The Black Phoenix Takes Flight
Though Danmok Ryeon wanted to snap back at something in response to Hwaryun's words, he wasn't entirely wrong.
No, he's completely right...I've got to get stronger. Me, and our clan too. That was the only way to live long, healthy lives free of accidents and disasters!
And this one... Ryeon gazed at the dazzling, pitch-black creature—Heukwol, no, the black phoenix, no, the O-gol-gye—with a complicated expression.
The O-gol-gye elegantly tilted its head, pecking lightly at the remaining feed before poking its beak slightly through the bars of the coop. Without thinking, Ryeon gently stroked that jet-black beak. The O-gol-gye nipped softly at her fingertip, careful not to hurt her. From that touch, Ryeon felt a gentle glow.
"If it were a true divine beast, wouldn't it have flown away already? Instead of sticking around a place like this."
"The one who feeds it is right here."
"Ah...!"
He was right again! Ryeon let out an inward sigh.
If it was turning into a divine beast by feeding on her spiritual energy, of course it would stick close to her. Where else would it go?
"Still, we need to separate the coops. This won't do."
For the sake of the other chickens, they couldn't leave things like this.
"What? It escaped already?"
"We were building a new coop, so I separated it temporarily, but this one's so strong..."
Jeon ssi from the kitchen looked on the verge of tears. Ryeon stared in dismay at the half-smashed makeshift coop.
It was just a simple wooden fence with a barely-there lid, but no ordinary chicken could have broken it.
Following the direction it had flown, they reached the south wall. One of the roof tiles on the wall was shattered—likely where it had kicked off to climb up.
While Jeon ssi clutched his head, Ryeon sent him back first and stood before the wall with a heavy sigh.
Did it head into the mountains? Then...
"Nui, what are you thinking?"
"That the one who feeds it is right here, yet it still ran off..."
"......"
Hwaryun, who had approached, awkwardly averted his eyes as he came to her side. Without turning to look at him, Ryeon continued.
"Looks like I have to go find Heukwol."
"......You were thinking something weird."
"It's not weird. It seems to have fled into those mountains. What if Heukwol gets lost in the dark and eaten by mountain beasts?"
"That thing would eat them first, not the other way around. With that size..."
"To keep that size, it needs a lot of food. What could a chicken that's lived its whole life in a coop possibly eat up there?"
"Then just send someone to fetch it."
"I worry something might happen. It has a fierce side, even if it doesn't seem like it, and its looks are anything but ordinary. What if someone steals it? Just in case."
"Stealing from our clan's coops? They'd have to be suicidal..."
Hwaryun muttered. Hearing that, Ryeon whipped around in shock.
An awkward silence stretched between them. Even so, would anyone really kill over a stolen chicken?
Is this... the makings of a future Demon Heavenly Cult Young Cult Master?
Has he always been this extraordinary? Under Ryeon's gaze, Hwaryun seemed to snap to his senses, pretending otherwise before blurting out.
"So what do we do? Are you really going to look for it yourself?"
"Yeah. What if Blackie can't find its way back and wanders off..."
And so, the dramatic O-gol-gye—presumed phoenix—rescue squad was formed. It consisted of Ryeon, who insisted on going herself; Hwaryun, who couldn't bear to let her go alone; and Jeong Yeong, the guard who was horrified at the idea of the frail young miss climbing mountains.
Ryeon climbed the hill, following the faint presence of the O-gol-gye. Her breath came up to her throat from the unexpected hike, and dizziness threatened at times, but she pushed through.
This place... the natural energy is too overwhelming. Aigoo, I'm dying. I swear I'll never live out in nature. Only crowded, bustling places for me.
Her body, already weakened by her spiritual energy, struggled even more climbing a mountain where the energy flowed like breath. It felt suffocating.
The unreal beauty of the autumn leaves, her ragged breathing, the spiritual energy flashing red—everything disoriented her.
Just as Jeong Yeong and Hwaryun were about to suggest giving up after wandering, they finally spotted it under a large tree: a chicken with black and red feathers flickering like flames.
"Heukwol!"
The O-gol-gye lifted its head, sensing Ryeon. But it didn't approach. It simply stood elegantly by the tree.
"Heukwol...?"
"Doesn't look like it plans to come here."
Ryeon held a finger to her lips at Hwaryun—shh—bundled her collar, and crept forward carefully. As she drew near, the O-gol-gye rubbed its cheek against her sleeve.
"Heukwol, how did you get all the way here? Weren't you tired? Now let's go home..."
But as Ryeon reached to scoop it up, it floated upward gracefully, retreating like a swimming fish. Not even the sound of flapping wings.
While Ryeon stared in surprise, Hwaryun sidled up.
"Hm. Looks like it's just gonna leave."
"Will you be quiet for once?"
Ryeon glared at the annoyingly teasing Hwaryun and turned back to the O-gol-gye. But words failed her.
With sunlight filtering through the branches, the O-gol-gye truly began to look divine.
"Uh... are you really going?"
The bird nodded once. Then, slowly and silently, it vanished into the bushes behind the tree.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Ryeon stared blankly at the spot—or rather, the empty ground under the tree where the O-gol-gye had disappeared.
"Just now? Like that? It nodded at me and really left?"
"Seems so."
"This easily?"
No reward for all the feeding and care? Just gone, like that?
"It came back for a farewell after escaping—that's not exactly simple..."
Snapping out of her daze, Ryeon rushed to the tree. Not that the vanished chicken would reappear.
"Let's head down."
Hwaryun tugged at Ryeon's collar as he approached the stunned girl.
"You collapsed just the other day. I'm not about to scour this mountain for herbs again."
"No, it's not that..."
It was her cherished chicken. Could she really let go so easily, just because it nodded like it understood and hopped away?
As Ryeon hesitated with trembling eyes, a sound like tearing air ripped from afar.
Shiiiaaaaaak!
At the same moment, a brilliant, auspicious rainbow light flashed. A massive shadow fell over them—a gigantic bird silhouette.
The glaring light from behind made it impossible to stare directly, but it was unmistakable: wings vast enough to blanket the mountain, a long tail, a splendid crest. The magnificent, multicolored form shimmered brilliantly in the sky before slowly fading away.
Ryeon thought she heard a faint chicken cry from the distance.
Feathers drifted down from the heavens, fluttering slowly before landing in Ryeon's outstretched hand. They were vividly red, as if aflame.
"......"
"......"
By then, even Ryeon had made peace with it.
"Mm. I'll just tell the kitchen head that the chicken turned into a phoenix and flew away. No one will doubt it."
"......Nui, be careful not to get dragged off by the authorities."
"Aren't we immune from official interference?"
"What if they change their minds? And a phoenix? Forget officials—the entire Orthodox Alliance and Black Heaven Alliance would come running."
"If they arrest me for making a phoenix... I'll have to bring candied fruit when I visit."
"Candied fruit will be enough?"
"Ice candy too. Not Uncle's kind. And it's not just them—the Demon Heavenly Cult might show up."
Her last words carried a slight tremor.
Did I test him too much? Will he feel the pull of his soul or something?
But Hwaryun just snorted.
"That's too far away. Over ten thousand li from here."
"Right! It's far, so..."
As Ryeon wondered if she should say, 'Don't even dream of going—stay here quietly for a thousand years,' the feather in her hand suddenly burst into flame.
"Wha, whoa!"
"!"
"Young miss!"
All three jumped in shock, wrapping it in cloth and pouring water from the canteen, but nothing worked.
"Whoa... Ah... It's not hot? Ah, the fire's out... It's gone?"
The three peered at Ryeon's hand. Damp from the water, but otherwise pristine—no ash, nothing.
"Are you alright, young miss? Any burns...?"
Ryeon shook her head, waving her hand.
"None. I'm fine. Totally unharmed. Hey, you didn't use something like Samadhi True Fire, did you?"
She meant it as a joke, but Jeong Yeong gave her a strangely hurt look.