By Zephyria 
“Master, your eyes, your eyes… are you alright?”
“Tsk, such incessant chattering.”
His voice was no longer the low, soft tone from moments ago. The high, sharp pitch sent shivers down Lee Shim’s spine. Moreover, for a brief second, Lee Shim saw it. When the master opened his mouth, a bright red tongue split into two!
‘This is bad. I have to warn the human.’
The moment he opened his mouth to scream, an immense force yanked his body. The ground collapsed, and Biryoo and Lee Shim were dragged underground.
K-boom!
The roar of the shifting earth was nearly deafening. They descended, piercing through the soil. Down, down, further down—Lee Shim was pulled down like an arrow. After passing through the pitch-black earth for a long while, his vision spun, and he was violently flung aside.
He slammed his shoulder against a hard surface and tumbled across the floor.
“Huff, huff… What on earth….”
His entire body was tingling, making it difficult to even lift his upper body. Lee Shim looked around. There was no light, but the eyes of a lesser dragon could see through the darkness.
It was a massive cavern. The ceiling was dizzyingly high, and the space was wide enough to resemble a training ground. In the center, Biryoo stood with their hands behind their back. Lee Shim scrambled toward them.
“That, that-that-that master is a serpent! A serpent!”
Despite Lee Shim relaying this crucial fact, Biryoo looked bored. Frustrated, Lee Shim shrieked.
“I said it’s a serpent! A serpent monster, not a human!”
“And what of it?”
Lee Shim felt a surge of irritation that Biryoo could sound so nonchalant while their wrists were bound. Examining the shackles binding Biryoo, he saw they were a sorcery similar to the one that had ensnared Young-pa in the lower prison. Seeing the ominous energy emanating from them, it seemed Young-pa had flawlessly mimicked Black Tortoise’s arcane art.
Lee Shim took a deep breath and spoke.
“Since you’ve already undone divine art, something made by a human should be a piece of cake. Now, I’ll inject energy from the outside, so you….”
Lee Shim couldn’t finish his sentence. Even though he hadn’t done anything, cracks began to sizzle through the black shackles. Biryoo brushed off the remnants of the sorcery and rubbed their wrists.
Startled, Lee Shim was about to ask what kind of harmony they had performed, but Biryoo wasn’t looking at him. Lee Shim followed their gaze and saw two bright red lights. Upon closer inspection, they were two glowing eyes. Master Neungui was walking toward them.
“Keke-kek, kekek….”
At the skin-crawling voice, Lee Shim’s body instinctively curled up. If the creature was so skilled at disguise that even he—someone who had dealt with serpents until he was sick of them—hadn’t noticed, just how proficient was it?
Lee Shim had spent a considerable amount of time wandering the underground, picking up rumors. As he thought about it, a rumor he had once overheard surfaced in his mind.
—They say there are several anacondas that have flawlessly posed as humans on the mortal realm for ages.
They were said to be the trusted subordinates of Black Tortoise, geniuses of sorcery and deception. It was said that just by passing through, they could carve trenches into the earth and make the heavens and earth tremble. Though they had various appearances and names, in the underground, they were called Dae Mang—the Great Anaconda, the King of Serpents—as a mark of respect.
“The fact that Yeongparang walked right into my grasp is surprising enough….”
Master Neungui—no, Dae Mang—approached, flicking a flat tongue. His red eyes gleamed as he looked at Biryoo.
“I wonder what kind of blessing has rolled in this time.”
As Dae Mang released the energy he had kept tightly hidden, the cavern filled with a fierce yin energy. Lee Shim collapsed, suffocated by the sheer power. Biryoo frowned, covering their mouth with a sleeve.
“I was in the middle of a meal when I heard that human had come to the village. The moment I heard, I knew it was Ji Seo-gu’s doll. But what is this one’s identity? I’ve never seen anything like this before. Kehehehe….”
A damp yin energy, almost tangible, surged forward and swept over Biryoo’s body like a tongue.
“Hehe, ehehehe. Ah, I knew it. You aren’t human….”
Saliva dripped from the corners of Dae Mang’s mouth, flowing down his wrinkled neck.
Lee Shim instinctively felt that he was a tiny shrimp caught in a fight between whales. Hoping to buy some time, he summoned his courage and shouted.
“T-that human is stronger than you think! I’m s-sure someone will come to rescue us if you just wait a bit!”
Dae Mang, who had been approaching, stopped dead. He stared at Lee Shim as if he hadn’t realized he was there.
“Now that I look, you’re the foolish jailer who let the prisoner escape. How dare you wag your tongue after causing such a disaster!”
“I-it wasn’t my fault, so please don’t misunderstand! The human was r-released before I was appointed!”
“Nonsense!”
As Dae Mang shouted irritably, the yin energy filling the cavern sharpened and aimed at Lee Shim.
“Weak and pathetic thing! Foolish and cunning thing! You committed a mistake so grave that even sacrificing your wretched life wouldn’t redeem you, yet you dare side with the human? You are a mere creature not even worth living.”
Regretting his impulsiveness, Lee Shim prostrated himself on the ground, trembling.
“However, you do have the merit of bringing Yeongparang here…. If you return, the Master will forgive you. I shall speak well of you when he awakens. So, why not join us?”
The edge of the energy turned blunt and wrapped around Lee Shim’s body in a sinister manner. Lee Shim was on the verge of losing his mind to terror, but he could still reason. One fact remained as clear as if it were carved in iron.
Black Tortoise does not forgive.
‘Besides… there is nothing more foolish than trusting a serpent.’
Lee Shim put strength into his shaking legs and crawled behind Biryoo to hide. Dae Mang’s eyes widened at the sight.
“Do you truly believe the Master’s doll will come to rescue you…. Even if I concede a hundred times and say they do come, do you think they can defeat me? Kelelele, you are foolish beyond belief. I don’t know how someone with that brain managed to secure such an important position.”
Dae Mang burst into laughter.
“Ha! That Yeongparang, Yeongparang. The cunning Yeongparang who lured the Vermilion Bird and killed them, the brave Yeongparang who wounded the White Tiger, the pretty Yeongparang that the deities are desperate to possess! I can’t stand how this name has been inflated for hundreds of years. In the end, they are but a mere human.”
Then, Biryoo, who had been standing silently, spoke.
“You will pay the price for disregarding that human.”
“What?”
“Sending that fellow to the treasure vault was a mistake.”
“Indeed. Originally, I planned to deal with him before he became a nuisance. But you were far more appetizing, and I couldn’t resist. Kehehe.”
As Dae Mang cackled with madness, a transformation occurred in his body. One wrinkled cheek swelled tight, and flesh began to bulge out from various parts of his body. The loose clothes he wore tightened and then ripped apart. Dae Mang threw his head back—now laden with lumps of fat—and let out a loud laugh.
“Hehe, hahaha, ahahaha! I shall feast on you until I am full, and then I will tear into that fellow for dessert.”
“You intend to eat the property of Black Tortoise?”
“Kehehe, kelelelele! Ahahaha! I cannot resist something delicious!”
The master’s face distorted uncontrollably, making it difficult to find any trace of a human. The overflowing masses of flesh occupied the floor moment by moment. Meanwhile, his volume continued to grow until he was the size of a building.
“Hahahaha, ahaha, killkillkillkill! Mealtime is always a joy!”
It was no longer a human voice. It sounded like a creaking door or the clashing of metal. No, as Lee Shim listened closely, there wasn’t just one voice.
—Mmm, soft skin, sweet juices, chewy innards, crispy bones….
—Different from what I usually eat. I’ve never tasted something like that before….
“There is a magic ring around the neck. Kehehehe, what if it’s nothing special once I actually eat it?”
—That’s impossible. This one is the real deal. I can feel it…. Ugh, I want to eat now! Now!
The smell grew increasingly foul until it became unbearable. Biryoo covered their nose with a hand, looking distressed. Lee Shim, unable to withstand the pressure on his body any longer, transformed into a lesser dragon and burrowed into the ground to hide.
The mass of lard continued to swell and ripple, growing like a mountain. Soon, the surface of the flesh smoothed over, and scales sprouted softly. Before long, it took the form of a giant serpent. Having revealed his true form, Dae Mang slowly stretched his body.
The tangled necks raised themselves one by one, covering the ceiling of the cavern. Eight heads, split from Dae Mang’s main body, all hissed toward Biryoo.
Biryoo brought a hand to their neck. They brushed the silver ring with their fingertips and then pulled their hand away.
“No. I shall deal with it as I am.”
As Biryoo lowered their arm, a glowing sphere appeared in their palm. They rolled the sphere in their hand with a sneer.
“This is for the best. I was getting sick of living while suppressing my temper.”
As they glared at Dae Mang with an imposing gaze, a terrifying murderous intent erupted. That energy clashed with Dae Mang’s, creating a cracking sound in the air.
“Ho-oh, how frightening!”
The eight anacondas, overcome with ecstasy, drooled and gaped their maws wide. The insides of their mouths were horribly black, and each open maw was as large as a house.
—Kyaaaa!
—Ehehehe! I shall enjoy the meal!
—Mine! Mine! Mineeeee!
Despite his size, Dae Mang lunged at Biryoo with lightning speed.
≋ ≋ ≋
Meanwhile, Young-pa, who had set out with Wudam, headed west. The four guards holding lanterns were silent, and only Wudam chattered excitedly.
“I didn’t expect Master Neungui to grant permission. It has probably been decades since an outsider entered the treasure vault.”
“Are you saying not even a thief has broken in during that time?”
“I heard that in the past, countless thieves broke in. But after Master Neungui redesigned the treasure vault, not a single soul was seen. Rumor has it that anyone who enters our treasure vault won’t even leave their bones behind….”
They arrived before a wall that divided the east and west. As Wudam led the way, the masters and Young-pa passed through the gate. Young-pa suddenly remembered Geum Dong’s sash.
“What happened to the person I asked you to look into?”
“I forgot to tell you. Upon checking, Master Geum Dong was resting in his room. I was told the sash had been delivered.”
“Good. Did he tie it around his forehead immediately?”
“Yes. He tied it around his forehead right in front of me.”
Hearing this, Young-pa chuckled.
As the conversation ceased, the group walked in silence. Then, the child, perhaps bored, began to whine.
“Mister, where are we going?”
“To find the truth.”
“What’s that? Is it something you eat?”
“No. If you don’t know, just stay quiet.”
Unlike Lee Shim, Young-pa had no talent for dealing with children. Still, the child followed along well, chattering away by Young-pa’s side.
They arrived at a building that looked like a small shrine. The interior was cramped, barely enough for three or four people to sit. There was a table in the center, a chest of drawers against the wall, and a mat spread on the floor. A red bead rested upon the table.
When Wudam placed the bead into one of the drawers and closed it, the mat slid away to reveal a hole. A ladder leading downward was hung in the passage. The child let out a giggle and shouted.
“Wow, how amazing! It must be sorcery.”
“Do you know how to climb a ladder?”
“What’s that?”
“Never mind.”
As Wudam descended to the treasure vault first, Young-pa climbed the ladder with the child perched on their shoulder. The passage was longer than it looked, and it took a while to reach the bottom. As the light dimmed, the lanterns held by the masters appeared even brighter.
The interior was pitch black. The ground had been flattened to create a path, but the walls and ceiling were rugged, like a cave.
“It’s dark, isn’t it? This way.”
Young-pa noticed that no matter where they looked, the height and width of the cave remained constant. It was as if a giant anaconda had dug it. In the darkness, he ground his teeth.
“How old is this tunnel?”
“It has been used as a treasure vault since my grandfather’s time, so I suspect it existed before then.”
“And how long has Master Neungui worked here?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is that it was before I was born.”
“I see.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Wudam stopped the group and took out a handkerchief, throwing it far ahead. The moment the handkerchief touched the ground, a sorcery designed to harm intruders activated from the ceiling and walls. Young-pa calmly watched as blades shredded the cloth.
“Mister, it’s scary here…. It’s dark and damp, I hate it.”
“I hate it too, but it can’t be helped.”
“Why can’t it be helped? We can just go out.”
“I told you we can’t.”
Since the child refused to climb down, Young-pa continued to carry him on his shoulders. Every time they passed a spellcasting technique or a trap, the child would jump in surprise and pull on Young-pa’s hair.
After passing through an exhausting number of forks in the road, things that could finally be called treasures appeared. In the center of a small room was a golden chest, with gold coins scattered around it.
“It’s a trap, so please do not touch it.”
“They’ve employed all sorts of petty tricks.”
“Haha, no wonder thieves don’t get in, right?”
Young-pa did not answer. More terrifying than the sorcery was the terrain of the tunnel. Numerous forks and passages that made one lose their sense of direction. Even if an intruder managed to penetrate the surface guards and enter, escaping alive would be extremely difficult.
After passing through two rooms rigged with traps, a place that made one’s eyes widen appeared.
“This is our treasure vault.”
“Wow, it’s all sparkly!”
The child fidgeted on Young-pa’s shoulder. The room they entered was filled with treasures along both walls. The next room, and the one after that, were the same.
Passing through three rooms, Young-pa saw brilliant gems, crafted swords, bows, hats, spears and other ritual weapons, bracelets and waist pendants inlaid with pearls, obsidian, red jade and beads, rings, earrings, hairpins, curved jade, five-colored precious gems, and all sorts of other priceless treasures. However, the specific treasure Young-pa sought did not catch his eye.
In the fourth room, Young-pa saw an object that drew his attention. While other treasures were rare or beautiful, the white folding fan resting on a table was shabby and dirty.
Young-pa picked up the fan and unfolded it. On the surface, which must have once been white, there were traces of densely written text that had faded. It was tattered and torn, with some of the wooden ribs broken, making it incomplete. Yet, it fit perfectly in his hand, giving him a sense of familiarity.
“Are you interested in that tattered fan?”
When Wudam asked, Young-pa folded the fan and put it back down.
“I was simply curious why a rotting piece of junk was kept in the treasure vault.”
“I don’t know for certain, but I heard it was an item the first clan head cherished deeply.”
“You mean Wubaek?”
“Yes. I heard he slept with it in his arms every day, so it is an object of great meaning to the family.”
Young-pa lost interest in the fan and walked away. Wudam followed.
“To think you picked up a broken fan of all things; it seems Master Young-pa has no interest in material wealth.”
“Because there is something else I am looking for.”
“I know. But how can you be so indifferent to treasures? Any other human would have lost their mind at such a sight.”
Young-pa let out a smirk at those words.
‘Well, you don’t know yet, but you’ll find out soon. Why I am different from ordinary humans.’
They reached the end of the treasure vault. Young-pa examined the wall and realized that it wasn’t the end of the cave, but a deliberately constructed false wall.
“As expected, the Master noticed immediately. The changjingyeong is hidden inside.”
“I think I hear the sound of water below.”
“It must be the sound of underground water flowing.”
As Wudam felt around a corner of the wall, a button revealed itself. He pressed the button eight times. Then, with a rumbling sound, the wall slid open. Young-pa entered as if possessed. Once Wudam and the four masters entered, the wall closed behind them.
The end of the cave was darker and more damp than anywhere else. The air was so humid that one’s clothes would become soaked if they stayed too long. After walking for a while, they reached a place where the ceiling was dizzyingly high.
To eyes adjusted to the dark, a glowing form appeared. The divine artifact of the Vermilion Bird floated at a height unreachable by human hands.
‘So that is the changjingyeong.’
Young-pa craned his neck to look up. The polished mirror, emitting a brilliant radiance, was bordered in gold and adorned with precious-looking gems.