By Zephyria 
“Th-th-th-those bae snakes l-l-live in the Baebaekhon Cave n-n-near Toham Mountain.”
“That is what they said.”
“That place is where humans have settled extensively….”
Though Biryoo’s words sounded like a monologue, they were a clear question.
“What are you doing? The noble Azure Dragon is curious.”
“B-b-baeb-bae, the snakes c-c-catch h-h-humans and e-e-eat… th-th-th-them….”
“I can’t understand a word you’re saying!”
As Young-pa grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, Lee Shim squeezed his eyes shut and spoke rapidly.
“Th-they travel in a pair, male and female; they are trusted subordinates kept close by Black Tortoise. They have settled near a human village, interfering and periodically eating humans.”
Only then did Young-pa let go of Lee Shim. While Lee Shim lay sprawled on the ground trembling, Biryoo remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. When he finally looked at him, Young-pa instinctively felt he was about to hear something he wouldn’t like.
“I refuse.”
“And what makes you think you can?”
“You’re planning to leave me behind. I refuse.”
Biryoo sighed and whispered softly in his ear.
“Toham Mountain is near Seorabeol, so there are many eyes. Moreover, if the opponent is a subordinate of Black Tortoise, it is dangerous.”
“So? I said I refuse.”
“Do you not realize that I cannot fully protect you in this situation? The moment you catch Ji Seo-gu’s eye, you are finished.”
“You can just tell me to use a disguise as an earthworm.”
“I cannot.”
“Azure Dragon. Biryoo. How can you leave only me behind? Please? Please?”
Eventually, Young-pa buried his face in Biryoo’s chest and threw a tantrum. Lee Shim’s face turned pale, as if he were witnessing a horrific scene.
When Biryoo did not push Young-pa away but instead stroked his back, Lee Shim’s eyes widened, and he rubbed his eyes roughly.
“I promise I will return soon.”
“I don’t want to. I said I refuse.”
“Wait patiently and pick some wild greens for me.”
“But I want to be with you….”
“I am asking you, Young-pa.”
At the gentle whisper, Young-pa fell silent. The grip that had seemed ready to tear Biryoo’s sleeve slowly loosened.
“Good boy.”
Biryoo stroked Young-pa’s head. His fingertips traced down the braided hair as if reluctant to let go. Young-pa interlaced his fingers with Biryoo’s and spoke fervently.
“Please be careful. If anything happens to you, I will not leave the opponent alone, no matter who they are.”
“You worry too much.”
Biryoo let out a faint smile and released his hand. Then, as if he had never been affectionate, he turned away coldly.
“Let’s go.”
Lee Shim, who had been standing with his mouth agape, snapped upright as if struck by lightning.
“Y-y-y-yes! Yes! I-I-I’m coming!”
In a blink, Biryoo and Lee Shim vanished from sight. Young-pa stood there, staring intently at the spot where Biryoo had been.
“What a heartless and wicked dragon.”
He let out a long sigh before finally turning around.
Once he confirmed that Young-pa was trudging away, Biryoo revealed himself from between the rocks. The lesser dragon, not knowing what was happening, looked on with a hunched posture, gauging the situation.
“Seo-o.”
At the quiet call, a blue bird that had been circling high above flew down. It perched on Biryoo’s outstretched finger and chirped.
“Keep watch over that human and ensure he cannot leave Asadal Mountain. Stop him by any means necessary.”
Biryoo watched the blue bird fly away until the end. Even then, he did not take his eyes off the mountain peak for a while. Eventually, as Biryoo leaped away with a light step, Lee Shim scrambled to follow behind.
≋ ≋ ≋
It has been an eternal truth since time immemorial that dragons and serpents are on bad terms. The flying dragon is the only being capable of entering and leaving the heavenly realm. Born with a powerful physique, they also possessed long lifespans. Generally indifferent and independent in nature, some pointed at them and called them selfish.
Conversely, serpents had short lifespans and weak bodies, but possessed a reproductive power that blanketed the underground. Their appetites and sexual desires were strong, and for survival, they carried venom in their mouths. Thus, a perception grew that they were mean and gloomy.
For a dragon, the difficulty of life was shaking off the boredom of an immense stretch of time. On the other hand, a serpent had to survive by any means necessary to reach a full lifespan. Therefore, few dragons did not despise serpents, and almost no serpents did not envy dragons.
A serpent whose nature changes from admiring dragons is called a lesser dragon. Through blood-sweating training, a lesser dragon overcomes the weaknesses of a serpent and craves to become a dragon by living for hundreds, sometimes over a thousand years. Some grow horns on their heads, while others develop four legs. Rarely, if they find an ownerless wish-fulfilling orb, they achieve ascension; upon reaching the heavenly realm, the form of the serpent vanishes, and they transform into a dragon from head to toe.
Surprisingly, in the heavenly realm, dragons of lesser dragon origin were not discriminated against. This was not because the nature of dragons was generous, but simply because they paid no attention to other dragons. However, no one recognized a lesser dragon who failed to become a dragon as one of their own. To them, a lesser dragon was nothing more than a serpent, so they mocked, despised, and even attacked them on sight.
Thus, it was natural that a dragon would not be pleased to run through the mountains and fields alongside a lesser dragon. However, there are things in this world that one must endure, so Biryoo kept as much distance as possible from Lee Shim.
Lee Shim feared Biryoo intensely and would not even cast a glance in his direction, remaining silent throughout the journey from Asadal Mountain to Seorabeol. For Biryoo, who knew well how talkative he could be, this was a blessing.
“S-s-s-seorabeol is just around the corner.”
That was the only thing the guide had uttered in several time units. Instead of responding, Biryoo scanned the surroundings. In a view that until a moment ago had been filled entirely with mountains and fields, human-made structures appeared. Not only clusters of thatched-roof houses, but shrines and stone gardens flashed by. Biryoo had long wondered why humans loved building pagodas so much.
As they approached the village, they walked normally like others. To the eyes of others, they would appear as two human men. The divine dragon of the world took the form of a hunched old human man through a disguise cast by the lesser dragon.
“Th-th-this is… S-s-seorabeol.”
Lee Shim whispered softly.
The golden city built by humans was far more developed than when Biryoo had last seen it. Along the straight, grid-like roads, houses lined up like whale backs, and thatched-roof houses were nowhere to be found. Many houses had dancheong painted on their tiles and pillars, and some had murals on their wide walls. In buildings covered with gold leaf on the roofs, one could feel supreme power and prosperity.
‘Humans these days seem to be living well.’
Biryoo had no interest in the human dynasties that repeated cycles of rise and fall, so he did not know which king ruled where. However, judging by the appearance of the city, life seemed quite safe and comfortable.
Watching a child running with a bright expression, Biryoo recalled Yeongparang, who had risen against the four symbols three hundred years ago. In those days, whether it was serpents, tigers, or foxes, every being on the mortal realm tormented humans. To the point where one could not even imagine that humans would prosper again.
Paradoxically, the mortal realm found stability starting from the point where the hero representing humans was suppressed. To be precise, Immortal Flower changed the situation. He protected humans from monsters and led them to this point. Though his name may have changed, he was the heroic leader of humans, inheriting the will of Yeongparang, who had dreamed of safety and prosperity.
‘Then, what are you doing?’
Biryoo let out a bitter sigh.
Young-pa was a being who could have existed without being in the world. The thing he obsessed over was nothing more than a private revenge, and there was no possibility of it being achieved. The commotion he caused only disrupted the order of the mortal realm.
It was bleak enough to be entangled with such a nuisance, but it was absurd that just thinking of him made his chest feel hot. Because of Young-pa, the vision Biryoo had drawn became patched and messy. It was a series of unplanned events. He was walking a path where he could not see an inch ahead.
“Buy some, the glutinous rice cakes are delicious. Please try some!”
“Cabbages and garlic are cheap. I sell radishes too.”
Before they knew it, they had entered a street selling food. Since it was a populous settlement, there were many sellers and buyers.
For Biryoo, who disliked humans, such a sight could not be pleasant. Biryoo, wearing a displeased expression and wary of brushing against someone’s sleeve, stopped upon hearing the word ‘honey cake.’ Lee Shim looked at Biryoo with eyes full of fear. He was clearly gauging the situation, wondering what he had done wrong.
“Do you have any jewelry on you?”
“Wh-wh-what? Yes, I do. I-I certainly do.”
“I must buy honey cakes.”
Lee Shim’s pale face distorted with bewilderment.
“I-I will buy them right away!”
He fumbled in his pocket and ran toward a peddler selling cakes and crackers. Biryoo found the sight of numerous humans gathering, shouting and bargaining unpleasant, yet he looked around the market as if possessed.
Merchants moved from one stall to another, exchanging grains such as rice, millet, barley, sorghum, and proso millet for dried jujubes, persimmons, beans, mung beans, and meat. There were those selling liquor, cakes, and seasoned sauces, as well as salt merchants, oil merchants, and pharmacies selling medicinal herbs. They sold hemp, cotton, ramie, leather, and rarely silk; some even sat in the market weaving.
Whenever Biryoo saw fabric with beautiful patterns, he thought of Young-pa, who walked barefoot wearing tattered jackets and pants. However, providing him with decent clothes was not an urgent priority, so he let the thought drift away.
Whether he looked at jars and pots, earthenware and basins, or straw shoes and leather shoes, Young-pa’s face floated up. Biryoo barely managed to restrain himself even after seeing the accessories—rings and bracelets—lined up across the stalls. However, he could not pass by a wooden comb and picked it up unconsciously.
‘Do you even know what people say behind your back, that an Azure Dragon is combing a human’s hair?’
A voice submerged in old memories surfaced. He couldn’t even remember the situation properly, but Jeolgon’s indignant tone was as vivid as if he had heard it yesterday. Biryoo placed the comb back with a cold expression.
“Oh, grandfather! Are you planning to comb your granddaughter’s hair?”
The merchant spoke with a kind smile. Just as Biryoo was about to step back, Lee Shim walked up beside him. A sweet scent wafted from the cloth bundle he held.
“Look here, give me that comb quickly.”
Once Lee Shim paid the price, the comb entered Biryoo’s hand. Biryoo looked at the half-moon-shaped comb with an uneasy feeling.
“You should look at the daenggi ribbons too. I’ve brought only the finest ones.”
As the merchant lifted the stall, dyed cloths of various colors appeared. From rouge, gardenia, and tangerine colors that young girls would wear, to black swallow-tail ribbons for young men, purple ribbons, ones embroidered with flower patterns on a wide width, and those decorated with gold embroidery and pearls—they were diverse and all looked extremely beautiful. Biryoo wanted to refuse, saying they weren’t needed, but the words would not come out.
“What color would suit Young-pa?”
Instead, these words came out.
Lee Shim’s eyes widened as if he had heard something impossible, then he quickly corrected his expression and forced a smile.
“Th-th-th-that… his skin? Since it’s y-y-y-yellowish, perhaps y-y-yellow?”
Biryoo hesitated between wall-blue and celadon-green, then chose celadon-green. As Lee Shim quickly paid, both ribbons Biryoo had been holding came into his possession.
“Is th-th-there… anything else you wish to b-b-buy?”
“Nothing.”
The play-acting was brief. Biryoo followed Lee Shim out of the market.
As they moved to the outskirts of the village, the atmosphere changed. The whale-back tiled houses that lined the center were gone, replaced by impoverished thatched houses and huts. Biryoo indifferently passed by elderly people whose eyes lacked strength from hunger and scrawny children.
“T-t-temple of Forgotten Years… th-th-that m-m-male serpent mainly catches and eats the e-e-elderly here.”
Halfway up Toham Mountain, there was a single hut. Upon entering, a human old man was lying there with his arms and legs tied with rope. Although he had lost consciousness, he was still breathing.
“Untie this man and send him back to the village.”
“What? Y-y-y-yes!”
Lee Shim quickly untied the knots of the rope. He hoisted the limp old man over his shoulder and disappeared outside the hut.
Biryoo sat neatly where the old man had been and closed his eyes. Having spent his entire life killing boring time, no one could surpass him. However, an uncomfortable presence kept intruding, disturbing his peaceful state of mind. Biryoo tried to empty his head, but he found himself worrying about what Young-pa might be doing right now.
‘I hope he doesn’t insist on coming here….’
Even when a large anaconda crawled into the hut, Biryoo could not shake off his stray thoughts. Even when the serpent coiled around Biryoo’s body and sniffed him suspiciously, or when it tried to sink its teeth into his neck. Even while inserting his arm into the serpent’s mouth to tear out its entrails, Biryoo could not fully concentrate.
Screeeech!
The anaconda let out a piercing scream and resisted violently. Biryoo slaughtered it quickly, without giving it a chance to cast sorcery.
‘Biryoo.’
A certain voice pushed into his mind and spoke. It was the voice Biryoo loved most in the world.
‘Promise me you won’t seek revenge. Please….’
The last words held onto even as breath faded.
Biryoo remembered that determined gaze as clearly as if it were yesterday. Those irresistible words had bound Biryoo until now, after cheonchu had passed.
‘No. This is not a private revenge.’
Biryoo responded inwardly with a distorted expression.
He had only come looking for this serpent because he needed a bloodstone. He didn’t kill it because it was a subordinate of Black Tortoise. In any case, no matter how many of these things he killed, it wouldn’t even be a blow equivalent to losing a scale to that person, so it couldn’t even be called revenge.
Biryoo searched through the serpent’s entrails with a grim face, but no bloodstone was found anywhere. Lee Shim, who had just returned, saw this and prostrated himself before the hut. He was trembling all over like an aspen tree. Even when Biryoo had killed eight serpents, he had acted as if he had lost his soul.
“Do not worry. I will not revoke the promise to give you the wish-fulfilling orb.”
Biryoo muttered coldly and stood up. Lee Shim merely trembled where he lay, unable to lift his head.
The inside of the hut was extremely disgusting. It wasn’t a pleasant place to begin with, but with the walls and ceiling drenched in blood and the carcass of a serpent with its belly ripped open sprawled about, it was an unbearable sight. Biryoo thought it would be nice if he could call down a deluge of water to wash it all away. As a second-best option, he had Lee Shim light a fire to burn the hut.
The house, haphazardly built of straw and wood, quickly turned to ash. Once the smell of burning firewood overwhelmed the scent of serpent blood, Biryoo could finally breathe comfortably.
“You said there were two.”
“Y-y-y-yes…. O-o-one is p-p-probably in the Baebaekhon Cave….”
“Lead the way.”
Lee Shim returned to his form as a lesser dragon. This time, he disguised Biryoo as a young child.
The portal to the snake cave was on a dark slope of Toham Mountain. It was a narrow hole beneath a pile of decayed fallen leaves. Squeezing through the unpleasant space, a dark passage unfolded. The path split into several directions, and from there, it split again. It was a place easy to get lost in, but Lee Shim moved without hesitation as if it were his own home.
The serpent’s dwelling was in the dampest and lowest part of the cave. An elegantly crafted stone door blocked the way, and a faint light spread around it. Lee Shim raised his head high and knocked on the door with his front paw. He was still trembling slightly.
As the stone door slid aside, an interior softly lit by light came into view. Biryoo, who had grown accustomed to the darkness, had to close and open his eyes for a moment.
The room did not seem like a place where a serpent lived. The floor and ceiling were decorated with jade and wood, and it was adorned with all sorts of expensive goods: silver candlesticks, a gold-bronze incense burner, and carpets woven with colored thread. Biryoo felt fatigued seeing the owner’s ostentatious and vulgar taste.
—What brings you here, Lee Shim?
A serpent’s voice was heard from behind a reddish foot. It sounded as if he were in a bad mood because his sleep had been interrupted.
—I-I-I have come to… p-p-present a gift to the Elder.
As Lee Shim stepped back, the serpent approached. It was a sleek serpent with a triangular face. Upon seeing Biryoo, it beamed a wide smile and flicked its tongue.
—What a delicious-looking child.
Biryoo simply watched as the menacing serpent approached. However, the serpent’s smile quickly faded, and it came to a sudden halt.
—The scent of blood?
—E-E-Elder, th-th-this is the scent of a h-h-human.
—Do you think this Heavenly Crow Temple does not know the scent of a young human!
Biryoo instantly broke his disguise and lunged for the serpent’s throat. However, his arm sliced through empty air, and instead, the serpent’s fangs sank into his flank. Biryoo grabbed the fangs with his hand, attempting to rip the mouth open. In that moment, the serpent cast a spell and shriveled up, as if shedding its skin.
Biryoo managed to pounce on the fleeing serpent, and a struggle of strength began. The Heavenly Crow Temple was far more cunning and powerful than the Temple of Forgotten Years. Yet, it was still no match for Biryoo.
No matter how much divine power he had lost or that he was no longer a dragon, Biryoo’s body was not one that could lose to a serpent. Especially if the opponent was a trusted subordinate of the Black Tortoise.
‘Biryoo. Promise me you will not seek revenge. Please…’
Inevitably, that voice echoed in his ears. A tenacious voice that refused to fade even after a thousand years. Sometimes, it felt as if the person were still alive.
‘This is not revenge. I am simply killing it because it is necessary.’
Biryoo offered this excuse to himself as he crushed the serpent’s skull. The enemy, which had been twisting and squawking, finally went limp.
Biryoo sliced open the body with more violence than necessary and extracted a fist-sized bloodstone from its entrails. Despite being drenched in thick blood, the mysterious stone emitted a bluish light.
“Let’s leave before Ji Seo-gu arrives.”
Lee Shim, who had been lying prone as if dead, sprang up at those words. Without meeting Biryoo’s eyes, he slipped out of the room.
On the way out of the cave, Biryoo wondered what would happen if the Black Tortoise appeared. That despicable creature would likely try to kill Biryoo as if it had been waiting for the moment. Or, as it had done to Young-pa, it might try to imprison him underground to further its schemes. Either outcome should have been unwelcome, yet there was a part of Biryoo’s heart that waited for the encounter.
His mind was as clear as the midday sun. He had not forgotten the promise made to his precious one for a single moment. Above all, he knew that having lost his divine power, there was no way to suppress Ji Seo-gu. Yet, it was ironic that even while fleeing to avoid him, he anticipated a clash.
The Black Tortoise had only one head and two eyes; it was obvious they could not see every corner of the world simultaneously. Because the Black Tortoise did not appear, Biryoo’s thoughts remained nothing more than a useless daydream.
It was late at night by the time they emerged from the cave and breathed the outside air. Biryoo departed without delay, and Lee Shim followed him in silence.
However, they had to stop shortly after. A blue bird was fluttering frantically in the air, searching for Biryoo. Since the moment he had granted the bird life, Biryoo had never seen Seo-o so flustered.
More importantly, the bird should have been at Asadal Mountain. Having been entrusted with an important task, it should not have flown such a great distance.
“What is the matter?”
At the urgent call, the blue bird flew down like an arrow. As it chirped rapidly, Biryoo’s face turned pale. Biryoo did not even listen to the end of the sentence that began with, “Master, you see, that human…”
“Spread your wings. Now!”
In an instant, the blue bird transformed into a large, black-capped bird. As Biryoo climbed aboard, the bird spread its massive wings.
“A-A-A-Azure Dragon!”
Lee Shim was running toward them, tears streaming down his face.
“P-P-P-Please take m-m-me with you! If I stay, I-I-I will d-d-die!”
In other words, since he had betrayed the Heavenly Crow Temple and the Temple of Forgotten Years, he would be treated worse than death if anyone discovered the situation.
Despite the urgency, Biryoo let out a sigh.
“Get on.”
At the mention that he had to ride with a serpent, Seo-o wore an expression as if the world were collapsing. Once the lesser dragon curled up and clung to the tail, Seo-o beat its wings powerfully and soared into the sky.
Biryoo’s hair fluttered as a black landscape unfolded before his eyes. The world submerged in darkness felt strangely unfamiliar.
It wasn’t just because he was riding on a bird’s back with a lesser dragon. He was walking a path he had never trodden before, in a darkness where he could not see ahead.
Unfortunately, he was not the guide. Thinking of the man who filled his mind, Biryoo clenched his fist.
≋ ≋ ≋
“What a wretched scrap of a dragon.”
Young-pa huffed as he descended the mountainside. He was moving so fast that the trees he passed seemed to be ripped out of the ground.
“Am I some kind of person who just goes when told to go and comes when told to come?”
Boom!
A single boulder was shattered by his punch. Even so, Young-pa’s mood did not improve in the slightest.
He was not an obedient human. Recently, he had suppressed his temper to stay in Biryoo’s good graces, but that didn’t mean his fundamental nature had changed. There was only one reason why he had stepped back so docilely.
‘Wait quietly and pick some wild greens for me. I’m asking you, Young-pa.’
No matter how much they shared their bodies whenever their eyes met, Young-pa was still Biryoo’s servant. Until now, Biryoo had never made a request; he had only given orders.
Furthermore, this was the first time he had spoken Young-pa’s name.
‘Young-pa.’
He had called his name as tenderly as a lover. As that deep voice repeated several times in his head, Young-pa’s heart throbbed and his cheeks flushed.
“He’s great at being a pillar, but he has no clue how a person’s heart works!”
Fuming, Young-pa gave a powerful kick to a thick-trunked tree.
No one in the world wants to die. Moreover, Young-pa knew that if he were discovered by the Black Tortoise, he would suffer a fate worse than death. Even knowing that Biryoo had left him behind out of consideration, he was still angry.
He wanted to fight side-by-side with Biryoo. He wanted to be of help to him. Moreover, since the opponent was a trusted subordinate of the Black Tortoise, he felt a desire to vent his frustration. If Biryoo had been firm, he might have rebelled, but because he had asked so softly, even calling his name, his heart had melted.
“Ugh, fuck.”
Young-pa trudged back to the cave.
He organized the few pieces of furniture they had, took all the blankets outside, and shook the dust off them. He spread a mat in a corner of the cave and lay there for a long time, burying his nose in the blanket that still smelled of Biryoo.
He recalled the nights spent with Biryoo one by one, thought about the moment he had called his name, and wondered if he could ever truly get revenge on Ji Seo-gu like this.
“He said he’d be back soon… I wonder when.”
Young-pa glared at the heartless sun, which seemed to have no intention of setting for a while. The surroundings were quiet. Cheongsim was nowhere to be seen, likely having gone to find food. Young-pa thought it was for the best; if Cheongsim were in sight, he would want to ride him to get to Biryoo.
“I’ll pick every single wild green on this mountain.”
He sprang up from his spot and headed for the mountain slope, which he now knew as well as his own home.
For a while, Young-pa spent his time frantically picking greens. He filled a basket with mugwort, shepherd’s purse, and aster, and luckily found a root of fatsia shoots. He thought it would taste wonderful if he washed and dried them, then seasoned them with soy sauce and sesame oil.
“I’ll tell the earthworm to bring more rice so I can cook a meal.”
As he continued picking greens, Young-pa reflected that living as a servant wasn’t so bad. He had to do tedious chores, but it wasn’t difficult. Moreover, contemplating what food to prepare for Biryoo was his greatest joy.
‘It would be fine to live like this for the rest of my life.’
Young-pa chuckled, letting a futile daydream drift by. When he lifted his head to stretch, a blue shadow flickered across the trees. Since the afterimage vanished quickly, Young-pa assumed he had seen wrong.
‘Come to think of it, where did Cheongsim go?’
Cheongsim used to wander off alone several times a day, but he spent most of his time sleeping in the cave. Even so, he would usually appear and linger around whenever Young-pa was picking greens; he had never been this completely absent.
“Cheongsim!”
He called out, expecting the creature to come running through the brush with its ears flapping, but nothing happened.
“Cheongsim, Cheongsim?”
Young-pa searched the valleys where Cheongsim often hunted small animals. Then, he checked the dirty puddles the creature liked and the shade of the trees where it occasionally napped. Cheongsim was nowhere to be found.
‘No one could have carried off a fellow the size of a house, so where could he have disappeared to?’
Young-pa turned his head left and right, and once again, he saw something he couldn’t quite place. For a brief moment, something small and blue had definitely caught the edge of his vision. Again, when he tried to look closer, it vanished like a phantom.
“Hmm.”
Young-pa had a suspicion, but without showing any sign of it, he continued to wander around shouting, “Cheongsim, Cheongsim!” He deliberately pretended to be flustered as he ventured deeper into the forest.
Young-pa stopped in a part of the forest where thick trees stood like pillars and the lush leaves of the treetops blocked the sunlight. He let out a loud scream, enough to shake the leaves, and then flopped onto the ground. Holding his breath, he focused all his senses on his hearing.
As he lay still, the sound he had been waiting for arrived. It was merely the rustle of leaves brushing against each other, but Young-pa mapped the location of the sound in his head.
‘That damn bird doesn’t know how to move quietly.’
A bird inevitably makes noise when it spreads its wings, no matter how small it is.
Young-pa lay patiently until the target drew near. When the moment came, he leaped up and summoned a gust of wind from the opposite side. The small bird was inadvertently pushed right into Young-pa’s grasp.
Tweet!
Gripping the struggling bird, he realized it was a creature he had seen before. The blue bird that had chirped around Biryoo and guided Young-pa to the mountain where the Vermilion Bird had been imprisoned.
So, Biryoo had been secretly communicating with a subordinate. Young-pa narrowed his eyes.
“Since when have you been spying on me?”
A faint light emanated from the blue bird, and Young-pa’s grip was forced open. The moment he lost hold of the bird, a woman dressed in flowing silk robes was crouching before him.
“How can someone be so rough! How could you grip me so tightly? I couldn’t breathe!”
“Want me to do it again?”
When Young-pa made a motion to kick her, the woman who had been a bird until a moment ago hurriedly backed away. She glared with round eyes and brushed off her clothes.
“You rascal! How dare you treat me this way, knowing who I am!”
She likely intended to sound dignified, but her voice sounded like chirping. Young-pa replied with a smirk.
“Oh, I know. You’re the Azure Dragon’s lackey.”
“H-He is… That is correct.”
The woman stood on two feet and spoke with a feigned solemnity.
“My name is Seo-o. I am the eyes and ears of the Azure Dragon and a Celestial Scribe of the heavenly realm, so show me the proper respect.”
“Cut the crap. Since the Azure Dragon is away, roasting you would be a piece of cake. If you don’t want to become a roasted sparrow, explain what you were doing.”
As Young-pa growled with a menacing face, Seo-o shrank back, looking bewildered.
“First of all, I am not a sparrow. I am a black-capped bird.”
Young-pa felt a surge of irritation, but he crossed his arms and waited for her next words.
“My Master wishes for you to remain here quietly. I have committed no crime other than following orders to watch over you… I only went to check on you just now because I thought you were hurt.”
“Did the Azure Dragon call you? Since when have you been at Asadal Mountain?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I believe I was summoned about twenty days ago.”
“What did he task you with?”
“Well, he had me convey the disturbances in the heavenly realm, and take a few measures to ensure no problems arose during his absence…”
Seo-o added as if it were nothing.
“He told me to prepare a room for a new guest coming to the palace.”
“Really? Who is it?”
“He only told me to prepare it with the finest materials; he didn’t say who it was. I thought it was you. Didn’t he mention anything?”
Young-pa frowned.
“You bird-brain, I am a human. I cannot ascend to the heavenly realm.”
“I am a Celestial Scribe! Watch your mouth!”
Seo-o shouted, then added nonchalantly.
“If the Azure Dragon grants life, even a human can ascend to the heavenly realm, you idiot. I was a bird, yet I received life, didn’t I?”
Young-pa was speechless. Seo-o’s words opened a horizon that Young-pa had never even imagined.
Was Biryoo planning to give him life? Could he possibly intend to take him to the heavenly realm and make him his partner?
Young-pa had often pictured a life where he and Biryoo lived skin-to-skin like a married couple, but he had never thought it was actually possible. Since the blunt man never said a word, there was no way to know his thoughts.
“Looking at your face, I’ve said something unnecessary. It might not be you, so don’t get your hopes up.”
Seo-o spoke primly, but it was already too late. Just imagining that he had become Biryoo’s partner made Young-pa feel as if he were riding on Five-Colored Auspicious Clouds.
“By the way… what is this? Did you collect firewood?”
Seo-o asked, peering into the basket. Since the heap of wild greens inside was Young-pa’s pride, he answered confidently.
“It’s food for your master.”
“What? You’re giving such things to my Master?”
Seo-o’s eyes widened.
“You’re quite the joker! My Master only consumes the most precious things, even in the heavenly realm.”
“I’m not joking… He seemed to eat greens quite often, so I thought he liked them.”
As Young-pa answered hesitantly, Seo-o looked around the surroundings with distaste and chirped.
“How could that be! My Master loves sweet dew, peach punch, and dried persimmon cinnamon punch! You are not only clueless but also ill-natured. Setting aside the food, to let him stay in such a damp cave for so long! It’s hard to even imagine how much pain a person with such an elegant taste as the heavens must be in.”
Young-pa wondered if this bird-brain knew exactly what that “elegant person” did every day in the damp cave. Judging by the way Seo-o prattled, she didn’t seem to know the details of the relationship between Young-pa and Biryoo.
“Sigh, I really don’t understand my Master’s intentions. Why is he staying in a place like this? Just between us, at first, I thought my Master had been caught in some kind of weakness by you.”
“Your guess is correct.”
Young-pa replied with a low laugh. Since he was the only one who knew the location of the Azure Dragon’s divine artifact, saying he held Biryoo’s weakness wasn’t entirely wrong.
Seo-o put her hands on her hips and glared.
“What? You wicked, vulgar human! My Master is not someone who should be swayed by a fellow like you. Let him go while I’m still speaking kindly.”
“Hahaha, no. I like your master. Especially that pretty face of his.”
“What? What did you say! You… you shameless human!”
“I don’t care what you chirp about. Did I tell you that I’ve bitten that plump backside of his? I’m going to keep him locked in a dark cave, feeding him nothing but wild greens and playing with him until I’m bored. Hahahahaha!”
Seo-o was a bird that was fun to tease. Young-pa continued to be mischievous until she looked miserable and begged him to stop.
Young-pa looked up at the sky and realized that not much time had passed, despite his long bout of joking with Seo-o.
“Anyway, since I’ve told you only the truth, may I leave now?”
Seo-o asked, wiping her eyes. Young-pa shook his head.
“No? I’m bored, so I’ll kill time by teasing you. Stay with me. I’ll blanch some greens and season them with soybean paste for you later.”
“No thanks! I don’t eat such things! More importantly, you’re not planning to suddenly leave Asadal Mountain after making me let my guard down, are you?”
“I made a promise to your master, so that won’t happen.”
At those words, Seo-o’s expression brightened.
“Then a great burden has been lifted. I thought you were an untrustworthy human, but I’m glad you at least know how to keep a promise.”
Young-pa ended up chuckling.
He was a man of dark nature, easily swayed by impulse, and lacking in faith. However, when he was with Biryoo, he sometimes felt as if he had become a different person. For Biryoo alone, he wanted to be a person who was bright, steadfast, and kept his promises.
Seo-o was a talkative bird. As she walked beside Young-pa, she praised Biryoo until her beak wore down.
“You probably don’t know what a wonderful person my Master is.”
“Really? He’s always blunt with me.”
“That’s because you’re an untrustworthy human! If my Master hadn’t helped me, I would have died shortly after hatching from my egg.”
Young-pa listened in silence to the story of how Biryoo had saved Seo-o. She had lost her mother as a chick, and just before she was eaten by a serpent, Biryoo had intervened and saved her.
Biryoo had not only raised Seo-o until she became an adult bird, but when she failed to adapt to the world of birds, he granted her life and let her live in the heavenly realm. He said that the heavenly palace was filled with many such servants whom Biryoo had looked after.
“My name was also given to me by the Master. Jealous, aren’t you?”
Young-pa didn’t want to admit it, but he was terribly envious of Seo-o. Even knowing that the name ‘Crow of the West’ was a sign of indifference, he still felt it.
Young-pa thought of Immortal Flower, who had received a splendid name from White Tiger. To live for eternity while receiving the affection of a deity—what a blessed life. Unlike Young-pa, who had branched off from the same stem and trembled at every single word Biryoo spoke, Immortal Flower likely lived every day amidst the clouds.
To hide the emptiness in his heart, Young-pa spoke curtly on purpose.
“What’s so special about a name? I gave my puppy a name yesterday, too.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he thought of Cheongsim. Until he had discovered Seo-o, Young-pa had been searching for him.
“Come to think of it, my puppy is missing. Did you happen to see where he went?”
“Calling a monster the size of a house a puppy!”
Seo-o scoffed.
“If you mean that ugly dog, I saw Jeolgon carrying it off in his mouth a while ago.”
“What?”
The basket full of wild greens slipped from his hand. Before the basket could even roll once, Young-pa pivoted and bolted.
“What? Where are you going?”
“When did you see him?”
“I don’t know, was it this morning? It hasn’t been that long. Wait, are you actually going to Jeolgon?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a fool’s errand. Stop!”
“Shut up!”
“No! If you get hurt, I won’t be able to face the Master!”
Seo-o ran after him, making a racket. When Young-pa pushed him away with his arm, Seo-o transformed into a blue bird and fluttered around his ear, chirping incessantly.
Young-pa ignored him. The fact that Cheongsim was in danger was all that mattered. If a mad dragon had snatched Cheongsim, he must have viewed him as prey. Since Seo-o said it hadn’t been long, he might still be alive. No, he had to be.
‘If that damn dragon ate Cheongsimi… I’ll do the same to him.’
Young-pa ground his teeth and ran like the wind.
Since he knew exactly where Jeolgon lived, it didn’t take long to arrive. When Young-pa stood at the portal to Jeolgon’s dwelling, Seo-o, who had barely managed to keep up, transformed back into human form and clung to his arm.
“Human, oh human. Don’t do this. Let’s just go back and season some wild greens together. I’ll tell you a hundred—no, a thousand interesting stories.”
“Let go.”
“Have you ever heard of a human defeating a dragon? Besides, Jeolgon is no ordinary dragon. And his temper… you cannot possibly deal with him.”
When Young-pa pushed him, Seo-o landed on his backside and rolled across the ground. Young-pa dashed forward before Seo-o could grab him again.
An open clearing unfolded before his eyes. There was a single three-room simple hut at the edge, and on one side, a natural cave that looked just large enough to fit the body of a yellow dragon.
The area had originally been a forest, but it seemed all the trees had been ripped out to allow the dragon to move freely. Suspicious fragments of bones from animals like musk deer, tigers, foxes, and bears lay scattered across the clearing. Young-pa barely managed to tear his eyes away from a bone that looked like a dog’s skull and glared at the cave. A growling sound was emanating from within.
Young-pa stood still and gathered his strength. It was then that the yellow dragon revealed himself from the cave. The long body moved naturally and swiftly. Jeolgon looked down at Young-pa while floating in the air.
This was the second time Young-pa had faced the dragon’s visage. When they first met, Young-pa had pretended to be a quick rabbit, and Jeolgon had been too busy gagging at the smell of a serpent. This time, the dragon’s eyes were narrowed, brimming with vigilance.
“What are you?”
Young-pa glared back and answered.
“I am Young-pa. I’ve come for my puppy.”
≋ ≋ ≋
Jeolgon was known as an eccentric among dragons. Since no one treats him as a dragon now, that is to say, he was such before being banished from the heavenly realm.
Others looked down on him as an oddity, but Jeolgon took pride in being special. While most dragons preferred peace and tranquility, Jeolgon was different. His peculiarity lay in the fact that he attracted trouble wherever he went.
His life was a continuous series of endless problems and adventures, and Jeolgon dove headlong into every challenge. He won sometimes, and lost far more often, yet he never knew how to give up. The chronic boredom that plagued dragons did not apply to him. Jeolgon took pride in the fact that his life, though despised by others, was never dull.
His only problem was loneliness. The treatment of a dragon banished from the heavenly realm was harsh. Wandering female dragons scoffed, saying they would rather lay a chicken egg than lay his eggs, and he couldn’t make a single friend to invite to his dwelling for a conversation.
It had been some thousands of years since he had survived like a lowly creature, moving from mountain to mountain. Jeolgon desperately wanted someone to talk to. No, he hadn’t even realized such a desire until such a person appeared.
“I am Young-pa. I’ve come for my puppy.”
When that man suddenly appeared, Jeolgon was as offended as he was flustered, and equally thrilled.
The one standing boldly, without a hint of fear toward a dragon, was a young human. His eyes were like morning stars and his cheeks were the color of peaches. Though his appearance was delicate, his voice and stature revealed him to be a man.
He had smelled this human’s scent a few times before. He thought some deficient fellow had hidden in the mountains, but since he couldn’t find him no matter how much he searched, he had let it go.
“You snatched my puppy!”
Jeolgon realized belatedly that he was being interrogated.
“I have no intention of causing trouble. If you just return him safely, I will leave immediately.”
The human, Young-pa, was brimming with confidence, though it was unclear what he was relying on. If Jeolgon wished, he could have gripped him in one palm and crushed him. However, the man before him was a conversational partner, the first to appear in a long time.
“And if I refuse to return him?”
“I’ll kill you.”
Young-pa’s expression turned fierce. He might have been dealing with a mountain pheasant or a wild duck, but Jeolgon had never seen a human make such a cruel and vicious face.
“You’re acting like that when you should be trying to get on my good side?”
“Too many words. Hand over Cheongsim this instant!”
Calling a monster a ‘puppy’ or ‘Cheongsim’ made it seem as though his head was a bit skewed.
As Jeolgon lowered himself to approach him, he caught a scent that caught his attention. Unless his senses had gone haywire, the scent brushing his nose was one he knew well. Jeolgon trembled in mid-air.
“Azure Dragon?”
Young-pa showed no reaction upon hearing those words.
“Is the Azure Dragon… here?”
Fear dwelled in Jeolgon’s voice as he asked. Young-pa looked up at him with a composed face and spoke.
“The Azure Dragon is, of course, in the heavenly realm. I am his servant, so if you harm me, he will come rushing here immediately.”
Jeolgon felt dizzy. It was dizzying enough to suspect that the Azure Dragon was entangled with a human, but a servant? Jeolgon knew the Azure Dragon better than anyone. He despised humans and hated even brushing against them.
“You… are the Azure Dragon’s servant?”
“What’s with that face? Do you have a problem?”
“The Azure Dragon? You? Who are you that he would…?”
“Me? Just a hopeless human who got entangled with him.”
Young-pa laughed slyly and triumphantly.
Jeolgon, whose face had been crumpled in bewilderment, suddenly put on a fabricated smile. He looked into Young-pa’s eyes and spoke softly.
“Well, I have been waiting for a day like this. I owe that deity so much that I must repay him. Where is the Azure Dragon now?”
“Damn it, I already know you’re enemies. Just give me Cheongsim!”
When Young-pa screamed, the clearing echoed loudly.
Jeolgon grinned and transformed into human form. Stepping onto the ground with two feet, he hopped lightly a few times.
He wore clothes made of coarse cotton. His long black hair was left loose and disheveled. Just as he was in dragon form, his build was tall, and by his own estimation, he had a masculine, handsome face.
Jeolgon examined Young-pa again from a human’s eye level. Even though his face was distorted with rage, he had a captivating appearance.
“It’s true that the Azure Dragon and I weren’t on good terms, but I’ve spent a whole thousand years reflecting on the past. Is it wrong to want to seek forgiveness now?”
“I know perfectly well that you’re a lunatic, and you expect me to believe that? I’ve told you several times, give me Cheongsim!”
“Rest easy. I left that monster alone because I plan to eat him tomorrow.”
Only then did Young-pa’s expression soften.
“You should have just said so from the start.”
“He’s in the cave, go get him.”
As soon as he heard that, Young-pa dashed toward the cave, and Jeolgon watched his retreating back with a satisfied smile.
Jeolgon had not lied. Inside was indeed that hideously looking dog. Because the creature’s resistance had been fierce, he had drawn some blood early on, so he couldn’t guarantee if it was still alive.
“Cheongsimi, Cheongsimi!”
As Young-pa’s figure receded, Jeolgon followed him with a low laugh.
The cave, which hadn’t been cleaned in a long time, was filled with animal bones and meat scraps, making it a poor place to be caught. The human had already reached the end and was checking on the limp beast.
“I’m here. Let’s go back. Okay?”
Jeolgon watched in disbelief as the man hoisted a monster several times his own size onto his shoulder.
“You’ve got strength like a giant.”
Young-pa slowly turned around to face Jeolgon, who stood with his back to the cave entrance.
“What are you doing there? Are you trying to stop me?”
“You’re not completely clueless, are you?”
Jeolgon raised his hand and performed a spellcasting technique. Seeing the cave entrance blocked by sorcery, Young-pa’s expression turned menacing. Jeolgon chuckled and approached him.
“Who does this tiny human think he’s playing with? You claim to know the Azure Dragon? A passing tiger would laugh at that story.”
Young-pa glared at him without so much as a twitch of an eyebrow. Jeolgon met that gaze with a ferocious grin.
“I’m the one who actually knows the Azure Dragon. That fellow is a stone wall and ice. A completely cold-hearted bastard. Moreover, he views humans as insects. Ah, though there was one exception.”
Jeolgon spoke as he drew closer to the human.
“If you were going to trick me, you should have done your research better.”
“The one who tricked is you.”
Young-pa replied in a gloomy voice. His teeth were grinding so hard that his words were crushed.
“I’m sick and tired of being trapped!”
As he roared, the stone cave echoed thunderously. A gentle wind rose around Young-pa, lifting his hair.
“Is it a hobby for dragons to trap others? You rotten breed.”
As Young-pa set the monster down and charged, Jeolgon flinched in internal surprise. He summoned blades into the air and sent them flying at Young-pa one by one. However, Young-pa dodged by running along the walls and ceiling, causing the blades to crash and shatter against the stone.
“If Cheongsimi doesn’t open his eyes, you’re a dead man!”
Blinded by rage, Young-pa approached Jeolgon at high speed. He threw himself forward, shrouded in a wall of whirlwinds.
K-boom!
As Jeolgon hurriedly dodged backward, Young-pa rolled across the floor, leaving a massive, round crater in the ground.
“What the hell are you? Are you really human?”
Young-pa’s swinging fist narrowly missed Jeolgon’s ear. As soon as Jeolgon raised his head, he was kicked in the stomach. It was no ordinary kick. The attack, heavily laden with spiritual energy, made his vision swim. It was a relief that he had twisted his body at the last second to avoid a vital spot; otherwise, he might have been killed by a mere human.
“Wait, wait… hold on.”
“Fuck, just die!”
After taking one more hit from Young-pa, Jeolgon’s mind became so clouded that his disguise broke. His massive body crashed onto the cave floor, and his long tail hit the wall as if it were being crumpled. He spun his body, pointed his head toward the outside of the cave, and fled.
“Where do you think you’re running, you serpent-like bastard!”
Jeolgon was so appalled that he didn’t even stop despite the insult of being called a serpent. He escaped the cave without looking back.
Once outside, he found his entire body tingling and the tip of his tail slightly severed. Jeolgon breathed a sigh of relief, his heart racing. No matter how disadvantageous it was for a dragon to fight in a cramped cave, his opponent was just a human. He couldn’t believe the fact that he had fled in such a panic.
“To think such a monster exists… I’ve lived long enough to see everything.”
Only then did he feel anger and glared back at the cave. The demon, who didn’t even seem human, was screaming while trapped inside.
That cave was Jeolgon’s food storage. Since it was used to keep live animals fresh, complex spellcraft was cast in all directions—front, back, top, bottom, and everywhere. It was a barrier that had taken a full day to weave using a dragon’s special ability. No matter how skilled a human was, they could not break it.
As Jeolgon transformed back into human form and approached the cave entrance, Young-pa swung his fist. Jeolgon giggled, watching the attack scatter as it was blocked by the sorcery.
“How does it taste, you Dokkaebi-like brat!”
Young-pa screamed and panted before collapsing to the ground. As he let out a howl, the cave echoed loudly.
“Aaaaagh! Uaaaagh!”
“Should I eat him raw, or chop him into small pieces and stir-fry him? How should I eat him so that word spreads of how delicious it was? Ah! I’ve got it. I’ll eat him along with that hideous dog of yours.”
As Jeolgon drew closer, Young-pa glared at him from his seated position. Even submerged in darkness, his beauty was bright and pure, like a cherry blossom. A strange atmosphere that stirred carnal desire. Jeolgon couldn’t take his eyes off him, as if he had been enchanted.
Bang!
Suddenly, Young-pa lunged forward. Jeolgon, who had unconsciously leaned his face in a bit, quickly recoiled. He felt a chill realizing his nose had almost been sliced off.
“He couldn’t possibly be the Azure Dragon’s actual thing.”
Jeolgon muttered to himself. Instead of answering, Young-pa expressed his rage with his whole body, but it was a futile effort.
“Your face is quite pretty, so I was confused, but seeing how vicious you act, you don’t seem to be the Azure Dragon’s taste. He’s not the type to be into men, anyway.”
“Release me, you fucking bastard. I’m a busy man!”
“What are you talking about? If I release you, won’t you go wild trying to kill me?”
The man’s face was cast in shadow, his eyes filled with malice. Jeolgon saw an unyielding fighting spirit in his pupils. He was rough and lawless, but that only made him more appetizing.
Jeolgon thought about something that had happened in the heavenly realm long ago regarding a certain human. He also recalled rumors of a human whom Black Tortoise and White Tiger had fought over to possess. Until now, he hadn’t understood why divine beasts lost their minds over mere humans, but looking at this man, he felt he might understand.
If he was the Azure Dragon’s possession, it was even better. Since he was a young dragon, Jeolgon had been unable to resist coveting anything that belonged to him.
“Maybe I’ll use you as a toy for a while and finally learn the taste of humans, hehe.”
“What?”
“If I keep you locked up for a few days, you’ll become obedient, right? Since you’ll have to serve me as your husband, practice your waist movements diligently.”
Sparks flew from Young-pa’s eyes.
“I’ll kill you!”
Jeolgon sneered, mocking Young-pa from head to toe. Young-pa did not back down, responding with curses. However, both the teaser and the enraged had completely forgotten the only person who could control this situation.
At the same time, a black-capped bird was flying toward them so hard that its feathers were falling out.
― To be continued in Volume 4 ―