Chapter 20

In the beginning, there was Daesan[1]. It was a world without creatures walking on two legs. Countless days and nights passed. They lived in the same space, sharing the same time, but they didn't know each other well because of the mountain that stood like a barrier between them. The north of Daesan was dry and cool, while the south was warm with a golden glow. From the towering Daesan, reaching towards the sky, there was a world completely opposite.

Living in a world where snow fell heavily, the silver wolves had fur to withstand the cold, but underneath, they were not invincible. Unable to withstand the cold, they died, and with food scarce, their options for sustenance were limited. When those driven by hunger began to consume their own kind, Eunrang, the silver wolf, changed his perspective. As the leader, he had to procure food for the weaker ones. He couldn't wait for spring. If he waited until spring, the world blanketed in snow would perish. Eunrang's golden eyes shimmered like the gold in the southern world. It was a desire to survive.

Shining brighter than snow, softer than clouds, with silver fur denser than pine needles, the wolf ran through the winter. On his sturdy back, lives of the people depended. Even though he was hungry and his stomach grumbled, he couldn't stop. The hunger of the people outweighed his own.

There's a sweet taste in his mouth. His throat is parched. The soles of his feet burn like volcanoes. The wolf stopped breathing and devoured the snow. Hungry and thirsty, with nothing to eat, he melted and drank the snow.

But it was temporary. How long had he starved? His legs, as tough as centuries-old trees, trembled. He was desperate for anything to eat. With his strength drained, he relied on his willpower to move forward. In the blurry focus, he saw the sunlight caressing his worn-out claws.

Just a bit more. Just a bit more, and the southern world overflowing with prey would appear. The wolf, shaking from the cold like a swaying branch, continued forward, unable to let go of hope.

He fell down the endless uphill path several times. There was no one to help him up. The wolf crawled up as if possessed every time he fell.

But the repetition wore down something inside the wolf, making him weaker. His body, like a dimmed torch, failed to function properly. The eyes that longed for survival, that desired to save the people, now emptied of everything. His claws were almost gone, worn down, and battered from the countless miles. Calluses on his feet were torn apart, revealing raw flesh. Blood trickled from his feet, staining the snow crimson. He felt as crushed as a squashed omija berry.

The wolf expended all his remaining strength and lay in the snow, his tongue lolling out. His breathing was irregular. He wanted to close his eyes, but there was a lingering reluctance. His eyes closed halfway. His gaze fell upon the steep slope. Just a little more, just a little more, and he would be greeted by golden waves. If only he could run down to the warm plains and feast to his heart's content...

For the first and last time, dew welled up in the wolf's eyes. Transparent tears shimmered. Those tears froze in the cold, becoming jewels. They absorbed and radiated light, becoming beautiful gems.

Just as the jewel was about to fall from his eyes, a woman emerged from it. She was enveloped in a slender body and silky silver hair. Her hair was as strange as the wolf's, and her body was pearly white. She seemed out of place in this cold. She covered herself with only her hair and arms. She slowly lowered her eyes. Her silver eyelashes quivered. The golden eyes, like the wolf's, were filled with sadness. As if ready to shed tears at the slightest touch, her large and radiant eyes trembled.

"...You cannot die yet."

Sighs escaped her young and beautiful face. Her elongated arm protruded unexpectedly between the strands of hair. It resembled a branch growing in that direction to catch sunlight. Her hand touched the wolf's fading eyes. Her eyes held deep depths that remained unexplored, and her fingertips trembled with fear.

"I have chosen you; you cannot die yet."

Her voice echoed through Daesan, piercing through the trees. The dormant creatures in the forest raised their heads and ran towards a single point.

She was the sky, the god, the guardian of this world. And the wolf was the emperor she chose. The emperor of the northern world, the Son of Heaven who ruled this world. Watching from the heaven as the wolf's life faded, she couldn't bear it. What parent could watch their child die? When the wolf died, this world would perish. To fulfill the duty and responsibility entrusted to her by the creator, she made the same choice as the wolf.

"To save you... there is no other way."

She smiled bitterly and bowed her head. Her lips touched the wolf's dried black muzzle. Her silver hair, even after covering the ground, still enveloped the wolf's body. The once limp tail of the wolf began to tremble faintly. The movements, so feeble that one might think they were just a breeze, gradually grew stronger. Strangely, as the movement of the tail quickened, it shortened and disappeared. His long legs transformed into a color similar to the woman's flesh. His long muzzle shortened, resembling the woman's. The wolf, unaware of the changes happening to him, continued to nuzzle the woman who was kissing him. The sturdy male wolf became completely submissive, burying his face in the woman's neck. His straight nose brushed against her fragrant neck. He was overwhelmed by the scent that emanated from every vein like roots branching down her neck. He clung to her like a desperate child to a disappearing lifeline.

"Stop it."

The woman murmured as she tidied the man's hair. Her voice was very cold yet polite. Her clear pronunciation struck the man's ears like arrows. As befitting a wolf, he obediently listened to her voice and quickly became subdued.

"Don't leave, Mother."

The man rested his forehead on the woman's graceful shoulder. His robust torso, like a mountain, still surrounded her. The man, possessing the most magnificent being as if it were his own, blinked his eyes. His gaze was as sharp as the sun, causing the life forms surrounding him and the woman to tremble.

The man grasped the woman's chin, making her face him directly. His lips moved closer to hers. Sensing his intention, the woman gently pressed her palm against his cheek. Her hand slid down like a caress, exploring his solid chest.

"Do you wish me to leave?"

"No. I would like Mother to stay... and take care of the true children of Mother here."

With eyes burning with desire, the man confessed to the woman. Facing his secretive gaze, longing for her to be both his mother and lover, she smiled indulgently. Like snowflakes, her thin white hands descended along the man's back. It was a gentle and affectionate, yet intricate touch, as if playing a string instrument. She caressed the man's abundant silver fur and whispered in a moist voice.

"You are the king I have chosen, the only son I have chosen. It is meaningful for you to care for the people. I only watch and choose."

Sadness accumulated at the end of the man's gaze, and it was her smooth touch that collected it.

"But it will be me who controls you, won't it?"

"...Please dominate me. As yours, Mother's."

The man pressed his lips against the woman's hand, where blue veins protruded, and earnestly conveyed his wish. The sound of her laughter echoed against the trees like a poignant cry. She looked up at the deep blue sky behind the man's back. It was the world she belonged to. Something she had always thought about in that world suddenly came to mind.

With a playful smile, she gently pulled her son towards her, wordlessly comforting him. The man's eyes regained their comfort and tranquility.

However, tranquility did not last long. Even with good fruits to be had, humans coveted the unripe fruits others possessed. Many children born of her and the man's bloodline desired the world beyond Daesan. But crossing the mountain was not easy, and even if they did, ruling the unknown world beneath it was no easy task. Some emperors of the ancient empire desired the vast plains beneath Daesan. The grains and sweet fruits that grew there, along with the vast open space without mountains, were tempting prey for the emperors.

After several failed attempts, the emperors, now relegated to the past, gave up. Fierce battles erupted like flames at the junction of Daesan, with neither side able to determine victory. The casualties were staggering, and the victories were hollow. Eventually, the two nations declared a ceasefire. The ceasefire gradually spread to the people. The soldiers knew the border was marked by the "Daesan," but the ignorant people did not, so they planted flags to claim each other's land. The flags faded and became worn out over time, swept away by the currents of time.

As the crimson color symbolizing the Yeon Kingdom faded into a muted purple, the Emperor's soldiers crossed Daesan. Leading them was a young man, barely matured. His armor, redder than blood, shimmered in the light. The emblem of the Yeon Kingdom, a twisted depiction, adorned the hilt of his red sword. The young man's hand lingered on the hilt for a moment. The sound of metal friction echoed chillingly through the forest.

"Truly... a beautiful land."

The young man couldn't help but admire the golden plains visible even from the mountain. His lips curled with a sense of triumph, as if he already ruled over that land. Squinting his eyes, he suddenly dismounted from his horse, abandoning his bow. At this impulsive act of removing his armor, a veteran, who had been watching over him, approached.

"Your Highness, do you really intend to transform here?"

"The descent from the mountain is so steep that it seems faster to descend as a wolf rather than on horseback. Besides, His Majesty has also commanded it."

King Jinyeong casually replied as he shed all of his armor. Now, the only thing enveloping the young man was the thick clothing layered underneath his armor. He observed the numerous cavalry, spearmen, and others surrounding him. They showed infinite trust in him. With a confident smile in response to their gazes, the young man raised his head to look at the sky.

The sky was devoid of clouds, simply a deep blue. The sun, slightly tilted from the center to the west, seemed to shine more brightly today. Perhaps it was because of the sunlight. Below, the waves spread out, emitting a pumpkin-colored glow as they moved.

If he could control those waves, would the heavens choose him as emperor? Just as he had struggled uphill to save the people and ultimately received his mother's choice to establish the Yeon Kingdom, he now desired the heaven’s selection, like the first heavenly emperor chosen by his mother.

Indeed, the final decision wasn't up to him, the Emperor and his father. Sitting idle and indulging in admiration of the river wouldn't bring about the sky's ultimate choice. It was imperative to obtain the final decision from the sky, the most necessary.

The boy's gentle smile had turned into a smile tinged with desire. He looked at them and shouted:

"Kill all the living! Men, old and young, children, women, everyone! We need only those grains and fruits, not people! No obedience is necessary! Show them the majesty of the Yeon Kingdom! They dare to disregard Yeon under the pretext of Daesan! We must instill fear greater than death, so they never dare to ignore Yeon again!"

As the terrifying sound subsided, King Jinyeong spread his arms like wings and shouted at them:

"For victory! For the empire!"

The boy's roar soon turned into the howl of a beast. When the boy stopped shouting and turned his head, he transformed into a giant wolf and leaped down the slope. Behind him, a tremendous dust cloud and roaring cheers quickly covered the golden land. Farmers working in the fields, puzzled by the sudden appearance of dust, looked up in surprise. Children playing around blinked as they held toys made of animal dung.

The dust storm turned into a tempest and swept over them, arrows raining down, piercing their throats.

As a wolf, the boy's instincts took over, and he first tore the throat of the farmer tilling the field. Blood burst out like ripe fruit.

The earth was now devoured in the color the Emperor desired.

Continued in Book 2.

[1] Great mountain

Volume 1 is done!!! Whew, even the origin story of the Yeon Kingdom is fk up lolol

Volume 2 is where the real start of the story so stay tune~

Kang's age is slowly progressing as well as the story! Expect smexy scenes starting the next volume! Cant wait? You can head over to my kofi to read the story in advance~

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