Noble Soul

Watching Kang In-ho’s wavering eyes, Chunhyang smiled faintly.

Even with the sweet fragrance emanating from her, Kang In-ho’s heart showed no signs of calming down. This fact made her quite regretful.

“It was when I was in my 522nd spring since I was born and began to count the seasons.”

Chunhyang, understanding the heart of her beloved, stroked his face as she explained.

“My body felt heavy as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, and I only closed my eyes for a moment, but a space I had never seen before unfolded.”

Chunhyang recalled the distant past. Even so, she did not forget to caress the face of the man held in her hand.

The emotional tremors transmitted through her palm were clearly felt.

“A rather arrogant being with white wings spoke to me. He said that I possessed a noble soul. A noble soul… At first glance, it sounded like the moral human beings that the Dan tribe’s saints spoke of, but the noble soul that the winged being spoke of was not such a thing.”

Kang In-ho’s eyes widened. Confirming that reaction, Chunhyang continued.

“What form does god take in Young master’s mind? What kind of personality does god have?”

Chunhyang asked. Kang In-ho vaguely felt that the question did not require an answer.

Chunhyang raised her hand and began to stroke Kang In-ho’s black hair.

It was similar to the appearance of a person stroking a doll when under great stress.

“Do you think it is possible for a mere mortal to fathom god?”

Chunhyang narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“What they call ‘noble’ means ‘has the potential to become a god.’ Perhaps, have you not heard of it?”

“…”

“It seems you met a Dimension Management God who was less kind than I did.”

Chunhyang chuckled as she confirmed Inho’s frowning expression.

“Ah… Of course, it’s not like I met such a kind being either. However, I met a clumsy being. I was lucky.”

Chunhyang’s golden eyes flashed.

“You seem to be wondering how I, a mere mortal, know the knowledge of an absolute being.”

Chunhyang swiped her thumb under Kang In-ho’s eyes.

“I was sacrificed to balance the dimensions. Perhaps, Young master was too.

But the being who had just left the Nurturing Center was more clumsy and naive than I thought. Enough to be intoxicated by the scent of the Golden Eye Herb.

Of course, it was hypnosis that only veiled their eyes for a moment, but at least it succeeded in making them mistakenly believe that there were no noble souls in this dimension.”

“How did you deceive the Dimension Management God…?”

“I think it’s because my soul’s caliber was sufficient. I heard that the caliber of the soul increases through experience, time, and trials.”

If my life had been less than 100 years, I wouldn’t have been able to deceive them.

Chunhyang added.

“If you died to balance the dimensions, weren’t you unable to return to your original world?”

“I know that there were differences in methods for each individual. I don’t know the exact principle, but I was able to return.”

“…”

Then I could have returned too?

Kang In-ho’s head spun.

Watching Kang In-ho’s face gradually dying, Chunhyang soothed him and continued.

“Anyway, I lived in silence ever since. I spent countless springs, worrying that I might catch the eye of an absolute being.”

Chunhyang’s eyes darkened.

“But why…”

“Are you asking why I stirred up such a commotion?”

Chunhyang chuckled. Her hand stroked Kang In-ho’s chest.

“Don’t you already know the answer?”

“I lived for a long time trapped in a swamp of solitude. There was no joy in life, but I was greedy to let go of life. I searched for a being who could understand me.

I traveled around the Eight Provinces of Joseon in various guises, and traveled around the world twice, meeting many people.

But they were not all like me, and I was even more lonely.

Then, I met Young master.

The same caliber as me. The same situation as me. A being burdened with the curse of incomplete eternal life.

That’s why I wanted to meet Young master.

I wanted to talk to Young master, and I wanted to see the world with Young master.

Also, I wanted to feel the joy of a woman by touching skin with Young master.”

Chunhyang’s hands, which had risen to Kang In-ho’s shoulders, trembled slightly.

“Young master. I have already found a way to overcome the difference in lifespan.”

Chunhyang met his eyes.

Those eyes, half filled with fear and half with anticipation, resembled the countless gazes Kang In-ho had seen while traversing dimensions.

And Kang In-ho could easily guess what Chunhyang was about to say.

Chunhyang stood up.

She adjusted her loosened clothes and stepped back a few steps from Kang In-ho.

Kneeling, she brought her forehead to the ground.

“So please, be with me… Please be with me for the rest of your life. I beg you.”

“Young master, please stay by my side.”

Kang In-ho looked down at Chunhyang, who was trembling on the ground, but he did not feel like he had taken the initiative.

Perhaps, even if Chunhyang had bound his limbs and placed a knife in Kang In-ho’s hand, he would never have thought that he had taken the initiative from Chunhyang.

“It’s already too late. I can’t trust someone whose name I don’t even know, and the relationship has already started off on the wrong foot.”

“My name is indeed Chunhyang. The pronunciation may be different in the world of the Jang tribe, but the meaning is the same.

But, Young master. I cannot agree that the beginning was wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I had told Young master everything from the beginning, Young master would have rejected me.”

“No, that’s not…”

“Is that really so? When women from various dimensions approached you sincerely, have you ever sincerely accepted their hearts?”

As Chunhyang slowly raised her back and asked, Kang In-ho closed his mouth.

“…”

Kang In-ho remained silent at Chunhyang’s question that hit the nail on the head.

“Young master likes obedient women, and you are also interested in carnal desires, so you want a woman with good sexual compatibility. I know everything. I am confident that I fit Young master’s taste perfectly.”

Weren’t you inwardly drawn to me? Chunhyang said.

“Young master said that the beginning was a mess from your point of view. But in fact, it depends on how you think about it.”

Just like feeling it’s spring even in summer.

“……”

But the answer Chunhyang expected did not return.

Facing her was a look mixed with distrust, wariness, and anxiety.

“…Do you really have to do this?”

She sighed deeply.

“What are you going to do?”

“How did the women Young master met while traveling through dimensions behave when they were rejected?”

“They were violent and coercive.”

“I am the same. If Young master rejects me like this, there will be nothing but coercion and oppression.”

Even while they were talking, the scent of flowers lingered in the room.

“Even in the midst of this, hypnosis…”

Kang In-ho frowned at the smell that disturbed his mood.

“Don’t you do your best to gain affection from the person you love? Sometimes with gifts, sweet words, and promises. I am the same. I am trying to win love by using all the means I can, so please don’t say it’s wrong.”

Chunhyang lowered her eyes.

“Then understand even if I refuse.”

“Well, it must be a familiar situation for Young master. Then, I will prepare the stage.”

As Chunhyang clapped her hands, the dark night turned into day.

“…It’s not even surprising anymore.”

“Aren’t you curious whether it’s actually night or day?”

“Okay, let’s find out.”

Kang In-ho threw a punch as it was.

The fight between Chunhyang and Kang In-ho did not last long.

It was at a level that was embarrassing to even call it a fight. Chunhyang shook Kang In-ho by changing her position from moment to moment, and Kang In-ho, who merely imitated the Martial arts of the past, could not escape the tricks of the Jang tribe who had lived for thousands of years.

Kang In-ho, whose arms and legs were tied with tough vines, moved away from Namwon with Chunhyang on her shoulder.

“Life in Namwon was enjoyable, but I think it would be better to spend the rest of my life in a more cozy and secret place. And the forest is better for Jang tribe like me. Young master will soon get used to it.”

Chunhyang spoke cheerfully to the man on her shoulder and entered the mountain with light steps.

They deviated from the paths made by herbalists and woodcutters and went in for a long time, and as soon as they entered the territory of the Jang tribe, Chunhyang tilted her head.

“Hmm…”

Broken branches, arrows stuck in trees, and broken giant trees.

And a faint, fishy scent of blood faintly filled the mountain.

“It seems there was a guest.”

Chunhyang muttered unpleasantly as she recognized the presence approaching from the end of her distant vision.

One person, dyed entirely in black, was reflected in her golden eyes.

The swaying figure was like a shadow.