𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐋𝐄 ♕ 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐊

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻

Gaeun was being tested. She was sure of it.

She had spent the entire way holding back sobs, internally battling over whether Baihu's Vessel had been telling the truth or not. She had tried so hard to not think of Ren. But what else could have plagued her mind after such an incident?

In her mind, Gaeun tried to map out all the possible reasons why someone would forcefully switch Ren's body. To get to her? But how? Gaeun's relationship with Ren wasn't known by many. Her mere existence had been a secret.

Nearly three years...

Gaeun came to an abrupt stop at the foot of a hill. She leaned against a wide tree trunk, clutching her chest.

How was she going to tell Yifan?

Strangely, the rain began to slow. Jooyong bristled restlessly. "You keep going like this and you'll collapse," he jeered. The encounter had left him bitter. Maybe seeing how easily the White Tiger had fallen made him anxious.

"He said Wook's in the abandoned temple." Gaeun continued walking, "If Gilju is there then that can't be..." She trailed off, raising her head to look at the sky.

Pillars of smoke rose in the direction of the temple. Gaeun felt a sick, churning feeling in the pit of her stomach. "What is that?" She whispered.

Jooyong nudged her consciousness to move faster, although he did seem intrigued by what they were looking at. "Dark arts. Alchemy of souls," he answered, "Some poor bastard is getting a new body."

Let it be Naksu, was Gaeun's first thought. I don't care about her. Let it be Mu Deok again. Let Wook be spared. I cannot lose another to—

She used her sword to cut through the wilderness, clearing a path for herself as she raced through the woods. The rain had stopped completely. Despite drawing more magic from Jooyong, she still felt cold from the fright.

A thick veil separated Gaeun from the temple. She slammed her fist against it repeatedly but it was still in vain. Drawing and spinning her sword, she swung it upwards, sending a strike of lightning at the screen. The veil flickered and trembled and slowly began to disperse.

Mu Deok's unconscious body was the first thing Gaeun spotted. She moved past her, knowing that the maid would survive. Though she was weak now, Mu Deok seemed to be the Heavens' favourite in some twisted manner.

Gilju had collapsed by the stone well. She felt nothing from him, unlike the synthetical energy that Mu Deok had given projected the first time she had met her. But Gaeun had to be sure.

Gripping her sword tightly, she approached Wook who lay by the temple's threshold. With bated breath, she waited for him to open his eyes. She heard Mu Deok stir and exclaim in surprise. She heard her scramble for Gilju, assuming him to be Wook.

But Gaeun still waited. If they had truly exchanged bodies, she wouldn't hesitate to strike this person down and capture him until they could reverse the spell.

She trembled.

"Jang Wook," Mu Deok tried to shake Gilju's body awake, "Jang Wook, wake up. Lady Gaeun is here—Jang Wook!"

Not again. Gaeun wouldn't lose another person she loved again. If Wook was gone as well then she would never recover.

As she stood over Wook, he agonizingly opened his eyes. He stared past Gaeun's boots, at Mu Deok who was still worrying over Gilju, thinking it to be him. Slowly, Wook got to his feet, shifting his gaze to Gaeun. He looked at her sword, at the state of her clothes, and then met her eyes.