Delicate C3

Chapter 3

What… was that?

His teeth chattered from the cold, yet Dam Yun found himself looking back again and again.

The scops owl that had flapped wildly out of his arms and flown away the moment they reached shore had already slipped from his mind.

The presence he had encountered beneath the waterfall was simply too overwhelming.

He recalled what he had seen beneath those dark blue waters.

At first, it had seemed as though two enormous lanterns had suddenly flared to life in the darkness…

Then they had rushed straight toward him.

…!

Dam Yun had instinctively raised his hand to defend himself.

Yet the approaching figure moved with the slow, majestic rhythm of a great river.

Instead of attacking…

It gently nudged him upward with the tip of its snout.

Ah…!

It felt exactly like being swept away by the colossal waves of the great ocean he had only ever read about.

A vast azure current lifted both Dam Yun and the owl in a single motion, carrying them effortlessly toward the surface.

It was as though the dark water itself had chosen to return them to the world above.

Countless droplets scattered through the air, glittering beneath the light.

The crimson glow of sunset shimmered across Dam Yun’s silver hair.

And in that fleeting instant suspended between sky and water…

Their eyes met once more.

Deep beneath the dark surface lay a pair of silent eyes.

They shone like two radiant lamps burning within the abyss.

Around their great round pupils flowed impossible layers of color—azure, gold, violet, and silver-white intertwining into a soft, ethereal glow.

Dam Yun could only stare, utterly captivated by their breathtaking beauty.

The mysterious creature, however, remained perfectly still.

It lingered beneath the water, watching him quietly with eyes as brilliant as polished diamonds.

The suffocating silence lasted only a heartbeat.

Slowly…

Those impossibly beautiful eyes closed…

…and opened once more.

Then the creature quietly disappeared into the depths,

as though sinking back into the endless darkness below.

Dam Yun reached the shore without further incident.

The current itself seemed almost alive, gently guiding him safely onto land.

As he struggled to catch his breath, the owl stirred in his arms.

Miraculously, it too had survived.

The terrified little bird shook the water from its feathers before flapping into the sky without a backward glance.

Soon only Dam Yun remained beneath the red-and-blue evening sky.

The river flowed peacefully, as though nothing had happened.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to look toward the waterfall again.

Just as he had done as a child—turning away from the Wailing Valley before anyone even warned him—

he immediately left the riverbank.

And yet…

A part of his heart kept looking back beneath the water.

The mystery surrounding that beautiful being was nothing like the ominous dread of the Wailing Valley.

He had seen little more than those jewel-like eyes…

…and a glimpse of a dark blue body hidden within the depths.

What on earth was it?

Though he still shivered from the cold, a smile kept finding its way onto his lips.

Wonder and joy swelled within him.

Would meeting a true dragon feel like this?

He knew such thoughts were absurd.

Hwanguk’s dragon could never possibly dwell on Cheonrang’s frontier.

And yet…

…he couldn’t help feeling excited.

“…Ah.”

“This isn’t the time.”

Only then did he realize darkness had already settled over the mountain ridge.

Snapping back to his senses, Dam Yun lightly slapped both cheeks.

Forcing down the lingering excitement in his chest, he hurried back toward the fortress.

Night had fully fallen by the time he returned.

He hurriedly bathed in hot water.

After drying his hair as best he could, he pushed open the door to his quarters.

The familiar sight waiting inside greeted him warmly.

Rows of Pixiu carvings rested neatly atop a wooden chest.

A sleeping Pixiu.

A dancing Pixiu.

A shy Pixiu.

One standing proudly on two legs.

One offering flowers.

Every tiny beast struck a different pose, each carved from a different jewel, glittering like treasures from a royal vault.

Dam Yun gently brushed his fingers over the empty space among them.

It was where the crimson Pixiu General Tae had taken once rested.

A dull ache pricked his heart.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand and lit a stick of incense.

Its bittersweet fragrance slowly filled the modest room, furnished with little more than an old bed and the wooden chest.

As he lay down, the exhaustion of the long day finally washed over him.

Closing his heavy eyes,

he absentmindedly stroked one last Pixiu carving—

the one said to guide wandering souls into pleasant dreams.

Soon…

his consciousness slipped across the boundary into sleep.

When he opened his eyes again…

he found himself inside a dream overflowing with light.

Five-colored clouds drifted through the heavens, while shimmering veils of radiant silk stretched endlessly in every direction.

Gradually, the clouds parted.

An extraordinary beast emerged.

“Welcome back.”

“The flowers still suit you.”

Smiling, Dam Yun reached out and stroked its neck.

It had the long neck of a wolverine,

short legs,

and the enormous body of a bear.

Two branching horns rose between its rounded ears.

Around its neck bloomed a wreath of wild roses, flowing like a mane—

identical to the flower-bearing Pixiu carving.

With practiced ease, Dam Yun climbed onto its back,

as naturally as though the carving itself had come to life.

The moment he wrapped his arms around its neck,

the Pixiu shivered happily before leaping high into the sea of clouds.

Everything within the dream felt more vivid than reality itself.

The silky fur beneath his palm.

The sweet fragrance of wild roses filling the air.

Leaving trails of white light behind it, the Pixiu carried him toward its destination in the blink of an eye.

They arrived before an astonishing palace.

Above its entrance hung a plaque bearing three elegant characters:

Pavilion of Hidden Dreams.

The magnificent building glittered beneath layers of precious gems.

It was breathtaking…

yet strangely eerie.

Endless pillars and winding corridors intertwined like the tunnels of an enormous anthill built entirely from treasure.

The Pixiu flew smoothly into the bizarre, otherworldly palace.

Then—

Clink…

A crisp sound echoed somewhere nearby.

Like pebbles…

Or jade beads striking one another.

For some reason,

the sound lingered in his ears,

almost like someone’s whispered voice.

The Pixiu came to a stop before the open entrance hall.

Clink.

The sound of jade beads rang out once more.

Then…

a familiar voice seized Dam Yun by the heart.

“Soyun.”

A tall man stepped out from behind one of the massive pillars and strode toward him.

It was Prince Mokjin—the very prince General Tae had repeatedly invoked while issuing his unreasonable orders.

Chosen from an early age as Cheonrang’s heir, Mokjin was a man of refined bearing and gentle presence.

His abundant white hair flowed like flickering white flames, while a long robe of white satin embroidered with golden threads only enhanced the graceful air surrounding him.

The most striking feature, however, was the Jeweled Chiming Crown resting upon his head.

Strings of gold and jade beads hung like a curtain, producing delicate chimes with every step he took.

The strangely suffocating sound made the Pixiu still carrying Dam Yun let out a faint, uneasy whine.

“My little wolf cub.”

Stretching out his arms as though beckoning Dam Yun to come down, Mokjin revealed the golden whip hanging at his waist.

It resembled General Tae’s iron whip.

If anything, it was General Tae who had copied the prince.

In recent years, imitating the Crown Prince’s style had quietly become fashionable throughout Junggyeong.

Before Dam Yun had even climbed down from the Pixiu’s back, Mokjin’s long arms wrapped around his waist and effortlessly lifted him to the ground.

Perhaps because of the considerable difference in their ages…

Dam Yun often found it awkward that the prince still treated him like a child.

Even the affectionate nickname—adding the prefix “Little” to his name—only deepened that discomfort.

“Your Highness.”

“I trust you’ve been well.”

“I told you to call me Daehyeong.”

(Big Brother.)

It was something the prince had reminded him countless times.

The arms hardened through years of mastering the whip tightened gently around Dam Yun’s waist.

Resting the bridge of his nose against Dam Yun’s ear, Mokjin drew in a slow, deep breath.

Suppressing his discomfort, Dam Yun tried to step back with proper courtesy.

His wrist was caught before he could.

“Enough of these tiresome formalities.”

“Come.”

Led by the prince, Dam Yun entered an inner chamber every bit as extravagant as the palace exterior.

Strange creatures occupied niches carved into the surrounding walls.

There were Yao Tigers, High Gu Birds, and Pearl Yu, each more bizarre than the last.

Inside a stone basin atop a nearby table, several Gengfei Fish, whose bodies resembled polished rocks, swam lazily through the water.

Dam Yun barely had time to glance around.

The moment he sat down, hurried hands descended upon him once again.

“Have these past months been difficult?”

“You’ve become thinner.”

Warm hands moved over the back of his neck…

Across his chest…

Then gently pressed against his thigh, carefully gauging the firmness of the muscle beneath.

Mokjin’s eyes narrowed with quiet reproach.

“I’m fine.”

Unable to retreat while one of the prince’s hands still held him in place, Dam Yun forced himself to continue speaking.

“I heard Your Highness has scarcely been sleeping…”

“…because of preparations for the Festival of Ten Thousand Gods.”

The Festival of Ten Thousand Gods was celebrated by every nation.

It was a sacred season during which people honored the blessings of their respective Divine Beasts and celebrated together.

Normally, preparations did not begin until around Grain in Ear, the season for sowing seeds.

Yet this year, the prince had already been occupied with the festival long in advance.

Far earlier than usual.

“Were you worried about me?”

Mokjin asked, his face lighting up.

Excitement colored his voice.

Taking advantage of the moment, Dam Yun gently pushed away the hand still resting against him before replying,

“Thanks to General Tae, news from Junggyeong reaches the frontier quite often.”

“Everyone has been concerned.”

“What a proper answer.”

Mokjin chuckled as though he had heard something amusing.

“What interest would spirit exterminators stationed at the frontier possibly have in affairs of state?”

Shaking his head with a smile, he continued,

“Just make sure not even a single hair on your head is harmed.”

“That alone will be enough to ease my heart.”

“…Ah.”

“Stay a little longer.”

Dam Yun had just noticed the dream Pixiu peeking curiously through the curtains by the window and started to stand.

The prince gently pressed him back into his seat.

“It is merely a beast summoned through sorcery.”

“It isn’t even equal to an ordinary animal.”

“Why do you concern yourself with it every single time?”

Since ancient times, it had been said that just as Hwanguk’s Dragon governed the waters and the sacred bird of Sira Mountain removed corruption from the world…

…the Heavenly Wolf, guardian of Cheonrang, ruled over the pathways of dreams.

For that reason, some Cheonrang people borrowed dreams to interpret the Divine Beast’s will and perform mystical arts.

Among those arts, Dream Path stood at the very highest level.

Only those who had perfectly inherited the Heavenly Wolf’s blessing could enter the pathways of dreams.

Dam Yun had never been able to master it.

Half of his blood came from his mother—

a descendant of the Fox Divine Beast.

To compensate for that deficiency, Mokjin had bestowed the Pixiu carving upon him.

Only after keeping the spirit-crafted Pixiu by his bedside had Dam Yun finally gained the ability to enter dreams.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Let me hold you a little longer.”

Once again, Mokjin drew Dam Yun into his embrace.

“You’ve truly grown into someone so beautiful…”

“Time flies.“

“I can hardly believe so many years have passed.”

“It feels like only yesterday…”

“…that I first met you.”