By Zephyria 
“The underground has its own plans; there is no reason to report every single move to the surface.”
Ji Seo-gu spoke curtly, but Po Ui responded fiercely.
“The surface suffered because of your plans! How do you intend to compensate for the fact that this wretch dared to trespass into my territory and kill my subordinates?”
“Young-pa, my pathetic human.”
Black energy wrapped around Young-pa’s neck and slowly tightened. Young-pa shuddered and lifted his chin, but there was no way to escape Black Tortoise’s grip. Saliva leaked from between his trembling lips, and his wide-open eyes were bloodshot.
“You should know when to stop playing. What on earth did you do to provoke White Tiger like this?”
Ji Seo-gu whispered darkly. As his grip tightened on Young-pa’s hair and yanked it back, his neck snapped with a sickening crack. Young-pa let out a muffled groan through the bit.
“When we return underground, I will make you regret this for eternity.”
He whispered in a voice full of hatred while strangling him. It was a voice so faint that only Young-pa could hear it.
Then, as if he had never handled Young-pa roughly, Black Tortoise gently stroked his body and receded back into the shadows.
“Surely this much punishment is enough.”
As he expanded the darkness to subtly shield Young-pa, White Tiger and Vermilion Bird reacted in indignation simultaneously.
“This is not something that can be settled with that alone. What nonsense is this?”
“This is no longer your sole concern!”
Yeon Mu-geum summoned a scorching wind to scatter the shadows, revealing Young-pa once more. White Tiger stepped forward, glaring at the shadows.
“This one is a being that should not have existed in the first place. Had he remained underground, it would be one thing, but his crime of crawling up to the surface to cause chaos and covet my territory is grave. He must be executed on the spot.”
Vermilion Bird lowered their eyebrows, as if that were a bit too harsh.
“This human came to me when no one else cared and ended my suffering, so I owe him a debt. I will not let his life be taken.”
“How foolish! Have you forgotten that this wretch was the one who shoved you into the corner of that mountain to begin with?”
“If you knew that so well, why didn’t you help me? If it weren’t for him, I’d still be getting eaten by bugs!”
Flames sparked and flickered in Vermilion Bird’s eyes. White Tiger crossed their arms and fell silent, but Yeon Mu-geum, unable to shake his anger, glared at him as if he wanted to kill him. Amidst the uncomfortable silence, Po Ui looked toward the shadows.
“Since there are three of us, it is only right to follow the majority opinion. Black Tortoise, what do you think?”
Ji Seo-gu paused before speaking quietly.
“This human is a seed of chaos who has pranked me numerous times even in the underground. I had given up on him because he could not be tamed no matter what I did, but seeing him crawl to the surface and run wild while I was busy has completely extinguished any affection I might have had.”
“In that case….”
“I will follow White Tiger’s opinion and kill him. However, since he is my possession, I shall take him underground and execute him only by my own hand, at a time of my choosing, and in my own way. No objections, I presume.”
“What? That just means you’re going to torture him as you please! I can’t let— huh?”
Vermilion Bird, who had been speaking passionately, widened their eyes at something. Po Ui, who had been pointing a finger at Black Tortoise, lowered his arm and frowned. Even Ji Seo-gu, hidden in the shadows, seemed to have his attention stolen, remaining motionless.
“What is that person….”
Vermilion Bird trailed off, sounding bewildered.
At the edge of the wasteland where not a single breeze blew, someone was walking toward them. His stature was gallant, and his stride was unwavering. Even as he headed toward the assembly of the gods, there was not a hint of haste or tension; his composure was eerily calm.
“Mmph, mmph…!”
Though all three divine beasts seemed stunned, the most shocked was Young-pa. Even from a distance, such presence and elegance were unparalleled in the world; naturally, his name was Biryoo.
Young-pa believed he knew Biryoo better than anyone and did not doubt for a second that he had appeared here to save him. To Young-pa, who knew how ruthless those arrogant gods could be, it looked as if Biryoo was walking straight into his own death.
It was infuriating enough to be back in a place where those beasts were bargaining over him, and the sudden appearance of Ji Seo-gu, who had been in hibernation, was a shock that made his blood boil. Now, with Biryoo appearing as well, he felt as if he were losing his mind.
Having approached within arm’s reach, Biryoo raised his hand to his neck. As he unlocked and discarded the ring around his neck, the necklace sank deep into the ground with a thunderous roar. Young-pa’s racing heart felt as if it had stopped.
His black hair, tied as one, rose like a cloud and began to glow with a blue light from the tips. An auspicious radiance emanated around Biryoo’s body, and clouds billowed, wrapping around his fingertips and limbs.
Deep indigo hair and eyes, like the bottom of the ocean; a golden crown and earrings symbolizing absolute glory; and heavenly silk that shimmered like a river, enveloping his body. This towering, beautiful man was not the person Young-pa thought he knew.
“Mmph, mmph! Mmph!”
Young-pa wailed in a sense of betrayal. He had presumed the ring the man wore was a device to amplify power and had looked down on him. He had poured out his inner thoughts, played pranks, and at times, craved his body.
Yet, during all that time, Biryoo had never once claimed he wasn’t a divine beast, so could this truly be called betrayal? Perhaps the tendency to deceive oneself was a human malady. Tears of resentment streamed down Young-pa’s cheeks.
“Since there are now four of us, we must vote again!”
Yeon Mu-geum smiled broadly. Po Ui remained silent with a frown, and no one knew what Ji Seo-gu was thinking.
Azure Dragon stood between Vermilion Bird and White Tiger. Since his height was similar to White Tiger’s, Vermilion Bird looked even more like a tiny bean in comparison. Azure Dragon stood facing Young-pa, but he did not even spare him a glance.
“What brings you here?”
To White Tiger’s suspicion-filled question, Azure Dragon replied nonchalantly.
“You called me with such desperation, and yet you ask what brings me here.”
“Do not pretend not to understand my meaning. We all know.”
White Tiger’s eyes narrowed.
“You are an indifferent one who does not interfere in the affairs beneath the heavens. Three hundred years ago, even when Yeongparang ran wild at Manisan claiming he would exorcise us, you ignored my call. Have you suddenly developed an interest now?”
“I am not your dog; why should I appear every time I am called? I simply move according to my own will.”
When White Tiger fell silent, Vermilion Bird stepped forward.
“So you were the man who traveled with Yeongparang.”
“Azure Dragon traveling with Yeongparang? What on earth are you talking about, Vermilion Bird?”
“I have memories of traveling with that human before I recovered my divine power. Yeongparang kept two men as lackeys, and I believe one of them was Azure Dragon pretending to be human.”
“The Eastern Azure Dragon… a human’s lackey?”
Po Ui’s face was colored with shock. Even Black Tortoise trembled within the shadows, but only Azure Dragon maintained a composed expression. White Tiger spoke as if remembering something.
“I also received reports that Yeongparang traveled with two men and one child. Now I see that one was Azure Dragon and the other was Vermilion Bird. What a sight it is to see deities clinging to a human!”
“I didn’t have my memories!”
Vermilion Bird trembled, glaring fiercely.
“A noble divine dragon and a reckless human of the underground…. I cannot even fathom what kind of harmony this is. Explain yourself, Azure Dragon.”
Black Tortoise spoke quietly from within the shadows.
“I merely played with your human as well; is there a problem?”
When Azure Dragon responded coldly, Black Tortoise burst into laughter.
“Of course not. I used him carefully and returned him; what could possibly be the problem?”
The shadow wrapped around Young-pa’s chin, forcibly turning his face toward Azure Dragon. For a moment, their gazes met, but Azure Dragon averted his eyes.
“How was it, traveling with my human?”
“I had high expectations as he is a man of many rumors, but he turned out to be a common human.”
“Ah, the noble Azure Dragon is famous for hating humans. Was even my doll nothing more than a worm to you? He may be malicious in his actions, but isn’t he decent enough? Everyone says his face is at least exquisite….”
“I only accompanied him because there was something I needed to retrieve.”
At those cryptic words, the shadow groaned and twisted.
“You, you… this human, surely…. My treasure vault!”
The black energy surged violently, sand flew, and the ground shook.
“This wretched human… how dare he touch my things!”
As the shadow swept over Young-pa’s body, his neck snapped and his hair floated in the air. Young-pa twisted his body grotesquely and groaned, eventually becoming unable to make a sound, shedding tears with hollow eyes.
“That’s enough! If you kill the prisoner, our gathering here becomes pointless!”
When Vermilion Bird intervened by summoning flames, Black Tortoise huffed and retreated into the shadows. Azure Dragon glared at the shadow with cold eyes.
“Originally, the Somyeonghwan is a divine artifact belonging to the heavenly realm. The problem was that it was stolen through deception in the first place; yet here is the thief wielding the rod.”
“Azure Dragon, you will regret this!”
“They say Black Tortoise does not forgive. Do you think the other deities know how to forget a grudge?”
White Tiger, who had been listening quietly, stared at Vermilion Bird. Vermilion Bird realized the meaning a moment later and was overcome with rage, but White Tiger was already looking elsewhere.
“That is enough. Azure Dragon is correct. The Somyeonghwan should be managed by the heavenly realm.”
Po Ui stepped in to settle the situation.
“Then, Azure Dragon, it means you traveled with that human to obtain the heavenly divine artifact.”
“That is correct.”
“The reason I called you all is to discuss the disposal of that wretch. He is a wicked existence secretly crafted by Black Tortoise. He should not have been breathing in the first place, yet he escaped the underground and brought chaos to the surface. He established a base in Nazgol, infiltrated my territory, and attacked my subordinates.”
He pointed to Black Tortoise, hidden in the shadows.
“Before you arrived, Ji Seo-gu and I agreed to execute him.”
Following this, White Tiger pointed to Vermilion Bird with a reluctant attitude.
“On the other hand, Yeon Mu-geum wishes to save him.”
“When none of you helped, that human brought me back to life, so he is under my protection. If you harm him, I will take it as a declaration of enmity against everything in the sky!”
“Do not let emotions interfere, Vermilion Bird. If opinions are divided, we can decide by a show of hands.”
“Don’t try to lecture me. I’m sick and tired of your sermons!”
As Yeon Mu-geum and Po Ui began to growl at each other, Ji Seo-gu clicked his tongue in the darkness. Vermilion Bird, who had been excitedly criticizing White Tiger, suddenly gestured toward Young-pa.
“Let’s hear from the man himself for a change! Surely Yeongparang has an opinion.”
Po Ui frowned, and the shadow remained motionless. Azure Dragon looked into the distance, acting as if he had nothing to do with the matter.
As if defeated, the shadow moved, and the bit blocking Young-pa’s mouth scattered into black energy.
“Haah, haah…. Ji, Seo-gu, is less than… a piece of… shit….”
With a loud slap, Young-pa’s cheek was whipped to the side.
The man, said to have once been loved by the gods for his splendor, now had one eye so swollen he couldn’t open it, and his cheekbone was bruised a dismal purple.
“Just… kill me. I am… not… afraid.”
He gasped for air, his blood-stained lips trembling.
“Crush… me to death, or take me… and torture me… do as you… please. After all, to you… humans are… nothing more than… worms.”
White Tiger raised an eyebrow in distaste.
“Did it never occur to you that you are the ones acting like worms?”
Young-pa tilted his head back and laughed like a madman. He tried to bite his tongue, but Black Tortoise intervened, and he found himself back with a bit in his mouth.
“Do you see? He is a beast that cannot be tamed. There is no torture I haven’t tried, yet far from becoming obedient, he raged and tried to escape, claiming he would kill me. I can no longer find a reason to keep him alive, so I shall take him underground and execute him.”
Even after hearing Ji Seo-gu’s words, Vermilion Bird merely turned their head away.
“Your failure to manage that human is your own problem. What do you expect me to do?”
“Yeon Mu-geum!”
“My will to save him remains unchanged, so if you want to beg, beg Azure Dragon.”
Black Tortoise huffed and shifted within the shadows. Azure Dragon, who held the prisoner’s life in his hands, maintained the same expressionless face as when he first appeared.
“Azure Dragon, the time has come. Make your decision. Will you save this human, or kill him?”
As White Tiger pressed him, he replied arrogantly.
“The life or death of that human is meaningless to me. However, if Black Tortoise kneels and apologizes to me, I shall side with the execution.”
“Ugh, what is the meaning of this!”
“I have heard nothing regarding the atrocities you committed in the past.”
His blue eyes flashed threateningly.
“Haa, Azure Dragon. If you are speaking of the events from thousands of years ago, it was not my fault….”
Ji Seo-gu grumbled, as if forced.
“I am sorry if you suffered. However, I hope you do not forget that I, too, was deceived by a deception.”
Azure Dragon’s stern gaze was cold enough to freeze flames. He glared at the shadow as if he intended to kill it, then abruptly turned his head.
“I will save the human.”
“What?”
White Tiger gasped in shock, and Vermilion Bird’s eyes widened. Po Ui frowned and shook his head.
“Think again, Azure Dragon. This is not a matter to let past grudges interfere.”
When Azure Dragon ignored those words, White Tiger clicked his tongue loudly. A chilling silence hung between the Four Symbols.
While they gathered and spoke, the sun passed over the western horizon and night fell. It was White Tiger who broke the long silence.
“Two are in favor of killing, and two are in favor of saving, so no conclusion is reached.”
“To argue over whether to kill or save someone else’s property is truly absurd. You seem to be mistaken about something; this human is mine.”
Black Tortoise hissed, wrapping his shadow around Young-pa’s shoulder.
“Fine, very well. Considering the crime of letting him onto the surface is great, I shall concede one point. I will not kill him, but I will take him back underground.”
Yeon Mu-geum looked at the shadow suspiciously.
“Why is it turning out this way? I want Yeongparang to be set free.”
“Have you become too naive after returning to the form of a child, Vermilion Bird? The place where this wretch originally belongs is the underground world. If he is to survive, it is only right that he returns to his own home.”
Ji Seo-gu’s logic was simple but valid. It was evident that Vermilion Bird did not like the idea, and White Tiger also seemed displeased, but they did not openly object. Azure Dragon simply watched in silence.
“Having experienced it myself, I know there are lives more painful than death. I do not want Yeongparang to suffer eternally.”
Vermilion Bird spoke quietly.
“Even if it is in a snake cave, let him live out the rest of his natural life. That is my condition.”
A soft laugh echoed from the darkness. Ji Seo-gu replied that such a request was not difficult. This time, White Tiger spoke up.
“I shall also concede a bit. I will tolerate whatever you do to him in the underground, provided he never returns to the surface.”
Black Tortoise agreed and waited for a moment. However, Azure Dragon added nothing.
Ji Seo-gu, unable to hide his anger, pronounced the conclusion word by word with emphasis.
“Then, the human, Young-pa, shall be taken underground and sentenced to indefinite forced labor. He shall grow old as his lifespan fades and shall die in the underground, never to see the sunlight again.”
Vermilion Bird sighed, and White Tiger nodded solemnly. Then, Azure Dragon added in a low voice.
“Your word cannot be trusted, so swear it by blood.”
“Haha, hehe, ahahaha!”
Black Tortoise burst into a manic laugh.
“Fine. I can do that.”
An ominous vortex swirled within the shadows, and black energy crept upward. Soon, dark red blood began to drip from the void onto Young-pa’s forehead, flowing down his cheeks.
“I am the whisper that walks through the darkness and the mist of midnight. The serpent of serpents and tortoise of tortoises who governs those that crawl and swim in the underground world.”
Young-pa writhed, his face contorted, but because of the bit tightly held in his mouth, no sound came out except for muffled groans.
“I swear by the blood of the Northern Black Tortoise….”
Blood streamed down over his head. Young-pa gasped for air, half of his face covered in Black Tortoise’s bodily fluid.
“As discussed among the four spirits, I shall not take the life of the human, Young-pa, with my own hands. He shall serve under my jurisdiction in the underground world, performing hard labor until he dies of old age.”
As the oath ended, the blood spilled by Ji Seo-gu glowed black and seeped into Young-pa’s body.
“I pray, Black Tortoise, that this piece of trash may never escape again…”
Before White Tiger could even finish speaking, a shadow swept over Young-pa’s body, and he vanished underground. In the spot where Young-pa had stood, only a small hole remained—one barely large enough for a single human to pass through.
Cloud Palace
The five-colored cloud palace was as serene as ever. The attendants performed their duties in silence, and the master’s kin slept in their respective rooms. While pushing a beaded cart across the honey flower bridge, one attendant noticed the surface of the silver pond trembling and knew that the master had arrived.
Soon after, with a thunderclap that tore through the Azure Sky, a dragon soared up from between the clouds. Azure Dragon returned as abruptly as they had vanished.
While the subordinates bowed their heads, they sensed that something unpleasant had happened to their master, seeing the storm raining heavily beneath the black ink clouds.
Azure Dragon exhaled a rough breath, their mane standing on end. Their furious eyes looked as if they would spit flames at any moment, and they seemed poised to ram anything with their horns. With an unstoppable momentum, they spun around, shaking off the rainwater clinging to their scales. Then, transforming into human form, they entered the cloud palace.
The palace looked exactly as it had when the master departed. The beautiful building, with a ceiling covered in clouds, was constructed without beams or pillars, unlike houses in the mortal realm. The floors and stairs were made of white jade that clearly reflected the image of those walking upon them; the bridges connecting the pavilions were made of jade stone and honey flower, and the railings were made of coral.
The walls shone in a bluish silver-blue, like Azure Dragon’s scales basking in the sunlight, and were decorated with curtains woven from gold thread, jade blinds, and five-colored crystal screens. True to the master’s taste, it was authoritative and luxurious, yet nothing was excessive or vulgar.
Biryoo brushed back their drenched hair and walked with steady strides toward the high throne. There was no leisure in their irritable pace, causing the earrings hanging from both ears to sway violently.
The young dragons, who had rushed out from their sleep, saw the master’s foul mood and backed away, retreating into their rooms. The only one who dared approach Azure Dragon in such a state was the heavenly scribe, who served as their eyes and ears.
“Y-you have returned, Master…”
Biryoo did not answer. Seo-o, who had already assumed human form, walked beside them and spoke quickly.
“There have been no major upheavals during your absence, but there are a few minor matters to report. Shall I proceed?”
“Do so.”
As Biryoo sat askew on the high throne, two attendants stood by their sides holding a wide ceremonial umbrella. Leaning an elbow on the armrest, Biryoo pressed a finger firmly against one temple.
“The Jeok-nyong living in Arisu claims to have been swindled by a horned Bonghwang and is seeking your mediation. The Heuk-nyong brothers of Triangular Mountain had a fierce fight over territory; the elder lost an eye, and the younger lost a hind leg. Additionally, Jeolgon, who stayed at the Sal River, has moved his base to Asadal Mountain.”
Seo-o’s role was to steadfastly deliver news regardless of the master’s mood. However, the words drifted past Biryoo’s ears. When Biryoo raised a palm to stop the speech, Seo-o shut his mouth.
“I will hear the rest later.”
“Yes…”
Seo-o cautiously gauged the master’s expression.
“Have you finished all your business in the mortal realm?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder what could have upset the Master so greatly…”
Biryoo kept their mouth shut. They did not wish to reveal to anyone what was currently filling their mind.
In an instant, they transformed back into a dragon. As their long body soared into the sky, their sleek tail whipped along the railing. Their head surged upward, tearing through the ceiling of the cloud palace made of clouds.
The sight of the blue scales flashing silver was a spectacle, but Azure Dragon’s expression was truly terrifying. When they suddenly let out a roar, a thunderous roar and lightning strikes descended. A dragon playing in the cloud waterfall heard the sound and hurriedly hid behind a cliff.
Even then, Biryoo’s anger was not appeased, and they left the palace to fly aimlessly.
‘Everything is settled, so why do I feel so unsettled?’
Flying low, piercing through the cold downpour, they thought about the days spent in the mortal realm. Though many things had happened—too many to easily explain—it was but a fleeting moment compared to the life they had lived.
Whether a human like Young-pa flew or crawled meant nothing to Azure Dragon. Yet, they wondered why it bothered them, like a splinter embedded under a fingernail.
≋ ≋ ≋
‘Master, Master! I have some fresh news from a peregrine falcon; a wicked being has escaped from the snake cave.’
When Seo-o delivered the news, Biryoo had been spending a tedious daily routine. Leaning against the throne in the great hall, they had been half-heartedly watching the young dragons play, and the underground rumors of the mortal realm delivered by Seo-o sounded merely annoying.
‘I coaxed them a bit, and they revealed a top secret. Apparently, that human is going around calling himself “Young-pa”?’
‘I see.’
‘The whole world is in an uproar, yet how can you not be surprised, Master?’
‘It has nothing to do with me.’
‘That may be so… but if that man truly is Yeongparang, was he not a figure who once shook the world and caused such a stir?’
When Azure Dragon ignored those words, Cheon-hae asked with sparkling eyes.
‘Who is Yeongparang, Azure Dragon?’
Suro, who had been playing by bunching up clouds, also poured out questions as if they had been waiting.
‘Is he a dragon? If not, is he a bird, a tiger, or a serpent? Or perhaps, a rabbit?’
Azure Dragon usually tried to be kind to the young dragons. Thus, they intended to give a proper answer, but the name Young-pa was hazy in their mind.
‘You explain it, Seo-o.’
‘Yes. Yeongparang is a human who was suppressed three hundred years ago after defying Black Tortoise and White Tiger.’
‘Ah, that fellow.’
Only then did Biryoo pull out the old memory. It was a time when the mortal realm was so noisy that one had to cover their ears to sleep even in the heavenly realm. That human had supposedly exorcised the Vermilion Bird. Or that he had stolen Yeon Mu-geum’s bow and arrow to inflict a fatal wound on White Tiger.
At that time, Biryoo did not respond to Po Ui’s call. After all, the position of White Tiger was one that received challenges from countless strong tigers. If Po Ui was weak enough to be defeated by a human, another tiger would appear to fill the spot, so Biryoo considered it nothing for the heavenly realm to worry about.
‘Then that human is even older than I am! How fascinating…’
‘Azure Dragon, may we go down and take a look at him?’
‘No.’
Biryoo flatly rejected Cheon-hae’s request. They would not tolerate the dragons they protected having any connection to the underground.
As Biryoo knew, after Po Ui suppressed Yeongparang’s rebellion, he took a liking to the man and brought him to the wilderness. However, to remove his rebellious nature, Black Tortoise had split his soul, and in exchange, Po Ui had handed over Daedun Mountain to the underground.
If the rumors Seo-o brought were true, Black Tortoise must have split Yeongparang, given half to White Tiger and secretly keeping the other half for himself.
‘Ji Seo-gu… he must have given life to a human and kept him by his side for three hundred years.’
Biryoo’s eyes narrowed, and they grit their teeth. Past events surfaced painfully, cluttering their mind. However, as they had done countless times before, they naturally let the anger flow away.
‘Lady Cheon-hae, Master Suro. Please listen to the Master. That human is an impious person who committed a great crime. There is nothing good in being near him.’
‘What crime did he commit?’
‘Uh, well… I do not know for sure, but I heard he challenged the deities. That is why he was imprisoned in the deepest and gloomiest cave in the underground.’
‘How did he escape from such a place! The more I hear, the more amazing he seems!’
‘It is not amazing, but lawless. I heard he set a fire and blocked the portal of the cave. Not only that, there are rumors that he stripped the treasure vault clean before leaving.’
Biryoo was just thinking of dismissing Seo-o after seeing the young dragons become overly curious. However, upon hearing the last words, they instead sat up. Without realizing it, Biryoo asked Seo-o.
‘Treasures? What treasures did they say?’
‘No one knows. A roe deer caught sight of Yeongparang burying something near the collapsed snake cave and has been excitedly spreading the rumor.’
That prisoner was someone who should not exist in the world. Black Tortoise would have naturally locked him in the most important and deepest cave.
‘If it were the treasure vault of such a place…’
Biryoo stood up. The sleep that had been creeping in vanished. When they set aside their crown and summoned clouds beneath their feet, Cheon-hae and Suro followed trotting along.
‘Why are you preparing to descend to the mortal realm, Azure Dragon? Will you not take your midday nap as usual?’
‘If you are going to find the human, could you please take us along, Azure Dragon? We promise not to be bothersome and will stay quiet.’
Biryoo changed into human attire and tucked the necklace that limits divine power into their robes. It was useful, as simply wearing it allowed them to move normally among humans. After packing accessories used by humans for trading, they told the young dragons firmly.
‘I will not allow it. You must not descend a single inch below the clouds. I am going to find something else, not that human.’
‘What is it?’
‘Something I lost a long time ago.’
Biryoo descended to the mortal realm in a single bound upon the clouds. It had been a long time since they had gone somewhere other than a waterfront for bathing. They were not the type to intervene in mortal affairs like Po Ui, be curious about humans like Yeon Mu-geum, or plot conspiracies like Ji Seo-gu. Eons had passed while they spent peaceful years, ignoring the human world and its rain rituals.
Upon visiting the collapsed snake cave of Daedun Mountain, it was exactly as Seo-o had described. A foul smell emanated from the spot where a giant rock, larger than a human body, lay. The bloodstains, dried widely from there to a nearby stream, were not human.
Digging into a spot where the earth was unnaturally covered, they found miscellaneous items consumed by darkness. Their face naturally frowned at the intense yin energy. With a reluctant attitude, Biryoo examined the items one by one.
A helmet that looked ancient had the emblem of an old kingdom engraved on it. It was an item from a kingdom that had conflicted with the four symbols long ago and vanished without a trace.
The leather with tattered whitish scales belonged to a serpent. Biryoo remembered that a trusted subordinate heavily used by Black Tortoise in the past had been a white serpent. That person had been suppressed by their master after plotting treason.
The last item was a comb on the verge of rotting away. Biryoo recognized the lotus pattern engraved on the surface at a glance. They stared at the comb silently and then crushed it into powder in their hand.
‘Though worthless, every single one is a trophy stolen from another.’
Black Tortoise’s Treasury had been full of spoils of war. Biryoo became even more certain that the object they were seeking was in the hands of the one called Yeongparang.
Looking over the world upon the clouds, humans were as numerous as ants. Biryoo found the target more easily than expected, as two men were heading north along the Bear River at a monstrous speed.
It was not difficult to figure out which of the two was Yeongparang. Dressed in a shabby top that was little more than a straw mat, the human running like a wild beast with jet-black hair fluttering had an extraordinary air about him. Biryoo descended from the clouds, put on the ring around their neck, and followed him.
At first, they were curious about what kind of person this human, who had been kept secretly and favored by Black Tortoise, was. However, before two sizens had passed since watching him, Biryoo felt a desperate desire to return to the heavenly realm.
A ruffian composed of barbaric behavior, coarse language that defiled the ears, and gluttony and greed. He was the worst kind of human, someone they wanted to avoid at all costs.
‘Now, now, line up! A once-in-a-century gambling game that barely happens once every hundred years! The entry fee is a handful of rice; if you win, you get twelve!’
An opportunity to contact the human came at the market of Sabi. For some reason, he was posing as a gambler.
‘You look like a refined young master; what brings you to a gambling den?’
That was the first meeting with that human.
Biryoo could have let the cheating slide, but they deliberately provoked Young-pa. That ignorant human recklessly picked a fight, shouting and sending gusts of wind, punching the ground and turning the surroundings into a wasteland.
Although they only sparred for a moment, he was fast and strong. Had he not been split three hundred years ago, and had he stolen and freely used divine artifacts, the idea of opposing the four symbols would not have been an absurd claim.
One notable point was that he possessed the special ability to recover his body. It seemed the ability had flowed into him when Black Tortoise gave him life.
Since Immortal Flower was in that village, Biryoo withdrew without overextending. Then, they waited until the night grew deep and approached the sleeping human.
The subordinate the human brought along was exposing his long tail in his sleep. After confirming that the somyeonghwan was not in the lesser dragon’s embrace or luggage, Biryoo approached the human.
Seeing Yeongparang up close, Biryoo paused. Starlight was illuminating his face. The colorless face revealed deep light and shadow, casting heavy shadows on the bridge of his nose, eyelashes, and lips. Below that, the unmistakable naked body of a man was revealed.
It was surprising that a man’s body possessed an appearance so praised by the world, but more puzzling was his expression. Even while sleeping, an ominously wicked smile lingered on the corners of his mouth.
‘Is he having a pleasant dream even in this state? What a strange human.’
Regrettably, there was no treasure in Young-pa’s possession, so Biryoo withdrew.
When the man woke up and practiced in the yard, Biryoo watched from a tree. The shadow of a noble human who had opposed the gods. The half that had been abandoned after White Tiger took Immortal Flower. The appearance of a doll that Black Tortoise had given life to and hidden deep underground.
Originally, when descending to the mortal realm, Biryoo had considered several options. Stealing the divine artifact and kidnapping the human to torment Black Tortoise, or playing with him to vent the frustrations of a thousand years ago.
However…
‘I will kill Black Tortoise.’
Regardless of what happened underground, that man’s grudge was extraordinary. It was almost eerie to see a mere human trembling with the intent to kill a divine beast. Not just in words, he seemed to be under the delusion that he could truly kill Ji Seo-gu.
‘Help me get my hands on the changjingyeong. If you do, that piece of junk is yours.’
A greedy and cunning human. Without knowing what that ring was or who Biryoo was, he proposed a bold condition.
Perhaps it was because the audacity to kill Ji Seo-gu was amusing, or perhaps that blind will stimulated their curiosity. Feeling a strange interest, Biryoo accepted Young-pa’s proposal.
‘I am Young-pa. What is your name?’
When the human asked for the name, another voice brushed past Biryoo’s ears. It had been a long time since they had heard it, so it was faint, but it was a voice they could never forget.
‘If I may, could I know your name?’
The two were as different as heaven and earth, with nothing in common except that they were both human. Even so, how often would a dragon living in the heavenly realm hear such a question?
‘There is no reason not to tell you. I am Biryoo.’
Biryoo did not go out of their way to hide their name like other dragons. After all, even if a human knew a dragon’s name, they wouldn’t be able to pronounce it correctly.
After that, the strange alliance between Young-pa and Biryoo began. Biryoo watched the human run across mountains and fields, waiting to see when Black Tortoise would appear.
It was also Biryoo who had Seo-o lead Young-pa to Gyeryong Mountain. Perhaps despite his rough and barbaric nature, his mind was brilliant. Despite having lost his memories, Young-pa seemed to have realized what was inside the body of the shabby child.
Extinguishing the flames that the Vermilion Bird had unconsciously summoned while unable to bear the pain, Biryoo fell into thought.
‘It is best not to involve oneself with humans.’
They were wary of the pain Yeongparang had inflicted upon the Vermilion Bird. Having divine artifacts stolen, having divine power stolen, having the heart stolen. Humans have weak bodies and insignificant abilities, so why do the gods lose their minds over them?
Humans, as a species, had a fundamental problem. They were beasts that could never be satisfied. They were untrustworthy animals who would act as if they would give you their heart and soul, only to say something entirely different the moment they turned around.
Biryoo considered the White Tiger wise for embracing Young-parang after stripping away his wicked side. Conversely, Biryoo could not understand the one who had gathered what remained.
‘Biryoo, aren’t you bored spending these long, long nights alone?’
‘I think it would be more fun to play with you. Since we’re on the subject, why don’t you lie down for a moment?’
‘It will hurt at first, but if you endure it just a little, I will show you the heavenly realm.’
‘The place where I live is the heavenly realm, you insolent brat.’
Biryoo was flabbergasted, having never encountered a man who flirted with them so brazenly. Looking at him, he was the kind of beauty that would drive libertines wild, yet it was utterly bizarre to see him drooling and trying to knock over someone with a more imposing presence than his own.
The harassment from this mere handful of a human grew worse as time went on. Using the transformation art of a lesser dragon, he entered the room in the body of a woman; once, he bit Biryoo’s ear, and he offered flirtatious remarks as if they were casual greetings. After enduring various such incidents, they arrived at the Pacheondang shrine.
After Young-pa left to find the changjingyeong, Biryoo was dragged underground. There, Biryoo discovered that the Black Tortoise had fallen into hibernation.
The Black Tortoise was an ambitious, secretive, and cunning being. Sleeping was his only and most fatal weakness. If Young-pa insisted on killing Ji Seo-gu, now was the perfect time.
Having grown tired of pretending to be weak and playing the innocent, Biryoo found the eight-headed monster to be an excellent target for venting. Without even touching their divine power, Biryoo finished taking out their frustration and exited the filthy burrow.
Unable to stand the feeling of the serpent’s fluids seeping into their skin, Biryoo took a bath, only to find Young-pa standing in the courtyard.
‘The master of the skies has returned.’
Seeing the red bird cutting through the firmament, Biryoo guessed what had happened in the treasure vault. Even then, Biryoo harbored strong, unsettled feelings toward Young-pa, but they had no choice but to admit that he was exceptional.
Not only was he born with genius talent, but he was also clever, and to top it off, his appearance was exquisite. What kind of a “bird among chickens” was he, to be born with such immense blessings? How could such a person live a life worse than death, driven mad by revenge? What was the purpose of that tenacious obsession?
‘It is good that you are alive, so I may see that handsome face once more.’
Perhaps it was the sudden surge of pity that was the problem. Biryoo’s impression of Young-pa changed from that day forward—to the point where they felt no aversion even when their bodies touched as he collapsed.
Subsequently, Biryoo was not surprised when Young-pa shut himself in his room. Do humans, with their short lifespans, not naturally risk their lives over trivial matters? Unlike divine beasts who live in immortality, humans are creatures of fluctuating emotions; perhaps that is why deities are so easily moved by humans.
When a lesser dragon came to tell Biryoo that Young-pa was crying, Biryoo found it unexpected. They had often seen him angry or laughing, but they had not considered that he possessed a grieving heart. Biryoo found themselves wanting to see his crying face.
‘You… you knew all along, didn’t you?’
Young-pa, screaming while tears and snot flowed like rain, was utterly filthy and hideous. At least, that was what Biryoo thought in their head. However, the face, distorted and drenched in tears, looked different to their eyes.
‘I have nothing left. Only things others have discarded… anger and murderous intent… greed, deception… lewdness… things like that. It is only natural that you hate me.’
‘I thought you were quite clever, yet you know one thing and remain ignorant of the second.’
The second fact that Young-pa did not know was that Biryoo no longer hated him as they once did.
When did it start? When did those wicked deeds he committed as naturally as breathing become a matter of curiosity rather than hatred? When did Biryoo’s eyes begin to follow his actions, watching with anticipation for what he would do next?
Biryoo noticed this change that day but did not guard against it too heavily. Had the opponent been a woman, they might have fallen into danger, but that human was a man.
‘It is a great relief that you are a man.’
The next day, when Young-pa regained consciousness and appeared neatly dressed, suggesting they go for an outing, Biryoo thought the same. Even while combing and braiding his disheveled hair in a daze, Biryoo muttered inwardly.
‘I would not have done this if he were a woman.’
When Young-pa fell fast asleep with his cheek pressed against the tombstones of people from long ago; when he chattered cutely with dried teardrops on his face; when he caused a commotion claiming he would help the descendant of the friend. Biryoo tried to dismiss the joyful feeling that would not leave their lips as something insignificant.
But there was no way to deny it. The feeling of being swayed by an unknown pleasantness was a foreign sensation to Biryoo, who had grown accustomed to a boredom that had settled as thick as dust over long ages.
Taking him to a certain riverside was a reward for him. Since the original purpose of descending to the mortal realm was to recover the divine artifact, Biryoo had never forgotten. They simply believed that glancing away for a moment would not cause any great disaster.
‘It is only for a short while; surely nothing will happen.’
Eyes wide with enchantment at the sunset sky. Cheeks stained by the warm twilight. An expression fluttering with excitement like a child. The prediction that Young-pa would like the place turned out to be perfectly correct.
Originally, that place was a spot where flower petals fell incessantly. Thus, Biryoo waited leisurely, but on that particular day, not even a breeze blew. However, it didn’t matter. For the man Biryoo brought along was the wind itself.
‘Ah….’
For Biryoo, it was a sight they had seen hundreds of times, so it held no emotion. It might have been different the first time, but that was too long ago. Rather, the sight of the human before them, mouth agape and looking happy, was far more novel.
Watching the common flowers fall upon Young-pa’s head, Biryoo forgot that he was a reckless rebel. Biryoo was, by nature, a dragon who could not resist anything beautiful.
‘It is better not to be entangled with me.’
Despite this, Biryoo tried to remain cold. A divine beast should follow the path of a divine beast, and a human should follow the path of a human. However, it was obvious what lay at the end of the human’s path.
Ji Seo-gu was no easy deity. He had no soft-hearted side like Yeon Mu-geum, nor did he follow principles or justice like Po Ui. Nor did he leave things alone out of a dislike for bothersome tasks, as Biryoo did.
In the past, those who opposed the Black Tortoise all met miserable ends. Biryoo could clearly see a future where Young-pa would suffer unimaginable hardships and be brutally slaughtered.
‘I believe at least that you have no intention of harming me. I find you to my liking.’
Whenever Young-pa opened his heart wide, Biryoo felt uncomfortable.
There was a time when Biryoo also considered the will of humans challenging difficult goals to be noble. However, after seeing the end of it, their thoughts changed.
The greed of obsessing over the impossible was merely a folly that led humans to ruin. Subterranean creatures do not look at the sky, and celestial creatures do not dig into the underground. Other animals keep to their place just fine, so why are humans the only ones who do not know their station?
‘It is not too late for this human. I might be able to help.’
Though it was said there was nowhere on the mortal realm to hide from Ji Seo-gu’s tenacity, the story changed if Biryoo provided a sanctuary.
‘If you thought I desired survival and safety, you were gravely mistaken. There is only one thing I want. To catch and kill that bastard of a northern black tortoise.’
However, Young-pa’s will for revenge rendered Biryoo’s worries meaningless.
‘O foolish one, I shall not pity you.’
Biryoo left Young-pa with a bittersweet feeling. They felt relieved to be rid of the troublesome troublemaker, but on the other hand, it was not easy to walk away.
Biryoo watched everything from above the clouds. They looked down even when Young-pa stopped by the Pacheondang shrine and set out with the lesser dragon. They did not miss the sight of him killing tigers in the pine forest and abandoning the lesser dragon, heading for the wilderness in one breath, engaging in a war of nerves with the twin-like Immortal Flower, and provoking the White Tiger.
Around the time Young-pa was captured for the second time by the White Tiger, Seo-o flew over. It was while a storm wind scratching the mortal realm was disheveling the hems of clothes even above the clouds.
‘Did you find it?’
‘Yes. Since there are many caves on Mount Geumo, it took some time.’
Seo-o bowed his head.
‘It was Lady Cheon-hae who found the treasure. A black box was hidden beneath a small hole, under a pool of water at the bottom of one cave.’
‘A black box, you say.’
‘The entrance was already open, and it emitted a very sinister energy. Inside, there was a ring with a transparent interior. Is this the item the Master is seeking?’
Only then did Biryoo look at Seo-o.
‘Yes. Tell Cheon-hae to bring it to the palace.’
‘Yes. Since the Lady hates touching that black energy, I will tell Young Master Suro to transport it.’
‘It does not matter who carries it. Once it arrives, place it in a bright spot so the yin energy can dissipate.’
‘I shall obey the Master’s command.’
Just then, a roar that shook the earth and disturbed the clouds echoed loudly. Startled, Seo-o hid behind Biryoo’s back.
‘What are you doing? Go already.’
Urged by the master, the blue bird let out a chirp and flew away. Even after Seo-o disappeared, Biryoo’s gaze remained fixed on one spot.
Biryoo watched as the Vermilion Bird appeared and engaged in a struggle with the White Tiger. Even though they were far away, the conversation was as exhausting as if it were happening right before their eyes.
Biryoo had originally had no intention of intervening, but seeing the Black Tortoise, who was said to be hibernating, suddenly appear, their body moved on its own. The Black Tortoise, who hated Young-pa, would likely drag him underground to bestow eternal agony. Or kill him in the most cruel manner.
‘Consider my helping you one last time as payment for making me laugh after so long.’
Biryoo loosened their necklace, released their divine power, and stepped into the most tedious position in the world. When Young-pa saw Biryoo, he struggled and cried, but Biryoo deliberately did not look at him.
Biryoo spoke sparingly while the four spirits deliberated. However, the few words they uttered saved Young-pa from death.
According to the agreement of the four symbols, Young-pa was to work underground until he died of old age. Compared to being tortured eternally, was this not the best outcome? Biryoo considered this sufficient and forced the Black Tortoise to make a life-staking oath so that he would not break the promise in the deep underground.
≋ ≋ ≋
‘No matter how much I think about it, what I did for that human was excessive.’
Thunderclap lightning struck the heavens and earth.
‘Just what am I to him that he would glare at me with such a look until the very end?’
Biryoo flew through the rain, tearing through the clouds. Wherever they appeared, a storm raged, and wild beasts hid in their shelters in fear.
The problem was that their eyes had met clearly before he was dragged underground. With a bit in his mouth and covered in black blood, the hair Biryoo had neatly braided was disheveled, and his face was a mess of blood. He looked at Biryoo as if in agony.
‘To look at me with such eyes.’
Biryoo intended to rain until their anger subsided, but fearing the entire land would be submerged, they ascended back above the clouds.
“I’ve never seen the Azure Dragon in such a bad mood. I wonder what happened to make them like that.”
“I thought they would praise us for finding the treasure, but they’re too scary.”
“Us? I’m the one who found the ring!”
“Oh, come on, we suffered together. Wasn’t I the one who carried that box all the way here?”
When Biryoo returned to the Cloud Palace, the young dragons were fighting, clutching each other’s hair. Seeing Biryoo return, they prostrated themselves on the ground as if nothing had happened.
“Have you arrived, Azure Dragon?”
“Azure Dragon, you have finally come.”
Biryoo passed them and leaned back crookedly on the throne. It was fortunate that the dragons did not dare approach, as they were reading the mood. Biryoo did not want to be angry for no reason.
After a short wait, Cheon-hae and Suro began playing, throwing clouds at each other’s faces. Biryoo watched them and let out a secret sigh. Finally, they had returned to the familiar scenery, into the endless boredom.
“I heard you brought back the treasure.”
“I found it, Azure Dragon!”
“I helped too, Azure Dragon!”
The children came running. Biryoo was deeply exhausted but tried to act composed.
“You are both commendable. How did it feel to see a heavenly divine artifact?”
“Eh? You mean that white ring is the Azure Dragon’s treasure?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mean the divine artifact that was lost long ago, Azure Dragon?”
“Indeed. Since we’re on the subject, bring it here.”
Suro and Cheon-hae rushed into the room as if competing and quickly dashed back out. Suro, with a triumphant expression, carefully held the ring on his palms. A damp, gloomy energy spread in clouds around it.
“Cheon-hae is a coward, Azure Dragon. She gave up on transporting it because she didn’t want to touch the ominous energy.”
“Suro is a tattle-tale, Azure Dragon. I am the one who found the treasure, not Suro.”
“Quiet.”
Biryoo gazed silently at the divine artifact that had returned to the heavenly realm after thousands of years. The treasure of treasures was exactly as it had been when it was lost.
‘Look, Azure Dragon. It fits my finger perfectly, so I think it was originally mine.’
Memories associated with the object surfaced, making Biryoo unpleasant. Moreover, it smelled of the underground, making it even harder to endure.
“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to touch it right now, so put it back where it was.”
“Yes. I shall put it back safely, Azure Dragon.”
As Suro headed toward the room with an air of importance, Cheon-hae followed closely, glaring at him. Staring at their retreating backs, Biryoo had an ominous feeling.
“Wait.”
Biryoo strode forward and caught up with the young dragons. Suppressing a creeping unpleasantness, Biryoo looked closely at the divine artifact.
Around the transparent ring, a vicious yin energy, rarer than anywhere else, was lingering. Such dark energy could only be produced by the Black Tortoise, so it was certain the object had come from the underground.
‘How much must he have suffered to even have such trivial delusions?’
Biryoo decided they would need a long nap and picked up the ring. The light object looked fine at a glance, but the feeling that something was wrong did not disappear.
Biryoo slipped their index finger into the ring and turned it slightly. Their brow furrowed deeply, and anger flickered in their eyes. While it looked smooth, the surface touching their fingertip was bumpy.
As Biryoo infused power into the treasure, the deception covering the exterior vanished. And a stone carved into the shape of a ring revealed itself.
Biryoo had forgotten. That there was another person in the world who knew how to handle the Black Tortoise’s abilities. And that a lackey who used flawless transformation art accompanied him.
“You found the object and didn’t even check it!”
Biryoo shouted, flinging the stone away. The young dragons turned pale, not knowing what to do.
“I did touch it secretly, but since it was a strange treasure, I thought it was originally like that….”
“I never imagined it would be a fake, Azure Dragon….”
Biryoo transformed into a dragon and burst through the ceiling. As they flew around shouting, the dragons wandering outside were startled and hid in the clouds.
Soon, two supple water dragons, only half the length of Biryoo, followed along their sides.
“We are sorry, Azure Dragon. We shall go to Mount Geumo and search again.”
“We shall search the surroundings thoroughly and bring back the proper treasure.”
The Azure Dragon shook their head while diving rapidly through the layered clouds.
“Enough. It is not your fault.”
“Is it not because we brought back the wrong object, Azure Dragon?”
“Yes. It is my fault for pitying that fellow.”
“Eh? Who is that fellow?”
“I have a place to go, so you all return.”
Biryoo cut the conversation short and flew away, shaking off the young dragons.
What had they expected from that human? A vicious swindler who betrayed others as if it were a meal, a reckless and shameless rogue, a mad rebel who had mastered the art of mocking deities!
‘I wanted to see him anyway; this works out perfectly.’
Unable to contain their rage, Biryoo gnashed their teeth.