Chapter 68

As Cheong-ra silently questioned him with his gaze, Gang-ryong nodded.

"Lord Owner Dang, Miss Hwan, and even this humble monk all harbor deep grudges against the Blood Cult. To destroy the Blood Cult, this humble monk would even accept falling into hell."

The voice speaking calmly was so heavy that Cheong-ra remained silent for a moment. Was this the reason he became a defrocked monk... Cheong-ra quietly comforted him.

"Monk Gang-ryong, you are walking a difficult path."

"Isn't this what a Buddhist should rightfully do?"

Gang-ryong answered with a smile. Cheong-ra inwardly wondered. If the three of them had grudges, then what was the reason for Wi Je-ho, the remaining close associate? Come to think of it, wasn't he the only one who didn't join this journey?

However, it felt inappropriate to inquire further into their personal circumstances, so Cheong-ra stood up. Having heard all he needed to hear, he could no longer bear his unclean state.

"I'll go wash up for a bit."

After excusing himself to Gang-ryong, he opened the door and looked around, then caught a passing nun and asked,

"Nun, is there a water source nearby where I could bathe? Like a stream perhaps?"

As he was a benefactor of the sect, the nun showed a very kind and friendly attitude.

"The water is still icy cold as the weather hasn't warmed up yet, so you might catch a chill if you bathe in the stream. There's a bathhouse for visitors from outside."

She even went to fetch the necessary tools and items for bathing. Cheong-ra gratefully headed to the bathhouse in the outer court. Though old and shabby, it was clean as if it was always kept tidy. He diligently drew water from the well and repeatedly heated it with firewood brought by a young novice. After his labor, Cheong-ra was able to fill the bathtub in the bathhouse with hot water.

Cheong-ra quickly stripped off his clothes. After neatly folding them and placing them in a corner, he hurriedly immersed himself in the water, and a moan involuntarily escaped his lips.

"This feels so good..."

It felt as if his body was melting away. Just as he was enjoying the feeling of being in paradise for a moment, he heard a voice mixed with laughter.

"The moaning sounded so erotic, I thought you were masturbating, but I guess not."

Cheong-ra, who had been completely off guard, jumped in shock. He had clearly been alone until just a moment ago, but somehow Dang Ran-yeong had entered. Panting after being startled by the other who was quietly looking down at him with his upper body bent, Cheong-ra expressed some irritation.

"Young Master Dang, can't you please make some noise when you enter?"

"Why would I make noise for someone else's benefit? I might miss out on a good show."

Cheong-ra's face turned bright red from the heat of the hot water and shame. He had not been masturbating, and had never done so before - the words of denial rose to the tip of his tongue, but he held them back. Saying it would only invite mockery and make him look foolish.

"Why did you come here?"

"Why else would one come to a bathhouse? To wash, of course."

Saying this, Dang Ran-yeong began to undress. Only then did Cheong-ra realize that Dang Ran-yeong was still covered in the blood of the Blood Cult members. His clothes were dark, so it hardly showed, but the fishy smell of blood wafted strongly. Being their benefactor, the Hengshan Sect must have said nothing even though he was covered in blood.

As he undressed, his lavish accessories fell to the floor with a clinking sound. Seeing such expensive items carelessly thrown about made Cheong-ra nervous just watching. It was amazing that he could achieve such perfect concealment while wearing such accessories.

As Cheong-ra watched Dang Ran-yeong, a look of envy flashed in his eyes, followed by pure admiration. The man's entire body was packed with muscle, without an ounce of fat to be found anywhere. How much training must he have done to reach that state? The evidence of strong physique displayed all over his body fascinated Cheong-ra.

But there was a certain... excessively strong part. Cheong-ra's eyes wavered.

'What did I just see?'

He wanted to dismiss it as a mistake, but his martial artist's trained eyesight had captured it too clearly. How could such a thing... be attached to a human body? Shocked, he turned his head away completely.

'He really has it all! No wonder he has nothing to envy.'

While Cheong-ra was lamenting inwardly, Dang Ran-yeong, having stripped off all his clothes, picked up a small water bucket and scooped water from the tub Cheong-ra was in. As he slowly poured it over himself to wash off the blood, steam rose from various parts of his body that glistened with moisture. As Cheong-ra watched tensely, Dang Ran-yeong, having roughly washed off the blood, put his foot into the tub.

"No..."

As Cheong-ra unconsciously tried to stand up abruptly, Dang Ran-yeong pressed down on his shoulder as he entered, making him sit back down. Fortunately, the tub was made for two people, so it wasn't too cramped. Still, there was no avoiding contact with the other's body. As Dang Ran-yeong fully settled in, so much of the precious hot water overflowed onto the floor due to his large build.

"What, is it dirty to share water?"

Dang Ran-yeong asked, narrowing his eyes as he rested his thick forearms on the edge of the tub. It wasn't dirty at all, but Cheong-ra's heart was pounding so hard it felt like he might die, and his silence made it seem like he was agreeing. Naturally, the other didn't care at all.

With both of them silent, only the sound of water dripping and occasional bird chirping from outside could be heard. Cheong-ra pressed his body as close to the tub wall as possible. He was very conscious of Dang Ran-yeong's feet under his thighs.

He wondered if he should cover between his legs, but that seemed like paying too much attention to another man, yet not covering felt shameful. Unable to decide either way, he just left it as it was.

Until now, Cheong-ra had always thought that skin should be kept as white as possible, and he recited the Moonlight on Snow, Mind and Heart Formula every day. But seeing this, a slightly darker color didn't look bad either. It was a physique overflowing with energy, as if yang energy was emanating from his entire body.

Unconsciously entranced, Cheong-ra thoroughly examined the other's body, only to belatedly realize that the other was also staring intently at his body.

When training together at Moon Lake Sect, there were inevitably occasions to show at least the upper body. Cheong-ra had never felt embarrassed about showing his body to others before, but now it was different. His shoulders slightly hunched, but he forced them to straighten. Fortunately, the other's gaze was far from evaluating and mocking in comparison to himself.

Dang Ran-yeong's eyes moved to Cheong-ra's side, arms, and legs. There were severe bruises everywhere he had been injured while fighting the Blood Cult members, with his leg being the worst. Seeing the bruise on his calf that was so red it was almost a deep purple, the other clicked his tongue briefly.

"Um, Young Master Dang..."

Cheong-ra carefully opened his mouth, feeling half embarrassed and half sheepish.

"Thank you for helping me today."

If it weren't for Dang Ran-yeong, he would have been dead from a blow to the chest or at least fighting for his life. However, Dang Ran-yeong's expression was quite cold upon receiving the thanks.

"There's nothing to be thankful for. I'll definitely exact payment someday for you disobeying my words and acting on your own."

Though he hadn't even washed properly yet, Cheong-ra suddenly felt a strong desire to flee from this place. He didn't regret not retreating when told to leave Mu-hwa behind earlier. However, having seen Dang Ran-yeong tear apart and kill dozens of Blood Cult members, he was a bit scared.

"So, what is it that Young Master Baek Ri wants from me?"

Fortunately, Dang Ran-yeong didn't seem to intend to exact payment immediately as he asked. Cheong-ra recalled that he had said he wouldn't run away because he had something he wanted, in response to the other's suggestion to escape.

"What I want is..."

Cheong-ra hesitated without answering immediately. His heart, which had seemed to calm down a bit, started beating rapidly again. He clenched his fist tightly underwater.

What he wanted from the other? Of course, there was only one thing. The intense, chaotic, and unclear desire that had surged up from the moment he first met Dang Ran-yeong. The rude and violent acts that Dang Ran-yeong had committed against him until now.

No... thinking about it again, it couldn't be defined simply as violence. Isn't violence just an act to harm the other person?

Cheong-ra now knew well that he would no longer be fully satisfied by simply being defeated in a fight. This might be the only and last chance in his life to properly fulfill that desire.

Even knowing that he shouldn't be blinded by personal desires while carrying out such an important mission, he couldn't help being helplessly drawn to the other. So he couldn't help thinking that just a little, just this once... Where else could he meet such a person again?

'It's only traveling together for a few more months anyway. Just until then, just a little.'

With these thoughts, Cheong-ra carefully chose each word and spoke cautiously. He tried hard not to appear too desperate.

"I want Young Master Dang to..."

"You want me to do what to you, Young Master Baek Ri?"

Leaning forward from his lazily reclined position, Dang Ran-yeong asked in a low voice. Even in this bent posture, his abdomen was firm without any fat. Feeling subtle pressure, Cheong-ra leaned his upper body back as much as possible and said,

"...I want you to act basely towards me."