Passion (BL Novel)

“…….”
The sea was already drawing near ahead. With just a few dozen more steps, the forest would open up, revealing the sea. However, in the still dark forest, he sensed someone's presence. He held his breath and waited, but after a long time, no further sounds came.

Then, something seemed to move a few steps away. It was close.
Jeong Tae-yi reflexively put his hand into his coat and turned in that direction. The warmth of the sword held in his hand and his eyes simultaneously recognized the object.
It was a snake.

For a moment, Jeong Tae-yi felt his strength drain away. The snake was a dark, modest-colored earth snake, one often seen in mountains where it was slightly deeper. It was not venomous and wasn’t aggressive. The venom it had, if any, would only affect small rodents, leaving a person with a slight swelling at worst.
Was it that? The feeling of presence?
With a sigh, Jeong Tae-yi sheathed the half-drawn sword. But then, he noticed something in the distance moving faintly in his peripheral vision.

It was a person. Someone was stealthily walking through the forest, heading somewhere. The face was hard to distinguish, but the feeling wasn’t familiar. It seemed like someone from the European branch.
The man was walking in a different direction, unaware of Jeong Tae-yi, cautiously and uneasily as if following someone.
Jeong Tae-yi hesitated for a moment. No matter how he thought about it, this situation wasn’t natural. In the dead of night, someone sneaking around following another person wasn’t likely to be someone out for a stroll or a quick errand.

Should he follow the man? But the distance was tricky. If he pursued recklessly, he would be easily noticed, and if he waited and then followed, he might miss the man. On the other hand, not knowing what the man’s business was and just chasing him because he seemed suspicious seemed too risky, and Jeong Tae-yi wasn’t one to act on mere curiosity or a sense of justice. He had learned from past experiences that unnecessary involvement often led to trouble.
But still, it was suspicious, wasn’t it?
As he was pondering this, the need to think about it was suddenly gone. The man disappeared behind some bushes, out of Jeong Tae-yi’s sight.

Jeong Tae-yi hesitated for a moment but then shrugged it off. The man didn’t seem to intend harm to him or his companions—after all, the direction he was heading was the opposite one. So, there was no need to get involved in some unnecessary business.
Jeong Tae-yi emptied his mind again and started walking in the direction he had been heading. As he expected, the sound of water grew louder, and before long, the view opened up, revealing the sea.
The night sea was pitch black. Without a single light, the sea looked like nothing more than a vast, black void, only its sound giving away its existence, a swallowing darkness.

The dark abyss. The sound of waves. The smell of the sea. The damp breeze. All of it enveloped his eyes, ears, nose, and skin. That was why Jeong Tae-yi had always liked the night sea.
He let out a long sigh. His breath merged with the sound of the waves. Suddenly, his mood lifted, and a refreshing smile appeared on his lips.
Should I bring Shin Lu next time? Although snakes come out a lot in the forest at night, making it dangerous, after seeing it today, it seems like as long as we prepare properly, there’s no need to worry too much. How nice would it be, in this vast darkness, to hold someone else's warmth in my hand... Actually, anyone would do, not just Shin Lu.

The ground underfoot was unstable. The beach, with its large rocks piled up instead of sand, was not easy to walk on leisurely like a stroll. There were large holes and cracks in the rocks, making it precarious. However, Jeong Tae-yi lightly tapped the rocks with his heels and laughed. When he was a child, his parents were busy, so he was often sent to his grandparents' house by the sea. He would run across the rocks every day as a game. Thinking back, his brother used to talk about the process of rock erosion from the high salinity of the seawater.
Walking on the rocks like it was flat land, Jeong Tae-yi hummed a quiet tune. The dark, cold, and damp wind felt good. Maybe it was because of the childhood memories that suddenly made him miss his brother. It would be nice if he were walking beside me right now. I’m sure he’d be happy, too.
Jeong Tae-yi paused and smiled wistfully. A lighthouse stood in the distance. Near the lighthouse, a couple of streetlights were shining. The light didn’t reach all the way here, but it dimly illuminated the area nearby.
Should I turn back now? This is it. If I take one more step, this pleasant darkness will end, and dim light will come. The night walk would be over, and I’d probably return to my companions just in time for the watch shift.

Jeong Tae-yi glanced at the sea for a moment, then turned back. He looked at the path he had come from and judged the best way to cut across. Going right at a slight angle would be faster.
Confident in his sense of direction, he started veering slightly to the right, crossing the rocks. One, two, he navigated around the large rocks and adjusted his path little by little as he made his way.
But then, it happened. At some point, a small sound, so faint it could have been lost in the wind, caught his attention.

Jeong Tae-yi slowed his pace. Tilting his head slightly, he took a few more steps and then completely stopped. It wasn’t a mistake; he wasn’t imagining it. The sound was coming from below the rocks. There was a large—no, a massive rock blocking his path. The rock formed a shallow cave, and deep inside it, the faint sound continued.
A presence. Someone was inside. Jeong Tae-yi took a few more steps and realized that if he kept going, he’d face the person inside.
Perhaps it was just someone who had come out to the beach in the middle of the night, drunk, and was using the corner for some private business. However, he knew that this was unlikely. It was already quite a distance to come here from the forest, even if someone were camping out.

Or maybe it was the person he had briefly seen in the forest earlier, the one whose movements had seemed suspicious. Jeong Tae-yi clicked his tongue inwardly, realizing he wasn’t interested in getting tangled in another troublesome situation. It might be better to just sneak away as he was.
He hesitated for a moment, listening to the presence inside. Then, it became clear that there was more than one person inside. There were no voices, but the small gasps and movements weren’t from a single person—likely two.
The sound of water mixed with the waves. At first, Jeong Tae-yi thought it was just the sound of water. But then, he felt something strange. It sounded similar to water, but it wasn’t quite the same. The sound was stickier and more viscous.

"...—."
Jeong Tae-yi, who had been tilting his head in confusion and rubbing his chin, suddenly covered his mouth. A look of discomfort rose on his face. He knew that sound all too well.
It was the sound of wet skin being licked and sucked. Between those sounds, gasping breaths and low growls were mixed in. Occasionally, there was a sharp moan, filled with pleasure.

...This is awkward. What kind of good-for-nothing people are these? To be out here in the middle of the night, having fun at the beach. This isn’t a resort beach, and there shouldn’t be men gathering on a secluded island beach like this.
Jeong Tae-yi scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Should he turn back and go around? It would be a bit of a detour, but if he passed by and locked eyes with them, it would be just as awkward. But if he wanted to go around, he'd have to climb up the rock behind him, which looked steep. It seemed a bit difficult to do without tools. On the other hand, going back the way he came and down would be a long detour.
 

Jeong Tae-yi, lost in thought, surveyed the path ahead. The darkness, almost untouched by the lighthouse's light, filled the gaps between the rocks. The waves had eroded the rocks, leaving a hollowed-out indentation. If he crouched low and passed through there, it seemed like he could get through unnoticed. After all, in this darkness, even if they were lost in pleasure, it would be hard for anyone to sense his presence. And if worse came to worst... he could just enjoy the show himself. Though, it didn’t seem like he’d actually be able to see much.
Jeong Tae-yi quietly descended into the crevice. The soft clink of his foot hitting a stone was drowned out by the sound of the waves. It was a small sound, barely noticeable. It was fine. This wouldn’t be enough to give him away.
Thinking about it, even if he were caught, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. The ones secretly indulging here might be startled and shrink back, but why should he be the one to flinch? He wasn’t spying deliberately.

Jeong Tae-yi patted his chest and moved on. He crouched down and passed in front of the sunken rock. As he did, he cast a quick glance in that direction, but it wasn’t out of a desire to spy. He was simply checking if they might see him.
There was a faint light seeping from inside the rock. Someone inside must have brought a small portable flashlight. Even so, it wasn’t very bright, only illuminating vague outlines in the dim light.
There were two people inside.

One man was sitting with his legs spread, while another was crouching and leaning over between his legs. The man sitting down had his genitals wrapped in the other's hands as he licked the tip, then slid down the shaft, sucking and licking at the base, even touching the man's lower parts. The sticky sounds of this act leaked out from between the man’s legs. The man crouched between the other’s legs, his face buried there, seemingly lost in the moment. He was shaking his hips in excitement, his body trembling with desire. Occasionally, his hands reached down to rub his crotch, and they glistened in the faint light. At the same time, short, labored moans escaped from him.
The man sitting, who was leaning against the rock, looked down at the other man with a cold, indifferent expression. His face was relaxed, but his desire was clearly exposed. He watched his partner with eyes full of lust, not a trace of emotion or connection to the man whose services he was enjoying.
The moment Jeong Tae-yi saw the expression, he felt a sharp pang in his chest. It was a kind of shock and unease.

The man's gaze was chilling. But at the same time, it was burning with heat. He was passionate and fervent about his own desire, but it wasn’t for the man between his legs. There was no emotion in his gaze for the one servicing him; he was simply enjoying the act itself.
And Jeong Tae-yi soon realized who the man was. The faint outline of his face in the darkness was unmistakable.
Rygrow.

...Damn it. Why do I keep running into this guy? He's the last person I want to meet. He should be sleeping quietly at this hour, not dragging someone out to the beach to do this.
Jeong Tae-yi clicked his tongue. But the moment he realized who the man was, his body froze. It felt like the slightest movement of his finger would reveal him. No, maybe he had already been detected.
Jeong Tae-yi stood frozen, holding his breath. All he could think about was how to get out of there. That was the only thought in his mind.

Rygrow seemed oblivious to the presence around him, fully immersed in his actions.
He looked down at the young man hunched between his legs, his mouth eagerly working, his tongue wiggling. Then, suddenly, he grabbed the young man’s hair and pulled it forcefully toward his groin.
“Swallow deeper. Harder. …Can’t you suck properly?”

He lightly gripped the young man's chin and shook it. Then, clicking his tongue, he started thrusting, keeping his grip on the young man's head. The young man gasped, struggling to breathe. As Rygrow forcefully pressed the young man’s face between his legs, the man began to choke, gasping for air. Eventually, unable to breathe, the young man struggled to break free, and Rygrow pulled back with a light slap to his cheek. It wasn’t a gentle slap; the dry sound of it echoed through the air, and the young man's head jerked to the side.
“Do it properly. Lick every inch and suck harder. If you do, I’ll give you what you want. You look like you’re dying of itch inside, yet you’re so half-hearted.”
His voice was rough, filled with lust, his breathing quickened as he spoke. The young man, unable to resist, dove back into his task between Rygrow’s legs. Soon, a loud, urgent sound echoed.

Jeong Tae-yi felt his face stiffen. His chest burned, and he could barely breathe.
It wasn’t just because of the abnormal situation of spying on someone else’s actions. It wasn’t even because of the long-forgotten desire he hadn’t fulfilled.
Rygrow. This overwhelming man, his dominance was as intense as his presence. He was the strongest alpha, the kind of man who could make any lesser man run away with his tail between his legs. Any woman with primordial instincts would bow to him, and any man would be too intimidated to step forward.

It wasn’t just sexual attraction. It was an overwhelming aura of a dominant male, exuding the scent of power from every part of him. Anyone caught by his ruthless grip would have no chance of resistance and would instinctively submit.
Jeong Tae-yi’s face drained of color. The man was not only difficult to confront because of his gender, but the sheer presence he exuded made Jeong Tae-yi feel threatened. It was dangerous. He shouldn’t go any closer. Just as a lesser alpha would instinctively flee from the domain of a stronger one, Jeong Tae-yi felt the suffocating fear and primal instinct to escape from this overwhelming aura.
At that moment, Rygrow, who had been looking down at the young man, suddenly lifted his eyelids. His dark eyes locked onto Jeong Tae-yi without hesitation, as if he had known all along.

Jeong Tae-yi froze, unable to move. He was caught in the gaze of a predator, unable to look away from the man.
In the place where Rygrow was, Jeong Tae-yi should not have been visible. No, even if he sensed something, he couldn’t have pinpointed exactly where Jeong Tae-yi was standing. The light did not reach that far.
Rygrow gave him a cold glance, then, after a moment, twisted his lips into a faint smirk. A sneer or a threat. To the weakling hiding there, he seemed to be saying, “Get out of here.”

Jeong Tae-yi instinctively retracted his hand, feeling as though he had been caught in a trap. His body began to move as if he had been released from being trapped in a nightmare. His heart was pounding so violently that it hurt, as if it were trying to escape the threat.
I need to go. I need to leave. I couldn’t handle this suffocating heat any longer. If I disappear quietly now, Rygrow won’t chase me, won’t try to take my throat. Leaving now was the best option.
Rygrow. Damn that guy. How can he not tire out? He rolls around all day and then marches through the night like this, when he should be resting. What the hell is he doing, playing around like this at the beach?

Jeong Tae-yi felt a surge of anger, mixed with a quiet anxiety rising from deep within.
Though it was too dim to see clearly, he realized the young man offering himself to Rygrow might resemble Shin Lu. The narrow shoulders, slender limbs, the smooth flow of his body. It wasn’t just the body; it was the image they created. It was like Shin Lu's delicate form.
Damn it. If I already have someone to share my body with, I shouldn’t be looking at Shin Lu. This reckless, promiscuous maniac.

Jeong Tae-yi, silently cursing under his breath, moved his feet. After taking a few steps, he glanced back at the distant figures. By then, their forms were hidden in the shadow, and only their vague silhouettes could be seen moving across the rocks.
“The world’s getting wild, huh...”
Jeong Tae-yi muttered softly and sighed. As he was about to turn back and leave...

He noticed a faint shadow moving atop the large rock where they had been hiding.
 
Jeong Tae-yi stopped in his tracks and suddenly turned his head. It wasn’t a mistake. He was sure that someone on the rock above was moving cautiously. The person, who hadn’t noticed Jeong Tae-yi, was focused on the one below—probably Rygrow.

And Jeong Tae-yi saw it. In the faint light leaking from the rock’s interior, he noticed the shadow’s hand. A large, heavy-looking crossbow was held in the shadow’s grasp.
Jeong Tae-yi swallowed.
It could be a Holy Zone... or maybe a Stek, he wasn’t sure. It was too dark to see clearly, but the crossbow held by that shadow was certainly more than enough to kill a person with a single shot. Especially now, when the tip of the crossbow was aimed at Rygrow’s head from above.

There was no time to think and act. Almost instinctively, or perhaps as he had done since childhood, Jeong Tae-yi grabbed a fist-sized rock and threw it. The sound of the rock cutting through the air broke the night’s silence. At the same time, the man’s wrist, struck by the rock, snapped with a sharp crack.
“Ugh!!”
The unexpected strike made the man cry out. The recoil of the trigger caused the misfired arrow to fly, and by sheer coincidence, it shot toward Jeong Tae-yi.

“Ugh...!”
Jeong Tae-yi took a sharp breath. The crossbow’s direction shifted toward him with the blow from the rock, and he instinctively moved his body away. The arrow, as fast as the rock, narrowly missed him. It brushed past his elbow and buried itself in the spot where he had been standing just moments before.
Jeong Tae-yi broke into a cold sweat. If he hadn’t twisted his body in time, he would have been dead by now. He almost died while trying to save someone.

As the arrow quivered in the ground, only then did he feel a slight sense of relief. His mind then reflected on a hint of regret. If he had just left things alone, he might have witnessed that dangerous, violent man disappearing from the world. Why did he even help? The man with the crossbow might have been about to do what he should have done all along. Thinking about it, Rygrow was likely the greater evil compared to the man with the crossbow.
However, Jeong Tae-yi knew that even if the situation repeated itself, even if the people involved changed, he would have done the same. He simply couldn’t stand by while someone died in front of him.
As Jeong Tae-yi was caught up in a whirlwind of regret and thought in less than a few seconds, Rygrow’s actions were swift. Without hesitation, he shoved the young man who had been crouching between his legs aside. He picked up a suitable stone that had rolled on the ground and, half-rising, hurled it toward the man’s head who was clutching his wrist on the rock.

The stone hit the man’s head with pinpoint accuracy, causing it to crack open and blood sprayed out. The man let out a low groan and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The young man, who had been frozen in shock, screamed in surprise, but Rygrow ignored him. He picked up the crossbow that had fallen from the man’s hand. He then glanced at the arrow, which had flown from the crossbow and landed in the crevice. Finally, his gaze turned to Jeong Tae-yi.
As their eyes met, Jeong Tae-yi instinctively raised his hands, though he hadn’t even aimed at him. Rygrow’s cold gaze descended on Jeong Tae-yi’s hands.

“I wasn’t doing that... No, if anything, you could say I helped you. There’s no reason for you to glare at me like that.”
Jeong Tae-yi muttered, feeling a bit wronged. Rygrow briefly muttered “I know,” then clicked his tongue, as if displeased, and began walking toward him without hesitation.
As Rygrow approached with firm steps, Jeong Tae-yi instinctively wanted to step back, but with rocks underfoot, he couldn’t retreat without losing his balance.

“I wasn’t involved. Besides, I don’t even know who that guy is. It wasn’t a planned thing between us.”
“I know,” Rygrow replied, as if bewildered by Jeong Tae-yi’s insistence. Jeong Tae-yi glared at him with a wary look.
He can’t possibly be planning to attack me now that I’ve helped him, right? But why is he walking toward me like this? No, he should at least put on some clothes.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable in front of the bare man approaching him, Jeong Tae-yi shifted uncomfortably. Rygrow, however, walked toward him casually and stopped about three or four steps away. He bent down, picked up the arrow from the crevice, and examined the tip. After tapping it a couple of times, he chuckled.
“If I had been hit in the head by this, even I wouldn’t have been safe.”
Jeong Tae-yi, frowning, muttered in correction. Rygrow’s gaze shifted from the arrow to Jeong Tae-yi’s face. Jeong Tae-yi flinched, tightening his expression as he repeated his third excuse.

“It’s not my problem... Seriously, stop glaring at me. I’m going to get a heart attack from your gaze.”
Jeong Tae-yi felt his emotions rise as he complained in frustration. Rygrow, hearing this, raised an eyebrow and smirked faintly.
“Hah, really? As you said, I’ll do as you say. I’ll keep a copy of the rulebook ten times, and after I return to Europe, I’ll take care of it. After all, the one who saved my life told me to.”

Rygrow smiled again softly, then laughed for a while, but when Jeong Tae-yi stared at him disapprovingly, he stopped laughing and spoke.
“I get it, I’ll take care of it when I’m back in Europe. It’s what you wanted, right?”
He continued to laugh lightly, then, after a while, turned his gaze to Jeong Tae-yi’s arm, which he had grabbed and raised. His tone softened as he inspected the wound.

“It’s a deep cut, but it’s not too bad. As long as the bleeding stops, it should be fine. ...Here, use this to clean it.”
Rygrow removed a glove from his hand and held it out. Jeong Tae-yi grimaced. Was he seriously asking him to clean the wound with that glove, which was probably soaked with the blood of countless people? Using it felt like it would carry the bitterness of all those lives.
“You’re nothing like your brother. Even though you’re twins, it’s rare to find two who are this different. But hey, that’s not a bad thing either.”

Rygrow whispered, still smiling, and as Jeong Tae-yi hesitated to take the glove, he grabbed it from his hand and began wiping the wound with it. The glove, stained with blood, made Jeong Tae-yi shudder. In the dim moonlight, his hand, pale as the fog lifting from the sky, seemed ghostly.
His nails gleamed like glass. Long, delicate fingers. Beautiful, white hands.
It was a familiar hand. So familiar, in fact, that it felt more familiar than his own.

Rygrow seemed to notice Jeong Tae-yi staring at his hand. He raised an eyebrow in surprise, muttering something as he manipulated his hand like a puppet. The movement was all too familiar.
“Do you like my hands that much?”
Rygrow asked, his eyes lingering on Jeong Tae-yi, who couldn’t take his eyes off them. Jeong Tae-yi looked up and stared at the man in front of him, who faintly smiled.

Damn it. What is going on?
That was all that came to his mind. His head went blank, and then, out of nowhere, a surge of anger rose within him.
“If you like them, are you going to take them off?”

Jeong Tae-yi muttered bluntly, and Rygrow laughed out loud. The tone of the laugh, mixed with the electronic sounds he had heard before, rang in his ears. Thinking about it, the way Rygrow spoke seemed similar to the one from earlier.
“If you want them, I can give them to you. You’d probably prefer your own hands, but if you want mine, I’ll give them to you after I’m dead.”
“I don’t need them. I already said I didn’t need them not long ago, so I’m not going to ask for them now.”

Jeong Tae-yi’s voice grew more irritated, and his mood soured along with it.
Rygrow continued to smile in front of him. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they locked onto Jeong Tae-yi.
There’s no way there would be two hands like that. Hands as beautiful as that.

“Which one is the first name, and which is the surname?”
Jeong Tae-yi muttered, his thoughts shifting in an unexpected direction. It was an odd question, but one that suddenly came to mind. Rygrow’s faint smile deepened as he looked at him, then after a moment, he answered.
“Rygrow is the surname.”

“Ah, I see... Which one do you prefer to be called?”
“As you like.”
“Yeah. But honestly, I don’t feel like calling you either, Ilay Rygrow.”

Jeong Tae-yi said, blatantly showing his displeasure. The man in front of him just laughed, sighing lightly.
Now I have one more thing to blame my uncle for.
The "No Entry" sign was meaningless if you didn’t actually change the lock.

Jeong Tae-yi fiddled with the keychain on his finger as he lay on his uncle’s bed.
Now that he thought about it, it was a stupid thing to do. Although his uncle had told him not to come, it wasn’t enforced. If Jeong Tae-yi had insisted on coming in, his uncle would have let him. Of course, if his uncle truly didn’t want him here, he would have done something to make sure he didn’t get in.
At the moment, the building was filled with people from the European branch, so this was the safest place. The forbidden area, the personal room of the instructor, was the most secure place # Nоvеlight # in the entire building.

Still, it felt silly to be running away, wandering into the shadows, when all he needed to do was finish his scheduled duties and come straight here without moving a muscle.
“I’ve been too rigid... If I had made sure he couldn’t come, I could have snuck in and hidden under the bed.”
Jeong Tae-yi muttered to himself, shaking his head. For a moment, he considered just doing that from now on, but it was too late. He had already attracted attention and fallen into a bad situation. There was nothing more to be done. No more attention could be drawn, and no more descent was possible.

With a sigh, he flicked the keychain once and tossed it, only for the door to open, and his uncle walked in.
His uncle, unbuttoning his uniform one by one, froze when he saw Jeong Tae-yi lying on the bed.
“What are you doing here? I told you not to come until after the joint training ends.”

“I came to return the book.”
Jeong Tae-yi waved the book he was holding in his hand. His uncle, now with his jacket off, hung it on the chair back and looked at him closely. It seemed like his perceptive uncle was trying to figure out why his nephew had come, thinking it wasn’t just about the book.
“You can take your time reading it. Well, if you’ve come all this way, feel free to borrow any books you’d like. But, if you’re going to read it, don’t bring it back until after the joint training period is over. —Would you like some green tea?”

His uncle had already taken off his shirt and began heating water for tea. When Jeong Tae-yi shook his head, his uncle took out a tea cup just for himself and cracked his neck, stretching as he sighed lightly.
Jeong Tae-yi returned the book to its original spot and glanced over the bookshelf. Though it hadn’t been long since his last visit, a few new books had appeared. His hand hovered over the spines of the books as he felt a familiar title beneath his fingertips.
“This... Is this the one I sent by sea? Seems it’s already arrived. ‘Theory of Mythology.’”

“Oh, it arrived yesterday. It’s a brand new book. I haven’t even looked at it yet, but if you want to, you can read it first. I doubt I’ll have time to read it anytime soon, and I have other books to go through anyway.”
“Hm... Well, I’ll take this one. I’ll bring it back when the joint training ends.”
Jeong Tae-yi took the book, and his uncle smiled as he saw him heading for the door.

“Well, since you're leaving, take the book. But remember, don’t return it until the joint training is over.”
Jeong Tae-yi nodded, grateful, and left the room.