I went to Jangsu, down in Jeollado, for the weekend and ran a 70km trail race with a cumulative 5,000m of ascent. It took me 17 hours. Proud of myself and grateful that my body can do that.
It was a lovely, really well organized race, with friendly people running and friendly people cheering and manning the aid stations. One lady even ran with her dog!
Summary: Our favorite assassin faces her fiercest opponent yet.
Author's note: If you're waiting for me to update a story just ignore this, this didn't happen it's all an illusion. 🌚🌚🌚 But honestly I tried to resist writing about these two but I couldn't fight the thoughts in my head. It's just a wee drabble, I hope anyone who writes enjoys it. I should have probably wanted until the weekend to post but I'm always too impatient once I've written something new, hopefully the two people who see this enjoy it lmaoooo.
She's finally here, beside him. Back where she had started to believe she belonged and the joy that ravaged her body as she crossed that finish line terrified her, what foolish game were they playing? She should have been more careful. She was Naksu, not Mu-deok; the blind fool who stole her soul in a comedic twist of fate, she has let this role get to her hear--her head. Only her head.
She has never had any room for such frivolous endeavors. Even her time with Seo Yul was nothing in comparison to this, they did not depend on each other nor share their weaknesses- their time together was filled with comfortable silence and no expectations. Neither asking the other for more than they were willing to give. Which was perfect as she was not willing to give anything.
A polar opposite from her relationship with a certain entitled brat, he was demanding from the moment she collided into his world. It frustrated her to no end that everything he wanted from her, he ultimately got it through sheer determination and his impeccable luck.
He had been kicked down countless times since she met him, yet he could still smile like that. Blinding her with rows of gleaming teeth that were only eclipsed by the brilliance of his eyes, those eyes that revealed too much when they should have hidden everything from someone like her.
She was still Naksu, she had no qualms about using his pitiful feelings for her own benefit. He had no business caring for someone like her.
I missed you too.
She had not missed him. They were dependent on each other that was all, it was best not to confuse these feelings of survival with something as meaningless as love.
Yet she had come running upon hearing of her drunk young master in the brothel. Once again he had done the impossible, reading that fool's love letter in a fraction of time than it took others allowing him to leave Songrim as he pleased. It was expected at this point, he was her pupil and the luckiest man she'd ever encountered.
His weight is heavy on her slimmer shoulder but she shifts him away as young master Seo tries to take him from her arms.
"I'm fine. I will take my young master home now."
"He will be a burden. I shall carry him, he's too heavy for you."
He leans forward once more and instinctively her grip tightens, she will not allow anyone to take him from her especially in this state. He needs her.
"No. I am stronger than I look, he is no heavier than the water I had to carry on my back. You should go back inside, people will start to worry about you. I will bring my master home."
That look again, filled with emotions she has no desire to decipher. So she looks away breaking his piercing prolonged eye contact.
"Good night young master."
Jang Uk is silent on her shoulder besides his drunken mumbling of her name. As soon as she takes her first step he trips on nothing and almost brings them both down.
"Aish! Why did you have to drink so much? I'm the one who passed a test all you did was read a stupid book!" She hisses at him under her breath and to her annoyance he chuckles in response, finally opening his glossy eyes.
"Mu-deok ah you were here?!"
If they were not in the street with so many witnesses she would have dropped him where he stood.
"I swear one day I will kill you."
Their journey home is not one of ease but she is the fiercesome assassin Naksu, she will not be overcome by one drunk idiot.
As soon as she reaches his chambers she dumps him unceremoniously on his sleeping blankets. His cry of pain is music to her ears.
"Mu-deok! That hurt, my head is throbbing. Can't you be more gentle?"
She glares at him vehemently before kicking him in the thigh.
"Hey!"
"Stop your whining, I barely hit you."
He looks so pitiful on the floor rubbing his leg where she kicked that she almost feels guilty. Almost.
"Stop drinking so much." She says with finality before bowing, ready to take her leave.
"Wait."
She shouldn't wait. He's reckless enough while sober who knows what he might say intoxicated? She shouldn't take the risk.
But her feet are frozen. Despite the screaming in her head.
Walk. Move damn it. Go!
"Why didn't you meet me there as I asked? I wanted to celebrate you passing your test."
Because she felt pathetic. She had fought so hard to be by his side without realizing how much she was exposing to him and possibly others.
They could never be together. That was fact. He was destined to marry the lying Jinyowon brat or the clearly infatuated healer's granddaughter, there was no space in his life for her. Not as Mu-deok or Naksu.
"I wanted to be alone. You seemed fine without me."
She had seen him earlier surrounded by his friends his glee palpable even across room. But there were another pair of eyes softly gazing at her master, and then she'd crossed that space and he had turned that blinding smile in her direction. That smile that she thought had been designated for her eyes only.
"I'm never fine without you. Don't you know that by now? Why are you trying to put this distance between us huh?"
He's swaying sporadically his scarlet cheeks blazing but she's certain it's not from any embarrassment at his declaration.
"Because you have forgetten what this is."
She had forgotten too, foolishly.
His eyes narrow into dangerous slits, his jaw clenching tightly at her harsh tone.
"And what is this?"
He lays his palm flat on the floor pushing himself to his full height, towering over her as he awaits her reply.
"A busines-"
"You're a coward."
That stops in her tracks. Her own callous words thrown back in her face, she glares at him refusing to let the moisture in her eyes leak and break her resolve.
"You're not only my master, or my maid. This isn't just a business deal not anymore, not to me. I think about you day and night Mu-deok, do you know what that's like? To not be able to control my thoughts? Or my heart? I didn't ask for this, but you can't run away from this and pretend I'm the only one feeling this."
She blinks hard, fist clenched at her sides. This demanding asshole, he never listens to her unless his life is on the line. One day she'll kill him, that's a promise.
"Naksu."
He stares at her blankly. Then clarity shines in those expressive eyes.
"I never knew it bothered you."
"It doesn't.... It didn't. But you're saying those things and using her name. Would you still feel this way if she regained her body? Is this body so beautiful that your feelings wouldn't change regardless of who inhabits-"
"Naksu. My heart belongs to Naksu. Only Naksu."
Thump.
Without any thought her hand moves and clutches at her chest.
His answering smirk makes her want to disappear.
"What? Did your heart skip a beat? Did I make your heart flutter like the wings of a butterfly?"
"Shut up." She hates that she can feel heat blossoming on her face. It's all because of this weak body.
"Don't spend too much alone with Seo Yul."
She's caught off guard by the weird request so much so she doesn't immediately respond making Jang Uk start to squirm his discomfort too apparent.
"What? Is that too difficult for you? Am I asking too much?"
"No. It's just stupid, whether or not I spend time alone with him nothing will change. You spend time with other women, are your feelings changing in their presence?"
He stares at her before grinning.
"Not at all. They mean nothing to me."
"Then don't make idiotic demands like that again."
She wants to look away but she can't tear her gaze away from his, it feels like being caught in the eye of a storm her insides are rattling but she can't escape. With her defences down, he steps forward invading her personal space as he's wont to do.
"I want to do something stupid."
She gasps as he further closes the space between them, those long legs easily eating up the necessary distance she created for her sanity.
His hand is sweltering on her already burning cheek.
I need to pull away.
But she closes her eyes, leaning into his huge palm her resistance tearing at the seams.
"Open your eyes. Look at me, Naksu."
She must be a pervert because hearing her name on his tongue does something to her insides, she's never felt attraction towards anyone before him. Never wanted to kiss someone or rip their clothes off and feel their skin on her own, see them panting beneath her the way she only heard about in lewd bar stories.
Not until him.
"When we are alone, I will call you that. Do you like that?"
His thumb brushes across her lips and she can't stop her mouth from falling open in anticipation.
He pulls at her bottom lip, eyes captivated by the movement of his own finger and she uses her last reservoir of control to pull away.
"What do you think you're doing to me?"
"Will you give me permission to do what I want?"
His eyes are darker than she's ever seen him, unknown emotions swirling through the rich deep orbs.
"Naksu. Please, don't push me away anymore."
She's never been conquered before, not by mages that sought to end her life or her emotions as she grew up alone without anyone to call her own. Every battle she has fought she has won, defeat is foreign to her and that was the way she wanted to live all her life.
Until him.
Giving him her heart doesn't sound like a concession because she will receive his in return. Nobody has ever given her their heart before, none would dare get this close to her.
In the end, he was the one to use her feelings for him.
"We shouldn't do this. Nobody will approve."
"We are the only ones who get to decide that. Nobody else has a say in what we do, I will break any rules if it means I get to be with you."
"I will be nothing like the other women who want you. I will not change merely because we are involved, I will still be selfish and put myself first. Are you sure you can handle that?"
"You wouldn't be my Naksu if you were not like that."
My Naksu.
"Fine. I'm not that good of a person to not take what I want. If you suffer because of me, that's not my fault anymore."
This time she's the one to pull him closer, arms firm around his waist as she tugs him near leaning up onto the tips of her toes with only one goal in mind.
Her first kiss.
His pure look of shock is cemented in her mind as their faces draw closer, his warm breathe washing over her face alcohol still lingering in the air.
This time when he cradles her face she doesn't resist, letting him gently turn her head as his eyes sweep over her face before landing on her lips with clear intention.
She closes her eyes and lets herself free fall with no plan or escape route in mind.
His lips are even better than she imagined, than she dreamed at nights. Too soft and full, covering her own in a way that belies practice. She pushes away her jealousy refusing to let any stray thoughts invade this moment.
After a long moment of fevered presses and a light swipe of his tongue against the seam of her mouth she tries to move away, feeling light headed but he draws her closer wrapping one arm around her waist as the other one delves into her hair holding her head firmly in place.
"You said I could do what I want. I want more."
Erotic images instantly flood her mind, and she gasps looking at him with hesitant passion.
"Don't look at me like that. I only meant more kissing but if you appear so eager and willing I will not be able to control myself."
She might be a virgin but she's no blushing one.
"What if I wanted to do more? Are you truly strong enough to control yourself?"
They both stare at each other, challenge charging the air.
"Don't say things you don't mean."
"I don't. I only say things I mean."
She peers into his eyes before reaching down to her own robe, watching him as she begins to loosen it feeling powerful in a way she hasn't since she lost her energy and skill as Naksu.
"Young master? Did you return safely?"
They both jump at the new voice and before he can say anything to her she's already moving, tightening her robe and hoisting herself out of his window.
Maidservant Kim enters seconds later, but she can barely hear a word of their conversation over the thunderous pounding of her heart.
#Benji #drive #go #hometown #jangsu #namwon #smile #iloveyou #music #shapeofyou #edsheeran 새벽길을 달려 고향으로 가는 길. 아버님께서 내려와 일을 도와달라고 하셔서 내려가는 길이다. 한적한 도로를 좋은 음악과 함께 달린다. 안전운전!
#Benji #cook #food #cordial #apple #jangsu #lemon #sugar 맛과 향이 좋은 장수 사과 4kg을 베이킹소다와 식초를 이용해 깨끗히 씻고 물기 없이 말린 후 손질을 한다. 착즙한 사과 쥬스와 설탕 800g을 냄비에 넣고 조청 정도의 점도가 될 때까지 조린다. 거의 다 조려졌을 때 레몬즙을 넣어주면 산미를 더해주며 보관 기간도 길게할 수 있다. 조리 중에 거품과 찌꺼기를 걸러내면 맑은 사과 코디얼을 만들 수 있으니 쉼없이 건져내보자. 완성된 코디얼을 탄산수 또는 얼음물에 타 먹으면 사과의 향과 풍미를 그대로 느낄 수 있다. 냉장 보관 기술이 발달하지 않았던 유럽에서 과일의 맛과 향, 영양을 오랫동안 먹기위해 만들었다는 코디얼. 오랜 시간 동량의 설탕에 절여야 하는 과일청과 다르게 착즙한 과일 원액에 적은 양의 설탕을 넣어 가열해서 만들기 때문에 빨리 먹을 수 있다는 장점이 있다.(Yongin에서)
Here's a video of our trip to the Jangsu Apple and Beef Festival. It's one of my favorite festivals in Korea mainly because of the delicious food! This is our second year going, and we are planning on making it out every year we are in Korea.
