Epilogue: Unchanging Love

 

Epilogue: Unchanging Love

It was a lazy, late afternoon, the sunlight slanting low.

Munpyeong sat in the deep shade of a lush, overgrown tree, having a light meal. If Cheonma had been with him, as he usually was, his meal would have been a lavish spread of delicacies. But with Cheonma away on a trip, Munpyeong had no desire for such luxury. He had lived a frugal life, and he was more comfortable with a simple lunch, though he might indulge for breakfast or dinner.

If Cheonma knew, he would have detested it, calling him needlessly austere. But after years of sharing a bed, such nagging was something Munpyeong could let go in one ear and out the other. Perhaps time truly was the most formidable thing in the world. After all, even he had eventually grown used to Cheonma.

“My Lord, the Cheonma-hu, this is Ranran. May I have a moment?”

He had just finished his meal and was rinsing his mouth with Longjing tea. Ranran, who had served him the simple meal he’d requested and respectfully withdrawn, was now approaching him unbidden—a rare occurrence.

Ever since the ‘proclamation,’ she had treated him with the same rigid courtesy she showed Cheonma. Even after ten years, her attitude had never wavered. For her to deviate from protocol was extremely unusual. Wondering what it could be, Munpyeong tilted his head.

“It’s fine. If you have something to report, please speak.”

Gods, he thought. I’ve even gotten used to living with Cheonma, but I can’t for the life of me get used to being called ‘Cheonma-hu.’ A man receiving the title of a consort… what kind of situation is this?

A bitter taste filled his mouth, but Munpyeong didn’t let it show. He knew that no matter what he said, the title wouldn’t change.

By Cheonma’s own decree, he was Cheonma’s spouse. As such, there was no pretext to refuse the title traditionally given to the wives of past sect leaders. At first, he had been appalled and embarrassed, vehemently rejecting it, but his efforts alone were not enough to turn the tide.

It wasn't that he hadn't tried to rebel. But each time, he was not only overpowered by Cheonma but also outmaneuvered by the disciples. Even the Broken-Faced Wanderer had crushed his spirit by asking, “Does this mean I should call you ‘Auntie’ now?”

Deciding that being called Cheonma-hu was far better than becoming the master's wife and the Broken-Faced Wanderer’s aunt, Munpyeong had given up. Since then, he hadn’t uttered a single word of dissent on the matter. Experience had taught him that protesting would only lead to his own frustration.

“An unexpected guest has arrived. He has no calling card, but he insists that my Lord will surely see him if a message is sent. Given the guest’s status, I could not decide on my own and came to ask your intentions. Shall I escort him to the Hall of Paired Wings?”

“A guest? You mean an outside visitor has come to the Hall of Paired Wings?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

A flicker of curiosity appeared on Munpyeong’s face. It had been ten years since Cheonma had stepped down to the position of Grand Master. Tossing aside the heavy burden of leadership as if shaking off a curse, he had passed the position to his first disciple and, with one single exception, had never interfered in the sect’s affairs. He did nothing but truly eat and play, so even when he was on the grounds, outside visitors were rare.

Occasionally, disciples or sect members would stop by to pay their respects, but Cheonma, insisting on his seclusion, would turn them away. It was no exaggeration to say that unannounced visitors were now nonexistent. Even those who sent a calling card and scheduled an appointment were often turned away at the gate; no one had the nerve to show up without prior notice.

If Cheonma were here, he would have dealt with the matter without a second thought—by sending them away. But Munpyeong was not so heartless. He placed his teacup on the table and asked with interest.

“To arrive without a calling card… a rare guest indeed.”

Just the fact that this had troubled Ranran, who was never remiss in her duties, was enough to tell him the visitor’s status was anything but ordinary.

`Who could it be? Who could fluster this woman of iron?`

Thinking that something interesting might finally be happening, Munpyeong nodded.

“Show him in. Anyone who has traveled this far must have a worthy reason.”

“But, my Lord… The Grand Master is not here. Are you certain this is alright?” Ranran asked hesitantly, her expression troubled as she subtly watched his face.

To Cheonma, Munpyeong was a treasure to be cherished—like gold branches and jade leaves. When he had no other business, they were always together, and even then, he treated Munpyeong like a precious pearl in his palm. His possessiveness was so extreme that even his own disciples had to get his permission before meeting with Munpyeong.

This had been the state of affairs for years, not just a day or two. It was no wonder Ranran, who had watched it all unfold from a close distance, was worried. But Munpyeong, unconcerned, waved a hand dismissively. Living with Cheonma had only made him bolder. He even smiled serenely, as if to say, Can’t I even meet one person on my own?

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m strong enough to protect myself now.”

Ranran barely managed to swallow the words, That’s not what I’m worried about. The Cheonma-hu she served was strangely dense in certain matters; explaining such concerns would be pointless as he wouldn't understand anyway. Swallowing her words with a sigh, Ranran bowed her head and retreated.

Munpyeong stood up from the shade of the tree and straightened his clothes when he suddenly looked up. He realized that, distracted by the word "guest," he had forgotten to ask the most important thing. He had given permission for someone to enter without even asking their name.

“Ah, wait. I almost forgot. Who is it that has come to visit?”

Ranran had forgotten as well. She bowed her head, looking apologetic.

“The Flower Fiend has arrived.”

“The Flower Fiend? You mean Yun Seung-hyo?”

“Yes.”

While the Righteous Path Alliance insisted on calling him the Flower Hero, the Demonic Cult, in contrast, always called him the Flower Fiend. The worlds of good and evil showed their stark differences in even such trivial matters, but what concerned Munpyeong now was not the unbridgeable gap between the two factions. What truly surprised him was the fact that Yun Seung-hyo had come all the way to the Heavenly Mountains himself.

What could possibly bring a man as busy as he, who flashed across the world like lightning, all the way here? Munpyeong tilted his head in wonder.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he quickened his steps toward the inner hall. An old, welcome friend had come to visit after a long time; of course, his feet would move faster.

“It has been a long time, Grand-Auntie. You seem to grow more beautiful with each passing day.”

As Munpyeong entered the room, Yun Seung-hyo rose from his seat and greeted him with a cupped fist salute. It was something he would never dare to do if Cheonma were present, but when the two were alone, he couldn't hide his playful nature. He smiled brightly, his words a mix of sincerity and jest.

Munpyeong stopped short at the threshold, at a loss for words. For a long moment, he could only stare at Yun Seung-hyo with a dumbfounded expression before he finally managed to speak.

“…And what, pray tell, has happened to you, Seung-hyo? Did you become a disciple of the Beggars' Sect while I wasn’t looking?”

“Hahaha! How could I, the master of my own humble sect, become a disciple of another? You should have asked if my Haomun Sect has started its own ‘Soiled Clothes Faction.’”

To Munpyeong’s blunt question, Yun Seung-hyo answered with magnificent cheerfulness. His demeanor was as calm and composed as ever, but his appearance was truly a sight to behold. Why else would Munpyeong have asked so directly if he’d joined the Beggars?

Munpyeong felt the urge to rub his eyes and look again.

The man who once boasted an elegance that could rival Cheonma’s was now a complete vagrant. His condition was so wretched that Munpyeong wondered how he had even managed to pass through the main gate.

His tattered clothes looked unwashed, soaked in grime, and his once-radiant cheeks were gaunt and pale. The beloved fan he always carried, as if it were a part of him, was nowhere to be seen, and the one peeking from his torn sleeve was a wreck, its silk fabric ripped to reveal a skeletal frame.

Anyone else would have assumed he’d been robbed by bandits, but a transcendent martial artist of his caliber would never be reduced to such a state by mere bandits.

A headache forming, Munpyeong shook his head and approached him. He had always known the character for ‘fiend’ was in this man’s title for a reason, but he had never expected to witness such a bizarre sight firsthand.

“What happened to you to end up in this state? Was it difficult to find a place to rest on your way here?”

Both the peacock-like Heavenly Demon and Yun Seung-hyo disliked showing any sign of weakness in front of others. Wondering how he could bear to be seen like this, Munpyeong posed his question.

Seeing his surprise, Yun Seung-hyo grinned, revealing his white teeth. A mischievous smile, like that of a child observing the result of a prank, touched the corners of his eyes.

“There were plenty of places to rest, but I had no time for that. I was being pursued, so I couldn’t afford to stop. I thought I was going to die on the way here, Grand-Auntie. I’m starting to think I should have learned some of your movement techniques beforehand.”

Hearing this, Munpyeong was too stunned to even be bothered by the title he normally disliked. He stared in disbelief and hastily asked again.

“Pursued? You mean you were chased all the way here?”

“Yes. As you can see from my sorry state, I fled here. And since we’re on the subject, could you please hide me for a while? My life is in imminent danger.”

Yun Seung-hyo made his request with a casualness that belied his claim of mortal danger. But Munpyeong could easily tell that he was not as relaxed as he appeared.

With age, Yun Seung-hyo’s crow's feet had deepened, as had his composure and wit; he never showed agitation, no matter the situation. To judge him rashly, one had to look past his outward demeanor and see his inner state. Fortunately, years of acquaintance had taught Munpyeong how to read him.

“The residence is large, so hiding one person is no difficult task. You may stay as long as you wish. However…”

“Thank you. You are truly generous. If I had asked my Grand-Uncle, I would have been kicked out on the spot. It must be a stroke of heavenly luck that I arrived while he was away.”

A person truly blessed by heaven wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state, seeking refuge in another’s home. But Munpyeong didn't bother to point that out.

`He’s asking me not to inquire further? So there’s a story he can’t tell.`

Munpyeong made his guess silently. He hadn’t realized it when he was a low-ranking warrior, but high-level masters of the Jianghu often had circumstances they couldn’t speak of to others. The prime example was Cheonma, who had enough tragic backstories to fill an ancient tale. Many others, too, found themselves entangled in inextricable knots of fate.

There was a reason the Jianghu had a code of not meddling in others' grudges. Munpyeong had experienced much since meeting Cheonma, and it had deepened his understanding. Besides, given Yun Seung-hyo’s personality, pressing him further would likely yield no answers.

“…There happens to be a cleared room in the annex. You can stay there for the time being. I’ll have them prepare a bath and a change of clothes. You don’t look like you can rest comfortably as you are.”

If it was something he could have shared, he would have done so without being asked. To request help without giving a reason was a considerable rudeness, and Yun Seung-hyo was not a man to commit such a breach of etiquette without a very good reason.

Having made up his mind, Munpyeong gestured while pressing a hand to his forehead, fulfilling his duties as a host. Yun Seung-hyo bowed his head in gratitude, accepting his kindness.

Munpyeong called for Ranran and instructed her to guide him to the annex. Yun Seung-hyo rose and followed her. While he was sitting or standing still, it wasn't obvious, but as he began to walk, the true extent of his poor condition was revealed. Munpyeong frowned at the sight of his limping gait; it was clear he was injured somewhere, though it wasn't visible.

`Should I call for a physician?`

He had been relieved that there were no external wounds, but his walk suggested an internal injury. While he could treat minor cuts himself, an internal injury would be difficult to heal on his own.

After a moment's hesitation, Munpyeong pulled the servant's cord to summon another maid.

Yun Seung-hyo was not only a guest seeking refuge but also Cheonma's sworn grandson. He was connected to Munpyeong by no small fate, and he couldn't be treated neglectfully. Munpyeong sent the most skilled physician in the Demonic Cult to him.

It is human nature not to turn away even a bird that flies into one’s arms. And this was no bird, but an acquaintance of many years.

The soft-hearted Munpyeong couldn't bring himself to treat the unfortunate Seung-hyo coldly. His honest feeling was that if his friend was in trouble, he wanted to help him to the best of his ability.

***

Upon hearing that Yun Seung-hyo had sent the physician away, Munpyeong rose and went to the annex. After getting permission to enter, he found Yun Seung-hyo, who had reportedly taken a bath with three changes of hot water, dressed in the clean clothes Munpyeong had provided, sitting at a tea table.

On the table before him were steaming dishes, but they had just been served; he hadn't yet touched his chopsticks.

“I forgot to ask. Have you eaten?”

Yun Seung-hyo, chopsticks in hand, started to rise as he saw Munpyeong. Munpyeong waved him down.

“I’ve already eaten. Please, don’t mind me and eat comfortably. It looks as though you haven’t had a proper meal in a while.”

Even though his clothes were clean, he didn't look like his old self. His haggard complexion, as if he were recovering from an illness, was quite pitiable. Seeing him face to face, Munpyeong couldn’t help but express his concern. Hearing this, Yun Seung-hyo unconsciously raised a hand to his cheek.

“Is it that obvious? I have been surviving on dried meets for the past few days.”

“You’ve cleaned yourself up, but it seems you haven’t looked in a mirror yet. Your handsome features have become quite unsightly.”

Perhaps because it was the first time in his life he’d been called “unsightly,” Yun Seung-hyo seemed surprisingly bothered by the comment. Munpyeong watched with a wry smile as he rubbed his own face.

After a moment of checking his condition, Yun Seung-hyo regained his composure. He smiled, the crinkles around his eyes deepening.

“You said it so seriously, I thought it was true. I really thought my face was ruined.”

“I’m not exaggerating. It really is.”

“Still, this is not so bad. I’m still passable, aren’t I? It’s not easy to maintain this level of handsomeness after going through what I have. Grand-Auntie, you must have developed impossibly high standards from always looking at Grand-Uncle. Even in the vast Central Plains, a face like this is a rarity.”

He wasn’t exactly wrong, but hearing him say it himself was just absurd.

`He’s only gotten more shameless since I last saw him.`

Munpyeong looked at him, dumbfounded. Yun Seung-hyo picked up his spoon and began to eat with gusto.

“A feast for a king. The hospitality here is always top-notch. Sometimes, I think the Demonic Cult is better than the Imperial Palace.”

The food before him included freshly made milk porridge, clear turtle soup, and steamed carp wrapped in lotus leaves. All were dishes that would nourish the body without burdening the stomach, a clear sign of how much care Ranran had put into his reception.

At Yun Seung-hyo’s invitation, Munpyeong sat across from him and watched him eat heartily.

“I’ve never eaten at the Imperial Palace, so I can’t say if our cook is better than theirs. However, I do know our physician is better than the Imperial Physician. The 'Physician of Life and Death' has a rather eccentric personality, but his skills are the best under heaven.”

Yun Seung-hyo, who was elegantly deboning a fish, looked up. His way of speaking—catching the tail end of a sentence without causing offense—was quite smooth.

`Living with a certain someone seems to have taught you a few things, hasn't it?`

It was a manner of speaking the old Munpyeong could never have used. Yun Seung-hyo smiled quietly.

“You came because you were concerned that I sent him away.”

“I did,” Munpyeong admitted with a nod.

“It seems I’ve caused you unnecessary worry. I simply sent him away because I have no injuries that require a physician. I didn’t realize you would be so concerned.”

“No injuries? But I saw you couldn’t even walk properly earlier.”

“You have sharp eyes. But that wasn’t from an injury; it was from muscle strain. I thought I was quite proficient in movement techniques, but running for several days straight proved me wrong. I ran so much that even muscles I rarely use were pulled and twisted. I almost got a cramp.”

“…A transcendent martial artist gets a leg cramp?”

“Exactly! That’s what I’m saying. Can you believe it? I, a man who has reached the transcendent level, almost got a leg cramp. I suppose I neglected my physical training, priding myself on being an internal energy master. I was nearly humiliated.”

Yun Seung-hyo bantered on, seeing Munpyeong’s disbelief.

`Sigh. So even this is a secret?`

Munpyeong looked at his infuriatingly evasive attitude with suspicion before letting out a low sigh. He had always known Yun Seung-hyo’s affairs were secretive, but his caution today was a notch above the usual.

My life is in danger. I fled. Other than that, Yun Seung-hyo was refusing to leak even the most trivial piece of information.

Seeing this made Munpyeong worry that he was truly caught up in something dangerous. His complex identity—the Flower Hero, the Flower Fiend, and simultaneously the master of the Haomun Sect—was fertile ground for such concerns.

“If it’s something you wish to hide, I won’t force you to speak. But please, remember this. Seung-hyo, we are not strangers. If you need help, you can always ask.”

Munpyeong, who felt he owed him a great deal from the past, spoke with sincerity. If Cheonma were here, he would have chided him for recklessly offering help without knowing the circumstances, but Munpyeong, who believed in a minimum of human decency, would not have wavered.

As they say, the position makes the man. Having lived for a considerable time receiving the same treatment as Cheonma, Munpyeong had developed a certain dignity befitting his station. He himself was unaware of it, but to others, the difference was stark. To someone like Yun Seung-hyo, who knew him as a low-ranking warrior, the change was staggering. Yun Seung-hyo sincerely expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you, Grand-Auntie. As expected, there is no one more dependable than you.”

Calling him Grand-Uncle would have been startling enough, but Grand-Auntie! His mood, which had just turned serious, soured completely. Munpyeong scowled at him.

“Excuse me, Seung-hyo. Can you please stop with the ‘Grand-Auntie’ talk?”

“Well, what else am I supposed to call my Grand-Auntie?”

Yun Seung-hyo asked, a look of incomprehension on his face. Though it sounded like teasing, his question was not asked in jest.

Yun Seung-hyo was one of the few who did not call Munpyeong “Cheonma-hu.” With his background in the government, he was sensitive about titles and particularly disliked those that mimicked royal ranks.

“Why don’t you just call me Munpyeong, like you used to? It’s quite disconcerting to be called by such a title by someone of a similar age.”

“What an absurd thing to say. Grand-Uncle himself said to ‘treat this person as you would treat me.’ Naturally, I must follow his words.”

“He only meant for you to respect me. You shouldn’t interpret it so literally.”

Munpyeong argued, but Yun Seung-hyo knew Cheonma better than he did. Contrary to Munpyeong’s claim, it was better for one’s well-being to follow Cheonma’s words literally, down to the last syllable. Knowing this, Yun Seung-hyo did not yield.

“If Grand-Auntie becomes Munpyeong, then Grand-Uncle becomes Brother Hyukryeon, or rather, Brother Baek. I’ve called him Grand-Uncle since I was born. Are you telling me to start calling him brother now?”

Hearing that, Munpyeong was left speechless.

What Cheonma insisted on was exactly what Yun Seung-hyo was saying now. He always urged Munpyeong, “You deserve to be treated as my equal, so don’t feel awkward about it.” By the customs of the Central Plains, his words weren’t wrong, but Munpyeong, who couldn’t feel proud of his own position, found it difficult to comply.

Munpyeong was embarrassed enough that his homosexual relationship with Cheonma was known to the entire world. A man who knew shame, he couldn't bring himself to assert his position to his juniors.

Unlike Cheonma, for whom this was his rightful place, Munpyeong, whose status had skyrocketed after meeting him, had a significant inferiority complex about his situation. Even after finally accepting Cheonma and deciding to spend his life with him, that feeling had not easily changed.

`Even without the inferiority complex, the title ‘Grand-Auntie’ is a bit… What man on earth would want to be called that?`

He understood Yun Seung-hyo’s position, but he couldn’t meekly accept the title. His mood soured, and he didn’t hide his displeasure. Noticing his change in mood, Yun Seung-hyo began to subtly watch his face.

He couldn't force him to say ‘Brother,’ but he couldn't stand being called ‘Grand-Auntie’ either. He had no title as a low-ranking warrior, and the only one he had gained after becoming a master was ‘Cheonma-hu,’ so there was nothing else to suggest.

“Hearing you say that, it seems I’ll have to go out into the Jianghu soon. If I had a proper title, you’d have another name to call me by,” Munpyeong grumbled to himself, his complaint thick with frustration.

Hearing this, Yun Seung-hyo was startled. The man who had maintained his composure even when claiming his life was in danger now couldn't hide his shock at Munpyeong’s words. But Munpyeong, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t notice his expression.

He was too busy pondering how to trick Cheonma into letting him go out into the Jianghu alone to notice the change happening right in front of him.

“What are you talking about? Go out into the Jianghu?”

Yun Seung-hyo reacted as vehemently as if Munpyeong had declared he would dance naked in the street. His tone suggested he was asking how Munpyeong could possibly entertain such a wild, insane idea.

“How else am I supposed to get a title? A title isn’t something you can just give yourself. What use is a name that others don’t acknowledge?”

“A person of your esteemed status, thinking such a thing? To throw yourself among the ruffians of the Jianghu? Just for a mere title?”

“Esteemed status? You’re joking. That’s a term that suits you, Seung-hyo. Is it really appropriate for someone like me?”

Yun Seung-hyo was being sincere, but Munpyeong, thinking it was another joke, laughed it off.

`That’s not what I mean, you fool!`

Yun Seung-hyo pounded his chest in frustration.

`If you go out into the Jianghu alone and something happens to you, the Third Great War between the Orthodox and Demonic Sects will break out. And this time, there will be no one to stop Cheonma’s rampage!`

Knowing that hundreds, if not thousands, of lives hinged on Munpyeong’s well-being, Yun Seung-hyo desperately wanted to prevent the disaster his careless words might cause. If, by some chance, he was the reason Munpyeong went out into the world, he might become the instigator of the Third Great War.

“Grand-Auntie, you have no self-awareness. Do you not know how precious you are? As for a title, I can make one for you. They say three people can create a tiger out of thin air; with the Haomun’s information network, what could be so difficult? If you just wish it, you can get a respectable title just by sitting here. So please, don’t even think such absurd thoughts.”

Fearing that a real incident might occur if he was careless, Yun Seung-hyo drove the point home. Munpyeong, who seemed to have wanted an excuse to venture out, looked slightly disappointed.

Though he had reached the transcendent level with Cheonma's help, he had never had a chance to show off his skills. The Righteous Path Alliance, weakened by the last war, was in no state to cause trouble, and in the Demonic Cult, where Cheonma reigned like a god, there was no need to use force, let alone raise one’s voice.

“There’s no need to trouble you so, Seung-hyo. Subjugating a mountain fortress or two wouldn’t be too difficult for me now.”

“He is not volunteering out of trouble, but to protect the peace of the Jianghu. The boy is merely trying to fulfill his duty, so you need not feel burdened.”

The response came from an unexpected direction. The door behind them opened without a sound, and the person who entered spoke the words Yun Seung-hyo had wanted to say. Even with two transcendent masters in the room, neither had sensed a single person’s presence. Of course, the only person in the world capable of such a feat was Cheonma.

Without hesitation, he walked up to Munpyeong and kissed him on the cheek. It was a scandalously intimate greeting by the standards of the Central Plains, but Munpyeong, who was thoroughly used to it, thought nothing of it. Even Yun Seung-hyo, the only one with a shred of common sense left, said nothing.

Cheonma’s doting was so blatant that after witnessing it a few times, nothing he did seemed surprising anymore. Like Munpyeong, onlookers just accepted it as a matter of course.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t you say you’d be gone for another two days?”

Cheonma, who was working to help the Broken-Faced Wanderer achieve his transformation, would occasionally visit his closed-door training to guide him. For a transcendent master to reach the enlightenment stage was as difficult as a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate. For the past ten years, the Broken-Faced Wanderer had rarely left his training chamber.

Knowing he was the only one who could teach him, Cheonma often visited to interpret martial principles. He had been away for several days for this very reason.

“Woo-gyeong seemed about to break through the wall he’d built up, so I left him alone. Having someone watch over him might distract him.”

“Really? Does that mean the Broken-Faced Wanderer has reached the enlightenment stage?”

“We’ll have to see if he breaks through to enlightenment or just shatters another wall of the transcendent level. No one can say for sure until it has been finished.”

Cheonma spoke nonchalantly and sat down beside Munpyeong. Like a long-married couple, the two looked perfectly natural sitting side by side.

Yun Seung-hyo quickly swallowed the food in his mouth and gave a formal cupped-fist salute. He had been standing since Cheonma entered the room and only sat down after being given permission.

“It has been a while, Grand-Uncle. I trust you have been well?”

“What trouble did you stir up in the Central Plains to flee to a remote place like this? It must have been something you couldn't handle on your own.”

Even though Yun Seung-hyo was no longer in his sorry beggar’s state and was dressed decently, Cheonma accurately discerned the reason for his visit.

Startled by Cheonma’s immediate grasp of the situation, Yun Seung-hyo lowered his eyes. Even though it was just a casual glance, he felt as if his inner thoughts were being laid bare.

As expected, the old man who had lived three times as long as him was not as easygoing as Munpyeong. He was only this restrained because Munpyeong was present; otherwise, he might have turned him inside out right then and there.

“He must have had his reasons. I’ve told him he can rest in the annex for a while.”

“Hmph. To say that, he must not have even told you the full story. You are too soft-hearted for your own good.”

Munpyeong tried to defend Yun Seung-hyo, but it was no use. Cheonma clicked his tongue, his words a reprimand even to Munpyeong, before clucking his tongue again in disapproval. Yun Seung-hyo’s shoulders slumped as if he were a frog before a snake.

While he had managed a few laughs with Munpyeong despite his ordeal, Cheonma's appearance had clearly rattled his nerves. His anxiety was plain to see.

“What does it matter what the reason is? I know that things don’t always go as planned when you wander the Jianghu. Sometimes, it’s better not to know.”

“That might be true if you were just a passerby, but you’ve been dragged into it now, haven’t you? What crime did that brat commit that you’d hide him without even knowing what it was?”

“It’s not as if I’ve only known him for a day or two. I know his character and his actions. Can I not even help him this much?”

As Munpyeong continued to defend Yun Seung-hyo, Cheonma’s expression grew cold. The fact that Munpyeong was defending another man right in front of him was more irksome than his backtalk. Cheonma’s words became sharp as thorns.

“This is why I call you naive. You shouldn’t blindly trust an animal in human skin. Have you not learned that after all you’ve been through?”

“According to my experience, the person who has lied to me the most is standing right in front of me. If I’m to be suspicious, I should start with you.”

“Then do so. It would be better for you to not even trust me than to so readily trust anyone and everyone.”

Why is this man always so spiteful? Munpyeong looked disapprovingly at Cheonma, who was interigating his own grandson like a mouse. But while Cheonma’s words seemed aimed at Munpyeong, their true target was, of course, Yun Seung-hyo.

`How dare you use Munpyeong? You think you can just use a kind person for your own benefit? Don’t just pay lip service to me as an elder; treat me like one. Did you really think I’d see this mess and just let it slide?!`

Cheonma’s intent was so clear that anyone who could read between the lines would have understood. The quick-witted Yun Seung-hyo was no exception. As the argument between Cheonma and Munpyeong dragged on, he became so restless that he couldn't even eat properly.

Though he was never particularly kind to his subordinates, Cheonma was especially harsh with Yun Seung-hyo. As a sworn grandson, not a blood-related one, whom he worked to the bone whenever he needed something, one might think he deserved better treatment. But for some reason, he was always as merciless as a loan shark.

Even an onlooker might think it was too much at times; one could only imagine how the target felt. Munpyeong was about to say more when he caught Cheonma’s sleeve and shook his head.

“He is a guest who has come from afar. He must be tired. Why don’t we leave him be? We can continue this conversation later.”

Cheonma scowled fiercely, as if to say, Let go of me, but Munpyeong did not release his sleeve.

Unable to shake off Munpyeong’s hand in front of others, Cheonma shot him a frosty glare before whipping his head away. Munpyeong, exasperated by his childish tantrum, let out a low sigh.

“We seem to have interrupted your meal. We will take our leave now.”

Fearing he would only embarrass their guest further, Munpyeong stood up, pulling Cheonma with him. Yun Seung-hyo rose again to see them off. Seeing this, Munpyeong felt he had only troubled the man by coming.

How many times had he put down and picked up his chopsticks now? Munpyeong wrapped his arm around the resisting Heavenly Demon’s and started walking.

`Let’s go. Please! You’ve embarrassed a guest young enough to be your grandson more than enough.`

Munpyeong muttered inwardly. He knew this was for his sake, but his over-protectiveness was becoming embarrassing.

*"A fine display for a man past thirty. Just what kind of brute did you get into a fight with to come running here?"*

His anger still not appeased, Cheonma shot a telepathic message into Yun Seung-hyo's ear, hidden from Munpyeong. Yun Seung-hyo, who had been standing to see them off, turned white as a sheet. Unable to hide his shock, he stammered back at Cheonma.

*"H-how did you know?"*

*"How could I not? I could tell just from the way you sat down."*

Indeed, the sharp eyes of a man who had lived as a homosexual for over fifty years were not to be trifled with. How could he have discerned such a thing in that brief moment?

Having never imagined his current state would be discovered by another, he couldn't hide his bewilderment at Cheonma's observation. Cheonma gave his ever-changing face a meaningful look before delivering the final blow as he crossed the threshold.

*"And you. You bathed in hot water, didn’t you? Your wound has reopened, and there’s blood seeping through your back. It looks like you got quite a bit on the chair, too, so you’d best take care of it. That is, if you don’t want others to find out."*

Hearing this, Yun Seung-hyo’s heart plummeted. He turned around, his mind reeling in shock. If the chair was covered in blood, he would have noticed. How could he have been so oblivious?

But when he hastily looked down, what he saw was not the horrific scene he had imagined. Instead of a pool of blood, only a few faint stains dotted the lacquered wood. It was a trace he only noticed because Cheonma had pointed it out; otherwise, he would have missed the subtle clue.

Just in case, he felt the back of his trousers but found only a few hardened drops of blood. There was no obvious evidence, as Cheonma's words had implied. No one but the unusually perceptive Heavenly Demon would have figured out what had happened to him from such scant evidence.

`Should I consider this fortunate or unfortunate? Was coming here a mistake?`

Having his situation seen through without making any obvious mistakes, Yun Seung-hyo could only manage a bitter smile. He had tried to hide it, but to Cheonma, it must have been as clear as day.

He took out the silk handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped the chair, and incinerated the cloth with a burst of True Fire. Still not satisfied, he opened the window and scattered the ashes into the wind. The ashes, holding his secret, dispersed. With a bitter feeling, Yun Seung-hyo brushed off his hands, turned, and closed the window.

***

The first thing that happened to Munpyeong after he dragged Cheonma back to their quarters was a kiss. It had only been five days since they had last seen each other, yet he pressed his lips against his with the urgency of a lover who hadn’t seen his partner in years.

Munpyeong stumbled, unable to even close the door, and almost hit his back on the doorframe. Fortunately, Cheonma, anticipating this, reached out an arm and saved him from injury, but he still couldn't escape the kiss.

A moist, sweet tongue caressed the inside of his mouth. His whole body was enveloped by a wall of hard muscle, yet only the lips were meltingly sweet. The kiss, which hurried and urged yet never hurt, pushed Munpyeong into a world of sensuality.

Pale white teeth gently bit his upper lip before letting go. The playful tug, followed by a soothing press of lips, stirred even the indifferent Munpyeong. Unconsciously, he wrapped his arms around Cheonma’s back and swallowed a deep moan. Tamed by Cheonma's touch, his body automatically began to heat up.

Munpyeong pushed his tongue into Cheonma’s mouth. Now, he felt he couldn't stop the kiss either. His active response seemed to excite Cheonma, whose hands became busy. In an instant, his belt was undone, and his top was half-off.

Feeling the silk of Cheonma's robe against his bare chest, Munpyeong's senses returned faintly. Blinking his blurry, tear-filled eyes, he realized he was half-naked in front of an open door and belatedly flinched in surprise.

“You must enjoy showing my body to others.”

Munpyeong, finally managing to pull his lips away from the reluctant Heavenly Demon, said sarcastically, unable to hide his panting. Cheonma, looking down regretfully at the lips that were just his, kissed Munpyeong's temple.

“Of course, I do. If I could, I would boast of it to the entire world.”

Being a man who lived as if he were the only one in the world, his thinking was also unconventional, giving an answer Munpyeong hadn’t expected. Thinking of his usual extreme possessiveness, Munpyeong had assumed he would flatly deny it. But in reality, he was not only willing but even confidently smiling about it.

“Are you really going to let me? Then shall we have a little outdoor fun for a change?”

Before Munpyeong could even finish his sentence, Cheonma was all over him. As if he had finally seized a long-awaited opportunity, his temptation was laced with no small amount of sincerity.

`This perverted old man.`

Munpyeong glared at Cheonma, who was now tormenting his earlobe with the tip of his tongue. No matter how much time passed, he could never get used to this man’s fervent spirit of adventure. He never expected such a lack of common sense and was caught off guard every time.

“…I always think this, but you always exceed my expectations in the most unexpected ways. A little of that is provocative. Too much is just a flaw.”

Having lived with him, Munpyeong had inherited his biting wit and now chided him with words Cheonma himself might have used. Hearing this, Cheonma burst out laughing, as if Munpyeong had just told a joke.

“Don’t worry. You’re the only one in the sect who can find fault with me.”

“Who said I was worried about you? I’m worried about my own reputation, which is already at rock bottom.”

“My reputation is your reputation, and my dignity is your dignity. I’ve told you time and again not to care about what others think, yet you still don’t understand. It’s fine. Others are more resourceful than you; if there’s something they shouldn’t see, they absolutely won’t see it. They’ll pretend not to see it, or if that’s difficult, they’ll gouge out their own eyes. No one can come to us and dare to say a word.”

`That’s why I don’t want to make innocent people blind!`

Even knowing Cheonma’s words were just a metaphor, Munpyeong felt a surge of rebellion. The idea of causing trouble for those around them by doing something they could easily avoid was something he couldn't understand.

Lifting his head to say something, Munpyeong’s eyes met Cheonma’s, who was looking down at him with a gentle smile. He was smiling with his eyes narrowed, as if dazzled by a bright light. His words were harsh, but his gaze was as sweet as could be. The smile that hung on the slightly crinkled corners of his eyes was so captivating it sent a shiver down his spine. And that gaze was so sweet it made his tongue tingle, as if he were tasting candy.

Seeing him look at him as if he were the most beautiful and adorable thing in the world—even though the true peerless beauty was Cheonma himself—Munpyeong felt his rising anger melt away. It was absurd, but a corner of his heart tingled.

The truth was, only Cheonma would look at him this way. No one else would ever look at him with such a gaze. In the face of Cheonma, who showed him with his entire being what it meant to be drowned in affection, Munpyeong could no longer be angry.

“Still, if you don’t like it, I won’t force you. You may be needlessly shy, but that’s your nature, so what can I do?”

Realizing his mood had softened, Cheonma smiled boastfully and used his powers to slam the door shut.

“The door is closed, so we can start now, right? You’re not going to object again, are you?”

Cheonma’s hand slyly crept back under his clothes. With a low sigh, Munpyeong wrapped his arms around Cheonma’s neck.

“The way you treated Seung-hyo so harshly earlier… was it really because you wanted to do this?”

Munpyeong asked suspiciously. He hadn’t realized it earlier when he was being overwhelmed, but looking back, it seemed there had been a hidden agenda. Cheonma lifted Munpyeong’s body in his arms and replied lightly, as if joking.

“You figured it out? Your intuition has sharpened.”

“It’s not my intuition that has sharpened; it’s my experience.”

“Do you think you’re the only one who has gained experience? I, too, acted based on experience. If I had just brazenly carried you off, you’d be crying and making a scene by now.”

Cheonma muttered as he carefully laid Munpyeong on the silk bedding.

Crying and making a scene! Offended at being treated like a child of ten, Munpyeong grumbled openly.

“I wouldn’t have cried and made a scene. I would have been angry and nagged you, though.”

“Semantics.”

“Are you saying my anger is the same as a child’s tantrum?”

“It means that in my eyes, they are both equally adorable.”

When Munpyeong glared at him, Cheonma smoothly deflected. In terms of appearance, it was a young man in his mid-twenties speaking to a man in his mid-thirties, which was comical. But Munpyeong, who knew Cheonma’s true age, had no choice but to accept it.

It was a terrifying thought, but Cheonma would be celebrating his hundredth birthday in a few years. Though his appearance hadn't changed in ten years, making it hard to believe, his attitude toward Munpyeong was sometimes reminiscent of an old man doting on a young concubine, so he couldn't completely deny it.

Cheonma’s body climbed on top of his. As he shifted his weight, a heavy pressure pressed down on his skin. Munpyeong propped himself up on his elbows, lifting his upper body. Cheonma, straddling his waist, began to leisurely undress him.

The late afternoon sun streamed through the window, caressing Cheonma's shoulders. As the golden light flowed over his naked body, even the fine hairs on his skin sparkled.

When he untied the ribbon holding his hair, a cascade of lustrous, ebony hair flowed down to his waist. The sight of the black hair draping over his flawless, unscarred torso was so erotic he could barely breathe.

`The real peerless beauty is this one.`

Munpyeong marveled, entranced. He was certain that at least half of the reason Cheonma was so full of self-confidence was due to his looks. Staring at such features in a mirror every day, it would be impossible not to develop confidence.

Meeting his mesmerized gaze, Cheonma smiled faintly and slowly reached down to untie Munpyeong’s waistband. His member emerged from within his undergarments. Already half-aroused just from watching Cheonma undress, it stood erect, unashamed.

Cheonma completely removed Munpyeong’s lower garments and lowered his face to his member. A warm, pleasant membrane slowly enveloped him. A gentle tongue playfully tickled the head of his penis, then began to lick the slit. Munpyeong’s hips arched as he let out a deep groan.

The pleasure that shot straight to his lower body made him instantly hard. A tingling ache spread from the depths of his dantian to his lower abdomen. As the intensity of the pleasure grew, the strength in his spread thighs increased. Munpyeong raised his knees and arched his slender waist like a bow.

“Ah! Aht!”

Like in all other things, Cheonma was extremely skilled at oral sex. Munpyeong was too afraid to ask where and how he had practiced, but judging by the fact that he had even mastered how to use his throat, this was not the work of a novice.

According to a passing comment from Cheonma, Munpyeong’s member was perfectly suited for oral pleasure. Not too big, not too small, with a good hardness, and so sensitive that it reacted thrillingly to any technique.

When Munpyeong had been the one to passively offer his body, he had given but never received oral sex. But over time, the situation had reversed. Nowadays, Munpyeong was more likely to receive it than to give it.

Cheonma played with his front as joyfully as he played with his back. Licking and sucking were standard, and sometimes he would even gently bite with the tips of his teeth.

Munpyeong, whose glans was particularly sensitive, died and came back to life each time. The intense pleasure, something he had never felt with any woman, often made him ejaculate until he felt wrung out, and sometimes it was so much that even his testicles ached.

It was the same now. Cheonma held his hips firmly, preventing his escape, and toyed with his member as he pleased. Munpyeong twisted his waist, unable to bear the intense stimulation.

The sensitive shaft was gently scraped by the tips of his teeth. The flamboyant lips created a strong suction, delicately stimulating the raised blood vessels. His member was sucked into Cheonma’s mouth. It felt as though not just his penis but his entire body was being pulled in. The membrane-covered muscles tightened around his lower half, eliciting a terrifying level of pleasure.

Munpyeong curled his toes and gasped for breath. Sparks flew before his eyes. It felt less like receiving oral sex and more like being eaten alive.

The root of his penis tightened, and his lower abdomen felt heavy. As if to tease him while he desperately held back, Cheonma pressed down hard. Munpyeong bit his lip, his hands gripping the silk bedding so tightly it threatened to tear. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t suppress the breathless moans that poured out.

“Hah, aah, aaahk!”

The constantly stimulated member swelled to its limit and throbbed. Each time it twitched, Cheonma skillfully provoked him. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Munpyeong began to release a thick stream of semen into Cheonma’s mouth.

The heat that had been warming his entire body concentrated in one spot, burning hot. It felt as if he were releasing not semen but his very life force, as his entire body convulsed. Even in the throes of it, the crease between his buttocks twitched. As if it knew what was to come, it contracted and expanded in anticipation.

“The taste is rich. It seems you didn’t even pleasure yourself while I was away.”

Having swallowed every last drop of the semen Munpyeong had spilled, Cheonma licked his swollen lips and murmured. Seeing this, Munpyeong blushed and turned his head away. The mischievous Heavenly Demon insisted on bringing his face right in front of Munpyeong’s. Then, he flicked out his tongue and wrapped it around Munpyeong’s.

The lukewarm taste of his own fluid was transmitted to Munpyeong’s tongue. Tasting one’s own semen was not a common experience, but then again, Cheonma had just casually drunk someone else’s.

It wasn't as if he hadn't tasted Cheonma's before, and knowing that avoiding it would only make him more insistent, Munpyeong obediently opened his mouth. Cheonma rubbed his tongue against Munpyeong’s a few times, then licked the roof of his mouth at length before pulling away. Munpyeong frowned but smacked his lips.

“Well? It’s rich, isn’t it?”

“Compared to what I usually taste, not really. How could I compare to you?”

“I haven’t put it in your mouth lately, only in your lower hole. Could you still tell the taste?”

“It’s not a taste one can forget after a year or two of not having it. Every time you scrape it out of my backside, I remember the taste.”

Munpyeong bantered back at Cheonma’s teasing. Pleased with his bold response, Cheonma grinned and pulled him into another deep kiss.

Feeling Cheonma’s tongue, Munpyeong slowly lay back. Cheonma took scented oil from a small cabinet by the bed and moistened the area between Munpyeong’s buttocks.

Long, delicate fingers parted the excited flesh. The movements were wild, as if entering without permission, but his hands never actually caused any injury. The fragrant oil coated the trembling membrane.

As his touch skillfully avoided the pleasure points, spreading the oil thoroughly, Munpyeong began to feel an agonizing impatience. Without realizing it, his legs spread in a pleading manner, and his hips began to sway. As if to resent him for only circling the periphery, his aroused inner walls tightened around Cheonma’s fingers as if to sever them.

His eyes colored with a lustful light, Munpyeong looked up at Cheonma. Cheonma lifted Munpyeong’s tense legs onto his shoulders and kissed his ankles.

“No need to beg. Even if you don’t rush, I will hold you plenty today.”

Cheonma promised, as if there had ever been a time he hadn't held him plenty. Munpyeong was too embarrassed to say *please do* out loud, so he just breathed shallowly, panting.

He felt the oil-slicked fingers grip his calves firmly. The massive, taut member was aimed at his entrance. In an obscene, disheveled posture, Munpyeong waited for Cheonma to enter him.

“Ah, aahk!”

Cheonma’s member entered Munpyeong’s waiting body. Even though he was used to it, accepting something so massive was never easy. Munpyeong felt a shock as if his body were being split in two and threw his chin back. A pillar of hot fire pierced into him. His two legs, lifted in the air, trembled pathetically, but Cheonma was merciless.

With Munpyeong’s legs on his shoulders, Cheonma put his strength into his hips once more. The object that had been slowly entering him suddenly plunged deep. With a shudder, Munpyeong thrashed his head violently. But Cheonma’s movements were just beginning. The massive rod, like a rolling pin, buried itself to the root.

The soft skin of his buttocks felt not only the pubic hair but also the tautly tensed testicles. The tense inner walls fiercely squeezed his partner's member. Not only the parts he could feel, but every inch of him was conquered by Cheonma.

Cheonma’s member pounded inside him, strong and fast. His vision went white. For a moment, it was as if time had disappeared, and he could feel nothing. But when Cheonma resumed his movements, the lost sensations returned all at once, taking over his entire body.

With Cheonma’s intense thrusts, it felt as though his entire insides had become an organ of pleasure. With each thrust, he trembled in ecstasy, writhing desperately to take him in deeper.

His mind burned as if intoxicated by an aphrodisiac. Cheonma, crowned with golden sunlight above him, attacked him while showering his face with loving kisses. The lips that descended on his cheeks and neck were tender, but the movements below his waist were ruthless. If Cheonma’s attack had been tinged with killing intent, Munpyeong would have long been slain. Cheonma was a man capable of killing his partner with pleasure alone.

A fierce pleasure that felt like it would drive him mad filled his mind. Munpyeong didn't feel alive at all. It was as if he were dead and only his soul remained, or if he were alive, only his lower body existed. All he could feel was what Cheonma gave him.

His lips falling on his wet eyes, his sweat dripping down his neck. And his intense thrusts. His member. The pure, strong force penetrating his body. Harder. Stronger. Munpyeong moved his hips in time with Cheonma’s movements, clenching his teeth. Not only his body but his very spirit was shaken by Cheonma’s relentless assault.

“Aah! Aahk! Aaaaahk!”

Munpyeong wasn't moaning; he was practically howling. He felt like he was going to die. He might drown, thrashing in the flood of sensations being poured into him. But Munpyeong wasn’t afraid. He didn’t even have the mental capacity to feel fear. His nerves were focused solely on the partner thrusting up from below.

He cried, thrashed, and moved his hips, accepting Cheonma. Cheonma pushed harder against Munpyeong, who was writhing violently beneath him in the throes of pleasure.

**Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.** The wet, slapping sounds cut through the late afternoon air. Munpyeong’s cries echoed beyond the closed door, but there was no one to hear them. The maids, who had guessed what was happening when they went into the room, had closed the outer doors and all withdrawn.

The two were always vigorous in their nighttime activities, but if they were separated for even a short time, their relations became even more intense. The maids, who knew from experience that staying around meant seeing things they shouldn't, would not dare to come near the Hall of Paired Wings for some time.

From their experience, their lovemaking would not end in an hour or two. It would likely continue tenaciously until at least noon the next day, so until then, they might as well have been given a short holiday.

***

“You look quite pale. Did something bad happen these past few days?”

Yun Seung-hyo, who was finally sharing a cup of tea with Munpyeong, asked nonchalantly, observing how his face had become gaunt in just three days.

Hearing his words, Munpyeong smiled bitterly. He knew full well what had happened, yet he feigned ignorance. In that, he was surprisingly similar to Cheonma.

He didn't even want to recall the events of the past two days. Cheonma had insisted that since they hadn't seen each other for five days, they had to make up for all five days. Munpyeong had finally managed to put him to sleep by clinging to his trouser leg and begging, “I’m going to die at this rate.”

At first, he had eagerly joined in, but later he was so exhausted and sore that he could barely even straighten his back. When an act becomes that punishing, it should be called torment, not lovemaking.

`He used to consider my well-being and moderate the frequency, but ever since I reached the transcendent level, he just does whatever he wants. Surely he didn’t teach me martial arts just for this? He told me to become a person worthy of his level if I was so resentful. Don’t tell me that ‘level’ was referring to my stamina in bed?`

Knowing Cheonma’s habit of never acting without a plan, Munpyeong couldn't easily dismiss the suspicion once it had taken root. Thinking back, everything seemed suspicious. Giving him the precious inner core of a previous Heavenly Demon, being so obsessed with the art of "plucking yang to supplement yang" only to give it up without much fuss when the time came—it was all suspicious.

Could it be that he had acted that way because he had a plan in mind?

Munpyeong, whose first thought of Cheonma was always of being deceived, was belatedly lost in thought over something that had happened long ago. It was no use realizing it now, but Munpyeong, who had a tendency to obsess once he focused on something, couldn't break free from his own thoughts.

`Come to think of it, this one is quite peculiar too.`

Yun Seung-hyo watched with a smile as Munpyeong, who had invited him for tea, was lost in his own world.

He didn't seem to have such a strong personality before, but perhaps he had been by Cheonma’s side for too long and had been thoroughly influenced. If you told him that, he would vehemently deny it, but to an onlooker, the change was obvious.

`But it’s not bad. Just watching them is quite entertaining.`

Yun Seung-hyo thought with a private smile. Cheonma, who was flawless in every aspect except for his terrible personality, had never had a real weakness. For someone like Munpyeong to appear in his life was unexpected, but upon reflection, it wasn't a bad thing.

Munpyeong was both a weakness and the only trace of humanity Cheonma possessed. Cheonma had lived a perfect life, but it could hardly be called a human one. Without Munpyeong, his life would have remained cold and tasteless.

Lost in their own thoughts, a silence fell between them. A quiet but peaceful atmosphere lingered. The mood was shattered by the urgent ringing of a bell from outside.

**Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!**

Munpyeong, frowning slightly, put down his teacup. The ringing was so urgent that even Yun Seung-hyo, who was unfamiliar with the inner workings of the cult, could tell something was happening outside. They both turned their heads toward the sound. Yun Seung-hyo, unable to hide his confusion, asked Munpyeong.

“What does this bell mean?”

“It seems an enemy has infiltrated. This particular ringing pattern is the emergency signal from the inner sanctum. Whoever it is, they’ve already made it inside.”

The alarm from the outer sections and the alarm from the inner sanctum had different ringing patterns. As a former guard of the outer sections, Munpyeong knew its security system better than anyone. He listened to the bell, puzzled. The inner sanctum of the Demonic Cult was not a place that outsiders could easily enter, not only because of the ever-patrolling warriors but also because of the numerous traps and formations installed everywhere.

But what was happening? The ringing grew more and more frantic. In the nearly twenty years he had lived in the Demonic Cult—ten of them with Cheonma—this was the first time he had heard the emergency alarm.

The alarm, which he had only known in theory, was actually functioning. The head of security was always hard on his subordinates, but at least it was effective when needed.

“Please, sit. The Hall of Paired Wings is a forbidden area even within the inner sanctum. Even if an enemy has entered, they won’t reach this far, so you can rest assured.”

Munpyeong calmly reassured Yun Seung-hyo, who had risen from his seat and was straining to hear what was happening outside. Having become a master himself, his courage had grown, and with the most reliable backer in the world nearby, he was unconcerned. He treated the intrusion as if it were someone else's problem.

On the other hand, Yun Seung-hyo, who had no one reliable to count on, couldn't calm his mind. He looked at Munpyeong with a wavering gaze and asked a somewhat strange question.

“What if the intruder is a transcendent master?”

“Even with dozens of transcendent masters, it would be difficult. The inner sanctum is crawling with peak masters, and there are many esoteric formations that defy the conventions of the Central Plains. With the emergency alarm ringing, the traps would have been activated, making it even more complicated. No matter how skilled they are, they can’t easily break through such a difficult security net.”

“What if it’s a master skilled in esoteric arts and formations, with extraordinary movement techniques? A person exceptionally skilled in stealth and concealment. Someone who might even play the part of a thief for fun.”

“That sounds like someone with the skills of my master. If their abilities are on the level of the 'Thousand Transformations of the Black Night,' then the situation would be different. If nothing else, such people are exceptionally good at escaping.”

Munpyeong answered, subtly mocking the master he had only met once decades ago.

Hearing this, Yun Seung-hyo’s face turned pale. As if he hadn’t heard Munpyeong’s suggestion to sit, he began to pace around the room restlessly.

`What’s this? Does he know who the intruder is?`

His overly specific questions about the intruder’s abilities naturally aroused Munpyeong’s suspicion. Indeed, Yun Seung-hyo’s behavior was very strange. He looked as if he would chew his fingernails if Munpyeong weren’t there.

This man rarely revealed his inner thoughts so plainly. What was going on? Munpyeong watched him with curiosity, lost in thought.

“YUN—SEUNG—HYO!! You damned bastard!! Get out here now!!”

A thunderous roar suddenly fell upon their ears. Like the lion’s roar of a Buddhist monk, the majestic shout shook the entire inner sanctum, calling for Yun Seung-hyo. As if struck by the sound, Yun Seung-hyo flinched. Munpyeong unconsciously hunched his shoulders before turning to look at him.

“That… that shout. Doesn’t it sound like it’s looking for you, Seung-hyo?”

Munpyeong asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. Yun Seung-hyo, avoiding a direct answer, turned his head, his face pale. His white hands trembled as they clasped each other. Judging by the voice, the person was quite young, yet he called out the name of a man much his senior with bold impunity.

“I-is there anywhere to hide? Like the place where Cheonma does his closed-door training, or even the Cave of Repentance would be fine.”

Yun Seung-hyo asked frantically, like a deer trying to escape a hunter hot on its trail.

“The Hall of Paired Wings itself is a forbidden area. Where else could you possibly hide from here?”

“But this place is forbidden only because people voluntarily avoid it, right? What I need is a secret place that outsiders absolutely cannot invade. The Demonic Cult must have such a place, right? It’s been established in the Heavenly Mountains for a thousand years.”

Yun Seung-hyo requested it as if a place of that age should have at least one inaccessible underground prison. Munpyeong, who had no intention of locking him in such a place even if it existed, laughed incredulously.

“Only the Cult Leader and the Grand Master would know of such places. What would a former low ranking cult member like me know? …By the way, you’re looking pale. Shouldn’t you really sit down?”

Munpyeong couldn't understand why Yun Seung-hyo was so tense. If things got serious, *that person* would move himself. He’d been lazing around for a while, so he should at least earn his keep.

Casually thinking of the great Heavenly Demon as a house guard, Munpyeong poured tea into an empty cup. He then used his powers to push the teacup toward Yun Seung-hyo.

“Don’t be nervous. Have a drink. Seung-hyo, you are a guest of ours. Do you think we lack the face to hand over a guest we’ve welcomed to an enemy? With *that person* nearby, what are you so worried about?”

Yun Seung-hyo, who had numbly received the cup, looked up sharply at Munpyeong’s words of comfort. As if he had been struck on the back of the head, a spark of realization flashed in his eyes. He turned to Munpyeong with an urgent look.

“Ah, right. Grand-Uncle! If Grand-Uncle finds out about this, he won’t just stand by, will he? He’s been itching for some action lately. What if he uses too much force? That kid could get hurt.”

“…Who are you worried about right now?”

“That kid, Hongrang, I mean, no, anyway, that damn kid! The intruder might be someone I know. Not a mortal enemy, but someone I have a complicated personal situation with, you could say. An old connection that’s come back to haunt me. It’s not a relationship I can just ignore. I’m sorry to ask, but could you please ask Grand-Uncle not to be too harsh? Of course, breaking into the Demonic Cult without permission is a crime worthy of a hundred deaths, but the opponent is just a child with a bright future ahead of him. Please, show some mercy.”

Yun Seung-hyo pleaded breathlessly, but Munpyeong, not understanding the situation, just frowned. Unable to get a definitive answer, Yun Seung-hyo’s insides burned with anxiety.

`I can’t believe he actually followed me here.`

He was certain of the intruder’s identity and couldn't help but worry for his safety.

`If I hid in the Demonic Cult of all places, he should have given up the chase. Does he think he’s some kind of hero? Why would he charge headfirst into a legion of tens of thousands of warriors alone? This isn’t the Battle of Changban, and they all know he has no backing!`

He was a foolish and reckless brat. And annoyingly persistent. He acted like a wild beast, unafraid of heaven, so he probably needed a good lesson to come to his senses. Unfortunately, Yun Seung-hyo couldn’t bear to watch him get hurt.

His head ached from the contradictory feelings of being unable to do either. He thought he shouldn't get involved with the kid anymore, but at the same time, he wanted to see his face just one more time.

How did we end up like this? A sad glint flickered in Yun Seung-hyo’s bluish eyes.

If it weren’t for the mistake he made, or if it weren’t for the promise they made to each other in the first place, their relationship wouldn't have become so twisted. But everything had gone wrong from the start, and Yun Seung-hyo didn't have the strength to fix their broken relationship.

“Yun Seung-hyo, you’re in there, aren’t you? Come out!!”

The booming shout came from right outside the door, as if the person had arrived in an instant. It was clear he knew exactly where Yun Seung-hyo was and had come straight for him.

A startled Munpyeong’s eyes widened. Yun Seung-hyo looked up at the door with a pale face. When Yun Seung-hyo only showed alarm and made no sound, the person outside, growing impatient, kicked the door open. Both of their gazes turned to the rude, uninvited guest.

Munpyeong was inwardly impressed by the man who had entered the room. He hadn't expected it, but the man who had chased Yun Seung-hyo all the way to the Demonic Cult was not just young but a mere boy.

In the Jianghu, there were many masters who looked younger than their age, but no one had achieved the state of rejuvenation like Cheonma. While some maintained the appearance of their thirties, it was extremely rare to see someone who looked to be in their early twenties. If he wasn't a case like Cheonma, then he was as young as he looked.

Twenty? Or twenty-one? At most, he was barely of age, yet his martial prowess was unbelievably outstanding. According to Yun Seung-hyo, he was already at the transcendent level at that age. As far as Munpyeong knew, the only person to achieve that much at that age was Cheonma. But this young man showed an incredible level of achievement that surpassed his age, as if he had eaten immortal pills for every meal and undergone daily transformations by a sage.

`What’s even more surprising is his appearance.`

Having spent his days looking at Cheonma’s face, he had become somewhat indifferent to others’ beauty, but this man’s appearance was so stunning that even his eyes widened. He was more intense than beautiful. Overwhelming yet elegant, alluring yet masculine.

Munpyeong had seen many beauties in his life, but he had never seen a man as erotically charged as the one before him. It was a good thing he was born a man; as a woman, he would have been called a siren just for his looks.

His slender, tapering eyes overflowed with sensuality, and his lips, a vivid apricot color unthinkable for a young man, exuded a sultry aura, as if he had just been in a long kiss. His strong neck overflowed with a wild charm, and his intense, blackish-purple silk robes were artfully disheveled, subtly emphasizing his captivating figure.

“Yun Seung-hyo!”

Any woman would have immediately thrown herself into his arms, but this handsome man approached Yun Seung-hyo with a fierce scowl.

**Meow, meow.** As if in response to the man's shout, a cat meowed and fearlessly rubbed against Yun Seung-hyo's leg. Contrary to its cute appearance, the cat was a legendary Seven-Colored Cat, known to live in the jungles of Yunnan. A brave and tenacious hunter that could accurately distinguish friend from foe in pitch-black darkness and track a scent it had memorized even from ten thousand miles away.

The man had been able to track Yun Seung-hyo’s trail from a great distance thanks to this cat. He had shrewdly imprinted Yun Seung-hyo's scent on it.

“So the damn bastard was hiding here? Why not hide in the Imperial Palace? It would be better to be a traitor than an enemy of the Demonic Cult.”

The man said sarcastically as he walked towards Yun Seung-hyo. Before the man had appeared, Yun Seung-hyo had been visibly anxious, but now that he saw him, he seemed to have regained his composure, standing tall and aloof.

His cold gaze was fixed on the man. The man’s expression twisted at the sight of that gaze, but he didn't take his eyes off Yun Seung-hyo's face.

“You’ve caused me enough trouble. Let’s go back.”

The man urged him on, as if he were about to grab Yun Seung-hyo’s shoulder. He did indeed reach out a hand, but Yun Seung-hyo skillfully dodged it. Seeing this, the man used a grappling technique. Yun Seung-hyo countered with his own grappling arts.

In a brief moment, a few exchanges took place. A light but fierce skirmish. The young man’s martial arts were impressive for his age, but he was no match for the skill of Yun Seung-hyo, who had been a master for a long time.

When Seung-hyo slipped away like an eel, a vein popped on the angry man’s forehead. He should have become less attractive with such a fierce expression, but the angrier he got, the more sensual he became. It didn't seem to be from any martial art he practiced; he was likely born that way.

“What are you doing? I said, let’s go back!”

The man shouted, flaring up at Yun Seung-hyo. But the more agitated he became, the calmer Yun Seung-hyo seemed to get.

“Why are you acting like you know me? We are strangers now.”

“What kind of bullshit is that? Why wouldn’t I know you? After all the effort I put into getting you!”

“…We performed the Spring Dream Rite. As you wished, I kept my promise. Before the rite, perhaps you didn't know, but after it, you should understand what that promise means. Your pursuit of me violates the laws of the House.”

Yun Seung-hyo tried to reason with him, but the man wouldn’t listen. He snorted so hard it looked like his handsome nose would fall off and replied with arrogant confidence.

“Laws, my ass. I am the current master of the House. I am the law, and I am the Joyful Pavilion. I can ignore such laws. No one can question me about it.”

“For a ruler of people, you speak very foolishly. Do you expect the people of the House to follow a law that you yourself do not? A ruler, more than anyone, should abide by the law. Just because you are the master doesn't mean you can do as you please. Principles are principles. Do not disrespect them.”

“Don’t give me that crap about principles. What kind of principle is the Spring Dream Rite? Is it a principle to deliberately plant resentment in someone who has none? It’s just a foolish, stupid, and evil custom. Humans have compassion. Even without experiencing it themselves, they can sympathize with a sad story.

“Do you think I, born and raised in the Joyful Pavilion, would forget such a thing? I know my people to my very bones. So don’t try to avoid me with your useless worries. I’m not letting you go again. You’ve fallen into my hands not once, but twice. You’re mine. It’s useless for you to try to run away.”

A serious exchange of words filled with unknown history went back and forth. Munpyeong, who had been watching with wide eyes, began to guess the general story as the conversation progressed.

`W-wait a minute. Is Seung-hyo being courted by this young man?`

His intuition having sharpened considerably, Munpyeong did not misread the subtle atmosphere between the two. And from the sound of it, their relationship had progressed quite a bit.

`Come to think of it, the term ‘Spring Dream Rite’ sounds familiar. I can’t remember where I heard it, but I’m sure I’ve heard it before…`

Even after hearing the man’s words, Yun Seung-hyo just shook his head. He stepped back, putting distance between them.

“Go.”

Yun Seung-hyo said, his lips trembling as he bade the other farewell. It was too weak a stance to persuade a man who had sworn never to leave him, but he seemed unaware of this himself.

“I kept my promise to you. I gave you my body, and I gave you a whole night. The vow I made to you long ago has been fulfilled. I have no more obligations.”

“Obligations? Ha! Did you just say obligations?”

“Yes. It was an obligation.”

“You have the nerve to say that. Was there nothing left for me but an obligation? Then why did you cry so sorrowfully that day? And why did you try to refuse the Spring Dream Rite until the very end? You were afraid of being separated from me forever. You tried to avoid me without even telling me the truth, all for that reason. If I hadn't forced you, you would have never fulfilled that damn obligation.”

“Eun-hwan. Stop it.”

“I can’t stop. The more I hear, the more ridiculous it gets. Can you really leave me? After carrying me in your heart for so long, you’re just going to forget everything now? You spread your legs for me and took me in. You forgot your pride as a man, your dignity, and your shame. I am the only person in the world who can make you do that. And you’re going to turn your back on me?”

“Stop, stop it!”

“I’m forced to say these things because you’re being so stubborn! How long are you going to run? Now that you’ve come to the edge of the Central Plains, are you going to run to the Western Regions? Are you planning to flee to the ends of the earth to avoid me? You should know by now that I will never give up on you. Just give in this once, please. This is something you have to give in to.”

No matter how the conversation progressed, they were talking past each other. With neither willing to bend, they were just repeating their own arguments, leading to a stalemate.

Unable to watch any longer, Munpyeong spoke up out of frustration. The two, engrossed in each other, didn't seem to notice, but the situation outside had been growing tense for a while.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but perhaps you should leave for a moment? Warriors are gathering outside. In a little while, the encirclement will be complete.”

Though the man was an enemy who had invaded the Demonic Cult, he was also Yun Seung-hyo’s lover. He didn't know the whole story, but it was obvious that his friend’s heart lay with this man, so Munpyeong took a leap of faith and showed him kindness.

Only when Munpyeong spoke did the man seem to notice his presence and turned his gaze to him. He had acted as if only Yun Seung-hyo existed since he entered, and it seemed that wasn't an act, as he looked at Munpyeong with wide, surprised eyes.

“What the hell is this? Damn it. It’s that she-cat!”

Huh? She-cat? Munpyeong was dumbfounded by the man’s outburst the moment their eyes met. Not a tomcat, but a she-cat? What was this all about?

The man’s face flushed red to his neck as he shot a fierce glare at Yun Seung-hyo. Yun Seung-hyo looked between the two with a chagrined expression and finally closed his eyes.

“What is *he* doing here? Why are you in the same room with that person now? Were you still meeting with that kind of trash?”

“Don’t speak so carelessly. This person is not someone you can speak to in such a manner.”

“Don’t speak carelessly? Ha! Don’t make me laugh. Don’t you talk to me like that. Whose side are you taking in front of me? Did you think I forgot what happened between you and that insolent she-cat? After you made me cry tears of blood back then, you were still maintaining that relationship? Don’t tell me you fled to the Demonic Cult because of this person? Did this bastard seduce you again??”

The man glared at Munpyeong with eyes that seemed to shoot sparks, then strode forward as if to grab him by the hair. Yun Seung-hyo desperately blocked his path.

If you touch him, you will really die! A desperate Yun Seung-hyo’s face changed color as he blocked the other's approach.

“This person has nothing to do with our relationship. Don’t do anything foolish. Step back.”

“Yun Seung-hyo… Do you really want to die?”

When Yun Seung-hyo openly protected Munpyeong, the man, misunderstanding the situation, ground his teeth ominously. But Yun Seung-hyo, knowing he was being misunderstood, did not waver. He shielded Munpyeong with his own body and answered with a resolute attitude.

“If you really want to, you can do as you please with me. Kill me or spare me. But do not touch this person.”

“Ha, what a tragic love story. So I was mistaken? You really had no feelings for me? From then until now, it’s always been that person in your heart?”

“I have never seen this person in that way. Believe it or not, that is the truth.”

“Then why did you choose him over me? Why are you making me see this?”

“Eun-hwan.”

“This isn’t the first time. It’s the second time you’ve chosen that person over me. I can’t take it anymore. Do you think I’m going to make the same mistake again?!”

Unable to contain his surging anger, Eun-hwan drew a flexible sword from his waist and charged. A light, fast sword favored by women, it was an unusual choice for a man, but he wielded it with great skill and cunning.

Yun Seung-hyo, who had put away his own sword, had no time to draw a weapon and faced him bare-handed. His sleeves, taut with inner energy, wrapped around the flexible sword like a weapon.

Eun-hwan, seemingly not wanting to hurt Yun Seung-hyo, deflected the sword and sidestepped. But Yun Seung-hyo followed him closely. A palm filled with powerful energy struck at his shoulder. Eun-hwan, furious that Yun Seung-hyo was genuinely blocking him, bared his teeth.

“Are you really going to do this?!”

“I told you to back off if you don’t want to die!!”

“You’d kill me for a lowlife like that? Fine! Let’s see you try. Let’s see which comes first: you killing me, or me killing him!”

The hot-bloodedness of youth made him wager his own life easily.

`I don't think that's what your lover is worried about.`

Knowing the man was clearly misunderstanding but unable to say anything, Munpyeong watched their intense battle, stunned.

Spring Dream Rite. She-cat. Second time. The words the man spewed were starting to fit together. As he pieced the story together, Munpyeong realized the truth and swallowed a deep groan.

A long, long time ago, when Cheonma was pretending to be Yun Seung-hyo, Munpyeong had experienced something similar. The Cat Maiden. Yun Seung-hyo’s cat-like lady. Munpyeong could now see a trace of her old features in the man’s alluring face.

`My god. What is going on? The Cat Maiden was a boy?`

Munpyeong felt a throbbing headache and pressed a hand to his forehead. Falling in love with a twelve-year-old boy in drag… He hadn’t thought of him that way, but Yun Seung-hyo truly had a peculiar taste.

`…Come to think of it, the Cat Maiden was the child of the master of the Joyful Pavilion. Not Ja Myorang, but Ja Eun-hwan. I see. That was his real name.`

The current master of the Joyful Pavilion was named Ja Eun-hwan. His title was the Heavenly Cat, Red Wolf. Other than his name and title, his identity was unknown, but seeing him in person, Munpyeong felt he could understand why his identity was kept so secret.

The Joyful Pavilion was a legendary sect where the most beautiful courtesans of the world gathered. The previous master was renowned for her beauty as much as her martial arts. For a wolf-like man like this to be the current master would shatter the beautiful fantasies of the public.

So he was the Heavenly Cat because he really had a cat, and the Red Wolf because he rampaged like one. How horrified would the people who had let their imaginations run wild over the mysterious title be if they knew the truth?

A red shadow flashed before his eyes. His movement technique was said to be excellent, and indeed, his footwork was superb. The two figures tangled and separated in the air in a dizzying display.

Unsure whether to help Yun Seung-hyo or to stay still to avoid further misunderstanding, Munpyeong could only watch the duel between two transcendent masters.

Upon closer inspection, Yun Seung-hyo was more skilled in technique, but Ja Eun-hwan’s stamina and inner energy were formidable. As if he had obtained the inner core of a thousand-year-old serpent, the young man relentlessly unleashed his powerful energy.

Yun Seung-hyo, lacking in inner energy and without a weapon, seemed to be using all his strength just to evade the attacks. It was a good thing they were both hesitant to harm each other; otherwise, blood would have been shed long ago.

“Did you like that she-cat’s hole that much? You’d so readily offer your life for a scoundrel like that. Why don’t you reconsider, Yun Seung-hyo? You may not know it, but your hole is quite a masterpiece itself. It would be a waste to live without being fucked by a man. You can’t be satisfied without someone ramming you, can you?”

As the fight wore on, his anger flared, and Ja Eun-hwan started spouting vulgarities. He must have grown up as a street ruffian, because for someone so young, his mouth was incredibly foul. A dumbfounded Yun Seung-hyo roared in outrage. Seemingly embarrassed by the blatant talk of holes and masterpieces, his pale cheeks turned crimson.

“Shut up, you damn bastard! Where did you learn such vile words?!”

“You’re not much better, defending your side piece in front of your long-time fiancé.”

“I told you, we’re not like that! Watch your mouth and shut it. Or I’ll really rip that mouth of yours apart!”

“Fine. You rip it. If I do it, I don’t think I’ll be satisfied with just a mouth. It’s better if you do it.”

Amid the shouting match, a quiet voice flowed out. Though it was a low voice cutting through the high-pitched screams, it was as clear as if it were whispered right next to their ears.

The two, who had been fighting without shame, froze at the voice. Ja Eun-hwan, because of the extraordinary power contained in it, and Yun Seung-hyo, because of the dread of what was to come.

Munpyeong looked at Cheonma, who was leaning against the open doorway. His clothes were as disheveled as Ja Eun-hwan’s, revealing he had just woken from a nap. His firm chest peeked through his open sleep-robe. Cheonma, his sculpted face scrunched up in annoyance, glared at the two culprits who had disturbed his afternoon nap.

“G-Grand-Uncle…”

Yun Seung-hyo, his face ashen, stood frozen and called out to Cheonma. Cheonma, not bothering to hide a yawn, spoke lazily, like a tiger.

“Go on, rip it. I need to watch that and go back to sleep.”

“What’s this now? You look like some kind of gigolo, but where did you get such unbecoming arrogance—Ouch! What was that for?”

“I-I apologize, Grand-Uncle. This boy is foolish and ignorant. He doesn’t know any better.”

When the clueless Ja Eun-hwan started to pick a fight with Cheonma, a horrified Yun Seung-hyo kicked him in the shin, grabbed the back of his head, and forced him into a deep bow.

`Ow, what the hell? Has this guy lost his mind?`

Ja Eun-hwan, unable to read the room, struggled, but it was no use. Yun Seung-hyo, as if suddenly possessed by superhuman strength, pressed down on his head, preventing him from looking up.

“Rip it.”

Cheonma said quietly to Yun Seung-hyo, who was sweating profusely and bowing low. Pretending not to have heard, Yun Seung-hyo asked awkwardly.

“…Excuse me?”

“This will be the fourth time I’ve said it. Rip it. If you rip that brat’s mouth with your own hands, I will spare his life.”

“G-Grand-Uncle. No, Heavenly Demon.”

“You, more than anyone, should know why that mouth needs to be ripped. In the inner sanctum of the Demonic Cult, he insulted the Cheonma-hu. By rights, a kill order should be issued throughout the entire cult, and the Joyful Pavilion should be declared an enemy. No, before that, I should tear him limb from limb myself. I have never let a man who insulted my person in front of me live.”

Knowing he was being sincere, Yun Seung-hyo looked up at Cheonma with trembling eyes. But Cheonma’s gaze was nothing but cold. Not only had he been woken from his precious nap, but he had also heard vulgarities about Munpyeong’s “hole.” There was no reason for him to be in a good mood.

“Could you not show mercy just this once? He is just a child who knows no better.”

“He is a child who knows no better, so after a harsh lesson, he will learn. Remember that this is the most mercy I can show. If you were not my sworn grandson, that brat would not still be breathing.”

Though his tone was lazy, his words were a clear warning. Yun Seung-hyo’s face twisted in despair, and he lowered his gaze. Ja Eun-hwan, who couldn’t adapt to the sudden change in atmosphere, looked at Yun Seung-hyo. He was hot-tempered but not unperceptive. He had clearly heard the word ‘Heavenly Demon’ that Yun Seung-hyo had emphasized.

`Oh, hell. I’ve stepped on a landmine. That gigolo-looking guy was Cheonma?`

Cheonma Hyukryeon, who had become more than a legend after the last two Great Wars, was an opponent far beyond his reach, even as a transcendent master. Eun-hwan, who was confident enough to scoff at most masters, had not the slightest intention of confronting Cheonma.

So he really did achieve rejuvenation. I can’t believe he really looks like that. He looked only a few years older than him, but in reality, he was a man who had lived at least five times as long. Stunned by this fact, Ja Eun-hwan blinked.

His mind was a mess. He didn’t understand why the patriarch of all evil in the world was Yun Seung-hyo’s grandfather, nor did he know when he had insulted the Cheonma-hu.

According to rumors, the Cheonma-hu was Cheonma’s male lover, a man so handsome that anyone who saw him would be captivated. A man whose beauty could topple nations. But since entering the Demonic Cult, Eun-hwan couldn’t recall seeing such a stunning beauty.

Besides Yun Seung-hyo, Cheonma himself was the most beautiful, and the title of nation-toppling beauty suited him best. A man so beautiful that even *this man* would fall for him should have been memorable even from a passing glance, but he couldn't recall anything.

No matter how much he searched his mind, nothing came up. He even felt he was being unfairly accused by Cheonma.

“Stop it. Your punishment is too severe.”

Unable to watch any longer, Munpyeong sighed and stepped forward. The Cat Maiden’s personality was something he had experienced firsthand, so he wasn't particularly angry at Eun-hwan's outburst. Munpyeong wasn't so petty as to get angry at a child's ignorant words. Besides, now that he clearly understood the misunderstanding, he felt more pity than anger.

There had been nothing between him and the real Yun Seung-hyo, yet for ten years, the Cat Maiden had not known the truth. Considering how much a man of his fierce and possessive nature must have suffered, a few insults were nothing.

“You, stay out of this. This is not for you to interfere in.”

Cheonma looked disapprovingly at Munpyeong for ruining the atmosphere he had so carefully crafted. Munpyeong shook his head and approached Cheonma.

“Do you know who that child is? It’s the Cat Maiden. It seems time truly flies; he’s already grown up so much. I almost didn’t recognize him at first.”

“I know who that brat is. Do I look blind to you?”

Cheonma answered bluntly to Munpyeong’s explanation. Munpyeong frowned slightly.

`So you knew and you’re still doing this?`

His white hairs increasing by the day from trying to manage his cruel husband, Munpyeong let out a deep sigh and looked up into Cheonma’s eyes.

“You’re not blind, so why are you being so cruel? The reason Seung-hyo and that child’s relationship has become so strained is all because of you. It’s all due to a misunderstanding, so the punishment is too harsh. Please let it go this once. Misunderstandings should be resolved with words.”

“Are you a saint? The one who was insulted to his face was you, not me. Why don’t you understand that forgiving such an insult without any consequence is to lose your own face? If you let it slide once, once becomes twice, and twice becomes three times. I have no intention of watching worthless scum disrespect you.”

“With a guardian deity like you standing by my side, who would be brave enough to do such a thing? Don’t worry about that. For Seung-hyo’s sake, please let it go this once. Think about all that Seung-hyo has done for you over the years. Considering his past merits, I think you can turn a blind eye just this once.”

No, Cheonma conveyed with his eyes.

`Just this once. The one who was insulted says it’s okay.`

Knowing this could cause irreversible damage to Yun Seung-hyo, Munpyeong looked at Cheonma with pleading eyes.

Trying to make Yun Seung-hyo hurt Ja Eun-hwan with his own hands… Cheonma truly had a twisted mind. How was it that he was so creative only when he was being spiteful?

“You only think of Seung-hyo’s face and not mine. Do you know what it means for me to be overruled by you after personally stepping in?”

Seeing Munpyeong’s stubborn expression, Cheonma sighed quietly and asked. Munpyeong, looking apologetic, did not stop his silent plea.

He wanted to just paralyze Munpyeong and continue to pressure Yun Seung-hyo, but if he actually did that, he would have to prepare for separate bedrooms for a while. The one thing Cheonma wanted to avoid was separate bedrooms, so he realized he had no choice but to yield.

Once Munpyeong became stubborn, he would never back down until he got his way. Since he was the one who had encouraged and nurtured that stubbornness, he had no one to blame but himself. Cheonma smiled wryly.

*"That thing I mentioned before, if you agree to it, I will concede on this matter."*

Cheonma sent a telepathic message to Munpyeong, proposing a deal. If he had to back down, he needed to get something out of it to feel better. Munpyeong, who was trying to change his mind, didn’t understand what he was referring to and replied dubiously.

*"Which one are you referring to? You’ve made so many proposals that I can’t guess what you want."*

From the recent suggestion of outdoor sex to the distant one of digging a new pond, Cheonma had made so many outlandish proposals that it was hard to guess what he was after this time.

`Surely he doesn’t really mean to make a pond of wine and hang meat from the trees to recreate a 'forest of meat and pond of wine'? With my already bad reputation, if I did that, the rumors of me being a wicked consort would be revived.`

*"The one about the two of us going on a trip alone. At the time, you said we couldn't because of Woo-gyeong, but once he finishes his transformation, there will be nothing holding us back."*

When Munpyeong couldn't figure it out, Cheonma specified what he wanted. Finally recalling the old conversation, Munpyeong looked at him with a bewildered expression.

*"Are you really going to leave the cult behind and go on a trip? All the way to that faraway place, Rome?"*

*"Of course. Why not? Since we’re going, I thought we could also see the Land of Peace and the most powerful secular shamans in the Western Regions. I heard you can go by land to the Arab Caliphate and then take a ship to Genoa. We’ve lived our whole lives in the Central Plains; isn't it time we saw the rest of the world?"*

Cheonma, born with a wanderlust, seemed to genuinely desire a journey to the West. Munpyeong wasn't particularly keen, but considering what he owed Yun Seung-hyo, a few years of travel seemed a small price to pay.

Cheonma's tastes were lavish and luxurious, so the journey wouldn't be too arduous. He was fluent in the language of Rome, so communication wouldn't be a problem, and seeing exotic sights he had never seen before wasn't such a bad thing either.

*"We just have to go to Rome? The journey won’t be extended from there, will it?"*

Knowing Cheonma, if Rome wasn’t the end of the world, he would surely want to explore further, so Munpyeong made sure to set a boundary. Cheonma smiled and nodded.

*"Yes. Just to Rome."*

Receiving his confirmation, Munpyeong finally made up his mind.

*"Very well. I will accompany you on your journey to the Western Regions. So please, forgive them."*

Though the words were exchanged telepathically, Yun Seung-hyo was not so foolish as to not know that Munpyeong was pleading for them. He held his breath, praying for their conversation to end amicably.

With the secret negotiation concluded, Cheonma quietly cleared his throat. After drawing their attention with a short cough, he looked down at Ja Eun-hwan with a still-displeased expression and clicked his tongue.

“Since that person objects so strongly, I have no choice. It is a heavenly fortune for you that the Cheonma-hu is not hard-hearted. This is not a fortune that will come twice, so make sure you do not make the same mistake again.”

“Yes. Thank you, Grand-Uncle. I will engrave this kindness on my bones.”

“Your thanks should be directed not to me, but to the one who saved your lives. And Seung-hyo. If you don’t want to become a widower at a young age, you should keep a better leash on your husband. The young brat is so arrogant he doesn't know the fear of heaven, which is why he makes mistakes like this.”

Cheonma uttered words that were more of a scolding than advice, then wrapped an arm around Munpyeong’s waist and left the room. Munpyeong, who was being hurriedly led out, suddenly stopped and looked back at the two.

“It seems the misunderstanding between you two hasn’t been resolved yet, so I will lock the door from the outside. I don’t plan on opening it for at least two days, so say everything you need to say before you come out. I don’t know the full story, but it doesn’t seem like something you should just run away from.”

Munpyeong smiled at the two dumbfounded men, then really did close the door and bolt it. Seeing this, Cheonma frowned in exasperation and chided him.

“You meddlesome fool. What are you interfering in now?”

“It’s not interference; it’s finishing what was started. This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't pretended to be Seung-hyo in the first place. Since you won’t take care of it, I felt I had to.”

“I’m sick and tired of hearing ‘Seung-hyo.’ That brat has a perfectly good name, so why is his title still like that? Don’t tell me you still have lingering feelings for him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Was he the one I loved? Who was it that deceived me so completely it broke my heart?”

“Why bring up the past again? If I’ve begged for forgiveness, you should be magnanimous enough to forget.”

“You’re the one who brought up the past first. And you begged for forgiveness? When? I have no memory of that.”

The two bickered endlessly as they walked away from the door. Yun Seung-hyo, now locked in a room with Ja Eun-hwan, listened to their fading argument.

The strength left Yun Seung-hyo’s hand, which had been pressing down on Ja Eun-hwan’s head. As if he had just survived a near-death experience, all the strength drained from his body. He collapsed to the floor, trembling. Unlike him, Ja Eun-hwan, who had been chagrined but not afraid, calmly lifted his head and looked around.

`Damn it. That thing was the Cheonma-hu?`

Eun-hwan glared at the door in disbelief. The she-cat he thought was an insignificant nobody turned out to be someone quite important. Having only heard from others that the Cheonma-hu was a peerless beauty, Eun-hwan felt somewhat cheated and pouted.

“What the hell, Yun Seung-hyo? Did you lose that she-cat to Cheonma? Is that why you were so respectful to him? What a pathetic situation. From what I heard, you’re sworn grandfather and grandson. Does the grandfather steal his grandson’s male concubine?”

“…Eun-hwan. Please.”

“Please what? Oh, you mean don’t call him a she-cat? What else am I supposed to call a she-cat? They say you can even curse the emperor behind his back. What’s the big deal about cursing a cheating she-cat?”

Ja Eun-hwan, who seemed to have firmly believed that Munpyeong had left Yun Seung-hyo for Cheonma, babbled on, looking indignant himself. Despite having just escaped a death caused by that mouth of his, his light tongue was still wagging freely.

Listening to Eun-hwan’s words, the life that had faded from Yun Seung-hyo’s eyes returned. No, it wasn't life, but a flame.

`This damned bastard. I almost had to rip his mouth off with my own hands, and he still hasn't learned a thing!`

Having aged ten years from Eun-hwan’s reckless behavior, Yun Seung-hyo’s blue eyes flashed as he rolled up his sleeves.

Good. He had been thinking for a while that this kid Eun-hwan needed to fix that damned mouth of his. Having lived without fear of the world, Eun-hwan was completely unruly. He blurted out whatever came to his mind without thinking, causing trouble wherever he went and making enemies of everyone he met. At this rate, as Cheonma had said, he would soon suffer a harsh fate.

“Eun-hwan. I’m not doing this because I hate you. I’m doing this because I love you.”

“What? What the—Aahk! What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me? Your hand is glowing with killing intent!”

Ja Eun-hwan, who had casually turned his head at the voice behind him, was genuinely terrified by the sharp energy that whizzed past his head.

“You need a good beating. Let’s talk after you’ve had a little.”

“I’ll really die if you hit me with that! Hey! Mr. Yun! Seung-hyo! Seung-hyo-ya? Please, come to your senses!!”

Ja Eun-hwan pleaded desperately, but Seung-hyo did not come to his senses. His eyes glinting as blue as the energy in his hands, he chased after Eun-hwan.

Terrified by his sincere killing intent, Ja Eun-hwan started to run, but he couldn't completely dodge the deliberate attacks of a transcendent master.

**Meow, meeow.** Seeing its master in danger, the Heavenly Cat cried pitifully, but it was no use. For a long time after, screams and the sound of blows echoed from the annex of the Hall of Paired Wings.

Listening to the incessant screams, the maids of the Hall of Paired Wings clicked their tongues and thought to themselves that the grandfather and grandson were exactly alike.