The place Eun Seonmyeong brought Shim Iyul to was a small mountain lodge. This lodge, where someone had lived until about twenty years ago, was converted into a shelter after that person’s death. But because it was in such a remote location, very few people knew about it, so he used it almost like a private shelter.
Once inside, the two released their hands without either one going first. Then, as if they’d coordinated it on purpose, they both brushed off their hands. As if brushing away the warmth of the other person remaining on their hands. A brief silence fell between them. Unable to bear the inexplicable awkwardness, Shim Iyul rubbed his neck and looked around unnecessarily.
“It seems there are no other humans.”
There was no sign of other humans inside the shelter.
“Because so few people know about this place.”
“But how did you know about it?”
“My father told me about it, so I always stay here when I come to Jirisan.”
There were inconveniences like having to split firewood directly for the fireplace, but it was a place Eun Seonmyeong frequented because it was close to Tiger Rock and quiet.
“It seems we need to light a fire.”
Shim Iyul muttered. The interior was just as chilly as outside, making his nose sting. It felt like his body temperature was rapidly dropping.
“I’ll go pick up firewood.”
Shim Iyul didn’t even give Eun Seonmyeong a chance to say anything and rushed out of the lodge. And ran quickly. Only after coming quite far did he stop walking, and Shim Iyul let out a long breath.
“Why do I keep wanting to do it? Why? Why?!”
At Shim Iyul’s outcry, mountain birds flew up with noisy wingbeats. He hoped it was just a temporary impulse, but it didn’t seem to be the case.
“The other person is a hunter, you know? And a virgin at that!”
To be obsessed with having sex with Eun Seonmyeong, who was both a hunter and a virgin—the Fire Fox’s dignity was in shambles. What’s more, it hurt his pride and annoyed him that Eun Seonmyeong, who had actually slept with this Fire Fox-nim, seemed perfectly fine. Normally—even though he’s human, a hunter who’s a natural enemy of yosu—Eun Seonmyeong should be the one desperately clinging. It would be normal for him to be frantic, begging to please have sex just one more time. Other humans had been like that.
Shim Iyul ground his teeth and paced anxiously. Whether he’d properly ignited to this newly awakened pleasure, he wanted to do it. It hurt his pride, but yes. Should he suggest rolling around just one more time? It seemed like it would be fine if they rolled around together really intensely.
No wait, in a situation where I should coldly refuse even if Eun Seonmyeong clings asking to do it, for me to suggest it first would be… why not?
Because I promised Master Wonmi? Master Wonmi was dead, and besides, even if he suggested forming a bond, Eun Seonmyeong wouldn’t accept. Rather, he’d think ‘This fox has gone crazy’ and shoot an exorcism bullet.
From what he could see, mixing bodies didn’t seem to have changed anything in particular. It didn’t seem like he’d become frigid like other ordinary humans. Since it wouldn’t cause any harm, wouldn’t it be okay to do it?
“Should I suggest doing it one more time? No, I have my dignity. Does dignity feed me?”
Muttering like an insane person while pacing, Shim Iyul stopped moving. At times like this, you do divination.
Breaking off a nearby pine branch, Shim Iyul squatted down and plucked the needles one by one, throwing them to the ground.
“Do it one more time, don’t do it, do it, don’t do it. Do it, don’t d……”
The needles ended on ‘don’t do it.’ Narrowing his eyes, Shim Iyul cut the pine needle in half.
“Don’t do it. Do it.”
Thanks to cutting the last needle in half, the conclusion came out on the ‘do it’ side.
“The pine needles say to do it one more time?”
Throwing the branch that had lost all its needles to the ground, Shim Iyul stood up helplessly.
“Let me wash with cold water and come to my senses.”
After washing his face thoroughly in the valley water and returning to the lodge, he saw Eun Seonmyeong slicing Gasaeo for sashimi.
Flames were blazing vigorously in the fireplace. Thanks to that, the inside of the lodge was quite warm.
“You said you were going to find firewood, why are you empty-handed?”
“You lit the fire?”
Having brought firewood from the storage next door that was always stocked and lit the fire, Eun Seonmyeong held out a plate saying “Just eat this.” He’d heard that Gasaeo was most delicious eaten as sashimi, so he’d been slicing it. Shim Iyul quickly approached, picked up chopsticks, and ate a piece of Gasaeo sashimi. The flesh was chewy, and a fruity fragrance remained in his mouth.
Closing his eyes with a happy face and trembling while saying “As expected, it’s delicious,” he felt a gaze. Eun Seonmyeong, who had been smiling while looking at Shim Iyul, quickly turned his head away the moment Shim Iyul opened his eyes.
“You eat too.”
When he picked up a piece of sashimi and held it to his lips, Eun Seonmyeong hesitated briefly then accepted it.
“It’s good, right?”
Shim Iyul asked proudly. Looking at Shim Iyul acting as if he’d personally farmed the fish, Eun Seonmyeong smiled faintly. The Gasaeo he’d only heard about did indeed taste exceptionally good.
“Not bad.”
“Not bad! It’s an amazing taste.”
“You could say that.”
Eun Seonmyeong sliced the rest into sashimi. Even though he’d caught four, the fish were on the small side so there wasn’t much.
The two set out a table and sat facing each other, beginning to eat the Gasaeo sashimi.
“Fish sashimi goes perfectly with soju. Don’t you have alcohol?”
Shim Iyul asked Eun Seonmyeong with some hope, regretting the absence of soju.
“Would I have any?”
“You might. How boring that you didn’t even bring alcohol.”
“What about you?”
“I… came in a hurry.”
Shim Iyul answered evasively, subtly avoiding Eun Seonmyeong’s gaze. All he’d brought from home was his wallet, phone, and dagger.
“Drinking is prohibited in the mountains.”
“But why the sudden mountain trip?”
Shim Iyul asked, smacking his lips in regret.
“……To draw jeong-ansu.”
Eun Seonmyeong answered briefly. He didn’t bother adding that it was also to clear his mind that kept having strange thoughts.
“Where do you draw jeong-ansu?”
“There’s a place called Tiger Rock. It’s a rock with a legend that the mountain spirit left it as an alter ego when ascending to the heavens.”
“I heard Jirisan’s mountain spirit was fussy. What’s this about even leaving an alter ego? No wonder I especially didn’t want to come to Jirisan.”
“While Jirisan is the mountain overflowing with the most energy among Korea’s famous mountains, it wouldn’t particularly reject yosu, would it?”
A mountain spirit is an existence that protects the mountain. As long as you don’t destroy the mountain, it won’t reject you just for being a yosu. Moreover, it’s already a mountain where the mountain spirit has left.
“That’s true, but I just felt rejection. I came here a few times before but felt uncomfortable for no reason, so I’d turn back without going deep.”
Today was the first time he’d come this deep. Previously, he’d come with determination but felt a tightening in his chest and discomfort, so he’d turn back. Today there was a somewhat uncomfortable feeling too, but it was bearable.
“You go to Mount Seorak like it’s your own home. That’s also a sacred mountain.”
“That place really is like my home. Do you only go to Jirisan?”
Even if not as much as Jirisan, there are many other sacred mountains. Eun Seonmyeong nodded.
“For now. First of all, this is the most sacred mountain, and……”
There was another reason too. Eun Seonmyeong had been going to Jirisan since he was a little kid, holding his father’s hand. His father told him about the places in Jirisan most overflowing with energy and said:
“Watch carefully in case you might find the yeouiju.”
If they found the yeouiju that their ancestor had lost, they might be able to break the curse. At that time, Eun Seonmyeong had asked, ‘The place where our ancestor killed the imugi was the sea, wasn’t it? So why are we looking for the yeouiju in the mountains?’ His father’s answer had been, ‘Because the imugi’s beginning was a dragon fish from a clear pond in Jirisan.’
There is a fish called dragon fish (龍魚). Literally meaning a fish that will become a dragon. A fish born sacred flows to the sea and becomes an imugi, and the imugi trains to become a dragon.
His father and grandfather, and the ancestors of generations above them, seemed to think that the lost yeouiju might have exercised its homing instinct and returned to Jirisan, its starting point.
When he was young, he was skeptical. Now that he’s an adult, he thinks it’s a foolish hope. But he understands the hearts of the ancestors who couldn’t let go of hope. It must have been a hope born from not wanting to pass the curse to their children.
“It’s a sacred mountain, and…… what?”
“That’s all. It’s a sacred mountain, so I come to draw jeong-ansu—what other reason would there be? I’m going to draw jeong-ansu then go down tomorrow afternoon, so you eat all this and leave first.”
Pushing the remaining sashimi toward Shim Iyul, Eun Seonmyeong put down his chopsticks. With Shim Iyul by his side, no matter how much energy he inhaled, it would be useless. Just breathing would make him aware of the body scent and his lower half would stand up.
“I don’t want to.”
After looking at Eun Seonmyeong for a moment, Shim Iyul replied coldly.
“Why?”
“It’s my choice. I’m tired so I’m going to sleep, so you go play outside.”
Picking up all the remaining sashimi at once and putting it in his mouth to chew, Shim Iyul brought over a blanket that had been neatly placed in the corner and spread it out pointedly. Eun Seonmyeong made a motion as if to punch the annoying back of Shim Iyul’s head as he lay down facing the fireplace, then stood up.
