Chapter 11
The Spirit of Flowers
Inside Bokbok Interiors.
Sitting at her desk, Jang Chaewon had both feet plunged into a bucket filled with ice.
“Of all days, the air conditioner had to break today.”
She was carefully attaching the shimmering fur of the Three-Legged Crow Queen onto a polished wooden panel when her eyes drifted toward Cheonma, who was neatly arranging tile samples in the corner.
“Just sit down. It’s too hot for that. Why are you even organizing now?”
“What’s the point of sitting still?”
“You’re moving around like a heat generator, making the store even hotter.”
“One must move diligently to accumulate inner energy.”
“Oh, that stupid ‘inner energy’ again.”
Chaewon frowned, her eyebrows knitting into a straight line.
“Why not just make money doing commissions? You get paid for those.”
“But there are no commissions at the moment.”
“Yeah, because someone ruined all the last ones! You were finally doing well for once!”
She recalled the recent disasters Cheonma had caused.
“I sent you to fix a slightly crooked door—so you split it in half. Told you to nail a pavilion post—and you split the entire pavilion! Why do you break everything you touch?”
“That’s… not a commission, is it?”
“What? You’ve been thinking like that this whole time?!”
Furious, Chaewon stood up, placing her hands on her hips.
“If divine commissions bring blessings, interior jobs bring money. Both are sacred, dignified works that keep us alive. Got it?”
Riiing—!
Just then, the antique desk phone on the table rang loudly.
“Yes, this is Bokbok Interiors.”
She picked up the cylindrical receiver that looked like it belonged in a World War II film and spoke into the trumpet-shaped microphone.
“Yes? Oh, yes, of course. I’ve prepared everything in advance.”
Smiling with satisfaction, she glanced toward Cheonma, who was wiping wallpaper samples with a rag.
“Yes, tomorrow will be fine. Thank you.”
Click.
After hanging up, Chaewon rubbed her forehead and opened a drawer. Inside was a small red-stained envelope.
“Hm.”
Clicking her tongue, she stared at Cheonma with a dissatisfied look.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s a commission,” she said. “From the Flower Spirit.”
“The Spirit of Flowers?”
“Yes. We gathered the Three-Legged Crow’s fur for her. She wants to make a brush capable of holding spiritual energy.”
“I see.”
Cheonma nodded with interest.
“That’s good news.”
“Good? I’m debating whether I should even let someone like you handle this one.”
“Was that your dilemma?”
With a serious face, Cheonma turned solemnly, pressing his palms together with a sharp clap.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s a technique I learned from Mr. Kim, the tile expert. He said if I do this before a job, success is guaranteed.”
He looked down at his clasped hands, eyes sharpening with focus, then began to rub his palms together slowly, very seriously.
“From now on, I’ll also devote myself to interior work.”
The next day.
Vroooom.
Chaewon’s white van sped along a country road.
“This time, we really have to do well. The Flower Spirit specifically requested you for this job.”
Sitting in the passenger seat with arms crossed, Cheonma said smugly,
“She requested me? So my reputation has already spread?”
“No. It was a referral from the Shrine Spirit. She said you did a great job last time.”
“As expected. Only the righteous recognize the righteous.”
“Yeah, right.”
Chaewon bit her lip, baring her teeth.
“Watch your language, okay? The Flower Spirit is refined and well-connected. If you screw this up, our store’s reputation is finished.”
“Don’t worry. I am Cheonma.”
“That’s exactly why I’m worried.”
Tears welled up in Chaewon’s eyes as she gazed at the sky.
“I’ve worked so hard… why must life test me like this…”
Cheonma, arms still crossed, asked quietly,
“Why can’t we bring Nameless on this one?”
“Oh, you mean the nanobot?”
“It’s Nameless.”
“Yeah, well, I’m calling it nanobot.”
Chaewon thought of the AI embedded in the tiny machine, her tone firm.
“Unless it’s absolutely necessary, you can’t bring it on divine commissions. The gods don’t take kindly to things like that.”
“What do you mean, ‘don’t take kindly’?”
“It’s complicated.”
Screech—
The white van stopped in front of a small house nestled at the foot of a remote mountain.
“That’s the place.”
Chaewon pointed to a picture-perfect single-story white house. The front yard was a vibrant flower garden with colorful blooms, a fountain, and a swing.
“This time, don’t mess it up, okay?”
“Relax. I practiced painting.”
“Yeah, and completely ruined everything you touched.”
She had taught him painting techniques in detail the day before. But every single attempt went wrong—too thick, too thin, wrong mixture, uneven coats. He had flawlessly recreated every possible mistake.
“I’m stronger in real combat,” Cheonma said confidently, flexing an arm and smiling.
“Don’t worry.”
Chaewon flinched.
That phrase—Don’t worry—was like a death flag. Every time he said it, disaster followed.
She glared at him.
“That’s it. I’m coming with you this time.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“No. Together.”
With a weary sigh, she said,
“It’s better if we just do it together from the start.”
“Welcome.”
As they stepped into the yard, a girl in a white dress and sun hat smiled while holding a watering can.
“Hello.”
“Oh! You must be from Bokbok Interiors?”
She looked about fourteen, but her aura was warm and powerful.
She was the Flower Spirit, who governed the life and death of flowers.
“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you, Flower Spirit.”
Cheonma respectfully pressed his hands together, and the girl bowed, smiling shyly.
“Please, just call me comfortably. I’m still young.”
“As you wish, Miss Flower.”
He closed his eyes again, forming a reverent pose with rounded shoulders. Chaewon poked him in the ribs.
“Why are you closing your eyes?”
“It’s a sign of respect.”
Then he did it again.
“Flower Spirit.”
“Are you insane? Why bow twice?”
“In the martial world, we bow twice—to the dead and to gods.”
Chaewon grabbed him by the collar, whispering through gritted teeth.
“Shut. Up.”
“…Understood.”
Watching them, the Flower Spirit giggled.
“You must’ve had a long trip. Please, follow me.”
She led them to a small hill behind the house.
“This is the garden I manage. But there are some trees and flowers I can’t reach myself.”
She brought out a large basin filled with shimmering liquid.
“They need my touch, but they’re too delicate. So I infused this basin with my power. Could you use this brush to paint them carefully?”
When she opened the lid, the water inside shimmered like liquid starlight.
“Make sure to apply it thoroughly to the wilted ones—but don’t spill any or paint the ground. That could disrupt the energy flow.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful.”
Accepting the basin, Cheonma looked around and asked,
“I do have one question…”
“What are you about to say?” Chaewon’s eyes widened in alarm, but the spirit smiled.
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
“Why do I feel divine energy flowing into me already, before I’ve even started?”
“Divine energy?”
“Yes, that power you gods use.”
The Flower Spirit blinked, then nodded.
“Ah, right. They said you, despite being human, can absorb divine power.”
She smiled gently, gesturing to the hill and garden.
“Wherever a god’s power reaches becomes sacred ground. Naturally, divine energy flows here.”
“I see. But at the Shrine Spirit’s place, there was no such thing.”
“She’s been losing her power.”
“Ah. That explains it.”
He nodded thoughtfully—then his eyes glinted.
“So being in a divine domain means I can draw as much divine power as I want?”
“Of course not. It’s limited. Once you leave, the power fades.”
No sooner had she spoken than the divine energy flowing into his body stopped.
‘The Shrine Spirit’s commission gave me about ten years’ worth of cultivation. This one’s giving me… about half a gapja.’
He smacked his lips.
‘If I could absorb ten gapja worth, I could execute the Heavenly Polar Unity Technique right away.’
Then a thought struck him.
“Does the strength of this divine power vary by god?”
“Yes. Stronger gods naturally produce stronger divine energy.”
A flash of inspiration lit his eyes.
If he found a god whose divine energy was twenty times stronger than this, he could return to his full power immediately.
“Is there any god whose divine domain is about twenty times stronger than yours?”
“Tw–twenty times mine? Hmm. Among the earthbound gods who live with humans? I don’t think so.”
“I see.”
If there were, Chaewon would’ve told him already.
“Come on, let’s start working.”
Chaewon nudged him.
“You brought the tools, right?”
“Of course.”
He pulled out a transparent brush tucked into his belt—a gift from her, since his martial robe had no pockets.
“Then let’s begin.”
“That brush… is that made from the Three-Legged Crow Queen’s fur?”
“It is. The shopkeeper and I prepared it specially for this.”
“That’s rare…”
The Flower Spirit smiled brightly.
“I knew asking Bokbok Interiors was the right choice.”
Her smile was like a single, miraculous bloom clinging to a cliff.
The small hill was bursting with flowers, plants, and trees.
If Cheonma had been holding a staff instead of a brush, one might have mistaken the scene for a celestial paradise.
“So this is what half a gapja of energy feels like.”
He lightly kicked off the ground, his massive body floating into the air. He was using the Demonic Celestial Technique: Night Moon Flash Step.
“Excellent.”
It wasn’t much compared to his original power, but even that bit made him light as wind. His senses sharpened to the point he could feel air currents brushing past his skin.
Whoosh—tap.
Like a dancer, he flicked leaves with his toes as he moved among the trees. Watching him, Chaewon sighed.
“Can you come down now?”
Arms crossed, she pointed toward the forest ahead.
“There’s a lot to do. Let’s get to painting.”
The trees within were all wilted, their branches drooping weakly.
After a graceful spin in midair, Cheonma landed and opened the white basin.
A refreshing scent spread through the air.
“All that practice was pointless.”
He chuckled as he brushed the paint onto a withered tree.
Chaewon sighed, seeing his expression.
“Between divine commissions and regular home repairs, which do you think we do more of?”
Compared to daily renovation jobs, divine commissions came maybe once every two weeks—or once a month if you counted the dungeon prep.
“I suppose.”
“And don’t worry.”
Seeing his disappointed look, she added seriously,
“That practice wasn’t wasted. This will be harder than any painting you’ve done.”
There are flowers and trees shaped like humans.
Or rather—humans with flowers growing from their heads, or branches wrapped around their bodies.
Staring at the eerie figures standing still like mannequins, Cheonma muttered,
“What are those?”
“What do you think?”
Chaewon gripped her brush tightly, her face solemn.
“They’re the ones the Flower Spirit can’t touch herself—those flowers and trees.”
“They’re flowers and trees?”
“Yep.”
“And I’m supposed to paint them?”
She nodded silently.
Cheonma hesitated briefly, then sighed and opened the basin again.
“Well, if that’s the task, I’ll do it.”
He dipped the brush into the shimmering liquid. The multicolored fur of the Three-Legged Crow Queen turned white.
Looking at the brush, Cheonma began to paint one of the flower-headed beings, eyes closed in repose.
Swish. Swish.
After a few strokes—
The flower suddenly opened its eyes wide.
—“Aaaaagh!!”
It screamed, a piercing shriek splitting the air.
In that instant, Cheonma felt as though iron rods had been driven into his ears.
“Shaolin Lion’s Roar?!”
