[Soonae] I am an ordinary Confucian student at Sungkyunkwan.(2)

In the silence, a burning smell stung my nose.

The charcoal remains of a tiger and the calm, frail face of a man. The woman's gaze wandered back and forth between the unrealistic scenes unfolding before her eyes over and over again.

“Who the hell are you?”

I asked again with a trembling voice. It was a question filled with awe and confusion rather than fear.

Ethan still looked down at her with an expressionless face. His eyes were as calm as an abyss of unknown depth.

“As you can see, he was just a scholar on his way.”

“You’re lying… What scholar in the world is… like that…”

The woman’s words became blurred. She couldn't bear to say words like 'witchcraft' or 'magic'. It was not a human domain. A primal fear of a power that cannot be understood through reason began to bloom.

Instead of answering, Lee Seon gestured toward the burned body of the tiger.

“We must leave here quickly before this smell attracts other animals. There is still a long way to go to your home.”

Hearing his words, the woman flinched and looked around. Before we knew it, the sun had tilted to the west and a cool twilight was falling in the forest. He was right. It was dangerous to stay here any longer.

“But…my feet….”

“I’ll carry you back.”

Without delay, Lee Seon lowered himself in front of her, showing his back. It was the same posture as before. But to the woman, the back no longer seemed like that of an ordinary man. It felt like a huge, strange wall with an incomprehensible power that instantly reduced the King of the Mountain to ashes.

“How… How can I live again…”

“There is no time to hesitate.”

There was a hint of urging in his voice. The woman hesitated for a moment. Riding on his back again meant completely entrusting my body to this incomprehensible being. But there was no other way.

She swallowed dryly and slowly leaned onto his back.

This time it felt different than the first time.

I couldn't tell exactly what was different. However, the moment she placed her cheek on his broad back and wrapped her slender arms around his neck, a sense of stability that could not be compared before enveloped her. The fear disappeared and a strange warmth permeated its place.

When she was completely seated, Lee Seon stood up silently.

This time, the sensation behind my back was dizzying. In fact, as she came closer to me than before, I felt the pressure of her voluptuous and huge breasts more clearly. Every time he took a step, the soft flesh pressed down on his shoulder blades.

‘… Come to your senses.’

He thought to himself and walked firmly.

There was no conversation between the two for a while. Only his regular footsteps and the woman's heavy breathing filled the forest path.

It was the woman who broke the silence first.

“What on earth was that…?”

It was a cautious yet earnest voice.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s just a small trick.”

“Where in the world can you find such talent?”

The woman's voice was a mixture of resentment and curiosity. She raised her head a little more and looked up at his jawline and tightly pursed lips.

“Sonbi... aren’t you a Confucian student of Sungkyunkwan? You wouldn’t teach such Taoist arts at Sungkyunkwan.”

A faint smile appeared on Lee Seon’s lips.

“There is more in the world we don’t know than what we know. Isn’t that true for you too?”

The woman closed her mouth at the meaningful words.He didn't seem to have any intention of explaining further. But strangely enough, I didn't feel anxious. Rather, the mystery pulled her heart even more strongly.

Without realizing it, she gave strength to the arms wrapped around his neck. Then I felt his strong neck muscles. Could this strength be the source of the boldness that did not even flinch in the face of a tiger?

“How… are you so strong?”

This time, the voice was almost a whisper.

“…Because I had to be strong.”

Lee Seon’s answer was short. However, it seemed to contain a deep story that the woman could not dare to guess. She didn't ask any more. I just placed my body on his back and focused on feeling his body temperature and heartbeat. Strangely enough, I felt at ease.

How long did it take?

At last, lights began to appear at the end of the dark mountain path. And soon, the outline of a tile-roofed house so huge that it was difficult to guess its size was revealed. The wall had no end in sight, and the majestic towering gate was more imposing than that of most government offices.

Lee Seon stopped walking without realizing it.

‘In a place like this… .’

Compared to the mansions of powerful figures in Hanyang, it was not inferior in prestige in the slightest. I sensed that the identity of the woman on his back was more than I imagined.

While he was hesitating for a moment in front of the mansion, the grand gate creaked open from the inside. A middle-aged woman with an urgent expression ran out, accompanied by several servants holding torches.

“Lady! Lady!”

A woman who appeared to be a nanny found the woman and came running to her with a crying voice.

“What on earth is happening? The whole house is in shock!”

“Plum… Plum blossom….”

The woman on her back looked at the nanny and called out helplessly.

Only then did the nurse and servants realize that the woman was being carried on the back of a strange man. In an instant, all eyes were on Lee Seon. These were looks filled with caution, suspicion, and outright hostility. In particular, his shabby appearance further fueled their suspicions.

“You bastard! Whose house are you putting your hands on?”

A large servant snarled as he adjusted his club.

Lee Seon silently lowered the woman to the ground. The woman stumbled and was helped by her nanny.

“No! Stop!”

The woman shouted urgently at the servant.

“This person… This person is the savior of my life!”

Her cries spread clearly into the night air. The servants' harsh attitude stopped for a moment.

The nanny's face turned pale when she saw the woman's injured ankle and clothes stained with dust.

“Miss, what happened to your feet…what happened on the mountain!”

Instead of answering, the woman looked back at Lee Seon with complicated eyes. Her eyes were a mixture of gratitude, regret, and something more inexplicable.

She spoke emphatically again as if everyone should listen.

“I met a tiger. If it hadn’t been for this person… I wouldn’t be a person of this world anymore.”

Seoyun's voice was small, but the weight contained within it was as heavy as a thousand pounds, overwhelming everyone gathered under the torchlight. The servant holding the club lowered his arm without realizing it, and the blood drained from Nanny Maehwa's face.

“What are you talking about, girl? What do you mean!”

Maehwa held onto Seo-yoon’s arm with a pale face. Her gaze shifted uneasily between Lee Seon's shabby appearance, Seoyoon's injured ankle, and the terrible words that came out of Seoyoon's mouth.

“It’s literally true. I got lost on a mountain path and hurt my foot… I met a tiger. I thought he was dead.”

As Seoyoon spoke, she looked at Lee Seon once again. His face was still as calm as a lake. It's hard to believe that this is the person who just burned the King of the Mountain to death.It was serenity.

That tranquility actually caused bigger ripples in Seoyoon's heart.

“At that time, this scholar appeared and saved me. So, do not be rude to your benefactor.”

She gave a firm order to the nurse and servants. It was not the gentle voice of Gyusu from the Yang family. It was a strict order from the small owner of this huge mansion.

“But lady….”

Maehwa tried to say something more, but Seoyun shook her head and stopped her.

“I saw it clearly with my own eyes. Do you not believe my judgment?”

“Oh, no! How can you say what the young lady said….”

Maehwa hurriedly lowered her head. Only then did Seoyoon turn to Lee Seon in a slightly soft voice.

“I am sorry, scholar. My people were surprised and made a mistake. Please forgive me generously.”

She bowed deeply and apologized. The outline of her voluptuous breasts dizzyingly appeared above the jeogori and then disappeared. Lee Seon silently accepted her apology.

“No. It was a misunderstanding situation.”

“Please eat inside first. We can’t stand here and talk. We have to take care of the scholar’s wounds as well.”

Seoyoon naturally led him inside. When the word 'wound' was included in her words, the eyes of Maehwa and the servants turned to Lee Seon once again. Only then did they discover that Ethan's clothes were scratched and torn here and there.

Thinking that it was a wound from fighting a tiger, the wariness from earlier suddenly changed to awe.

“Hey! What are you doing instead of taking the guests inside? Call the doctor and prepare hot water in the best room!”

With Plum's urgent cries, the house began to move busily.

Lee Seon crossed the huge towering gate, supported by Seo Yoon. He instinctively clicked his tongue at the sight of the endless garden, pond, and magnificent house that was dozens of square feet high. It was more, not less, than the Yeonguijeong's mansion that my father saw when he was in the royal court.

‘What about… What kind of family is this... .’

While he was lost in thought for a moment, Seoyoon led him to the largest and most ornate room in the annex. The maids had already entered the room and prepared a basin filled with hot water, clean towels, and medicinal herbs.

“Everyone else, go away. I will do it myself.”

Seoyun bitten all the servants and maids in the room. Even Maehwa retreated with a worried look on her face, leaving Lee Seon and Seoyoon alone in the large room. The candle flame swayed, casting a long shadow of the two people.

“Please sit here.”

Seoyun sat him down on a silk cushion. Then, without hesitation, I knelt in front of him and lifted the wet towel.

“How can I fall into the precious hands of a woman…”

Lee Seon was embarrassed and tried to pull back, but Seoyoon's hand was faster.

“Don’t move. It’s your natural duty to take care of your benefactor’s wounds. I didn’t want to leave it in someone else’s hands.”

Her voice was firm. She gently rolled up his tattered sleeves. Small scratches on tree branches while avoiding a tiger were forming red lines.

Seoyoon's small hand grabbed his forearm. Ethan's body instantly stiffened at the soft and warm touch. As if she knew nothing, she began to carefully wipe away the dirt around the wound with a wet towel.

Every time she bent down, the candlelight shadows fluttered across her ample cleavage. The valley of white flesh that could be seen at a glance through the thin lining of the jeogori caught his eye. He tried to look away and swallowed dry saliva.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

Her face was serious as she focused on her arm. Long, beautiful eyelashes are quivering slightlyIt was.

“…It’s okay.”

“It’s a lie. There are so many scratches….”

After cleaning the wound, Seoyoon carefully applied a salve made from ground up herbs. A faint herbal scent spread along with the cool texture. Her touch was incredibly delicate and soft.

When the treatment was over, Seoyoon stood up and said.

“Please stay comfortably here tonight. I have prepared bath water and new clothes for you. I don’t know how I can repay you for this favor…”

“This is an undeserved treat. That’s enough, I’ll be on my way.”

As Lee Seon tried to get up, Seoyoon urgently blocked his path.

“No!”

Her voice was desperate.

“If I send you away like this, I will have to live with a burden on my heart for the rest of my life. For the sake of my face, please… please stay at least for one night.”

The distance between the two was less than a span. Her eyes were shaking earnestly as we met at close range. With each breath, her huge breasts rose and fell, as if they would touch his chest at any moment.

There was something beyond simple gratitude in her eyes. Awe of the mysterious power that burned the tiger, and pure curiosity and attraction to the man with that power.

Lee Seon couldn't ignore those eyes.

“…I understand.”

After a long silence, he finally nodded.

It was only then that a smile of relief appeared on Seoyoon's face. That smile was as neat and beautiful as a magnolia blooming under the moonlight.

“Thank you… Thank you very much, scholar.”

She said goodbye and carefully left the room. After the door closed and Lee Seon was left alone in the room again, he let out a long sigh.

Everything in this gorgeous room was unfamiliar. He slowly laid down on his bed covered with silk blankets. I never dreamed that I would enjoy such luxury as a fallen Confucian scholar.

I closed my eyes, and her image came to mind like an afterimage. The delicate touch that treated him, the earnestly shaking eyes, and... .

That overwhelming feeling I felt in my back.

That voluptuous, soft hill that pressed down on his back every time he walked. When I hugged his neck in fear, the heavy elasticity that completely crushed my back.

Iseon's hand was clenched tightly in the air without me realizing it. It was as if I was trying to capture the warmth that was too vivid to be a memory.