By Zephyria 
Biryoo responded indifferently and reached out toward Young-pa. A bit of balsam stain still remained on the nail of the middle finger that wore the wedding ring. As Young-pa took that hand, Biryoo tightened his grip and yanked him forward.
“Azure Dragon? You are in the middle of working.”
“No. I was waiting for you to arrive.”
He wrapped his arm around Young-pa’s waist and pulled him to sit upon his thigh. As Young-pa, who had ended up on the throne in a daze, looked up at him, Biryoo brushed back his bangs with a tender expression.
Seo-o continued speaking, pretending not to see that display.
“Next is the plea of Heuk-nyong, who lives at Dolti-jae. He says he spent ten years painstakingly creating a beautiful garden around his residence, but while he was away on a long trip, someone turned it into a wasteland.”
“What do you expect me to do about it? Next.”
Biryoo answered half-heartedly again, sliding his hand inside Young-pa’s jeogori to grope his waist. He could feel the man’s pillar hardening beneath his buttocks. Young-pa felt a bit embarrassed and tried to stand up, but he would not let go.
“Next is the Sea Dragon living in the Yellow Sea…”
“Send it to Seohae Yongwang. Next.”
Seeing how lazy and irresponsible the Azure Dragon was acting, Young-pa let out a short laugh. He shifted his body and planted a foot firmly on the armrest of the throne. Then, wrapping both arms around Biryoo’s neck, he whispered in his ear.
“Aren’t you doing your work far too carelessly?”
Biryoo’s hand traveled up Young-pa’s back and pulled his upper body closer.
“Unless you intend to do it for me, be quiet.”
He whispered into his ear and hugged Young-pa so tightly that his ribs felt pressed.
Seo-o continued to convey the voices of dragons from all over the world after that, but Biryoo, with his penis erect, focused only on teasing Young-pa and did not listen seriously to a single one of them.
Biryoo hated working. His “work” consisted merely of overseeing the affairs of the heavenly realm and listening to the petitions of dragons. Since dragons were not a race to be oppressed by others and possessed superior abilities, there weren’t many types of requests, yet he found even those bothersome. He ignored conflicts between dragons, telling them to resolve it themselves, and dismissed matters he deemed trivial—which constituted the majority of the cases.
He only stepped in when a major dispute broke out between a dragon and another species, but since such occurrences were rare, Young-pa had only seen it happen once in five months. However, seeing how cleanly he had handled that one instance, Young-pa felt he understood why the dragons of the heavenly realm dared not utter a word of complaint to the Azure Dragon.
Seo-o, who had served as the Azure Dragon’s heavenly scribe for five hundred years, seemed accustomed to his master’s uncooperative attitude. He faithfully fulfilled his duties regardless of the Azure Dragon’s reaction.
“This is the final petition. The White Dragon, who lives where the Hwangsan River and Nam River meet, requests help, claiming to have had another ominous dream.”
Biryoo, who had been lounging comfortably until then, raised his upper body slightly.
“You mean that one who dreams of mountains collapsing and river waters overflowing?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
Biryoo remained silent for a while, as if lost in thought. The hand that had been playing on Young-pa’s stomach stopped as well.
“I should go see for myself.”
As Biryoo blurted this out, Seo-o’s eyes widened as if he had heard something impossible.
“Pardon? Did you say you would go there?”
“Yes. I shall go personally and resolve the problem of that tedious White Dragon.”
Seo-o, whose expression hadn’t changed even when Biryoo was fiddling with Young-pa’s nipples, questioned him in disbelief.
“But Master… that one is a dragon whose mind has gone strange. You know his claims are unreasonable.”
“Whether they are unreasonable or not, I must go see.”
Biryoo answered nonchalantly and withdrew his hand from inside Young-pa’s jeogori. As he let go and gave a slight push to his back, Young-pa stepped down from the throne feeling a bit disappointed.
‘Is he going far?’
The thought of being apart, even for a short while, already made him feel lonely. Still, since they had both been aroused while pressed together on the throne, enjoying themselves once more in bed should take priority. Whether it was a White Dragon or a Heuk-nyong, his work didn’t seem that urgent; surely the Azure Dragon would first grant the request of his partner.
While Young-pa was lost in these thoughts, their eyes met. Biryoo smiled broadly and said,
“Prepare to descend to the mortal realm.”
“Am I going too?”
“Where the needle goes, the thread follows, does it not?”
Young-pa grinned, not even knowing where they were going. Even if it was just accompanying him to a workplace, how could it not be joyful to be with his partner?
“Am I the thread, or the needle?”
“I knew you would ask that.”
After tossing those words out, Biryoo walked away.
Having nothing special to prepare for descending to the mortal realm, Young-pa sat there playing with Cheongsim and chatting with Seo-o.
“Goodness, how strange. This is the first time in five hundred years.”
“What is?”
As Young-pa scratched Cheongsim’s ears, the creature flipped onto its back in sheer delight.
“The Master! He has never once paid attention to such a trivial matter.”
“He must have some reason.”
“Of course that’s true, but…”
Seo-o shook his head, still unable to understand.
As time passed, Biryoo reappeared carrying a small cloth bundle. When a suchong followed him carrying a large pack, Seo-o tilted his head, appearing even more confused. The scent of liquor and a sweet fragrance wafted from the luggage.
“Why are you packing wild grape wine, Azure Dragon?”
“In this season, one cannot leave out wild grape wine.”
That wasn’t what he had asked, but Biryoo gave a random answer.
“I just need to carry this, right?”
As Young-pa took the heavy load from the suchong, Biryoo summoned a cloud beneath their feet. Seo-o hurried over and bowed his head.
“Are you leaving now, Master?”
“Yes. You do not need to follow.”
“Yes.”
“It will take a few days to return.”
This time, Young-pa looked at the Azure Dragon’s face with curiosity.
What could possibly take several days just to visit the place where the Hwangsan River and Nam River meet? However, Biryoo provided no explanation.
“Safe travels, Master.”
Woof! Woof!
Once the two had settled upon the cloud, Cheongsim and Seo-o bid them farewell in their own ways. The cloud carrying them soared high, piercing through the ceiling.
≋ ≋ ≋
In the peaceful mortal realm, the autumn foliage was in full bloom. The mountain ridges were dyed in colors as fine as silk, and the fields were overflowing with yellow chrysanthemums, white water lilies, and red smartweed flowers. However, Young-pa had no leisure to take in the late autumn scenery.
“Mm, mmm… Ah…”
Their tongues entwined, and saliva trickled down their chins. Biryoo’s impatient hand cupped Young-pa’s cheek as he sucked his tongue more forcefully. Young-pa’s waist lurched violently.
“Haah, haah… Biryoo.”
“What is it?”
Biryoo’s tongue slid down to Young-pa’s chin and then to his neck. As he peppered him with kisses and nipped at the skin, a tingling sensation accompanied by a sharp sting followed.
“On top of a cloud… I wonder if this is alright…”
Young-pa pulled his partner’s neck closer, running his fingers through the blue-rippling hair. Biryoo bloomed a “maple” of hickeys all over Young-pa’s nape and collarbone, then parted the already loosened robe and jeogori to bury his lips against his chest.
“Indeed, the birds will see us fooling around.”
He murmured nonchalantly and sucked on a nipple. As Biryoo relentlessly caressed his chest, Young-pa let out short, broken moans.
“Anyway… that we spend… every day, ngh, immersed… in erotic affairs, is already rumored throughout the heavenly realm.”
“My, my reputation is in tatters.”
Biryoo covered Young-pa with his own body and draped his robe over his back. The hem of the garment fluttered in the chilly breeze blowing atop the cloud.
“This should work, right?”
“Ah, aaah!”
Young-pa cried out as a hand gripped his phallus. However, because Biryoo blocked his mouth with his lips, he could not make any further sound.
Biryoo gripped both Young-pa’s and his own centers simultaneously, performing a hand-job. Being a divine beast who had no need for masturbation, his hand movements were somewhat clumsy, but that very point excited Young-pa even more.
With Biryoo’s tongue ravaging the inside of his mouth and his hand manipulating his throbbing penis below, he was on the verge of losing consciousness. Young-pa writhed, pressed down by the man’s weight and body heat.
“Faster, faster…”
He clung to Biryoo’s lips, wrapping his own hand over the other to add strength. Neither of their phalluses could be gripped by a single hand. Because of the fluid leaking between Biryoo’s fingers, the palms kept slipping.
As the speed increased, Biryoo’s eyes grew hazy. A wrinkle formed between his jade-like brows as he lowered his head to find Young-pa’s lips. Their overlapping skin became sticky with sweat, and the heavenly robe draped over their backs trapped the sweltering heat.
‘So hot. I love it.’
Young-pa pulled Biryoo’s back closer while using his other hand to rapidly stimulate their centers. When Biryoo hugged him so tightly it felt as if his shoulders might crush, Young-pa’s eyes snapped shut and his vision turned stark white. Pleasure swept through his entire body like an explosion before vanishing through his fingertips like the wind.
“Haah, haah…”
Young-pa gasped for air, hugging Biryoo’s neck. As Biryoo collapsed on top of him, the weight made it difficult to breathe. Moreover, the presence of the phallus, which felt even more enraged than before, was palpable.
“Azure Dragon.”
“What.”
“You’ve only dampened me with saliva and haven’t touched me. This isn’t like you.”
Biryoo let out a short laugh and raised his upper body. He quickly pulled up his trousers and covered Young-pa’s body by draping his robe over his shoulders.
“As you said, where are the madmen who engage in intercourse atop a cloud? I have merely extinguished the urgent fire.”
Then how should he explain the outline that was clearly visible even through his trousers?
“What if it hasn’t been extinguished?”
“That is your fault.”
“Pardon?”
“It is because you are so beautiful and coquettish.”
Biryoo raised his hand, wet with bodily fluids, and stroked Young-pa’s cheek. For a moment, Young-pa was lost for words.
Since they had made their marriage vow, Biryoo had expressed his affection without hesitation. Young-pa, still not used to it, often found himself startled. It seemed that within him, there still remained the person who had spent years in the cave of asadal mountain, longing for the recognition and affection of a blunt man.
“Am I… truly beautiful and coquettish?”
“Yes. Looking at you… makes me want to spend my entire life doing nothing but desiring you.”
Biryoo gazed at Young-pa with a burning intensity and a faint smile.
“You already do that every day anyway.”
“Do you think I am going to do nothing now?”
“Yes… you are going to work for the first time in a while.”
Young-pa giggled and tidied his clothes. As soon as he sat back on the cloud, Biryoo pulled his waist and sat him between his legs as if he had been waiting. A penis, taut with anticipation, pressed firmly against the small of his back.
“Azure Dragon.”
Instead of answering, Biryoo buried his nose in the nape of Young-pa’s neck and took a slow breath.
“You are on your way to have an important conversation with another dragon; isn’t that appearance a breach of etiquette?”
“Staring closely at someone else’s crotch would be more rude.”
“But… yours is exceptional, so it will be clearly visible. What if that person misunderstands?”
Biryoo spoke while kissing the back of Young-pa’s neck.
“You seem to have forgotten that I am no ordinary man. I can easily control such things.”
Since his breath was ragged as he spoke, Young-pa was confused as to whether he was joking or not.
“But I have never seen you control your lust.”
“That is because there was no need to.”
Biryoo whispered low, wrapping his arm around Young-pa’s waist.
“Do you wish I controlled it? Was it difficult for you because I frequently lifted the covers?”
Young-pa quickly shook his head.
Of course, Biryoo was a man of excessive stamina. And that was one of the reasons Young-pa loved him so deeply.
“Please do not say such things, even as a joke.”
Young-pa turned his head to find his partner’s lips and kissed him deeply. As Biryoo opened his mouth in response, their lips overlapped as if they had originally been one.
Young-pa’s persistent and unquenchable sexual desire might have been hard to match had he been in the mortal realm. The man of the heavenly realm, possessing a stamina that belied his dignified appearance, was a vessel large enough to hold Young-pa; their shared love for radiant energy was a rare commonality between two people as different as heaven and earth.
As their lips slowly parted, Young-pa smacked his lips as if disappointed. Looking down from the cloud, a wide hilly landscape unfolded.
“How much further to the Nam River?”
“Not much. Why do you ask?”
“I believe it is the duty of a partner to help their husband focus on his duties.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Biryoo narrowed his eyes and smiled suspiciously. Young-pa shifted his position and carefully rubbed Biryoo’s phallus, which had become hard as an iron rod, through his clothes.
As he pulled down the trousers, the drenched penis sprang out. When Young-pa gripped it, Biryoo did not stop him, but instead leaned back with a curious expression.
“Are you intending to resolve it for me?”
“I do have some expertise in hand-jobs, don’t I?”
Because it was naturally thick and extremely slippery, it was hard to grip, but Young-pa wrapped both hands around the member and stroked it rapidly. Even after doing so for a while, the brazen man only stared at Young-pa.
“How is it? Are you almost there?”
“Where would I go?”
Seeing the leisure in his voice, Young-pa became stubborn. As he leaned down and pressed his lips against it, the enraged penis twitched.
He took the tip, which tasted salty and was drenched in fluid, into his mouth and licked the shaft with his tongue. Looking up slightly, he saw that Biryoo was still smiling.
Young-pa buried his head again and sucked his member with all his might. However, since the thing was difficult to fit in one mouthful, it was no easy task.
“Your mouth cannot tighten as well as your hole. Shall we visit juhul mountain once?”
He was doing his best, so those words were too harsh. Driven by a competitive spirit, Young-pa took his phallus deeper into his mouth. Consequently, the tip poked his throat, making it impossible to tighten properly. As Biryoo said, he had not yet learned from Cheon-ho how to make a man ecstatic while taking his penis in the mouth.
“Try harder. You must fulfill the duty of a partner.”
An unconcealable lust revealed itself in Biryoo’s sarcasm. Even the noble King of the heavenly realm had a mean streak; he greatly enjoyed seeing Young-pa struggle, be overwhelmed, or cry.
‘What a wicked, perverted dragon.’
Young-pa had no choice but to spit out the cock he had half-taken and stripped off his trousers.
“What are you planning to do?”
“I shall discard what I am bad at and try what I am good at.”
“We are almost at the Nam River; are you going to show your buttocks to another dragon?”
Contrary to the reprimand, the cloud had not moved for a long time. Young-pa burst into laughter, searched through Biryoo’s outer robe, and found the necklace. As he placed it around his neck, Biryoo’s hair, which had been undulating like a cloud, settled calmly and turned black. The same happened to his eyes, which had been shimmering with a blue light.
“I never thought I’d live to do this atop a cloud,” Biryoo murmured.
“You made a marriage vow with a rebel who tried to outdo a deity, so you must endure it.”
With a mischievous smile, Young-pa sat upon Biryoo’s waist. After struggling for a while with the erect penis against the portal, Biryoo helped the act by spreading Young-pa’s buttocks.
As the flesh parted, the object that seemed impossible to fit forced its way into his internals. His lips parted instinctively, and a nasal moan leaked out. Overwhelmed by the sensation, Young-pa completely forgot his intention to be the one in control.
“Where has the duty of a partner gone?”
Young-pa glared and barely managed to raise his upper body. He pulled one of Biryoo’s hands and placed it on his chest. As he slowly began to grind his hips, a deep smile spread across Biryoo’s lips.
“It is good to see you putting in effort.”
Young-pa placed both hands on his chest and moved up and down. The tip of the penis entered and exited him; his breath grew ragged from the crushing stimulation. The phallus, like a ball of fire, felt as if it would burst, yet the man’s expression remained leisurely. He wore a teasing smile while fiddling with Young-pa’s nipples with his thumb.
“Hu-husband… is my… grinding… satisfactory?”
“I wonder. I think you could do better.”
As Young-pa swallowed a breath and took the penis slightly deeper, the stimulation intensified and his breathing became ragged. Young-pa frowned and bit his lip.
“You must make sound to reach your goal more quickly, must you not?”
Biryoo spoke as he slid a finger between Young-pa’s lips. Young-pa sucked on the finger, moving his pelvis up and down. Even so, his cheeks flushed at the thought that they were likely the only ones doing such things atop the clouds.
“Nng, ah… ngh! Ngh!”
Why was it becoming more overwhelming despite his diligent efforts to shake his hips? Though Young-pa found it deeply puzzling, he remained earnest in his task. At some point, one of Biryoo’s hands, which had been kneading Young-pa’s buttocks, slid up to his waist. He pressed firmly against the small of Young-pa’s back with his palm.
“Enough… stop and lie face down.”
As Young-pa lowered his upper body as if collapsing, the manhood that had been halfway inside pushed further in, deepening the union. When Biryoo thrust his pelvis upward with force, their bodies locked completely. Young-pa let out a thin moan, scratching Biryoo’s chest with his nails.
“You weren’t giving it your all.”
Biryoo whispered in his ear. Young-pa was so out of breath that he couldn’t answer properly.
“Ah, ah-ugh… it’s too, too big….”
“Is that why you only took the tip and played with it?”
“Stop teasing. You’re… ugh, too mischievous.”
The more Young-pa struggled, the more the phallus filling his body swelled. Tears pricked Young-pa’s eyes, and he punched Biryoo’s chest, but Biryoo, looking utterly satisfied, licked down the side of Young-pa’s neck.
“And yet, you secretly enjoy the agony. Come to think of it, our first time began with a rape.”
Even amidst the pain, Young-pa shook his head.
“It was… because it was you that I liked it. Ugh, if it had been anyone else… I would have slit their throat while they were panting on top of me.”
“I wonder why… I find myself recalling that day specifically today.”
“Are you saying I’m just as… a mess?”
Even to Young-pa, his own state was a disaster. It wasn’t as if the nights he spent with Biryoo were only one or two, yet here he was, collapsed for a long time after sexual intercourse, whining about how his partner’s genitals were too large.
The duty of a spouse. As he pushed himself up with a stiff expression, a strong stimulation shivered through his waist.
“Ah, Biryoo….”
Biryoo smiled and took Young-pa’s hand. With his other hand, he gripped Young-pa’s manhood, slowly squeezing and releasing.
Biting his lip, Young-pa began to grind in earnest. As he pumped up and down, the grip of Biryoo’s hand tightened. The smile vanished from his relaxed expression, replaced by spreading pleasure.
“Biryoo… does it feel good? It does, right?”
Biryoo’s fingers, which had been stroking Young-pa’s phallus, slid up his belly to brush against the nipples of his chest. The fingers, stained with balsam flower dye at the tips, were wet with bodily fluids.
“Ah, ah-ugh… nng! Ngh!”
Young-pa wrapped his hand around the back of Biryoo’s hand, driving his hips down even harder. With every movement, the erect phallus felt as if it weren’t just scratching, but carving out his insides. As the speed increased, the wet, slapping sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed.
“Come here.”
Biryoo, panting, pulled Young-pa’s waist toward him. Young-pa was drawn in and held in his embrace. And there, he saw the ecstasy swirling within those black eyes.
“I am afraid… that someone might see you like this.”
Young-pa was too focused on the erotic act to even answer. Biryoo pulled the fallen outer robe back over Young-pa’s shoulders to cover his body.
Slobbering from the saliva pooling in his mouth, Young-pa continued to drive his pelvis down while lying prone. Letting out moans that sounded like screams, he messed up his partner’s hair. Strong arms wrapped around his shoulders, and hot lips touched the nape of his neck.
“Ah! Ahh! Heuk, ugh….”
Young-pa’s braided hair spilled over Biryoo’s cheek. Biryoo pulled his neck closer and devoured Young-pa’s lips. It was a kiss as rough as a beast’s, unlike his usual self. Trapped in the man’s hot breath, Young-pa screamed.
When the dam of accumulating pleasure finally burst, Young-pa trembled violently in Biryoo’s arms. Soon, sexual fluids flowed down between his buttocks, signaling that Biryoo had also reached his climax.
“My partner’s skill in radiant energy is improving by the day.”
“It is… all thanks to my Lord.”
Young-pa didn’t have the strength to move a single finger, but he smiled faintly.
“And yet, the fact that the fire has not yet gone out is your fault.”
Biryoo raised a sticky hand and stroked Young-pa’s cheek. Lust and affection swirled in his two pupils.
“Is it my fault this time too?”
“Yes. It is your fault for being excessively seductive.”
“Isn’t it just that you are excessively virile… ugh!”
That was when Biryoo began to thrust again. Unlike his usual leisurely demeanor, the force with which he hammered from the start made Young-pa squeeze his eyes shut while lying prone.
“Ah, ah! Biryoo….”
Slobbering, Young-pa sank his teeth into Biryoo’s shoulder. His vision went white as the penis repeatedly slid out and pushed back through his flesh. Biryoo gripped Young-pa’s wrist and pressed down on his waist with one hand.
Every time he thrust his pelvis upward, Young-pa’s lower dantian lifted slightly, and before it could drop, the force of the impact locked their two bodies together without a gap. The point of union was drenched in fluids, creating an obscene splashing sound.
Rough breaths reached the tip of his throat, and saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth. Good, it feels so good. Young-pa muttered frantically, searching for Biryoo’s lips. Even as he drove his lower dantian in like a beast, Biryoo tenderly brushed back Young-pa’s hair.
Though he screamed in the depths of pleasure, Young-pa felt reassured seeing the beautiful man’s face distorted just like his own. Seeing him let out short moans with unfocused eyes made Young-pa grow even more heated. When Biryoo immersed himself in radiant energy with such an obscene look, Young-pa was reminded once again that he was not human, and paradoxically, he found a sense of kinship in that beast-like appearance.
“Please, please… ah! Ah-ugh, ngh, nng!”
The overwhelming sensation felt as if it were swallowing his entire body. Young-pa clung to Biryoo’s neck, waiting to be pierced by Biryoo’s cock at every moment. Every time their lower dantians collided, his breath hitched, and piercing screams escaped. Finally, when Biryoo buried himself to the root, Young-pa met a climax that felt as if it would blind him.
Young-pa pressed his upper body completely against Biryoo, burying his cheek in his shoulder. Their chests rose and fell simultaneously with heavy breaths.
He could tell from the expression on Biryoo’s closed eyes and his languid breathing that he was also deeply satisfied. And from the fingertips slowly moving up and down Young-pa’s back.
“Azure Draaaagon? By any chance… are you the Azure Dragon?”
It was shortly after they had barely rested. Along with the sound of whistling wind, a dragon was seen flying in like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, Biryoo transformed into the Azure Dragon and shielded Young-pa. His robe perfectly covered Young-pa’s back.
The form of the divine dragon gradually receded, and in the distance, a White Dragon was seen prostrating on the ground. Young-pa lay back with his eyes closed, panting. His heart was still beating fast, as if it would burst.
“Azure Dragon, please hear my plea. It has been several years since I have been able to sleep a single wink.”
The aggrieved voice of the White Dragon reached him from afar. Young-pa was curious about their conversation, but on the other hand, a languid feeling washed over him, and he closed his eyes.
≋ ≋ ≋
Young-pa woke up in a warm place. A pleasant breeze blew softly, and long fingers parted his hair. He should have been used to it by now, but the scent of orchids always felt strangely refreshing.
When he lifted his head, his gaze met eyes like blue jewels. Young-pa was cradled in the arms of his partner, who was leaning against the shade of a tree.
“Are you awake?”
Biryoo leaned down and kissed Young-pa’s cheek lightly. Young-pa pulled his neck closer, searching for his lips. He felt groggy after waking from his nap. The weather was cool, and the sight of the man before him was so exquisitely pure that he felt deeply satisfied.
Once their lips parted, Young-pa lay with his head on Biryoo’s thigh and looked up.
“Where did that dragon go?”
“I sent him far away.”
“Pardon?”
Biryoo’s fingertips softly stroked the rim of Young-pa’s ear and moved down to the nape of his neck. Then, he lightly tugged on the ribbon he had braided for him that morning.
“That one is a timid dragon who frequently has nightmares and fears everything around him.”
Young-pa recalled the conversation Azure Dragon and Seo-o had shared in the palace. Had he mentioned that the White Dragon dreamed of mountains collapsing and rivers overflowing? Seo-o had said the fellow was mentally unstable.
“In Mount Myohyang, there lives a strange Bonghwang who knows how to enter others’ dreams. I told him that if he asked that one, he would be helped.”
“Does such a person truly live on Mount Myohyang?”
“Yes. However, that Bonghwang is always bustling about, making him difficult to meet. It will take at least a month to meet him, solve the problem, and return.”
“Do you have a reason to send him away?”
“Does he not interfere with my time with you?”
Young-pa smiled brightly, but even after hearing those words, his curiosity remained. There were plenty of other scenic and atmospheric spots; why go so far as to drive away another dragon to come here?
He turned his head and only then noticed the surrounding scenery.
It was a riverside stretching beneath a mountain ridge that rose like a collar. Faded leaves floated on the river, which mirrored the sky perfectly. Blue pebbles were scattered along the riverbank. Reeds danced in the gentle breeze, and red dragonflies flew about.
It was quiet and beautiful, a place Biryoo would naturally like. This fastidious dragon would not even spare a glance for a place that wasn’t magnificent.
Suddenly, a story Biryoo had told him in the past came to mind.
‘The place where we grew up… was a quiet and peaceful riverside. Every knot of the oak trees was full of acorns, and in autumn, the branches bowed under the weight of persimmons; it was a land of abundance. I remember the west turning purple at sunset because of the abundance of blue pebbles.’
The place was exactly as Biryoo had described. Though it was far from sunset, persimmons hung in clusters above their heads. Young-pa caught the fingers that were messing with his hair, interlacing them, and looked up at Biryoo.
“Is this your hometown, Azure Dragon?”
“Yes. Didn’t you say you wanted to visit?”
‘When you recover your divine power… would you take me there?’
‘Perhaps.’
“You remembered.”
“How could I forget, even the smallest thing, if it concerns you?”
Around the time that conversation took place, Young-pa had been nothing more than Biryoo’s servant. How anxious and miserable he had been, doubting his own affection while not knowing Biryoo’s true feelings. It was only later that he confirmed Biryoo felt the same.
The person he wanted to save even at the cost of his own life. The man he wanted to live with even in a mountain shack. The daily life of being his spouse and staying together suddenly felt like a miracle. As his heart grew hot with love, Young-pa pulled Biryoo’s hand toward him and kissed the back of it.
“Shall we walk?”
“Yes.”
They walked along the river hand in hand. Young-pa carried a bundle containing alcohol and snacks. A cool pine breeze created ripples on the river and ruffled the hems of their clothes.
“Azure Dragon, please tell me more about your childhood.”
“What do you wish to hear?”
“Anything is fine. I want to know everything about you.”
“It was so long ago.”
Despite answering so, Biryoo shared a few trivial stories. The day his benefactor first taught him how to handle torrential currents, the time he was scolded for being picky with food, and the fierce competitions he had while playing with Jeolgon.
Since the taciturn man rarely opened up about himself like this, Young-pa absorbed each anecdote carefully.
He mentioned that on days when Biryoo and Jeolgon fought severely, the benefactor would make them prepare a gift for each other. Even when he hated Jeolgon the most, Biryoo would find himself wandering around looking for a shiny seashell to give him, and his anger would vanish.
“Looking at Cheon-hae and Suro sometimes reminds me of those days,” Biryoo said with a faint smile. Young-pa smiled back. Listening to old stories in Biryoo’s hometown, the smile would not leave his lips.
“Your benefactor. To me, they sound like a mother.”
“That is a strange thing to say.”
The previous Azure Dragon, whom Biryoo called his ‘benefactor.’ The person who had raised Biryoo and Jeolgon from a young age and let them live in the palace. The owner of the somyeonghwan, who was said to be the most beautiful person in Biryoo’s eyes after Young-pa. To Young-pa, it sounded exactly like a parent-child relationship, yet Biryoo refused to acknowledge it.
“If that person were alive… would they have opposed my union with you, because I am a human and a man?”
Biryoo frowned again, as if unable to understand.
“Why would they oppose me forming a bond with you?”
“Do you not also strongly dislike the sight of Yeomdani flirting and fooling around with some White Dragon these days?”
“That is different. Did Yeomdani not choose a rotten dragon who doesn’t even reach my toenails?”
Biryoo also refused to admit that the three dragons he raised so preciously were like his own children. But in Young-pa’s eyes, he was playing the role of a father perfectly.
Young-pa kicked a blue pebble with his toe, thinking about Yeomdan, Cheon-hae, and Suro. And also about Biryoo and Jeolgon, who must have grown up here in a bustling manner just like them in the distant past.
‘Then, did you forgive Jeolgon?’
‘I suppose I can never fully forgive him.’
A few months ago, Biryoo had readmitted Jeolgon to the heavenly realm as promised. Perhaps because the other dragons avoided him, Jeolgon had been staying quiet without causing any significant trouble. Young-pa had also encountered him once by chance, and Jeolgon had avoided the situation without the dirty pestering of the past.
Jeolgon bore the indelible sin of having murdered the Azure Dragon. Because the murdered benefactor was the one who had raised Jeolgon from childhood, the condemnation from the other dragons had been even more severe.
“If Jeolgon had not murdered the previous Azure Dragon… if that person were still alive… what would have happened?”
“Who knows. I would have probably just traveled around leisurely with a light heart.”
“Would I have been able to meet you?”
“At the very least, I wouldn’t have hated humans so much, so I might have happened upon you and fallen for you.”
As a playful glint appeared in Biryoo’s eyes, Young-pa beamed. He loved that expression of his.
“You mean you would have spent your time roaming the mortal realm, seducing as many pretty and seductive humans as you could?”
“You are trying to slander me. Let us stop this meaningless conversation.”
Biryoo tried to end the conversation quickly. It was likely because whenever this topic came up, Young-pa would get fired up and try to dig into his past.
Not long ago, after pestering Biryoo relentlessly, Young-pa had found out who his first love was. Biryoo said that around Yeomdan’s age, he had descended to the mortal realm and shared an affair with a Heuk-nyong who was bathing by a lakeside. However, he emphasized that it was a light relationship that lasted only a few times, and he didn’t even know if the dragon was still alive.
Afterward, Young-pa had begged him to tell him about the first human he had slept with, but Biryoo claimed it was too long ago to remember, so Young-pa gave up.
“I suddenly remembered a scandalous old story. It is said that a man returned home to find that his wife, who should have been alone in bed, had four legs sticking out. Some say the partner she committed adultery with was a plague god, and others say it was a dragon.”
“That was Jeolgon’s doing.”
“Pardon?”
“He was once smitten with a human woman and visited her house every day until he was caught. However, because the husband wrote and spread poems about it, he suffered great humiliation.”
“Hahahaha! That is so like him.”
Young-pa laughed loudly upon hearing the story.
After that, they walked in silence. The scent of persimmons carried on the fragrant wind, and wild geese honked in the distant mountain ridges. Every time Young-pa saw a sturdy persimmon tree, he picked one and stuffed it into his bundle, making the luggage lumpy.
“Why are you picking so many persimmons?”
“I will make you sujeonggwa when we return.”
“So that was the reason. Do you even know how to make it?”
“No? I can just learn.”
Biryoo pinched Young-pa’s cheek as if he couldn’t stand how cute he was, yet he still scolded him.
“Did I not tell you that you can just have Suchong do such things?”
“I want to make it with my own hands.”
“I understand. I shall look forward to it.”
Young-pa continued to pick more persimmons, but since there was no more room in the bundle, he walked around with them stuffed into both of his trouser pockets.
Then, when they reached a place where the river’s current slowed, Biryoo stopped walking. It was a place where the river split into two branches due to a wide sandbar. An unusual shadow cast over his eyes; it seemed to be a place with some history.
“What is the matter?”