Chapter 118

“Well~ the thoughts of people from the past are more intuitive than you’d think. Regardless of the battles in the heavens. When there was a drought, they prayed to the sky. After lightning struck, they saw rain fall.”

“Lightning (Jeoseokcheon) killed the drought (Vritra) and freed the rain (Sutcheon). – That’s how it’s interpreted. It’s possible that the faith shifted from Sutcheon to Jeoseokcheon.”

Hyeonho, who was happily unraveling the myth as if solving a mystery in Los Angeles, stepped closer to me and whispered secretly.

“…Or it could be that a tribe peacefully believing in the agricultural god (Sutcheon) was conquered by a warrior class believing in the war god (Jeoseokcheon), leading to a change in their deity.”

He smiled ominously, as if amused. If he had a tail on his butt, it would have wagged like a fox’s.

“Now revered as a friend of humanity, a righteous hero god… but that’s the result of inheriting the divine nature of the Dharma Protector from Brahma.”

“The original Jeoseokcheon was a dangerous war god governing thunder, lightning, storms, and primal violence. Be careful.”

I slightly distanced myself from Hyeonho, who was getting closer as he exhaled.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Hmm? Why indeed? …You just seem strangely similar.”

Without hesitation, he reached out his left hand and stroked my cheek. His half-closed eyes opened slightly, revealing dark, ominous pupils.

In the strange atmosphere, Poong Ran tried to intervene and stop him.

“Yo, Young Master, get away from him…!”

But before she could, a new visitor struck Hyeonho on the back of his head.

“Ouch-?!”

“Don’t mess with young kids at your age.”

It was Jiegal Bi-Young, the deputy leader of the Martial Alliance’s Flying Dragon Unit and a friend of Sima Family Head.

“Mantian, I’m sorry. My guest has caused trouble.”

He smiled warmly at his friend’s son, then grabbed Hyeonho by the scruff of his neck and pulled him towards himself, like scolding a cat or dog.

“What does my age matter! And beauty has no age limit!!”

“That’s what old people think.”

Watching them bicker so casually, it seemed they were close friends.

“This guy’s a hassle to deal with. Whenever myths or sorcery come up, he just goes on and on.”

In the relaxed atmosphere, I shrugged lightly.

“It was quite an interesting conversation.”

But since the conversation had gone on long enough, it was time to head back.

As I was about to say my goodbyes and leave.

“Excuse me, since you’re so knowledgeable… could you tell me one more thing?”

Poong Ran cautiously asked Hyeonho, who, subdued by Bi-Young, nodded readily like a fox caught by a hunter.

“Of course, I love talking.”

At Hyeonho’s answer, Poong Ran’s pretty green eyes wavered slightly. She bit her lip gently and asked.

A question she had harbored since childhood. The reason she had to hide the wings on her back.

“Do you know why Gandharva is… being chased by the Goryeo royal family?”

Was it an unexpected question? Hyeonho’s eyes widened for a moment, then, as if he realized ‘something,’ a look of interest spread across his face.

“First, let me correct one thing. It’s not just the Goryeo royal family chasing them. Any king would want to find Gandharva.”

Gandharva, a race that loves song, dance, literature, poetry, and art.

…And the favorite race of the king of gods, Jeoseokcheon.

“Whether to call it bold or careless… Jeoseokcheon shared the divine drink, the elixir of immortality, with the Gandharva race.”

“And entrusted them with the role of guarding the elixir of immortality.”

Hyeonho added to correct the greedy misunderstandings of humans.

“However, even if a non-god consumes the elixir of immortality, it only extends their lifespan and slows aging, not granting true immortality.”

In other words, it’s something martial artists, who can extend their lifespan and maintain youth through training, don’t really need.

“Moreover, capturing a Gandharva who descended to the mortal world doesn’t mean they have the elixir of immortality.”

The fox-like laughter mocked the foolish humans.

“…But for humans obsessed with health, such facts are irrelevant.”

Especially to the cute Gandharva girl in front of him.

“Especially for a king about to die of old age, it’s a non-issue.”

He smiled like a fox and answered kindly.

***

After Mantian and Poong Ran left.

Only two elders of the Ilwol God Sect, hiding their identities, remained in the pavilion.

“Did you achieve your goal of attending the Martial Alliance banquet by even changing your gender?”

At Bi-Young’s question, Hyeonho playfully lifted his chest, emphasizing his posture.

“Hmm~ I never said the male form was my true one. If you doubt it, why not touch and see?”

With his back against the pavilion, Hyeonho smiled slyly, shadows like a fox’s tail swaying behind him.

“I don’t care if your true gender is male or female. So why all this fuss?”

At Bi-Young’s cold attitude, Hyeonho laughed lightly, as if it was all good.

“Personal interest. Thanks to you, my curiosity is satisfied.”

“…Is it related to Mantian?”

Hyeonho thought Bi-Young lived a complicated life.

Hating Sima Family Head, who survived alone after the woman he loved died.

Yet dreaming of a future where he might have married Sima Hwa and become part of the Sima family.

‘…Well, if he were sane, he wouldn’t carry around a portrait of a girl who looks about thirteen to fifteen at his age.’

Anyway, since Bi-Young had helped him in many ways, Hyeonho spoke without hiding.

“Last time I saw him at Jeoseokhyeon, I wasn’t sure. But seeing him again today, I understand.”

The aura of the Immovable King, who carries illness, made it even more confusing.

Hyeonho’s half-closed eyes opened fully.

He looked up at the dark sky, where even the moonlight was obscured by clouds.

“He bears the curse of the heavens, one punished by divine retribution.”

It’s not a curse on the body or any medium. The curse is engraved on the soul.

What could one have done to have a curse engraved on their soul?

If the disability in the right leg is related to the curse, even if the body is reconstructed through rebirth, he would still be lame.

It’s not a life-threatening curse, but… like… like….

Shackles? A brand? Or….

The scar of an old wound from some battle.

“…….”

With a serious face unlike usual, he pieced together knowledge and explored.

But Bi-Young, hearing Hyeonho’s words, just sighed in despair. It seemed like this quack was making a fuss over nothing again.

“You made a big deal about being punished by the heavens when bird poop hit you on the street last time.”

“…Hey, Martial Artist, this is completely different and serious.”

“Stop the nonsense and let’s go eat. You wanted to come, but this isn’t a place to stay long.”

At the truly proper martial artist’s mindset of ignoring superstitions and sorcery, a vein popped on Hyeonho’s forehead.

Then, as if he thought of teasing, he relaxed his expression and smiled, mocking Bi-Young from beside him.

“Actually, isn’t it because you want to leave this place quickly?”

“…What?”

Thinking he had taken the bait, Hyeonho’s gaze turned to the beautiful red-eyed girl resembling Sima Hwa, playing dice with other boys.

“This… the dice seem strange. Why does one keep coming up?”

“Hi, hieee… it’s not strange….”

He looked at Sima Yeonghwa, who was pressuring Seol Wonhwa with a relaxed face.

“Hoho~ Sima Family Head’s niece and adopted daughter. Seeing a girl who looks just like the woman you loved must be confusing, right?”

Objectively, Yeonghwa had a more feminine charm than Sima Hwa, but the resemblance was undeniable.

“…What are you talking about?”

A sigh escaped. Bi-Young responded to his companion’s trivial prank with a cynical expression devoid of emotion.

“I loved Sima Hwa… not a woman who resembles her.”

…That’s why it’s so painful.

“Seeing that child, I only think of her as a blood-related family.”

It’s the same as seeing Mantian. A friend’s child, nothing more, nothing less.

No, strangely, I even think Mantian resembles Sima Hwa more.

Of course, it’s not about physical resemblance.

Mantian is a robust southern man, and Sima Hwa was a delicate girl.

But every time I see those wolf-like amber eyes that shine eerily even in the dark, I’m reminded of the past Sima Hwa.

It’s truly a futile obsession.

“Has your curiosity been satisfied? Then stop the nonsense and let’s go. As I said, staying here long isn’t good.”

“How boring~ Alright. What do you want for dinner?”

It was a Martial Alliance banquet where all sorts of eccentrics gathered. Masters who could discern Hyeonho’s true identity were also present, so staying at the banquet hall was dangerous.

…And Bi-Young’s choice was wise.

Not long after the two left the banquet hall.

In the martial world, infamous not for being unregistered and invincible but for another reason.

One who is both despised and feared.

The head of the Mo Yong family, one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, Mo Yongbok, personally.

The hot topic of the martial world lately.

Because he came uninvited to meet Sima Mantian.