Chapter 068. The Lost Kingdom (7)
Meanwhile, the shadow of death grew thicker around the execution ground where Cheongyeon had fallen.
Buhuk's attack stopped.
For a moment, silence remained.
The axe blade had struck directly into the center of Cheongyeon's back.
The impact entered her entire body.
It felt as though the wheel of an enormous carriage had rolled across her.
Cheongyeon reached toward her back in disbelief.
There was no blood.
Instead, a deep wound had formed where the axe struck.
A mysterious energy remained inside it.
Through that wound...
All of Cheongyeon's divine power was draining away.
Unbearable pain flooded her body.
She twisted and convulsed.
For a moment, dying seemed easier.
Trembling in fear, Cheongyeon looked toward Buhuk's axe.
It was not an ordinary metal weapon.
It looked closer to something made for ritual sacrifice.
The weapon was formed from dark material capable of absorbing every kind of spiritual energy.
Screams echoed from its blade.
It had been created from the lives and hatred of thousands of people.
Before such a weapon...
Cheongyeon could do nothing.
The people who trapped her wandered around her fallen body like wolves.
"Handle the corpse however you want."
Seopjun adjusted his clothes.
"My business here is finished."
He seemed completely uninterested in whether the hostage lived or died.
Then he returned toward the palace banquet hall where the nobles were drinking.
"Put this woman into the prisoner carriage."
Huyeong ordered Buhuk.
"We need to take her to the execution site."
Buhuk lifted Cheongyeon and placed her inside a wagon fitted with a wooden prison cage.
The wheels rattled as it rolled away.
Cheongyeon lay inside the cage with a completely pale face.
She remembered the day she first descended from the sky.
The day she rode toward Hui Kingdom's capital beside Seongha.
Her eyes had been so innocent then.
Every sight on earth had seemed strange, beautiful, and warm.
But now...
Even seeing ordinary people passing beside the carriage made her shiver.
The autumn sky felt cold enough to cut her.
Why did everything become like this?
Choosing to descend to earth...
Choosing to participate in the Fifteenth Day Festival...
Choosing to become Beopsindang's Heavenly Maiden...
All of those had been Cheongyeon's own decisions.
Step by step...
She had entered the swamp of fate herself.
The carriage eventually reached one of Hongyang's Five Great Gates.
A warning bell rang, signaling an emergency.
Curious citizens began gathering around.
Before the gate, State Preceptor Nam Wan stood with warrior monks wearing golden Buddhist robes.
Huyeong bowed to him and handed over the prisoner carriage.
"You did well."
Nam Wan looked pleased.
"You've finally done something useful."
Huyeong smiled.
"I have captured and delivered the leader of the heretics."
Her voice became sweet.
"I hope this will allow me to honor Father's achievements."
Nam Wan looked at Huyeong.
She was wearing the Heavenly Maiden costume and looked ready to participate in the festival.
"Enough with your foolish games."
His wrinkled face twisted in annoyance.
"Focus only on preparing for your marriage."
He frowned.
"That is the reason you exist here."
Nam Wan constantly reminded Huyeong of the marriage because he wanted the powerful Jin Clan behind him as quickly as possible.
With his older brother, King Nampyeong, possibly naming a new successor...
The situation was dangerously unstable.
"You should always be grateful for everything you are allowed to enjoy."
Huyeong gave him a stiff smile.
"Of course."
She knew better than anyone why Nam Wan had allowed his embarrassing illegitimate children to remain alive.
Meanwhile, Buhuk dragged Cheongyeon from the carriage and tied her to a wooden pillar.
Before leaving, Huyeong gave him another order.
"Make sure she stays alive while hanging there."
She smiled.
"Let her die slowly enough to taste every bit of despair and pain."
Then Huyeong turned toward Cheongyeon.
"I will perform a beautiful Heavenly Divine Dance at the festival in your place."
Cheongyeon had exhausted all her strength.
She could not answer.
Only a weak groan of pain left her dry lips.
Completely drunk on victory, Huyeong left with her attendants.
Cheongyeon hung from the pillar like a perfect sacrifice.
Her arms crossed above her head.
Her waist and legs were tightly bound.
Dozens of spikes driven into the pillar dug into her flesh.
Blood soon ran across her body and dripped from her toes.
After a while...
Through her fading consciousness, Cheongyeon noticed objects hanging and swaying before her.
Her blurry vision slowly cleared.
Then she realized what they were.
Her body went cold.
Human heads.
Their mouths remained open in painful expressions.
Somehow...
Their faces looked familiar.
Cheongyeon searched her memories.
Then she remembered.
The people of Jeongilhoi.
Apparently, Nam Wan's pursuit had finally caught them.
Among the horror, there was at least one tiny piece of hope.
Heonwon's head was not among those displayed.
Senior Brother...
What happened to you?
Where are the others?
Cheongyeon stared at Nam Wan with hatred and despair.
To commit something so evil on a sacred national festival...
Even King Nampyeong had pardoned prisoners in the name of the celebration.
The citizens who gathered to watch the unusual public execution were also confused.
The lingering festival smiles slowly disappeared from their faces.
"It pains this humble monk to reveal such an unpleasant matter on Hui Kingdom's blessed day."
Nam Wan raised his voice as he read from an official declaration.
