Susha Unhuor took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. He had never wanted to return. He actually liked the life at the temple of Sundang and would have preferred keeping things this way. It was simpler. And he really liked things to be kept simple. But if he refused, then En and maybe the whole kingdom of Alo would be lost. He couldn’t square that with his conscience. Still, before he decided, there were more things to talk about.
"A demon usually doesn’t appear just like that. They are driven to our side. Who was the person that stumbled into the hall?"
Jusha Lale lightly turned his head away, keeping quiet for a moment. "My maternal uncle." Once again, he hesitated but then still elaborated further. "He was the only one that lost his life that day. Upon examination, it was found that his body had also started to turn black, just like a strange pattern starting from the soles of his feet and the small of his back and then seemingly growing outward."
Susha Unhuor furrowed his brows. His maternal uncle … that wasn’t good but neither was it completely unexpected. Honestly, this was one of the reasons why he disliked his role as a zhireng. Fighting demons was one thing but the underlying troubles you would get embroiled in … he had seen too many of them. He did not want to add even a single more.
Unfortunately, since he was already listening to this he couldn’t just get up and leave now. He at least had to give an explanation. "I guess you will know why it was your uncle that day."
Jusha Lale nodded. "Yes, I do. A demon’s first victim will always be the person that called them unless there is an equivalent sacrifice and they were summoned to kill somebody. Then they will usually be their third victim."
Susha Unhuor nodded. "Indeed. Unless they figure out a way to send the demon back to where it came from or feed it more sacrifices but that would make the demon stronger in turn, making it even more difficult to get rid of it."
"Is there still a way to stop it?"
The warrior didn’t answer immediately. He just didn’t know what to say. Stopping a demon was never easy. If it was, there would be no need for the zhireng. In this specific case, things were made more difficult by the fact that they were far away from En. Even if he agreed, he could not take a closer look to determine what he needed to know so he couldn’t accurately judge the difficulty of dealing with this demon. Even when they traveled there and he was finally able to take a look, it might be too late already. After all, the demon could have grown already and might attack as soon as he appeared.
Yes, this situation was especially risky. He couldn’t say for sure that he’d be able to make it out alive or actually kill the demon. But as things stood, he couldn’t say no. Because if he did, then things would only get worse.
Susha Unhuor took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn’t make this decision lightly but with one option not available to him, there wasn’t much to decide, was there? He opened his eyes again and looked at the young dan in front of him. "Very well. I agree. I will come back to En with you and at least take a look."
Jusha Lale sighed with relief. "Thank you, zhireng. I know this is a great favor you are doing the kingdom. You … I will make sure you do not have to regret it."
Susha Unhuor merely smiled faintly. Such a grand-sounding promise … Unfortunately, it was an empty one. The only one who could make sure that there would be no regrets was he himself. Still, he wouldn’t say so out loud. After all, this was something normal people could not understand. Not even all of the zhireng understood this until the moment it was too late.
Meanwhile, Jusha Lale glanced at his guards. They looked unhappy but still inclined their heads, closed the windows, and then went outside to guard the door.
Susha Unhuor raised his brows, a sense of alarm making him tense. He had not taken his weapon with him considering where they were but he could see some objects that could be used as one should he have to defend himself.
Jusha Lale got up, went around the table, and slowly sat down next to Susha Unhuor again. He did not look at him and instead looked at his own hands that he had folded in his lap. There was a hint of sorrow between his brows but it disappeared when he raised his head and directly looked into the warrior’s eyes. "As things stand, I cannot offer you much of a reward. When we arrive back at En, everything in the palace might have been engulfed by darkness and been corroded. You can take whatever you desire from the things left but I can’t promise you that it will be much."
Susha Unhuor finally relaxed. "Is that what this is about?" Apparently, he had thought too much. He had feared an attack but this young dan was merely embarrassed by his lack of wealth and the resulting inability to reward the warrior he had asked for help, it seemed. Well, it was nothing he would concern himself with. He had not agreed for any reward that might be given. He had agreed for the sake of the people of Alo, his fellow citizens.
Jusha Lale inclined his head at the question. "That is what this is about. I know … This might seem like an empty promise. In fact, it might be one but I have no way to change that. I have … only one thing left I can give you."
Susha Unhuor raised his brows. "Are you afraid I would not follow you without a reward?"
Jusha Lale lowered his gaze again and finally nodded. "I cannot expect you to do this without gaining anything in return. For the time being …" He looked up again and then raised his hands, reaching out toward the warrior in front of him. There wasn’t the slightest hesitation when he cupped his cheeks and then leaned in, their lips touching.
Susha Unhuor was frozen stiff. The dan’s lips brushed his and then moved to his jaw while his hands traveled downward, trying to ignite a fire in his body. The zhireng’s brows twitched and he finally reached out himself, grabbing the king by his wrists.
"Ah." Jusha Lale winced and pulled back, winding his hands out of the warrior’s grip.
From outside, the sound of the guards shifting uncomfortably could be heard but they didn’t come in and stayed where they were, obviously having expected something like this.
Susha Unhuor glanced over and then turned back to the dan, his brows still furrowed. "There is no need."
"Is it because I am not a woman?"
Susha Unhuor was at a loss for words. This man … he did not look as if he enjoyed even the thought of pleasuring him. So why insist? He uncomfortably shifted away from him. "No."
"It is said that I am no less beautiful. Maybe … maybe the zhireng would enjoy himself after giving it a try. You can do to me whatever you desire. I will not complain, no matter what it is."
Susha Unhuor had to look away. The young king’s eyes were completely empty when he said those words, making him even more uncomfortable than he had already been. He took a deep breath and then got up. "Whether you are a man or a woman, beautiful or ugly, I still would not be interested. Since it is like this, why would you bother? You do not seem to be attracted to me either. Just leave it be." He brushed his clothes, feeling as if he could undo what had just happened, and then turned to the door. He stopped a few steps away from it and looked up at the ceiling. "Anyway, I do not need a reward. I will go and gather my things now. When I come back, we should leave for En. No time should be lost."
He didn’t wait for Jusha Lale’s response and just pushed open the door, hurrying past the two guards, and returning to his quarters. When he arrived, his mind was still in a mess.
This was the first time in many years that somebody has come onto him. And it was for sure the first time in his life that somebody had come onto him with an expression as if they were being led to the slaughter. He really did not understand this person called Jusha Lale.
Back at the waiting room, the two guards came in, kneeling down beside their king. Shunche reached out, carefully taking his hands, and looked at his wrists. "That zhireng really should have handled you more delicately."
Chomong gave him a deep look. "Don’t say such things. It’s already good enough that he didn’t do anything more. Dan … should we go and wait outside then?"
Jusha Lale sighed and nodded. "Yes, let us do that." Anyway, he was glad as well. This kind of humiliation … he certainly did not want to suffer it again.
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