Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 134

Yoonhwa held a candy wrapped in paper in her hand and murmured quietly.

“What a shame… Wish – so close, haha…”

Her Grandfather, hearing Yoonhwa’s mumbling, smiled. He moved closer and sat quietly beside her, gently stroking her hair.

“Fox, it’s my fault, so let’s just call it a win for you this time. Well—heh heh…”

Yoonhwa’s eyes widened in surprise at her grandfather’s words. She felt deeply grateful for his generosity.

Her grandfather’s kind suggestion made Yoonhwa’s eyes sparkle. She looked at him incredulously, a smile blooming on her lips.

“R-really, Grandfather?”

“Then… I’m really thankful!”

Tori, watching the whole situation from the side, gaped in surprise.

“Wait, does that even make sense?”

“The fox definitely lost!”

“How can it be considered a win…?”

Tori’s voice was a mix of astonishment and confusion. Grandfather chuckled at Tori’s reaction.

“Tori, sometimes it’s not bad to bend the rules a bit.”

“Considering what the fox has been through, this could be a small consolation.”

Yoonhwa burst into even bigger laughter at Tori’s response. Her face was filled with joy and excitement.

Tori still wore a dissatisfied expression, but gradually softened his stance at Yoonhwa and Grandfather’s laughter.

He muttered slightly.

“Ugh, fine…”

Yoonhwa’s heart melted with her grandfather’s kind suggestion, her eyes shining with joy. After a brief hesitation, she cautiously confessed.

“Grandfather, actually… I really miss Hyun..!!”

Her grandfather smiled at Yoonhwa’s wish, looking at her face.

“Yes, fox. I knew you would feel that way.”

“I knew you’d want to see that human.”

His voice was filled with understanding and affection.

Yoonhwa expressed her joy freely at her grandfather’s permission, hopping around the traditional Korean house.

Her face was filled with the exhilaration and excitement she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Yay~! I’m going to meet Hyun!”

Yoonhwa’s voice filled the traditional Korean house. However, Tori looked flustered by Yoonhwa’s actions, showing signs of discomfort.

“Fox, don’t jump!”

“The house might collapse!”

Tori’s voice was marked with annoyance and panic. Yoonhwa paused for a moment, looking at Tori.

She wondered if it would be okay to go with Tori. Her gaze was filled with anticipation.

After a moment’s hesitation, she excitedly asked her grandfather.

“Grandfather, can Tori come too??”

Her voice mixed hope with caution. Tori was suddenly taken aback, yelling.

“Why me all of a sudden??”

His voice carried anger, clearly reflecting his aversion to the human world.

Grandfather smiled at Yoonhwa’s question and Tori’s reaction.

“Sure, Tori. Why don’t you go along too?”

His voice was gentle and encouraging.

Yoonhwa’s excitement remained undiminished. She got even closer to Tori, leaning down and affectionately rubbing her cheek against his little body.

“Tori~ Let’s go, let’s go together~”

Her voice was sweet and playful. Tori was incredibly flustered by Yoonhwa’s sudden display of affection.

He uncomfortably stepped back.

“Ugh, why are you like this? I’m not going!”

Tori’s voice was a mix of firmness and slight dissatisfaction. Yoonhwa, undeterred by Tori’s refusal, kept her gaze bright.

“Tori, please~ It’ll be more fun if you’re there!”

Tori grew more exasperated by Yoonhwa’s persistent pleading. His small body tensed in discomfort, and eventually, he lightly kicked Yoonhwa’s face with his tiny foot, pushing her away.

“I’m not going!”

Tori’s voice sounded irritated. Yoonhwa was taken aback by being pushed and rubbed her nose, looking a bit startled.

But soon, she recalled Tori’s favorite food.

Her eyes sparkled as she approached Tori once again.

“You liked peanuts~ right?”

Yoonhwa cunningly used peanuts as bait to persuade Tori, much like a nine-tailed fox transforming into a beautiful woman to lure humans.

Her voice flowed sweetly, and confidence shone in her gaze.

“Tori, I’ll give you so many peanuts.”

“So many delicious peanuts~…!!”

Tori’s resolve wavered at Yoonhwa’s suggestion. Reluctantly, he showed signs of agreeing.

His voice still held dissatisfaction, but his love for peanuts moved him.

“Peanuts… Okay—I’ll go..!”

“But you better give me a lot of peanuts..!!”

Grandfather chuckled warmly at the playful and cunning interaction between Yoonhwa and Tori.

He admired Yoonhwa’s clever coaxing and looked forward to the experiences this adventure would bring to the two kids.

“Alright, then both of you go ahead.”

“But make sure to return before the moon rises and sets. Before it gets too late.”

Grandfather’s voice was warm and soft, yet it contained a hint of a firm warning.

He hoped Yoonhwa and Tori would return safely and imparted important advice to them.

As Grandfather finished up their preparations, he added one last piece of advice.

“This is really the last time, so if you need clothes or anything, pack them today.”

Yoonhwa and Tori exchanged glances at Grandfather’s words.

Yoonhwa was bursting with joy at the thought of meeting Hyun, while Tori was buzzing with anticipation for the peanuts.

“Then, we’ll be off! Bye, Grandfather!”

“Guardian spirit..! I- I’m really going..!!”

After bidding one final goodbye to Grandfather, Yoonhwa and Tori headed down the steep mountain.

Yoonhwa couldn’t hide her fluttering heart as she jumped down the mountain with a swift landing.

Her body moved nimbly as she jumped quickly down, her tail swaying in the wind as she picked up speed.

Meanwhile, Tori was carefully descending, lagging a bit behind Yoonhwa.

“Wait for me, let’s go together—!”

Tori shouted to Yoonhwa, but she didn’t hear him and continued her descent.

Tori sighed at Yoonhwa’s recklessness but carefully stepped down from branches and rocks.

As they neared the village, Yoonhwa tucked in her tail and ears, transforming into human form.

She arrived at the village entrance, catching her breath as she looked around.

Finally, Tori reached the village, but his small body trembled with fear.

“This is… the village?… Scary…”

Tori was overwhelmed by the humans around him and couldn’t hide his fear.

Feeling overwhelmed by the humans and their activities, Tori cautiously crept closer to Yoonhwa’s ankle.

His small body stiffened with tension and fear, and eventually, he slipped into her pant leg.

Yoonhwa laughed in surprise at the unexpected guest.

“Ahh—, Tori! What are you doing..?? That’s ticklish-.!!”

She carefully took Tori out and placed his small body on her shoulder.

Tori still looked nervous, but he seemed a little steadied by Yoonhwa’s warmth.

Yoonhwa smiled at Tori and said, “It’s okay, Tori. You’ll be safe with me.”

“We’re going to meet Hyun!”

So, they set off toward Hyun’s house.

Yoonhwa’s heart raced at the thought of meeting Hyun, while Tori cautiously surveyed the surroundings from Yoonhwa’s shoulder.

Their steps were careful, but they moved forward one step at a time, relying on each other.

Yoonhwa remembered exactly where Hyun’s house was and knew the way well.

As Yoonhwa and Tori entered the yard of Hyun’s house, several familiar sights appeared along with some changes.

One side of the yard had unfamiliar clothes hanging on the line, drying in the sun, and bits of ash scattered around as if something had burned and fallen.

Yoonhwa took in all the changes, feeling like a traveler returning after a long time.

Her heart was brimming with excitement, but she was also worried about Hyun’s well-being.

“It hasn’t been long, but it feels like forever…!!”

Yoonhwa took a deep breath, calming herself.

She approached the door of Hyun’s house and gently knocked.

Knock knock…?

Nomi and Sohee were spending their morning watching TV when suddenly, the knock echoed through the living room.

Nomi turned her gaze from the screen to Sohee.

Anxiety and curiosity lingered in her eyes.

“Could that be that… monster from yesterday? Who is it…??”

Nomi cautiously spoke, worry evident in her voice.

Sohee also showed a moment of tension.

But soon, she replied in a calm voice, as if to reassure Nomi.

“It’s morning—, so it can’t be that monster…”

Having said that, Sohee dug into her bag and pulled out a few talismans and a fan for protection.

While holding the fan, Sohee slowly approached the door towards the noise.

She cautiously turned the doorknob and opened the door.

In her hands, she held the fan and talismans tightly, eyeing the outside with a vigilant gaze.

Clack—

“Hyunnn—!!”

As soon as the door opened, Yoonhwa embraced Sohee joyously.

Her actions were purely driven by the joy and longing of meeting Hyun.

But then Yoonhwa realized with surprise that the one she hugged wasn’t Hyun.

“Whoa, why is this happening??”

“It hurts!”

Sohee exclaimed in a flustered voice, pushing Yoonhwa away.

Her expression was a mix of shock and confusion.

Yoonhwa, realizing her mistake, glanced at Sohee and offered an awkward smile.

“Ahh— I thought it was Hyun, I’m sorry.. Hehe…”

Yoonhwa’s face was flushed with embarrassment, overlapping with a sheepish grin.

Sohee was wearing Yoonhwa’s oversized clothes, looking comically baggy on her.

She still held the fan and talismans tightly in her hands.

Tori, watching the entire scene from Yoonhwa’s shoulder, suddenly spoke up.

“What’s this— a demon hunter?”

“Oh, they were guarding you, huh…”

Sohee was startled to see Yoonhwa and Tori standing at the door.

Her eyes widened, unable to hide her surprise.

“What are you two doing here?”

“Wasn’t it only a week—? Wasn’t it?”

Sohee’s voice mixed astonishment with confusion.

She had not expected Yoonhwa and Tori to come here at all.

Yoonhwa smiled at Sohee and replied.

“Grandfather let me spend just today!”

“Hyun— where’s Hyun?? Nomi?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yoonhwa rushed past Sohee into the house.

Her pace was filled with a desperate longing to meet Hyun and Nomi.

Nomi spotted Yoonhwa and shouted in excitement.

“Yoonhwa unni—!”

She excitedly dashed over to Yoonhwa, giving her a tight hug.

Nomi’s face was brimming with joy and excitement.

But suddenly, seeing Nomi charging at her, Tori jumped down from Yoonhwa’s shoulder and landed on the floor.

He looked bewildered at Nomi’s sudden approach.

While still hugging Yoonhwa tightly, Nomi began sharing everything she experienced while Yoonhwa was away, speaking excitedly.

Yoonhwa reciprocated Nomi’s warm greeting with a gentle pat on her shoulder.

She then asked Nomi about Hyun’s whereabouts.

“Where’s Hyun, Nomi?”

Nomi answered with a bright expression.

“He’s in the room…”

“Just a moment ago…”

Nomi’s voice had a hint of worry.

Just then, Sohee interjected into their conversation.

“That’s right, he’s in his room.”

“I think he caught a cold, so he’s resting.”

Worry was evident on Sohee’s face concerning Hyun’s condition.

Yoonhwa frowned at the news that Hyun had caught a cold.

“A cold isn’t just a minor illness, is it…? Ugh— I wonder if Hyun’s okay?”

Yoonhwa’s voice contained genuine concern for Hyun.

At that moment, Yoonhwa unconsciously revealed her tail and ears.

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately upon the appearance of her hidden traits.

Sohee couldn’t hide her surprise upon seeing Yoonhwa’s tail and ears.

“Wow, you’re really amazing!”

“A nine-tailed fox’s tail—…!”

Sohee’s voice dripped with genuine astonishment and admiration.

Her eyes were captivated, unable to look away from Yoonhwa’s tail and ears.

Yoonhwa smiled slightly at Sohee’s reaction, gently waving her tail.

Receiving a warm welcome from Nomi and Sohee, Yoonhwa moved towards the room.

In her heart, conflicting feelings of eager desire to meet Hyun and worry for his well-being surged.

Her clothes were stained with dirt and dust from battles she had just endured.

However, Yoonhwa quickly used magic to clean her clothes.

Dressed in her fresh attire, she stood cautiously in front of Hyun’s door.

Yoonhwa lightly knocked on Hyun’s door and gently asked.

“Hyun..! Can I come in…??”