Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

That guy hadn't eaten in three days.

When Han Yoojin entered the hut, he was still in the same position he'd left him: back against the wall, facing the door, eyes half-closed. Only at the sound of the door opening did those strangely colored eyes open.

They had never seen anything like him before. His skin was as pale as bone, his hair was extremely light, and he was incredibly tall. But no matter how tall he was, an unarmed man couldn't stand up to an entire hunting party. Moreover, when the tribe found him, one of his arms dangled at his side, his right eye barely open. He was tied up without a struggle. If not for the approaching trading season and rumours that the Breaker Tribe, who loved buying novelty, were coming, they would never have taken this half-crippled outsider home.

If Han Yoojin hadn't injured his foot, preventing him from participating in the hunting season, he would have certainly persuaded the tribe to reconsider bringing the man back.

 

An extra mouth consumes food, especially one half-dead. The other tribe members frowned at the sight of this bedraggled outsider, sceptical of how much food or equipment he could exchange for them. If he consumed too much food or the traders from the Breaker Tribe weren't interested in this strange outsider, they would ultimately have to kill him.

However, based on Han Yoojin's observations over the past three days, the tribe might have spared the trouble of taking action. If Han Yoojin hadn't seen the man raise his head every time he opened the door, he would have assumed he was dead. Despite his severe injuries, he refused to drink a single drop of water, not even the fruit placed before him.

Since he hadn't participated in the hunting season, the others in the tribe were reluctant to approach him, so his responsibility fell to Han Yoojin. Perhaps it was because Han Yoojin cared for the tribe's dogs. It was just one more thing. But since he would raise one, he hoped it wouldn't die by his own hand. Only if he raised it well could he trade it with other tribes for good things. Before that, this man had to survive, which meant he had to eat.

 

"Why haven't you eaten again?"

Han Yoojin was certain the man wasn't reacting to his voice, but to the grilled fish in his hand. Over the past few days, the stranger hadn't responded to anything Han Yoojin said. He might be deaf, but he was definitely not mute. On their first day together, he uttered strange syllables like, "erehw mai ohw era uoy."

Han Yoojin had no idea what he was saying. The man mumbled a few words, then stopped looking at him. Even though Han Yoojin spoke to him daily, the stranger stared at him silently with his golden left eye.

 

"You're lucky today! Yerim brought back a lot of fish," he said, shaking the crispy-cooked fish. As he shook it, the fragrant grease dripped down the wrinkled skin. "Don't waste it! This is a rare treat. If I hadn't had an extra fish this time, I wouldn't have given it to you."

In truth, Han Yoojin had secretly brought his uneaten portion. He even had to find an excuse not to eat with the tribe and return to the cabin when the hunting party was out. Otherwise, his brother'd be furious if he knew he'd given the fish to an outsider.

But Han Yoojin couldn't bear to see someone starve to death in front of him—no matter the reason.

 

Even if this man seemed to have some intellectual issues...? It's okay, he can't talk, but how could he not even eat fish? Even Peace, who was just one month old, knew to come over and nibble at the scent of fish!

He stared at the fish Han Yoojin had placed on the ground before him, as if it were disgusting and dangerous. Had he never eaten fish before? What pathetic tribe had he come from that hadn't even tasted fish?

"Look, this is food! You can eat it!"

Helplessly, Han Yoojin knelt before him, demonstrating how to place the fish in his mouth and peel the skin. Hot steam gushed from his lips. Unfortunately, no matter how much he explained, the man stared at his lips. Han Yoojin sighed helplessly. What should he do?

 

He swallowed the skin, feeling the intense gaze that never left him. After a moment's deliberation, Han Yoojin grabbed the fish's head with one hand, peeled off a piece of white flesh, and then, cupping it in his palm, offered it to the man.

"This fish meat is edible, too!" While the skin was fragrant, the meat was more precious. He flicked the flesh in his palm, "No bones either! Look!" Strangely enough, meeting that eye, he suddenly seemed to understand the outsider's caution. Han Yoojin knew what to do without needing to be told, just as he fed the fish as usual. Thinking of this, things became simple.

As if confirming his suspicions, the guy's tense shoulders relaxed at the sight of the hand near his face, a sign of letting down his guard.

 

Perhaps the man was starving. After days of hunger, the warm, fragrant fish seemed like a soft, tender temptation to him.

When a soft tongue slid across Han Yoojin's palm, he nearly jumped in fear. He barely suppressed his panic, waiting for the man to finish his food. Just when he thought he could finally withdraw his hand, the man's tongue, as if relentless, slid directly between his fingers, deftly licking the fish oil that clung to his knuckles.

"Wait, wait, stop licking! There are still fish! Eat the meat! Stop licking!!" Flustered, Han Yoojin nearly cried out, but held back at the last second. He didn't need the other tribe members rushing to his attention. He peeled a few more pieces of fish. After a few more, the entire fish had been devoured. Compared to the embarrassment of having his hand licked, Han Yoojin felt relieved at seeing the man finally eating.

This way, at least... he'd survive, right?

These gleaming golden eye stared at him, and Han Yoojin didn't know why he saw his relaxed reflection in it.

 

The other eye probably couldn't be saved, but the arm could be healed. If they wanted to negotiate a reasonable price with the Breaker Tribe, they had to ensure the outsider's condition wasn't so bad. Otherwise, Moon Hyuna would think they were taking advantage of her.

Thinking this way, he went to the hut every day to feed the guy and brought back water to clean him. He was so diligent that even the other tribespeople joked that Han Yoojin had a new pet. As the tribe's breeder and the brother of the hunting chief, they only dared to gossip to that extent.

But no matter what they said, it couldn't change the fact that Han Yoojin was indeed the tribe's best breeder. After some grooming and cleaning, the filthy guy finally lost his dishevelled appearance upon arriving in the tribe. His hair was surprisingly golden, just like his beautiful eye.

 

He was eating normally again. When Han Yoojin untied him and let him stand, the blond man's lack of vision in one eye momentarily stumbled, but he quickly regained his balance, evidently maintaining a good sense of balance.

It was impossible to ask the tribe's women to weave new clothes for the outsider, so he resorted to using Yoohyun's apron. While it was a little short but better than the strange, tattered fabric the outsider had been wearing. However, this didn't stop the weird stares from the other tribe members, especially when the outsider walked in the sun, his unusually bare shoulders and chest seeming to glow.

 

With the arrival of the Breaker Tribe still some time away, Yoohyun and the other hunters were reluctant to allow outsiders to leave the tribe, let alone take them hunting. So, most of the time, the outsider curiously followed Han Yoojin, watching him care for the tribe's animals or wander around the area. Over time, the tribe members grew less fussy about his presence.

The outsider didn't seem very bright. Every time Han Yoojin tried to communicate with him, he didn't understand, and in the end, he just smiled at Han Yoojin. Seeing that smile, Han Yoojin felt helpless, so he could only ask him to help carry things or watch for other problems while he checked on the dogs. He was obedient, and with Han Yoojin's gestures, he seemed to understand most of what he was doing.

After some time, he began to get used to the other person's company and no longer had the urgency to follow behind the stranger to ensure that the stranger did not get lost or enter places he should not go. The outsider's walking route was fixed, and he would always appear when Han Yoojin needed him.

 

Even the children of the tribe were drawn to his unusual appearance. Perhaps out of curiosity, they flocked to him at the sight of a stranger strolling.

"What are you doing?"

Seeing Han Yoojin approach, the children, who had been ordered not to interact with outsiders, scattered, leaving the blond man in awe.

He really needed to reiterate his warning to these children later. Summer was here, and the energetic little ones were getting playful. If their parents saw their children standing with this stranger, they would surely be terrified.

Something touched Han Yoojin's furrowed brow. He raised his gaze in confusion but was so close that all he could see was a blurry shadow. Han Yoojin stepped back and took the object offered.

It was a small animal made of reeds.

 

"Is this for me?" He carefully held the object to the sunlight, making out the familiar outline. Han Yoojin suddenly realised, "Wow, is this Peace?"

How could he fold a lion out of a reed with just one hand? He's quite deft!

"I didn't expect you to be so skilled."

Hearing Han Yoojin's praise, the blond outsider smiled slightly, his left eye narrowing.

 

Weaving is a valuable skill in the tribe, so many women with dexterity are valued and given a place there. Even better, Myeongwoo, who can weave wicker baskets and help hunters craft weapons, is highly sought after. Originally from another tribe, he had integrated into Han Yoojin's tribe through these skills.

Turning the reed lion over in his hands, the more he looked at it, the more exquisite it became. Suddenly, an idea struck Han Yoojin.

"I've found a way to avoid selling you to the Breaker Tribe!"

The outsider simply smiled at him, seemingly confused by Han Yoojin's excitement and unable to understand what he was saying.

 

"Come with me!" It seemed words weren't enough; direct demonstration was the most effective! With this in mind, Han Yoojin tugged the blond man towards the other hut on the other side of the tribe, and the outsider followed him obediently without resistance. After spending these few days together, he followed Han Yoojin's instructions completely and did not hesitate even when asked to enter an unfamiliar hut.

This was a dedicated weaving studio. The tribe members stored all the harvested, dried reeds here for the women to weave. He held up a reed basket and showed it to the man.

"Can you make this?"

The outsider took the basket from Han Yoojin, tilted his head, and swung it back and forth.

"I'm not asking you to play with it! I'm going to weave this!" He pointed at the lion he'd just given him, then at the reeds piled high on the ground, rubbing his hands together in a weaving motion. Han Yoojin had only seen Myeongwoo do it a few times, and he wasn't skilled at this delicate craft. Before his injury, he'd gone hunting with his younger brother. But after being unable to join the hunters, he tried to do whatever work was available to avoid being considered a burden to the tribe.

The outsider nodded earnestly, and Han Yoojin finally confidently handed the basket to him.

 

He would discuss the reception of the Breaker Tribe with the tribe members later. If he could convince the others at the meeting of this outsider's skills, perhaps this man wouldn't have to be sold to another tribe. He could keep this beautiful outsider.

I didn't expect things to turn out this way!

Han Yoojin thought briskly as he walked towards the tribal meeting.

 

I didn't expect things to turn out this way.

Sung Hyunjae was once again left alone in the hut.

He stretched his muscles, looked around, and sat down.

 

The wind outside rustled softly, and in the distance, the sounds of conversation and laughter from the tribe seemed to reach him.

This thatched hut was much nicer than where he'd been imprisoned earlier. It had decent furniture and good lighting and was likely built for work. The short, dark-haired figure had been demonstrating basketry before him, perhaps because he'd seen Sung Hyunjae weaving and wanted him to imitate him.

 

In this primitive tribe, the barbarians hunted or fished and gathered fruit in the nearby river. Fortunately, it was summer, and the harvest was plentiful, so they dared to kidnap a man of unknown origin like Sung Hyunjae as a hostage, providing him with food and drink.

Based on recent observations, the tribe's hunters had set out at regular times. While the exact duration wasn't always precise, a particular frequency could be discerned, depending on the lead hunter and the type of prey they'd caught. Sung Hyunjae could now make a rough guess.

Especially those hunters who dared to pull him out of the river and bring him into the tribe.

When his army arrives, he will kill all these barbarians.

 

But the short, black-haired guy could stay. At least he'd be a valuable tool in exploring this area. And he had a lovely smile.

So, first, let's complete the "job" he's been asked to do. With that thought in mind, he hummed softly and used his still-moving hand to retrieve the dried reeds.

 

＊

 

"Hey! Han Yoohyun! Your brother's gone looking for that outsider again!"

Having just pulled the long spear from the wild boar, and before the warm blood had even dripped onto the ground, he heard the shouts of the tribe members in the hunting party. Without responding, Han Yoohyun instructed the others to tie the dying prey to bamboo and prepare to carry it back to the tribe.

It was nearing the end of summer, the peak of animal activity, the perfect time to hunt for winter supplies. The trade caravan was approaching, and the Haeyeon tribe had prepared hides, horns, and dried fish as trade items. Initially, there was still one more hostage they could sell to the saboteurs; after nursing, that person might be worth two bags of grain, but Han Yoojin had vetoed this proposal in several meetings.

He showed Han Yoohyun the person's weaving. Weaving was indeed a helpful skill, but…

 

"Myeongwoo can also weave baskets."

"Not only that, he also helps Yerim make fishing nets!"

"We already have enough fish to eat."

"Wouldn't we use salt? That way the fish can be preserved!"

 

His brother is shrewd. Han Yoohyun would say he's a better leader than he is, especially regarding assertiveness.

However, the position of tribal leader wasn't decided by Han Yoohyun, but by all the tribe members, including Han Yoojin. So since he'd already made a deal with the Breaker leader, he wouldn't break his word. He was going to sell the outsider off.

 

Han Yoojin told him that the outsider had begun learning their language after only one full moon. While he couldn't hold a whole conversation, he knew the names of his tribe, and Han Yoojin also knew his name. Despite this, he never spoke in front of Han Yoohyun. He would have thought he was mute if he hadn't heard the outsider respond to Han Yoojin in his foreign language.

Han Yoohyun stared at the tall figure trailing behind his brother. His height allowed him to see the other person's casual gaze as he passed over him, as if Han Yoohyun were no different from the surrounding trees and grass. It was a familiar look because they shared the same gaze.

People like them were bound to be different from the rest of the tribe.

 

However, the man was overly proactive in front of Han Yoojin. At least in Han Yoohyun's opinion, as a hostage, he only needed to obey tribal rules and refrain from unnecessary tasks, such as accompanying Han Yoojin to care for the neighbours' livestock, folding small toys to entertain the children, or, as he was doing now, helping Han Yoojin reinforce the roof structure.

"Brother, I can do all of that."

"How could I let my brilliant brother do such rough work!" Han Yoojin patted his shoulder firmly. "You're so tired hunting, just go home and rest!"

"Then you should go back and rest too..."

"No, I have to watch over Sung Hyunjae. What if something happens? He only speaks that foreign language, and no one but me understands what he's saying."

Then just kill him. Han Yoohyun thought it was a simple thing.

 

Perhaps hearing his name in the conversation, the blond man glanced over at them, climbing on the eaves and patching the holes. More accurately, he was waving at Han Yoojin.

Regardless of the situation, Han Yoohyun was determined to sell this outsider.

 

＊

 

"He looks fine. I have a client willing to buy an outsider like him for breeding." Moon Hyuna propped up her chin and said, "We can cover the food expenses during transportation. The original price was two bags of rice, and I can add a bottle of rice wine."

Rice wine is an excellent commodity, especially since the Breaker Tribe is renowned for its brewing techniques.

"No way, how could that face only have two bags of rice? And look at his hair, so shiny," Han Yoojin said, grabbing the man's bangs next to him. "That shine is hard to maintain."

 

This was the final stage of the transaction, and the people from both tribes had gathered in the gathering hut. The Breaker Tribe and Haeyeon had frequent transactions in the past, and there was a solid foundation of trust between the two sides. Moon Hyuna would not have come to Haeyeon in person if she hadn't heard that an outsider wanted to sell.

It's not that human trafficking is so uncommon; Moon Hyuna herself has a stable supply. However, this was the first time she heard that the Haeyeon Tribe wanted to sell a man, and the fact that Tribe Leader Han Yoohyun was so eager to get rid of the human was unusual, which made her even more curious about the kind of man.

When she arrived at the scene, she understood. The problem wasn't the outsider, despite his impressive appearance and physique, nor was it that Chief Han of Haeyeon had any hidden agenda. It was his brother, Han Yoojin—

 

"I don't know if Big Brother wants to sell his wares or show off to us."

"We want to sell," Han Yoohyun said, his usual terseness. Even in the summer, his words felt like a chill.

"Really? But Big Brother disagrees." Moon Hyuna held her face. "Seeing how reluctant he is, I'll only have to take the deerskin back this time."

"I'm not reluctant. I just think the price has to be right. Look, how much fish did his flesh alone eat?"

The deputy chief approached Moon Hyuna and pointed at the woven items. They all were woven by the outsider. Craftsmanship certainly drives up the price. "So, three bags of rice? And two bottles of wine. We'll start drinking after this, and you can keep the other one?"

"Of course, you're always welcome to join us, Hyuna."

"Then, big brother, name a price. I've been here so long listening to you talk, so you should at least give me an idea."

"Uh-huh..." He glanced at Sung Hyunjaei, who was also gazing at him curiously.

 

This outsider surely had no idea they were gathered today to sell him. His golden left eye blinked meekly at Han Yoojin, as if he wouldn't refuse any decision. Since they entered the hall, Sung Hyunjae had sat obediently, amidst the piles of hides and woven fabrics, perhaps assuming he was being assigned some new task. Before coming, Han Yoojin could only hold his hand tightly and assure him he would never be sold to a strange tribe as breeding stock. He wondered if he'd understood.

"Five bags of rice and three bottles of rice wine."

"Yoohyun!"

"Brother, we have to sell him. That's why we brought him back."

Han Yoojin was speechless, having rarely seen his brother so resolute. He knew in his heart that his brother was right. This was why Han Yoojin had taken such good care of this man during the past few full-moon nights. If the goods had too many defects, the shrewd Moon Hyuna would definitely bargain.

But…

 

"Okay, I can give you two more bowls."

"Not selling! Absolutely not!" Han Yoojin shouted, halting the conversation. He took a deep breath and made a bold move. Even Sung Hyunjae was startled by his voice and looked at him worriedly. Ignoring Han Yoohyun's deathly glare, he gently stroked Han Yoojin's shoulder.

 

"Hyung! Why?"

"Because, because..."

What should I do? What good reason could I have for not selling Sung Hyunjae?

Never mind!

 

In impatience, Han Yoojin blurted out, "Because—we have a child!"

After he shouted, an eerie silence fell.

 

Moon Hyuna was the first to recover from her awkwardness. She asked with a half-smile, "Really? Big Brother, you..."

"Stop joking. How can men have children? Are you looking down on us by making such a joke?"

"My brother won't lie." Faced with insults seemingly directed at the Haeyeon people, especially from Han Yoojin, Han Yoohyun naturally wouldn't let it go easily. He grabbed his spear and stood up.

 

"No, Chief Han, is this reasonable?"

"Brother, could you possibly have children?" Compared to the tribe's anger, Moon Hyuna was more curious, even tinged with eager excitement that Han Yoojin couldn't understand.

Seeing the Breaker tribe about to draw their weapons and confront him, Han Yoojin coughed forcefully, "Of course, men from Haeyeon can't breed a child. As I said, we have a child, but he won't be born to me."

The only possibility, then, was—

 

Feeling the gazes fixed on him, the silent Sung Hyunjae raised a brow. Sung Hyunjae wasn't stupid; he knew he was being negotiated as a bargaining chip, but Han Yoojin had repeatedly assured him beforehand—if he understood the gesture correctly—that he wouldn't let Sung Hyunjae be sold off.

 

The army still hadn't found him after all this time, so it was clear that Sung Hyunjae had drifted further than expected. Unfortunately, when he took the opportunity to approach the river where he was initially pursued, he had no clue where to go; he had completely lost that memory.

Sung Hyunjae couldn't remember how he drifted, or why he ended up here.

 

Leaving here wasn't a bad idea. From the information he'd pieced together, he knew the Breaker Tribe was a nomadic trading caravan. Staying with them would increase the chances of encountering someone who spoke his language, and in such a trading group, there would inevitably be a role for translators. It would be a shame to abandon the trust he'd built, but Sung Hyunjae hadn't stayed with the tribe to stay.

Judging from the tone of their conversation, they were probably in the final round of negotiations.

But Sung Hyunjae couldn't understand why they were arguing about him. Could they not agree on a price?

 

The leader of the Breaker Tribe appeared to be a seasoned woman, and the Haeyeon tribe had a long history of trading with them. Logically, they should have had a tacit understanding during the negotiations. He could sense Han Yoojin's uneasiness. Could it be that Sung Hyunjae couldn't fetch a reasonable price? His demonstrated skills were more than enough to meet the needs of this primitive tribe. He grasped Han Yoojin's hand, his delicate fingers trembling in his palm.

 

This gesture didn't escape Moon Hyuna's attention. Unlike how she had just scrutinised him as merchandise, the flickering emotion in her eyes—how could one describe it? More of curiosity? Amusement?

This irritated him. Sung Hyunjae narrowed his eyes, observing the situation.

 

In the sharp exchange of words, Sung Hyunjae vaguely caught a few key words, seemingly referring to children. Could they be referring to the children of the tribe? Sung Hyunjae helped them in some small way, which was the best way to integrate into this barbarian community. Like the girl in charge of fishing—she was pretty likeable.

"ol otneis" (2) Han Yoojin whispered. It sounded like an apology. Why was he apologising?

The pair of dark eyes turned to Sung Hyunjae, and suddenly, a palm pressed against his abdominal muscles. What? What was going on? Sung Hyunjae stared at Han Yoojin in surprise, but the short, dark-haired figure turned to look at the others around him, shielding Sung Hyunjae behind him as if Sung Hyunjae were a chick in need of protection from its mother hen.

 

Moon Hyuna was the first to react. She burst into laughter, almost collapsing, and called the guards nearby. Within seconds, they produced a large bottle of something. As the caps were opened, a rich aroma of wine emanated.

She began pouring wine on the spot, drinking it immediately, even pouring a few glasses for Haeyeon's men. Compared to the enthusiastic laughter of the Breaker Tribe leader, the Haeyeon tribe members were far too quiet, a strange atmosphere permeating the air.

 

The Haeyeon tribe leader undoubtedly reacted most strongly. After pushing his glass directly to Deputy Tribe Leader Seok Simyeong, he grabbed his long spear and silently walked out of the hut. Before leaving, he glared at Sung Hyunjae with a fiery gaze, as if wanting to burn him to death with his eyes or pierce him with the spear in his hand.

But of course, that was impossible. Han Yoojin would stop him.

 

Sung Hyunjae glanced sideways at the little one beside him. Even without him saying anything, Han Yoojin knew he was confused.

 

He gave Sung Hyunjae a bitter, awkward smile.

Chapter Text

The Han brothers' bamboo hut is located in the heart of the tribe.

Until individual members have married, each family lives in the same hut. They move to a new house only after the couple decides to marry. The tribe arranges a site for the newlyweds to build their home, depending on their status and connections within the tribe. Some choose to live close to their existing families, while others choose a new area for work. Only a very few leave the tribe to find a new home.

Once they have decided on the site, both families are usually responsible for building the new house. Building a new home is also one of the considerations for the union of the two families. If a new house cannot be built before the wedding ceremony, the marriage is generally viewed with disdain. Without a place to live, how can a new family be established?

Even after being elected as the tribe leader, Han Yoohyun, the tribe's most popular bachelor, still lives with his brother and has shown no interest in accepting any advances from other members. Although Han Yoojin is concerned about his brother's marriage, he doesn't push him. He actually enjoys his brother's company. Furthermore, there was a practical consideration: he was still raising money for his younger brother's betrothal gifts. Especially as the head of the tribe, how could Han Yoohyun's future wedding be any less elaborate and expensive than others?

 

In the tribe, the most common huts were thatched, followed by bamboo huts, and the rarest were wooden huts. The only remaining wooden house in the entire tribe, used for gatherings and receiving foreign guests, was the hall. Stable and exquisite, it was the kind of house his remarkable brother deserved. Building a wooden house required considerable labour and wood and couldn't be completed overnight. Han Yoojin often secretly planned it while his brother was away, preparing a surprise for him once everything was ready.

He was incredibly grateful Han Yoohyun wasn't home, but not for that reason. Seok Simyeong ultimately handled the transaction with the Breaker Tribe, ensuring the tribe received the necessary equipment and grain.

 

This was the first time he'd seen Yoohyun so angry; it looked like his brother wouldn't return soon. Although he felt sorry for him, Han Yoojin had more pressing matters.

"What child?"

Sung Hyunjae folded his arms, staring at him, and asked using the simple words he'd learned.

After leaving the meeting hall, Han Yoojin took Sung Hyunjae back to his and his brother's bamboo hut. He hadn't thought of an explanation on the way there, and once home, it was even more impossible.

How could he possibly explain this...?

To prevent you from being sold, I lied about having a nonexistent child so you could join the tribe?

And I even said men could have children. That was absurd. Han Yoojin covered his face, feeling the agony of his impulsive words.

 

"I really had no other options. Five bags of grain were a good offer, and Moon Hyuna was very kind to us by offering such a good price..." Without caring if the other person understood, Han Yoojin said to himself, "Perhaps Seok Simyeong is right. I spend too much time caring for the animals, and the responsibilities of the tribe are all borne by Yoohyun..."

He was such a terrible brother. If Han Yoojin had worked harder, his brother could have focused on leading the hunting team, and he could have shared his responsibility for managing the tribe.

Feeling a slight sting, Han Yoojin lifted his face from his arms and found Sung Hyunjae sitting on the floor with him. The man held a woven figurine, and the sensation he had just felt was from the fibres of the straw figurine.

"Seok Simyeong," he said, placing the figurine in Han Yoojin's hand and turning to pour more figurines from the woven basket nearby.

"What are you doing?" Han Yoojin asked curiously.

 

Sung Hyunjae remained silent, simply continuing to weave the half-finished piece. He didn't know when his basket had begun to overflow with these seemingly unidentified weavings. Not just reeds, but also bamboo, leaves, flowers, and various other plants, enrich Sung Hyunjae's creative palette. Soon, he brought over a straw figurine with a red leaf tied around its head. "Moon Hyuna."

He made a figurine representing Moon Hyuna. Sung Hyunjae placed her on the ground, took the figurine he had replaced with Seok Simyeong from Han Yoojin's hand, and placed it beside her. As Han Yoojin watched, bewildered, he used a stick to draw in the dirt, creating a triangle around the two figurines. "Here," he said. Then he took out another figurine, painted red. "Han Yoohyun." He shrugged and returned it to the basket.

"I really don't understand why you two dislike each other," Han Yoojin said, wiping his eyes. He recognised it as a prop they had made together to teach Sung Hyunjae the language to help him understand the tribe's people more quickly. Before they used this method, Sung Hyunjae had always thought "Yerim" meant "fish."

"Han Yoojin," he said.

 

Han Yoojin looked up at him. The blond man tilted his head. After confirming that Han Yoojin was following his movements, he placed the straw figurine representing Han Yoojin on the ground. He then drew a long, straight line with a branch, separating Han Yoojin's straw figurine from the triangle.

What does that mean? Why not put his figurine inside the triangle as well? What does the triangle mean?

Han Yoojin stared back and forth at the pattern on the floor, bewildered.

Seeing he still didn't understand, Sung Hyunjae sighed, picked up the straw figurine representing Han Yoojin, and placed it in his hand. He also placed another straw figurine in his palm. "I," Sung Hyunjae said, pointing to himself. "Here." Then he gently brought the two straw figurines together in Han Yoojin's hands. "And you."

"Do you mean we're here now?" Han Yoojin asked, blinking.

 

Golden eyes curved in a smile, and Sung Hyunjae waved his palm towards the ground. His right hand wasn't very nimble, and he swung the two straw figurines in the triangle pattern aside. Seok Simyeong and Moon Hyuna were tossed back into the basket.

"Don't be so rude..." He stared at the smeared triangle on the ground, suddenly realising it looked familiar. The roof of the clubhouse was shaped just like that. His heartbeat suddenly began to race. When he got the answer to this riddle-like interaction, Han Yoojin's heartbeat quickened for some reason. "Are you telling me to leave them alone? Seok Simyeong will handle the Breaker Tribe?"

He didn't know if he understood correctly. Sung Hyunjae simply smiled at him.

Han Yoojin sniffed. He should have taught him more words or verbs to make the conversation flow smoothly. But somehow, this communication seemed enough.

 

The other person had other questions and pulled a small straw figurine painted blue from the basket. "Child? Yerim?" He was clearly confused about why Yerim had appeared in the conversation they had just exchanged, and he wanted to confirm with Han Yoojin.

"No, this has nothing to do with Yerim. Uh..." The most vexing problem still lay unresolved. Han Yoojin frantically pulled a reed from the basket. There were no other straw figurines left. What should he do? Should he make a baby? Wouldn't that complicate things? And the child didn't exist in the first place!

Clumsy, he could only roll the reed into a ball and hold it up for Sung Hyunjae to see. "A child. There's no child. He doesn't exist. I lied to them." Han Yoojin spoke, his fingers loosening the reed ball. The blade, freed from its restraints, immediately unfurled, returning to its original, slender shape.

Sung Hyunjae stared at him. His golden left eye remained motionless, as if digesting the information.

Then, he stood up and left the room, leaving Han Yoojin alone, stunned.

 

Did he understand? Even Han Yoojin himself wasn't sure what was going on. He stared at the ordinary reed in his hand, took a deep breath, and put it back into his basket along with the scattered straw figures.

Not only did he have to explain to Sung Hyunjae, but after today, the entire tribe would know how ridiculous Han Yoojin was. He'd lied during a formal trade meeting and even argued with his brother over an outsider.

He should apologise to Yoohyun. Even though it was so absurd, he'd still tell everyone in the meeting that his brother wouldn't lie...

Han Yoojin, lost in thought, was startled by a shadow suddenly appearing beside him. He didn't know when Sung Hyunjae had returned, but why were his footsteps so silent?

 

"Where did you go? What are you doing?"

Perhaps tired of talking, Sung Hyunjae simply shoved a leaf-wrapped bag into his hand. Han Yoojin opened it and was surprised to find tiny, bright yellow pieces. "Hmm? What is this?"

"Sweet," Sung Hyunjae said, pointing upwards for added clarity in case Han Yoojin didn't know where it was from.

It was a honeycomb covered in honey.

 

"Where did you find it?" How could this man always find these things on his own?

Honey was a precious commodity, as the bees surrounding the hives were dangerous. Only on rare occasions would the tribe send people out to collect honey, mostly for medical treatment. Han Yoojin only had the chance to see honey during festivals. Even fewer people in the tribe had actually eaten it.

"You went alone?! That's dangerous, you know?"

"Sweet."

"Yeah, of course I know it's sweet!"

Sung Hyunjae just held his face and looked at him, waiting for him to make a move. If Han Yoojin didn't eat it, this whole thing would never end.

"It's so hard to communicate," Han Yoojin said. Under his gaze, he carefully broke off a piece of honeycomb with his fingers and put it in his mouth to chew.

It was really sweet. So this is what honey tastes like.

 

＊

 

Hunting in the tribe followed fixed rules. To ensure that each hunt yielded enough food for the tribe, the tribe leader shared the spoils equally after the hunt, regardless of which hunter in the hunting party had taken any part. However, only in special circumstances, such as when the hunter who had made the greatest contribution to the hunt might receive a reward of hides or tusks.

This egalitarian system helped maintain tribal bonds, ensuring everyone contributed. But the outsider had broken this rule.

Since he wasn't part of the hunting party, he should have waited for his rations like the rest of the tribe. Yet, at dinnertime, he ignored the hunting party and swaggered past them, clutching some hares he'd caught from nowhere. With so many other options, he chose this direction, leading one to suspect that he was dragging a bag of prey more for show than to boast. To show that, even without weapons, he could catch as much food as they did, using only a rope.

 

"Hey! Stop!"

The blond man with the eyepatch continued walking, genuinely confused or pretending not to hear. It wasn't until a hunter barged in his way that the outsider stopped.

"You live in the tribe, drink our water, sleep in our houses. If you catch anything, you should share it with everyone!"

The golden eye glanced at him, slung the rope around the rabbit's head over its shoulder, and turned sideways to head inside.

 

"How dare you ignore me!" The sight of this outsider's ignorance was truly unbearable. As the hunter was about to grab the rabbit from his back, he exclaimed, "What?" His vision suddenly spun, the world turning upside down. In the blink of an eye, his ankle, caught in the rope, caused him to lose his balance and fall to the ground, wailing and thudding with a thud.

The other hunting team members, dismembering wild boars, heard the crash and dropped their work, preparing to move forward to surround the unreasonable fellow, but were stopped by Han Yoohyun. When the outsider turned to look at the tribe leader of Haiyan, he shrugged his shoulders and said in a strange accent, "I want to eat rabbit." The blunt and almost rude words seemed to explain the illegal hunting and attack on the hunting team members. He looked at Han Yoohyun's expression, tilted his head and said, "Han Yoojin wants to eat rabbit."

 

The commotion caused the other tribesmen to peer out of their huts, concerned. Han Yoojin, who had inexplicably appeared in the conversation, also rushed out to investigate. It was already approaching dinnertime, and he calculated that the hunting party should be back. He hadn't seen Sung Hyunjae and assumed he'd gone out with them. Who knew he'd be here?

"So you're here—"

"Rabbits."

He had no tools to slit their throats or skin them, so he had to strangle the rabbits with a rope and tie them all up to bring them back.

 

"Oh, okay. I know these are rabbits. Thank you..." Han Yoojin quickly accepted the skewers of rabbits offered. Holding his hands full of furry prey, he looked questioningly at the tense hunting team. He heard a cursing voice beside him: "Brother Yoojin! That outsider deliberately attacked me!"

"Why would Sung Hyunjae attack you...? Aren't you guys out hunting? Why are you lying on the ground?"

The man merely shook the rope noncommittally. Before turning and leaving, he said to Han Yoojin, "Keep."

"Keep what? We can't finish all this meat between the two of us. Why not share it with everyone?"

Hearing Han Yoojin's response, he shook his head slightly, as if he was helpless with the conversation. Amidst his bewilderment, he grabbed one of Han Yoojin's hands, placing it on the hare: "Keep." Sung Hyunjae's fingers pressed against his, digging into the soft fur. "Keep this."

"Oh, you mean rabbit fur? It's called 'rabbit fur'!" Han Yoojin, taking the opportunity to teach more words, repeated it earnestly to Sung Hyunjae. So he have to keep the fur himself and not give it to anyone else? "What are you going to do?"

 

Without getting any further answers, Sung Hyunjae headed for the river. Since he had no tools, he had no choice but to leave the subsequent processing of the prey to Han Yoojin. At least, when these "unauthorised" rabbits were handed over to Han Yoojin, no one in the tribe dared to say anything.

This wasn't the first time Sung Hyunjae had done this. He clearly knew that Han Yoojin would eventually share his food with others. That was just the kind of person he was. Even if he only had one fish, he would give it to Sung Hyunjae. The people of the Haiyan tribe knew this all too well. This was why, even though Sung Hyunjae continued to wander the tribe as he pleased and never joined the hunting party, he still managed to have his share of food. Otherwise, Han Yoojin would probably be the one who would go hungry in the end, and this is what Han Yoohyun least wants to see.

 

＊

 

Ever since that strange deal with the Breaker Tribe, Sung Hyunjae had sensed a change in how the tribe viewed him.

Sung Hyunjae still couldn't understand Han Yoojin's explanation for the outcome of the previous deal between the two tribes, but there hadn't been any violent clashes between them. Wen Xian-ya and a few other Destroyer members had even stayed, planning to stay until the next full moon. It seemed the outcome hadn't been bad.

What puzzled him was that the women in the tribe had become inexplicably affectionate towards him, often gazing at his abdomen and whispering to one another. However, Han Yoojin hadn't pressed his palms against his abs since then. Sung Hyunjae simply assumed the gesture had no special meaning.

The hostility from the hunting party remained the same, and Han Yoojin's gaze had grown even colder. Even from a distance, Sung Hyunjae could hear the curse.

 

"What did he say?"

Pulling the net ashore from the river, Bak Yerim shook her hair and looked up to see the hunting party gathered in the distance, and the tribe leader turned away. She snorted and began repeating a long string of syllables Sung Hyunjae couldn't understand.

Seeing the man's expressionless face, Yerim switched to his language and said, "He said you were a despicable thief."

 

"Thief?"

"Nórdal." (3) The girl repeated the word in her language. Young people learn languages ​​quickly. After just a few times of making nets together, Yerim had learned a lot from Sung Hyunjae.

"Do you need help? You won't be able to eat rabbit meat if you're late."

"On oerc euq es areirifer la ojenoc." (4)

Of course, it wasn't about a rabbit. Sung Hyunjae smiled at her. He always liked smart and perceptive children.

 

As he helped Yerim pull the rest of the catch ashore, the cool breeze blew through their hair, making him close his eyes. He opened his remaining left eye again. Under the gentle sunlight, the river before him shimmered with a beautiful lustre, its crystal-like waters flowing toward the unknown distance.

 

He needed a boat.

Chapter Text

It's unknown how long his injuries persisted after drifting to the tribe and being brought back. Even though Han Yoojin provided immediate emergency treatment, his wounds healed very slowly after days of starvation and extreme weakness. It was a blessing that they didn't worsen. But unlike his right arm, which could now move freely, Sung Hyunjae's right eye showed no signs of recovery.

He had never treated such a serious case before, so he could only clean the wound using the tribe's traditional method, applying diluted aloe vera to the eye to reduce the swelling. 

When Han Yoojin placed his palm against the tightly closed eye socket, the initial swelling and heat were gone. Initially, when they couldn't communicate, applying eye drops to Sung Hyunjae was a difficult task.

After clearing the pus, he had to apply the same solution to his eye in front of the wary man, waiting to show Sung Hyunjae that he was fine before allowing Han Yoojin's fingers to touch his fragile eye.

As the cold aloe vera spread across his trembling eyelids, a powerful force gripped Han Yoojin's arm. He paused. The stranger before him, lips tightly pressed together, his mineral-cold eyes fixed on Han Yoojin like a statue, his gaze fixed on him.

Though his face was emotionless, Han Yoojin was all too familiar with it—he'd often seen the same gesture on alert dogs. He kept his hand at the same height, waited a moment longer, then reached out to touch the long, slender eyelashes again. The outsider calmly allowed Han Yoojin to apply the medicine, his grip on his arm unwavering. He wouldn't be surprised if he used brute force to break Han Yoojin's arm. Han Yoojin continued to apply the aloe vera, while the man sat before him, holding his arm tightly.

After the swelling subsided, he could only wait for the eye to heal on its own. Han Yoojin had no idea how long such a wound would take to heal. Everyone knew that any injury that lingered through a full moon, even if it appeared intact on the surface, would never fully recover and would always ache, just like his foot injury. When the swelling subsided, would he be able to see the eyes beneath those thin eyelids?

As he was concentrating on applying crushed herbs to the man's eyes, he not only felt the fluttering of his eyelashes in his palm, but also felt an uneasy poking on his arm.

 

Now, Sung Hyunjae no longer grips his hand tightly. Back then, the handprints were so deep that Han Yoojin had to hide them secretly, fearing trouble if anyone saw them. But now, things aren't much better. "What's wrong?" Han Yoojin's tone is more serious than expected.

Although it's become a daily routine, changing the bandages requires careful attention. But someone sitting in front of him, perhaps out of pain or boredom, simply taps Han Yoojin's elbow with their fingertips.

"This what?"

With curiosity in his eyes, Sung Hyunjae's fingertips rested on the tattoo on his arm.

"Oh, you're talking about this?"

What's the simplest explanation? In the tribe, upon reaching adulthood, everyone receives a tattoo and a record of past deeds or skills. Not just Haiyan; other tribes have their own tattoo system. 

Generally, the intricacy and number of designs reveal a person's character.

But Sung Hyunjae was the first adult he'd seen without a tattoo. His clean and smooth limbs had no unnecessary patterns, scars or traces of time, as if nothing would leave any trace on him - except for his tightly closed right eye.

"This is a tattoo. You've probably seen it on other people, right?" 

 

Han Youjin cleaned his fingers and fastened the eye patch strap behind Sung Hyunjae's head. "Yoohyun's is on his cheek, near his eye, because he has the best eyesight in the village. Yerim, since she's just come of age, only has it on the back of her hand. If they achieve new things in the future, they'll get new tattoos."

Is this too hard to understand? When he mentioned eyes, he deliberately touched Sung Hyunjae's eye socket; when he mentioned the back of the hand, he placed his fingers on Sung Hyunjae's hand. Sung Hyunjae snorted at this. Did this reaction mean he understood?

"Yours?"

"Mine..." Han Youjin only had one old tattoo on his arm. Besides this one, he had no other tattoos.

Waiting for his response, the man's soft fingertips traced the lines that snaked up from his elbow, along his spine, and to the back of Han Yoojin's neck. If Sung Hyunjae hadn't mentioned it, he'd almost forgotten about his tattoo; it was so long ago.

"Ah, that's it! It's nothing special, though." He patted Sung Hyunjae's face, indicating that the medicine had been applied and he could leave.

 "Stop touching me. It's nothing special! I have to..."

"Pretty."

Han Yoojin was speechless.

"It's not pretty."

"Pretty."

Does he have a parrot? He keeps repeating himself.

Does this guy not understand? 

 

Seeing the smile directed at him, Han Yoojin retorted sheepishly, "It's not pretty. Pretty is like this!" He pinched Sung Hyunjae's soft cheek, "You're pretty!" 

As soon as he finished speaking, a burning sensation rippled through his fingertips and licked Han Yoojin's head. What childish talk!

Golden eyelashes brushed across his knuckles. Sung Hyunjae waited for him to explain the symbolism of the tattoo, but Han Yoojin's mind was completely blank. When he came to, at least one new thought entered his mind: those lips were indeed as soft as his cheeks.

"Uh, sorry, I didn't mean uh—"

The tongue was soft, too. As it slid across Han Yoojin's upper lip, he opened his mouth to let the visitor in. If Sung Hyunjae hadn't held the back of his head, Han Yoojin would have stumbled backwards in shock. 

The heat of that lip blew between his teeth, nearly making Han Yoojin tremble. He couldn't speak. As another tongue caressed his tongue, he wondered vaguely, was this the taste of tongue?

The back of their tongues slurped up wet, hot saliva, which flowed from the corners of their mouths as they stirred. So close, he could feel the soft, downy hairs on his face. As it brushed against the bridge of his nose, he could smell the faint herbal scent of Sung Hyunjae's face.

Instinctively reaching out to grab the neck in front of him, Han Yoojin was forcibly pulled back by his remaining sanity. His fingers nervously groped around on the floor, his body falling backwards until he bumped into the bed frame.

Now, his bewildered fingers finally had something to grab onto. But the other person clearly wasn't as nervous as he was. 

 

Having finally earned the invitation, his tongue, once inside, was only focused on exploring the trembling mouth and breathing. With every deep breath, the aroma of aloe vera, hibiscus, and marigolds rushed into Han Yoojin's nostrils. Fingers against his back rubbed the tattoo that twisted from shoulder to neck. 

The warm air brushing against his lips flooded his consciousness like water, flowing down his throat, chest, and lower abdomen…

It was like being dragged into a whirlpool, drowning in the scent. The swirling currents swirl around Han Yoojin's breath... How could he struggle against this breath...

His half-closed eyes, sensing his intention, suddenly lifted. Backlit, beneath a slender shadow, that golden eye reflected Han Yoojin's face.

It was strange; it shouldn't have been so clear, but Han Yoojin saw his own form, yet it didn't seem like himself. 

In his panic, Han Yoojin's clenched fingers caught something, and a vast shadow snapped and enveloped them. Instantly, as if sensing something strange behind them, that golden eye flashed a dangerous light. 

Before Han Yoojin could see clearly, he felt himself rolled in his arms, falling back to the ground. He gasped, and before he could comprehend what was happening, the blanket crashed down on Sung Hyunjae's head.

 

"Ouch! Are you okay?"

"...Huh? Cloth?"

Did he just pull the blanket off the bed? He'd almost forgotten. With autumn approaching and the weather starting to cool, he swapped the straw mat for a cloth blanket a few days ago.

Luckily, it was just a blanket, nothing dangerous. Otherwise, if he'd hit his head and become insane, communication would have been difficult enough.

"It's 'blanket,'" he blurted out before Han Yoojin could react. Repeating words had become a habit, even in such situations.

As if unable to hold it in any longer, Sung Hyunjae chuckled; it seemed even he found it amusing.

"Hey! Stop laughing! What's so funny?"

"Yeah, it's the blanket."

"I'm serious..." A laugh laced his words, a tone Han Yoojin himself couldn't believe. 

 

He cradled the chuckling head against his neck, running his fingers through the soft, glossy hair. Was it laughter? His cheeks burned unnaturally, his chest heaving. Their naked upper bodies pressed against each other; the vibrations he felt weren't even his own heartbeats.

The furry head tickled him, and after some playful play, Han Yoojin shifted to get up.

 "Get up—" 

His words froze mid-sentence, his whole body stiffening and his mouth snapping shut. His fingers, gripping the blonde hair, twitched with nervousness. He wanted to push him away, but the hand wedged between his legs held him back for a moment. If Han Yoojin moved even slightly, he'd—see—he'd see—

The hot air against his ears made Han Yoojin squeeze his legs together. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Sung Hyunjae watching him. Was he observing his reaction? The left eye blinked at him, and a voice slowly crept into his ear: "Yhw os suovren?" (5)

Sung Hyunjae rarely spoke that foreign language to him. When they were together, Han Yoojin spoke, and Sung Hyunjae listened and learned. 

He suddenly hated his former talkative self. He heard that Yerim's practice method was different, and she spent more time learning what Sung Hyunjae said. Of course, children learn languages ​​much faster than adults, and Yerim didn't dislike him either -

 

"Im tespu taht eruoy os evitnettani." (6)

What does that mean? What does he mean? Han Yoojin couldn't guess. 

The man's smile remained unchanged, but Han Yoojin felt that he would be in big trouble if he didn't understand what he meant. "Speak...speak something I can understand!"

After hearing this order, the man slowed down his already slow speech speed to make him understand. 

He leaned against Han Yoojin's face, and spoke syllable by syllable into his ear, into his ear hole, over his earlobe, and into his earlobe: "Inac etsat ruoy raef on deen ot eb diarfa." (7)

"... I'm not a child. I don't understand what you say!" 

Han Yoojin slapped his head and grabbed the roots of his golden hair. He pulled up Sung Hyunjae. He tilted his head and looked at Han Yoojin under him, with the corners of his mouth raised, but he didn't say a word, as if he had said so much and it was Han Yoojin's turn to speak.

Han Yoojin bit his lip.

 

The hand around his waist was practically squeezing the air out of him. He hugged Sung Hyunjae's neck and, without realising it, sat on him. 

The thin summer apron couldn't keep out the heat, and Han Yoojin's lower abdomen tightened. This wasn't what clothing was for. The fabric, meant for covering, draped between his legs, rubbed against his straining penis. Before he could stop the sound from escaping his mouth, it was swallowed by Sung Hyunjae.

Even though it was the sturdiest bamboo house in the village, he could still hear the faint sounds of people coming and going outside. Light filtered in through the window, bathing his calves. Aside from a patch of translucent white skin, Han Yoojin was shrouded in shadow.

The touch against his thighs was the same as the one he'd used whenever he'd been called out to him: deliberate pokes at Han Yoojin's back, arms, or cheeks. 

Whenever he looked up, he'd see that shiny hair and smiling eyes fixed upon him.

It was the same now, though less friendly. 

 

The rubbing of his genitals was now being applied in a less friendly way. A warm palm reached deep within, gently encircling his penis. Though he couldn't see it, he knew it was Sung Hyunjae's palm, stroking his trembling penis repeatedly. 

The man's right upper arm had been injured, not his fingers. The fingers were as nimble as his other hand, caressing the back of Han Yoojin's neck with steady, unhurried strokes.

Unfamiliar words rustled against his throat again. Han Yoojin's chin rested on the top of his head, and he could only feel the moving lips biting his Adam's apple, which did nothing to stifle his moans.

The sound didn't sound like his own, yet it was indeed coming from his mouth, chest, and legs.

"Shh, shh..." Sung Hyunjae whispered soothingly. 

No matter the language, reduced to its most basic expression, it was nothing more than a series of hums, creating a kind of tacit understanding. The sounds of the body could be heard without words.

 

"Hah..." He seemed to hear the swirl of his own saliva, the sound of sweat running through his hair, then being sucked. The sound was so loud it seemed to cover his eardrums, and there was nothing else.

As soon as Han Yoojin closed his eyes, he felt fingertips graze his increasingly swollen and painful penis. The edges of untrimmed nails scraped against the soft skin. Without applying pressure, this repeated, regular stroking would eventually leave a mark.

In the unbearable regular friction, he couldn't help twisting his body and couldn't protest. Sung Hyunjae's thumb rubbed the front end directly, making Han Yoojin shudder. He shrugged his shoulders and was about to jump up, but his arched back was immediately pressed down, and his thighs were spread apart on both sides of the waist.

He'd never been so close to anyone before. Everything felt strange, yet so familiar, as if he'd rehearsed it so many times in his head that he just grabbed her shoulders. As he reached climax, even though the sun was so far away, he felt his erect penis burn. A scorching, stinging pleasure shot from his lower body to the back of his head.

"Uh uh..." 

He exhaled twice, but before he could catch his breath, the pleasure that had been lingering in the back of his head cascaded down like weightlessness, and his limp body was instantly caught by two arms.

The rustle of wind against the eaves, the chirping of birds leaping through the branches, the noisy footsteps of tribal children playing, the excited barking of dogs—the sounds of the outside world flooded Han Yoojin's ears once more. He glanced at Sung Hyunjae beneath him, who stared back. Before he could speak, Han Yoojin lay back down again, and this time, he only heard the sound coming from the man's chest.

 

＊

 

"I didn't expect Big Brother to like you so much."

The pronunciation wasn't standard, but it was something he could understand. Sung Hyunjae had sensed someone following him from earlier, and he wondered how long it would take her to address him. It wasn't until he left the tribe's residential area and stepped into the dense woods that the woman finally spoke.

"Surprising?"

"You don't seem like a charming person."

"It's hurtful to say that directly."

The short man standing beside her spoke. As he'd expected, a trade caravan of this size would surely have one or two translators who understood the common language.

 

Since the last meeting in the hall, this was his first time speaking with Moon Hyuna, the leader of the Breaker Tribe. Technically, they had a translator interpret for them. Sung Hyunjae's status was unique: neither a hostage nor involved in tribal affairs. Moon Hyuna's desire to speak with him privately must have been due to her need to avoid the Haeyeon Tribe.

After waiting for the translator to relay her words, she continued, "I've been doing business with them since they first founded the village. I'm quite fond of them. It's not easy for someone so young to lead a tribe."

The members of the Haeyeon tribe are all very young, let alone a hunter of Han Yoohyun's age who has already been appointed chief.

"I'm watching from the side, and I really feel how hard it must be," Sung Hyunjae nodded, his fingers making a subtle click.

The spear's tip pierced the air, thrusting forward with force, piercing the shadows. 

The stone blade scraped against the bark, sending splinters flying. Moon Hyuna twisted her wrist, swirling the handle in mid-air, her red hair flowing behind her as she leapt. "You dodged quickly!"

The whistling sound of the attack rustled fallen leaves. Dodging the attack, Sung Hyundai took a step back. "I thought you brought the translator here just to talk."

"I see you understand perfectly! I brought the translator for nothing!"

"Well, I didn't hear anything difficult."

The translator had already taken refuge behind a tree before the chaos erupted. It would have been dreadful for him to overhear the conversation, let alone translate. 

 

Moon Hyuna's spear pursued her relentlessly, her words escaping her attacks even faster than her own.

The spear swept aside a swathe of brush, severing branches and sending them tumbling down. Another strike missed. Moon Hyuna stared at the shadow that had passed by. Out of the corner of her eye, a dark figure twirled a fallen leaf, flinging it through the air with a snap. 

Something whipped at the end of the spear, vibrating and humming. She tightened her grip and struck again. The rapidly twitching shadow jerked the spear away, slamming the tip into the trunk. With a thud, the thick trunk was pierced only slightly, the bark cracking harshly.

Sneaky and annoying!

"The village to the south was burned down by a group of outsiders. No one survived." 

She spun and thrust, the spear's tail spun in a half-circle. Using all her strength, she smashed directly into the face of her flanking opponent. "And then you show up! Isn't that a coincidence?"

"Was it your people who did the Xiutan tribe?"

"I don't understand again. Where's the translator?"

 

Bang! 

The sharpened stone stopped before the golden eye. The spear's tip trembled, unable to advance an inch.

 

A hemp rope, thicker than any ordinary rope, had somehow entwined itself around the stone blade and wooden handle. Tight knots on either side controlled Moon Hyuna's attack. She let out a low growl of impatience, her weapon swinging back and forth, unable to escape the entanglement.

"How dangerous. If even this eye goes blind, someone will be heartbroken."

A split second from the sharp stone blade's piercing through his skull, Sung Hyunjae grasped the hemp rope with both hands, blocking the attack. Ever since discovering the usefulness of rope, he'd always carried one or two in an emergency. Compared to bulky nets and long, hard-to-hold spears, the rope wrapped around his arms was easier to manoeuvre, even giving Sung Hyunjae a long-lost sense of control.

"Better to be heartbroken than to see his people hurt."

"I'm just a poor captive. What harm could I do?"

The spear thrusts forward relentlessly, the rope and the shaft tightening under the force of each other, making a creaking sound. But it wasn't as simple as strangling an animal's soft neck. 

 

As the friction rubbed against him, he heard the subtle sound of the rope fibres cracking inch by inch under the stone blade. With a mighty push of his arm, he pushed the spear's tip away. 

Moon Hyuna took the opportunity to retreat, freeing the spear from the loose rope and putting some distance between them.

After all, hemp rope was no match for real weapons. Throwing the broken knot aside, Sung Hyunjae expertly swung the end of the rope, reeling it back into his hand.

"It's bad to attack the weak."

"How dare an invader play it safe?"

"Why don't you ask Han Yoojin?"

Seeing Moon Hyuna maintaining her stance, ready to strike, Sung Hyunjae twisted his wrist, and a new hemp rope swished against the ground with a clattering sound. 

Hearing Han Yoojin's name, the Breaker leader finally sheathed her weapon in a huff. The translator, who had escaped mid-fight, returned timidly.

"Why the rope again?" 

Moon Hyuna grumbled, curling her lips as Sung Hyunjae produced another hemp rope. While she could sense her opponent's strength from the exchange, it still couldn't compare to a real duel. The annoying rope kept hindering Moon Hyuna's movements.

"I'm bored, so I'm doing some handicrafts."

 

Was the village annihilation he'd just mentioned really carried out by his army? The method was so ostentatious and crude that it only made him suspicious. Seeing she didn't move further, Sung Hyunjae asked casually, "I thought you were a businessman. Are the Xiutan tribe important to you?"

"They used to be one of my clients. Not my favourite, but you need clients to do business."

That's true. So now, is Moon Hyuna worried that he'll cause her to lose Haiyan as a client? In any way?

"Why don't you accept Haiyan's offer?"

"What do you mean?"

From their recent conversation and the aggressive attacks, it was clear that Moon Hyuna favoured the Haiyan brothers. Sung Hyunjae wondered what had gone wrong during the transaction that had caused the initially innocent deal to fail.

Seeing his expression, Moon Hyuna's mouth dropped open in surprise, then burst into laughter. "Wait, wait, wait, do you think the deal fell through because Haeyeon offered you too high a price?"

Sung Hyunjae raised an eyebrow at her reaction.

"Hahaha, oh my god, that's ridiculous." Seeing this, Moon Hyuna put her hands on her hips. "Five bags of rice. I've negotiated a price with Haeyeon. You're worth five bags of rice."

What an arrogant fellow! Moon Hyuna grinned, even having the translator raise the "five" sign to prevent Sung Hyunjae from understanding. "Master Haeyeon already made the decision. I even gave them an extra bowl. How sincere!"

He had no idea how much grain was worth in such a primitive society. How dare these people try to trade him for five bags of rice? 

Sung Hyunjae said expressionlessly, "No matter where you plan to sell me, you'll still make a profit. What's the other person's price?"

Merchants never trade at a loss; they must be making a profit. That's why the Breaker leader, who never appears directly at a trade, has come to Haeyeon in person and even stayed the night. Even without experience, Sung Hyunjae instinctively guessed that there must be a buyer offering a higher price who was willing to make Moon Hyuna make this trip.

"A high price. But it's not worth sacrificing an entire village."

"Even if you kill me here, there's no guarantee you'll stop the people who destroyed the Xiutan tribe," Sung Hyunjae said. "That wasn't my order." At least, as far as he could remember.

"I could also knock you out and kidnap you."

"You can try, but it'll be difficult."

Staring at the swaying rope, Moon Hyuna shrugged. "I still think leaving a bad guy like you here won't do them any good."

"I'll decide when to leave."

Perhaps with the translator acting as a third party, Moon Hyuna's murderous aura vanished. The swing of her spear seemed more like a matter of habit. 

She smiled, "I had been hoping to wait here for my kind brother to change his mind, but it seems unlikely anytime soon. Can you help me convince him? I don't want to fall out with him. He's the father of my child!"

 

What child? 

Hearing this keyword, Sung Hyunjae drummed his knuckles impatiently on his folded arms. Just as he was about to ask, footsteps approached from the woods, followed by the sound of brush being parted. "What are you doing? What's going on here?"

Han Yoojin stared in surprise at the devastated forest. The bark had been scraped to shreds, and broken branches were scattered everywhere. How could two people who shouldn't be meeting alone have a good conversation?

"Oh, isn't that Big Brother!"

"Hyuna..." Han Yoojin rubbed his temple. "Why is Sung Hyunjae here too?"

Sung Hyunjae tilted his head innocently, pointing to the man standing between them. He was introduced as the Breaker Tribe's interpreter.

"Because you're all talking to this outsider, I'm curious about him too," Moon Hyuna said. "Does this outsider seem to be integrating well?"

"Not so smoothly, though. There are still many things that are difficult to communicate about."

Hearing Han Yoojin's distressed words, she uttered an "oh" and looked at Sung Hyunjae, who stood silently and smiled beside her. Suddenly, she found the situation amusing. "Really? That's a real problem. What about the baby?"

"A baby?"

"Nothing! Nothing!" Han Yoojin exclaimed.

 

"Be sure to let me know when the time comes. I'll come visit, hahaha!" 

Moon Hyuna left with the interpreter, leaving behind a puzzling message. 

After next week's full moon, she and the rest of the Breaker tribe would head to their following trading location. There was no telling when they would see each other again. Han Yoojin could only pray that nothing went wrong before then.

"This is so dangerous..."

"Dangerous?"

"It means something bad... Ouch, what were you doing just now?"

Sung Hyunjae showed him the broken rope, his expression distressed. Han Yoojin patted his head and reassured him that he would find him more materials. Touching his soft blond hair, he thought momentarily and said, "Well, since you're here, I have something to show you."

 

They walked deeper into the woods. Han Yoojin, leading the way, didn't notice that Sung Hyunjae, who was obediently following behind him, was lost in thought.

For over two months trapped in the Haiyan Tribe, Sung Hyunjae lacked effective channels to communicate his presence to the outside world. Even negotiations with the Breaker Tribe were handled by Haeyeon's higher-ups.

 

The continent's vastness made it understandable that the army couldn't find him. On the other hand, they could only send a message to Sung Hyunjae. Could the army's evident traces be a hint? A way for Sung Hyunjae to find them?

The village annihilation Moon Hyuna mentioned wasn't a crude tactic Sung Hyunjae would employ, even if he intended to conquer or kill everyone. If they were truly his men, this wouldn't have happened. There are too few clues, and there are still doubts. Also, why did they mention the child again?

Sung Hyunjae stared at the figure before him, his eyes narrowed. What secrets was Han Yoojin hiding?