Episode 36
Fated Enemy
‘It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Dad wear such a dark expression in front of me.’
“How did our Byeol end up asking such a question?”
But in the blink of an eye, Dad’s somber expression vanished, replaced by his usual gentle gaze.
“I-I had a dream. A dream where I had a younger sibling. It felt so real that I had to ask you.”
At my words, Dad sighed softly and pulled me into his lap.
“But it was just a dream, right?”
“Yeah. Just a dream.”
Though his arms enveloped me too tightly to see his face, his voice carried an unfamiliar loneliness when he called it “just a dream.”
That night, I was left at Ikseon’s house again.
“I’m sorry. Dad has urgent business far away, so Byeol needs to stay with Ikseon.”
After my questions about a sibling, Dad held me for a long time before abruptly claiming he had to leave.
‘Of course I’m worried about being left behind, but last time he sent me off before dinner.’
Today, Dad seemed unusually reluctant to let me go.
Even after dinner, he hesitated so much I feared he might not release me at all.
‘At least I made it to Ikseon’s before midnight.’
“Cheonseong-ah, sneaking to your grandparents’ house again without Dad?”
As I sighed in relief, Ikseon—my same-aged friend and one of the village’s few companions—approached, her high ponytail swaying.
“Yeah, that’s how it is.”
“What a shame! We could’ve played together. I even brought out my treasured pink floral blanket for our sleepover.”
I knew what this meant: Ikseon, who detested sharing bedding, was offering her most prized possession.
“I’d love to play too, but I can only visit my grandparents now…”
When guilt flashed across my face, Ikseon hugged me tightly despite her disappointment.
“Don’t apologize. I get it. But tell me if anyone there bullies you! I’ll teach them a lesson!”
‘She’s been worried about me all along.’
Though Ikseon didn’t know the full story, Mom’s death from the Sacheondang Family’s schemes meant my maternal relatives likely resented my half-blood existence.
Truthfully, I wasn’t visiting grandparents but the Demon Sect.
And there was one particular person there who made my life difficult.
Jeokwoon’s face popped into my mind.
“Thanks for worrying. Some relatives do hassle me, but others like you always have my back.”
I smiled, recalling Chaechae and Jangryu catching fireflies until they were filthy, just to comfort me during lonely nights at the sect.
“Really, you’re okay? Should I come? If I glare hard enough, maybe they’ll back off!”
‘The real issue is my tormentor being the Demon Sect’s ruthless young master.’
Provoking someone like that would be suicidal.
“It’s fine. If they’re mean, I’ll come straight back.”
“Promise? I’ll let you hog the entire pink blanket!”
“Deal! Thanks!”
I knew a six-year-old like Ikseon couldn’t protect me—unless she was a reincarnated soul like me.
‘Still… her warmth steadies me.’
For a brief moment, Ikseon’s small embrace cleared the storm in my mind.
“Cheonseong… mmmph…”
Late that night, while Ikseon mumbled in her sleep, I slipped outside with my pack.
Pipi hadn’t arrived yet, leaving the front yard eerily quiet.
‘Since I’m rested, maybe I’ll strategize until Pipi comes.’
Dad’s evasive answers confirmed I had no sibling.
The vivid dream after swallowing the flower seed? Just a dream.
Back to square one.
I sighed into the night air, breath frosting under the stars—
—when a familiar familiar bird silhouette approached, clutching something in its talons.
‘What’s it carrying?’
I squinted as Pipi swooped closer.
“Chirp-chirp! (Cheonseong! Caught a sneaky snake lurking here!)”
“A snake?!”
The creature came into view: black scales, golden eyes.
‘Haven’t I seen this before?’
Not the market snake from before… right?
Then I spotted the handkerchief around its neck—
—sea-blue embroidery matching my eye color.
‘My handkerchief! From the market snake!’
“Hssssk!”
The moment I recognized it, the snake writhed free from Pipi’s grip and leaped toward me.
“No! You’ll die from that height!”
As I screamed, mist erupted around the falling serpent, coalescing into—
—a man in his early twenties.
“Wha…?”
Flowing black hair. Amber eyes deeper than Geumseon Yeonhwa’s. He stepped through air like solid ground, landing gracefully before me.
“You… were the black snake.”
He smirked, slender finger tapping the handkerchief at his throat.
‘Same snake. Same person?’
“You look shocked.”
“Well…”
‘I’ve seen lotuses become people, but snakes? Martial arts novels never disappoint.’
“Drop the formalities. We’re close, aren’t we?”
“Chirp? (You know this snake?)”
Pipi fluttered onto my shoulder as the man pouted at my polite speech.
“We met at the market—”
“We’re beyond acquaintances. We’re first-drink partners.”
“I only said I’d buy you a drink when I’m legal!”
“Which makes it your first adult drink!”
“I never agreed to drink with you specifically!”
‘If Dad heard this, lightning would strike.’
“Chirp! (No drinking till I’m bald!)”
Pipi screeched, feathers puffed angrily.
“Should I pluck those feathers now?”
The snake’s threat sent Pipi hiding behind me.
“Chirp… (Scared…)”
“Stop bullying Pipi.”
“But our promise—”
‘Fine, I did promise.’
“I’m nowhere near adulthood. Why visit now?”
The snake’s grin turned sly.
“I’ve got news. The Sacheondang Family is hunting you.”
“Why?”
Memories surfaced: exposing their spies at the sect’s memorial, unraveling the Cheongsa Cho incident.
“They heard about your ‘heroics’ at the ceremony.”
“How’d you know? Are you one of them?”
“Don’t insult me. Their poisons outclass mine.”
“Then—the Demon Sect?”
“Correct. I’m Gwangyu of the Demon Sec—”
Pipi lunged, clamping his beak on Gwangyu’s lips.
“Gah! Damn bird!!”
