Chapter 8: The Wolf in the Cave

With a prayer in his heart, Myeong followed the brightest star. “Follow the brightest star.” It felt like something someone had whispered to him long ago.

Myeong’s mind was already half-numb from the cold, his consciousness hazy and dazed. He no longer knew whether what he was stepping on was the ground, the sky, or even the surface of the sea. His teeth chattered loudly.

The white snow covered Myeong’s body as though trying to swallow him whole. One step, then another. Staggering as though swimming, Myeong continued walking toward the star.

****

By the time Myeong had nearly turned into a giant snowman, a large cave finally appeared before him. Deep and spacious even from the outside, it seemed like a good place to escape the snow. Without much thought, Myeong entered the cave.

Not a single ray of light reached inside, making it impossible to tell where the cave ended, yet strangely, he felt no fear. Instead, a warm and cozy energy seemed to seep out from within.

‘It feels like spring.’

As if entranced, Myeong continued walking deeper inside.

The path was winding and narrow. There were even places where he had to flatten himself against the ground to squeeze through. Because of the darkness, Myeong bumped his head against rocks and cut his hands on sharp fragments.

Even so, he did not stop moving inward. He did not know why, but he had a strong feeling that he absolutely had to keep going.

Eventually, Myeong reached the center of the cave. Though the cave was pitch-black, this particular place was strangely illuminated as though sunlight were pouring down upon it. It was a cozy space where not even the fierce wind could enter.

“…”

And there, a huge and imposing wolf was sleeping.

The beast was twice as large as Myeong, yet he was not afraid. Dragging his exhausted body along, Myeong approached the wolf.

The wolf’s steady breaths stirred Myeong’s hair. Its glossy, pitch-black fur was even finer than Heavenly Horse’s mane, shimmering brilliantly like the night sky.

Myeong raised a hand, wondering if he could stroke that beautiful fur, but then gave up when he saw his own red, frostbitten hand.

‘My hands are too shabby and dirty to touch something so beautiful. Could it be a servant of winter?’

Because the creature had the form of a wolf, Myeong wondered if it might be the Winter Wolf, the god of winter himself. But that noble being was surely in the central Winter Castle, so he decided it could not be him.

Someone like himself could never casually appear before a god. Besides, he could not even be certain that this creature truly had the form of a wolf. Ever since the Spring God had manifested himself, he had abandoned the form of a flower.

Amid Myeong’s muddled thoughts, meaningless notions drifted back and forth like waves, only to scatter again. Rubbing his heavy eyelids, Myeong neatly placed his belongings and removed shoes to one side before quietly lying down near the wolf.

The warmth of the wolf’s body slowly melted Myeong’s frozen limbs. His wet clothes were still uncomfortable, but his fading consciousness urged him to fall asleep as quickly as possible.

Before long, another small breathing sound joined the cave.

****

I-gyeol awoke with a strange sense of excitement.

His entire body felt stiff. After blinking several times to clear his mind, I-gyeol opened his long snout and yawned widely. Then, sensing something against his chest, he turned his head.

“What the hell is this?”

A shabby, filthy little thing was sleeping soundly, buried in the fur on I-gyeol’s chest.

Frowning, I-gyeol immediately pushed it away with his forepaw. It was only a small movement, but Myeong’s frail body rolled several times from the force before hitting the wall.

“Ow…”

Myeong let out a low groan and flinched.

I-gyeol stared at the sprawled-out Myeong before getting to his feet. This cave had definitely been thoroughly sealed before he went to sleep. He did not know how much time had passed since then, but had his power weakened enough for the seal to break?

I-gyeol stretched widely before sticking out his long tongue and licking his forepaw.

Meanwhile, Myeong watched the wolf grooming his fur with a dazed expression.

He had noticed it from the moment he first saw him, but even now that the wolf was awake, he still looked beautiful.

Myeong had spent all this time managing and caring for the divine beasts of spring, but he had never seen a creature so exquisite and beautiful. None of the others could compare.

While Myeong was still unable to fully regain his senses, the wolf slowly walked over and pressed his nose against Myeong, sniffing him.

Faced with the enormous body of the wolf, Myeong held his breath and stiffened.

“Spring or summer? Doesn’t seem like autumn.”

“…”

The low, resonant voice filled the cave.

Myeong could only tremble in fear, unable to open his mouth. I-gyeol buried his nose against Myeong’s body once more and inhaled deeply.

“Spring.”

The scent was faint, but unmistakably that of spring.

A servant of spring had dared to trespass into winter’s territory.

Had he thought that I-gyeol would ignore him simply because he had been asleep for so long? I-gyeol frowned and clicked his tongue, anger rising within him.

Myeong, however, suddenly snapped fully awake at I-gyeol’s words. It was as if fireworks had exploded inside his head.

He had said spring.

That beautiful wolf had recognized Myeong as a servant of spring.

After finding a single affirmation amid countless denials, Myeong clapped his hands together.

“Yes! I’m a servant of spring!”

His eyes shining brightly, Myeong smiled from ear to ear. His heart pounded wildly with joy.

Watching him, I-gyeol let out an incredulous scoff.

This little servant looked as though he had just been born, yet he was completely unaware of the situation.

Instead of answering, I-gyeol extended his sharp claws and thrust his forepaw toward Myeong in an attempt to threaten him.

“Ah, Wolf-nim! It’s nice to meet you too!”

Misunderstanding his intentions, Myeong cheerfully placed his tiny hand on I-gyeol’s forepaw in greeting.

‘Somewhere, I heard people greet each other by holding hands like this.’

Myeong’s hand immediately disappeared into the soft fur.

“Your claws are really magnificent.”

Myeong politely praised the frightening claws, but the wolf responded by opening his enormous jaws wide and placing Myeong’s entire little head inside his mouth.

“Ah-choo!”

‘Is this how beasts greet each other?’

A little bewildered, Myeong tried not to show it and obediently waited for the wolf to take him back out of his mouth.

However, after a while, the tip of his nose began to itch, and Myeong could not hold it in. He let out a tiny sneeze.

“Damn it!”

“I’m sorry…”

The moment Mu-myeong sneezed, the wolf cried out and immediately spat him out.

Since Myeong had no hands free to cover his mouth, his saliva had gone straight into the wolf’s mouth.

Unable to contain his anger, the wolf lashed his tail about and barked furiously.

Meanwhile, Myeong sniffled and wiped his mouth and nose clean with his sleeve.

“Wolf-nim, Wolf-nim.”

After struggling by himself for quite some time, the wolf eventually tired himself out and collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.

Myeong cautiously approached him.

The wolf’s enormous, gleaming eyes glared at him, but Myeong was instead captivated by their dazzling amethyst-like color.

“Wow… How can your eyes be so beautiful?”

‘Even the immortals born from beautiful flowers couldn’t possibly be more lovely than this.’

Myeong praised him with all his sincerity, but the wolf merely snorted as though he found it ridiculous.

The forceful breath sent Myeong’s hair and collar fluttering.

Myeong looked down at the exhausted wolf lying on the floor, then took out a piece of sweet rice confectionery from his bag.

‘He must be hungry.’

He was hungry and exhausted himself, having left the land of spring and received no energy from the winter lands. Even so, he wanted to give it to the wolf.

“Please have some.”

Myeong cautiously held out the confectionery with both hands, but the wolf did not even glance at it before spitting out a curse.

“Get lost.”

Perhaps because he had only just awakened, the wolf seemed easily exhausted and irritable. Despite the cold response, Myeong did not retreat and cautiously moved a little closer.

“Wolf-nim.”

“…”

“Are you going back to sleep?”

“Shut your mouth before I tear it apart.”

‘Tear my mouth apart?’

Having never heard such a blatant threat before, Myeong raised his hands and covered his mouth.

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