She was bound to the execution platform and listened to the judgment: "Our daughter has violated the laws of heaven and incurred its wrath. She is sentenced to endure ten thousand bolts of lightning and ten lifetimes without love..."
Then she saw the lightning rushing toward her, but felt nothing.
"I'll bear those ten loveless lifetimes in her place. The princess is delicate, and this punishment by heavenly lightning is already severe. Your Majesty, will you agree?"
In a daze, Mujin saw a man smile gently at her for a long time, then leap into the abyss. Her heart suddenly ached unbearably. Everything went black, and a pain that pierced to her bones engulfed her.
When she awoke, more than half her pillow was wet. She sat on the bed, staring blankly at the figure in the distance. He seemed to sense it and hurried over. Sitting beside her, he drew her frail form into his arms, stroked her hair, and asked with a pained expression:
"Another nightmare?"
Outside the window, pear blossoms were in bloom, white as snow...
