Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 129

The magic power released from his cane was typically strong enough to knock someone out, but something unexpected happened.

Yoonhwa stood frozen for a moment, staring down at the cane that had pierced into her abdomen.

At that instant, explosive energy erupted from her body, and she yanked the cane out of her belly with surprising strength.

Then, as if it were nothing, she violently tossed the cane aside.

Now, there was a clear aura of menace emanating from Yoonhwa.

Her gaze was completely different from before, awakening a wild and ancient power within.

“What the heck is this…?”

Yoonhwa slowly approached Grandfather with firm steps.

Her gaze sharpened further, and wild energy flowed from her body.

‘This is no longer that fox…’

‘It’s a beast…’

Grandfather witnessed Yoonhwa’s transformation, and an air of urgency and confusion, unlike his usual calmness, appeared on his face.

The fact that his cane was rendered useless thrust him into a situation he had never experienced before.

The killer intent radiating from Yoonhwa clearly signified she was no longer the same fox.

Her gaze resembled that of a beast.

Yoonhwa’s stride accentuated her transformation even more.

With every step she took, the yard trembled, and her presence made the very air feel heavy.

As Grandfather caught sight of Yoonhwa’s wild transformation, he realized he urgently needed to make a decision.

His body reacted instantly, and he dashed toward the cane at tremendous speed.

The cane was the source of his power and his last hope to turn this situation around.

But Yoonhwa was not falling behind either. She sharply sensed his movement and quickly closed in on him.

Yoonhwa’s steps were heavy, like a beast trampling the ground, and her movements were rough.

Just as Grandfather reached out to grab the cane, Yoonhwa blocked his path.

Her hand moved like lightning, clutching Grandfather’s neck.

Tori watched the whole scene from a corner of the traditional Korean house.

His small body trembled, and fear rose within him.

But deep inside, his faith in Grandfather remained strong.

He mumbled in a tiny voice.

“It’s… it’s going to be okay.. the guardian spirit is strong..”

With Yoonhwa’s hand tightly gripping his neck, her gaze became even sharper and wilder.

An intense energy flowed from her body as if the instincts of the Nine-Tailed Fox had fully awakened.

Grandfather could sense that there was no slack in Yoonhwa’s grip on his neck.

His voice, although calm, carried deep concern as he asked Yoonhwa.

“Wha-… what are you…?”

Yoonhwa’s answer was short and concise.

Her voice had shifted from the gentle and pure tone of the fox to a deeper, resonant tone.

“I am… a body destined to be a Nine-Tailed Fox.”

Her voice brimmed with anger and power.

Human emotions had nearly vanished from her gaze, replaced by wild instincts and the blazing power of the Nine-Tailed Fox.

She looked directly at Grandfather and said,

“How dare you wound my body…”

“You… must die.”

Her voice echoed coldly and menacingly, and her grip on Grandfather’s neck tightened.

Grandfather felt the force with which Yoonhwa violently hurled him down to the ground.

In that moment, a singular thought firmly lodged itself in his mind.

‘I can’t let this go on… I have to save the fox…’

Just before Grandfather’s body hit the ground, he reached out with his last strength to grip the cane tightly.

A final burst of energy exploded from his hands, and he shouted one last time at Yoonhwa.

“I’m sorry…-!!”

His voice mixed with desperation and sorrow resonated.

The cane shot from his hand like an arrow of light, heading straight toward Yoonhwa’s neck.

Yoonhwa reacted instantaneously, but the power of the energy released from the cane was too overwhelming.

The cane struck her neck, penetrating through.

In that moment, a luminous Fox Orb flew out stained with blood from Yoonhwa’s neck.

The orb shimmered in the air before falling to the ground.

At once, Yoonhwa’s strength dissipated, and she collapsed on the spot, unconscious.

No longer did she appear to be a wild beast.

Instead, she lay quietly with a peaceful expression.

Tori watched the whole scene in silence.

Feeling relieved at Grandfather’s desperate choice and Yoonhwa’s fainted state, he also felt a storm of worries for Grandfather and Yoonhwa.

From the moment Grandfather’s breath met the floor, he began to gasp.

With his last ounce of energy, he picked up the cane that had saved him and rushed toward the shining Fox Orb that had bounced from Yoonhwa’s neck.

Despite his trembling hands, he gripped that orb firmly.

As Tori watched the suffocating moments unfold, he felt immensely tense.

He cautiously stepped out from his hiding spot, moving closer to Grandfather and Yoonhwa.

Even his small footsteps sounded amplified in the stillness of the moment.

Tori reached Grandfather first, gently extending his small hand.

He softly took Grandfather’s hand, speaking in a gentle voice.

“Guardian spirit, are you okay?”

Grandfather struggled to open his eyes at Tori’s voice and managed a faint smile at his small hand.

He nodded to Tori and replied in a weak voice.

“Don’t worry, Tori. I’m fine…”

His gaze soon shifted towards Yoonhwa, who still lay quietly on the floor.

Her face looked serene, all traces of the battle gone.

Grandfather sighed, approaching Yoonhwa.

He gently stroked her forehead while murmuring.

“I’m sorry, my fox…”

With his hand softly on Yoonhwa’s forehead, Grandfather examined her condition.

Blood continued to flow from her neck.

Concern and responsibility were deeply etched in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Grandfather seemed resolved as he gently lifted Yoonhwa.

He carefully carried Yoonhwa’s heavy body into the traditional Korean house.

Tori followed closely behind, anxiety and deep contemplation etched on his small face.

Watching Grandfather carry Yoonhwa, he silently trailed behind.

Inside the traditional Korean house, everything felt calm and peaceful, yet a storm raged in Tori’s heart.

Grandfather took Yoonhwa into the inner chamber of the traditional Korean house and carefully laid her on the bed.

He gently wiped away the blood flowing from Yoonhwa’s neck, examining her wound.

His hands were experienced and gentle.

Understanding the situation, Tori quickly decided to take action.

His small hands trembled, yet they were filled with resolute determination.

He found a black ointment from Grandfather’s junk box.

Tori carefully lifted the ointment jar and brought it to Grandfather.

Grandfather accepted the ointment Tori presented and applied it cautiously to Yoonhwa’s neck wound.

As soon as the ointment touched the wound, he felt the healing begin.

The ointment seeped into the wound, initiating its recovery.

The skin around the wound began to regenerate slowly, and the hole in her neck was noticeably healing.

Minutes passed, and Yoonhwa’s neck wound was nearly completely closed, her skin returning to a healthy color.

The flow of blood stopped, and Yoonhwa’s breathing began to stabilize.

Where the ointment had been applied, there was no trace left, and Yoonhwa’s neck was once again clean and smooth.

Grandfather sighed in relief as he gazed at the healed Yoonhwa.

His gaze briefly shifted to the radiant Fox Orb left on the floor.

He carefully picked up the orb.

It was a mysterious object holding the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox.

As Grandfather gazed at the orb, deep thoughts occupied his mind.

He pondered where to keep this important Fox Orb.

His gaze moved to Tori.

Tori looked back and forth between Yoonhwa and Grandfather with a worried expression.

Grandfather approached Tori and entrusted him with the Fox Orb in his small hand.

His voice was warm and filled with trust.

“Tori, this is a very important item.”

“Will you keep this orb safe until the fox awakens?”

Tori’s eyes widened as he stared at Grandfather.

His small hand carefully received the Fox Orb. He felt a great sense of responsibility in Grandfather’s request.

“When the fox wakes up, you must return this orb to her.”

“This orb is extremely precious to the Fox Demon.”

Tori nodded resolutely.

“Y-yes! Guardian spirit..!!”

He resolved to successfully fulfill the important task entrusted to him.

Following Grandfather’s words, he promised to protect the Fox Orb safely until Yoonhwa awakened.

Tori carefully took the Fox Orb to his own nest.

Holding the orb, he awaited Yoonhwa’s awakening, looking forward to the day he could return this precious gift to her.

Grandfather quietly watched Yoonhwa, who lay peacefully.

Deep sorrow and worry were etched on his face.

Once, she was a fox with a peaceful and pure heart, but now another dark and wild instinct had clearly awakened within her.

With a deep sigh, Grandfather murmured.

“How could this happen…”

“Not consuming humans has caused her duality to emerge…”

Grandfather quietly crossed the traditional Korean house to find the box filled with trinkets he had collected over the years.

Inside that box were various items, but what he sought was a special candy jar.

He retrieved the jar and carefully opened it.

From it, he took out a brightly colored candy that had retained its charm despite being stored for a long time.

To preserve it, Grandfather meticulously wrapped the candy in paper.

Holding the carefully wrapped candy, he returned to the room where Yoonhwa lay peacefully.

The room still exuded a calm and serene atmosphere.

Yoonhwa breathed quietly as she slept, her face full of tranquility.

Grandfather approached Yoonhwa and carefully placed the wrapped candy beside her.

Tori, having safely hidden the Fox Orb, quietly entered the room where Yoonhwa slept.

He gazed at Yoonhwa’s serene and peaceful face, gently tapping her cheek.

His small touch lingered on Yoonhwa’s face, a quiet comfort filled with concern and affection.

After a final glance at Yoonhwa, Tori exited the room and headed toward the garden across the traditional Korean house’s porch.

He went to a corner of the garden, searching for a flower that had been accidentally stepped on by Yoonhwa during their struggle.

The flower, slightly crumpled and injured, still managed to hold its beauty.

Tori started to care for the flower more diligently, watering it tenderly.

His touch was careful and delicate, his heart pouring a quiet prayer while supplying the flower with the life-giving water.

“I hope you recover… both you and the fox…”

Grandfather, having left Yoonhwa’s peaceful room, sat down on an old wooden chair placed in a corner of the yard.

In his hand was the cane that had been used in the battle.

The end of the cane was stained with Yoonhwa’s blood.

He began to carefully wipe the cane with a cloth.

Each stroke connected to the deep emotions hidden within his heart.

His touch was infused with regret and affection.

Grandfather felt a deep sense of responsibility for having used this cane on Yoonhwa.

“I’m sorry, my fox… how could I have been so reckless…”

Grandfather murmured.

His voice was lonely and heavy.

He looked at the cane again, hoping that this tool would no longer be a weapon but a symbol of peace and protection.

He earnestly wished for Yoonhwa’s swift recovery and that she would return to her pure nature.

After cleaning the cane, Grandfather leaned it against a pillar of the traditional Korean house and returned to Yoonhwa’s room.

He silently sat beside her, determined to watch over her until she opened her eyes.

Outside, Tori was quietly immersed in training alone in a corner of the peaceful garden.

Every little movement of his small frame radiated a firm resolve, with each action filled with a longing to grow stronger.

As he moved nimbly between the leaves, Tori was connecting with nature, enhancing his abilities.

Meanwhile, inside the traditional Korean house, Grandfather sat quietly beside Yoonhwa, lost in meditation.

His deep breaths filled the serene room, and within his heart lay a fervent prayer for Yoonhwa to find peace again and for her split self to heal.