Camellia 163

As darkness fell across the sky, Tang Yujae began to whistle. A soft and delicate melody slowly summoned the forbidden magic.

His Qi, rising in graceful form, soared over the ridge and dropped into Yurigung. The moment that blade-like energy pierced someone’s body, they would fall into a thunderous sleep, forced to close their eyes for a time.

In that perfectly crafted silence, Tang Yujae wanted to bring his life to a close. All of Yurigung fell quiet as if seized by slumber. Not even the faintest human sound remained. With his senses sharpened like blades and still catching no noise, it seemed even the pavilion lords and the ordinary followers had all succumbed to sleep.

The smooth whistle came to a halt the instant a massive full moon broke through the clouds.

–…What an odd thing.

The imugi murmured with a hum through his nose. Typically, the Heavenly Gate appeared late at night, near dawn. Yet tonight, for some reason, the overwhelming full moon that seemed to manifest the divine was already blazing across the sky.

A pale night under its light.

Tang Yujae slowly steadied his breath, and the imugi watched the descending stairs of the celestial realm through his borrowed eyes. The moonlight pouring down to the earth formed the shape of stairs.

–Is it not wondrous?

The imugi asked in an innocent voice, yet tinged with a strange depth.

Indeed, Tang Yujae had to admit it stirred a forgotten childhood awe. Stairs of light, personally gifted by a god.

Finally, the dazzling moonlight touched the earth. The stars beside the full moon began to shine brightly, forming an image that resembled a yeouiju.

Just as that celestial energy grew stronger, Tang Yujae coughed sharply. Black blood stained his lips. The radiant moonlight reminded him again of the vast divide between gods and men.

He wiped the wet corner of his mouth with a sleeve and casually made a request.

“If you ascend and become one of the celestials… could you show some love to beings who aren’t human too?”

The reason was laughably simple.

“I just want my wife to be more favored by the heavens than he is now.”

The imugi, still staring at the night sky, scoffed.

–That rotten brat already receives far too much attention from the Wonsi Cheonjon. You’re asking to share the love meant only for humans with that monster? Fine, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that just now, but next time don’t ever…

Just as the imugi was about to advise him never to say such ridiculous things in the presence of the heavens again, he suddenly fell silent.

–Now that I think about it… you don’t have a “next time,” do you?

The divine beast knew well that the body of the one who dared lay hands on the yeouiju had to be taken fully and brought along the stairs. The energy that would make the serpent a god had all been sealed within this vessel.

But the imugi could not easily continue speaking. The vessel’s life would vanish the moment he stepped on the stairs to the divine realm. The face of the contractor, who had smiled like a boy when he realized his love, suddenly flashed through the imugi’s mind.

In the place of the divine beast that could not bring itself to hurry him, Tang Yujae took the first step forward.

“I figured even imugi would have names. Why don’t we introduce ourselves before I go? Now that I think of it, I never asked what yours was.”

The stairs were drawing closer. The scent of death thickened with every step.

Birth and death always come from the same source. The imugi fell into deep thought.

When another god is born, the human Tang Yujae must, by nature, face death. It was such an obvious truth, yet now, for some reason, it felt strangely wrong.

“Don’t tell me you don’t have a name?”

Tang Yujae asked softly, breaking the silence. The imugi responded, sounding somewhat petulant.

–Maybe I did. Back when I was trapped in a jar, flailing to escape. They used to call me “Mountain Tiger”, saying my snakeskin looked like a tiger’s. After I shattered the jar and escaped, the screaming faces of those nobles still visit me in dreams, giving me joy.

The divine beast’s first memory was being caught in a human trap, slowly stewing as snake wine for some nobleman. Once it became aware of its own fury and injustice, it transcended the limits of a beast and entered the ranks of divine creatures. Sadly, it remembered nothing before that.

Despite the gloomy story, Tang Yujae remained completely calm.

“Well then… why don’t I give you one?”

Perhaps because he was leaving behind his long life, in that moment he looked just like a noble young lord from a carefree past.

“How about Dokryun? Dokryun.”

–I don’t like it.

“Why not?”

–Do I really have to explain that?

The name clearly echoed that of the former Cheonma, Hwaryun, and the imugi was visibly irritated. How dare he use that name so lightly in front of him.

“Too bad. I thought it suited you.”

Tang Yujae replied nonchalantly. Just before stepping onto the first stair, he let out a quiet breath. The night air, carrying the scent of light rain, cooled his lungs. With his heart cleared of all concern, he placed his foot on the stairs. That was when the imugi suddenly blurted out.

–I didn’t think it would be this soon.

It sounded like an excuse for the early ascension. Even the great imugi couldn’t quite define what emotion lay beneath those words.

–No matter how fickle the Heavenly Gate may be, I never imagined it would happen so suddenly, little one…

Why are the heavens in such a rush? Is it because this moment can’t be missed or the stairs will never descend again?

“Now that it’s really time to part with the world, I guess I do feel a bit of regret.”

The teasing remark earned a sullen retort from the Imoogi.

–To be precise, it’s your life I regret.

“Why go so far for me?”

Because I care more about you than you think.

“Because I look like Hwaryun?”

–That’s probably the biggest reason, yes.

He knew there was no way to undo it now, but the divine beast couldn’t celebrate the ascension wholeheartedly. It was absurd. He had waited so long for this moment, and yet he couldn’t even feel joy, swept up in the sorrow of watching the vessel’s gentle smile fade.

Whether the divine beast was brooding or not, Tang Yujae climbed the stairs with long strides. The surfaces formed of light were firm and smooth.

“We made a fair contract.”

He spoke as if to console him, wearing a faint smile. Sharing thoughts as they did, he could clearly see what was in the imugi’s heart.

“If not for your yeouiju, I’d have already crossed the Samdo River. As you know, this body barely clings to life by relying on the divine item’s power. Just managing to stay alive was considered miraculous. So I’d say I’ve lived more than enough.”

After a long silence, the imugi responded.

–Samdo River is for those who are neither evil nor virtuous.

Which meant that Tang Yujae, who had committed evil, wouldn’t even be allowed to cross.

Tang Yujae chuckled quietly, and the imugi finally let go of what he had been holding back.

–I loved Hwaryun. I wanted to fulfill his grand dream and spend eternity with him.

The warmth in his voice was human.

–So I understand how you feel, child.

Death was a destined fate, not something to twist or defy. So the imugi wished to at least grant him a final wish.

–By the honor of the Kunlun Serpent, I swear. When I become a god, I’ll protect the life of your beautiful bride. No one will ever again be allowed to make the Camellia of the Cheonma Divine Sect wither.

Thanks to the divine beast’s solemn vow, Tang Yujae was able to move more swiftly. A life safeguarded by a new god, that was more than enough of a reward.

Even though he was walking to his death, his steps came quickly. The high staircase of light glowed ever more brightly to match. Moonlight drifted in like the dawn, coloring the mountains.

The full moon, rising softly, blinked like the eye of a god watching over the world.