Chapter 31

Those eyes and that smile were so frightening and shocking that Cheong-ra forgot the purpose of seeking out Dang Ran-yeong and ran out of the mansion. He had fled from that place.

'How did he know when I showed such dislike?'

Cheong-ra thought with a mind that had turned as white as a blank sheet of paper as he ran away without looking back.

'He must be just teasing me, right? He couldn't have noticed, right?'

Since it was the first time his secret desires, which he had been hiding carefully without anyone knowing, were discovered, Cheong-ra couldn't think straight. His face felt hot as if it was burning, and he was ashamed. He wanted to run as far away from Dang Ran-yeong as possible.

In doing so, he didn't even recognize the familiar voice calling him repeatedly.

"...Young Master! Young Master Baek Ri!"

Startled by the hand grabbing his wrist, he shook it off and turned around to see Jang Sa-eop. Seeing Cheong-ra's frightened face, Jang Sa-eop also looked surprised.

"What's wrong? Is someone chasing you?"

At those words, Cheong-ra also belatedly looked back, but Dang Ran-yeong was nowhere to be seen. With that, all the strength drained from his body, and a sigh escaped involuntarily.

"No, it's nothing... special."

"Judging from your poor complexion, it doesn't seem like nothing special. For now, I'll accompany you to the place you're staying."

Jang Sa-eop, who said that, was considerate enough not to ask further. Like a kind person, he walked close to Cheong-ra, ready to help whenever someone appeared, and Cheong-ra was just grateful. Thanks to Jang Sa-eop, Cheong-ra was able to calm his mind.

As they walked in silence, Cheong-ra suddenly noticed the moon-shaped ornament hanging from Jang Sa-eop's waist. He felt even more sorry that Jang Sa-eop seemed to have not completely let go of his feelings for the woman named Mi-a. As he turned his gaze away, Jang Sa-eop spoke in a concerned tone.

"I heard that Young Master Baek Ri's situation has become quite difficult these days."

It seemed that the news of Cheong-ra's group being rebuffed in all directions of Xiangyang had reached Jang Sa-eop's ears. When Cheong-ra smiled bitterly and didn't deny it, Jang Sa-eop clicked his tongue.

"I'm staying at the inn at the intersection over there, so if you need help, feel free to ask anytime."

"Thank you for saying that, Young Master Jang."

Although he was used to receiving favors due to his appearance, Jang Sa-eop's consideration was truly appreciated today. After arriving at the inn where he was staying and parting with Jang Sa-eop, Cheong-ra immediately headed to his own room. Geum-hye and Mu-gwang seemed to have gone out to search for the expelled criminals after receiving a report, so they were not there. It was fortunate for him.

Cheong-ra locked the door and hurriedly reached between his legs. His back was drenched in cold sweat from enduring the discomfort all the way. The fingertips that loosened the fabric painfully constricting his penis trembled.

Checking his genitals, which had seemed to be crushed by Dang Ran-yeong's rough touch, fortunately, they were intact. After feeling relieved, what filled that place was a boiling sensation of lust. Cheong-ra closed his eyes tightly and grasped his penis with one hand. However, that was all; he couldn't bring himself to move.

'This is the room I share with Mu-gwang...'

Cheong-ra tried hard to suppress his sexual desire by thinking of his friend's face.

However, even that effort was in vain as Dang Ran-yeong's face came to mind again. That firm and large body that had pressed him down, humiliated him, and rendered him immobile. The touch that had easily subdued and teased him as if he were a child.

The gaze that had pierced through him as if knowing all his desires.

All of those things made his face turn bright red with embarrassment. But the lewd part of his mind savored and relished that situation over and over again.

Cheong-ra was barely able to calm his excitement with transcendental patience. The string that was soaked with the pre-cum flowing from the tip of his glans was quickly removed in case someone saw it. After tying a new string between his legs, he returned with a neat appearance as if nothing had happened yesterday.

However, Cheong-ra's completely shaken heart did not easily return to normal.

***

After that, Cheong-ra spent several days in anxiety and sleepless nights. He was on edge, worrying if rumors would spread that he was a pervert, but no one looked at him with contempt. Fortunately, it seemed that Dang Ran-yeong had no intention of spreading rumors about this incident.

Nevertheless, Cheong-ra couldn't feel relieved. That was because he was in a situation where Dang Ran-yeong practically had a hold on his weakness. Although there was no concrete evidence, just imagining Dang Ran-yeong telling people that the Moonlight Beauty Sword Baek Ri Cheong-ra was a pervert or telling Geum-hye and Mu-gwang made him want to die.

Perhaps because of such imaginations, he was already not sleeping well, but these days, even if he managed to fall asleep, his heart would sink, and he would often wake up again.

"Junior Brother Baek Ri, your face looks really bad today."

When Cheong-ra, who had been blankly staring at his tableware, belatedly came to his senses, he saw Geum-hye looking at him with a worried face. That was because his complexion was so poor, having barely slept for two or three hours a day. While Geum-hye and Mu-gwang finished their meal, Cheong-ra had hardly touched his food, so it was natural for them to worry.

"I'm fine, Martial Sister. I just don't have much of an appetite in the morning..."

It wasn't that he didn't have an appetite in the morning, but he had lost his appetite for all three meals a day. However, Cheong-ra said with a forced smile. But Mu-gwang, who had been looking at his friend with a furrowed brow, denied it.

"That guy hasn't been able to sleep properly at night these days. That's why his face looks like that."

"Oh dear... Has your insomnia relapsed?"

"I did have some trouble sleeping, but I'm really fine."

In fact, he wasn't really fine. Recently, Cheong-ra had started having nightmares again, which he hadn't had since he was a child. Dreams of being trapped in a narrow, dark, and gloomy space where he could barely stretch his body, and bugs crawling all over his body…

Cheong-ra, who swallowed quietly as the terrible old memories came to mind, tried to act nonchalant and ate a mouthful of noodles with his chopsticks. However, Geum-hye and Mu-gwang were not fooled by Cheong-ra's act. They thought his insomnia had relapsed due to the frustration of staying in an unfamiliar place and the woman named Mi-a.

So the two of them dissuaded Cheong-ra, who was trying to accompany them today. When they suggested that he should get some sleep in the room, even if only for a little while, Cheong-ra firmly refused.

"I want to catch those bastards and return to the sect as soon as possible, even if it's just a day earlier. I'll be able to rest and relax there."

Seeing Cheong-ra's strong will, the two gave up on persuading him further. However, they didn't stop worrying.

"Junior Brother Baek Ri, don't overdo it. If you're having a hard time, tell us anytime."

"Yeah, Cheong-ra. No matter how high a master's martial prowess is, it's hard to endure without sleep."

Accepting the two's concern with gratitude, Cheong-ra set out with them. Despite the headache and difficulty in thinking straight due to lack of sleep, he endured without showing it. And he searched for the criminals while being on edge, wondering if Dang Ran-yeong would show up.

Naturally, there was a flood of false reports today as well. They had been walking around empty-handed all morning and were returning to the inn with heavy steps. There was a crowd of onlookers gathered ahead, and it felt ominous. As expected, Mi-a was waiting for them in front of the inn. Even when Geum-hye and Mu-gwang glared at her fiercely, the woman didn't even blink, being shameless.

"Young Master Baek Ri! This humble girl has been waiting for you for a long time."

Mi-a approached with quick steps and smiled shyly. Recently, the public opinion in Xiangyang had been turning favorable towards Mi-a. As the pretty woman tearfully appealed her single-hearted devotion to Baek Ri Cheong-ra, people began to feel sympathy and affection for her.

Cheong-ra was already tired and sensitive due to lack of sleep. He couldn't ignore Mi-a anymore today. In fact, it seemed that the other party had also decided to confront him today, as the surroundings were filled with onlookers, making it difficult to avoid. Amidst the gazes pouring in from all directions, Cheong-ra stepped forward and opened his mouth.

"Miss, for what reason are you tormenting me like this?"

Cheong-ra's face, which had become pale due to lack of proper sleep recently, looked very miserable and beautiful. Although Mi-a also had a pretty appearance, she was no match for Cheong-ra. As the sorrow deepened on his white and delicate face, the onlookers sighed unknowingly. Their hearts were swayed by the pitifulness that made them want to take care of him closely.

"Young Master Baek Ri... Why are you saying that?"

Mi-a sobbed pitifully, but Cheong-ra confronted her with the intention of settling it today.

"As a proud disciple of Moon Lake Sect, this Baek Ri Cheong-ra has never been distracted by a woman in his life. But when a woman I've never even met fabricates a connection with me with absurd words, I can't help but be perplexed."

"You're doing this because you're embarrassed, right? That's why you're denying it like this."

However, Mi-a was also a formidable opponent and didn't back down easily. She defiantly took out a jade tablet that looked exactly like Cheong-ra's and appealed, making him want to smash it right away. Clenching his teeth once, Cheong-ra spoke in a cold voice.

"That jade tablet is a unique item that my uncle personally commissioned when I was twelve years old. It's not something that should be in your hands, Miss."