14
Ep 14
I moved closer to Cheon Hyerin, who was still flustered, and took her hand.
Our fingers intertwined.
“…Ah.”
She stiffened at first—
Then slowly relaxed, understanding my intent.
Now—
She didn’t push me away.
Not even for show.
It meant that when we were alone—
This much closeness was allowed.
“…This is getting troublesome.”
I glanced at her.
Even after we stopped—
She didn’t let go of my arm.
Holding onto it tightly, like something precious.
“…Yujin.”
Her face—
Completely softened.
When I moved closer, her eyes trembled.
Her cheeks flushed deeply.
Her ears twitched slightly toward me.
The Sword Empress—
Who had stood undefeated on countless battlefields—
Was now clinging to my arm, unsure of what to do.
“….”
Her trembling gaze stayed fixed on me.
She tried to speak—
But couldn’t.
Her lips parted, then closed again.
Hesitating.
The strong, resolute woman was gone—
Replaced by someone deeply in love.
“…Others might come soon.”
“…!”
At that, I gently let go.
She released me a moment later.
“…I had no choice. I just needed to calm down…”
“…?”
“That wasn’t directed at you. My heart was just… too loud.”
“…Was it that obvious?”
“No! Not yours—mine… my heart…”
“…Do you want to feel mine too?”
The words slipped out.
Without thinking.
“….”
She hesitated.
Then—
“…Alright.”
“….”
“…Wait. I need to remove this first.”
“…Your gloves?”
Her expression turned serious.
“This is a rare chance to touch you. I won’t let something like this get in the way.”
…She was completely serious.
Her gloves—
A symbol.
Of leaving behind her past self.
She never removed them.
And yet—
“…I’ll do it now.”
She stepped closer.
Carefully.
Her breathing uneven.
Her face flushed.
Then—
Her hand rested over my chest.
“…Yujin.”
“…Yes.”
“…It’s… beating fast.”
“…Of course.”
“…Then… don’t hold my hand right now. At this distance… it’s hard to endure.”
“….”
And yet—
She took my hand anyway.
Intertwining our fingers again.
This time—
Without gloves.
“….”
Her skin—
Warm.
Smooth.
“…What is she trying to endure…?”
///
Afterward—
Cheon Hyerin brushed back her hair.
Her neck still warm.
“…It was fast.”
She looked at her hand.
She had revealed it.
Without thinking.
Just to feel his heartbeat.
“…This feeling…”
She couldn’t forget it.
When he was hurt—
She got angry.
But when he said he wanted to look good in front of her—
Her heart wavered.
“…So this is what it means…”
She realized something.
He loved her.
Truly.
“….”
He didn’t hide it anymore.
He acted on it.
Even throwing away everything else.
“….”
She couldn’t understand it.
But now—
She could.
“…I’m falling…”
Her chest tightened.
“…From now on… I’ll give him everything.”
Even her life.
Even leaving Murim.
“…As long as we meet… just the two of us.”
She put her gloves back on.
“…I can’t live without him now.”
///
Grey hair.
A large build.
Elder Cheol Musan spoke.
“You want him as a disciple.”
Hong Yeon blinked.
“…What?”
“I heard something interesting.”
“….”
“He’s worth training.”
“…I didn’t see that.”
“If you can’t see it, it doesn’t matter.”
“….”
“He needs pressure.”
“…You want me to teach him?”
“Even if he’s flawed, he has value.”
“….”
“You want to complete the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, don’t you?”
“….”
“If you had a teacher before—you’d be twice as strong.”
“….”
“Make a bet with me.”
“….”
“He might be someone chosen by fate.”
“…Ridiculous.”
“Maybe not. But close.”
“…Impossible.”
“He’s a commoner. Yet he awakened that art.”
“…What?”
“My eyes say he carries destiny.”
He looked outside.
“…A hidden expert appearing during crisis. Doesn’t it feel suspicious?”
“….”
“…You can refuse.”
“….”
“…But if you have confidence—try.”
“….”
“I’ll make him strong enough to stand beside me.”