Camellia Side Story 3

After the eight pavilion heads left.

Tang Yujae stepped out of Akbindang, he was working through his backlog of affairs in Haeseong Pavilion when he felt a spring-like warmth brushing over him. The midday heat seemed to pass directly through his skin, and he found the sensation oddly pleasant.

He set aside his inkstone and turned toward the back.

Sure enough, a delicate beauty with red eyes was perched on the window ledge.

With a gentle smile, Yujae spoke.

“That gold hairpin suits you.”

Originally, Seolyeong had taken to transforming Seonwol-do into the shape of a binyeo (Korean traditional hairpin) and pinning it in his hair. But ever since his husband gifted him a gold hairpin, he had worn nothing else, day and night. Just as the Amje tried to steal his attention with sweet words again, Seolyeong cut him off.

“This wife is truly disappointed, husband. Why would you leave preparations for my bridal journey in the hands of someone as dim-witted as Pungwoon? Are you truly so busy you cannot spare a moment to look at your jade-like wife’s face?”

Truthfully, Seolyeong was well aware that ever since the Cheonma Divine Sect had declared not a truce but an end to the war, his husband had been overwhelmingly busy. Peace was never something gained for free. Throughout history, whenever one side pursued peace, another would stir up a storm of bloodshed.

Seolyeong glanced at the table before Sahyeol Amje. It seemed the outer lands were not pleased to hear of the sudden end of the war. Understandable, given that ever since the Marip Tragedy, relations between them and Jungwon had remained tense, bordering on rupture. Even the Ice Palace Mistress now recognized only Sahyeol Amje as the strongest under heaven, worthy of standing as their rival.

Because of the endless messenger pigeons from the outer lands, Tang Yujae hadn’t slept in three days. He hadn’t been able to fully bury himself in his bride’s arms for some time now, and his body felt cold. Perhaps because he had grown too used to the blood fiend’s intense yang energy.

“That child wanted to go to you.”

“Excuse me?”

Seolyeong blinked at the unexpected reply. Yujae continued as if it were nothing.

“The moment the bridal journey was set, he volunteered to take care of you.”

“Who? Don’t tell me, that scoundrel Pungwoon?”

“You shouldn’t speak so poorly of your devoted sect follower.”

Yujae gave a playful scolding as he opened his arms wide, inviting him to come close.

“Come here and hold me.”

“You’re the one always calling your followers worms and worse, husband.”

Though grumbling, Seolyeong leapt down from the window ledge. At some point, Sahyeol Amje’s body, once carrying only the bitter scent of medicinal herbs, had begun to emit a soft floral fragrance. Knowing it was his own doing thrilled Seolyeong every time.

“Did you go around Yeonhu again today and bloom purple magnolias?”

For the children working as attendants in the main mountain, Seolyeong had once made a request, to turn the harsh and desolate Yeonhu Mountain into a land of blossoms more beautiful than paradise. Sahyeol Amje, always ready to pluck stars or the moon from the sky if his wife asked, had not delayed the task.

Whether peach blossoms, purple magnolias, camellias, or perhaps daffodils, whatever flowers Seolyeong wished for, Yujae had them bloom across all of Yeonhu.

As he walked up to Yujae, Seolyeong shyly lowered his eyes.

“Every time this happens, I feel like my chest is tickling. What if I’m seriously ill?”

Yujae slowly wrapped his arms around his bride’s waist. With a low laugh, he whispered,

“Your husband’s sister is a disciple of a Divine Healer, Ahyeong. She’ll save you, I’m sure.”

“Well, she did bring me back to life even when I had my danjeon pierced by a poison dagger and was on the brink of death.”

“……”

“I’m joking, husband. This is punishment for starting the bridal journey without my say.”

Resting his face on Seolyeong’s stomach, Yujae wore a faintly meaningful expression. Truly, it was nothing short of a miracle for Seolyeong who had suffered such relentless torment, to choose to stay and live in Yeonhu,.

For the love that had blossomed bright as a red camellia, Tang Yujae asked with a gentle smile,

“Do you want to pierce it too?”

“Excuse me? Pierce what?”

“My danjeon.”

His fingers slipped effortlessly between Seolyeong’s, interlacing with practiced ease. The moment his calloused fingertips brushed Seolyeong’s skin, Seolyeong flinched, as always weak to physical contact with his husband.

“Ugh, husband.”

“I’ll grant you a dagger worthy of your hand.”

There was no exaggeration or jest in his voice, only genuine sincerity. Seolyeong fell silent. While he stood there obviously flustered, Yujae’s face remained calm and serene. Taking his bride’s hand, he raised it to his lips and gently kissed the pale back.

Seolyeong finally spoke with a pout.

“…You don’t really mean that, do you?”

“I always mean it with you.”

“Then you really mustn’t say things like that, husband. This wife has vowed to spend a lifetime with you. I’ll never hurt you.”

It was a playful protest, but Yujae looked puzzled.

“You already hurt me all the time.”

As he tugged his collar down around his neck, Seolyeong’s face instantly turned red.

Of course, beneath the Amje’s nape were vivid bite marks, left by none other than himself. Not just those, but countless signs of bruising from being sucked hard had been left all over his skin, making Seolyeong feel ashamed.

Yet at the same time, he strangely felt satisfied. After all, who else in this world could leave such marks on the body of Sahyeol Amje, the Supreme One of Sipman Daesan?

Seolyeong’s throat bobbed visibly. Tang Yujae let out a soft laugh.

“You little unbridled colt.”

At times, he would describe Seolyeong with words like ‘colt’(young male horse) or ‘mouse-eyed brat.’ On paper, they weren’t especially endearing terms. But the affection behind them was surprisingly pure and transparent.

When Seolyeong pouted and stuck out his lower lip, Yujae took his bride’s outstretched hand and guided it to his own neck.

“Can you feel my heart beating?”

A heartbeat so human, it was steadily growing faster. With their skin pressed together, the result was inevitable.

Without answering, Seolyeong bit his lip, overwhelmed with shyness, and turned his gaze aside. In moments like this, the reality that Sahyeol Amje, who had once ravaged the righteous sects and drenched the land in blood, was once known as a lecher who seduced countless women, struck even more vividly. He must have seduced the women of the Peng clan with even more profound and beguiling eyes. What a cunning man.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

When Seolyeong scolded him, Yujae obediently lowered his eyes. Then, bringing his bride’s fingertips to his lips, he began to plant light kisses along them. The warm breath made Seolyeong’s heart flutter helplessly. This was the same man who had once turned the righteous martial world into a wasteland, and now he was pressing his lips against him so docilely.

With his eyes still closed, Tang Yujae whispered,

“I’d do anything for you.”

Seolyeong forgot how to breathe. He wondered if the man before him had cast some kind of spell on him. Otherwise, how could he feel so captivated that he forgot to even breathe?

Before he realized it, Seolyeong reached out and touched his husband’s cheek. It was warmer than expected, and soft. Yet the man had a face like a snowstorm in the frozen north.

Tang Yujae tilted his head like a young beast enjoying the touch. Seolyeong gulped, feeling as though he had tamed a fierce, untamable creature.

Sahyeol Amje, still offering up his face, soon spoke.

“You know, don’t you? That this much isn’t enough.”

He wanted to feel his bride’s fire in full. The black eyes lit up with a sudden gleam. Like a wolf that had found prey right in front of him. The hunger and thirst in his gaze was clear, and Seolyeong’s palms tingled.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one tormented by this long separation.

Easily swayed by that brief temptation, Seolyeong finally leaned forward. Supporting the back of his husband’s head with one hand, he tilted his head diagonally to kiss him, a surprisingly assertive move. Then again, being born a blood fiend meant he lived with wild instincts in his blood. Even if raised as a human, those dangerous instincts would occasionally surface and stir his hunger for blood.