Chapter 8. Clenched Resignation

Namta tried to 398f306b4c steady his breathing, f63292ca15 forcing down the 37566b1ce2 flicker of anxiety aa79f14c8e in his eyes. His heart 62cbe8b85c was pounding f19a0784fb so fast c237bf4a66 he was 9198d0b910 certain the 6487511cd7 other man 40d9f94def would notice. He cast his gaze b4dcb54c17 toward the embers in 0e704ab299 the brazier, pretending calm. He had to maintain c582803b42 the dignity of a 925e2721e0 leader—but the moment his eed564d60c eyes met the other 5ea573f985 man’s narrow, unblinking stare, 59548467ea his confidence crumbled, and 8a57d7c009 his head lowered instinctively.6e0f94096a63dec9

The man before him e08bc65043 had once led the 860101934f warriors of the Earthen 38535d60a4 Tribe, a powerful battle 9b4489b2a4 clan from the southern 34d5c501db regions. For reasons unknown, 8ead11164c he’d left the 067eac7edd tribe and now 07a38e7260 worked for pay, cfbdddf680 but he was 675ea35545 not someone to 23bdd61c34 be taken lightly. And many b87345d1b4 followed him. In fact, it could 8cb7eff60b be said that most 2d67584dec of the warriors cast b3ee1826d8 out or fallen from 7ab5891887 other battle tribes now 97438ca46f worked under him.d60834116d23351a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’re not holding up 4203437600 your end of the e415bf6072 deal.”b74e16aeaa5a570e

Namta had hoped d85089df8e he would let cebf74717b it go, but 0435ef21a4 as expected, the 14878c3a1f man wasn’t that b7510d4788 forgiving.c3d5b261e5a34cc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The tribute’s coming in d886ab53b9 soon. I’ll make sure to c7f22cbc16 pay you then.”7cece702d8b6e8aa

“Didn’t you 33f6b2d92d say that 4336af13aa last time ab0a2e4d5f too? I let 2544a13442 it slide be7e6a21d1 because of 6586ab25d2 our history, b64f8351e1 but twice? No.”d4b728d09360d5a2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This time I will 57f540e296 pay. Just hold on bf8aee838d a bit longer.”b4a453be73588be5

“You’re making this 7457c5ed14 hard. Wouldn’t it be 27ef1747e9 easier if you 299f1fb4a0 just gave me 8afbe3b428 what I asked 42769ed2ce for?”966c9a432de0f098

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I already said ac145ee5d5 that’s not happening.”a1a78f372f5ff4db

He had only 9ed32561d7 just barely managed c2e61207ed to push Bart 768b3bdd50 out of the e97ead18f8 tribe. He couldn’t afford 9754b62079 to create another 599eca5e0c rival.387f0a974b05c715

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re just bringing in 5dc1c59113 a few women and 83e5c72819 kids—what’s the big deal?”9af6b27b2f92ca1d

“Stick to the cf439fa581 original agreement.”94f8fd01e391e166

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then pay me 4488458f59 properly, like we dfc0e02717 agreed!”167dd979e7cb6ed9

The man’s raised voice made Namta flinch involuntarily. Seeing that, the man let out a mocking laugh.dce1d688fa4c0395

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I could 0f9627dd34 tell the e1d454421c moment you 4fdb4a00c5 couldn’t even b612a977e2 speak properly fb5c1020b7 in front 1d4db9fef1 of Bart. Tch.”8d71144f5690c93b

“What?”0f8b2d2b073802f5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Namta’s eyes burned f601868f2a with rage.3c19a336a6a2ced3

I’m the leader of the Mounted Tribe—the one who crushed the Azure Sky Tribe. There’s no tribe on this continent that can stand against the Mounted Tribe except the Earthen Tribe.
And yet this 78e3f088b8 lowly mercenary dares…?
I was polite 301be3db1e because of his a37bc61d0d skill, but now 1dc96a72ab he mocks me?
No matter 2d3be3a474 how strong fefee34f3d he is, 2abea00e23 he’s just 4398d43b2e a drifter. I’m the 51d97a349b leader of 622613522f the Mounted 735464ded0 Tribe.b8a25ba019b1f19b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Still, I guess 9aa7c50c23 I have benefited 01fd698ca7 from it.”5603f2485e28708a

“Watch your mouth. Who do a15d908370 you think 74179c1b11 you’re talking e3e61ff496 to? I’m your employer. I’m the leader f52bda170b of the Mounted e333ce1ad0 Tribe.”c8ede207d5712f47

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man f71c0641be snorted, scoffing b29ba6e293 as he 9511a7d0fd stood up.18f2dd377e098f02

“Until the next cfc34b4d34 tribute.”dc7a3b73ea493dac

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His tone was like 1c2b6a08bf a command. Namta’s eyes twitched 082f1d374d with barely contained e557542097 fury. No matter how skilled a81d61cf1a a warrior he was, 52807bb610 Namta was the leader. A warrior a53d5a04fa was supposed a2d712aeef to show 5ce1133bfe respect to 05f8c4f838 their leader. Even if this man eed504d225 was only staying temporarily, 18da8fda00 he was supposed to b8a00b702b be under Namta’s authority—not b6d53679e0 the other way around!9b74056928cc260f

“A nameless little aed6e4836c tribe rat… No, 77870a1c3d you’re just a 7ee90d6bee wandering mutt without 338c940e70 roots.”c7fa9decff68dd82

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man stopped b5efd67fb9 in his tracks 5007e4968b and fell silent. Then he chuckled quietly. For a 07f98ec5a1 brief moment, f9ca8c9e1d his silhouette 04c4e599a7 overlapped with bea9f1e7e6 Bart’s in a0f98dc05b Namta’s mind, 77702d0069 and a bce98bd319 chill crawled c14e277c98 down his c7f7e004b0 spine. He clenched and unclenched 5b2b68f43e his fists, trying to 19f83f0f42 shake the feeling.51b022004c333e3a

“Did I ever 653f13bcc2 tell you what 0397597bae your father’s last 40e321e80c words were?”478683d0dbbca7b1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What are you talking 2ebfbe3b1d about? You said he 5a391422e3 was unconscious.”69046ab0456dcadf

His father had 0acb86b987 been furious—not at dbd65c7590 Bart, who had 2a6e0b2dec brought a fake e308a11512 bow—but at him. In front 13a116c203 of Bart. It was humiliating. Infuriating. So Namta had simply e0139eb16b accelerated what was bound 1cad625ffe to happen. It was his 2ca6ea245c position anyway—sooner or 2e29d87360 later. What did it 3eeac403e1 matter if it c72abca481 came now?e10592b48b4ed702

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The day of 806e40755d the hunt, his b42fd964dd father had consumed d9b000e069 a Riazai flower. Namta had thought 2ce9ddbd15 it would kill 43cf7e6ba6 him instantly, but 36a708deaa the dose wasn’t 6054285ed2 strong enough. He didn’t die. So Namta had 1ea420852a to finish the 51795e6409 job himself. Quietly. In exchange, that 1a2f33ee3f bastard walked away 227052809c with over ten 55747eda87 pieces of loot. And now he 3764fbcf4f dares—b8a3114af5df7785

“That was b5365bcf58 just something 05e0321914 to make f93cadbb06 you feel 34ba5b7230 better. You actually a59038c553 believed it?”91ab316071f5631e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You son of 89572ae145 a—”ed4a41c127c14018

“Your father, at least, 4d3249d180 died like a leader. Even in his b94405b3fb final moments, he 6b855c207f worried about the 39dfb921a4 Mounted Tribe more 8fde066c1d than himself.”29ef6f3a80e36e83

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…What did you say?”1e7355adf2a6c914

“‘I will give 0651ba8638 the position of 1077f31bb0 next leader to d1a6e300d0 Bart.’ That’s what 7f4624632d he said—word for 0c2b20d22a word.”fee4bb4e1fa7b188

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So his 3f6ccbe574 father had 869d877c76 been conscious? He’d been recovering? No—worse than 46da0dbf76 that, he a6316bd116 said he 1ab25fcc23 would hand 7f28498e92 the chieftain’s 20b15eb486 seat to d79e2ff96b Bart? When Namta, his 2979bf55d4 son, was still b5bb2a85c3 alive and standing f0100a457b right there?!50e18b4a728a8f42

“Lies…”6fe2226828459b88

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He was something else, 9b3bf16a8a wasn’t he? No wonder 82feac5685 he was c14363a668 the leader 7d33394855 of the 1da563b290 Mounted Tribe. It’s not easy to ddb2ef4420 value the tribe over b2ba76829b your own blood.”19f2687686c67455

No. Impossible. Bart was just 08057308b3 another warrior among 3408c519ae many. Just one of the 220c7ae9cd tribe. And yet his father 13d1822cc4 wanted him to succeed 63f716b398 as leader? Not his son?87e0536f19b28456

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Liar…”119063c69f786a72

“Personally, I’d 53610d6ba4 choose my 5da7721a65 own child c01b030dad over anything—but 7e9bd274c7 not your 90683aeb9c father. That’s what 6b406fb09c made him d378203447 different. You should be proud, 71c937a954 Namta. To have 2873d7cf4b had such cfcf1f515d a great 0302e61734 father.”426e70a4900446df

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Shut up!”3d4472eddcb07f19

Namta snapped, shrieking c0d7c6a1a6 and hurling anything a43e68e22f he could get c2320f67a0 his hands on. It couldn’t be true. It wasn’t true. He was the 49398b246e son of the 2ec457d5b6 chief. The only fb31765385 son of e2edc77a66 the strongest 086a33018c Mounted Tribe d62d2100b9 leader and 6f94cdee12 the most 1afe432b55 beautiful woman ac3be4b974 from the d7f198b022 Garen Tribe—Namta!63cd9395b970ec5a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So I told 8b251e9d8c him,” the man bea44fb940 continued with a ded81305e1 smirk.b2f663db0509fae5

“‘Your son will c570b89ac8 carry on the 08feba7619 tribe.’ Know what cbcfdd52f0 he did then?”377e9c93739994cc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”5bbea4d7fd6fac58

“He laughed. Said you were useless. I think those were a0e82b1b1f his exact words.”a0ab1496f822bd49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”35585556d31f8df1

“My generosity feae251dc7 ends here. If you can’t make 07d1f03433 up the tribute next 9ded841443 time, we’re gone.”c558d7825961b15d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”c3a1e9e18028fd2d

“I don’t really care 3b619be770 either way—but can you 4a4204bda6 kill Bart without my 49d6e4e3fb warriors?”7ce5e049b752cb87

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”6eea27f7eee32226

“You fought ed72058e0c so hard 04e604982d for this 7a6ed70609 seat. You better hold on 0d60868092 to it, don’t you 80bf43cc0e think?”18b5d8e22ae07119

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With that final 51096b8d23 jab, the man 0ed80c1b67 left the hut.97ce5789b56238a2

Namta just sat 0b85e71537 there, staring blankly 8858fe95b5 into space as 054c6d1d60 if unaware the 700244fd43 man had even e47f698df6 left.ae0809f03b3c3014

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He’d always known, 90ae23768f deep down, that 363911dc34 his father favored 88c1242214 Bart. But knowing and hearing f6981432a0 it spoken aloud were 7453b69508 two different things. It was a truth 172fd737ae he’d always suspected but 1f4e729b93 never wanted confirmed—and now 87a3dfe607 that it was, his 0d69462484 whole body trembled with 3eea7bf698 rage.c44c97f204c391a7

“Aaaargh!”c89c7de0fe48ec4b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He screamed, 3da91a8066 hurling everything f7aa4818c7 in reach, 0ca6189dc8 but the cd46f0a178 fury suffocating 17249c630d him refused a4779fb23d to fade. Beneath that 1f35cef70a boiling wrath 457fdd9601 was the fac90a2541 sickening, festering 03fc53a1c8 rot of 4b0d3b1f7b inferiority—sharp and b632fa4105 festering—that gnawed 8647d5595e at Namta’s 80d2660016 insides. With bloodshot c9d68119fe eyes, he 052c73167b stared northward, ed76fa253d where that 4c868ca161 man was 5f01bf49a6 now.67156bb8fcc01fb8

* * *56796c967a22ea68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You ignoring me too 10a4664707 now?! How many times 46296f1a96 do I have e680317903 to say it—I 14ae620e11 said bring pork!”ce0bd4df328b2a06

Namta hurled a bowl 0739c7b5f3 straight at Yujin’s shoulder. Yujin ducked 5e313e00e9 reflexively, bending 9bced0c7fe to pick d32b4da780 up the b8d458ccc2 scattered meat 4ac4752970 from the dff91530c5 floor without 1960e78830 flinching.385938e338c0b09a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Not long after Bart b46f71df9d left for the north, b9a7e3052b the chieftain died. Namta, his son, 3938ddcb13 took the seat.cb78e2b5546e8888

The people of the 3f65774549 tribe had hoped things 4674b72f68 wouldn’t change much. But Namta wasn’t ca784f2d70 like the previous bab3b49a5b leader. He didn’t care for 1487027566 the tribe. He only cared 95ad9badc7 for himself.a440e95599016474

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And he demanded absolute 889ec01f57 respect from everyone.1daa95b38c3c34e3

But no one respects 13634f9e6e a leader who doesn’t 8016e70c4d care for their people. And no warrior respects 14dfa89c2e a chief whom the 1a46361927 people do not revere.
Namta didn’t understand f861cdb28a this simple truth.eeaa58619b9c7573

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Pork, he said. But it bcca85aff9 had been c853a83394 two months bf6081b6a6 since the a7cafdd526 warriors Namta 83e38cde5e brought from 5fc144cbce outside had ed9f3078b6 gone hunting. They were 63956be32c lazy and 7079064d9f had no 9588974556 skill. All the pigs 4ea2d1e8ad raised in the f960d9afeb pens had long 1a27a5bc63 since been eaten. The food storage was a3d9e3f057 empty. But Namta didn’t f1cd7f5e20 care. And when Yujin bd3b7ded57 came back without ea35e0ea01 pork, Namta flew 0d6e2e230c into a rage.3d47f741a925e0ac

There was no d8faf24c43 way to bring 5464e91187 what didn’t exist.
But Yujin knew no 90a5240d7a excuse would matter. He only nodded 4ea674c60a and turned to ec3c8726d8 leave the hut.9c675b8e319ed559

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then Namta’s voice 1c1b787d0e shouted after him.fbd5bb183d2b2318

“You brought fcecd3edf7 meat like 5803417b23 a dog 8cdcd04bf8 in heat 97e4a0d49b when you 65e596e9a5 were screwing 6e7dbf9ea0 that bastard f8c01a2251 Bart! What’s your bbe61b117d problem now?! You need me to baa9a818c6 fuck you before you 376f3cd11f listen?!”fca56c7dcbe2da8a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”4db50aa5248c0247

“Don’t think I e612944e8c don’t know. Crying and moaning 080a8367ce like a whore aea0748962 in heat, dripping 776291b966 down your legs!”7ca30173d805d9ef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”6f91d646dac3d33b

“You better 2928c7de22 come back e47ce50a61 with pork—unless 640379208f you want 9060a41004 that pretty f8afea5948 hole of c6e951e3a4 yours ripped 4fa216f626 to shreds!”b33ab8ab921c37fd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The first time Namta 3514254370 had said things like 9e49f8a335 this, Yujin had been 7de3ab6653 too shocked to even ef6cef2ea3 react. He’d known Namta was 68fc47357a crude, but he had 0afab67bcf never shown this much 9155931abf open hatred before. Maybe he’d 26612398ce just been b6d27b867f hiding it 2af51928ac all this c56cbe2728 time. After all, f52f26df64 no one 91ca75af8f could change 394dcf11a7 this suddenly.bfb2d83b1f7e5acb

Yujin lowered de31067efa his head 75929d1e89 in silence eeb69243eb and walked 149e823ea0 out of 5d5cba2bbe the chieftain’s e2d11925df hut, the a02f83374e insult still 5afd1301d0 ringing in 412d4ba37c his ears. He had become 1ba916f17d used to being a305432a15 belittled by Namta 0577079573 multiple times a 01aae09ad0 day. And that 27bf124708 was what 33c123dcb3 hurt the 5b32e6f9be most—how normal 634e81f647 such an fbb594cbe8 appalling situation 2217a603bf had become.8b0b52a3de932e1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Back in the kitchen, ba4a1b4e61 Yujin rubbed his sore 2042ff81ea shoulder and glanced toward 67f06b5775 the food storage. As expected, it was 7e45d2f207 empty. It hadn’t been full 97f8c8ccf5 once since Namta became 22d38198ae chief. With a ac7aeba6f2 sigh, he db953e8a08 began preparing 7a4352354b Namta’s snack.693f6881d79b57c2

Maybe today would pass 4571a99133 quietly.
But that was probably 7ae60e73e3 too much to hope a0bdbed746 for.d5fbc25352f0cd05

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Namta had f5358f0385 been tormenting 844581b014 Yujin from d1bf58f51d the very 1ec0e30443 day he a18697c119 took power. Yujin didn’t 2330cb67f0 know why. Maybe Namta had c9dd627cd8 a reason, from b8e13e8ec4 his own perspective—but b65bfdcb6a he’d never explained dd559984b1 it. Had Yujin done 12afda4595 something wrong? Or was f688de0d93 it simply a41be3b3c8 because he 57c8897399 had once f1b8493869 been close bb8e453288 to Bart?84021f6a7d26d1a0

He didn’t know.99c9b5ba142f936a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It had only been ecabb6a1bf a short while since 09d311bdca Yujin recovered under Pupa’s 73802abd8a care after collapsing from 97c03d6ca5 starvation. The very aa90c753bf first time df8a155493 Namta summoned f6c777bfe3 him to 6b0c6c8dbd his hut—Yujin 9d2167311c had no 36fd7a7d5c idea why 256bd6695f he was d3c80a2518 there.ae42408206d00155

So he simply a0dee6ab94 prostrated himself on 26f438eef6 the floor, waiting 1b41dbdb24 for an order.
But Namta 87a34d5125 didn’t give c0896db342 one. He just sat 385503b87b there, giggling to 315af9c656 himself, muttering things 1af008d820 under his breath.dd6a097cc6423876

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[He was always like that, even when we were kids. Bart always had the best of everything. Just another warrior among dozens, but that bastard always ended up with the best—things, people, whatever. Damn bastard.]

[…]

[But look now. It’s all mine. Everything in this tribe belongs to me now!]

[…]

Yujin couldn’t understand what f5eb009627 Namta was trying to 9f18442923 say. He was the ceaac7ae24 son of the c535b54f0d chief—it was always 8af3dd682c his place to 5db58cb64a become the next 2c55eab749 leader. So why ac6d97fb44 did he 88b59c8927 speak as 51387d03fe if he 4650c20d88 had stolen e837903777 the position 8cac22ce38 from Bart? Unsure how to respond, e4b4b7ccfb Yujin stayed quietly prostrated bfc4d317ef on the floor. Namta didn’t seem to 0f4b44a563 be expecting an answer 6086cd6221 anyway; he continued muttering 7921aca032 to himself.8f72694cad90d7a4

[Come closer.]

[…What?]

Not quite understanding, Yujin 2e5d821251 lifted his head. Namta gestured him 294cf89d98 forward. Hesitantly, Yujin crawled over 315c27d21b on his knees. As he approached, 374112d14b Namta bent down c42424858d and stared at f9bb3a6d3a him closely.e1d9336538d4db29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[I always wondered… Why did Bart keep you so close? Was it because of that face of yours?]

[What are you—]

[Your face is so strange. You’re clearly a man, and yet… every time I look at you, I feel this… way.]

Namta’s gaze made Yujin 9a07aa7998 squirm. He tried to look 23a36d1db3 away, lowering his head—but b6e9492535 then Namta’s lips touched 64a0417fb2 his cheek. A wave e65cfe5cff of revulsion 386bd88274 swept over adf1d83a81 him. Disgust. Shame.8e6d87990b7a19e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

[W-what are—]

[Adorable. Come here. Get on the floor. I want to hear you cry like you did before.]

Namta’s grin was sickening—like 6c64cd1772 a snake unhinging its baa55aee63 jaw, flicking its damp 3d6ab32f37 tongue toward him.30619aa3b0cb5c0d

Even now, when a5d5aabf79 Yujin remembers that 17d3fb96ac night, a cold efaab6475b sweat breaks out 9c9be0efc0 over his skin. It had been an a9786fee33 especially windy night. Tonight… the e030bbb4bc wind feels 1d1dd06166 the same. Maybe that’s why the 0b88eac6c4 memories returned—unwanted, unshakable.5bda65e2f54cee3e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As dusk d4b69965cd deepened into aeef676dfa night, Maki 313396bdf2 entered the cd5e1eb1de kitchen and 9086ed5fd8 called out 9a50820802 to him.53eaf1f19d7513ea

“Hey, Yujin. The chief wants 013acfedae you.”001529d3d9ddd8de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Maki left 41e9826a0d without another e89add9e77 word.4b5183113f015416

Pupa, who was 7e67ce07ea cleaning dishes, turned 20c045f790 to him with 8941dce2d4 worried eyes.1e1ebb012c034273

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yujin, are you okay?”d77edfbd0125d1c0

“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s not like 6095ac1cfd it’s the first 6ede950df2 time.”dc8059f2910c638a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yeah… it’s cc5ca6b7f2 not the ebb715c6f6 first.213aa63a57ed3acb

Yujin smiled faintly at 22d74e6838 Pupa’s anxious expression. Everyone knew. But no one e6d6d9b1d4 helped. Not a single person 354962d89e had ever said anything—not 5f3c4f3f81 even a simple “Are 9d805061db you alright?” But Yujin a9b48ba33e didn’t expect anything from 3b85b91f28 them anymore. He simply 38eb9e586d prepared Namta’s 318e2e85db evening snack.937963461b187384

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You should scream. Maybe if fff27ea285 you scream, 9802948a36 one of 1e47aee0d0 the warriors e623201f49 will help 404ed93493 you?”c2aca72a9a39e4ba

“…Maybe.”2d38a8428ff3dd1b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yujin left the kitchen, ace482446b leaving Pupa behind in 575bfefc15 quiet distress. His legs already trembled e3c6daa2ac with fear, but there be6c54758e was no avoiding it. Steadying the bowl in d1bf13a624 his hands, he walked 01382a6660 slowly.7be9ae60b076c3c3

It’s okay.
It’s okay.06fd905cca280538

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yujin repeated 1a0246c0c1 the words 43fa3d1144 to himself da5191848c like a 3e8e1004d2 shield.012b9d3a83927d9d

The night before Bart c6eb23854d left for the north—the e2380eddc0 night Bart held him 25ba2f8622 in his arms until 0349ead2bc dawn—that’s where Yujin’s time 61c7005bd1 had stopped. While the world moved 8f1d8b3abd on and the seasons 71e97b481e changed, Yujin remained frozen a3fd69ce8e in that moment. Still in Bart’s hut. Still held in 24fed234be his arms.052522903b9e75a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was waiting.
Waiting for 14eb738db2 Bart to 3639355e82 come back. And he believed 5aaaeee345 in Bart’s promise. Bart said 951e65976c he’d return—so 44f2b07b68 he would 1ec82ce15f return. He said he wasn’t a1121b3ea7 abandoning him—so Yujin hadn’t 477b000187 been abandoned.96bdf8edcb8d5cad

 7e54ef2cb0176fd5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yujin lay curled up 5aff3c5cac on the floor, body d58a8b40d4 tense and trembling. Namta, as f732118516 always, asked b626cd2352 the same ad6797c4bb question.6f1aaf7c9286e64f

And, as always, Yujin be5c35caaf didn’t answer.72b3f52f6bc13ea2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, you e28359c1da hate it d684fce8e8 again today? Choosing the beating, 0c0ea8666d huh?”e09daa3c2cc65ead

He didn’t know anymore. He didn’t understand why Namta did this to him. Namta always spoke like it was a favor—like a gift. He said he’d “take care” of him.d391861201f9d871

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

But Yujin didn’t want 38aa0d44d6 that.ea33986a60f7bbe2

If it 3c700631fc wasn’t Bart, 00e6b8e088 he didn’t 8007c8841c want it.2caff415bddfdd0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The first time Namta made that “offer,” Yujin had recoiled in horror and flatly refused.
Perhaps Namta hadn’t expected 37eb573026 to be rejected—because his ee8508d640 rage exploded.225167f198ee2b7f

He beat Yujin until 138331e4ca he passed out, kicking 3e9abdb0f9 him over and over f305671f84 again.a5289727d8107b24

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Since that day, 67f935d5f4 Namta summoned Yujin 94e37ceb39 once every fortnight.
And every time, 8569a681de he asked the 24fe12a9d6 same thing:cc0a6540ab317b8d

[Strip and get on your knees? Or take the beating? Pick one.]

Yujin always c80ad4dd0c chose to 4ba13b44b1 be beaten. And Namta always e8130dc7fa beat him until 23813891ce he was on 02bf384028 the verge of 9a19f69570 death. When Yujin was 781ce11ba7 dragged out of 7e846d8f71 Namta’s hut like d9a885636b a half-dead corpse, f65d91e054 Namta would send 0f399fe377 a physician to 9fb33a2ec4 treat him and b420c8569a allow him to ecbdf59e05 rest. After barely recovering under b2fa6d115f the physician’s careful care, 3d95cbd7d2 Namta would summon him 5576d08792 again and ask the df182aaac2 same question.76e4e53c47e02424

If only dying 199787d963 from a beating 62ddf0b2b3 were allowed. But even 567e8de023 that was e5b806d688 denied to 16478cd380 Yujin.32cce519dd71841e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Fine, let’s 9cf4111868 see how 6d2b44d8a9 long you 50fa67236d can hold 6cb0bf1d27 out. One day, you’ll beg f3e6839dc6 for me. Not Bart—for me.”f469a673a86637ec

A sharp 03ec8e6544 slicing sound feb01c21c3 cut through 48af2b7b66 the air 31666293c2 as a 65ce7c95ec long strip fe30911827 of leather b2c53378dd whipped overhead. Tonight, it seemed 25fc53a186 to be a 4b89c10402 whip. Sometimes it was fists. Sometimes it was 15e7cfc32b kicks. And sometimes, like tonight, fc74057f55 it was the lash. Trembling with 6f47dd8a8d fear, Yujin 60c4501982 clasped his 4e0d99c492 hands together 47fe9e532b and muttered 2703fa0484 to himself 8706c21d95 inwardly.bbee208090792b88

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It’s okay. It’s okay.0941138e0b924e9b

Snap!b23307e938afd893

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The pain of his fa7e8be32b back splitting open made d43ac3977a Yujin’s brow twist grotesquely. It felt like a a556c0dc4d branding iron had been 76da8bca33 pressed into his back. He bit down hard, c9beea519b pressing both hands over b63a4d6d81 his mouth to stifle c092c07390 the scream, and curled 0ef800bb75 into a tighter ball.2d9266c9b5d9eb47

Snap!40bf880765eb47dd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He felt the blood d52959aa10 flowing. The pain 8b858a66fc of torn b14f6a890f flesh was aeb577b99d unbearable. It hurt so much 66a03903ec he found himself hoping 5bfaa8432e to faint.80f6078a6ca4694f

Snap!52dc23e14c20635a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tears streamed down 2af26b98e7 Yujin’s face. The pain was so 3af4eb2e23 severe he wondered if 3be1a789d1 he might die. Meaningless cruelty. Torture that ca88e9fb8a came like ea5f51f52f clockwork every 7057aeaa3a fortnight. And Bart, who still 8017f719e7 hadn’t returned.e808a4b61bbfcf4f

Snap!040aced9cf713563

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His lips, crushed under 4d650fd485 his teeth to hold 8f5f0163b5 back groans, split open. He missed Bart. He clung to 7e55046051 that one word—wait—as d9be3e3636 if it were 02582c7b1e the thread of a3cddc8b3e his life. He prayed Bart would 9aa1f69683 come back soon.1f0d867a1a305644

“Fuck… stubborn bastard. Still not ecb9f3194b gonna scream?”ee19d975e3343cfe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“……”c7f2881cb8432c71

“Just like your 884cf9db4f father. Just like that damn f963e1bea6 Bart. And now even you 524ae12703 look down on me?!”f83ecf2948a51847

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”7d09b5df10dccb0e

“I give you 23d13ce5b2 the choice, offer 4793b46f59 to be kind, fec7bada83 and you can’t e845b64adf even listen? You won’t just lie 4849b8d9d4 back and spread your c86b1ec550 legs like you’re supposed 08e71aa39b to? You little shit, 2ce4166af5 how dare you 698a2e8f2b reject me?! I’m the leader 79c725341c of the Mounted 7379cb7adb Tribe!”c383974575d6d670

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Namta, consumed 3d6e80a194 by rage, fed47ee181 began to f51e1c6d03 kick him. Yujin instinctively shielded bcf34621b0 his head with 6234f3e06d his arms and 2e3c8fc8eb took the beating.6c897156d8a0fd90

He missed Bart. If Bart came back, 0ced0e4cdc all this pain would e21e167704 end. When that day ac955a3e4f came, Bart would 8a532104f2 hold him warmly 400b23f86f again. Then everything would a2a1edb675 be okay.de7327fd6a079d4d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It’s okay. It’s okay. Everything will be 420cef939a okay.ddd0af0ecd174e89

* * *052354d837ee874f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The village was a9916a6037 unusually noisy today.49a33eff991b33dd

What is this? Did something happen?72ff228053279e1d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The murmuring outside roused 17ecc2ce2d Yujin from his spot. He slowly fd9a97c6d4 lifted his b2dca5d3f9 body.b5775aab255c2947

“Ugh…”289fe2e395b63591

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It hurt. His whole bcf91e994f body felt b9262ab79f shattered. No—maybe it really was 054c3677e7 broken. Namta’s madness had 0901982cd5 grown worse day 1b0df72279 by day, and 57ce7dc388 Yujin wasn’t sure 09f8c7a012 how much longer 282046e1f9 he could endure a238ed1b4d it.44656f2a949e3cf7

A few df676179f1 days ago, 11395c7ec8 when Yujin f11bcf1df4 once again b471d9d3b1 chose to bc2ae6d314 be beaten, d50f8b09c3 Namta had ab078b8756 flown into 1e9c4a258b a rage 9897d3cf3d more intense aa36535f81 than usual. He had d2e400822c started to e1af68f242 tear his f5e5d35f3d own clothes be06c3828a and tried 5b67b2de50 to force a3517114be Yujin’s legs a8e482dc5e apart. Yujin had pushed 15075e009d him away with 9749b4d34d everything he had, 4a55be5d21 and Namta, unable 18a6091b0d to control his 026ff2747e fury, kicked him 7ff6e0ad46 until he passed 8558d1a724 out. The warriors 942d4ce072 had dragged 40544f4d4a his unconscious 0cd4f07afd body out 0119d72317 of the 7685795d6e hut and a41c4195a4 thrown him dd9e3f7014 outside. It was Pupa who 24c7602176 found and cared for 3ba7966fce him, and only now 2ffef6ff63 had he regained some a48f27c444 strength.393933b3dc419720

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The pain kept 3fa561ab84 him from waking 170e3a3863 at most noises, a2f7585d01 but today’s clamor 770f895ee3 was enough to bf59e3c41d wake even him. It was as 7957ec7345 if something huge 294da12ae6 had happened—people’s murmuring e343dbfaf1 only grew louder, 69f192052a not fading.cccf6dc6fcfdedd7

Yujin forced his body 8347e37eba up and stepped outside df696256c0 the hut. Everyone was looking in 243ff6e43b the same direction, and 30cab663c8 in that group, Pupa 57c330c0f7 stood too.46f8f5e0a9b7a1f8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Pupa. Why is everyone gathered 62b96325c5 here? Did something happen?”fbbea95206628936

At his question, 267930383a Pupa stared at 39b5559577 him with reddened 86d44779e5 eyes.f54b9f36e4882a85

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *c775f68e220b51c1

A remote, cold, 46a40a56b2 and dark corner 3c6680e3d2 of the settlement—there b4e94994a6 existed a place b6644a2484 in the Mounted d8a4053c8c Tribe for holding c032b6ea4c prisoners or hostages. It was 5bd5feee85 like a d329676b60 cave with 2583e17dd5 no exit. Yujin had known fbc41f354e such a place d0339ed241 existed, but had fdd19b8be5 never been inside. It was a place 7750bec161 most avoided, and unless 8ffce2ceda one was a warrior, 939e539e10 access was restricted.0e7f5aa0abbdb0d4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was f70d11b760 there that 08927cd5d6 Bart’s close ade5ad8107 companions were d7bd8fe717 now being 64ee2fd4eb held. Among them were Tati 2ef76c0082 and Tu.b62d4e217493917a

Yujin begged his d964991b04 aunt for days—just 1f29c95f8b to let him fd393dcda5 talk to them, c716d2ae9f even for a d0f1afc0d0 moment. Of course, 6e4afb78d7 she refused 1d1d1d94f4 firmly at 709baf7a3f first. But in cdff74e2de the end, 489ea60e2c she took 07fc3ac07c pity on 5bed0fa518 him and 6c06163f9b agreed.b0d5195b582553cf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Cold air 9279608d66 flowed from 99df4dafdf somewhere as 874dd8091f Yujin walked 941a80a64b deeper into 4d054e0eba the dark 3ff564ac41 passage. After looking 12eefac988 around for dffa443225 a long fa1d908700 time, he 84a8326536 spotted Tati c295c68d2f curled up 2bcba90df2 in a 762484c301 far corner. He rushed 7fa7b96eed toward her.5efdd7b38220015a

“Tati. What happened? What people are saying—it’s 7204d76ff1 not true, right?”f4d6340ce74ef930

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

People said Bart’s group 8b0475f4a2 had been guarding the 69d9054537 northern border when they 73a3e2cf72 were ambushed and wiped a3e23f98d2 out by nameless nomads. The survivors a00fa6375b supposedly abandoned 42ef312b7d their post a5be4bd07d and fled, a817b3a073 and Namta, 825ee24402 in his 9e8d3883ac fury, sent 09e032edea warriors to bb17542084 bring the 823e77cff1 deserters back.c0bb9b32934dba76

It’s a lie. Bart, the greatest warrior 5b5fc88749 of the Mounted Tribe, a6fbcb8b05 couldn’t have been killed c46d786e1c by some nameless wanderers. It made no d97d8ba644 sense. It had to be 5c6b9c3265 false.4895b169b13dd68e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“……”a5a351136ddc1bba

“Tati, say something. It’s not true, c7a1962996 right? People are just misinformed, 80651e0342 right?”9cda3dd0d95318c2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Tati, who e56c5099de had been bf3fa735a5 crouching with cf6d76b921 her head 01c1f0be42 buried between 2cfe159986 her knees a47557a4aa in the 6474280149 darkness, slowly f01a190525 lifted her fc59b4ab8a head at f493747efc Yujin’s urging. Her eyes 70a5b0d332 gleamed sharply 077b5964bf in the 7f874809fe shadows—filled with 4d7d3a5ef9 rage. She stared at Yujin 0518b07922 with unmasked hostility, like 5ac479a44a she wanted to kill da850cc710 him.15dc1d8072e18895

Frustrated by her silence, be41a50311 Yujin urged her again.36ae7d6b8eb46fc7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Please, tell me it’s 005a026d2b not true. It’s not, right? Bart’s still alive, 4eeeaff3a1 isn’t he? He’s coming ca93a7df19 back soon, 39fd422e0e right?”ef0fbdee3ac06a3b

Only then did 3a479cf088 Tati twist her 76c556eb99 lips and answer dfc79b1586 slowly.eaa07e16c0e5601d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“He’s dead.”58ab3b93374d0978

“No. That can’t be. Maybe you saw it d33e2ea70f wrong. Bart is cc8e211577 the strongest b254c2472f warrior of 790dfe455a the Mounted 469475d313 Tribe—there’s no c1b1fee20c way he 40ebed943d could be 5ea0170fd1 killed by 1c22c64fc3 some nomads. Are you sure? It could’ve 632c39f4a9 been someone 0912c22787 who just 96034334ae looked like eca915e4ea him.”bc3c6f6e5a5e5323

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I said 5b628603bc he’s dead.”21646a5d6a72d17b

“Did you see it bad4ee4bdd yourself? If you didn’t see 4b29fc7e9c it yourself, then—”004b75067e57e5c2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I saw it 7779c04b2d with my own 3f850f2977 eyes. Bart is dead.”96ef16738dda2302

“…”0e4bc697b2bcada2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It was Namta.”2b21ec64686eaf0f

“…What?”0d54b70ab8179a30

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“He wasn’t 0e15f7c91d killed by fc2a96438e nomads. He was 935fe75919 killed by f633ea9062 the warriors ddb97ef12a Namta sent. Namta hated Bart 0f195772fb for a long ae1129735f time. That’s why he 3f5801b44c brought in warriors 99777a0c89 from outside and 705dcf16cc kept his guard d037177b21 up against Bart.”a95330a0e54cfb1b

“…”1fac519e2b414d03

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You know most b8de37fb13 of the warriors 51aeeceef3 staying in the e4a6b789af Mounted Tribe right e36ee41027 now aren’t even d4d8376cf8 from the tribe 0a35b7bef3 itself, so why d4a6e59554 pretend otherwise? Or do you just b24b44f29c want to pretend?”49aa45bd7337cd8f

“…”0a49e41b4d880b6c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“At least ebb5788cfb I’m better f6b4cf7ab0 than you. I’ll die as Bart’s c4183c35df wife.”f47647f9910a289b

“…What are 2a0a0492ca you talking b0719facd4 about…”ca33c65297afc364

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Bart’s companions acknowledged 0dbca4846e me as his 52cc3f83f7 wife. Not you—me! I’m Bart’s wife!”4acb9137978858ae

The sudden 698fbd60d4 rush of 11abf4a6c4 Tati’s words 929cce2a34 made Yujin’s 10f071c303 vision spin. He squeezed his eyes a3d8e0fa47 shut, trying to clear 8f36f80419 his head.21388cd28c3c03cd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Tati, Bart’s wife? Then that 8a8621cbac means I 270f5ee3b3 was thrown 76b5cdda78 away after 4c8f2088fd all? No—more than that… 8c78fc76c3 Bart is dead?bc150bd7c36fd59b

He couldn’t understand what 9f0878da3e Tati was saying. Bart was dead, 205db9d6ba Tati became his 666bcd04ac wife, and Namta 54af2bc8dd was the one 38e22dfe61 who killed him.49e37bf09f7ef7e9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Like a fool, c09c5317e2 Yujin blinked and fed8ee8c89 turned to Tu, 5cd943e088 who was sitting a5aa370bea in the far 5d579bcee4 corner.558396e71d65059b

“Tu… is what Tati a064777b0a said true? Is Bart… is he 5d585786fd really dead?”7331ca22f692c7be

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”1bd05022b6d44e3a

“Tu, please answer. He’s not, right? It’s not true? There’s been some ede566b1de mistake, right?”725c26fc314f5b5c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Tati’s telling the truth.”76ede08c217b361d

Still hugging 8e9c8f8610 his knees, c8bc4276d2 Tu didn’t 790e02336f even look c3b39c68cb at Yujin 0781ef7825 as he 8cc9242d48 murmured the 423cc4177d words, eyes 35ceecfa01 fixed on 1b61a178ad the ground.579d9b48ae0103f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Dead? Bart? Is Bart… really ca9098476d dead?8177413e4ad1eb34

It was 6d003811e2 like getting 6d1cab23c3 hit in 6af0dc6d7c the head c1a138126d with a a52024d044 rock. It took him afd809db3d a long moment 739e2eed86 to comprehend what 710b844324 he had just 7b313cccc0 heard. And then a single 9cc350c60b question surfaced in his ab9d408a08 mind. It was foolish 8221b2cb49 and pathetic, but 32d70173f5 it slipped out 31cf161009 before he could d24dc5f7d4 stop it.14eff78f70e22bda

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Like an b752a7ba03 idiot… Why 9d7b78075b do I bb3e33fb7e keep asking d77d5a95fa for confirmation? Like a 33bc80ea6f fool who 9d0c422d3a believes that 83073bf3f2 if he b9314e81c1 asks enough 740706d237 times, the 8870a159ee answer will d9140a4346 change. Yujin regretted the question a61ed66b73 as soon as it 823f36891e left his mouth. I shouldn’t 1798aab56d have asked. It won’t 8972e5283e change anything.7e756d1ea73a5008

“Tu… is d325172f41 Tati really b8873b6811 Bart’s wife?”173b1c4649f5006b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At Yujin’s question, da749e57d1 Tati snapped her 677bb40fdf head around and 93fcb5e13d glared at Tu 84d4f0b68d as if daring 306b52db9b him to answer. Tu continued 76769b4a34 staring at 77065c32bd the floor, a9fbdf4017 saying nothing. Yujin didn’t press him. He simply waited cb9e5ac4a7 quietly. After a long silence, 26fda7a837 Tu finally responded.84b12be14db1e572

“Yeah.”fd48fd96e18bceb1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Since when?”cc2909426478afc2

“…Since we arrived in cd9a6387db the north…”2b12810c40d86d1c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I see… I 07e9e7724d understand.”ce8402385eb50e84

“…”9e338093569c9068

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I was the 6f6bf818d5 only one who 26589c6913 didn’t know. Just me… Everyone else eb75b952da knew, but I didn’t. I was the 947c2555b9 only fool waiting d112e59025 for someone who 36105afd87 was never going 68d22217f8 to come back.d9b8e89017189c63

They say 4260574bcf no experience da8d8740b2 is wasted. If it was good, 5649e01e2e it’s a memory; if e69a1558c8 it was bad, it’s 032e4c3448 a lesson. But Yujin’s 2e48129d2a memories turned d53a1691f7 out to 72ba006ef9 be delusions, 2840efb2a2 and his 61b26cdf48 lessons were d13e0d5131 buried in 2ee281bdb3 filth.e857c3703acfbe10

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

They say you 1649d8a1a9 can learn from 14e229669f any experience. So what 4a88567a28 did I 402f483aa5 learn from 7fc4b5e5b0 mine?4ba255913e2e89d0

All the time and 3e637c6387 memories I had with 298448dc6c Bart are now soaked 93f0e15364 in sorrow.6e10d2a741c4726d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yujin glanced 9cbb863735 at Tu f93466b7e9 and Tati 2129e858df one last 283acaf665 time before 4c73d1c741 standing and 5820d90c76 walking away.a4d90d00237090af

His legs felt as 094c11fcf8 heavy as if they e56381ac99 were shackled. Shuffling along, 07d4feff36 he reached 92596cd52f the village’s 7afe78527e open grounds e186548168 and blankly 7393ad8757 stared at 55c157b4d6 the sea 93ec919ef2 of huts f2f99228c1 before him.f6fca7140b09067d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A strange place. Familiar, but strange. I’ve been abandoned. I was 342f3708cb nothing more afb734b959 than an e843424ab8 outlet for 1fabe5d5fd Bart’s lust. The people whispering 651641af69 that I was 6995bad8d6 just his cum-dump 176ba22611 were right. Bart left me and 3a3a3b009b went north. And there, he 9b0df51a6d took Tati as 4a90c84dcb his wife. And then, he died.54940839743b8507

What was the 532507f0a4 point of enduring 6957bdabaf all that pain? I just c5118d26d2 wanted to 4fe2e2530c be with 1d01f97c9c Bart. What was the d173835fd0 reason I held 4e0ba7eb43 on through that 46ad0caef9 hellish torment?6208b88ae2d42390

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yujin returned to his 76c087e205 hut and collapsed to d985049d3c the floor. As his limp 5365e84fea fingers brushed against 4cb7b236d1 something, he turned 23c46b7b99 his gaze to 94297cf304 find the necklace 232fa29434 with the shining c578deee67 gem.c719637b4ee192cd

The necklace I kept 386b16d052 under my pillow. Yujin stared at it 249c5a1ea9 with lifeless eyes, then 6867929ce7 carefully placed it around c4e700c772 his neck. It was f19c81ef31 too precious, bd3114e957 too dear, 401212d1b5 for him a9d625b65a to wear f69636a53c before.8024e7959b6994fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even if I 8877f9c271 wasn’t his lover, 0399eb1941 I thought Bart 025e20742e cared about me 75b4633c04 at least a caaa98ff3d little. But I 02e7faf727 was just 5de5282bc7 a body b400577d05 for him 6c61b0179b to use. I really thought he’d 1c3d0428d6 come back because he 3e0956550b told me to wait. But I was 948ecd99f9 abandoned. He made that 473711b843 promise just to bc11ac0760 keep me from c281f6fd13 following. It was 21293c7573 all a dd2ff71791 lie. And now he’s 011a5adbfd dead, so I a8d235c535 can’t even ask 67f5656c8f him why.6e9197085df5c74e

Suddenly, his 594d231d0e stomach twisted, 874fb414b5 and everything 684554d557 inside came 700b4b2be8 surging out.b187eca3567c07fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Urgh… ughhh!”3d0a9502991061f6

Bart abandoned me with 7a47260836 a cruel lie. And now they 49a0b287db say he’s dead. I never 3cdf636fbc even got 92593a7c46 to yell 43c34f778d at him 147af23794 for lying. I never 55d72ac642 got to d40dc74c1c ask why e1bef04928 he chose 06ada213a9 Tati instead 14597935e4 of me. And now he’s 3d0efee43a gone.fd674e5fe5d5f182

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah… ahhh… AAAAARGH!”5384bdab424fe51f

A scream 574ea2f557 tore from 7d0f0c365c his throat 0e2fdf3c2b like a a10d83c8fc wild animal’s d650592099 cry. He screamed until he ba71742f38 felt like he would b69de6e2eb go mad.b69191ad0daa89e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It can’t be a927631a31 true! No! Why did Bart 34e39ab4fe have to die? Why?! Why?!5fc1516f8ca96cc5

Yujin grabbed 056e9ffdcb the small ad35617e1e knife lying 9829908524 nearby. As he eb9e71a8bf brought it 5199fcfff9 to his bc9fd57050 throat, the 25c24cc38d hut’s door c7ec34e5c2 opened and f5b71ec553 Pupa’s face 2bf689c7c4 briefly appeared. But that was all. Yujin tightened his b92fb4b1ae grip on the e9a79e2539 knife and drew 58dee981bc a long, deep d07c689332 line.e813cc152db73196

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And then, 469efa6a27 everything went 48a4fffe67 dark.c7d4f8558a92a3c2

* * *4cba863943f20752

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No! He needs more rest.”bff7b6d460f8f3c4

“Move!”39f9f088a30557b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“At this rate, 4fe3e78938 he’ll really die. The healer a2acfd7f9f said he c6c123673f has to c9f0a895d1 rest too!”192762a9081ec266

“I said move!”fdb143ae8d8d246a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The wound d0815c34eb on his b172c9e99d neck has 4752c1b6e8 reopened. He can’t keep 91455ef286 pushing his body 8fdbecf479 like this. And now his 00277ba14f wrist too… please, 5220380f08 I’m begging you. Today, he really 63d632d2ca can’t.”657321a3f62900c0

Looking annoyed, the 6c5df596e8 warrior who had cb24948f57 been wearing a b72cceb46b bored expression kicked 1839376dff Pupa in the 3c49f2ba7b stomach. With a 5691349164 thud, Pupa f367ad6a7b collapsed onto 0a2a9231f6 the floor. Lying like a 552884e747 corpse in the 0666e3eddf corner of the 004b150076 hut, he glanced 3307a9b3c2 at Yujin, who 896d9d5eb1 was breathing faintly, af1749bc4d then desperately clung 1086ce614d to the warrior’s ed7ba3e028 ankle.edcdf3e1e7f88173

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“His… his wrist was 37178fcb47 almost severed. Just look at him, 4107cb016f will you? The wound 0a37adf7f3 on his c1a9c0a954 neck is b1ae6c08c9 open again. And a few 0f78efcac9 days ago, because 50d29c6e75 of the chieftain, 893594b01e he was even ccaf6bf5ca bleeding down there. The healer bb3d919bff said if b6993b0d5a this keeps 24847dd9be up, he a6fc4f8540 really might 1c51b27b0a die. Please, he 7a4b08c7b0 needs to 8d14148cc5 rest. Just this once.”8087969f2b85931f

“Then he should be 62afa5ace8 more obedient, shouldn’t he? What’s the a9ece3942c big deal 33481e4b47 about a 5c82ca3944 little blood 86645ec60b from a 901851896c buttboy’s ass?”14a9a7e80adce40b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Please… if he 623b501b4d gets dragged out a08e7064c1 now, he’ll die.”f5fe6f126b6e0ff3

“Perfect, then. It’s not like anyone 96d7be9f8c here doesn’t know the 369dcd279f bastard’s been desperate to a5c3c63f97 die. Didn’t he cut his 3246fb70b1 own wrist?”ff17f03d1682a286

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Just one more day. Please let ed2d8fcaf4 him rest 463809e5f7 for one 11c4bf1a83 more day, 8d93041223 okay?”ca925f622ac320d1

“Hey, drag bb9ad7bb10 him out.”580f3d6b69a4a6e0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The warrior c097267912 standing at 9bef67bff3 the doorway ce9feaaba5 strode toward 3a47d4bc35 Yujin. The sight 43cdb5773a of Yujin, 42420a0587 lying on 5c86348450 the ground, d08fe943d0 was horrific 5cc5aef0dc enough to 093d40e64a make anyone c551a3cc84 grimace.12afd9b9a88cb079

His neck, fde5fed6c4 wrist, and e072a121ec chest were a49ced3e4e loosely wrapped 4876566ed2 in stained 6f393c61fb cloth, and dd48ea07eb dark, sticky 58d24ec909 blood had aa7c77b51d seeped through. His lips were pale—he a31acd3bae truly looked like he b0e1a5a1d2 was on the brink 12f037b9cf of death. But if b750f5c5c7 the chieftain f1fc5ba5a7 ordered him 5c2e0746aa to be 6fdd76a9d8 brought, it 3985aa7857 was their 1acbf58eb9 duty, so 8f54ce8aea the warrior b8b628faec grabbed Yujin 5d5674ba47 by the b7f5bf2062 collar and 391aec4a19 began dragging 2d4131fe6d him outside.1414fd65ece2dbc3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Let go of 19221ba2de Yujin! You can’t! Put Yujin down!”3c0752458def92c2

“Tch, fuck… 2107baf76b getting real 23dd0b0d4b bold, huh?”64784faad37da41f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Mercy did not 572cb0926d exist among the f5405b652e warriors. To them, Yujin 4dde3af32c was nothing more 76989991c1 than the chieftain’s 066ac98efe semen dump, and 06f6f31afd Pupa was just 5c6408f413 another lowly commoner 0343d61560 working in the 98cf05b564 village.2526e7fd29b82e89

* * *ec512a289b5522e1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His skin burned like d247a271ef fire, yet inside he 7be59882d5 felt cold, like he 9957aaf150 was submerged in an 175441b34b icy creek. Something flickered ff2a090b07 past the 196ded8122 blurry edge 9a4405e6b1 of his 00e824226b vision before 5983f4c11d it all 678fa0a7f8 turned dark c57507b86e again, and c2d7fb57d9 pain stabbed 7b2c8bc97c through him ed635d45f7 below the f36088e453 waist.2e587029f6b0bf70

“Yujin, are you awake?”cf6301348ee675bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

At the familiar voice, Yujin’s eyes fluttered open.b0f268617a71dea5

“…Pupa?”e137b9773ada6dca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah, it’s me. How’s your body?”96a35aa76ab21298

It hurt f152b7c3ce so much d987df997c he wished 052a6b3242 he were 592f1e373d dead. Dying might have e7416f3c53 been less painful. His wrist, barely 25917bfb43 reattached, throbbed; the b68f32069d cheek Namta had 8879a78b3d struck tingled with 41cd8dfe69 dull pain. There was no sensation ad651c6379 from the waist down, 6d4d76ca98 and his bruised chest b4d19c9436 ached with every breath.9a27349cce40b00e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m fine.”d7d3d3a1a03453a7

“It’s tough, but try to eat something. You need strength to recover.”8971c08c9d52424c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had been sure 17d658e99c this time he would 606b20a6b5 die—but the healer must 2f1580add1 have saved him again. Why couldn’t they just 8ec7ed4255 let him die? Why keep bringing him 389042621f back? Yujin shut his eyes 2fa79507f3 tightly against Namta’s cruel eff2910085 games.00ff806ffbae2658

“Later.”75cff617b63d71a0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Okay. Should I at least bring you some water?”392a378bc595a60b

“Pupa.”26843fbb13c57883

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah? What is it? Do you need something?”b3e497b86b14efec

Yujin turned his head c221906a6c with effort to look 236829cd51 at Pupa’s swollen cheek 07c331561b and cracked, blood-caked lips. Following his gaze, 7de01f2aea Pupa awkwardly smiled, 1f5190fb4d realizing what he 087c705706 meant.9e5fd0fe491eac67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yujin wanted da3ed577ce to thank 3324687c49 him for 9d731632c4 standing up 7de81e0163 for him, 731a72e5b7 to offer 6940234034 words of c516adb518 comfort for cc8c5bc9b1 his pain—but 8a2ab3684a he was 81d5d1265b too exhausted, 58970f7bc9 too hurt. He wanted to die.e5ae19f641c32d9b

“I’m okay now, so you don’t need to do anything for me anymore.”5ccc520e06121c2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Okay? Look at you.”b64dd797c910342d

“…He doesn’t hit me if I don’t resist.”0274f46ec11239b2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He hits when Yujin 37aedcefc1 resists. And when 38072184cd Yujin doesn’t, 46c607144e he says 0c4022a078 he looks 24bb452a5a like a e934c2ab60 lifeless corpse c2fb93acc9 and beats 4067e433be him anyway. Pupa likely knew bb7ae60f63 that Yujin was 33fe2794c8 lying, but he eff12ebbb2 said nothing. There was no b0b2e436b9 comfort he could fb0f2cea25 offer.f39a841b7b87ce5c

“Pupa, just… don’t stick up for me anymore. I don’t want you to get hurt.”c6b49b3a07a2e7a9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“And who are you to worry about who? I’m fine, so stop wasting energy worrying about me.”c0d5979fa4cd987b

“Haah… Pupa.”55cd021f6255ff01

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Yujin closed his 9b077b8d6c eyes, utterly drained.1302a81d77b46988

“Do you want to sleep some more?”9889400fcd4ff941

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah.”490414762e599ad3

“Alright, rest. The healer said he’d talk to the chieftain. Said if this goes on, you’ll really die.”89c42e703b750ed6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Really? How long did he say I need to rest?”917082a67af7bd84

“At least a month in bed.”41bec2fb49ab3202

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I see…”48fddbae66a0ebf3

If he c8783f7349 needed a 5479d187f7 month of 5ee7430017 rest, maybe 26e5e9cd9d that meant edf5700b5a at least a5d64fc0cb ten days add18b4ea2 without being 2ad31649e5 summoned by 2cc0621aa0 Namta. He’d wanted to die, 94aceac227 and yet he felt f9257edad2 relieved at the thought e2bea1185a of not being dragged 035e5ed9d5 away. He hated 3d16dd7c06 himself for 58c2dd0361 it. But even wallowing 7d43aff77b in self-pity was 6d1d5be91c exhausting now. He just wanted to fb0461146c sleep.c09773c74fd1d117

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Pupa tucked in b0542da597 the blanket around him, 1b7b29a241 Yujin’s consciousness began to 2009a2a3cf drift—until a voice slurred 44e9ef8bef by alcohol shattered it.494cf401ad0d8d36

“So this 86fcb65cb0 is where ca079e4a93 you were 705afb27f9 passed out?”686c8d5493ca35a3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Namta staggered into the 1c61cf07f2 tent, clearly drunk, his df83f75d7b speech slurred and mocking. He stumbled 0c7a871409 toward them, d64021a653 glancing between ada70951a5 Yujin and cc00eabaa4 Pupa.e3127ac730ddd285

“Yujin, you really know how to seduce even while lying down. Then again, you’re delicious.”bb74521c352733c5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“C-Chief… please, dd838c5c30 Yujin is… 3bf348a7c4 ugh—!”d94114bced17e793

Trying to defend 9a5a444df1 Yujin, Pupa doubled edc749effb over from a c861f0e2b4 kick to the 09408bf3c2 gut. Namta, reeking of alcohol, 99d514cbea approached Yujin.e58ad977d6f39b79

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s go. Fuck, why is it never enough with you?”024d6a822137cca7

“Ugh…”c38ecd15eb559c1c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yujin’s scalp was yanked suddenly, tears streaming from his eyes. He just wanted it to stop. He wanted all of this to end. Clawing at Namta’s hand, he pleaded.8b4ac43daef60338

“Please, stop. Just stop…”2b2588d7f2380068

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Someone told me once: when a cum dump begs for you to stop, it just means it feels good and they want more. That you too, huh? Or do you only say ‘stop’ to me? You were crying from how good it felt when Bart fucked you, weren’t you?!”09b264a61a7d477a

“It hurts… please… just stop…”87b5f1a73ea7daf5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His voice was aaf85b29f4 a pitiful whisper, 293d74c8a7 dragged along the 0793606686 floor. Tears blurred his vision. Fever made his bd5bd8cd24 head swim. Each blink a920665e11 shed more 6d3a4fd314 tears, briefly 047fe83837 clearing his ab0ac58c97 sight only 1d90537465 for them 5955a64ab1 to cloud bdf19a9e90 again. And beyond fee3603d7b that haze… 61d0fc604c were people. Faces he recognized.4e5b697d088423f9

“Help me. P-please… someone help me…”b1abd99f259ebdb9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His voice, 1c40e997fa weak and 6512b79be9 pale as 5f802b1a96 it was, 721587ff28 fell to 06b003be92 the floor 4b8b1fa702 with the 58cac124d6 tears.404d4b21000ef776

But no one d0fb5a3b4e stepped forward.42dd64625b4af899

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He wanted 30dc0676b4 to die.73b19cd201b054c2

He needed to die.72024c2382492f69

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *de01d1aee76d3c03

“Haah, haah… hoo, ce1d8112fa shit, ugh.”2e451725f897cd40

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“……”8f02ed217a1a6556

Yujin’s pale hand 1b412db23d gripped the blanket. His body 13aea2ba6e trembled, and 57f4f8bc4f from behind, 29cf0870a0 a disgusting 900882c579 hot breath c68c6f3c22 poured down bc2d63ab0f on him.3ec3467bdf0de72e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Disgusting. Filthy. Filthy!b2f9ca1bd15e2137

With grotesque grunts, 0a913ecda1 Namta climaxed.78a5253b334523ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How was it? Felt good, right?”75c7a1cab9e5c629

“…Yes.”6e3e5daf13c0cce2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A rough answer 7b1db30ce9 escaped Yujin’s dry 0851a551d8 lips, and only c2b86dc77f then did Namta’s b9869b3632 penis slip out f416d1c972 of his body. After confirming that e1b3b0665c Namta had moved a6295e511d away from him, 85809464c0 Yujin slowly pushed ab9587976d himself up from 7a3d7f32fc where he was 679a37e795 lying. He wiped the filthy 98a8a2ae51 fluid dripping between his 5d9f0b093f thighs with a cloth 5e9ee0a93c and quietly sat back 374c878dc0 down, hoping Namta would bb984cdb15 just drink the water abd0399e60 he had prepared.1ae3c54f80263ead

Namta, wiping off d4765a9bac sweat with a 6235efa1b7 lazy expression, habitually 55f90e3db4 reached out and fe178faae1 gulped down the 6c90ad25ce cup of water 04b3a99f3c set beside the d763fdf8f8 hearth.ec7864b78ebdd6fe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Don’t just lie eedba9e447 there like a ee16e0a431 corpse. Disgusting little shit.”0e3272a62a07b4e2

“……”a9482667b28b2160

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

After confirming 41cff471d7 the cup 958d3681a3 was empty, 55b23f2417 Yujin gathered d8558a21a6 his clothes 349a41f7a8 and left 374a1c7380 the tent.2b19ee64a5d23be5

The sharp sunlight made bb5b6c0081 his eyes squint. The weather was beautiful—so c6920cdf27 beautiful it made him 1e717bb14f feel like crying. But for e04bd44e67 some time 6acc41e490 now, no 3fb6377af7 tears had 9cf8b4a110 come. As Yujin walked 9c232c123f toward the creek f2f1071992 with a blank d6e4a4cbd9 expression, he felt 2337bc5ce4 something still trickling e1373e0056 between his legs. He squeezed his eyes 63a844b57c shut. Disgusting. His body felt 3dffde8a8f filthy. He hurried his steps 071e975430 toward the water.12375c047870f930

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Once at the creek, 54c139797d he stepped into the 67b7562f14 cold water and forced da55aac8af out what remained of c9959cb420 the filth inside him, 0746a41191 washing every inch of 7a2d636503 his body. He scrubbed over 6c2fe07ec0 and over, again 8675e0e6ee and again. His skin turned ac31df79a0 red with friction. When he a47cbadc46 dragged his 6d2a14554e nails along 02db452356 the back 1a6454c384 of his 86a5aba5db neck, one 3267a5adbf of his dce81db55a unhealed wounds 263644964c reopened and e5194babc7 began to c4c1a3adf2 bleed. Even the e49cb3f22b blood felt 2a1ff6af19 dirty. Yujin scrubbed 998c8e466e harder, rougher, 817d46a24d continuing to fe1fafb4e4 wash himself b91816ab84 again and 35a6bdcecd again.a261dc8ed300b680

Why? Why does this a33cda391d filth never wash c72e813544 away, no matter d5b9271f5b how much he f85093935c scrubs? If even a 3d19c08cd1 little of it d7d29070ac would disappear, maybe 37584faee3 he could breathe 43925c3dc8 again.943747da6ec43b87

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The day e919197fb9 he heard 9cb6bd9b12 Bart had c593165cbc died, Yujin 7cefa51658 tried to bb3f7ac312 end his b6d08bde3b life—but he 0d35cc7954 failed. If only 461b0c9d81 Pupa hadn’t 8bad085381 come into fb123109b3 the tent… 70bbd06057 If only 800bafa0e9 he had ba31512ab0 cut deeper… 760fc66784 If only 0b24056ca8 he had 5bb3358c74 pushed the 3243ce8bd2 knife in ba341c8118 just a 50c98cfaa1 bit more…7e56722b6edaca48

The blade Yujin 1837b2ef11 used had slashed 99c2fa9128 his cheek and 3abacbfce7 neck. But because he 9d86724a21 hadn’t cut deep 2dd7775e62 enough, he didn’t ed410751a9 die. He passed d50f166c9a out and a4840c847a was carried 7eba78f211 to the 3a931e040a healer by de8b328886 Pupa.d5697bef17ab4c9e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Later, Yujin 416fb26763 awoke, forced 8fd572c928 to live 85eb5a8f2f on with cf818b0e89 a grotesque 71819e7762 reminder of 2477276197 his failure: d17f553d4f a scar 67070c34dd that stretched bb12dafd19 from his 8de507935c ear, across da845aafd7 the center 6c3bb63fee of his e370d46e5a cheek, and 24623ca974 down beneath 8f68c82ac3 his neck.ec3fe7ca27e63b7e

And Namta no longer asked Yujin questions. He suppressed and violated Yujin with force. Due to the thrust of his penis, which was shoved in without consideration, Yujin’s intestines were torn, bleeding profusely, and even when he cried out in pain, Namta delighted in coming inside Yujin again and again.2f7da8a49cbaff62

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Having lost 7fd3797576 the reason bfcc18181f to live, 6bae882ba6 Yujin attempted 9fc8a7dd0a suicide once ef0531e733 more. He cut his 7056807468 wrist with a 7ce36c3b19 knife and hung 80c9adda1b himself. However, for various reasons, 2d3c281e25 Yujin survived. Sometimes, it was 7c74f596eb his great-aunt who 01206aabc0 discovered and saved 408e8ac04a him, or it 90e602840f could be Pupa. If not those, a32b6f7e36 then a healer.608e647870c7a452

After trying suicide numerous times, Namta confined Yujin to a small hut. To prevent himself from constantly attempting to die, he stationed warriors inside and outside the hut to monitor him. Even when he had to relieve himself, he had to get Namta’s permission and be accompanied by the warriors.b13046a16a560d20

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

So Yujin changed his ee6bc40115 approach. He stopped trying to 2ff7617384 commit suicide and obediently 85cb08dddd lay down as Namta e4df58cba7 desired. As a result, the d4936d8790 surveillance began to loosen. And as a reward, 08245108e3 he was granted free 9a2e0d92fe time. Although there was 152df0e655 surveillance by the a1a803b1d7 warriors, Yujin was b942a76fd6 allowed to wander 7c240c02cc outside the hut, 39606df4e2 and occasionally even a97ea09046 expand his range 3f9606738f into the mountains.4bbd88a03f51aacb

Recently, the Mounted b2530db709 tribe warriors no 578ab05531 longer went hunting 639aa7aa32 regularly like before, 7d8176a13d nor did they 6ce3bdaafe bring back spoils 940f475478 from battles. Consequently, the relationships with 861aa728b9 the surrounding villages were 9f471513f2 also not like they 5cb72fc6ae used to be, and 1ec82e9d4a the tributes dwindled or 6890fbf83e ceased. Simultaneously, the 6a9fafc919 number of acd710664b warriors staying 6f837b11b6 in the bdd441031c village decreased. The warriors that Namta 80673d59f5 had brought from the 89c599c7d8 horse tribe did not 4b12f48695 work without compensation, so e11461fcd0 it was somewhat expected.88ac2734a156e2c7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Although the situation 29ab9aa931 may have coincided, 2a0be0818b Namta, who had 2cbfa3613b been experiencing financial e667ccb660 difficulties recently, dismissed 72b26793fb the warriors monitoring 2d41d5400a Yujin for the ce81bf4329 reason that Yujin cdb76e1648 had become docile. Thanks to that, Yujin c3275b5727 was able to wander 4e3183fed7 in the mountains as 0b9a289331 much as he wanted.c356e4b1b7e84974

Having washed his body to the point of shedding skin, Yujin emerged from the valley and was getting dressed when he felt someone’s gaze. After putting on all his clothes, he looked up to find the owner of the piercing gaze. He saw Maki, who was staring at him intensely. Ignoring him, Yujin moved towards the mountains.756b8e316283d780

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, Yujin!”0b4fa1d6686d6cb2

“……”3e025ac9a1d9614e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The warriors who went north and never came back, the ones who simply left the Mounted Tribe and returned to their original villages—many had disappeared. And just a month ago, most of the few remaining warriors were sent north again. The word going around was that they were sent to eliminate the remnants of Bart’s forces.67d5397ab430150c