Lotus
Stories
5
Chapters
523
Words
1.0 M
Comments
88
Reading
3 d, 15 h
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Yeon’s feet sank deep into the thick pile of fallen leaves, soft as snow, but he pressed his lips together tightly and stepped lightly, yet with force. Having set out early, he planned to go farther than usual today. His heart was anxious—his coin pouch had run dry from the frequent visits of those debt collectors who came to snatch up what little he had. It was then that a passing hunter had shared news: not a tiger with long stripes, but a beast with rounded, spot-like markings had been seen in…-
56.3 K • Ongoing
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“Just a little farther down, and we’ll reach the path. Just hold on a bit longer, sir.” Despite his words, Yeon bit down on regret, chewing it over in his mind. He’d gone and made trouble for himself again. All because Hyeon-hak had been sprawled near the tiger snare, and because his face looked younger than expected. Blood may not have tied them, but like father like son—whenever Yeon saw a cast-off child, his sleeves rolled up on their own. Even if the scholar had lost his wits, maybe…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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It was far too solid and vivid to be a ghost. The rain bounced off his form, and his weight pressed into the muddy earth beneath him. It was only thanks to Yeon’s lake-still heart that he hadn’t fainted then and there. A lesser soul with a pea-sized courage might’ve dropped to the ground in a dead swoon. Thankfully, Yeon managed to calm his startled heart soon enough. Though his ears still rang with the thunderous beat of his heart, at least his face looked composed. Letting his thoughts sink…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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The deeper he went into the mountains, the more human clothing—so different from fur—felt like a burden to the black tiger. The fabric tore on every stray branch, and whenever he tried to move swiftly, the garments flapped about clumsily, making unnecessary noise. Life in the forest was meant to be quiet, lived without drawing attention. Even a tiger, hailed as the lord of the sacred mountain, could not command all that lived within it. The black tiger gave a hard tug at the hem of his…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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“Stop with the nonsense and just go home.” Normally, whenever Du-soe said things like that, Yeon would pretend not to hear and change the subject or ignore him altogether. But today, with his face beaten and swollen like a pitiful, mangy pup, Yeon couldn’t help but respond. As Du-soe slumped down onto the wooden porch, visibly deflated, Yeon turned away without looking at him and walked into the kitchen. A moment later, he came back holding a spoonful of leftover milk and handed it to…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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As though to express his thanks, the black tiger blinked and walked away, and Yeon collapsed to the ground. Now that he’d come back to his senses and replayed what he’d just done, he thought he really must have gone mad. He must’ve gone mad from a life too harsh to bear. Yeon sat there for quite some time before finally steadying his trembling legs and making his way down the mountain. By the time he reached the village outskirts, caked in mud and looking like a complete mess, he looked no…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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Kawww—kawk—kawk. Ja-oh’s cry from above sounded as if it were mocking him, and the black tiger twisted his face into a grimace. With the patterns already covering his face, the added wrinkles made him look even more savage. Despite the venom burning in the black tiger’s expression, Ja-oh continued to fly low over his head, cawing incessantly. It was disgraceful. Since that day when he leapt between the big humans and the small one, the black tiger had been skulking around the edge of the…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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Grrr. Grrr. The sound, as though bubbling up from deep within a cave, grated on his nerves. Through the brush, he could see a rounded back twitching repeatedly, but for some reason, the tiger didn’t lift its head. The black stripes, heavy with ink-dark fur, gave off an imposing air. The familiar pattern left no doubt—it was the same black tiger Yeon had seen before. What should he do? Yeon held his breath and cautiously cradled the matchlock in his arms. Everyone knew it was a waste of words…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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A day passed, then two, then four, then fifteen—the days slipped by, relentlessly and without pause, just as the thick ice of winter melts away on its own once spring arrives. Even the fear that had filled Yeon’s heart began to thaw a little. For a time, Yeon had laid low, like a mouse, hiding himself and moving through the village like someone who didn’t exist. But slowly, he began to shed his fear and live each day with quiet resolve, like a sprout pushing its way out of the…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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TN: I apologize for the mistake in the translation. I mistakenly thought that 'Lee' was his surname when, in fact, it should be'Yeon', because he doesn't have a surname. I appreciate your understanding and will correct it moving forward. Ever since that incident on the mountain path, Yeon had to live in constant fear for a while. If Du-soe hadn’t found him crawling back on nearly all fours at the edge of the village, strange rumors would surely have started to spread. Anyone who saw Yeon returning…
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56.3 K • Ongoing
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