Chapter Text
In the lands full of tales and mystery, Lee Minhyeong was born in a clan that specialized at exorcism. They mainly take a job in form of request by somebody to get rid of evil spirit in exchange for plenty of gold that build reputation, fame and wealth for those whose born with same bloodline. Lee Minhyeong is no exception of it, in his ripe age of 20, he’s already become one of the famous people among Lee clan that succeed to banish many evil spirit. Under his other name “Gumayusi” he takes job from any kind of people to challenge and train himself to become top elite exorcist of Lee Clan. With his special weapon bow and dagger he believe that there’s no spirit he can’t handle.
Everyday letters containing request from unknown people always pile up in his desk. Because his name “Gumayusi” that become well known, many people start to send him any kind of request related to spirit exorcism that makes him has to do extra work to find request that makes him intrigued. One letter finally piquet his interest. It’s about a corrupted mountain god spirit in form of tiger that allegedly have killed thousand of live, spreading terror in nearby village. After some consideration he decided to take the job and headed off towards the said mountain.
On his journey he finally met corrupted mountain god spirit on his tiger form. Because he’s already consuming thousand of souls, his power is much stronger than what Lee Minhyeong predicted, shifting Lee Minhyeong into losing side. His arrow doesn’t work on him and there’s no opening for him to land his dagger into the tiger’s body. On his brink of consciousness while clutching his wound on his stomach he saw the tiger launching full attack on him and made his body fall into cliff.
One thing he notice after his consciousness came back is the smell of something burnt, and in five seconds he wake up immediately to sit straight. On his vision he saw a man looks like in his middle twenty with glasses busy trying to remove scorched meat from big bonfire. Sensing that Lee Minhyeong already awake he turned his attention towards him that makes Lee Minhyeong has a better view of the mysterious person. A man that little bit shorter than him, pale white skin, thick eyebrow, and cat-like lips. If he had to guess what kind of a job he does from his dress, he look like a scholar from prestigious family.
“ So you finally awake” Lee Minhyeong swear he saw the other person eyes were twinkling in dim light.
“ You had fatal wound, I’m surprised human can still live…what an interesting creature” The way he speak with mannerism and old accent that people in his older generations use, plus how he address him makes Lee Minhyeong one hundred sure that the man in front of him in fact is not human.
“ You are not human, aren’t you? Why did you save me? What do you want from me?” his barrage of question make small smile bloom on the other person's lips.
“ lndeed, young people quick to catch up aren’t they?” His dainty hands suddenly pointed at him and touched his face.
“ If you ask me a reason… let’s just say I was… quite bored…” he answered nonchalantly.
“ Bored?” he can’t help to repeat that word like a parrot.
The mysterious person retracted his hand, turning his back and walks closer to the bonfire “ I’m afraid you can’t understand the misery to live for a long time… let’s just say I had an impulsive action with no reason shall we? “ as he turned his head towards him with hands put on his back like a wise man.
“ First, I will offer you my gratitude because you saved me, but I’m afraid I can’t let you live any longer” hearing his answer makes Lee Minhyeong quickly draws his bow that placed beside him towards the other person with killing intention.
“ Whoaa… so you are not ordinary person after all” surprised face with genuine voice made Lee Minhyeong felt a little bit taken aback, but doesn’t lower his guard at all.
“ But are you sure you can actually kill me?” in an instant he saw many tails wagging around coming from the other person body and fox like ears appears on top of his head. Lee Minhyeong instinctively counting how many tails the other person had and when he realized that person in front of him is a nine tailed fox, he took a sharp breath. No matter how hard he think, it seems impossible to beat a creature who's already exist from hundred or thousand years ago, even become a legend known by many people. Especially with his wounded body it might just become a futile resilience. Accepting his fate Lee Minhyeong choose to lower his bow.
“ Good boy… so you know your place after all” pleased by his action, Lee Minhyeong finally can see fox like smile from his beautiful lips.
“ Do you want to kill me now?” ask Lee Minhyeong with defeated tone.
“Killing you now is such a waste… you can accompany me for the time being” and that become the beginning of Lee Minhyeong new lifestyle.
The nine tailed fox says that his name is Lee Sanghyeok. He would accompany him into nearby village at the foot of the mountain. Everytime they visit the village Lee Sanghyeok never forget to buy book and eat human made cuisine. He said that human foods actually tastes better than human soul. Something that Lee Minhyeong can’t relate for. Lee Sanghyeok much to Lee Minhyeong surprise actually acting like a true scholar. He spends time by reading book and lazily doing nothing at all. Lee Minhyeong feel like he become Lee Sanghyeok slave as he the one who do all the chores like cooking and cleaning in Lee Sanghyeok lair that look like abandoned temple.
Days turns into months, and Lee Minhyeong feel strange, because the more time he spend beside Lee Sanghyeok the more his feeling grows for Lee Sanghyeok, he can’t see him like he used to, everytime he looks at Lee Sanghyeok his heart always beat wildly that makes him panicked because Lee Sanghyeok has sensitive ears, afraid that he would hear his loud heartbeat. Lee Sanghyeok is not like any spirit that he has encountered before. He doesn’t have any greed, purpose or evil intention. One time he boldly ask why he doesn’t seems to consume human soul anymore, and his answer was because he don’t like it, it’s not worth it and he doesn’t want to become human so why must he bother himself to do difficult task, being immortal is more safe choice that give Lee Minhyeong a whole new perspective. It doesn’t help that Lee Sanghyeok is a beautiful man, the most beautiful man that he ever seen that makes him sometimes wonder if the reason his desire for Lee Sanghyeok growing stronger because of nine tailed fox charm that makes him forget his identity as “Gumayusi”.
As usual Lee Minhyeong preparing dishes for Lee Sanghyeok, he accept to do this task actually because Lee Sanghyeok can’t cook and only produce scorched meat as a result so he has to step in. When he prepared the deer meat he accidently burnt his hand that made him let out a little yelp. Hearing his voice Lee Sanghyeok with book on his hand approaching him to examine the burns, took Minhyeong's hand and made him sit on a chair while he goes to find medical herbs.
After he comes back, suddenly Lee Sanghyeok sat on his lap that makes Lee Minhyeong jump in surprise. “ Shuush…Let me heal you” He carefully putting medical herb into his hand with serious expression. He furrowed his thick eyebrow and purses his kissable lips, trying to concentrate.
“It’s done” Lee Sanghyeok said while carefully examine his hand once more and still kept his position.
“Emm… thank you. You can go back now” Lee Minhyeong quickly expressing his gratitude while avoiding his gaze because he can’t stare at his beautiful close up face any longer.
“What? that how you said thanks to your savior? What a rude boy” Lee Sanghyeok cross his hand and purse his lips once more.
“ It’s not like that! I-“ before he can finish his word Lee Sanghyeok unexpectedly put his hand on his chest.
“ Your heart is beating so wildly “ Sly fox smile appeared.
“ Tell me Lee Minhyeong, do you desire me?” he continued as his move his dainty finger up and down, tracing on his body and creating goosebumps all over it.
Facing with Lee Sanghyeok seductive charm, Lee Minhyeong close his eyes and pull Lee Sanghyeok body closer to him. Their lips finally met. A sloppy kiss gradually turned into steamy kiss as he bite Lee Sanghyeok lips and he discover that Lee Sanghyeok lips taste so sweet that he can’t help but get greedy for more. After a minute that feels like an eternity they finally part their mouth with their chest rising up and down screaming for air. Lee Sanghyeok usual dignified appearance seems to disappear as he become a beautiful mess with blurry eyes, head turned upwards makes Lee Minhyeong turned his attention towards Lee Sanghyeok straight neck and began to kiss it, leaving bite mark that tainted Lee Sanghyeok beautiful, pale white neck like lily flower, hoping that he too, can leave his mark on Lee Sanghyeok heart.
After he done admiring his work Lee Minhyeong put his head on Lee Sanghyeok shoulder and close his eyes again, inhaling Lee Sanghyeok body scent that he can’t seem get enough. Lee Sanghyeok began to softly stroking his head “ You know that I can’t give you what you want right? I don’t have any emotions for human and I don’t plan to turn myself into human. I can’t grow old and became your other half…”
“It’s alright Sanghyeok hyung…” Lee Minhyeong lift his head and stare at Lee Sanghyeok with determined face, his hand grabbing and pulling Lee Sanghyeok soft hands towards his cheek and said “ As long as you let me stay by your side”
But his happiness didn’t last long as he learned that elite troops of his clan wanted to kill his beloved under the emperor’s order to obtain fox spirit’s soul orb, said have the power to grant any wish. When he heard that, strangely he feels calm. He already accepted that this situation might happen since a nine tailed fox is a rare mhytical creature and powerful people will try everything to get whatever they wants. He already prepared himself to face them since he's fallen for Lee Sanghyeok. In short time, he found one thing that lacking from his life, a happiness, something special to protect and cherish, rather than mindlessly fighting for something like honor and money. He truly felt happy around him, if he's not around anymore will Lee Sanghyeok remember him or even miss him?. Shaking his head at the thought, he lowered his head to face a sleeping beauty. On full moon night, it seems that Lee Sanghyeok's energy get drained a lot, making him get tired and need rest more than usual. Gently brushing his beautiful face, he kissed Lee Sanghyeok's forehead for goodnight kiss before his departure.
Unfortunately, Lee Minhyeong had to pay a heavy price. Although he is talented and skilled fighter, it's not enough to stop the attack from many people. Lying down on the ground, as his vision become blurred and his breath grew labored, he witnessed the power of nine tailed fox spirit ball that annihilated countless people at once, making it look like ants stomped by a giant. After Lee Sanghyeok easily turn everyone into dust, he carefully placed Lee Minhyeong head on his lap and began to scold him.
“ You fool! How can you recklessly try to fight them? Your body has so many wounds now… we need to treat them quickly…”. Hearing his panicked voice that not like his usual self makes Lee Minhyeong only can weakly smile with his pale lips. He understand himself the best, means that he know that his body won’t last long. With his unconsciousness that seems disappearing he slowly put his trembling hand on Lee Sanghyeok's cheek “ I’m sorry…it seems like I don’t have much time anymore… I wish I can stay by your side a little bit longer, Sanghyeok hyung…”
And for the first and last time Lee Minhyeong witnessed the tears of nine tailed fox through his blurry vision, slowly filled with darkness that envelops him.