Seo Jin woke to the sound of rain pounding against the cave. His body ached, the exhaustion still hanging over him like a cloud. His head throbbed, his arm felt heavy, and the curse mark seemed to have… settled, though the pain lingered in his bones.
He groaned, sitting up slowly. The fire was still burning weakly in the center of the cave. The Villain wasn't in sight, but the soft crackle of fire and the lingering chill of the night made it hard to focus.
His arm had been treated, but the skin still felt tender, as if a part of him had been ripped away. It wasn't just the mark — it was the connection.
Seo Jin rubbed his wrist, recalling the intensity of the Villain's energy flooding through him. The icy cold had nearly burned him alive, but…
There had been something else in it. Something… caring.
The fox appeared on his shoulder, tail twitching nervously. "Host, don't overthink it. You were almost dead! Be happy he didn't just leave you in the rain."
Seo Jin rolled his eyes. "I'm not that easy to get rid of, little fox."
The fox looked up at him, curious. "Then what are you going to do? You're not the type to beg, right?"
Seo Jin leaned back against the stone wall, staring up at the ceiling of the cave. I'm not the begging type… But there's something about this guy.
"Stop thinking too much." The fox nuzzled against his ear. "You've got the favor rate up to 72%. That's a lot of progress."
Seo Jin didn't reply. He knew the system was trying to cheer him up, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that the Villain wasn't just playing some game with him. The way his touch had felt when healing him… the way he'd looked at him when the curse mark had started glowing.
What is he really thinking?
Seo Jin heard footsteps approach. The Villain entered the cave, his figure tall and imposing. His black robe was still wet from the rain, but he didn't seem to mind. His expression remained cold, as always, but there was a faint tension in his eyes.
Seo Jin opened his mouth to speak, but the Villain held up a hand, stopping him. "You're awake."
Seo Jin sat up straighter, trying to hide the slight weakness in his posture. "Yeah. That ritual of yours almost killed me, but I'm alive. So… thanks?"
The Villain didn't acknowledge the thanks. Instead, he crossed the cave and knelt in front of Seo Jin. His eyes were focused on the mark on Seo Jin's arm.
"You're lucky it didn't spread further," the Villain said, voice low. "The curse is dangerous, and your body is still weak."
Seo Jin scoffed. "I'm fine. I'm always fine."
The Villain's gaze didn't waver. "You're not. If it wasn't for me, you would have died in that beast's lair."
Seo Jin didn't answer. He wanted to argue, wanted to deny it. But the truth was there. The Villain had saved him.
A silence hung between them for a moment before the Villain spoke again. "You don't like relying on others, do you?"
Seo Jin met his eyes, surprised by the question. "What makes you think that?"
The Villain tilted his head, considering him. "You hide your weakness. You avoid depending on anyone. But there's nothing wrong with needing help."
Seo Jin's mouth went dry. For a brief second, he thought he saw a flicker of something in the Villain's eyes. Maybe… concern?
Seo Jin quickly shook it off. "I don't need anyone's help. Not even yours."
The Villain's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then why are you still here?"
Seo Jin froze. The words hit harder than he expected. Why was he still here?
He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He didn't know. He could've left. He could've just wandered off, found another sect to join, or lived a quiet life somewhere else. But for some reason, he stayed.
"Because you're an idiot," the fox suddenly said, nuzzling his cheek. "But I like you anyway."
Seo Jin gave the fox an exasperated look but didn't say anything.
The Villain stood up, breaking the tension. He didn't look at Seo Jin again. "Get some rest. We leave at first light."
Seo Jin nodded but didn't move. As the Villain turned to leave, he hesitated, then spoke again, quieter this time.
"If you want to leave, I won't stop you."
Seo Jin's heart skipped. He looked up, but the Villain's back was already turned.
Why does he care if I leave or stay?
Seo Jin's hand tightened around his sleeve. This isn't part of the plan. I'm supposed to be using him. Not… getting attached.
The fox perked up. "Host, I think he's really starting to like you!"
Seo Jin bit his lip. He didn't know what to think. He wasn't sure if it was attraction, guilt, or something else entirely, but the Villain had crossed a line. He hadn't just saved him. He hadn't just healed his curse.
He'd let him stay.
Seo Jin leaned back against the cave wall, eyes drifting shut. Maybe I'm the idiot here.
---
The next morning, Seo Jin woke to the smell of cooked food.
He squinted, still exhausted, but when he sat up, he saw the Villain sitting by the fire, calmly eating something that smelled strangely… good.
The Villain looked up when he noticed Seo Jin had woken. "Food."
Seo Jin's stomach growled, and he reluctantly took the bowl from the Villain's hand.
"I'm not going to say thanks again," Seo Jin muttered, but his lips curled up slightly as he ate.
The Villain didn't answer. He simply stared into the fire, his expression unreadable.
Seo Jin could feel the tension, the unspoken words between them. It was like the curse had been lifted, but something else had taken its place — something more dangerous.
But he didn't know if he wanted to run from it.
---
Cliffhanger at the End of Chapter 13:
Just as Seo Jin finished eating, the fox suddenly perked up. "Host! A group of cultivators is approaching! They look—wait—"
Seo Jin froze, his heart pounding. "What is it?"
The fox's tail flicked nervously. "I don't know… they're dangerous. And one of them has a familiar aura…"
The Villain's eyes narrowed. "We're not safe here. Prepare yourself."