Chapter 39
Another Doting Dad
"Geum...Seon Yeonhwa?"
Jeok-un was pretty surprised.
'A legendary spirit said to be somewhere in the Ten Thousand Mountains? But I heard everyone who went looking for Geumseon Yeonhwa ended up crippled or dead? How did Seolcheonseong…?'
"I heard Geumseon Yeonhwa is a golden lotus?"
"Turning into a human isn't hard for a spirit from the Divine Realm."
'Clearly, Geumseon Yeonhwa said that Seolcheonseong's change was due to its influence. Then, is Seolcheonseong truly the master of Geumseon Yeonhwa? A spirit that martial arts masters have searched for decades but couldn't get their hands on, and she obtained it at just six years old? …I knew she was special, but this special?'
"You have a very surprised face. Well, anyone who sees this amazing form of mine can't help but be blown away."
"I don't care about your form."
'I don't know how Seolcheonseong obtained the spirit, but it's rare to find a spirit this amicable, so keeping it around won't be a problem.'
Jeok-un, having firmly conveyed his intention, sheathed the sword he had aimed at Geumseon Yeonhwa.
"All that matters is if it helps or hurts Seol-i."
"So you're sparing me because I'm useful to that human?"
"That's right."
Geumseon Yeonhwa gave Jeok-un, who answered without missing a beat, a dirty look.
"Why do you care so much about that human?"
'The reason I care about Seolcheonseong is simple. Because she's the Heavenly Demon's precious little girl. But….'
"None of your business."
For some reason, Jeok-un, not wanting to explain the reason, turned away from Geumseon Yeonhwa, he kept his mouth shut.
"I'll call for a doctor, get that sword wound looked at first. Seol-i will freak out if she sees it."
"No need."
Geumseon Yeonhwa made a big show of covering the wound on his left hand with his other hand in front of Jeok-un.
Then, golden light bloomed from Geumseon Yeonhwa's hand covering the wound, and the bleeding wound healed instantly.
"I'm a spirit with healing powers."
Geumseon Yeonhwa proudly held up his left hand to Jeok-un – not even a tiny scar was left.
"Good. Saves me the trouble."
"Couldn't you at least pretend to care and ask if I'm okay?"
Geumseon Yeonhwa complained, and Jeok-un turned to him with a serious look.
"You want me to say that?"
"No, absolutely not. Don't even go there. I think I'd be seriously creeped out."
In a brief moment, Geumseon Yeonhwa, having imagined Jeok-un worrying about him, felt goosebumps all over his body and waved his hand dismissively.
"Good call. It'd be awkward for both of us."
"Awkward? You have no idea how valuable a spirit is! Now, I'm going to clean, so get out of here!"
Geumseon Yeonhwa started shaking the blanket right at Jeok-un, sending dust flying everywhere.
But Jeok-un just frowned and didn't budge an inch, saying,
"Before I go, one warning."
Jeok-un lightly brushed the dust off his hair and gave Geumseon Yeonhwa a sharp look.
"If you put Seol-i in danger for any reason, I don't care if you're a spirit, the Demonic Cult won't let you get away with it."
"That's a joke. Didn't you see my healing power? Even if all the humans here ganged up on me, they couldn't kill me. But don't worry. I'm not planning on putting that kid in danger."
Geumseon Yeonhwa neatly spread out the blanket and smirked at Jeok-un.
"That kid is the first human to ever get to me."
"Why wouldn't I need it? If I could do Aerial Walking, things would be way easier!"
'Yeah, I definitely need to learn some martial arts now.'
I was lost in thought while flying in the sky with Pippi.
'What good is strength?'
Without any techniques, all I can do with this flower seed power is use brute force.
Remembering what Gwang-yu said, I realized I really needed to train in martial arts.
'But who can teach me?'
I had the same problem when I was a maid in the Demonic Cult.
'And in the end, I couldn't find anyone to teach me.'
Dad's totally useless as a teacher.
Jeok-un already turned me down.
'Now that I'm officially part of the Demonic Cult, I could ask Jang-ryu and Chae-chae, and they might make time to teach me... '
Things are way different now.
I've got the power of Geumseon Yeonhwa, a spirit, inside me.
'I have the potential to get way stronger than before.'
So, I need a really strong teacher who can help me unlock the spirit's full power.
It's not that Jang-ryu and Chae-chae are weak, but they don't have the experience to help me handle a spirit's power.
'It sucks that I can't use my Heavenly Demon Dad when he's right here. Isn't there anyone even close to Dad's level?'
"Pibic! Pibibic! (There! I see the Demonic Cult!)"
While I was lost in thought, Pippi announced our arrival at the Demonic Cult with a cry.
"Drop me off a bit away from the entrance!"
'If anyone sees me flying on Pippi... Since nobody else can see Pippi, more weird rumors might start flying around.'
"Pibic! Piic! (Okay! Here we go!)"
Pippi, replying with a clear cry, landed and dropped me off a little away from the path leading to the entrance of the Demonic Cult.
"Thanks for the ride to the Demonic Cult, Pippi. It was a smooth flight!"
"Pibic! Pi, Pii-pibic! (Don't mention it! W-we're family!)"
Pippi's cheeks turned red like a ripe jujube, even though he said the word 'family' himself – he seemed embarrassed.
'Seeing that, I figured Pippi liked the word 'family' too.'
Pippi's happy, so I'm feeling good too.
"That's right, we're family! So, instead of thanks, I'll give you some jujubes. You must be hungry after flying all this way, right?"
"Pic! Piic! (Jujubes! Awesome!)"
Pippi exclaimed, already happy at the thought of eating jujubes.
"Kongal, aren't you hungry too? It's kind of a weird time, so we probably can't eat right away at the Demonic Cult. I know a great dumpling place, wanna go? My treat!"
As I handed jujubes to Pippi, Gwang-yu, who had been watching me and Pippi, approached me and cautiously asked.
"Except for the bird, of course."
Gwang-yu, with a sly smile, pointed at Pippi with his fingertip.
"Pibibic! Pic! Piic-pic! (Seolcheonseong! Don't trust that shady snake, even if he offers to buy you food! It's a trap!)"
Pippi, with jujube juice all over his beak, freaked out, worried I'd go with Gwang-yu.
'Hold on….'
The moment I saw Gwang-yu's face, a lightbulb went off in my head.
'Gwang-yu's a master who can use Aerial Walking, right? And he's a black snake who can use a ton of inner energy in human form – he's a spirit too!'
Maybe the answer to my problem was right under my nose!
"Piic pi? Pibic? Piic-pic! (What? Seolcheonseong, are you ignoring me? Say no!)"
Even though Pippi was yelling at me, I looked at Gwang-yu and subtly clutched my stomach.
"I am kinda hungry…."
"Wow, there's a place like this around the Demonic Cult too!"
I followed Gwang-yu, even though Pippi was totally against it, and we ended up at this huge market, way bigger than the one near my house.
"Pretty much everything the Demonic Cult needs comes from this market."
'No wonder the food at the Demonic Cult is so fresh. It's because they have this market so close.'
Thinking about all the amazing food I'd eaten at the Demonic Cult, I started to drool, and then I remembered Pippi.
'I came with Gwang-yu, but I'm worried about Pippi.'
"Piic-pi! Piic-pi? Pic! (Seolcheonseong! How could you?! I was just looking out for you! This is too much!)"
'As soon as I said I'd go with Gwang-yu, he got all huffy and flew off without a backward glance.'
Thinking about Pippi, I sighed.
'But there's nothing I can do. I need a strong master, like, now!'
I'm gonna become Gwang-yu's disciple, no matter what!
I heard masters don't usually take disciples, and even if they do, they're super picky.
'He's not gonna give me some impossible task, is he? I mean, he probably thinks teaching is a pain. Would he even take me on as a disciple?'
"Here we are, the place I was talking about!"
While I was busy thinking, Gwang-yu and I somehow ended up at this small restaurant in a corner of the market.
"Oh, hey there, young man! Back for more booze today?"
"Just dumplings."
'He seems pretty friendly with the owner, must be a regular.'
"And who's this cute little girl with you today?"
The owner seemed surprised to see Gwang-yu with someone and looked curious about me.
"Ah, Kongal is…."
Gwang-yu, with his usual sly grin, answered,
"My daughter.”
