Camellia 118

The two men walked hand in hand in secret. Whenever they stepped onto a quiet path where no one was around, Tang Yujae would be the one to reach for his bride’s hand first. Each time he kissed the back of Seolyeong’s hand, the startled flinch that followed was endearing.

Even the way he narrowed his eyes and glared at him came off as nothing but lovely.

“Should I buy you some ornaments?”

He let go of Seolyeong’s hand as they stood in front of a street lined with stalls. Seolyeong took a moment before answering.

“Why are you so fixated on ornaments all of a sudden?”

He found himself unexpectedly missing the warmth of that hand. Unlike him, Yujae had skin that was cool like a snake’s. When they touched, it always sent a curious tingle through him.

Cold as it was, the yin energy no longer felt distant or unfriendly. Seolyeong actually liked it now. He had never been close with snake-type creatures before, but now he thought maybe he could be.

“Because you like adorning yourself. You want people to see you as beautiful.”

“I already am. So it’s fine.”

“You could be even more beautiful. Why wouldn’t you want that?”

Tang Yujae brushed aside Seolyeong’s hair as he asked. That glossy, smooth hair was one of Seolyeong’s prides. Seeing his flushed cheeks and red ears, it was clear his bride felt embarrassed.

“Don’t say that. Just pick a few. We’re married, after all. You should at least have a gift from your husband.”

“…Buy it for me later.”

That was the only thing he could manage to say. He mumbled the words as if he wanted to escape the moment.

“Later, when it’s fully spring… I’ll come back and pick something then.”

The weather wasn’t bad for winter, but Seolyeong wanted to see spring together with the sect leader. He wanted to stand in the middle of a market where warm breezes blew instead of icy winds, and choose an ornament that suited this man. With his elegant, noble appearance, he would look wonderful with blue earrings.

“Hmm. But do you really think we’ll have a later?”

The reply that came was worrying.

When Seolyeong stopped walking, the sect leader stopped too. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over the gentle mood. Seolyeong turned and demanded an explanation.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“And what exactly does that mean?”

“I don’t know if we’ll ever again have the leisure to stroll the world like this together. My time’s running short.”

“Stop it. You’re the type who’ll live long enough to scribble on the walls with your cane. Weren’t you the one who told me last time that you’d die soon? That was a lie, wasn’t it?”

Tang Yujae couldn’t understand why his bride was clinging to his words. He had only spoken the truth.

When the imugi ascended, he would offer up his Qi from his danjeon. Without that, nothing would be able to suppress his yin energy anymore. He would die.

He explained simply.

“When the divine beast becomes a god, my body will be the offering. Soon, a new god will be born in the heavens. I only hope that god will embrace you with mercy, Ahyeong.”

Without discriminating against blood fiends. Without treating him worse than humans.

As if warning the imugi itself, Yujae raised his voice and turned his eyes to the sky. The blue above was clear beyond words.

“…So, my lord, you’re really saying you’re fated to die soon?”

It took a long silence before Seolyeong hesitantly spoke. His eyes trembled, small and confused.

To reassure him, Yujae took his hand again, lacing their fingers together.

“Nothing in this world lasts forever. Don’t let it scare you.”

“Stop avoiding it. Tell me properly.”

He had never avoided anything, yet Seolyeong was suddenly shouting. He slapped Yujae’s hand away with a glare. Now even Yujae’s expression turned cold.

The truth was, Seolyeong himself didn’t fully understand why he was so angry. His chest just felt like it was about to burst.

“When are you going to die?”

He couldn’t hide his rising emotions.

“When are you planning to leave me behind and pass on?”

Why did you even bother being kind to me, if this is how it ends? You should’ve just trampled my body and heart from the start. Treated me like some toy to be used and discarded.

To Seolyeong, it felt like Yujae was mocking him.

“What am I supposed to do after you’re gone? Are you expecting me to live in that godforsaken Yeonhu Mountain, getting sneered at by your fanatic followers?”

That unexpected accusation narrowed Tang Yujae’s eyes. His rebuttal came smoothly.

“Don’t forget who you are.”

“…What?”

“Go back to Yonyeong and live the life of a true warrior. Save the world with your righteousness.”

“……”

“I believe you can become a hero.”

He reached a hand toward Seolyeong’s frozen face, gently brushing his cheek before tracing the brand on his neck.

Seolyeong swallowed hard, as if remembering the pain he had felt when that mark was carved into him. Yujae spoke in a soothing tone.

“Just as your husband eventually surrendered to you, so too will the martial world yield to you.”

It was too cruel. Every word he said was out of pure affection, and Seolyeong could only find it unfair.

“More and more people will fall in love with you.”

His heart felt like it would explode from how fast it was beating. He didn’t want to hear that voice anymore. That voice, so tender it bordered on heartless. He wanted to cover his ears.

But Yujae paid no mind to his feelings and kept speaking.

“When that happens, choose someone decent and remarry. I give you my blessing in advance.”

Even though it was almost a joke, Seolyeong’s face didn’t soften. Yujae tried offering him treats, coaxing him with sweets, but nothing worked.

Seolyeong began avoiding his husband completely, spending all his time alone in his room until the day of the finals. He refused to speak. Refused to even glance his way. Even when Yujae barged into his room now and then, Seolyeong never gave him the slightest reaction.

It wasn’t until they both stepped onto the stage for the martial tournament that Yujae finally managed to lock eyes with his wife.

A thought reached him through telepathic transmission.

─Isn’t this tantrum a bit too much?

Seolyeong sighed, clearly annoyed, and didn’t reply. Yujae sent another message, pressing closer.

─You’re mad just because your husband’s about to become a corpse?

Seonwol-do had taken the form of an ordinary longsword. Seolyeong didn’t answer, just gripped the hilt tightly.

The match would begin as soon as the referee signaled.

Even as he cupped his fists in salute, his eyes were filled with fierce resolve.

That bastard. How dare he talk about death and remarriage the very moment I start thinking I might want to forgive him?

─I’ll let you last five exchanges. Will that cheer you up?

Yujae offered kindly, as if doing him a favor. It only made Seolyeong more furious. That bastard had the worst personality in the world. There was no one more infuriating than his own husband.

The referee raised the flag. Every gaze turned to the two of them standing on the stage.

Everyone here knew. This match was the real final of this year’s martial tournament.

“Shouldn’t you show your skill with your sword, not your mouth?”

Seolyeong finally spoke, his voice sharp with irritation.

Sword wind howled through the arena. His grip tightened around the hilt. Seonwol-do resonated with its master, drawing in Qi. The blood fiend’s yang energy made the blade tremble.

Seolyeong clearly remembered the moment when Sahyeol Amje had unleashed the Flashstorm Blade and stunned the crowd.

But that martial technique had originally belonged to the Murong clan. He would show the crowd again that lightning-swift technique, this time, using the true form passed down through the Murong line, and mixing it with other secret sword forms.

When the mountain fog blinds the traveler, When the sea fog threatens the fisherman’s life, A single bolt of lightning splits the sky, crashing to earth like the wrath of a god.

As he recalled the lines from the secret manual, a fierce warrior’s fire burned in Seolyeong’s eyes.