“Yeomjeong, what in the world is going on?”
“Why are you smashing down doors at this hour… oh my.”
“…Cheonrok?”
Even with Lord Yeomjeong frantically motioning for silence, the guests kept firing off curious questions—until the three figures emerged. At once, gasps filled the hall. Many recognized the Cheonrok immediately.
“Cheonrok-nim? You’re here too?”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“There was a banquet just a moment ago. You would’ve loved it—it’s such a shame you missed it.”
The guests, oblivious to the truth, spoke one after another. Among them, Jae-ha spotted Su-min, frozen with shock, and offered a sheepish grin. What happened? Well… long story. Their eyes exchanged a silent conversation—until Jae-ha noticed the man standing beside Su-min. His eyes widened.
Huh. He knows someone from the Dragon Palace?
It was the same man Jae-ha had spoken with in the reception hall. Don’t tell me… he couldn’t possibly be Hwang-ryong, right? I didn’t just make a fool of myself, did I? As unease prickled in his chest, the Cheonrok beamed and spoke up.
“Oh, that. Yeomjeong locked me up and put me to sleep for decades. I only just woke up.”
“…What?”
“…Excuse me?”
The revelation hit like a thunderclap. No one had even imagined such a thing. Yet even in their shock, the guests instinctively moved, surrounding the Cheonrok as if to shield him from Yeomjeong. The Cheonrok wasn’t the type to lie, nor did he have a reason to. Not a single person doubted his words.
And Lord Yeomjeong didn’t deny it. Couldn’t deny it. Even as one of the noble stars, there was no way he could stand against all the guests gathered in Myeongheoseong.
“Well, anyway. I heard Sala was sick, so I’m going to see him. Catch you all later.”
The Cheonrok was unshaken, no matter how the mood turned. At this point, one had to wonder if something really was wrong with his head.
He waved cheerfully, and—remarkably—many waved back, seeing him off. As the Cheonrok turned, Hae-hyun activated the Guardian Talisman. The massive gate they’d seen earlier shimmered open before them. Blocked by the crowd, Lord Yeomjeong squeezed his eyes shut.
***
“What happened? Wait—why are your clothes in rags again?”
Hallakung-nim looked as though he hadn’t slept all night waiting for them. His pale face rushed toward them with quick, anxious steps.
And just as the Cheonrok stepped through the gate last, Hallakung-nim’s half-lidded, bored eyes flew wide open.
“Cheonrok?”
Even though he’d ordered it himself, Hallakung-nim muttered in disbelief, staring at the two humans. His expression stayed detached, but Jae-ha, having seen the chaos of the Celestial Realm, knew better. Hallakung-nim’s aloofness was just an act. The Cheonrok, though—he was the real deal. Compared to genuine madness, Hallakung-nim’s feigned eccentricity faded into nothing.
“Where on earth have you been?”
Hallakung-nim looked the Cheonrok over, then turned to the two humans. To see the Cheonrok—who had vanished for ages—brought back by a pair of mortals in just hours must have been as baffling as it was absurd.
Jae-ha quickly explained what had happened. Hallakung-nim listened intently, then, the moment the story ended, strode to the Cheonrok. His brows knit as his eyes scanned him from head to toe, then suddenly his arms spread wide.
“You damn fool!”
Whack! The sharp smack of a hand against his back echoed loudly. The Cheonrok winced, his eyebrows drooping.
“That hurt, Hallakung-nim.”
“Be grateful you even feel pain! A newborn beast has more sense than you!”
Whack, whack, whack! A few more blows landed before Hallakung-nim finally cooled off. The Cheonrok clung to him, whining about bruises, but Hallakung-nim only snorted and kept walking.
There was no time to waste. He immediately led them to Sala Doryeong. The Cheonrok glanced at the man groaning on the bed, lifted the blanket, and laid a hand over his wounds. A bluish glow flared beneath his palm.
Moments later, every wound across Sala Doryeong’s body had vanished without a trace.
“Wow…”
Jae-ha couldn’t help but admire it. Now he understood why Hallakung-nim hadn’t wasted time searching for causes or cures—if the Cheonrok was here, none of that mattered. Among all the powers Jae-ha had seen lately, the Cheonrok’s ranked near the very top.
“Sala, wake up.”
The Cheonrok tapped his friend’s cheek. Sala frowned at the noise, then opened his eyes.
“Mm… Yeon-je?”
“You’ve been sick for a long time, huh?”
Sala stared at his old friend in a daze, then quickly grasped the situation. His expression twisted with sudden rage as he shot upright.
“I still have to catch that thieving bastard and tear him apart!”
“Father, calm yourself. It’s been decades since you collapsed.”
“What!”
His roar shook the room like a beast’s. Jae-ha rubbed his ringing ears as Hallakung-nim quickly stepped in.
“The thief never returned after attacking you. That’s fortunate, at least.”
“Fortunate? He stole mountains of Sleep Flowers! The price of those alone could rebuild this entire place!”
Sala Doryeong clearly had no intention of letting go of his grudge. From his perspective, having been struck down and bedridden for decades, the resentment must have felt fresh as yesterday.
“I never said I forgot. We’ve found the culprit.”
Hallakung-nim’s cool gaze met his father’s. One hot-tempered, the other composed, yet undeniably alike.
“For plundering Seo-cheon’s wealth, he’ll pay a proper price.”
As the saying goes, blood runs thicker than water.
“You two worked hard. On behalf of Seo-cheon, I thank you.”
Once the emotional father-son reunion ended, Hallakung-nim turned to Jae-ha and Hae-hyun. Thankfully, he showed no sign of breaking his promise.
“Then you’ll forget about the Underworld matter.”
“Please also return my sunbae to the human realm.”
Jae-ha and Hae-hyun spoke in turn. Hallakung-nim waved a hand in agreement, his expression warm now that his goals were fulfilled.
“I’ll give you what I promised. Follow me.”
Sala Doryeong immediately stood, insisting on checking the flower fields he hadn’t seen in decades. With the young spirits in tow, he left, leaving Jae-ha, Hae-hyun, and the Cheonrok to follow Hallakung-nim.
“Why are you coming along, Cheonrok-nim?”
Hallakung-nim asked sharply. The Cheonrok shrugged.
“Can’t I just watch?”
“…Well, I suppose there’s no harm.”
Though his face was cold enough to suggest refusal, Hallakung-nim surprisingly allowed it. The Cheonrok, as if expecting nothing less, sidled up beside him, pestering with questions about where they were going, how far it was, and more. Hallakung-nim, curt as ever, still answered every one.
“Sunbae, are you okay?”
Hae-hyun asked softly beside Jae-ha, glancing at his face now and then as they walked.
“What about you? You used a lot of energy.”
“I’m fine.”
Indeed, Hae-hyun didn’t look the least bit tired. Maybe it was thanks to his training in the physical education department—his stamina was unreal.
“You’re seriously strong.”
“…It’s not just that.”
Looking a little embarrassed, Hae-hyun lowered his eyes and muttered,
“When we were in the box, being close to you recharged me. I think you unconsciously drew on the Cheonrok’s power.”
“Oh, back then…”
Jae-ha answered awkwardly. Come to think of it, Su-min had said something similar before. Even the faint energy he carried had its uses.
Inevitably, his thoughts drifted back to that moment. The cramped space. Their bodies pressed close, holding their breath. The faint sound of breathing, the pounding rhythm of their hearts. The warmth of contact with no space in between.
“…So it’s really over now.”
He hadn’t felt anything odd back then, but remembering it now made his face heat up. If this kept up, he’d be blushing for sure. Jae-ha quickly turned his gaze toward the flower-filled fields. Thankfully, Hae-hyun didn’t notice and followed his eyes.
