Guide of the Sichuan Tang Clan C25

Chapter 25

Mujin set his spoon down. Then, with firm resolve, he removed Eunmyeong’s hand from his thigh and placed the spoon back into that same hand.

“Eat your meal.”

“Be honest with me, Young Master. Hm?”

“Eat.”

“It’s not that you’re worried about me gaining weight—what’s bothering you is that everyone keeps sticking to me, isn’t it?”

“I said, eat.”

Dodging the answer at every turn, Mujin overlapped his hand with Eunmyeong’s, guiding it as though teaching a child how to use a spoon. Together, they lifted a mouthful of rice.

Really now. Refusing to admit anything, yet still feeding him like this—it was absurd. The more someone dodged, the more one wanted to tease them; such was human nature. Eunmyeong, stubborn as ever, pressed on.

“Then why are you feeding me, if you say I’ll gain weight with every bite?”

“Eat.”

“So others can’t, but you can?”

Eunmyeong’s lips moved insolently as he chewed. Mujin couldn’t exactly flick those impertinent lips. Instead, he thrust the spoon forward again, right before them.

Mm—. The spoon slipped neatly into Eunmyeong’s mouth, cutting off his words. Eunmyeong glared at him while diligently chewing plain rice.

Just as he finished chewing and was about to interrogate him again, a piece of pork entered his mouth this time. Mujin had picked it up with his chopsticks and fed it to him without a word. The moment it touched his tongue, the meat melted away. Sweet sauce and rich juices spread across his palate.

What on earth is this?

Eunmyeong’s eyes widened. The tender texture and gentle sweetness blended perfectly—a taste nothing short of miraculous.

Watching him forget his questions and focus entirely on eating was, admittedly, rather cute. Like a puppy that barks and snaps one moment, only to dash after a thrown ball the next—especially those bright, excited eyes.

Was the irritation because there were too many owners?

He had thought that even if the puppy barked shamelessly, its cuteness was meant for him alone. Yet now he was watching it wag its tail everywhere, using that strange ability on everyone alike, and the sight unsettled Mujin.

And it wasn’t just that. He accepted food fed to him, leaned in close with a smile, met eyes and grinned—

Why am I even thinking about this?

The train of thought stretched on, and Mujin’s brow twitched. Irritation surged—but his hand moved first. He brushed away the sauce clinging to Eunmyeong’s lips, then picked up his chopsticks again.

“Even if you gain weight and can’t run properly, it doesn’t matter.”

He lifted another piece of the pork Eunmyeong had liked so much.

“I don’t lose in martial combat to begin with.”

With his chopsticks, he slowly pressed against Eunmyeong’s lower lip. It was a strange motion, almost as if their lips might touch. Without realizing it, Eunmyeong opened his mouth and accepted what was offered.

The corner of Mujin’s lips lifted, just slightly.

“So stay by my side.”

It was a smile Eunmyeong had never seen before. At that subtle change, he couldn’t look away. The taste of the once-fantastic food, the urge to tease him—everything faded before that smile.

As if it had been a dream, the lifted lip returned to its place. Mujin resumed eating, occasionally placing side dishes onto Eunmyeong’s spoon.

Wow. Is this what they call a beauty trap?

Throughout the entire meal, Eunmyeong couldn’t tease Mujin at all.

Not even a little.

That afternoon, they truly prepared to climb the Great Mountain.

Perhaps because they had been scolded during the meal, everyone was tightly disciplined. Mujin stopped before the neatly lined rows.

“We’ll consider it complete once you reach the first peak and return.”

“Yes!”

“Yuseong will depart first. Whoever comes back last will repeat it again tomorrow.”

At Mujin’s command, everyone bowed their heads. Watching them comply so readily, Eunmyeong—sitting on the veranda—found the sight both unfamiliar and awe-inspiring.

Completely different from the espers back at the center.

If they’d been even half this orderly, management would’ve been much easier. Clicking his tongue, Eunmyeong plucked roots from medicinal herbs. Before coming here, espers fought constantly the moment they met. Fighting over a single guide was routine; even inside gates, they’d sabotage missions just to claim credit.

But this place was different. Sichuan was a land that lived under the power of the Tang Clan, its name inseparable from the region itself.

With power came responsibility. The Tang Clan protected Sichuan from outside threats, and protection always required strength. Mujin, as the next successor, had inherited the clan’s martial arts and stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Every time Eunmyeong looked at the warriors who followed Mujin, he could feel the weight of that strength.

Wait—if they go to the Great Mountain…

Eunjo’s words flashed through his mind.

The cave where Doseowon is… it’s there too.

They had said they collapsed the cave entrance, so someone would surely go to inspect it. Setting the herbs down, Eunmyeong craned his neck.

Since he said the last to return would be punished, he won’t send anyone else.

Mujin was strict not only with himself but with others as well. He wouldn’t assign a task that would delay the group.

Tang Mujin will go himself.

Having reached that conclusion, Eunmyeong ran toward them. Heads turned as he moved.

“Young Master!”

He ran as fast as he could, but to Mujin—who seemed to walk through the air—it must have looked slow. Unable to wait, Mujin took a step forward.

Panting, Eunmyeong grabbed Mujin’s arm.

“I—I… huff.”

“Breathe slowly. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Hoo… haa.”

Eunmyeong exhaled deeply. Just coming this far had left him winded. Mujin gauged the distance and patted his back.

It seems we’ll have to do basic training together.

He was mid-thought—one that would horrify Eunmyeong—when a rush of energy suddenly surged into the arm he was holding.

Startled, Mujin tried to pull away, but Eunmyeong didn’t let go. Instead, he sent the energy deeper.

“Huh—ah, no, if you go all the way up the mountain, it might strain you, so beforehand—”

The face looking up at him was flushed. Like fruit ripened under the summer sun, Eunmyeong’s cheeks seemed to give off a sweet scent. Mujin’s trapped hand twitched.

“So that’s why you ran all the way over here.”

“You’re still in a delicate state.”

“….”

“If it tangles again up there, it’ll be serious. This won’t last long—just a moment.”

After lightly kneading his arm, Eunmyeong withdrew the energy. As the warmth vanished, Mujin let out an involuntary sound of regret.

“All done.”

Unlike him, Eunmyeong looked refreshed, like someone who had completed a task.

“Have a safe trip!”

Smiling brightly, he patted Mujin’s back twice, urging him to go. The gesture irritated Mujin enough to crease his brow.

“As if I wouldn’t return safely.”

“Still! I mean, even safer!”

Why was he dissatisfied with even that? Suppressing the urge to smooth out that frown, Eunmyeong forced his lips into a smile. If the conversation dragged on and Mujin didn’t leave for the Great Mountain, that would be a problem.

Noticing something amiss, Mujin’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t cause trouble while I’m gone.”

The admonition stretched on, like someone leaving a beloved puppy behind.

“I’ll be back before sunset. Go to the residence and wait.”

“What am I supposed to do there alone if you’re not even around?”

“Eat some sweets or something.”

At that answer, Eunmyeong froze. He almost retorted I’m not a child, before remembering Tang Eunmyeong’s age.

Twenty… that does count as young.

At a loss for words, he muttered under his breath. Why was Mujin so obsessed with feeding him today? And now sweets, too—who was he supposed to ask for those?

As he was thinking of the servants he rarely saw, Mujin’s hand brushed the hair ribbon fluttering in the air.

“Young Master?”

When Eunmyeong looked up, Mujin was already gone. Only the wind lingered where he had stood.

“He’s ridiculously fast.”

Watching his retreating figure, Eunmyeong drew in a deep breath. A dull herbal scent hung in the air he’d left behind.

Lowering his gaze, Eunmyeong noticed a faint purple stain on the tips of his fingers, reaching to the second knuckle. It was residue from the herbs he had handled before running over. Normally, Mujin would have noticed at once—but the sudden guiding had distracted him.

At least the scent will last until today.

Cheonjicho. Originally used for light burns, it had a gentle, lingering fragrance and was sometimes used for tracking. Its scent was too faint and short-lived for most purposes, so other herbs were usually preferred.

Even for Tang Mujin, recognizing Cheonjicho as a tracking herb would be difficult—especially in a mountain filled with countless scents.

If I just follow the smell, I’ll find where Doseowon is.

Looking over the now-empty training grounds, Eunmyeong organized his plan.

The problem is how to sneak out at night.

Since Mujin had told him to stay in the residence, he would surely come there as soon as the training ended. With Mujin’s sharp night vision, there was no way he wouldn’t notice Eunmyeong leaving for the mountain.

To succeed, he would have to slip out without Tang Mujin knowing.

Someone’s old words drifted through his mind—one of the martial artists he had guided before.

Even if he doesn’t complete Mancheonhwau, everyone will acknowledge the Young Master as the successor. He lacks nothing. His martial skill is unmatched, he has virtue… the only flaw would be his tolerance for alcohol. Even the Clan Head finds that regrettable.

Alcohol.

Eunmyeong’s head snapped up.

So I just get him drunk and put him to sleep, then leave?

That would buy him at least a few hours—enough time to visit the cave. Even if Mujin woke up earlier, he could just claim he’d gone home to see his father.

After gathering the herbs spread across the veranda and cleaning up even the fallen powder, Eunmyeong looked up at the tallest pavilion in the Tang Clan.

There was only one person here who would give him alcohol.

I’ll have to go see Tang Cheongwoo.

Eunmyeong swallowed hard.