The young monk turned his head at Han Seojin's words.
Chaeha peeked out from behind Han Seojin's thigh, her eyes filled with worry.
And only then could she finally exhale in relief.
Half-lidded eyes, dim and hazy as if veiled in gray.
It wasn't hard to guess that he was blind.
His unfocused pupils wandered aimlessly in the air, unable to fix on her.
Though relieved, Chaeha sensed that the true test was only beginning. She shrank her presence even further, steadying her breath. As if trying to erase her existence entirely, she withdrew all her senses inward.
"Benefactor. You..."
Han Seojin seemed to already know the monk.
Now she understood why he had led her here with such confidence.
The monk tilted his head slightly and continued softly.
"It's late. I was so absorbed in meditation that I didn't even notice the silence all around."
"The air is crisp. You should head inside now."
Chaeha clung tighter to Han Seojin's leg.
The monk was blind, but every time that clouded gaze seemed to brush past her, her heart pounded as if it might burst.
Did the monk know?
That in this space he couldn't see, a renowned latecomer of the world was crouched like a dog, clinging to a man's leg.
That a fellow follower of the Buddha's teachings was slumped in such depraved degradation.
"Benefactor. How late is it? Has the moon risen?"
"It's high in the sky. It's truly late at night."
"I see. Thank you for the warning, but why are you out here at such a late hour?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I was taking a stroll."
"...I sense a presence, but are you alone?"
Her breath caught for a moment.
Chaeha gripped Han Seojin's pant leg more roughly.
No matter how well she hid her internal energy, a person's presence wasn't so easily concealed.
The faint sound of breathing. The rustle of clothing.
Even without being a martial artist, anyone could easily distinguish between one person and two.
Han Seojin felt Chaeha's tense grip and placed a hand on her head.
It was as if he were telling her not to worry.
He gently leaned her anxious head against his thigh and spoke.
"No. I came out with... my dog."
At those words, Chaeha felt a thrill that nearly melted her.
The more casually he referred to her, the more intense the sensation grew.
She had never imagined herself as someone who enjoyed being treated so roughly.
But that was the reality. Chaeha was delighted by Han Seojin's words.
"A dog... Yes, it would make a fine companion on sleepless nights."
"Haha, indeed. Lately, my dog seems troubled, always quick to anger."
"Probably because it followed you all the way to distant Song Mountain. It would have been more comfortable left at home."
"But my dog won't leave me be. It's troublesome how it trails after me everywhere."
Han Seojin said it in jest, but Chaeha felt a pang inside.
It was true she had come here for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly... but her extreme reluctance to part from him was also a fact, even if Han Seojin didn't know it.
"A loyal dog indeed."
"Yes, that's right."
"That's what makes dogs so endearing."
"Exactly."
Throughout the exchange, Han Seojin kept stroking Chaeha's head.
At times, his fingertips trailed down to her chin, subtly tickling and disrupting her breath.
The monk rose, leaning on the staff beside him, and said to Han Seojin.
"May I perhaps pet your dog as well, Benefactor?"
Even Han Seojin seemed taken aback by the request.
His surprise made Chaeha's body stiffen rigidly.
"Yes?"
"I like dogs too... I'm curious what kind it is. It seems so quiet now—probably a gentle one. I'd just like to pat it once."
Han Seojin looked down at Chaeha.
Chaeha looked up at him, still clutching his leg.
Leather clothes on her limbs.
A short monastic robe revealing glimpses of her pale, round hips.
She shook her head desperately.
Begging him not to allow it.
She didn't think Han Seojin would permit it, but he was always capable of the unexpected.
Unable to predict his actions, she made her opinion clear.
Han Seojin looked at Chaeha and smiled.
Then he turned to the monk and said.
"...No."
Refusing the light request, the monk tilted his head.
Han Seojin said with a playful tone.
"My dog is a bit fierce. It might bite."
"Hoho, Benefactor, I can handle that much. I have quite the affinity with dogs. I can't contain this budding curiosity."
Han Seojin looked down at Chaeha again, teasing her with his eyes.
"...Even so, he wants to touch you?"
Chaeha shook her head vehemently again.
Absolutely not. No way.
With an expression that blurred the line between joke and sincerity, Han Seojin nodded toward her.
"If you really hate it, let him know yourself."
How was she supposed to do that?
Speaking would give her away for sure, and barking like a dog would wound her pride too much.
"Benefactor. It'll be fine. Let me see."
The monk tapped the ground with his staff and drew closer.
Chaeha endlessly fretted over whether to bark and drive him off or stay silent.
Her body began to tremble.
With each approaching step of the monk, her chest tightened.
She opened her mouth, but couldn't bring herself to make a dog sound.
Even uttering a single "woof" was utterly terrifying.
Above all, knowing she couldn't mimic a dog perfectly—and thus the monk wouldn't be fooled— she kept her mouth open but silent.
In the meantime, the monk stood before Han Seojin.
He was a blind monk, but this was the first time she'd been near another man in such a vulgar state.
She hated it madly, yet thinking of it as building trust with Han Seojin...
"Let's see..."
The staff probed the ground and lightly tapped near her knee.
"There you are."
Chaeha flinched and burrowed deeper behind Seojin's leg.
A suppressed moan escaped as "Eut."
Fortunately, the faint sound didn't arouse much suspicion.
Really?
Chaeha thought as she eyed the approaching hand.
Really, Clan Leader? You're handing me over to this monk?
Conversely, Han Seojin's eyes were saying.
Bark a "woof."
Chaeha squeezed her eyes shut. She loathed that of thought hand touching her—it gave her chills.
Even as a devout practitioner, it was the same.
...
The moment she opened her mouth...
Tak.
Of course, nothing of the sort happened.
Han Seojin was simply a master at teasing Chaeha, wanting only to see her humiliated expression.
Grabbing the monk's wrist, Han Seojin said.
"I'm sorry. My dog looks ready to bite, so no further. Truly, it's a ferocious one—I'm worried."
"...Hm, I see. Forcing even a beast isn't right."
"Yes. Besides..."
Han Seojin continued with a faint smile.
"I don't like others touching my dog either."
"...Eut."
Chaeha buried her face in the back of Han Seojin's thigh again.
He would never know, not even on his deathbed, how deeply those words—lightly laced with possessiveness—shook her heart.
She understood now; he had never once considered handing her over.
"Benefactor. You could have said that from the start."
"My apologies. I tried refusing politely for no reason."
"Oh dear, then I was the rash one. I didn't read your intent. Hohoho, I do love dogs so."
"No, no. It was my fault for not being straightforward."
"Still, such deep affection. I didn't expect you'd refuse even another's touch. Your dog has a good master."
The monk spoke with a clear laugh.
Han Seojin looked down at Chaeha.
Chaeha turned to meet the eyes of Han Seojin gazing down at her.
He said.
"...I'm trying to be a good master."
The young monk then tapped his way into the distance, and Chaeha let out a deep sigh of relief.
With the tension released, her limbs trembled weakly.
The relief and liberation at the end were deliriously happy.
It felt much like taking a sect examination.
Trembling and tense beforehand, but afterward came the refreshment and pride of it being over...
"...Of course, her recent sect trial had been nothing but pain, one way or another."
Han Seojin also seemed to release his tension with a sigh.
He continued stroking her hair.
"...You did well."
He said with a proud expression.
Praise for successfully completing this immoral act.
They had accomplished this forbidden deed together, through each other's strength.
It wasn't fully over yet, but the trust it built was undeniable.
"Chaeha, you did well."
Chaeha, still trembling, touched the ground and nodded.
Had his fear of her lessened a bit?
She hoped so. She was sacrificing her entire body to show him her trust.
They passed by a Buddha statue.
The moment Chaeha, collared around the neck, looked at it, she recalled urinating atop that statue in the past.
Feeling that dizzying shame again, she continued crawling on the ground.
The two descended back to the village at the foot of Song Mountain.
She could sense the play drawing to its close.
As Chaeha crawled, she glanced at her leash.
A dog collar leading her like livestock.
Utterly humiliating to a person, yet she couldn't fathom why it felt like holding hands.
As long as this collar was around her neck, she felt there was nothing to fear.
Then, threading carefully between inns, they faced the widest road they had traversed so far.
Chaeha was sure Han Seojin would take another path.
"Stay here."
Sure enough, Han Seojin stepped forward as if checking the street.
The odd thing was that he had let go of the leash.
This collar, once humiliating, now left her feeling empty without his hold.
Chaeha couldn't understand it, but she hid her body between the inns as he said.
"...Huh?"
But Han Seojin kept walking away.
Farther and farther, with no sign of turning back.
"Clan Leader..."
Chaeha whispered, but it scattered into the night air.