Chapter 18
The Ring of Solomon.
Yoonseol recalled that Zuhan had used it to control animals and chimeras.
Wenling spoke calmly.
“I assume you already know what kind of object the Ring of Solomon is.”
“I know it’s an incredibly ancient, unbelievably powerful, and dangerous artifact.”
If one were to write about the Ring of Solomon, it would easily fill ten volumes.
But if it had to be summarized in a single sentence, it would be this:
Ancient, immense, and dangerous.
Wenling nodded in agreement.
“Correct. No one except a qualified user can wield the Ring of Solomon. If they try, their body will rot away while they’re still alive—just like Zuhan.”
“Then why did the Sanshi Branch have it?”
“For research purposes. That is all I can say.”
Wenling answered firmly.
The fact that a relic passed down from Solomon had been studied in China was, no matter how one looked at it, an enormous matter.
“Wow… this just keeps getting bigger.”
Yoonseol felt her head spinning the more she thought about it.
Shaking off her thoughts, she stood up.
“Alright, then let’s get moving.”
“Where to?”
Yoonseol looked out the window toward Hallasan.
“Shouldn’t we figure out whether that Zuhan guy is alive first?”
* * * * *
“Hey! Slow down a bit!”
Climbing Hallasan, Yoonseol finally shouted in frustration.
Wenling, far ahead, replied:
“I believe I am already moving quite slowly.”
“I specialize in water! Living on land is hard for me!”
Two hours had passed since they began climbing.
Yoonseol, who hadn’t hiked in a long time, felt like she was dying, while Wenling showed no sign of fatigue.
“Physical strength is the foundation of everything. If you cannot properly climb your own jurisdiction, it reflects poorly on your capability as its overseer.”
Yoonseol snapped back angrily:
“What did you say? Try saying that when you’re underwater!”
“Unfortunately, we are on land. And we are handling matters on land.”
Wenling responded without even blinking.
Yoonseol was speechless.
“That guy…”
Despite always acting polite, Wenling had a surprisingly brazen side.
He owed her his life multiple times, yet he still acted like this.
One day, I’m definitely going to dunk his head underwater.
Yoonseol glared at him silently.
“It seems efficient work will be difficult at this rate.”
Suddenly, Wenling lifted Yoonseol into his arms.
“Put me down! I can walk on my own!”
“Please consider this a subordinate’s consideration for their superior.”
With that, he leapt up the mountain.
The speed was completely different now.
He hadn’t even been trying before.
Realizing this, Yoonseol muttered:
“You’re kind of like your brother.”
“What? In what way am I like that bastard?”
Wenling reacted immediately.
Yoonseol looked at his face and answered absentmindedly:
“Your personality… the way you act.”
Wenling’s expression froze.
Then he promptly tossed her into nearby bushes.
“Aaaah!”
Yoonseol screamed as she hit the ground.
Wenling dusted off his arms.
“It seems we’ve reached the summit. Shall you walk from here?”
Yoonseol pouted.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Certainly not.”
Though he said so, his reaction made it obvious she had hit a nerve.
At the summit of Hallasan, Yoonseol led Wenling into a dense grove.
“Put down what you brought.”
Wenling examined the items—sugar, carrots, snacks.
“Why did we bring these?”
“There’s someone who likes them.”
He hesitated, then laid them out as instructed.
Yoonseol bowed toward the mountain.
“As one appointed to oversee the land of Jeju by the Mountain Lord, I humbly request an audience with the mountain spirit.”
Immediately, thick mist rose from the bushes.
It moved like a living thing.
“Please accept the offerings we have prepared.”
Soon, a gentle yet heavy voice came from within the fog.
“Overseer of the land of Jeju.”
The mist parted, revealing a long-haired man in white robes.
He radiated an otherworldly presence.
A broken horn crowned his head.
“Who is that?”
Wenling asked.
Yoonseol whispered:
“Baekrok Seonin, the spirit of Hallasan.”
She examined him.
“Oh my… what happened to your horn?”
“You dare ask as if you don’t know?”
Baekrok Seonin snapped.
“That insane fox did this! She said her body was weak and chopped off my horn!”
“That fox… you mean Aunt Dayoung?”
“Aunt?! You call her that?!”
He stomped angrily.
“You should be keeping such evil beings out of Jeju, not calling them family!”
Then he noticed Wenling.
“And who is that? He doesn’t look Joseon at all.”
“He’s here to help me.”
Wenling bowed.
“I am Heo Wenling of the Sanshi Branch of the Great Museum.”
Baekrok Seonin approached and tapped Wenling’s chin.
“A descendant of a god… I sense something beyond humanity in you. The divine bloodline of the Moon of Calligraphy.”
He examined him closely.
“Interesting. What brings such a noble bloodline here?”
Yoonseol quickly explained:
“We’re looking for someone. It’s important.”
Baekrok Seonin replied coldly:
“I have no interest in helping a negligent overseer who let me end up like this. Leave.”
“Please, just help a little. Look—we brought offerings!”
She held out snacks.
“…Do you have potato chips?”
“Of course!”
She handed them over.
He took them quickly.
“Very well. I’ll help—just this once.”
After hearing everything, Baekrok Seonin asked:
“So, there’s another descendant of Changhil here in Jeju?”
“Yes. But we don’t know if he’s alive.”
“Determining that is simple.”
Wenling asked urgently:
“Really?”
“Those with divine blood attract the world’s attention. When they die, nature mourns. If this Zuhan were dead, nature would have sensed it.”
Wenling asked:
“And if nature sensed nothing?”
“Then he’s alive somewhere.”
Relief crossed Wenling’s face.
“You’re worried about him, despite your words.”
“I want to beat him to death myself.”
Baekrok Seonin scoffed.
“The more refined a person looks, the more violent they are.”
Yoonseol asked carefully:
“Can you find him?”
“If a blood relative is present, yes.”
“Then use my blood. We’re brothers.”
“Good. Since I’ve received offerings, I’ll use some effort.”
Baekrok Seonin closed his eyes and placed a hand on Wenling’s shoulder.
His horn glowed.
“I call upon all that rises, flows, and rests in Jeju.”
Sounds of wind, water, and earth filled the air.
“I seek the one who shares this divine blood.”
Nature itself responded.
“Have you heard that one bearing divine blood has died?”
