeve. Although it was good that she had hid them here to conceal the fact that Mujang had met with her, she realized that they were too close. When she came to this realization, her face turned red with embarrassment.

She could smell his scent. Now that she had a closer look, she could see that he had a small birthmark behind his ear. He probably had another one on his back.

What? Bari asked herself. How did she know he had a birthmark on his back?

She slightly tilted her head to the side. The nape of his neck looked very familiar. His scent was also familiar. From this angle, his face, his wide shoulders, his tall figure all looked familiar.

Why? Within these dizzying thoughts, Bari lifted her head. She realized that they were very close. If she moved just a bit, their lips would touch. His arm was holding her in an embrace. If they drew a little closer like this…

“They’ve gone.”

Mujang spoke in a steady voice and distanced himself from her.

“M-My apologies.”

When he heard her voice, for a moment, Mujang was at a loss for words. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.

“The one who should be sorry isn’t you. It’s me.”

“Pardon?”

Mujang did not say more.

“What are you sorry about?”

“Within two weeks, Ran will come to see you again.”

Instead of answering her question, he said something else.

“Mujang-nim.”

“Please take care of yourself until then. Do not… trust anyone.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m sorry… I cannot tell you anything more than this, my lady…”

With that, he turned his head and disappeared past the willow tree.

Between the trembling willow branches, Bari stood as she gazed dazedly into the distance.

Why did she feel so sad?

Is this all because of the willow tree?

Because of this tree that symbolizes goodbyes, did this trivial one-night’s meeting seem more meaningful to her?

She didn’t know.

Bari wanted to cry.

Despite not knowing the reason, even though she felt frustrated and gloomy, the tears did not stop.

The same went for Mujang as he left. His lips were stiff as he entered the darkness. As he flew back to Mount Dongdae from Mago’s palace, water droplets floated in the air.