Guide of the Sichuan Tang Clan C59

Chapter 59

Unfortunately, Eunmyeong didn’t have many places to go.

Since arriving here, the only places he’d visited were Cheongwoo’s residence, Mujin’s residence, the main house, and the training grounds.

Come to think of it… I’ve never even gone to the market.

Why hadn’t he ever gone sightseeing around Sichuan?

Wearing a distant expression, Eunmyeong turned toward the training grounds.

Just then—

The ground beneath his feet trembled.

“Huh?”

The earth shook as if a herd of cattle were charging toward him.

The moment he looked down—

Someone grabbed him by the waist and shoulder.

“Tang Eunmyeong!”

“What happened? Why are you out here?”

“Have you fully recovered? You look terrible.”

Everyone crowded around him, each adding a question of their own.

After Eunmyeong had declared that no one should come looking for him, they’d all restrained themselves despite desperately wanting to see him.

On one side, Sowoon and Jeongho latched onto him.

On the other, Yujo and Yuseong clung just as tightly.

With Eunmyeong trapped in the center, everyone became tangled together until he couldn’t even tell whose hands belonged to whom.

Then…

Someone’s hand landed on his butt.

“Ah!”

Eunmyeong jumped straight into the air.

“Who’s touching my butt?!”

…Right.

Now he remembered why he’d never managed to leave.

“I’ve been too busy guiding all of you!”

Finally understanding the reason, Eunmyeong waved everyone back and established a safe distance.

“I don’t have enough energy today. No treatment. All of you, go train!”

“Oh? That hurts my feelings.”

Still hanging onto his arm, Sowoon pouted.

“You think we’re only acting like this because we want treatment?”

“If not… then what?”

Looking at Sowoon’s pitiful expression, Eunmyeong narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Like I’d fall for that face.

“…You want to drink?”

“Correct!”

Sowoon immediately threw his arms around him.

Not willing to lose, Yuseong wrapped both arms around Eunmyeong’s neck as well.

Before Eunmyeong knew it…

He was surrounded again.

If I collapse twice, they’ll probably just bury me where I fall…

Dragging the entire group along like ornaments hanging from him, Eunmyeong headed toward one side of the training grounds.

Before losing consciousness, he’d spread a large amount of medicinal herbs out on the wooden veranda to dry.

If they’d been at the main residence, Namya would’ve collected them.

But here…

Only martial artists ever came.

They’re probably ruined.

Thinking of the shriveled herbs, Eunmyeong approached the veranda.

“…Huh?”

Contrary to expectations…

It was spotless.

The herbs were gone.

Not even a trace remained.

The floor itself gleamed as though it had been swept and polished every single day.

Yujo quietly climbed onto the veranda and retrieved a bundle from one side.

It was the herbs Eunmyeong had left behind.

“We kept them inside so they wouldn’t sit in direct sunlight while you were gone.”

“…”

Eunmyeong simply stared at them.

Feeling something had gone wrong, Yujo hurriedly added,

“W-We paid attention to ventilation too. You said they should stay somewhere with good airflow…”

“…”

“And… just in case dust settled on them, Senior Brother Sowoon wrapped them in his robe from time to time.”

“…”

“Yuseong cleaned the veranda every day.”

“And you?”

“…I just waited for the day you’d come back.”

Silently…

Eunmyeong looked down at the herbs.

These plants only grew in dangerous places.

After being picked, they spoiled easily and were notoriously difficult to preserve.

Yet these…

Were dried more perfectly than ever.

The soft green color proved it.

Something twisted inside his chest.

A warm feeling rose upward.

You idiots…

Biting his lip, Eunmyeong lowered his head.

Yujo awkwardly waved his hands.

“N-No, I just meant…”

“…”

“…Everyone was waiting for you.”

“Were they dried wrong?”

“Physician… are you angry?”

Yuseong, who was clinging to Eunmyeong’s leg, looked up worriedly.

Seeing them anxiously watching his reaction after putting so much effort into preserving the herbs…

Eunmyeong shut his eyes tightly.

His nose stung.

He lowered his head before tears could fall.

There had once been a time…

When he hadn’t even seen them as people.

His only thought had been winning the Demon Cult War.

He’d guided them solely so they’d grow stronger.

He became close enough to joke with them while always keeping a careful distance.

He’d tried…

Not to become attached.

But…

His eyes returned to the herbs.

Their affection was so unmistakably sincere that, this time…

He couldn’t simply ignore it.

“Hero.”

When he slowly opened his eyes, Jeongho was kneeling before him.

“You’ve finally looked at us.”

A playful smile rested on Jeongho’s face.

“I’ve been waiting a long time.”

Gently taking the herbs from Yujo, Jeongho placed them into Eunmyeong’s hands.

The warmth reached him.

A tear slipped free.

Jeongho hurriedly reached up and carefully wiped away the tears with gentle fingers.

That was all it took.

“Hic…”

“This is when you’re supposed to simply say ‘thank you.'”

“Hic… th-thank… you… waaah…”

Before he could finish speaking, more tears poured out.

Like a child, Eunmyeong stood there crying openly.

Everyone embraced him.

Everyone…

Except Sowoon.

“…Hey.”

“You’re actually crying?”

The moment Eunmyeong stopped crying—

Sowoon received several solid punches.

* * *

Everyone sat in a circle on the wooden veranda.

With Eunmyeong in the center, the large martial artists huddled together like a flock of crows gathered on a rooftop.

No one moved away.

Still hiccuping from crying, Eunmyeong explained everything that had happened.

Sowoon, sitting directly in front of him, raised a hand.

“So… going to the Young Master’s residence all this time was for treatment?”

“…Yeah.”

“And that Plum Blossom Sword Master is hanging around because he’s sucking your energy?”

“It’s not exactly sucking…”

“He received treatment, didn’t he?”

“…That’s true. But I chose to save him.”

“You couldn’t even sleep properly, Hero!”

Jeongho interrupted, snorting indignantly.

For the first time in his life…

His loyalty toward both the Clan Head and the Young Master was beginning to waver.

They had been born into the Tang Clan.

Raised to serve the Clan Head alone.

But…

They were still human.

Instinctively, they found themselves far more concerned about Eunmyeong’s well-being.

“M-Me!”

This time Yuseong, lying across Eunmyeong’s lap, raised his hand.

“I learned a new word yesterday.”

“…”

“W-What was it…”

“…”

“…Exploitation?”

The instant that word left Yuseong’s mouth—

Silence fell.

A breeze swept across the training grounds, carrying dust into the air.

Then—

Footsteps approached.

Mujin.

And Seowon.

Like a group of meerkats standing watch, every head turned toward the two newcomers.

The strange hostility in everyone’s eyes made Mujin stop.

“…What?”

As if afraid someone would steal him away, Yuseong wrapped both arms tightly around Eunmyeong’s waist.

The first to move wasn’t Mujin.

It was Seowon.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Eunmyeong, scooped him up as effortlessly as pulling a radish from the ground, and lifted him into his arms.

“Wah?!”

Retreating several steps, Seowon buried his nose against Eunmyeong’s shoulder.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

“Physician…”

The end of his sentence softened into something almost… affectionate.

“I don’t think my illness has recovered after all.”

“But this morning you said you were fine!”

“No.”

Shaking his head weakly, he murmured,

“Being apart from you made me realize it even more.”

“I feel like I’m dying.”

Speaking in a voice that truly sounded half-dead, Seowon raised his trembling hand.

“Look.”

“My hand is shaking.”

It really was trembling—

Like someone desperately trying to quit an addiction.

Did his energy become unstable again?

Eunmyeong immediately checked Seowon’s energy flow.

It looked exactly the same as it had that morning.

Do I believe this… or not?

Looking up skeptically, Eunmyeong found Seowon’s face genuinely pale.

“…Would you… hug me?”

The careful request made Eunmyeong sigh deeply.

If Seowon behaved like Mujin—trying to tear his arm off—he could at least get angry.

But Eunmyeong had always been weak against polite people.

“…Just for a moment.”

“Yes.”

After giving a brief warning, Eunmyeong wrapped his arms around him.

Immediately—

Color returned to Seowon’s face.

Warmth flowed back into his body.

The emptiness inside him filled completely.

Just because this tiny embrace had disappeared…

The time without Eunmyeong had left him feeling like nothing at all.

How can this happen…?

Feeling the light slowly sink into him, Seowon hugged Eunmyeong even tighter.

Normally…

Mujin would’ve immediately separated them.

Instead…

He remained standing on the raised platform overlooking the training grounds.

The place where the Young Master always stood when carrying out his duties.

Everyone quickly lined up before him.

An annoying problem has attached itself.

After giving Seowon one cold look…

Mujin turned away.

“A village at the edge of Sichuan has been completely annihilated.”

“We’re leaving immediately.”

“Not a single survivor?”

Yujo asked quietly.

“…No.”

“Our orders from the Clan Head are to uncover whoever was responsible.”

Yujo nodded before asking,

“What about Eunmyeong?”

Hearing his name, Eunmyeong poked his head out from Seowon’s embrace.

With his hair completely disheveled, he looked like a squirrel that had just crawled out after winter hibernation.

Mujin’s gaze lingered briefly on him.

Unfortunately…

That meant seeing Seowon’s chest as well.

If I leave him behind… that fool will stay too.

For Eunmyeong’s safety…

Leaving him here was the correct decision.

It was the logical choice.

And yet—

Creak.

Mujin ground his teeth.

“We’re taking him.”

Those words struck like a bolt from the blue.

Eunmyeong’s eyes flew open.

I’m going too?

Me?

Even me—with this fragile body?!