By Zephyria 
“It feels like only yesterday that eldest daughter was taking her first steps, and already a grandson has been born? Time truly flies.”
Yeon Mu-geum replied as he tossed the dice. He clapped his hands brightly and snatched one of the two remaining golden tiles from Po Ui. Po Ui’s piercing single eye seemed to breathe fire.
“Right, you told me to stop by after I visited the new Black Tortoise.”
Only then did Young-pa recall why he had come and brought up the main point.
“Ah. That’s right. I thought I smelled the underground on you. How was that person?”
“A pathetic idiot.”
Yeon Mu-geum, who had been absorbed in gambling, looked up with an amused smile.
“What? In what way?”
“They treated me with deference, fearing me. Their attitude was servile, and they had a severe stutter.”
“They probably just haven’t adjusted to the world yet and can’t tell where they stand. Eventually, they’ll turn out like Ji Seo-gu. That position is just built that way.”
“Is that so.”
Young-pa clenched his fist. The murderous intent he had felt underground remained faintly at the bottom of his heart.
“In my heart, I wanted to kill that bastard… but I remembered Azure Dragon saying that the world also needs twisted darkness, so I restrained myself. Besides, even if I killed them, another one would just be born anyway.”
“Azure Dragon is correct. The world is not made only of the spring of broad daylight. There must also be the winter of a moonlit night. Just like today,” Vermilion Bird said wisely with a thin smile.
He snatched Po Ui’s last golden tile, leaving them penniless, and this time challenged Young-pa to a game. Young-pa accepted the challenge and picked up the dice.
“By the way, what did they look like?”
“The Black Tortoise’s appearance?”
“Yes. Whether they were female or male, beautiful or ugly, large or small—things like that.”
White Tiger glared at Vermilion Bird as if wondering why on earth they were curious about such things.
“It was a male.”
“Was he handsome?”
“Why do you ask?”
“No particular reason. Simple curiosity.”
Young-pa tried to recall the man’s face, but it wasn’t easy. The cave had been very dark, and the man had kept his head bowed low or turned away throughout the entire conversation.
Above all, Young-pa hadn’t looked closely at his appearance. Ever since his first intimacy with Biryoo, whenever he saw someone—man or woman—he focused only on whether they were more seductive than himself. Even knowing that Biryoo was terrifyingly indifferent to others, it was a habit he couldn’t help.
Young-pa knew at a glance that the new Black Tortoise was not more seductive than he was. Setting aside the fact that the fellow was a serpent and a man, he didn’t seem like someone who would pique Biryoo’s interest in the slightest. Therefore, there was no reason to examine him.
“Come to think of it, you know Ji Seo-gu’s face too. We’ve never seen him, have we?”
“That osari serpent… was not ugly,” Young-pa answered in a dark voice.
No matter how much time passed after Ji Seo-gu died and vanished, the grudges of the past did not disappear and remained a part of Young-pa. When he thought of that skin as smooth as scales and those two eyes glowing crimson, Young-pa felt as if his blood were boiling over.
“Oho, if you say so, he must have been quite the beauty.”
“The word ‘beauty’ does not suit that bastard. Please drop it.”
“Now I’m suddenly curious. I should have asked to see that face too. Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear!”
Yeon Mu-geum screamed after throwing the dice. Unable to contain his anger, he burned the dice to ashes and pulled out a new set to hand to Young-pa.
“So, what about this Black Tortoise? Ugly? Handsome?”
“I do not know.”
“Either they are or they aren’t; what do you mean you don’t know?”
“Living with the most beautiful man in the land, what can I do if other faces look like crushed fermented soybean blocks?”
“Enough, that mouth is starting again. It’s about time we kicked him out.”
“I won.”
As Young-pa smirked, Vermilion Bird exploded in frustration. He slammed the table, sending the golden tiles flying. Cheongsim, who had been resting lying down, scrambled to retrieve them.
“Fine, Yeongparang. Since you won, I suppose I must give you something. Is there anything you desire?”
When Yeon Mu-geum asked primly with his arms crossed, Young-pa picked up the dice rolling on the floor. The toy dice used for drinking games had penalties written on each face instead of numbers.
“I will take these spirit dice and a bottle of liquor.”
“Will that be enough? It’s fine by me!”
“And… it is snowing heavily outside. Please tell me of one place where the snowy landscape is breathtakingly beautiful. It must be a place so well-hidden that even Azure Dragon does not know of it.”
“I know one such place.”
With an excited face, Vermilion Bird revealed the location. Since it was a place Young-pa had not heard of in thirty years, his expression brightened.
“Then I shall be going.”
“Very well.”
“Before that… do I still smell strongly of the underground?”
“Hmm. I can’t tell right now. It was wafting off you when you first entered.”
Yeon Mu-geum sniffed and looked at Po Ui with a puzzled expression. Then, Po Ui, who had been desperately avoiding Young-pa until now, turned their head forward. It was the first time their eyes met.
“Still… it lingers. The smell of the underground.”
Even after uttering those words softly, Po Ui did not turn away.
Young-pa looked at the woman who covered one eye with a leather patch. Her wavering gaze lingered on Young-pa’s pupils. It slid down the bridge of his nose and cheek, finally landing on the mole on his chin. Her lingering gaze still held sadness, even after thirty years.
“Come… closer.”
Po Ui whispered in a hoarse voice.
Her gaze seemed to be directed toward a place far away. The person she was looking at was not Young-pa, but someone else. Knowing how deep Po Ui’s despair and longing were, it was a request difficult to defy. However, Young-pa did not budge.
“If it had been him, he would have obeyed,” White Tiger laughed hollowly.
She raised her hand as if hesitating. Her trembling fingertips slowly approached. And then, before touching the bridge of Young-pa’s nose, they stopped right before his eyes.
“Ah!”
Po Ui opened her eyes wide in surprise and hurriedly withdrew her arm. It was as if something Young-pa could not perceive had blocked her.
“Azure Dragon says that’s enough,” Yeon Mu-geum muttered, and Young-pa’s expression brightened.
“It seems he can’t wait any longer. Go on.”
Young-pa tucked the spirit dice into his robes, grabbed a bottle of cloudy rice wine, and sprang up. After bowing to the two divine beasts, he ran out, with Cheongsim following close behind.
After the two left, Vermilion Bird waved a hand to close the door.
“You’ll get into big trouble messing around with someone else’s human. Just find a new human instead.”
White Tiger said nothing, only staring gloomily at the dice.
“Now then, shall we start again?”
Yeon Mu-geum took a long swig of liquor. Then, with a giggle, he gathered the piled-up golden tiles so they wouldn’t fall. He generously gave a few to Po Ui, who took them despite glaring.
≋ ≋ ≋
Bursting out of the hut, Young-pa panted as he looked around. The dark night had been dyed white. Thick snowflakes fell endlessly, but the person he was looking for was nowhere to be seen.
“Biryoo! Biryoo!”
Growing urgent, Young-pa shouted at the top of his lungs. Beside him, Cheongsim barked along.
“Bi….”
The next moment, a familiar scent wafted from behind, and two arms wrapped around his shoulders. Young-pa was held in a warm, broad embrace. Cheongsim frolicked around them, seemingly delighted.
“What are you shouting for as if you’ve done something right? The moon will drift away at this rate.”
The blunt voice still held a hint of sulkiness.
“I thought… I thought you had left.”
“Where would I go, leaving you behind?”
Young-pa smiled and squeezed the back of Biryoo’s hand.
“Do I not need to go inside?”
“You don’t. It’s tedious.”
Biryoo pressed his lips against Young-pa’s nape and hugged him tightly.
“White Tiger said… that I still smell of the underground….”
“How presumptuous. Why is he smelling someone else’s person?”
“I asked him to smell me.”
Ignoring those words, Biryoo planted kisses on Young-pa’s temples.
“That part is true. We must get rid of the smell before returning to the heavenly realm.”
“Is it that pungent?”
“Yes. You went down to that den without listening to me, and you’ve come back soaked in yin energy.”
Contrary to the sarcastic tone, the arms embracing Young-pa showed no sign of loosening. Young-pa wriggled his shoulders and turned around.
Soft snow had piled up on Biryoo’s bangs, shoulders, and eyelashes. His calmly lowered eyes looked incredibly clear, despite the dissatisfaction they held.
‘Living with a beautiful man is a happiness that lasts through all four seasons.’
It wasn’t just because he was blinded by love for his partner; this man was a peerless beauty one would want to boast about all year round. Placed in the fresh greenery of spring, he blended with the verdant nature; standing by the water in summer, he was so refreshing and bright that a smile came naturally. Surrounded by the colorful autumn leaves, he became the master of the scenery; and in the pale winter, his characteristic pure and noble atmosphere stood out, making it impossible to give up any single season.
“I missed you.”
Young-pa stood on tiptoe and kissed Biryoo. Even in such a cold season, the inside of Biryoo’s mouth was incredibly hot, making Young-pa feel as if he were melting like a snowflake in his arms.
“Oh, I found a place with a wonderful view….”
Young-pa whispered softly after parting his lips. Their faces were still close.
As if it weren’t enough, Biryoo tilted his head and moved closer. Young-pa’s upper and lower lips were sucked into Biryoo’s mouth and released. Mwah, mwah, mwah. Biryoo only pulled away after planting kisses on Young-pa’s cheeks, bridge of the nose, and forehead.
“It’s a waterside, which you like.”
“It will be too cold for you to soak your body.”
“You’ll see when we get there. Wash my soiled body with your yin water there.”
At the coquettishly whispered words, Biryoo’s neck flushed red. As his hand moved toward the waist, Young-pa laughed and caught it.
“Not here.”
Woof woof!
Cheongsim barked, asking to be taken along if it was such a great place. He was a cherished dog, but he felt bothersome when he acted so clueless.
“The elders have things to do, so a good puppy should play on his own. Go get some sleep in the heavenly realm.”
Fortunately, Cheongsim understood the words well. Seeing Young-pa call forth a cloud beneath his feet, he barked as if disappointed and then departed.
The two rose high on the cloud. Since the jade mountain and bead mountain were dressed in pure white, the view was bright even in the middle of the night. Cold moonlight shone upon the thick white snow, making it look like an otherworldly realm. A few crested ibises flew leisurely through the blizzard.
As his braided hair fluttered in the north wind, Young-pa smiled and buried his head in Biryoo’s shoulder.
“Are you not cold?”
“I’m fine.”
Despite saying he was fine, Biryoo took off his outer robe and wrapped it around Young-pa’s shoulders. Young-pa kept his eyes on the ground to steer the cloud carrying them.
“How was the Black Tortoise?”
He looked up at the sudden question. Biryoo had a peculiar expression, as if there were something he wanted to hear.
“Are you not going to tell me about your trip to the underground?”
“Didn’t you hear the whole conversation earlier?”
Biryoo feigned ignorance and toyed with Young-pa’s fingers for no reason. Feeling playful, Young-pa pulled his hand away and crossed his own arms.
“He was a dazzlingly magnificent man. The brilliance of his appearance was such that I could hardly keep my eyes open.”
Despite having heard everything from the gambling table, Biryoo’s eyes narrowed as if he were hurt. Young-pa found him cute and laughed out loud, burrowing into his chest. Then, this time, Biryoo pushed his shoulder with his fingertips.
“Are you saying he is better than I am?”
“How could that be? It was a joke.”
After Young-pa acted coquettishly in his arms, Biryoo’s expression softened slightly. Young-pa took Biryoo’s hand and intentionally spoke formally to soothe him.
“My, you are jealous of a serpent for lack of anything else to be jealous of.”
“It was half a joke.”
“But the other half was sincere, wasn’t it? I am a man who knows only you, and you know my talents better than anyone in the world. How long are you going to treat me like a child left by the waterside?”
“I do not doubt your special ability. I was merely worried that that world-ignorant fellow might be tempted by someone as lovely as you and harbor foolish desires.”
The back of Biryoo’s hand slid gently down Young-pa’s cheek.
“That fellow was a rotten ignoramus. He seemed to fear me even before I mentioned you.”
“Really?”
“He was so afraid of me that he picked up and ate a piece of rice cake that had fallen on the ground.”
“The rice cake you intentionally let rot?”
“Yes.”
“The one swarming with maggots?”
Biryoo shook his head with a horrified expression.
“Anyway, that scoundrel doesn’t even reach the dirt under your toenails. Do I really have to say such obvious things? To me… everyone else looks like a pile of cow dung except for you.”
Young-pa whispered as he climbed onto Biryoo’s lap.
“And what about you? Are there only one or two beautiful dragons in the heavenly realm? Do you know how much my heart aches, fearing that someone flying through the sky in a beautiful form might catch your eye?”
“Stop saying such absurd things.”
“You started it first.”
Young-pa stroked the cheek of the man he loved and then hugged him. Biryoo’s arms wrapped around Young-pa’s waist and back, making the embrace even tighter.
“How could you know what is in my heart? I let you go because you were so adamant, but today I felt as if I had barely survived death. I regret so much not going with you.”
“Eh? Was it that bad? It really was nothing….”
“If I had the ability to restore flesh and bone like the Black Tortoise, I would not have let you wander around.”
As Biryoo whispered in his ear, Young-pa laughed and lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Are you planning to cut off my limbs? Then what will you do when it’s time to radiate energy?”
“I’ll just make them grow back then.”
“You say such terrible things with those beautiful lips… Oh! I think we’ve gone too far.”
Young-pa, who had been losing himself in his partner’s embrace, hurriedly moved the cloud to lower the altitude.
‘He probably knows that there are many springs with warm water in the Tangjeong region. But even Azure Dragon wouldn’t know about the hot spring hidden at the foot of the mountain. I only found out recently.’
Upon reaching the ground, Young-pa held the liquor bottle in one hand and pulled Biryoo by the hand. Yeon Mu-geum had given detailed directions on where the hot spring was, but since the entire mountain was covered in snow, it took a long time to find the way, as it was difficult to tell which was the large zelkova tree or where the bear-shaped rock was.
“He said if we turn right at the pine tree split in two, it should come out….”
“I think that pine tree is over there.”
Where Biryoo pointed, there was indeed a tree split into two branches. Turning right from there and climbing a steep slope, a hot spring hidden by camellia trees appeared. Hot steam was billowing from a spring just narrow enough for two people to enter.
“Here it is, Azure Dragon!”
Biryoo smiled and brushed the snow off Young-pa’s head in the meantime.
“It is a cozy place.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
Biryoo took Young-pa’s cheek and lightly sucked his lip. His eyes, sunken in shadow, looked down blatantly as if craving Young-pa’s body.
“Since we’ve come to a hot spring, you should take off your clothes.”
“Yes….”
Young-pa untied his knots, feeling unnecessarily nervous. As the jacket was removed by Biryoo’s touch, the cold air hit his shoulders. Young-pa quickly took off his pants and jumped into the hot spring. The water was hotter than expected, making him let out a scream. Soon after, Biryoo entered the water.
Since it wasn’t a space where two people could soak leisurely, Biryoo naturally hugged Young-pa from behind.
“To Yeon Mu-geum, this place might seem like a wide lake, but for us, it is cramped.”
“I find it perfectly fine; what is the problem?”
The man, who had become like a cunning anaconda over the long years, pulled Young-pa’s waist tight and touched his buttocks. Being held by him in the hot water, sweat soon poured down like rain. However, since his upper body was exposed to the cold air, it felt refreshing.
The frozen world was peaceful. Only a few roe deer trotted on the distant snowfield. Red flowers were in full bloom on the camellia trees lining the hot spring. That alone would make it a scenic spot, but the sight of the white snow falling heavily made it an exquisite hidden scenic spot.
“It is a beautiful place.”
“Indeed it is.”
“But… is this really your first time here, Azure Dragon?”
Biryoo did not answer.
‘As I thought, it wasn’t.’
While Young-pa had been lost, Biryoo had pretended not to know while accurately finding the landmarks. Seeing that, Young-pa realized that he had been here before.
“Can you not show me the things you do not know?”
“You are new every single day; what more could I possibly need?”
Young-pa shifted his position, straddling Biryoo’s thighs as he faced him. His chest, covered in scars, was drenched in the hot water. As he watched the breath escape from between Biryoo’s lips, Biryoo attempted to press his lips against Young-pa’s.
“Not yet.”
Biryoo raised an eyebrow with a puzzled expression. Young-pa rummaged through his discarded clothes and pulled out the spirit dice.
“What is this?”
“It is a toy humans use when drinking together. I brought it to try with you.”
Biryoo took the dice and turned it over, reading the phrases written on the faces. He frowned and asked, “Do humans truly play such games among themselves?”
“Yes.”
Young-pa answered nonchalantly, though it was not the truth.
“Then Yeon Mu-geum and Po Ui must have played with this as well.”
“Hmm… I did not personally see them doing so.”
A knowing smile spread across Biryoo’s lips. In his haste to leave the gambling den, Young-pa had failed to hide his handwriting while altering the phrases on the dice.
Seeing Biryoo set the dice down and pick up the liquor bottle, Young-pa decided that Biryoo had agreed to play along.
Excited, Young-pa spread his robe flat on the ground and threw the dice. The spirit dice wobbled a few times before stopping on ‘Sing a song.’
When Young-pa sang a song that had been popular among humans long ago, the corners of Biryoo’s mouth curled up slightly. Young-pa tried his best to ignore the phallus poking at his stomach as he handed the dice back to Biryoo.
“Now, it is your turn.”
Biryoo took a sip of the cloudy rice wine and set the bottle down. The dice he threw stopped on ‘Express love for one’s partner.’
“I love you.”
As Biryoo spoke without so much as a blink, Young-pa pouted, teasing him for being boring.
“Then how should I do it to make it interesting?”
“Wouldn’t it be more enjoyable for me if you spoke while blushing and twisting your body in shyness?”
“What is there to be shy about when loving one’s partner?”
Next, Young-pa threw the dice. When ‘Take a sip of liquor and laugh loudly’ came up, Young-pa did exactly that.
By then, a suspicious look appeared on Biryoo’s face. With that skeptical expression, he rolled the dice, and it landed on ‘Kiss partner’s cheek.’
“It is strange that only I keep getting these.”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No. That is why I like it even more.”
Smiling, Biryoo lightly pressed his lips to Young-pa’s cheek. He pulled away instantly with an indifferent expression.
‘He must be desperate, yet he endures it well,’ Young-pa muttered inwardly, glancing at Biryoo’s center, which was asserting its presence beneath the water. Even as Young-pa waited for him to pounce, Biryoo remained composed, only occasionally kneading Young-pa’s buttocks.
Young-pa rolled the dice. Seeing ‘Flick the nose,’ Biryoo wore a look of disbelief. Young-pa clenched his fist to tease him, but in the end, he merely tapped the bridge of Biryoo’s nose with his fingertip.
“I’m letting it slide because you’re handsome.”
Biryoo took the spirit dice and checked the phrases on the faces again. When he threw the dice with intent, the face seemed to stop on ‘Take a sip of liquor and laugh loudly.’ However, in the next moment, a suspicious breeze blew, and it shifted to ‘Masturbate.’
Biryoo let out a hollow laugh and narrowed his eyes.
“Are you truly going to be like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I had forgotten for a long time that you are a cunning trickster.”
The way Biryoo spoke was so seductive that Young-pa had to swallow hard. The man, usually the epitome of composure, looked utterly erotic. From his broad chest to his fine hair, he was drenched in the heat of the hot spring.
Young-pa was also pressed for time. Since leaving the hut, he had left his erect penis as it was, and his lower abdomen had begun to ache. However, he could not miss this precious sight, something he hadn’t seen once in thirty years.
“I have nothing to lose.”
Biryoo leaned back leisurely and gripped his manhood. He looked straight at Young-pa, moving his hand slowly. Hot breath flowed from between his slightly parted lips. His persistent and burning gaze was fixed solely on Young-pa.
At the unbelievable sight, Young-pa rubbed his eyes with his fist. Biryoo, as if determined to bewitch him, smiled and shook his hand faster.
“You’re quite natural at it… how many years has it been since you last did this?”
“I did it two days ago.”
“What?”
“You were sleeping soundly, and I did not wish to wake you.”
At that nonchalant answer, Young-pa’s mind went blank. Biryoo was the one masturbating, yet Young-pa nearly ejaculated.
“Until now… you’ve been masturbating while leaving me aside?”
“Did you not tell me that no matter what, I should not suppress my lust?”
Young-pa felt as if he were losing consciousness. It had been a full thirty years. He had lived believing that while his partner was a perverted beast, he had a naive side and wouldn’t know how to do things like masturbation. He felt as though he had wasted those years.
“Who’s calling whom a trickster.”
Young-pa could no longer endure it. He pulled at Biryoo’s haphazardly spread robe and frantically searched through the pockets. When he finally found the silver necklace, Biryoo burst into a clear laugh.
“Calm down. My penalty is not over yet.”
Whether Young-pa tried to kiss him or embrace him, Biryoo only pushed him away with a smile. Now in a position where he had to beg for sexual favors, Young-pa picked up the dice in frustration.
A moment later, he threw the spirit dice, and the words ‘Sexual intercourse’ appeared on top. Biryoo laughed loudly as he turned the spirit dice, which now had the same phrase written on every single face.
“Truly, you are beyond help.”
Urgent, Young-pa lunged at Biryoo, fastening the necklace and biting his lip simultaneously. Just as his tongue entered the mouth, his buttocks were parted, and a phallus hotter than the temperature of the water forced its way inside.
“Ah! Ah-euk….”
Young-pa squeezed his eyes shut and twisted his body. His partner’s drenched skin was burning. Excitement surged to the top of his head, becoming unbearable. He reached a climax and trembled violently from the mere stimulation of the shaft pushing in and crushing his internals.
“Why is my partner so impatient today?”
Young-pa clung to Biryoo’s shoulder, gasping for breath. He choked his neck and sucked his lips frantically. He wanted Biryoo to take him to the heavenly realm immediately. However, Biryoo remained infuriatingly leisurely.
“Did you ask me to wash away the yin energy?”
“Yes, yes. Quickly… quickly….”
“With what did you ask me to wash it?”
“My dir-dirty… ugh! My dirty body, with your seed….”
“You seem desperate for my seed.”
“Ah! Ugh, ugh, yes, quickly wash it….”
Biryoo wrapped his arm around Young-pa’s waist and pushed him deep into the water. Soon, the swollen manhood thrust deep inside his body. Young-pa, gasping while submerged up to his shoulders, had his lips blocked by a hot kiss.
Heat that melted in the air, unable to even settle as snow. As the winter night enveloped in white snow deepened, the cold could not find a foothold in that place. Splash, splash—the hot spring water surged in violent waves, overflowing outward. The spirit dice, covered in erotic phrases, slid along the ripples before being buried in the thick snowfall.
Because of the events in the hot spring, the trees shook, and a few beautiful camellia leaves fell upon the back of the man immersed in sexual intercourse. Only the faint moon hung indifferently, illuminating all this harmony.
Spring Poem
｢Eternal Spring: Always like a spring day｣
The spells humans memorized echoed in a low murmur. It was not just one or two people. The crowd filling the valley numbered nearly hundreds.
Their leader stood at the very front, concentrating with his fingertip touching a wide-open tattered fan. When he lifted his face, a confident smile appeared. A strike, condensing the longings of countless humans, flew toward the enemy.
‘For our hope, dreams, and future. For freedom and safety. For the lost friends and family.’
Fighting spirit flickered in his black pupils. How long had he waited for this day? The goal he had relentlessly pursued was now before his eyes.
One of the four spirits was as good as gone, and another had already been exorcised. The most troublesome one had been dealt a fatal wound and pinned down, so if he could only cut the throat of the vicious serpent before him!
K-boom!
The sorcery poured over the shadow, and the enemy’s scream rang out. Black smoke billowed, and yin energy so thick it was hard to breathe pressed down upon the mortal realm. Hope spread across the humans’ faces.
‘The freedom to live safely. That was all we ever wanted.’
Young-pa did not take his eyes off the sight of Manisan splitting in half with a thunderous roar.
To step forward to exorcise a deity, he had to turn his back on his teacher and take his life. He bore the label of being heartless and profane, pointed at by many. He lost a friend who was like a brother at the hands of the Vermilion Bird, who had come to punish him. But that was nothing.
“Is it all over, Clan Head?”
“We do not know yet, so wait.”
“But… it looks like we succeeded?”
Wubaek, standing beside Young-pa, was the sole survivor after his entire family was slaughtered by a spirit. Geumji had lost one leg and two children to a monster. Yuri and Deogi lost their parents, Muyoung lost his husband and daughter, and Namsaeng sent away his sister. It was rare for anyone in Salcheondang not to have a tragic story, so it was only natural that they fought risking their lives.
‘Just die quietly, so we can end it here.’
Young-pa grit his teeth and used Gale to scatter the smoke. Then, the body of a giant serpent with a shell revealed itself.
“Whoa!”
“Our enemy, Black Tortoise, is dead!”
The cheers of the humans rang out loudly through the mountain valley.
“Sahyeong!”
Wubaek’s face distorted with emotion. When Young-pa smiled, Wubaek tearfully threw his arms around him. Normally, Young-pa would not have allowed it, but given the moment, he let him act as he pleased for a while.
“We did it. We did it! It was you, Sahyeong, who did it!”
“No. We all did it together.”
Young-pa barely pushed away the heavily clinging Wubaek and looked at the clan members one by one. Relief and joy, resentment and sorrow. Emotions that could not be expressed in a few words were etched on every face.
“We did it! Humans did it!”
As Young-pa raised his arm and shouted, the members followed him. Shouts that sounded like screams rang out through the valley.
“Humans did it!”
“Salcheondang! Salcheondang! Salcheondang!”
“Yeongparang! Yeongparang!”
Amidst the pouring cheers, Young-pa stumbled forward.
“Clan Head, are you alright?”
Wubaek grabbed his arm and supported him. Young-pa, lacking the strength to push him away, walked while leaning on Wubaek. He wanted to confirm the corpse of that bastard, Black Tortoise, from close up.
Salcheondang’s goal was to kill the four directional gods, but the primary enemy was effectively Black Tortoise, Ji Seo-gu. The serpents he had granted intelligence and special abilities to had devastated the human world; the atrocities of the other gods combined did not even reach his heels.
‘Yeogo, I have avenged your parents. Can you finally sleep in peace?’
Even though he had achieved his goal, sorrow pushed aside joy and filled his chest heavily. Young-pa felt tears welling up as he moved his heavy feet.
‘Lady Seolji, perhaps your children will now live in a safe world.’
Avenging a wrong does not bring back beloved family and friends. However, because of this, the future of those who remain will change. Tears streamed down Young-pa’s cheeks.
“Why are you crying on such a wonderful day?”
Wubaek’s eyes were also drenched in tears. Young-pa roughly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“Who’s crying? You’re the one who should stop crying.”
Before he could even finish the sentence, Wubaek began to sob loudly.
“Baeka, how about we slice that fellow up and eat him today?”
“Hic, I’m already full just thinking about it.”
Wubaek seemed frantic—crying, laughing, wiping his eyes, and supporting Young-pa all at once.
Before long, the corpse of the divine beast was near. Seeing how wretched it looked, Young-pa felt a sense of emptiness.
His entire life had been a war against serpents. He had lived with a hardened heart and fueled by spite. He had stained both hands with the blood of countless monsters. If necessary, he had resorted to lies and impiety. He hated the world intensely, and at the same time, loved it passionately.
‘What should I do with my life from now on?’
The thought that entered his mind was ridiculously leisurely. His life had been filled with opposing the gods, so it didn’t easily occur to him what to do now that there was no longer a need.
Young-pa had Wubaek and his comrades from Salcheondang. He also had a lifelong affection that he had not been able to give up even after being rejected.
‘Lady Seolji… as time passes, perhaps you will think of me.’
He let out a bitter smile, whispering words he could never say aloud.
In a world without gods, anything would be fine. Whether it was traveling around or finding a new love and having children, Young-pa could do anything. The future unfolding before him was as vast and clear as the wide sky.
It was then that Wubaek suddenly lurched. Startled, Young-pa grabbed his arm.
“Baeka?”
“Sa… hyung…. Suddenly, I feel dizzy….”
“Baeka! What is wrong?”
His pupils blurred, and the expression vanished from his face. Dark red blood began to flow from his ears. Young-pa laid Wubaek, who had become stiff as a log, on the ground and examined him. He had lost consciousness, but fortunately, his pulse was still there.
Young-pa looked back and saw that the clan members had drifted far away. They looked as if they were in a place so distant that Young-pa could not reach them.
‘Black Tortoise….’
Young-pa whipped around and glared at the corpse of the mongrel serpent. The body, from which life should have departed, was pressing down on Young-pa with a massive and ominous presence. Young-pa sprang up and pulled the white folding fan from his robe.
Before he could cast a spell, the corpse scattered into black smoke and transformed into a dense shadow. He saw the fan slip from his fingertips and land beside Wubaek’s head in slow motion. Young-pa was slowly dragged toward the center of the shadow, as if held by invisible chains.
“They called it the divine realm… it truly shocks the heavens and shakes the earth.”
A low, gloomy voice that sent shivers through his entire body. Young-pa realized he had fallen into a trap. Even a strike utilizing the full power of humanity had failed to finish him.
The world Young-pa had loved as if it were his own body was nowhere to be found. He existed alone with Black Tortoise, enveloped in a shadow as thick as blood. A sticky darkness swept across the nape of his neck and gently caressed his cheek.
“There was a reason Po Ui coveted you.”
Young-pa trembled and closed his eyes.
He was a tenacious man who rarely gave up, but he was no fool. He knew well that the gods viewed him as an eyesore. Now that he was captured by the most wicked of them, Black Tortoise, there would be no way to survive. Young-pa sensed that the end of his life had arrived and abandoned all hope.
“The more I look, the more of a waste you are…. Rather than throwing your life away, why not become my person?”
The dark voice whispered softly.
How could he live as a servant to the one he had spent his entire life struggling to kill? It was impossible. Young-pa kept his mouth shut and did not answer.
“Don’t be like that; think carefully. You will have everything you desire.”
“Everything?”
“Yes. Everything.”
Young-pa whipped his head around and glared into the heart of the shadow.
“Can you promise the safety and freedom of the humans living on this land?”
“That is easy. I shall become the guardian deity of you humans.”
The corners of Young-pa’s mouth twisted into a sneering, vile smile.
“How can I trust your word?”
“You are as suspicious as I heard. We shall get along well.”
The shadow writhed softly. In an instant, a sharp killing intent fiercely surrounded Young-pa.
“Kneel.”
“I refuse.”
A neurotic laugh shook his hearing. A heavy shadow began to press down on Young-pa’s shoulders and back.
“Kneel.”
“I said I refuse!”
Young-pa resisted with all his might, but his body was forced to bend. The heavy killing intent felt as if it were squeezing his internal organs. Blood flowed from between his clenched teeth. He let out a wish that he would simply be killed quickly.
“Kneel!”
A sickening sensation of something snapping in the back of his knees occurred, and a terrible pain surged. Young-pa saw himself screaming as he was forced to his knees.
“I hate this…. I hate it! I… hate it!”