Requiem of Subdued Souls

Chapter 32: Nirvana Painting (15)

Under the slanted moonlight, the back of the woman was half-lit and half-dark.

Her hair was long enough to reach her waist, and red beads decorated the hairpin that hung over her hair that didn’t shake. It could be said that she just stood there, not moving.

Who was she?

The scary ghost that the woman named Yeom witnessed? The one they saw before entering the ritual hall…?

Seol Young took a step closer to get a good look at her.

But then…

His legs trembled, and the entire landscape began to shake. Seol Young felt dizzy.

The whole scene was shaking, making him feel dizzy again, and this made him realize something.

He came to a place he shouldn’t have come. He peeked at something he shouldn’t have, and so, this was his only chance.

‘I need to get a little closer look!’

Seol Young raised his spiritual power, but the form of the woman was already fading.

He couldn’t miss this chance.

At least he had to find out where the woman was even standing.

That unlit building.

What was it? Who was it?

Seol Young looked at the background instead of the woman. He focused his whole mind on it and stared at it very intently.

For a brief second, he could see the shaking building clearly.

A majestic octagonal shrine.

It was the sacred well of Silla, the Water Veins.

At that moment, the world he was in pushed him back, making it harder for him to withstand it.

The sensation of directions had changed, and he struggled to keep his balance as he finally caught onto something.

It was the railings of the bar, and Seol Young opened his eyes.

Before he knew it, he was back at the bar.

“Fourth!”

Song Ok ran and grabbed him. Flustered, he said,

“I was wondering why you didn’t come inside! Are you not feeling well?”

“No.”

Song Ok was a strong person. And with his calm voice, his dizziness vanished.

‘Water Veins.’

Seol Young thought as he came to his senses.

‘There is something there.’

One side of his chest felt cold, but he didn’t say anything because that would make things worse.

Hyo Wol clicked his tongue.

“Even if we have drunk this much, there is no way he could get drunk at this level. Maybe he overdid it.”

“He could be exhausted too. Maybe getting up right now is better. Let’s walk back together.”

Baek Eon rose from his spot, gently grabbed Seol Young, and led him.

Seol Young could only sigh. He didn’t want to tell them what he saw.

He wanted them to stay as far away from there as possible and handle the evil things for them.

‘How can I tell them not to go to the Water Veins for the meantime?’

As he continued to think, the three walked together.

Seol Young’s worries were suddenly resolved.

“Ah!”

The men walking from the other side saw them and stopped.

The Black Tortoise men.

Among them were people who came to the house where the painting incident happened. When they met Seol Young’s eyes, they had awkward looks on their faces.

But they soon bowed their heads.

“Baek Eon-rang, Song Ok-rang, Hyo Wol-rang and Seol Young-rang. Greetings. I apologize, but have you seen our ninth member, Mo Cheon-rang?”

“We saw him earlier…”

Hyo Wol hurriedly covered Song Ok’s mouth.

The smell of alcohol…?

The men said again,

“Have you seen him? He went to change money but then disappeared. May I know which direction he went to?”

“We don’t know that much.”

Baek Eon spoke simply.

“Did you come here following him? At this late hour?”

“Actually, we are here to buy paper.”

The one in front said.

“Our Great-rang, Mu Won-rang, went to the Moon Palace until late, and we heard that the ancestral rites that were interrupted due to the incident during the ritual are being resumed.”

“Ritual?”

Baek Eon asked, a bit shocked.

“Yes, Baek Eon-rang. Since the matter was resolved, the Great Heavenly Pavillion requested to hold the ritual as soon as possible to calm the hazy energy flow within the capital.”

The four of them looked at each other.

It was possible to make such a request. But since it was coming from the same hall that accused their youngest, it didn’t feel good to them.

“I see.”

Baek Eon nodded.

“But what does the ritual have to do with paper?”

“To copy the dance notation.”

The men said.

“Because the Governor decided to hold a Sword Dance ceremony this time.”

Again, they glanced at each other.

‘Sword Dance ceremony…’

Only then did they understand.

Baek Eon nodded at the men.

“I understand. Thank you for letting me know. Go ahead and find your ninth member.”

“Yes. Baek Eon-rang.”

The Black Tortoise Hwarangs greeted them and left, and when they were gone, Hyo Wol smiled.

“So they rushed to buy paper? They truly resemble turtles. They cannot do anything quickly.”

“If they don’t want to fall behind other troops, they should at least start practicing more.”

Song Ok nodded.

The Sword Dance wasn’t a simple ceremony.

The entire Hwarang troops needed to gather in a sacred place and demonstrate the sword technique with their old seniors. It was a ceremony that showed the spirit of the Hwarangs.

It was bothersome and time-consuming to prepare.

Even so, they could make a guess.

Why did their Governor decide to hold this ceremony?

“It must mean that he will not allow anything like the last time to happen again.”

Everyone nodded at Hyo Wol’s words.

Last time, while the women were preparing, a disaster happened. But at least with the Sword Dance now, such a thing wouldn’t happen again. Everyone would gather and prepare with a spirit sword in their hands.

“It seems like a declaration that this time the ritual will happen safely.”

Song Ok stroked his chin.

“Certainly, the preparations for the Sword Dance are cumbersome. But we don’t have to be worried.”

After saying that, he glanced across and said.

Baek Eon liked old-fashioned things, so he knew things like the Sword Dance. He memorized most things to the point where he could do them on the spot.

And for the White Tigers, this was like having a key in their hands. When the ritual was decided as the Sword Dance, everyone felt relaxed…

Wait. Wasn’t that a story of the past?

The faces of Song Ok and Hyo Wol trembled.

“With just the three of us, it might not come out well, right?”

“That is why we must thoroughly prepare.”

Baek Eon said while looking at Seol Young.

“I know what role we have to play in this ritual. And how about you?”

“Ah, I know I have to leave.”

Seol Young answered.

Due to the preparations for the Sword Dance, everyone would gather at the main area and practice. There would be no one preventing him from going to the Water Veins.

And it was a good thing.

“You will drop out of the Sword Dance?”

Governor Jin Rim asked with a serious face.

“Originally, if there is a ritual, all of the troops have to participate, but if you have a reason, it isn’t like you cannot leave. So what is the reason?”

It was difficult to explain.

It was also because the Governor would dismiss his reason if he said he was going after something, but…

Seol Young glanced across the room.

He was looking at some papers with Zaha. He didn’t seem too interested in their conversation.

He hoped that this would continue, and Seol Young said,

“Actually, I looked into something last night.”

“Looked into something?”

“Yes. Sometimes it is similar to a dream in which one accidentally glimpses the movements of a spirit or demon.”

“Is that so?”

Jin Rim asked as if it were nothing.

“And what did you see?”

“A spirit of a certain form, which seems to play a significant role in many of the supernatural calamities…”

Zaha raised his head with a ‘Look at him?’ kind of look and asked,

“Could this spirit be a demon?”

“… yes.”

“And you saw its back?”

“… yes.”

Jin Rim looked at the two.

Because of his simple and straightforward nature, it seemed like he was wondering if there was something that only the two shared.

“I see.”

His face turned serious.

“And you plan to track it down on your own?”

“Yes, Governor. I saw the place where the spirit was, so I want to head there and investigate.”

Seol Young replied politely.

“Rather than waiting for the news of something strange happening again, I think going after it before something happens is better.”

“Right.”

The Governor nodded.

“That makes sense. If that’s the case, I will remove you from the festival, so go and investigate and… High Governor…”

“Ah. Yes. Yes. I will go and take a good look.”

He left the papers and got up.

And as soon as Zaha came out, his face completely changed.

“Seol Young-rang, don’t you know that it’s not fun to pull the same prank twice?”

“It isn’t that…”

“Not a joke? So do you just hate participating in the ritual?”

“No…”

“If that’s not the case, then why the hell would you lie to the Governor? If you are going to behave like this, I have no choice but to report you for acting like a child.”

“The last time was a lie, but…”

Seol Young said.

“It is real this time. I saw the back of a woman with long hair and a beaded hairpin.”

“Half the women within the capital are like that. And the men too…”

“The location is important. I could barely make things out, but the woman was in front of the Water Veins. There has to be something there.”

“Well…”

Zaha still didn’t believe Seol Young.

“I guess it was a bit sudden. So you didn’t get drunk or have some wrong medicine with hallucinogen effects?”

Seol Young was shocked.

Even if he did do some recreational activities, how many years has he been in this job? He could tell the difference between an illusion and reality.

It was real.

Something strange happened or would happen in the Water Veins.

“You can come with me to check and see if I am wrong or right.”

He coldly said.

Actually, he was planning on going alone, but this man just pissed him off.

Seol Young thought.

‘… come and see.’