Beneath the pale moonlight, the bottom of the night was jagged with mountains dyed pitch-black. The Dragon Sky Escort Agency was half-hidden on one slope of the rear mountain, behind a range that stretched on like black waves. There were no houses nearby, and it was so dark that anyone new to the area would pass by without noticing it.
Its location was that secretive. Together with Do Gwang-il and Tang Hye-seo, I left the main road and approached the foothills on the left.
Hoo-ung.
When I gave a soft owl cry as promised, a familiar Underworld Clan member poked his head out from the grass. Do Gwang-il gestured and took the lead. I lowered my posture and followed after him, and Tang Hye-seo nudged my side and whispered.
“What, were you an owl in your past life? I didn’t know you had such a fun trick.”
“It’s easy. I’ll teach you later.”
Tang Hye-seo tugged hard on my hand. When I turned my head, she slipped into my arms and pressed her lips to mine. More than any flowery words that could come from the tip of the tongue, the desperate sincerity we held for each other filled my chest until it felt like it would burst.
It felt like a moment that would last forever, but this was not the time for that. I set aside my lingering regret and parted my lips from hers.
“You promise.”