Chapter 93

"Oh, it's gone..."

The jade rabbit figurine he had bought in Dragon Spring and cherished was nowhere to be found. Even after searching again in case it had fallen and rolled somewhere, it was still not visible. While Cheong-ra was dumbfounded, Dang Ran-yeong's eyes scanned the bundle of belongings.

"They stole the rabbit?"

Cheong-ra flinched, having deliberately avoided explaining about the item to maintain his dignity. Dang Ran-yeong continued speaking.

"The little bunny that our Beauty secretly took out and stroked lovingly on dark nights has disappeared. Whoever it is, they've got guts to steal Beauty's possession."

"What are you talking about? When did I ever do that! And it's not mine... it's a jade figurine I was going to give to my master."

Even in this situation, Cheong-ra stubbornly insisted, denying Dang Ran-yeong's words. And he burned with anger. Why didn't they steal his undergarments instead of taking something difficult to replace...

However, the item was already gone, and Cheong-ra forced himself to let go of his attachment. What was important now was information about the person who had done this. He examined the dead weasel once more. Though he had told Dang Ran-yeong that there were many who did such things, the first person Cheong-ra thought of was also Yeon Jeok-san, nicknamed Thousand Forms Sword. Especially this rope tightly constricting the dead animal's neck.

Could it really be his doing? Cheong-ra soon shook his head in denial.

"Even if we think this is Yeon Jeok-san's doing... it doesn't make sense."

"You mean in terms of knowing our route in advance."

Dang Ran-yeong said as he picked up the dead weasel and examined it again. It seemed he had been thinking the same thing.

Cheong-ra knew well how ghost-like Dang Ran-yeong's ability to sense people's presence was. So if someone had been following them, he wouldn't have missed it. Moreover, the unidentified culprit had done this as soon as Dang Ran-yeong and Cheong-ra had left.

That was nearly impossible unless they had known in advance that they were coming to this village and had been waiting.

***

They waited until nightfall, but neither Wi Je-ho nor Hwan-hong and Nam Gang-ryong returned. As a result, three of the five portions of food brought by the village chief's grandson grew cold.

While Cheong-ra was worried about the safety of the three missing people, Dang Ran-yeong didn't seem to care at all, let alone worry. After worrying about the three, Cheong-ra began to worry about his own safety. Dang Ran-yeong's words about punishing him if he got hurt kept coming to mind. Anxious, he soothed his internal injury with a long session of energy circulation.

Fortunately, the internal injury wasn't too severe and would heal completely in a few days if he paid attention to it. As he finished his energy circulation, Cheong-ra shuddered slightly, recalling that blade-like killing intent.

Killing intent, the energy of wanting to kill someone. As a martial artist, he was familiar with it and had experienced countless instances of killing intent while eradicating evil sects. The most horrific among them had been from someone who decorated their dwelling with poles bearing the severed heads of civilians.

However, the killing intent he experienced today was even more terrible than that person's. It was killing intent that not only reeked of blood but created an illusion of fresh blood streaming down. It must have belonged to someone who had taken hundreds, or even more, lives. Moreover, being a high-level master, that's why Cheong-ra had suffered such an impact from the killing intent alone. To be able to harm someone with killing intent alone, Cheong-ra couldn't even grasp what level that realm might be.

And thinking about that person's killing intent, he reflexively recalled Dang Ran-yeong's slaughter as well.

The way he had killed the river bandits on the Yellow River, in the cave at the Hengshan Sect, and especially brutally killed the Blood Cult members in that mountain fortress today, and the smile of enjoyment as he tore apart the one called Yao Guang. Those black eyes that shone mercilessly with joy at the enemy's pain and screams.

Even though he was an ally, his martial prowess was far from reassuring; rather, it was frightening and made one want to avoid him. Even now, when Cheong-ra recalled the scene of Dang Ran-yeong mercilessly butchering Yao Guang, he felt nauseous.

Yet, at the same time, he found himself drawn to that sight. He couldn't take his eyes off those merciless hands and the powerful strength that easily broke a skilled master like Yao Guang, the way he ruthlessly mutilated his enemy. Rather, deep in his heart, his instincts secretly wished for that cruel and strong man to completely crush him...

Lost in these dark thoughts for a moment, Cheong-ra suddenly came to his senses. And he sternly rebuked himself.

'Baek Ri Cheong-ra! There are other things to be attracted to, how can you be drawn to such a sight! Get a grip!'

Trying to suppress the instinctive, abnormal desires that had been rising since meeting Dang Ran-yeong, Cheong-ra unconsciously sighed. And as he opened his eyes, which had been closed for energy circulation, he flinched as his gaze met Dang Ran-yeong's, who was staring at him intently.

"...What?"

"Beauty, come here."

Dang Ran-yeong, who had been looking Cheong-ra up and down, beckoned to him. Cheong-ra unconsciously swallowed dryly and asked back.

"...Why?"

Even as he asked this, Cheong-ra was already slowly approaching the other. Moving stiffly, ready to pull back at any moment, he approached, and Dang Ran-yeong grabbed his wrist. Those firm fingers that had torn apart several lives today skillfully found Cheong-ra's pulse point.

In fact, this was a very rude action among martial artists. Allowing someone to examine one's body meant revealing everything about one's inner energy, the nature of the martial arts one had learned, and even one's health condition. However, Cheong-ra didn't dare think of rejecting Dang Ran-yeong and let him be.

Considering how he had mentioned the state of his bones, muscles, and upper dantian earlier today, this person must have already checked his pulse once before. Once checked, twice checked, what difference did it make? And even if that wasn't the case, Cheong-ra didn't want to go against the other in a place where they were alone like this.

'The moment I resist, he'll surely make me pay the price.'

He wasn't sure if it was even possible to shake off his hand. Dang Ran-yeong's grappling skills were the highest level he had ever seen. As always, he would surely be subdued in the blink of an eye.

He would probably pin him down on a table, bed, or the floor and insist on properly checking his pulse to the end. After that, he would punish Cheong-ra for daring to resist him.

In that characteristic low voice, he would rebuke him, saying that in addition to the punishment for carelessly injuring his body, he should receive another punishment. Since he had suffered an internal injury, he probably wouldn't strike his abdomen. Instead, would he be spanked like last time? Or would his neck be choked?

Or perhaps he would poison him with some unbearable stimulant. Or maybe he would probe down there until he begged, unable to endure. Or he might tie him up and hang him from the ceiling, not knowing when the three people might return...

As he indulged in these lewd fantasies, Cheong-ra became a bit irritated at his own poor imagination. It was all just imagining things Dang Ran-yeong had already done to him, and he sighed softly again. At that moment, Dang Ran-yeong finished his long pulse-taking.

"The internal injury isn't too severe."

Surprisingly, it seemed Dang Ran-yeong had simply checked Cheong-ra's pulse to confirm his injury.

"It's just exposure to killing intent, so it can't be too severe."

It was killing intent that would have made an untrained civilian cough up blood or die of heart failure on the spot, but Cheong-ra answered as if it were no big deal. However, inwardly, he was secretly pleased that Dang Ran-yeong cared about him.

Now that he had confirmed that his body was fine, Cheong-ra tensed and feared, wondering when Dang Ran-yeong would punish him. No, perhaps this was more anticipation than fear. However, contrary to Cheong-ra's fearful longing, Dang Ran-yeong didn't forcibly pin him down or hit him. Instead, he handed him a round pill that smelled strongly of herbs.

"It's medicine good for internal injuries. Take it."

Even as he obediently swallowed the pill, Cheong-ra couldn't give up his expectations. But Dang Ran-yeong put out the lit oil lamp and now urged him to sleep.

"Apply that beauty water or whatever it is you put on your face and go to sleep."

"It's... it's not beauty water, it's a kind of tonic for the skin."

Cheong-ra denied, stuttering slightly. No, how did he know when he had applied it secretly when no one was around? Dang Ran-yeong, pretending not to hear Cheong-ra's excuse, said,

"You don't need to go outside just to untie your lower garments. We've already seen everything there is to see anyway."

"...!"

Cheong-ra couldn't deny this, at least.

Feeling ashamed yet secretly applying his beauty water and untying his lower garments before lying down to sleep, Cheong-ra was confused.

'What's going on? Why isn't he doing anything?'

Young Master Dang, isn't he not that kind of person? Isn't he a man who keeps his word once he says something? If he said he'd punish me, shouldn't he punish me? This doesn't suit him, being so lenient as to just give me medicine and put me to sleep for such a minor internal injury!

Countless words boiled in his heart. However, Cheong-ra could only pretend to calmly try to sleep without showing any sign. After all, begging him to punish or torment him first was something he could never do, even if it killed him.