Chapter 153

"Y-yes, of course. You've always liked to keep your body clean, Cheong-ra."

Yeon Jeok-san, coming to his senses, returned with an anxious face, worried about Dang Ran-yeong's pursuit. He quickly walked to the wooden tub, muttering again,

"Besides, we needed to wash you anyway in case there's tracking incense on you."

Wash him? Did that mean he wasn't going to wash alone...? Although he had bathed with his martial brothers and peers several times at Moon Lake Sect, the other person now was Yeon Jeok-san. Cheong-ra considered drawing his sword and cutting him down right then, but decided to endure a bit longer. He wanted to get definite clues about how to remove the Demon Soul Insects.

In the wooden tub was a bucket of hot water prepared by the Blood Cult members. It wasn't enough for a bath, but sufficient to wash the body. Perhaps to wash off the tracking incense, the water had a strong herbal scent. Cheong-ra was relieved that the tracking incense wasn't on his skin but emanating from inside his body.

Yeon Jeok-san fidgeted restlessly, constantly glancing at Cheong-ra. Then, as if intending to be heard, he muttered gloomily,

"Well, to wash, you need to take off all your clothes..."

Though irritation surged, Cheong-ra took a deep breath and then undressed without hesitation. As he removed his clothes layer by layer, Yeon Jeok-san stared at him open-mouthed, entranced. Baek Ri Cheong-ra, his lover, undressing voluntarily was a scene he had never even imagined in his dreams.

When Cheong-ra completely removed his undergarments and stood naked, Yeon Jeok-san's breath stopped for a moment. He blinked hard and then stared fixedly at the area between Cheong-ra's legs, as if unable to believe his eyes.

"Cheong-ra... What on earth is that?"

What he pointed to with a trembling finger was, of course, the string tied between his legs. Cheong-ra calmly lied as he untied the silk string,

"Dang Ran-yeong tied it there."

"Hah! That pervert... I knew it!"

Yeon Jeok-san couldn't take his eyes off the silk string that slipped to the floor, cursing Dang Ran-yeong as a pervert twice more. Although Dang Ran-yeong hadn't tied it, he was indeed a pervert, so Cheong-ra felt no guilt as he listened to the insults while grasping the soft cloth to wipe his body.

Surprisingly, Yeon Jeok-san only stole glances at Cheong-ra washing himself in ecstasy, without easily trying to touch him. While wiping his body with the herb-soaked cloth, Cheong-ra hurried his movements. He still had more to hear from Yeon Jeok-san. However, if that guy couldn't hold back and tried to violate him here, he felt he wouldn't be able to endure any longer.

Even after washing with the herbal water, he looked around for something to mask the sweet scent of tracking incense emanating from his body. Fortunately, perhaps on Yeon Jeok-san's orders, the Blood Cult members had prepared perfumed oil as well. As he hurriedly applied the oil to his body, he sensed Yeon Jeok-san approaching.

"Ch-Cheong-ra..."

Seeing the naked body alone was enough to drive him mad, but watching Cheong-ra apply perfumed oil to his bare skin made it hard for Yeon Jeok-san to hold back any longer. His skin glistened lewdly. He wanted to quickly embrace Cheong-ra, who was looking at him blankly with slightly reddened cheeks.

However, as he approached as if entranced and was about to reach out, Yeon Jeok-san recalled reality and barely regained his senses, breathing roughly. He hit his own head hard.

"Huk, huok... No. Here... We need to run far away first."

Knowing he wouldn't be able to control himself if he touched Cheong-ra's body even once, he instead picked up the silk string and put it in his bosom. Seeing this, Cheong-ra's mood soured considerably. Though he wouldn't get aroused while with this guy, wasn't that too personal an item to give to someone like him?

Still, thanks to Yeon Jeok-san's patience, Cheong-ra had the opportunity to extract more information.

As soon as Cheong-ra changed into the clothes Yeon Jeok-san had prepared, they left the mountain stronghold. Surprisingly, as they left, Yeon Jeok-san ordered the Blood Cult members to block the paths where Dang Ran-yeong was likely to come. Even knowing it meant certain death, the Blood Cult members willingly agreed to follow the order.

'Disgusting bastards...'

The more time he spent with them, the more Cheong-ra's contempt for these fanatical cult members grew in his heart. Unaware of these feelings, Yeon Jeok-san ran down the mountainside with Cheong-ra. After running for some time, a seemingly ordinary carriage stood on a deserted mountain path.

Rather than riding in the carriage alone with Yeon Jeok-san, continuing to run would be better... Cheong-ra inwardly clicked his tongue as he boarded the carriage. Soon, the horse began to gallop fiercely. So meticulously had this journey been planned that fresh horses waited at every point where the current one would tire. It seemed they intended to travel day and night without rest.

Inside the carriage, Yeon Jeok-san played the melody that controlled the Demon Soul Insects several more times. Each time he heard it, Cheong-ra felt strangely good and his head became foggy. All anxiety and worries disappeared, his body relaxed languidly, and he felt tempted to let go of his mind and give in to the comfort.

Nevertheless, Cheong-ra didn't give up and stubbornly maintained his reason. It felt similar to resisting sleep when sleep-deprived. Struggling to maintain a clear mind, he spoke to Yeon Jeok-san, who kept glancing out the window anxiously,

"San-san, I'm curious about something. Can I ask?"

"Yes, Cheong-ra. What are you curious about? Ask me anything."

Yeon Jeok-san, who had been looking out the window, turned with a bright smile, welcoming the question. Cheong-ra also smiled back as he asked,

"What does it mean that I'm the Purple Subtlety Star?"

When Yeon Jeok-san hesitated to answer, Cheong-ra erased his smile and lowered his head. Then, looking down with downcast eyes, he spoke in a dejected voice,

"If it's troublesome for San-san, I won't ask anymore. I must have overstepped my bounds..."

"No, Cheong-ra. Ask. You can ask anything."

Yeon Jeok-san immediately answered anxiously. Seeing how he didn't doubt him at all, Cheong-ra couldn't tell if the Demon Soul Insects were that powerful or if Yeon Jeok-san was just stupid. Either way, it was fortunate for Cheong-ra now.

"It means exactly that, Cheong-ra. You were born as the Purple Subtlety Star."

"But... Until now, no one has ever called me the Purple Subtlety Star. Could it be a mistake?"

"It's clear in our cult's records, and there are witnesses too. But if it became known that you were born as the Purple Subtlety Star, it would surely cause an uproar in the world, so your mother must have hidden it."

While nodding, Cheong-ra's mind became confused. Me, the Purple Subtlety Star?

Even if not from a Taoist sect, any martial artist would have heard of the 108 Baleful Stars. Among them, the most famous was the Star of Heavenly Killing.

This Star of Heavenly Killing was known as a strong murderous spirit that craved blood. Long ago, when the Demon Cult ran rampant in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, their leader, the Asura Demon God Shin Do-cheon, was said to be the Star of Heavenly Killing, and rivers of blood were said to flow wherever he passed.

And the one who confronted this cult leader and made a great contribution to stopping the Demon Cult by joining forces with the others was Jin So-yang, the most famous expert of the time, called the Sword Immortal. He was said to have been born with the strong energy of the Purple Subtlety Star shining brightly. Recalling this story, Cheong-ra inwardly shook his head.

'Me, the Purple Subtlety Star? How could that be?'

He had heard many stories about the Star of Heavenly Killing and the Purple Subtlety Star, but they were just legendary tales. From what Cheong-ra had heard, there were several murderous spirits from evil factions that people were certain were the Star of Heavenly Killing. And when someone appeared to fight these murderous spirits, they were called the Purple Subtlety Star. People regarded the Purple Subtlety Star and the Star of Heavenly Killing as destined opponents given by fate.

'Like a true cult member, believing in superstitious fortune-telling.'

There was one common point among those said to be born as the Purple Subtlety Star or the Star of Heavenly Killing. They were said to possess unparalleled talent and martial arts skills that others couldn't approach. That's why it was said that only the two could face each other.

Moreover, wasn't the Purple Subtlety Star also called the star of emperors? Those born strongly under the influence of the Purple Subtlety Star were known to live lives protecting and saving the world.

However, Cheong-ra himself didn't possess such outstanding martial arts skills. Although he had eradicated several evil factions, he couldn't say he had saved the world, nor did he intend to. Also, if one thought of someone with genius-level talent, wouldn't it be Dang Ran-yeong rather than himself? Even Mo Yong-hyeon, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, was wary of his martial arts skills, so if the Purple Subtlety Star really existed, he would truly fit the description...

'No, no... Honestly, he's not the Purple Subtlety Star...'

Thinking of how he gleefully slaughtered not only Blood Cult members but also bandits, he was far from the Purple Subtlety Star, said to be heaven-sent justice. Rather...

Considering his cruel nature, he was closer to the Star of Heavenly Killing.

Cheong-ra, who had unconsciously thought this, inwardly shook his head. Dang Ran-yeong was just a bit cruel in his methods, which wasn't particularly strange for a martial artist. In any case, whether Purple Subtlety Star or Star of Heavenly Killing, they were just fanciful stories.