Jaha was quiet for a moment as if contemplating whether Wooyun was even worthy of hearing about the inner workings of the sect. But as he felt Junghwa's quiet yet deadly stare, he knew he had no choice.
"The Blood Moon Sect is divided into five factions—each faction with its own purpose. But the faction with the most power and influence is the Guardian's Court who are in charge of the safety of the sect." He explained.
Wooyun nodded his head, already intrigued. The book never really focused on the inner workings of the sect, only briefly glossing over it. So this was information he wasn't privy to as a reader.
"It's comprised of ten guardians—me being the first guardian." He continued. "We are the sect's military force and the first line of defense against external threats. While we ensure the sect's security, we are also enforcers who maintain internal order, swiftly dealing with any form of insubordination. Our most sacred duty is to protect the Demon Lord, and the First Guardian is always assigned as the Demon Lord's personal protector."
"I see." I didn't know the Blood Moon Sect was such a well-organized group.
Each elite guardian commands a faction of warriors. The highest-ranked guardian, assigned to the Demon Lord for his safety, holds the most authority. The second to fourth guardians act as generals during war, managing military strategies and critical missions. The fifth to tenth guardians oversee daily operations of the Court's warriors, each specializing in various combat tactics. Each guardian also leads around a hundred elite soldiers.
"Can anyone become a guardian?" Wooyun couldn't help wondering.
Jaha scoffed at the question, earning a pointed look from the Demon Lord.
"Not just anyone can become a guardian, fortunately. Young warriors are usually selected from birth and in rare cases, they are recruited based on their talent. They undergo rigorous training to become future Guardians. And this training isn't for the weak." He said as his gaze lingered on Wooyun.
Wooyun narrowed his eyes at this. He could feel judgment oozing from Jaha's pale eyes when looking at him. It made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Junghwa watched him quietly, elbow resting against the armrest, chin in hand. "You're uncomfortable."
"No, not uncomfortable…just pensive."
Junghwa raised a brow. "Pensive?"
Wooyun let out a nervous laugh as his eyes wandered around the carriage, looking at everything but him. "Just wondering if I might be way over my head." He muttered.
Junghwa gave a soft, amused sound—more breath than laugh. "If I recall, you agreed to come with me."
"Under duress."
"Under promise." Junghwa corrected him gently, that smile never quite reaching his eyes. "Besides, had I truly wanted to take you, there would've been no need for offers or delays."
Wooyun's gaze dropped to the obsidian blade that now lay across Junghwa's lap. It looked as though it was absorbing the light itself. "I believe you."
Silence stretched between them for a moment. Not tense, but expectant. Wooyun cleared his throat, feeling awkward now. "So, how long will it take to travel to the north by carriage?" He asked, desperately wanting to fill in the silence.
A light smile formed on the demon lord's face as he saw the complicated expression on Wooyun's face. He couldn't help but laugh inside. This little chick is an amusing fellow, he thought. "It'll take at least seven days to arrive at the border.
Wooyun's head shot up when he heard this. A total of ten days? And that wasn't counting all the stops and unexpected hurdles they would encounter along the way. Suddenly all the colour from Wooyun's face was drained and replaced with black lines. The thought of spending that much time inside this carriage with two men he didn't know at all didn't sit right with him. Plus there was the matter of seating. Even if the cushions provided were comfortable, they weren't nearly as comfortable as the seat of an air-conditioned car.
I really miss my car, he thought to himself.
They spent the rest of the ride in silence. While Junghwa and Jaha used the void resonance technique to converse, Wooyun took the opportunity to meditate. With the fire qi unified in his inner core, he was ready to test his power. However, due to their tight quarters, he couldn't bring out the flames, so he shifted his focus to the earth element.
Thanks to Eun-woo, he knew how to circulate energy effectively. Closing his eyes, he felt the wooden seat creak beneath him with each bump. He concentrated on the wheels rolling over the soil, anchoring himself. Imagining his breath sinking downward like water soaking into the earth, he inhaled slowly from the soles of his feet, exhaling to release tension and intrusive thoughts.
"Unlike fire that's aggressive, volatile, and demanding, the earth is heavier, rooted, and slow-moving. You need patience to make it your own."
Wooyun let his body grow heavy. Not the way he felt after staying up all night reading his books, or the days he would let himself rot in bed feeling too lazy to do anything—just grounded. Just as a mountain stands unshaken and a stone remains still unless moved, the rattling of the carriage faded into a distant white noise. Wooyun sensed the buried Earth qi beneath him.
However, he felt a heavy weight pressing down, like an invisible wall blocking his path—resistance he had experienced during his training sessions with Eun-woo. His brows furrowed. "Maybe I'm doing this wrong?" He couldn't help thinking. But then remembered that it was the same for the fire qi.
Sensing the power and energy was no easy feat, but he concentrated on the approaching glimmer of light. After taking a deep breath, he felt it—a shift within him, accompanied by a tightness in his abdomen that made him giddy. "So I do know what I'm doing," he thought proudly.
In that moment, Junghwa glanced at Wooyun, who had suddenly gone quiet, as if his presence had vanished. Curiosity flickered behind Junghwa's expression while Jaha, puzzled by the Demon Lord's silence, followed his gaze.
His eyes narrowed when he saw that the young man was actually in the process of cultivating, not just plain meditation. The two men could sense the faint earth qi circulating within his inner core. "How…how is he able to focus in a place like this?" Jaha marveled.
A little smile hugged Junghwa's lips at his words. And just then, Wooyun opened his eyes, sweat beading lightly at his brows.
"You've come at just the right time," the demon lord said, cutting through Wooyun's daze. The young man slowly looked up and made eye contact with Baek Junghwa. Seeing those cold silvery black eyes settling on him brought him back to earth.
"Huh?"
A light chuckle escaped his lips. "We will be stopping here for the night as it will be difficult to travel in the dark."
Wooyun blinked, his eyes turning to the window and it was in fact getting dark. "Oh. Okay." He nodded slowly.
Jaha who was keeping a keen eye on Wooyun frowned. "What's wrong with him?"
"He's most likely tired from cultivating. Let's go get a room so he can rest properly."
Wooyun shot him a grateful smile. He really was tired, but it wasn't just from cultivating. He realized he hadn't gotten any proper sleep for the last few days. As he exited the carriage, Junghwa extended a hand and helped Wooyun out of the vehicle. He was taken aback by the gesture but accepted the offer nonetheless. He wasn't opposed to being treated well if it meant getting in the Dark Prince Charming's good graces.
The inn they were staying in was much nicer than the one he had been living in before. For one, the place didn't look dilapidated, and for two, there was a tavern-like place directly connected to the inn for those who wished to drink in the company of others. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a middle-aged man who dropped to the floor at the sight of them. Couldn't blame the man either. Three handsome young men walked into the establishment like it was a runway. But the one who commanded the room with just his mere presence stood at the center of the three, his cold gaze landing on the man.
"We will need three rooms." He said, his voice firm and unyielding, not matching the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips.
The innkeeper struggled to stand up straight, but knowing there were eyes on him and that this was still a well-established business, he tried to swallow his nervousness and maintain and professional and business-like smile. "Yes, right away my lord." He then rushed to the counter, nearly stumbling on a stool in the process. Wooyun glanced at Junghwa with a knowing look. Despite having changed his face back to his old disguise, he still exuded the authority of a lord.
The kind of authority that made you double back without having to demand it.
"Will you be dining as well?" The innkeeper asked after retrieving three brass keys and handing them over to Jaha with trembling hands. Junghwa turned to look at Wooyun as if he held the power to decide. "Are you hungry?"
Wooyun paused. He was hungry, but the idea of sitting with both Junghwa and Jaha in public made his stomach flutter for a different reason entirely. Still, turning down food sounded dumber than sitting in awkward silence. "Yeah. I could eat."
Junghwa nodded once before facing the innkeeper again. "Prepare a private room. We will dine shortly."
The man bowed and scurried off like a mouse.
Jaha raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "A private room? Do we have to go that far?"
Junghwa swept across the room and he could feel several pairs of eyes on them. Some laced with curiosity, hostility, caution, or jealousy. He knew that if they were to eat out in public, they wouldn't be able to enjoy the meal in peace. The last thing he wanted was some idiot ruining the good mood he was in.
Jaha understood just from the look on his face and nodded. He then handed two keys to Junghwa and the three went up to their assigned rooms to freshen up before their meal. The hallway upstairs was quiet, lit by a few dim lanterns that cast long shadows along the wooden floor. Their footsteps echoed softly as they approached their rooms.
Junghwa stopped in front of the center door and handed Wooyun a key. "This one's yours," he said, brushing his fingers lightly against Wooyun's palm as he passed the key over. "Try not to fall asleep before dinner." He said, his eyes filled with mirth.
Wooyun's breath caught in his throat as he felt a light tingle on the place their skin had touched. This guy… He then gave a short, nervous laugh, his fingers curling around the key. "I'll try my best."
"Good. I've grown fond of having someone around who doesn't flinch every time I speak." He gave a slight smile that didn't quite reach his eyes—but it didn't need to. The warmth was in the way he said it.
Jaha rolled his eyes from his spot by the adjacent door but said nothing. "Rest. We'll call for you soon."
Wooyun dipped his head slightly in response and slipped into his room. He felt at that moment if he opened his mouth, he would end up saying something he'd end up regret. It was best for him to embarrass himself this early on.
It was only until the door to his room closed that he was able to breathe. His face flushed red, and his pulse quickened.
"Seriously, what the hell is up with this guy? Everything he says and does oozes charm and charisma."
It was annoying but Wooyun couldn't help eating it up since he did it so effortlessly. He wasn't at all like those try-hards who tried to be smooth but only looked desperate.
He shook his head, chasing away his intrusive thoughts, and took in his room.