How soft had that warmth felt inside his mouth the last time? Kim Mu-ryeong, who naturally had a high body temperature, even had a scorching heat to his pliant tongue. Even though it had lasted for only a fleeting moment, it had felt as if just that brief touch could leave behind a burn.Perhaps that was why. The sensation of that brief contact refused to fade, lingering even after days had passed. It was so persistent that it even invaded his dreams, a testament to just how deep the aftereffects ran. That was why, on that day, after waking up at Mu-ryeong’s house, he had immediately rushed back to his own.“……”Ki Hwan-young tilted his head slightly, deepening the way their lips met. Just as Mu-ryeong seemed to enjoy his spiritual energy, he too felt good in the presence of Mu-ryeong’s energy. No—whether it was really because of “spiritual energy,” he wasn’t entirely sure.It was just a kiss, and yet his mind felt like it was drifting. Every twitch of their lips, every shallow breath that momentarily halted, and even the faint tremors passing between them—all of it heightened his senses to a painful degree.His already tenuous grasp on reason did little to help his self-restraint. Large fingers brushed along the curve of Mu-ryeong’s ear as he slightly parted his lips. The moment his tongue traced along the seam where their breaths mingled, Mu-ryeong gripped the blanket tightly in his fists.The second he slipped past the barrier, Mu-ryeong drew in a sharp breath. Hwan-young, who had instinctively cracked his eyes open, saw Mu-ryeong’s tightly shut eyelids and felt something seize in his chest. A surge of unplaceable pleasure sent shivers rippling down his arms.“……”Mu-ryeong wasn’t pushing him away. Even as their tongues met and slowly rubbed against each other, he didn’t flinch in shock like last time or turn his head away. Instead, his lashes quivered slightly, his tongue trembling faintly as he stayed still.That was when the last thread of his rationality snapped. A dull ache coiled low in his stomach, and every lingering thought that had been clouding his mind evaporated into white noise. The idea that he was supposed to be sharing spiritual energy—or that Mu-ryeong might be flustered—completely vanished.Their tongues entwined. Mu-ryeong’s small lips moved with a hesitant yet instinctive motion, desperately taking in Hwan-young’s breath. The heat between them only grew as their tongues brushed, and Hwan-young, now completely lost in the sensation, moved his hand from Mu-ryeong’s ear to cradle the back of his head.Soft strands of hair tangled between his fingers. Was his hand too big, or was Mu-ryeong’s head too small? Likely both. Regardless, the way it fit so snugly in his grasp felt unbearably endearing.The wet, slick sounds of their lips pressing together rang obscenely in the silence. Though Mu-ryeong had started out passive, the longer their kiss lasted, the more he began to respond in kind. Their breaths, heavy with heat, mingled together, and even the exchanged saliva tasted almost unbearably sweet.“Hnn….”And then, at one point, Mu-ryeong let out a quiet sound. It was an unconscious remnant of pleasure, slipping past his lips before he could stop it. His brows knitted slightly, startled by his own voice, but Hwan-young didn’t falter in the slightest. If anything, he merely adjusted the angle of his head and deepened the kiss.It felt as if he were dreaming. He was lightheaded with exhilaration, the world around him growing distant, yet every sensation of Mu-ryeong against him remained vividly burned into his memory—the slick heat of their mouths, the rising warmth of their bodies, the occasional soft noises of pleasure.He never realized that simply touching someone, let alone sharing warmth with them, could feel so overwhelming and utterly consuming. Even though they were already connected, it felt like it wasn’t enough. No matter how much they kissed, a gnawing thirst remained.Hwan-young found himself caught in an endless cycle of burning hunger and the satisfaction of having that hunger momentarily sated. And suddenly, he understood. That unexplainable craving he always felt whenever he saw Mu-ryeong—he finally knew what it was. It was the feeling of his entire body being set ablaze.For a long while, Hwan-young was utterly lost in Mu-ryeong. The thought of pulling away never even crossed his mind. The idea that something about this might be strange didn’t register in his head. Even the briefest space between them left him aching, reluctant to let go until his lungs were burning for air.The only thing that finally broke their kiss was Mu-ryeong grabbing his wrist. One of his hands clutched at the blanket, while the other wrapped around Hwan-young’s wrist, trembling as he turned his head sharply to the side. His eyes fluttered, and his breath came out in ragged gasps.Hwan-young, suddenly deprived of him, stared down with barely restrained frustration.“……”“……”The sound of their harsh breathing filled the silence. Mu-ryeong, now red all the way to the tips of his ears, lowered his gaze. His shoulders trembled slightly as he struggled to regulate his breath, his voice unsteady when he finally managed to speak.“Breathe….”“……”“I couldn’t… breathe….”Only then did Hwan-young finally release the breath that had been sitting heavy in his chest. It wasn’t just Mu-ryeong—at some point, he too had completely forgotten how to breathe properly. His heart pounded so wildly that it felt like it might burst.His emotions—he didn’t even know how to put them into words. The places where Mu-ryeong had held onto him tingled, almost as if he had been struck by static. Even as his head spun in disarray, a single realization struck him like lightning.He liked Kim Mu-ryeong.Not as a friend, but as someone he wanted to kiss just by looking at him. Seeing him like this—flushed, embarrassed—was unbearably endearing, sinking deep into the marrow of his bones.“……”Hwan-young pulled his wrist free, awkwardly crossing his legs. He lifted a hand to his chin in a poor attempt at feigned nonchalance, covering his lips as he turned away in the opposite direction. If he didn’t, he had the unsettling feeling that all of his emotions would spill over for Mu-ryeong to see.“I—I need to go to the bathroom.”Thankfully, Mu-ryeong shot up from the bed a moment later. His footsteps were hurried, lacking his usual steady grace as he made his way toward the door. He didn’t even glance back, simply pulling the door shut behind him before disappearing into the hallway.Click.The moment the door closed, the room fell into an eerie silence.Hwan-young buried his face into his hands, his head dipping forward. The long breath that followed carried with it every ounce of heat he had yet to cool.This translation is the intellectual property of .***It took quite a while before Mu-ryeong finally returned from the bathroom. His bangs were slightly damp, likely from splashing his face with water. Hwan-young, who had calmed down somewhat in the meantime, quickly turned his head away the moment he caught sight of the moisture clinging to Mu-ryeong’s skin.“…Did your brother go to sleep?”“Yeah, looks like he’s out.”It was an awkward question, but Mu-ryeong answered without hesitation.As Hwan-young bit his lip, a soft “meow” echoed from somewhere nearby. It was Danchu, who had followed Mu-ryeong into the bedroom.“Why aren’t you asleep, Danchu?”Mu-ryeong crouched down on the spot, his voice gentle as he spoke. It was the same affectionate tone he used when talking to Seolgi or the goblin. Just as Ye-jun had done before, he lightly scratched Danchu’s forehead. The cat purred deeply, rubbing its head against his hand.It was clear that Danchu had a natural instinct for recognizing kind people. That must have been why he was already so affectionate with Mu-ryeong despite only meeting him today. Whether it was people or animals, it seemed everyone grew soft in front of Kim Mu-ryeong.“Let’s wait in the living room.”Mu-ryeong left the room first, and Hwan-young followed after him. Neither of them said a word about what had just happened between them. As they walked, Danchu weaved around Hwan-young’s feet, forcing him to step carefully so he wouldn’t accidentally trip over the small feline.The living room was completely dark, not a single light illuminating the space. The atmosphere was eerie, as if something could jump out from the shadows at any moment, but neither of them bothered to turn on the lights. Both had sharp night vision, and neither was particularly afraid of the dark.“If we wait a little longer, the possessed spirit will probably make the first move.”Instead of sitting on the wide sofa, Mu-ryeong plopped straight down on the cold floor. He sat cross-legged, and Danchu immediately curled up in his lap, settling in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.“……”“……”The living room fell into deep silence once more. Mu-ryeong idly stroked Danchu’s fur while Hwan-young leaned back against the sofa, staring blankly at the scene before him.Despite his small frame, Mu-ryeong’s fingers were long and slender. But Hwan-young knew—if someone held those hands, they would feel the callouses beneath the surface.His mind drifted back to the time Mu-ryeong had clasped his hand. The memory of that burning warmth, the heat that had nearly felt like it would scorch his skin.And the countless times over the past two months that Mu-ryeong had saved him.…It would be strange not to like him.Hwan-young had never liked anyone before. He had never even had a proper friend. He had never even considered the possibility of forming relationships with others. Perhaps he had always assumed he would go through life keeping his distance from people.But Kim Mu-ryeong had completely turned his world upside down.Now that he thought about it, it was absurd that he hadn’t realized it sooner. Just looking at Mu-ryeong made him feel at ease. He liked his unwavering gaze, his gentle voice, even his overbearing kindness that sometimes felt like meddling.He liked him. He liked him. He liked him. If this wasn’t what it meant to like someone, then what else could it be?Kim Mu-ryeong.The realization spread a warm sensation from the pit of his stomach. It was a soft, almost suffocating feeling, overflowing to the point that it made his heart tremble with excitement.“…Kim Mu-ryeong.”“Hm?”Hwan-young had no idea what to do with these feelings. Just because he had recognized them didn’t mean anything would change. He didn’t want to impulsively blurt them out, but his throat itched with the urge to say something.“Kim Mu-ryeong, you—”But just as he opened his mouth, a loud thump echoed from somewhere nearby.Both of them, no—all three, including Danchu, immediately tensed.A brief silence followed, and then—Thump.Another sound, coming from inside the house.“……”Their eyes met. Mu-ryeong’s gaze sharpened instantly, his lips pressing into a thin line. He lifted a finger to his lips in a silent gesture—shh. It was clear from the shift in spiritual energy that he had already honed in on something.The repeated thump, thump grew louder. Danchu wriggled out of Mu-ryeong’s lap, his once relaxed tail now swishing sharply through the air in agitation. Even his usually soft meow was laced with ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ unease.That aura…Hwan-young’s dark eyes locked onto the direction of the sound. The energy seeping from that area felt just like the yin energy that had been clinging to Ye-jun before. But now, it was denser, heavier—more oppressive.Thump!The sound struck again, louder this time. At the same moment, a door swung open.Staggering forward from inside was Ye-jun, his head tilted downward, his body moving unsteadily. He had pulled a deep black cap low over his face.“……”A sharp glint flashed through Mu-ryeong’s eyes. His gaze narrowed, his expression hardening.Ye-jun hadn’t noticed them. He stumbled forward in an unnatural gait, making a beeline straight for the front door.Mu-ryeong rose to his feet in silence, casting a quick glance at Hwan-young.“Let’s follow him.”

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