DARK BLOOD ● Park Sunghoon

Episode 5: The Poison Bug

Also known as the Soul-Devouring Bug.

A small, iridescent insect known for its potent venom. When it bites, the venom causes not only excruciating physical pain but also a unique phenomenon where the victim experiences the pain of their attacker. This effect is due to the venom creating a psychic link between the two, allowing the victim to feel every ounce of suffering directed at them.

The idea of wielding such a potent tool ignited a fire within Jisoo. With Sunghoon's cold indifference weighing on her, she understood that knowledge of this poison could grant her leverage in the situation she was in. If she could master the intricacies of the Soul-Devouring Bug, perhaps she could navigate the treacherous waters of the palace and turn the tables in her favor, ensuring her survival in a world where trust was as fragile as the wings of the very bug she now studied.

This is what I want. She felt a sense of satisfaction spreading through her chests. Although both sides will feel each other's pain, it could possibly guarantee her safety if she ever gets into danger because only she has the power to remove it.

However, there was this one problem.

One big problem.

She did not know where to get it. There was a list on how to prepare it. It was just like planting a seed and the bugs will grow. But, the planting process requires around a thousand years.

"How should I-"

"You're looking quite free, I see," Sunghoon's voice sliced through the quiet as the doors slid open. He stepped into the room, his eyes quickly taking in the sight of Jisoo seated calmly, sipping her tea. There was a flicker of something in his gaze — disapproval, perhaps — as he noted the unusual serenity of a palace guard with time to spare.

Jisoo didn't bother to respond. Instead, she calmly poured another cup of tea, her face blank as if his presence barely registered. Sunghoon, without asking, slid into the seat across from her. As she set the teapot down, he swiftly reached over, snatching the freshly poured cup from her grasp and drinking it as though it were his all along.

Jisoo's eyes narrowed, her irritation evident in the slight tightening of her lips. "Tsk," she hissed under her breath, glaring at him.

Sunghoon sets the cup down on the table with a satisfied grin, deliberately ignoring the weight of Jisoo's glare.

"I thought you'd be buried under the tasks I gave you. Instead, you're here... Relaxing," he remarked, his voice laced with mocking amusement.

Jisoo, however, remained unmoved. She took back the teacup and slowly, she met his gaze without a flicker of hesitation.

"The tasks you gave me were easy," she said coolly, her voice devoid of any frustration or strain. It was a simple, matter-of-fact statement, as if to imply that whatever Sunghoon threw at her had barely scratched the surface of her abilities.

Sunghoon's eyebrow arched slightly, but the dangerous glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Easy?"

He leaned forward, his tone low and mocking. There was an undercurrent of something more sinister — perhaps a challenge hidden beneath the surface. He wasn't accustomed to hearing people dismiss his commands so casually, and the fact that she had done so with such composure slightly pissed him off.

Jisoo's heart pounded, but her face betrayed nothing. She kept her voice calm and unbothered. "Yeah," she repeated, her voice unwavering.

The space between them seemed to grow smaller as the tension thickened. Sunghoon's smile faded slightly, replaced by something colder. He rose slowly from his chair, his eyes locked on hers as he stepped toward her.