Chapter 55

The wine Dang Ran-yeong was drinking was quite strong, though Cheong-ra didn't know its name. Perhaps because he was starting to feel tipsy, or because of the presence of the man who had subdued him several times, Cheong-ra's tongue loosened a bit.

"I'm not satisfied with the current situation, but it's fine. Young Master Dang is just a passing phase for me. It's similar to a momentary deviation or entertainment. The hardship will be brief, and I'll return to my sect someday."

Thinking of his master, uncle, Great Senior Brother, martial sisters, and Ju Mu-gwang at Moon Lake Sect, a gentle smile naturally appeared on Cheong-ra's face. In contrast, the smile that had been on Dang Ran-yeong's face gradually disappeared. He looked at Cheong-ra with a strangely subdued gaze and asked,

"Isn't Young Master Baek Ri afraid of dying?"

At this unexpected question, Cheong-ra, who had been drinking, raised his eyes in confusion.

"I could actually be an enemy of Moon Lake Sect and might cause Young Master Baek Ri's death. In fact, it might not be thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, but a poison that only takes effect after a few years. The purpose could be to bury Young Master Baek Ri on Mount Heng without anyone knowing and erase your existence."

The Tang Clan had so many outlandish poisons that Cheong-ra hadn't been without such imaginings. He put down his cup and replied calmly,

"There are things I fear more than death."

"What are they?"

After asking, Dang Ran-yeong didn't even wait for an answer before sneering and asking,

"Insects?"

When Cheong-ra flinched and looked at him, Dang Ran-yeong nodded towards the sachet he was wearing and said,

"As a member of the Tang Clan, I couldn't fail to recognize an insect-repelling sachet."

It was no exaggeration to say that the Tang Clan was the most skilled in handling poisons in the Central Plains. Naturally, they were also proficient in handling poisonous creatures, knowing how to lure and approach venomous insects or snakes, and conversely, how to repel and keep them away.

Even though the other had already discovered a secret that was almost his weakness, Cheong-ra reflexively covered the sachet with his sleeve.

"There are things I fear more than insects or Young Master Dang, or even death. But I don't particularly want to tell Young Master Dang about them."

Embarrassed that his insect-repelling sachet had been discovered, Cheong-ra replied somewhat coldly. Dang Ran-yeong smirked and poured from a different wine bottle, filling Cheong-ra's cup to the brim. Perhaps because his reply had irritated him, it was an even stronger liquor than before. Cheong-ra glared at him with all his might and then obediently drank the strong wine. His throat burned as if on fire, so he quickly ate some side dishes.

'Will the insect-repelling sachet work well on Mount Heng too?'

In fact, he was more worried about encountering insects in the mountains than the difficult climb of Mount Heng. Here, there were no close acquaintances to help drive away insects... At the same time, a vague, forgotten memory surfaced.

'Come to think of it, there was a rumor that the Hengshan Sect had closed its doors.'

Only then did he recall the rumor he had heard while drinking tea at an inn shortly after arriving in Chang'an.

Had the Hengshan Sect really closed its doors? Like the Emei Sect, the Hengshan Sect was composed of female monks and only women could join. If a sect that was respected for cultivating in the mountains and protecting the common people had closed its doors, the entire Mount Heng area would have become a den of evil.

This Shanxi Province was a militarily important area with strong government influence, but as always, the government had half-neglected the relief of commoners who were being exploited by northern nomads or mountain bandits. Cheong-ra frowned and asked Dang Ran-yeong,

"Are we going to Mount Heng because of the Hengshan Sect?"

Dang Ran-yeong, who had been drinking the strong liquor continuously without side dishes as if his stomach didn't burn, flashed his eyes sharply.

"Who told you that?"

"No one specifically told me. I just heard that the Hengshan Sect had closed its doors when I came to Chang'an."

Seeing Dang Ran-yeong's reaction, it was as good as an affirmation, and Cheong-ra's brows furrowed even more.

"Is it really true that the Hengshan Sect has closed its doors?"

"Well, we'll have to see when we get there."

"What are you planning to do there?"

"That too, we'll have to see when we get there."

Dang Ran-yeong teased him by pretending to answer well while not revealing anything. It seemed he was being spiteful because Cheong-ra hadn't properly answered his question earlier.

But even if he had answered well, wouldn't he have ignored him and not revealed any information just like now? A relationship without trust, just taking the benefits they wanted from each other. That was exactly the relationship between Dang Ran-yeong and himself.

Cheong-ra just quietly drank his wine and looked out the window. Although the other was someone who couldn't be trusted and might try to use him in some way, it was still better than spending the night alone.

"Ah, the moon has risen already."

A whitish light seemed to spread over the distant mountains, and soon the moon revealed itself. As there happened to be a zither in this room, Cheong-ra got up from his seat and brought it over.

Having been treated to wine with hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, he intended to properly play "A Red Flower in the Snow" for Dang Ran-yeong, which he had started but not finished last time. He was just tipsy enough to be in the perfect mood for playing. His white fingers struck the strings, producing clear and melodious tunes.

"Traveling north alone and wandering,

I met a red beauty in the snow-covered mountains.

The delicate beauty's figure is so profound.

The beauty applies red rouge, and I play the zither.

Even in the depths of winter, if I'm with the beauty,

It would be fine to melt away like snow.

A red beauty in the snow, a red beauty in the snow..."

Feeling inspired, an even more satisfying performance than usual flowed out. Completely absorbed in the performance, when he raised his head, Dang Ran-yeong's eyes, as he rested his chin and watched Cheong-ra, were surprisingly dark and deep. Soon, as if he had never had such a look, he spoke in his usual manner.

"Drunk on the moon, often drunk on wine,

Mad about flowers, unable to serve even the master."

Dang Ran-yeong recited a line from Li Bai's "Presented to Meng Haoran". His intention was malicious, inserting "master" in place of where "emperor" should have been. Cheong-ra slowly plucked the zither strings and replied with the next verse.

"How dare I look upon the high mountains,

I can only gaze up at their clear fragrance."

Although he was quite taken with Dang Ran-yeong, he would never consider him his master. Cheong-ra recalled Neung Jeong-dong, who had called himself a favorite slave. The sight of him crying out in pleasure while being harshly beaten still sent chills down Cheong-ra's spine. It was even more so because he had discovered a part of himself in Neung Jeong-dong.

As he played "A Red Flower in the Snow" again on the zither, Cheong-ra fell into deep thought. Even though he wasn't being forced by Dang Ran-yeong right now, why did this moment please him so much?

As winter passed and spring came, it felt as if a spring breeze was blowing in his heart as well.

No, could this really be described with such a ticklish phrase as a spring breeze? It was more suited to an animal in heat than a spring breeze...

He slowly ended the performance of "A Red Flower in the Snow" as if shaking off such thoughts. As he was about to turn his gaze away from the moon, intending to get up from his seat soon, Dang Ran-yeong poured more wine into a cup and offered it to him.

"To truly get drunk on the moon, you should drink the moon."

The moon was reflected and rippling in the wine cup Dang Ran-yeong held out. Cheong-ra didn't refuse and emptied the cup. A hot sensation rose from his solar plexus. He felt elated as if he had really gotten drunk on the moon, but as soon as his eyes met Dang Ran-yeong's, he snapped back to his senses. He put down the wine cup with a clatter and said,

"Thank you for the good wine, Young Master Dang."

As he deliberately greeted him politely with a slightly sarcastic tone, Dang Ran-yeong smirked. He gestured for him to go.

Cheong-ra returned the zither to its place and went back to his room. His luggage, which someone had brought from the carriage, was there. He sat on the bed without even thinking of touching his luggage. His heart was pounding and beating fast, and his face was hot and flushed.

This excitement and heat were because he was drunk on wine. Or perhaps because Dang Ran-yeong had added some unknown poison to the wine.

Even thinking this, Cheong-ra couldn't shake the feeling that he was truly drunk on the moon rather than the wine. And the desire to get even more intoxicated.

***

They stayed at the inn for just one night and left immediately. After that, a monotonous schedule followed of traveling by carriage, camping outdoors, or staying at inns in nearby towns.

During this process, situations where Cheong-ra and Dang Ran-yeong shared the same room often arose. Unlike the first day, there were times when rooms were not plentiful enough. Of course, it was out of the question to share a room with Hwan-hong, who was a woman. He had thought he would at least end up sharing with Nam Gang-ryong, but that wasn't the case.

The first night Cheong-ra shared a room with Dang Ran-yeong, he was so nervous he could hardly sleep. Later, he gradually began to feel very troubled. The reason had nothing to do with Dang Ran-yeong's personality or cruel actions.

Unexpectedly, contrary to what he had said about breaking in new shoes or whatnot, he didn't lay a hand on Cheong-ra. However, surprisingly, Dang Ran-yeong had the talent of instantly making a room messy.

'So this... this is why his room at The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance looked like that!'

Wherever Dang Ran-yeong passed, the arrangement of objects became twisted and disordered. He never cleaned up after using something until someone else touched it.

After seeing Neung Jeong-dong, Cheong-ra had an inner aversion to acting like Dang Ran-yeong's servant, or more precisely, to appearing like a favorite slave, so he couldn't bring himself to clean up freely. When he couldn't stand it anymore and declared that he could no longer stay in the same room, he was refused.

"How do I know what mischief you'll get up to if I leave you alone?"

"Can't I just stay with Monk Gang-ryong?"

"I clearly heard Nam Gang-ryong telling Young Master Baek Ri to escape and whatnot. Do you want to be tied up and carried around?"

When Dang Ran-yeong threatened ominously, it didn't sound like a joke at all. He was truly someone who would tie him up and carry him around without hesitation.