Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 121

Grandfather smiled at the two of them and cautiously began to enter the forest.

At the mention of a bath, Yoonhwa’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

The thought of a bath filled her with excitement.

Meanwhile, Tori hurriedly popped the last peanut in his mouth and continued talking.

“W-wait here—!”

“I-I’ll go help the guardian spirit—!”

His voice was a bit mumbled since his mouth was full of peanuts, but his determination was strong.

Tori waved his hand as if to say ‘just wait a moment,’ then quickly dashed into the depths of the forest where grandfather had disappeared.

His small figure vanished into the woods as if he had become a part of it.

Yoonhwa lay back against the wide wooden floor of the traditional Korean house.

Her nine tails spread comfortably across the ground, while the gentle afternoon sunlight softly blanketed her soft fur.

Her eyes gazed far into the forest, savoring the peace as if time had momentarily stopped.

But even within that peace, a mix of worry and longing lingered in Yoonhwa’s heart.

She wondered whether Hyun and Nomi were doing well at home and how much they were worrying about her, causing her heart to grow heavy.

Images of Hyun cooking in the kitchen and Nomi giggling while watching TV flashed in her mind.

She smiled as she reminisced about the warm moments spent with them.

Yet behind that smile lay a hint of sadness about the reality of being apart from them.

Yoonhwa steadied her heart, reminding herself of the true reason she was here.

She knew she had important work to do in this place, and that sense of responsibility bolstered her.

“I will definitely master the control of Qi!”

Moments later, Yoonhwa listened to the sounds of the forest surrounding her.

The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind kept her anchored in the present.

While Yoonhwa was lost in her thoughts amidst the tranquility of the forest, suddenly, she heard the sound of small footsteps.

In an instant, a squirrel appeared in her line of sight.

But it wasn’t just any squirrel. It was Tori.

“Let’s go quickly!”

Tori’s voice carried excitement and a sense of invitation.

He urged Yoonhwa and began to venture deep into the forest.

Filled with curiosity and eagerness, Yoonhwa followed Tori as he led the way into the woods.

The two walked quietly between the trees and bushes, gradually entering the heart of the forest.

There, a beautiful spot awaited them like a hidden treasure.

Inside the forest, a stream flowed, its waves reflecting the moonlight and emitting a mystical glow.

The water was clear and pristine, making the stones at the bottom distinctly visible.

Grandfather had already arrived there, waiting for Yoonhwa and Tori to show up.

He brought several towels and meticulously folded them on a stone bathed in beautiful moonlight.

Grandfather’s voice was soft and warm.

In his gaze, a love for this place and admiration for nature in the forest could be seen.

As Yoonhwa and Tori reached the enchanting stream, Grandfather greeted them with a gentle smile.

“This is the treasure hidden atop the mountain.”

“Wash up and take your time here.”

His voice hinted at how precious this experience would be for them.

He nodded at Yoonhwa and Tori, then slowly left them to return to the traditional house.

Before Tori followed Grandfather back, he called out to Yoonhwa.

“Make sure to wash up really clean!”

As Grandfather and Tori disappeared deep into the forest, Yoonhwa stood still for a moment in the quiet and peaceful place left to her.

She looked around, admiring the beauty of her surroundings.

Under the moonlight, Yoonhwa stood alone by the calm stream.

Her eyes savored the beauty around her, conjuring memories of the past.

Bathing in such a natural environment was not unfamiliar to her.

When she lived alone in the forest, bathing in nature was part of her daily life.

Yoonhwa took a deep breath, focusing on the present moment.

She slowly took off her clothes, and soon stripped down completely, surrendering herself to nature.

Her body glowed softly in the moonlight as the coolness of the stream touched her skin.

Yoonhwa cautiously stepped into the water.

The cold waves wrapped around her ankles, gradually leading her deeper.

As soon as Yoonhwa dipped her feet into the chilly stream, she felt the coolness wash over her body.

The warmth she typically felt began to slowly dissipate as it came into contact with the refreshing water.

She moved slowly in the water, enjoying how the waves gently caressed her skin.

Though being alone by the water might have felt slightly unsettling, she was at ease with the serenity that surrounded her.

The moonlight shimmered on the water, and the surrounding stillness gifted her tranquility.

*

As the meal concluded, Sohee lightly spoke at the TV.

“Isn’t this really expensive??”

Nomi nodded in agreement, engrossed in what Sohee was saying.

The two, young at heart, seemed lost in the story of the cartoon, barely paying attention to anything else.

Hyun smiled as he watched them.

He began to clear the table.

Carrying the used dishes and side dishes to the sink, he started washing them carefully.

As he washed, he occasionally listened to the laughter of Nomi and Sohee.

Their laughter filled the house, creating a warm and happy atmosphere.

Hyun paused, contemplating for a moment.

“I already miss Yoonhwa…”

After a moment, he focused back on washing the dishes.

He placed the cleaned dishes on the drying rack and wiped down the dining table.

Having finished tidying up the kitchen, Hyun quietly returned to the living room and sat beside Nomi and Sohee on the sofa.

Sohee looked away from the TV screen, glancing at Hyun with a curious expression.

“Why do you live with a nine-tailed fox?”

Hyun smiled at Sohee’s question for a moment.

He was well aware of her curiosity, and sometimes found her innocent questions amusing.

Sohee teasingly said to Hyun in a mock threatening voice.

“Hey, if you keep living with a nine-tailed fox—”

“You’ll end up drained of energy and cast aside? Haha!”

Nomi immediately reacted to Sohee’s words. Her expression was slightly miffed as she waved her hands at Sohee.

“Yoonhwa is not that kind of monster!”

Hyun burst into laughter at Sohee’s playful remark and observed Nomi’s response.

He calmed the two of them down and said, “Don’t worry, Nomi. Sohee’s just joking.”

“You know Yoonhwa isn’t that kind of nine-tailed fox~.”

Sohee continued staring at Hyun, unable to quench her curiosity.

“So, since the monsters might be after the nine-tailed fox, your life could be in danger—why take the risk and live with her?”

Hyun reminisced about his first meeting with Yoonhwa in response to Sohee’s question.

“My meeting with Yoonhwa was, let’s say, fate…? Something like that.”

“I was playing the cello in the woods at that time.”

“Yoonhwa followed my music and found me.”

“And then—Yoonhwa asked me for help.”

“She said she needed a place to stay.”

“I was… quite lonely, so I agreed to her proposal.”

Sohee cheekily responded to Hyun’s explanation.

“Come on, it must be because the nine-tailed fox is really pretty, right?”

“You’re a guy, and nine-tailed foxes can be enchanting!”

Nomi, paying attention to Hyun’s words, quietly nudged Sohee to keep quiet.

Hyun hesitated for a moment, then continued.

“Well, it was… somewhat coincidental when Yoonhwa’s true identity came to light.”

“That day, I had just stepped out for a bit and came back.”

“It hadn’t been long since we met.”

“But what I found was… the house was in complete disarray and wrecked.”

“At first, I couldn’t understand what on earth had happened.”

“But amidst that chaos, I saw Yoonhwa.”

“Yoonhwa was using gestures to fix the house. It was like magic, truly.”

“I was completely startled by Yoonhwa.”

“She had transformed… into a nine-tailed fox, with tails swirling around her.”

“The moment I saw that, I just fainted.”

As he told this story, a disbelieving smile still lingered on Hyun’s face.

Sohee burst into laughter at Hyun’s tale.

“Haha, really?? You fainted from that?!”

Her laughter filled the living room.

Nomi’s eyes sparkled as she got absorbed in Hyun’s story.

“Wow—so that’s how you met!!”

Hyun relived his experiences more deeply as he observed the reactions of Sohee and Nomi.

Amidst their laughter and surprise, he realized how quickly he and Yoonhwa had formed a deep bond.

In the focused attention of Sohee and Nomi, he reflected on everything he’d gone through over the past week.

His heart was filled with astonishment.

“Uh… it’s been about a week since I’ve met Yoonhwa now…?”

“And in that time, so many things have happened.”

Hyun paused to take a deep breath.

“I’ve… come close to death several times.”

“Yoonhwa had to fight against various monsters, and we even—got kidnapped.”

“And that woman, Miryeong… she died…”

Hyun’s voice grew heavy.

Sohee and Nomi’s expressions also turned serious upon hearing the story.

“In the midst of all that, I met Nomi…”

Hyun smiled at Nomi as he looked her way.

Nomi responded to Hyun’s gaze with a small smile.

He continued the story while adding, “Every bit of it felt like a movie.”

“But it’s real. This last week with Yoonhwa has been the longest—and the most dynamic week of my life.”

At that moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Hyun stood up in surprise.

“Um? Someone’s here.”

“It must be Seojin or Kangtae.”

He made his way to the door with a curious expression.

Seeing Hyun moving toward the door, Sohee was suddenly filled with an odd feeling.

Her intuition seemed to hint at something.

“Wait, I feel something strange.”

“I’ll open the door.”

A hint of tension colored her voice.

Hyun paused for a moment to look at her.

Seeing her insistence, he decided to respect her choice.

“Uh…? -Alright, be careful.”

Sohee seemed determined as she stood up from the sofa and walked toward the door.

Her small hand reached for the doorknob, and she took a deep breath.

Then she slowly opened the door.

As soon as the door creaked open, the Jangsanbeom lunged in, charging at Sohee aggressively.

In an instant, the massive body of the Jangsanbeom pounced on Sohee, and she fell backward, trapped beneath the beast.

The living room instantly filled with tension.

Hyun and Nomi were stunned by the sudden appearance of the Jangsanbeom and Sohee’s perilous situation.

Hyun immediately tried to rush at the Jangsanbeom to save Sohee, but he hesitated slightly at its imposing presence.

Nomi wore a surprised expression, her gaze darting between Hyun and Sohee.

The enormous body of the Jangsanbeom completely covered Sohee. In that moment, her petite frame was entirely hidden beneath the massive creature.

Hyun was about to recklessly charge in to save Sohee, but her powerful voice stopped him.

“Don’t come over here!! I’m okay, I’ll handle it!”

Sohee’s voice was strong and resolute. Her determined tone showed she was in control of the situation.