TGHD Ch 50

The sunlight poured down brightly.

In a space where the morning birds sang peacefully, Cheon Ryubeom gazed intently at something. His eyes under the sunlight held a gentle golden hue.

And what Ryubeom was looking at also bore exactly the same color.

“Why did it grow so much…?”

It was indeed a ‘flower’. A flower he received as a gift from his grandmother, Shin, just a fortnight ago. She had given it, lamenting the state of the Cheon family’s mansion, which was left empty after a fire.

Ryubeom planted the flower in the yard in front of his room. He placed it where he could see it right after opening his window, checking on it from time to time. He couldn’t identify what kind of flower it was even after flipping through plant encyclopedias, but he watered it daily, and fortunately, the flower grew without any issues.

At first, the flower was only as big as a fingernail, but it doubled in size in just one day, then grew to the size of a fist. Watching this, Ryubeom felt proud, thinking he might have a talent for gardening.

However, today, the stem of the flower stretched long. Like a sunflower, the stem reached almost up to his waist. Moreover, the flower had grown so large that it needed to be held with both hands.

Do flowers usually grow like this? Is it because it’s a flower from my grandmother, making it unusual?

“Master, Elder Cheon Hoyeon is looking for you.”

Ryubeom’s observation didn’t last long. At the call from behind, he stood up abruptly and moved. Although the change in the flower was puzzling, he decided to appreciate that it was vibrant without any withered parts.

Recently, the Cheon family had been very busy; the brief time he spent looking at the flower in the morning was the only free time he had in the mansion.

As the corruption brought by the tiger was revealed, the Cheon Ho Foundation, which had been operating for over a decade, crumbled, and many connected individuals were arrested. The impact was much greater than anticipated. It was as if the foundation laid by the tiger beastman in human society had collapsed.

Apologizing and compensating victims related to this was not easy. Trust in the tiger beastman had waned, leading to suspicious looks regardless of actions taken. It’s always more effort to innovate than to dismantle the old system.

Days passed by in a blur. With all the elders of the family replaced, Ryubeom couldn’t leave all the work to Cheon Hoyeon alone, so he also stepped up to help.

Thanks to this, he could now interpret some of the documents that were initially incomprehensible. Though it was still difficult, calling it “interpretation” was somewhat fitting.

“You’re getting more adept by the day.”

“Are you trying to pass more documents to me with those words?”

“You’ve even become more perceptive now. I’m pleased with your rapid growth.”

Spending hours together every day, Ryubeom had become comfortable conversing with Cheon Hoyeon. Although Ryubeom was always tense and observant within the family, he had undergone many changes over time.

Though the pile of documents passed to him was not at all welcome…

“However, the mansion will be completed within this week.”

“It’s a relief that at least one thing is getting done.”

When Ryubeom marveled at the progress report, Cheon Hoyeon shook her head. The building, constructed with the help of the Cheon family, was finally entering its completion phase.

This was achieved in less than a month. Normally impossible, but it was made possible by pushing the tiger beastmen relentlessly day and night. Though the family members looked increasingly worn out, it wasn’t something Ryubeom could worry about.

The new mansion of the Cheon family was built similar to the old one but with some modern touches. The Cheon family was extremely conservative, so even over its 600-year history, the mansion hadn’t changed much. Thus, they took this opportunity to fix all the inconvenient parts.

For this, they followed Cheon Hoyeon’s advice entirely. She had observed various buildings and developments while traveling in human society, envisioning what could be introduced to the Cheon family. She had once suggested it to the former head, but he hadn’t even listened.

Given how sharply Cheon Hoyeon spoke of that incident, Ryubeom unconsciously resolved to always heed her advice in the future.

“We should invite Grandma once it’s completed. I promised to show it to her…”

Ryubeom muttered while looking at the scenery outside the window. They had also created a pond, which Grandma liked.

Grandma’s condition was still not good. They expected her to recover quickly with the new changes in the Cheon family, but she couldn’t even stand alone. Although she wasn’t losing strength daily like before, her state was too precarious to find comfort in that alone, like a candle about to be extinguished by a single gust of wind. Thus, his sister Baekyoung and father were staying at the hermitage to care for her.

Ryubeom sighed briefly. He felt guilty. Grandma had completely worn herself out after using her powers to show him the ‘path’ one last time.

Noticing his expression, Cheon Hoyeon spoke.

“…Grandma will like the mansion too.”

“I hope so. Last time I saw, she seemed to like rice cakes, so I plan to prepare plenty when she comes.”

Ryubeom smiled slowly. Once the mansion was completed, and if that ‘flower’ ever bloomed one day, he vaguely hoped it might help Grandma feel better.

After a brief respite of conversation, they resumed their work.

The need to select new elders from the collateral branches meant there were many issues to consider here as well. Previously, only direct descendants and their abilities were considered for Cheon family positions, but now they decided to eliminate such biases and establish new criteria.

Following Cheon Hoyeon’s opinion that assessing only proficiency in sorcery was unfit for modern society, they decided to consider various fields. Just pondering what to evaluate took a significant amount of time.

From early morning until evening, he was confined in the office. Only after meeting and talking with the collateral family members during dinner could Ryubeom reach the time he so desperately desired.

Late at night, lights came on in a secluded traditional Korean house deep in the mountains.

“Today was too hard…”

“You’ve worked hard. With articles pouring out almost every hour about the movements of the Tiger family, can’t you proceed a bit more leisurely?”

“Someone let go of all the grudges, causing such a big commotion that we had no choice… If the family wants to claim they’re trying to reform, we have to show we’re working hard to resolve everything.”

“…I guess that’s true.”

Ryubeom, who had been lying face down on the desk, chuckled puffily as he felt a hand gently stroking his hair. The mention of “someone who let go of all the grudges” made the hand slow down, which made him laugh. Ryubeom looked up to see who it was.

The red eyes looking down at him were filled with a gentle concern, and when their eyes met, the corners of his mouth naturally curved into a soft smile. It was Yeohwi, showing his beautiful face once again today.

Every night, Cheon Ryubeom would move to meet Yeohwi.

Officially, it was time to discuss reconciliation with the Fox family, but to be honest, it was more like coming for rest. One could see it as two people who had finally connected meeting secretly, but unfortunately, it wasn’t that kind of meeting.

With so much work piled up at the Cheon family, by the time he arrived at this villa, Ryubeom was already drained. Mentally exhausted from looking at documents all day, his concentration was gone, and he had no energy left to look at anything more.

Yeohwi, understanding his state, had prepared everything related to the reconciliation. Initially, Ryubeom protested, saying it was something both families should handle together, but as time went by, he couldn’t refuse his kindness anymore.

However, there was one thing that bothered him…

“It seems too perfect.”

“Is that a problem?”

“It’s not a problem, but… I feel like my aunt might notice.”

Ryubeom mumbled as he checked the documents outlining the compensation plan for the fire disaster. A few days ago, Cheon Hoyeon had looked at the documents Ryubeom brought, glanced at him several times, and then back at the documents, repeating this action multiple times.

The meaning behind her actions was clear. Since Ryubeom, who hadn’t even properly understood the issue at hand, brought perfectly organized documents, it was obvious he had met with someone the night before.

Even though Cheon Hoyeon had already suspected something from the day Ryubeom went to the Cheon family to help the Fox family head…

He was worried that Cheon Hoyeon might not take kindly to the idea of him sharing internal Cheon family matters with the Fox family head. It wasn’t just about discussing together; it was about the Fox family head setting the direction for the Cheon family. The difference between these two was significant.

However, Yeohwi just shrugged.

“It seems she has already noticed. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have handed over all matters concerning this issue. She’s pretending not to know.”

Originally, Ryubeom was supposed to draft the initial proposal, and then Cheon Hoyeon would review it to prepare for the next steps. But after examining his draft, she handed over all subsequent work to Cheon Ryubeom. The reason that the Fox family’s opinion was crucial in this matter was too ambiguous to be the only explanation.

Ryubeom realized this and sighed softly.

“I thought she was being considerate by not asking anything…”

He thought she would keep silent until he brought up the topic first, but as Yeohwi said, it was more likely she was deliberately overlooking it. Given how busy they were, she must have decided to treat it as something she didn’t know by not prying further. Perhaps it was also to use manpower more efficiently…

While Ryubeom was in awe, Yeohwi casually pressed around his eyes. He had already guessed Cheon Hoyeon’s intentions and was complying without any particular complaints.

“Well, thanks to that, I can meet with you like this.”

His tone suggested he was willing to be used for this purpose. Since the Cheon family was so busy recently, one would have to put in this much effort, or rather, work, to meet the head. Ryubeom burst into laughter at Yeohwi’s attitude, which seemed to read his thoughts.

Thanks to Yeohwi, Ryubeom was spared from holding onto documents even at night. Having been comfortably sprawled out, he soon got up, wanting to make better use of his free time.

“Shall we go for a walk? The moon is very bright tonight, so the waterfall might look beautiful.”

There was a waterfall deeper into the villa. It was a place preserved in its natural state due to the lack of human traffic. It was a spot Ryubeom and Yeohwi had accidentally discovered together, and he found it very appealing. Just listening to the cool sound of the water falling seemed to relieve the day’s fatigue.

As soon as he decided, Ryubeom was unexpectedly held back by a hand.

“It’s winter now, so it’s getting quite cold.”

Where he got it from was a mystery, but a white fur scarf was wrapped around Ryubeom’s neck. Watching Yeohwi carefully wrap the scarf around him, Ryubeom let out a hollow laugh. Setting aside the fact that he was a tiger beastman and thus healthy, this gesture…

“Am I a child?”

“Ah, I guess it’s a habit from taking care of the triplets.”

He meticulously checked that his neck wasn’t exposed to the cold air, then even adjusted his collar, just like a guardian caring for a young child. Ryubeom was taken aback, but Yeohwi responded nonchalantly, casually mentioning that the triplets had recently caught a cold and he was wrapping scarves around them.

Ryubeom’s expression became sulky. He understood because he’d sometimes felt the influence of Yeohwi’s care for the triplets in his actions in the past, and although his gentle touch wasn’t unpleasant, he still felt a bit annoyed.

“Don’t treat me like a child. I’ll be a year older soon.”

With a rather proud declaration, Yeohwi made a very subtle expression. Whether he acknowledged it or not, Ryubeom continued confidently. It would be the new year soon, and he was leading the family, so he was clearly an adult. He had always been annoyed by how Yeohwi treated him like a child when he was just over twenty.

As the conversation went on, Yeohwi looked at Ryubeom with an ambiguous smile, then finally spoke in a resigned tone.

“Yes, you’re an adult…”

His voice sounded suddenly drained, making Ryubeom laugh out loud.

On the way to the waterfall, a refreshing wind blew. The unique, clear scent of the deep mountains grew stronger with each step. The air was indeed chilly, so Ryubeom buried his chin deeper into the fur scarf.

Even though becoming the head of the family had made him stronger, and he wouldn’t fall ill easily, it was an unconscious act. His parents used to wrap him in thick scarves whenever he went out in winter when he was young. And the scarf Yeohwi had wrapped around him was so soft that he couldn’t help but feel good.

Swish…

As they approached the waterfall, the loud sound of water hit their ears. The bright moonlight was reflected in the droplets falling from the steep cliff, shimmering like a scene from a fantasy.

Ryubeom took a deep breath. The fresh air naturally lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Why don’t people visit such a beautiful waterfall? It’s good that we can enjoy it quietly, though…”

He had heard that nowadays, people find and share breathtakingly beautiful places, and everyone rushes to visit them. But he had never sensed any human presence here. Perhaps people didn’t know about this waterfall?

However, Yeohwi shook his head lightly.

“There’s a rumor of a water ghost here. Apparently, there was an accident where a human drowned.”

“Huh? Was there some grudge involved? Like an unjust death…?”

“No, it was someone who was seeking thrills in the valley during a heavy rain and ended up drowning. Later, when rescuers came to retrieve the body, one of them claimed to have seen a ‘standing corpse,’ which fueled the rumor.”

Typically, when someone drowns, they would fall to the bottom due to gravity. But a standing corpse implies something other than human, which is why eyewitness accounts of water ghosts often mention ‘heads floating on water’.

After the paramedic who saw the standing corpse nearly got swept away by the current, causing a big stir, people stopped coming there. A few curious souls visited, lured by the story, but they found nothing and left with only an eerie feeling. Thus, interest naturally waned, and the place became deserted.

Water ghosts usually bore simple grudges. In one word, ‘resentment.’ They felt wronged because they died while everyone else was having fun, so they wanted others to suffer the same fate. While some water ghosts are born from murder, those without a specific target of anger, attacking anyone indiscriminately, were even more dangerous.

“But it’s already been more than ten years.”

Yeohwi shrugged his shoulders. Since there hadn’t been any victims recently, the ghost probably had dissipated naturally. Ryubeom nodded in agreement.

And even if the ghost lingered, if it had any sense, it wouldn’t come out now.

Ryubeom relaxed and enjoyed the view of the waterfall. He got close, watching the rippling surface, even dipping his hand in. The water tickled between his fingers. Although the winter water was very cold, it was invigorating and enjoyable.

“When it gets warmer, we could swim here.”

“The water seems pretty deep here.”

“I’m a good swimmer. And if it gets dangerous, Yeohwi would pull me out, right? You did that in the Han River too.”

At the mention of the Han River, Yeohwi’s gaze shifted slightly. He was the one who had deliberately pushed Cheon Ryubeom into the river back then.

Although he expected him to flounder in the water and call for help, Ryubeom went in a completely different direction from what he intended, moving towards even more dangerous areas until he had to stop him…

“I should have realized back then that the young master goes in a completely different direction from my intentions…”

Seeing Yeohwi shake his head, Ryubeom quietly laughed.

Swoosh- A refreshing breeze swept between them. As Ryubeom fixed his wind-blown hair, his gaze dropped. There was a rock in the water he hadn’t seen before.

‘No, that’s… a head?’

Suddenly, something grabbed Ryubeom’s ankle. Something had come right up to where he was crouched by the water’s edge and seized him. A strong force pulled him into the water, making him stagger in his moment of distraction.

Ah, if it had any sense, it wouldn’t have been playing in the valley during a typhoon.

Just as Ryubeom was about to fall, his hand was firmly grabbed and pulled back. Yeohwi, who had been standing behind, quickly came and dragged him away. Ryubeom was shocked by the subsequent events.

“Yeohwi…!”

Yeohwi fell into the water.

With a loud splash, Yeohwi quickly sank into the dark water. Past his disappearing silhouette, something flashed with a chilling, wide grin.

[Ehehehe!]

The water ghost was excited with the rare opportunity to feed. It had been bored and hungry, living alone for years where no one came. Now, beings with spiritual energy approached, and it had been trying to stay hidden, but surprisingly, neither of them sensed its presence. Moreover, one didn’t even notice when it got close. They seemed easier targets than expected.

Although it caught the wrong one initially, it could attack the remaining one after consuming this one. Probably, the other would be terrified by now. Confident in its domain, the water ghost transformed its appearance to be even more terrifying with a sinister laugh.

It darkened the water, and now, if they made eye contact…

[…?]

At that moment, the water ghost froze upon meeting those eyes, which were almost blood-red. Huh? How could someone look at it so directly underwater…

Before it could even finish its thought, a massive hand approached and grabbed its head with a firm grip! The water ghost couldn’t even put up a proper fight as it was dragged out by its hair.

Shh…

From the opposite side, Yeohwi walked out. Ryubeom, who had been worried, felt relieved seeing Yeohwi unharmed but soon sighed. In Yeohwi’s hand was something blue, gripped tightly. It struggled belatedly, but couldn’t escape.

Yeohwi muttered as he smashed the water ghost against a rock. Drip, drip, drip. The water falling along his neckline shattered coldly on the rock.

“Who do you dare to touch…?”

[Heh, heh…]

“Living quietly, all sorts of pests come out. Why? Have you lost your attachment to this world because you’ve been here too long? Did you come to ask to be extinguished?”

The water ghost curled up, shivering. Yeohwi looked down at him and smiled beautifully, a smile so kind yet eerie.

“Not that? Then, shall I leave just your head? You don’t like that either? But the head seems useless without its functions. So how about cutting off the head and leaving just the feet floating? It might look quite good, actually. It could even be scarier. It’s not often someone gives such kind advice.”

Speaking gently, Yeohwi bent down. He held the water ghost’s neck, whispering softly for him to listen properly as he tried to escape in fear. The water ghost convulsed in the face of another death.

He thought they were easy targets because they hadn’t noticed his presence, but they were so strong they didn’t need to be on guard against mere pests. The water ghost shuddered, feeling chills just meeting those red eyes looking down at him.

That entity was angrier not because he was drowned but because he dared to touch ‘someone’. His breath was growing short.

“Yeohwi. Are you okay…?”

At that moment, Ryubeom called out cautiously from afar. The grip on the water ghost’s neck loosened unconsciously.

[…!]

The water ghost, now hopeful, tried to escape, but was quickly grabbed by the back of his head and slammed against the rock with a bang! Yeohwi turned back to Ryubeom with a smile.

“Yes. I’m fine. What should we do with this ghost? Shall I tear it apart?”

“No, there’s no need to tear it apart… Just let it go…”

Ryubeom, who could have been dragged away by the ghost, felt no anger. Rather, he pitied the ghost in this situation.

With Ryubeom’s magnanimous word, the water ghost immediately dissipated. His attitude conveyed that if Cheon Ryubeom didn’t care, there was no need to pay further attention. The ghost’s last attempt to cling on didn’t even reach Yeohwi, fading into the air.

Afterward, Yeohwi easily returned to his original position, annoyed by his soaked clothes as he wrung out the water from his robe.

Meanwhile, Ryubeom scanned him with his eyes, checking for any injuries. Although he heard what Yeohwi said to the ghost and believed he was fine, this worry was a habit formed from years of protecting him.

It was a worry that would have been very unfair if seen by the water ghost from before.

“You might catch a cold, so let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

Yeohwi chuckled at Ryubeom’s concern but obediently followed. His steps left a trail of wet marks on the ground.

The waterfall, as if nothing had happened, sparkled peacefully under the moonlight.

After returning to the villa, Ryubeom busily searched for a towel. Even though it was just a space for a brief stay at night, it was well-equipped with essentials.

Ryubeom found a soft white towel and opened the door immediately.

“Yeohwi, I found the towel…”

His words cut off. As soon as he opened the door, his foot that stepped inside recoiled, but his gaze remained fixed.

Yeohwi was changing clothes. His bare back was fully visible as he took off his shirt. Sensing someone, Yeohwi turned his head and responded.

“Oh, thank you.”

Only then did Ryubeom hesitantly approach. The reason he hesitated wasn’t just because of the unexpected nudity but mainly due to something else on the back.

A long, rough scar, as if scratched by a large claw, from the time he fought with the former head of the Tiger clan. Just looking at it, one could feel how fierce and intense that battle must have been, and how severe Yeohwi’s injuries were at that time. His back must have been drenched in blood. Since the attack was imbued with spiritual power, healing would have been difficult.

“…Does it hurt?”

“Hm? Oh, that’s old.”

Yeohwi, initially not understanding what was being referred to, laughed casually. He hadn’t paid attention to it for a long time. However, Ryubeom’s face was full of concern and guilt, making Yeohwi shrug.

“Now it doesn’t hurt even if you touch it. I don’t feel much.”

Thud, Ryubeom’s hand touched his back.

Whether to confirm Yeohwi’s words or out of concern, his hand moved impulsively. Yeohwi stiffened momentarily when touched but turned his head to look at Ryubeom. It was surprising that Ryubeom reacted to his playful remark, but more confusing was how to interpret the emotions in those eyes. Whenever Cheon Ryubeom showed such emotions, Yeohwi was always at a loss for words.

Worrying about the fox’s wounds while being used by the fox.

Yeohwi kept silent, waiting. The hand on his scar moved with such care and caution that he couldn’t even change his clothes, maintaining silence. The touch moved slowly from his shoulder blades down to his waist.

How long did the mysterious silence last? Eventually, Yeohwi asked with a troubled voice.

“…How long are you going to touch?”

Ryubeom startled. Looking at the clock after jumping in surprise, he realized he had been touching Yeohwi’s back for quite a while. By now, even the moisture had dried.

Realizing he had been touching Yeohwi’s back in a caressing manner, he backed away stuttering to explain.

“I, I was worried, that’s why I touched you. There was no other intention…!”

“The more you explain, the weirder it gets, so it’s better not to say anything in situations like this.”

“No, really, it wasn’t with any strange intentions…!”

“Okay, I understand.”

Yeohwi answered with a cunning laugh, casually moving past the awkwardness. He put on his shirt and wore the robe that was beside the nightstand. Although there was still some moisture in his hair, it would dry naturally in time. He shook off the water from his hair and finished adjusting his clothes.

Meanwhile, Ryubeom’s face had turned fully red. He felt embarrassed, thinking that, just as Yeohwi said, the more he explained, the stranger the atmosphere became. Even so, his fingers kept itching. The firm touch he felt at his fingertips was too vivid in his mind. His heart was pounding.

As his chest started to ache and the image of ‘that sight’ began to loom before his eyes, Ryubeom quickly shook his head to cool down the heat in his face.

Once Yeohwi had sorted out his clothes, he spoke lightly.

“Since we’ve finished the work, shall we head back? You seem to have worked hard today, so let’s go back early and rest well.”

Since Yeohwi had prepared everything regarding the clan alliance, all Ryubeom had to do was confirm it. Remembering how particularly tired Ryubeom had seemed today, Yeohwi wanted to conclude their meeting. After all, Cheon Ryubeom would have to be busy again from early tomorrow morning.

But as Yeohwi turned to leave, the hem of his robe was firmly grasped. Turning back with a puzzled look, he saw Ryubeom hesitating before asking.

“…Aren’t we going to do it today?”

His fingers fidgeted, showing how embarrassed he was to bring up the subject. The heat in his face that he had just calmed down began to rise again.

However, he did not let go of the robe, causing Yeohwi’s lips to slowly curl into a smile.

“I should have taken care of this without you having to ask.”

With a playful apology for still having much to learn, Yeohwi wrapped his arms around Ryubeom’s head and pulled it down. Their lips met as if it were the most natural thing.

Since that day, they had been kissing every day.

At first, they kissed because their hearts finally matched, then the next day, they naturally kissed while gazing at each other. This repetition made kissing a daily routine. Cheon Ryubeom realized he quite liked kissing.

Everything he did with Yeohwi might be nice, but the pounding of his heart each time they kissed was addictive.

For some reason, today his heart was beating faster than usual. Not just his chest, but his whole body seemed to resonate, his stomach even quivering with sensitivity. The hand that had been holding onto Yeohwi’s robe slowly moved up to encircle his neck.

A gentle embrace met with lips, from which laughter spilled. Ryubeom slightly furrowed his brows at the ticklish sensation of their lips brushing. He was somewhat displeased that Yeohwi laughed as if he were cute every time he hugged him.

When he lightly bit Yeohwi’s lip, a sigh-like chuckle could be heard, followed by a deeper kiss. The sound of their tongues intertwining echoed in his mind. Ryubeom’s breath quickened, becoming erratic.

The sensation of their lips mashing together was chillingly good. The feeling of tongues locking through the gap created by tilting heads, the gradually quickening breaths. Just breathing felt like his whole body was tense with urgency.

Then, Yeohwi pulled back with a smacking sound, trying to end the kiss appropriately.

“Today, you seem unusually urgent…”

But before he could finish, Ryubeom kissed him again. He grabbed Yeohwi’s collar to prevent him from pulling away. The brief separation only spurred him on, making him even more desperate. His tongue intertwined with Yeohwi’s, filling the gap between them. The stimulation of the delicate mucous membranes brought a strange pleasure.

Ryubeom was aware he was acting quite differently from usual. Normally, Yeohwi would initiate and conclude the kissing. When Ryubeom wanted more, Yeohwi would intuitively lean in, and when he was satisfied, he would pull back.

But today was different. The more they kissed, the less Ryubeom felt satisfied, instead, he was tormented by a sense of inadequacy. He wanted to get closer, even closer. Every time Yeohwi’s cool hair brushed against his forehead, he shivered, yet he also found it stimulating.

Ryubeom’s hands moved unconsciously, slipping inside Yeohwi’s collar. His hand moved from the neck to the back, feeling the sensation he had experienced moments ago, which brought him satisfaction. Ah, yes. This was the feeling…

“Ah.”

“…!”

The moment he tasted a coppery flavor, Ryubeom froze. While they were deeply engaged with their tongues, the sudden scent of blood burst forth. Yeohwi sighed, stopped, and slowly pulled his head back. A trace of blood appeared on his little finger as he wiped his lips.

Unknowingly, Cheon Ryubeom’s canine teeth had sharpened. Excited, he had partially lost his human form, and in his unconscious state, he had bitten Yeohwi’s lip, causing the wound.

“Sorry, sorry…”

Ryubeom apologized awkwardly. The wound seemed deep as blood began to spread. With a stunned look, Yeohwi shook his head.

Normally, he wouldn’t care about such a wound, and might even want to keep it, but seeing Ryubeom’s reaction, he decided to heal it with magic. The wound vanished in an instant.

Yeohwi lightly shrugged. There was nothing Cheon Ryubeom needed to apologize for.

“You must have been in a good mood today.”

Today, Cheon Ryubeom was unusually eager. He kissed with such impatience, as if he couldn’t bear even the slightest gap when he tilted his head. And his hands had subtly moved as well… Yeohwi chuckled and adjusted his disheveled collar.

However, Cheon Ryubeom remained silent until the adjustment was done, even lowering his head suddenly, which made Yeohwi look at him curiously.

“You don’t have to be so cautious.”

“No, it’s just…”

“It’s okay. Are you embarrassed because your human form slipped? I don’t mind that at all, so don’t worry…”

Yeohwi cupped Ryubeom’s cheek to talk face-to-face, but Ryubeom shook his head vigorously, pushing his hand away. Yeohwi blinked at the sudden action, realizing the warmth in his touch was unusually hot.

Feeling Yeohwi’s gaze lower, Ryubeom mumbled in embarrassment.

“This, this has never happened before…”

Suddenly, he felt heat rushing downwards. He couldn’t understand why this was happening. Was it because they kissed deeply today, or was it because the scent of blood from the kiss triggered his instincts, leading to arousal? Both scenarios were strange.

He wanted to escape, but there was a wall right behind him, so he couldn’t back away. Ryubeom muttered with a trembling voice.

“It will go away with time…”

“Do we really need to wait for it to go away?”

“Huh? No, wait, oh!”

Realizing where Yeohwi’s hand was heading, Ryubeom jumped in surprise. Understanding what Yeohwi intended, he quickly grabbed his arm.

“I, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Could I dirty the young master’s noble hands? I should take care of it.”

He spoke the shocking words with such nonchalance. As if this was all natural and something he should do, he moved his hand to undo the buckle and grasp the erection. This process happened so quickly that Ryubeom’s thinking was paralyzed.

The moment the cold hand touched his heated flesh, his head spun.

“This isn’t a bad thing at all.”

“Uh, no, please…”

Ryubeom tried to shake his head and escape, but with a swish, the hand wrapped around his shaft moved upwards in one smooth motion. Then, the thumb spread the liquid beaded at the tip, causing Ryubeom’s breath to falter.

He knew he should push away, should escape this situation, but he couldn’t. The vivid memory of the intense stimulation left in his body rooted him to the spot. The memory from Jeju was faint, but the sensation was vividly etched. As the same stimulation returned, Ryubeom could only scratch Yeohwi’s arm nervously without the strength to grab it tightly.

In this contradictory situation where his mind and body were at odds, Ryubeom didn’t know what to do. His face turned bright red, and he groaned with his head bowed while Yeohwi pushed his thigh between his legs, deliberately intertwining them to block any escape and prevent Ryubeom from collapsing.

Yeohwi kissed Ryubeom’s reddened earlobe with a smack, closing the space between them.

“It’s okay. This is a natural reaction…”

Whispering gently, he continued to move his hand. He soothed him by stroking, then wrapped his whole palm around the shaft and slid it down. The foreskin moved up and down, and with the strong pressure and up-and-down movement, Ryubeom moaned.

Yeohwi’s whisper of reassurance buzzed in his ears, and with his vision blurring, Ryubeom struggled to lift his head. The casual tone brought back memories.

“Ha, this is… nothing, huh, serious?”

In the past, on Jeju, Yeohwi had whispered this while helping Ryubeom with his arousal. At the time, Ryubeom thought it was meant to calm his embarrassment, but in reality, it was because to Yeohwi, it was genuinely nothing significant, which explained his attitude. Indeed, afterwards, he had treated that night as if nothing had happened.

“Haah,” Ryubeom exhaled deeply, tilting his head back. His hair stuck to his flushed face in disarray. His gaze, now completely disheveled, glanced sideways at Yeohwi.

“By tomorrow, this will be… nothing, right?”

“…Haha.”

Yeohwi let out a hollow laugh. His face showed disbelief, either at the unexpected question or perhaps at the thought of the situation Ryubeom described, which seemed to sour his mood. Managing his expression, he murmured.

“I wouldn’t want that anymore.”

Just how far was Yeohwi trying to overturn his thoughts? With a chuckle, Yeohwi lowered his head. Between their joined lips, Ryubeom’s breath escaped in a pained gasp. Not only had the kiss deepened, but Yeohwi’s hand movements had also become more intense.

His grip tightened, making all his nerves focus on the sensation. “Hngh, uh, ah.” Ryubeom tried to grab Yeohwi’s arm, but the hand didn’t soften its touch. With his legs entangled, escape was impossible. It was as if Yeohwi wanted to sear this moment into his memory with his forceful touch.

With no space between them, Ryubeom could only lean against Yeohwi’s thigh, desperately following the kiss. Their lips mashed together chaotically, bringing a shiver of stimulation. As Yeohwi’s tongue pushed deeper, making his vision blur, it felt like he was being forcefully pushed somewhere.

Suddenly, a tingling sensation spread through his body, causing Ryubeom to writhe. If he kept losing his breath like this, and if the pressure below intensified, soon… With a sense of foreboding, Ryubeom urgently tried to push Yeohwi away.

“Uh, uh, wait, just wait, uh, Yeohwi, ah…!”

But Yeohwi didn’t retreat. Ignoring Ryubeom’s cries between their lips, he continued kissing and pressing closer, until finally, Ryubeom clung to him, his arms around Yeohwi’s neck. Reflexively, he held onto him as he felt the dizzying fall into climax.

His fingertips and toes curled, his waist spasmed.

“Ha…”

Ryubeom squeezed his eyes shut, burying his head in Yeohwi’s shoulder. Yeohwi chuckled softly at his reaction, unable to look down.

As Yeohwi finally pulled away, Ryubeom gave him a resentful look. Yeohwi was wiping the white liquid from his hand onto the towel. The white towel Ryubeom had brought was now used for this purpose.

As the white liquid dripped between Yeohwi’s straight fingers, Ryubeom felt even more embarrassed. Yeohwi’s lips lightly touched his furrowed brows, kissing him repeatedly to soothe him before finally pulling away completely.

Ryubeom, letting out a long sigh, tried to fix his clothes. Although he felt embarrassed, there was an undeniable satisfaction in his now relaxed body. Was it because the kissing was particularly intense this time? As he tried to suppress the resurfacing memories, Ryubeom suddenly froze.

His face turned pale. Noticing Ryubeom’s awkward stance, Yeohwi looked down.

“No, no. This, this wasn’t what I intended…”

His erection was still standing firm. Clearly, he had just experienced immense pleasure and release, yet it had either risen again immediately afterward or never went down in the first place. Ryubeom was so confused and embarrassed that his head spun.

As he bit his lip hard to regain his composure, Yeohwi stopped him, pressing his thumb gently on his lower lip.

“This isn’t usually something you can control. And perhaps… you might have been affected by me.”

“Huh? Your influence…?”

“You drank my blood a little while ago.”

Ryubeom blinked in confusion before sighing. He had heard that the fox’s enchanting abilities could provoke lust. Being close to a fox’s energy for too long could lead to arousal.

“There’s a component in fox blood that induces excitement. That’s why, in the past, humans used to extract the blood of fox beings for medicine… Now you get to experience it firsthand.”

He was explaining that it could be used as an aphrodisiac or a stimulant. Ryubeom quietly sighed at Yeohwi’s calm explanation, feeling a bit relieved knowing it wasn’t entirely his fault.

Looking at Ryubeom, Yeohwi swallowed his words. In fact, now that Cheon Ryubeom was the head of the clan, his mental strength should be higher, making him less susceptible to such enchantments…

Even in the past, Cheon Ryubeom had been sensitive to Yeohwi’s energy. Back then, it was thought to be due to his incomplete state and lower resistance, but looking back… maybe even then, Cheon Ryubeom was more sensitive due to emotional reasons. Could it be the same reason now?

A slow smile spread across Yeohwi’s lips.

“Since it’s my responsibility, shall I make you feel even better?”

“Huh? What, what do you mean…”

Ryubeom stuttered. He thought Yeohwi might solve it with his hand again, but the proposal sounded ominously different. Looking up at Yeohwi with concern, his gaze slowly drifted downward. His eyes, heavy from the aftermath of climax, followed Yeohwi’s movements in vague anticipation, then widened with shock.

Quickly, Ryubeom reached out.

“Why are you kneeling, uh, huh…”

His question was cut short as it got stuck in his throat. With a gasp, his vision blurred. A wet, moist sensation enveloped him below. Ryubeom’s fingers trembled as they grabbed Yeohwi’s shoulder, his breathing breaking into moans.

Yeohwi had knelt in front of him and took his erection into his mouth. Not just holding it, but sucking it deeply, paralyzing Ryubeom’s thoughts. Stimulation poured in, preemptively blocking any resistance. When Yeohwi’s warm tongue wrapped around his shaft, Ryubeom let out a choked sound.

“No, no, uh, that, huh, in your mouth… it shouldn’t be in your mouth…”

It was a shocking stimulus. His mind couldn’t function properly with this unexpected treatment. Ryubeom tried to push Yeohwi away, but he didn’t move, only tilting his head back to look up at him.

Seeing Ryubeom’s face flushed with red, Yeohwi’s eyes curved into a smile as he leaned in deeper.

“Eek…!”

The cold, wet hair brushed against his lower abdomen, making Ryubeom jump. His thighs tensed, yet paradoxically, his knees weakened. Yeohwi firmly gripped Ryubeom’s hips to prevent him from collapsing. Despite the clothes, it felt like skin-to-skin contact.

Ryubeom began begging Yeohwi while shaking his head. The intense stimulation felt like it was trying to break his mind. His hands, desperate but unable to grasp too tightly, hovered around Yeohwi’s head.

“Uh, Yeohwi, spit it out, spit it out, ah…!”

But every time he pleaded to spit it out, Yeohwi’s movements became more explicit. He licked around the tip, gently stimulating the urethra, and when Ryubeom begged again, he engulfed the shaft with his tongue, swallowing it to the base.

As the tip touched the back of Yeohwi’s throat, his neck bulged. With strong suction, a sharp moan escaped from Ryubeom. His hands, which reflexively grabbed Yeohwi’s hair, trembled. The sensation of Yeohwi’s sharp nose against his abdomen was eerie.

“Wait, wait, uh.”

Ryubeom clung to him, but it was useless. The whole tongue wrapped around his erection, increasing the pressure. It was hot, wet, and humid. It felt like his brain was melting. It was as if Yeohwi’s tongue was inside his head.

Such stimulation was beyond anything he had imagined. Continuous whimpers escaped from Ryubeom’s mouth. His lips, trembling, couldn’t close properly.

“Ha, uh, uh, don’t press there, oh…”

As Yeohwi’s tongue seemed to probe the tip’s opening, Ryubeom’s pleas turned into sobbing. Heat spread throughout his body. His already heated body from the previous climax welcomed the consecutive stimuli, going limp with pleasure.

Gulp, slurp, the sounds of some liquid accumulating in Yeohwi’s mouth and him swallowing it were clearly audible. His lips glistened as they swallowed the erection a couple of times. “Ah, uh, uh,” Ryubeom’s moans of embarrassment were muffled in his mouth. He tried to stop Yeohwi, only to realize that the more he pleaded, the more intense Yeohwi’s reactions became, so he barely managed to stop his begging.

Every aspect of this situation was stimulating. The heat from the breath he held inside, the constant sounds from below, and even the occasional tightening grip on his hips. All these sensations were breaking down Ryubeom’s rationality.

His focus was blurring, and it felt like his mind was going haywire. His body, intoxicated by the sensations, craved even deeper stimulation. In his head, there was a tug-of-war between impulse and reason. As the conflict continued, his reason gradually lost its form and crumbled.

“Ugh, tight, tight…”

Before he knew it, Ryubeom was leaning forward, clinging to Yeohwi. The hand on Yeohwi’s shoulder trembled. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to push him away or pull him closer. It felt like he was about to thrust his hips…

With that ominous premonition, a sharp, tingling sensation pierced his brain. Ryubeom was shocked. Ah, wait, no. He had experienced this stimulation only a few times, but he knew what it meant. He had just felt it moments ago.

In his panic, Ryubeom managed to grasp his sanity and forcefully pushed Yeohwi away.

Thud, plop…

As soon as he felt the sense of release, he sighed in relief. It felt like fireworks were going off throughout his body. Ryubeom slowly exhaled with his eyes tightly shut, then opened them, freezing in shock.

“Huh…”

Yeohwi’s face was splattered with white fluid. As it dripped from his eyebrows, Yeohwi closed his eyes. The obscene sight of the fluid dropping from his eyelashes made Ryubeom frantically look for a towel, feeling so ashamed and sorry he could cry.

Stumbling over his words as he apologized, he knelt down and wiped Yeohwi’s face. Semen had splashed on his nose, trickling down.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I should have pulled away faster…”

“…It’s okay.”

“It’s too late to say it’s okay… I’m really sorry…”

“Since you’re wiping my mouth, ah, it’s late. It would have been fine in my mouth too, umm, this hurts a bit.”

Ryubeom quickly covered Yeohwi’s mouth as he uttered such shocking words. Almost forcibly, he covered it with the towel, and Yeohwi finally grabbed his wrist to stop him. His laughter was slightly muffled, sounding like he had a mouthful of water, which made Ryubeom’s face turn bright red.