TGHD Ch 31

The other members looked bewildered at Cheon Ryubeom’s bright-eyed inquiry. Typically, a tiger Suin would hear such a story and dismiss it, saying there was no reason for tigers to befriend foxes. But the individual before them was reacting quite differently.

The members exchanged glances. They hesitated about sharing such a story with a tiger Suin, but he had helped them and shown respect, which endeared him to them. Receiving kindness from someone they considered an adversary felt even more significant.

Soseo nodded and spoke up.

“Yes. It happened over a century ago… There was talk among the powerful families about forming a peace treaty with humans.”

During a time of open borders and revolutionary scientific progress, the Fox Clan proposed a peace treaty with humans first. They suggested extending a hand to humans to create a world where Suin and humans coexisted, as it was becoming increasingly difficult for Suin to exist in isolation.

Suin who favored humans had always existed, with dog Suin being a prime example. However, powerful families skilled in sorcery, especially predatory ones, did not favor humans. They felt no need to reach out first since they could thrive without human interaction.

“The idea was to first establish peace among the powerful families and then meet with humans, but the Tiger Clan strongly opposed it, and the plan fell apart…”

“They questioned why they should concern themselves with a lesser species like humans and why they should follow a fox’s proposal, and then walked out.”

“Ah…”

Ryubeom sighed awkwardly. The tiger Suin who reportedly stormed out of the meeting was likely the current head. Hearing this perspective about his family from members of another clan was both fascinating and embarrassing. Such stories were not taught within the Tiger Clan.

But there was something to be said for the fact that they had at least met and talked, even if briefly, about a common issue. Ryubeom, feeling a sense of disappointment, asked,

“Did the talks end completely?”

“Well, they tried to convene again, but then the great fire happened…”

“We only know what we’ve heard, not much more.”

The records of the talks were lost in the great fire, and the family members close enough to discuss them were all killed in the incident. Ryubeom sighed once more as the great fire was mentioned again.

The members found Ryubeom’s somber reaction to the Fox Clan’s great fire intriguing, as it was unlike anything they had seen from a tiger Suin before.

While they scrutinized Ryubeom, he was deep in thought. He realized that the period of upheaval glimpsed in Yeohwi’s memories was related to the conference of powerful families and the opening of Suin society. The Fox Clan had been so proactive about a peace treaty with humans that they even reached out to their enemy, the Tiger Clan…

The subsequent conflicts between Suin and humans were global events. When the prolonged domestic war had exhausted everyone, the Fox head created a platform for reconciliation. Predatory Suin wanted to continue the fight, but most other Suin families supported the Fox head. Thus, the Fox head ended the war with a peace treaty, which also gained humans’ favor towards the Fox Clan.

“The great fire must have caused significant damage. It took a long time to propose a new peace treaty after that…”

“What do you mean?”

“Pardon? The treaty between Suin and humans was agreed upon quite late after the war started. Didn’t they spend that time recovering from the damage?”

Seolyeon looked puzzled at Ryubeom’s mumbling. So Ryubeom explained his reasoning, still a bit confused. The only explanation he could think of for the Fox Clan’s delay in appearing was the extensive damage they suffered in the fire. Perhaps they also needed rest after the subsequent battle between the Tiger and Fox heads.

But Seolyeon burst into laughter.

“That’s not entirely wrong, but the head changing had a bigger impact.”

“…What?”

Ryubeom’s eyes widened. He hadn’t heard that the Fox head had changed. The current Tiger head’s enmity was towards the present Fox head, and nothing about the Fox Clan’s succession was taught within his family. What he learned was merely the animosity towards the Fox head and the contempt for their clan.

It was likely that the head changed after the great fire. Was it out of responsibility, or did the head fall victim to the fire as well? But the head of a leading family wouldn’t die in a fire, so the former seemed more plausible.

“The current head managed the fire damage very quickly. By the time the members who received the news late arrived at the main house, most of it had been sorted out. But there’s little known about the head…”

“Apparently, after dealing with the aftermath, the head went abroad immediately.”

“No one has actually seen the head properly. Oh, except for our director, who seems to be in touch.”

The fox Suins chatted away. They seemed to hold the current head in high regard, and as the subject of the head came up, smiles blossomed on their faces. They continued to speak of how the head’s luxury business abroad had been hugely successful, bringing in a lot of money, which helped in the family’s rebuilding efforts.

“Oh! But one thing is for sure.”

As Ryubeom listened with interest, the youngest, Soseo, suddenly shouted. Among all the talk about the head, there was one clear commonality…

“The head is incredibly beautiful.”

Her tone was hushed, as if sharing a secret. It was said that just seeing the head would be mesmerizing, and at one time, they even covered their face because of it, adding that it seemed both exaggerated and true.

Ryubeom suddenly thought of Yeohwi. Could the head be more beautiful than Yeohwi? Though he knew the fox Suins were generally known for their beauty, he had an unshakable belief that no one could be more beautiful than Yeohwi. His thoughts naturally and effortlessly drifted to Yeohwi.

“By the way, you really don’t seem like a tiger Suin. Listening so intently to stories about the fox family.”

“Gasp, could it be a know-your-enemy strategy…?”

“No.”

Ryubeom firmly denied Soseo’s worry. His decisive response made Soseo a bit embarrassed, but Ryubeom shook his head seriously. He didn’t want to instill anxiety or worry in this area. He wasn’t listening to strategize for conflict.

If anything, he wished to make peace with the fox family…

Though he couldn’t say that aloud, Ryubeom simply gathered all the scattered items on the ground. Soon, everything was sorted out.

The fox Suins looked at Ryubeom in astonishment. He had been unusual since his arrival, but they hadn’t expected this extent. The group leader, Seolyeon, hesitated for a moment before asking,

“What’s your name?”

“…Cheon Ryubeom.”

“Thank you, Cheon Ryubeom. You’re my favorite among the tigers.”

Seolyeon, looking amazed and amused, expressed her gratitude. The other members followed suit, and the youngest, Soseo, handed something to Ryubeom.

“Tigers might not need this, but it’s a token of our thanks!”

She handed him a talisman, a protective charm made by the fox family. She thought he might scoff at it, but Ryubeom took it with both hands and bowed. There was no trace of reluctance; he sincerely thanked them. The members exchanged glances at this surprising tiger.

That night.

The tiger Suins were preparing to return to their lodging after finishing their work. The head’s order was more about showing their faces for a few days rather than managing all the damage. However, they had done much more than expected today and were exhausted.

It was all because Cheon Ryubeom had taken an active role. Feeling a sense of competition, Yeongdo moved, and the other family members had to follow. They subtly assisted Yeongdo, specifically finding the most significant damage areas and reporting them to him, then helping alongside him.

Their efforts made it seem like Yeongdo had done the most work. Cheon Ryubeom, meticulously handling every little thing, actually progressed more slowly. He had even been distracted by the fox Suins for a while.

As they were about to head back to their lodging, Cheon Ryubeom suddenly said he would go separately.

“The residents asked for some help, so I’ll assist them first.”

Though Yeongdo got the most credit, the residents liked Cheon Ryubeom the most. They gathered around him, sharing all sorts of stories. The family members sneered, saying he looked too approachable to humans, but secretly, they were annoyed by his popularity.

They didn’t like the way people showed favor to Cheon Ryubeom, almost praising him. To them, he was nothing but a disgrace and a blemish to the Cheon family. Moreover, his growing confidence from solving the Sagwido problem was irritating.

As Cheon Joomyeong watched Ryubeom’s retreating figure heading up the mountain, she whispered to Yeongdo,

“Yeongdo oppa, you know he’s afraid of ‘that’…”

Hearing the whispered words, a smirk played on Yeongdo’s lips. He nodded as if he had heard something very amusing.

“Hmm. This should be quite entertaining.”

While a suspicious plan was being formed below, Ryubeom ventured into the dark mountain. It had been cloudy since the morning, and the moonlight was faint at night. However, Ryubeom could now skillfully use his spiritual power to see clearly in the dark.

His steps halted in front of a collapsed warehouse. The warehouse had been pushed by the landslide, making it difficult to approach.

‘My plane…!’

‘No, it’s too dangerous. I’ll buy you a new one later.’

‘No, it’s not the same!’

This was the commotion Ryubeom encountered earlier while preparing to return to the family. A child was crying and trying to climb the mountain, with parents struggling to calm him. They explained that their warehouse at the foot of the mountain had collapsed in the landslide, and the child insisted on retrieving his plane from there.

It was likely a toy plane, and the chances of it being intact in the collapsed warehouse were slim. The parents tried to appease him with the promise of a new one, but the child was inconsolable.

Upon understanding the situation, Ryubeom offered to help, surprising the parents who were hesitant to impose. However, the child’s eyes sparkled at Ryubeom’s offer, and he confidently assured them it wouldn’t be difficult to retrieve the plane. His attitude was reassuring.

At the foot of the mountain, Ryubeom found the warehouse and considered how to enter. He had to move cautiously to avoid further collapse.

Inside the warehouse, it was a mess. Ryubeom carefully inspected the debris and finally found the toy plane.

“Is this it…?”

One wing was broken, but it seemed repairable. After thoroughly checking the plane, Ryubeom understood why the child insisted on finding it.

It wasn’t just a store-bought toy; it had been repaired multiple times, with new panels and colorful paint added. The doodles on the panels, in an adult’s handwriting, suggested the child had bonded with the plane while repairing it with their parents.

“……”

Ryubeom gently touched the wing. The sound of the child crying echoed vividly in his mind, making it impossible to ignore. He had always been weak towards children.

The child would smile upon receiving the plane…

Imagining the child’s bright smile, Ryubeom exited the warehouse. He was eager to return the plane.

But just as he opened the door,

“Heehee…!”

“A tiger cub is here!”

As if waiting, Ryubeom encountered Changgui in front of the warehouse. Numerous figures emerged from the darkness of the night mountain. Ryubeom’s face turned pale.

He hadn’t even been thinking negatively; why now?

As he hesitated and stepped back, the Changgui’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. The wind hissed eerily from the half-collapsed face of one Changgui.

“A tiger cub really scared of us.”

“Heehee, ahaha! Baby, want to come with us?”

The Changgui found Ryubeom’s fear fascinating. They used a friendly voice to mock him, much like how they would lure humans to present as prey to a tiger. It was clear mockery.

Ryubeom, with a stiff expression, looked around, hid the plane in the bushes, and started running in the opposite direction. He had to get away from the Changgui.

Like a black tide, the Changgui chased after him.

“Baby, come with us!”

“Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby!”

The Changgui began mimicking the voices they used to lure humans, the ‘voices of family.’ They tried to imitate Ryubeom’s parents, but their voices were distorted, making them sound even more eerie as they echoed through the mountains.

The jagged, torn voices pierced his ears sharply. Ryubeom’s face grew paler with each passing moment. These creatures were unusually persistent.

Suddenly, someone’s words echoed in his mind.

‘There is no fear without reason.’

Ryubeom’s steps faltered. As Cheon Hoyeon’s voice filled his mind, he wondered if the Changgui had been summoned by his cousins. Along with this thought came the sudden urge to face his fear.

If he could steady his mind and confront them calmly, things might be different. Feeling that he had grown recently, Ryubeom decided to muster his courage.

“Oh, tiger. No more hide and seek?”

“It was fun watching the tiger run away!”

The Changgui swarmed around the halted Ryubeom. He took a deep breath and slowly turned his head. His eyes glowed with a golden hue.

Face them head-on. Perhaps his vague fear had grown because he had always run away since childhood. Compared to the murderous aura of the ghosts and yokai he faced in Sagwido, the Changgui were nothing. He needed to confront them properly to avoid looking foolish…

“Are we not scary anymore? Baby, answer us.”

Suddenly, a Changgui’s face loomed in front of him. Its head was mangled, with one eye bulging out grotesquely, but Ryubeom tried to steady his breath.

However, the light in his eyes gradually faded. He tried to look directly at the Changgui, but at some point, he found himself trembling, as if his gaze was forcibly held. His reaction was beyond his control. His fingertips twitched, and his heart tightened.

A thick scent of blood and the smell of rain filled his nose.

“Gasp, gasp…”

Ryubeom’s breath became erratic. Seeing the trembling tiger, the Changgui laughed with wide, splitting mouths. They reached out to the terrified Ryubeom, seeing an opportunity to kill the helpless tiger cub.

Sizzle…!

At that moment, the Changgui’s hands began to burn. Just as they touched Ryubeom, something red glowed from his inner pocket, creating a barrier.

The protective talisman from the fox Suin had activated.

“Huff…!”

Ryubeom snapped back to his senses. The protective talisman would only activate once, so he had to escape immediately. Trying to face the Changgui had only intensified his fear. It was an irrational, incomprehensible terror that he couldn’t overcome. Ryubeom ran again.

The Changgui, whose hands had burned from the barrier, were enraged.

“Damn tiger cub!”

“We’ll break all your bones!”

Being harmed by a tiger they had underestimated fueled their anger. The Changgui chased after him with even more ferocity, and Ryubeom struggled to escape. The Changgui came from all directions, climbing trees and leaping over rocks, making it difficult to evade them. Ryubeom tried to use his spiritual power to fend them off, but it wasn’t easy. His hands kept trembling, and his legs threatened to give out.

Focusing on their presence, he barely managed to dodge, but suddenly, a black hand swiped at his neck. Though he wasn’t scratched by the long nails, Ryubeom was horrified. Something had been taken from him.

“No…!”

The necklace was in the Changgui’s hand.

The necklace, a gift from Yeohwi, was usually tucked under his clothes but had come out while he was running. Ryubeom panicked and reached out to retrieve it.

The Changgui found his sudden change in behavior amusing. They toyed with the necklace, pretending to give it back, making the tiger move as they wished. Laughing, they tossed the necklace among themselves, eventually trying to break it.

“Not that, please!”

A burst of golden light erupted around Ryubeom. Taking advantage of the momentary hesitation of the Changgui, Ryubeom quickly lunged forward. Startled, the Changgui dropped the necklace.

Finally, the necklace was in his desperately outstretched hand.

Relieved by the sensation, Ryubeom realized too late that his feet were in mid-air. He was at the edge of a cliff. In his desperation to retrieve the necklace, he hadn’t noticed where the Changgui had led him.

Oh, I’m falling.

Just as he braced for the impending pain, he was suddenly pulled back. Someone had wrapped their arms around his waist from behind and lifted him.

A cool, clear scent, reminiscent of the night breeze, filled the air.

“Why is our young master always in such danger?”

A gentle voice softly tickled Ryubeom’s ear. The calm tone was a stark contrast to the urgent fear that had filled the space moments before. The voice, clear and distinct, made Ryubeom startle and turn his head.

Yeohwi.

He was right there. Despite the cloudy night, it felt as if moonlight was pouring down, illuminating his vision. The hem of Yeohwi’s robe fluttered in the breeze as he approached like the night itself. Ryubeom’s mouth opened in surprise.

“How are you here…?”

Yeohwi smiled at the trembling question. Appearing unexpectedly, he smiled as if it were the most natural thing. His relaxed, leisurely smile was etched into Ryubeom’s eyes.

Yeohwi often wore an air of detachment from the situation, naturally exuding a vivid presence that was impossible to ignore. His answer, spoken with beautifully curved lips, resonated sweetly in Ryubeom’s ears.

“You said you missed me, didn’t you?”

So I came.

The response, as if it were the most obvious thing, made Ryubeom’s shoulders tremble. It was what he had muttered to himself during their phone call that morning. Ryubeom’s mouth opened and closed, unable to form words. His heart pounded with shock.

Meanwhile, Yeohwi glanced at the Changgui behind them and quickly assessed the situation.

“Those things are moving under orders. And this is probably…”

A red light flickered strangely in Yeohwi’s eyes as he looked down the mountain. Changgui that frightened Cheon Ryubeom. And cousins who disliked him. Connecting the dots with the information he already knew, Yeohwi quickly deduced the answer and nodded.

“Shall we get some revenge?”

“What? What revenge…”

“Let’s transfer them somewhere. I’m good at sending things away.”

His tone was incredibly gentle, but the content was quite startling. Before Ryubeom could ask what he meant, Yeohwi flicked his finger, and a red light spread like a mirage.

Soon, the Changgui began to tumble down the mountain.

Instead of running like they had been chasing Ryubeom, the Changgui were now being thrown down, as if something had grabbed them. Their screams echoed loudly through the space. The Changgui were thrown to the area where debris had piled up earlier in the day.

Thud, crash, boom!

The consecutive loud noises startled the nearby residents, who rushed out. The recovery team members, who were wrapping up their work, quickly approached the source of the commotion.

“Oh my, oh my!”

“What on earth is happening!”

The sudden disturbance baffled the Tiger Clan members who were far away. They had sent the Changgui up the mountain, yet they appeared below. A Cheonho Foundation staff member recognized the Changgui and exclaimed, “Huff, Ch-Changgui…” which helped others identify the spirits.

“Why are the Changgui there…”

The cousins hurriedly moved toward the commotion. Seeing their reaction, Yeohwi naturally took Ryubeom’s hand and led him down.

“Young master, you should get rid of them yourself. I need to hide my presence.”

“W-What…?”

Ryubeom stammered. He was already shocked and bewildered by Yeohwi’s sudden appearance and the Changgui being thrown down, and now he was supposed to get rid of them? He had never succeeded in doing so. Just earlier, he had been overwhelmed by fear trying to face the Changgui.

Though he wasn’t as scared now, being quite far away…

“Before they notice something strange, hurry.”

Yeohwi’s words shattered Ryubeom’s hesitation. He had been stalling, thinking it seemed difficult, but if he didn’t do it, Yeohwi’s presence might be revealed. Confirming Ryubeom’s startled reaction, Yeohwi looked down worriedly and spoke.

“If you don’t get rid of them, they might realize a fox Suin did it.”

The Changgui still carried Yeohwi’s energy. Moreover, they obeyed the tigers, so if the powerful Yeongdo questioned them, they might report meeting a suspicious figure in the mountains. Ryubeom’s expression grew resolute.

He had to protect Yeohwi.

Reaching out toward the area below where the Changgui were, Ryubeom’s hand trembled just looking at them from a distance. Biting his lower lip, he drew the spell to eradicate them. Though he had never succeeded before, he believed he must now.

Pausing, two strings of characters swirled around Ryubeom’s hand. Previously, only one string had appeared when he used sorcery, but now two strings spun around. He had grown through his strong determination.

Just then, Yeongdo arrived below. The Changgui were still rolling around the debris, causing a ruckus.

“Changgui, you wretches…!”

As he fiercely commanded to suppress the Changgui, a golden light poured down like moonlight from above. It was a radiant light from the sky, filled with clouds, where even the moon was hidden.

Yeongdo’s head creaked upwards. The people around him also looked up, having seen the light descend before he acted. On the hill, Cheon Ryubeom’s golden eyes glowed as he looked down. To them, he seemed like a ‘tiger’ surveying the world below.

The residents admired him, and Yeongdo ground his teeth. Cheon Joomyeong, who arrived late, looked around in confusion and then up. A gasp of disbelief escaped her lips.

“That is…”

After confirming the Changgui had disappeared, Ryubeom immediately turned away. Fortunately, they were more puzzled and angry about him eliminating the Changgui than about them being thrown down the mountain. Yeongdo seemed to think he had been toyed with.

In the past, Ryubeom would have been preoccupied with Yeongdo’s reaction, but now he forgot about him as soon as he turned away. Ryubeom approached Yeohwi, his only concern in sight.

“What if you got caught doing that?”

“Those things bothering you were annoying, weren’t they?”

Yeohwi shrugged nonchalantly. He spoke playfully, saying both the Changgui that toyed with Ryubeom and the cousins who sent them were too much. His relaxed attitude, as if it was no big deal, left Ryubeom at a loss for words.

Does Yeohwi understand what it means that I eliminated the Changgui myself?

Even though I destroyed them from a distance, it felt like something inside me broke free. I felt a newfound courage to face the fear that had chased me all my life.

Just a few minutes ago, I thought I should never face the Changgui again, thinking I was foolish…

Then, suddenly, Yeohwi reached out. His finger touched my nose and gently traced a line up my cheek. His touch brushed over the wound I got from blocking Yeongdo’s punch earlier today, and I froze. The red light seeped in, and the pain in my cheek disappeared.

“Don’t get hurt because of those things. You’re too precious.”

Yeohwi smiled after healing my wound. Every time his eyes moved to check for other injuries, I trembled. Then, his gaze stopped at one spot.

“…Why do I sense another fox’s energy on you?”

Yeohwi reached out to confirm the fox energy lingering around me. He was just trying to pull back my suit collar, but I quickly stopped him, saying I’d show him myself. For a moment, his fingertips brushed my chest, and I flinched.

“It’s a talisman. Earlier today, a fox Suin, an idol from Hn, came.”

It was the talisman that had saved me from the Changgui. Though it had mostly burned up when activated, I carefully gathered the remnants to show Yeohwi. Even after explaining that the idols had come to distribute relief supplies, Yeohwi tilted his head in confusion.

“Coming here is one thing, but why did they give you a talisman? Did they give them to all the tiger family members?”

“Ah, well… I almost had a clash with my cousins. I stopped it…”

I tried to hide the fact that my family had picked a fight, fearing it would upset him, but I ended up explaining the whole incident. Of course, I left out the part where my cousins insulted the fox head for not keeping the family in line. It wasn’t necessary to mention that.

At the end of my story, Yeohwi chuckled. He seemed to understand why the fox Suins had taken a liking to me.

“Young master, you have a knack for charming people. You only visited Hn once, and you’ve already charmed everyone you met.”

He looked at me with admiration, saying I had charmed Ilok and Jimyo, the entertainment staff, and now even the celebrities. I was explaining how I had been worried about being recognized at Hn’s office, but Yeohwi had a different lament.

“I was the only one who had a hard time getting close to you.”

He seemed genuinely aggrieved that he had struggled to get close to me, and I was taken aback. He didn’t seem to care about my fear of being recognized by the celebrities. My only friend was still Yeohwi, and…

“You charm people more than I do.”

The words slipped out unexpectedly. I covered my mouth in surprise. That wasn’t what I meant to say, but why did it come out?

However, Yeohwi just tilted his head in curiosity.

“Who do I charm? I’ve never done that.”

It was an incredibly innocent question. He even raised his hands as if to declare his innocence, saying he had never charmed anyone, and I felt wronged. With his face alone, he seemed capable of charming the entire world, yet he claimed innocence.

And if he hadn’t charmed anyone, then why… why has my heart been pounding so hard since I saw him? Why can’t it calm down?

Was it just the shock of Yeohwi appearing when I was about to fall? I struggled to steady my breath and turned my head. Somehow, it was becoming harder to look at Yeohwi. I had wanted to see him, but now that he was here, it was difficult to meet his eyes. I felt like something would be revealed.

“Anyway… thank you for saving me. And Yeohwi, you should go back soon.”

“Thanking me and banishing me at the same time?”

“No, it’s not a command…”

I was flustered by his playful words and looked at Yeohwi. Seeing him smiling brightly, I realized he was joking to make me meet his gaze. Now that I was looking into Yeohwi’s eyes, I had no choice but to speak the truth.

“…It’s because my cousins are here. The head suspects I used dark arts to solve the Sagwido, so if they find out I’m meeting you, it could be really dangerous.”

He still had to work with his cousins for a few more days to recover from the damage. Even today, Yeongdo kept glancing at him with disapproval. He couldn’t afford to give him any excuse.

“I’ll probably have to investigate the last Sagwido alone…”

And even after this task is completed, there’s no guarantee that Yeongdo’s suspicion will be lifted. The thought that he might follow me while I investigate the last Sagwido made me murmur a bit gloomily, and Yeohwi tilted his head.

“Can’t the young master protect himself?”

“…I wish I could, but my cousins are stronger than me since I’m half-human…”

“Hmm, but I see more potential in you, young master.”

Yeohwi mumbled to himself, smiling. Then, as if an amusing plan had just struck him, he leaned in close to Ryubeom and whispered. Ryubeom flinched and tried to pull away, but once their eyes met, he was captivated, unable to move.

“They’ve always bullied you, young master. How about getting some real revenge?”

Ryubeom frowned slightly at the unexpected suggestion. Revenge on his cousins? It was hard to grasp. He hadn’t even imagined being able to fend off the Changgui earlier…

“How about teasing them with a simple spell?”

“…My cousins won’t fall for my spells.”

“And they believe that too, right?”

“What?”

“They never think anyone, let alone you, could defeat them. One way to hunt powerful predators is to catch them off guard.”

Yeohwi’s voice continued gently.

“You said they suspected you of solving the Sagwido, right? That means the Cheon family highly values your achievements, and your cousins are wary of you.”

It was evident even from the outside that the Cheon family was pleased with Ryubeom’s handling of the Sagwido. They were actively involved in the Han River mermaid incident and the recent Jeju Imugi case. So, his cousins’ suspicion indicated that they were aware of his growing presence within the family.

“Most of them probably think they could solve the Sagwido too, right? I’m certain of it. What do you think, young master?”

“…Yeah, that’s probably true.”

Ryubeom answered hesitantly, amazed at how accurately Yeohwi understood the family’s dynamics. The elders had tried to take credit for his achievements, and he had often overheard his cousins claiming they could close the Sagwido too during his recent stay at the main house.

Especially Yeongdo, who had been grumbling that it should have been his task from the start, asserting that if Ryubeom could do it, it couldn’t have been that difficult. This was a complete turnaround from when they had mocked him as he left for Sagwido.

“Since we’re close to Yuseom Mountain, if a yokai appears… they’d naturally think it’s the evil spirit of Sagwido, right?”

“…Are you suggesting we show them a yokai, creating an illusion?”

“Exactly. You’ve trained enough to figure it out quickly.”

Yeohwi smiled. It was the smile of a proud teacher seeing his student catch on.

“We’re not trying to cause a big commotion. The Cheon family members are strong enough not to get hurt easily. Just a small prank.”

Ryubeom, with his mouth half-open, blinked in bewilderment. Rumors of the landslide being caused by a Sagwido had spread, so they might indeed misunderstand if a ghost appeared here.

But he couldn’t answer immediately. Yeohwi’s words sounded too far-fetched. Creating illusions was a difficult spell, and he doubted he could learn it quickly, let alone fool his cousins. Unlike him, they were direct descendants of the Cheon family.

It seemed like a fanciful idea, yet Yeohwi spoke as if it were completely doable, assuring him he had the necessary abilities.

As the awkward silence stretched, Yeohwi stepped back and shook his head.

“It’s understandable if you don’t want to bother your family. I might have spoken out of turn.”

His tone was cautious, as if gauging Ryubeom’s reaction.

“I’m sorry. I was frustrated seeing someone I owe so much to being harassed. I shouldn’t have overstepped in matters of the tiger family. As a fox, my words might cause discord within the family…”

“No, it’s not that…”

Ryubeom waved his hands in a fluster. The reason for his hesitation had nothing to do with Yeohwi being a fox. In fact, Yeohwi cared for him more than his own family did. His family had just tried to torment him with Changgui a little while ago.

Thinking this, Ryubeom felt a shift in his perspective. If his family could torment him like that, why shouldn’t he be able to do the same?

“…I’ll try to learn it.”

Ryubeom answered impulsively, but soon after speaking, he felt unsure.

To Cheon Ryubeom, his cousins were like insurmountable mountains. They were beings with ‘pure’ blood, unlike him. Their constant criticism of his human blood had ingrained itself in his subconscious.

“…I really don’t know if I can succeed…”

At Ryubeom’s hesitant mumbling, Yeohwi just smiled. Though he said nothing, Ryubeom felt a strange sense of trust.

It felt like he was about to receive guidance from the best teacher.

* * *

The Tiger head’s order was for five days.

Due to the significant damage from the Yuseom Mountain landslide, they were to visit and leave the impression that ‘the Tiger Clan provided great help.’ The Cheon family’s prestige was already high, but the goal was to further elevate the family’s praise by connecting it to the Sagwido resolution.

So, the grandchildren who received the order had to visit the affected areas daily. Though it was enough to just show their faces, after cleaning up one area on the first day, they couldn’t ignore the other areas and reluctantly stepped in.

As they engaged in the work, the tiger Suins were exhausted by evening. Since the main house was quite far, they rested at a hotel affiliated with the Cheonho Foundation, but Cheon Ryubeom snuck out of the lodging every night.

He quietly headed to the cultural center in Dujedong. The building was filled with mud from the landslide, but the Tiger Clan had cleaned it up, leaving it empty. Yeohwi was always waiting there.

“If you get caught, it will be a big problem…”

“It’s necessary for special training.”

True to their first conversation, Yeohwi taught him illusion magic. Despite Ryubeom’s concerns, Yeohwi assured him that an alarm would go off if anyone approached the center, so they could escape in time. Still, Ryubeom was anxious. He worried that Yeongdo might notice from afar or use Changgui to track him…

But only Ryubeom worried; Yeohwi remained calm. He even gently pointed out that Ryubeom’s attention was elsewhere and urged him to focus on training.

Eventually, Ryubeom decided to concentrate on learning the illusion magic, thinking it was better to finish the training quickly and send Yeohwi away. The potion Yeohwi provided lasted about three hours, so he drank it twice in a row and trained late into the night.

By the end of the training, Ryubeom was completely exhausted, but Yeohwi always smiled beside him. Despite setting up the training ground, Yeohwi never seemed tired, which amazed Ryubeom.

“Still, it’s nice that you secretly visit me every night, like…”

“Don’t say it.”

“How do you know what I was going to say?”

“You were going to say something weird again.”

“Hmm, I was just going to ask if it’s more fun meeting secretly.”

Yeohwi even joked as usual, making Ryubeom glare at him before leaving the place.

On the fifth day.

Today was the last day of training with Yeohwi. Ryubeom confirmed the sunset and snuck out of the lodging. The training had been more intense and proactive than expected, leaving him with mixed feelings.

‘Is it really okay to deceive my family like this…’

Meeting and spending time with Yeohwi was already unacceptable to his family, but the thought of taking revenge on them felt unsettling. Perhaps it was because he had spent over ten years trying to gain their approval.

Though he had impulsively decided on revenge after being attacked by Changgui on the first day, the longer the training continued, the heavier his heart felt.

“Should I just quietly let this slide again…” Ryubeom murmured to himself. If he just endured it, the issue could pass without causing any commotion. He was so used to being tormented by his family that it hardly affected him anymore. Causing a scene wouldn’t please the head either.

He decided he would apologize to Yeohwi tonight and say the plan for revenge was off. He felt bad for Yeohwi, who had been helping him so diligently, but the illusion magic could still be useful in other ways.

However, just as Ryubeom was about to climb over the lodging fence, he ran into his cousins. He was startled but tried to maintain a calm expression. For some reason, all his cousins were there.

As the ominous red sunset faded, Yeongdo slowly approached, casting a long shadow over Ryubeom.

“Cheon Ryubeom. What have you been doing every night?”

“Just taking a walk…”

“A walk that long? You must be trying very hard to impress the head.”

Ryubeom gave the excuse he had prepared in case he ran into his cousins. But before he could finish, Yeongdo twisted his mouth into a mocking smile. Ryubeom blinked, unable to comprehend the sarcastic remark, and Yeongdo continued.

“You’ve been searching for the Sagwido every night, haven’t you? Claiming you’re too tired during the day and leaving all the recovery work to us.”

Yeongdo was the first to notice Cheon Ryubeom sneaking out of the lodging every night. He quietly followed and confirmed that Ryubeom was heading towards Yuseom Mountain, assuming he was searching for the Sagwido.

Moreover, he noticed that Ryubeom’s eyes grew darker each day, and he seemed to be neglecting the landslide recovery work, which greatly annoyed him. When they clashed with the foxes, Ryubeom insisted on not causing a commotion out of respect for the head’s orders, yet he seemed to prioritize the Sagwido over the head’s command.

Recovery work was trivial, but the Sagwido was significant enough to earn direct praise from the head.

In reality, Ryubeom was slower only because he was responding to the residents’ requests one by one, but he completed all his assigned tasks. To Yeongdo, it seemed like Ryubeom was only talking to the residents to gather clues about the Sagwido.

The other cousins, standing beside Yeongdo, looked at Ryubeom with contempt.

“Getting praised by the head, you think you’re above everyone now.”

“A guy who used to be so quiet in the family…”

Ryubeom was flustered. If he had truly neglected the recovery work, he would have humbly accepted their criticism, but that wasn’t the case, and there was something odd about their accusations.

“…Is it a problem if I preemptively search Yuseom Mountain? If I resolve the Sagwido here quickly, it will reassure the residents.”

“Are you saying that’s your only purpose? That you have no intention of impressing the head, no interest in the position of the next head, and that you’re acting purely out of altruism?”

Yeongdo laughed coldly.

“That doesn’t make sense. Like searching for your father.”

“…What?”

“Do you think your father’s soul is still intact? It’s obvious it would have turned into a wandering spirit long ago and disappeared.”