The Reunion

A few moments passed, he wandered his eyes anywhere, but he knew that it lingered too long on Han Min. Couldn't understand why he was still meditating for two days, and he hopes that his wounds aren't severe as a sword piercing on his body. With that thought alone, So Eun couldn't keep still.

He tried to observe him from a distance, but the fog keeps hindering him. So, he eagerly opted to find a perfect view again, going back on the steep stone, he climbed atop the stone rock in front of Han Min and situated there.

But when he felt his spot would be comfortable for him to sleep, he looked to stare at the young man, at the same time, the Demon King opened his eyes softly, and it landed directly on So Eun, giving that the stone sign beside the pond was the first thing he would see.

His heart jumped at that. At the point of panic, and was scrambling to think about what to do upon seeing that eyes, he ended up mindlessly tucking himself behind the stone.

Only then he knew that he looked ridiculous just now.

So Eun just wanted to go back to the temple and pretend to be asleep forever.

He couldn't believe when the first thing Han Min saw was him, hiding as if a child was playing with an adult. If anyone were to see him, they will burst out in laughter, and he would drown in shame.

He ensured himself to stop staining his dignity as a Deity, but that easily failed when the first person who'd witness him was Han Min.

He immediately stood up and took a step away from the stone. He didn't know where to put his hands, so he clutched them together behind his back. So Eun didn't fail to saw the surprised expression on his face before it slowly turned into his usual state. Eyes glinting at the reflection of the steam pond.

"What are you doing?" He heard a mellow voice, as smooth as the waves of the water. So Eun stopped himself from lingering too far on it and looked properly at him.

Han Min looked away as soon as they shared an eye contact. He dragged his drenched sleeves from the pond and wordlessly stood up. So Eun was suddenly afraid to speak.

His mind instantly went on the temple, with Yun Hwa stating that he's not a bad person. He isn't sure about their connection, but he somehow believed him.

The said person put on his darker outer robes, as plain and typical of a cultivator. So Eun wanted to acknowledge that he looks a lot like an ordinary commoner, like Yun Hwa. Without his display of power and evil aura back then at the forest, he appeared to be as calm as ever. Practically because he's been meditating for days now.

Han Min went directly on the path entrance, his back facing So Eun, he then remembered that he hadn't said a word to him yet. So, he carefully treads his way back and stopped with a distance between them.

He was done tying his robes when So Eun get there and turned around to face him, his face usually held that calm and collected. His blackened robes with lines of gray still drenched, his hand placed on his back, another was staying at his front.

But he noticed something apart from intimidating. When he roamed on his face, Han Min's eyelashes were fluttered down, not looking at him.

So Eun knew this was a great time to talk because the awkwardness was overbearing.

The first thing he did was placed his hands in front and bowed at the Demon King. If someone's a King, and the deeds he'd done to him, So Eun would even kowtow to send his thanks and accept his forgiveness.

He didn't notice his lift of eyebrows, "You don't have to do that. No one does that to me." Again, he got stuck on his position mid-kowtowing, and slowly lifted his head to look at him.

"I deeply apologized for what I have done back in the Forest, I shouldn't interfere." He straightened his back and once again confused when he averted his eyes.

Han Min stay silent. And instead wandered his eyes on So Eun and stopping at his middle.

"How was your wounds?" So Eun's eyes slightly widened, and also caress his front, before saying,

"It's fine now. Thank you very much for His Maje-," So Eun was feeling a little relieved, and then Han Min instantly cut him off.

"Han Min. You can just call me that," His voice was portraying authority, but he couldn't ignore the utter gentle hidden in it. That rendered him speechless.

Is it really okay to call him that?

So Eun didn't have the time to nod when the Demon King turned around and attempted to leave the place.

So, he jogged after him, his footsteps jabbing onto the stone path.

"Your Ma--Han Min, C-Can I check something with you, I just--" His breathing stopped when Han Min suddenly turned around, and he bumped onto his face. That made him yelped and his body goes unbalance, the person was equally surprised, but he instantly steadied him on his waist.

So Eun kneaded his forehead, and instinctively clutched at the other's wrist to prevent him from falling.

It happened so fast that their instincts move to help instead of their conscious mind. So Eun with his eyes widening, realized their proximity.

Compared to the distance before, he's close enough to see the intricate details on his chest and close enough to hear the other's deep breaths. So Eun didn't dare to look up at his face.

Maybe the unexpected proximity and the fear had made his heart drove fast, so he took a step backward, and let go of that hand.

That's when he noticed that Han Min was much taller than him, his head bumped on his jaw, and he reminded himself to take a careful step next time. The Demon King was being kind to him, he couldn't afford to make him mad again.

"What is it?" Han Min slowly withdraw his hands, but didn't budge nor stepped back. His expression remained poised and nonchalant.

So Eun visibly gulped, but he tried to speak, "You know I'm a Deity, and I just descended for about three days ago. And a Deity has a mission to accomplished." So Eun wasn't sure himself, but the moment he said those words, the light in his eyes seem to faltered, his lips pressed into a thin line.

So Eun felt the need to stopped talking, Han Min spare him a glance and once again looked down.

"I know, every Deity had to find their purpose." This time, it wasn't anything soothing nor furious, but a hint of unhappiness.

So Eun wanted to ask why, he stepped one forward, but Han Min completely turned around to leave.

He freezes and felt a tug in his heart, on a brink of his mind slipping from a memory he had long forgotten, So Eun only wanted to know one thing.

"Do I... know you?"

His words were so quiet, but Han Min stopped in his tracks and his back visibly tensed.

The wind passed through, it made the leaves from the tall trees, fell down. So Eun realized the man in front seems so distant, and so far away from him.