Requiem of Subdued Souls

Chapter 29: Nirvana Painting (12)

In the main hall of the Hwarangs.

The Governor and the heads of the troops were gathered, along with some officials of the Great Heavenly Pavillion.

Jin Rim opened his mouth.

“In the house of the merchant living in the city, there was a mysterious incident in which the painting that disappeared a long time ago suddenly appeared and kidnapped thirteen civilians. This seemed to be one of the supernatural calamities that were foreseen.”

Everyone looked at the Great Heavenly Pavillion members.

“And so Seol Young Hwarang had volunteered to solve the problem on the site and went there. And as everyone knows, the evil painting was subdued, and the civilians were safely rescued.”

Jin Rim looked at Seol Young.

“Seol Young-rang, what was the reason for this mysterious incident?”

Seol Young-rang responded after bowing to the Governor.

“It was because of the grudge of the painter who lost his son in an unfair manner in the past. The soul of the painter had been extinguished, and the painting had completely disappeared from the world after that. It will never happen again.”

“What does the High Governor think about it?”

Jin Rim asked Zaha.

“I heard that you visited the site and made sure everything happened correctly. High Governor, is Seol Young-rang telling the truth?”

Seol Young looked at Zaha, and their eyes met.

‘So what If he doesn’t admit it?’

Seol Young was confident because there were many witnesses that day. All of them were carefully watching Seol Young’s actions.

“Everything he said is the truth.”

Whatever it was, Zaha spoke the truth.

Jin Rim looked at Seol Young again.

“If the High Governor is the one who acknowledged it, I have nothing more to say. Seol Young-rang, is there anything more you want to say about this incident?”

Seol Young raised his head.

This time, Zaha looked at him.

‘If I wasn’t there, could you have even cleared it?’

That was what his eyes were saying.

But Seol Young ignored him.

“It was difficult, but with the help of the heavens, I was able to solve it safely. If I had been an idiot and ruined the place, I would have never been able to get it done. This is why I have no fear. The heavens will continue to hold my hand.”

Seol Young’s face looked cold, and his expression was dignified.

Seol Young didn’t actually think it was solved because of the heavens. He just said that so that the officials would listen to him.

The officials thought his words were arrogant, but they couldn’t find any faults in them.

“I get it.”

The Great Heavenly Pavillion’s leader nodded.

“I will inform His Highness about this.”

She gracefully got up and left the place, with her officials following behind her.

Everyone looked at them leave without saying anything, and after they felt their presence vanish, Jin Rim said,

“Fortunately, this event was solved well. But it’s better to be cautious. Everyone, be careful and stay alert. If something unusual happens, notify the High Governor or me immediately. Or Seol Young-rang too.”

“Yes.”

Several Hwarangs nodded and withdrew.

Seol Young got out of the way and momentarily passed the Black Tortoise Divine Troops.

Beom Hyun and Mo Cheon, who were about to be hacked to pieces by the painting, had slightly awkward expressions.

“…”

They just nodded and walked past him.

Once everyone left, the three Hwarangs of the White Tiger Spirit Troops entered.

“You did well. For real.”

Baek Eon said softly.

Seol Young, who had finished the report emotionlessly, was calm and compassionate with the three Hwarangs.

“It must have been hard.”

“Right. Right.”

Song Ok and Hyo Wol held him by the side.

“We were told you were hurt?”

“Just a light scratch. Thanks to the pill that the Great-rang gave me, it healed quickly. Rather, what happened to the task you had taken?”

“It was resolved cleanly.”

Hyo Wol said with a smile.

Some people saw what happened, and most would fight against the White Tiger Spirit Troops. The same was true for the other sects near Mt. Seondo, the evil cults. They were asking the White Tiger Spirit Troops not to persecute them.

“I think they thought so because they only saw three of us. Fools. We are always four.”

Hyo Wol smiled at Song Ok’s words.

“It isn’t even a huge thing. Second-rang was already pretty pissed, so they ended up messing with us at the wrong time. Even after destroying them, our anger wouldn’t subside, so we even pulled out the trees. And all of the rocks that were supporting the cave with roots collapsed and blocked them.”

“That is good.”

Seol Youg smiled for the first time in a long time.

How fun it would have been if he were there too. It made him sad as he thought about it.

Baek Eon looked at him as if he understood what he was feeling.

“Seriously.”

He suddenly spoke in a humble tone.

“Seol Young-rang, thank you for working hard for our troops and finding the hermitage and getting us pure water. In return, I would like to invite you to our brothers’ simple drinking party in the evening three days from now.”

“Ah, right! Seol Young-rang! You need to come! I am not sure what your preferences are, but I am sure you are a good drinker. Come have a couple of drinks with me.”

Everyone burst into laughter at Hyo Wol’s na?ve words.

Seol Young straightened himself and said,

“I will gratefully accept the request of Baek Eon-rang.”

“Thank you.”

Song Ok tapped him on the shoulder.

“Well, the four of us bought a liquor jar from the silk winery. Since all of the difficult tasks have been completed, it is only fitting that we celebrate with the right stuff.”

Seol Young nodded.

And he thought to himself.

It was true that things had come to an end. But there was still one more thing to do before it could be said that everything was settled.

Something no one else would care about.

The moon was reflected in a small window.

The moonlight illuminated the golden roofs of Sorabeol City, which has a long history dating back to ancient times. It shone into a room—an empty room with nothing but a small closet and a cushion with beads on it.

Seol Young put down his brush.

This was a meditation room near the temple.

This was where monks who traveled a long distance would stay. The kind-hearted monks had given Seol Young a room.

He did startle them when he first appeared wearing the white robe, but they were now quite accustomed to each other.

All Seol Young did was quietly use talismans and read books, and this was something everyone liked.

They got along well because they worked together to lift heavy things and catch cats that ran away with fish in their mouths.

It was a manageable place. Seol Young looked outside at the moon for a while.

He took out the talismans he had just finished working on and came out.

After walking through the dark streets, he arrived.

The Red Flower Mansion.

Golden ropes were wrapped around the whole group of mansions, where there were lots of cherry trees.

Seol Young looked around, and after confirming that no one was around, he gently lifted the golden rope and went inside.

The mansion was quiet, as if someone had died.

The well-kept garden was now broken here and there. The moonlight fell silently around the area, giving it the appearance of ruins.

Seol Young looked around.

Where was he going?

A foot facing the house, beyond the thick trees.

With that thought in mind, he walked through the strangely shaped rocks in the garden. But as soon as he entered…

A black shadow moved from the trees.

Seol Young was surprised that he hadn’t felt anything up until now and immediately grabbed the hilt of his sword.

Zaha.

Why was he here?

He tried to run but…

“Seol Young-rang, what is this?”

As he was motionless, the man continued.

“The case has ended, yet you sneak into the scene. What is the purpose of this? Some other reason?”

“That…”

“Why are you not answering me? As expected, the prophecy of the Great Heavenly Pavillion seems to be right. You are the idiot who is going to cause the fall of the nation.”

Seol Young was shocked.

“No. I have come to finish something.”

“Finish what? Did you not see with your own eyes that everything had ended? Didn’t we solve all the remaining questions you had? And what more can be left in here?”

Zaha was brutally questioning him, making Seol Young feel cold, but this was true.

He had also seen the full process, and everyone knew it. So even if he explained himself, who would believe him?

The souls have perished, and no one would understand him. They would think that he got caught by the High Governor as he tried to cover up some wrongdoings. And this is why ridiculous excuses are worthless.

If he does accuse Seol Young, then he can’t escape from this.

In a brief moment, he had 50,000 thoughts cross his mind.

But…

Suddenly, he grinned.

“Did I scare you?”

“…”

“I know why you came. You have come to hold a ritual of peace.”

Seol Young was surprised.

“How…”

“I saw you near the tombs.”

Zaha replied.

“You released the shattered tomb spirits at once and held a memorial for them. Saying you felt bad.”

“…”

“You did the same with the stone beasts too, so there is no way you will leave the painter and his son’s souls to be in any more pain. That must be the reason why you came here.”

Seol Young was taken aback by Zaha’s words.

“Just because of that guess, you came here and secretly waited for me?”

Thinking about how he accused him earlier, he felt angry.

He was taken aback, thinking he would put himself in an awkward position in front of others.

But to see right through him, he wanted to make a life-and-death decision for this man.

But wasn’t that the kind of reaction Zaha would expect?

Seol Young quietly chanted ‘patience’ in his mind.

And said.

“You are sly.”

Zaha looked around and asked,

“Me?”

“Is there someone else here?”

Seol Young replied.

“A person who does anything to intimidate others by finding their weakness. What would one call such a person?”

He turned cold.