Last Dance (Final) - 7: Eternal Foes of Resurrection
The wounds all over the Qilin's body healed rapidly the moment it swallowed the elixir. It was truly a miraculous sight. Grandfather had even been prepared to assist with its qi circulation if needed, but there was no need for circulation or anything—it took effect instantly.
The Four Auspicious Beasts are something else entirely. I nearly burst out laughing at the Qilin's eyes, now sparkling brighter than before. Humans have to circulate their qi even after taking the legendary elixir Clear Spirit Oil. Was the elixir from the Baekryeon Cult Leader even superior to Clear Spirit Oil, or did the Qilin, as a being one with nature itself, simply not need circulation? Of course, the latter was far more likely. No way did even the Baekryeon Cult Leader possess something rarer than Clear Spirit Oil.
- Kki-ing! Kki-i-ing!
- Kki-ong!
In any case, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i rejoiced at the Qilin's full revival, crying out in clear voices. Then they began licking its tiny body over and over, like devoted parents tending to their newborn.
Isn't the Qilin supposed to be a king? It was a slightly odd scene. As far as I knew, the Qilin was the king of all furred beasts. But this looked more like doting on a precious baby or little sibling than regal treatment.
- Giri-riring!
Yet the Qilin itself seemed delighted by the two Baeknok's earnest licking, showing no displeasure whatsoever. Right—judging spirit beasts' actions by human values is a mistake. To them, that might be a sign of loyalty and submission.
"To think it took effect the instant it swallowed the elixir. If it had died right here, even that Qilin would've gone to the grave with its eyes wide open in resentment."
"Indeed, Grandfather."
I nodded absently at his words. A body that responded so perfectly to medicine, dying from injury? If it were me, I'd have died unjustly with my eyes open too. With an elixir able to extend life through any wound, how infuriating to perish simply because you lacked one?
"If I'd known this, I wouldn't have needed to hold that thing back."
"Hold it back?"
But his follow-up made me tilt my head instead of nodding. The only one he'd call "that thing" here was Do-cheol. Yet Do-cheol had been beaten so soundly that "held back" felt too gentle—it suited "pummeled" far better. Was immobility from pain counting as captured?
"I held it briefly with Silence Hell. Just in case, but thankfully it worked on that creature too."
"Ah."
I understood immediately at the mention of Silence Hell. Even I, a first-rate, had been silenced repeatedly by it, and it had briefly affected Koke Temur, a Hwagyeong master. When a Hwagyeong high master like Grandfather used it, even one of the Four Evils would flinch. Especially one so diminutive.
"...Grandfather."
"What is it?"
"What do we do with that thing now?"
At my question, Grandfather stroked his beard, looking troubled. A being that had nearly triumphed over the Qilin in single combat. One that no human strength could ever fell, no matter the beating. Though small and pathetic now, its divine bloodline remained unchanged. We'd pummeled it to save the Qilin, but now that it was saved, disposal was tricky. With reason overriding instinct, the gravity of the situation sank in. A divine existence from the mythic age. What grudge or curse would it bring for such merciless thrashing?
Maybe if I apologize now, it'll forgive me...?
Do-cheol's eyes brimmed with resentment and sorrow—it seemed too late even for that. Ask the Qilin to fight and kill it again? No, if the Qilin lost once more, we had no way to heal it.
"Un-a."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"For now, it might be best to summon all the spirit beasts from the inn. Spirit beasts are wise creatures, so the more we have, the better we can suppress the Four Evils."
"Ah, yes. I'll go fetch them."
It was a sound plan. If we couldn't deal with Do-cheol immediately, suppressing it as much as possible was wise. Plus, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i had once lifted Do-cheol's curse from those Taizhou merchants. Whether it truly broke the curse or just improved their mood, a spirit beast's presence would surely outmatch ordinary methods against Do-cheol.
That'll triple our spirit beasts.
No matter how mighty a Four Evils, surrounded by one Qilin and six spirit beasts, it'd be dazed. More beasts wouldn't eliminate Do-cheol, but it'd buy time to figure out a solution.
I returned not just with the spirit beasts but also Ak I-yeon and Jo Wi-cheo to where the Four Evils and Qilin waited. I didn't call other officials or soldiers—skeptics would only cause chaos. For now, we relied on the collective wisdom of those who believed in and could accept Do-cheol's existence.
"Gaga. That deer—"
- Buooo!
The moment Ak I-yeon pointed at the brilliantly multicolored Qilin, Buong leaped from my arms to the ground.
- Buo! Buooo~
- Giring.
Buong then scurried toward the Qilin, sniffing around it repeatedly with its trunk waving. Come to think of it, Buong was a furred beast too. No wonder it reacted so strongly to the Qilin.
"It's a Qilin. The black sheep beside it is Do-cheol."
- A sheep?! How dare you call me a sheep!
"That's the talking one—Do-cheol."
To soothe Do-cheol's feelings even a little, I corrected from "black sheep" to "the talking one." Such minor consideration wouldn't fully appease its fury after a thorough beating, of course. But small efforts could reduce its 100% rage to 90%. Dust into mountains, as they say.
"Do-cheol really exists. I was half-doubting it, honestly."
"Half-belief is plenty. Most wouldn't believe even that much."
"True, but..."
Ak I-yeon fell silent briefly before cautiously approaching the Qilin. The Qilin shifted its gaze from Buong to her. Barely larger than Buong, it ended up looking up at Ak I-yeon.
"This little one is the Qilin?"
"Yeah. That's the Qilin."
- Giri-riring.
At my words and the Qilin's cry, Ak I-yeon gently extended her hand to touch it.
- Giring...
Far from shying from human contact, the Qilin accepted it calmly, as if recognizing a kind soul and welcoming the touch.
"They say seeing a Qilin is an omen of good fortune."
"Perfect, since you're soon to be wed. A sign you'll live happily ever after for a century. With about a dozen kids."
Ak I-yeon's face flushed crimson at Grandfather's sudden ambush. I managed an awkward smile at his words too. Six might be reasonable, but twelve was excessive.
"My lord."
"Hm? What?"
"I expected Do-cheol, but why is the Qilin here? As I recall, the Qilin governs the center, not the south."
While Ak I-yeon blushed, Jo Wi-cheo raised the fundamental question. I wondered the same. Do-cheol wandering Guangxi wasn't normal either, but legends placed it in the central plains' southwest. Guangxi could stretch that definition. The Qilin, however, ruled the true center—not south or west. It shouldn't be brawling with Do-cheol here.
"And it's so small. Do the Four Evils and Four Auspicious Beasts distinguish between adults and young?"
"No idea..."
I dealt with six spirit beasts daily, but Four Evils and Auspicious Beasts were outside my expertise.
"If we don't know, we ask the parties involved."
"Pardon?"
Grandfather's words sent a chill down my spine. No, Grandfather—you don't mean...
"Since ancient times, force has been the best companion to interrogation."
I closed my eyes in dismay at his follow-up. As his grandson, I shouldn't think this, but if anyone here incurred Do-cheol's curse, it'd likely be Grandfather before me, the first to pummel it.
- Wh-what is it, human? Why do you look at me like that?
"We need to have a little talk."
- Don't lie, you black-furred beasts!
Amid Do-cheol's desperate outburst and pitiful screams, I quietly approached the Qilin. Having heard ugliness with my ears, now my eyes sought beauty.
- Giring.
Was it my imagination? The Qilin seemed to gaze at Do-cheol with a pleased smile.
You're supposed to be benevolent. So kind you wouldn't tread on grass or insects. Was that why the Four Evils existed—to bestow "good" upon?
A founding hero of the first rank interrogated differently indeed.
- The legends you know are tales of the past.
Grandfather ultimately pried open Do-cheol's mouth.
- When the King of Qin unified the Central Plains with blood and iron. When a mere human dared claim the rank of emperor over the Son of Heaven. From then, you humans became beings we gods could no longer coexist with.
Perhaps beaten too effectively, it spilled more history than expected.
- Originally, your human rulers—the Sons of Heaven—were sons of the sky, priests offering sacrifices to the gods. But the King of Qin chose to rule humans by force, not rites. No longer communing truly with heaven, the Son of Heaven became one standing above humans, not bridging heaven and man.
It rang familiar. Rulers before the First Emperor were priestly; after, worldly.
- From that day, the world changed. We who roamed the Central Plains in harmony with humans vanished from your sight. That's why we hid from what you call the Spring and Autumn Warring States era onward.
"No more sacrifices?"
- Precisely. If humans needed no gods, we needed no gaze upon humans. So we lived quietly... until.
Do-cheol, answering courteously, glanced at the Qilin, sighed softly, and continued.
- Until incompatible foes like me and that one crossed paths. We'd circle the Central Plains, fight to the death upon chance encounter, and the loser would revive for another round. I've died seventeen times so far; it's died fifteen.
"What?"
What nonsense was this?
- The beings you call Four Evils, Four Divine Beasts, Four Auspicious—there's only one of each. Tiny younglings? No such thing. Just freshly revived forms, like me and it now.
- Giring.
The silent Qilin nodded at Do-cheol's words.
- And you meddled in gods' affairs without knowing. Do you grasp your ignorance now?!
At its grudge-filled cry, I quietly turned away.
"Perfect."
"Pardon?"
- What?
"If you and the Qilin keep dying and reviving to fight each other, you won't have time to harm us humans, right?"
Do-cheol's body shuddered at my flawless logic.
What.
Was it true? Too busy fighting each other to bother humans?
Should've beaten it worry-free, then. Hearing of revival had sparked brief regret, but my choice to aid the Qilin was right after all.