The second-generation Candle Dragon Race, upon hatching from their eggs, recognized Seo Ran as their parent the moment they first saw him and began following him.
Of course, perhaps it's because Seo Ran learned the Taiji Quaking Lightning Body.
Even now, he is referred to as both a man and woman.
At some point, Seo Ran gave up trying to unify how they address him.
'It must just be their nature...'
With a soft sigh, he continues to care for the Candle Dragon Race.
Among them, the oldest.
The eldest daughter, Seo Hye, crawls over to Seo Ran and asks.
"Seo Ran, why is Glass Cedarwood Mountain we live on made of glass?""What is that thing floating in the sky?"
"Why does fire emit from between our scales?"
"Why does Seo Ran look different from us?"
"Seo Ran, I'm curious about the number of your teeth. Please open your mouth."
Seo Hye has the most curiosity among them.
At the same time, she is the smartest among the Candle Dragon Race. When Seo Ran asked them to unify how they address him, she keenly began calling him just 'Seo Ran.'
Seo Ran strokes Seo Hye with an affectionate gaze and answers each of her questions one by one.
Even when the time comes for the Candle Dragon Race to explode their ominous nature Seo Hye is the most composed, releasing her ominous nature in the most stable manner.
"Kuruk... Kurururuk... Kuruk..."
'As expected, Seo Hye is the most composed.'
Seo Ran smiles as he watches Seo Hye chew on branches, spit fire to burn them, and grind her teeth.
Seo Hye is a child that doesn't particularly harm anyone, simply releasing her ominous nature in her own unique way.
Watching her, Seo Ran gave a soft smile.
And so, time passes again.
Fifty-five years have passed since Seo Ran began caring for the second-generation Candle Dragon Race.
It has also been exactly 100 years since Seo Eun-hyun became a Sacred Master.
All the Candle Dragon Race found compatible partners, mated, and laid hundreds of eggs before dying.
Seo Ran looks at the deceased second-generation Candle Dragon Race with a slightly somber expression.
However, his expression isn't as gloomy as it was when the first-generation Candle Dragon Race, who were like his first children, had died.
"It's okay, Seo Ran. You have me."
The eldest of the second generation.
Seo Hye pats Seo Ran on the shoulder.
Even among the Candle Dragon Race, Seo Hye was the first.
Without using any forbidden techniques, she independently devised and mastered a demon beast method well-suited for the Candle Dragon Race, reaching the Core Formation stage.
In just fifty-five years!
At the same time, she developed a way to partially transform her body without reaching the Nascent Soul stage, succeeding in transforming her upper body into that of a human woman while maintaining her lower body as the snake form typical of the Candle Dragon Race.
She uses her arms to console Seo Ran, and Seo Ran wipes away his tears.
"...Thank you, Seo Hye."
Is it perhaps because of her genius?
Seo Hye neither mated with others of the Candle Dragon Race nor laid eggs.
Instead, she sought other values, desiring longevity.
She created her own demon beast method and incorporated principles of health-preservation techniques into it to significantly extend her lifespan.
Now, at the Core Formation stage.
Her current lifespan is 120 years.
"It's nothing, Seo Ran. Don't worry about it."
Seo Hye gently hugs Seo Ran, comforting him.
Then, Shi Ho enters and meets Seo Hye's gaze.
Shi Ho, who had been continuously looking after Seo Ran while developing his own demon beast method, flinches slightly upon meeting Seo Hye's gaze.
'...For some reason, she's like a snake.'
The Candle Dragon Race are warm-blooded creatures.
Given that they release intense heat from their bodies, they generate far more warmth than ordinary warm-blooded creatures.
However, whenever Shi Ho meets Seo Hye's gaze, he feels the sharp, icy tension he feels from cold-blooded creatures.
Although she appears to comfort Seo Ran on the surface, Shi Ho feels that Seo Hye's inner thoughts remain something inscrutable. Still, he joins her in comforting Seo Ran.
Time continues to flow.
Before long, 500 years have passed.
During this time, the Candle Dragon Race has gone through countless generations and their numbers have grown significantly.
Now, the Candle Dragon Race left the Glass Cedarwood Mountain where they first lived and began settling in the Peaceful Cloud Continent as well.
Seo Ran, acting as the godfather of the Candle Dragon Race, taught them demon beast methods and the way of life unique to their race.
Meanwhile, 'Seo Hye', regarded as a great elder of the Candle Dragon Race, continued to preserve her longevity and passed down a secret art that enables even Candle Dragons at the Qi Building stage to transform their upper bodies into human forms.
Now, if this secret art is passed down for just a few more generations, it will become imprinted in their bloodline, much like the inherent demon abilities of the Sea Dragon Race, enabling later generations to transform purely based on their bloodline.
"Seo Ran~ I brought some wine. Let's drink together~"
In a community where the Candle Dragon Race has gathered.
Seo Hye approaches Seo Ran, who now holds the title of Valley Lord of Half-Dragon Valley, raising a bottle of wine.
By now, Seo Hye has reached the early Heavenly Being stage.
"It's alright. I..."
Just when Seo Hye pushes the wine bottle in front of Seo Ran.
Tak!
Shi Ho, who suddenly appears beside Seo Ran, snatches the wine from Seo Hye, opens the lid, and gulps it all down in one go.
"Hmph, this isn't even good wine. Were you really trying to make Older Brother drink this low-quality stuff?"
"...Why would I need permission from someone like Mister? And low-quality wine, you say? I saw you smacking your lips after drinking it. Keke...why don't you be honest with yourself?"
After finishing her words, Seo Hye shoots a sharp glare at Shi Ho before turning and leaving the Valley Lord Hall of Half-Dragon Valley.
With a bitter smile, Seo Ran pats Shi Ho on the shoulder.
"Why are you being so cold to Seo Hye?"
"You don't know, Older Brother. Lately, she's been blatantly ignoring me! And the wine she just tried to make Older Brother drink. Do you know what it was?"
"...I know. It was Human Wine (人酒)."
Human Wine refers to alcohol brewed using humans.
It's a popular product among the Demon Race or other species that despise humans, and there isn't a world inhabited by intelligent beings where it isn't distributed.
No, in fact, even in worlds populated solely by humans, Human Wine is circulated by devilish cultivators.
Seo Ran sighs softly.
Having grown up witnessing human ranches and the like operated under Seo Hweol's influence, he doesn't harbor much revulsion towards demon beasts that consume humans.
After all, even humans devour one another in this era!
Even Seo Eun-hyun doesn't personally punish such things.
However, Seo Ran understands one thing.
'Those who devour their own kind or commit excessively cruel deeds...cannot ascend.'
For example, human cultivators who create and consume human pills, or demon beast cultivators who slaughter human villages for purposes beyond mere survival. If they attempt ascension, Seo Eun-hyun would summon countless Vestiges of the Interdimensional Void and throw them to those Vestiges as food.
'And...even if they don't attempt ascension, for some reason, their surrounding environment gradually becomes full of misfortune, leading them to fall to Heart Demons or slowly descend into ruin.'
Although there is no direct evidence, Seo Ran believes that Seo Eun-hyun is secretly punishing those who commit excessive evil.
Shi Ho glares in the direction Seo Hye left and says,
"I don't like that girl, but either way, she's someone that Older Brother treasures. Make her stop these habits of brewing and consuming Human Wine as soon as possible! The Sacred Master will be furious."
"...You drank Human Wine too."
"That's because if I didn't drink it all right in front of her, knowing her personality...ugh, forget it."
Shi Ho shakes his head back and forth, glaring again towards where Seo Hye exited.
"...Anyway, if that child keeps going like this, she's going to destroy herself. Older Brother should try to stop her."
"I'll talk to her separately later."
Seo Ran says with a faint sigh.
However, to Shi Ho, Seo Ran's attitude shows no sign of reprimanding Seo Hye.
'Just why does he not feel the need to stop someone who's like a child to him from brewing and drinking Human Wine?'
He gazes at Seo Ran with a hint of worry.
Time continues to flow.
Before long, a thousand years have passed since Seo Eun-hyun became the Sacred Master.
Kurururung!
Seo Ran watches a woman who has just endured Heavenly Tribulation before him.
With her clothes burned away while enduring the Heavenly Tribulation, she walks slowly towards Seo Ran with her pure white exposed body and strokes his cheeks.
"Seo Ran, congratulate me. I've reached the Four-Axis stage! This means I'm now at last free of my chronic lifespan problem!"
"...Yes, congratulations, Seo Hye."
"Hung...what a boring reaction."
Sararak!
The woman, 'Seo Hye' of the Candle Dragon Race, snaps her fingers.
At her gesture, thick blood energy gathers in the void and forms into her clothing.
She dons the garment made of crimson aura and wears a mask resembling black mist over her face.
At some point, she began wearing a mask everywhere she went.
Seo Ran only looks at that Seo Hye with a puzzled expression.
Seo Hye looks back at that Seo Ran and asks,
"By the way, Seo Ran. Since I've reached the Four-Axis stage in the 'Lower Realm', don't I get a gift?"
"I've already requested the Sacred Master so you can build the Five Blessings Axes."
"Hung...not something boring like that."
Seo Hye suddenly pushes Seo Ran over.
Sarak...
Wearing her black mist-like mask that conceals her face, she begins running her hands over Seo Ran's body.
Through the Taiji Quaking Lightning Body, Seo Ran has the ability to switch between male and female forms at will. Currently, he is in his male form.
"Seo Ran, do you not have any thoughts of mating with me?"
Seo Ran looks at her and speaks.
"You're a child I raised like my own, Seo Hye. While some demon beasts cultivators do engage in such acts between parent and offspring...our Sea Dragon Race does not. Neither does your Candle Dragon Race."
"Hehe, you say such amusing things. It's not like you're my real parent anyway, right?"
"I'm more than a real parent to you. So don't do this. Besides...your Candle Dragon Race..."
"Yeah, yeah~ I know that laying eggs results in death. Of course, I've found a solution to that. And since we're not blood-related, it doesn't matter, does it? Hoho...mate with me, Seo Ran. Rather than a dog bastard who mates with their actual blood-related children, I'd be a better dual cultivation partner, no?"
"Seo Hye!"
At her words, Seo Ran pushes her away forcefully and yells angrily.
"Do not insult Shi Ho!"
"Kekek...did I say something wrong? Foxes are part of the dog family, after all. I'm more interested in humans so I don't know the details, but isn't it possible that foxes have similar habits to dogs?"
"That's enough. Just because you've reached the Four-Axis stage, just because you're that much of a genius, it doesn't mean you have the right to say such things. Shi Ho is like a parent who raised you all alongside me. Show respect, Seo Hye!"
"Ugh, how old-fashioned. I heard you were originally a man, but it's obvious you've been brainwashed by that fox. How is it, Seo Ran? How does it feel to learn a gender-switching method and lie beneath a crossdressing fox demon, moaning? Is that really your preference?"
Seo Ran's face flushes bright red at her words.
However, his expression quickly cools.
"Leave, Seo Hye. No matter how much you provoke me like that, I will not mate with you."
"Tch, how boring. Fine~ Do as you like. Spend eternity moaning beneath that crossdressing male fox, Seo Ran."
She spits out her words in annoyance and flies off somewhere.
Moments later, Shi Ho descends beside Seo Ran.
Baring his teeth, Shi Ho glares in the direction Seo Hye has flown off to.
"...Seo Ran. Let me kill her. I'll kill her and come back."
His eyes are blazed with killing intent.
"How dare that thing insult you. I can tolerate insults towards myself, but...it insulted you too, Seo Ran! I can't tolerate this. That thing's wickedness has gone too far. You saw that blood energy, right? It formed from grinding down and drinking yet another human. If the Sacred Master will not punish that thing, I will do it myself. Seo Ran, I will..."
Clench!
But Seo Ran grabs Shi Ho's wrist and shakes his head.
"...Let it go, Shi Ho."
"...What?"
"The Sacred Master will handle it. And...that child is still, in the end...my child."
Seeing the look in Seo Ran's eyes, Shi Ho sighs deeply and calms down.
"...If Older Brother says so..."
Seo Ran pats Shi Ho on the back to comfort him.
'Seo Hye...'
At the same time, he looks towards the direction Seo Hye flew off to.
'Oh Hye-Seo...'
Oh Hye-Seo.
Seo Ran recalls the words Seo Eun-hyun had said to him on the day Seo Hye was born.
—Seo Ran. That child is Oh Hye-Seo. Her split soul eroded Cedarwood Painting.
—Pardon? What does that...
—In short...that child is the split soul of Oh Hye-Seo who expelled the soul of the child who was supposed to become the real 'Seo Hye' and took her place.
Seo Eun-hyun explained further.
—Seo Hweol and I are currently engaged in a grand match. I asked Seo Hweol about the whereabouts of Oh Hye-seo, but...he prepared for even 'this possibility' as well. He said that in the event I grabbed him by the throat, he set it up so Oh Hye-seo would escape to a place even he doesn't know.
—Thus, I, too, don't know where Oh Hye-Seo's main body is. Seo Hweol used her authority and the flaw in Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens to ensure that even he himself would never be able to locate her.
Seo Ran was shocked.
The child he vowed to cherish for life turned out to be a monster that had stolen the body of one of his children and taken its place!
—Whether Oh Hye-seo, following Seo Hweol's intentions, succeeds in taking you, his main body, from me, is the essence of this grand match between Seo Hweol and I.
—However, that match has already been half-ruined from the start. Someone like Oh Hye-seo can no longer challenge me. The moment her split soul entered this world, I distorted it, severing her connection to her main body and erasing her memories.
—In other words, the one you now call 'Seo Hye' is a Candle Dragon who 'possesses the identity of Oh Hye-Seo but is no longer Oh Hye-Seo'. What will you do? I will leave the choice to you. Will you raise 'Seo Hye,' or will you extract and destroy the split soul?
Seo Ran pondered those words for a long time.
—...I will raise her.
The monster that stole the body of children akin to his grandchildren.
He resents her.
But at the same time...
Seo Ran sees his own circumstances mirrored in Seo Hye's.
As the main body of Tainted Soul Filling the Heavens, Seo Ran had grown by consuming the love of Yu Oh, becoming Seo Ran instead of Seo Hweol.
Then perhaps, if Seo Hye, the fragment of Oh Hye-Seo, is raised with love...couldn't she, too, grow to become not the fragment of Oh Hye-seo but Seo Hye?
That's what Seo Ran thinks.
Because...
To deny Seo Hye's existence feels, in a way, like denying his own.
Seo Eun-hyun spoke to him.
—I will help you. If she commits any evil deeds, I will move the entire world to change her. This is...perhaps my final chance for Oh Hye-Seo as well.
Seo Eun-hyun seemed to regard this as his final opportunity for Oh Hye-Seo, supporting Seo Ran's decision.
However, he also asked for secrecy, saying that others might misunderstand if they learned her true identity.
And so, things continued until today.
Seo Ran embraces Shi Ho, lost in thought.
Now is the time to make a decision.
Before she grows even stronger, he must determine how to handle her.
'...Is she, right now...Oh Hye-Seo, or Seo Hye?'
At the same time, Seo Ran questions himself.
'Am I Seo Ran, or Seo Hweol?'