TGHD Ch 30

His heart pounded with a peculiar sense of happiness. Ryubeom looked at Cheon Hoyeon with slightly surprised and excited eyes, but her face remained cold.

“That’s why everyone dislikes you.”

Slowly, Ryubeom’s mouth closed. His slightly parted lips pressed together as his gaze returned to the ground. Knowing that everyone in the family disapproved of his mother, why did hearing that they disliked him for resembling her hurt so much?

A memory suddenly surfaced of his mother’s expression when she watched the news about the establishment of the Cheonho Foundation. Sadness, bitterness, and… an unmanageable affection and longing.

‘Mother loved the family…’

Ryubeom managed his expression with effort. He felt he shouldn’t show this expression to Cheon Hoyeon. Hiding his emotions wasn’t difficult.

Cheon Hoyeon spoke to the silently standing Ryubeom.

“The head of the family has a task for you. Make time before you go to search for the next Sagwido.”

“…Yes. I will do my best.”

“Since you will be staying with other branch families for a while, be sure to conduct yourself properly.”

Ryubeom nodded, indicating he understood. He didn’t know what task required him to stay with the branch families, but since it was ordered by the head, he had to comply. He should be grateful that the head didn’t treat him as a nonentity.

Then, Cheon Hoyeon turned her head and spoke. As if casually discussing the weather while looking around the garden, she said without much concern,

“You’ve gotten better at managing your energy compared to before.”

“…What?”

“I used to see your energy leaking after you used sorcery, but now it doesn’t. And your use of spiritual power has become much more natural.”

Ryubeom blinked at the unexpected compliment. During his earlier confrontation with Yeongdo, Ryubeom had deflected his attacks and even managed to throw him. He had gathered spiritual power in his hands to pierce Yeongdo’s shield, and it seemed Cheon Hoyeon had noticed and praised him for it.

He had received favorable evaluations from both the head of the family and Cheon Hoyeon today. And to think Cheon Hoyeon had known about his energy leakage…

In the past, if Cheon Ryubeom’s sorcery was compared, it was like he was pouring a jugful of energy into a sorcery circle that only needed a small bowl’s worth. Being fundamentally flawed, simply pouring in more energy didn’t make the sorcery stronger, only exhausting him quickly. As Yeohwi had said, it was an ‘inefficient’ method.

How did Cheon Hoyeon figure it out when she hadn’t seen him taking the tests? As Ryubeom searched his memories, she asked,

“Did you realize this while searching for Sagwido?”

“…I tried to improve in various ways and luckily had an opportunity.”

Hoping his voice wouldn’t tremble, Ryubeom answered, avoiding eye contact to prevent any suspicion of lying. Pretending to respond respectfully while feeling extremely tense, he noticed Cheon Hoyeon seemed puzzled by something other than his demeanor.

“You manage your energy so well… I can’t read your energy at all.”

“…?”

“It’s as if it’s hidden…”

Click, click, Cheon Hoyeon approached. Her eyes, looking down at him from close up, held a mysterious light.

It was difficult for Ryubeom to understand. Was it praise or suspicion? It wasn’t easy to be pleased as Cheon Hoyeon’s tone was nuanced, and he felt guilty because he was hiding something. Especially when Yeongdo was already suspecting him of using dark arts…

Pretending to be grateful, Ryubeom bowed his head deeply. Cheon Hoyeon looked at him for a moment before taking a step back.

She spoke plainly.

“Overcome your fear of Changgui. It’s a flaw among the family members, and if it becomes known outside, you’ll face greater ridicule.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

“A tiger Suin fearing Changgui, it’s truly nonsensical.”

Ryubeom fixed his gaze on the ground. He swallowed the words that investigating Changgui had brought no results, and even the Imugi in Jeju had mocked him. He had to find a way somehow.

Cheon Hoyeon muttered slowly.

“There’s no fear without reason.”

Though her murmuring was carried away by the gentle breeze, Ryubeom could piece together the words. Sometimes, Cheon Hoyeon’s tone felt like a withered leaf. He wondered if he had felt this during their conversation in front of Daehogwan.

Feeling a strange emotion, Ryubeom looked at Cheon Hoyeon. But before he could properly see her face, she walked past him decisively, as if there was no need to talk further.

“I’ve been away too long.”

Her white suit jacket swayed, carrying a familiar scent to Ryubeom’s nose. Cheon Hoyeon usually smelled like a calm forest, but now there was a faint scent of something burning, like incense.

Ryubeom tilted his head in curiosity but had no time to ask. Cheon Hoyeon was already entering the building in the distance, and Ryubeom hurried to follow.

* * *

A few days later.

Ryubeom learned what task Cheon Hoyeon had mentioned, assigned by the head to the branch families and cousins.

A few months ago, a landslide occurred at Yuseom Mountain. Yuseom Mountain was presumed to be where a Sagwido had opened, and Ryubeom intended to investigate it, but a landslide caused a commotion, leading him to Jeju first. During his stay in Jeju, a second landslide occurred.

The second landslide was more extensive than the first. The mountain poured down like water, covering the village of Dujedong below and causing significant damage. The accident happened while efforts to recover from the first landslide were underway, worsening the impact. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but many were injured.

‘The evil spirits of Yuseom Mountain caused the landslide!’

People exclaimed in unison. Given that the accident happened in a region suspected of opening Sagwido, it wasn’t strange to think it was caused by spirits. However, this made ordinary people reluctant and afraid to go and help with the landslide recovery.

Thus, the head of the Tiger Clan ordered the family members, especially the grandchildren, to handle the recovery. This would also solidify the rumors that the Tiger Clan was leading the resolution of Sagwido and elevate the family’s prestige.

“Ha, it feels like we’re just being Cheon Ryubeom’s entourage.”

On the way to Dujedong, Yeongdo sneered. His supporters, both among the main family and the branches, quickly agreed, casting sharp glances at Cheon Ryubeom.

“…”

Ryubeom stared straight ahead, expressionless. He wondered if he should be grateful for being accustomed to hostile stares. At least the Cheonho Foundation staff accompanying them prevented open fights, though the atmosphere was tense.

Ryubeom had left the mansion after about five days. He stayed there to recover from the wounds from the Imugi battle in Jeju and to gather his strength. This wasn’t entirely his decision; the elders had advised it. They pitied the scarred Ryubeom seen at the banquet.

Ryubeom was almost forced to rest at the mansion to prepare for the many eyes that would be on him. During this time, he found that resting at the mansion allowed his body to heal much faster than resting outside, beyond the effects of mere medicinal herbs.

‘Maybe the mansion has a blessed energy…’

His body healed without any scars, and his spiritual power was fully restored. Ryubeom marveled at and was grateful for the family’s power. Though he had to endure his cousins’ sharp gazes while resting at the mansion, that was a minor discomfort.

What troubled and disappointed Ryubeom the most was that he hadn’t been able to properly contact Yeohwi. Whenever he tried to stay quietly in the attic, the family members would constantly call him outside, making it hard for him to find time alone.

Ryubeom looked down at the black phone screen, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity. In the past, he had assumed his connection with Yeohwi would naturally end once he returned to the family and had distanced himself accordingly. Now, he was feeling disappointed at not being able to contact him…

As the days passed, his anxiety grew, and Ryubeom decided to stop thinking about it and put his phone back in his pocket. After all, it seemed Yeohwi had also been busy lately and couldn’t reach out. Just as he thought this, the phone vibrated.

Seeing the screen, Ryubeom’s eyes widened. He hurriedly looked around and discreetly moved behind the building. The family members were talking with the foundation staff, so he pretended to survey the surroundings and kept his distance. Given the family members’ sharp hearing, he needed to get as far away as possible.

Without even catching his breath, Ryubeom answered the call.

— Are you still at the mansion, young master?

It was Yeohwi’s voice, which he hadn’t heard in a while.

The soft voice wrapped around his ear, and Ryubeom’s tension melted away. He exhaled sharply, the sound almost like a laugh. His heart tickled, happy to hear the voice he hadn’t heard in days.

“No, I’m on my way to Dujedong.”

— Abandoning me? You said you’d come to see me once you left the mansion.

“How does that even mean abandoning… The head ordered me to help with the landslide recovery, so I had no choice.”

Surprisingly, he was even pleased by Yeohwi’s playful accusation. He could vividly imagine the delicate expression Yeohwi would make when saying those words. Ryubeom couldn’t stop envisioning his face, wondering when he had become so accustomed to Yeohwi.

But now wasn’t the time for a leisurely conversation with Yeohwi. Having only briefly stepped away, Ryubeom quickly summarized his current situation: the landslide at Yuseom Mountain, the family’s involvement with Sagwido, and the head’s orders.

— Ah, I heard from Guil that there was another landslide at Yuseom Mountain.

“Yes. It seems the damage is quite significant. So, my cousins and the branch family members are going to help with the recovery… It might be difficult to meet for a while.”

— Hmm, then it can’t be helped. We should be careful with our contact from now on. I’ll tell the triplets not to call you first for a while.

Although Ryubeom always carried his phone, it seemed wise to be cautious about phone calls just in case. He appreciated Yeohwi’s consideration but also felt a pang of disappointment. Perhaps because he had been so close to Yeohwi over the past few months, he regretted not being able to see or talk to him properly for just a few days.

“…Are you at the main house with the triplets now?”

— Yes. They just fell asleep, but they were playing as if it was their own world. The family members seem to cherish them.

“You sound comfortable at the main house too. Your voice reflects that.”

— Can you sense that? Haha, I don’t usually come to the main house often… Maybe it’s thanks to the kids. It’s nice to be here after a long time.

Hearing Yeohwi’s gentle response, Ryubeom suddenly felt envious of the triplets. They could comfortably stay with Yeohwi. And the fact that Yeohwi didn’t often visit the main house struck him differently. Could it be related to the past event seen in the Imugi’s curse…

As he remained silent, Yeohwi asked if he should hang up if Ryubeom was busy, to which he replied that he still had some time. Ryubeom hesitated a couple of times before quietly asking,

“…Yeohwi, did you get rid of the Imugi’s head?”

A few days ago, it was reported that the Imugi’s head was missing during the recovery of its corpse. Despite searches, it was presumed to have been washed down to the sea via the valley below the cliff.

But as soon as Ryubeom heard this, he thought of Yeohwi. That night, Yeohwi had gone for a walk and was absent until the next morning.

At Ryubeom’s calm question, there was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. As if guessing why he was asking, Yeohwi made a thoughtful sound before cheerfully answering, with a tone suggesting he would be unapologetic.

— Yes, I got rid of it.

“Well done.”

— …What?

“If it made you feel better, that’s good. As long as you left no trace, it’s fine.”

Ryubeom didn’t know what Yeohwi did with the Imugi’s head. But he vividly remembered Yeohwi’s anger towards the Imugi that had forcibly stirred his resentment. So, he assumed that if part of the Imugi’s corpse was missing, it was because of Yeohwi, and he was glad if it brought Yeohwi peace.

In response to Ryubeom’s reaction, Yeohwi asked in a curious tone,

— Aren’t you going to ask me anymore? Why I dealt with the head, how I did it…

In the past, Cheon Ryubeom would have asked Yeohwi all sorts of questions. What he did with the already dead Imugi’s head, why there was no trace of the corpse, and so on. Given that the corpse wasn’t just damaged but completely disappeared, it would have been reasonable to suspect some sorcery.

But Ryubeom didn’t ask those questions. Nor did he inquire about the past seen in the Imugi’s curse, despite his curiosity.

— You used to ask so many questions, but now you don’t seem as curious. Have you lost interest?

“I’m still very curious… but you said you’d answer when I grew enough to cast mental sorcery on you. So, I won’t force you until then.”

Even in Yeohwi’s playful tone, suggesting if Ryubeom was now distancing himself, Ryubeom responded very calmly. From the start, Yeohwi’s words didn’t apply to Ryubeom. His curiosity about Yeohwi had only grown, never diminished.

The more he knew, the more mysterious Yeohwi seemed. It made him wonder if everything he understood about Yeohwi was an illusion.

Still, Ryubeom didn’t want to forcefully pry into Yeohwi or use the past seen in the curse as a weapon to uncover him. He had a competitive desire to meet Yeohwi’s conditions and… he didn’t want to treat him badly. He wanted to treat him well.

“I’ll ask you later. Hmm, surpassing Yeohwi in mental sorcery seems really difficult though…”

— …It will take quite a while.

“What? You set that condition and then say it will take a long time, that’s discouraging.”

Ryubeom retorted, feeling indignant at the belated and somewhat absurd response. He was about to argue that it was too much to expect a student to surpass their teacher, but then he shook his head.

“No, maybe not. I don’t feel as discouraged as I thought.”

— Why?

“Maybe because I’ve always faced difficult tasks. It actually feels like a challenge. And… if it takes a long time, it means I can keep learning from Yeohwi until then.”

It meant he could meet Yeohwi often and maintain their connection for a long time.

“Thinking that way, it doesn’t seem so bad.”

Ryubeom spoke brightly, as if it was a good thing. But there was no response from the other end.

The silence, devoid of even breathing sounds, stretched on, and Ryubeom cautiously called out.

“…Yeohwi?”

Finally, a faint breath was heard. It sounded like a sigh or a chuckle, something unintended.

Suddenly, Ryubeom wondered about Yeohwi’s expression. What kind of face was he making right now?

It was a strange feeling, wanting to see someone’s face. As Ryubeom fidgeted with his fingers, a response finally came.

— If you show signs of surpassing me, I’ll have to stop teaching you.

“Oh, that, that wouldn’t be good.”

Ryubeom stammered, far from the response he had hoped for. He heard a small laugh from the other end.

— Don’t worry. There’s no sign of that happening yet.

“…Is that something I should be happy about?”

— Of course.

Yeohwi’s relaxed and leisurely tone made Ryubeom feel a bit sulky. Should he be relieved that he was still far from surpassing Yeohwi?

“Cheon Ryubeom!”

A voice called out to Ryubeom from behind. It was time to move. Ryubeom glanced regretfully at his phone and the direction he had come from, then told Yeohwi he had to go.

“I’ll finish quickly and contact you again.”

— You’re showing such enthusiasm for staying in touch. Do you miss me a lot? It reminds me of the old days.

Yeohwi replied playfully, reminiscing about how Ryubeom used to avoid contact and meetings, expressing how touched he was by the change. Ryubeom chuckled. It wasn’t exactly a new realization, as Yeohwi always teased him about the past.

And yet, Yeohwi’s words made Ryubeom realize something. His behavior of clinging to the phone…

“Yeah, I guess I do miss you…”

— …

“Oh. I mean, I want to get back to training soon. You said it would take a long time. To shorten that period, I need to keep training…”

Ryubeom was startled. Realizing he had said something strange, he tried to cover it up, but his voice trembled. Embarrassed, he hurriedly ended the call without waiting for Yeohwi’s response, saying he was busy.

Running back to where his cousins were, Ryubeom tried to ignore the loud pounding of his heart. He told himself it was just because he was startled.

His heart kept tickling.

* * *

They arrived at Dujedong.

Even though Ryubeom had been informed about the damage caused by the landslide, seeing the situation firsthand was far more severe than expected. Houses were buried in mud, and even three- or four-story buildings were tilted from being pushed by the earth. It was a clear indication of the landslide’s intensity.

The barriers and ropes set up after the first landslide were strewn about haphazardly. New barriers had been put up, but they didn’t look very sturdy, likely due to the rush in setting them up.

“If this was caused by an evil spirit… Cheon Ryubeom won’t be able to handle Yuseom Mountain’s Sagwido.”

“Of course not! Up until now, he’s just been lucky.”

“Or he might have used some kind of dark arts, as Yeongdo said.”

As Yeongdo sneered at Ryubeom, the other cousins quickly chimed in with flattery. Their sycophancy seemed to please Yeongdo, but Ryubeom found it oddly fascinating, like watching a scene from a play.

However, it wasn’t an enjoyable play, so Ryubeom soon lost interest and looked around. He saw government officials, soldiers, police officers, and volunteers assigned to recover from the disaster. It seemed they had coordinated with the Cheonho Foundation beforehand, as they directed the Tiger Clan to their designated area.

“Ugh, do we really have to do this…?”

Cheon Joomyeong grimaced slightly. The muddy ground was hard to walk on, and he was not keen on clearing the debris himself. Such tasks seemed too trivial and dirty for the esteemed Beom of the Cheon family. Even the gloves handed out by the recovery team weren’t to his liking.

While the family members exchanged dissatisfied glances, Cheon Ryubeom was the first to step forward.

“Should I move this here?”

Lifting a sharp rock lying on the roadside, Ryubeom placed it where the staff indicated. He had recently gained experience in disaster recovery in Jeju.

Seeing the skilled actions of an experienced worker, Yeongdo furrowed his brow.

“That guy… Tsk.”

With Cheon Ryubeom stepping up, Yeongdo couldn’t just stand idle. The head of the family had already begun to favor Ryubeom, and if his achievements were the highest here, he would receive more praise. Feeling an odd sense of competition, Yeongdo stepped forward.

And when Yeongdo moved, the other family members naturally had to follow suit. The cousins couldn’t dawdle any longer and rolled up their sleeves.

Initially, the Tiger Suin family members weren’t supposed to do much today. It was tacitly agreed that they would help with heavy lifting and clearing dangerous areas, while the Cheonho Foundation staff would handle the rest.

This had been the norm for the past few years. The strong power of the Tiger Suin should be reserved for more significant and meaningful tasks.

Therefore, the family members came dressed in formal suits. The intention was just to show that the Tiger Clan had visited and put in an effort, but Cheon Ryubeom, who didn’t know any better, upset the plan by stepping forward.

Although Ryubeom also wore a formal suit, he didn’t mind getting it dirty.

“Hmm…”

Ryubeom felt an unusual sting on his back. He found it odd that the family members were glaring at him and that Yeongdo was suddenly showing enthusiasm, but at least the recovery work speeded up once the Tiger Suins actively participated.

With the extensive damage, it would take a few days, but at this pace, they could clear all the debris from the collapsed houses today. Ryubeom focused on the positive aspects.

There were also people who showed kindness to the particularly hardworking Ryubeom.

“Oh, thank you so much…”

“How thoughtful of you…”

These were the residents of the area. Although rumors suggested the landslide might have been caused by an evil spirit and general access was restricted, residents were an exception. They couldn’t stop people worried about their collapsed homes from coming.

The worried residents, gazing at their houses, brightened up upon spotting Ryubeom. He didn’t just move the debris; he asked questions and moved carefully, especially when handling valuable items.

An elderly man repeatedly praised Ryubeom. Embarrassed by the constant compliments, Ryubeom still responded courteously. He had been taught to respect the elderly since childhood.

“Ah, this used to be a wealthy neighborhood…”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Everyone living here was rich.”

Ryubeom showed curiosity at the old man’s story. Yuseom Mountain was soon to be Ryubeom’s investigation site. The wide mountain made it difficult to inspect each adjacent neighborhood, but this was an unexpected opportunity.

Seeing Ryubeom’s interest, the old man began his story in earnest.

“Though it’s not visible now due to the collapse, over there lived the family of the famous Jeokdan Corporation. The hillside was filled with villas of well-known wealthy people.”

In the past, several top-tier business families lived in Yuseom Mountain. The area was said to be perfect geomantically and brimming with sacred energy, attracting the wealthy. Moreover, there were rumors that staying here brought business success, prompting many rich people to build villas.

Ryubeom had heard of the Jeokdan Corporation. It was one of the three most prominent companies representing the country in the past. However, about twenty years ago, their mansion collapsed, killing most of the family, and the business failed…

Was that mansion in Yuseom Mountain?

With a subtle expression, Ryubeom looked around. Although the area was chaotic due to the landslide, the road leading here was well-paved. The entrance to the neighborhood was surrounded by a systematically planted forest.

“After ‘that incident,’ the wealthy left quickly, and it became desolate. Residents had high hopes when Jeokdan Corporation planned to build a resort here, but alas…”

The sudden collapse of houses, killing people, turned into ominous rumors, and the wealthy claimed the mountain’s sacred energy was gone and abandoned their homes. The abandoned buildings might have mostly collapsed in the recent landslide.

Was it foresight? As Ryubeom nodded and listened attentively, the old man became more animated, sharing all sorts of stories.

Gradually, the conversation shifted to the old man’s past and his children, but Ryubeom listened quietly. The old man talked about how long he had lived there, how he met his wife, the challenges of raising two daughters and three sons…

He had faced hardships but raised his children with love, and the grown children now worried about their parents still living near Yuseom Mountain. Eventually, the old man even shared that he was on his way to sign a lease for an apartment near his son’s place when the landslide destroyed his house. It seemed the old man had accumulated quite a bit of good karma.

As Ryubeom listened, other residents came to stop the old man.

“Oh my, this old man just won’t stop talking!”

“Why are you holding up a hard-working kid?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“No, no. If you keep listening, his autobiography will be more than five volumes.”

Before Ryubeom could even protest, the residents led the old man away. It seemed he was known among the residents for being talkative. They repeatedly scolded him for wasting the time of the hard-working Tiger Clan members.

After giving a slightly embarrassed bow to the now-distant old man, Ryubeom decided to refocus on the recovery work. He realized quite a bit of time had passed while listening to the stories.

“It’s already been an hour…”

He sensed that Yeongdo saw him as a rival. While he didn’t want to view disaster recovery as a competition, he still disliked the idea of doing less than Yeongdo. It wasn’t about winning against him but more about not wanting to hear any condescending remarks.

He had never thought he would see Yeongdo as a competitor.

Marveling at his own change, Ryubeom quickened his work pace when a commotion arose behind him. Hearing multiple vehicles arriving, he assumed it was more volunteers or supplies. But then he faintly heard his cousins complaining.

“What are they doing here?”

“Know your place…”

Being quite a distance from his cousins, Ryubeom moved closer, puzzled by the noise. The closer he got, the louder the commotion became. It sounded like a conflict.

What could cause a fight in such a place…

Approaching in confusion, Ryubeom gasped as familiar faces came into view near the truck loaded with relief supplies.

“Why are foxes here where we are?”

They were celebrities from Hn Entertainment, the fox Suin group, and the idols known as ‘Sun.always’ that Ryubeom had seen during a visit to Yeohwi’s workplace.

The unexpected appearance of these individuals left Ryubeom feeling extremely flustered. Despite wearing a hat and hood pulled low over his face back then, he worried they might recognize him. If they did, it could complicate everything, tying him to Yeohwi.

As he thought about avoiding them at all costs, his cousins openly expressed their displeasure at the fox Suins’ appearance.

Yeongdo furrowed his brow and asked a Cheonho Foundation staff member,

“Hey! Did you know they were coming today?”

“N-No…! I just found out they had a confidential schedule to distribute relief supplies today.”

The staff member, looking pale, explained. It was well-known that the Tiger Clan and the Fox Clan did not get along, and as a Cheonho Foundation staff, there was no way they would intentionally create this situation. The staff seemed troubled by the current scenario.

Fortunately, the areas were quite distant, but the Tiger Clan still found the mere presence of foxes in their sight unpleasant.

The branch family members sneered at the staff’s explanation.

“If it’s relief supplies, they could have just sent them. Are they here to win favor with their faces?”

“Foxes are so vulgar…”

At those words, the idols turned their heads. Seeing the Tiger Suins’ obvious hostility, they quickly recognized their identity and frowned. One of them even glanced at the Tiger Suins’ suits and chuckled.

Cheon Joomyeong twisted his lips at their reaction.

“Did they just laugh at us?”

“Daring not to show respect.”

Yeongdo growled angrily. His voice, filled with displeasure and fury, resembled the growl of a beast. The tension in the space instantly heightened.

It seemed a confrontation between the tigers and foxes could erupt at any moment.

In this volatile situation, the Cheonho Foundation staff’s face turned pale, Cheon Ryubeom frantically looked for a place to hide, and the residents behind them cast glances as if to say, ‘Weren’t you the ones who laughed first?’

It was a moment of confusion for everyone.

Fortunately, no conflict occurred. The celebrities turned away and left, and the shouts of the recovery team from behind helped to diffuse the tension.

“Please help clear the area around the cultural center!”

Although the team member felt the tension right after speaking, the Cheonho Foundation staff quickly seized the opportunity. With a desperate look, they pointed behind them with both hands and pleaded with the Tiger Clan members.

“P-Please, let’s go. There are people over there who need your help.”

With such a polite tone, the cousins exchanged glances, and then, seeing Yeongdo click his tongue and turn away, they followed suit. It was best not to cause unnecessary commotion in a place with so many people.

Especially since they were there under the head’s orders.

“Tsk…”

Ryubeom watched the scene anxiously. He was worried not only about being recognized by the celebrities but also about a potential clash between the Tiger Clan and them.

The cousins had grown up in the Cheon family estate, learning to resent the foxes. Particularly, Hn Entertainment was considered an extremely vulgar business by the family, and the sight of them on TV would always provoke curses.

Additionally, with Yeongdo being in a bad mood lately, Ryubeom worried he might act impulsively. Fortunately, Yeongdo was now heading in the opposite direction from the foxes. Ryubeom managed to calm his startled nerves.

“Hopefully, it will be okay…”

He hoped the celebrities would quickly distribute the relief supplies and leave.

Afterward, Ryubeom, following the recovery team’s directions, moved to the cultural center to continue working. The three-story building, being close to the mountain, had taken the brunt of the landslide. It was no exaggeration to say that every floor was filled with mud. The fact that the building hadn’t collapsed was remarkable, so Ryubeom carefully removed the debris.

While Ryubeom focused on the task, the family members talked about the fox Suin idols. They had already assessed all the relief supplies loaded on the truck.

“They brought quite good things.”

“The people are bowing in gratitude, aren’t they?”

They had brought various clothes, blankets, and food, all of high quality and expensive. They even offered high-end equipment to the recovery team and gave protective talismans as gifts. They said they hoped to ease the anxiety caused by the rumors of the disaster being an evil spirit’s doing.

The cousins sneered.

“Are they bragging about making a lot of money or what?”

“They’re alive thanks to our mercy, but they’ve forgotten the past and walk around with their heads held high.”

The branch family members nodded repeatedly in agreement, angered by the direct descendants.

“Exactly. After the great fire, they didn’t even properly take care of their family and dared to challenge our head!”

“If the head had seriously retaliated back then, they would all be dead.”

The great fire in the fox clan killed many of them and devastated their village. However, the fox head charged into the Tiger Clan and started a battle.

The battle was so immense that few witnessed it properly, and for a while, no one dared to go near the mountain where the fight took place. Some described it as the heavens and earth collapsing. The battle left the Tiger head with a torn right arm and the fox head with a large wound on his back.

The Tiger Clan taught that the Fox Clan, depleted of resources after the great fire, started the battle. They said it was to seize resources or redirect the emotions of the fox Suin outward. It was likened to how a nation facing internal turmoil might start a war with another country.

“The head pitied them and spared their lives, but they don’t know that, tsk…”

Listening from a distance, Ryubeom blinked. He had been trying to focus on his work, but his attention shifted sharply at the mention of the great fire.

Ryubeom received the same education. Even before the incident, the Tiger Clan and Fox Clan did not get along, but after the great fire, they became outright enemies. Hence, the Tiger head continued to show hatred towards the Fox head.

However, perhaps because he had seen the landscape of the great fire in Yeohwi’s memories, he didn’t feel an instant sense of hostility. Despite most of those scenes being obscured, the glimpse he got hinted at vast horrors.

In the past, Ryubeom had found it absurd that the Fox head initiated a battle, but now he had other questions.

‘The Fox Clan is highly skilled in sorcery, so why couldn’t they control the fire?’

He thought of Yeohwi’s exceptional sorcery skills. Even if Yeohwi was considered a genius within his family, the Fox Clan was known to be adept at many strange magics. If the Tiger Suin were renowned for their physical prowess, the Fox Suin were famous for their sorcery.

Moreover, from the items Yeohwi brought during training, it seemed the family could control many ghosts and yokai. Was that magic separate from handling fires?

Or perhaps it wasn’t a simple fire…

“Young master, could you open this door? It’s stuck with mud.”

At that moment, a recovery team member’s request brought Ryubeom back to reality.

The Tiger Clan members exuded an air of dominance and supreme confidence typical of their kind. It made ordinary people hesitant to approach them, but Cheon Ryubeom exuded less of that aura. It wasn’t that he seemed an easy target, but his gaze was calm, as if looking at an equal. Additionally, his diligence in the recovery effort made the team members warm to him.

Once again, Ryubeom immediately moved upon hearing the team member’s request. Hearing that the room was filled with mud and the door couldn’t be opened from inside, Ryubeom asked if it was okay to remove the door. The team member, thinking, ‘It’s not a flimsy door, how…,’ nodded, and Ryubeom took a deep breath and applied force.

Crack, the hinges broke, and the door swung open.

“Gasp…”

While the team members were astonished, Ryubeom calmly surveyed his surroundings.

Regardless of the outcome of the great fire and the subsequent battle between the heads, the Fox Clan had recovered all losses and reestablished themselves as a significant force in the Suin society. The head’s international business ventures and domestic entertainment projects were all hugely successful.

With the money earned, they brought high-quality relief supplies and sent celebrities as volunteers… Perhaps they came out of empathy for the disaster. It was unfortunate that the time and place coincided, but there shouldn’t be any conflicts here.

Surely, the cousins were all busy focusing on their work…

‘…They’re not here?’

Ryubeom’s eyes widened as he turned around. He no longer heard his cousins badmouthing the foxes, assuming they were busy with their tasks. But when he looked back, no one was there. While it wasn’t surprising that they moved without him, Ryubeom felt a surge of anxiety.

A sense of foreboding crept in.

Hoping his intuition was wrong, Ryubeom moved to the window. He saw the backs of his family members in the distance. And in front of them were… the fox Suin celebrities.

They stood facing each other, conversing as if in a standoff. Whatever was said before, the atmosphere was tense.

“Why are you picking a fight with us?”

“You ask why we’re here, but have the Tiger Suin ever stepped up in such matters? The great tigers always consider such tasks beneath them, don’t they?”

“Always looking down on everyone, what’s brought you here suddenly?”

At the fox Suins’ remarks, Cheon Joomyeong let out a scoff. It was clear she didn’t appreciate their boldness in speaking directly to the tigers. Turning her head briefly, she then swept her hair back and glared at the foxes.

Between her golden-brown locks, her eyes shone with a cold, golden light, her gaze sharp and piercing.

“You, who live on this land thanks to our mercy…”

“Excuse me? Mercy? I don’t recall receiving any. If you really gave it, could you take it back? It’s quite unpleasant.”

However, despite Cheon Joomyeong’s fierce glare, the fox Suins didn’t back down. The group’s leader, Seolyeon, even stepped forward and mocked them. She mimicked Cheon Joomyeong, sweeping her long black hair back with a slight laugh.

As Cheon Joomyeong ground her teeth, Yeongdo moved forward. Being the largest among the Cheon descendants, his mere movement changed the atmosphere to one of intimidation. A massive shadow loomed over Seolyeon.

“How dare foxes try to match the Cheon family? Do you not know who we are?”

“Oh, ‘Cheon’ as in ‘heaven’? Today, the sky looks cloudy though…”

Yet, Seolyeon remained unfazed by Yeongdo’s approach. She covered her mouth with her hand and shrugged as if posing for a photo, her shimmering eyelashes fluttering.

Her fluid movement twisted Yeongdo’s mouth in a scowl. Muttering under his breath, he said,

“Is it because the fox head has been absent for so long that the family members are so unruly? If the head were here, they would have taught you not to raise your heads to tigers.”

“…What?”

“Isn’t it true that after fighting our head, that guy suffered and died? I always thought the family couldn’t be properly managed under someone who abandoned his clan and wandered abroad. They are incredibly ill-mannered.”

“And to think they make their family members sell their faces… Aren’t they ashamed? Or have they lived off their looks for so long that they don’t even realize how vulgar it is?”

Cheon Joomyeong added, sneering. In the Suin society, the status of a family is determined by their use of sorcery, and despite being a powerful family, the Fox Clan was involved in the entertainment industry. Cheon Joomyeong clicked her tongue, saying it was embarrassing as a fellow Suin. The branch family members nodded and chuckled in agreement.

Seolyeon’s face turned pale. She barely managed to open her trembling lips, speaking through gritted teeth.

“Don’t insult our head.”

“You don’t even understand the meaning of what we do…”

Another member shouted angrily, but Seolyeon was already deeply shocked, her eyes welling up with tears. It was the first time she had heard such insulting words to her face.

The Tiger Clan members looked down at them with ease. Their intention was to provoke such a reaction. They looked at Seolyeon as if to say, ‘What can you do even if you’re angry?’ Seolyeon clenched her fist tightly. She could use sorcery.

As Seolyeon gathered her spiritual power, Yeongdo laughed.

“Hahaha! If you use sorcery, it’s only proper for me to use it too, right?”

As if generously offering to use sorcery instead of just blocking with his hands, Yeongdo also gathered his energy. The power he amassed was far greater than Seolyeon’s. As a candidate for the next head of the Cheon family, Yeongdo was no match for Seolyeon.

Seolyeon felt this too but continued to channel her energy out of spite. As the air vibrated with tension, Yeongdo laughed, finding her defiance amusing.

Finally, the golden and red energies collided.

“Let me show you why the Cheon family is named after the heavens…”

“Please, stop.”

But just as the energies clashed, the flow of air twisted sharply. Cheon Ryubeom had intervened, lifting Yeongdo’s arm. Standing in front of Seolyeon, Ryubeom barely managed to stop Yeongdo. Having rushed over, he couldn’t even catch his breath as he spoke to Yeongdo.

“The opponent is an ordinary Suin.”

“A fox clan member.”

“They didn’t come here to fight.”

“Those who don’t know manners need to be taught.”

Having rushed in without proper protection, Ryubeom was injured. His palms were red and scraped, and his cheek was cut and bleeding.

Yeongdo frowned at Ryubeom’s action of blocking his punch. The memory of the banquet a few days ago made him even more irritated.

Feeling awkward at Yeongdo’s expression, Ryubeom deliberately chose a respectful tone.

“This is an area affected by the landslide. If there’s a commotion here, the residents will be alarmed. And the family…”

“What? Are you trying to lecture me? The family would welcome it if we dealt with the foxes.”

Yeongdo sneered, and Cheon Joomyeong chimed in, asking if it was acceptable to fight if they moved locations. They were immensely displeased that Cheon Ryubeom had intervened right when they were about to clash with the foxes, their family’s adversaries.

Ryubeom felt the strange looks from his family members but couldn’t back down. He shook his head and reiterated that fighting was not an option.

“The head of the family would not appreciate a commotion.”

The Tiger head, Cheon Gun, greatly valued the family’s reputation. He often said over breakfast to maintain the dignity of the Cheon family, which was akin to the heavens, and always show the majesty of the tiger. While the head also hated the fox head, a clash with the fox family over such a trivial reason could actually anger him.

A conflict between a fox Suin of average spiritual power and a direct descendant of the Tiger Clan, the Cheon family, was pointless. It would be an obviously one-sided fight, and since the fox Suins were famous celebrities, it could lead to unwanted attention.

“Calm down.”

Ryubeom spoke calmly, looking Yeongdo straight in the eye. His gaze conveyed concern about the inappropriateness of a clash rather than engaging in a power struggle.

Yeongdo narrowed his eyes at the unwavering gaze but eventually clicked his tongue and stepped back. The golden aura swirling around him subsided.

Cheon Joomyeong still seemed displeased but followed Yeongdo’s lead and took a step back. Just when Ryubeom thought things were resolving smoothly, the branch family members, following behind, threw a final taunt at the foxes.

“Consider yourselves lucky.”

“Be grateful that Young Master Yeongdo decided to let this slide.”

“Wha…!”

The fox Suins flared up, but Ryubeom quickly moved to block their view of the branch family members. They mustn’t fall for such provocations.

Only after the family members moved away did Ryubeom breathe a sigh of relief and turn around.

“You should move to another location.”

There were many places where people needed the relief supplies the fox Suins had brought. Ryubeom mentioned the location of a shelter he had heard about from a Cheonho Foundation staff member a few hours earlier, checking their condition discreetly. Thankfully, there were no injuries.

The idol members looked at Cheon Ryubeom with a surprised expression. They never expected a tiger to intervene and stop the clash. They stared at him as if seeing a completely different species.

The youngest member hesitated before expressing thanks.

“…Thank you for your help.”

Though they didn’t want to acknowledge receiving help from a tiger, the situation called for it. Moreover, he had gotten injured trying to stop the fight. When the large tiger Suin gathered his spiritual power, the sheer tension had made their hair stand on end. It was an instinctive fear.

As other members murmured quiet thanks, Seolyeon suddenly tilted her head.

“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

She moved closer and asked the question. Cheon Ryubeom’s face stiffened immediately. To hide his dismay, he reflexively put on a blank mask and shook his head.

“No.”

“You seem familiar… Have you ever been to Hn?”

“…Why would I go there?”

Cheon Ryubeom prayed his voice wouldn’t tremble, and perhaps his fervent wish was granted as his reply came out very firm. His cold tone, as if drawing a line, made Seolyeon cover her chin with her hand.

“Hmm…”

Seolyeon had a good memory. She felt she had seen the calm atmosphere around Cheon Ryubeom somewhere before. She covered his face with her hand. The lower half of his face looked familiar.

But she couldn’t be sure. It had been months, and all she had were fleeting glimpses. At the time, she had been too busy with a photoshoot to pay attention to the person sitting in the dark. Moreover, back then, her focus was on Yeohwi, someone who inexplicably drew her with his instinctive charm and allure.

She had heard from others that Guil addressed a visitor as ‘young master,’ which she found curious. But even that didn’t seem to connect to the Cheon Ryubeom standing before her. It was improbable for a Fox Clan elder to call a tiger Suin ‘young master.’

Seolyeon hummed again, tilting her head. She looked Ryubeom up and down in his black suit before shrugging.

“Indeed, a tiger wouldn’t come to Hn.”

For now, Ryubeom nodded as a human who had only inherited his father’s genes.

Sensing Seolyeon looking him over again, Ryubeom turned his body completely. He adjusted his suit and looked around to change the subject. He noticed items scattered on the ground, likely dropped during the earlier clash with his cousins.

“Let me help.”

Ryubeom’s action of picking up the fallen items left the members flustered. He even wiped the dust off with his sleeve.

“You don’t have to do this…”

“…Our family caused a commotion. It’s an apology.”

“A tiger apologizing. Are you really a tiger Suin?”

Seolyeon looked shocked. Come to think of it, his polite and respectful behavior towards a fox Suin was unlike a typical tiger Suin. It was also unusual that he moved separately from the group of Cheon family members, perhaps due to this demeanor?

The youngest member, So Seo, also murmured with wide eyes.

“If all tiger Suins were like this, we could have really made peace…”

“…Pardon? Peace?”

Cheon Ryubeom quickly reacted, even before the other members could chide her for the seemingly out-of-place comment. Had there ever been an attempt at peace between the Tiger and Fox clans? It wasn’t something taught in his family.

Having recently hoped for possible reconciliation between the Tiger and Fox clans, Cheon Ryubeom’s curiosity was piqued by her words.

“Was there ever an attempt to make peace between our clans?”