Chapter 10: waiting for spring

Jawoon turned his head awkwardly and said to Geuma:

“Nothing happened. More importantly, Geuma, I am feeling tired, so let us go inside.”

When Jawoon rose unsteadily to his feet, Geuma hurriedly supported him.

“I will open the path.”

“No need. Call Gwimyeong for me.”

Geuma nodded, stood on the water, and stomped her foot once.

A silent ripple spread deep into the water.

“You should have rested for at least another day.”

“Yes. You are right. But I was too anxious at heart to remain lying down.”

“……”

“Are you very angry?”

Geuma did not answer and turned her head away.

It was Geuma’s habit whenever she was so cross that she did not even wish to make eye contact.

Gazing at the back of her round head, Jawoon lightly waved his hand.

The spiritual energy flowing from his fingertips traveled through the water and reached the Chinese parasol tree by the shore.

Then, the branch holding the most fruit drooped down just enough for Geuma’s hand to reach, and the unripe fruits ripened to a bright red at rapid speed.

One overly ripe parasol fruit fell with a soft thud onto the flat rock where Jawoon had been lying, its tip squishing open.

At that, Geuma, whose senses were keen, began sniffing her nose.

“The weather is so fine that the parasol fruit seems to have ripened earlier than in past years.”

Jawoon noticed Geuma’s ears turning slightly red, but pretended not to see.

Just then, from the bottom of the lake of immeasurable depth, a colossal turtle began to ascend slowly.

As Jawoon sat upon the turtle’s back that had risen beneath his feet, Geuma leaped into the water with a splash.

The moment her human form touched the water, she transformed into a splendid golden fish, swimming gently beside the turtle’s head.

Geuma swam a circle around Jawoon to ensure he was seated securely, tapped the turtle’s head with her tail, and swam ahead to lead the way.

At that, the turtle, which had its eyes closed, slowly opened them and began descending toward the lake bed following Geuma.

Once Jawoon and Geuma disappeared beneath the lake, the snake lurking in the shade lifted its head once more.

The snake climbed onto the spot where Jawoon had been sitting, tilted its head in curiosity, and stopped beside the fallen parasol fruit.

Nosing the fruit, which was half the size of its own head, and sniffing it for a long while, the snake took a small bite, only to scramble away as if startled by the taste.

A long time later, Geuma reappeared at that spot with her ears still flushed red.

Geuma looked around her surroundings, then extended her hand to pick a generous handful of parasol fruits.

She then perched on the flat rock, dangling her feet in the water as she popped the fruits into her mouth one by one, savoring the flavor.

Jawoon offered prayers without missing a single day.

And every single day, the black snake kept its small body hidden beneath the shade of sow thistle leaves, fallen foliage, or rocks, watching Jawoon as he prayed.

Jawoon was aware that the snake was watching him, but he merely cast a single glance its way.

The trumpet flowers that had bloomed in full glory across Thousand-Li Cliff all withered, and the cries of the cicadas wailing in the heat gradually quieted down.

The trees surrounding Cheonryeongji turned vibrant shades of color.

It was on a day when leaves dyed in colors resembling sunlight and moonlight carpeted the grounds around Cheonryeongji like a tapestry.

Jawoon noticed that the gaze of the small snake, which always watched over him, was absent.

Ending his dance, Jawoon allowed the sword to dissolve back into water, then walked to the shore and slowly paced around for no apparent reason.

Geuma walked alongside her master.

He paced several times around the spot where the young snake usually watched him, yet the snake was nowhere to be seen.

Absorbed by the absence of the creature he saw every day, Jawoon felt bothered.

Life and death belonged to the heavens.

A life being born and passing away was as natural as the changing of the seasons, yet Jawoon found his eyes unconsciously searching for the place where the snake used to be.

“Master Jawoon.”

“……”

“Master Jawoon.”

Only after Geuma called his name twice did Jawoon stop his footsteps and turn to look at her.

Geuma let out a silent sigh and spoke:

“When the weather turns cold, snakes go into hibernation.”

Jawoon blinked, looking at Geuma.

Geuma pointed toward the base of a massive, ancient tree a short distance from the lake.

With a slightly dazed expression, Jawoon turned his head in the direction Geuma pointed.

“After poking around various burrows for a few days, it went in there yesterday and hasn’t come out. I can hear its faint breathing, so you need not worry.”

Just as Geuma said, when he listened closely, he could hear a thin, slender breath drawn very, very slowly from deep within the earth.

Wearing a bewildered face for the first time in hundreds of years, Jawoon looked at Geuma and asked:

“How did you know I was looking for that child?”

“If I did not know what troubles your mind, Master Jawoon, how could I claim to be the one who serves you?”

Only then did a smile spread across Jawoon’s face.

Jawoon observed Geuma’s expression.

It was almost the same blank face as usual, but Jawoon could tell that Geuma was feeling a little proud of herself.

Jawoon reached out his hand to Geuma.

Geuma stared quietly at Jawoon’s hand, then stepped forward and gently brought her head beneath it.

Stroking Geuma’s head softly, Jawoon spoke:

“As expected of you, Geuma.”

Geuma raised her hand to cover her mouth.

Jawoon saw the corners of her normally expressionless mouth quiver faintly and curve upward ever so slightly.

“Since the master of this land and sky did not give the command, how could I dare drive it away on my own?”

Jawoon nodded, continuously stroking Geuma’s head.

“Yes. That is so.”

Geuma did not ask silly questions like “Shall I drive it away?”

Instead, feeling the touch of Jawoon’s hand stroking her head after so long, she lifted her face.

A chilly wind blew, and before long, white flakes began to flutter down lightly from the sky.

It was snow.

Before long, Cheonryeongji was blanketed in pure white snow.

The moon waxed and waned.

The fallen snow piled high, and the frozen ice thawed away.

Even though a full year had passed in the end, there was only silence from the Heavenly Palace.

“This is truly too much.”

Unable to endure it any longer, Geuma let out her quiet frustration.

Jawoon did not answer Geuma’s words, quietly gazing at the water’s surface.

The surface of the lake, where small ripples had surged ceaselessly as Jawoon danced just moments ago, was now as calm as if nothing had happened, reflecting the sky.

Looking out from the lake, it seemed as though the sky itself had descended upon the earth.

“A full year has already passed. How is it that not even a herald has come down?”

Normally, even if it were not for entering the Heavenly Palace, a herald would come down once or twice a year to offer greetings.

However, since there was no such gesture this year, it was understandable that Geuma felt even more indignant.

Listening to Geuma’s words, Jawoon recalled the figure of the Heavenly Emperor looking down on him from Manhwijeon.

‘You only need to give me one trivial thing.’

‘Give me your name.’

The feeling of the spiritual energy forcefully ripping away the two characters engraved upon his heart and soul was still vivid.

Jawoon thought of the Heavenly Emperor’s face, twisted in displeasure the moment he protected his name with his own blood.

“Well… perhaps there is a reason we do not know.”

Jawoon offered Geuma a gentle smile, pretending not to know the reason.

Geuma seemed even more frustrated by her master’s nonchalant attitude.

With her cheeks puffed out and her head turned away, Geuma muttered that she would fetch his medicine and vanished beneath the water.

Once Geuma had departed, Jawoon turned his head toward the shadows behind the flat rock and spoke softly:

“Geuma has gone.”

As if waiting for that voice, the small snake poked its head out from the shadows.

“Did you pass the winter well?”

The snake swayed its head side to side as if in response.

Jawoon extended his hand to the snake.

It seemed to have shed its skin over the year, but the snake was still very small.

As if waiting for this, the snake climbed onto Jawoon’s hand and coiled itself up.

Jawoon carefully stroked the snake in his palm as he gazed out at the scenery of Cheonryeongji.

Serene spring sunlight was pouring lavishly over the waters of Cheonryeongji.

In the blink of an eye, spring passed, and a sweltering summer returned.

On an exceptionally hot day, Jawoon watched the snake half-submerged in a small puddle by the shore, its mouth open as it panted.

If it were that hot, it could simply go into the shade, yet it remained there, seemingly because there was no spot in the shade from which it could see Jawoon.

The next day, beside that tiny puddle, a cluster of Amur Amonis flowers sprouted overnight.

They were just the right size to cast a shade over the snake’s head.

After a long summer, autumn returned.

The Amur Amonis had grown taller than in the summer, and the small puddle naturally vanished.

Instead, oak leaves that had fallen from the trees piled softly inside the dry basin.

Every time the small snake stepped onto those leaves, a quiet rustling sound of dry foliage crushing could be heard faintly.

Autumn was brief.

Before the fallen leaves piled in the basin could even decay and vanish, the first snow fell.

Jawoon looked at the dry basin where the rustling sound of dry leaves was no longer heard.

Geuma followed Jawoon’s gaze with her dark eyes.

The lushly grown Amur Amonis had withered, its traces hidden beneath the accumulated fallen leaves.

“Shall I clear that spot?”

“No need. Spring will come again soon.”

Walking away with one hand behind his back, Jawoon stopped in his tracks and turned around.

The forest surrounding Cheonryeongji as it prepared for winter was covered in fallen leaves, appearing desolate and lonely at a glance, yet serene as if preparing for sleep.

Jawoon listened to the breathing of the living beings sleeping beneath the piled leaves.

Everyone was waiting for spring to return after the long winter passed.

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