What kind of pain was it to be dismembered? What kind of pain was it to watch one's own body being dismembered while one was still alive?

Some monsters were monsters in the mountains, formed naturally by absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon, or by absorbing the resentment of humans. Some monsters were formed after a person's body was possessed after death, or because their resentment was too deep after death.

In the past, the Snow Girl was not a monster. She lived in this village by herself, had her own family, her own lover, and a medium-sized piece of farmland that could support her entire family. However, when everything went smoothly for her, the gods would always give her a hard time.

In the winter of that year, a sudden illness tormented the human Snow Girl. Her once healthy body that she was proud of began to weaken. Even her breathing became painful, as if she was being pricked by needles.

The Snow Girl's lover looked at her weak body and went around asking for medical help. Their family that had just become wealthy gradually went downhill.

The old man in the family who thought that he had married a good daughter-in-law began to think that she was a burden. After all, it was difficult for a medicated person to have any children.

"You can't not have children. Marry another one."

The Snow Girl lay on the bed and listened to her mother-in-law in the courtyard persuading her lover. The man was just over 30 years old, but he looked exceptionally old, as if a heavy burden was about to crush him.

"No, I can't give up on Yukihime. Previously, the richest family in the village wanted to marry her, but they were all rejected. She married me because of love. I can't abandon her."

The man righteously rejected his mother's suggestion. Hearing her lover's words, the eyes of the Snow Girl who was lying on the bed filled with tears.

Winter was coming. The doctor gave the final warning that the Snow Girl would not survive this winter.

The mother-in-law's face lit up.

She could finally persuade her son to marry another woman after the snow girl's death. Her frowning husband, on the other hand, learned of a life-saving method from the wandering monk.

There was a mountain in the north. When the weather was cold, it would be covered in snow. At the top of the mountain, where the snow was thickest, a Saussurea bloomed. Saussurea was a top-grade medicinal herb that could revive a person. It was even said that it could cure all diseases and bring the dead back to life.

The husband prepared his luggage and gazed at the mountains in the north every day. Finally, one morning, snowflakes covered the mountains. He looked at the Snow Lady who was lying on the bed, so weak that she couldn't even speak. He picked up his luggage and embarked on a dangerous path for his wife.

The path of the snowy mountain was not easy to traverse. The towering peak pierced through the clouds. From afar, the peak did not seem high, but when you walked to the foot of the mountain, you would find yourself so small. However, he had faith. He insisted on climbing to the peak and plucking the snow lotus. His wife was waiting for him at home.

Waiting for the family to return to their former worry-free state, the man climbed the endless snow mountain step by step with the fastest and most stable speed. Snowflakes and cold wind blew on his face, forming a thick layer of white frost on his body.

In cold weather, although people would become steaming hot due to exercise, when you didn't have the strength to continue moving and found that you were still halfway to your destination, other than the lack of heat, there was also despair in your heart.

"Human, what are you doing here?"

Halfway up the desolate snow mountain, the man who was about to faint on the ground saw a girl standing in front of him. The girl's appearance was exquisite and flawless, as delicate as a doll. However, her voice was as emotionless as the flying snow beside him.

"Are you Lord Monster?

I … want to go to the top of the mountain to pluck Saussurea. My wife is dying. "

The girl floating in the wind and snow was definitely not human. The man thought of the legendary monster, the Snow Girl who was born in the snow. She was a character that appeared in the stories that his wife liked to tell him because his wife was also born in the snow.

"You have no strength left. Whether you can survive is a problem. It is impossible to pluck Saussurea."

Furthermore … Saussurea did not exist. The real Saussurea could only be found in the higher mountains. The man had just fallen into a trap.

"Even if it costs my life, I will pluck Saussurea. My wife is still at home. She is still waiting for me to bring Saussurea back to cure her!"

The man's eyes were filled with emotions that the Snow Girl could not understand. The determination to bring Saussurea back to cure his wife even at the cost of his life gave the Snow Girl an indescribable feeling.

"Tell me the story between you and your wife."

The wind and snow around the man stopped. The bone-chilling wind and snow circled around the man but did not fall on him again. The Snow Girl was interested in the wife that the man mentioned. To be more precise, she was interested in the relationship between the man and his wife.

"Okay!"

If the monster was willing to help him, he would have an extra layer of protection. The man could already see his wife recovering from her illness and living happily with him like before. His eyes were filled with sweetness. He started to tell the Snow Girl everything that had happened between him and his wife.

The man's wife, Yukihime, was the most beautiful woman in the area. Every day, there was an endless stream of marriage proposals, which made the man feel even more inferior. He was just an ordinary farmer. He did not have a stunning appearance or impressive wealth. Everyone thought that Yukihime would marry the richest suitor, but she had married the man in front of him. In order to please Yukihime in the middle of summer, the man had racked his brains to create a snow that would melt as soon as it touched the ground. Since Yukihime loved snow, she was born in the snow.

The man who received the favor of the goddess was very shocked. At least, he felt that it was enough to make Yukihime happy. After all, a woman like her was the apple of everyone's eye. However, he did not have the ability to make a woman happy. Yukihime held the man's hand and looked at him. She said, "Other people only know how to give me things that make other women happy. You are the only one who gave me the happiest thing. When I get married, other than living a good life, there is also the happiness that I want."

For this happiness, the man started to work hard to earn money. He wanted to make the family rich so that Yukihime would not have to suffer. However, the girl who was once the center of attention would change for her husband. She was also working hard for her happiness.

Their story was very dry, but it was full of warmth. The Snow Girl did not know why, but when she heard the story, she suddenly felt like crying. She watched as the man took out the amulet that his wife gave him before he left. Sadness surged out of her.

"Saussurea is not in this snow mountain. You should leave. Don't come back … Your village will have heavy snow in a few days. Why don't you go back and inform the villagers?"

The Snow Girl turned around and was about to leave when the man grabbed the corner of her shirt. The man who was happily telling his story with his wife begged the Snow Girl with eyes that were on the verge of tears. Monsters definitely had more ways than humans. Since Saussurea was not in the snow mountain, the Snow Girl must have a way to save his wife.

"… I can go back with you."

After a long silence, the Snow Girl finally nodded. She was born in the snow, but she was trapped in the vast snow mountain. She yearned for humans with rich feelings and also wanted to warm her cold heart. The man in front of her was not the first to come here, and he was not the first to come to the snow mountain to pick Saussurea for his wife. However, their love was not persistent enough. When they saw the majestic snow mountain, their hearts beat a retreat.

"It's just a woman. When I go back, I'll say there is no Saussurea and marry another one."

The men comforted themselves like that and left at the foot of the mountain. Therefore, when the man in front of her walked halfway up the mountain because of his wife, the Snow Girl showed up. She wanted to know why the man was doing this, and she got the answer. An answer that warmed her heart.

"Thank you!

Thank you! "

The man was so excited that he did not know what to do. The journey back was not as tiring as before. It took him four days to come here, but only two days to go back. Perhaps it was because the Snow Girl had shielded him from the wind and snow. He did not feel cold or tired on the way back. His body was as light as air. The Snow Girl must have helped him, the man thought.

The door of the man's house was tightly shut. No one came to open the door. His mother was not at home, and his wife's illness must have worsened. The man gave the Snow Girl an apologetic look and climbed over the wall to open the door for the Snow Girl. However, the Snow Girl floated in by herself.

"Yukihime!

I found … "The man excitedly pushed open the door to his wife's room, only to see an unforgettable scene. His wife, who was as thin as a stick due to her illness, was being tortured by two men on the bed. Yukihime, who was already gasping for air, could not make a sound. The men were plowing the motionless Yukihime, as if they were enjoying the most comfortable thing in the world.

"Tsk, you actually came back alive."

The two men were surprised when they saw the man who pushed the door open. Everyone knew that there was a monster on the snowy mountain, but he was the only one who believed that there was a Saussurea on the snowy mountain that could save lives. After the man left, only his old mother and his seriously ill wife were left in the house. The two men, who had been drooling over Yukihime's beauty for a long time, took the opportunity to trick their old mother into leaving and occupied Yukihime for six days. As soon as the man left the house, the two men took action, because they were the ones who told the man about the Saussurea on the snowy mountain.

"… You!!"

The man could no longer control his anger, but the two men acted as if they did not see him. They pulled up their pants, put on their clothes, and walked around the man. They did not think that the man could beat them, not to mention that his wife, Yukihime, was dying.

"Yukihime …" Sure enough, when he saw his wife stop breathing in front of him, the man was more sad than angry. Snow Girl was floating behind the man. The two men could not see the Snow Girl, so they walked through the Snow Girl's body and walked out of the door. She could vaguely hear the two men talking about Yukihime's deliciousness.

"I beg you, please save her …!"

Snow Girl watched the whole process. She thought the man would ask her to help kill the two men, but he turned around and begged the Snow Girl to save his dead wife.

"If you want me to help you kill the two men, that's fine."