Chapter 143

The weapon that seemed like it would leave a permanent path in Cheong-ra's body slowly pulled out. The sensation of his private parts, which had been stretched round, slowly closing felt unfamiliar. The semen that had been sprayed inside several times flowed out, wetting his buttocks.

"Beauty, have you reflected?"

Dang Ran-yeong, his eyes shining languidly, tapped Cheong-ra's chest where the wound medicine had almost disappeared. Even in his dazed state, Cheong-ra nodded first.

"Yes, yes, huk..."

At the end of his words, a "keuk" sound attached to the tail end of his unceasing crying. He hadn't cried like this since he was young, but he didn't even feel embarrassed. Only when the other kissed him gently and softly did Cheong-ra finally realize that the punishment was over.

Dang Ran-yeong untied his bound arms. He massaged the stiff, seemingly numb arms well to relax them, then wrapped Cheong-ra in a blanket. Cheong-ra was so exhausted that he didn't even think about needing to wash. He just wanted to rest.

Dang Ran-yeong embraced Cheong-ra, who was wrapped in the blanket, and gently sucked on his salty, sweat-soaked nape. The hot, soft flesh licked long over where the Blood Cult's brand would be. Cheong-ra then vaguely understood why Dang Ran-yeong had been biting and sucking his nape so much. He must not have liked what was on his neck.

'So... tired...'

Cheong-ra, limp from exhaustion, felt an emotion he had never experienced before. Surprisingly, it was completely far from misery or shame.

Had he ever struggled, cried, screamed, and begged so hard in his life? He didn't even care about the terrible insects inside his body. No, more than that, for the first time, he could completely forget about them in that moment. It felt strangely comfortable and refreshing, as if he had moved from the hot and humid midsummer heat to a cool shade. Even his chest, which had been itchy so often, seemed less itchy.

Soon, a deep and comfortable sleep poured over him. This time, even in his dreams, Dang Ran-yeong tormented him terribly, but when Cheong-ra woke up, he thought it was much better than nightmares about insects.

***

His footsteps lightly touched the air and then kicked off the ground without a sound. His blue clothes fluttered like waves, and the tip of his sword cut through the air, drawing a white circle. His eyes were clear with intense concentration, and his breathing was regular.

After finishing the last dance move of the Hundred Flowers Dance Under the Moon like that, Cheong-ra, holding the Dark Moon Sword, fell into deep thought.

'I learned that the Hundred Flowers Dance Under the Moon is also a form of training, but I hadn't given it much thought until now.'

No one at Moon Lake Sect took this sword dance seriously. Everyone just learned the movements and demonstrated them, thinking it was simply their sect's traditional sword dance.

But now, every time he concentrated and performed the sword dance like this, the techniques he had learned at the sect appeared new to his eyes, and he realized that the essence of martial arts was imbued in every dance move, which he hadn't seen before. The more he tried to execute it cleanly and beautifully, the more his understanding of martial arts improved, and then he saw new things again.

Was it an illusion that the more he performed it, the more he felt as if he became one with the sword, as if the sword and his body were united? That feeling as if the sword was connected to his hand and extending out... Cheong-ra slowly raised his sword. As the tip of the sword slowly cut through the air vertically, it emitted a sharper energy than usual. But that was all.

"Hmm..."

It didn't seem quite right. As he tilted his head, feeling like he was on the verge of grasping something, Cheong-ra turned around while sheathing the Dark Moon Sword and jumped in surprise. Dang Ran-yeong had been watching the sword dance intently for some time. He wasn't particularly using any concealment technique, but he never made any sound, which always startled Cheong-ra.

"Young Master Dang! If you're here, say something, or at least make some noise!"

As always, Dang Ran-yeong ignored Cheong-ra's words and evaluated the sword dance.

"Well, it's become a bit more watchable."

Cheong-ra, who had been subtly expecting and had resolved to respond gracefully no matter what Dang Ran-yeong said, couldn't hold back and asked,

"A bit?"

His pride crumbled. Recently, he had almost given up on regular training and was focusing solely on the sword dance. He had been praising himself, thinking this level was really quite good! Cheong-ra, gripping the handle of the Dark Moon Sword tightly, took a deep breath and tried to speak as calmly as possible.

"This... this level is good enough, isn't it!"

Due to his surge of emotion, it didn't come out well.

"Ah, well. If Beauty wants to be satisfied with 'this level'... A martial artist just needs to handle the sword well, there's no need to be so good at sword dancing. Of course, Beauty isn't even that good at handling the sword either."

Saying this and thoroughly scratching Cheong-ra's pride, Dang Ran-yeong critiqued point by point, saying his feet were too tense, the sword lines weren't clean enough, his clothes made too much fluttering noise making the dance movements seem busy. He even demonstrated how the sword lines should be cleaner, and since everything he said was correct, Cheong-ra had nothing to say. This made his pride hurt even more.

As Cheong-ra stood there, mulling over Dang Ran-yeong's words in anger, Dang Ran-yeong tapped his cheek and said,

"Let's have a meal in the east wing in about two hours. I have something to talk about."

Cheong-ra gritted his teeth as he glared at Dang Ran-yeong's back as he walked away briskly. It was an emotion he had never felt before, even when being whipped by the other, forced to kneel, choked, spanked, or violated.

Just you wait... Someday I'll make you praise my sword dance...

After washing his body, which had sweated a bit from practicing the sword dance hard, he found clean clothes neatly laid out for him to change into. They weren't as lavish as the clothes he wore at the Phoenix-Qilin-Iris-Orchid Contest, but with delicate embroidery on the sleeves and collar, and a subtle sheen to the fabric, they were clearly chosen by Dang Ran-yeong.

Even after escaping from that beautiful villa, Dang Ran-yeong continued to choose clothes for him. Since they all matched his taste, Cheong-ra didn't resist and changed into the chosen clothes. When he arrived at the east wing, servants were busily carrying food. The companions who had arrived earlier and were chatting greeted him warmly.

"Devotee Baek, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, did you sleep well too, Monk Gang-ryong?"

"You came at the right time, Young Master Baek. Come, sit down. The cook here is really skilled. Try some of these rice cakes."

"Thank you, Young Master Wi. ...Mm, the filling in these rice cakes is really delicious."

"Young Master Baek, it seems your body hasn't fully recovered yet. You don't look very well today. It would be best not to overexert yourself."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Hwan."

Cheong-ra inwardly felt embarrassed as he answered, knowing his haggard appearance was due to Dang Ran-yeong's harsh torment. A moment later, Dang Ran-yeong also arrived at the east wing. Unlike the warm welcome they had given Cheong-ra, no one asked Dang Ran-yeong if he had slept well. Of course, he didn't care at all and just sat down at the head seat, lost in thought without saying a word. Glancing at him, Cheong-ra thought,

'The thing he wants to talk about must be the Alliance Leader's request.'

Four days ago at the Martial Arts Alliance, Mo Yong-hyeon had asked them to look into Broken Cloud Valley in Henan.

'There are rumors of ghostly wails being heard near Broken Cloud Valley and strange occurrences happening, and circumstances suggest the Blood Cult is up to something, so I ordered people to investigate. But none of those I sent have returned, it's enough to make ghosts wail. Could you perhaps look into the area once?'

Cheong-ra had wanted to answer that he would certainly do so. If his situation had been normal, he would have agreed. But now he couldn't be far from Dang Ran-yeong. Especially if it was a place where Blood Cult members might be present.

Unconsciously, Cheong-ra looked at Dang Ran-yeong with eyes seeking permission, then quickly turned away, realizing his mistake. But it was already too late. Feeling Mo Yong-hyeon's gaze, he slightly raised his head to see the Alliance Leader looking at him with a strange expression. It was clear he had noticed something odd about the relationship between Dang Ran-yeong and Cheong-ra.

'Cheong-ra. What are you doing now?'

It was time to avoid the gaze that was clearly asking this question. Although Mo Yong-hyeon had made the request to Cheong-ra, Dang Ran-yeong answered.

'If we do this, I wonder what the Alliance Leader will do for us in return.'

'Us...'

Mo Yong-hyeon laughed heartily. There was a big difference between asking a favor of his close friend's nephew and making a deal with Dang Ran-yeong. Unable to explain the situation to the Alliance Leader, Cheong-ra inwardly sighed. Dang Ran-yeong smiled and stood up without even waiting for the other's answer.

'Alright, I'll take care of your matter. Don't forget that you'll owe me a favor, Alliance Leader.'

With those arrogant words, that day's conversation had concluded.

Cheong-ra wondered what Dang Ran-yeong was trying to get from the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. In any case, he thought it was fortunate that they could investigate Broken Cloud Valley as desired. Soon, as if finishing his thoughts, Dang Ran-yeong spoke while drinking wine that was fragrant with the scent of hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum,

"The Alliance Leader found out about Broken Cloud Valley. It seems it's time we deal with it soon."

A piece of braised meat fell from Cheong-ra's chopsticks just as he was about to put it in his mouth.