As True as a Dream Chapter 135

From the beginning, Governor Saito wanted to turn Mao—a woman devoid of human emotions—into an ordinary person. That was why he sought out Guishan Dao and cultivated Man Insa.

To cure his daughter’s illness, Governor Saito deliberately set foot on Korean soil, intending to use the lives of Koreans as nourishment to cultivate the Bloodstone of Ten Thousand Souls.

Hae-Joo’s mind boiled with fury.

‘Koreans are not pigs or dogs raised in pens.’

Yet Governor Saito treated them like livestock—mere fodder to cure his daughter’s illness…!

They were people too.

They had parents, children, and loved ones. Each life had value and meaning.

But Governor Saito…!

Hae-Joo’s face twisted in rage.

The memory of Eun-sil’s family lying lifeless on the mat flashed in her mind, and her chest tightened with pain again.

A seething hatred grew inside her, threatening to consume her in flames.

Miyeon had mentioned the Ten Thousand Bloodstone in her letter.

Both Manager Hongo and Yi-Ho had referred to it as a “panacea.”

‘What kind of stone is this Bloodstone?’

Even if it truly was a cure-all, how could a vile snake like Man Insa possess such a thing…?

As her thoughts reached this point, Hae-Joo’s eyes suddenly flew open.

Ten Thousand Bloodstone.

Ten thousand.

People.

Blood.

Stone.

‘A stone forged from the blood of ten thousand people…?’

A chilling realization ran down her spine.

‘Was her guess correct?’

Even if it was, who would create such a horrific stone…!

Furious, Hae-Joo gritted her teeth, syllable by syllable, as she mulled over the name—until she suddenly froze.

“Bloodstone of Ten Thousand Souls.”

There was someone by her side who needed it to survive.

Someone who had to have it—the only thing that could save him.

The man she loved, the man she wanted to spend this life with: Yi-Ho.

“The Bloodstone of Ten Thousand Souls…”

Hae-Joo lifted her head from where she sat and glanced at the bed.

There lay a beautiful man, breathing evenly with his eyes closed.

She couldn’t think anymore.

Only that ominous, dreadful stone… could save Yi-Ho.

‘But what would he think? Even if the Bloodstone is made that way… would he not care?’

 

Yi-Ho had clearly known from the beginning what the Bloodstone was.

Yet he had insisted—repeatedly—that they had to find it.

Hae-Joo’s mind went blank, as if a lightbulb had burned out.

‘He needed that blood-soaked stone.’

But she couldn’t accept it.

The blood saturating that stone undoubtedly included Eun-sil and her family’s share.

A wave of nausea surged from the depths of her chest, and Hae-Joo doubled over, dry heaving.

She hastily covered her mouth.

‘Ah…! She couldn’t lose Yi-Ho.’

‘He couldn’t die.’

But without that stone… How could he live?

Her heart pounded anxiously.

Then, a scorching hand gently stroked her back.

Startled, Hae-Joo looked up.

Yi-Ho, who had woken up at some point, was now beside her, soothing her.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“…No. I just…”

Hesitating, Hae-Joo forced herself to speak, unable to ignore the horrifying possibility about the Bloodstone.

“Boss… about the Bloodstone of Ten Thousand Souls… Is it really… made from the blood of ten thousand people?”

Yi-Ho’s dark eyes dimmed as he looked down at her.

 

Her heart sank.

After a long silence, he finally answered.

“…Yes. The Bloodstone is saturated with the blood of ten thousand. That’s why the victims killed by Man Insa were drained of blood.”

“Ha…!”

Hae-Joo was stunned, her mind reeling.

Now she understood—the serial murders eight years ago in Sogok Village, the recent bloodless killings in Gyeongseong…

Everything connected at last.

The only solace was Yi-Ho’s honesty.

Clenching her fists, Hae-Joo said nothing.

No—she couldn’t say anything.

A long silence passed before she finally spoke.

“The Bloodstone… is the only way for you to recover, isn’t it?”

“…It’s the easiest method available now.”

Her face twisted as she shut her eyes tightly.

Her lips, pale and pressed together, trembled.

But this time, the silence didn’t last long.

“…I understand.”

Yi-Ho’s eyes narrowed slightly, surprised.

The Hae-Joo he knew wouldn’t accept this so easily.

Before he could say anything, she changed the subject.

“How are you feeling? Any better?”

“More importantly, have you slept at all?”

Yi-Ho glanced at her dark, sunken under-eyes.

“Get some rest. You’ll need energy later to bring Eun-sil and her family back for a proper funeral.”

“…Bring them back?”

His unexpected words sharpened her focus.

“A funeral—aren’t you holding one? Does Eun-sil have any other family to prepare the bodies?”

“No, she doesn’t… But their bodies are at the police station.”

“They’re just stacking corpses there. Do you really think they’ll notice if a few go missing?”

Yi-Ho’s casual tone made her blink, then bow her head.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Manager Hongo will handle negotiating their release.”

Sitting beside her, Yi-Ho lazily shifted the burden to Hongo.

Hae-Joo’s lips twitched at his shamelessness.

Yet another worry surfaced—where would they bury them?

Under Japanese rule, private burials were banned unless in state-approved cemeteries.

Being buried among strangers, unable to rest in family graves, was emotionally unbearable for Koreans.

The alternative was cremation—but in Joseon, burning the dead had once been a serious crime, making it equally unacceptable.

As if sensing her turmoil, Yi-Ho’s warm hand covered hers.

“I own a small, wooded hill on the outskirts of Gyeongseong. We can bury Eun-sil’s family there unnoticed.”

Hae-Joo’s lashes fluttered at his words.

She let out a faint laugh.

The man before her now—so considerate—was a far cry from the cold, indifferent man she’d first met.

Though he was still that way to everyone else. Only to her was he different.

“…I appreciate the thought. But I’d like to cremate Eun-sil’s family.”

“Cremation?”

Yi-Ho’s grip on her hand tightened slightly in surprise.

“Times have changed. If this were still Joseon… Well, Joseon doesn’t exist anymore. And Eun-sil… I think she’d hate being buried in this land. It would feel like she was still under Japan’s thumb.”

“…I see.”

“Yes. I want to scatter her ashes from the highest peak of Bukhansan. So she can go far, far away—anywhere she wants.”

Her whisper-like voice reminded Yi-Ho of his own dream—to leave this land, Joseon, and wander the world.

“…Do you want to go far away too?”

“No.”

Her answer was swift and firm.

“I only wanted to leave because I had no ties here. But not anymore. You’re here now.”

Her head leaned lightly against his shoulder.

Glancing down, he saw her eyes were closed, her eyelids red and swollen from exhaustion.

His gaze darkened with unreadable emotion.

Late that afternoon, Hongo burst into the room with urgent news—a massacre in Sunginjeong Alley.

Upon hearing that Eun-sil’s family (whom Hae-Joo cherished) were among the victims, Yi-Ho immediately left for Sunginjeong.