Chapter 9: Red Tears
The sun was already high, but Heon still slept soundly, exhausted from the night before.
Dan glared at him with narrow eyes and let out a bitter laugh.
“Tch. Last night I almost died from pleasure, not exhaustion. Lucky me.”
Her legs ached from what had happened.
Sitting up carefully, she studied Heon’s face.
His thick, dark eyebrows looked painted with ink.
His sharp nose could cut like a blade.
And his red lips, like a flower, had devoured her roughly.
“Hmph. No matter how I look at him, he’s too handsome. But… how can the books be so different from real life?”
Dan had read countless erotic novels and picture books.
But last night was nothing like she imagined.
Her body had burned, her mind had gone blank, and the pain below was unbearable.
Yet she had endured it, again and again.
Maybe it wasn’t only because she wanted to live.
“Wake up, Dan. Don’t expect anything from a man who threatens to kill you every day.”
She wanted to know more about Heon, but she kept her mouth shut.
“…Anyway, I should be safe now, right?”
Her nails, once black, had turned healthy pink again.
The tangled power of the Human Shape Ginseng had finally settled.
She touched the pillow near her head.
Her fingers brushed over a few red pearls.
“Oh… so this is what they call Red Tears.”
Red Tears (홍루).
The tears of a mermaid woman on her first night.
They said a man who owned them could regain lost youth.
The Human Shape Ginseng was gone, stolen by Heon, but this was just as precious.
She never thought she would end up holding such a thing without even a wedding.
Grrrowl—
Her stomach complained loudly.
“Ugh.”
Carefully, she got down from the bed, wincing.
Her legs burned, making it hard to walk.
She shot Heon a sulky glare before heading outside.
Chirp, chirp.
The sun was already past noon.
She hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and after all that exercise, she was starving.
“I wonder if anything got caught in the traps… but I can’t walk that far. I’ll go to the stream instead.”
The stream’s clear water sparkled.
Dan wanted to wash away all traces of Heon from her body.
She bathed, scrubbing hard.
“Ugh! Why won’t it wash off?”
Bite marks and red spots were scattered everywhere—her ears, her thighs, even places she couldn’t see.
“Eii, I hope these don’t turn into bruises.”
If people saw, they’d call her shameless.
At least they were trapped in this formation—no one else could see her.
Her stomach growled again.
“Fine, food won’t fall from the sky. I’ll catch something myself.”
She wrung out her hair, put on her clothes, and started searching.
She managed to collect some snails and freshwater crayfish.
When she straightened up, she noticed the sky glowing red with clouds.
“Ah! Time passed so fast. I’d better go back before he sulks again.”
That night, moonlight streamed softly into the room.
On the old wooden table, two bowls of steaming porridge were set neatly.
Heon watched as Dan placed the spoons down.
“When you were asleep, I caught some snails and crayfish at the stream. Since you worked hard because of me, this will help your body. Please eat.”
“……”
“What? Is something on my face?”
“You look very tired.”
“Hmph. All your fault. I ate the ginseng, but you were the one who seemed to enjoy it.”
Dan glared sharply.
Heon snorted in amusement.
“Didn’t you beg me to work harder? Now that you’re alive, you regret it?”
Dan’s face twisted awkwardly.
“Anyway, I’m starving. I don’t even have strength to lift a spoon. I’ll eat first.”
She grabbed the bowl and gulped it down.
Watching her, Heon also finished his porridge quickly.
As Dan lifted the water jug, she suddenly asked:
“Brother, what about my arms and legs? You said I wouldn’t live whole if I didn’t satisfy you.”
Heon just sipped the warm water silently.
Dan frowned and tried again.
“Then… what’s your family name? Or at least your hometown?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, who knows? Maybe after last night, a baby is inside me.”
“Pfft—”
Heon almost choked, his face caught between shock and annoyance.
Dan placed her hand on her belly as if already carrying a child.
“I’m not asking you to take responsibility. If I have a child, I’ll raise it myself. So don’t threaten to cut my arms and legs. This is just bad luck—like stepping on dog poop.”
“…Dog poop?”
“Yes. Just an unlucky accident. But who knows? It wasn’t once, it was several times. A baby might come. So, at least tell me your name or hometown.”
Heon wanted to split her head open just to see what nonsense was inside.
Never in his life had anyone treated him like dirt on the road.
Many times, he wanted to kill her, formation or not.
And yet… every time, he ended up dragged into her nonsense.
Last night especially—he lost control like a starving beast.
He couldn’t believe it.
And now, when she called him “dog poop,” his eyes still wandered to her soft pink lips.
“Brother? Please answer me. Yes?”
“…That will never happen.”
“See? You can’t even say it won’t. I told you, I don’t need you to take responsibility. Just tell me your family name. If you don’t want to, then at least your hometown.”
Heon knew he shouldn’t, but he sighed and gave in.
“…Yangju.”
“Oh, Yangju? There are many places called Yangju. Even in the neighboring countries. Too common. So… are you Yang? Or Ju? Or Yangju?”
Dan tilted her head curiously, but Heon said nothing more.
“Enough. And stop calling me brother. I told you, I have no sibling like you.”
“Oh! That. I thought about it. Saying your name feels a bit… awkward. But if you want, I’ll say it. Hem-hem. Heon. Heooon. Heoooon!”
“Shut that mouth.”
Heon growled, his eyes fierce.
Dan burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
“See? It really sounds silly. Heon, Heooon, Heoooon!”
“I told you to shut up!”
“By the way… have you thought about leaving your master? You don’t seem like just a normal grave robber. You command men, don’t you? But masters always abandon their dogs after the hunt. If you want, I can find you a new job. Less money maybe, but safer.”
Heon stood up and closed in on her.
When she tried to step back, he grabbed her chin hard.
“Listen well. Don’t fall for me. Forget everything that happened. That’s best for you.”
His cold words cut her deeply.
Dan shoved his chest and snapped back:
“That hurts! My lips are bleeding. You’re nothing but a brute.”
“What? A brute?”
“Never mind. Forget it. Hmph. And for your information, I already have someone I like. Starting tonight, I’ll be busy. If you’re done eating, rest more.”
She gathered the bowls and stormed out.
Left alone, Heon’s eyes burned blue like lightning.
“…What? Someone she likes?”
