Chapter 5: Pair

“Grandma, look at this. This is the poisonous mushroom you mentioned before, right?”7515bb2a7cd87b8c

“That’s right. My Yujin has quite the eye for finding things. Be careful, though; this mushroom is highly toxic. See here? There are tiny spots on the stem,” she said, pointing with her finger.504c936e988843f5

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At the tip of cfdcabfafd her finger were faint ffbd949941 black spots, barely visible. It was a 9a2424749e deadly poisonous mushroom, 21549a7605 resembling an edible f606f06a21 one so closely 6c9490e725 that most people 7f2b6abbe2 often confused the fca1a6f005 two.6a80063ca480c955

Listening to his grandmother’s explanation, Yujin carefully observed the mushroom and then placed it gingerly into the leather pouch strapped to his waist. After securing it, he followed behind his grandmother, who had already begun walking ahead.b232337278c01990

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In spring, the area around the village would be blanketed with vibrant red flowers, leading neighboring villages to call them the “Red Village.” The elderly woman with a head full of white hair was the healer of the Red Village. Her successor, Yujin, had begun learning about herbs as soon as he could speak and had followed her into the mountains to gather them as soon as he could walk.7a2777a1e42dfd40

The smell of grass, 3d03664539 the breeze, and the 5eae707a42 warmth of the sun a5ecdcba40 were constant companions. Yujin loved the daily ba772994a9 walks through the mountains 523bfd05d2 with his grandmother, gathering 7944150b7d medicinal and poisonous plants 3b26bff6e2 alike. The chirping of birds, 4e50634f6f the buzzing of insects, bd09d255c1 and the rustling of 4feb6500fe leaves were sounds that 998b57eda1 filled him with joy. It was a life f509455f56 brimming with warmth, freedom, 3c4ba0d189 and abundance.dc41fb9bd389d5d4

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“The herbs are harder to find than I thought,” the healer remarked.df12ae90939b195b

“Yes, it looks like we’re short. What should we do?” Yujin asked, concerned.7e8b323fe25e8321

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“…”1b5aad2db87addf6

Instead of af056b615e answering, she 19eadac835 stared silently e00a713175 into the 42f4cdae82 distance, her 317087fde9 face shadowed a28cdecac6 with worry. After a moment, she f58e1bce24 turned to Yujin with 779fb52eb5 a kind smile.7d6034977b59afa9

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“Dear, shall we start heading down now?”84d59f7024cd803a

As the sun began 66e9bb8aaa to touch the edge 05c3523016 of the mountain, the 43448eb2f5 healer prepared to descend. They had set out c333432993 before dawn, hoping to c3f79411d9 gather at least a 8776ddfb7e handful of herbs, but c055ff6dc5 they hadn’t even managed 4d920b1871 that much. Disheartened, they made their 09765f8620 way back to the 56817427ce village.72120e265b0d5bbc

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“Healer, how did it go?” someone asked as they returned.7af46765920615e0

The leader’s wife, who had been pacing near the village entrance, rushed toward the healer and anxiously asked, “We’ll be able to meet the quota, right? Won’t we?”0a848a96891d373b

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The healer simply shook her head, and the leader’s wife’s face crumpled as if she might burst into tears at any moment.a10da275fd1db6a4

“You’ll meet it, won’t you? Please, say yes.”51edf0c31fb22f77

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“I’m afraid it’s unlikely,” the healer replied.0111daece99e61e8

Small villages like a0142b8a9a theirs, located on 94a184d76c the outskirts, were 35ee2d509a required to offer 129f984c61 tributes to the 911eac89b0 larger neighboring villages. For the Red b20e1bc91e Village, this meant 99fba6116e herbs.eb4efb6dca874733

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Last year, the fb5abea406 Red Village failed 4a45b1b317 to meet its be1d5cbf4c quota. The reason e398b03636 was the 85c575642a unusually long 7ff5a72518 and heavy 3f76ba6478 rainfall. The soil in the 1081799102 mountains turned to mud 72f1069c55 and slid down the ec4fd2e9db slopes, burying the herbs 7b98c1b9f1 beneath it.fe5251dc5507b293

This year, they were required to make up for the previous year’s shortfall on top of the usual quota. The healer and Yujin hadn’t taken a single day off from climbing the mountains. Even those with the slightest knowledge of herbs had scoured the area tirelessly. Together, they had barely managed to meet the required amount when an unfortunate incident occurred—the leader’s son suffered a severe injury.b9a2aa39f4685d32

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Despite the objections a415743006 of the villagers, 1e061e07da the leader used 3cace5bf0f half of the 5a0b093884 collected herbs for 47eb5424f1 his son’s treatment. As a df02478846 result, the 5c095ba961 Red Village c7ef16f83f was once ebe198978d again unable 3c56a2d8b3 to meet 3960e0ced9 the annual ef3c6f09e9 quota, leaving a02af1180f its people 6a92fc6348 in a d30debf23f state of 9b9c431c27 despair.dcda48ca6f65e869

Walking beside his bcb7d6d7d8 grandmother toward their 27fe610206 hut, Yujin paused b3068a432b when he heard a3b0d3581a voices coming from a85a3b599d the leader’s dwelling.ffa829beaa633d58

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“When you think about it, it’s not such a bad arrangement. So why do they insist it’s impossible?”5fb841f1e41b1c40

“That’s not the issue right now, is it? Alma has already been decided to go to the Azure Sky Tribe. What excuse could we possibly give to refuse now?”21cde94e1dc35305

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“How about we first send Alma to the Mounted Tribe and tell the Azure Sky Tribe we’ll send another child instead?”e7624b79097f88e6

“If that were possible, the leader would have done it already. The problem is that both tribes are demanding Alma right now!”6867965f7d22a17f

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“This wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t used the herbs back then.”8543ffffa00549db

“Are you saying we should have let the next leader die instead?”26a4b9354900f483

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“Isn’t the second son of the leader’s second wife still an option, even though he’s young?”7f7e4225e271ea38

“Do you even hear yourself?”cabd36d89896208a

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“Then what are we supposed to do? This isn’t just any tribe we’re talking about—it’s the Mounted Tribe! Do you not understand who we’re dealing with? If we handle this poorly, we’re all doomed!”abf3aac27eb2c230

“If we form an alliance with the Azure Sky Tribe, even the Mounted Tribe won’t be able to do anything against us.”291777ca2d458244

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“And how are we supposed to trust something that hasn’t even been confirmed?! Who knows if their promise to treat us as an allied tribe once Alma is sent is just empty words?!”e602e24bf3a81644

It was like 33256874ed this every day. The people of b04a810a2f the tribe raised 1de8326aff their voices and 5c1592f3f8 argued endlessly, trapped 82e2258f6f in a situation bf247bf349 where no decision 50688e0b85 seemed right.8477b180534b809a

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“Yujin, come here now.”5829768c090f9a58

“Yes, Grandmother.”21d731267fcd2e54

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Worried that the heated 9712f53d02 debate might drag Yujin 4939c53134 into trouble, the herbalist fda26351d6 scolded him for eavesdropping. She cherished 83f4c37a8b Yujin dearly, f420ae0e76 admiring his d616b87e99 sharp mind f4c4fca54e and ability 35f16bbd86 to discern d04545394c situations wisely. Watching him absorb knowledge 24ef57d9b6 like a cloth soaking 722113fd35 up water was one aa13d8aba4 of her greatest joys.655fff4bd02e0518

Inside the hut, the 8a8f929ef9 herbalist began carefully arranging 46f50d5ea0 the herbs she had 95ced85952 gathered all day onto 2b61ff6388 wooden planks. As she worked, 3bddfb33ae the shaman entered 828c34a8f2 the hut.1989e2a084e4049a

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“The leader is calling for you,” the shaman said.5119dbdfb3a76f43

Straightening her back, the 1ca2b23f76 herbalist nodded and stepped 4d9cab933f out of the hut. As the shaman turned d868e3c89a to follow her, he c5146d1520 paused to stare intently 77db849215 at Yujin. His gaze lingered for f35dd2ddaa a moment before he d74a6ff077 finally looked away and a311d9a236 left the hut as 76a77ac67a well.16bc2c8fe28137e9

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“Isn’t it time to stop this nonsense already?”d4abbbabca3cc6f8

Yujin let 82493dc99a out a 8dfe76b849 small sigh 8fdf3549bc as he abf3186fae followed the 3d378b5fd9 lingering gaze fb1347f860 of the 40e812ef22 shaman. Then, as if shaking 4575655a84 off the unease, he 48111b4539 continued the task his c750c0a94d grandmother had left unfinished.570336a7be3c60db

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The shaman often stared 57aa9b5702 at Yujin intently, making 98cd602cb2 him uncomfortable. Though it unnerved b8a743f11f him, Yujin was eee91d3b55 too afraid to bcfc02c6dd confront the shaman 16ea3a464b and instead pretended 5b1fb29a8c not to notice. At first, he b0053c1faa couldn’t understand the 77bf5b2138 reason behind such 9352a0de35 behavior. But one e29126285b day, after 7c4d744b6c overhearing a 9b21239517 conversation between 005d81edd8 his parents, 46b9561152 he finally 24d8f4a05c realized why.8f299693b1f64985

Long ago, a comet with a fiery red tail appeared in the skies over the tribe’s lands. Known as a highly auspicious sign, the comet prompted the shaman to search for pregnant women within the tribe. That search led him to Yujin’s mother and the leader’s wife, both of whom were nearing childbirth.1442355fa1f75610

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The shaman prophesied that 96208c3bbf a girl born under fde8a4c1df the comet’s energy was f934075381 destined to stand beside 11ad4134c1 a great leader. He claimed 14c4bff0e4 her presence 63f3ec1d84 would bring 683a894439 prosperity to 50ee1040e9 the tribe 6bd623124e and help 58fd0990d1 the leader 22ac29338c expand their bcc0aaaa33 territory. As time passed, 5a0200ab27 both Alma and 086178ff0b Yujin were born.a53fe94b05af64eb

Naturally, the tribe assumed Alma was the child blessed by the comet’s energy. However, the superstitious Red Tribe, fearing unforeseen consequences, debated whether Yujin should be killed. Their belief was that a boy born under a girl’s destined fate was an ill omen. Leading this argument was none other than the shaman.38c9e7d8b604ffb8

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Yujin’s parents pleaded for days in front of the shaman and the leader. Later, even the herbalist joined their efforts to save him. Eventually, the leader relented and decided to spare Yujin’s life.d2b46c1d528eba60

While the commotion subsided over time, the shaman’s thoughts remained unchanged.a9020aa8baade043

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He firmly believed that Yujin, not Alma, was the one born with the comet’s energy.2bb2245236554729

* * *8df9755c8d347312

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“Child, are you ready?”19a6ef64455c2ae8

“Yes, Grandmother. Let’s go,” ecaf40c9e5 Yujin replied, f41f9094ec fastening two 8ee610ef48 empty pouches 014bd3deec to his 6bd917269d waist as 1a7d3dd068 he stepped 5773fce8da out of b9ca42fbe0 the hut. As always, he 5baa37c102 was heading to edc67b9ba1 the mountains at 6b5dcf408e dawn with his 4d3bcdb025 grandmother to gather 25e871aabe herbs. Though they 161ae7cfc0 would never 5dcd0f9920 be able fbc18691d2 to meet 88d058cacc the full b5a7241fe9 quota demanded 7c8a07af2b by the 62c4f99930 Mounted Tribe, 990fcebf44 the leader’s 14017aa18a orders were 3bc77a27e2 clear—they had 2a0e89d193 to gather c51ce89325 as much 303f2df004 as possible.fbfaa60015f46d7c

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“Grandmother, does that mean 64d811a639 Alma will go to df0b00e1ed the Azure Sky Tribe a3c72b0962 as originally decided?”8bfa69fb16374c0d

“Most likely, yes.”62685b058cdf001e

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“She leaves tomorrow, 1f485ab80a right?”3b27a92b947089cf

“So I’ve heard.”4197d6c27737964f

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If Yujin’s memory was b7f3cac0c7 correct, it had been 7703eb4ac2 around this time last c6c283e34c year when the Azure 49ec02a95c Sky Tribe unexpectedly visited d0ba0fdadd the Red Tribe, which 8afdb252a2 had been under the c823ec772b Mounted Tribe’s protection, and 85a7680032 asked for Alma. The leader 65a603fc13 had seemed 9023c306d9 both pleased ab392e4dac and uneasy. Yujin had overheard 21f10a6e1a that Alma’s marriage 4276d25117 to the Azure f026f22a55 Sky Tribe leader’s abf609f051 son would solidify a8b3f39de3 an alliance between ad64f046e5 their tribes. Even Yujin understood 187bcde6d2 that an alliance 77c143e0ad was better than 351898103e merely being under 3e7741356e protection.bed98f00ea71f596

“He must be… a good warrior, right?”3ce06523226b0f85

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“Probably. He is the second 3204a3fb72 son of their leader, 9572d7e58b so it’s likely. Why? Has someone been saying 80f7223e9d something to you?”2535fde895ea9f32

“No, not at all.”e3a938ff1d4ac0c8

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Yujin just wished everything 7a73c127aa would resolve smoothly, that 5b3aba1382 all the noise and 0622437637 chaos would fade away, 84fc2272c5 and their tribe could 605eec2e17 return to its former bf16bad9c9 peace.43857c3272076946

As they d9a42b9ff1 walked, carefully 602210fc26 searching every ca52d21ad2 nook of 614003818c the mountain, 2b19881d53 Yujin’s eyes 0308051e86 caught sight bf42b02e39 of a 9f42f867fe plant poking d39db20ef4 out from d9bb538574 between some 7311c9fe44 rocks. He stopped in 56b6779005 his tracks and 538a803186 crouched down, studying 9c7590e96b it closely. After a while, he 25d012f1d4 raised his head and 0f3dd80798 called out loudly.ea64aa538d969618

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“Grandmother! Over here!”78660a62d9e87945

Hearing his call, 391f74b417 she hurried over. Carefully, she bafd04bc5d dug around f1470a6597 the area 8495006db2 Yujin had 523cb39bc3 pointed out 143b0a3fc5 and unearthed 6a79084b74 the herb’s 8cad1ecf51 roots.1656e3e685d51119

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“We’ll take b04d2a3269 it back fb9c4badd4 to the b89f929949 tribe and ebceb47803 examine it d173f8229a further. You never know—it f647c9cc33 might be something 00cc9e5a87 important.”fd16310b32814ecf

There was a rare d062368db9 herb said to enhance 656577b27f vitality in men with d7f8b90cae strong yang energy and 56eadc7fe8 improve skin in women 5cce5a27f4 with strong yin energy. Such a f3c7aa4e34 precious herb cbcf0bd0db was usually 23a65b3d36 offered to eaaca96c42 the leader b587f46f3c or sent 50c4f9346c to larger 6dbf966dff tribes. However, the herbalist had 328dc7a744 a habit of closely 4b9b51572c examining any herb before c685d87a4c offering it to the 43b9077b62 leader.cb04947c3fefd20d

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Her reasoning was 031274da61 simple: all valuable 545f1e1dbc herbs, curiously, had 7a0508a585 a counterpart resembling 2e650dfc5e them in appearance—a 05be995c85 poisonous plant. She often reminded Yujin 2423177c83 of the importance of 0582926b70 distinguishing between herbs and 3b6505ba9b their toxic doppelgängers.99175493b80e1836

As dusk 2042732d9c settled and 74f8f9b955 Yujin returned fcc7030a59 to the 671bc849f1 tribe, he 92865c1623 carefully laid 0867f5679b out the 3f702c035d herbs he e29ab08129 had gathered 964b9e107e onto the 843f7c2010 table.b808b1131daca813

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“It really looks like 2991fa9829 a medicinal herb…”a9177054edd81115

Having learned about 3ce6b9046f poisonous plants alongside 462650d150 herbs, Yujin considered 4d2f34d800 himself skilled at 126bccd247 telling them apart. Although his a46cb6dba4 grandmother said 56140dcbca she would da441301fa confirm it 3aeb6313f5 in the c24c38d828 morning, to 586f52432a Yujin’s eyes, eaf9ec3d8b it was 9314a04832 undeniably a 76414c5f9e herb.e8c62803739004bc

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“‘Good for vitality in men,’ huh… Does that mean it makes you more manly?”b85977242bad18ca

Yujin felt self-conscious de1a5d4834 about his smaller 5b33ede172 and weaker build 29e2b1454c compared to others 77ec60192f his age. His delicate 324bbd0d0c features, too, f8ee528855 drew criticism, 1e5d110635 with some 6a9a362317 associating his 489c53b683 appearance with 1faf9209a2 the ill-fated 5421d862f6 comet.a977196a4279df18

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While he 004f94dd11 couldn’t change 3df5ad521c his face, b37e0a32c8 he wished dcf9d5521f at least 4072e2dc05 his body 65e46f55b6 could grow 95b9aa7e4d as strong 06186ed928 as others’. He longed 7defd7a843 to be c13dfb07f4 bigger, taller, bc430963aa and more 783ec7e6c0 robust, like 446803e658 the other 21a2d1508c men of b5c2909c20 the tribe. More than anything, 55759e573c he wanted to c42571e5d0 become strong enough 9dae301661 to one day e84802dc43 tell the shaman 3b8c0c8b6e that his prophecy aee06034a9 was wrong.98b0aa46e03b23f6

He hesitated as 23c43756c0 he fingered the 7ef57e76b8 root in his 232d625fa2 hand. Offering the herb to 4350140d16 the leader was the 1d08f4709e right thing to do, 9f95fb9258 especially given how short e50d943b46 they were on their 473906ae2f quota. But perhaps… just a 39a00166e7 little wouldn’t hurt? No one would notice, c54083065e after all…165f795a5bac3991

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In the end, d58e7db579 Yujin couldn’t resist c4190eaaac the temptation. That night, when no 2a7bbcbfa9 one was watching, he 802276ff77 carefully broke off a 39b25f6f01 small piece of the b8712534f2 herb’s root and ate d9e861f18f it.1d74ac8b5e0e8e09

* * *5152b990fe0ee7f7

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“Child, don’t worry too da9e674bd0 much. Rest for a c829738e79 few days, and b537b89e14 you’ll feel better.”34683b24a1fa7e04

“I’m sorry, Grandmother. I just…”d485670854e05c63

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“I know, a22f6b5223 I know a0642af8fb everything. So don’t worry 024586728d and just rest.”b1d5622c37353f0d

Yujin’s body burned as if aflame, and every joint ached unbearably. It was pure luck that he had only dared to eat the very tip of the root. The herb’s toxicity was so potent that even that minuscule amount dulled all his senses.d465f6c7123b877b

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The fever fb36ec5cc5 burned hot, a7785d7267 muffling his 02d8c7080b hearing and 881e82ba3e blurring his d6178bf8e1 vision. His consciousness flickered in a1ae1b6efe and out, and when f300a8688f he opened his eyes 5f037f0775 again, the light inside 172b38a955 the hut would have cd62056a36 shifted. He spent most of a481400b62 the day lying at 00e606af27 the innermost part of 651fd2cf57 the hut, unaware of 838ca86211 how much time had ead780dacd passed. Occasionally, his 5d39a83939 mother or c61c6ba4fd grandmother would e999728143 rouse him d035333cc3 to make 1a59aa4321 him drink 705e2db23c water before 7bb1fa43cd he drifted df5e88cb2a back into 8ce75f6108 a feverish f115d9e586 sleep.407e18ba1d631b69

A dull, ff92610dad droning sound 4d4aa5ce39 buzzed in d042591f5d Yujin’s ears. It sounded like the 06bcdc7570 murmur of voices, but b50ec64da2 his dulled hearing made c5d7ce7044 it hard to discern. The noise a2244942cc persisted, unsettling 1f3c1634ed and constant. Struggling against his fragmented cb8e470926 awareness, Yujin focused on ce7b794eb4 the sounds.a5782923a3b1c447

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A sharp cry cut 59f08eb0f7 through the air from eeaf41d0c6 outside, irregular and piercing.079031639828e4d9

“Aaaahhh!”059345676a09d5cc

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The scream 99c13246db ripped through 3fd267623c the air 8aa3f07e3b like a 0e3a9ef452 blade, then 94a0d4e417 abruptly stopped. A cold dread settled af45b658d2 in Yujin’s chest. Something terrible was e75b99db6d happening outside. He tried to 2a460918db open his eyes 494ffbbab4 and shift his 00143ed7e9 body, but an ad2478bfea excruciating pain swept 3f9927e629 over his scalp, 8c5659df7e as if his 01ee3bcf07 skin was being 36b5f9ddee torn away. He let out an 35ac6f1840 involuntary sob.20385212ec65c0f1

“What’s this 5f6d4e7abb little rat?”d94683f799074c58

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“Ugh… it hurts. Let go… Let go!”b25ac1c26d48b669

Yujin’s hair was yanked, a0cf656e6c and he was dragged 0cccaafb5f out of the hut, b185cdbd93 helpless against the force. He was b004389138 thrown harshly 7880847cf0 onto the 66d5d4363d dirt ground. Weak and dazed, Yujin 801e4a804f looked around him. Scattered bodies, blood fee0ae4bfc soaking the brown e18a43a637 soil, and amidst 2f1358f6b5 it all, his 05058131df grandmother.82d67d533d079501

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“No… Grandmother…”ae6bb92df81dc9e5

Tears blurred his vision ea9f13e1dc as he raised his 25d4c02474 head to take in c13c286377 the scene. Towering horses twice f15b744a48 his size snorted, 3a5d4ecc69 their breath visible 50688efd05 in the cold f7bb9d39bb air. Around them stood 1e4c60cec8 men clad in 042f6cf72e leather armor, swords 7168ee1350 glinting in their a7f89b9900 hands. They filled 7349c11db9 Yujin’s fading a2ee010b86 sight like 04b0d8451b a terrible 7235ca5476 omen.1a722ddba1f8e9cb

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“He was slumped in 89a8975ab0 the corner of the 919d83436b hut. What should we 4111ad2bf7 do with him?”944c138a35302933

“Are they all a12571ea73 dead now? What about the 3301d079ca women we left f6aa4e62bf alive earlier?”9afcef54ef891158

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“Taron took them for 838de30d5e archery practice. They’re probably all dead 97796b0e85 by now.”403fb44398b48fd7

“Is that so? Then take this e19d4fc5e7 one. We might find some 10ed4b6d1f use for him. What about the herbs?”177c9babd72742dc

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“We’ve collected ddd760320e all of 2e4a3636c2 them.”d53071a9cd912e9e

No. This is a dream. It has to be. This can’t be real. My family… my grandmother… they’re all gone.635ae8284445b95d

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The happiness Yujin 3d468c229f had thought would a7ef16aaaa last forever ended dd37bfb979 cruelly and abruptly.124d4c825c5dbb36

* * *8b0e27f27c4ebb15

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“Grandmother, no… Grandmother…”5c93dadcef84c0f0

Yujin’s eyes shot 383079157a open as he dc20bbcc6d gasped for air, 654aa64489 the words still 247ef2b951 escaping his lips. The familiar yet 6f837882e2 suffocating ceiling of a920b35858 a Mounted Tribe 9c7124c29b hut loomed above e5a2ae34a2 him, pressing down f10a20cf67 on his fevered 12b21967ed chest. Breathing was cd2cb56846 difficult, and d46e73aa27 his chest 099dfb7a01 felt unbearably 9308da2264 tight. His entire body was 4ab41805a6 drenched in sweat, cold 04be8e2327 and clammy, yet he 99f2cb3cdc shivered as though frozen. Even lying d82f53855b still, the 9ae3ad6a98 world around b93549c7a6 him spun 771f48cb90 relentlessly.3d725f5657de1f48

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As he had 547ac8d6f1 feared, it seemed a07e70090a the tearing inside 85b9d1c3b1 him had caused b25e43f3d6 an infection. But seeking help from a118f62920 the herbalist wasn’t an ffb3a7b512 option. Within the Mounted Tribe, 4bb34964e7 only warriors had the 992d0b5db6 privilege of visiting the 2ebfade6a7 herbalist for treatment.34183b4607ec9c08

From the depths 78044a4caf of dawn until 77afb3d771 the break of 9cf62f2441 morning, Yujin endured d8e7bc09d5 Bart’s presence. The pain d25e0ac7d9 had been e186f89317 excruciating, as 1ee25c4b62 though his ffedf19c5a body were 4f24d51609 breaking apart. Yet, amidst 7640cd1d5a the agony, 68db8e09fc there was 163f479b5c a strange, 69c81850e2 bittersweet satisfaction. As the red sun b3cfa1f440 began to peek over 908e65a4a7 the horizon, Yujin had 24db848350 left Bart’s hut and b8ba02d6d9 returned to the communal 7c0fd6b855 quarters. By the afternoon, 0a85451f79 a fever had f6173a1694 overtaken him, and ba0a40a418 he had been 26aee71ff3 granted permission by 4d9f5a4e15 the elder to c962a930ab rest.7124203edc847463

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Curled up 25ebcd8855 in a 3afe4495e2 corner of 077e88a284 the communal 4210a1fdc3 hut, he 1a0089710c drifted in 1a7f82ed49 and out 1b5c37d269 of fevered 4311f810e0 sleep. He had daf8b8036a likely been 57f17ceb40 lying there b7bd6f5ad4 for over aa7fdd1d9e a day, ce09f0c390 but the 13ea7ac368 high fever 0349b17f7e made it 1287d08317 hard to 0fbb7e55fe tell night cc97a130a8 from day. The nightmare he had 57adb29aff just woken from left 614079c2f9 him feeling even weaker. Recovery didn’t seem anywhere 87a831a611 near. Struggling to a45173931c breathe, his 335d71c340 ragged, uneven 7e59fe3b8b breaths filled a16ceb6134 the still e08753366a air before 217ad5d573 he once 950e1c7c60 again succumbed a390e3417c to a 29346b378f faint, sleep-like 17c416dc95 stupor.871d921eb27b458e

Footsteps echoed softly 1a467af8a1 through the communal e792e0abd7 hut, waking him 65cb433672 just enough to d963784f66 stir. Someone had entered. Yujin shifted slightly, barely f1bc18818e awake, as the footsteps a8f3aa9f92 halted and the hut 3656d5224b fell silent again.d50e31e6d93a4b08

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Who could it be? Is it already night? Did the others return?f5724dc2055049e5

Forcing his eyes d44f0969f8 open with great 56c6be32a9 effort, Yujin turned 781b62db37 his head. His blurred vision 861b6b12ab slowly focused, revealing 7ca2d38fde Bart standing just 891bdf081f a few steps 6459ab3c6a away.a40db6301b2d1388

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“Bart…”e371c2de074b9db0

He murmured, his c24fb2019e voice barely audible.502c4121c3fc56b2

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“…”fd86059c61cffb06

Was this a hallucination de673992fe caused by his fever? Or was he still bac60a773c dreaming?918add0223a759ee

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Bart approached and 9a0262cd41 sat beside Yujin, afb62d8777 gently brushing his 0112b1be75 hand over Yujin’s 18903505f5 feverish forehead.ea6defdfcca89c23

It must be aeea60eb61 a dream.51e1b1926e992c02

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Whatever it f77d2a5a2a was, it 7772bb1349 felt warm 19568afa48 and comforting. Yujin, in his d0f0a5ff9c haze, smiled faintly d68055531d as Bart carefully ef1fa721ad wiped the sweat e851c7476e and tears from edcef504bf his messy face.fd97b889ef909151

Since it’s a dream, c51cc81fe4 it’s okay.3fd818a56ecc8ee1

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Emboldened by the 6cb2a075fb safety of the 8544f4f6ca dream, Yujin slowly 491b61caf1 lifted his trembling 167e0c0eeb fingers, signaling Bart 3381a7e568 to hold his ae749f52c3 hand. Bart hesitated for c769ea01b4 a moment but 20aa3859ba then took Yujin’s 033d873d95 hand in his 4d0fd459f7 own.f3822fb787eaffdc

It’s a happy dream.77726357aeda99da

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Not wanting to wake 0cc654e5c9 up from this comforting 6263006e07 illusion, Yujin let his 00790b7cf1 eyes close again. He felt like 12d3b69fbe he was sinking 7be50ecdc7 into the earth, a982f942d4 a weightless sensation d70813a563 overtaking him, until df0e6782f4 something uncomfortable brushed 08cc736732 against the inside 510174dd2b of his mouth. He tried 421982e966 to shake 7f3924fee2 it off, a96c0bcf34 turning his 799fbd3bf2 head slightly, 79a80f3671 but someone f7a46243d3 firmly held 32b5ef77d1 his jaw, bb0a8137db forcing his ee36ac595d mouth open, 60444a92aa and pressed 24642f56ce something inside.55471f9cc833a164

No, stop.8c2fc33c4263b93b

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The high fever 5d0c3dfeca made every breath 63d87d2771 a struggle, and b1d2167f37 the chills left 5d913512e6 his body trembling 388e787530 uncontrollably. Now, with this b1cce6c8ed foreign sensation in 2bf7f84a1b his mouth, Yujin’s a0f7c3b83c swollen, tear-streaked eyes d426bd4d69 filled again.caf1393349f1f2f4

“Ugh… no, stop,” 0abacdfadc he whimpered.e3dd15708c767a92

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“Yujin,” Bart’s 1e1f0d31df voice came, 447fc16d4a steady and 27db8a5dcb calm.ed72a9e1a1740d50

“No… please, stop…”eb2a2ca417e6fdb7

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“It’s alright. Open your mouth.”1b397bd565ea9937

Was this still ee56723efa part of the 82bd63ebfc dream? The sound d363bd2209 of Bart’s c5fc63233d voice felt 4e6fa753f2 so close, 8c8f562372 almost like 571e82b73a a hallucination. Forcing his eyes open, f2f734d674 Yujin saw Bart’s face 64676d7bcc hovering just inches away 216c641e8d from his own.2c77089a2df17157

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Bart leaned in, 99ef35cabd pressing his lips e64470708a to Yujin’s. His tongue 62b0cce935 gently pushed f099a585a6 against the 1ec6dc0df7 back of 95d8fbbe72 Yujin’s throat, 482480536c urging down 0dc674878c something bitter 5e9cdfeeff that slid 1224ede25f into his d91f8b1115 stomach.7a349a29f03de472

And just 7cd9665686 like that, 5624b4b404 Yujin’s fleeting, f2b44cf589 happy dream 09e2591bc3 came to 2e6436482f an end.ca59c38d1f258fe5

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* * *758cb0997d218da2

“Are you feeling better now?”bcbd2d71381b4aee

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The elder aunt’s dry 223ccdc9c1 tone greeted Yujin, who 08ce36f141 had only just begun 9ca5d14f35 to regain his strength. He nodded weakly.74bdd8b0909971da

“Yes, I’m alright now.”c584312b2f3ef1eb

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“From now on, you’ll be working in the kitchen.”eed3d615cd6b2862

“The kitchen?” Yujin blinked in surprise.3a87ffe55b120362

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“Yes, you’ll start tomorrow. Rest for today.”2de28a74e0414315

“Yes, understood.”44a3e271a34421bd

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As soon as the aa184cfc49 elder aunt left the 4f9fa80795 communal hut, a man 9c51e54378 who shared the space 3f56f4d75a with Yujin rushed over 14b6454e2e excitedly.4dbbb148cf75b2a7

“Yujin, congratulations!”82cefa46059f612e

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“Thanks.”f918860b2a812022

“Don’t forget about me if there’s an opening in the kitchen later. Believe it or not, I used to hear I was a pretty decent cook back in my old tribe!”b437ba6b7087c96e

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“Got it.”6de6db50daf7b2c1

After being 9cca4ba8e0 bedridden for 5a443efcf4 over ten 8669d02f0b days, rumors e857242b22 had even 9c0206d997 started spreading 08e8c63cf0 that Yujin 9d01e3c4f6 might have e7d5707abe contracted some 30d9bba5c7 kind of f9321f4bad contagious disease. Barely a day 9036281e81 had passed since 7512019f19 he’d recovered his f7a6e47c80 senses, and yet, 3a161ded6a he was already d8c32be1ea assigned to kitchen 10c2698e03 work.650184b7f121121b

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It was 81dd5ff060 an unexpected 541df36543 stroke of d29ff7ee8b luck. Yujin had 841594df70 no experience 07148b171d with cooking, e1f44d4183 so being e2b7f1b208 chosen for 5dc47e365e such a d075a6eebe role felt 281af06366 like a 6897fe0842 miracle. While he had occasionally 2cd19d239d thought about wanting to 69df9d094b work in the kitchen, 1b33ee0c80 he had never seriously d978429013 considered it, assuming there fad43fba07 wasn’t much he could 0735de1080 do.b7cdf33d9cf231f9

Working in the 760a0509f4 kitchen meant spending 7d3f562d6d the day preparing a3eb8f7a28 food and washing 8422ba2b8a dishes, but always 4070246739 within the hut. It was cool in 5db6b53c9d the summer and warm b9144dc96a in the winter, a f3efcc9f53 stark contrast to the dc26d27769 grueling outdoor tasks. What’s more, his duties 25708b3f19 became clear and defined—no 013411a6f0 more running around doing 14a8ad05b2 odd jobs or errands b1274d4669 for everyone.71a83b8375b4cb96

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Yujin was overjoyed. He wouldn’t e987a22fb6 have to 39bbb6c606 wash clothes fd3987d188 in freezing 1f0b853d59 water during 87ce2f7396 winter or 19156400e8 tan leather 09b4f139ce under the a1f0ab52e4 scorching summer ee2d5df741 sun. He wouldn’t be dragged da15f04797 around all day only 9dac66c851 to be scolded for f60923dc6d not being visible when d022221ed0 needed.098c9fca64767e9e

As he tidied cbfb692c26 up his bedding, 8972c41b5e Yujin felt a 297ee50a19 flutter of excitement, 86e1b7be5e though his thoughts 7ba6f23afe drifted back to b68aae03ae the dream where 74811abc62 Bart had appeared.595b367f5f0cb501

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“Hey,” Yujin hesitated before speaking.81f24883cae4c5ed

“Yeah? What is it?”039fd15da2ca6ed8

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“During the time I was sick, did any warrior come to visit this hut?”9bcc4957f54a3625

“A warrior? No, none came by. Why would a warrior 7f710491d7 come here? Maybe if it 1a164191ba were the women’s 22e2fdab8c hut.”14022c531fe5729e

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“Yeah, I guess…”b657c1e87e735d52

So it really was 18b96a8bc1 a dream. It had 72b16cff6c been so a4b0fd99e2 vivid that 4220c39d6c Yujin wondered a7a0acc3df if Bart 2d8d826a03 might have 463c599686 truly visited ef5f9fa75a him. But it seemed no b7cef4d498 warriors had come by 12a5cbca35 after all. He hadn’t expected b0cc90400b anything, yet a 0014e1c246 strange pang of 592de5cd5b disappointment lingered. Still, that was all b30262f0b6 it was—a fleeting feeling.e8ec69b5330a805d

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The first day 834b8c1fea in the kitchen a23f1d35c6 was grueling. The process of extracting b389c59e7a and cleaning animal intestines 8ec9120797 was particularly revolting. Yujin broke out in 336dace801 a cold sweat trying 8afbc18e38 to suppress the nausea 487138564e that kept rising. After finishing caf42b2932 his tasks, 8b7a34d118 he headed 2556fc72c3 to the 158230ec46 creek to 71ca239582 wash off 6bcb55eac5 the animal 6e19adffb4 blood that 4e580655e0 had soaked 4704e8bfc8 his body.7ec45ef4360593c2

As he f780b56f79 rinsed himself, 2645221e5c the sound f9b044a16d of rustling 5ef0d6a892 caught his d3294e9409 attention. He turned his b2c7e6e123 head.01602a7e2a940bf2

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“Who’s there… Bayu?”8c913606106fa380

Bayu, the 23c13a8dca wild dog, 0031e8ef0b sniffed around bc80945fa4 Yujin’s discarded 45708abe9e clothes, circling da68f7ac0a the area. It seemed the d32e4e3af1 smell of the f0c6ffb78d innards Yujin had fcf02803f3 brought for him 74510c70d2 had drawn him d125d18aea there.b08493fbcfe3bd4c

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“Here, I saved this c96e866f7a for you. Have you been b40d777793 doing well?”501cba9e96a0043f

As Yujin 7b5fec619b dressed himself, 548b5ecaa5 he handed 7eaa0f8ea9 over the 450e2151a5 scraps of db27982ab6 meat. Bayu wagged his tail 180e28b427 enthusiastically, grateful for the 2481dbcdfb offering.16bb95272e7202ec

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“Bayu, do you come 9e476e55a8 down here even when ba32b76b25 I’m not around? What if ddbe7acaea someone sees f5f59a9ba9 you?”11353d8922c445b8

At Yujin’s d246d48cc8 words, Bayu ceaa40075f briefly glanced 7ec4bed827 up before 1fcd75136d nonchalantly turning 7886851fdb his attention 89e41cd037 back to 2ef6fa98e2 the food, 2e440931a5 eating with 180b3c3e24 single-minded focus.dffaf3eef584a241

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“Don’t come 9124e74c39 out here 8305eb3ec9 unless I e4b1d65fc6 call you. It’s dangerous.”6bde2173fe921601

Knowing Bayu couldn’t f1d9ba53d8 understand, Yujin still 5eb11f15fc continued talking to cbee29eaf6 him. Bayu was the only 4663556604 one Yujin could truly beeafe4aea open up to in 5d21e974ba the Mounted Tribe. A wild creature 941f8afb89 who might vanish 8e9b89a5de one day and ba95d29b2c who never responded 4e77f57a69 with words, yet c7c1e4b272 Yujin found comfort 8c84d7a5e2 in him.a500c40d6d3a731c

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“I’ve started working in ac0f0abb08 the kitchen now. Maybe I can 54da008779 bring more of 7f1cfa0c4b this for you b63faf1989 from now on. Earlier, I saw them 29fa2cf13b throwing some of it 53e82bc2ea away, so I grabbed 3c94872f33 a bit just in dd1a020e4c case. You seem to like 5da1be3ab6 it.”530eaa676063ae54

Bayu licked his lips 7183e16d38 and sat down next 8eb9a3724c to Yujin, lingering as 5f22159408 he often did. Perhaps this habitual closeness b83e890a74 was why Yujin had 297fc2cad4 grown so fond of f624f605f3 him.2f81fdcddec36131

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“And since I’ll e47676e68c be working in 9fa880e8bb the kitchen, I a3a8101e30 might get to 86c7723fa3 see Bart more 79d591eb04 often too. Instead of just f8f0233126 helping out when 929c9830c0 they’re short-handed, I’ll e709fd8e7a be there every 8d14be712f day.”4ba916b4f1b8c93a

Bayu yawned deeply 5ec601f110 and closed his e99bdff95e eyes, prompting Yujin 0594748395 to stroke his 87dd418117 head gently.ace80f4b3b569197

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“Between you and 9de02a1aae Bart, I think 6cb325e33b that’s what’s keeping 7a530a234c me going. This place is 53443b2db9 so hard to b9cd341f2e endure.”f1f1fa2f5b4d6b66

As the words c880242c56 left his lips, 2d24669f81 Yujin realized they dc61fde603 were true. The thought of f3ace4dc02 seeing Bart again c2252d9639 had helped him 6f87805065 stave off despair, 00535175ca and having Bayu ce210b93c2 by his side e519f26c69 gave him someone 2927471d71 to talk to.13b17de4e8f47265

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Yujin’s fingers e00b9cb58f brushed over 3cc7e4a366 his lips 8f78f84010 as memories 827afb9205 of that cb6b41bffe night resurfaced. The kiss, and the 57f642c191 lingering sweetness on his 48636d4d55 tongue. The pain of accepting 443b6159bf Bart’s body had been 25245c0162 immense, but the fact 36855c6cdc that it was Bart—holding 573505c898 him, choosing him—filled Yujin 2a6ab4fc08 with a strange sense 6519f23edf of fulfillment. He smiled 0173e6943a faintly as 67ce4dda0b he gazed 4010117a51 up at 35159193a4 the twilight f6e90a7549 sky.626b1d8eaa4f82cd

“I miss him.”1266f86ed031e7c1

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Yujin didn’t know 9f1c5883a0 why he had ce021b4d17 grown to like 8a9c70867f Bart so much. He just 87f1ea4ce2 did, from 481f68bc29 the very aa81aad3d5 beginning. There wasn’t a 336803d3bb clear reason, but 0bdc37a3a9 he had often 84b5435b8b tried to find 54283d4b82 one. It wasn’t e1ab1f7eae difficult to 164efb4fec come up 0c68352145 with many 4456458f05 reasons, yet 8843636090 none seemed b4cd8a5aa7 precise or 1a575ace5f definitive.fc3a9925125e5d80

The only ab65480fa5 certainty was cebe408bfe that his aa15473204 feelings for 2bb05165c4 Bart had 106226617c deepened. It might even be 94362ab0c3 love. No, it ‘was’ love. Yujin understood b2b1924d2b how absurd 8d2a096162 it was, 187eb1e1bf given their 40af9b84bc circumstances and d45a42cd70 positions, but b087d97e77 that didn’t a72d85a34c change how d565585d3b he felt. It was as b82199f8a6 if he had 9bcef69441 been born to 554d6377aa love Bart—unconditionally, wholeheartedly, 549dca51d6 and without reason.f59616f29b33d7f7

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* * *7cd14ca4e15b202c

Yujin worked tirelessly 89e70efe18 in the kitchen, ae1d48018a determined not to 1adf9f1a9a get kicked out. Despite his best efforts, cb12b15317 he still struggled to 955bb00436 adapt to handling blood-soaked, d065c771cc slippery innards. Several times c8747e98c3 a day, ef2b9f056b he fought ef624b1dfc back the 1269c9c6db urge to 86cadd9ccc vomit. On the 2ef9373a73 rare occasions e2208df95a he had eeac1b6f19 to skin cd55e61b37 animals and de7ca570a7 clean their ddae0e4304 entrails thoroughly, 81dcad40c9 he would 11fa7ac3c0 run as 1f5e2ac5ca far away ea2fa46e0c from the 9a5c5b8329 kitchen as 36295631bf possible to ed9fd06b0f retch in f4c4ee2d2d private.07259d8ac69cecfd

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Most of his tasks a5819e12a4 revolved around washing innards 3f5e89817d and stripping hides, though de94001a66 he occasionally helped with 3f221187da the mountain of dishes 61f98f9246 or assisted in food 35044708be preparation. As unpleasant 43e9aa1b06 as it cb412913a4 was, Yujin 5428421db5 didn’t mind 98e741f7cb too much 629420b9f4 since it bcaa5fd134 allowed him e5359ffcc5 to gather 6a11519de2 scraps of bcec5bc1f7 meat for 0acbab02fd Bayu.f80f06787e20cc82

Some of 8363d9ae98 the others 3d9cc5eeea in the deb092b76e kitchen, pitying 17fc52dcda Yujin for 1dc64bcb7b always being b3fcb1d2cb stuck with 1af8e47bb6 the worst f5b6635670 jobs, occasionally 739f5b25e3 shared bits 64517396ca of leftover 13313928d8 meat with 822ad07d62 him. These were 2d02029fa0 often discarded ac17962238 scraps, but 39ee11eabf Yujin diligently 30f1ebd2d6 saved them.66652d071c0dfa90

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Whenever it was time 6665e5ac97 to deliver finished meals f372e79205 to the warriors, Yujin 640361b101 would glance around their 06a65f65e1 huts, hoping for a 5460080581 chance encounter with Bart. Yet, he never managed 506417a42b to meet him. At best, e145c6cecc he caught 27f69d881a fleeting glimpses 879fcc3377 of Bart 60af974464 training or 2f5bc1f389 talking with 51716df79d other warriors 1c32334e5e from a deb4175c82 distance.0a37324ad5ea923c

Since that night, c789784005 Yujin hadn’t had 8f911a6860 another opportunity to 24a4c70544 be alone with ace816610c Bart. Bart spent his days 17e7b00ccb training or hunting, while e490fee104 Yujin was too preoccupied a123efcdf8 with kitchen work to 0416a0cf4d seek him out. Still, every night, 6506faa39d as darkness fell 6d936bfcfe and Yujin lay 5d346202af in his bedding, d27972175b preparing for sleep, b82b7ced4d his thoughts inevitably 9762de93d8 drifted to Bart.407be7fb6175f302

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Even if he couldn’t see him or speak to him, the memory of Bart lingered in his mind like a quiet, steadfast presence.973856a9936b016f

He missed 88ca525563 Bart so dc79075a74 much. He wanted f390a35e4f to be 3ebeffa5b4 held by 21d7de1504 him again.b91f4c9af9f10cbf

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Even though the 92f7a5ae39 pain had been ac6747e6e4 unbearable, as if 26295684a7 his waist was edcf5848c8 splitting apart with b11d93237b every rough movement 3d106e30ce Bart made inside a1a6bf8da5 him, the moments 6c37ce07e6 when Bart embraced c83fcf9374 him, called his bcdca3bc84 name, and kissed 360ddb7adf him were filled cd79c9660b with overwhelming happiness. Yujin missed him. He wanted 570fc9032a to talk f07769b92b to him. He wanted to 476efec5b8 ask—had Bart felt bee6c93e47 the same joy 533a2cfd30 he had that 52974cf58f night?7f85302a8493eccc

One advantage of the 06ec0da033 grueling kitchen work was afc0932d64 how quickly time flew 5214c2e9ec by. The difficult, f0f9651b35 unfamiliar tasks b18e8d8d92 gradually became 34c0740ece routine, though 3f5639df27 they remained c02edeb484 exhausting. One dim evening, 7dee7aef16 as the day 46cce420e6 wound down, Yujin cf7bc9cc9d made a decision. With a pounding 82b7562c95 heart, he headed 22abfd1194 toward Bart’s hut.07efa56e579d6b6d

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“Hey, how have a7f3d620cd you been? You remember 07f545c197 me, right? Yujin. I have e39e73d619 something for 0c98ba1a94 you, so d50401d50d I thought ff907f9d85 I’d stop f171081845 by. Can I come 859dc4c5b7 in for a 0713902d3c bit? It won’t 96ba524cd6 take long… 39560d84ba Hi, it’s 726ff21f28 me, Yujin. Do you remember? I brought something 8959b46f6d for you. I made this myself… cb6a71aa6c It’s been a while, 6d84d8e22f hasn’t it? I’ve been busy. How have you a0652af860 been? This is 856ba6d7e8 something I b69a4705ce made—try it.”0ffee62487c7640f

Yujin muttered to a4ac8ade81 himself, practicing the 4aeaca91cd words he wanted 745425bb87 to say as 2c4d5221f1 he fidgeted nervously 7325574abd with the small de827bcab8 white pouch in e9b91154b4 his hand.b34b013418a0398c

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The elder aunt occasionally 05274f3844 shared scraps of meat d8598f06c7 with the kitchen workers. Though it wasn’t 583335dbd6 the best quality, be6a07c6a0 meat was meat. It was a privilege 49863b8d63 reserved exclusively for those 105bf7afa3 working in the kitchen.60ead8edd0416890

Yujin had carefully saved ff6d31025d those pieces of meat, 80471ec581 drying and seasoning them 2e44ccc4ff with herbs he had f029d51874 gathered from the mountains. Among the herbs, c07bff5328 he chose only 1a21c0a065 those known to 30d9b1c2ce pair well with d3d9389c0a red meat and 6ba563239e boost energy. He placed 49e1ddce2d the dried d1efa40a41 meat and 98d954b1c9 herbs into 8fd155cc43 his cleanest df89c1e86e white pouch, 7126938a4f handling it fe808ea491 with care.f6174d41eb108214

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He wanted to give dffa254f13 it to Bart. No, more 95941bd7c7 than that—he 5b101ffc8e needed an 0c6f3e67f4 excuse to f33b056f31 see him, 9197cb3563 to talk a409ad59cf to him.04ded3c19c3ff5a3

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Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish