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Chapter 14 – The Spirit Flower and the Butterfly
“What, how did you end up here? Did you come to see me practice?”
Tossing the wooden sword he had been gripping carelessly to the side, Ihwan ran straight to Soha. He kept chattering at her without pause.
“Even puppies don’t wag their tails this much when they come running, Young Master Ihwan.”
His swordsmanship teacher scolded him.
“Hello,” Soha greeted politely.
The teacher smiled back.
“Nice to meet you, young lady. I am Baek Cheongrim, Young Master Ihwan’s sword instructor.”
“I’m Yeon Soha.”
After introductions, Cheongrim sipped the cold tea that Rangi had offered.
“I heard you’re touring Hwacheon Palace? Let me join! I’ll be done training soon anyway!”
“Young Master, you still have quite a lot left. And you need to do your theory work too,” Cheongrim reminded.
“But that’s because Hyunsong hyung practices differently than me!”
Cheongrim only sighed, and a new voice joined in—calm and slightly mocking.
“You always make excuses. That’s why you can’t beat me.”
It was Geum Hyunsong, Jisong’s younger brother.
“I was going easy on you!” Ihwan snapped back.
The two bickered, just as Rangi had once said—they were troublemakers of the same mold.
Suddenly, Ihwan picked up a snack from Rangi’s tray and held it up to Soha.
“This is made with glutinous rice. It melts in your mouth when you eat it.”
He explained the ingredients and the way to eat it, eyes fixed on her, waiting for her to take a bite. He hadn’t even touched his own refreshments.
‘Why does he keep…’
It felt burdensome, but if she didn’t eat it, he wouldn’t either. So Soha bit into the snack. As Ihwan had said, it slowly melted in her mouth.
‘Delicious.’
Everything Ihwan gave her was always sweet.
“Good, right?”
Ihwan’s voice brimmed with pride.
“Young Master, you should eat too,” Rangi reminded him. At that, Ihwan finally gulped down some cold tea.
“Phew!”
Soha couldn’t help but smile.
Then Hyunsong, who had been watching her quietly, spoke:
“You really look like a mangy donkey.”
Ihwan sputtered his tea everywhere. Everyone turned to stare at Hyunsong.
“No, I meant she’s just small. Thin and short…” Hyunsong tried to fix his words.
Rangi quickly defended Soha.
“Soha is a girl. Of course she grows differently than boys who bulk up quickly.”
Ihwan jabbed Hyunsong’s side. “You’re not that tall yourself, hyung.”
The brothers scuffled, and Soha only laughed.
She’d endured far harsher words in her life. Being called small or frail hardly stung. Her gaze drifted to the wooden swords Hyunsong and Jisong held. Hyunsong noticed.
“Want to try? Do you want to learn?” he asked.
Soha realized that although Hyunsong spoke bluntly, he wasn’t ill-natured. He was quick to share what he had.
But Soha shook her head. “I’m fine.”
At that moment, Ihwan clapped loudly.
“Ah! I have something to show you!”
His eyes shone just like when he practiced swordsmanship. Everyone around them had the same sinking thought:
‘He’s going to cause trouble again…’
Ihwan grabbed Soha’s wrist. His hand was warm—no longer unfamiliar.
“Come on, you’ll be amazed,” he insisted.
“What is it?”
“You’ll see. Hurry.”
Ignoring Cheongrim’s scolding that training wasn’t over, Ihwan just grinned mischievously and ran off, dragging Soha along.
* * *
He led her to his residence—lavish compared to the modest beauty of Unjoru. Behind it, in a secluded courtyard, he pointed proudly.
“Look! Isn’t it amazing?”
Soha crouched down in front of the strange flower. It glowed faintly, its blue leaves giving off a subtle light. But she smelled something foul.
“…This is a Spirit Flower.”
“Spirit Flower?” Ihwan blinked.
The Spirit Flower only grew in places heavy with yin energy.
“Why is this here?” Soha murmured, unsettled. This land of the Vermilion Bird should not have such a flower.
“Is it dangerous?” Ihwan asked nervously.
“It means a powerful ghost has appeared nearby.”
“Eek!” Ihwan shrank, glancing all around.
“This is my residence!”
“Have you noticed anything strange? Restless dreams, violent insects?”
“I’ve been sleeping well, eating well, walking around fine!” Ihwan declared proudly.
“Then… it’s troubling.”
“Let’s pull it up and throw it away!” Ihwan reached for the flower.
“No! Don’t touch it—it’s dangerous.”
Just then, a familiar voice cut in.
“Foolish brat.”
It was Docheol. He padded over, tail swishing, trying to look dignified but still resembling a fluffy pup.
“Touch this, and your hand will rot off.”
“Why didn’t anyone say it was that dangerous?!” Ihwan yelped.
Docheol sniffed the air. “So this was the stench.”
“You’re a yokai, shouldn’t you like it?” Ihwan asked.
“Are you stupid? The Spirit Flower reeks!”
The two bickered again.
“So what do we do with it?” Ihwan demanded.
“For now… we leave it,” Soha said reluctantly. She was too weak in her child’s body to handle it safely. They would need an adult’s help—like the head of the Suzaku Clan.
“Something’s changing. Definitely.”
Docheol’s tone was grim. Soha wondered—was this an aftereffect of her returning to the past?
“Or maybe some deranged ghost followed someone back here,” Docheol added.
“That seems more likely,” Soha admitted.
“We’d better keep an eye on you, foolish human.”
Docheol flicked dirt at Ihwan with his paw.
“Bleh!” Ihwan spat dirt, rubbing his tongue in panic as if it might be poisoned.
“We should report this to the Lord,” Soha said.
“You or me?” Ihwan pointed back and forth between them.
Soha was about to say it should be him, but he added with a grin:
“Actually, they’d be happier to see you. You’re cute—just looking at you makes people feel better.”
Soha flushed. Was she really blushing because a boy of only ten had called her cute?
“Pathetic,” Docheol muttered.
“Then let’s go together.” Ihwan reached for her hand, but Docheol cut in again.
“Don’t be clingy. Human men are all the same—whether young or old.”
“What did you say, you mangy mutt?!”
They started quarreling again, and Soha pressed her sleeve against her hot cheek. Without waiting, she began walking toward the main hall.
She had learned directions quickly—even if hastily.
