Guide of the Sichuan Tang Clan C56

Chapter 56

Debate over Eunmyeong’s abilities and Seowon’s future threw Sichuan into an uproar. As a result, Mujin had no choice but to attend meeting after meeting in his role as Young Master.

Even as he followed after Cheongwoo, Mujin’s thoughts never once strayed from Eunmyeong, who should be waiting back at the residence. The moment the meeting ended, Mujin broke into a run toward his quarters. For someone who normally kept his conduct impeccably restrained, his sudden sprint drew the attention of servants, attendants, and elders alike.

What Mujin found upon arriving was Eunmyeong in Seowon’s arms.

“Haha… you’re back already?”

“……”

“It hasn’t even been that long. You came early.”

Mujin’s expression twisted violently as he strode forward, then wrenched Seowon and Eunmyeong apart with rough hands.

“What do you think you’re doing right now?!”

Unable to withstand the force, Eunmyeong’s body tipped downward. Just as he was about to fall, Seowon snatched him up and locked him tightly into his arms.

“Are you insane, Young Master?! The Physician will get hurt!”

“If you don’t want that, then let go. What in the world is this nonsense in my residence—!”

Mujin grabbed Eunmyeong again. Eunmyeong let out a pained groan as he was pulled upright—only for Seowon, who had been sitting, to urgently yank him back by the waist.

Thump.

Eunmyeong rolled straight back into Seowon’s embrace.

He felt like an acorn hoarded by a frantic squirrel, being tossed back and forth between two men in a state of panic.

“You’re clearly still unstable from qi deviation!”

“And how dare you commit such rudeness the moment you enter! Young Master!”

“Funny you should say that. Unless you’ve completely lost your mind, how dare you pull this kind of stunt in my residence!”

“It was with the Physician’s permission! ‘Stunt’ is an outrageous way to put it!”

At the word permission, Mujin’s eyes flew wide open. His gaze snapped straight to Eunmyeong.

“Answer me. Did you really allow it? I leave for barely a moment, and you can’t even wait—sharing body heat with another man?”

The furious shout shook the room.

Eunmyeong, already rattled from being passed around, was completely dazed. And worse—none of Mujin’s words were technically wrong.

Did he allow it?

Yes.

Another man?

Yes.

Shared body heat?

Yes.

His overloaded brain produced the worst possible answer.

“Yes.”

Mujin’s hand dropped.

Straight to the sword hilt at his waist.

The instant Mujin grasped his sword, Eunmyeong’s missing sanity snapped back into place.

“Aaah—no, that’s not what I meant!”

Stretching out his free upper body, Eunmyeong desperately grabbed Mujin’s waistband.

“Not that! He’s just not stabilized yet!”

“Let go.”

“When someone comes out of qi deviation, they naturally cling to the healer!”

No matter how fast Eunmyeong rattled off his explanation, Mujin did not release the sword.

Damn it!

Crawling like a caterpillar, Eunmyeong clung to Mujin’s trousers in desperation.

“He’ll be fine once some time passes! Just a little—just a little time—!”

“And why should I sit back and watch that?”

“Aah, Young Master!”

Even as Eunmyeong begged like a debtor pleading for mercy, Seowon continued pulling him closer. Any sense of guilt had long vanished—only the raw displeasure of having Eunmyeong taken by Mujin remained.

“Do it for my sake at least!”

“Then I have even less reason to tolerate it.”

At last, Mujin drew his sword.

The sharp blade gleamed coldly.

No—this couldn’t be happening. He’d only just managed to save them both.

Turning his head, Eunmyeong saw that Seowon was staring at the sword as well, eyes dark and dangerous.

I stopped him from fighting the others, and now he’s about to clash with Mujin instead?!

As Eunmyeong’s grip slackened, his body was pulled backward once more. Seowon gathered him fully into his arms and glared at Mujin.

“To draw your sword in front of the Physician—have you no shame?”

“All you need to do is let go. Is that so hard to understand?”

“I cannot entrust him to someone with such a vicious temperament!”

“Fine. Ending you here would save me the trouble of attending more meetings.”

Mujin advanced toward Seowon, fury boiling over. Each heavy step he took sent Eunmyeong’s heart plummeting.

Then—

A chilling premonition crawled up Eunmyeong’s spine.

“This is bad—really bad.”

Turning his head, Eunmyeong saw Seowon’s energy.

The flow he had painstakingly stabilized was twisting again. Once swollen, energy did not shrink easily—making it far easier for it to tangle and spiral out of control.

Eunmyeong acted without hesitation.

He ripped off the clothes he was wearing.

Tearing away his inner garment, his pale body was bared.

“Tang Eunmyeong!”

Ignoring Mujin’s shout, Eunmyeong turned and shoved Seowon into his arms, pouring energy into him.

Mujin rushed forward, sword lifting dangerously close to Eunmyeong’s neck.

“What are you doing?! Why are you doing that with him—!”

“Then what do you expect me to do?! He’s about to lose control and blow up the entire Tang Clan!”

Trying to soothe the turbulent energy while meeting Mujin’s gaze left Eunmyeong dizzy. To make matters worse, Seowon, drunk on the influx of energy, clutched Eunmyeong tightly.

Hugging him back, Eunmyeong added quietly,

“Just endure it for a few days.”

“You expect me to watch that for days?”

Mujin shot a murderous look down at Seowon. If looks could kill, Seowon would have died several times over already.

Seeing Seowon cling like a child, Eunmyeong sighed.

“Just bear with it for a few days. After that, I’ll stick strictly by your side, no complaints.”

“……”

“You worked so hard to save him.”

“Then what am I?”

“You already saved me…?”

Mujin stared down at the two of them, displeasure written all over his face. He still hadn’t lowered his sword—but Eunmyeong could tell he was wavering.

“Put the sword down.”

Eunmyeong extended his hand to the side, careful that Seowon wouldn’t see.

Mujin’s gaze followed the movement.

“If you want to hold my hand, you’ll have to put it down first, won’t you, Young Master?”

At the gentle tone, Mujin finally withdrew the blade.

He placed the sword on the floor, then dropped to one knee and took Eunmyeong’s hand. Energy flowed through their joined palms.

Seowon and Mujin—both holding onto Eunmyeong.

The tableau looked exactly like someone caught two-timing. Eunmyeong slowly opened and closed his eyes.

So that’s why I had that dream.

He recalled the strange dream from the previous night.

It still made no sense.

Even after that, Seowon’s separation anxiety did not improve.

From the moment he woke to the moment he fell asleep, Eunmyeong had to keep at least one part of his body in contact with Seowon. He ate while being held, and even received acupuncture while their hands were clasped together.

Guiding both of them only worsened Eunmyeong’s condition. As his face grew paler by the day, Namya finally warned him to stop—telling him he was giving away his own life force, that there was nothing left in him anymore.

Eunmyeong wanted to conserve his energy too.

But with two bombs that fought the moment they met, not guiding them was impossible. When one growled, the other bared his claws, and their respective energies surged in response.

At night, the tension grew even worse.

Even with Eunmyeong placed between them, vicious power struggles erupted. One would grab his hand; the other would pull him by the waist.

“Do you think I’m dried squid or something?!”

Eunmyeong shrieked as both his arms were pulled.

At the shout, both men released him at the same time.

“If you pull, do you think I stretch?! My body could tear apart! Have you thought about that? Huh?!”

“……”

“Go tear up medicinal herbs instead—why are you tearing me apart?! Why?!”

Glaring sharply between the two, Eunmyeong raised his voice. This wasn’t the first or second time—it had become routine.

Thanks to being woken repeatedly by their nightly scuffles, dark shadows hung beneath his eyes.

“Did it hurt?”

Mujin cautiously stroked Eunmyeong’s hand. The careful touch nearly melted his resolve—but Eunmyeong forced himself to look away.

That was when his eyes met Seowon’s, who had been inching closer to his side.

In a pleading voice, Seowon said,

“Physician… could you allow just this much?”

“…No.”

“I had a bad dream. If I can feel that you’re alive…”

He squeezed Eunmyeong’s hand. His large palm swallowed Eunmyeong’s entirely.

“If I can hear you breathing, I don’t dream.”

Seowon’s eyes drooped downward, like a tail that had fallen limp.

Eunmyeong knew exactly what kind of dreams he had.

That was why his resolve wavered.

So that’s why he wants to hear my breathing.

More than anyone, Seowon needed to be sure that the person beside him was still alive—because he never knew when he might lose control and kill them.

Seowon’s body slipped into the crook of Eunmyeong’s arm. He curled himself as small as possible, then closed his eyes.

Even so, his body was nearly twice Eunmyeong’s size—there was no way not to feel him.

If Mujin was all lean muscle, Seowon felt like solid stone—thick and heavy everywhere. No doubt a result of the inner energy that had reshaped his body.

Even a man this large couldn’t withstand dreams filled with dead disciples.

Just as Eunmyeong’s irritation faded into pity—

“Then you should look this way too.”

“Absolutely not.”

Seowon cut Mujin off instantly.

Eunmyeong squeezed his eyes shut as his body began to stretch again.

Please. Just leave me alone.

The night was long.

And Eunmyeong’s arms were far too short.