I Became the Owner of the Heavenly Flower Palace-Chapter 23: Celestial Dragon Spring

As the soft mist floated in the air, Jincheon lifted his head.

He hadn’t exactly been looking down, but he couldn’t help raising his gaze now.

To see the stream of water pouring down from an impossibly high cliff.

Shhhhhhh.

A thin waterfall crashed below in a spray of white foam.

And this waterfall had one very distinct feature.

“...It’s high.”

Incredibly high.

So high, in fact, that the narrow stream of water broke apart into mist halfway down.

As a result, instead of a pond or a lake forming beneath it, dense greenery had grown—creating a small forest where the water would have landed.

There was no loud crashing of water, either.

“This is incredible.”

The slender waterfall, cascading as if from the sky, stole Jincheon’s attention.

It was such an overwhelming sight that he wondered how he hadn’t noticed it the night before.

“...It was dark. And it’s pretty far off.”

The towering waterfall was set quite a distance behind the Heavenly Flame Palace.

But it was so strikingly tall that, had it been daylight, he would have noticed it for sure.

“This place is stranger the more I think about it.”

Jincheon had never heard of a place like this in the Giryeon mountain range.

A location this spectacular should have been famous already—hailed as a scenic wonder or something of the sort.

“This waterfall—this is the Celestial Dragon Spring?”

“It is not.”

Nanyak bowed her head politely and answered.

“This is called Baekra Falls. The Celestial Dragon Spring lies beneath it.”

‘Baekra Falls?’

Literally translated, it meant White Silk Falls.

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“Fits pretty well.”

Staring up at the distant waterfall, Jincheon felt a fresh wave of awe.

The falling mist almost looked like a white silk path rising to the heavens.

Then his gaze shifted to the small forest growing below the falls.

“So she’s in there?”

That was where the Oracle waited.

If anyone could confirm the truth, it was her—whether this whole mess was just a mistake... or if, impossible as it seemed, Jincheon really had inherited the title of Red Dragon.

Gulp.

Without realizing it, Jincheon swallowed hard.

It felt like he was waiting for the results of the civil service exam.

But he couldn’t stand here forever.

“Let’s go.”

“We are only permitted to accompany you this far.”

The unexpected response made Jincheon hesitate.

The place did feel sacred, so he understood.

Still, if someone tried to stab him in the back, someone ought to be there to protect him.

“Uh... will it be okay?”

His concern was immediately shared by the seven maids.

“This place is under strict control by the Oracle and the temple priestesses. There is nothing to fear. And if the unexpected were to happen, we would give our lives to protect the Red Dragon.”

Rustle.

Nanyak brought her hands to her chest and knelt on one knee.

With her head gently bowed, she spoke in a near whisper.

“Thus I, Nanyak of Sunday, offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

“...Huh?”

Jincheon was startled.

She’d been helping him this whole time—why suddenly offer such a formal pledge now?

Then, one by one, the other maids knelt and bowed their heads.

“Hyowol of Monday, I offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

“Chobin of Tuesday, I offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

“Biyeon of Wednesday, I offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

“Hongryeon of Thursday, I offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

“Yeonhwa of Friday, I offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

“Sohong of Saturday, I offer my body and soul in service to the Red Dragon.”

The pledges flowed naturally, one after another, and Jincheon was left bewildered.

What was all this, out of nowhere?

They’d already greeted him before, hadn’t they?

“From this moment forward, the Seven Luminaries...”

Nanyak said, still bowing her head, her voice low and solemn.

“...shall carry the Red Dragon’s burdens, embrace the Red Dragon’s sins, and give our lives to protect the Red Dragon.”

It wasn’t something a palace maid should be saying.

But Jincheon already knew—they weren’t ordinary maids.

It felt like he should respond somehow, so Jincheon found himself blurting:

“Uh... I’ll count on you?”

The words came out unintentionally as a question—and awkwardly casual—but he couldn’t help it.

Still, there was one thing he had to say properly.

“Just... don’t die.”

Their vow to protect him with their lives had unsettled him.

He’d just told all those people “Do not die” in a dramatic speech—how could he ignore the same sentiment here?

Nanyak answered.

“We shall not.”

“Yes!”

That cheerful voice came from Sohong, the Saturday maid.

She quickly lowered her head under the sharp glares from the others, but Jincheon caught her sticking out her tongue before hiding it again.

“Heh.”

Her playfulness was oddly endearing, and Jincheon couldn’t help but smile.

Thanks to that, his nerves eased a little.

“You may all rise... uh, rise.”

Soft shuffle.

The seven maids stood without a sound.

“Yeah. If they say it’s fine, then it’s fine.”

They knew this place better than he did. Jincheon brushed off his worries.

“Well then, I’ll be back.”

The maids bowed to see him off, and Jincheon stepped toward the Celestial Dragon Spring, feeling much lighter than before.

****

Jincheon walked slowly.

The peaceful landscape here put him at ease, and his steps grew more relaxed.

Step, step.

How far had he gone?

Rustle.

After walking along a narrow path and brushing through some shrubs, a new scene unfolded before him.

“Oh...”

Jincheon quietly let out a breath of admiration.

It was a small pond.

Surrounded by soft green grass, clusters of wildflowers, and gently trickling streams of water.

Chirp.

A tiny bird sang out and flitted away.

It was like a hidden paradise nestled in the woods.

But what truly caught Jincheon’s attention was the woman sitting atop a large rock.

Her simple, elegant attire resembled that of a temple priestess or a Taoist acolyte.

Long black hair cascading to her waist, pale skin, red lips, and long lashes—she looked like a celestial maiden descended to the human realm.

With her white feet dipped in the flowing stream and her voice softly humming a tune, the scene was dreamlike.

“‘Another world, not of man’...”

An old poet’s line floated into Jincheon’s mind, unbidden.

The sight before him was so serene, so ethereal—it truly felt like he had stepped into another world.

Rustle.

The woman turned her head.

“...Who’s there?”

A clear, beautiful voice echoed through the air.

But Jincheon felt a strange sense of unease.

She had spoken with her eyes closed.

Why would she ask if someone was there without opening them?

Jincheon felt a sudden chill.

“No way...”

The title Oracle typically referred to a medium between gods and humans.

And religious mediums were often either born extraordinary—or forced to become so.

Age and gender might be restricted. Purity, chastity, or even physical impairments were sometimes required—meant to bestow them with a kind of “otherness.”

So if this woman, whom he assumed was the Oracle, happened to be blind—or suffered some other disability—it wouldn’t be surprising.

“Ah, I’m...”

Jincheon quickly spoke up.

But he had no idea what to say.

“Uh, well... that is...”

He hadn’t thought he’d need to introduce himself.

No one had asked who he was up until now.

All he had to do was show them the red orb, and they simply accepted and understood.

In fact, their understanding had been so far beyond what he considered rational that it was the real problem.

He’d never once had to introduce himself like this.

“...I’m someone who was asked to deliver the red orb.”

“The red orb?”

She tilted her head.

“They called it the Red Dragon’s Wrath.”

“Ah!”

Her face lit up.

The way her expression brightened—it was radiant. Almost dazzlingly so.

“Uh, but I only came to deliver the orb—”

“Could you come closer?”

Her voice, as smooth as rolling jade beads, gently cut him off.

Jincheon hesitated, but then she called out to him again.

“Please, come.”

At her prompting, Jincheon gave a small cough.

Then he carefully began to walk toward her, not wanting to startle her.

Step, step.

She turned her head slightly with every one of his movements.

Before long, Jincheon stood before her.

Ssshh.

She reached out a hand.

But it didn’t quite reach him.

“Could you come a little closer?”

“More?”

“Yes.”

Jincheon paused, unsure.

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat to let her know where he was, then took one step forward.

Rustle.

Her slender, pale fingers reached and lightly touched his chest.

“You’re a man.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Jincheon nodded, thinking, Wasn’t that obvious from my voice?

“And you’re probably a scholar.”

She continued, brushing her hand across his chest.

“Ah, yes. I was preparing for the regional exam, but the results weren’t exactly... Ah!”

He broke off mid-sentence because her white hand suddenly touched his face.

Startled, Jincheon jerked back a little, but she quickly apologized with a look of surprise.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

Jincheon understood instantly.

If she couldn’t see, then touching his face was likely her way of recognizing him.

“No, it’s fine. Really.”

“...Are you sure?”

She hesitated slightly.

Jincheon gave a firm nod.

“Yes. It’s fine.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

She reached out again without hesitation.

Rustle.

The Oracle’s hands were white and delicate.

Her fingertips gently brushed across Jincheon’s face, tracing along his features as if committing them to memory.

“Hmm...”

Jincheon grew tense.

How could he not?

An elegant, mysterious woman was gently touching his face right in front of him.

Her long black lashes seemed even longer now. Her nose, sharply defined, and her softly glowing lips were incredibly alluring.

“You have a kind expression.”

The woman, who he assumed to be the Oracle, spoke softly.

“Your hair is smooth, and your black hair matches your dark brown eyes perfectly.”

“Ah... thank you... Wait—what?”

Jincheon reflexively questioned her.

“And your voice—I really ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) like it. It’s warm, slightly deep, and pleasant to hear.”

“Ah, thank you. But hold on.”

Jincheon looked at her, startled.

“How did you know my eyes are brown?”

The Oracle tilted her head again.

“Aren’t they? That’s how they look to me.”

Jincheon went blank for a moment.

Then he cautiously asked:

“...You can see?”

“Yes.”

She gave him a sweet, amused smile.

Jincheon was stunned.

The Oracle, her eyes only slightly open, spoke in a kind tone.

“I can see just fine.”

Now that he thought about it—she’d never actually said she was blind.

So if there was fault to be found, it was entirely Jincheon’s for assuming things on his own.

Still, he wasn’t about to let it slide just yet.

“Then why did you ask me to come closer?”

“Well, it’s uncomfortable to talk from far away, isn’t it?”

He couldn’t argue with that.

Still, even accepting that—there was something he just couldn’t understand.

Why touch his face?

“Then why did you touch my face?”

“Oh, that.”

She smiled, sheepishly covering her cheek with one hand.

“Well, you said it was okay for me to touch you. How could I not take the chance with a handsome young man?”

Jincheon was speechless.

Sure, he had said it was okay.

And yes, he’d been the one to make assumptions.

But the way she had acted... it was hard not to think she’d led him on intentionally.

Just as Jincheon was about to voice his complaint—

“Sorry. But this place, as beautiful as it is... is also suffocating.”

Her voice had turned soft and calm again.

“It gets so stifling that if I don’t play a little prank on a visitor like you, I think I’d go mad.”

Jincheon froze.

There was emotion in her voice now—an unmistakable trace of sorrow.