SAFBIAN Ch 151

Chapter 151

Dori opened his eyes. It had been five days since he fell asleep. His clear eyes blinked a few times before slowly surveying around.

Seeing Lady Jang and Jipyeong with worried faces, then Haban—whose expression was darker than anyone’s—he seemed to relax and asked, rounding his eyes.

“Why is everyone here?”

His voice was hoarse from having slept so long.

Haban gently rubbed the back of Dori’s pale hand with his thumb.

“…Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah.”

Dori nodded without hesitation. His expression was bright as if he had a good dream, and there was no sign of refusal toward Haban on his face.

Haban inwardly sighed in relief.

Perhaps Dori had slept so long to regain lost memories. Or maybe he was still giving him a chance for redemption.

Either was something to be thankful for.

‘By the way, he must be weak from sleeping so long.’

Haban placed his palm on Dori’s forehead. Fortunately, he didn’t have a fever.

Without the steady feeding of medicinal gruel and herbs, Dori might already be in danger. Although there were many things Haban wanted to say, the first priority was for Dori to regain strength.

“So, dizziness?”

“No. Can I get up now?”

“No. Wait.”

Haban covered Dori’s hand with the blanket and tucked it in tightly so he wouldn’t get up.

Seeing Haban’s gesture, Lady Jang moved swiftly and brought a bowl of water. Haban placed it on his knee with the tray and scooped some water with a spoon.

“I think it would be better to lie down a little longer.”

“Why?”

Dori asked, opening his mouth naturally.

Though he hadn’t realized he was thirsty, seeing the water shimmering in the spoon dried his mouth instantly. The lukewarm water Haban slowly fed tasted sweet and was welcome.

“You don’t have energy yet. What if you get weak and fall? Or will you be carried in my arms?”

After swallowing more water, Dori shook his head quickly. Though as a fox he occasionally let himself be carried, he was shy to be seen like that fully grown.

“No. I wasn’t really planning to get up just yet.”

Once his thirst eased, Dori turned his head to refuse more water.

Like Haban said, he had hardly any strength even to move his head. He tried to clench fists and twitch toes, but his limbs felt like blocks of wood.

Glancing at Lady Jang and Jipyeong who still remained in the room, Dori whispered quietly to Haban,

“…Did I sleep again? How long?”

“Don’t worry. You just needed rest.”

Haban said lightly as he handed the water bowl to Lady Jang to clear.

Dori calculated roughly a day or a bit more had passed before he fell asleep.

“Tomorrow is the day we leave for the palace, right?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, that’s good. Wake up before then.”

Dori smiled faintly, his face appearing fresher after the long sleep.

Haban, stroking his pale face, didn’t correct Dori’s misconception. Instead, Lady Jang quietly left, hurrying preparations so the others would not know Dori had slept so long.

“Feels heavy even though I slept soundly.”

“That’s normal after sleeping a lot. So don’t rush; just lie down.”

Feeling Haban’s hand soothing his chest, Dori blinked. He wasn’t sleepy but felt drowsy.

Then—boom!—a distant explosion sounded.

“What’s that?”

Startled, Dori’s eyes widened.

Such a loud noise didn’t belong in the quiet mountain village. Haban and Jipyeong turned simultaneously toward the door.

It was a signal flare from the imperial army.

Haban muttered to himself, guessing they had finally found their prey.

“…Looks like the rat’s caught in a trap.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

Haban turned and caressed Dori’s cheek. He hoped Dori knew nothing of what was to come. He didn’t want to show him cruel and frightening scenes any longer.

But this matter had to be settled.

“Go out and find out what happened.”

“Y-yes…”

After telling Dori to ask Jipyeong anytime he needed, Haban left the room.

Yungak ran hurriedly, barely glancing back.

Thin blood flowed from scratches on his face. He wiped off the drops quickly before they left traces on the ground.

‘Why is the imperial army here…!’

Haban rarely traveled far and always with minimal guards. Also, the imperial army was directly under the emperor’s command, tasked with guarding the palace in case of emergency.

So why were they in a remote mountain village? The emperor was truly obsessed with the white fox.

‘Damn it.’

As darkness fell, shapes blurred. Moran was losing ground and desperately running, having been separated from Iyeok.

Snap.

Yungak found a large rock and slid his body behind it.

By luck, a nearby hole was just knee-height, letting him hide without being seen from beyond the rock.

He planned to rest briefly before moving again.

Pant, pant.

‘First, find Iyeok after escaping here.’

Iyeok could fight several imperial soldiers with ease. They trusted and turned their backs to run away.

‘That damned red fox must have escaped somehow; sure to be after the white fox.’

Just as Yungak caught his breath, the crunch of dry leaves breaking underfoot echoed through the silent forest.

The footsteps came leisurely without any attempt to hide, so they were not the imperial soldiers looking for him.

Yungak tensed and sharpened his senses.

The footsteps approached slowly and stopped near the rock where he hid.

“Come out.”

Hearing the familiar voice, his blood warmed swiftly.

“I know you’re there, so don’t waste time.”

Haban’s tone was cool, like the fox had been on the palm of his hand from the start. Unable to bear it, Yungak crawled out and brushed the dirt from his body.

“…You always act differently from my expectations, brother.”

Especially about being intimate with that fox.

Yungak smiled faintly.

“I don’t know how such a mere beast could cause such turmoil in the empire.”

If even my brother is this captivated, I want a taste too.

After his provoking words, Haban’s eyebrow twitched slightly, which seemed to satisfy Yungak.

Haban looked at Yungak and chuckled bitterly.

“…Good. I’m glad it confirmed who you truly are.”

“Destroy Moran entirely. No need to capture alive. Those who surrender are to be mercifully killed, those who resist utterly slaughtered.”

Haban, knowing they would head this way, gave the cruelest order yet. He didn’t fail to catch Yungak but had purposely allowed him to escape.

Just as terrified Dori once fled, ripping his skin and burning his paw pads, Haban wanted him to struggle with the feeling of being chased, trapped, and forced to fight till the end.

Recalling Dori’s nightmares, Haban ordered keeping Yungak alive till the final moment.

“What have I done to deserve this? You should be thanking me.”

Yungak arrogantly raised his chin, proud and defiant despite his predicament.

“…I only tried to remove the demon clouding your eyes. Seeing how you treat your only kin means you should have died long ago.”

Without replying, Haban watched as Yungak shrugged exaggeratedly.

In a way, meeting Haban here was his opportunity. His final goal was killing the emperor. Each time Yungak cursed the white fox’s vulgarity, Haban’s composure slipped—a twofold gain.

“Did you know? That white fox has a mate. He comings and goings to the same places as you…”

Just as Yungak was smirking, he dodged swiftly when Haban’s sword appeared close. Though far apart, the distance was closed in one instant.

Yungak swallowed dry saliva.

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to kill that easily. At least those who died protecting you must suffer.”

Haban lightly shook the sword aside.

Unbeknownst to Yungak, the sword’s tip that brushed past his side bore blood.

One by one, until finally carving out that tongue alive. As Moran’s follower, he deserved nothing less.

“Ahhh!”

Angered by his wounds, Yungak charged at Haban shouting.

Though previously unable to lift his sword due to weakness, Yungak now swung it easily with one hand. He had been scolded often for skipping sword lessons but showed good posture and skill.

Haban, countering with two opponents, first severed Yungak’s left arm—his sword unused.