Even After It Ends, There's More - 3
At the entrance to the Shiwandaishan mountains stood the Baekryeon Cult's village, Baekryeon. A domain no different from the Baekryeon Cult Leader's own fief, recognized by my great-grandfather and the current Emperor as an extraterritorial zone—the Vatican of Daesong. A sacred place no official could enter without just cause.
But we had not just cause; we came with the lord of the domain himself, the Baekryeon Cult Leader. Far from being barred, we passed without even a cursory inspection.
"This is your first time in Baekryeon, isn't it, Ak Sojeo?"
"Ah, yes, Cult Leader."
"People imagine Baekryeon as a place full of peach trees, where spirit beasts come to play. The inaccessibility fuels their fantasies, it seems."
The Baekryeon Cult Leader glanced at me and let out a soft chuckle.
"But now we can say it's a place where spirit beasts drop by. Five of them in a single day, after all."
"Now you just need to plant those peach trees."
"If Baekryeon were in Habuk, we'd have hundreds planted by now."
I played along with the Cult Leader's joke, and he muttered regretfully. Fair enough. In the Central Plains, Habuk—especially around Beiping—was the prime peach-growing region. No wonder Luo Guanzhong invented the Peach Blossom Spring tale in a place like that.
"Well, right now, clearing out the poison weeds takes priority over peach trees."
- Shyik!
At the Cult Leader's words, Samshik nodded vigorously, as if begging to be led straight to the poison weeds. Its eyes half-rolled back in ecstasy, which felt oddly unsettling.
Why had a poison-weed lover like this fled from Nang-jung Wang's care? Did the name "Samshik" really scar it that deeply?
"Such enthusiasm is reassuring. Leave it to this one, and it'll be done in no time."
Unlike my tangled thoughts, the Cult Leader nodded approvingly at Samshik's fervor. From his perspective, whether it was my Samshik or Nang-jung Wang's, as long as it sorted the poison weeds, that was enough.
"There. That's the warehouse where we stored the herbs and poison weeds."
"Warehouse...?"
We ventured deeper into Baekryeon, and I froze at the building the Cult Leader pointed to. It was too grand to call a mere warehouse. And not just one—several massive structures clustered together.
'Samshik's handling that alone?'
For a moment, I seriously doubted it, but Samshik's eyes sparkled, so I kept my mouth shut. This job was for Samshik to handle entirely on its own. As its owner, if I couldn't help, the least I could do was not get in the way.
Telling an ecstatic Samshik at a vast buffet, "That's too much; let's scale it back," would be downright cruel.
"One last thing before you start: just separate the deadly poison weeds from the regular ones. We'll handle the normal herbs, so feel free to leave them on the floor."
- Shyik! Shyiiik!
"Eat your fill of any poison weed if you get hungry."
- Shyiiik!
- Sieeek!
- Shiuuuk!
At the final instruction, Samshik's three heads danced with enthusiasm. Then it leaped from my hand and scurried toward the warehouse at blinding speed.
'Our Samshik's fast.'
Faster than when it hunted for Yangminmun corpses—several times over—
- Buoo.
'Hm?'
Buong started smacking my leg with its horn.
- Buoong~
Wondering what was up, I looked down. Buong pointed its horn toward where Samshik had vanished, honking plaintively.
'Ah.'
I knew exactly why. Samshik had dashed off in glee, so to Buong, it looked like playtime, not work. Hence the tantrum to tag along.
"Samshik didn't go to play. It's working, so you stay with me, Buong."
- Buo...
Buong nodded sullenly at my refusal. I stroked its head, proud of it. It could have bolted without asking, but it sought permission first. What a good, obedient kid.
'Sorry.'
Truth be told, Samshik might get bored zipping through that huge warehouse alone. Having Buong around wouldn't hurt, but it was a poison-weed pile—not ideal for other spirit beasts.
Spirit beasts were tougher than ordinary animals, sure. But toughness didn't mean immunity to all poisons or immortality.
Buong had gotten seasick before; if it played with Samshik and got poisoned, that'd be a disaster.
'Ppiae might handle it.'
The acid-spitter could probably wade through poison weeds unscathed. Acid and poison were cousins, sort of—self-produced acid probably trumped mere toxins. But Ppiae showed zero interest in weeds. It was snoozing quietly in my arms right now.
'If only Buong could spit acid...'
The thought flickered, then I shook it off. Our adorable Buong didn't need such vicious tricks.
While Samshik diligently sorted (or devoured) poison weeds, we humans settled for tea.
"By the way, Han Un. Once you've checked Guangxi, you'll head back to Kaepyeong?"
We couldn't just sip in silence, so we exchanged updates.
"Yes, Cult Leader. Guangxi is the last region after touring everywhere else."
"You came last time too—why return? Guangxi's no quick jaunt; you could've looped back from Guangdong."
"Last time, I rushed straight to Shiwandaishan to see you, so I couldn't inspect Guangxi properly. How could I return to Kaepyeong with a light heart?"
"Hm. Fair point."
The Cult Leader nodded with a faint smile. Was it my imagination, or did his eyes gleam like he was appraising prime 1++ hanwoo beef?
"But reasoning and action are separate beasts. Daesong stands today because of officials like you."
"You're too kind."
Not imagination—my hand trembled slightly on the teacup.
"Too kind? This old man, piling on years, has seen a thing or two. I know all about the inspectors scattered across Daesong. But I've never heard of any as devoted as you and Inspector Jo."
No one's as dogged as us. The retort nearly escaped. Dochalwon inspectors didn't roam the whole country like this. Regular gamchal eosa divided Daesong into over a hundred zones, each patrolling their patch—not vast territory per person.
We, on the other hand? The entire realm was our stage, zones be damned. If we rated average or below, that would be weird.
"So rest easy when you return to Kaepyeong. Marry Ak Sojeo first—the Emperor will approve your break."
Ak I-yeon's body jolted at "marriage."
"Oh dear. Still blushing at the word? So adorably green."
"W-who's blushing? It's just a duty—why be shy?"
Her face flushed deeper under the teasing, yet her words rang bold. The mismatch widened the Cult Leader's grin.
"True. It's inevitable someday."
Sensing she'd crack if pushed further, he stopped at the perfect moment. For a self-proclaimed "aging relic," his timing was masterful. Any more, and she might've fainted.
"I'd love to witness the wedding, but this old body can't stray far from Guangxi."
"Your words alone are thanks enough."
"Or hold it here in Shiwandaishan?"
"Pardon?"
"Pfhh. Just kidding."
Teasing was alive and well—just the target switched to me.
"I'll send ample gifts instead. Tidy up the warehouse before heading back."
"Ah, yes."
Shiwandaishan was remote in Guangxi's hinterlands; no wonder the Cult Leader found life dull. His banter felt like volunteer companionship for an elder. Plus, compared to other kings' eccentricities, he was remarkably mild-mannered. Among them, he was a gentleman.
"Cult Leader. Pardon the interruption."
After more chit-chat, a trembling voice came from outside.
"What is it? Did the building collapse?"
"N-no, not that."
The man outside paused, then continued.
"About the spirit beast you sent to the warehouse... I have a report."
"Spirit beast?"
The Cult Leader frowned slightly and glanced at me. I mirrored his expression.
'What did our Samshik do?'
Odd. Samshik should be chowing down diligently. Why a direct report to the Cult Leader?
Then I understood.
'What the hell is that.'
Samshik had just cleared one warehouse and was leisurely heading to the next. Proof of nonstop work—but the sight left me speechless.
'Why's it so big?'
It had been pinky-sized, perfectly palm-sized and cute. Now? Bulked up to about a meter long.
- Shyik, shyiiik.
- Siiiieek.
- Shiuuuk.
Even its hisses boomed louder.
'...Did it eat a spirit herb among the poison weeds?'
No—even a spirit herb wouldn't balloon it this much over tea time. Spirit beast biology was a mystery.