Guide of the Sichuan Tang Clan C55

Chapter 55

Before his thoughts could catch up, Seowon’s arm moved.

He looked down at the arm blocking the way.

When Jeongho took another step forward, Seowon’s arm pressed in even closer. Whatever the onrushing martial artists made of that gesture, they all stopped in their tracks.

Clear hostility rose on their faces. To those who had already fought once, Seowon was nothing more than a martial artist who had fallen into qi deviation.

This is bad.

Swallowing hard, Eunmyeong hurriedly spoke.

“Uh—so, it’s just that… I’m still not steady on my feet. He’s worried I might fall.”

“……”

“Right?”

“…That may be so.”

Seowon answered awkwardly, finally shifting his hand. He still looked as though he didn’t understand why his arm had moved at all.

Haha. Eunmyeong forced a laugh and was about to step toward Jeongho when—

“Huh?”

Once again, Seowon blocked him.

Eunmyeong staggered as his body collided with the solid arm.

“Ugh!”

The moment Eunmyeong tipped backward, everyone shouted his name and rushed forward.

“Eunmyeong!”

“Hero!”

Just as impact loomed and Eunmyeong squeezed his eyes shut, a firm arm wrapped around him.

Warmth seeped into his body. He cautiously opened his eyes.

Seowon had one arm wrapped around Eunmyeong’s waist, while the other remained raised—keeping the martial artists at bay.

The problem was that Seowon, who looked ready to defend at all costs, also looked deeply confused.

His hand is shaking.

Seowon’s fingertips trembled slightly. Someone of his caliber wouldn’t tremble simply from holding one person.

Which meant—

“Senior Brother.”

At the quiet call, Seowon met Eunmyeong’s eyes. His pupils flickered, unable to settle.

“Did your hand move on its own? Not because you wanted it to?”

“……”

“It’s not moving at all? Not even a little?”

Seowon nodded deeply, like a chastened puppy.

For someone like him—who had been gifted with physical talent from birth and was utterly accustomed to controlling his body—this was unprecedented.

Yet now, he couldn’t move his arm even slightly.

And what is this unpleasant feeling?

Every time someone else tried to approach Eunmyeong, an indescribable irritation surged up inside him. He understood they were members of the Tang Clan—people connected to Eunmyeong—yet the irritation refused to fade.

What kind of disgrace is this…

Every wound visible on his body was one he himself had caused. Even endless apologies wouldn’t be enough—yet here he was, bristling with hostility.

He tried to force his arm down with more strength.

Instead, he only pulled Eunmyeong closer.

“Something is wrong,” Seowon admitted quietly. “If I separate from you, it feels like I’ll die. And I keep feeling hostile.”

“You don’t want anyone coming near me?”

“Yes.”

“What if I were standing in the middle like this—treating them one by one?”

Before Eunmyeong even finished speaking, Seowon’s grip tightened.

It felt like his bones might shatter.

“Stop—stop!”

Eunmyeong tapped his hand urgently. At his murmur, the surrounding martial artists lowered their stances.

Crap.

To them, it might sound as though Seowon were threatening Eunmyeong.

Raising both hands, Eunmyeong hurried to explain.

“It’s fine. It’s just that—”

The situation was on the brink of exploding. Seeing even Yuseong bare his teeth and growl from Yujo’s arms, Eunmyeong rushed out,

“The Clan Head assigned him as my guard! My health isn’t great right now, so—”

“The Clan Head assigned him as your guard?” Sowoon stepped forward from the group.

He swept a skeptical gaze over the two of them.

“The Plum Blossom(maehwa) Sword Master? Someone who just came out of qi deviation?”

“And he’s helping with treatment too.”

“Looks like you’re the one who needs treatment.”

Haha. Eunmyeong waved his hand awkwardly, signaling them to stay back.

Anyone else might not understand—but Sowoon would.

Seowon already wouldn’t let him go. If they got any closer, a real fight might break out.

At Eunmyeong’s pleading look, Sowoon sent a telepathic message.

[So it’s not a dangerous situation?]

If Eunmyeong could use telepathy, he would have begged them to take everyone and leave. Instead, he could only nod.

“When I’m better, I’ll go to the training grounds myself.”

So please, go away now.

Reading his meaning, Sowoon sighed softly.

“Alright. Come once you’ve recovered. Until then, rest well.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“Enough already—let’s go! That cursed body of his needs to move if he’s going to walk again.”

You—!

Eunmyeong bit back the urge to shout. Getting them away from Seowon mattered more.

“But Senior Brother! We should at least check that Eunmyeong’s really okay!”

“Does he look unwell? Look how busy that mouth is.”

“That’s true, but leaving him with that guy still doesn’t sit right with me!”

Complaints burst out from all sides.

They hadn’t said it aloud, but they’d been worried sick—spending half their days in the training grounds, and the other half hovering around Mujin’s residence where Eunmyeong stayed.

Sowoon grabbed Jeongho by the shoulder and dragged him back. Jeongho flailed like an untrained puppy—and at the same time, a low growl slipped from Seowon’s lips.

This is like breaking up a dog fight…

Sighing, Eunmyeong stroked Seowon’s hand.

As warmth settled there, the growling eased.

“Let’s go inside. I’ll explain everything once we’re in.”

He had no strength left to walk after all that.

When Eunmyeong gestured toward the room, Seowon naturally lifted him into his arms.

An Esper’s obsession with their Guide stemmed from survival instinct.

For someone living with a bomb in their chest, anyone who could extend that bomb’s fuse was precious beyond measure.

Pouring affection onto them. Showing irrational favor. Displaying possessiveness.

All of it was part of survival.

Once Guides became more common, that possessiveness dulled. If one Guide wasn’t available, another could save them.

Instinct remained—but most Espers could function socially.

What Eunmyeong had overlooked were two things:

First—he was the only Guide here.

Second—Seowon had survived a full-on rampage.

“Could you… step back just a little?”

Even back in the room, Seowon couldn’t let Eunmyeong go.

Both arms were pressed tightly against Eunmyeong’s chest, his legs neatly tucked beneath Eunmyeong’s hips.

“I—I’m sorry, Physician.”

“Hey! If you’re sorry, why are you resting your head on my shoulder?!”

Despite his words, Seowon leaned in, resting his head there. It felt like being wrapped in a damp, heavy quilt.

“Senior Brother! If you want to be called Senior Brother, act like one!”

“I can’t control it… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Unable to finish his sentence, Seowon rubbed his head against Eunmyeong. Long hair spilled over his shoulder.

Just lowering his gaze revealed Seowon’s shimmering face far too close.

Too close.

Every breath revealed the movement of his chest, the solidity of his abdomen, the strength of the arms wrapped around him.

Think wholesome thoughts. Wholesome thoughts…

Staring at the ceiling, Eunmyeong heard Seowon ask quietly,

“Why am I like this… Physician…”

His lips brushed Eunmyeong’s shoulder as he spoke. Feeling it so clearly, Eunmyeong pushed him away slightly.

“It’s probably survival instinct. You just came out of qi deviation, so someone like me—your so-called elixir—must feel indispensable.”

“My body… is treating you as an elixir?”

“Not exactly, more like…”

“……”

“Catnip to a cat…?”

Seowon groaned and clung to Eunmyeong again.

“Elixir or catnip—either way, it’s terrible…”

He pressed his warm forehead into Eunmyeong’s shoulder and turned his face toward him.

A slender neck came into view.

Redness bloomed beneath Eunmyeong’s collarbone.

Seowon stared at it silently.

That’s not catnip—that’s the gaze of a male on a mate.

Not the look one gave prey. Something richer. More tempting.

He bit down on his dry lips.

How much more trouble was he going to cause?

His reason screamed stop, while his desire screamed closer.

Desire won.

As if sensing his turmoil, Eunmyeong placed a hand on Seowon’s head.

“Well, even if it’s terrible—what can we do? I saved you. I’m responsible.”

“Does that mean… I can carry you around until death?”

Startled, Eunmyeong looked down.

“You want to carry me until you die?”

“At this rate, yes. That’s why I asked you to let me die.”

“I already said no.”

What was he supposed to do with this?

Eunmyeong looked helplessly into Seowon’s heated gaze. Each word made his throat bob.

It wasn’t enough just to hold him.

Pressing his head closer wasn’t enough either.

Something deeper—more intimate—urged him forward.

No. I can’t.

He couldn’t impose further on the person who had risked their life to save him.

…But just a little closer—

Without realizing it, Seowon leaned toward Eunmyeong’s neck.

Just as their lips were about to touch—

The door slammed open.