Chapter 384 – The Sansuyu Tree (3)

“…Si-heon?”

Could it be an intentional distortion?
The name was called so terribly wrong that it made me ponder.

A feeble life force stirred on the wan face of Cornus.
Though far from being considered healthy and clearly still in critical condition, this was nothing short of a miracle.

Lee Si-heon’s face brimmed with vitality as he awoke.
No matter how close the power of healing was to the divine, she was the one whose brain had partially ceased to function.

What should he say to her?
About the family matters? Her role as a secretary?

It was a question he had mulled over countless times in solitude.
What if she lost her memory? Or if she were to panic?
Could Cornus, the target of political violence, find peace?

Lee Si-heon’s tense face softened into a self-deprecating expression. His mouth gently opened, revealing a faint smile.

“Are you okay?”

It was the best he could say in the present moment.

It took quite some time to muster the courage to say that single word.

“How are you feeling?”

The strain was evident. Her voice wavered, and her eyes trembled.

A forced smile was reflected in her bright yellow eyes, seemingly distorted somehow.

Despite this, he tried to greet her with the most genuine expression he could muster. Time had passed—short yet seemingly long—and their bond had deepened. Without uttering a single word, the agitation in Cornus’s eyes grew as she gazed at Lee Si-heon.

“…Why?”

Bewilderment flashed through Cornus’s thoughts.

She had lost someone dear to her, and everything seemed to have come to an end. She thought it was over, but she had been saved by someone she had once abandoned—the very friend whom she had cut off without any explanation.

‘I shouldn’t be with you.’

Having been judged a heretic, Cornus knew she could bring trouble not only to herself but also to the one who had rescued her. That was not an option. That was why their connection had been severed.

Lee Si-heon was someone who should never find themselves in the same situation as him.

Such a cherished friend.
Worry and confusion crossed Sansuyu’s face.

She couldn’t understand.
Why?

She tried to move her body, but Sansuyu quickly realized.

– Throb!

Her body was more damaged than she had anticipated.
And, unlike before, she could now feel the pain more vividly.
Sansuyu, who had spent nearly every day in an anesthetized state while taking medicine, had bloodshot eyes.

“Ah…uh-“

A piercing moan began to escape her lips.

Pain and helplessness that felt as if her entire body was contorted.
As she regained consciousness, Sansuyu began to swim through the depths of the unbearable pain she had been ignoring.

“Argh!!!!”

An intense agony that didn’t relent, no matter how much she struggled.
She felt a burning sensation on the surface of her skin, writhing in sharp pain as if her insides were hung out for display.

Sansuyu’s face displayed fear in the face of the indescribable pain.

An utterly negative expression emerged on that emotionless visage. Lee Si-heon collided with Sansuyu’s flailing hand.

– *Crash!*

A small embrace, accompanied by an infusion of healing power.

“Ah…uh, ugh…”

She barely escaped the pain that made her wish for death. Fear caused Sansuyu’s skin to tremble.

The sensation of death drawing near. The realization of how deep in a coma she had been.

Chilling tears streamed relentlessly down the corners of Sansuyu’s eyes. Her trembling hands gripped Lee Si-heon’s shoulder, showing no intention of letting go.

– Why did you save me?

Such doubts dissipated and vanished.

– This person freed me from pain.

Clinging to him like a child, Sansuyu held Lee Si-heon tightly and toppled him onto the bed.

– *Thump!*

“Ugh!”

Sansuyu pinned down Lee Si-heon, who had fallen.

– Shudder.

“It hurts… it hurts. Si-heon, I…”

A completely frightened, childlike expression. Her raised fingernails scratched his back, leaving marks. Lee Si-heon stared intently at Sansuyu’s face before responding calmly.

“It’s okay.”
“…It hurts…”
“It’ll be better soon. Let’s take a deep breath, slowly. One, two.”

Surprisingly, as he stroked her head, the pain gradually faded. Sansuyu’s hand was still tense but trembling. The grip gradually loosened.

Her once fierce hand slowly and gently embraced Lee Si-heon’s back. Only then could Sansuyu regain a semblance of reason.

“Sigh…sigh.”

Sansuyu’s cold face buried itself in Lee Si-heon’s arms. A comforting scent. The fragrance of a person who lay beside her when they slept together in the cradle, reminiscent of a mother’s human smell.

A comfort found at death’s door. The man’s heated breath billowing out past the curve of the ear.
Within that breath lies everything one can grasp, embrace, and experience.
Clothes soiled with sweat and dirt. The faint aroma of blood.
Just that was enough to discern the treatment Lee Si-heon was enduring at that moment.
Above the crimson blush, Lee Si-heon’s weary face, as he tried his utmost to soothe the frightened Cornus, brushed past.

“…I’m sorry.”

To the drowsy words of Cornus, a calm reply returned.

“If you’re in pain, let’s get a good night’s sleep today. I’ll handle the explanations.”

She had severed contact with Lee Si-heon.
Even delegating messages she had to convey to her secretary.
The clandestine desires of a family, ingrained through something akin to brainwashing since childhood.
That became the catalyst for Cornus to cut all ties.

In comparison, her connection with Lee Si-heon was brief.
It was her instinct that had made the judgment.

Is it wrong?
It’s not a matter of distinguishing between good and evil.

However, this was enough for Lee Si-heon to feel disappointed and consider turning away.

And yet, why?

-Squeeze.

Strength filled Lee Si-heon’s hands as he held Sansuyu.
A trace of obsession.
What thoughts haunted him, once twisted by the past and wearied by pain?

His gray-tinted eyes were gradually veiled by his eyelids and sank.
Slowly, his face beginning to return to the past, was akin to-

Cheap rubber clay that hardened and started to crack.

* * * * * * * *

[Baekdo… Did you just see that? My body was shaking all over…]

Taeyang’s face set into a grim expression under Baekdo’s frosty gaze.
Next to Taeyang’s hand, which rested on the floor, Aori’s body lay rolling around.

No, it was disconcerting.

What kind of girl… could treat someone’s limbs so cruelly?

‘Let’s regain our composure.’

Baekdo widened her eyes and gazed at Tae-yang.
Upon this, the complexions of Tae-yang and Aori grew tense.

Aori was the first one to speak.

“Your breasts are large.”
“…What?”
“Don’t take his words seriously; he’s always like that. Did you see his limb fly away? He’s the one who got his arm cut off for saying something strange.”

Tae-yang hastily wrapped Aori’s rolling body in his arms.
Baekdo’s breasts caught the attention of Aori, who pouted her lips.

“I just want to suck them once – ack!”
“Do you have two lives? Be quiet, Aori.”
“Hmph…”

Little by little, Baekdo’s composure began to falter.
As her fist clenched, Aori and Tae-yang closed their mouths.

“Where is Lee Si-heon?”
“Ah, why would you ask us that?”
“Tell me since you know we’ve been together for some time now.”

Although Tae-yang was a part of the termite faction and a king, it was nearly impossible to recognize him just by looking at his face.

Lee Si-heon seldom engaged in combat, so his magical powers remained unknown. When he acted as the Beast King, he would often change his face, undergoing regular plastic surgeries even now. Consequently, neither Mugung nor the World Tree knew the true face of Tae-yang.

Aori had encountered Mugung so many times that she could recognize him by his magical aura alone. However, this person was unaware of that fact. How did they manage to find her?

Tae-yang made a swift judgment.

‘…They must have seen us together in the cradle and tracked us down.’

This person must have thought of Lee Si-heon as a friend, junior, or colleague. The fact that they had come this far implied that White Peach’s information was severely lacking.

White Peach must have investigated all the individuals connected to Lee Si-heon. Were they the ones who had reached the end of their search?

At the very least, they were the ones who had met Lee Si-heon recently.

“Why are you searching like that?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Is your disciple that precious to you–“

– Kwajijijik!

Cracks formed on all the concrete surrounding Baekdo.
Tae-yang’s face turned pale.

“Damn it. Against violence.”
“Where is he?”
“No… When he was on TV, he spoke so politely and coolly… It’s strange.”
“Lee Si-heon! Where is that bastard?”

The mood was ruined.
Tae-yang thought as he watched Baekdo nervously kicking the floor.

Sweat beaded on his forehead.
Regardless, they’d be able to communicate, so he decided to speak slowly.

“Calm down.”
“…You defied the master’s words just to save that bitch? Does that make sense?”

That bitch.

At Baekdo’s muttered words, Tae-yang’s face hardened as he tried to persuade him somehow.

‘This person. Does he know nothing about my brother’s mental state?’

Baekdo, as Lee Si-heon had described, was a rare type of master who enjoyed bickering but felt too embarrassed to show it.

The poignant sorrow she emanated made Tae-yang and Aori personal fans of the woman. It was impossible to overlook her perfect beauty, which stood out among all existing trees.

The Emperor and Empress – wouldn’t a picture of the two together look splendid? It was a remark often made in jest with Aori.

Baekdo didn’t know much about the man named Lee Si-heon.

‘Well, of course… He’s always been so discreet around his own people.’

Tae-yang slowly raised his voice.

“…I know where your brother is. What will you do if you find him?”
“Why should I tell you that?”
“If my brother is in danger, I won’t say a word.”
“What?”
“Threatening with one’s life won’t work. Have you seen him? He never talks, even when he’s like this.”

Tae-yang smiled at Baekdo, who bared her teeth. The sly, mocking look in his eyes caused Baekdo’s brow to furrow slightly.

“My mouth is so heavy!” Aori, with her cheeks puffed full of air, said in a dismissive tone.

“I am in a sacred relationship with that imbecile. Do you need any other reason than that?”

White Peach shook her head slightly, letting out a sigh.

“…I plan to find and protect them.”
“But your brother wouldn’t want that.”
“How would you know that?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I believe I know much more about your brother than you do—”

*Thud!*

“Don’t be absurd.”

An unpleasant noise came from the shin. A smile appeared at the corner of Tae-yang’s mouth, who had been speaking like a rapid stream of clear water.

“*Chuckle.* My legs have turned into jelly. It won’t be long before I follow him to hell.”
“Is Tae-yang going to be dismembered too?”
“Shut up, you wench.”

It hurt, but there was no intention to speak of it.

“But really. You don’t know anything, do you?”
“You must truly have a death wish.”

Baekdo’s voice is subdued. As the murderous intent approaches, Tae-yang raises his hands and feet in defense.

“If you knew my older brother well, you wouldn’t be able to describe her as such a wretched girl. No, isn’t it too harsh to call a girl who has been taught by him at least once that kind of name?”
“…”
“You’re right about Sansuyu. I’m too worked up right now.”

The murderous intent intensifies.
Enduring the pain of his battered shin, Tae-yang barely manages to muster his voice.

“I’m saying this to all three of you.”

In that instant, Baekdo’s motion to raise her fist halts.

“Do you know there are mental illnesses in this world? If left untreated, they can lead to a broken mind. Those suffering from it can’t make rational choices and search for their worth elsewhere.”

Gradually, Tae-yang steps back, limping.
Sweat drips from his chin.

“If it’s a disability, then it’s a disability. You must be hearing this for the first time.”

Faces grew cold in unison. Even Aori wore an expression that suggested she had never heard of this before.

Not knowing this could be a significant problem.

“A person called Master should be aware of this.”

Of course, the origin of this knowledge stemmed from Lee Si-heon’s journey to the past. It would have been challenging for White Peach to discover this on her own. Tae-yang had never directly received any information about the past from Lee Si-heon.

When Lee Si-heon intentionally spoke of that time, he seemed to try to evade the topic.

Yet, it could still be seen and heard at times. Occasionally, when he slept or when someone was near him. A man whose body convulsed like a shattered doll. It was evident that he still felt the pain from a certain type of training he endured in the past. Only those who have witnessed the disintegration of the psyche during sleep can truly understand.

Human emotions are incredibly complex; trauma is embedded deep within the bones, never to be released, and everything can change according to experience.

“…”

White Peach was left speechless.

Indeed, there came a time when change found its way to Lee Si-heon. The reason was unknown, and as a mentor, he couldn’t even fathom approaching the change.

Under normal circumstances, the role should have been taken by Heaven or Zodiac, but with Si-heon pushing them away, they were now naturally alienated.

Si-heon’s mental fortitude was strong. This made it even more difficult to perceive. What kind of thoughts occupied his mind on a daily basis?

“Well, if you plan on leaving him behind, I don’t really care. But if you truly cherish him and intend to seek him out for his protection,”

At this moment, he might not even fully comprehend his own perspective. Perhaps he wasn’t experiencing his day-to-day life firsthand, but rather observing it from a distance, one step removed.

“Please, at least try to understand him better. If you promise me that, I’ll tell you.”

Tae-yang looked at White Peach. They were the two most emotional extremes.

“He’s not a superhuman, after all.”

So come and take a look.
There’s still time to think afterward.

A wicked smile stretched across Tae-yang’s lips.
He laughed at White Peach with a mocking, devious chuckle and lowered his head.
White Peach bit her lip, embarrassment evident on her face. Tae-yang looked at his shin, wiping away his tears.

‘…Can this be fixed?’

The pain in his leg was unbearable.