chapter 6: I have to endure it…

Cheon Hye-rin had arranged the dinner party at the time.

It was a natural course of action.

It was a little early, but that was how much she wanted to introduce him.

A person who had made great contributions in the war.

In a situation where the leader of the Demonic Cult, who was no different from the foundation of the cult, was ambushed, the merit of protecting him at the cost of one’s own life was by no means small.

At the same time, those who had a considerable position within the Demonic Cult were all curious about the man named ‘Yu Jin’ without exception.

A man who protected the leader at the cost of his life.

If such a man entered the Demonic Cult, everyone would think this.

He may have been someone who could give up his life for a greater ambition.

He could have been a hidden gem.

Even if that wasn’t the case, he had to be rewarded as someone who had great loyalty to the leader.

‘…That, it would be a different emotion.’

Perhaps others couldn’t even imagine it.

That man who had taken Cheon Hye-rin’s body and mind hostage.

Not loyalty, not ambition.

No, in a way, it could be seen as ambition.

Because he had made Cheon Hye-rin, the peerless Sword Empress, his woman.

Now, she had become a body that couldn’t live without him.

Cheon Hye-rin couldn’t honestly admit her feelings for Yu Jin, but she was aware that she couldn’t live without him.

That’s how everyone gathered for the dinner party.

Cheon Hye-rin was still trying to calm her beating heart.

The touch of his hand that had reached her ear was vivid.

The tingling sensation still remained on her large chest.

Cheon Hye-rin didn’t know how to release her feelings at the time.

‘…Originally, I would have immediately pushed him away with revulsion.’

Now, she can’t do that.

Now that she has become a body that can’t live without that man.

Because she had said everything she had to say… and everything she shouldn’t have said……

Her unusually long eyelashes fluttered, not knowing how to read the atmosphere.

Her reflection in the mirror showed her face, the tips of her ears dyed red. She saw herself as an unmistakable woman.

Cheon Hye-rin’s pure white face flushed.

However, the energy quickly subsided with the voice that came from the side.

“By the way, what are we going to do with those bastards who need to be torn apart?”

The one who narrowly came and rescued the subordinates who had been battered this time.

Elder

Yeomwanginma

Cheon Geun-hwi.

His face and arms were covered in numerous scars.

His furrowed brow, befitting of him, was even more noticeable.

A fierce atmosphere permeated the room. Cheon Hye-rin opened her mouth.

“Don’t create such a heavy atmosphere. We gathered here to celebrate, not to hold a meeting to catch and kill the enemies.”

“Now is the time to counterattack when their forces have suffered great losses.”

“Our side has suffered considerable damage as well. I’m not saying I don’t understand your opinion, but it’s not a wise decision to rush to kill the enemy without thinking about the future.”

Cheon Hye-rin cut off the conversation with a single stroke, meaning that she wouldn’t bring up this topic any further.

It was certain that their damage was enormous. Now that they had nearly destroyed the once mighty Five Great Families, the morale of the Demonic Cult had reached its peak.

The damage was just as great on this side as well. The forces that could fully engage in battle right now were less than half of what they were.

The fact that the leader of the Demonic Cult had experienced danger was, of course, a chilling event for those who served her.

Because they had pride.

Of course, Cheon Hye-rin had no intention of easily passing over this incident.

However, she didn’t want to create a harsh atmosphere even at a place prepared to introduce Yu Jin’s existence to her subordinates and to reward him.

“1”
“1”

Cheon Hye-rin put a small piece of meat into her mouth with an emotionless look.

It was her hope that their anger would cool down quickly.

Also, in her honest heart, it may have been a little early.

She wanted to be alone with him right away. There was no way she would have the time to make eye contact and explain properly.

“Sect Leader. By the way, what reward have you decided to bestow?”

A man with a thick beard asked Cheon Hye-rin with a benevolent expression.

He was the one who had known Cheon Hye-rin the longest after Ma Roe.

Elder

Sura Sinjang

Cheol Mu-san

Apparently, he was quite pleased to see him sitting upright.

From the beginning, he had regarded Cheon Hye-rin as his own daughter.

Now he had risked his life for such a woman and returned from the brink of death. How could he hate her?

The people around him then voiced their opinions.

“It would be best to give him a mystical medicine.”

“His body is certainly sturdy, so the key will be whether he can absorb the mystical medicine well.”

…

“How about the Hwan-dan Pill of the Five Great Families that we obtained this time?”

“We did acquire quite a bit of Gong Cheong Seok-yu during this war…”

The conference room was filled with tension. Cheon Hye-rin was sitting at the center of it.

With a cold gaze and a resolute voice, she directed the strategies and led her subordinates.

However, as time passed, a sudden pain struck her.

It was an aftereffect.

The pain sharply pierced through her body.

Cheon Hye-rin suddenly felt her vision blurring.

It was fortunate that he had protected her, so it ended with just this much.

Originally, the wounds would have been even more severe.

It was such a fierce battle, so it was nothing strange, but… the problem was that it had come so suddenly.

At the same time, Cheon Hye-rin recognized that she was in front of her subordinates. She bit her lip.

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. Her expression wavered momentarily. She quickly swallowed that emotion.

She suppressed the unpleasant sensation.

It seemed like she would have to endure until the end of the dinner party.

She couldn’t show weakness in the current situation.

Cheon Hye-rin was the leader.

She was an existence with the weight of maintaining an unwavering appearance.

She took a breath and bit her lip tightly as if trying to ignore the pain. She slightly turned her head, afraid to be seen and maintain her usual composed look.

While one of the elders was giving his next opinion, she clenched her fingers tightly and grabbed the armrest of the chair.

The wound covered with thin cloth throbbed, and a wave of pain rose, enveloping her whole body in a momentary ache.

The words of a subordinate trying to lower his voice faded into her ears, and she took a deep breath. Whenever she felt gazes focused on her, she controlled her expression.

But the pain didn’t subside easily. When she felt as if the wound had reopened, she bit her lip tightly.

She focused on maintaining a cold gaze and finishing her words. She leaned her injured body deep into the chair and tried not to lose the overwhelming gaze that dominated the crowd.

However, every time she moved, a sharp pain was transmitted from the injured area, and thin beads of sweat began to form on Cheon Hye-rin’s forehead.

As her subordinates watched, Cheon Hye-rin suddenly took a gasp of breath. She gritted her teeth and maintained a cold gaze.

So that no one would notice the pain flowing beyond her expression. But even at that moment, the fingers gripping the armrest were so strong that they turned white.

“1”
“1”

Cheon Hye-rin looked at Yu Jin for a moment.

He was still staring at her openly.

Their gazes were fixed.

She didn’t know what he was thinking.

The subordinates noticed that Cheon Hye-rin’s expression had subtly changed, but they didn’t know what it was because she immediately regained her composure.

“…!”

But at the same time, Cheon Hye-rin felt an even more severe pain in her injured area.

She had been forcibly enduring it, and the wound had become more severe.

Her hand unconsciously tried to cover the area near the wound, but she stopped immediately.

Instead, she resolutely put her hand down and calmly looked at her subordinates.

She took a deep breath and calmly continued her instructions.

It seemed like she would have to endure further in order not to show any pain until the end.

-Tak.

But at the same time, Yu Jin got up from his seat.

He put down the tableware in front of him and opened his mouth, watching their reactions.

“…My body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so I can’t eat. May I be excused and leave for a bit?”

“Since you even used the innate pure energy, it’s understandable.”

“Why don’t we go in too? We came out too suddenly… First of all, I’ll prepare the Hwan-dan Pill.”

“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”

Cheon Hye-rin felt a strange emotion as she watched him.

He, who had been glancing at her all along.

Got up from his seat so perfectly.

Thanks to him, Cheon Hye-rin no longer had to frown inwardly and endure the aftereffects.

She placed her hand on her large chest and thought.

….It must be a coincidence.
“1”
“1”

Cheon Hye-rin momentarily doubted what she was thinking.

Murim people are generally known to have no interest in other people’s bodies.

Especially if they are strong.

Worrying is more poisonous.

Doubting strength is a humiliation here, so even though there are people who worry about her, even here, it is very rare for them to openly express it.

…But, if that’s not as a Murim person, but as a lover.

The word lover makes Cheon Hye-rin’s heart sink.

She can’t breathe well.

She struggled to catch her breath repeatedly.

“…No. This is… unnecessarily, a misunderstanding… that’s all.”

If that’s not the case…

If not.

What should I do….

But, as if driving a wedge into such a hesitant mind.

His voice was heard from beyond the door.

-“I don’t know how you saw through it, but I was also aware that Cheon Hye-rin’s condition wasn’t good. The reason you got up quickly from your seat earlier must have been for that reason.”

As expected… everything, for her sake…

-“But in a place where subordinates and elders gather, for the sake of the Sword Empress… I didn’t know that you would refuse a mystical medicine that ordinary Murim people would only see once in their lives.”

-“And after investigating, I found out that you’ve been hiding your skills and jumping into the Demonic Cult so well. It was hard to find you.”
“”

-“At first, I was suspicious. I wondered if you were using a lure, or if you were plotting some scheme to achieve a grand ambition. But at some point, I became certain. No, I should say that it would be strange if you weren’t.”

-“You must be in love with the Sword Empress, is that not so?”

“!!!!”

Thump, thump, her heart beats even faster.

Clinging to martial arts so much, training for so long, and wanting to meet someone even after entering the Demonic Cult.

…In the Demonic Cult, which is the most dangerous time. In a very strange way. Hiding his strength.

-“You don’t intend to answer. Even so, it’s useless. I’m already certain.”
“”
-“…Are you going to stop me?”

-“Did I dare to think that you had such feelings for the Sword Empress?”

-“I am not your love rival. I certainly do not harbor such feelings for her, but…”
“” “
-“Goodness, I’ve been had. I admit your ambition.”
“1”
-“There has never been anyone who has shown such ambition against me, Ma Roe, until now.”

The reason is, there is no need to say it twice.

That much- there was something precious.

Even in front of Ma Roe, he boldly revealed his feelings.

It was by no means easy to say that Cheon Hye-rin was his woman in front of a warrior who was several times stronger.

But even so… that man,

-“The existence of Cheon Hye-rin must be that precious to you.

-“…That’s.”

Drove a wedge.

Once, her heart beats greatly.

Much- more painful than before.

It was rather counterproductive.

It’s because he was worried about her.

For just that reason……

Her breathing quickens. Her heart pounds like crazy.

If Yu Jin had heard her innermost thoughts, he would have been very embarrassed.

But Cheon Hye-rin didn’t show it on the outside. Desperately.

‘…No. I shouldn’t be swayed by my emotions too much…’

I need to push him away a little. If I accept everything, I’ll fall in and won’t be able to return.

I had to control my expression.

Cheon Hye-rin lowered her head for a moment, making such intentions insignificant. Her breathing was getting faster.

Cheon Hye-rin bit her lip and barely erased such thoughts.

Anyway… I knew it.

From now on, the more she is swayed by this man, the more she will feel these emotions.

It was fortunate that she was sitting in a chair. If she had been standing, she might have staggered and collapsed.

But.

He took it one step further.

He grabbed her wavering heart tightly with his hand and whispered ticklishly in her ear.

-“…That’s right. I am in love with the Sword Empress. She’s more precious than my life…- Please keep that in mind.”

Her breathing becomes even more difficult.

Her heart is pounding like crazy.

‘…Ugh, Yu Jin… you are… really,’

Now… I can’t control it anymore.

Because it was the heart of a woman who had been conquered long ago.

Just- I looked at his face for a moment from afar.

There was confidence and strength in that place. A truth without a single shake. An undeniable ‘love’ and a movement that only comes out when protecting a precious existence…

Beyond the tips of her ears, a burning sensation spreads throughout her body.

She looks down at her body in a way that surprises even herself for a moment.

So that the pain is no longer felt.

Her body and mind have now become his.

‘…A feeling of being an object.’

Cheon Hye-rin murmured lowly.

She falls deeply.

It’s not a bad feeling.

It doesn’t matter if I’m swayed by my emotions.

…He was a very lovable person.

Now everything was good.

Even the passing flowers now seemed beautiful.

Now, I won’t be able to control such an expression every time I meet him.

My whole pure white face was burning, so I didn’t dare to look in the mirror.

“1”

Companion.

Husband.

…Then, will I soon regard Yu Jin as my husband?

At the moment I imagined that, my heart ached.