Chapter 152

"Ch-Cheong-ra. Cheong-ra..."

Yeon Jeok-san stopped at a secluded place after running for a while. Though he knew they should keep fleeing, he was visibly excited, unable to contain his joy at achieving what he had wanted. When he reached out his hand, Cheong-ra flinched reflexively. While inwardly feeling dismayed, Yeon Jeok-san seemed to think this was natural and took out an instrument from his bosom.

As he tapped the strange instrument with many metal rods hanging from it, a melodious tune resembling wind chime sounds from earlier flowed out. Cheong-ra's mind and gaze unconsciously turned towards the instrument.

'Does this melody itself have an effect that bewitches people's minds...?'

As he listened to the beautiful melody, his lips parted slightly and his eyes became unfocused. Cheong-ra, who had been listening intently without realizing it, barely managed to gather his wits. Ordinary people would have been completely entranced by now. Fortunately, as Moon Lake Sect's martial arts were strongly influenced by Taoism, Cheong-ra could resist such enchantment to some extent.

"S-smile for me."

Yeon Jeok-san, thinking Cheong-ra was completely entranced by the evil melody, excitedly demanded. Though feeling disgusted, Cheong-ra easily managed to smile at him. Just for that, Yeon Jeok-san was beside himself with joy, unable to come to his senses. Cheong-ra inwardly condemned him. Yeon Jeok-san, are you so happy with false confessions without true feelings?

"Cheong-ra, from today on, you must like me. You must consider me as your most precious and cherished lover. Do you understand?"

Cheong-ra found Yeon Jeok-san repulsive for trying to forcibly make him his lover by controlling the mind-controlling insects. Wondering how to make Yeon Jeok-san let his guard down, Cheong-ra spoke with an even brighter smile than before.

"Yes, San-san."

"S-San-san? You called me San-san?"

Yeon Jeok-san's voice trembled and his face flushed red. He hadn't even called Dang Ran-yeong by a pet name... Thinking this, Cheong-ra inwardly flinched. His mind seemed to be getting hazy. What pet name was he thinking of for Dang Ran-yeong, who wasn't even his lover? Trying to gather his increasingly foggy thoughts, he placed his hand on Yeon Jeok-san's arm, who was too moved to budge.

"From today on, you are my most precious and cherished lover."

"Cheong-ra!"

Yeon Jeok-san hugged Cheong-ra tightly. With his head buried in Yeon Jeok-san's shoulder, Cheong-ra's smile coldly faded as if it had never been there. A fierce light flashed and disappeared in his hazy eyes. Soon, Yeon Jeok-san broke the embrace and said in an excited voice,

"I've built a pavilion for you nearby. Let's live there happily together for a long time."

"You built a pavilion for me?"

As he said this and was about to grasp the other's hand, Cheong-ra hesitated. Wait? Come to think of it, hadn't Dang Ran-yeong cut off one of Yeon Jeok-san's arms? Why was it perfectly attached? To only notice this now... Cheong-ra vaguely realized for the first time that something was strange about his own mind.

Curious about how he had reattached the severed arm he had fled with, Cheong-ra unconsciously felt and touched Yeon Jeok-san's arm. Tilting his head as it seemed to be a real human arm, not a prosthetic, Yeon Jeok-san shuddered and said with a strange laugh,

"Were you worried? It's fine. I attached another person's arm and restored it, and it moves as well as my own."

He attached someone else's arm? Cheong-ra hesitated. Unless one has mastered regeneration techniques, even one's own severed body part can't be reattached. Let alone someone else's arm? How many lives must have been consumed to make the impossible possible? He felt nauseous. Afraid his contempt might show, Cheong-ra lowered his eyes and said,

"I'm glad you've fully recovered, San-san."

"Cheong-ra..."

As Yeon Jeok-san approached with moved eyes, Cheong-ra, afraid he might try to kiss him, smiled and said,

"Let's go to our home before it gets dark."

Our home... Yeon Jeok-san muttered blankly and then grinned. He was so happy that his cheeks and ears turned bright red. Then, as if belatedly remembering Dang Ran-yeong, his face hardened. He started running again with Cheong-ra.

They cut across the sparsely populated mountains. After running without rest for nearly half a day, they arrived at a mountain stronghold. The Blood Cult members disguised as bandits hurriedly bowed deeply to Yeon Jeok-san when they saw him.

"We greet you, Brother Yuheng."

Unlike when he was with Cheong-ra, Yeon Jeok-san wiped the smile from his face and asked coldly,

"Have you prepared the place for Cheong-ra and me to stay?"

"Of course, Brother Yuheng."

Cheong-ra quietly observed his surroundings carefully. Most of the Blood Cult members in the stronghold were lay disciples wearing wooden masks. The single executioner with an iron mask among them was very surprised to see Cheong-ra.

"No, Brother Yuheng...! Isn't this the Moonlight Beauty Sword? Is it alright to awaken the Demon Soul Insects so soon?"

Judging by the executioner's reaction, they hadn't known Yeon Jeok-san would do this. Come to think of it, even at the Phoenix-Qilin-Iris-Orchid Contest, Yuheng had seemed more focused on achieving his own goals than truly serving the Blood Cult.

That's why his actions of treating people's lives like flies for his own desires seemed even more terrible than the misguided beliefs of fanatics. As killing intent unconsciously leaked out, Yeon Jeok-san reacted sensitively and turned his head.

"Cheong-ra?"

Receiving a puzzled look, Cheong-ra inwardly bit his tongue, realizing his mistake, but decided to use this to his advantage instead.

"Are these all your subordinates, San-san, or are they enemies?"

Cheong-ra deliberately spoke in a slightly dazed voice, carelessly muttering. Not knowing exactly how someone controlled by Demon Soul Insects would act, he blatantly released killing intent to test Yeon Jeok-san. While the Blood Cult members immediately tensed and grasped their weapons, Yeon Jeok-san smiled happily and casually placed his hand on Cheong-ra's shoulder.

"From now on, the Blood Cult isn't your enemy, but an ally. They're people you shouldn't attack."

"I see..."

As Cheong-ra nodded as if immediately understanding Yeon Jeok-san's words and removed his killing intent, Yeon Jeok-san stroked his shoulder even more stickily. He didn't seem to doubt Cheong-ra at all. The restless executioner, unable to give up, questioned Yuheng again.

"Even so, it's too early. Isn't there still time until the great work? How could you damage such an important sacrifice already? The Purple Subtlety Star should be offered to Him with minimal damage... Why did you rush like this?"

Are they calling me the Purple Subtlety Star now? While puzzled, Cheong-ra took note of the important information. Purple Subtlety Star, great work, important sacrifice...

Yeon Jeok-san, who was about to lead Cheong-ra inside, turned back irritably and punched the executioner. The executioner who fell to the ground didn't even groan, as if it was natural for the other to treat him this way. The lay disciples all lowered their eyes and retreated.

"Tch! If you insist, can't we just enjoy for a while and then tell that Mun-ga fellow to remove the Demon Soul Insects! Isn't he supposed to be able to control all the insects in the world!"

Yeon Jeok-san scolded the executioner in an irritable voice. Cheong-ra's heart, who had been listening quietly, pounded heavily.

How desperate he had been when Dang Ran-yeong said there was no way to remove the Demon Soul Insects. But they can be removed? Given the circumstances, it seemed there were no Demon Soul Insects in Cheong-ra's body now, but this was still very welcome information.

"But it's not certain if removing the Demon Soul Insects is really possible, and recently his wife died..."

"What? What do you mean? Explain in more detail!"

"It seems she had a chronic illness. So he's not very cooperative, and there's been a major setback in producing Demon Soul Insects. The Cult Leader is very concerned about it."

"If only we could feed him Demon Soul Insects and control him too..."

Yeon Jeok-san muttered anxiously as things weren't going as he had expected. Then he irritably chased away the executioner and led Cheong-ra inside. The quarters prepared inside the stronghold were clearly furnished to be as comfortable and luxurious as possible. However, Cheong-ra, who had become accustomed to such luxury while staying with Dang Ran-yeong, wasn't particularly impressed.

"I wonder if your body has been damaged a lot because of me..."

Yeon Jeok-san said sadly, gently caressing Cheong-ra's face as if tending to an ailing lover. Cheong-ra inwardly laughed loudly. You awaken the Demon Soul Insects that may or may not be in my body, and now you're worried if my body has been damaged? He smiled as he took Yeon Jeok-san's hand away from his face.

"I'm fine, San-san."

"Cheong-ra... How can you be so kind to me every time?"

Yeon Jeok-san's eyes trembled as if deeply moved by his words. If he tried to make a move or check his pulse to see if he was seriously injured, it would be troublesome. Cheong-ra quickly changed the subject.

"San-san, I'd like to wash up. Is it alright if I do?"