Chaotic Nights — Chapter 193. Seventh Day

Translator: Atlas

Weekly Chapter 3/4

Jihak, who laid Kim’s body on the floor, lifted her in his arms.

“Eunha.”

With a trembling hand, she cupped his cheek. When she kissed him, he burst into tears. His eyes shone like stars in the night sky. The two continued to kiss in silence.

There was no need to tell him that she was worried.

She caressed his ash-covered cheek.

“Don’t cry… Jihak.”

Eunha kissed Jihak’s wet cheek. She patted his broad back.

“Don’t cry.”

His eyes were distorted. Jihak buried his face in her neck.

Her neck was wet with his tears.

Beyond the raging fire, the first light of dawn began to show. Raindrops started to fall on the weary people who had battled the blaze.

They gazed up at the sky, their ash-streaked cheeks growing damp with rain.

Spring.

***

“There are many patients.”

Choe was surprised because there were so many patients.

“Some people suffered burns! Others choked on smoke!”

“Then burn patients on the right! The other patients on the left!”

The patients were arranged based on Choe’s instructions.

They removed the clothes attached to the patients.

Fortunately, the patients’ condition was not that serious. It would be difficult to treat the burns, but at least it wasn’t a hot summer. Choe, who was aiding the doctors, gulped when he saw the man arrive on the scene.

The tall, handsome man, towering over most Western doctors, held a severely burned individual.

As Choe approached Robin, his eyes finally wavered upon realizing that the person in the man’s arms was Kim.

“Is he dead?”

The impassive man laid Kim on a bed. His eyes were sad.

Robin, who had tensed up, gently massaged different parts of Kim with sorrow.

[The body has already stiffened with rigor mortis. I don’t know what happened, but it’s terrible. Were these patients from the site of the major fire? Why did Kim…?]

The sad-eyed man opened his mouth,

[His name is Kim Unsoo. Although I expelled him, he is a foolish person…]

Choe was taken aback by the man’s fluency in a Western language. Reflecting on it, he remembered that Kim had mentioned that he knew Western Language too.

“May I know who you are?”

The man answered Choe’s cautious question.

“No need.”

“I guess you came to Harye.”

“Please tend to the patient. I’ll return shortly to pick up the body.”

Jihak departed silently, leaving the people bewildered. In a tent, individuals awaited treatment. Jihak’s eyes narrowed as he observed their faces, his jaw tightening.

He walked among the Shadows lined up.

“Report.”

“We have found five corpses. Also arrow marks. The arrows have oil on the tip, looks like they shot fire arrows. But all the corpses were found with their throats slit. Clearly, their lives were taken to stop the opium trade.”

“Just as Kim said.”

“My Lord, we should rest now. Everyone is exhausted.”

Jihak nodded. Yuljae was right. They couldn’t head to the capital city with the Shadows, they were exhausted from battling fires throughout the night.

Today was the seventh day.

He aimed to honor the agreement with Eunha.

“Is one day enough?”

Everyone nodded.

Jihak took a bold step forward. He did not hesitate to walk in the rain. The horse that had survived recognized its owner. Jihak stroked its mane, then climbed onto the horse.

“I’m relieved you’re all alive.”

Harye awoke to a spring rain, which felt like a blessing.

Jihak rode through the rain to reach Eunha.

***

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Hearing Gari’s words, Eunha glanced at the burn marks on her hand with a serious expression.

“How can I not worry?”