I had almost given up, convinced it was impossible—but the fire to become a Great Wall laborer blazed anew.
Because Hwa-eun’s voice came next.
“So-ryong, when are you going to be done?”
She knew I said I’d be quick, so it wasn’t because she didn’t understand.
I turned to look. It wasn’t exactly a romantic bed, but Hwa-eun was reclining slightly on a pile of straw, twirling her hair with her fingers.
Her legs peeked out subtly, and her cheeks were tinged red in the lantern light.
When she looked at me and gave that gentle smile—
The words just flew out.
“R-Right away. I’ll be done right away.”
This So-ryong... is a man who turns the impossible into reality.
Which meant it was time to get the kids to bed.
If I just put the kids to sleep, then maybe history can happen anyway.
Yeah. What else could families in tiny one-room homes do in the past? Just put the kids to sleep.
“Alright, Mom’s here now, so let’s get ready for bed.”
— Tsururu. 『Let’s sleep.』
— Tsrut. 『Let’s go sleep!』
— Bii!
I quickly packed up my So-ryong’s Venomous Creature Log and grabbed the ink, brush, and inkstone on the desk to move them outside.
Since the kids lived with me, I couldn’t leave furniture out all the time—things like desks and chairs were kept outside and brought in only when needed.
Some would call this unnecessary hardship, and sure, it was a little inconvenient. But it was still far more comfortable than my past life.
I didn’t have to clean up droppings, scrub floors, or prepare water bowls or food dishes.
Yeolbi and Lady Jeokwol were cared for by the Venom Blood Squad. The only one I had to personally tend to was Yo-hwa.
But after only a few steps, Orange came crawling under the desk and spoke.
— Sska. 『Big Brother, let me handle this.』
“You will?”
— Sskaah. 『Of course. Stuff like this, I should be doing it. Big Brother shouldn’t have to lift a finger.』
What a polite little guy.
He helped me often, so I nodded.
“Be careful moving it. There's still some feed left.”
— Skaska. 『Don’t worry, Big Brother. I got this.』
With Orange’s help, all I had to do was stow away my notes.
As I touched the surface of the book to see if the ink had dried, I heard his careful voice again.
— Skah... 『Um... Big Brother?』
“Yeah? What is it?”
He was looking at me with the desk balanced on his head.
At my gaze, he asked shyly,
— Skaah. 『Would it be okay if... I... talked to Yeondu for a bit? Just, you know... tomorrow... maybe? Ahem...』
Ah. So that’s why he’d been so eager to help. He had a motive tonight.
Yeondu was currently off with Gun Hye-rin to the Heavenly Demon Cult, scheduled to return tomorrow.
He must be wondering exactly when.
“Of course. Talk to her whenever you want.”
— Skaat. 『Thank you, Big Brother!』
As soon as I answered, he dashed to the door like he had wings on his tail, opened it with a flick, and carried the desk and chair out.
I chuckled at the sight and carefully tucked my Venomous Creature Log into the only piece of furniture in my room: a chest.
Rustle, rustle.
Next, I began tidying up the dry straw and grass to create the perfect sleeping atmosphere.
My dwelling’s floor was layered with fine hay and straw, and I always slept here with the kids under one blanket. So I had to prepare the sleeping spot before bed.
— Tsrut. 『Dad, I’ll help.』
Cho curled up into a ball, forming a round nest at the center of the room.
A fine nest, more than enough space for history to be made.
I thought of the Great Wall and reached out to Hwa-eun.
“Hwa-eun, come here.”
“Yes, So-ryong.”
She had been staying off to the side while the nest was made. Now she walked over, brushing a breeze toward the lamp with her hand.
“Sleep well, everyone.”
— Tsururu. 『Good night, Mom and Dad.』
— Bii. 『Baap.』
— Kkyuit. 『Grampa, bye bye.』
As the children offered their goodnights and Orange was probably asking Yeondu when she’d arrive tomorrow, I laid Hwa-eun down in the nest and pulled a blanket over both of us.
From the brazier in the corner of the room came the soft crackling of charcoal.
— Tak, tak.
The room was filled only with the dim glow and gentle crackle of the fire.
We held our breath until the kids drifted off to sleep.
It was during that long stretch of quiet, with only the crackling of coals, that I must’ve dozed off for a moment—
Until I heard a faint rustling by my ear.
— Sa-bjak. Sak.
A subtle movement followed.
Or more precisely, a movement that wanted to be subtle.
I turned toward the sound and saw Hwa-eun crawling toward ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) me slowly.
Our eyes met, and we both smiled instantly.
This—this was true mutual understanding.
Once she was close enough, I slipped my arm under her neck.
And just like that, she pressed against my chest.
Her soft body touched mine in several places, bringing a gentle warmth.
Warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Our children didn’t pee everywhere. They didn’t shed fur.
And although insects and amphibians usually carry a distinct scent, spiritual beasts like them didn’t.
As venomous companions, they were perfect in every way—except for one flaw.
They were cold-blooded.
You couldn’t feel warmth even if you held them close.
That’s probably why most people preferred pets like dogs and cats over reptiles or bugs.
Sure, intelligence and emotional connection played a part—but body heat? That brought comfort.
That’s why, feeling Hwa-eun’s warmth now, I felt something calm inside me.
As I gently stroked her hair, I asked silently in my heart...
“Feeling sleepy now?”
Of course, it wasn’t a question I actually expected to be answered with “yes.”
Then, in the darkness, I caught the gleam of Hwa-eun’s eyes looking up at me—and in my mind, her voice responded.
‘Yes...’
Our lips were slowly, wordlessly closing the distance.
Just as they were about to meet—
A ticklish sensation crept up from my legs. I glanced down.
Red eyes were crawling up my leg.
It was Hyang.
‘Gyaaah!!’
I froze right before the kiss. Hwa-eun blinked in confusion, looking at me with wide eyes.
Then, following my gaze, her expression quickly trembled.
It was the kind of disbelief you only see when someone’s soul leaves their body.
“Why... why aren’t you asleep yet...”
I groaned in my heart, but by then Hyang had already nestled herself right between me and Hwa-eun and chirped in her annoyingly cute voice:
— Tsrut. 『Hehe, you two weren’t asleep! Hyang has to sleep between Mommy and Daddy!』
She had no concern for her “parents’” privacy, but maybe she was trying to be considerate of the other spirit beasts—since she was speaking through the heart-link.
As we both remained speechless, Hyang wiggled uncomfortably and slid into the space between Hwa-eun’s cleavage.
She had blocked the Great Wall project, stolen my resting place, and claimed the middle spot for herself.
That was supposed to be my sanctuary!
I burned with rage—but then she asked again,
— Tsururu. 『Mommy, Daddy, why aren’t you saying anything?』
“Uh, w-we’re trying to sleep.”
“Y-yeah. Hyang, let’s sleep now, okay?”
As we awkwardly tried to lull her to sleep, she asked another question.
— Tsrut. 『By the way, Daddy, what’s a wedding? All the uncles and Grandpa were super busy about it.』
Right. No one had actually explained that to her.
I figured I’d sneak her off and roll her behind my back once she dozed off. So I answered quickly:
“Ah, well, um... how do I put this...”
A wedding is a socially sanctioned ritual for human reproduction—but obviously I couldn’t say that.
While I was struggling for words, Hwa-eun stepped in.
“Well, Hyang... it’s when Daddy and Mommy promise to live together forever and never separate.”
— Tsururu. 『Ooh... so that’s what a wedding is...』
If this were modern times, that’d be a lie—people get divorced. But in this world, Hwa-eun’s explanation was basically spot on.
Hyang fell silent, seemingly in thought.
Please just go to sleep, I prayed.
Even Hwa-eun’s feelings reached me through our link—begging her to sleep.
But of course, Hyang piped up again.
— Tsruts. 『Daddy! But you know...』
How could one child be so full of questions?
By the fifth or sixth question, Hwa-eun and I knew.
Knew what?
That tonight... was over.
The night wore on.
***
“Huaaahhh...”
In the end, both Hwa-eun and I passed out from sheer exhaustion after being interrogated by Hyang.
When I woke up, it was early morning.
Dim light leaked through the window.
As I rubbed my eyes and sat up, I saw Hwa-eun spring up like a coiled spring.
“Ah! Oh no!”
Blinking groggily, I looked at her. She was adjusting her clothes in a hurry.
“I have to get ready for the wedding! I’ll go first! See you in a bit, So-ryong!”
“Uh, okay. Sure...”
I just needed to wash up and throw on some clothes. But for a bride, there was makeup, hair, ceremonial robes—much more involved.
As soon as Hwa-eun ran out, I heard the voice of her personal maid Unmirang from outside the door.
“So-ryong-nim? Are you awake?”
“Yeah, Unmirang. I’m up.”
“Then please come out quickly. We have a lot to do today.”
“A lot, huh?”
I stood up and stepped outside—Unmirang was there with several other maids.
The moment they saw me, they rushed in.
“Let’s go!”
“W-Wait, go where?”
“To prepare for the wedding, of course!”
I had thought I’d just wash up and get dressed—but apparently, there was more to it. Before I could even wrap my head around it, Unmirang was already dragging me along. The first stop: the ceremonial purification bath.
“You have to cleanse your body before the wedding, so we’re starting with a bath.”
“O-oh... right.”
They had prepared hot water steeped with purification herbs. I soaked in it, scrubbed myself down, and came out to find the maids waiting to dry me off and dress me.
They dressed me in formal first-rank official robes, embroidered with cranes.
“It suits you perfectly, Lord So-ryong.”
“Wait... isn’t this official court attire?”
I had only been measured for it—I didn’t realize that wearing full official robes was part of wedding customs here.
The maids chattered excitedly:
“Yes, it’s a first-rank robe with celestial cranes! Ordinary citizens wear ninth-rank robes, but you’re marrying into the Tang Clan. Of course it’s top-tier!”
After being fussed over for quite a while, I was guided next to the rear garden near the pond.
We walked past the homes of the Golden-Furred Wasp Kings and the Ho-ye, through a pavilion, and came to a wall that was supposed to be sealed—but had been completely removed.
Beyond that wall was the original Four-Hall Courtyard, now fully connected to the garden.
In other words, both the courtyard and the garden had become part of my residence.
When we entered the central hall of the Four-Hall Courtyard, the doors were wide open. Inside, surrounding the large bed, were red curtains and decorations made of crimson paper flowers.
It was the season, after all—so fresh blossoms were replaced with handmade ones.
My mother-in-law was waiting inside.
“Oh my, just look at my son-in-law. How dashing you are!”
“Haha... Mother-in-law, please...”
I scratched my head sheepishly as she guided me to sit on the crimson-covered bed.
I already knew the wedding schedule: I’d sit and wait here, Hwa-eun would arrive dressed and veiled, then we’d head to the Tang Clan’s ancestral shrine to offer rites, and afterward return here to complete the ceremony.
Just as I was thinking that, Hwa-eun arrived.
She wore a vibrant red dress and had a red cloth covering her head—known as a gaedu—concealing her face.
Apparently, I would have to lift it myself later that night.
Seeing her like that made my heart race.
She really feels like a gift I get to unwrap.
Soon, Grandfather and my father-in-law arrived to escort us to the ancestral shrine. We offered the formal rites, then returned to the chamber. As Hwa-eun and I sat side by side on the bed, music began playing outside—signals that the ceremony was starting.
Just then, Grandfather Mandok Shingun entered, ready to offer his blessing.
“Congratulations to both of you. May you have many healthy childre—hm?”
He froze mid-sentence, eyes locked on something behind us.
Hwa-eun and I turned around.
Through the open window behind the bed, we saw light pouring in—and the silhouettes of several familiar figures.
Then a bright, cheerful voice rang out:
— Tsururut. 『Daddy! We want to live with you forever too! Promise us too, okay?!』
There stood Hyang, flanked by Bini, Cho, Yo-hwa, Lady Jeokwol, Hwayang, and Hongdan—lined up behind Hwa-eun like a miniature army.
And just beyond the open window, I could make out Cheongwol, Hwanji, Hwana, and the tip of Cheong-yu’s golden spider leg.
...Our wedding night was going to be very crowded.
