Chapter 40

Jeong Charyeon was surrounded.

The people surrounding her had completely black bodies and faces, and their eyes were pure white with no pupils. They were truly like shadows.

Wielding long fingernails, the beasts charged. The shadows were clearly a mix of males and females. There wasn't a specific way to distinguish between them, but that was the feeling.

Every time their claws scratched her body, she felt a tingling pain.

Her whole body was being torn apart, and blood flowed.

Beyond the beasts, far away, someone was standing.

It was Jeok Leegeon.

Here, I'm here.

Jeong Charyeon called out to him as if screaming.

"What? What did you say?"

Instead of just answering so leisurely, he should hurry up and help her.

"I can't hear you well. Say it again."

Help me!

"I'll help you when you get up."

What?

At that moment, Jeong Charyeon opened her eyes wide.

The fragrant scent of medicine stimulated the tip of her nose. Her whole body ached as if she had been beaten.

Damn dream.

She tossed and turned before finally falling asleep at dawn. The fight with Kwon Hyuk-gi kept replaying in her mind, making it impossible to sleep. The scene of Jeok Leegeon carrying her on his back and singing to her suddenly came to mind.

Just thinking about it made her face hot.

Then, a voice from beside her.

"Okay, what do you need help with?"

Huh?

Jeong Charyeon slowly turned her head towards the sound.

A medicine bowl was being offered.

"Drink."

Jeok Leegeon was grinning as he held out the medicine bowl.

Jeong Charyeon, who had unconsciously accepted it, was once again shocked.

This is my room. And even my bed?

Jeong Charyeon's mouth dropped open in surprise and disbelief.

"Don't shout. You'll spill the medicine."

Jeong Charyeon instinctively and quickly wrapped herself in the blanket.

And she hurriedly looked down at her body. Nothing was wrong. Or, at least, it didn't seem like anything was wrong.

Jeok Leegeon brazenly added.

"If you're asking how I got in, it's simple. The door was open. I saw yesterday that your skills aren't that great anyway. From now on, make sure to lock the door before you sleep."

"Hey--"

Jeong Charyeon shouted.

"First, drink this and then draw your sword or whatever."

"What is this?"

"Doesn't your body ache like you've been beaten?"

"......"

"It's because you used muscles you don't normally use while you were tense. If you don't loosen them up right away, your muscles will get sick. That's fatal for a Martial Artist."

Jeok Leegeon was serious, as if he were a doctor.

Jeong Charyeon stared at him for a moment before gulping down the offered medicine. It seemed like it would be very bitter, but it tasted better than she thought.

But that's that,

Slap--

As soon as she put down the medicine bowl, Jeong Charyeon slapped Jeok Leegeon's cheek mercilessly.

Jeok Leegeon, with a handprint on his cheek, looked like he was about to cry.

"That hurts."

"I hit you so it would hurt. So you'll remember it in your body. Entering a woman's room without permission, peeking at her while she's sleeping, that's a bad thing."

"I understand."

Jeok Leegeon's feigned tearfulness made her feel a pang of sympathy. He really could become an actor.

"Get out now!"

Jeok Leegeon left with a dejected look on his face.

Just when did he come here?

No, then were the voices I heard in my dream all real?

Oh, I can't live like this.

Having her sleeping appearance exposed is something a woman really doesn't want. Jeong Charyeon shook her head. And on the other hand, she felt strangely unfamiliar with herself for only getting this angry.

If it had been another man, she would have drawn her sword without question.

Is it affection born of resentment?

Jeong Charyeon sat on the bed.

"Sigh--"

What happened last night felt like a dream. Jeong Charyeon looked down at her right hand.

Murder.

Even if Jeok Leegeon killed him, and even that isn't entirely clear, she was still an accomplice in yesterday's events. He was a guy who deserved to die, but murder is still murder.

Is this how everyone starts?

It was a strange feeling. Calm yet excited, regretful yet proud of the fact that she had survived, these contradictory feelings made her heart race.

After washing her face with cold water, she felt like she had woken up completely.

When she finished washing her face and came back into the room, Hyang Yi had laid out her clothes.

"Good morning."

"Yes."

"Oh, and Young Master Jeok was brewing medicine all last night."

"What?"

Jeong Charyeon turned to look at Hyang Yi in surprise.

"He even went to the doctor to buy the medicinal herbs himself. Well, he said it was because he couldn't sleep, though."

Jeong Charyeon was stunned for a moment.

"He didn't leave his spot even once until he went out briefly at dawn. He was really sincere."

"Really?"

"Yes. I saw it, and the sponsors all saw it too."

Ah, if I had known, I wouldn't have slapped him.

He's truly a man who is difficult to predict.

As she was about to put on her white Martial attire, Jeok Leegeon's words suddenly came to mind.

-White Martial attire isn't practical. It looks terrible when blood splatters on it, and it's easy to spot when you're hiding somewhere. Of course, it's pretty, though.

Jeong Charyeon opened the closet in one corner.

"Young Miss, why are you going there? Those are just the clothes you used to wear."

The clothes Jeong Charyeon took out were dark blue Martial attire.

Jeong Charyeon smiled at Hyang Yi, who was staring with a strange look on her face.

"Sometimes a change is necessary, right?"