Chapter 54

The inn was completely empty, but it seemed more likely that someone had bought out all the rooms for a large sum rather than business being poor. The innkeeper's attitude was extremely courteous. He withdrew, not even straightening his bent waist, saying they could use any room they wished. They went up to the second floor.

Half giving up on getting an answer from Dang Ran-yeong, Cheong-ra looked around for a room he could use. It was starting to get dark, but he didn't feel sleepy at all. Perhaps it was because he had slept for over a day after being bitten by Rin-rin. Cheong-ra, who was completely used to insomnia, thought he'd have to give up on sleeping tonight when Dang Ran-yeong finally answered, very late.

"Moon Lake Sect isn't my enemy. But... Young Master Baek Ri could become my enemy."

Dang Ran-yeong was leaning against the doorway, staring intently. The sunset shining through the wide-open window dyed his face red. Frowning, Cheong-ra took off the stuffy veil and asked,

"Does Young Master Dang kill or harm commoners?"

"Why would I do such boring things?"

Although he acted like someone from an evil sect, it seemed he didn't do evil sect-like things. But Cheong-ra couldn't understand why he kept talking as if Cheong-ra himself was likely to become an enemy. He thought it might be a threat, but it didn't seem like that either. After pondering for a while, Cheong-ra answered,

"I won't become your enemy just because you... handle me that way."

As he answered, a slight blush rose to Cheong-ra's cheeks. Fortunately, the sun was setting just then. However, the corners of Dang Ran-yeong's mouth, who had been looking at Cheong-ra expressionlessly, twitched and he let out a low laugh.

"I suppose so. Young Master Baek Ri rather likes being handled roughly, don't you? Unless you kneel before me and beg for mercy, you probably won't become my enemy."

"Who's begging for mercy!"

While such talk might be fine at The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance or in the carriage, Cheong-ra glared hard at him for saying such things in an inn where anyone might pass by. He turned his head abruptly and entered a room, then came out again. He asked with a somewhat troubled face,

"Where's my luggage? Surely you didn't just bring my body?"

"It's stored in the carriage. Are you going to sleep right away? Today's the night of the full moon, so come have a drink with me while we enjoy the moonlight."

Although he had planned to go into the room to wash up and rest, when Dang Ran-yeong invited him, Cheong-ra found himself unconsciously accepting the proposal. Even while thinking he shouldn't comply so readily every time the other told him to do this or that, he was somewhat tempted by the situation of drinking alone with him.

'When else will I have the chance to share a drink with this man?'

In Cheong-ra's mind, it didn't seem likely that he would be with this person after the World's Greatest Beauty Contest. So the remaining half year might be his only chance to be with him.

As expected, the room where Dang Ran-yeong was staying was the largest and most luxurious in the inn. It was evident that the innkeeper had done his best to decorate the room for just one night's stay, having received who knows how much money. When he removed the tablecloth, a large table of side dishes had already been set.

Perhaps because he had been unconscious for so long, seeing the food made him realize his forgotten hunger and he felt very hungry. Sitting down and putting food in his mouth, Cheong-ra soon fell silent. Dang Ran-yeong generously called the innkeeper and ordered more food. If it was true that he had used Rin-rin to make him lose consciousness, this was once again a case of giving medicine after causing illness.

By the time he had filled his stomach to some extent, the sunset outside had completely faded. Having just come out of winter, the days were still short.

Throughout Cheong-ra's meal, Dang Ran-yeong had been sitting by the window, drinking alone. His gaze looking out the window was deep, and his face, unreadable in its thoughts, seemed both cold and bored. It looked like the face of a king ruling the world, or perhaps that of a martial artist tired of worldly affairs.

As if entranced, Cheong-ra stole glances at him, and wanting to see his face more clearly, he lit a lamp. He still found it hard to believe that such a perfectly handsome man existed before him.

He knew well that this was someone harmful who should rightfully end as a brief encounter, a momentary pleasure. Yet it was troubling how he kept being swayed as the other wished. No, what was more troubling was his heart that pounded every time he saw him.

Noticing his gaze, Dang Ran-yeong rose from his seat. As he approached, he poured the wine he had been drinking into Cheong-ra's cup, who was inwardly tense.

"Drink."

Commands were so ingrained in him that even an invitation to drink was an order. Having filled his stomach to some extent, Cheong-ra silently took the cup. After taking a sip of the clear, swirling wine, he frowned. The wine had a familiar refreshing scent.

"What exactly do you put in the wine to make it so fragrant every time?"

He indirectly asked if some kind of poison had been put in his cup. The answer that came back was unexpected.

"I added a drop of concentrated juice from hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum."

Cheong-ra, who had been prepared to accept it even if he said he had really added poison, doubted his ears. A drop of wine overflowed from his cup.

"You added what?"

"Young Master Baek Ri, do you know how amusing it is to see those who acted fearless tremble as they drink, thinking it's poisoned wine?"

Dang Ran-yeong revealed his vile hobby in a secretive voice. A mischievous light gleamed in his eyes.

"Actually, it's even funnier to tell them it's hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum instead of poison. To know if it's poison or not, they'd have to compare the scent and taste, so they'd have to spend a fortune to get hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum."

Cheong-ra looked down at his cup again. Hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum was one of the spirit medicines, not as precious as a spirit beast's inner core, spirit cleansing stone oil, or ice crystals, but still something that required considerable effort to obtain. And he was putting such a thing in wine just to scare people?

"When I want to tease them even more, I add the juice of thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum."

And not content with that, thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum... How could someone waste wealth so uselessly while being so malicious at the same time? No wonder he had such a bad reputation.

'I'm not in my right mind either, being attracted to such aspects...'

Cheong-ra knew well that being drawn to someone not only stronger than himself but also so vicious was a perfect condition for ruining his life. Yet even now, hearing such stories, he was still attracted to Dang Ran-yeong in body and mind, so it was truly an unavoidable situation. As if reading Cheong-ra's mind, Dang Ran-yeong asked,

"Why still no protests?"

"Protests?"

"I made you lose consciousness, put you in a carriage, and brought you here, yet Young Master Baek Ri has no complaints about that?"

Dang Ran-yeong's words instantly disturbed the heart that Cheong-ra had just managed to calm. Of course, he couldn't be without complaints. However, Cheong-ra just silently took a few more sips of wine. Putting down his cup, he asked calmly,

"Why, would you listen if I voiced my complaints?"

What Dang Ran-yeong wanted from him was to participate in the World's Greatest Beauty Contest. Even that, he hadn't told him the exact purpose or reason. To him, Cheong-ra was nothing more or less than someone convenient to use. Although he was attracted to Dang Ran-yeong because of his own unspeakable preferences, he wasn't so far gone as to lose his reason. Cheong-ra was well aware of what kind of relationship he had with the other person.

As Dang Ran-yeong had said, even beasts know their place when beaten, so how could he, a human, not know?

"Surely you're not asking to imply that if I have complaints, you won't do such things from now on?"

Although he had been pretending to be calm all along, honestly, when he lost consciousness after being bitten by the baby Venomous Horned Serpent, he had felt deeply dismayed. There was also fear that he might never open his eyes again.

Having lost consciousness with such emotions and then waking up to be immediately toyed with by Dang Ran-yeong, how could he not be angry? Although he felt pleasure in that situation, his anger and sense of helplessness were also real. However, it was his own choice to stay by this person's side, so he just endured it.

In response to Cheong-ra's question, Dang Ran-yeong filled the empty wine cup and raised the corner of his mouth. Unlike during the day, his eyes, now appearing completely black, shone dangerously.

"Young Master Baek Ri is clever. That's why I like you..."

Cheong-ra snorted. This statement, which didn't sound like a compliment no matter how one heard it, meant that he would do such things again, so behave obediently.

"If you were too arrogant, I might have wanted to kill you, and if you were too servile, I wouldn't have been interested at all..."

However, just listening made his pride hurt, so he glared at the other. Regardless, Dang Ran-yeong paid no attention and poured more wine.

"Here, have another cup."

Taking the other's cup, Cheong-ra inwardly sighed. Being by Dang Ran-yeong's side often felt precarious, like walking a tightrope. In reality, he was probably that dangerous a person. Cheong-ra recalled the fear he felt when Dang Ran-yeong had strangled his neck.

'But somehow he's talking as if I'm his type, is it just empty words, or is he playing with me...'