Chapter Text
Epilogue 1: Unnecessary Effort, Apparently
Have you ever wondered how Cheong Myeong managed to get his hands on that many plum blossom petals?
Of course, Mount Hua was surrounded by nothing but plum trees. Countless of them, stretching from peak to peak. But if someone were to pluck petals too eagerly from a single tree, Sect Leader and elders would notice immediately.
And Cheong Myeong was many things, but stupid was not one of them.
So instead,
“Damn it. Why are there so many trees?!”
At dawn, long before anyone else was awake, Cheong Myeong was already perched in the branches behind the Sect Leader’s residence, scowling as he plucked petals one by one.
Why here you ask?
Because the Sect Leader personally tended these trees. Which meant the blossoms were fuller. Brighter. More fragrant.
Which also meant,
“If he finds out about this, I’m dead. I’m actually dead.” Thinking about Sect Leader nagged and threw him into the repentance cave was the last thing he wanted to experience.
“Kiiiii!”
Fortunately he wasn’t the only one suffering outside. With tiny, determined steps, Baek-ah ran across the grass, a bundle of cloth tied awkwardly around its smalll body. The white marten stopped beneath the tree and puffed out its chest, tail flicking proudly.
It dropped the cloth.
Petals spilled out.
“…Oh?” Cheong Myeong glanced down. “That’s more than before.”
Baek-ah squeaked triumphantly.
“Heh. Good job.” Cheong Myeong pointed lazily at a much larger cloth spread nearby. “Put them there. Then go get more.”
Baek-ah froze.
Then looked at the cloth.
Then at Cheong Myeong.
Then squeaked indignantly.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Cheong Myeong snorted. “You’re getting snacks for a week. A week.”
Baek-ah immediately turned around and bolted toward the next tree.
“….Greedy little thing.” Cheong Myeong muttered, returning to his work.
Jumping from branch to branch, he gathered petals carefully. Never too many from one place, never enough to leave a trace. His fingers were numb. His back ached.
“Why am I even doing this?”
Petal. Pluck.
“I could’ve just replaced the branch like usual.”
Petal. Pluck.
“Who told him to say something stupid like ‘plum blossom smell good’ anyway?”
A gust of wind scattered a handful of petals he’d just gathered.
“…Ah.”
Silence.
Then,
“SON OF A—!”
He scrambled after them, muttering curses under his breath as he caught each one like it was a priceless treasure. By the time he shoved them back into the cloth, his expression was murderous.
Baek-ah returned, dragging another bundle. They locked eyes then sighed. Hours later, the cloths were full. Cheong Myeong stared at the mountain of petals, hands on his hips, chest heaving.
“…This is insane.”
Baek-ah flopped onto its back dramatically.
“No, don’t die yet. We still have to scatter them later.”
“Oh hush.” Cheong Myeong crouched down and poked its belly. “You’ll thank me when you’re drowning in snacks.”
As the moon tilted more toward the west, Cheong Myeong tied the final bundle shut and slung it over his shoulder. His body ached. His clothes were dusted pink and his here smelled overwhelmingly of plum blossoms.
“Tch.” He turned toward Baek Cheon’s quarters.
“Well,” he muttered, lips twitching despite himself. “Migh as well go all the way.”
Baek-ah squeaked in agreement and neither of them ever told anyone about it.
Epilogue 2: The God of Spring Attends Breakfast
“…Did Sasuk just spill an entire bottle of plum blossom–scented oil on himself?”
Baek Cheon’s chopsticks paused midair.
“I know he’s obsessed with being presentable,” another disciple whispered, “but isn’t this a bit excessive?”
Baek Cheon kept his gaze firmly on his breakfast, chewing slowly, deliberately. Ignoring them. He was very good at ignoring things. Unfortunately, the staring in front of him was harder to ignore. His sajil and one fake monk was staring blatantly as if he was an animal from a circus caravan.
“Is Sasuk trying to impress someone?” Soso squinted, openly examining Baek Cheon from head to toe.
“Every sane woman would run away if he smelled like this,” Jo Geol replied flatly.
“I don’t want to agree,” Yoon Jong said, nodding seriously, “but Geol is right. Everyone will think he’s a maniac obsessed with plum blossoms.”
“…I never thought Baekcheon Siju liked plum blossoms this much,” Hye Yeon added thoughtfully.
At the far end of the table, Yu Iseol continued eating in silence, rigid, composed, and very clearly sitting as far away from Baek Cheon as possible.
Baek Cheon’s eye twitched.
These unfilial brats.
He exhaled slowly. What was he supposed to do? His room had turned into a plum blossom garden overnight. Even the clothes in his closet smelled the same. He’d tried airing them out. It hadn’t helped.
He lifted his chopsticks again,
“Oh?”
A familiar, infuriating voice sounded behind him.
“Is this the famous Dongryong whose fragrance rivals the God of Spring himself?”
Pfft.
Several disciples choked on their tea.
Tack.
One of Baek Cheon’s chopsticks snapped cleanly in half.
“Oh my, Sasuk,” Cheong Myeong continued cheerfully, dropping into the seat beside him. He patted Baek Cheon’s shoulder as if offering comfort. “If you’re trying to impress someone, you should’ve asked me for advice. This is just embarrassing.”
Baek Cheon slowly turned his head.
Cheong Myeong looked perfectly fine. Clean robes. No overwhelming scent. Just a faint trace of dust and morning air.
He definitely smelled the same last night.
“…Who,” Baek Cheon said quietly, “do you think I’m trying to impress?”
Cheong Myeong leaned back, grinning. “Who knows? Some pretty lady, maybe?”
That was it.
Baek Cheon stood so abruptly his chair fell over.
His sword was out in an instant.
“YOU BRAT—! I’LL KILL YOU! IT’S YOU! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO CAUSED THIS!”
Cheong Myeong laughed and vaulted over the table just as the blade struck where he’d been sitting.
“Hey, hey! Violence this early in the morning is bad for digestion!”
He darted across the dining hall, Baek Cheon in furious pursuit, robes snapping, scent of plum blossoms trailing behind him like a curse.
The disciples stared.
“…Wait,” Yoon Jong said slowly. “Did he just say it was Cheong Myeong'sfault?”
“…Does that mean..” Soso blinked.
“SASUK LIKES CHEON MYEONG?!” Jo Geol gasped.
Cheong Myeong glanced back mid-run, grin widening.
“Oh?” he said lightly. “Is that what you think?”
Baek Cheon roared something entirely unfit for polite company and swung again.
Behind them, the disciples watched the chaos unfold, eyes shining, expressions alight with dawning realization.
Well.
That was certainly interesting information.