Chapter 422: That’s Exactly What Love Is.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 422: That’s Exactly What Love Is.
"Mmmmmm."
Yorang fell into deep thought, a serious expression crossing her face.
It was a topic she had never really considered during her time with the Tang Clan.
"What is he... What is Sun-woo to me...?"
"Do you not know either?"
Hearing Yorang’s murmur, Neung So-hwa asked back with a puzzled look.
She hadn't expected that Yorang herself wouldn't have a proper definition for him.
"Mmm... I don't know..."
Yorang spoke, looking as if she had a headache. There was no simple way to define her relationship with Sun-woo.
At first, they were enemies. Even if her memories had grown hazy after her Marrow Cleansing, he was the enemy who had killed the husband she’d spent half her life with.
Next, he was her protector. He had shielded her when she was at her weakest, exhausted after their massive fight, and stayed by her side until her Inner Core had fully recovered.
Then, he became a companion. For the first time, she left the cramped Godok Hall and traveled the Central Plains with him. She walked on solid ground instead of poison zones, got into scrap-ups at inns, and spent nights roasting delicious food over campfires. She made a friend named Ok-ryeong and even got thrashed by a cranky old man called the Yin-Yang Demon.
After that, he was a friend. The day he entered closed-door meditation, she felt a surge of worry for him for the first time. She was anxious—wondering if he was hurt, or if he was pushing himself too hard.
Soon, she realized that she had developed a deep affection for Sun-woo. And that affection only grew larger while they were apart. Whenever the work at the Jaegyeong Pavilion became difficult, she would miss him and vent her sorrows.
And the day Sun-woo came to retrieve her when she was losing control... she realized it then. The affection she had built up was far greater than she had imagined.
Being with Sun-woo made her happy, and she wanted to stay by his side for a long time. The man who was once her enemy had become an irreplaceable presence in her life.
It was impossible to define someone like that so easily. He was her enemy, her protector, her colleague, her friend, and a precious person she wanted to be with forever.
"If it is difficult to answer, you do not have to force yourself," Neung So-hwa said in a calm tone, observing her. "Not every question requires an immediate answer."
"......But," Yorang began slowly, her eyes sparkling. "I’m curious too. I want to know what Sun-woo is to me."
"So, you have developed an interest?" Neung So-hwa asked, looking intrigued.
"Yeah!" Yorang nodded her small head.
"Then I shall help you," Neung So-hwa said, her eyes glinting.
"How?"
"Simply answer my questions."
"Really?"
"Yes. As you answer them one by one, you will realize how you truly feel about Sun-woo." Neung So-hwa spoke with confidence.
"Okay, okay!" Yorang giggled.
"Do you like Sun-woo?"
"I do! He’s terrible at keeping his promises, but I think even that’s part of his charm!" Yorang nodded slightly as she spoke.
"How much do you like him?"
"Mmm... I can't measure it... There’s nothing to compare it to."
"Hmm... That makes sense. Then I shall change the question. If someone were to threaten Sun-woo, what would you do?" Neung So-hwa nodded in agreement and continued.
"Is there anyone who can threaten Sun-woo?" Yorang asked back, looking as if the idea was absurd.
The Sun-woo she knew was like a lethal weapon that transcended humanity. What kind of human would dare threaten him?
"This is a hypothetical. Sun-woo is strong, but he is not the strongest."
"I guess... Mmm... True... There are people even more monstrous than him..."
Yorang thought of the Yin-Yang Demon, the strongest human she had encountered so far. Sun-woo was powerful, but she felt the Yin-Yang Demon could easily beat the dust out of him.
"Yes. Imagine that 'monstrous human' is threatening Sun-woo. What would you do?"
"I’d probably cry."
"Pardon?"
"Because if it’s that old geezer, he’d definitely beat me up along with Sun-woo!"
Yorang began to shiver, a look of horror on her face. She remembered being beaten nearly to death by the Yin-Yang Demon under the guise of 'etiquette training.'
"Ugh... uuu..." Yorang let out a short, fearful groan.
"Yorang, that is not the point," Neung So-hwa said, looking exasperated. "The point is what action you would take in a situation where Sun-woo is threatened."
"I told you. I’d cry."
"........I mean, is there no option like taking the blow for him... protecting him... or buying him time to escape?" Neung So-hwa asked cautiously, her voice full of bewilderment.
"That’s impossible," Yorang said, shaking her head. "It’d be like a volcano erupting right in front of me. No matter what I do, I’d just end up dead."
Yorang’s expression was grim. The Yin-Yang Demon was like a natural disaster. If a being like that decided to attack, there would be no 'protecting' anyone; you’d just be a corpse instantly. Making a choice in that situation made no sense.
".........."
Neung So-hwa fell silent, her mouth shut tight. She was baffled by Yorang’s unexpected answer. Usually, when asked such a question, people gave sacrificial answers—like protecting the person with their life or stalling for time. How could she give up on the situation so easily?
Did I ask the question wrong?
Neung So-hwa reconsidered the question with a serious face, wondering if she had made a mistake.
"Ah! So-hwa, So-hwa, So-hwa!" Yorang suddenly called out.
"Speak."
"Now that I think about it, there is something I’d do for Sun-woo!"
"Is that so? I knew it." Neung So-hwa smiled, looking pleased.
"Yeah! Yeah! I’d kill him."
"Wh-what?"
"If that old geezer is serious, Sun-woo will definitely die a painful death... If that’s the case, it’s better if I kill him with my own hands."
Yorang spoke with a firm expression, her eyes filled with a resolute will.
"Sigh."
Neung So-hwa clutched her forehead. It seemed it would take a very long time for Yorang to properly define her feelings for Sun-woo.
"I shall just ask a different question."
"Okay!"
After that, Neung So-hwa continued to ask various questions, though she suffered a headache every time Yorang gave one of her eccentric answers.
*
Creek—
"Ga-ryeo~ Ga-ryeo~"
Yorang swung the door open and called out for Madam Un Ga-ryeo.
"Oh, Lady Yorang."
"Welcome, Yorang."
Two beautiful women greeted Yorang with bright smiles as she entered.
"Oh? Ok-ryeong, you’re here too?"
It was Madam Un Ga-ryeo and Ok-ryeong.
"I came by for a little chat. What brings you here, Yorang?" Ok-ryeong asked with a graceful smile.
"Mmm! I came to ask Ga-ryeo something!" Yorang replied energetically.
"Ask me something?" Ok-ryeong asked, curious.
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Should I leave you two alone?"
"No, no! Since you’re here, Ok-ryeong, you should listen too!" Yorang shook her head.
"Alright then." Ok-ryeong nodded, her eyes curving into a pleasant smile.
"What is it, Lady Yorang?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo asked.
"Wait a second!"
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Yorang shouted urgently and hurried over. Then, she dove straight into Madam Un Ga-ryeo’s embrace.
Squish.
The soft, plush sensation of the woman's tits pressed against Yorang.
"I want to talk from here..." Yorang said, looking relaxed.
"Hehe... as much as you like." Madam Un Ga-ryeo laughed softly, finding Yorang adorable.
"Stroke my head too..." Yorang acted spoiled again.
"Yes, yes..."
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
Madam Un Ga-ryeo began to gently stroke Yorang’s hair.
"You see... I was talking to So-hwa..."
"Yes~"
"And I think I might love Sun-woo."
"What!?"
"Pardon!?"
The two women gasped in shock at Yorang’s sudden declaration. It was completely unexpected.
"Wh-what did you two talk about?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo asked, her voice trembling with bewilderment.
"So-hwa asked me what Sun-woo is to me," Yorang explained calmly.
"And...?"
"So I told her... that when I’m with him... I’m comfortable... and happy... and when he scolds me... I’m sad... and even if we fight... I want to talk to him again right away... and I want to be with him... forever."
Yorang recalled what she had told Neung So-hwa, speaking haltingly.
"Then So-hwa said... maybe that’s 'yearning.'" Yorang’s clear eyes sparkled. "What do you think, Ga-ryeo? Ok-ryeong? Do I yearn for Sun-woo?"
Yorang looked at the two women, her face full of genuine curiosity.
"..........."
"..........."
The two women remained silent, having no idea what to say. Yorang, feeling yearning? She wasn't human; she was a spiritual being. How could she feel human love? Their species were entirely different.
"I was so curious that I came here. What is this feeling I have?" Yorang lifted her head slightly and looked at Madam Un Ga-ryeo. Her expression demanded an answer.
Despite her urging, the two women didn't respond immediately, lost in deep thought.
"I'm sorry..." Ok-ryeong finally spoke up. "I don't think this is something I can judge for you. I believe emotions are something you judge for yourself. It’s not for someone else to define; it’s your own realization."
"But I don't know what love is," Yorang said, looking puzzled.
"Then why don't we learn about love?"
"Learn about it?"
"Yes. I’ll tell you what love is." Ok-ryeong smiled gently.
"Tell me! What is love!" Yorang’s eyes widened.
"In my opinion, love is a very mysterious emotion. That’s why it’s hard to define properly. Just thinking about someone can make you feel as happy as if you owned the whole world, but the mere thought of them leaving can plunge you into a deep sadness, as if you’ve lost everything." Ok-ryeong spoke in a steady tone.
"Does it control your emotions?"
"Yes, in a way. Because the single emotion of love gives birth to so many other feelings."
".....Mmm... it’s hard." Yorang looked troubled. Ok-ryeong’s explanation felt vague to her.
"Hmm, shall we try an example? Yorang, how do you feel when Sun-woo praises you?"
"I’m happy! Totally happy! I want more!"
"Then, on the other hand, how do you feel when Sun-woo scolds you?"
"I feel like he’s picking a fight over nothing again. Sometimes he’s so childish!"
"Hehe... then, do you dislike Sun-woo?"
".....It’s not... that I dislike him..."
Yorang hesitated. She felt Sun-woo was mischievous, but she had never once felt that she disliked him. In fact, she even found his mischievous side entertaining.
"Then let me change the question. What if Sun-woo had to go back to the North Sea?"
"..........."
Yorang fell into thought, imagining Sun-woo leaving. Soon, her face began to turn pale. Just the thought of him leaving made her stomach churn and her chest feel tight.
"How do you feel?" Ok-ryeong asked again, checking on her.
"It feels... strange," Yorang said, looking dejected.
"Strange how?"
"Thinking about Sun-woo leaving... my stomach... it’s churning... and my chest feels tight... and I feel gloomy." Yorang began to describe her honest feelings.
"What if Sun-woo had already left?"
"..........."
Yorang fell into thought again at Ok-ryeong’s hypothetical. Then, she spoke slowly.
"I’d be sad... so sad... so very sad... I think I’d miss him every day... I’d think of him every day... I’d feel empty."
Yorang’s voice trembled as if she were about to cry. The thought of Sun-woo being gone filled her with an immense sadness from deep within.
"That’s it," Ok-ryeong said softly.
"Huh?" Yorang asked, confused.
"That’s exactly what love is," Ok-ryeong said with conviction.
"Lo...ve?"
Yorang asked back, a look of utter bewilderment on her face.