TGHD Ch 36

The next day.

As soon as Cheon Ryubeom woke up, he took the medicine given by Yeohwi and was led to breakfast. Yeohwi insisted on watching until Ryubeom finished eating, resulting in him having a surprisingly full stomach early in the morning. Feeling completely drained from the severe illness that struck him at dawn, his mind was foggy and he followed Yeohwi’s instructions without much thought. His body was sluggish, and he newly realized just how serious yesterday’s curse had been.

“I think I need to visit my family for a bit.”

“…Did Mr. Guil call for you?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

When Ryubeom recited the expected reason, Yeohwi nodded with an enigmatic smile. Though he was concerned that Yeohwi might suspect him for always using the same reason, Ryubeom simply thought Guil was lucky to be able to call and meet Yeohwi so easily.

Yeohwi placed his hand on Ryubeom’s forehead. Startled by the gesture of checking his temperature, Ryubeom looked at him.

“The curse is completely gone.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel sick anymore. …Thank you.”

He added his thanks quietly, somewhat embarrassed. This small touch washed away his drowsiness, bringing back memories of the dawn incident, making him even more unsure of what to do.

But Yeohwi, as always, acted calmly as if nothing had happened.

“Still, just to be safe, rest for a while. Don’t think about going to Uisom Mountain right away, thinking you’ve got a lead from meeting the evil spirit yesterday.”

“Uh-huh…”

“And don’t even think about going to the hospital since Jeon Seunghyeok hasn’t woken up yet.”

A stern warning was attached, emphasizing that even if a strong curse was broken, aftereffects could remain, so he needed to be cautious. Ryubeom sheepishly averted his gaze at Yeohwi’s pointed warning not to wander alone. His voice seemed to predict exactly how he would act.

“You’re not fully recovered yet. Understand?”

“Yeah…”

“Don’t act recklessly like yesterday. You’re in a state where you need to be careful even moving around.”

“Got it…”

“You barely escaped from the evil spirit by luck, so don’t go back to confirm anything.”

“I said I got it…”

“You need to rest quietly. Don’t strain yourself by claiming you’re searching elsewhere.”

With a series of warnings, Ryubeom felt increasingly embarrassed, looking up at Yeohwi with bewilderment. How many times did he need to be warned? It felt like he was being cautioned like a child placed near water.

Yeohwi spoke while looking straight into Ryubeom’s eyes.

“Stay calm until I return.”

Though Ryubeom found the firm words absurd, he couldn’t bring himself to argue. His head nodded involuntarily under Yeohwi’s unwavering gaze. When emphasized with that face, it seemed necessary to comply.

Afterward, Yeohwi left.

Before leaving, he took out a bunch of snacks from his magic pouch and placed them on the desk, making Ryubeom chuckle. It seemed like snacks for luring a child or the piles of food left by an owner going away for a long time from their pet.

Feeling incredulous, Ryubeom picked up and ate some rice crackers from the desk.

‘What makes him think I wander around so dangerously…’

The clear memories of suffering due to the curse left him with no desire to clash recklessly with evil spirits again. He didn’t want to be in pain, nor did he want to cause Yeohwi any unnecessary trouble. Feeling it was truly a misunderstanding, Ryubeom finished the snack bag with a crunch.

* * *

About two hours later.

“The sky is clear today…”

Cheon Ryubeom muttered as he looked up at the sky. The blue sky was completely cloudless, giving him a refreshing sense just by looking at it, and the bright sunlight warmly enveloped his body.

Cheon Ryubeom was now standing on Uisom Mountain.

Ryubeom tapped the ground lightly a couple of times. The terrain didn’t feel unstable, as if it might collapse, nor did he sense any ominous presence. Moreover, while no sounds of wildlife had been heard in the hills the previous day, today the peaceful chirping of birds could be heard.

He had deliberately come at noon, a time full of positive energy.

Ryubeom clearly remembered Yeohwi’s warning. However, after thinking it over, if the evil spirit had reacted to Jeon Seunghyeok’s birthday, he couldn’t miss today. The evil spirit’s energy would have been stronger than usual, leaving more distinct traces.

Last night, the evil spirit had suddenly disappeared.

He needed to find any clues about where they went or why they disappeared. He had no intention of clashing with the evil spirit. This search was just for ‘confirmation’ and would be done lightly.

Thus, thinking this wasn’t the reckless behavior Yeohwi had warned about, Ryubeom climbed the mountain.

“Was it around here…”

Recalling the events of the previous day, he found the spot where he had clashed with the evil spirit. Although the forest looked mostly similar, Ryubeom was able to find the place easily.

A broken tree.

When he had been grabbed by the evil spirit and pressed against the tree, a red energy had surged and pulled him away to safety. Although he hadn’t realized it at the time due to the confusion, it was undoubtedly Yeohwi’s energy.

Ryubeom touched the broken part of the tree with a newfound feeling. While he was amazed at the strength of Yeohwi’s energy, he was also ruminating on other memories.

Had Yeohwi called his name back then…?

The very surprised and panicked tone of his voice lingered in his ears like an auditory hallucination. It was almost regrettable that his consciousness had been fading just before he passed out from being strangled.

‘…But in that situation, anyone would be surprised, right?’

Ryubeom coughed and withdrew his hand. He felt embarrassed that he was trying to attach meaning to a natural and humane reaction. Despite having said he expected nothing from Yeohwi, he was dwelling on the fact that Yeohwi had called his name.

“Focus, Ryubeom…”

Shaking his head, Ryubeom went over the situation again. Pushing Yeohwi’s voice to the side of his consciousness, he recalled the sound of a bell that had rung at that moment.

What was that sound?

When the bell rang, the evil spirits’ threatening aura diminished, and they left as if entranced, disappearing as if teleporting. Ryubeom, even while collapsing, had followed the direction in which the spirits moved with his eyes.

Planning to inspect that location, Ryubeom first checked the surrounding area. The place where the clash had occurred, and the direction from which the spirits had first appeared.

Looking around carefully, he found the footprints of the evil spirits. He also discovered a large area where the ground had been scraped. These were the tracks of the leader, the presumed evil deity.

Ryubeom cautiously touched the tracks but could only faintly sense resentment. There was nothing else noticeable. It was difficult to pinpoint the identity of the leader, but he recognized the smaller spirits’ footprints.

Narrow feet and five thin, pointed claws. Although the footprints alone weren’t definitive, when he considered their shape, the range narrowed.

‘A weasel, maybe…’

He also saw marks resembling those left by a snake. Ryubeom pondered. The smaller spirits had less attack power than the leader and had slightly different energy. They clearly weren’t derived from the leader.

Could it be that, like Hyoojomyeon in the past, the central evil spirit had absorbed other spirits? What creatures related to weasels and snakes could there be? Or had wild animals become corrupted by the leader’s evil energy?

Suddenly, Jeon Seunghyeok’s frustrated exclamation came to mind.

‘We just received it too!’

Jeon Seunghyeok had spoken fearfully of the evil spirit, but also with a sense of injustice, using ‘we’ to imply others were also involved, not just the Jeokdan Corporation family.

The leader seemed related to Jeokdan Corporation, and the small-bodied spirits… Could they be connected to the ‘we’ Jeon Seunghyeok mentioned? With many hypotheses in mind, Ryubeom moved in the direction where the spirits had disappeared.

But he found nothing there. Looking around the clearing, he stretched out his hand, as if hoping to find an invisible door, but after feeling the air several times, he sheepishly lowered his hand. Fortunately, no one else was around to see it.

Hoping there might be another clue, Ryubeom carefully inspected the area and soon noticed a shimmer in the air. Initially thinking it was just sunlight, he realized the undulating shape was different.

It looked like a silver thread.

It was sporadically connected, so Ryubeom decided to follow the thread.

Tweet-tweet…

He walked deeper into the mountains, taking the sound of birds positively. Birds are sensitive to air currents, so their presence indicated no immediate danger in the vicinity.

But after walking for about two hours, Ryubeom accepted a sad conclusion.

“There’s nothing here…”

The silver thread had disappeared, and only dense trees surrounded him. This place was far from the landslide area, presenting a serene forest scene. Despite thoroughly examining his path, he had found nothing.

Moreover, the deeper he went, the more birds he heard, making him feel like he was entering a sacred space. The sunlight was warm, and the air was calm, making it an ideal retreat.

The peacefulness typical of a place untouched by humans for a long time pervaded the area. Ryubeom took a deep breath, looking around. Although he felt disappointed at not finding any clues, he decided to appreciate the scenery.

And since Yeohwi had repeatedly warned him not to do anything dangerous, he had kept his word…

As Ryubeom reasoned with himself and prepared to return, he heard a very small voice behind him.

“Child…”

A faint voice. Ryubeom flinched and turned his head. He hadn’t felt anyone’s presence.

However, upon checking behind him with caution, Ryubeom was soon taken aback. Sitting on a low rock, waving at him, was a petite elderly woman. Her hair was white, and her face and hands were deeply wrinkled.

The sight of two mountain birds flapping their wings at the edge of the rock where the old woman sat was surreal. Seeing the birds close by, he thought she certainly wasn’t an evil spirit.

Ryubeom cautiously approached the old woman, who was tapping her knees. There was a mix of concern and strange wariness towards the old woman deep in the mountains.

“Is something the matter? Did you lose your way?”

“Child, have you been going through hard times lately?”

“…Pardon?”

“Your eyes are full of worry and concern…”

Ryubeom looked at the old woman with slightly surprised eyes. Under the sunlight streaming through the leaves, her eyes had a strange golden hue. They seemed to pierce through everything in this world, with a distant, profound gaze.

“The place where you live has bad energy. Surely your body must be very weak. To overcome this hardship, you must offer a prayer to the heavens…”

Cheon Ryubeom’s face instantly turned puzzled.

Who is this old woman…?

However, Ryubeom soon changed his mind. Recently, when visiting a psychiatric hospital to meet Jeon Seunghyeok, he received several precautions. While simply asking questions was an option, it was better to engage in a conversation to gather information, so Ryubeom studied what to keep in mind during such dialogues.

Thinking he should approach the situation with an open mind, Ryubeom carefully assessed the current situation. An elderly woman he encountered in the mountains. If she appeared to have sore legs and gave sudden warnings to others…

Perhaps she was an elderly person with mental instability or a condition, who had lost her way and ended up here. This hypothesis seemed quite plausible. It was unlikely that a frail elderly woman would have come deep into Uisom Mountain for a walk.

Ryubeom glanced over the woman. Apart from a cane, she didn’t seem to have any belongings, and she wasn’t dressed for hiking. Most importantly, the only thing he sensed from her was the precarious aura of someone nearing the end of their life.

This woman wouldn’t live much longer.

At most, a year, or perhaps not even half a year. Understanding her fragile state, Ryubeom became even more kind to the elderly woman.

“Grandma, where are you from? Do you know the contact number of your family?”

He knelt and crouched to look up at her as he asked the question. In a very cautious and gentle voice, the woman chuckled and reached out her hand.

“Oh dear, what a kind child you are.”

Though slightly embarrassed by her patting his head, Ryubeom patiently waited for her answer. There was something calming about the gentle touch, making him feel more at ease.

From below, the old woman’s eyes looked cloudy. The light brown eyes, catching the sunlight streaming through the leaves, had a faint golden tint in some parts, but overall, they appeared clouded as if a white veil covered them. Could this be the eyes of an elderly person with cataracts? Ryubeom resolved to take better care of her.

“It’s dangerous to be here alone. I’ll help you down.”

“Huh? You’ll carry me? That sounds great!”

“…I didn’t say that, but I will carry you.”

As soon as he showed his back, the woman promptly climbed on. He thought she might be quite experienced.

The old woman was almost weightless. Ryubeom carefully adjusted her position and asked where they should go.

“Let’s go to the place with the waterfall. I left something there.”

“…A waterfall?”

“How could you not know where the waterfall is even after coming here? Oh dear, I’ll show you the way. It’s a very beautiful place.”

“…Alright.”

Ryubeom, who had studied the mountain’s terrain in advance, couldn’t recall any such place. It was a mountain, so there might be a waterfall, but…

For now, Ryubeom obediently played the role of a cart. He had heard that it’s best to align with the patient’s wishes as long as it wasn’t something dangerous. Following the directions pointed by the woman’s cane, he walked diligently.

But no matter how far they walked, there was no waterfall.

The woman kept encouraging him, saying it was just another five minutes or a little bit further, but Ryubeom was genuinely confused.

“…Are you sure there’s a waterfall in this direction?”

“Of course, of course! We’re almost there!”

Despite focusing all his senses, he couldn’t hear the sound of water, nor smell any dampness. He began to think he had mishandled the situation. More concerning than the trouble he had gone through was the thought that he had kept the old woman outside in the rather chilly weather for too long.

Moreover, it would be dark in about two hours.

“Grandma, I don’t think I can find the way. Let’s go down for now, and then next time…”

“What?! I need to go to the waterfall! Someone is waiting for me there!”

“But…”

As they argued, a deep voice echoed from above the mountain.

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!”

Startled by the sudden sound of someone hastily approaching, Ryubeom turned his head warily, only to be taken aback. A large man dressed in gray traditional Korean clothing was descending, and behind him, a long white tail swayed.

The black stripes on the tail, the round ears sticking out from his short-cropped hair, and the sharp fangs revealed when he opened his mouth.

He was a tiger Suin. A white tiger Suin, no less.

Ryubeom stared at him in surprise. It was the first time he had seen a tiger Suin displaying such a clear animal form.

Meanwhile, the elderly woman waved her hand excitedly and spoke.

“Oh dear, Baekyeong, I was at the waterfall…”

“Yes, yes. That waterfall dried up a long time ago. You still haven’t stopped looking for it,” the white tiger Suin answered firmly as he forcibly pulled the elderly woman off Ryubeom’s back. His actions suggested that he was quite accustomed to such situations.

“Why do you keep wandering off when you should stay home?” he grumbled while straightening the elderly woman’s clothes, making Ryubeom feel a bit guilty. Home? He glanced in the direction the man had come from and saw a small hermitage come into view.

At that moment, the white tiger Suin gave Cheon Ryubeom a nod.

“Thanks for helping. You must have had quite a time since the old lady wouldn’t let go.”

“It’s alright. I didn’t know the waterfall was gone, so I’m sorry for making her endure the cold wind. We wandered for almost an hour…”

“That waterfall disappeared about a hundred years ago, so it’s natural you didn’t know. But you suffered for an hour… Well, let me offer you a glass of water.”

Ryubeom’s eyes lit up. Though he wasn’t tired or particularly thirsty, his curiosity about the hermitage grew. Living there might provide clues about Sagwido.

Being kind to the elderly woman turned out to be an opportunity.

Entering the hermitage, Ryubeom looked around in wonder. He found the serene atmosphere of the small temple very appealing.

Then his gaze fell upon a statue in the courtyard. He immediately recognized the familiar shape.

It was a statue of the tiger god, one of the Twelve Zodiac Gods.

The Twelve Zodiac Gods. They symbolize the twelve guardian deities of the earth, also known as the Twelve Spirit Generals or the Twelve Spirit Kings. They are the foundation explaining the system of Oriental astrology and represent the time in this land. Ryubeom looked up at the statue with a sense of reverence.

In the Suin family, a divine beast protected the clan. The more robust the myth backing it, the greater the spiritual power the divine beast possessed. The nine-tailed fox of the fox family was an example. If the myth was closely related to the divine beast, such as the Twelve Zodiac Gods, it was believed that a guardian deity would watch over the family.

Though it was nearly a legend, and he had never heard of anyone seeing the tiger god directly, he imagined that if it existed, it would surely look as dignified and impressive as the statue.

“Surely the tiger god will protect Beom-i,” his mother had told him long ago. Feeling nostalgic, Ryubeom clasped his hands together and prayed in front of the statue. After seating the elderly woman on the wooden floor and bringing her a cup of cold water, the white tiger Suin asked in a bewildered tone.

“Do you know what you’re praying for?”

“Isn’t it a statue of the tiger god?”

“Oh, you know.”

His somewhat embarrassed reaction made Ryubeom smile slightly. Baekyeong, as he was called, had a brusque tone but wasn’t cold in his actions. Gratefully accepting the cup he offered, Ryubeom asked another question.

“Do you live here with the elderly woman?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Why ask?”

“I’m curious about living in Uisom Mountain. It’s known for its open gateways and there’s been a recent landslide. Aren’t you worried?”

Although this place was far from the landslide area, Uisom Mountain was known for being an area with open gateways, making it seem dangerous as a living space. Although people lived just below the mountain…

However, Baekyeong merely shrugged indifferently at Ryubeom’s concern. Sighing at his reaction, Ryubeom continued.

“Is it because you’re a white tiger Suin…?”

“I don’t have any spiritual power. So don’t ask me to show any mystical arts. I just came here seeking peace.”

Baekyeong answered almost like an automated response. His weary expression indicated he had been asked similar questions many times by others who had been led here by the elderly woman.

After some hesitation, Ryubeom spoke. Usually, he didn’t reveal his identity easily, but he felt a kinship with another tiger Suin.

“Actually, I’m also a tiger Suin.”

“…What?”

“I’m very pleased to meet another tiger Suin in such a place.”

He hadn’t heard of a white tiger Suin living in Uisom Mountain. Given the mountain’s history after the Jeokdan Corporation incident, it made sense that no one lived there, and thus there was no information. Moreover, it was so deep in the mountains that people who might have been led here by the elderly woman had not spread the word.

There had been no information about a white tiger Suin living on Uisom Mountain. However, given that no one had lived in the mountains since the incident with Jeokdan Corporation, it wasn’t surprising that there was no information. Moreover, this place was so deep in the mountains. It seemed that people who were led by the old woman might have encountered him by chance, but it hadn’t become widely known. Although the number of tigers was relatively small, it was only natural that they didn’t all know each other. Even Ryubeom knew only the major branches of the family, not each individual.

“In fact, I came to investigate Sagwido of Uisom Mountain. I was assigned a task by my family…”

“You’re from the Cheon family.”

“Ah, yes. I’m from the Cheon family…”

“Leave.”

Suddenly, Baekyeong’s attitude changed. Until the moment he recognized the Cheon family, Ryubeom thought the news that his family was leading the effort to solve the Sagwido issue had spread widely. But now, Baekyeong’s face turned extremely fierce.

“…Excuse me? Suddenly, why…”

“I have no intention of getting involved with tigers, so get lost.”

Ryubeom couldn’t understand why a tiger Suin would say they didn’t want to be involved with tigers. Surprised, Ryubeom’s shoulders were roughly shoved by Baekyeong, who spoke irritably.

“You caused trouble a few days ago, and now you come back without learning anything.”

Accident. With that one word, Ryubeom realized something. It must be referring to the commotion caused by his cousins using significant power in Uisom Mountain. Perhaps Baekyeong, who lived here, had been affected by that disturbance. Believing he was not without responsibility for the incident, Ryubeom promptly apologized.

“I apologize. But I have no intention of causing trouble. I’m just looking for the Sagwido…”

“And what do you intend to do if you find it? Do you believe the great Cheon family can eradicate them all?”

“I want to understand.”

“…What?”

“I want to understand why evil spirits are in Uisom Mountain, and why they became evil spirits. In fact, after meeting Jeon Seunghyeok, the only survivor of Jeokdan Corporation, I noticed some peculiar things.”

Ryubeom quickly explained the events of the previous day: the suspicious warehouse discovered near the mansion where the Jeokdan Corporation family stayed, and Jeon Seunghyeok taking talismans of suppression from there, as well as the purpose of the prayer beads he usually wore.

After seeing all that, Ryubeom couldn’t readily hunt the evil spirits. Even if the leader was extremely strong, he wouldn’t have sought to eliminate them if they were weaker.

“I understand you were displeased with the commotion caused in Uisom Mountain a few days ago. However, I need information right now. If you know anything, could you please share it with me?”

He requested as politely and sincerely as possible. As he spoke, Baekyeong’s expression subtly changed. A bit of surprise, astonishment, and… as if realizing something.

Baekyeong’s light blue eyes scanned Ryubeom’s face, trembling.

“You… that person’s…”

Baekyeong’s lips moved slightly before he turned his head to the side. The previous hostility had diminished, replaced by an awkward demeanor.

Baekyeong mumbled.

“…If you had clashed with them, it would have been hard to get out unharmed.”

Although his voice was very low, Ryubeom quickly noticed the change in his demeanor. Ryubeom immediately bowed his head in gratitude.

“It’s okay. Thank you for your concern.”

“Who’s concerned…!”

Baekyeong retorted sharply, then, seeing Ryubeom’s face, couldn’t argue further and closed his mouth. His muttering about not being able to even get angry was clearly audible.

Ryubeom decided not to miss this opportunity.

“You know about the Sagwido in Uisom Mountain, don’t you? If it’s alright, could you share the information…”

“It’s dangerous.”

“None of the Sagwido I’ve encountered so far were safe.”

Though Baekyeong interrupted him with a cold warning, Ryubeom didn’t back down. The resolute look in his eyes made Baekyeong hesitate. His lips moved a couple of times, as if he was about to be swept away.

Finally, Baekyeong asked.

“How much have you investigated about the Sagwido in Uisom Mountain?”

“Ah, first, I found out that they seem to bear a grudge against the Jeokdan Corporation family, and other than that, that there seem to be multiple evil spirits.”

“Do they appear as many that seem like one, or one that seems like many?”

“I’m assuming the latter. The energy is similar but relatively weak. And while the leader has a clear malevolent intent, the subordinate evil spirits are somewhat different.”

Ryubeom answered faithfully. He felt as though he was being tested on how much he genuinely wanted to know about them.

“From the traces, they seem to take the form of a weasel or a snake. The shape of the leader is still unclear, though…”

“What else?”

“Um, that’s all. When the bell suddenly rang, they all disappeared…”

“…You heard a bell?”

“Yes. Could there be someone controlling those evil spirits?”

Baekyeong’s expression became subtle. At the mention of the bell, he flinched, then looked Ryubeom over with an unreadable gaze.

“Controlling, huh… That might not be incorrect.”

Muttering to himself, Baekyeong then shook his head.

“As you have deduced, there are multiple evil spirits, not just one. And they don’t stay confined to Uisom Mountain.”

“What? Do you mean the evil spirits move around?”

“Yes. And their numbers are increasing.”

Ryubeom’s eyes widened. Until now, all the Sagwido he had encountered had stayed within a specific area, but this time, they weren’t confined to a particular region? It might be that they used Uisom Mountain as their base and moved around using some kind of teleportation trick, as seen at dawn. Landslides can happen anywhere, so even if they occurred elsewhere, it wouldn’t be connected to the deeds of the Sagwido in Uisom Mountain.

No wonder there were no clear tales or detailed information about the Sagwido in Uisom Mountain; it made sense if the evil spirits didn’t exist in one place.

With his eyes gleaming, Ryubeom asked. If he could trace the movements of the evil spirits, he could find clues.

“Do you know where the evil spirits travel?”

“Well…”

Just as Baekyeong was about to speak.

Smack!

“Ouch!”

Suddenly, Baekyeong clutched the back of his head in pain. Ryubeom looked around in surprise. A small pebble was rolling on the ground.

Did the old woman throw it? But she was sitting on the veranda counting flower petals. Was there someone else? He didn’t sense any other presence in the hermitage…

Baekyeong muttered, “Good grief,” while glancing behind the hermitage, then shook his head. He then clicked his fingers as if trying to regain Ryubeom’s attention.

“I’m not sure, but maybe… Yeongjang-myeon in Jeonnam and Doseung-eup in Chungbuk.”

“…You seem to know exactly.”

“What? No, that’s… I just heard it through the grapevine! And there are so many mountains in those areas…”

Baekyeong shouted as if Ryubeom had hit the mark. Ryubeom quickly nodded, having unintentionally blurted out his impression. As someone seeking information, he couldn’t afford to offend his informant. He was curious about what kind of information network Baekyeong had while living isolated in the hermitage, but…

And frankly, he was more puzzled by the locations Baekyeong mentioned. Uisom Mountain was located in the heart of Gyeongbuk, in Yeongnam Province, yet the evil spirits could travel to entirely different provinces? Did they wander that far?

This was definitely different from Mrs. Na-kyung’s case in Hyojomyeon, where she absorbed surrounding evil spirits indiscriminately to grow stronger. Evil spirits increasing their forces far away…

Perhaps the leader was gathering specific spirits.

With various hypotheses in mind, Ryubeom bowed to Baekyeong. Thanks to him, he could set a direction.

“You’ve been a great help. Thank you.”

“…You’re thanking me without knowing how much hardship awaits you.”

“Not suffering while searching for Sagwido would be stranger. Besides… there’s something I want to achieve, so I must endure.”

Despite Baekyeong’s chilly tone, Ryubeom responded with a faint smile. Perhaps due to the countless mockeries and scorn he had faced from his family, Baekyeong’s attitude didn’t bother him. It wasn’t so much that this level of mockery didn’t qualify as such, but rather that he sensed Baekyeong’s emotions weren’t inherently negative.

Even now, Baekyeong only moved his lips at Ryubeom’s response before sharply turning his head. His slightly furrowed brows betrayed his apologetic feelings. There was no need to feel sorry.

Perceiving that the atmosphere wasn’t bad, Ryubeom cautiously asked a question that had been on his mind since their first meeting.

“By the way, I’m curious… isn’t it inconvenient not to transform into a human form?”

Until now, every tiger Suin Ryubeom had met had achieved perfect human transformation. Tiger Suin inherently possessed powerful mythical abilities, which made their ability to control spiritual energy superior to other Suins. Although Baekyeong mentioned he had no spiritual power earlier, human transformation was connected to the understanding of spiritual control rather than its quantity.

However, directly asking why he didn’t transform into a human form might come across as mocking his abilities, so he phrased it carefully.

Baekyeong chuckled.

“Remaining like this makes humans more cautious around me.”

“Ah, because you live in the mountains with the old lady…”

“Well, that’s part of it. But tigers live too closely with humans unnecessarily.”

It was a statement hard to grasp at first. The purpose of human transformation was to live comfortably among humans in society, yet Baekyeong seemed cynical about it.

At that moment, the old woman, who was sitting on the veranda, knocked and called out.

“Baekyeong, bring me some rice cakes. I’m feeling peckish.”

“I’ll prepare dinner soon, so don’t eat any snacks.”

“Huh? Just give me one rice cake, and I won’t complain!”

“Isn’t that what a tiger says to a human?”

“A tiger needs to be eaten once to come to its senses!”

“That’s a scary thing to say… It’s even scarier coming from an old lady.”

Baekyeong shook his head as if genuinely exasperated. The conversation naturally shifted towards them, and Ryubeom watched the two with curiosity.

While Baekyeong went into the kitchen to get some rice cakes, Ryubeom bid farewell to the old woman.

“Grandma, it’s winter now, so you need to be careful. Don’t go looking for the waterfall for a while.”

“But child, you don’t understand. How beautiful the waterfall is in winter!”

“It’ll be even prettier in spring.”

“That’s true!”

The old woman laughed heartily, agreeing a hundred, a thousand times. Praising Ryubeom for being smart, she patted his head, and Ryubeom gently inclined his head.

What kind of connection did Baekyeong and the old woman have to be staying here together? He wondered if perhaps the comfort he felt when she patted his head was so addictive that he stayed with her. This whimsical thought made him imagine Baekyeong’s exasperated expression, causing him to chuckle quietly to himself.

It was truly a fascinating hermitage in many ways.

* * *

That night, Yeohwi returned.

Cheon Ryubeom understood why Yeohwi had gone to the main house after receiving a message from the family in the evening.

“Yeohwi, I heard the fox head has returned?”

He was shocked when he received the call just after coming down from Uisom Mountain. It was confirmed that the fox head, who had been abroad, had returned to the country, causing the head of the family to be greatly excited. They mentioned that the head had been preparing an offensive spell he had been meticulously researching for a long time and added that they might be summoned to the main house if something happened, so they should always be on standby.

Ryubeom predicted that the “something” referred to a clash with the fox head.

Furthermore, it was said that the fox head’s energy had been detected in the Gyeongsang region, quite far from Uisom Mountain. Had there been something significant for the head to exert his power as soon as he returned?

Since the head had returned after a long time, the fox family would naturally be on high alert. Thus, the elder Guil called for Yeohwi…

Reflecting on the situation, Ryubeom cautiously asked.

“Yeohwi, you aren’t in a high-ranking position in your family, are you…?”

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he covered it with his hand, realizing his mistake. He had intended to ask Yeohwi later. As he hesitated and glanced at Yeohwi, Yeohwi tilted his head.

There was something in Ryubeom’s demeanor.

“You seem to hope I’m not in a high-ranking position.”

“…Yes. I don’t want to fight with you.”

“…”

“I don’t want to show you any form of hostility.”

No matter how adversarial their families were, Ryubeom could never think of Yeohwi as an enemy. He didn’t want to criticize him or show hostility towards him.

Suddenly, Ryubeom recalled something Yeohwi had said before. He had been offered a high-ranking position in his family but ran away because he didn’t want the responsibility. Although Yeohwi later said he was being punished for it… now Ryubeom found comfort in those words. It meant Yeohwi hadn’t taken a high-ranking position.

Yeohwi, who had been looking intently at Ryubeom, impulsively asked.

“If we end up fighting, what will you do?”

Startled, Ryubeom’s shoulders hunched. He barely managed to shake his head.

“…I don’t know. I don’t want to imagine it.”

“Imagine it. Even though the fox head has returned after decades, the tiger family still harbors hostility. Moreover, they’ve issued a standby order to the clan members, so who knows if a war between the families will break out soon. In that case, everyone would have to participate, not just the elders.”

Yeohwi persistently questioned, as if he needed to see what expression Cheon Ryubeom would make in that situation.

Ryubeom’s lips quivered.

“…I…”

But as soon as he uttered a word, his face contorted, looking as if he was about to cry. His voice trembled.

“I really don’t know.”

“…If you remain ignorant, you’ll go to your grave without knowing anything.”

“…Maybe that’s better.”

“What did you say?”

Just imagining it for a moment made his heart pound, his stomach churn, and his chest tighten. A war between the tiger and fox families, where they had to face each other as enemies? Watching Yeohwi on the opposite side of the battlefield? The thought alone was horrifying.

He wanted to protect the family his mother loved, but could he raise a sword against Yeohwi?

“I just want to stay ignorant. I don’t want to imagine it. Don’t ask me such questions…”

Ryubeom’s voice came out as if he was about to cry. He looked down, his lips tightly shut, as if he was confused, scared, and distressed. His eyes had turned red.

Yeohwi reached out his hand. He cupped Ryubeom’s cheek, gently smoothing the eyes that looked on the verge of tears. His touch was somewhat urgent and surprised.

“I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

His voice was filled with embarrassment. Somehow, Ryubeom felt even more sorrowful, pressing his lips together and lowering his head further. But this only made him bury his face in Yeohwi’s hand. Yeohwi flinched at the seemingly petulant gesture but didn’t withdraw his hand.

“You’re mean…”

“…Yes, I’m mean.”

The belated response was a bit low. It sounded like a mix of a bitter laugh and self-mockery.

After a while, Ryubeom, feeling embarrassed by his actions, lifted his head. He felt like he had just thrown a tantrum. He hadn’t expected to react so intensely. Even though Yeohwi had forced him to imagine it, he had gotten too emotional.

The warmth from Yeohwi’s hand lingered on his cheek. Whether it was due to embarrassment or because he liked Yeohwi’s touch, his ears turned red. Ryubeom pressed his cheek with the back of his hand to hide the blush.

“……”

Yeohwi slowly withdrew his hand and lowered his gaze. His eyes traced the hand that had hastily reached out to Cheon Ryubeom, the fingers that had stroked his cheek and rubbed his eyes. It was a complex look, as if he was reflecting on an unplanned action. The words “Again…” whispered into the air and dissipated.

Soon, Yeohwi smiled as usual. It was a smile that seemed like a mask.

“By the way, young master, why were you packing? Weren’t you supposed to stay here and search Uisom Mountain?”

Ryubeom naturally followed the change in topic. Feeling embarrassed himself, he cleared his throat and nodded.

“I’m planning to go to Yeongjang-myeon in Jeonnam and Doseung-eup in Chungbuk. It seems there are traces of Sagwido there as well.”

“Sagwido are not only in Uisom Mountain but in multiple places?”

“Not exactly. It seems they use Uisom Mountain as their base and travel around. Maybe they gathered forces from other places. Their behavior is definitely different from previous Sagwido…”

“…How do you know that?”

“Today, during the day at Uisom Mountain…”

“You went outside?”

“Oh.”

Ryubeom was flustered. He had resolved to keep his outing a secret, but sharing information with Yeohwi had become so natural that he let his guard down.

Yeohwi looked at Ryubeom with an incredulous expression.

“You know your condition isn’t good, so why did you go out? I told you to stay put, but you never listen.”

“Well, I didn’t act recklessly! The weather was nice, so I just went for a short walk…”

“Climbing a mountain isn’t a walk, especially not Uisom Mountain. Your claim of not acting recklessly is false.”

Judge Yeohwi’s firm verdict left Ryubeom flustered. In the end, he had to confess everything about his day, pleading for leniency.

He explained that he wanted to check the traces because the evil spirit’s energy would be clearer today, and he found the footprints of the evil spirit at the collision site. He also mentioned the silver mirage he saw while checking where they disappeared and the story of meeting the old woman and the white tiger Suin deep in the mountains.

Yeohwi listened quietly to Ryubeom’s outpouring of stories, his expression turning curious at the mention of the hermitage. He tilted his head and muttered.

“…Hermitage? I hadn’t heard of that…”

“Yeah, I didn’t know there was a hermitage in Uisom Mountain either. It seems they chose a place where people don’t come. Since they live in a Sagwido-opened area, I thought they might know something about the evil spirits, so I asked various questions…”

Ryubeom emphasized that his search today was peaceful, explaining that there was no conflict with the white tiger Suin and that they had a very friendly conversation. In his story, Baekyeong was depicted as an exceptionally kind and benevolent person.

He mentioned how kind Baekyeong was, offering water and worrying about his investigation of Sagwido. He even said that he was warmly welcomed as a fellow tiger Suin, making Yeohwi chuckle.

Unfortunately, Cheon Ryubeom was bad at lying, and his exaggerated demeanor only revealed the truth.

Yeohwi glanced up and down at Ryubeom, checking for any injuries, making Ryubeom tense.

“Really, nothing happened. It was very peaceful… And I went at noon on purpose…”

He added one or two more defenses, desperately trying to sway the judge’s heart.

Ryubeom worried that Yeohwi might feel ignored. Yeohwi had shown concern for him, but he had gone out despite being told to rest. He feared that such behavior might make Yeohwi dislike him…

Yeohwi chuckled at Ryubeom’s stiff and cautious behavior. Cheon Ryubeom looked like a puppy that had caused trouble, glancing sideways and watching for reactions. Although tigers are felines, for a moment, Yeohwi saw a small animal’s image overlapping with Cheon Ryubeom and shook his head to dispel the illusion.

His face had softened considerably.

“Why are you looking so guilty after already doing it? Young master, you’ve quite the habit….”

“I do not…”

“Sigh, when you’re young, you’re full of energy and cause all sorts of trouble. I should understand that.”

“…Don’t talk about age.”

Ryubeom replied sulkily. He was relieved that Yeohwi didn’t seem upset, but being treated like a child made him bristle. Especially since he had been rejected because of his age.

“I’m an adult. Even though Suin’s average lifespan is different, every species considers twenty years old to be an adult.”

“Young master, do you know? When kids just become adults, they insist the most that they’re adults. Saying things like ‘I’m an adult now’ or ‘I’m all grown up.’ Real adults don’t say that.”

“……”

Ryubeom’s expression became even more dissatisfied. What was with that gentle tone, as if he was teaching a child? He wanted to argue that being twenty made him an adult, but he felt like he’d only get more of those looks, so he swallowed his words and turned his head sharply.

“Must be nice to be a real adult.”

Yeohwi laughed at the quiet grumble. Quite a lot.

* * *

They headed to Yeongjang-myeon in Jeonnam.

Before leaving, Ryubeom looked into the landslide that had occurred in Yeongjang-myeon. Since the Sagwido of Uisom Mountain had traveled far without being detected, he speculated they might have hidden during the time when landslides commonly occurred. So, he primarily investigated the rainy summer season.

However, after checking this year, last year, the year before, and even all seasons, Ryubeom couldn’t find any information related to landslides.

“There hasn’t been a landslide here…”

No matter how much he examined the records of the two mountains in the area, there was no mention of a landslide.

“Did that white tiger Suin lie?”

“Well…”

At Yeohwi’s question, Ryubeom pondered with a subtle expression. Did Baekyeong really deceive him? Did he hastily mention any place when asked? But Baekyeong didn’t stutter at all, and if he intended to deceive, he could have outright denied knowing anything…

In the end, Ryubeom decided to trust Baekyeong. There was a chance of an unrecorded minor landslide, so he asked the local residents.

“Pardon? Has there ever been a landslide on this mountain? I’ve been farming here for ten years, and there’s never been such an event. It’s a very peaceful mountain.”

“I see…”

“Oh, wait. I think there might have been one when I was very young…”

Ryubeom approached a house with a vegetable garden on the mountain. Seeing a man picking vegetables, he asked, and the man readily answered before tilting his head and calling inside. An old man was sitting on a chair in the yard.

“Father! Was there ever a landslide when I was young?”

“Huh? When was that… about twenty years ago?”