Chapter 121

Although it seemed like he was just making empty threats to get him to perform the sword dance, there was a high possibility that he would actually follow through. Rather than seeing another disciple suffer at Dang Ran-yeong's hands, it would be better to end it with himself.

Cheong-ra sighed deeply, "Huu," and composed his expression. Soon, his sword gently cut through the air.

The Hundred Flowers Dance Under the Moon performed under the full moon made the sword dance even more beautiful. Unlike at the contest, Cheong-ra didn't stop at the second form of the Rain Path Form Five Swords but continued. He completed the sword dance, including the Full Moon Sparse Stars Sword and the Moon Shadow One Soul Sword Technique, before lowering his sword.

As he looked up, subtly expecting the other's admiration or praise, Dang Ran-yeong tilted his head slightly and said,

"Is that the best Beauty can do?"

"What?"

Cheong-ra, who thought he had danced quite well, was at a loss for words at this unexpected response. Dang Ran-yeong then pointed out various aspects of the sword dance he had just performed.

"Judging by your footwork, it seems to be Water Walking, but it's not even as good as Grass Walking. Your steps are so heavy that not even grass would grow where you tread. Also, the tip of your sword wavers so much, and why are your dance movements so complicated... Well, I suppose it would look good enough to the commoners who were spectators at the contest. But I have good eyes, so it bothers me a bit."

"What does Young Master Dang know about our sect's sword dance!"

Cheong-ra, who had been listening quietly, finally couldn't hold back and shouted angrily. The harsh criticism, which he had never heard since he started performing the sword dance, was shocking.

Dang Ran-yeong got up and approached Cheong-ra, breaking off a branch from a nearby tree. Dang Ran-yeong's main weapons were whips and hidden weapons, so he was lacking for performing a sword dance. It seemed he intended to use it in place of a sword.

Sighing, Cheong-ra handed his sword to Dang Ran-yeong, who was holding the tree branch. After all, it was called a sword dance, so shouldn't he be holding a sword? He said in a cold voice,

"I'm just lending it to you for a moment."

"I'm grateful that Beauty willingly gives me his weapon."

Dang Ran-yeong smiled faintly and drew the sword. The sword, gleaming in the moonlight as it was drawn, followed Cheong-ra's earlier movements exactly. His black clothes fluttered.

Even with the same movements, the interpretation and feeling of a sword dance can be different. If Cheong-ra's sword dance was soft, Dang Ran-yeong's was domineering. The sound of cutting through the wind was so sharp that it was like a cold north wind blowing. Unlike Cheong-ra, who imagined spring flowers scattering with each movement of the sword dance, there was an aspect that evoked the image of plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

At the same time, it possessed a precision and solidity without the slightest waver. He continued the beautifully perfect movements after seeing them just once. There was nothing wrong with any of the movements. When Dang Ran-yeong stopped dancing as if to say he had shown enough, Cheong-ra felt a deep sense of regret.

As he returned the sword, carefully sheathing it, to Cheong-ra who was standing there in a daze, Dang Ran-yeong spoke as if he understood,

"Well, I suppose for a martial artist, it's enough to be good with a sword. It's okay if you're a bit lacking in sword dance, right?"

Yet, he showed a slightly disappointed look, as if gently scratching at Cheong-ra. Coming to his senses, Cheong-ra received the sword with a resentful feeling and attached it to his waist. After heaving a deep sigh, he calmly admitted,

"Yes, Young Master Dang's sword dance was certainly a level above mine."

"Is that so."

Having performed the sword dance more skillfully than Cheong-ra, who had been dancing for a long time, Dang Ran-yeong replied nonchalantly. Cheong-ra looked up at the full moon once, then picked up his zither and returned to the bedroom. Having performed the ensemble and the sword dance, he thought to try and get back to sleep. He lay down quietly, looking up at the ceiling, and his eyelids slowly closed.

However, a moment later, Cheong-ra, who seemed about to fall asleep, suddenly sat up in bed.

The more he thought about it, the more heated he became. What? His steps were so heavy that not even grass would grow where he tread? It looked good enough to the commoners who were spectators? For a martial artist, it's enough to be good with a sword? It's okay if you're a bit lacking in sword dance?

Earlier, he had acted calmly, admitting the other's superior skill to avoid showing an unsightly appearance. But as Dang Ran-yeong's words seemed to ring loudly in his ears, anger rose to the top of his head. Even so, had his sword dance really been so poor as to be that bothersome to watch!

Cheong-ra, his pride hurt by a sense of defeat he had never felt before, couldn't sleep all night and trembled with anger.

***

Time in the villa flew by like an arrow, and a month had already passed.

Dang Ran-yeong visited the villa irregularly. Usually, he would have breakfast together, be absent during the day, and return at night to spend time together, but sometimes he would stay with Cheong-ra all day for several days in a row.

Here, all of Cheong-ra's food, clothing, and shelter followed Dang Ran-yeong's decisions. He controlled everything from what Cheong-ra ate and wore to when he slept. His attitude suggested that Cheong-ra's will or opinions didn't matter at all.

At first, Cheong-ra rebelled against him several times. It was too much to set times for meals, tea, and sleep, decide the types of food, clothing, and shelter, and sometimes even demand extremely lewd behavior.

However, as he was punished shockingly each time he disobeyed, Cheong-ra had no choice but to submit and follow the other.

But... In this life full of utterly unfair rules and orders, Cheong-ra surprisingly felt a deep sense of stability. He wasn't too surprised that he got excited when Dang Ran-yeong forcibly violated him, thinking it was due to his own unspeakable tendencies. But he couldn't understand why he felt this way.

After finishing breakfast, which Dang Ran-yeong had decided everything for, getting dressed, practicing swordsmanship, performing the sword dance, and washing up cleanly, Cheong-ra sat in the garden. On the table were tea and snacks that Dang Ran-yeong had left. As he moistened his throat with tea and chewed on the perfectly sweet snacks, Cheong-ra thought absent-mindedly,

'Is it okay to live so comfortably...?'

He didn't realize it at first, but now he could tell. Dang Ran-yeong was clearly cherishing Cheong-ra, beyond just treating him like a precious object.

Cheong-ra glanced down at the clothes he was wearing. He was dressed in silk clothes of incomparably bright colors with luxurious accessories. Not only the embroidered hair tie and fine silk shoes, but everything from his martial arts uniform for training to his underwear was expensive.

Every meal served was as luxurious and delicious as if made by an imperial chef, and even the tea leaves were of high quality, fragrant and mellow. Surprisingly, he even brought beauty water, making it a life with nothing to envy except for being confined.

Above all, Dang Ran-yeong never left Cheong-ra alone for more than a day. It was as if he knew the loneliness Cheong-ra was feeling. Although it was forceful, it appeared to anyone that he was caring for him with sincerity.

Cheong-ra had always felt a strange emptiness, as if floating in the air, but he had never felt that way here. Whenever Dang Ran-yeong broke him down to make him obey his words, or when he received rewards for following the other's words well, he felt ecstasy along with a sense of stability.

More than this luxurious lifestyle, the mental satisfaction from such things was greater. A life without insomnia was happier than he had thought.

"No, Baek Ri Cheong-ra. Get a grip. You need to get out of here. You're acting as if you'll live here for thousands of years..."

Even as he muttered this, Cheong-ra felt his words were utterly hollow.

If Dang Ran-yeong suddenly stopped visiting one day, Cheong-ra would be trapped here and starve to death. People shouldn't live depending entirely on someone like this. It was foolish to want to stay here for a long time.

Dang Ran-yeong didn't like him, he just wanted to possess and dominate him. It was just like keeping a precious carp in a well-decorated pond. Knowing this, Cheong-ra still muttered unconsciously,

"Isn't it about time for Young Master Dang to return soon?"

Well, carps living in well-decorated ponds do seem generally happy...

It was then. As if to rebuke such foolish thoughts, a sudden clap of thunder was heard from the clear sky. Cheong-ra stopped drinking his tea and stood up abruptly. Having been always peaceful for over a month, he was very surprised by this sudden anomaly.

Thunder rumbled again, and he felt a presence. Instantly, Cheong-ra's nerves became sharply alert. Dang Ran-yeong had never appeared making his presence known like this. Cautiously drawing his sword, Cheong-ra's eyes widened as he confirmed the owner of the presence.