As I watched the two creatures slithering up to Cheong-yu Sojeo, a single word burst into my mind.
“Atheris!”
Atheris refers to a genus of venomous vipers. If someone like me were asked, “Out of the roughly 3,900 snake species in the world, which one is the most beautiful?” I wouldn’t be able to answer easily.
Every snake has its own unique beauty. Picking just one would be like answering, “Do you love Mom more, or Dad?”
If you choose Dad, dinner gets awkward. If you choose Mom, your allowance takes a hit. It’s one of those impossible questions.
Still, among hardcore enthusiasts, there are always people who insist on ranking the charm of different species—and one of the top contenders, often voted the most beautiful, is the Atheris genus.
Native to sub-Saharan Africa, these snakes are also known as bush vipers. And there’s a reason they’re so beloved among herpetology maniacs:
They look like they have dragon scales.
Now, in my past life, dragons were mythical creatures, so saying something has “dragon scales” might sound ridiculous—but there’s a specific type of scale that enthusiasts refer to with that term.
Like the Girdle-Tailed Armadillo Lizard, often nicknamed the “dragon lizard,” or the Korean-named Sungazer, also a type of giant girdled lizard, both of which have raised, armor-like scales protruding in one direction.
The Atheris genus features the same—pinecone-like, jagged scales that run from head to tail.
This is why they’re praised as the most beautiful snakes on Earth.
And now, both of the two snakes approaching Cheong-yu Sojeo—Thousand-Year White Snake and Thousand-Year Black Snake—had those exact kinds of sharply ridged scales, only in different colors.
They were real bush vipers. Real dragon-scaled vipers.
“Gyaaaa! Dragon-scaled vipers!”
A rare pair in pure black and pure white.
Their scales glinted more sharply than the average bush viper’s, shimmering as the two approached Cheong-yu Sojeo and bowed their heads.
—Ksshaa. “We greet Lady Hu of Black Blossom.”
—Shakii. “We greet Lady Hu of White Blossom.”
Their voices were refined, like haughty noblewomen, and full of formality.
Apparently, they had names: Heukhwa (Black Flower) and Baekhwa (White Flower).
Cheong-yu Sojeo lifted her hand lightly in response.
—Shiaa. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Cheong-yu. Please, raise your heads.”
There was clearly more to be said, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I peeked out from behind Cheong-yu Sojeo and waved eagerly.
“Hi, I’m So-ryong!”
I just wanted to be friendly as quickly as possible.
The two snakes flicked their eyes toward me for a split second—then turned their heads away with perfect disinterest.
Just like cats.
“Damn, they’re aloof. Is this what cat owners feel like?”
Even their indifference felt charming.
The black one, Heukhwa, asked Cheong-yu Sojeo:
—Kssha? “Lady Hu, who is this human?”
Cheong-yu Sojeo glanced at me, then turned back to them and answered:
—Shiaa. “He saved my life. He’s my friend, my student... and someone... s-someone important to me. So please treat him with respect.”
It was similar to what she once said when introducing me to Hwanji and Hwana.
After her explanation, the white one, Baekhwa, asked carefully:
—Shakii. “Even if you vouch for him, Lady Hu, we serve by your side. May we determine for ourselves whether this human is truly trustworthy?”
—Shiaa? “Determine?”
*—Shakii. “Yes, Lady Hu. Black and White guard your side. Blue and Red watch the earth and sky. When enemies dare approach, we—the red and white serpents—are the ones who annihilate them. This is our sworn duty.”
“So if someone is to remain near you, please allow us, Black and White, to observe him directly.”*
It seemed Yeondu and Juhwang were like scouts, Hwanji and Hwana like elite royal guards...
And Baekhwa and Heukhwa? They were like a personal guard or a royal chamberlain corps.
So now they wanted permission to evaluate me.
Did they really have a way to do that?
As I was thinking, Cheong-yu Sojeo’s voice rose again.
—Shiaa. “That’s rude. So-ryong is a very good person.”
—Tsrrt. “That’s right! My dad is a great person!”
It felt like they were offended that I even needed to be tested.
Cho appeared next to me, backing up the statement, and the rest of our companions started appearing as well. That seemed to startle the two snakes.
To calm them, I quickly made introductions.
“Ah, let me introduce everyone. This is my fiancée, Hwa-eun. Over there is Yeondu, a Swift Walker like you who serves her Lord. That’s my daughter Cho. And those two clinging to the lady’s back are Moji and Soji.”
Their eyes flicked around, taking in each face. When I finished, they looked stunned.
—Shakit. “A human with bonds to this many spirit beasts...”
—K-Ksshat? “Astonishing, sister...”
And this wasn’t even half my household.
Smiling, I sent a message to Cheong-yu Sojeo.
‘You don’t have to stop them. They’re just doing their duty to protect you. They probably just want to know what kind of person I am.’
—Shiaa. “But still...”
‘It’s fine. Really.’
Even Hwanji and Hwana had asked similar things when we first met.
Back then, they said: “The current Hu seems to be someone who gets along well with humans.”
When I asked what that meant, they explained.
If the spirit that merges with the Four Emperors bears hostility toward humans, the Four Emperor of that era will view humans as enemies. But if the spirit is kind toward humans, then that emperor will protect them.
So of course, checking what kind of human stands beside her is a serious matter.
Whatever method they used—I, So-ryong, a man sincere toward venomous creatures—would pass with flying colors.
—Shiaa. “If So-ryong agrees, then very well.”
After a moment of thought, Cheong-yu Sojeo nodded to the twin serpents.
They immediately gestured toward me.
—Shakii. “Thank you, Lady Hu. You’re So-ryong, correct? Please come with us.”
—Kssha. “My sister is speaking. Hurry and come.”
“That way?”
—Shff, shff...
They slithered off toward a shallow rise formed by fallen sand.
Hwa-eun looked at me, puzzled.
“Where are you going, So-ryong?”
“They said they just want to talk. I’ll explain everything once I’m back.”
“Okay.”
After reassuring Hwa-eun, I followed them over the slope.
Suddenly, I felt something wrapping around my legs—looked down, and saw both snakes coiling up around me.
—Shakii. “Don’t be alarmed. We just want to confirm a few things.”
“Got it.”
They climbed up, settling onto my shoulders, and began examining me from every angle. Then Baekhwa spoke softly.
—Shakii... “Please look into our eyes.”
I did as she asked.
And the questioning began.
—Shakii. “Why do you serve Lady Hu?”
“It’s not about serving, really. I just like her, so we live together. I love creatures like snakes and insects.”
—Shakii. “You don’t desire her Neidan, then?”
“Gah, no! Absolutely not. That’s the one thing I hate most—how could anyone...!”
Did they think I was raising Cheong-yu Sojeo and the others just to harvest their Neidan?
That’s insane. I don’t even have one myself. And even if I did, I’d give mine before I’d ever touch theirs.
Still, I understood. It was our first meeting, and they had to be cautious.
I waved my hands and shook my head in disbelief.
The two looked at each other—and slowly nodded.
- Kisha. 『There were no lies. Unni.』
- Shaki. 『Yeah. It was all true.』
I tilted my head at their words.
Because they were speaking with the certainty that I hadn’t lied.
Then the two of them answered with a light smile.
- Kishasha. 『We can sense truth and lies. I sense the truth.』
- Shakit. 『And I sense lies.』
“Ah-ha.”
Gun Hye-rin of the Heavenly Demon Cult had once said that martial artists above the Flower Realm could perceive the emotions imbued in their opponent’s martial energy through some sort of Willforce or whatever. It felt like the two of them had a derivative ability similar to that.
They were also said to possess internal energy that even the Heavenly Demon couldn’t handle.
Which meant... these two were also martial artists beyond the Flower Realm, weren’t they?
As I nodded to myself, Baekhwa spoke in a praising tone.
- Kishat. 『You’re quite the honest person, aren’t you?』
“Fufu. People say I’m someone who could live just fine without laws.”
When I responded smugly to Baekhwa’s words, joking around, Heukhwa let out a small chuckle and spoke.
- Shaki. 『That’s a lie, Unni.』
As soon as she said that, Baekhwa made a slightly haughty expression and said,
“From now on, you should serve Hu with your utmost dedication. Anyway, don’t you have anything you’re curious about with us?”
She was now inviting me to ask any questions I had for them.
And the moment I heard that, I thought it was perfect timing.
The two of them were perched on my shoulders, and I could feel the texture of their scales. The desire to touch them was giving me vertigo.
So I quickly asked Baekhwa,
“Hey! Would it be okay if I just touched your scales once?”
- Shakit? 『Scales?』
“Yeah, I really want to touch your sharp scales! Honestly, I’m so dizzy just from waiting. I want to touch them so bad. I told you earlier, didn’t I? That I really love friends like Sana Chung and the like. I mean it. I really, really do. So it’s okay, right? It’s fine, isn’t it?”
Because they were dragon scales, I’d been barely holding myself back, but now that the opportunity was here, my fangirl heart burst out uncontrollably.
Heukhwa’s flustered voice came out.
- Kisha-a? 『Dizzy from wanting to touch...? What even...』
She was basically asking what kind of nonsense that was, but next to her, Baekhwa mumbled in a dazed voice,
- Sha, Shaki... 『All of it’s true. What a... ridiculous man.』
Startled, the two of them leapt off my shoulders, which made me a bit sad.
‘Hey, don’t go...’
***
When I returned after the conversation with the two, Cheong-yu Sojeo and Hwa-eun were both wearing worried expressions.
I guess it was because I looked a little sulky.
- Shia. 『No way... did So-ryong fail?』
“So-ryong, what happened?”
“It’s not that...”
I gave them a rough summary of what happened through the mental chatroom in my head, and Cheong-yu Sojeo and Hwa-eun tried to comfort me.
- Shi, Shia. (They just don’t know how great you are yet, So-ryong.)
“That’s right. So-ryong. Just give it a little time and it’ll be fine.”
Well, today isn’t the only day. I figured I’d be able to touch them all I want once we got closer, and so I asked Baekhwa and Heukhwa, who were a little distance away.
“Cheong-yu Sojeo lives with us. You’ll be coming with us too, right?”
I asked naturally, assuming they’d obviously come along, but Baekhwa looked around and gave a somewhat different answer.
- Shaki. 『I don’t know how nice your place is, but we’ve already got such a nice home prepared—don’t you think it’d be better to stay here? The previous owner is a bit clingy, but we’ve almost finished cleaning up... Oh, right. You came with that woman, didn’t you? I sensed her energy earlier?』
That reminded me of Gun Hye-rin of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
“Ah, right.”
When I turned my head, I saw Gun Hye-rin waiting anxiously behind us.
I remembered the promise and explained to Baekhwa and Heukhwa that the Tang Clan residence was a far better place than here.
If we claimed this place, she’d probably cry.
“There’s a place much better than this. So...”
- Shia. 『I think that place is much better too.』
- Shakii? 『Not an empty place, but one that people protect? That certainly... If Hu says that place is better, then all right. Let’s go there.』
Thankfully, Cheong-yu Sojeo supported me, and Baekhwa and Heukhwa accepted it quickly.
I turned to Gun Hye-rin, who was standing there with a tense face, and told her she could now retrieve the Sacred Fire Bell.
“You can bring the Sacred Fire Bell now. We’ll vacate this place.”
“Th-thank you!”
She hesitated, then suddenly shot forward like she was flying and brought back a large flame-shaped bell.
Looking genuinely overjoyed, she kept thanking us and then asked Hwa-eun with a cautious expression,
“Thank you so much! But um... would you... ever consider keeping in touch?”
“Keeping in touch?”
“Yes.”
“You mean, between me and you, the Heavenly Demon Cult’s successor?”
“Yes, between the daughter of the Tang Clan and me.”
Hwa-eun looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected Gun Hye-rin to suggest continuing their connection.
As her answer was delayed, Gun Hye-rin’s expression turned slightly disappointed.
“Ahem. It’s just... I’ve never met a martial artist of the same generation and cultivation level before. If it makes you uncomfortable, that’s fine. I know it’s not easy to stay in contact with someone like me. I am, after all, the leader of a faction eyeing the Central Plains.
But last time, I couldn’t say it because my subordinates were around—but honestly, I don’t really care about the Central Plains.
The previous generations had a lot of resentment toward them, blaming them for the fall of the Heavenly Demon Cult, but after reading through our records, it turns out our cult wasn’t exactly innocent either...
Not that I should be saying all this. Sorry for rambling.”
“N-no, that’s not the issue. I was just worried that if someone delivering the letters gets caught, we’d both end up in trouble.”
“Well. That’s fine. I understand.”
She said it was fine, but it didn’t feel like it really was.
Thinking it was best for Hwa-eun to handle this delicately, I turned to Cheong-yu Sojeo.
“Anyway, we still need to register Baekhwa and Heukhwa. Should we just do it here before we leave?”
Then suddenly, I heard Hwa-eun’s voice in my mind.
『That’s it, So-ryong! The registration!』
“Huh? What about it?”
“It’s the solution to my worries and Gun Hye-rin’s request!”
“What?”
I turned back at the voice echoing in my mind, and Hwa-eun was pointing toward Gun Hye-rin.
No way, seriously...?
No way. It couldn’t be what I was thinking.
It absolutely shouldn’t be.
