Chapter 83

Cheong-ra didn't realize how docile and expectant his gaze was as he looked at the other. It was a completely defenseless, pure expectation that the other would somehow be able to help him. Seeing him, the smile on Dang Ran-yeong's lips faltered slightly.

But soon, as if nothing had happened, the man leaned forward with an even more amused expression.

"We'll strip you from the waist down and hang you up over there."

"What?"

Cheong-ra's gaze wavered as he turned his head. The "there" Dang Ran-yeong pointed to was right in front of the cabin door. It was a position where anyone passing by could see if they just opened the door a little. Unable to accept that he would be hung up in such a place, Cheong-ra immediately shook his head.

"Young Master Dang, are you crazy? What does that have to do with seasickness! I won't do it!"

Cheong-ra cried out seriously. How could anyone in their right mind do such a thing? But the smile on Dang Ran-yeong's face deepened. Momentarily distracted by that seductive smile, Cheong-ra heard Dang Ran-yeong say,

"...What a shame, I want to do it. You must take responsibility for daring to throw a dagger at me."

***

Cheong-ra's resistance was more fierce than ever before.

Of course, he had never been insincere in his physical struggles with Dang Ran-yeong before. This was true when he fought under the pretext of protecting his junior disciple, when he was forced to bite the armrest of a chair, and when he was dragged to the prison cell for interrogation.

However, this time's resistance was truly urgent and desperate. Wasn't this a situation where his honor might plummet to the ground?

Moreover, the person before him was someone who always kept his word once he said something. For instance, he had said he would punish Cheong-ra for disobeying his instructions at the Hengshan Sect. Cheong-ra had no doubt that the painful torture in the prison cell was that punishment.

The problem was that no matter how much he tried to resist, Dang Ran-yeong's strength and martial arts overwhelmed him. While this was what had fascinated him about this man, in a situation like this, it was extremely troublesome. Knowing it was futile, Cheong-ra engaged in desperate grappling before finally trying to cry out for help.

However, Dang Ran-yeong, noticing this, quickly grabbed Cheong-ra by the nape and shoved his head into the bed. His strong grip firmly held the back of Cheong-ra's head, pressing it into the blanket until it was hard to breathe.

"Mmph, mmmph!"

His struggling arms were tightly held behind his back. It was a position where he couldn't use either hand at all, with his forearms pressed together. As he kicked wildly due to the difficulty breathing and his predicament, Dang Ran-yeong, who had pinned Cheong-ra down, didn't budge. He painfully twisted Cheong-ra's arm and said,

"You're going to end up doing it anyway, so behave."

Despite Dang Ran-yeong's words, Cheong-ra didn't give up his resistance. End up doing it anyway? Nonsense! Even in a situation where he could barely breathe, he tried his best, but everything about the other was tough and powerful. He completely overwhelmed Cheong-ra, crushing him down.

Soon, Cheong-ra was under the other's complete domination.

His attire was not much different from typical martial artists' uniforms, wearing a short-sleeved robe over light armor. Dang Ran-yeong lifted the robe and skillfully used one hand to wrap the robe's hem around both arms, tightly binding them painfully.

He then pulled and untied the waist sash. Since Cheong-ra had already taken off his shoes to lie on the bed, his lower garments were removed in an instant. Half-resigned, Cheong-ra clung to one last hope, but even his undergarments were mercilessly stripped off. The exposed feeling of his lower body was unbearably chilling.

Dang Ran-yeong lifted Cheong-ra, who had been shoved into the bed, and slung him over his shoulder. Cheong-ra's face turned drastically pale.

"No, don't!"

Was he really going to hang him up there? He hoped that even now, the other would say it was a joke, but Dang Ran-yeong tore down a silk cloth decorating the cabin interior, twisted it tightly, and instantly made a plausible rope.

"Please, please don't do this. I don't mind having seasickness..."

Suffering from seasickness would be a hundred, a thousand times better. Cheong-ra pleaded desperately to Dang Ran-yeong, who was attaching the rope to the ceiling beam. However, the response he received was utterly heartless.

"I don't care whether you have seasickness or not."

From the beginning, his attitude was that Cheong-ra's seasickness didn't matter as long as he himself was enjoying it. With his lower half completely exposed, Cheong-ra couldn't even run away now. Trembling, he retreated on his knees but was caught by Dang Ran-yeong.

The rope hung from the ceiling beam was wrapped around the inside of Cheong-ra's knees. After tightly binding his thighs, it was connected to his bound arms and pulled tight, resulting in a position where one leg was spread upwards while standing. Cheong-ra's face turned pale and then flushed red at the posture that shamelessly exposed his most private areas.

"Then at least close the door!"

The door was still slightly open from when Dang Ran-yeong had entered earlier. Cheong-ra urgently requested, but the other pretended not to hear. Instead, he painfully slapped Cheong-ra's buttocks. Smack, smack! Though it seemed playful, the one delivering the blows was a martial artist. Each strike was so painful it brought tears to Cheong-ra's eyes, making him twist his body.

"Beauty, if you make a loud noise, you'll be discovered. If you have a preference for being seen by others, feel free to be as noisy as you like."

Smack, smack! Dang Ran-yeong threatened while delivering a few more painful slaps. One buttock, harshly struck, instantly swelled red. Just imagining Head Guard Yang, other guards, or their companions appearing after hearing the commotion was terrifying, so Cheong-ra painfully swallowed his groans.

"Now, come to think of it... shall I return last time's gift?"

Dang Ran-yeong rummaged in his bosom and took something out. Cheong-ra's eyes widened in surprise. It was the clear jade that he had returned to Dang Ran-yeong last time, feeling uncomfortable about accepting something so expensive. As he approached holding it, Cheong-ra leaned back with all his might, but it was useless in his painfully bound state.

"Wh-what..."

Cheong-ra was flustered by the sudden appearance of the jade he had almost forgotten about. The man, his face bearing a sinister and cruel light, grabbed Cheong-ra's chin painfully and smiled.

"You reject what I give you? I'll make sure you can't do that anymore..."

The implication that one should not refuse what he had given as a gift was surprisingly arrogant.

No, should this even be called arrogance?

It was closer to a desire for domination. It meant that whatever he gave or took away should be entirely according to his will.

The cold, cool sensation of jade touched his lips. Cheong-ra twisted his head this way and that, but it only made the grip on his chin more painful. Dang Ran-yeong forcibly opened his mouth and shoved the jade inside. The tip of the green jade glistened between his parted lips. Firm fingertips caressed his trembling lips.

"If you drop and break this, next time you'll be locked up at the top of The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance, playing the zither all day until your fingers break. Until you earn ten thousand taels of gold."

Cheong-ra sent a trembling gaze to the other. Was he serious? Or was this just another part of his "acting basely" as he desired?

Last time in the prison cell, he had acted so fierce and cruel, but in the end, it was just a form of "acting basely." He wanted to think this was the same, but Cheong-ra's gaze kept turning to the half-open cabin door. Isn't this too dangerous...

He couldn't tell if Dang Ran-yeong was doing this simply to satisfy him, or if his true intentions were mixed in, constantly teetering on the edge of dangerous situations. Dang Ran-yeong often acted as if he would truly destroy and kill Cheong-ra. Even when trying to believe the other's actions were false, for some reason, a deep instinct sent dangerous warnings. Like now.

"Wouldn't that kind of life be better for Beauty too?"

For some reason, Dang Ran-yeong's eyes were dark as he spoke in what seemed to be a mocking voice.

Disparaging that a life playing the zither would be better than living as Moonlight Flashing Sword, Cheong-ra's pride was hurt, and he shook his head resolutely. Dang Ran-yeong soon withdrew his dangerously gleaming gaze and lowered the fingers that had been touching Cheong-ra's lips. Then he took a washcloth that had been placed to the side and blindfolded Cheong-ra.

"Haa...!"

A rough breath escaped Cheong-ra's mouth as it was sealed and his vision was blocked. His nerves on edge, Cheong-ra unconsciously looked around.

'I can't sense his presence...!'

The man who had clearly been in front of him had completely disappeared the moment his eyes were covered. Not even the sound of clothes rustling or breathing could be heard. It was as if no one was there.

Surely he hadn't left him like this. He must be nearby, watching him with that characteristically arrogant and cruel gaze. Though he tried to think that way, anxiety gradually built up. Cheong-ra tried to look around even though he couldn't see anything.

If it weren't for the expensive jade in his mouth, he would have called out Dang Ran-yeong's name. But this jade was too precious to spit out. Moreover, the warning about what would happen if he dropped the jade weighed heavily on his mind. Though it seemed like a joke, he was too afraid to ignore it.

The jade in his mouth became moist with saliva. Cheong-ra repeatedly swallowed and sharpened his only allowed sense.

Creak, creeeak...

Had the creaking sounds from the wooden merchant ship always been this loud? At first, he startled, thinking it might be the sound of someone approaching. But soon he realized it was just the natural sound of the ship moving through the river, yet his tension didn't ease.