Gu Moran paused for a moment, then looked up at her.
Kim Seon-a's face flushed instantly, even her ears turned bright red.
She turned her face away, not daring to look at him.
Gu Moran didn't speak, but deftly pulled out the last silver needle, leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
"Bear with it tonight, and try again tomorrow. It won't feel so bad after that."
The words landed on her ear, hot.
Kim Seon-a -ah shrank her neck, and goosebumps rose all over her body.
She gripped the fabric of the bed frame so tightly that her knuckles cracked.
Raise your hand and look at your five fingers.
My fingertips were trembling slightly.
Gu Moran looked at her raised hand, put the silver needles back on the tray, and stood up.
"Rest now, I'll come again tomorrow morning."
He finished speaking and turned to leave.
Kim Seon-a stared at his retreating figure, a lump forming in her throat.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but the sound got stuck in her throat and she couldn't squeeze it out.
Gu Moran had already reached the curtain.
His hand had just touched the curtain.
"Etc."
His voice was a little hoarse.
It was as if a thorn was stuck in her throat; even she was startled by the sound.
Gu Moran stopped and turned to look at her.
Kim Seon-a gripped the edge of the bed and stood up, her cloak slipping off her shoulders, but she ignored it.
She walked up to Gu Moran and stopped three feet away.
At this distance.
She has been standing there for twelve years.
Within three feet, the protective energy barrier hummed silently, like ripples on the surface of water.
She gritted her teeth and took half a step forward.
Gu Moran stood there, neither moving nor retreating.
He looked at her.
Kim Seon-a took a deep breath and extended her right hand.
My fingers are shaking.
It's not fear.
I can't believe it.
As her fingertips crossed the line, she instinctively closed her eyes.
One breath.
Two breaths.
No.
Her fingers touched his robe.
The material is of excellent quality, and it has the earthy smell of the outside world on it.
She didn't back down.
He clenched his five fingers one by one, gripping the small tuft of cloth at the corner of his robe.
It was gripped tightly, as if afraid it would run away.
I pressed my entire palm against it, through my clothes, and the thing underneath was warm and moving.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears again.
She reached out with her other hand, grabbed the belt around his waist, and wrapped her fingers around it tightly.
Then she buried her face in it.
My forehead bumped against the buttons on his chest, and it hurt painfully.
She didn't move.
With my ear pressed against his shirt, I heard muffled thuds inside.
It wasn't until twelve years later that she learned what a living person's heartbeat sounds like.
Her shoulders began to tremble, and soft sobs escaped her throat.
Gu Moran lowered his eyes, looking at the head buried in his chest.
Her hair brushed against his chin, carrying a cool, medicinal scent.
He raised his hand, his palm resting on the back of her head, but he didn't slap her; he just left it there.
"Why are you crying? I'm still here."
His voice was low, hanging over her head.
"From now on, you can touch whomever you want without having to hold back."
Kim Seon-a shook her head and rubbed her face against his chest, where a dark patch of fabric had seeped through the fabric of his shirt.
"Twelve years..."
Her voice was muffled in his arms, trembling with sobs.
"Twelve years... I haven't even been able to touch my mother's hand again..."
Gu Moran didn't speak, but gently pressed his palm against the back of her head.
Just then, his brow twitched.
Thirty paces outside the tent, there was a powerful aura.
It was heavy and stable, like a mountain pressing down on it.
It's been there since they entered the tent, and it hasn't been touched.
But just a moment ago...
The moment Kim Seon-a hugged him.
The energy suddenly trembled.
It was like something had turned over at the bottom of a calm lake.
--
Outside the tent, under an old tree about thirty paces away.
Xie Linyuan sat cross-legged, his hands forming a mudra.
His brows furrowed.
Kim Seon-a.
He continued exploring.
I overheard the conversation.
I heard the faint sound of silver needles piercing flesh.
I heard Kim Seon-a's suppressed breathing.
Then.
I heard that soft, sweet hum.
Xie Linyuan's fingers stopped.
The prayer beads were digging into my palm, making my knuckles ache.
His face was expressionless; he simply stared at the direction of the main tent, remaining motionless.
then.
He heard the sound of fabric rubbing together.
The rustling sound of clothes being pulled.
Kim Seon-a sobbed softly.
"Twelve years... twelve years... I haven't even been able to touch my mother's hand again..."
Xie Linyuan looked down at the string of Bodhi seed prayer beads in his hand.
One hundred and eight.
He polished each and every one of them by hand.
He counted the prayer beads one by one, fingering them as he went.
When we counted to the 108th one.
Click.
A crisp sound.
The prayer beads shattered into dust, which fell silently through her fingers.
He lowered his eyes, watching the powder fall onto his knees, but didn't brush it away.
The leaves of the old locust tree behind him fell without wind, one by one, covering half of his shoulder.
He was as still as a stone statue.
The most spirited black horse in the stable started kicking the stakes.
Xie Linyuan's hand rested on his knee, and a vein on the back of his hand throbbed three times.
He closed his eyes.
His lips moved slightly.
Inside the tent, Gu Moran suddenly looked up.
The camp erupted in a cacophony of neighing horses.
Gu Moran Kim Seon-a and turned to look outside the tent.
Kim Seon-a wiped away her tears and looked up as well.
"What's wrong?"
Her voice was still choked with sobs; she was so emotionally invested that she lost her guard.
Gu Moran didn't answer, but stared at the direction of the tent curtain, his eyes darkening.
"Someone's here."
Outside the tent.
Murong Xue had already charged out from the side camp with her long spear, the tip of which gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
Lin Qingdai drew her long sword and flashed to the front of the main tent like a ghost.
Zhen Meili ran over from the workshop, carrying a modified crossbow with half a fuse still attached to the bolt.
Three men stood blocking the tent entrance, staring in the direction of the old tree outside the camp.
Xie Linyuan stood under the tree.
Moonlight filtered through the treetops, falling on his shoulders and illuminating the nine golden halos surrounding him.
The halo slowly rotated, and with each rotation, the pressure in the air increased.
Murong Xue gritted her teeth, pointing the tip of her gun at the man.
" Xie Linyuan? How dare you break into a military camp at night?"