Chapter 31. Twins of Light and Darkness (6)
Unfortunately, no matter how hard the two women tried, saving the people trapped in the spiderwebs seemed impossible.
They pushed at the webs with long poles and even tried burning them with fire.
All they managed to do was irritate the spiders.
“Can you hear me? This spiderweb isn't real! It's only an illusion meant to deceive you!”
Cheongyeon shouted until her throat hurt.
But the people whose bodies were paralyzed could not hear her voice.
The Web of Karma was something no one could escape unless they realized the truth for themselves.
[Doom... Doom-doom... Doom...]
When night arrived, the air became heavy.
Vibrations rose from deep beneath the earth.
Human voices and the smell of food spread chaotically through the surroundings.
Outside the rocky mountain, the Road of Ghosts opened once again.
The feast of ghosts began.
[A child's crying beneath the wasteland never ends. Soon the wells will dry, and the sky will turn red.]
[There is a blade in your lover's hand. If you wish to survive, strike your lover first.]
The dark secrets of the world spoken by the ghosts traveled along the spiderwebs and reached deep into the cave.
Eunseong, who had desperately tried to save the prisoners alongside Cheongyeon, eventually collapsed to the ground in despair.
Cheongyeon sat beside her, running her fingers over the Hae family seal made from tortoiseshell.
Then she asked,
“I heard a legend about the divine beast Gusa while traveling to Pasa. But why is there no sacred energy remaining in this rocky mountain?”
“The traditional faith disappeared, and black magic became widespread. After that, Gusa vanished.”
Eunseong continued explaining.
“Haemora performed the ritual of uniting a snake and turtle several times in an attempt to revive Gusa, but every attempt failed.”
Suddenly remembering something, Eunseong turned toward Cheongyeon.
“Heavenly Maiden, would you like to go with me to the place where Gusa was worshipped in the past? We might find a way to save everyone there.”
Cheongyeon nodded.
For now, it seemed like their best option.
The place where Gusa had once been worshipped stood in a secluded area at the deepest part of the rocky mountain cave.
Eunseong turned a lock.
A massive, rotting wooden door opened with a long creak.
An underground river flowed across the cave floor, and pools of water had gathered inside deep hollows in the rock.
Perhaps because she had entered the rocky mountain so often since childhood, Eunseong walked forward bravely despite her slender body, never losing her balance.
The two women shared the small amount of food Eunseong had brought and helped support each other as they continued onward.
Before they realized it, they had grown closer.
Like ordinary young women of the same age, they chatted with one another and sometimes laughed brightly.
“Come visit Beopsindang on a day when there aren't any ceremonies. We can go see the autumn leaves with the priests and even go boating together.”
Eunseong's expression brightened at Cheongyeon's invitation.
“I hope a day like that comes soon.”
Eventually, they reached the ritual site where Gusa had once been worshipped.
The place looked like ruins where time itself had stopped long ago.
After black magic became widespread, entering this place had become taboo for everyone except a handful of Hae family members.
Beneath stone pillars lay mountains of dead snakes and turtles, their mouths hanging open as if they had died in terrible pain.
Decayed ritual objects were scattered across a broad stone altar.
The shrine looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Cheongyeon looked around.
“Should we perform the ritual again? Maybe the divine beast from ancient times will hear our prayers.”
Eunseong nodded.
They struggled for quite some time.
The old incense refused to light.
When they took out the ancient ritual text, a cloud of dust filled the air and sent both women into a fit of coughing.
Eventually, they sat together on the enormous stone altar.
With the same wish in their hearts, they bowed and prayed to Gusa.
Cheongyeon approached a large hollow in the rock to collect pure water for the ritual vessel.
Then she noticed something.
“There's a mushroom growing in the pool.”
It was an enormous mushroom with a thick cap covered in white, peeling skin.
Curious, Cheongyeon reached toward it.
Suddenly, a bright red tongue shot out from inside the hollow.
Smack!
It struck Cheongyeon's hand away.
Immediately afterward, a tremendous roar shook the cave.
Rocks began collapsing.
A long neck covered in scales rose toward the cavern ceiling.
Cold light shone from its narrow eyes.
Hiss... Hiss...
Breath escaped through its nostrils.
When its mouth closed, an enormous amount of saliva spilled down, carrying the smell of water and fish.
Only then did Cheongyeon realize the truth.
The rocky hollow where she had seen the mushroom...
was the mouth of an enormous serpent.
She quickly retreated and escaped onto another stone platform with Eunseong.
The two women stood there in stunned silence as they looked upon the legendary creature with their own eyes.
Gusa had awakened after sleeping for countless years.
Its appearance alone carried overwhelming majesty.
Its round back was covered in armor-like shell and resembled a massive mountain.
Thick legs like pillars and a heavy tail supported its enormous body.
Neither Cheongyeon nor Eunseong knew how long they remained staring at Gusa.
Then, as if guided by instinct, Eunseong slowly stepped forward.
Without even realizing it, she began to sing.
[?sluos tsol eht ediug dluohs I woh em llet uoy naC]
It was a song passed down through generations of Hae women, but Eunseong had changed it and sang it in her own way.
Gusa lowered its long, snake-like neck toward her.
Eunseong gently stroked the bridge of its nose.
The enormous creature closed its eyes like a tame animal and allowed itself to be guided by her.
It was a miraculous moment of connection.
It almost seemed as though a sacred wind had begun blowing around Eunseong and Gusa, opening the door to an ancient world.
Cheongyeon smiled.
“It recognized Lady Eunseong as the Rock Mountain Medium.”
A short while later, Cheongyeon and Eunseong climbed onto Gusa's back.
The instant the enormous beast began to move, a deep rumble passed through the earth and the entire rocky mountain shook.
Like a massive island drifting through water, Gusa slowly pushed through the underground river.
Wherever it traveled, new waterways formed and groundwater sprang from the earth.
Gusa playfully struck the water with its long neck and heavy tail.
Streams of water rose like waves and scattered everywhere.
There was a mysterious power within the spray created by Gusa.
The droplets passed directly through the spiderwebs binding the prisoners and fell like rain.
It showed them the truth.
Those spiderwebs did not actually exist.
They were merely false illusions.
Just as Cheongyeon had escaped before, one person after another began sliding down the hanging threads until they reached the cave floor.
Cheongyeon and Eunseong called to them.
“Come this way! We all need to leave the rocky mountain together!”
The people had become terribly weak after being trapped in the dark cave for so long.
Cheongyeon and Eunseong helped them climb onto Gusa's broad back.
Soon, it looked as though everyone had boarded an enormous ship together.
When the group finally reached the entrance of the rocky mountain, brilliant morning sunlight poured into the cave.
Eunseong turned around to thank Gusa, the divine beast of ancient times.
But Gusa had already returned to the darkness.
Its enormous body had hardened into black stone and become part of the cave wall once more.
“Everyone, look over there!”
When the Heavenly Maiden, whom everyone had thought dead, emerged from the mountain alongside the missing people, villagers began gathering one after another.
The area quickly became chaotic as people separated for years reunited in tears.
Those who could barely open their eyes beneath the bright sunlight were moved into tents on Eunseong's orders.
Eunseong spoke before the gathered people.
“These are all people who disappeared inside the rocky mountain cave. They are extremely weak, so take good care of them.”
Then she lifted a large mushroom before everyone.
“This mushroom is Jachohwa, born from the saliva of Gusa, the divine beast of ancient times. We will turn the Jachohwa into medicine and use it to treat the sick people of Pasa.”
The Jachohwa, formed from the energy and dew of the rocky mountain, had an auspicious appearance.
Its sturdy base gleamed, and a pleasant fragrance came from its large, thick cap.
Eunseong continued.
“Furthermore, I, Hae Eunseong, will take the lead in restoring the ancient traditions of Pasa.”
The wind blew.
The sleeves of Eunseong's silk robe and the butterfly-shaped ribbon around her waist fluttered.
Her confident bearing seemed to announce the birth of the Hae family's future Family Head.
“Jachohwa... Does that mean Gusa has appeared in the rocky mountain again?”
“It reminds me of Lady Haemora several decades ago.”
The people murmured as they compared the young Haemora they remembered with the Eunseong standing before them now.
Then another central figure appeared from behind Eunseong.
Cheongyeon.
“So that woman is Beopsindang's Heavenly Maiden.”
“She feels different from when she fell into the cave.”
“The energy around her feels mysterious. It's almost like she's wearing robes woven from clouds and a skirt made from mist.”
The gazes of the people gathered before the rocky mountain felt unfamiliar to Cheongyeon.
There was surprise.
Fear.
And reverence.
It felt as though one layer of the dark energy surrounding Cheongyeon had peeled away, allowing golden hope to fill the space left behind.
A new road seemed to appear before her.
A path she could walk together with many people.
Cheongyeon strengthened her resolve.
I will no longer deny my existence or hide who I am.
Whatever fate awaits me, whether it is light or darkness...
At that moment, the six elders of the Hae family arrogantly pushed their way through the crowd.
Dozens of attendants followed them.
Cheongyeon raised the Hae family's seal toward them and smiled.
“You're a step too late. I've already received permission from your future Family Head.”
The elders merely cleared their throats in displeasure.
Instead, they attempted to pressure Eunseong as they always had.
“What was that you said just now? Are you saying you intend to deny the great achievements of Lady Haemora, who brought prosperity to the Hae family?”
“Do you intend to neglect your duty as the Rock Mountain Medium?”
But Eunseong had returned after meeting Gusa, the divine beast of ancient times.
She was no longer the same woman she had once been.
“The Hae family will prosper when we use our arts to heal people instead of harming them.”
Eunseong refused to bend.
The elders' expressions twisted.
The Eunseong they had once considered easy to control had grown into someone who could threaten their authority.
Later, when the elders gathered alone, they secretly discussed the matter.
“That insolent girl. She repays the people who raised her with betrayal.”
“Don't become too angry. Siding with Beopsindang's Heavenly Maiden in an official gathering... doesn't that make the situation look rather improper?”
“You're right. This may completely destroy the relationship between Haemora and Hae Eunseong.”
“Geumdo may still be young, but we should inform him about this.”
As the elders returned toward the Hae family's estate, their retreating figures seemed to foreshadow the hardships Eunseong would soon face.
[Heavenly Maiden within the darkness,
She leads the people and opens their eyes.]
From that day onward, rumors began spreading throughout the kingdom.
Beopsindang's Heavenly Maiden had returned with Hae Eunseong after rescuing the people who had disappeared in Pasa.
[The flame of the sun rising over the desert morning
Is like a mysterious truth that cannot be grasped.]
Cheongyeon crossed the wastelands of Pasa.
Her final destination was the Buddhist Holy Land.
