Chapter 56 The Ninth Son Part 8

In the early morning, the six men walked towards the foot of the mountain before sunrise.

Abrafo asked, "How far is Magior from here?"

Baishui said, " I haven't been there, but I think two or three months, if you ride on horseback."

Abrafo frowned and said, "You don't even know the place, how can you be our guide?"

Baishui said, "Well, my maid is bringing me my guidebook. How can you call it an adventure if you've been there before?"

U-ri, who was tired from walking down the mountain, complained, "Two or three months on horseback? Is there a river nearby where we could sail instead?"

Baishui shook his head. "Nope," he said, looking at Hajime. "Are you tired yet?"

Hajime said, "Not yet." He turned to U-ri. "Why do you hate walking?"

U-ri said, "When your bones are half as thin as mine, you will understand why I hate walking."

Baishui said, "I'm afraid it will be a long time." He smiled at U-ri. He stopped, took out an orange from his sleeve and handed it to Hajime. "Eat this to quench your thirst."

Hajime asked, "What about you?"

Baishui said, "I'm good for now."

Hajime took the orange and thanked Baishui. After peeling the orange, he handed the peeled orange to U-ri. "Old man," he said with a smile. "Eat something to keep your mouth occupied."

Baishui asked, "You don't like oranges?"

Hajime approached Baishui and whispered, "I like oranges, but I hate Uri's nonsense. Walking won't kill me, but Uri's complaining will." He laughed.

Baishui chuckled and said in a low voice, "I agree."

Abrafo, who was following the others, watched Hajime and Baishui, they happily walked side by side, occasionally touching each other's shoulders. He looked at Yul who was walking beside him, not paying attention to Hajime and Baishui's closeness at all.

Abrafo frowned, "Really?" He looked at Yul.

Yul turned to look at Abrafo. "What's wrong?" he asked, still showing no response.

"Aren't you worried at all?" Abrafo asked, pointing at the backs of Hajime and Baishui. "They just met and watched how close they became. Aren't you worried?"

Yul sighs and asks, "Why should I worry about how close they are?"

Abrafo said firmly, "Because Hajime married you."

Yul said, "You and I both know that my marriage with Hajime is just a contract. I want to help our kingdom, and Hajime wants to leave Tanzang."

Abrafo asked, "We have been together for so many months, do you have no feelings for him?"

Yul said, " I cherish our brotherhood and friendship."

Abrafo said, " You need to work harder."

Yul said, " Why would I do this? Why would I force myself to do something I don't want to do?"

Abrafo said, " Because if our mage falls in love with that man...that man will take our mage from us, and we'll be right back where we started. No mage. No key. No white dragon tail. Everyone we know will perish into the black hole."

Michio, who walked up to Yul said, "I agree with what Abrafo said. Do you remember what Hajime said to us when we first met? He said that if he found his true love, he would be with his true love. Together, they will not go back to Tanzang with us."

Yul looked at Hajime and Baishui who were walking not far away. Hearing Abrafo's worries, he finally realized that if he didn't strengthen his game in this battle with Baishui, he might lose Hajime and the last hope of saving the kingdom.

Yul said, "If Baishui is Hajime's true love, they are destined to be together, what right do I have to stop Hajime from leaving."

Abrafo said, " You have every right because you are his legal husband."

Yul looked at Abrafo and said, "Hajime doesn't consider me as his husband, but a friend."

Abrafo smirks, "That's what's stopping you from trying to change his mind about you, huh?" He raises an eyebrow at Yul. "From my point of view, Hajime really showed a lot of affection for you. I saw it in his eyes the day you passed out in Skull Forest. Maybe he was waiting for you to speak first."

Michio said, " Yeah, who wants to look at a handsome face that is as cold as ice." He looked at Yul. "Everyone, man or woman, we like the ones who put a smile on our face and are able to make us laugh with his little sweet jokes."

Yul said, "I know no joke."

Abrafo said, "You can learn, it's not too late yet, Hajime hasn't completely gotten involved with that handsome guy yet."

Yul said, "I don't have time to learn jokes to tease and flirt with other people."

Abrafo said, "Don't you care if Hajime left us and went with that guy?"

"Whatever happens, I can't stop it from happening," Yul said.

Abrafo said, "Really? Then why are you desperately trying not to let Tanzang be destroyed, but are unwilling to put more effort into your relationship with Hajime?"

"The two are different," Yul said. Yul looked at Abrafo and Michio. He shook his head and left Abrafo and Michio.

Michio scratched his bald head and murmured, "I don't see any difference between the two."

Putting his arm around Michio's shoulder, Abrafo said, "I'm pretty sure he's in denial. I believe there's some spark between Yul and Hajime. I know there is."

Michio said, "I don't know... Yul's attitude towards Hajime, giving all the wrong signals."

Abrafo pulled his arms off Michio's shoulders and crossed them across his chest. He looked at Michio and asked, "You want to bet with me?"

Michio said, "What are we betting on?"

Abrafo said, "Yul will fall in love with Hajime."

Michio shook his head, "They are married, so they will fall in love sooner or later."

Abrafo said, "You are no fun at all." He ran forward and grabbed Hajime's arm. "Hajime…" he gasped. "Yul has something to tell you privately."

Hajime got confused by Abrafo's words. "Privately?" he said, looking at Abrafo. "Why? Is it so important that he can't share it with all of us?"

Abrafo said, "It's a very important thing that no one else can know about but you."

Hajime asked, "What is it?"

Abrafo said, "I don't know. You must ask him yourself. He didn't tell me anything."

Hajime walked back to Yul and asked, "What are you trying to say to me that no one else can know but me?"

Yul looked at Hajime and asked, "What? What are you talking about?"

Hajime said, "Abrafo said you have something to talk to me privately. So, what is it?"

Yul said, "Why should I talk to you in private. There must be some misunderstanding."

Hajime asked, "If you have nothing to say to me in private, why would Abrafo say that to me?"

Yul said, "I have nothing to say."

Hajime said, "Well, why would Abrafo lie to me if you have nothing to say?"

Yul sighed and shook his head. "Abrafo is worried that you will fall in love with Baishui and leave us. You will not help us find the key to No Man's Land," he said, still avoiding eye contact with Hajime.

Hajime looked at Yul with a smile. He teased, "And you're not worried that Abrafo guessed right?"

Yul looked at Hajime and found that the dark red horizon that had just risen to the top of the mountain made Hajime's eyes light up. "I can't control who you fall in love with, but I hope you will do what you say and save Tanzang."

Hajime said, "Don't worry. I won't fall in love with Baishui. He is so different from me; we have nothing in common. So, he can't be my true love." Hajime opened his palm, and there were four pieces of oranges on his palm.

Yul looked at the four pieces of oranges in Hajime's palm. "What is this?" He looked at Hajime's palm and asked.

Hajime said, "I know you didn't sleep well last night; you must be very tired this morning. Besides, nutrition is very beneficial to wound healing."

Yul said, "You keep and eat it. I'm not tired."

Hajime grabbed a slice of orange and stuffed it into Yul's mouth. Yul quickly grabbed Hajime's hand and held it tightly.

Yul sighed and asked, "What are you doing?"

Hajime said, "Well, if you eat well from the beginning, I won't cross your boundaries and stuff it into your mouth. Open your mouth and eat well once."

Yul stretched his head forward, slowly opened his mouth, took the slice of orange into his mouth, touched the tip of Hajime's thumb and index finger with his lips, and then slowly let go of Hajime's wrist.

Although Yul's mouth and lips no longer touched Hajime's thumb and index fingertips, Hajime could still feel the warmth from Yul's mouth. Just looking at Yul, he suddenly feels very embarrassed. He quickly grabs Yul's hand and puts the three pieces of oranges in Yul's palm.

"Remember to eat," Hajime said, running towards Abrafo and Baishui.