The Bride of the Water God chapter 74

The Bride of the Water God chapter 74 (하백의 신부 제74회) appeared in the September 1st, 2009 issue of Wink Magazine. If you don’t want to know what happens, don’t read.

SPOILER ahead

SPOILER starting now. This chapter was.. okay. I want to see what happens in the next chapter, at least. So, the last chapter ended with Soah still around the pool area in the moon palace because Biryum wanted to put here somewhere where Habaek could see her while he’s at the imperial palace. Biryum told her she could visit this area since it most resembles the earth and, in particular, resembles the water country. He did not tell her at that time that he was dragging here there at ~2-3am earth-time to have Habaek look at her, of course.

She is looking at/smelling one of the flowers and thinking to herself. She wonders how just far this place is from the water country and that it seems much too far. She wonders if she can meet Mui, Yohee, Judong and everyone else again. She wants to go back…back to the water country. Biryum is observing her. He remarks how she looks outwardly strong (collected, calm, etc.) but she must actually be very affected since she’s just a human, after all. Dong Wang Gong (eastern king) asks Biryum what he’s doing here. Biryum kneels immediately and greets Dong Wang Gong formally. Eastern king says it’s been a while since he saw him and what are the two of them, him and Habaek’s bride, doing here. Biryum tells him that Habaek had wanted to see her so he was simply giving Habaek the chance to see her briefly. Eastern king thinks that’s a bit unfair for only Habaek to be able to do the seeing. Biryum’s like, “Yeah, well, see…..” but Eastern king turns around and asks Soah if he should make it so she can go meet Habaek? She says, “Sorry? What are you talking about? Are you sending me back, then?” Eastern king says sending her back would be impossible, but just letting her see him for a bit would be possible…if she wants it, that is. She’s thinking, “I would be able to see…Habaek…?”

Scene switch. Imperial palace.  Nakbin is looking down at something. She is interrupted by Tae-eul-jin-in. He asks if she’s won him(Habaek) over yet and that it seems the emperor is waiting quite a bit for her (to accomplish her thing). Nakbin says, “Do you believe I will fail?” Tae-eul-jin-in says well let’s see… I don’t know much about you, per se, but I’ve been by his side for a while and I believe to know him rather well….  but you know this far better than I with regards to that girl, don’t you: that he loves Soah more than he values his own self. He continues on by saying, “However, right now, he’s chosen you. If that’s the case, between the two of you, which would Habaek choose to save?” Nakbin tells him, “Shut up. You dare compare me with that fake-ass bitch?” (well, okay. She says it in the formal and proper way like “Shut up. You dare compare me to that fake girl?” but “girl” tends to be slang for bitch.) Nakbin continues: “I met him first. I loved him first. And if we had not been separated, Habaek would have no reason to love a woman like her.” And Tae-eul-jin-in says, “Oh, but you two did separate and Habaek did fall in love with her.” Then he goes and adds salt to the wounds by saying, “Oh yeah, and how do you feel?” Next panel shows just what she was looking at. It seems like a pond with those flowers floating and it almost feels like it’s a mirror or at the least reflecting her image….but you notice it’s not the same pose as she’s sitting — the one in the water is shown with her eyes closed and lying down with her hands in front of her clasped. He continues, “How do you feel looking upon that dead body of yours? You cannot change what has come to pass. That body of yours now cannot leave this place and live. That means if you stay here, Habaek will not be able to leave. Which, would still achieve the emperor’s wishes.

Scene switch. Dong Wang Gong (Eastern King Lord) tells Soah that before he sends her, he has something to say first. He says, according to Biryum, she is under some misconception about Habaek. He tells her Habaek’s only pretended to lose memories of hers in order to deceive the emperor. Soah says, “You’re saying Habaek didn’t lose his memories? But that’s not possible, he really did seem like he forgot about me.” Biryum interjects by saying, “That’s not true. He really didn’t lose his memories. I don’t know the exact reason for him pretending to lose them, but it seems it’s an action he undertook to protect you. Since he asked me, as well, to look out for you. Then Biryum confesses he brought her to the pool area because Habaek had wanted to see her. So then Eastern king says, “So, going back to what we first said. The way you could meet him is by leaving your body here, but sending your spirit forth. But you would only be able to see him. You won’t be able to touch him or talk to him.” He tells her the water where they are is connected to the water in the earth. That way Habaek can use the water to look at whatever over here, and in turn, they could use the water to look at what they want. Dong Wang Gong says, “If you still can’t believe in Habaek, then why don’t you see for yourself, and then decide to clear up your misunderstanding or not. Of course, it’s not really an easy method. But, if you wish for it, I will help you. Soah says she’ll do it, she’ll go meet him. THEN Dong Wang Gong says that he, who wields fire, is unable to use it, but she, as Habaek’s bride, would do just fine. He tells her to get to Habaek she needs to listen to the water and follow it.  She listens to the water and starts to follow it. Biryum asks if this was really okay. Soah is lying down with her eyes closed because..her spirit is off somewhere else.. Biryum asks if this is something dangerous. Dong Wang Gong says, “She’ll be fine. Well, in this case, there’s a chance of dying, but,…” Biryum’s upset because that means it IS dangerous. Eastern King says it’ll be fine since it’s her. And if a human loves a god, she must be able to beat a trial such as this. Dong Wang says, “Oh, hm…now that I think of it…” Biryum’s thinking, “okay, here we go. so he did have something in mind.” Dong Wang says, “I told her how to come back, right?” Biryum is yelling inside his head, “No, you didn’t! You didn’t tell her!” He is thinking to himself that this time Habaek will really kill him. She has been following the sound of water and finds herself (her spirit, that is) at a familiar place. She believes it is water country. She wonders why it took her here since she thought Habaek was at the imperial lands. She wonders what will she do if Habaek’s not here since she wasn’t thinking about the water country. Then she hears someone call out, “Habaek-nim—” She tries to look through the slats of a door and realizes this is the room she first saw Habaek. The old guy Yuk-Oh is telling him he was looking for him(Habaek) for a long time.  And a voice says he had been preparing some stuff….but, wait a moment. There seems to be someone outside the door. The old guy says that’s in no way possible since no one comes to that location. The door is slid open quickly and out pops .. Habaek? with long hair that’s all down. Soah’s spirit is drawn with a little glowy aura around her to indicate she’s not in corporeal form. The “To be continued” part says, “Will they finally be able to meet?” End of chapter.

Now…. that’s odd. I wonder if she is traveling through time, too. Because he really is in the imperial country.