Camellia 105

The Samasa of the demonic sect had a remarkable talent for reading others. There was no way he didn’t know exactly where a blood fiend, starved of human warmth, became most vulnerable.

Yujae’s gaze lifted past Seolyeong to the early morning sky. A clear blue stretched overhead. No matter how often he saw it, the solemn shift from night to day never lost its weight.

“Don’t worry.”

‘Time would keep passing, just like seasons after death.’ With a calm voice, he said,

“I’ll make sure you don’t end up falling in love with me.”

The words made Seolyeong’s blood surge. It sounded far too much like he was saying, If I wanted your love, I could take it anytime I pleased.

But before Seolyeong could throw a retort, Sahyeol Amje stood up and began walking. Watching his broad back, Seolyeong thought,

Even if the world turned upside down, I could never love you. Not unless the heavens split and the earth shattered, not unless the whole world went mad, I would never be able to feel anything for someone like you.

And yet, as he followed behind, Seolyeong couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth every time he slightly turned his head, as if checking on him. Walking side by side through the forest, this quiet moment filled Seolyeong with an unfamiliar anxiety.

Tang Yujae muttered,

“Should I carry you if you’re tired?”

“Why are you saying such rude things to a martial artist…!”

Seolyeong snapped, quick as a whip. But no matter how sharply he spoke, Sahyeol Amje only shrugged, showing no interest in scolding him like before. It was as if he’d left his soul as the Cheonsin back on Yeonhu and was now pretending to be a regular man.

“I was just saying it. You’re really cranky today.”

Feeling like he couldn’t take this ridiculous charade a second longer, Seolyeong rushed down the forest path.

What the hell is wrong with this man? What did he eat to suddenly become this shameless? He used to treat me like a toy, like prey he couldn’t wait to break!

It wasn’t until they reached a busy commercial street, packed with signs and shops, that Seolyeong could finally breathe again. Taking a deep inhale, he looked around and realized from the shop signs that they were in the capital city of Anhwi Province.

Then the mountain they’d passed earlier must have been Hwang or Cheonju. Walking that strange path Yujae had led him through had made him lose all sense of distance.

“Here.”

Tang Yujae placed a bamboo hat on his head –who knew where he’d found it? – and asked,

“I only cast the illusion on your eyes. Do you want to keep wearing the hat and stay like this? Or should I mask your whole face so it’s less of a hassle?”

But Tang Yujae already knew what the answer would be.

“I’ll stick with my charming face.”

“You really are obsessed with your looks, aren’t you.”

“Isn’t it a face worth treasuring?”

Besides, Seolyeong had barely been seen since the death of the former head of the Murong clan. Unless they were in Sacheob, where he’d once revealed himself, no one here would recognize him, especially with his eye color altered and a bamboo hat on.

But to think that just changing his eye color could free him from the need to alter his whole body… it hit him again how absurdly restrictive his life had been. His shoulders drooped. For no good reason, he suddenly felt depressed.

“Ahyeong.”

Yujae tapped his cheek lightly. When Seolyeong turned his head, he was met with a few nicely wrapped candies.

“Where’d you get these now…?”

A master martial artist using stealth skills for petty theft. Seolyeong narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Are you really the same man I know?”

The man who had always been so cold was now too soft, and it was confusing him. Figuring he might as well check, Seolyeong grabbed Yujae’s hand and began inspecting his palm.

Yujae’s lips came close to his ear.

“Are you trying to check my fingerprints again?”

The soft hairs on the edge of his ear stood on end. Seolyeong flinched excessively at the trivial question, he immediately put his hand down. Maybe ever since their time in Haeseong Pavilion, his body had become too sensitive.

Yujae pulled his bride’s hand and linked his arm with hi. He said, without a hint of shame,

“Don’t imagine anything lewd. Just focus on the stores. If you see anything you want I’ll give it to you.”

“I wasn’t imagining anything lewd.”

“Ahyeong, you’re so modest and proper, it’s written all over your face.”

The teasing made Seolyeong’s cheeks flush red like a radish. And the way Yujae laughed, like it was cute, only made things worse. Bristling with shame, Seolyeong batted his lashes and changed the subject.

“…Anyway. What business brought you to Anhwi?”

To Seolyeong, Anhwi, where Habuk was located, was a sore spot. He still remembered vividly the time he’d been branded with the character on his face during a Namgung family tournament he’d attended as a child. Just thinking of the Murim Alliance leader made his gut churn.

It was natural for them to hate him… but Seolyeong doubt he’s ever felt a little sorry. That man was still praised as the face of orthodox martial arts. The man Seolyeong had always wanted to resemble.

Yujae adjusted the flower tucked behind his ear and answered,

“You know the Namgung clan is holding their tournament before the first snowfall, right?”

“Yes. I heard it’s to select the younger candidates to send to the Yongbong Gathering in early spring.”

It was the place where elite warriors from the Nine Sects and Five Noble Clans gathered to compete. To earn a spot there, you had to prove yourself in this preliminary tournament. Everyone would be sharpening their blades by now.

But why bring that up all of a sudden?

“They’re awarding the Gyeokroe-do to the winner this year. It’s the first tournament since the Great Demonic War. They’re trying to boost morale with an extravagant prize.”

The mention of the Great Demonic War soured Seolyeong’s mood, but he didn’t show it.

Gyeokroe-do, huh? That famous sword rumored to have been forged in lightning, wasn’t that the one the sect leader had once demanded he use to perform the Fire Dragon technique?

Just to be sure, Seolyeong asked,

“…Are you entering the tournament as a wanderer?”

That sounded awfully… upright. ‘I want the sword, so I’ll fight fairly and win it.’ Classic orthodox thinking.

Yujae answered immediately.

“No.”

“Then…”

“I’m going to steal it.”

For a second, Seolyeong wondered if he’d heard wrong.

Steal it? The Gyeokroe-do?

“…From the Namgung clan?”

Tang Yujae didn’t answer. He looked like he thought the question wasn’t even worth a reply. Instead, he gestured with his chin toward a shop selling hair ornaments.

“Would you like to pick a few of those?”

Seolyeong let out a weak laugh.

“The reason you suddenly became affectionate… is it because you want me to help you steal the sword?”

It made sense now. The man who used to torment him for fun suddenly playing the loving husband, it had always been suspicious. Seolyeong’s narrowed in a thin line.

Tang Yujae tilted his head and said,

“Why would I need your help to steal one sword?”

The bride’s arrogant self-esteem… no longer came off as arrogant. Now it just looked a bit dim.

“I have a different reason for wanting to treat you well.”

“Please explain it, then…”

Tang Yujae answered without hesitation.

“Because you’re cute.”

It would’ve been better not to ask.

“The way you whined while telling me not to suck too deep was more tolerable than I thought.”

“….”

“Then you grabbed the back of my head and started thrusting was quite tempting. So hurry up and pick something out. Since you’ve been so sweet with your body, don’t you deserve some pampering?”

…He just had to run his filthy mouth. Son of a bitch… Seolyeong was now fully convinced Sahyeol Amje had never learned to do anything except mock people, or sexually harass them.