Early in the morning Ji Lie woke up to his usual routine, he prepared a bath for himself. After taking a warm bath he trained all by himself to be in shape, after training for several hours he prepared breakfast. In the midst of breakfast Hwan came downstairs, "Good morning Ji Lie."
Ji Lie placed food on the table for Hwan, "Good morning Hwan, did you sleep well?" Hwan plating food for himself replied, "Best night I ever had in a while, thank you for the food." His culinary skills were exceptional, Hwan with curious eyes asked, "How did you learn to cook such delicious food?"
Ji Lie cleaning his dirt dishes replied, "I burnt myself, starved and almost died in the past due to poor culinary skills. Gradually I improved and now the food tastes better, living here all alone with no sight was a huge challenge at first but my will to survive gave me courage to adapt."
Hwan felt really guilty listening to Ji Lie's traumatising past he induced on him, placing his chopsticks on the table he asked, "Do you hate the people who drove you here?" the topic was sensitive for Ji Lie, he brushed the topic off with a smile and a lame excuse of watering the plants.
Hwan with a depressed face looking at Ji Lie who was watering the flowers mumbled, "He hates me, if only I could turn back time and raised that cute baby. I am such an imbecile." After watering the plants Ji Lie took his zither and began to play music, the tune was different, but the notes were consistent. Hwan quietly sat beside him listening to the song.
The whole day Hwan noticed how efficient and self-reliant Ji Lie was around the house chores. After sitting down for dinner Hwan asked, "What am I supposed to do? All day I have been starring at you completing all tasks." Ji Lie with a warm smile on his face replied, "My apologies if I made you feel neglected, I have a perfect tasks for you. I need to borrow your eyes."
Hwan was extremely terrified as he thought Ji Lie would plunk out his eyes, standing before the library he sighed, "Hwan, can you read these books for me?" Hwan looked at the large pile of plain books, he wished to pluck out his eyes and happily gifted them to Ji Lie because he hated reading.
The first book had history of the humans; it was quite fascinating how they managed to survive the wrath of other mythical creatures. Ji Lie listened attentively, the brimming eyes made Hwan feel guilty about skipping pages. It was already midnight when Hwan finished reading the book.
Ji Lie fell asleep whilst listening to the gentle voice of Hwan as he read the book. Hwan gently carried Ji Lie in his arms, in the middle of the stairs Ji Lie said, "Are you having heart problems? Your heartbeat is rather fast."
Hwan was startled that he almost dropped him on the stairs, Ji Lie lightly chuckled. Seeing a smile on Ji Lie fluttered Hwan's heart, he looked even more beautiful. Hwan gently placed Ji Lie on the bed, with a gentle voice he said, "Good night Ji Lie, sleep well." Hwan noticed bruises on his hand, no matter how resourceful he was he ended up getting hurt.
The following morning Ji Lie woke up; he followed the scent of burnt food. Hwan was troubled as he turned the kitchen upside down, he was startled by Ji Lie when he said, "Good morning Hwan. I can smell breakfast."
Hwan in his mind hoped the food tasted better than it looked, he plated rice porridge for Ji Lie. Hwan spitted the whole spoon out, he was shocked to see Ji Lie eating the food. Hwan snatched the bowl and said, "This food is poisonous spit it out!" Ji Lie lightly chuckled and replied, "After my care giver died, I was left all alone, the food I cooked tasted worse than this. The thought and effort makes it even more delicious."
Hwan blushed to praises for another man, he cleared his throat, "I will keep working hard so keep those compliments ready." Hwan stood at a window watching Ji Lie training, his routine was a dance to a tune. Hwan looking out the window and mumbled, "He is unique, I wonder if he is truly blind."
As time passed the bond between Hwan and Ji Lie grew deeper and deeper, new unknown feelings between the two surfaced. Hwan managed to live in his lie of being a commoner. Slowly Ji Lie opened up about his past with Hwan, it was painful and unbearable, but he excelled each challenge thrown on his face.
Ji Lie played the zither for Hwan, the music was relaxing, and it supressed his dark magic exploding within. Isiah frequently visited to check up on his master, he noticed the changes between the two. Hwan's skills improved a little in the kitchen, he was quite helpful around the house chores.
Hwan visited the palace in broad daylight, Isiah summoned him for an urgent matter. When he arrived in the royal court he saw King Uriah and his wife Queen Maria. They paid their respects before taking their seats, "My apologies my Lord for summoning you." Hwan was already missing Ji Lie, with an annoyed tone he replied, "Speak!"
Kin Uriah handed a map to Isiah, there was a circled dark portion of land. Hwan asked, "The demons are growing stronger and expanding their fortress, my Lord if let unattended they will devour us." Hwan knew this issue was slowly escalating, they had breached the Dragon's territory. Hwan looking at Isiah said, "I hear your plea, I warned you to burn all corpses. I need to know who is behind this Isiah, till then prepare for the festival."
Hwan was accompanied by King Uriah to fix the broken barrier on their way they had small talk. King Uriah asked, "My Lord, permission to speak candidly?" Hwan waved his hand as he gave him permission, "My Lord, what sort of bride will you prefer? A partner is a lifetime companion, whom you share happiness and difficulties with. The road aren't easy, but a partner existence makes it bearable…that is why you need a strong bride."
The words of a foolish king throwing good words for his daughter made Hwan to see himself married to Ji Lie. Hwan sighed and replied, "I will keep your wise words in mind, we are here." Hwan jumped out of his sword into the Badlands, dead corpses possessed with demons surrounded him.
Hwan looking around said, "This corpses are filled with dark magic…reveal." Hwan cloned himself into three, he said, "I need the person breathing." The corpses were trying to devour him for power, he drew his spirit sword, the sword on its own swayed and killed the corpses. The corpses regenerated as they went towards him, looking at Uriah he said, "Burn them."
King Uriah was a fire dragon, his dragon form was terrifying, his roar shook the grounds. Hwan stood on his sword as he saw the corpses being burnt to ashes, "Someone is harvesting their souls! How could I miss this, this person isn't after corpses but living…"
Hwan blocked a spirit sword thrown at Uriah.
The perpetrator escaped unharmed, Hwan looking at Uriah said, "The Dragon have more spiritual powers, that is why this person extended the territory. You have to be alert." Hwan used a spell to teleport to the palace, Isiah bowed as soon as he saw him. "Someone is using dark magic to harvest soul in forging a spirit sword. I need you to investigate the matter." The matter was slowly escalating out of control.
Hwan grabbed a wine bottle; the wine was expensive and mature. When he arrived Ji, Lie was waiting outside for him to return, his face was filled with worry. Hwan removed his robe and wrapped it around his shoulders, "You could have waited inside it is cold outside."
Ji Lie softly touched Hwan's face, "My worry led me out here, I can sense a feeling of sadness."
Hwan rubbed his face on Ji Lie's soft hands, with a smile on his hands he said, "I brought wine from the market. Let us have a drink together." After having dinner Hwan took two cups and poured the red wine, the words of King Uriah kept repeated in his head over and over again.
One after the other they chucked down the strong wine, they were both so intoxicated. Hwan looking at Ji Lie said, "The feelings I bear towards you are becoming heavier and heavier. Unconsciously I always think about you and each second we are apart my heart is filled with worry…from the first time I saw you I already knew I…love you."
Ji Lie placed Hwan's hand on his heart, with a smile on his face he said, "Whenever you are around my body feels strange and my heart flatters. I am always conflicting with myself, whether what I feel is…" Hwan suddenly grabbed his head and kissed him.
His breath had a sweet faint taste of wine, as the kiss grew deeper Ji Lie grew out of breath. Hwan looking into the crystal blue eyes of Ji Lie said, "Ji Lie, I don't want anyone else but you…I love you…I love you." Ji Lie with tears on his eyes asked, "I am an outcast, a god ousted by his own kind. Outside this forest I have nothing…what if I bring misfortune in your life…will you keep loving me Hwan? Will you be willing to spend the rest of your life with me?"
Early in the morning Hwan woke up and saw Ji Lie naked asleep beside him, his back felt sore and he had a massive headache.