Past Bonds Endure Forever - 1
Humans couldn't kill the Four Evils, no matter how many blows they took. But the kings wouldn't allow any counterattacks or escapes from those evils. It was a battle so suffocating just to watch that I quietly stroked Kkieak's neck. Before long, even Kkieak seemed satisfied with the merciless beating the evil was taking, watching without a whimper.
'1600 years of freeloading really took a toll.'
Looking at the evil that could no longer resist and just writhed pitifully, I felt a pang of sympathy. At least Do-cheol had put up a fierce fight against me, Grandfather, and Kki-ing-i. The freshly revived, still small Do-cheol, even mid-battle with the qilin, had shown that much vitality. But this evil, undead for 1600 years without a single fight, looked even weaker than Do-cheol. It must have lost all its battle sense and muscle just groaning alone in its grave.
'A blessing in disguise?'
Sero Paewang and Hoinam Wang probably hadn't intended it, but they'd sealed away one of the Four Evils for 1600 years. If this thing had roamed the Central Plains, it would've clashed with Bonghwang constantly. Or like Do-cheol, its mere traces might have unwittingly doomed humans.
'Bonghwang.'
Come to think of it, that thing. It seemed to have a sworn enmity with Bonghwang, but what exactly was it? Do-cheol was in the palace, so the remaining evils were Chaos, Gonggi, and Do-ol. Legends said Chaos took the form of a giant dog or wolf, Gonggi a winged tiger, and Do-ol just a tiger.
'It's Do-ol.'
Recalling the myths, the conclusion came quickly. A wingless tiger? That had to be Do-ol. True to its nature as one of the Four Evils, it was ferocious, loved dirty fights, and wouldn't stop until one side died—a warmonger through and through.
'Though it's getting pummeled like a dog right now.'
Of course, loving fights didn't mean excelling at them, but this was a bit much. From now on, you should just call yourself one of the Four Dogs, not Evils.
"Damn it, damn bastards! You fucking dogs!"
While the proud member of the Four Dogs—or whatever—Do-ol was absorbing the kings' attacks with its whole body, it suddenly lifted its head and glared at me with a voice full of rage. What? Like you're gonna do something about it, you pathetic tiger. Getting one-sidedly thrashed by four Hwagyeong masters.
"You, human! What the hell do you have! What kind of energy is that! What foul thing makes me unable to use my power!"
"Huh?"
Do-ol's shout furrowed my brow instinctively. Had it taken one too many hits to the head? Why pick a fight with me out of nowhere when I'd been quiet?
"As expected, a foul thing! It can still afford to look elsewhere after all that."
"Heh heh, this bruises my pride a bit. Even Chalhancheopmoga or Taltalcheopmoga couldn't stay this relaxed in front of us."
"Grrrrraaah!"
But its sudden outburst was quickly quelled by Grandfather and Gu Gangwang's friendly pummeling. Should've just shut up and taken it. Showing spirit like that only made it hurt more.
'A foul thing.'
I stroked my chin, watching Do-ol get hit even faster now. It nagged at me too much to ignore. Out of everyone, it had singled me out—there had to be a reason. A mythical being wouldn't lash out without cause. Energy, foul thing, the tiger Do-ol... something the Four Evils' Do-ol would react sensitively to.
'Ah.'
A late realization hit, and I hurriedly rummaged in my bosom.
'This?'
Finally, I pulled out a small horn. A relic from my days wandering the Central Plains like a stray dog before settling in Kaepyeong. Something I'd received from a dying qilin in Gyeirim instead of an elixir. The qilin's horn. I'd been using it as a talisman since I had no other use for it, but nothing else fit Do-ol's reaction.
"You, you bastard!"
As the actual qilin horn emerged from my bosom, Do-ol lifted its head again. Stubborn thing. If it were me, I'd play dead out of fear of worse beatings, but how did it lift its head without hesitation? Figured it wouldn't die anyway?
... 'Maybe.'
I alternated glances between the qilin horn and Do-ol. Humans couldn't kill the Four Evils, but the Four Auspicious Beasts could. Do-cheol had died and revived repeatedly against the qilin, after all. So, a horn detached from the qilin's body. What if we beat Do-ol with this? Would it die?
"Grandfather!"
"Hm? What is it?"
"Attack it with this! It'll work!"
I waved the qilin horn enthusiastically, and a thick smile crept onto Grandfather's lips. He knew what this horn was. The flesh of an Auspicious Beast that could slay a Four Evil.
"I'll use it briefly and return it!"
The qilin horn flew to Grandfather's hand via void grasp. In the hands of someone who could truly use it, the plain horn now looked like a legendary sword. My heart started pounding. Perhaps I'd witness the historic moment when a human subjugates a Four Evil—
"I surrender."
The historic moment slipped away. Do-ol's declaration ended the one-sided beating. It could tolerate getting thrashed by humans, but dying by human hands was unacceptable, it seemed.
"Damn it, how does a human have that horn... That bastard treasures its own horn so much..."
Huddled in the corner muttering, it confirmed the qilin horn was a tool to send Four Evils packing. Nothing else would provoke that reaction.
'Thanks, Qilin.'
At first, I'd puzzled over what to do with the horn, but now it turned out to be a super weapon against Four Evils. Ideally, we'd never encounter them, but given my luck, having one was reassuring. If fate let me see Do-cheol and Do-ol, why not Chaos and Gonggi too? It was laughable.
Having seen Auspicious and Evil Beasts, I'd be complete with just the Four Divine Beasts.
"Each burial good is treasure-level. Items used by Sero Paewang in life are priceless, and they've aged 1600 years."
"Some were relics even in his lifetime—2000 or 3000 years old."
Of course, more pressing than unseen Divine Beasts were Sero Paewang's burial goods right here. We had to clean up Hoinam Wang's massive blunder. After the kings subdued Do-ol, the tomb's core—now empty of guardians—was taken over by a few experts from the excavation team. To catalog the goods' types and values immediately.
'Each one a treasure.'
The snippets I overheard were heartening. With seven Hwagyeong masters mobilized, it wouldn't end in failure. A relief, truly. If the excavation yielded only a 1600-year-old Do-ol and nothing else, that'd be tragic. Even if Do-ol were a spirit beast, it was a problematic Four Evil.
'At least Do-cheol was small.'
And came with its handler qilin. How do we even dispose of this massive tiger?
'Leave it here and re-bury?'
I seriously considered it. Do-ol hadn't stayed buried for 1600 years willingly—it was sealed against its will. Finish the excavation, re-seal the tomb? If possible, ideal. Do-ol avoids more beatings, we avoid contact, Sero Paewang keeps his friend. A win-win world.
Conveniently, Taegyeok Geomgong—the pinnacle of Taoists—was outside. Focused more on swordsmanship than spells, but as Wudang's leader, his Taoist skills should suffice.
"But that thing. No idea what it is."
As I resolved to call other Taoist sects if needed, Gu Gangwang—chatting idly with the kings—raised a bad topic.
"We glossed over it while beating it, but how does a beast talk?"
'Ah.'
A perfectly valid question, but tricky to answer. Strangely, people here treated Auspicious and Evil Beasts as mere legends. In a world of spirit beasts and martial arts, why the strict skepticism only for them? But that's the common sense here—no helping it.
'What to do.'
Telling them it's Do-ol? They wouldn't believe it. No good excuses came to mind either.
"Oh, that?"
Unlike his pondering grandson, Grandfather responded nonchalantly to Gu Gangwang.
"Look at the floor."
He gathered the kings' gazes downward, then scrawled on the ground with his shoe tip.
"Pardon?"
Yangyang Wang's dazed voice echoed in the core. Excavators glanced at the kings but dared not eavesdrop, soon returning to work.
"Really? I figured it wasn't ordinary since it talks, but even so."
"I didn't know they existed until recently. But they're real. One's even in the palace."
"The palace?"
Dong-gu Wang muttered in disbelief.
"No, why would that be in the palace."
"Don't worry. It's not alone—another's there too."
Grandfather wrote more on the floor. Probably mentioning Auspicious Beasts after Evils.
"Don't believe me? Ask Un. I saw what he found."
The kings' eyes turned to me. Grandfather sold me out...
The humans pocketed Antjeok guy's stuff, then dragged me out of the tomb. I'd planned to leave anyway, but being hauled like a prisoner felt humiliating and resentful. Who'd have thought the first humans in 1600 years would pick a fight right away? And not just strong lunatics— one even had a qilin's horn. No wonder my body felt weak. With a qilin horn nearby, strength fails inevitably.
'Damn Auspicious Beasts.'
I hate them. Bonghwang that bird most of all.
...Still, take solace it's a qilin horn, not Bonghwang's feather. If it were the feather, I might've really died to a human.
"Finally out, you vile evil tiger!"
"Hm?"
As I trudged on, consoled, a familiar yet loathsome voice rang out. No, don't tell me.
"I've waited 1600 years! Solely to purify your existence!"
I jerked my head up to see a familiar bird- bastard flying in.
'Fuck.'
That damn Bonghwang. First sight outside the tomb is that bastard.
'Waited 1600 years?'
At this point, bewilderment overrode anger. Does that bird have nothing better to do?