Chapter 107: Fall
Cheol Mu Geuk spoke with a heartbroken, mournful expression.
“You can’t do this, Cho Ryang.”
“Hehehe… This is the best way to catch Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa. It’ll be fine. It’ll be safe.”
“To think the axe I trusted would chop my own foot… I never dreamed you’d betray us too, So Pyeong.”
“Father. If we ignore the suffering of the common folk, we’re no men.”
Out in the open field, Cheol Mu Geuk was bound to a log.
Not all of Jeok Yong Gye had burned, so they’d found a patch of unburnt, living land(?).
“…Hah. Sado Ga Ju. Is this any way to treat me right now?”
“Think of it as the spirit of sacrifice from your leader.”
“Leader?”
“We’re not the Mu Geuk Expedition. So you have to be the leader, Cheol Ga Ju.”
“That Mu Geuk feels different from the Mu Geuk.”
Even so, he chuckled, clearly pleased by the title of leader.
[Demon, you must be under that intelligence-lowering curse you were talking about.]
It sure seemed that way. Time for a bit of lip service.
“Don’t worry, Leader. When Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa shows up, Sa Wol will jump right in.”
Cheol Mu Geuk’s lips twitched upward at “leader.”
“Where are you hiding right now?”
“In your shadow, Leader—no, your shadow. She’ll use the Golden Gate Chain as soon as she’s in range.”
“How mysterious. Even though my skills are only first-rate, I can’t sense a thing.”
Cho Ryang’s plan was simple.
1. Tie up Cheol Mu Geuk; the rest hide in the hut.
2. Cheol Mu Geuk lights the blue flame to lure Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa.
3. Sa Wol in the shadows grabs it with the Golden Gate Chain.
4. Cheol So Pyeong rushes in, yanks the chain, and pulls Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa to the ground.
5. Cho Ryang tames it.
I’d handle any contingencies as backup. Though “backup” was just a word— I probably wouldn’t have to do much. This was why auto-hunt was so convenient.
“Still, can’t you loosen it a bit? I have my dignity. I’m not gonna run.”
“Since ancient times, we’ve made offerings to divine beasts. Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa isn’t one that takes sacrifices, but imitating the form can’t hurt.”
“This isn’t revenge for the prank I pulled in your Iron House, is it?”
“Why would I do that while carrying out my duties?”
“Urgh…”
Cheol Mu Geuk soon gave up with a sigh.
“Go hide, then.”
We left Cheol Mu Geuk—and the hidden Sa Wol—and ducked into a hut ten zhang away. It was cramped and rickety, meant as a temporary shelter for the commoners, but enough to evade Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa’s eyes.
“Hide your presence, Cheol So Ga Ju.”
“Got it.”
“And try not to move if you can help it. The hut feels like it’ll collapse every time you shift.”
“That’s… I’m just a bit excited. Haha.”
Cheol So Pyeong laughed sheepishly.
“Reminds me of hunting with Father when I was a kid. We hid like this, waiting for a wild boar. He grumbled just like now, but he was secretly enjoying it.”
Excited when the bait was his own father? Not pointing that out showed Cheol So Pyeong was a fine cultist too. This expedition reminded me that true cultists didn’t discriminate by age or gender.
“Anyway, it’s all thanks to you, Sado Ga Ju.”
“What is?”
“Thanks to your care, my relationship with Father’s gotten better.”
“Hm.”
“I asked that Sa Wol friend, and she said it’s always like that. You handle big things without making a fuss.”
“Hmm.”
“Must be the same this time. Thank you.”
I had no idea what I’d done, but I nodded anyway. Now Cheol Mu Geuk and Cheol So Pyeong were both on my side.
“If Hyeok Ga interferes while we catch Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa, I, Cheol So Pyeong, as young master of Goe Mountain Iron Family, will become your sworn brother and aid you.”
That was reassuring.
How long had we waited?
Just as boredom set in and yawns threatened—
Piiik—!
“It’s here!”
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa’s cry echoed.
“Didn’t I say not to move?”
“Hah!”
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa had always loved peace.
Its favorite thing was folding its wings by a small, quiet stream no one approached, listening to the water flow.
If those arrogant humans hadn’t provoked it, it would’ve stayed that way.
They’d invaded its territory—its home all this time—and now acted like they owned the land.
Humans are annoying.
It just wanted peace, yet they kept bothering it. Especially that young human with the ridiculous dragon pattern.
The memory was still fresh.
‘A poor substitute for the great Red Dragon, but that guy at least!’
Great Red Dragon? Even for short-lived humans, calling that Red Dragon “great” was laughable.
And they’d even tried sticking some talisman on it while it sat still.
A talisman’s spell couldn’t work on Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa, born with the power to purify all with fire.
But.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa resolved to drive out the annoying humans.
It loved peace, so it never harmed them directly—just chased them off. Bizarre that they treated it like some ill omen for that.
Bitter.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa spat fire from its mouth.
Ever since biting into that fire giant earlier, its mouth had tasted bitter. Curiosity got the better of it—what flavor?—but it was pure fire mixed with metal.
Human energy, huh.
It wanted to absorb fresh fire and wash its mouth.
Flying through the sky, Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa suddenly sensed a provoking energy.
Far below.
Blue flames flickered.
Blue flame?
The purest, clearest fire.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa flapped down.
That human.
The small one who’d stood by the fire giant earlier. Astonishingly pure and clean energy for a human flame.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa felt hunger stir.
Though it sustained itself on solar energy alone, without eating or drinking.
But no human would be tied up like that unless they were idiots—it screamed trap.
Someone was surely hiding in that shabby hut. It shook slightly as Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa descended.
Piiik—!
Crying out, Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa soared back up. It wasn’t dumb enough to fall for an obvious human trap.
But one bite wouldn’t hurt, right?
The thought struck.
The human with the Red Dragon form or the fire giant maker—they were nuisances, but beatable. Speed-wise, it couldn’t be caught.
Mouth already bitter. Swoop in, grab a bite, and go—wash the taste and sate the hunger.
Piiik—!
Turning, Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa dove at blinding speed.
The blue flame still looked delicious.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa ignited its tail feathers. Its already swift speed became invisible to ordinary eyes.
“Aaaah, I’m gonna die!”
The small human lighting the blue flame screamed. Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa sneered and snapped up the flickering flame.
This taste?
Sweet.
No flame it had tasted lately was this sweet and stimulating.
One more bite…
…!?
A chilling energy hit. Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa twisted its wings. At that moment—
Charrlk!
A golden chain from a woman shot like a snake striking prey at its wings. The chain tried to bind it like a real serpent.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa folded its wings, spun its body, and escaped the chain’s reach.
Piiiik—!
Human scum!
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa opened its beak and blasted fierce fire at the woman. Sa Wol, who’d thrown the chain, dodged every flame with bizarre footwork even Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa struggled to track.
At the same time, she flicked the index finger of her free left hand. Then—
Charrlk!
The Golden Gate Chain, flying out of range, whipped back toward Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa. Unfazed, it flared flames from its wingtips and flapped hard, shoving its body backward.
“I-Is that using Flying Sword on a chain?!”
“That’s not important now! Hurry!”
Kwaaaang!
As Sa Wol spoke, the hut exploded, and the fire giant reappeared. It caught Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa’s retreating body in both hands.
“Got i—”
Cheol So Pyeong’s words cut off.
Krunch!
The fire giant’s grip shattered as Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa burst free.
It glared fiercely.
Daring to challenge it—direct descendant of Zhuque, ruler of all flames—with fire!
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa retracted its wings, then snapped them open in a whirlwind. Flame feathers shot like arrows everywhere. The fire giant threw itself forward, blocking them from the others.
Sa Wol hurled the Golden Gate Chain in the gap—but
Slow.
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa turned its head, dodging. It looked down with haughty eyes.
Pathetic ground-crawling humans, faces full of dismay. As expected. Impossible for them to catch Zhuque’s bloodline.
Then—
“Arrogant eyes.”
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa startled. A cold-faced human man appeared right beside it, wrapped in inky blue afterimages.
Eyes brimming with terrifying power.
“The Golden Gate Chain—when?!”
Sa Wol’s shocked voice from below. The chain she’d held was now in the man—Sado Hwan’s—left hand.
Piiiik—!
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa flared flames to flee, but—
?!
Sado Hwan, in inky blue afterimages again, matched its speed effortlessly, right beside it.
“Pitifully slow.”
Before it could react, the Golden Gate Chain bound its feet. Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa felt its power sealed, unable to exert fully. No matter how it flapped, no flames rose.
A grounded bird had few options.
“Wretched beast’s pitiful struggle. Now, then.”
With Sado Hwan’s declaration—
Domination.
“Fall.”
Kwaduk!
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa’s massive body slammed into the ground.