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Episode 8
I Am Dan – Part 2
‘So if I don’t satisfy him, he’ll cut off my arms and legs? What a rotten bastard.’
The man’s sharp eyes felt like those of a predator, and Dan’s whole body bristled with unease.
Lowering his gaze, Dan muttered bitterly:
“Hmph. Just don’t beg me to do it again later.”
“Ha. Unbelievable.”
The man’s piercing eyes narrowed dangerously, but Dan didn’t back down. He had permission now, and retreat wasn’t an option. Suddenly, a chill like falling into icy water wrapped around his body. Shivering, Dan hugged himself tightly.
‘Ugh… it’s too cold. My time must be running out.’
His legs felt heavy, as if weighed down by stones. Slowly, step by step, he reached the bedside. His heart pounded against the tense air. Swallowing hard, he blurted out:
“I-I’ll take off my clothes first.”
His garments fell away one by one, like petals in the rain, revealing a body as elegant as a vase crafted by a master artisan. But the man simply sat, watching with cold, unreadable eyes.
‘Hmph. I won’t be the only one naked.’
“Should I… undress you too, sir?”
The man gave no reply. Taking that as consent, Dan’s hands moved to his clothes. He didn’t resist, even as the fabric slipped away.
‘With a body like this, he’d rule any pleasure house… so why waste time grave-robbing? Doesn’t suit him at all.’
His physique was impressive. Women would throw themselves at him without hesitation. Feeling a little flustered, Dan turned his head aside.
“Sir, have you ever heard of… death by pleasure?”
“Another one of your absurd remarks?”
“This isn’t absurd. I’m worried about you. Men can actually die doing this, you know! My skills are dazzling. I’d hate to see you drop dead and leave me to clean up the body.”
The man’s brow twitched at Dan’s solemn warning, and his lips quivered faintly. Dan cleared his throat, speaking with false authority:
“Ahem. I’ll begin now.”
He pressed his chest against the man’s firmly, but the man’s face stayed utterly unmoved.
“Huh… this isn’t it?”
Dan kissed his cheek, then his nose, then trailed his lips along the man’s neck. Still nothing. With a sigh, Dan frowned.
“Sir, you tricked me, didn’t you?”
The man only scoffed.
“You think I have time for tricks?”
“But this is strange! I’m trying so hard, yet it just gets colder. You must have lied just to mess with me.”
“If you’re going to keep spouting nonsense, leave.”
“Wait! Don’t get up yet! Maybe the position’s wrong. This time, I’ll sit on top. Will you hold me?”
The man’s eyes sharpened.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Dan bit his lip, his voice trembling.
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re doing… what men and women do. I copied it from the art books, but it’s not working as I thought.”
The man blinked in disbelief, while Dan glared stubbornly back.
“If only I try, what’s the point? Intimacy is supposed to be mutual! It’s just skin against skin—what’s so hard about that? You said you’d cut off my limbs, but really, think of this as offering to Buddha. Maybe it’ll cleanse your sins. So could you… try a little harder?”
The man’s gaze turned razor-sharp, yet strangely unsettled. She didn’t even understand the meaning of what she claimed to be doing. Still, each awkward touch stirred something unfamiliar inside him.
“Here, you try now. Hug me tight. With one arm, hold my neck too.”
Dan’s lips curved into a pout, but his eyes sparkled. The man’s gaze caught on her beauty—her glossy black hair, jewel-like eyes, porcelain skin, and lips as soft as petals. Even disguised as a man, her charm was undeniable.
Her hair brushed his throat, and for the first time, his brow furrowed faintly. Scars lined his neck, traces of old battles.
“Sir… wait. Don’t tell me… I’m your first?”
“Ha. And you’re not?”
“Of course not. I’ve read a thousand art books. If you don’t know, take this as a lesson. I’ll teach you.”
Her confident words drew a slight smile from him.
“From the start, something bothered me. Why do you keep calling me ‘sir’? I don’t recall having a younger brother like you.”
“That’s because you never told me your na—mmph!”
The man suddenly pressed his lips against hers. Dan’s eyes widened in shock. His tongue forced its way inside, rough and consuming, unlike anything she had seen in those books. Her mind went blank.
She pulled back with a gasp, hitting her head against the wall.
“H-Heon…? That’s your name?”
His once-cold eyes now burned like fire.
“And you think you can teach me? Ridiculous.”
Like a starving beast, he pinned her against the wall. Dan felt like prey cornered by a predator. Trembling, she met his gaze and declared:
“I am Dan. Not a woman.”
Meanwhile, in the Ancient Tomb
Darkness hung heavy inside the vast underground tomb. Dozens of torches burned, their flames forming fiery trails in the air. Men in black uniforms scoured every passage, hunting for the runaway grave robber.
“Search everywhere! If you find that rat, kill him!”
“Understood!”
The tomb was like a labyrinth. Finding the fugitive was nearly impossible. Suddenly, a soldier rushed to a scar-faced commander.
“Commander Ma! The lord… he’s gone!”
“What? Since when has the prince been missing?”
“He was with us all along, but then… he just wasn’t there anymore.”
“Think carefully. This is critical.”
“It’s been about… one hour.”
Ma’s scarred cheek twitched violently. He had already suspected something was wrong. With urgency, he called the men back.
“Squad Two! Stop searching. Find the prince immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
His eyes swept the chamber, sharp and restless. Gathering a few nearby men, he gave new orders.
“We’ve wasted too much time. You must find the Living Ginseng. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Who among you can swim and dive?”
Two men stepped forward.
“Unit Three.”
“Unit Five.”
“You two will capture the mermaid child in the water tank. Do not harm it. I’d send more men, but we can’t spare them now. Can you handle it?”
“Yes, we can!”
“Leave it to us.”
“Good. I’ll find the prince myself.”
Commander Ma rushed deeper into the labyrinth, searching desperately. But the prince was nowhere to be found. His chest burned with dread.
‘Prince Jing… where are you?’
