Chapter 698: Mask (2)

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Hwang Jiho and Baekho-gun forgot the couple’s faces.

The Tiger Couple started wearing their masks after they lost their child, and the miscarriage occurred when the Bear Clan betrayed the Tiger Clan.

In other words, it has been about 5,000 years since the tigers saw the couple’s faces.

‘It’s been a long time and a lot of big things happened so it’s not strange that they don’t remember it.’

The two tigers would’ve met many faces in their long lives, while on the other hand, the masked couple rarely went out and never showed their faces, so the memory of them gradually faded.

Curious about the intent behind my question, Hwang Jiho asked me back.

“It’s not strange for you to ask about the couple since we’re dealing with the treasure, but why are you curious about their faces?”

“If my hypothesis is correct, it doesn’t have anything to do with the treasure.”

“What hypothesis?”

I didn’t know for sure yet, but if I was wrong, those who were involved would be hurt.

I wanted to get more clues without revealing my hypothesis.

“I want to organize my thoughts some more. I want to know what kind of people those two are.”

“You’re not smiling but you are suspicious. I think there’s been a couple of similar situations… Well, anyway. I’ll answer your questions as much as I can.”

“Tell me about the two’s story.”

“They have no achievements left in the myths, but with the solid evidence and being discussed since a long time ago, they have become members of the Tiger Clan.”

Hwang Jiho talked about me being suspicious and then spoke gently.

The couple is said to have been engraved on murals thousands of years ago.

It wasn’t the Tiger Clan who drew them in murals but humans.

Humans who saw the two from a distance couldn’t forget their beauty, so they picked up stones and carved them on walls.

“The husband had such a beautiful appearance that it was hard to take eyes off him, and his wife had no less appearance of fresh air. There were rumors that people from all over the world flocked like clouds to see their faces. Though I’ve never seen their appearance carved into a mural.”

What does that mean?

I could guess based on the characteristics of people with royal lineage, but I asked to confirm.

“They look different from what’s drawn in murals?”

“Yes. They were engraved on murals as beasts. Ever since rumors of them spread, they began to maintain their human form. But they were beautiful enough that everyone came to see them.”

Perhaps Hwang Jiho is one of them.

When we talked about the tigers’ past before, I heard roughly how Hwang Jiho bothered Baekho-gun because of the rumors about him.

As expected, Hwang JIho seemed to have bothered the couple.

“I’ve gone to see their faces too, of course. I was wary, so I could only look at them from afar. I saw them from a distance, but they were beautiful enough that I thought there was no exaggeration in the rumors.”

Beauty that even Hwang Jiho has acknowledged.

The tigers that have existed since the age of myths all have respectable appearances, so I wonder what kind of faces this couple had to make their name known for beauty.

Their beast incarnation seemed more beautiful, but their human forms were no less exquisite.

However, Hwang Jiho only remembers that they were beautiful, not their exact faces.

“Then you’ve never seen their faces up close?”

“Even before they wore masks, it was hard to see the couple’s faces. They were so shy that they don’t raise their heads when I go see them.”

Then not many tigers have seen the couple’s faces in detail.

Before we knew it, we were already in the bamboo forest.

I decided to check one more thing since we had a little more distance to walk before the place where the couple and Jukho were waiting.

“Is there anything else?”

“I want to ask Eunho something. Let me call him for a second.”

“Alright.”

Since the couple was said to be shy, they might’ve been more comfortable with the calm Eunho than the mischievous Hwang Jiho.

Eunho was also the head before Hwang Jiho, so he would’ve had a lot of opportunities to meet the couple.

Though, of course, there were variables.

‘Eunho woke up after falling into a deep sleep and he experienced life as Cheon Sungheon. There’s a high possibility that his memory will be blurred. Still…’

When I looked back on Eunho’s actions in this world, there was something strange that he’s done.

He couldn’t take his eyes off one person when he first met them.

At that time, Eunho wasn’t able to ask because he was about to take the practical test for Eungwang High.

‘If my hypothesis is correct, then it explains why Eunho acted like that.’

When I tried to call Eunho, registered under the name Cheon Eunha…

The screen turned to display “calling.”

I lost my words at the quick reaction.

Did Hwang Jiho respond this quickly too?

I know about the Tiger Clan’s excellent reflexes, but isn’t this too fast?

[Hello, Euishin hyung. I heard that you’re on your way to the bamboo forest with Baekho hyungnim and Hwangho-nim. It must be urgent for you to call.]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Eunho answered quickly considering my situation.

I admired Eunho’s thoughtfulness.

“Sorry to call you all of a sudden. I wanted to check something before I see them.”

[Your calls are always welcome, Euishin hyung. What is it?]

Eunho softly said that I didn’t have to apologize.

I drew out my business carefully.

“Do you remember their faces?”

[…I remember it clearly.]

Eunho seemed to hesitate a little.

[But I’m not sure.]

“Why?”

[I saw a face that looked like the people in my memory. Maybe I was confused with a face when I was Cheon Sungheon and playing PMH. Memory can sometimes go bad.]

Eunho seemed to have convinced himself like so.

After ending the call with Eunho, I moved with a heavy heart to the tigers.

‘I have two ways to check. The first is most obvious, but the side effects are great and there’s a good chance that the tigers would stop me.’

The first and most obvious method was to communicate with the Transcendent Universe.

But if I said that I was heading to Mt. Cheonik, Baekho-gun, and Hwang Jiho wouldn’t stay still.

Considering my energy waves, I doubt I could get an answer using that method.

‘I have no choice. I have to ask them questions and see their faces.’

I didn’t want to do this.

I didn’t want to dig through their deep wounds.

After all, I already tormented them enough last time.

However, the clues that I have seem to point in one direction, and I couldn’t pretend not to know.

‘Can I do it?’

I looked up at the night sky without realizing it.

The view was dark, the sky not visible from the high bamboo trees.

Some words came to my mind as my eyes went dark.

— I was told to follow the dawn star when it got dark. But…

— The child must someday rely on the star of dawn to get through the darkness. But…

One was from Jeokho’s replay, while the other was from the watchman.

As I turned my gaze from the sky and looked ahead, I saw a lantern flickering.

“We’re here.”

We were already reaching the center of the bamboo forest.

I could see a hanok through the dim light, and three shadows in the dark front yard.

One stood restless, and the other two sat on their knees.

“Ah, hello. I told them to wait comfortably, but they kept saying they would wait on the cold floor.”

Jukho looked at Hwang Jiho and spoke with relief.

He didn’t seem to have received a proper explanation from the couple.

The masked couple sat on their knees, dressed neatly.

They looked like sinners atoning for their deeds.

“It’s done.”

Hwang Jiho didn’t bother to raise the couple.

I couldn’t tell if it was to let them do as they please or to punish them.

Hwang Jiho spoke.

“The treasure didn’t appear in the spring for over 2,000 years. This is because it was contaminated and couldn’t be obtained except by the corrupt.”

“So that is why the treasure didn’t appear…”

Jukho looked shocked as if he didn’t know.

Hwang Jiho’s explanation continued.

“At this point, there are two treasures that the Tiger Clan should’ve obtained. However, one of them fell into the hands of Uma. The other one…”

Hwang Jiho took a well-sealed package out of his arms.

Jukho glanced at the couple as if he knew that it was from them.

He must’ve seen when the couple handed it to Kim Yuri.

“How did you get the treasure of the Tiger Clan? Raise your head and answer!”

Rather than angry, Hwang Jiho looked sad.

The conclusion is simple, but it must be hard for him to admit it.

The couple slowly raised their heads.

It was the wife who spoke first.

“Because I was corrupted.”

“Was corrupted?”

“It’s a story from a thousand years ago…”

The masked woman began to talk about what happened.

One day, when her stomach was burning with longing and guilt toward her child, she couldn’t contain her soaring anger and hatred.

Her energy waves became dark, and a strange sensation that seemed to vomit blood immediately dominated her body.

She abandoned her husband and wandered around Mt. Cheonik alone.

Then, without realizing it, her steps turned toward the spring.

When she reached deep into the water, something was said to have been caught at her fingertips.

The very dark object was full of evil energy.

With the jewel in her hands, she said she realized that she was corrupted.

“At that time, if my husband didn’t hold me, I would…”

She went down Mt. Cheonik with the treasure from the spring.

She tried to gather the spirit of her child with the gem.

She thought she might be able to call her own child in exchange for another.

It was her husband who awakened her.

After a violent attack, her husband’s mask came off, and the moment he saw his bare face, the wife came to her senses.

They haven’t used the treasure since then but they couldn’t hand it to Hwang Jiho.

“We couldn’t give it to you for forgiving Jeokho. So I, to the benefactor…”

The wife’s voice became smaller and smaller.

No one could speak as if they understood why the couple made such a choice.

Neither Hwang Jiho, nor Baekho-gun, nor Jukho could speak.

I thought I would be swept away by that feeling, so I tried to pull myself together.

‘She came to her senses the moment she saw her husband’s face…’

Looking back on the wife’s actions In Gye Bastard’s memory made me feel heavy inside.

She seemed like she made up her mind when she saw a face.

Now there’s only one way to check.

“Tell me if you have something to say, Jo Euishin.”

Perhaps noticing that I wanted to say something, Hwang Jiho gave me a chance to speak.

After a short hesitation, I asked the question.

“Can you take off your mask? Even just the husband.”

The husband, who had not said a word, quietly raised his hand and took off his mask without any question.

His face underneath was revealed under the lantern fire.

Those who saw it breathed in.

He looked very much like Ahn Dain.

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