Namjun's eyes bore into him, his intuition screaming the truth that lay hidden beneath the stranger's guise. "You're Yeonhwa..." he stated firmly, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

The man's reaction was swift, a facade of confusion slipping over his features like a mask. "Eh?! What are you saying?" he countered, his tone laced with feigned innocence.

Namjun refused to be swayed by the man's pretence, his resolve unyielding as he confronted the deity who stood before him in human guise. "Don't try to deny it," he insisted, his words carrying the weight of certainty. "I know you're Yeonhwa, the deity my brothers spoke of. You've crossed paths with them before, haven't you? They spoke of your trials, testing their virtues... and now, you're here to test mine."

A flicker of realization danced in Namjun's eyes as he continued, his voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and defiance. "You're testing my patience, aren't you?" he challenged, his gaze locked with the deity's own, unyielding in his quest for truth.

The stranger's laughter echoed through the air, a melodic sound that carried both amusement and revelation. "You're right!" she admitted, her voice now tinged with a sense of sincerity as she shed her guise, revealing her true form as Yeonhwa. "I have been testing your powers, as well as those of your brothers, for some divine reason. And I must say, all seven of you have passed with flying colours."

Namjun arched an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued by the mention of a greater purpose behind their trials. "May I know what this divine reason is, my lady?" he inquired, his voice laced with a mixture of respect and intrigue.

Yeonhwa's smile widened, a mischievous twinkle dancing in her eyes as she regarded Namjun with a sense of fondness. "Well," she began cryptically, "why don't you and your brothers accompany me and find out for yourselves?"

Namjun's heart quickened with hope as he saw an opportunity to uncover the truth about Soyoung. "Ok! We shall accompany you," he agreed, his voice tinged with determination.

Yeonhwa's nod was filled with a sense of anticipation, her eyes sparkling with an otherworldly wisdom. "Then meet me near the shrine tomorrow at dawn with your brothers," she instructed.

.

.

.

"Baba, 4th father has sent you a letter!" Donghyung announced, his voice carrying a sense of urgency as he entered the room where Jeongguk was immersed in his painting.

Jeongguk looked up, his curiosity piqued at the mention of a letter from Namjun. "A letter from Namjun hyung?! Read it for me, son!" he requested eagerly.

Donghyung nodded and carefully unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the words penned by Namjun with a furrowed brow. "Dear Jeongguk," he began, his voice steady as he relayed the message, "I urge you to return to Mount Ether by dawn... it's important!"

Jeongguk turned to face Donghyung, his expression resolute yet softened by a hint of sadness. "Something must have come up... I shall go," he declared, his voice filled with determination.

Donghyung's heart ached at the thought of his youngest father having to leave, yet he understood the gravity of the situation. With a nod, he managed a small smile. "OK baba, take care," he replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of acceptance and longing.

As Jeongguk approached him, Donghyung felt a rush of warmth as his father's hands gently cupped his face. He leaned into the affectionate gesture, his heart swelling with love and gratitude. As Jeongguk pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, Donghyung felt a tear slip down his cheek, a bittersweet reminder of the bond they shared.

Then, with a gentle smile, Jeongguk handed him the painting he had just completed, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride and sadness. "For you, my child... since you miss your mother so much," he explained softly, his words carrying the weight of understanding and compassion.

Donghyung's breath caught in his throat as he beheld the vibrant painting, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears of joy. "I-It looks lively, baba... thank you!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and gratitude as he gazed at the masterpiece his father had created.

As he looked up at Jeongguk, Donghyung couldn't help but notice the radiant glow emanating from his father's wedding ring. "Baba, your wedding ring has gained colour..." he observed, his eyes widening with wonder at the unexpected phenomenon.

Jeongguk's fingers brushed over the now-illuminated ring, a sense of hope blossoming within him at the sight. "It has?!" he murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief and excitement as he considered the implications of the ring's transformation.

"We'll be united with mother?!" Donghyung's grin widened, his heart soaring with the possibility of reuniting with the mother he had longed for.

Jeongguk nodded, his thoughts drifting to the possibility that lay ahead. "Seems so... maybe that's why hyung summoned me. I shall take my leave now, son," he declared, his voice filled with determination as he prepared to embark on the journey that awaited him.

With a solemn nod, Donghyung watched as his father left the room, his heart filled with hope and anticipation for the reunion that seemed closer than ever before.

..............................

The soft glow of candlelight cast a warm embrace over the intimate chambers, where Eunsang and Yuhok found themselves nestled together on the bed. Eunsang's fingers traced delicate patterns over Yuhok's chest, their movements gentle and tender in the quiet of the night.

Leaning in close, Eunsang's voice was but a whisper, laden with an unspoken desire that hung between them like a lingering caress. "My king~ If I ask something from you, will you give it to me?" he murmured, his words filled with a tantalizing promise of something more.

Yuhok's smirk widened at Eunsang's playful request, his fingers trailing through his lover's hair with affectionate fondness. "Oh, yes! It has been 16 years, so you can ask me for anything..." he teased, his voice laced with a hint of amusement and anticipation.

Eunsang's grin grew mischievous as he seized the opportunity presented to him. "Can I have your sword?!" he quipped, his eyes dancing with mischief as he awaited Yuhok's response.

Yuhok's brow furrowed in mild confusion at the unexpected request, yet he acquiesced with a bemused chuckle. "My sword?! Ok... here you go," he agreed, reaching for the weapon at his side and placing it into Eunsang's hands.

As Eunsang grasped the sword, he realized its weight was far more substantial than he had anticipated. With a laugh, he struggled to hold it with both hands, a playful reminder of the strength and power that resided within his beloved king.

Eunsang's mischievous giggle filled the air as he playfully rejected the sword, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Not this one, husband!" he teased, his tone light with playful banter.

Yuhok's eyebrows arched in surprise at Eunsang's unexpected response. "Hmm?! Then which one?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued by his husband's suggestive demeanour.

Eunsang set the sword aside with a playful flick of his wrist before turning his attention downwards, his gaze lingering suggestively on Yuhok's crotch. "That one..." he murmured, his voice husky with desire as he voiced his secret longing. "I want it to penetrate me..." he confessed, his words laden with a raw hunger that echoed through the intimate chamber.

Yuhok's eyes widened and he stared at him for some time before smirking, "You've become quite bold when I was absent, huh?!"

With a tender touch, Eunsang delicately parted Yuhok's robes, his fingers tracing along the contours of his king's body with a reverence born of love and desire. "Can you blame me, my king?" he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of longing and adoration. "It has been 16 years... let me serve you... let me make you feel good," he pleaded, his eyes smouldering with an intensity that mirrored the fire burning within his soul.

Yuhok regarded him with a mixture of amusement and affection as Eunsang's hands worked with practised ease, pulling up his loincloth to reveal his manhood standing tall and proud. The sight drew a gasp from Eunsang's lips, his cheeks flushing with a delicate hue of pink as he beheld the impressive sight before him.

"I-It's bigger than before..." Eunsang stammered, his voice betraying a hint of bashfulness at the unexpected revelation.

Yuhok arched an eyebrow, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he observed Eunsang's flustered reaction. "Well, puppy, that's because I am bigger now," he remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of playful arrogance. "You wanted it, so why are you so shocked? You should've expected it..."

Eunsang's cheeks flushed even deeper at Yuhok's unabashed confidence, his heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. "I-I... I just didn't expect..." he stammered, his words trailing off as he struggled to find the right response to Yuhok's teasing banter.

But Yuhok's demeanour only seemed to intensify, a sly grin spreading across his face as he leaned forward, his gaze smouldering with dominance. "Go ahead then, show me how much you desire my body," he commanded, his voice dripping with authority and desire, sending a shiver down Eunsang's spine.

Eunsang's cheeks burned with a rosy hue as he obediently complied with Yuhok's command. With trembling hands, he began to shed his own clothes, his movements hesitant yet eager as he revealed the vulnerability of his bare form.

With each garment discarded, Eunsang's heart quickened, his anticipation mounting as he approached his husband with a shy yet determined demeanour.

With a soft exhale, Eunsang reached out to caress Yuhok's cheek, his touch tender yet filled with longing.

Yuhok's eyes softened at the gentle gesture, his own desire mirrored in the depths of his gaze. With a gentle pull, he drew Eunsang closer, their bodies coming together in a passionate embrace that ignited a fire within them both.

Lost in the heat of the moment, they surrendered to the primal rhythm of their desires, their lips meeting in a fervent kiss that spoke of a love that transcended time and space. In the intimate confines of their chambers, they became one, their bodies entwined in a dance of ecstasy and longing.

And as the night unfolded around them, they lost themselves in the intoxicating symphony of their love, each moment a testament to the boundless passion that bound them together as husbands, united again in both body and soul.

....................................

As the first light of the sun cast its golden glow upon Mount Ether, the Cha brothers stood in solemn anticipation before the ancient shrine, their hearts brimming with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

Suddenly, like a wisp of morning mist, Yeonhwa materialized before them, her ethereal presence illuminating the sacred grounds with an aura of divine grace. "This way, men," she beckoned with a gentle smile.

With a sense of reverence, the brothers followed her lead, their footsteps echoing softly against the hallowed ground as they ventured into the heart of the supernatural realm. As they traversed the threshold between the mortal and divine worlds, the breathtaking beauty of their surroundings unfolded before them, a testament to the unfathomable power that lay beyond their comprehension.

The Cha brothers stood in awe as they beheld the divine splendour that surrounded them, their senses overwhelmed by the majesty of the supernatural realm.

As the Cha brothers stepped into the sacred realm, a figure emerged before them with a countenance wrought with disbelief, shock, and a hint of disappointment. It was Myeong, the guardian of the East Kingdom, his imposing presence casting a shadow over their path.

Her voice resonated with authority as she addressed Yeonhwa, her tone laced with incredulity. "What is the meaning of this, Yeonhwa? Why have you brought these mortals into our realm?"

Yeonhwa's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with a sense of mischief and triumph. "Mother," she began, her voice ringing with confidence and pride, "I have fulfilled my promise to assist you in selecting the heavenly rulers. Allow me to present to you the chosen ones."

With a graceful gesture, she motioned towards the Cha brothers, each one standing tall and resolute, their virtues tested and proven worthy. "Sir Jin, suited to rule the realm of gratitude," she declared, her words carrying the weight of divine recognition. "Sir Yunki, a fitting candidate for temperance. Sir Hosung, embodying the essence of humility. Sir Namjun, exemplifying the virtue of patience. Sir Jimin, the paragon of charity. Sir Taehyun, steadfast in his commitment to chastity. And Sir Jeongguk, unwavering in his diligence."

The Cha brothers, stunned by Yeonhwa's proclamation, exchanged bewildered glances as they struggled to comprehend the weight of her words. Each of them felt a surge of disbelief mingled with a profound sense of honor at being chosen for such a sacred task.

Their reverent bows were met with a furrowed brow from Myeong, the guardian of the East Kingdom, her expression reflecting a mixture of concern and agitation. "You weren't supposed to meet these men," she stated firmly, her voice tinged with urgency as she turned her attention to Yeonhwa. "And where is your necklace of protection, Yeonhwa?"

 "I threw it away so that I could meet them," she confessed, her voice tinged with defiance as she met Myeong's gaze head-on. "That necklace made me invisible to them and vice versa, did it not? Why were you trying to shield me from them? They are true gentlemen!"

Her words hung in the air, each syllable laden with a sense of accusation and defiance as she challenged the traditional boundaries that had governed their interactions. The Cha brothers, caught in the midst of this divine confrontation, could only watch in confusion as the dynamics of the celestial realm unfolded before them with an intensity they had never imagined.

Myeong's glare bore into Yeonhwa, her frustration palpable as she spoke with a tone edged with disappointment. "I did it for your own good, and yet here you are... repeating history once again!" she admonished, her voice heavy with the weight of past mistakes and unheeded warnings.

Yeonhwa's head tilted inquisitively, her expression a mix of curiosity and defiance as she sought to understand Myeong's cryptic words. "What do you mean by repeating history?" she pressed, her voice laced with a hint of defiance as she challenged the guardian's judgment.

The Cha brothers exchanged wary glances, sensing the tension mounting between the two divine beings, yet unable to grasp the full extent of the conflict that simmered beneath the surface.

"Leave it! Send those men away and go to your room!" Myeong commanded with finality, her words a sharp reminder of her authority and the gravity of the situation at hand.

Yeonhwa's voice rang out with determination, her eyes blazing with an intensity that matched the fervor of her words. "No! Mother, I want the truth today," she insisted, her tone unwavering as she confronted the guardian with a demand for transparency. "Besides, you promised me that I can ask for anything if I find you the rightful rulers of the heavens!"

Her gaze shifted to the Cha brothers, her expression softening with empathy as she spoke of their plight. "And these gentlemen... they have been searching for their wife, Soyoung, for the past 16 years with unwavering devotion and penance," she continued, her voice filled with compassion. "They have prayed to you and offered their sacrifices every day... I know you know what happened to Soyoung. How can you be so cold-hearted? Please, mother, guide these men!"

The Cha brothers stood in silent solidarity, their hearts heavy with the weight of Yeonhwa's plea and the unanswered questions that loomed over them.

Myeong drew a deep breath, her expression unreadable as she absorbed Yeonhwa's impassioned plea. "Those men already got what they have been praying for," she stated firmly, her voice tinged with a hint of finality. "So, quit worrying about them."

_________________________________________

A/N

Published a new story. You can check it out if you want 😊