ch 11

 

Chapter 11

Returning from fishing, I don't moor my boat,
In the riverside village, as the moon sets, it's a perfect time for sleep.
Though the wind may blow it away overnight,
It will only drift to the shallow shore where the reed flowers bloom.

Shimmering. The nets were pulled up from the golden surface of the water, which glowed under the reflection of the evening sunset. The scales of the flapping fish sparkled like jewel dust. As they sang of a tranquil night in the riverside village, the fishermen hauling their nets showed no hint of worry.

Munpyeong sat in a half-distracted state, watching the fishermen’s daily life.

`I wish I’d been born into a fisherman’s family.`

Born on the battlefield and accustomed only to the blood-soaked life of the barracks, Munpyeong found such an ordinary scene to be rather unfamiliar. A serene peace that had never once been granted to him. To say he wasn’t envious would be a lie. They could live without hurting or killing others. That was what Munpyeong envied the most.

`After this job is over and I’m a free man, maybe I’ll become a fisherman. I think I could be good at pulling up nets. A harpoon and a spear are used similarly, so I could probably learn to fish easily.`

An idle fantasy filled his mind. He was so leisurely lost in thought because he truly had nothing else to do. He was on a boat now, heading down the Zi River, which flowed from Dongting Lake. Inside a passenger boat like this, there was little to do other than sit on the gunwale and watch the scenery.

As he stared blankly at his surroundings, his eyes caught a small shadow. A figure sat huddled on the far side of the deck, watching the fishermen just as he was. The child’s vacant eyes were fixed on the young children learning their father’s trade on the water.

The children, with their sun-tanned, copper-toned bodies and sunburnt, peeling noses, looked happy. One child pulled a fish from the net. It was a large carp, half the size of his own torso. When the child shouted with excitement and presented the fish to his father, the man let out a hearty laugh and stroked his son’s head.

“…”

Guessing the emotions with which the child was watching the scene, Munpyeong let out a low click of his tongue and stood up.

As he moved, an ominous crack sounded from his lower back. Still suffering from the previous night, his back, which still lacked proper strength, swayed as if it would break.

It seemed to hurt more when he was standing than when he was sitting. Forcing his throbbing waist, which he could barely straighten, upright, Munpyeong approached the child. With every step, he felt a sharp pull down there. His inner walls were so swollen that the sensitive inner flesh was raw and sore.

“Why are you out here alone? Where did Lady Ja go?”

After Yun Seung-hyo had designated her as ‘your responsibility,’ Ja Myorang never left Ja-ok’s side. Perhaps she was afraid of being kicked out of the group if she didn't take good care of Ja-ok, as she even dragged the child with her to the lavatory. It seemed less like caregiving and more like dragging around a subordinate, but Munpyeong feigned ignorance. He hoped that even if forced, interacting with someone her age might have a good influence on Ja-ok. For a child who was despondent from repeated traumatic events and psychological shock, he felt she needed someone to lead her by the hand, even if it was like this.

“…In the room,” the girl answered timidly, shrinking back as Munpyeong plopped down beside her.

The girl was wearing a light green silk dress that Yun Seung-hyo had bought for her, but because she was so thin, she looked less cute and more like a stick draped in clothes. Despite their efforts to feed her generously at every meal, the journey was arduous, and the child's face hadn't gained any weight.

“In the room? Alone?”

Unlike the timid Ja-ok, Ja Myorang was not just lively but downright boisterous. She had been looking forward to the boat ride since the day before, so her personality dictated that she should have been exploring every corner of the cramped passenger boat. But for some reason, Ja Myorang had not shown herself on deck.

“Why? Is she seasick by any chance?”

As a martial artist, it was unlikely, but Munpyeong asked, just in case. In response, Ja-ok shook her head. Not seasickness? Then what was it?

“She’s been like that since this morning. Crying in the cabin. She’s… very angry.”

“Crying? Lady Ja is?”

“Yes.”

“About what?”

“…I don’t know.”

It didn’t seem like she truly didn’t know. It meant she knew but didn’t want to say. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Myorang since the morning. Only after hearing Ja-ok’s words did Munpyeong realize that Ja Myorang had been acting strangely since that morning.

Myorang had been odd at breakfast, too. Normally, she would have made all sorts of demands, asking for chopsticks or a cup of water, but she had been unusually quiet. After boarding the boat, she had completely disappeared from sight.

He had been too overwhelmed with his own physical state to think deeply about it, but looking back, it was indeed strange. What could have upset her so much? She was a girl with a tough side who wouldn't bat an eye at most things.

`…Surely she couldn’t have found out about last night. The only thing that could agitate her that much would be something related to Seung-hyo.`

As Munpyeong pondered the reason for Ja Myorang’s seclusion, a dreadful possibility suddenly occurred to him, making him flinch. It was just a thought, but the more he mulled it over, the more it seemed to be the only explanation.

The thought that the young girl might have discovered what happened last night made him dizzy. Thinking about his shameful display, he was too embarrassed to even face Seung-hyo. The relentless partner had been too much for him, and in the end, hadn't he sobbed and begged for mercy?

Munpyeong didn't want to imagine that not only Yun Seung-hyo but also Ja Myorang knew of his behavior. That was something that was too much for even two people to know.

`If Ja Myorang really knows, I’d be better off just jumping into the river.`

Munpyeong thought, suppressing a rising sigh. Would that jealous, sharp-tongued girl let it slide this time? No. Not a chance. She would surely describe it in lurid detail and condemn him, just as she had before. Having endured such humiliation once was enough; Munpyeong didn't have the confidence to bear it a second time and truly felt like dying.

`I just said I liked him because I liked him, but what is all this? How did things end up like this? Something about this doesn’t feel right…`

Munpyeong’s heart grew troubled. When he had simply harbored his feelings for Yun Seung-hyo, he didn’t have these worries. Now that they were realized, his troubles had only increased.

As soon as their hearts connected, their bodies followed. Instead of sharing sweet words of love, they had sated their carnal desires. In context, it should have been a blissful moment where his unrequited love finally bore fruit, but Munpyeong couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't it.

What he had wanted from Yun Seung-hyo wasn't this. If he had simply needed a partner to kiss and share a body with, he would have wanted an easier partner than Yun Seung-hyo.

It was laughable to say this at his age, but Munpyeong had wanted to share a purer connection with him. Moments of spiritual intimacy rather than physical ones, like their eyes meeting by chance while walking silently on a mountain path, or bursting into laughter at the same time for no reason during a comfortable drinking session. Those were the things Munpyeong had wanted to share with Yun Seung-hyo.

`…Perhaps even this is asking too much. Maybe I’m just feeling let down because what I wanted came true too easily. Stop thinking such nonsense, Seok Munpyeong. You know how hard this was to achieve. Complaining about it is just being spoiled by good fortune. It's hard enough for a man and a woman's hearts to connect, let alone a man and a man.`

As he grew sentimental recalling what he truly wanted, Munpyeong suddenly snapped out of it and shook his head.

He knew he had obtained a piece of luck that was next to impossible. And yet, here he was, complaining. Since when had he become so greedy? It seemed a person's desires truly had no end.

“Is Lady Ja crying a lot?”

If he had been rejected yesterday, it might have been him, not Ja Myorang, with a stake driven through his heart.

Was this what they called shared suffering? If nothing else, Munpyeong knew just how desperately Ja Myorang adored Yun Seung-hyo, and he was worried about her state.

Ja-ok nodded. Not just once, but two or three times in a row for emphasis. …She must be crying a lot.

“…Yes. She’s crying. And while she cries, she’s… cursing.”

It was obvious who she was cursing and how. A cold sweat ran down Munpyeong’s back. He suddenly felt it was a good thing that Ja-ok was out here.

“Be nice to your older sister. She’s not a very kind person, but she must be having a hard time right now. Don’t make things harder for her…”

Hearing that Ja Myorang was cursing him, the sympathy that had been slowly rising in him vanished. In its place came embarrassment and shame. This little kid might not understand all of Ja Myorang’s curses, but just in case, Munpyeong couldn’t look Ja-ok in the face. He stammered out words without even knowing what he was saying.

Ja-ok stared blankly at him. At first, she would flinch every time he touched her, but it seemed the few days they had spent together had been a remedy, as she wasn't as scared as before. It had at least progressed to the point where they could exchange a few words like this.

“…She’s not a big sister.”

She muttered quietly, as if to herself. But Munpyeong, his mind completely focused on what curses Ja Myorang might be spewing, didn’t catch her words.

She wasn’t a big sister. Ja-ok, who had known from the moment she first saw Ja Myorang that he was an older brother, not a sister, looked strangely at Munpyeong, who was completely oblivious to a fact even she knew.

To her young eyes, this whole group was strange. The man before her, who had kicked her brother as if he were a stray dog, couldn’t even handle a child half his size and was in a tizzy. A stunningly pretty older brother wore girl’s clothes and used a girl's way of speaking, pretending to be a woman. But the strangest of them all was the handsome man with eyes so blue he hardly seemed human.

That man sometimes looked at Munpyeong, who was much taller than him, the way one would look at a newborn puppy. As if he was incredibly pretty and cute, but his troublemaking was a bit annoying. He would subtly bully him, covertly mistreat him, and then, if anyone else acted similarly, he would suddenly turn and act as if he would devour them.

Ja-ok, who had lived in a simple world where those addicted to opium were always high on opium and those mad for gambling were always gambling, just couldn't adapt to these complicated people she had suddenly met. She stuck with them because she knew they had no intention of harming her, but still, strange was strange.

***

For the first time in a long while, his body and mind were thoroughly satisfied.

Cheonma gazed at the deck, his skin so lustrously smooth it seemed to glow like a pearl.

In his line of sight sat the man who had suffered his whims all night long, eventually crying and passing out. His body was still uncomfortable, his walk unsteady and his posture stooped, but to Cheonma’s eyes, this only made him look cuter.

`Why did I leave him alone all this time?`

Having been in a state of 'wait' with a delicious meal in front of him, Cheonma, now freed from his self-imposed restrictions, realized just how starved he had been.

He enjoyed sex, but at his age, he’d never felt starved before. But having Munpyeong within reach and being unable to do anything must have caused it to build up unconsciously. At first, he had been deliberately inconsiderate, but later he had become so genuinely engrossed that he had completely lost sight of his partner.

`Should I just take him again tonight?`

Cheonma licked his lips in secret as he watched Munpyeong’s back. He was already planning to ravage him until he got tired of the ‘incompetent Yun Seung-hyo,’ and now that he’d had a taste, he felt the urge to hold him even without that excuse.

Having the man receive him in a riding position on a rocking boat would be a novel experience. He’d do it without any scented oil today, too. The lack of oil gave it a different flavor. Munpyeong’s soft inner walls clung more tightly, and feeling everything so raw heightened the sensation.

Munpyeong had been so cute yesterday. So devoted and endearing, trying his best to receive his partner even as he was treated without a shred of consideration.

If he had shown that side of himself from the start, he would have built him a house of gold, seated him on a bed of jade, and fed him from an ivory bowl. But cluelessly, he was doing it for Yun Seung-hyo, not Cheonma, and so he suffered the consequences.

Looking at Munpyeong, the old saying, ‘Even a concubine needs to be sharp,’ came to mind. Yes. It was true. If Munpyeong had possessed the appropriate sense, he might have been enjoying a level of power that would make Yang Guifei envious.

But unfortunately, he was a man utterly devoid of sense, and as a result, he was reduced to sitting on the stern, rubbing his aching back. One makes one's own fate. Cheonma felt this keenly as he watched Munpyeong.

*"Why did you do it? Huh? Why on earth?"*

…This one was just as clueless.

Cheonma glanced sideways as a telepathic message poured cold water on his good mood. Behind him stood a country woman, clutching a bundle as if it were a treasure.

She wasn’t particularly pretty, but her expression was so sorrowful and poignant that one couldn’t look away, fearing she might jump into the river at any moment.

*"Have you developed a taste for cross-dressing? You’ve been playing the part of a woman quite often lately."*

Like husband, like wife, do tastes also rub off? Cheonma chided Yun Seung-hyo, who had been appearing as a woman frequently these days.

The woman’s eyes, gazing at the river, glinted. Filled with a sorrow from some unknown hardship, they looked as if tears would spill at any moment.

*"Do you truly not know why I’m going around in this state? My Myorang, that poor little cat-lady. I asked you so many times to treat her well, so why are you doing this? What did that child do to deserve such mistreatment? And of all things, while wearing my face!"*

Blinded by love for his darling, Yun Seung-hyo protested passionately. It’s because you spoil her that the child has such bad manners. Cheonma snorted and dismissed Yun Seung-hyo’s protest.

Considering what that little brat Ja Myorang had done to Munpyeong, she deserved not just mistreatment but torture. So young, yet she’d learned only the worst things. He didn’t want to let her be, finding her so detestable for ordering people around with the tip of her nose without a single word of apology.

The only reason he was restraining himself this much was because Yun Seung-hyo had repeatedly begged him, calling her his darling. And yet, this fool dared to complain, ignorant of his benefactor. This one’s nerve had grown too much lately.

*"And as if that wasn’t enough, you slept with a man while in my form? And a subordinate of Grand-uncle Ho at that? For you, Grand-uncle, it might just be fun and games, but what about the people left behind? How do you expect me to clean up this mess you’ve made?"*

The complaints from the normally easygoing man were endless. It seemed a lot had built up over time.

He was so engrossed in his anger that he seemed to have forgotten he was yelling at Cheonma, and that the person he was talking about was Cheonma’s bed partner.

`Honestly. The things he worries about.`

Cheonma, who had no intention of making Yun Seung-hyo clean up his mess, laughed in disbelief.

*"Who told you to worry about such things? It’s fine. There’s nothing for you to clean up."*

*"What do you mean, nothing? That man thinks he slept with me. What if he comes looking for me later? I can’t possibly take responsibility for him."*

Yun Seung-hyo’s voice trembled uncontrollably, as if he were worried about the absurd possibility of having to live with that man.

`That will never happen. Do you think I would let things get to that point?`

Cheonma sneered coldly at Yun Seung-hyo, who was making himself sick with useless worries.

*"He was always mine. I’ll be sure to take him with me when I go back, so you won’t have to see each other again."*

*"…Grand-uncle’s… man?"*

*"Yes. He’s mine."*

Something about the story was strange. Since he hadn’t revealed his true form when he took the man, Yun Seung-hyo had assumed he was just a fling. But Cheonma’s attitude was surprisingly firm. He was notoriously possessive of his things and rarely let others inside his circle, yet he had specifically said, ‘He’s mine.’ To say that meant he must be putting considerable effort into this person.

Unable to shake his suspicion, Yun Seung-hyo asked a direct question to clear his doubts. He felt he couldn’t rest until he knew exactly what was going on.

*"…This is a long shot, but did you and that man know each other back at the Cult?"*

He couldn’t bring himself to ask if they’d had a ‘relationship,’ so he just said ‘know,’ not wanting to voice the stark reality himself.

*"He was mine back then, too. And he’s still mine now."*

His ominous premonition was, as always, correct.

`What? So that man was Grand-uncle’s concubine from the start? And he slept with him thinking it was me, without even realizing it was Grand-uncle?`

His head spun from the complicated situation.

`So what is going on here? Was that man having an affair with another man, namely ‘me,’ while in a relationship with Cheonma? Surely he didn't commit such a life-ruining act with that perfectly normal face?`

Yun Seung-hyo watched Cheonma with an anxious expression. He looked for any sign, hoping he was wrong, but he saw Cheonma, wearing his face, flash a subtly chilling smile.

`They say a long shot can kill a man, is it true?`

A cold sweat trickled down Yun Seung-hyo’s spine. He had thought it was strange even when watching from the side. The man who was broadcasting his love for all to see was one thing, but he had also felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding from Cheonma, who silently condoned the behavior.

`What grudge do you have against me from a past life to do something so wicked?`

Knowing full well how petty and vengeful Cheonma was, Yun Seung-hyo wanted to grab Munpyeong and demand an answer. This was no joke. If things had progressed as he imagined, not only that man but also innocent him could get caught in the crossfire.

How could Cheonma, a man of such spiteful and eccentric character, leave him, the ‘cause,’ alone? Even knowing he had done nothing, Cheonma was capable of throwing him into the fires of hell just for being an annoyance. Of course, given their families' long-standing connection, he might pull him back out, but being burned was still being burned, wasn't it? For Yun Seung-hyo, this was a bolt from the blue.

*"I didn’t do anything, Grand-uncle."*

It was unfair. It was infuriating. It was unjust. His only crime was having his identity stolen after receiving a single letter, and being punished for it was an outrageous injustice. Yun Seung-hyo sent a telepathic message filled with his desire to protest.

Who said you did? Cheonma ignored Yun Seung-hyo’s message and continued to admire Munpyeong’s back. He saw Munpyeong spouting some nonsense to the child, Ja-ok. The sharp-witted child was looking at Munpyeong as if she were witnessing something very strange.

“I really, truly, did nothing. If I’d so much as held his hand, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.”

“You held his shoulder, didn’t you? Good for you, not feeling wronged.”

“How is that holding him? I just tapped him lightly. My hand was on his shoulder for less time than it takes to grab a doorknob to open a door. This is so unfair.”

Lost in some thought, a frightened Yun Seung-hyo was making a fuss about how unfair it was. Knowing Cheonma’s nasty temper well, he seemed worried about potential repercussions.

Tsk. Cunning little thing. Cheonma deliberately acted aloof, fanning his subordinate’s anxiety. He had no intention of taking out his anger about Munpyeong on Yun Seung-hyo, but since the boy was rolling out the red carpet himself, it wouldn’t be right to ignore it.

With an ambiguous answer that left Yun Seung-hyo’s mind in a whirl, unsure if he would be punished or not, Cheonma let out a low chuckle and approached Munpyeong.

“The wind is chilly, why are you out here? Are you feeling alright?”

Cheonma asked in a deliberately gentle tone, sitting down next to Munpyeong.

Munpyeong, who had been rambling nonsensically to the silent child, flinched and raised his head. He met the eyes of the gently smiling Heavenly Demon, then, unable to look away, gave an awkward smile. His neat eyes were flushed red.

`He’s like a new bride after her wedding night.`

Cheonma smiled softly and pressed his shoulder against Munpyeong’s. Munpyeong’s shoulder tensed slightly. The gaze that always softened as if dazzled whenever he saw Yun Seung-hyo was now tinged with unease.

A new bride, yes, but one who was afraid of the night after her first. Of course, Cheonma, who had wanted this outcome, was extremely satisfied with Munpyeong’s reaction.

***

The Zi River was not as large as the Yangtze or Yellow Rivers, so the passenger boats that traveled it were not large either. The boat, which followed the three-hundred-li winding waterway, was of a modest scale, with most passengers sleeping on the deck and only ten cabins available.

Yun Seung-hyo’s party occupied two of those ten cabins. Ja-ok and Ja Myorang in one, Munpyeong and Yun Seung-hyo in the other. Divided by gender, they returned to their respective rooms after dinner.

Of course, Ja Myorang did not show her face at dinner either. It had been a lavish meal of fish porridge and carp sashimi cooked by the boatmen on board, so the fact that the food-loving girl didn't come out showed just how deep her sorrow was.

`Should I check on her tomorrow, even if I get an earful?`

Like her or not, they were traveling together, and he couldn't ignore her starving herself all day. Munpyeong was lost in worried thought. He was reluctant to look in on her, knowing that seeing him would only make her feel worse, but it didn't feel right to continue pretending not to know.

Click.

Munpyeong turned around. He had been so preoccupied with Ja Myorang that he hadn't noticed someone following him. Only when he heard the sound of the door being bolted did he realize Yun Seung-hyo was there.

Because he had bolted the door, Munpyeong and Yun Seung-hyo were left alone in their cabin. As Munpyeong turned with a stunned face, Yun Seung-hyo gave an awkward smile and a clumsy excuse.

“I was worried a stranger might come in. We are on a boat, after all.”

It was a flimsy excuse. What did it matter if a stranger or a robber came in? The occupants of this cabin were a transcendent master and a first-rate master. A force that could easily tear through a small manor like the So Family’s, and he was bolting the door out of fear of a mere petty thief?

“I see.”

“By the way, isn’t it a bit hot? I think my body temperature is rising, maybe from the heavy dinner.”

When Munpyeong calmly agreed, Yun Seung-hyo continued with his advances. It was a completely different, transparently clumsy ploy, unlike his usual smooth demeanor.

`Hot? What’s hot? If anything, it’s cold.`

Having just left the hot regions of Sichuan and Guizhou for Hunan, and with the added humidity from the river, Munpyeong was feeling a slight chill. Yun Seung-hyo’s words struck him as absurd.

Still, he wasn’t entirely displeased. Honestly, wasn’t it cute? His anxiousness to get him into bed. Unlike a certain someone who skillfully drew his partners into his grasp, seeing him fumble and fret was endearing.

“In that case, would you like to go out for some air?”

Munpyeong joked, moving toward the door. As he pretended to unbolt it, Yun Seung-hyo hastily grabbed his wrist. Then, as if deciding to throw caution to the wind, he pulled Munpyeong forcefully into his arms.

Thud. His back hit the door hard. Munpyeong found himself trapped in the arms of a much slenderer man, receiving a kiss.

The lips that came at him, hot and devouring, were still clumsy. They rushed, their teeth clashing, and he even bit Munpyeong’s tongue hard enough to hurt. But that reckless approach started to kindle a fire in Munpyeong's body as well. Munpyeong wrapped his arms around Yun Seung-hyo’s neck and pushed his own tongue into his mouth.

Being propositioned for sex was not unfamiliar to Munpyeong. He already had experience opening his legs for a man and receiving his member into his body. Thanks to that, Yun Seung-hyo’s demands didn’t feel awkward.

He still didn't know what about him provoked such lust, but he liked that he was being desired with such urgency, rather than being treated like a plaything.

“Let me inside you.”

Yun Seung-hyo whispered urgently, nibbling on Munpyeong’s earlobe with the tip of his teeth. Through his clothes, Munpyeong could feel his already swelling member.

Munpyeong felt his hands tear at his clothes and helped the man who was desperately stripping his pants by lifting his hips. He thought it was a good thing he wasn't wearing the new silk clothes. Sturdy cotton could at least withstand this kind of treatment; delicate silk would have been torn to shreds.

“Let me in. Let me enter that small, tight place of yours. If you just permit that, I will give you anything. I will grant you anything you desire.”

Munpyeong frowned slightly and smiled. He knew the man desired him desperately, but what he just said was a little upsetting. It sounded as if the only thing he wanted from him was his hole.

His upper body was being marked with brands. The love bites that had faded for a while returned to his body. Yun Seung-hyo bit down on his nipple, which was raw from being overly tormented the night before.

Munpyeong clutched his hair and helped the man, who was frantically pulling down his pants, by lifting his hips. Soon, Munpyeong was naked, leaning against the door. Yun Seung-hyo, without taking off his own clothes, only lowered his pants. As he threw off his undergarments, his fully erect member, so large it struck his belly, was revealed.

“The oil. Where is the oil?”

Sensing his partner’s intent to plunge into him without much foreplay, Munpyeong asked urgently. Yun Seung-hyo looked up at him with a dazed expression.

“Oil? What oil are you looking for?”

He frowned, as if he didn’t know what Munpyeong was talking about. Did he forget already? Munpyeong, who believed the man would have understood the importance of oil after last night, stared at Yun Seung-hyo in disbelief.

“The scented oil. To apply to my… place. …Didn’t you prepare it?”

If he had planned to take him tonight, he should have prepared it. But Yun Seung-hyo shook his head. It meant he hadn't prepared anything in advance.

“Oh, dear. I forgot. …Actually, after last night, I realized it wasn't really necessary. That's probably why I forgot.”

For Munpyeong, who had spent the entire previous night worried his rear would be torn apart without lubricant, this was a bolt from the blue.

`Not necessary? Why isn’t it necessary? My ass felt like it was on fire all day today because we didn’t have it!!`

The memory of the pain from his inner walls being scraped and torn raw was still vivid, and Munpyeong started to get slightly angry at Yun Seung-hyo’s thoughtlessness.

“What do you mean, not necessary? It’s absolutely necessary for relations with a man. Besides, Seung-hyo, your size is hard for anyone to handle.”

“I’ll loosen you up with my fingers. Please, just this once.”

Once or not, without it, I might actually tear today!

Munpyeong wanted to shout at the unreasonable Yun Seung-hyo. But before he could, Yun Seung-hyo’s fingers entered his body. Swollen and much tighter than yesterday, his anus struggled to accommodate even a single finger. As the dry finger pushed into his dry passage, Munpyeong groaned, unable to breathe from the pain.

“Soft.”

Yun Seung-hyo muttered, as if unaware that his fingers were causing his partner pain. He had a pleased smile on his face, enjoying the texture of the mucous membrane at his fingertips.

“Moist and smooth, and warm. Soft as silk, and yet it grips incredibly tightly. It seems even tighter than yesterday.”

It was bound to be, since it was much more swollen than yesterday.

“Seok-hyung, you are softer than anyone I have ever held. Every other part of your body is masculine and hard, but only this place is like this. It’s almost sweetly delicious, your… here. A taste that, once experienced, can never be forgotten.”

Yun Seung-hyo’s voice grew strangely heated as time passed. His fingers moved in and out of Munpyeong’s body roughly, as if he were violating him with them rather than loosening his muscles.

What was first one finger became two. Then three. Soon, four. The fingers, increasing in volume without any consideration, rapidly opened him up.

His legs lost strength due to the uncomfortable position. He felt pain along with pleasure. Feeling the tangled sensations inside him, Munpyeong grabbed Yun Seung-hyo’s shoulders.

“I’m glad no one held you before me, Munpyeong. If there had been such a person, it would never have been my turn. That man would never have let you go.”

Yun Seung-hyo whispered passionately as he pressed his erection against Munpyeong’s opening. The hard glans pierced through the forcibly stretched, numb muscles. Munpyeong tightened his grip on Yun Seung-hyo’s shoulders. A cry escaped him involuntarily.

“Ever since that moment I was able to hold you as you writhed from the aphrodisiac, you have never once left my mind. You are the only person who has made me this obsessed. Only you.”

Yun Seung-hyo confessed in a breathless voice, plowing into Munpyeong’s body with a size that was overwhelming no matter how many times he experienced it.

Munpyeong felt the shock of being impaled by a massive pillar and arched his back. In that position, he felt the illusion of his partner’s member touching his stomach. A heavy feeling settled in his belly. The unbearable impact of the burdensome volume spreading his inner walls sent a shock through his entire body. Every muscle screamed in protest.

Yun Seung-hyo’s member twitched grandly. Munpyeong gasped for breath and threw his head back. Trying to receive a man while standing, not lying down, was truly hellish.

`He should consider his own size!`

Growing resentful of Yun Seung-hyo for attempting such an unreasonable position, Munpyeong secretly gritted his teeth.

“It hurts. Please, ahk!”

Munpyeong, who had been crying out in pain, couldn't finish his sentence and let out a piercing scream. Yun Seung-hyo had wrapped one of Munpyeong’s legs around his waist and begun a fierce thrusting.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Unable to withstand his partner’s movements, Munpyeong’s back began to slam violently against the door. Creak, creak. The bolt on the door hit Munpyeong’s lower back, making an ominous sound.

Munpyeong thought it would be better to have a fist shoved directly into him. It was excruciatingly painful. Tears streamed down his face without restraint.

His fingers dug into Yun Seung-hyo’s back. Ten frantic lines were etched into his back. But Munpyeong was unaware that he was leaving such marks on his partner. His mind was entirely focused on what was happening between his legs.

“It hurts. It hurts. Seung-hyo, Seung-hyo! It hurts!”

It was the first time in his life he had said ‘it hurts’ so many times. Stop, you’re really going too far. Munpyeong sobbed, clawing at his partner’s shoulders. But the force of the thrusts remained the same. No, he had the illusion that it was getting stronger every time he heard his cries.

“You’re crying? Why are you crying? Does it hurt that much?”

Yun Seung-hyo asked shamelessly, as if he had no idea what he was doing. In too much pain to think straight, Munpyeong nodded through his tears. Seeing this, Yun Seung-hyo feigned gentleness and caressed Munpyeong’s cheek.

“What are we going to do if it hurts this much?”

Yun Seung-hyo whispered as if genuinely concerned, licking the tears from Munpyeong’s face.

Below the waist, he continued to violate Munpyeong, while above, he kissed his face and whispered words of comfort as if to soothe him. If Munpyeong had been in his right mind, he would have trembled with rage at his partner’s hypocrisy. But unfortunately, he was not in a mental state to recognize the situation.

“It hurts, Seung-hyo. Please. Please…”

“Should I make it not hurt, Munpyeong? Should I make it feel good?”

A teasing, lingering question touched Munpyeong’s cheek. Nibbling on his cheek with the tip of his teeth, Yun Seung-hyo let out a low laugh.

“Then try calling me Un-gang, Munpyeong. Not Seung-hyo or Seung-hyo, but Un-gang. Then I’ll make it feel good.”

Cheonma spoke on a sudden impulse. He himself didn't know why he uttered those words.

Un-gang. Baek Un-gang. That was a name that had completely disappeared 40 years ago when his younger brother died. It was a name he had completely forgotten for a while because there was no one left to call him by it. Why, of all times, did that name come to mind now?

`Who knows, maybe it’s just a whim.`

Cheonma smiled, still roughly ravishing Munpyeong’s body. He knew he had a capricious nature. He didn’t know why he wanted to be called by that name by Munpyeong, but it didn’t matter. Judging by this one’s state, he probably wouldn’t remember a word of what was being said now.

“Un-gang, Un-gang!”

In the midst of his haze, Munpyeong somehow managed to understand and called out Cheonma’s name. The name Munpyeong desperately cried out was the first name he had ever had, and now, it was Cheonma’s real name, which no one knew.

Cheonma smiled and grabbed Munpyeong’s waist. With a strength that belied his slender frame, he lifted him up. A startled Munpyeong looked down at him with wide, hazy eyes.

“Keep calling me that. I like the sound of that name.”

He whispered softly as he carried Munpyeong to the bed. Munpyeong muttered urgently, as if clinging to a lifeline.

“Un-gang. Don’t hurt me. Hold me gently.”

He had been hearing that same old ‘don’t hurt me’ since they first met. A so-called martial artist, making a fuss over something like this. Cheonma inwardly tut-tutted, but his movements as he held his partner became much gentler.

He laid Munpyeong on the bed and placed his left leg on his own shoulder. In a much more stable position than when he had to receive his partner standing up, Munpyeong looked up at Cheonma with a pleading face. His masculine face was a mess, stained with tears.

`Not a pretty face to begin with, and now he’s making it even more unsightly.`

Cheonma complained inwardly, but his hands caressed Munpyeong’s cheek as if he were lovely, and he kissed his tattered lips. Then he slowly began to rotate his hips. It was no longer the reckless pounding from before, but a skillful hip movement that precisely pierced and pressed the parts his partner felt.

Color began to return to Munpyeong’s face, which had only felt pain. The heat that slowly spread from his forehead to his eyes, and from his eyes to his cheeks, symbolized the intensity of the pleasure he was feeling.

“Ah-eut!”

Munpyeong let out a cry, his red lips parting in surprise. Like a master musician, Cheonma played the body of the man he had tamed at will.

As his movements changed, the lips that had only produced screams began to let out sighs. These soon became panting moans, and then breathless cries of ecstasy.

“Aahk. Ah-eut. Ahk!”

Munpyeong was out of his mind. At some point, the pain disappeared and pleasure began. The partner’s member, which he had thought would kill him, had at some point become a tool that sent shivers through his entire body. An intensely rich pleasure that he couldn’t get a grip on was turning him into a wreck.

It was a deathly ecstatic feeling. So much so that he felt he could die like this and be happy. The pleasure, teetering on the very edge of human endurance, shattered his senses and melted his mind.

Munpyeong’s sharpened fingers began to scratch his partner’s shoulders and arms again. This time, not in pain, but in ecstasy.

The bliss the two brought each other engulfed the small cabin. Hot moans and suppressed screams. The friction of the bed, creaking loudly under the weight of two adult men. Everything echoed through the walls and throughout the boat. But Munpyeong was unaware of even that.

He was completely engrossed in the pleasure that was assaulting him.

Everything was excessively sweet.

***

Munpyeong came to his senses the next morning, upon hearing the cries of gulls drifting along the riverbank.

He opened his eyes on a bed that was so hopelessly messy with all kinds of bodily fluids it seemed beyond saving. He was covered with a blanket, but there were no signs of having been washed, and the fluids were still on his body. Even his rear was filled with the traces of last night, so when he sat up, semi-dry semen trickled out.

Munpyeong pressed a hand to his pale forehead. The stale air filling the small cabin gave him a headache.

`What is this…`

Waking up in a state that would be perfect for suicide if anyone saw, Munpyeong sighed as he surveyed his appearance. The fact that this wasn't the first time he had woken up like this made it all the more miserable.

It wasn't just today; it had been the same yesterday. Going back further, it was the same when he first slept with Yun Seung-hyo. Then, too, Yun Seung-hyo had taken him and not cleaned him up afterwards. It seemed that since it was Yun Seung-hyo’s first time with a man, he didn't even know that aftercare was necessary.

`Well, if I hadn't had a relationship with Cheonma, I wouldn't have known how to clean up either. It's not unreasonable that he doesn't know.`

The taste in his mouth was bitter, but it wasn't something he couldn't understand. Cheonma was a man who had lived for over 80 years and had probably perfected everything with skill and experience. Compared to Cheonma, every other man in the world was a mere novice. How could he compare such a man to the utterly inexperienced young Yun Seung-hyo?

Munpyeong dragged his weakened legs and got up from the bed. The semen that had been trickling out as he moved now flowed down his legs in a stream as he stood on his own two feet. Unable to remember how many times they had done it, Munpyeong was speechless at the surprisingly large amount that flowed out.

It might have been more than he remembered or guessed. He couldn't know for sure since he had lost consciousness midway through, but this amount couldn't have come from just one or two more times.

The virility of a man in his early twenties was on a different level from that of a man in his thirties. At least, the difference between Yun Seung-hyo and himself was stark. While he would only produce watery fluid after one or two ejaculations, Yun Seung-hyo would get hard again right after coming. It seemed to take less than a quarter of an hour for him to get an erection again. Perhaps his stallion-like vigor, which didn't match his slender frame, came from that virility.

Munpyeong walked to the corner. In the corner of the cabin was a small jar placed there for when water was needed. Munpyeong picked up a white cloth to wipe himself and looked into the jar. But the jar, which had been full last night, was now empty.

Wondering what had happened, Munpyeong stared blankly into the jar. But staring at it wouldn't make water appear out of thin air.

“Ah, you’re up already. I was just about to wake you.”

The door burst open without a sound. A startled Munpyeong grabbed his swaying waist and turned around. There stood Yun Seung-hyo, looking neat and tidy, in stark contrast to Munpyeong's disheveled state. Munpyeong gave an awkward, flustered smile and looked at him.

Yun Seung-hyo’s eyes narrowed as he realized Munpyeong was naked. He looked at Munpyeong’s bare body as if savoring it.

“Just asking, Seung-hyo, but did you use up all the water that was here?”

Munpyeong asked suspiciously, looking at Yun Seung-hyo, who was gleaming from head to toe. Yun Seung-hyo nodded nonchalantly.

“Yes. When I woke up this morning, my body was a mess, so I washed up properly.”

As he said that, Yun Seung-hyo's expression turned to one of realization. He smiled apologetically at Munpyeong and approached the corner.

“I forgot to refill the water. I had something to do this morning. Please wait a moment. I'll go get some fresh water.”

“…I would be grateful if you would.”

“No, not at all. …By the way, you look beautiful in the morning too.”

As he picked up the jar, Yun Seung-hyo suddenly whispered in a syrupy voice and planted a kiss on Munpyeong’s shoulder. Munpyeong smiled faintly and saw him off as he left with the jar. With his body mottled with semen, his eyes swollen, and bruises and love bites everywhere, it was a blessing that he still found him beautiful.

`He's a good person. A good person, but… maybe because he’s still young. He can be thoughtless.`

He hadn't known before. As a friend, he was so kind and considerate that there was no room for complaint. But since they had started this kind of relationship, he often discovered unexpected sides to him. Like the oil incident last night, or the situation just now. Yun Seung-hyo sometimes made mistakes that seemed to show no emotion beyond his own self-interest, and each time, Munpyeong was greatly flustered.

His nature was kind and caring, but it seemed his thoughts didn't extend to the finer details. It could be because he was young, or because he had been raised in luxury. He was probably someone who had never had to clean up after anyone in his life, so he might simply lack a sense for such things. Thinking of it that way, he could understand it rationally, but emotionally, he couldn't help but feel hurt.

It was probably because his expectations of Yun Seung-hyo were too high. He had regarded the man as some kind of celestial being, so he was surprised by every little thing that proved he wasn't perfect.

“I brought water. I also got some extra cloths so you can use as much as you need.”

Yun Seung-hyo, who had quickly returned with the jar full of water, placed it at his feet. Wanting to make up for his mistake, he had brought a whole armful of cloths that hadn't even been asked for.

Munpyeong smiled and thanked him, then soaked a cloth in the water from the jar. Embarrassingly, Yun Seung-hyo stood there without even averting his eyes, watching Munpyeong wash himself. Even when he tried to ask him with a glance to turn his head, he didn’t seem to notice.

He was staring so intently that it was difficult for Munpyeong to clean up properly. How easy was it to put a finger in your own butt and scrape out semen in front of someone else?

Thanks to that, Munpyeong could only do a cursory cleanup. He had wiped enough so that nothing would leak out, so that was that for now.

I’ll have to come back to the cabin alone later and wipe myself again. With a low sigh, Munpyeong gave up on further cleaning and picked up his clothes.

This was the part of Yun Seung-hyo that Munpyeong found truly disappointing.

***

They traveled by boat from Shaoyang for two days and reached Yiyang. Yiyang, located at the confluence of the Zi River and Dongting Lake, served as a distribution center for the entire Zi River area. As a hub of water transportation on the shores of Dongting Lake, it was a bustling and large city, incomparable to the ones they had visited so far.

Yun Seung-hyo’s party disembarked at the lively Yiyang pier. They planned to change boats here and head up to Donghu.

“Shall we have a meal first? Since we’ve come all the way to Dongting Lake, we should at least taste some Xiang cuisine, don’t you think?”

Yun Seung-hyo, the leader and financier of the group, suggested cheerfully. He had been in a good mood lately, and as a result, he was making generous proposals he normally wouldn't.

Usually, the person who would have welcomed this proposal the most would be Ja Myorang. Wasn’t she someone who loved to eat, and especially loved to eat delicious food? But she, who had been in a gloomy state ever since the second time Munpyeong and Yun Seung-hyo slept together, showed no interest in the rare proposal.

“That’s a good idea. We should eat lunch before we move on.”

With both young ladies silent, Munpyeong was the only one left to answer. Yun Seung-hyo nodded and led the group. He had said he’d been to the city a few times before, and it seemed he wasn’t lying, as he led them with confident steps.

The place Yun Seung-hyo took them to was a large inn with a sign that read ‘Shunlai Inn.’ Perhaps thanks to its auspicious name, business seemed to be booming. As they entered, a waiter greeted them vigorously.

“Welcome! Welcome to Shunlai Inn.”

The waiter’s sharp eyes quickly scanned their attire. A pair of a man and a woman who looked wealthy, and the other two in the group who didn't look as distinguished but were still wearing silk. Concluding that they were the children of a noble house and their servants, the waiter bowed so low his back could have broken and asked enthusiastically.

“Which floor would you like?”

“Are there seats on the third floor?”

“Of course! Please, this way.”

The group followed the waiter to the third floor. Like most inns, the price of the food here varied by floor. The same dish was more expensive on higher floors, so the poor didn’t dare to go up.

That was why the first floor was bustling with customers while the third floor had scattered empty seats. Their luxurious attire must have earned them points, because the waiter guided them to the best seat on the third floor—a window seat with a direct view of Dongting Lake.

“This is the best seat in our establishment. It’s cloudy today so you can’t see it, but on a clear day, you can see all the way to Junshan Island.”

The waiter chattered on, eager to emphasize how good the seat he had given them was. Yun Seung-hyo, who understood the meaning behind his actions, smiled and tossed him a silver coin. The waiter’s mouth fell open in delight at the coin that appeared after just a few words. The gaps where his teeth were missing seemed somehow comical.

“Oh, thank you, my lord.”

The waiter exclaimed with a fuss.

“There was a dish I had here before. Do you still make it?”

“Of course, we do! But what dish was it?”

“Dong’an-style chicken and red shark fin soup.”

“Ah! Those are the signature dishes of our Shunlai Inn. I’ll bring them right away. Do you need anything else?”

“A bottle of wine, too. Wuling wine would be good.”

Dish names Munpyeong had never even heard of flowed from Yun Seung-hyo’s mouth. It seemed he wasn’t someone who didn’t eat well because he didn’t know, but rather had been living with restraint despite knowing.

After the waiter took their order and left, Yun Seung-hyo turned to Munpyeong. He smiled brightly and said:

“As I mentioned, I’ve had good food and wine here before. I wanted you to try them, so I ordered without consulting you. I hope that’s alright?”

To say he wanted only ‘Munpyeong’ to try them, even though they were in a group, made Ja Myorang’s expression turn peculiar. Fearing a fight might break out, Munpyeong quickly stepped in to answer.

“It’s fine. This is my first time in Hunan province, so I don’t know what’s good anyway. But what kind of dishes did you just order?”

“Dong’an-style chicken is a spicy chicken dish. Chicken and peppers are stir-fried together and then a broth is poured over it. It’s sweet, spicy, sour, salty, soft, and crispy all at once, giving it a unique taste. The red shark fin soup is made with the fins of sharks caught in the river. It’s a clean but exquisite dish that you’ll remember for a long time.”

Ja Myorang stared intently at Yun Seung-hyo, who was being unusually kind only to Munpyeong. She didn’t scream or get angry, but was just quiet.

That made it more nerve-wracking. Why was the fiercely strong-willed girl so quiet? He thought she would be fine after a day, but she had been in the same state for over two days now. He didn’t know if it was okay to leave her like this.

“Excuse me. You seem familiar. Might you be the Flower Hero?”

Munpyeong, who had been worrying about the listless Ja Myorang, looked up at the sound of a stranger addressing Yun Seung-hyo.

A group that had come up to the third floor a little while ago looking for a seat had, at some point, approached their table. A tall, handsome man and a beautiful woman. Like Munpyeong’s party, both were dressed in beautiful silk clothes.

“And you are?”

“You don’t remember me? We met once in Shanyin. I am Hwang Seojong of the Mount Hua sect.”

“Ah, my apologies. Now I see you are the esteemed Young Hero Hwang Seojong, the Orchid Forest Mound. I am sorry for not recognizing you sooner.”

Hwang Seojong, the Orchid Forest Mound, was a young master from the Mount Hua sect, famous for his Plum Blossom Sword Hand. Hearing his name, Munpyeong glanced at Hwang Seojong’s sleeve. Indeed, the twelve plum blossoms signifying a Plum Blossom Sword Hand shone brilliantly on his sleeve.

The woman next to him was also from Mount Hua, as her sleeve was also embroidered with plum blossoms. There were ten plum blossoms on the woman’s sleeve. According to one theory, the number of plum blossoms on a Mount Hua disciple’s sleeve represents the number of plum blossoms they can create when performing the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Hand technique. If that was true, she was a master capable of creating ten plum blossoms at her young age. She must be a disciple of a Mount Hua elder.

“This is my junior sister, Sang Hwabin. Pay your respects. This is the great hero Yun Seung-hyo, renowned as the Flower Hero.”

“Greetings, Great Hero Yun. I am Sang Hwabin of Mount Hua.”

“I am Yun Seung-hyo. I am fortunate to meet both the pride of Mount Hua, Young Hero Orchid Forest Mound, and Lady Dancing Orchid, at the same time.”

Yun Seung-hyo smiled and cupped his fist in greeting to the demurely bowing Sang Hwabin. Orchid Forest Mound and Dancing Orchid. Rumor had it that the two were promised to each other, and it seemed to be true. The sight of the handsome man and beautiful woman standing side by side was very heartwarming.

Hwang Seojong had received the moniker ‘Orchid Forest Mound’ from Sang Il-gyeom, the Solitary Shadow of the Plum Blossoms, who was Sang Hwabin’s father and the current leader of the Mount Hua sect.

Hwang Seojong was a young genius who had passed the qualification gate for the title of Plum Blossom Sword Hand at the tender age of twenty. When he demonstrated his specialty, the Three-Edged Plum Blossom Sword, in front of his fellow disciples after earning the title, a faint orchid scent, not the characteristic plum blossom scent of Mount Hua, emanated from his sword. Sang Il-gyeom, who was watching, slapped his knee and exclaimed, “You will not be a plum tree, but an orchid-covered mound!” Thus, his moniker became Orchid Forest Mound.

On the other hand, Sang Hwabin, who had been exceptionally beautiful from a young age, was praised by a master from the Beggars' Sect as being like a ‘dancing orchid.’ This became known to the public and her moniker became Dancing Orchid. In Mount Hua, where monikers related to plum blossoms were rampant, the two with orchid-related monikers stood out as particularly different. As a result, they were often mentioned together in people's stories, and that influence seemed to have reached them personally, as they ended up becoming lovers.

“Let me introduce my companions. These children I came to know by chance and am traveling with to Wuhan. They are Ja-ok and Ja Myorang. And this person is a member of my household, Sir Guan.”

When Yun Seung-hyo introduced Munpyeong as a member of his household, Hwang Seojong nodded as if he understood. He probably assumed he was a retainer sent by the influential Yun family.

“Meeting like this is also fate, so let’s share a table. We just ordered our food as well.”

Unable to just send away the people who had approached and greeted him first, Yun Seung-hyo invited them to join. Hwang Seojong and Sang Hwabin accepted without refusal and sat with them. Soon, the food and wine arrived. The atmosphere became much more relaxed.

“A while ago, I happened to hear about what you did in Kaiyang, Great Hero Yun. After hearing that story, I was secretly admiring your righteousness, and to meet you so coincidentally like this seems to be no ordinary fate.”

Hwang Seojong said with a sincere attitude. The incident in Kaiyang had happened less than ten days ago, so it was surprising that Hwang Seojong already knew about it. Yun Seung-hyo, also curious, asked Hwang Seojong with a puzzled expression.

“You flatter me. Righteousness? I simply couldn’t turn a blind eye to what was happening in front of me. …But how did you come to know about it, Young Hero Hwang? It’s only been a few days.”

When Yun Seung-hyo expressed his curiosity, Hwang Seojong began to explain the situation in detail.

“The Beggars' Sect, whom you asked to handle the aftermath, sent an official notice to the Righteous Path Alliance. But even without that, it’s a story everyone already knows. After you left Kaiyang, the Tang Clan and the Beggars' Sect attacked the base together. In that incident, over thirty Tang Clan disciples died, and two of the Tang Clan’s Five Venoms were also casualties. The Beggars' Sect suffered even greater losses, with over two hundred disciples dead. How could such a major event not become a rumor?”

“The casualties were that great? Then what happened to the children? Were they all rescued?”

“I heard they couldn't rescue all of them. The heroes of the Beggars' Sect tried their best, disregarding their own lives, but they only managed to save about 300. Moreover, they couldn’t destroy many of the living corpses, so they had no choice but to watch the enemies retreat.”

Publicly, Yun Seung-hyo was said to be heading to Wuhan to report the creation of the living corpses by some unknown organization. In reality, he was the one who had tracked the creators of the living corpses and found their base, and he was the one who had informed the Beggars' Sect and Tang Clan to rescue the children, so he was the only one qualified to make the report.

“This is a serious matter. I have also faced those living corpses, and they were terrifying and vicious, no match for anyone but the most skilled masters. If we don’t find a way to deal with them, the damage will only grow in the future. I wonder what will happen.”

“So I’ve heard. I even heard that their blood is so virulently poisonous that even the Tang Clan couldn’t properly handle them. It’s worrying. The Jianghu is already in chaos because of the Qilin Plaque, and now living corpses have appeared. It seems there is a force lurking in the shadows, instigating chaos.”

Hwang Seojong wore a genuinely worried expression.

`Slow. Only figuring it out now that things have gotten this bad.`

Cheonma clicked his tongue inwardly but put on a concerned expression and shook his head.

“By the way, Young Hero Hwang, what brings you to Hunan? Has something happened in Mount Hua?”

Hwang Seojong was one of the top martial artists among the Plum Blossom Sword Hands and was even being discussed as the next leader of Mount Hua. It seemed unlikely that such an important figure would be in Hunan without reason at a time like this, so Cheonma subtly probed him. He had invited these unwelcome guests to the table because he was curious about the reason for his appearance.

At Cheonma’s question, Hwang Seojong’s face reddened slightly. He scratched his cheek with a somewhat embarrassed expression and, as if he had no choice, opened his mouth.

“It’s a personal matter… Actually, my junior sister was at Mount Emei. She went for a short visit to a close friend she grew up with like a brother, but with the Jianghu in such chaos, I was worried about her returning alone, so I came to meet her. Please don’t call me a fool in love.”

He was a fool in love. Hearing the absurd truth, Cheonma was dumbfounded. The man who was called the next leader of Mount Hua had abandoned his post at such a crucial time and run off just because he was worried about his fiancée’s safety. Was that something a sane person would do?

Ignoring the fact that he himself was in the middle of the important task of chasing Gwak Hyo, but couldn't bear to be separated from Munpyeong out of concern for his safety, Cheonma only criticized Hwang Seojong.

It was nothing. He had hoped to get some useful information, but now he realized he had only gained unwelcome guests and no benefit, and he grumbled inwardly that he had made a foolish move.

“Still, I was relieved that my senior brother came to meet me. With so many grim things happening here and there, I was secretly scared. Besides, I heard that a storm of blood is brewing in Hubei right now because of the Qilin Plaque. I heard that even the Great Hero Jade Qilin was caught up in it and got injured. If it’s a path that’s dangerous even for someone with such high martial arts skills, it’s certainly scary for someone like me to walk alone.”

Even with ten plum blossoms on her sleeve, Sang Hwabin seemed to be a demure lady. She defended her fiancé in a soft, polite voice, her face blushing shyly. Cheonma, who had been grumbling inwardly and tilting his wine cup, froze. Munpyeong, who had been silently listening and eating the chicken dish, also changed his expression.

`What? What did she say? The Jade Qilin is injured?`

They both turned to Sang Hwabin in shock at the same time.

“…What do you mean? The Great Hero Jade Qilin is injured?”

Cheonma calmly set down his wine cup and asked quietly. Hwang Seojong, surprised, raised his eyes and answered his question.

“You didn’t know, Great Hero Yun? The rumor is already widespread. Two days ago, the Great Hero Jade Qilin’s party was ambushed while heading south to the Righteous Path Alliance. More than half of the Azure Blood Corps escorting him were killed or injured, and the Great Hero Jade Qilin himself sustained injuries so severe he can barely move. He is currently isolated on Mount Dabie. The Righteous Path Alliance has dispatched a rescue force, but I heard they haven’t arrived yet.”

He hadn't heard. If he had, he wouldn't have come here for a leisurely meal.

Cheonma’s face turned pale. Without looking away, he sent a strong telepathic message to the richly dressed middle-aged man who was eating at the window table across from him.

*"Seung-hyo!! What is the meaning of this?"*

The person who received the message must have felt a shock like his eardrums were bursting. But he couldn't utter a word of protest. The middle-aged man, who was responsible for relaying all important information from the Jianghu, including the Jade Qilin’s matter, to Cheonma, turned pale and stammered out an apology.

*"I… I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to receive outside contact for the past two days, so I didn’t know about this beforehand."*

Yun Seung-hyo, like Cheonma, had spent the last two days on a boat. There was no way to contact the outside world from the passenger boat, so he had been inevitably isolated during that time. And of all times, something had happened to the Jade Qilin. For a coincidence, it was a damn unlucky one.

*"Do you think this is something that ends with an ‘I’m sorry’? Get out there right now and find out exactly what situation the Jade Qilin is in!!"*

*"Understood."*

This was not a situation for leisure. At this rate, all of Cheonma’s wrath could be directed at him. Yun Seung-hyo, disguised as a richly dressed middle-aged man, hurriedly got up and left. The waiter, thinking he was dining and dashing, cried out in surprise and followed him.

“Hey, customer! You can’t just leave like that!”

The waiter’s trailing voice was comical, but there was no hint of a smile on Cheonma’s face. He clenched his fists until they turned white and fell into deep thought.

`So this is how you retaliate for the living corpse incident? Have you already figured out that I’m involved in this, Gwak Hyo?`

An icy chill flowed through Cheonma’s eyes. Just as Cheonma knew Gwak Hyo, Gwak Hyo knew Cheonma. He realized that Gwak Hyo had made this reckless move to warn him.

The living corpse incident must have been one of Gwak Hyo’s hidden trump cards. Cheonma had found and exposed it early, so Gwak Hyo, unable to contain his anger, had targeted the Jade Qilin.

Looking at what he had done to the Jade Qilin, the one card that could draw out Cheonma himself, he could tell how enraged Gwak Hyo was by this incident. In the end, they had exchanged a blow each. Like two snakes biting each other's tails, the two of them were entangled in a particularly vicious fate.

Meanwhile, Munpyeong was also restless upon hearing the news about the Jade Qilin. The second order he had received from the Cult was to ‘join the Jade Qilin’s party.’ If the Jade Qilin died midway, he would truly have nothing to do.

`What should I do? Should I separate from the group and go find the Jade Qilin on my own?`

Torn between his mission and the situation, Munpyeong’s face was filled with deep conflict. Honestly, he didn't want to go, but if ordered, he had no choice. The connection between him and the Demonic Cult was not yet severed.

“What happened?”

After tidying up the table, Cheonma left the inn on the pretext of finding a boat. Yun Seung-hyo, who had just arrived and was catching his breath, hurried his steps and followed him as soon as he left.

They met again in another inn, a little further from Shunlai Inn. The place where Yun Seung-hyo was unpacking was smaller and shabbier than Shunlai Inn, but it had the advantage of being soundproof.

“Hwang Seojong’s information is mostly accurate.”

Hearing Cheonma’s question, Yun Seung-hyo began to report what he had found out. His face was stiff due to the seriousness of the situation.

“Two days ago, the Jade Qilin’s party, on their way down to Wuhan, encountered an unknown enemy near Mount Dabie. Their identities have not been confirmed, but to be able to injure a transcendent master like the Jade Qilin, they must be a group that includes old masters or recluses.

Caught in the enemy’s pincer attack, the Jade Qilin’s party was defeated and retreated into Mount Dabie. In the process, the Jade Qilin suffered a deep wound on his leg and was carried away on a comrade’s back. Upon hearing the news, the Righteous Path Alliance and the Jade Qilin’s sect, Wudang, dispatched rescue teams. The Jade Qilin’s senior brother, Daoist Hyeon-yang, even brought his disciples, but they haven't even reached Mount Dabie yet.”

Given the distance between Hunan and Hubei, that was all the information he could gather. He had ordered them to monitor the situation on Mount Dabie and report any changes immediately, but considering the speed of a carrier pigeon, the information received here would be of little use in saving the Jade Qilin from danger.

Cheonma, realizing this, grimaced. He tapped the table with his fingertips and fell into thought.

Yun Seung-hyo, as Cheonma’s adopted grandson, had a vague idea of the relationship between the Jade Qilin and Cheonma. He didn’t know the exact circumstances, but their striking resemblance made him guess they were related by blood.

As far as Yun Seung-hyo knew, Cheonma was a solitary existence. If the Jade Qilin was truly his blood relative, he would be his one and only. It was easy enough to guess that Cheonma would never turn his back on him. However, while Cheonma might be able to make it in time alone, there was no way for the entire group to get there on time.

“Seung-hyo.”

After a not-so-short period of contemplation, Cheonma called Seung-hyo’s name. Yun Seung-hyo bowed his head deeply and answered his grand-uncle’s call.

“Yes, Grand-uncle.”

“…For the time being, you will return to your true form and escort my companions. Your mission is to get them safely to Wuhan while I am away.”

Cheonma used the word ‘escort’ instead of ‘lead.’ Yun Seung-hyo, who was not so slow as to not realize who he was being told to ‘escort,’ couldn't hide his troubled expression. Munpyeong, who was in a relationship with ‘Yun Seung-hyo,’ was an awkward person for him to deal with.

“Why don’t you answer? Are you thinking of disobeying my command?”

Even though he knew perfectly well why Yun Seung-hyo was silent, Cheonma coldly berated him. Yun Seung-hyo’s face fell. Grand-uncle’s concubine, so he’s practically my grand-aunt. He was suddenly tasked with serving a man who was on the same level as his deceased grandmother.

He could accept serving a young ‘grand-aunt,’ as one was supposed to follow one’s elders.

The problem came next. To hide the fact that the person had changed, he had to act exactly as before. But he couldn’t just crawl into Munpyeong’s bed like Cheonma had for the past two days, could he? If he did that, he might be beaten to death by Cheonma.

`How am I supposed to handle this situation?’

Unable to get his bearings, Yun Seung-hyo asked Cheonma.

“What should I do, Grand-uncle? How should I treat him?”

The old man held a grudge over a single touch of the hand, so if he wasn’t careful, he could get into trouble even while following orders. Yun Seung-hyo demanded precise instructions from Cheonma, so he could act accordingly and avoid any blame.

“What do you mean, what should you do? When you board the ship today, get separate cabins first, and for the time being, pretend you don't know him and keep your distance. As long as you follow that, you can do as you please.”

Cheonma surprisingly agreed to his course of action. But hearing his words, Yun Seung-hyo had a question. It felt like doing so would mess things up badly.

“But that’s not how you acted before, was it?”

“It wasn’t.”

“But is it okay to do that?”

“Yun Seung-hyo is a fickle person by nature. He pretends to be a gentleman on the outside, but he was raised too delicately. He tires easily of things he gets easily.”

“…”

`So what he’s saying is, I should make him get tired of me and shake him off? Make me the bad guy, and make me do all the dirty work?`

Realizing the gist of the story in that one sentence, Yun Seung-hyo was stunned. Even for the spiteful Heavenly Demon, this was too despicable. How was this any different from openly screwing him over? He had thought it strange that he was so tolerant of his ‘cheating’ partner, but it seemed he had been holding a serious grudge.

“…Even so, wouldn’t it be strange if it’s too sudden? What if he notices? What if he realizes the person has changed?”

Yun Seung-hyo timidly protested. No matter how he looked at it, this was a very disadvantageous order for him. Munpyeong was a highly favored darling who was taken back even after ‘cheating.’ Considering the effort Cheonma had put into him, it was clear he would remain by his side for a long time.

Why should I get on his bad side? That was Yun Seung-hyo’s dilemma. A man in love with a concubine would throw away a country for him. Getting on the bad side of someone who might become a powerful figure in the future was something Yun Seung-hyo absolutely did not want.

“You’ll have to do a good job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

But Cheonma didn’t care about Yun Seung-hyo’s circumstances.

“I raised you, taught you martial arts, and gave you gold and treasures whenever you needed them. You should pay your dues, shouldn't you?”

Cheonma smiled gently at Yun Seung-hyo. Having received so much and committed so many sins, Yun Seung-hyo couldn’t say a word to him.

Just… do a good job? Yun Seung-hyo asked with his eyes. Cheonma answered seriously.

“Yes. Just do a good job.”

There was no other choice. He just had to do a good job. Cheonma was not someone who could be reasoned with.

***

Hunan and Hubei. The character ‘Hu’ in the names of these two provinces refers to Dongting Lake. A winding waterway of eight hundred li, the massive lake that formed a natural border between the two provinces was almost as large and vast as a sea.

“Weren’t we supposed to be rushing to the Righteous Path Alliance? Then why are we taking a cruise ship?”

Munpyeong had thought they would take a regular passenger ship, if not an express one. But when Yun Seung-hyo unexpectedly brought back tickets for a cruise ship, he looked at him, unable to understand.

“We’re taking a cruise ship because we’re in a hurry. This way will be safer.”

Yun Seung-hyo began with one of his occasional odd statements. When Munpyeong didn't understand right away, he patiently explained.

“You heard what Young Hero Hwang said, didn’t you? There are people in the Jianghu who are secretly plotting in the shadows. The Qilin Plaque incident is probably their doing, and the living corpse incident we experienced before is likely the same.”

Munpyeong, who had known this from the start, listened to his words without any change in expression.

“Ja-ok, whom we are taking to the Righteous Path Alliance, is the only witness who can testify about the living corpse incident. If the enemies find out about Ja-ok’s existence, they will surely pursue us. That’s why we’re going slowly. We need to confuse their eyes, which will be monitoring the road to the Righteous Path Alliance.”

In truth, it was just a means to slow down the party until Cheonma could resolve the matter on Mount Dabie and return, but Yun Seung-hyo fabricated a story as plausibly as possible to deceive Munpyeong.

Munpyeong nodded after hearing the story. Hearing it, it seemed like a good method. If the enemies were really after Ja-ok, they had to do their best to ensure her safety.

“Here, take this. This is your ticket, and this is your cabin key. You’ll have separate rooms, so you’ll need to keep them yourselves while on the boat.”

Yun Seung-hyo handed Munpyeong a cabin key and a ticket. Contrary to Munpyeong’s concerns, it seemed they would be in separate cabins this time. Munpyeong let out a sigh of relief inwardly and reached out to take the ticket. But he almost failed to catch it. As if reluctant to let their hands touch, Yun Seung-hyo dropped the items in mid-air.

`What was that?`

His quick reflexes saved the items from falling, but Yun Seung-hyo’s strange behavior stuck in his mind. Munpyeong tilted his head and took his share of the items.

Yun Seung-hyo also handed a key to Ja Myorang. Just in case, Munpyeong watched his actions carefully. But this time, unlike with him, he handed over the items naturally. There was no trace of the nervousness he had shown before.

After receiving their items, they headed to the pier. The boat was already docked. As it was a cruise ship, only particularly well-off looking people were boarding. They also lined up and went inside. Thanks to Yun Seung-hyo not sparing any expense, their cabins were among the best on the boat.

The new cruise ship they boarded at Dongting Lake was much larger and more comfortable than the passenger boat they had taken from Yiyang. As it was a ship for tourists cruising Dongting Lake, it had dozens of cabins, all of which were neatly decorated like a high-end inn.

Munpyeong entered his assigned cabin and unpacked his luggage. After that, he had nothing to do. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked down at the ticket Yun Seung-hyo had given him and fell into deep thought.

Something had been bothering him since earlier. In fact, he had felt it ever since Yun Seung-hyo returned with the tickets. At first, he thought it would pass, but no matter how much time went by, this strange sense of dissonance didn't fade. Instead, it grew larger with time, shaking his mood.

`…What is this? It’s strange. I’m sure I’ve felt this way before.`

He frowned. An uncomfortable, gritty sensation covered his skin. It felt like there were thorns at his fingertips and sand in his eyes. A sense of otherness, of something being out of place, vexed his mind. He felt seasick even before the boat departed, a result of the dizzying confusion of his senses.

He had felt this same emotion once before. Munpyeong remembered exactly when he had felt this sensation before. He could never forget what happened then, no matter how much time passed. Like the mark left after a moxibustion treatment, the emotion itself had faded, but the memory of the feeling remained as a scar.

That day, at that clinic. The feeling he had when he couldn't feel any joy at seeing someone who had returned from the dead had come back to grip him. The same person, the same face, the same voice, but it didn't feel like the same person.

He couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but something felt different. The sense of otherness was even stronger than before. His instincts flashed rapidly, as if warning him. Something was wrong. Something was strange. His instincts were telling him this over and over.

Munpyeong pressed a hand to his chest, which was fluttering with an unknown anxiety. He wished he could at least know the cause of his distress, but he had no clue, which only added to his frustration.

***

The first dinner on the cruise ship was incredibly lavish. A chef from a famous first-class inn was on board, so they could enjoy excellent dishes made on the spot with fresh ingredients even on the boat.

The four people gathered around the dinner table in Yun Seung-hyo’s room had before them a dish of steamed carp tails and a clear soup made with seafood. All the ingredients were freshly caught from Dongting Lake, so the freshness of the food was incomparable to what one would eat inland.

Even Ja-ok, who was a picky eater, was eating with gusto, not putting down her chopsticks. But Ja Myorang was just poking at the fish with her chopsticks, showing little sign of eating.

“Don’t you like fish?”

Unable to watch any longer, Yun Seung-hyo intervened. Ja Myorang ignored him and continued to pick out the fish bones with her chopsticks. She wasn’t even going to eat the meat, yet she was taking the trouble to pick out every single tiny bone. A pile of fish bones accumulated on the side of her plate. The rice in her bowl remained untouched.

“If you don’t like fish, you can order something else. Order whatever you want to eat.”

`He’s been acting as if he didn't even notice Ja Myorang was there, so what’s with this? Is he bothered that she hasn't been eating properly for three days?`

Munpyeong, who had been feeling uncomfortable at the thought of letting a young girl in their care starve, was glad for Yun Seung-hyo’s intervention. He was the only one in the group who could offer Ja Myorang something.

“…It’s not that simple.”

Ja Myorang said in a suppressed voice, flicking a fish bone with her chopsticks. He had seen her fly into a rage many times, but he had never seen her so calmly subdued. She raised her dark gaze and looked at Yun Seung-hyo.

“What are you talking about, Lady Ja?”

“A choice once made. You can’t just throw it away so simply, can you? To make a choice means to take responsibility for it, doesn’t it?”

It was an obvious statement, but she wasn’t talking about the food right now.

At the sudden introduction of the main topic during a casual meal, Munpyeong turned to Yun Seung-hyo in confusion. Yun Seung-hyo raised a calm gaze and looked at Ja Myorang. Unlike before, when he had gently ignored her, he was now looking at her directly.

“So how could you do that? How could you change your mind so easily? With no guilt for the choice you made before. And right in front of that choice, no less.”

Ja Myorang spoke as if to herself and then lowered her head. She was mean, selfish, and arrogant, but it seemed she couldn't be that way in front of her one and only love. She was genuinely in pain. In front of the love that held her heart captive, she was utterly powerless.

The wound of love was breaking her, eroding her pride. Broken and shattered, she could no longer be as confident as before. She didn't know why she had to lose love, so she couldn't accept her current pain. She truly wondered why she had to suffer like this.

“I really want to know. Why are you doing this? Why are you being so harsh to me?”

With her head bowed, Ja Myorang whispered pleadingly. Yun Seung-hyo said nothing. A deep pain flashed across his eyes.

Should I leave them alone? Munpyeong wondered, watching the two serious people. He had known for a while that there was a hidden story between them.

At first, he had believed Yun Seung-hyo’s denials, but upon reflection, his past actions were not those of someone meeting a person for the first time.

He wasn’t the type to act ambiguously, knowing it would cause a misunderstanding, yet he had taken Ja Myorang in, knowing she hadn't given up hope. He never accepted any of her advances, yet he never pushed her away.

Ja-ok was just as perceptive. Ja-ok, who had been enjoying her meal, quietly put down her chopsticks as the atmosphere turned heavy. Munpyeong looked at Ja-ok and asked with his eyes.

`Should we leave?`

Ja-ok, for once, agreed with him.

`Yes. Let’s go.`

Munpyeong stood up to leave the table with her.

But his hasty attempt failed. Yun Seung-hyo reached out and grabbed his hand. Caught off guard, Munpyeong looked at Yun Seung-hyo with a stiff expression. Yun Seung-hyo pulled his hand and made him sit down again.

Yun Seung-hyo’s will was so firm that Munpyeong had no choice but to sit down. When he failed to escape, Ja-ok couldn’t leave either. Having struggled to get down from her chair, Ja-ok struggled to climb back up.

“If I tell you the reason, will you be able to understand?”

Yun Seung-hyo asked Ja Myorang softly. Ja Myorang raised her head. Even though she knew Yun Seung-hyo and Munpyeong were holding hands, she didn’t look down, but stubbornly raised her head and met Yun Seung-hyo’s eyes. Yun Seung-hyo spoke again.

“Then, will you give up?”

Hearing Yun Seung-hyo’s question, Ja Myorang flinched.

`Is that what you want? Is that truly all you want from me?`

Ja Myorang asked Yun Seung-hyo in her heart. But the cruel man gave no answer to her silent question.

“…If that’s what you want, I will.”

After a long moment of silent contemplation, she finally steeled her heart and affirmed his question. She didn’t want to be pathetic anymore. It was unbearable to hold on to a man who would hold another in front of her…

It was a decision she had made by mustering up courage she didn’t have, but Yun Seung-hyo lightly scoffed at her difficult resolve.

“Do you want an excuse? A plausible excuse for you to give up on me? Do you want me to provide you with a satisfactory reason?”

A voice as cold as frost froze the last remnants of Ja Myorang’s heart. She swallowed a groan and called Yun Seung-hyo’s name.

“Yun-Gege…”

“What difference does it make if I say one more word or not? Your feelings are your own, aren’t they? How you deal with them is none of my business. It’s all up to you. There’s no reason for me to interfere.”

Yun Seung-hyo spoke with utter cruelty. To her, who was begging him to give her just one reason she could accept so she could give up on him, he cut her off, saying he couldn't even do that.

Ja Myorang’s lips trembled in shock. She had cast aside her last shred of pride and clung to him, only to be rejected. She hadn’t said she loved him or asked him to come back. She had only asked why he couldn't love her anymore.

Yun Seung-hyo refused to even give her that answer. And he had even stopped someone who was trying to leave and made them sit next to him.

All to reassure that person’s heart.

“You are truly cruel. Do you not have a single shred of feeling left for me? You wouldn’t be this cold even to a complete stranger. …I don’t know you. I thought I knew you once, but now I really don’t.”

She said weakly, her face pale. All the girlish vitality had drained from her face, which looked beyond sad, exhausted. Shaking her head sorrowfully, she stood up and left the room. Ja-ok, after a moment’s hesitation, followed her out.

Yun Seung-hyo gazed painfully at the back of the lover who had left him. He wanted to run out and grab her, but he didn't even have the right to do that now.

She probably wouldn't know why he refused to answer. Yun Seung-hyo let out a hollow laugh and lowered his eyes. She would only think he was being cruel, not knowing that he was afraid.

If she had looked into his eyes instead of listening to his words, she would have known. If she had read the words in his eyes like she used to, she would have understood.

Yun Seung-hyo hadn't rejected her; he had refused to give her a reason to leave him. Because if he answered her question, he feared she would truly leave. That she would forget his heart, misunderstanding that he had chosen someone else over her.

Forced by circumstances to act cruelly, he had no desire to torment her. Yun Seung-hyo, who had become a fool who could only hold on to a departing lover in such a way, covered his face with his hands and let out a deep groan.

He had never resented his grand-uncle as much as he did in this moment. In this moment, when he might lose the most important person in his life, he hated and resented Cheonma so much.

“…Who are you?”

Shing. The sound of a blade being drawn was heard. Yun Seung-hyo, who had been momentarily distracted by his grief over his broken relationship with Ja Myorang, only realized that Munpyeong was holding a blade to his neck when he felt its cold chill.

A thin line of blood seeped from his tensed neck. It was more than a simple warning; the blade, radiating a blue light, held the intent to truly behead its target.

He noticed. Yun Seung-hyo’s face hardened as he glanced sideways.

`But how?`

Munpyeong looked down at him, his face radiating a coldness. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

“Who are you, impersonating Yun Seung-hyo?”

Munpyeong interrogated him in a chilling voice.

“How can you be so identical to him? Even the color of your eyes?”

He had suspected, but now he was certain. Munpyeong had accurately seen through his identity. Although he was making the mistake of thinking the real Yun Seung-hyo was the fake one, he knew for sure that he was a different person from Cheonma.

`How did he know?`

Yun Seung-hyo was inwardly curious and licked his lips. He didn’t understand what mistake he had made.

“…How did you know? Everything should have been perfect.”

Yun Seung-hyo was genuinely curious. Cheonma’s disguise was perfect. When he wore Yun Seung-hyo’s face, Ja Myorang didn't know, his parents didn't know. Even his maternal grandfather, who had been friends with Cheonma his whole life, couldn’t recognize him. But Munpyeong had seen through the disguise in just half a day. There must be a secret.

“Your disguise was perfect in every way, but you missed one thing. You changed even the color of his eyes, but you couldn't erase the calluses. The real Yun Seung-hyo’s hands have no calluses. His palms are as soft as a newborn baby’s.”

Munpyeong smiled coldly and pressed the blade deeper. Right above the carotid artery, a spot where a little more pressure would cause blood to spurt like a fountain. Placing the blade there, Munpyeong urged Yun Seung-hyo in a low voice.

“Speak. Who are you?”

Finally learning the secret he had been so curious about, Yun Seung-hyo smiled and raised his hands. Well, he was beaten. To think there was such a weakness in this perfect disguise.

“I am Yun Seung-hyo.”

`Grand-uncle. Don’t blame me. The reason that man found out our identities was because of you.`

Yun Seung-hyo whispered inwardly, apologizing to Cheonma. But honestly, after what had just happened with Ja Myorang, he didn’t feel very sorry.

“To put it another way, I am the real Yun Seung-hyo. The fake one is the person you know. He was impersonating me for a while.”

Yun Seung-hyo made the shocking confession with a gentle smile. Munpyeong’s eyes widened in surprise. He wanted to believe the man was lying, but he wasn’t. The confidently smiling Yun Seung-hyo was saying he was the real one, and Munpyeong intuitively knew it was the truth.

This person was the real Yun Seung-hyo. Munpyeong had no choice but to accept it. The man with callused hands. The man with the hands of a martial artist. And perhaps, the man who was Ja Myorang’s lover.

`Then who is he? The person I loved? The person I knew as Yun Seung-hyo all this time?`

Lost in confusion, Munpyeong squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again to steady his reeling mind. A terrible ringing filled his ears. Like someone who had just been pulled from the water, he couldn’t recognize his surroundings. He couldn't breathe. The air around him pressed down on his shoulders with an overwhelming weight.

An unbelievable truth was before him. His love, the first love he had ever felt in his life, was not real. He had fallen in love, but he didn't even know who he loved.