Fox Sister

Two people left and silence ensued…

Hwang-Yeon suddenly plopped down in front of me with a sly grin. Then she boldly struck up a conversation.

“What brings you on this journey?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, I hesitated for a moment but calmly replied:

“I’m a Taoist priest. I’m traveling after receiving a summons from the court.”

Upon hearing my words, Hwang-Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise, unable to hide her astonishment. She stared at me intently as if discovering some unexpected truth.

Then, after a brief silence where she seemed lost in thought, she nodded and said:

“So you’re someone who handles state affairs.”

Her voice carried a strange mix of respect and awkwardness. It was clear she saw me as someone from an entirely different world.

I chuckled awkwardly while avoiding her gaze. A brief silence filled the room.

Not long after, it was Hwang-Yeon who broke the silence. Taking a deep breath, she looked at me seriously and spoke:

“Actually, there’s something I’d like to consult you about.”

“Consultation? About what?”

I looked at Hwang-Yeon curiously, having no idea what she could possibly want to discuss with me.

After hesitating for a while, she took a determined breath and continued:

“Hwang-Yeon and Yul… we are lovers.”

My eyes widened in shock at this unexpected revelation.

“A romance between women – no wonder you’re surprised.”

As if expecting my reaction, Hwang-Yeon calmly continued. Honestly, the idea of two women being together was something I had never even imagined before. Her words kept circling in my mind, making it hard to process.

“Hwang-Yeon is a celestial maiden from the Heavenly Realm, and I am just a regular human. Yet even someone like me fell in love with her, and she loves me too.”

There was calmness in her voice but also a tinge of heartbreak. Though my thoughts were jumbled, I could sense how serious she was.

“If you both love each other, isn’t that enough?”

At my words, Hwang-Yeon’s face lit up instantly. The look of anxiety disappeared, replaced by a bright smile.

“Thank you for saying that… But… Actually… I’ve done something wrong.”

But her happiness was short-lived as she grew serious again and confessed heavily.

‘What kind of wrongdoing could she mean?’ I wondered silently.

Waiting quietly for her to continue, she sighed deeply, gazing into the distance as if reminiscing about the past. Her eyes were distant and confused, her face full of regret and guilt.

“I heard from a deer that there’s a spring where celestial maidens bathe called the Fairy Bath. I just wanted to take a peek, but ended up falling in love with Yul at first sight.”

Taking another deep sigh, she continued her story.

“So… I hid Yul’s feather cloak.”

Her voice grew quieter, trembling with sadness and self-reproach.

‘Remembering Yul’s sorrowful expression now makes sense…’ I thought.

With her head bowed low, Hwang-Yeon muttered to herself in self-blame:

“I pretended to help Yul who had nowhere to go, and brought her to live with me… But I still haven’t told her that I’m the one who hid her feather cloak… I’m such a despicable person…”

Clutching her head in agony, her feelings of regret and guilt were evident.

Though her actions were clearly wrong, I didn’t feel in any position to judge, considering I wasn’t exactly a saint myself. After pondering her words for a long time, I remembered something Seolhwa once said:

“There was someone I heard say… ‘Live as you please. That is what it means to be human.'”

I wasn’t sure if my words were truly comforting or just an attempt to ease her worries. But Hwang-Yeon looked at me sharply, her eyes filled with hope, relief, and perhaps a new determination.

The silence was broken when the door opened and Younger Sister Ryeonga and Yul entered the room. Whatever conversation they had outside was unclear, but there was a strangely tense atmosphere.

Younger Sister approached me and said:

“Sister, it’s late. Let’s get some rest.”

Led by Ryeonga’s hand, I entered the room and laid down under the covers. Younger Sister soon fell asleep hugging me as usual. Though familiar warmth and softness surrounded me, tonight it felt strangely foreign.

My heart was racing.

Though I often felt this way, tonight the sensation was particularly intense.

‘What exactly is this feeling?’

Staring blankly at the dark ceiling, I repeated it countless times in my mind. Could this pounding sensation really be just familial affection?

Hwang-Yeon’s words from earlier came back to me.

Romance between women.

A concept I had never even imagined before. Yet strangely, I felt no repulsion. Instead, somewhere deep inside, an unknown excitement and anticipation was growing.

Thinking back, I had never experienced romantic feelings for anyone. Despite meeting many people, I had never felt that fluttering excitement.

Thoughts of Master came to mind. Though he always attracted the attention of women wherever he went, to me he was simply a respected teacher, never stirring any emotions.

Then I thought of Seolhwa. The most beautiful woman I had ever seen, yet I felt no special attraction towards her either.

So then… who could evoke special feelings in me?

Ryeonga.

In the darkness, the warm embrace that gently wrapped around me,

the soft breath tickling my ear,

her loving smiles and playful voice.

Ryeonga’s image vividly appeared in my mind. Another powerful wave of excitement surged through my chest.

It was absurd. Ryeonga was merely my younger sister, family. Nothing more than that. It was a relationship that shouldn’t transcend beyond sibling bonds. I shook my head vigorously, trying to scold myself.

‘This feeling is nothing but a delusion.’

Trying to suppress my confused thoughts, I tried to convince myself of that. But the pounding in my chest wouldn’t stop.

Unable to bear the discomfort, I carefully got up so as not to wake the sleeping Ryeonga. Moving quietly toward the door despite my still-unsteady ankle, thanks to Yul’s divine energy infusion.

Opening the sliding door cautiously, the cool morning air enveloped my face.

The fresh, chilly breeze swept through my body, clearing the oppressive feeling in my chest.

That’s when I noticed faint shadows in the yard bathed in moonlight. I could hear faint whispers in the quiet night air.

Approaching quietly, I saw it was Hwang-Yeon and Yul standing side by side talking.

Though their words were inaudible, I clearly saw Hwang-Yeon carefully taking something out and handing it to Yul.

The object shimmering faintly under the moonlight was obviously not earthly.

‘The feather cloak…’

I recalled our earlier conversation. Hwang-Yeon had confessed to hiding Yul’s feather cloak. Now she was returning it.

Receiving the cloak, Yul silently examined it with a stern expression. Her cold gaze carried anger, resentment, and betrayal.

Suddenly, Yul lifted her head sharply and slapped Hwang-Yeon across the face with all her might.

The sharp sound cut through the night’s tranquility. But Hwang-Yeon didn’t dodge, merely bowing her head and standing silently.

Yul glared at Hwang-Yeon with fiery eyes, breathing heavily. But then something unexpected happened.

Yul suddenly approached Hwang-Yeon and kissed her without hesitation.

Both Hwang-Yeon and I froze in shock at the sudden action. But soon Hwang-Yeon melted into the warmth, embracing Yul tenderly.

Under the moonlight, their kiss and embrace continued for some time.

Watching them, I inadvertently imagined kissing Ryeonga. Flushed cheeks, moist lips, sweet breath. Just imagining it made my heart race wildly and sent shivers down my spine.

‘These kinds of thoughts must not be entertained.’

But my heartbeat quickened and my face grew hot. At that moment, Yul’s eyes met mine.

I felt my breath catch in shock.

Realizing I had been spotted, Yul quietly placed a finger over her lips signaling silence.

Understanding the meaning, I nodded quietly and turned away, slipping back into the shadows.

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