May Peace Be With You - 1
It was time to leave Sunghyeon-hyeon. I'd sent the beasts back across the border, giving the county some breathing room, and left a letter for the Guangxi Prefectural Governor in case they needed reinforcements. There was nothing left for me to handle here.
"But didn't you say Yunnam was in chaos too? Is it really okay to just head back?"
The only lingering concern was Yunnam, where beasts were reportedly rampaging just like in Guangxi. Kkieak had flown over the Guangxi area and cleaned things up, but Yunnam was beyond its range. If anything, with Guangxi quieting down, the chaos might have shifted there instead.
"It's fine. We couldn't respond properly before because we didn't know the cause, but now that we do, we can handle it ourselves."
"I see."
"Yes, sir. Please don't worry and go back in peace. We'll deal with border matters on the border, and the beasts will handle the beasts as best they can."
I couldn't help but worry, but if the experts said so, I'd trust them. Baek-su-mun wasn't just a sect of humans—it gathered all sorts of beasts too. They had different ways of handling things than in Sunghyeon-hyeon, and if worst came to worst, they could just hunker down like Ji Wi Pyeong suggested until the uproar died down naturally.
'The beasts will handle the beasts.' That line stuck in my head amid it all. I knew what he meant, but coming from the poster boy of beast lovers, it almost sounded like, 'We're not humans—we're beasts!'
A sect that had transcended humanity to embrace the beasts. Truly bizarre and mystical.
"They say a Millennium Turtle is a spirit beast even fishermen who’ve built up merit over three generations can barely glimpse, yet here we inland folk got to see one."
"And what about the Poison Bird? Seeing one is rare enough, but we're probably the only humans who lived to tell the tale."
"There'll be more from now on! We'll roam the Central Plains with Vice Inspector General, then head back to Kaepyeong!"
"Haha! Everyone will know the charm of Poison Birds!"
While Ji Wi Pyeong and I exchanged well-wishes and farewells, the Baek-su-mun elders were fussing over Ppiae and Kkieak. Kkieak, with its longing for people, stayed calm, but surprisingly, even the belligerent Ppiae quietly accepted their handling.
'Did it really get crushed by madness?' The thought crossed my mind. Ppiae spat acid and rampaged in front of ordinary folk, but before the 'real' experts, even it seemed subdued. Or maybe, despite its aggressive weirdness, it knew they adored it and stayed quiet. A spirit beast like Ppiae wouldn't lash out at humans who treated it kindly—that would make it a monster, not a spirit beast.
... 'Then what about those two.'
I glanced back involuntarily, reminded of the Hyeong-san incident with Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i.
- Kki-ing?
- Kki-oong.
They cried out shortly, sensing my gaze as if asking what was wrong. No, nothing. It's nothing...
'As long as they've reformed.' What did the past matter? They were reflecting now, living new lives, and even forgiven by their past victims. The Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i from Hyeong-san were different beings from the ones now.
- Buo, buooo!
- Buooo!
- Buo~
Having calmed myself that way, I looked at Buong, who was amid the farewells. My heart felt bittersweet for a different reason. When would I see it again after parting now?
'Once I have time, I'll visit Yunnam regularly.' Right now, I was dashing across the Central Plains like a dog with no spare moments, but once settled in Kaepyeong, I'd have room for occasional trips. My grandfather roamed freely even now. Comparing to him was unfair, but with a little effort, Buong's family reunions could become regular events.
"We'll see each other again."
- Buoong!
At my pat, Buong wrapped its trunk around my wrist. Yeah, we would. I'd make it happen. Having torn a healthy family apart, it was my duty to lead their reunions.
I set my next destination as Namyeong, the place I'd been eager to visit since entering Guangxi. High officials like the Prefectural Governor were in Gyeirim, but Namyeong was Guangxi's premier city.
'Praying for peace in the southern lands.' A beautifully named city. There was a Seonyeong in Qinghai too, but I'd never been because of Koke Temur, so I'd skip that. Yangyang Wang must have handled the west in my stead.
'I should have gone ages ago.'
I smiled wryly as we trudged toward Namyeong. Per the original plan, after the memorial for Yangminmun in Geomju-bu, I should've headed straight there. But the Baekryeon Cult Leader's kidnapping threw everything off. In hindsight, though, it turned out to be a blessing. We spotted the stealthy Kkieak early, Samshik gorged on toxic herbs for the first time in ages, and Sunghyeon-hyeon's beast-plagued woes were resolved.
What if we'd stuck to plan—Namyeong, Gyeirim, Shiwandaishan, then Sunghyeon-hyeon?
'I'd have been viewing corpses.' Probably several officials who'd died of overwork. My guilt would've skyrocketed. Suffering from my mistakes was one thing; death was another level.
Thanks, Baekryeon Cult Leader. You saved several lives.
- Piiik!
'Hm?'
Mid-bow in my mind toward the Cult Leader, a familiar messenger bird cry rang out.
"Oh my, already here?"
- Ppik!
The messenger landed deftly on Ak I-yeon's outstretched arm with practiced ease.
"From His Highness Ak Wang?"
"Yes. I sent a letter to Akwangjeo a while back saying we were fine and not to worry, and he replied."
Ak I-yeon chuckled softly as she unrolled the letter from the bird. I couldn't help but snort at Ak Wang's granddaughter obsession. Sending a messenger bird instead of a pigeon? He must've been dying to reply fast.
"Oh my."
But her exclamation halted my snickering. Something was off. Not a normal reply reaction.
"Uh, dear?"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Well, one of the letters to Akwangjeo mentioned the Man-Faced Tree Lord too. About how the beasts were rampaging because of its absence, and we were dealing with the chaos."
It stung a bit that my trolling had reached Ak Wang. "And?"
"His Highness Giwang found out about it too."
"...What?"
"So he personally went to see His Highness Nang-jung Wang..."
"What?"
The bitterness didn't last. Grandfather knew about my trolling? And rushed straight to Nang-jung Wang upon hearing?
'Why?'
What was he planning at Nang-jung Wang's? Steal the Man-Faced Tree Lord back? No, that wasn't it. Even Grandfather wouldn't steal from others, eccentric as he was.
'Then why.'
Confusing. Was he just touring Sichuan and detoured to Nang-jung Wang upon hearing about the tree? I was his grandson, but I still couldn't predict his patterns.
***
An unexpected guest arrived from the east.
"Okjin, you doing well?"
"Same as always. Nothing much but boredom in this remote spot."
Giwang roamed the Central Plains like his backyard. He'd visited Sichuan recently, and here he was again.
"Heh, Sichuan's got that vibe. Still better than Shiwandaishan, so no complaints."
"Only Qinghai compares to Shiwandaishan."
I handed him a cup, eyeing his dodge. He preferred one cup of liquor to ten of tea. Offer tea, and he'd rage about giving weeds to a far-traveled guest.
"Snake wine, by chance?"
"Please stop hunting for snake wine with me. I raise snakes, not drink them."
"Aw. You'd brew it tasty."
The words triggered a headache memory. Giwang once stole my cherished venomous snake—Cheongpung—and nearly drowned it in booze. I still bolted awake thinking of it. Thankfully, age had curbed such antics.
"Okjin."
"No snake wine, but I've got poison brew. Want that?"
"Tempting, but not about drinks."
"Yes, speak."
"Heard you're raising a Man-Faced Tree Lord."
I nodded calmly, figuring he meant Tongtong, the one Vice Inspector General sent from Yunnam. Sudden relocation could've stressed it, but it obeyed well, ate heartily, and plumped up. These days, playing with it was my joy. Such a big softie.
"That one's a big shot back home."
"It's a spirit beast. They dominate their turf by existing."
Odd for Giwang to bring it up, but I played along.
"Yeah, too well. When it vanished, beasts went wild. Problem is Guangxi and Yunnam are in total uproar."
"Pardon?"
I blinked. What now?
"Your Tree Lord ruled beasts near the Vietnam border. No king? Chaos below. Guangxi and Yunnam are a mess."
"...Vice Inspector General reached Guangxi already?"
"With our grandson and his wife."
I nodded, grasping why he'd come.
"I'll send aid to Guangxi and Yunnam. Manpower over funds, right?"
"Heh, you're so responsible, Okjin."
"Saying that over a cup... it'll force responsibility on even the innocent..."
Dodging blame like that? I'd smash his head with the cup otherwise—the future was clear.