TGHD Ch 3

The image of a human mauled to death by a tiger was thrust before Ryubeom’s eyes.

“Please, stop…!”

Ryubeom ran swiftly, but there was no way to escape the shadow. The alley had turned into a labyrinth. Was he caught in an illusion spell, or was his mind not functioning properly? Whatever the case, it seemed to be a result of his own weakness.

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Ryubeom had often been tormented by Changgui in the past. At first, he tried to seek help from his family but was met with disdainful looks. A tiger afraid of Changgui? It was as if he was surrendering his neck to those he should dominate.

After being scolded for expressing his distress, he couldn’t tell anyone anymore. His cousins knew he was sometimes chased by Changgui but didn’t help. So Ryubeom had to keep running alone until the Changgui wore out. Moving to a brighter place would at least lessen their ferocity.

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But today, the Changgui chasing him were fiercer than usual. Why? Getting scolded by the elders, mocked by his cousins, and being hindered by collateral relatives was routine. Was it because he recalled his mother’s words for the first time in a while? Because he had become a more enticing prey after reaching adulthood?

Or was it because he now had memories to compare? Even though that moment was fleeting, had his reality expanded the gap compared to that time?

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“Your fleeing looks so ridiculous!”

“We should bite his leg…”

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“I’ll go for his neck, or rather, his head!”

The cries of the Changgui stabbed at his ears chaotically. It sounded like dozens of people shouting, resonating in his mind. Ryubeom’s anxiety amplified even more.

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Then, up ahead, he saw a streetlamp.

He needed to get to the light. Desperate to escape the dark alley, Ryubeom quickened his pace, but as he reached out, his balance faltered, and he began to fall.

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“Got you.”

Suddenly, a hand grabbed him, pulling him forward. Falling into someone’s arms, Ryubeom froze.

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A familiar scent brushed his nose. The scent of a deep winter night. Cold yet refreshing, it was the scent he had smelled earlier that day. Although the distance wasn’t close, the moment was vividly remembered, and the scent lingered in his mind.

And when his gentle voice echoed in Ryubeom’s mind, all his thoughts stopped. As if aware of Ryubeom’s frozen state, ‘he’ pulled Ryubeom deeper into his embrace and extended an arm.

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“Annihilate.”

“Kyaaaaa!”

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“Aaah, aaah…!”

The screams of the Changgui resounded behind him. He heard the sounds of them struggling to escape, but then everything suddenly stopped.

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The noise surrounding him vanished in an instant.

“……”

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Ryubeom turned his head belatedly to check behind him. Black ashes, like embers, scattered in the air. It was as if the entire space had been incinerated.

Dozens of Changgui had vanished in a moment.

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Slowly, Ryubeom looked at the man in front of him. The moment was so shocking that his thoughts were slow. The scent from the embrace and the familiar voice in his ears—yet it was so unbelievable that he had to see for himself to be sure.

In the faintly lit space, he met eyes that were like twilight. Eyes that held the horizon of a setting sun, now tinged more intensely red, likely from using his spiritual power.

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Yeohwi.

Ryubeom shivered. The sight of a black robe over a white shirt fluttering in the air like night was surreal. The slanted light from the streetlamp cast shadows from his lush eyelashes onto his cheeks.

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Yeohwi’s eyes curved as he confirmed Ryubeom’s face, which was half-open in surprise.

“I was just thinking I wanted to see you, young master, and here we meet.”

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Yeohwi smiled beautifully, like red plum blossoms in full bloom. His gentle, spring-like whisper resonated in Ryubeom’s ears.

“It must be fate.”

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Ryubeom blinked slowly. Everything that had happened so far was beyond his comprehension, causing a processing issue in his mind. Finally grasping the situation, Ryubeom quickly took two steps back.

“Did you… get rid of those things?”

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“Yeohwi.”

“…?”

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“I’m sure I told you my name, so why don’t you use it?”

Yeohwi’s eyes drooped as if he was genuinely upset. Seeing his face made Ryubeom feel reflexively sorry, but he held his resolve. The confusion he felt wasn’t just due to the shock of the current situation.

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“With that level of spiritual power, why were you… at Yeongokbong like that?”

If he had the power to eliminate so many evil spirits at once, there would have been no reason to run away from Yeongokbong last night. Even with many children around, he could have easily concealed himself with spiritual power and descended the mountain. The residual effect of the spiritual power that swept through the area still made Ryubeom’s skin tingle. As he looked around in confusion, he muttered to himself.

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“Or is this perhaps due to Yeongyehwa…?”

He had recently heard that a fox had stolen a flower brimming with spiritual energy. Had he perhaps consumed that flower? Maybe he had already stolen it when they encountered each other last night. However, if Yeongyehwa could boost spiritual power to this extent, his clan would have managed it more strictly…

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Lost in deep thought, Yeohwi smiled enigmatically.

“Well, you could say I received a bit of help from Guil.”

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He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a wooden bracelet on his wrist. Several small rectangular wooden pieces were strung together like prayer beads, each inscribed with black Chinese characters. Yeohwi extended his hand as if to allow Ryubeom to touch it.

“Considering the disturbance at Yeongokbong and it being my first time in Seoul with the children, they must have been worried. They said Seoul is a dangerous place and gave it to me.”

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“…Ah.”

Finally understanding, Ryubeom sighed briefly as he examined the bracelet. He could faintly sense spiritual power emanating from it. The unfamiliar characters suggested it was ancient. If so, it was a very old object, possibly with spiritual power embedded in each piece.

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Even though there was active exchange between the clans, they naturally did not share information about their treasures or secret techniques. Moreover, the tiger and fox clans did not get along, so there was no way for him to know. Still, it was clear this was no ordinary item at a glance, making him wonder if Gu-il held a high position within the fox clan.

Ryubeom suddenly remembered that foxes were particularly attuned to the spiritual power of “Gu.”

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“I initially refused such a precious item, but I’m glad I accepted since it allowed me to help my benefactor. I made the right choice.”

Yeohwi smiled again, a clear and beautiful smile that left Ryubeom speechless. He felt ashamed for having doubted him just moments ago. Despite saving him, Ryubeom had immediately been suspicious.

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“…Thank you.”

Feeling embarrassed, he expressed his gratitude while staring at the ground.

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Yeohwi must be curious why he was being chased by Changgui. Should he say it was because he was momentarily weakened? However, mentioning this seemed like a silly and embarrassing excuse, making him hesitate.

But Yeohwi asked an entirely different question.

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“By the way, what brings you here at this hour, young master?”

“Well… Ah, right!”

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Ryubeom was startled as he raised his head. A digital clock visible in the shopping district behind him indicated it was past 8 o’clock.

He had wasted too much time.

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It wasn’t yet the end of dinner, but if he returned late, he didn’t know what the collateral family members might say. If his cousins found out he had been away for so long, it would be even worse.

Ryubeom hastily turned around.

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“I just came down for a quick errand, but I need to hurry back now.”

“Young master, you’re always so busy…”

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Yeohwi mumbled as if he were disappointed but didn’t force him to stay. Ryubeom felt grateful for this yet also felt a heavier heart.

“You’ll spend time with me later, won’t you?”

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Ryubeom impulsively nodded at Yeohwi’s question. He hadn’t properly expressed his thanks or apologies, and leaving it like this would bother him. Seeing Ryubeom’s reaction, Yeohwi smiled again, a sweet and beautiful smile, and took a step back.

Yeohwi waved his hand as if urging Ryubeom to hurry back. Ryubeom took one last look at Yeohwi’s beautiful hand before turning away. Yeohwi never asked why he had been chased by the Changgui. This left Ryubeom feeling uneasy.

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As he made his way up the mountain, Ryubeom felt his heart pounding. The anxiety of having been away for so long, the shock of being chased by the Changgui, and the encounter with Yeohwi—all these feelings swirled inside him. Meeting Yeohwi, in particular, had a profound impact on him.

Why had Yeohwi been there at that time? Did he have some errand nearby as well? What business did he have to be out and about?

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It felt strange, as if his thoughts were being pulled in one direction. Perhaps it was simply the astonishment of witnessing the simultaneous vanishing of the Changgui. Ryubeom tried to calm the turmoil in his heart, attributing it to just that.

With these thoughts, he bought some snacks, changed his clothes, and headed to the restaurant. As he approached, he sensed something was wrong.

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The area was noisy. Several cars were speeding away, and the surroundings of the restaurant were chaotic.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Ryubeom noticed that the direct members of his family had gathered earlier than expected, and the atmosphere was tense.

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“How could security be so lax!”

“What are we going to do about the ruined gathering today!”

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Before the shouting elders, all the security guards were kneeling. Behind them, he saw a broken wall, the restaurant in disarray, and the overwhelming presence of malicious energy.

It was the scene of an attack by a group of malevolent spirits.

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Ryubeom’s face hardened. The same malevolent energy he had felt from the ghost he initially caught now permeated this space. These weren’t ordinary ghosts but “evil spirits.” Had they signaled their group somehow? This was the first time a gathering had been ruined like this, causing his heart to race with anxiety. This was… it seemed… almost an instinctive sense that he might end up bearing all the blame.

“Well… Young Master Cheon Ryubeom suddenly left his seat, creating a gap in the security arrangement.”

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The head of the security team, trembling as he spoke, delivered his report, and Ryubeom’s face hardened. The man kept his gaze fixed on the family head, explaining the chaos that ensued due to Ryubeom’s sudden absence and the efforts made to cover it.

The elders turned to Ryubeom with fierce expressions. Startled, Ryubeom raised his hands to explain.

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“It’s not true. The team leader down there—”

“You crazy bastard!”

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Thud! With a fierce shout, Ryubeom’s head snapped to the side. Cheon Yeongdo had approached swiftly and struck Ryubeom in the face with his fist. Then, he snatched the bag from Ryubeom’s hand and threw it to the ground. The snacks from the convenience store spilled out.

“Not only did you leave your post, but you bought this junk? Did you have a blast while we weren’t around, huh? Did you think it was your world with only the collateral family around, and you could do whatever you wanted?”

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Yeongdo’s thundering voice echoed in Ryubeom’s ears. Ryubeom turned to explain, only to see Yeongdo’s disheveled appearance. It seemed the direct descendants had personally fought off the evil spirits. Both the direct family members and the elders looked worse for wear.

The scene looked as if a storm had swept through, leaving Ryubeom feeling cold inside. Only the family head and his eldest aunt appeared unscathed. Just how strong had the ambush been? What kind of spirits could reduce tigers to this state?

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“This brat even changed his clothes?”

Yeongdo grabbed Ryubeom by the collar, lifting him slightly to face the family head. Cold eyes were fixed on him.

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“It’s a misunderstanding. The team leader, no, a collateral member told me to change because my clothes were wrinkled and to go buy some food—”

“Does a mere collateral member rank above you?”

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“But he was today’s head of security, so I had to follow his orders—”

“What kind of order is that, you idiot! How pathetic must you have looked for him to pull such a stunt! Even if you disgrace the main family, to do it in such a way…!”

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“Yeongdo. That’s enough.”

The family head’s quiet voice cut through the chaos. It was as if cold water had been poured over the scene, bringing an instant silence. The elders, who seemed ready to criticize Ryubeom, fell silent, and the kneeling guards now bowed their heads to the ground. The mountain lord’s authority seemed to weigh down the air.

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The family head’s icy white eyes turned to the head of security.

“So, this boy said such things to you…”

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“F-family head! I just—”

“I did not ask you to speak.”

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“…”

The family head closed his eyes slowly. His sigh spread through the space like a chilling mist from the mountains.

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“Ryubeom.”

“…Yes.”

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“I cherished Eunhwa.”

Ryubeom’s heart thudded painfully. Eunhwa. Cheon Eunhwa. His mother’s name. Mentioning the name of the woman who fled the family was a tacit taboo. This was only the second time the family head had uttered it.

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The first was when he initially brought Ryubeom to the family.

And the second time was now…

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“Let’s discuss this at the main house.”

Ryubeom bowed his head slowly.

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His hands trembled uncontrollably.

The chaos at the restaurant was more severe than anticipated.

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Before the meeting began, the evil spirit Ryubeom had caught at the entrance was poorly sealed. The security team leader, who had hastily taken over Ryubeom’s binding spell, failed to maintain the necessary energy for the restraint.

When the spirit escaped through the weakened binding, the collateral family members barely managed to seal it in a jar. However, in the process, they expended much energy and lacked the power to maintain the seal. The spirit had already signaled others of its kind.

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As a result, during the meeting, a horde of evil spirits attacked. Amid the chaos, the previously sealed spirit also escaped and joined the rampage.

The Tiger Clan inside the restaurant was startled by the unexpected ambush but prioritized protecting the humans. However, despite the Tigers’ attacks, the malevolent spirits did not retreat easily and persistently targeted the humans. Typically, an akgui would freeze or flee in the presence of a Tiger’s aura, making this an unusual response.

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Fortunately, the clan head and the second-in-command, Cheon Hoyun, were present. Thanks to their direct intervention, the situation was resolved without major injuries. Nevertheless, the humans were deeply shocked by the attack. Specifically, they were distressed and surprised that they were attacked despite the presence of Tigers. They hurriedly left the scene, their faces pale. The cars Ryubeom had seen on his way to the restaurant likely carried these frightened people.

Even if Ryubeom had been present during the attack, he wouldn’t have been able to stop it. The evil spirits were only subdued when the clan head intervened. Ryubeom, who was often criticized as the weakest in the family, couldn’t have handled them. Still, this was no excuse. Ryubeom knew that if he had not yielded to the security team leader and had analyzed the captured akgui more thoroughly, sealing it himself, the damage might have been less severe.

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The elders’ meeting was unusually prolonged. For significant discussions regarding the clan, the clan head and elders convened in the Great Tiger Hall. This was different from casual talks at the main house; only those qualified could enter the hall, and what transpired inside remained unknown until they emerged. However, Ryubeom instinctively knew the discussions wouldn’t be favorable for him. Typically, his mistakes were met with direct scolding, but this time, they were holding a formal meeting in the hall.

It implied the humans they had met were very important. Ryubeom, who had ruined the meeting with such humans, was uncertain about his fate. Even his usually mocking cousins were unusually silent, suggesting they sensed the serious atmosphere. They avoided Ryubeom or merely glanced at him without speaking, treating him like someone soon to be expelled.

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The lack of direct blame only heightened Ryubeom’s anxiety. Thus, when Cheon Yeongdo mocked him upon seeing him sitting in the main courtyard, Ryubeom’s head shot up.

“So, you’re finally getting kicked out of the clan.”

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“Is that really being discussed?”

Despite knowing he was being mocked, Ryubeom couldn’t help but grab Yeongdo’s sleeve and ask. Since Yeongdo was the elders’ favored grandchild, Ryubeom hoped he might have overheard something. Yeongdo smirked as he saw the desperate look on Ryubeom’s face, enjoying the situation.

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“Of course. You ruined a meeting with an important figure from human society, so naturally—”

“But that was…”

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“Instead of asking us, shouldn’t you be kneeling in front of the Great Tiger Hall by now?”

Ryubeom’s cousin, Cheon Joomyung, who was a year younger than Yeongdo, approached. She had been walking in the courtyard and laughed so hard at Ryubeom’s reaction that tears formed in her eyes.

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“Look at you now. Who would think you’re a Tiger?”

Ryubeom finally looked at himself. His hands were covered in scratches from the attack by the Changgui last night. The sight made him hurriedly hide his hands behind his back, fearing his cousins might discover the cause. He didn’t expect any concern; he was ashamed and knew he’d be mocked further, weakening his already precarious position in the clan.

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Should he really kneel in front of the Great Tiger Hall? The area around the hall was considered sacred, and even approaching the bamboo forest surrounding it without permission was frowned upon. Trespassing might incur even greater wrath.

As Ryubeom’s anxiety grew, Yeongdo sneered from above him.

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“Your name has ‘beom’ (tiger) in it, but it’s wasted on you.”

“Why do you insist on staying here? It’s pitiful to watch.”

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Yeongdo clucked his tongue and walked away, shaking off Ryubeom’s grip as if it were dirty. Ryubeom watched them leave, then slowly looked up. The sky, heavy with dark clouds, seemed to foretell a grim future.

‘The reason to stay in this clan…’

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Heavy and cloudy memories spread through Ryubeom’s mind like a mist.