Guide of the Sichuan Tang Clan C40

Chapter 40

“Put on a little act.”

The maid’s words echoed in Eunmyeong’s head as he watched Cheongwoo carefully, his body stiff with tension.

The crime of tarnishing the Young Clan Head’s honor, the crime of damaging the prestige of the Sichuan Tang Clan—none of these could be taken lightly. Even if Cheongwoo had ordered that guiding be kept secret, should he choose to press the charges in earnest, severe punishment would surely follow.

Eunmyeong stole a glance at Jeongho, whose face had gone deathly pale. It wasn’t as though touching him would kill anyone.

If a bit of fooling around can smooth this over, then I can do as much as needed.

Just as he rose from his seat and started toward the opposite side, someone grabbed his arm.

“It may actually be for the best.”

It was Mujin.

“All this time, Eunmyeong and I have both suffered from having to hide our treatments. Now there’s no need to do it in secret—doesn’t that take a weight off our shoulders?”

“You mean to let the rumor stand?” Cheongwoo asked.

“Yes.”

Mujin answered curtly and slowly drew Eunmyeong toward himself. Pulled along before he could react, Eunmyeong ended up seated behind Mujin and glanced uneasily at Cheongwoo.

Lost in thought, Cheongwoo tapped his cheek with a finger.

“So you intend to declare yourselves lovers.”

“In the northern regions, relationships between men are permitted as well,” Mujin replied evenly. “It would not be entirely without precedent.”

“Hm…”

“I doubt the people of the Tang Clan would take it too seriously.”

The broad back blocking Eunmyeong’s view shifted. When Mujin turned, his face was as impassive as when they had first met—like a mask, much like those worn by Cheongwoo’s retainers.

Their eyes met. Eunmyeong saw Mujin’s lips move, the moment stretching unbearably long.

“They will likely regard it as a passing fancy,” Mujin said.

“….”

“Who would truly believe that affection has formed between two men?”

The chill in Mujin’s voice froze Eunmyeong’s heart. The tenderness he had grown accustomed to made this coldness all the more jarring.

“Half of them will doubt it,” Mujin continued softly.

“And it will fade away as rumors do. There will be no reason for concern… nor any occasion for our hearts to truly align.”

Those were the same lips—lips that had kissed him, that had confessed a desire to understand his feelings.

Then why…?

Eunmyeong stared numbly at his own emotions, reduced to a fleeting breeze, a rumor destined to disappear. Mujin, who must have seen every flicker of his expression, remained utterly calm.

It felt as though his heart had been hollowed out. The espers he had guided before had all been the same—lavish with sweetness, ready to give everything, until a better guide appeared or the guiding stopped. Then they would leave without hesitation.

Mujin was no different.

He had simply been intoxicated by guiding, feeding him gentle words to keep him close for a while. With trembling fingers, Eunmyeong pried Mujin’s hand from his arm.

“Fine.”

Cheongwoo’s permission fell quietly. Eunmyeong looked up at him with unfocused eyes.

“Playing lovers is not such a bad arrangement—if only for a time.”

Cheongwoo’s words barely registered. Eunmyeong only wanted to get away from Mujin, to calm the storm in his chest. His gaze darted toward the door.

“It will benefit me as well if treatment proceeds swiftly,” Cheongwoo added.

“Yes.”

“Let us end it when spring comes.”

Cheongwoo observed Eunmyeong as the color drained from his face. Hm. He let out a low hum.

“It seems I left you out in the open for too long.”

A pity. His gaze lingered greedily on Eunmyeong. At a signal, the maid opened the door.

“You may go. That will be our understanding.”

Eunmyeong bowed deeply and hurried out, his face hidden from view.

As Mujin and Jeongho moved to follow, Cheongwoo spoke again.

“Ah—Jeongho, you should remain. I would like a word with you.”

“…With me, Clan Head?”

Mujin’s retreating figure was already running down the corridor, footsteps loud for once.

Cheongwoo poured tea, his eyes fixed on the doorway. The fragrance drifted softly.

“I’ve added firewood. One must allow time for the flames to rise.”

“What do you mean by—”

“I enjoy watching fires burn.”

He smiled inscrutably and handed Jeongho the cup.

Just before leaving the residence, someone seized Eunmyeong’s wrist. Mujin had followed him out.

“Wait. Let’s talk.”

“…I have nothing to say.”

“Eunmyeong.”

Even at the sound of his name, Eunmyeong did not turn around. He could not bear to face Mujin’s impassive gaze again.

Mujin’s words about understanding his feelings, his insistence on guiding since morning—everything flashed through Eunmyeong’s mind.

It was nothing after all.

Just a novelty of guiding, nothing more.

In the end, he had been nothing but a tool—something convenient for treatment.

You could have been kinder. Or at least warned me.

Perhaps he had not even been worth that much. A bitter laugh slipped out as Eunmyeong lowered his head.

“Please go. I don’t want to see you right now.”

“Eunmyeong, listen to me—”

“I said I have nothing to say.”

Mujin tightened his grip on Eunmyeong’s wrist. Afraid his arm would twist, Eunmyeong tried to pull free.

“I said no.”

Driven by a fear that if he let go now, everything would be lost, Mujin clutched him again.

“Just hear me out—”

“I said let go!”

Eunmyeong slapped his hand away. The sharp crack echoed through the corridor, freezing them both.

He had struck harder than intended. Startled, Eunmyeong turned back.

Mujin stood there, his hand still half-raised. The back of it was already reddening, swelling before Eunmyeong’s eyes.

Staring at it blankly, Eunmyeong spoke.

“I—I didn’t mean to hit you…”

“…It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

As if. Eunmyeong looked at the swelling knuckles. Even then, Mujin was still gripping the hem of his clothes, as though afraid he might flee.

“More importantly, let’s talk. Somewhere else.”

“Why? Afraid I won’t treat you anymore?”

“Eunmyeong, that’s not—”

“….”

“That’s not what I meant…”

A hollow laugh escaped Eunmyeong.

He never answers properly, right to the end.

That upright man would never say yes. In the end, his kindness and his wish to understand had all been born of necessity.

Perhaps this was for the best. If he treated Mujin purely as work, it would be easier. He would no longer chase after him to guide him unnecessarily. Mujin would receive treatment only when needed.

Besides, this world doesn’t even know guides and espers.

Like Korea before such abilities appeared, this was a world where same-sex relationships were taboo. Mujin, the Young Clan Head of the Tang Clan, would never accept that loss for his sake.

He would endure until the Demon Sect War ended, then retire peacefully. Having steeled his heart, Eunmyeong looked at Mujin with cool eyes.

“There’s no need to comfort me. And no need to explain.”

Mujin’s grip on his clothes tightened, creasing the fabric.

“I’ll treat you whenever you need it. As Jeongho said, we’ll act like lovers if required. So…”

“….”

“You don’t need to try so hard either.”

Eunmyeong’s lips curved into a crooked smile—the one he wore when facing someone he disliked.

The man who had once followed Mujin everywhere now looked at him with distant politeness, as if addressing an elder. That distance made Mujin call out again.

“…I’m not trying. I—”

“Let’s just do the bare minimum from now on. I still need to work as a physician to eat here, so please treat me as one.”

Eunmyeong’s gaze fell to Mujin’s hand. Slowly, he placed his own over it. The warmth froze Mujin in place.

“And I’d prefer if we didn’t do things like this unless it’s treatment.”

Eunmyeong gently pried his fingers open, one by one, freeing his clothes from Mujin’s grasp.

“There’s no need to pretend to be lovers right now.”

His cold words struck Mujin squarely.