TGHD Ch 23

Yeohwi wore a genuinely joyful smile, which made Ryubeom ask, curious.

“You know about the Daehogwan?”

“No, not really. I just thought, if it’s a place that grants access after completing Sagwido, maybe it’s the mansion’s ‘Yeonggwan.’ Am I right?”

“Yeonggwan” referred to a sacred area within a household, separate from the main quarters, preserved by the family to house its spiritual essence. For the tiger clan, the Daehogwan served as such a place—accessible only to the clan’s elders, containing the family’s history, treasures, and the scrolls of Yeongyahwa. Even the bamboo forest around it was strictly off-limits to maintain its purity.

Ryubeom slowly nodded. “Yes, that’s right. The Daehogwan is where the blessings of the tiger clan begin.”

It was the heart of a protective barrier enveloping the entire estate, safeguarding it from external threats. That was the other significance of Yeonggwan.

Yeohwi’s smile deepened. “Have you ever been inside?”

“Just twice.”

“Did it feel special?”

“Well… honestly, the first time was when I was kicked out of the estate, and the second was to receive Yeongyahwa. The first time, I was too anxious to notice anything, and recently I was just focused on receiving the scroll…”

Ryubeom answered sheepishly, wishing he could offer Yeohwi more insight, but he didn’t know much about the Daehogwan himself.

“Is there anything special around it?” Yeohwi asked.

“A vast bamboo forest stretches out front. I wandered into it as a kid while exploring the estate… but I mostly just remember being scolded.”

Suddenly, Ryubeom recalled a stone pagoda he’d recently glimpsed in that bamboo forest, though he wasn’t sure of its purpose. He only vaguely assumed it had something to do with blessings.

“But why are you so curious about the Daehogwan? Isn’t talk about the tiger clan uncomfortable for you…?”

Scratching the back of his neck, Ryubeom felt puzzled by Yeohwi’s string of questions.

“If anything, that’s why I’m interested,” Yeohwi explained. “Because there’s no interaction due to the animosity, it only makes me more curious. Isn’t it similar to how you were intrigued by the fox clan’s main household?”

Ryubeom sighed softly, understanding the curiosity sparked by a forbidden connection. His clan had warned him to avoid the fox clan at all costs, but curiosity had driven him to communicate with Yeohwi and even enter his home.

Yeohwi tilted his head, murmuring in a soft, dreamlike tone, “I’m really curious about what the Daehogwan must be like. Enough that I’d want to see it myself…”

“Well, the exterior is just like a regular palace.”

“It’s a palace, so it’s hardly ordinary! I’ll have to be extra kind to you from now on.”

With a playful smile, Yeohwi added that he’d be particularly attentive so he could hear more about the Daehogwan, leaving Ryubeom blinking in surprise. The look of delight on Yeohwi’s face was intriguing but not completely incomprehensible; after all, he had felt the same curiosity about the fox clan’s main estate when Yeohwi had described it, even if he knew he’d never set foot there.

Thinking Yeohwi’s curiosity might be the same as his own, Ryubeom nodded slowly. “If I get to enter Daehogwan again someday, and I come across something interesting, I’ll tell you about it. I’ll leave out the details about the protection barrier, though…”

“Haha, of course. I’m not the least bit interested in the location of the barrier,” Yeohwi laughed, his eyes expressing amusement at Ryubeom’s cautiousness.

Even if he did gain entry, Ryubeom would not know the precise spot where the barrier was inscribed, as not even the elders knew. And if he did know, it would be classified information. It was natural to keep this secret, but he felt strangely self-conscious about it, as if Yeohwi might think he was hiding it from him specifically.

Yeohwi shook his head as if to dismiss such a notion, then smiled subtly. “But now, you’re imagining keeping in touch with me in the future. You used to push me away so often.”

“Well… now… we’re friends, after all…”

Ryubeom hesitated, the word “friend” feeling foreign on his tongue, yet saying it brought a surprising sense of warmth. Perhaps it was because Yeohwi smiled in agreement.

While he knew he had to seriously investigate the “incident” once Sagwido was resolved, a sense of duty weighed heavily on him. Though it was a long-awaited goal, the pressure to succeed made it feel somewhat distant.

But the idea of staying connected with Yeohwi into the future made him feel a bit less burdened. Was this what it felt like to have a friend by your side…?

It was a strange feeling, one that sparked a new kind of curiosity.

“Yeohwi, earlier you told me about the mythical power of tigers. So, what kind of power do foxes possess?”

Ryubeom knew that the fox clan specialized in ghostly arts and was skilled in spiritual magic. But beyond that, he was curious about the conceptual power that foxes held in this world.

Yeohwi blinked in mild surprise at Ryubeom’s unexpected question, then curved his eyes with a smile.

“When you think of a fox, what comes to mind?”

“…Hmm, a gumiho? An enchanting power?”

“Exactly. That enchantment is at the core of the fox clan’s power—whether it’s the allure of a gumiho or the charm of a fox as an animal. That’s the widely recognized image of a fox across the world.”

Ryubeom blinked slowly, surprised that even the idea of a fox being “cute” was part of its power. While he knew charm had a certain power, he couldn’t help but wonder… Is that it? Compared to the mythical power of the tiger clan, it seemed overly simple, not quite enough to explain the influence of a prominent clan like the foxes.

He reined in his expression, feeling it would be rude to judge, though Yeohwi seemed to catch it anyway and raised his lips in a slow smile. Ryubeom quickly apologized.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to dismiss the power of the fox clan…”

“Actually, this is a bit of a trade secret…”

“…Huh?”

“Even just making others see you as harmless—that’s also part of the fox’s power.”

Yeohwi’s voice continued in a soft tone.

“Most legends depict the gumiho as a lone woman in the mountains. Just imagine how defenseless she would appear in the past.”

“Defenseless… doesn’t seem quite right…”

“But it’s true. And the fear comes from people who fall for that appearance and then end up facing their own demise. It’s the shock of realizing that what they thought was beneath them, what they thought they could dominate, was actually a predator lying in wait.”

Unlike other predatory yokai, even tigers, the gumiho was different. While a tiger instills fear through sheer presence, the gumiho conceals its nature, waits for a lapse in vigilance, and then takes its prey’s life. It’s a fear born of overturning the hierarchy.

“People say the gumiho is dangerous not just because it consumes human livers, but because it entices humans. That’s why they say to be cautious of falling under its spell.”

Ryubeom, fully absorbed in the story, nodded, and Yeohwi, pleased by his attentive listening, stepped forward with a gentle smile.

“Why do you think a single enchanting trait makes it such a feared yokai?”

“…Because if you’re enchanted, you become bound to the other person?”

“Correct.”

Standing on a hill with the night sea in the background, Yeohwi turned, his black robe billowing like a dream in the wind.

“When you’re enchanted, even though you’re present in this world, you’re no longer yourself. Your mind clouds, and your thoughts fill with the other person…”

His soft, whispering voice spread through Ryubeom’s mind, and for a moment, Ryubeom found himself unable to look away, captivated. All his senses focused on Yeohwi’s every movement.

Just when he thought he’d become accustomed to Yeohwi’s beauty, he realized how foolish that notion was, as he found himself helplessly caught in the moment, his gaze fixed on the way Yeohwi tilted his head, looking down at the sea.

“Your gaze forever drawn to the other…”

Ryubeom couldn’t look away from the reddish hue like a sunset glinting in Yeohwi’s half-lowered eyes.

Whoosh…

A breeze from the sea tousled Ryubeom’s hair. He tried to brush it away quickly, but it only tangled more in his hurried hands. Then, softly, a hand touched his forehead.

“One gentle touch from them, and you melt.”

Ryubeom stared blankly as Yeohwi’s slender fingers brushed his hair aside, leaving his view clear and Yeohwi’s face strikingly close. A warmth lingered from the touch on his forehead, an imprint that stayed vividly.

“Your whole being fills with the other person. Their glance, their touch… you end up yearning for it so deeply that, eventually, you might even offer up your own heart.”

Leaning close, Yeohwi whispered softly, his voice filled with a gentle care.

“That’s why people say to be wary of foxes. Enchantment can be so terrifying.”

Yeohwi’s face was so close their noses nearly touched, his eyes forming the faintest smile. It was a subtle, almost invisible smile—far smaller than his usual picture-perfect smiles, yet somehow even more impactful.

“…”

Ryubeom’s heart plummeted with a heavy thud.

Though Yeohwi soon stepped back, Ryubeom remained frozen in that moment. The memory of Yeohwi’s faint smile was etched into his vision, his mind, even his heart, leaving a powerful aftershock that rippled through his entire body. Breathing felt laborious.

While Ryubeom struggled to catch his breath, Yeohwi continued his explanation casually. He mentioned that exploiting moments of lowered guard made it easier to take control. Ryubeom heard it through one ear, the words drifting out through the other.

“So, you must be careful not to fall under any enchantments.”

Yeohwi’s tone was rather calm. As if everything he had just said was mere information, he advised Ryubeom to be wary of anything that could enchant him, wherever and whenever that might be. He reassured him that the fox clan would never dare harm him, but to remain cautious of other mysterious beings…

“I’ve put in too much effort to let my work go to waste.”

Murmuring almost to himself, Yeohwi then flashed a lighthearted smile, the same one he always wore.

“Anyway, shall we head back? You’ve worked hard today, so make sure to get plenty of rest for tomorrow.”

He mentioned that Ryubeom should have a hearty dinner and a good night’s sleep, extending his hand as if inviting him to come along. Ryubeom glanced at Yeohwi for a moment before hurrying past him, heading downhill without another word.

His pace was so fast that Yeohwi called after him.

“Let’s go together, Young Master.”

But Ryubeom didn’t slow down at all; in fact, his strides grew even more forceful, almost aggressive. Though he walked quickly, the pounding in his chest beat even faster.

His heart was racing wildly.

Ryubeom focused solely on his steps, trying to steady himself, telling himself that his quickened heartbeat was simply due to his brisk pace—though he knew the reasoning was entirely backward.

That evening.

Cheon Ryubeom had deliberately avoided dinner, thinking it would spare him from meeting Ilok’s family. But as soon as he arrived home, Saerok greeted him with a smile. She had just opened the door to let in some fresh air and happened to spot him.

“We were just about to have dessert! Come join us!”

Saying she regretted missing dinner with him, Saerok enthusiastically pulled Ryubeom toward the kitchen, insisting he at least stay for dessert. He tried to decline, saying he wasn’t hungry, but then Saerok’s parents, who were returning from a stroll around the yard, naturally surrounded him and invited him to join as well.

Their insistence made it difficult to refuse, and as Yeohwi caught up, saying, “Young Master, you left me behind and rushed off so quickly…” Ryubeom hastily nodded. For some reason, he felt it would be a terrible idea to be alone with Yeohwi just now.

And Yeohwi’s arrival drew everyone’s attention.

“Oh, Yeohwi! When did you get here? If you had called, we would’ve come to pick you up!”

Ilok greeted him from the living room doorway, and Jimyo followed, waving both hands excitedly. While Ilok and Jimyo had become somewhat accustomed to Yeohwi’s face through Hn Entertainment, Saerok and her parents hadn’t met him before. They knew another guest was expected, but…

Saerok gaped in shock.

“This time it’s a real celebrity…!”

Hearing her confident exclamation, Ilok quickly rushed over to her. After whispering something in her ear, Saerok flinched for a moment, then shook her head vigorously.

“No, there’s no rule against an heir or a company director becoming a celebrity! I’ve seen even priests, demon lords, emperors, and returnees debuting as idols these days!”

“Please, stop saying nonsense…!”

“The fox clan should immediately open up Hn Entertainment’s vault of hidden gems—Mmmpf!”

Ilok clamped a hand over Saerok’s mouth and dragged her back inside. Jimyo laughed awkwardly, trying to smooth things over.

“Saerok’s had a bit to drink… Ha ha, anyhow, we’ve got some fruit ready, so let’s eat!”

Only then did her parents snap out of it and greet Yeohwi. Apologizing for their daughter’s antics, they welcomed him, albeit a bit late. Yeohwi just chuckled, clearly amused by the situation, and nodded before quietly approaching Ryubeom.

“What an entertaining family…”

But before Yeohwi could finish, Ryubeom hurried inside. Practically fleeing, Yeohwi watched him with a curious look before following him in.

Naturally, drinks were included with dessert.

“Since we have special guests, we must serve the best!”

Ilok’s father brought out ginseng wine, traditional liquors, and even some foreign spirits, covering the table with a variety of bottles. Overjoyed to see Ilok and Jimyo after so long, and feeling a duty to show extra hospitality for their guests, he was in high spirits. From Ilok’s attitude, he had quickly realized that one guest was an important colleague, and the other held a significant position in Hn Entertainment.

“Come, come, everyone, take a glass!”

Ryubeom was quietly focusing on his food, only lifting his head in mild surprise. He had tried to sit away from Yeohwi, yet he found himself seated directly across from him, choosing to keep his gaze down on the table instead.

Now twenty years old, Ryubeom had limited experience with alcohol, but he was well-versed in drinking etiquette, a traditional discipline strictly enforced by his tiger clan.

He held the glass with his right hand, supporting it with his left hand beneath, receiving the drink with proper decorum. He lowered his glass to toast with elders, turned his head away to drink, covered his mouth with his left hand, and drank quietly, taking care not to make any sound when swallowing.

When Ryubeom looked up again, he met the fascinated gazes of Ilok and Jimyo.

“Wow, Ryubeom… You really seem like a young master.”

“I was thinking the same. It feels like you’re from some 600-year-old, tradition-rich family. I sensed something refined about you when we ate at the restaurant last time.”

Their admiration made Ryubeom feel self-conscious. Drinking in this manner felt natural, especially since this was his first time sharing a drink with other Suin. Was it really that unusual?

Noticing Ryubeom’s unease, Yeohwi laughed softly.

“Our young master has been well-trained.”

Ryubeom almost glanced at him but managed to keep his gaze lowered. The strange heartbeat he’d felt on the mountain still lingered. Meanwhile, Ilok’s parents were pleasantly impressed, noting they’d never met such a polite friend before.

Ilok suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! Is that why Yeohwi calls Ryubeom ‘young master’? I remember Ryubeom saying it was a joke.”

Jimyo and Saerok looked at Yeohwi with equal curiosity. From the start, Yeohwi had called Ryubeom “young master” and been particularly affectionate, which they had found intriguing. Yeohwi chuckled, saying Ryubeom had told them that, and then offered an explanation.

“Actually, there’s a reason for it. Long ago, the young master saved my life.”

“Saved your life…?”

“Yes. He rescued me from danger. Without his help back then, I wouldn’t be here today. He’s my savior.”

He added that he’d wanted to call Ryubeom “my benefactor,” but Ryubeom had firmly declined, so he settled on “young master.” The listeners were awestruck.

“Wow, there’s an impressive story behind this!”

“Yes. It was on a stormy night… I remember the moment he saved me vividly.”

Yeohwi looked at Ryubeom, and for a moment, Ryubeom forgot to look away, their eyes meeting directly. Despite his efforts to avoid him, they were unexpectedly entangled in each other’s gaze. Yeohwi’s eyes glinted subtly.

“Do you remember that night, young master?”

“….”

Ryubeom managed a slight nod. He’d planned to answer out loud, but his throat tightened, rendering him silent. With his mouth dry, he quickly drank his glass of alcohol.

How could he forget meeting Yeohwi for the first time? That encounter had changed his life profoundly. If he hadn’t saved Yeohwi, they wouldn’t have built their bond. He couldn’t imagine it—no, he didn’t want to imagine it.

Life without Yeohwi now felt inconceivable.

‘…What am I even thinking?’

Ryubeom startled himself with the thought. He’d accepted Yeohwi as a friend, but was he attributing too much significance to him? Even as he questioned himself, he couldn’t dismiss the thought, so he focused on drinking.

“Oh, he drinks well!” Ilok’s father cheered, impressed. He was delighted to see Ryubeom drinking the potent drink with good manners—something he didn’t often see nowadays.

As he continued receiving drinks, the bottle quickly emptied, alarming Ilok when she noticed the accumulating empty bottles on the table.

“Dad! How could you keep feeding him like that? Are you okay, Ryubeom?”

“Oh, I’m fine. I don’t feel that tipsy…”

“But your face is red!”

Ryubeom was slightly puzzled by her remark. Tiger Suin rarely got drunk, and their recovery ability allowed them to metabolize alcohol quickly. He genuinely felt clear-headed, though he did sense a slight warmth.

As he touched his neck, he noted the mild heat. Was this what being tipsy felt like? No, it shouldn’t be. Compared to the potent brews his family often consumed, this drink was relatively mild, and he’d barely had any.

Meanwhile, Ilok’s mother scolded her husband, hitting him hard on the back, asking if Ryubeom had simply been too polite to refuse the drinks. Startled, Ryubeom stood up.

“No, I really don’t mind…”

“Careful,”

But as Ryubeom rose, he suddenly wobbled, nearly falling forward, and Yeohwi reached out to steady him. Then Yeohwi suggested,

“Young master, it seems you’re tipsy. Let’s head to bed.”

“No, Yeohwi… You know I don’t get drunk that easily…”

Cheon Ryubeom felt deeply indignant. He was confident he could recite his family’s regulations flawlessly at this moment. Surely Yeohwi knew he was a direct descendent of the tiger clan! But Yeohwi merely chuckled softly.

“This is how it is. People often don’t realize they’re tipsy until they sway. Why did you stagger if you’re so sober?”

“Well, I just got up too quickly…”

“Alright, if you say so.”

Yeohwi smothered a laugh, amused by the rare sight of a tiger getting tipsy. As Ryubeom attempted to explain again, Yeohwi moved closer and pressed the back of his hand gently to Ryubeom’s cheek.

“Your face is quite warm, but if you’re not tipsy, I’ll take your word for it. Let’s go get some rest.”

In that instant, Ryubeom felt his entire body tense. Was it because Yeohwi was suddenly so close, despite his efforts to maintain distance since they came down from the mountain? Or was he simply surprised—or perhaps truly tipsy…?

His heart raced, and he felt an unfamiliar sensitivity course through him. When Ilok and her father had touched him earlier, he hadn’t felt anything unusual, but now, with Yeohwi’s touch, his body responded strangely.

Ryubeom still believed he wasn’t tipsy. It wasn’t pride or stubbornness; he was genuinely sure. The tiger clan could withstand even deadly poison for hours—he couldn’t be swayed by mere alcohol.

Yet, while his mind felt clear, a peculiar sensation whispered that his body wasn’t quite the same as usual.

“……”

In the unsettling feeling of his heart beating, Ryubeom’s lips just barely moved. It was an entirely new and strange sensation.

As Ryubeom remained silent, the others laughed, assuming he’d finally admitted to being drunk. For the first time, he looked his age—just twenty. Drinking too much, not knowing his own limits, and insisting he was fine; he was almost a textbook example of a young adult’s first real drink.

“Sorry, Ryubeom. I should’ve stopped my dad earlier…”

“Don’t worry, Ryubeom. This is how you learn your limits with drinking,” Saerok said, lifting his glass. Ilok responded with a sharp tone, “It’s clear you haven’t learned yours yet, so please, be quiet.”

Then Ilok apologized to Ryubeom again, but he just looked at them quietly.

His mind felt intact, yet his body felt distant in a strange way.

Perhaps sensing that he was barely holding himself together, Yeohwi let out a soft laugh and gently brushed Ryubeom’s cheek, touching the blush on his skin like he was handling something endearing.

“Now, if the not-drunk young master would let me, let’s head in for some rest?”

“Don’t touch me.”

Ryubeom pushed his hand away, his touch firm and cold. Yeohwi blinked, then asked gently, “Did I upset you?”

“No, it’s not that… ha, no. I should rest now.”

Ryubeom turned and left the room, refusing Yeohwi’s offer to support him and instead walking with determined strides. Before leaving, he remembered to thank Ilok’s family, who looked at him with a bit of surprise as he exited.

Every time Yeohwi approached him, his whole body tensed up. He barely managed to suppress it, but… what was happening?

Once in the guest house he’d been shown to earlier, Ryubeom doused himself with cold water. There were two rooms, one for him and one for Yeohwi, while Ilok and Jimyo were left to sleep in the living room of the main house, despite Ryubeom’s worry. They insisted guests deserved the best.

At the time, he’d felt apologetic, but now he was deeply grateful. Thinking it fortunate to have a space to himself, he kept pouring cold water over his head. His mind was still clear, but his body was filled with an intense warmth.

“Why on earth…”

He couldn’t find an answer. Ever since he’d touched Yeohwi, his body had been reacting oddly, and this lingering warmth wouldn’t go away. It didn’t make sense.

Was it just a sign he was drunk? Maybe the exhaustion from the long day had caught up with him, and perhaps he really was feeling the effects of the alcohol. He didn’t know his own drinking habits, but perhaps his “symptom” was feeling clear-headed while his body warmed up.

That had to be the explanation. Reassuring himself as if trying to convince his own mind, Ryubeom lay down on his mat and closed his eyes, believing that rest would fix it.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

‘…Maybe I’ll think about the Imugi in Mansagul.’

Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the details he’d gathered today. The direction of the wind at the orchard, Saerok’s stories, the strange pond within Mansagul, and the body found in the cave five years ago—all things that might be connected to the eerie rumors about a spirit.

How would he face an Imugi that could detect malice? Should he avoid looking it in the eyes? Like in other myths, maybe a mirror-shield would work.

Did Yeohwi know anything about Imugis?

At the thought of Yeohwi, he shook his head, trying to steer his mind away. But the harder he tried to avoid thinking about him, the more his mind drifted in that direction.

Every detail about Mansagul also brought back images of Yeohwi. The view of him against the backdrop of the sea at night…

Fine, if his mind was determined to keep circling back to Yeohwi, he decided he might as well review the mental techniques Yeohwi had taught him. He recounted the dismantling and disguise techniques and recalled the exact formation of today’s hypnosis spell.

And then, naturally, he remembered today’s training session, how Yeohwi had rescued him from being ensnared by Changgui in the maze. Yeohwi had covered his eyes and whispered calmly, bringing to mind another instance…

…that time on the Han River when Yeohwi had approached him in the same gentle way.

“……”

And the moment when he’d been nearly dragged away by the mermaid, only for Yeohwi to pull him back with a kiss…

Suddenly, Ryubeom sat up, snapping himself out of his thoughts, only to feel his heart race intensely, spreading heat throughout his body. Trying to resist only intensified it, the sensation pulsing through every part of him.

Ryubeom’s breathing grew erratic, his breaths catching sharply, laden with warmth and breaking as if he were on the verge of tears. He buried his face against his knees, trying to stifle the sounds. It was shocking, but he couldn’t deny it any longer.

His body was burning up.

“Ugh…”

He couldn’t understand the cause, but all he wished was for this to disappear. Why was his body reacting this way?

He knew that Suin could experience heat cycles. Typically, it was something females went through, but for Suin, it could affect any gender. Yet he’d learned that with proper control of spiritual energy, one could avoid such instinctual urges. Was this happening because he was “half-baked”? But still, this suddenly? He hadn’t even felt any desire for a mate; why now? If there had been some warning, he might have been better prepared, but even then, it would’ve been terrible. This only seemed to highlight his lack of spiritual control, leaving him feeling embarrassed and increasingly distressed.

How does one end a heat cycle? He had never been taught, as this was something that shouldn’t affect his family line.

“Ah… ugh…”

Ryubeom groaned in discomfort. His tightly clenched lips bled slightly, the metallic taste of blood bringing a moment of clarity. Gritting his teeth even harder, he clenched his fists, the sharp pain of his nails pressing into his palms grounding him slightly.

But it was like throwing a single bucket of water onto a burning house. Just as he was about to rub his forehead against his knees in frustration—

Slide.

“Are you feeling unwell, young master? I heard…”

Yeohwi slid open the door, stepping in with a concerned voice. His words trailed off as he froze. Ryubeom looked up, startled, and felt a rush of shame and distress. Though he was wrapped in his blanket, being caught by Yeohwi at such a vulnerable moment was unbearably embarrassing.

Gathering himself, Ryubeom steadied his breathing and replied as calmly as he could manage.

“No, it’s just… I’m a little dizzy…”

“…”

“I’ll be fine soon, so Yeohwi, please… go to your room.”

“Are you in heat?”

Yeohwi’s blunt question shattered Ryubeom’s composure. The way Yeohwi said it, so direct and unbothered, made him recoil. He shook his head fiercely, unable to show his face.

“N-No, w-what are you talking about…”

“There’s a scent typical of Suin in heat.”

Yeohwi’s tone remained calm as he explained, approaching slowly. Ryubeom instinctively tried to crawl backward, but Yeohwi stepped on the edge of the blanket, pulling it away as he moved forward.

“…!”

Panicked, Ryubeom quickly pulled the blanket up to cover himself, but Yeohwi was already lowering himself, meeting Ryubeom’s gaze. The two of them locked eyes in the dim room.

Though no lights were on, darkness was no obstacle for either of them. Meeting Yeohwi’s gaze in the shadows left Ryubeom breathless. Despite Yeohwi’s calm demeanor, he looked slightly flustered.

Then, unexpectedly, Yeohwi looked away first, letting out a soft sigh.

“This is my fault.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I might have used too much of my energy when I pulled you out at the training ground.”

Yeohwi continued in a steady tone.

“I told you before that foxes can influence others, right? That includes provoking desire. Prolonged contact with fox energy can lead to… arousal.”

“…”

“I believe that when we touched on the Han River, a connection was formed. Because of that, you became more sensitive to my energy.”

His voice was objective, as if explaining a technical matter. Cheon Ryubeom felt his head spinning, barely managing to absorb the information. It wasn’t hard to recall the physical contact on the Han River.

When Yeohwi had kissed him back then, he’d felt the water spirit’s energy being expelled from his body. Was that Yeohwi’s way of infusing his own energy to cleanse him? If his energy had remained within him since then…

That’s why his body had been reacting so differently to Yeohwi. As the realization dawned on him, Ryubeom struggled to ask, clinging to a glimmer of hope that Yeohwi might have a solution.

“Then… how… how do I deal with this?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, so you know a spell to draw out fox energy? Then…”

“No, not a spell…”

Yeohwi shook his head and leaned forward, moving over Ryubeom as he lay back, one hand braced beside him.

Ryubeom looked up, startled, meeting Yeohwi’s gaze from below. He was struck by how beautiful his face was, a thought that felt unbidden, an excuse to convince himself he was under some kind of enchantment. Yeohwi chuckled softly.

It was a quiet laugh, as though he found Ryubeom’s reaction amusing. Ryubeom blinked, feeling his pulse race at the tickling warmth of Yeohwi’s breath against his neck.

With all of Ryubeom’s senses heightened, Yeohwi’s voice slipped gently into his ear.

“I’m going to satisfy your desire.”