By Zephyria 
Serpent skins and bones were ground away in the whirlwind, blood and flesh splattered, and sorcery slammed violently into the cave floor. Waves of vibration surged through the ground, causing it to heave. The surviving serpents shrieked and fled upward.
—It’s an earthquake, an earthquake!
The vibration, starting from a single point, grew steadily as it climbed the walls. Rocks that had endured the weight of the earth for eons cracked, and the ceiling began to collapse at an angle.
The shackles and chains embedded in the walls loosened, and the failures were set free. They thrashed and howled, desperate not to be crushed under the wave of serpent carcasses flooding in. Amidst the chaos, Young-pa leaped high and sprinted up the wall.
—The prisoners from the lower dungeon have been released!
—Run!
Everywhere was covered in fleeing serpents and insects. Rumble, rumble—the ground shook heavily, signaling an imminent collapse.
‘What a fucking place.’
Young-pa thought as he looked up at a passage that resembled the throat of a beast. Looking closely, while the common serpents and insects fled upward, the ancient anacondas were heading in the opposite direction.
—We must protect the treasure vault! Otherwise, we’re dead!
—Bite the human! Bite him so he can’t get near the treasure!
Having spent a long time there, Young-pa could roughly understand the language of the serpents.
‘There was a treasure vault?’
Young-pa’s eyes glittered with greed. No matter the risk of being crushed to death, how could he miss the chance to steal Black Tortoise’s treasures? With an excited stride, he followed the procession of anacondas toward the eastern passage.
The ground cracked and crumbled wherever his feet touched. The ceiling let out a low roar as boulders and dust rained down. The deeper he ventured into the winding tunnel, the dimmer the light became. Eventually, he reached a dead end.
Suddenly, Young-pa felt an ominous energy behind him. He turned his head to find three people standing there, looking majestic and well-equipped with armor.
“Quite impressive, human.”
The one in the center spoke, flicking its tongue. It seemed that even when using a disguise to look human, it could not shake that habit.
“Did you think we would let you loot the treasure vault just because you were released by a stroke of luck?”
“And what if I don’t?”
Young-pa smirked with a deep, mocking laugh. He was exhilarated by the sight of blood and was ready to stain his hands even deeper. However, the serpents maintained a gentle demeanor, as if they had no intention of fighting.
“Listen well, human. If Black Tortoise finds out about this, we are all dead men. Of course, you will be the one to suffer the most.”
The center serpent approached with a smile.
“This time, they will surely cut off those useless limbs and pluck out both your eyes.”
The serpent on the left whispered in an infinitely soft voice.
“So, cooperate with us now. If you follow us quietly, we shall not hold your crimes against you.”
The serpent on the right spoke with extreme kindness.
Young-pa bared his teeth and growled like a wild beast. It wasn’t the content of the serpents’ chatter that bothered him, but the irritating hiss-hiss sound they made.
Before he knew it, the serpents had closed in and surrounded him. Some spellcraft had been cast; the strength was slowly draining from Young-pa’s body.
Someone’s hand slid closer. Young-pa watched silently, and the moment the wrist reached his nose, he snatched it and snapped it in a circular motion. The opponent shrieked and transformed into an anaconda as thick as a tree trunk.
—You filthy human, how dare you!
—It can’t be helped. Since it’s come to this, capture him alive!
Three anacondas, eyes wide and slit, lunged at him with lightning speed. Young-pa conjured a strong wind to push one back and rolled across the floor to avoid the fangs of the other two lunging from opposite sides.
—What a wicked human, all that effort to feed you was for nothing!
An anaconda clinging to the wall hissed and targeted Young-pa. Instead of dodging, Young-pa leaped toward it, wrapped his arm around its head, and snapped it with a loud crack. Simultaneously, the other two pounced on him.
—We cleaned up after your filth every time, and this is how you repay us?
Young-pa ducked to avoid one and instead slammed his fist into its jaw. However, the fangs of another serpent sank into his shoulder, bringing agonizing pain. In the moment his grip loosened, the serpent he had been holding against his side twisted its head and bit into his waist.
—Stop, stop! He is a prisoner cherished by Lord Ji Seo-gu! You must not kill him!
A neurotic scream echoed. As the poison spread through his body and his mind grew hazy, Young-pa blinked slowly. His body was flipped over as an anaconda coiled around his waist and slammed him against the cave wall.
“Ugh!”
His vision spun, the ceiling and floor swapping places. The three jailers used the wall as a weapon, beating Young-pa mercilessly. During the assault, one serpent whispered kindly.
—I protected you while on patrol, you remember, don’t you?
“Hehe, kkh. You all look the same… I don’t… know.”
Youngpa chuckled, showing teeth stained with dark red blood. As if by agreement, the anacondas hissed and coiled around his waist.
—What a foul human! Knock him unconscious!
They worked together, squeezing Young-pa’s body as if to crush it. The sound of slimy flesh rubbing together, creak, creak, filled the tunnel. Even while groaning, Young-pa did not lose his cruel smile.
“Since you’re just faces to be torn apart and killed… does it even matter who’s who?”
At that moment, one anaconda shrieked and writhed.
—Agh, aaaaagh! Stop, stop it!
It was because Young-pa had dug his fingertips into its skin and ripped out its entrails. The anacondas, tangled together, let out piercing screams. Giggling, Young-pa tore through the thick rope-like body coiled tightly around him.
—You, how dare you!
—You crazy human! I will not let you get away with this!
As soon as he broke free, Young-pa leaped toward the ceiling to avoid the sorcery. He sprinted along the wall like the wind and shattered a hanging rock. He then slammed it down onto the nape of an anaconda.
—Kyaaaaagh!
As Young-pa kicked the beast’s back and ripped the rock out, blood erupted like a fountain. The weapon he threw while turning pierced the throat of another lunging anaconda and embedded itself in the cave wall.
—Y-you bastard! When Black Tortoise… finds out about this…
The last anaconda bared its fangs and struggled. Young-pa waited for it to lunge, then slid aside and mounted its body. Before the anaconda could even lift its jaw, Young-pa slammed his fist down onto its forehead.
—Kaaaagh! Agh! Aaaaagh! Ugh, ugh…
“For a serpent, you’re quite stubborn.”
He struck, and struck, and struck again. Only after repeating this several times did the anaconda stop struggling. Young-pa giggled and licked the blood that had flowed down to his wrists.
“Is there… anyone still alive?”
Panting, he approached another limp anaconda and crushed its head with his bare foot. The creature writhed and excreted filth, but Young-pa stepped on it regardless, unconcerned that the sole of his foot was getting dirty.
“Die! Just die!”
A vicious smile spread across his blood-stained face. Young-pa stomped his feet so hard the ground dented, laughing as if he were having the time of his life. He only stopped after crushing the carcass beyond recognition.
“Whew, whew… Fucking pests, thinking they could act up.”
Young-pa swayed violently before barely managing to lean against the wall. After coughing a few times, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He collapsed with a groan. Though he had dealt with all the jailers, his body was such a wreck that it was a miracle he was still breathing.
Young-pa placed his hand on his stomach and closed his eyes. A black light flickered around his hand and was absorbed into his body. His ragged breathing stabilized, and some color returned to his complexion. Standing up again, Young-pa staggered away from the alley.
It didn’t take long to find the treasure vault. He only had to follow the direction the anacondas had been whispering about. However, the sight Young-pa encountered was a bizarre wall. Hundreds of serpents were writhing in the air, as if clinging to an invisible surface.
—Block it with your bodies. Block it with your bodies…
—Bite the human to death!
—Prevent him from stealing the treasure!
Young-pa pulled at a few serpents with an annoyed expression. The space looked like empty air, but an eerie energy emanated from it.
‘It’s obvious who made this barrier.’
Young-pa clenched his teeth as if to crush them. He glared at the empty space ahead and reached out his hand. Soon, Black Energy flowed from Young-pa’s palm, and the barrier scattered like smoke.
—The prisoner has dismantled Lord Ji Seo-gu’s barrier!
—The treasure is mine!
—No, it’s mine! Move!
The serpents and anacondas, who until then had been making a fuss about protecting the treasure, suddenly turned and rushed toward the vault. Young-pa conjured a wind to blow away the ones in front, but because there were so many, they swarmed in.
“Fucking bastards.”
Young-pa advanced, tearing apart and killing the serpents that coiled around him or sank their teeth in. However, what he faced was a sight more disappointing than expected. He hadn’t expected jade pillars in a disgusting cave, but the “treasure vault” consisted of nothing more than an unadorned altar and a pile of junk atop it.
‘Is this a beggar’s den?’
A Flame Night-Shining Pearl, grey serpent skin, a rusted helmet, a comb, and a small box. Young-pa clicked his tongue at the pile of seemingly useless treasures.
Who knew what went on in Black Tortoise’s head? The thought that there might be something valuable among them kept him from leaving.
In a hurry, he took off his upper garment, fashioned it into a sack, and tied the sleeves and ribbons together. After sweeping the items inside, he staggered forward, pushing through the swarming mass of anacondas.
—Kill him, kill the prisoner! He’s bleeding!
—Let’s kill him! The human is stealing the treasure!
The mass of serpents, which had been writhing and crawling in every direction, suddenly turned as one. They poured in from the front, back, top, and bottom. Even when blown away by strong winds, they surged back relentlessly. Young-pa took the Night-Shining Pearl from his sack and threw it behind him.
Crash!
As the bead shattered, the air—which seemed older than the oldest anaconda—burst into flames. Young-pa fanned the flames into a great blaze with a fierce wind and ran up the wall. Behind him, the sounds of explosions and burning echoed, along with the desperate screams of the serpents.
—Oh, I’m dying!
—It’s hot! It’s hot! It’s hot!
—Help me, it hurts!
A winding passage unfolded chaotically before him, and rocks and dust poured from the ceiling. Behind him, the flames pursued with terrifying momentum. The entire cave was burning and collapsing.
“Grrrrrrr!”
Just then, Young-pa saw a monster with wide-spread wings. A hybrid creature with the distorted face of a dog, the body of a tiger as large as a house, and the wings of an eagle—it was one of the failures that had been in the lower dungeon with him. It was suffering, surrounded by a swarm of serpents.
When Young-pa created a whirlwind to blow the serpents away, the beast barked and wagged its tail as if grateful. There was no time to waste. Young-pa leaped onto its back.
“Let’s go, to the Mortal Realm.”
Whether it was a dog, a tiger, or a bird, the monster, despite its hideous appearance, knew gratitude. Carrying Young-pa on its back, it flew, dodging the rain of falling boulders.
The Snake Cave was winding like a maze, but the beast seemed to sense the direction of the wind. The raging flames pursued closely, but not a single hair on Young-pa’s head was singed. After soaring up, diving down, and flying left and right, the monster found the exit.
At the portal where light was leaking in, serpents were crowded, tangling complexly as they fought to get out. Behind them, the all-consuming flames pursued, and above, the ceiling collapsed, pouring out rocks.
“I’ll protect you. Break through.”
As Young-pa muttered, the beast barked as if it understood. The monster flapped its wings powerfully and charged into the mass of countless overlapping serpents. Young-pa summoned a sharp Black Wind to envelop the monster. He then gripped its scruff and leaned down.
—Kiyaaaagh, kiyaaaagh!
The air was noisy with the screams of serpents, the sound of scales being crushed and torn, and the noise of bones snapping and crumpling. Just before the flames, which had followed right behind, could singe his clothes, the ceiling collapsed with a thunderous roar. In the next moment, Young-pa and the failure burst through the wall and flew into the air.
Dazzled by the brilliant radiance, Young-pa momentarily let go of the fur he was gripping. Soft air enveloped his body, and a refreshing breeze swept through his hair. The purple twilight pierced his eyes enchantingly.
Thump.
Despite falling from a height, it didn’t hurt at all. As he took a deep breath, a scent he had never imagined was drawn into his nostrils. It was the smell of grass, a scent he didn’t know how long it had been since he last experienced.
“Ha!”
Young-pa sprang up and threw the largest rock he could see at the entrance of the Snake Cave. The entrance had completely caved in, and a thick smell of burning drifted outward. Listening closely, he could hear screams.
Young-pa leaped up and stood atop the rock.
“Haha, haha… Hahahahaha…”
He blinked slowly. Though he was clearly laughing, his eyes grew moist. The setting sun was brighter than he had imagined, and the world was far more luminous than he had known. Young-pa threw his head back and laughed loud enough to shake the heavens.
After that, dizziness washed over him, and his vision went dark. It was because his body, hacked to pieces by the serpents, had lost too much blood.
As Young-pa collapsed to the ground, he filled his vision with the world.
Clouds tinged with the sunset, lush trees and succulent fruits, high Byeoksan mountains and flowing green waters. The Land of Beauty and Abundance was infinitely vast and open.
The thought crossed his mind that dying on a land touched by light, rather than in a damp underground, was a blessing. Young-pa pulled the corners of his mouth up with all his might and then lost consciousness.
≋ ≋ ≋
When he opened his eyes again, the world was bathed in the brilliance of midday. Young-pa felt a sense of bewilderment as he faced the warm sunlight. As he took a deep breath, the scent of dry earth and fresh leaves flowed into his body. It was a sensation foreign to someone who had been imprisoned underground.
Young-pa searched his memories, recalling the process of escaping the Snake Cave. He remembered laughing heartily and then fainting, but he couldn’t tell how much time had passed since then.
Young-pa noticed that the deep bite marks on his wrist had faded. Below the torn hem of his trousers, the wound that had sliced his thigh blood-red had also healed to some extent.
“Yahoo!”
He leaped up onto a high rock. Then, he jumped atop a sheer cliff. Though he still felt aches here and there, his body was unbelievably light.
Young-pa brushed the dry earth, rolled on the grass, caught dew drops on leaves with his tongue, and picked flowers to chew on. After rolling around like a madman, he regained his composure.
‘The Mortal Realm looked like this, yet I forgot because I grew accustomed to that rotten cave.’
The scenery of the world was so exquisite that it was no wonder it was called the Land of Beauty and Abundance. The sky was a piercing, clear blue, and a few pieces of cozy sheep-clouds drifted along the heavenly wind. Below them, the Jade Mountains unfolded like a folding screen. Green forests grew lush and dense, and streams trickled down the mountain slopes. Reeds blooming thick by the water swayed gently.
Young-pa took an awkward step forward. And before long, he began to run. The clear wind and sunlight touching his free body felt strange yet ecstatic. The heavens and earth were so vast that no matter how high he jumped, he could not reach the end.
After running in excitement for a while, Young-pa saw a stream flowing vigorously. He walked along the current and came to a sudden halt before a pool of water.
The reflection on the water’s surface was unfamiliar. A man with disheveled hair wore a vacant expression. When Young-pa frowned, the man also glared back at him with a fierce look.
‘Is this me?’
He looked to be about twenty-five. He had a young and pretty face. His skin, having been deprived of light for so long, was pale, and there was a mole on the left side of his jaw.
Young-pa didn’t like it; the face looked too frail and not manly enough. He didn’t know for sure, but he had imagined himself looking much stronger and more terrifying.
“Still, it’s tolerable.”
Consoling himself with the fact that his appearance wasn’t hideous, Young-pa took off his clothes. He immersed himself in the pool and washed his face, body, and hair.
‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I last washed.’
Young-pa thought deeply as he scrubbed away the grime, but he had no memory of ever washing. Seeing as he naturally knew how to wash, it couldn’t have been his first time, which was strange.
‘Who am I?’
He knew nothing. How old he was, where his hometown was, what he did for a living, what he liked, whether he had family or friends, or if he had been married.
He had plenty of memories of being tortured in the Snake Cave, spending tedious hours lying down, or eating rotten porridge, but he had no memories of doing anything outside the cave. All Young-pa knew about himself were the two characters of his name.