Chapter 142 - 4.7 To The Dark Side
And here he was now, inside an unknown cave with the aforementioned Jingxue-Jun, his wounds having been cleaned and treated, firewood crackling in between the silence. It was so... cozy and peaceful. Heimo almost thought that he had died and ascended. Otherwise, how could he lay here, beside Jingxue-Jun whose features look even more prominent and sharp under limited lights with his head cushioned with the softest fabric that smelled faintly like winter itself? Heimo couldn’t even bring himself to blink, afraid that he would miss the slightest change in the other’s face. Jingxue-Jun’s silver eyes reflected the amber of the flame and he was glaring at the fire as if it had personally offended him. He didn’t even notice that Heimo had stirred awake by his side.
He deliberately slowed his breathing and stayed still, admiring the perfection by his side.
This... wasn’t what he had expected to see when he woke up. He assumed that he would be brought into a physician in the nearest village with Jingxue-Jun leaving a few taels of gold for his treatment. Not this. Intimate, soothing, alone in a narrow space with the sky gradually darkening.
Jingxue-Jun’s title wasn’t for nothing. He was cold. Righteous, kind, yet unattainable. He kept everyone at arm’s length, proven by how he often chose to go monster hunting alone. But look at them. If Heimo scooted a bit closer, he could even lay his head on the man’s lap — not that he would try it, he still wanted to live. This kind of Jingxue-Jun wasn’t as rigid as how everyone painted him to be. Or had the rumors been exaggerated? Or maybe... His heart skipped a beat. It couldn’t be. Had the man guessed Heimo’s identity and that’s why he kept him by his side?
His breath stuttered but that was enough to bring the man out of his reverie. The pair of silver eyes he had been admiring turned to him and for a while, he forgot how to breathe. Their eyes locked midair for a few seconds before the edges of Jingxue-Jun’s features softened. "You’re awake."
If Heimo hadn’t died, he thought that this time he would surely be. No, no, no, there’s no way. That was a lethal play. What was with that gaze? That voice? Previously, Heimo had thought that the man’s voice had a nice timbre but it couldn’t compare to now. Being blasted by the full velvety impact in such a close proximity, he could feel each word seep into his skin and coiled around him, warming him up from head to toe. He blamed it on the fever. Right, this must be the poison working! Otherwise, why was he so flustered now?! He had no idea what his expression looked like but it must be ridiculous. He hoped he wasn’t gawking. He hastily clamped his jaw shut and cursed inwardly. Damn it, he was really gawking at him like an idiot!
Think, think, Heimo. What was the poison he had coated on his weapon? Goodness, his mind was a jumbled mess and every thought he had screeched to a halt under those attentive silver eyes. Anyway, how could anyone think properly when they had Jingxue-Jun’s intense gaze fixed on them?!
Having gone a few beats without answer, the man’s brows furrowed deeply and he reached out to place the back of his palm on Heimo’s forehead. Jingxue-Jun hummed — what the hell, he shouldn’t have been allowed to make this kind of voice! — and measured Heimo’s wrist before he lightly tilted Heimo’s chin to coax him into parting his lips so that he could check Heimo’s tongue.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, still in that gentle and soft tone as if Heimo was a small and badly terrified animal.