Episode 28
"I Will Obey Your Orders."
"Byeol, your hair looks damaged. I should wash it and apply oil tomorrow."
As soon as Dad changed clothes, he began brushing my hair.
‘He probably didn’t like the hairstyle I did myself. The bunny ears looked easiest to copy, but why won’t both sides match? What do I do!’
In the end, I was just thankful both sides stayed tied.
"Dad, wasn’t that bunny hairstyle I did earlier kinda cute in its own way?"
"Hmm… Did you do it yourself, Byeol?"
‘If I say yes, he won’t give an honest opinion.’
"No, Aunt Iksun did it. She won’t find out—just tell me the truth."
Dad’s expression relaxed when I denied doing it myself.
"If I had to describe that hairstyle in words…"
"Describe it?"
"A lop-eared bunny?"
‘Lop-eared? A bunny’s ears are everything! How could they be crooked?’
His blunt critique left me speechless.
"Byeol, why so quiet? Did you really do it yourself?"
"...Dunno."
"It was cute in its own way. Everything you do is cute."
‘Too late for that, Dad.’
Still, since Dad genuinely finds everything I do adorable, I forgave his harsh review of my first real hairstyle attempt.
"Dad, isn’t styling my hair bothersome? It takes so much time."
"How could I mind getting to touch your hair?"
‘He’s my dad, but even I can tell he’s a hopelessly obsessed father.’
"What color ribbon should we use?"
I subtly turned to check Dad’s outfit.
"Same as your clothes—turquoise!"
"Alright."
Dad kissed my cheek, as if charmed by my color-matching request, before resuming my hairstyle.
His gentle touch helped me mentally sort through recent events.
‘I want to ask about the Little Sect Leader and Oh Haeng, but I can’t.’
Amidst my frustration, I recalled one person unaffiliated with the Demonic Sect.
‘Right—the Golden Lotus! Since it’s not part of the sect, asking shouldn’t cause issues.’
Maybe Dad could reveal more about the seed’s abilities.
"Dad."
"Yes?"
He answered while securing one bunny ear with turquoise string.
"You told me about the Golden Lotus before."
"Right."
"Any more stories about it?"
"Hmm… Not much is known. Why the sudden interest?"
He didn’t seem suspicious, but I avoided vagueness to prevent doubts.
"Since you called it a golden lotus, I imagined how pretty it must be in person!"
‘Did that sound convincingly seven-year-old?’
As I self-congratulated, Dad hummed thoughtfully.
"Now that I think—there’s an old story about you possibly meeting it as a baby."
"You met the Golden Lotus?!"
Seeing my eagerness, Dad smiled.
"An old memory resurfaced. Want to hear?"
"Yes! Tell me!"
After finishing the second bunny ear, he pulled me onto his lap.
"When you were little, we briefly lived elsewhere."
‘The Four Heavenly Halls era?’
"Where?"
"Some mountainous area. The name’s faded with time."
‘Big mountains… The Ten Thousand Peaks? That’s Demonic Sect territory!’
Yet the Heavenly Demon claims to forget the sect’s name? Impossible!
‘Dad, you liar!’
Though irked by his lie, curiosity kept me silent.
"Then?"
"Once, I lost you and couldn’t find you anywhere."
"You lost me?!"
"Many enemies targeted me back then."
"Why target you?"
Caught up, Dad slipped a truth.
He recovered quickly under my questioning.
"Jealousy."
"Why jealous?"
He lifted me to face him mid-sentence.
"My looks."
‘Annoying to hear him say it, but true.’
"You’re handsome, but they kidnapped me over that?"
"They wanted to tear me to pie—"
"Tear?"
"Tear away their malice. That’s all."
‘I saw the murder in his eyes earlier.’
I let the cover-up slide.
"How’d you find me?"
"Caught the kidnappers, but not you. Many joined the search."
‘Demonic Sect members, no doubt.’
I’d learned to filter his tales.
"The villagers adored you and helped, but failed."
He corrected his wording.
A bigger question nagged me.
‘If neither sect nor kidnappers knew, where was I?’
"Who found me then?"
"Your dad did."
‘Knew I could count on you! But how does the Golden Lotus fit?’
"Where?"
"Your cries led me to a mountain cave."
‘The Golden Lotus’s cave?’
"I followed the sound and found you weeping atop a golden lotus. I snatched you back immediately."
‘So I met it as a baby?’
Unexpectedly intriguing for an unplanned story.
"What about the lotus?"
"I didn’t know its significance then—too focused on you."
"But it’s a mystical being! Wasted chance."
"Went back later—cave had vanished."
‘Moved? But my Golden Lotus was in Ten Thousand Peaks too… Weird.’
"Caves can move?"
"It’s mystical—what can’t it do?"
"Amazing."
‘To think I got its seed instead of Dad…’
"An amazing tale—a mystical guardian watching over you."
‘Now I owe it since infancy.’
Uncertain if good, but fascinating nonetheless.
"That’s all?"
"Yes. Never saw it again."
‘Pity.’
Dad clearly knew nothing about the seed.
"Byeol, sleepy? Your eyes are closing."
‘Half-day trips between sect and home drain anyone.’
"Mm, tired."
"Time for bed?"
"Mm…"
Dad cradled my weary form, patting my back.
His rhythmic touch lulled me to sleep as I imagined his first encounter with the Golden Lotus.
"Unless you wish to become my sword’s meal."
Jeokun knelt calmly before the Heavenly Demon.
‘If hiding Seol Cheon-seong offended you, I’ll gladly die.’
His loyalty to the Heavenly Demon ran that deep.
"Jeokun."
"Yes, Heavenly Demon."
"If forced to choose between me and Byeol, protect her with your life. Understood?"
‘I expected a report about Cheon-seong…’
The unexpected order stunned him.
‘Could he be…?’
"Your silence displeases me."
"I obey your command."
"One more thing."
Sheathing his sword, Danghui added:
"If you and Oh Haeng deem something vital for Cheon-seong’s happiness, follow her will—even against my orders."
His gaze held absolute sincerity.
"By your will, I pledge my life."
Meeting that gaze, Jeokun thought:
‘Ah… My lord is truly…’
A hopelessly incurable fool for his daughter.
