When Fu Sheng sees Klyn dropping from the castle, he wonders whether he should break this boy's legs or drowns him in the lake. Why does he never do what he asks him to do?
Klyn might be more than two thousand years old, but he's mental age is not more than twenty years old human male. He has barely stepped into adulthood. Because he's the youngest among the nine nobles, he is treated like the youngest brother. His mistakes are often overlooked.
"Is he seeking death?" Lei glares at Klyn when he lands on the surface of the lake. They wait for him to walk to the shore. Klyn can tell that another punishment is waiting for him, but the deed has been done. He can't change the past or go back in time. He glances at Sung Na-Mi who is watching him with a frown. Why did he follow her? Is something wrong with his head? He was feeling strange when he saw her leaving. Then, he couldn't stop himself from jumping after her. If she had jumped into the fire, he would have jumped after her.
Klyn's lips press into a thin line. She's beautiful, but he has seen women who are more beautiful than her. Then, she's into women. He has lost the fight before the trial. How can he seduce a lady who is into other ladies? That's why he's been holding himself back since he noticed. But, the question remains the same. Why did he jump?
He bends down on his knees before his king. He should just bite the bullet. "Please let me come with you, my benevolent king who is extremely kind, generous, and caring toward his people."
Sung Na-Mi wrinkles her nose when she hears him cajoling the vampire king. This idiot has no backbone. Why did he come in the first place?
Fu Sheng crosses his arms and stares at him. Han shakes his head. "Klyn, go back."
"I agree." Lei glowers at Klyn. "It's not a journey that you can handle. Your level is the weakest amongst us."
"I-I…" Klyn knows reality. He wants to go back. Then, he glances at Sung Na-Mi again. His heart skips a beat when he meets her warm honey eyes. His throat is dry. There's a strange feathery sensation in his stomach as if flowers peonies are blooming in there whenever she looks at him. He swallows hard. What is going on? Did he catch a strange disease after getting hit by the hunter's arrows? "I want to come."
"Is something wrong with him?" Lei whispers to Han.
"That incident might have an effect on him." Han replies with a low voice, "It was his first encounter with the hunters in a close range. He nearly died. He also put the princess in danger. He probably wants to make amends."
"Really?" All of this sounds strange to Lei. "Klyn is growing up? That's ridiculous."
Han inhales, not uttering anymore word. He has said enough.
Fu Sheng has been listening to their whispers. Did Klyn change? Only time will tell. But, he can see the nervousness and questions in Klyn's eyes. Honestly, leaving this boy in the castle is more dangerous to others than keeping him with them. "Okay."
Klyn lets out a breath of relief. Then, he realizes that he shouldn't be relieved. He's going to a dangerous place. He rubs his hair in frustration and peers at Sung Na-Mi again. Why is this woman into women? This is the first time he feels depressed for being attracted to a woman who is attracted to other women. Usually, he would move on other women quickly. He won't make a move on her. He just wants to stay beside her for a while. Though he doesn't like befriending the opposite sex, he will make an exception to the rule since it's her.
In the practice room, Huang Qiuyan is sweating profusely. Sitting cross-legged, her eyes are closed. Though her head is full of theoretical knowledge related to magic, none of it is on Fae's or Hunter's magic. She can't sense anything under Jin's guidance either.
"You are too tense." Jin sighs.
She grits her teeth and holds her breath. She's trying hard to sense something, but her head feels like it's made of stones.
"Lady Huang, I told you to relax." He rubs the sides of her temple. "Stop thinking about unnecessary stuff. Don't think about who or what you are. Forget about everything. Find the calm in your heart first. Your magic will control you if you don't control it. You can't control it with a restless mind."
Xiao Chun Dan has been listening. He plays the scene where her magic is hunting down the life force.
[Maybe watching your magic running around will help.]
Her pupils move as she follows the magic in her mind. Her body begins to relax. Jin's head massage is also working.
Sensing her body relaxing, Jin is relieved. "Focus on your breaths and go within. Don't run after it. Don't be afraid of silence. Be still. It will come to you."
As if falling into the ocean, Huang Qiuyan lets herself sink, not struggling once. It's getting dark. The light is within her vision. The water is cold. She sees two balls of energy whirling around her. She recognizes them right away.
"Let it come to you." She hears Jin's voice. Being still, she closes her eyes and waits. The magic approaches her first, embracing her with ebullience. It fills her with effervescent force.
"Redirect it inside yourself." Jin's voice is serene. "Channel it through your veins. Become one with it."
She can feel it spreading outward through her veins. It's gentle like the water. Slowly moving toward the heart from all the directions, it corners the moss green ball.
[Wait, stop! What are you doing? Stop right at this moment.]
Xiao Chun Dan yells in her head. She frowns. Xiao Chun Dan tries hard to revert the flow of magic. Instead of regressing, it becomes turbulent and rages ahead, enveloping the life force. Huang Qiuyan feels a sharp pain in her chest when the aberrant life force energy is dismantled into fragments and absorbed by the magic. Frozen on her spot, she clutches her chest while Xiao Chun Dan frantically tries to control her vitals.