Guide of the Sichuan Tang Clan C60

Chapter 60

Contrary to Eunmyeong’s inner turmoil, preparations for the journey to the border were progressing smoothly.

Several days’ worth of food, camping supplies, antidotes, and weapons gradually piled up in the middle of the training grounds.

Eunmyeong stared blankly at the growing mountain of equipment.

Why are they taking me along?

He had wanted to leave the Tang Clan and see the outside world.

But now that the moment had actually arrived, fear outweighed excitement.

Do I really have to go?

What if I die?

Who’s going to take responsibility for my retirement?!

Jumping to his feet, Eunmyeong dug frantically through the luggage.

Finally finding his own bundle, he slung it over his shoulder and declared,

“I’m not going. I don’t think this is a good idea.”

With that, he headed toward the exit of the training grounds.

“Then I’ll stay behind as well.”

Another pair of footsteps followed him.

Looking up at the long shadow, Eunmyeong saw Seowon.

He, too, had picked up the pack he’d set down earlier.

“Senior Brother, why?”

“If the Physician isn’t going, why would I have any reason to follow the Young Master?”

“But earlier you said you were coming…”

“Even if I’ve been expelled, I’m still a man of Mount Hua. Following the Young Master without proper reason would only invite criticism.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t you agree, Young Master?”

Leaning against the wall, Mujin glared at him.

The moment their eyes met, Seowon’s eyes curved into a sly smile.

I should’ve killed him when we first met.

Mujin clenched his jaw.

He’d rather drag Eunmyeong along than leave him alone with that fox.

Rising to his feet, Mujin walked over to Eunmyeong and snatched away the tightly rolled travel pack.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

“Making sure you can’t stay behind.”

Before Eunmyeong could reclaim it, Mujin hoisted the pack onto his own shoulder.

Then he looked calmly down at him.

“If I’m going, naturally you’re coming too.”

“Why me?!”

“Weren’t you the one insisting you were my personal physician? You change your words quickly.”

Personal physician, my foot.

Back when he didn’t want guiding, he’d run away just fine.

Now that he needed him again, suddenly it was “my physician.”

Grumbling under his breath, Eunmyeong reached for the pack.

Mujin simply lifted it even higher.

Damn it.

What on earth had these people been eating to grow so absurdly tall?

Bouncing in place in vain, Eunmyeong finally huffed,

“It’s not like it’ll be a disaster if I’m the only one who stays.”

“It would be for me.”

The moment Mujin answered, Eunmyeong lunged.

Naturally, Mujin had anticipated it.

The travel pack flew in a graceful arc through the air.

Eunmyeong reached desperately to catch it—

Too late.

The pack landed perfectly among the rest of the luggage, raising a cloud of dust.

“Seriously…”

His last sliver of hope went up in flames.

Eunmyeong glared at Mujin.

“Are you really going this far?”

“If you insist on continuing.”

Such a decisive answer.

Simply saying “I don’t want to” wasn’t enough.

He needed another excuse.

While Eunmyeong searched desperately for one—

Something cool brushed against his lips.

Mujin’s fingers.

“You’ll hurt yourself.”

His fingertips gently pressed against Eunmyeong’s lower lip.

Apparently he’d been biting it without realizing.

Once the lip was released, Mujin quietly withdrew his hand.

Caught off guard by the unexpected touch, Eunmyeong instinctively stepped back.

Mujin made no move to stop him.

…What was that? A new beauty trap?

Quickly rebuilding his mental defenses, Eunmyeong asked,

“Fine. Let’s say I go with you.”

“Then what am I riding?”

Apparently Mujin hadn’t thought that far.

A small crease appeared between his brows.

Got him.

Seeing his opportunity, Eunmyeong quickly continued,

“If I ride a horse, I’ll only slow everyone down.”

“So wouldn’t it make more sense for me to stay—”

“No.”

“I don’t want to become dead weight, Young Master.”

“I said no.”

Watching them argue, Seowon finally spoke.

“I could carry him.”

“…Senior Brother?”

Ignoring Mujin’s icy stare, Seowon calmly explained,

“Whether by horse or carriage, I’ll be staying beside the Physician anyway.”

“If neither option works…”

“The only choice left is carrying him.”

“Wouldn’t I be heavy?”

“…The Physician?”

“I’m actually fairly tall.”

Marching over to Seowon, Eunmyeong puffed out his chest and lifted his chin proudly.

The sight of a man who barely reached Seowon’s chest solemnly warning him about weight made Seowon laugh.

Eunmyeong could speak like an old man who’d seen the whole world—

Then suddenly say something adorably ridiculous.

After growing accustomed to it over the past few days, Seowon answered in an equally serious tone.

“Do you truly think I’m incapable of carrying you?”

“I must train harder if I look that weak.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“I just meant… you might find me heavier than you expect.”

“I won’t tell you to get down because you’re heavy.”

“So don’t worry.”

He gently ruffled Eunmyeong’s hair.

The gesture was exactly like the way Eunmyeong often patted Jeongho’s head.

Huh…

When I patted Jeongho… it was only because I thought he was cute…

Before he could finish that thought—

The hand atop his head disappeared.

Mujin had stepped in and grabbed Seowon’s wrist.

“Don’t touch him so casually.”

His low warning carried unmistakable pressure.

The veins on the back of his hand bulged as his grip tightened.

Even under enough force to crush bones, Seowon smiled.

“Then do you have a better alternative?”

“If carrying him is the best solution…”

“Why does it have to be you?”

Throwing Seowon’s hand aside, Mujin turned to Eunmyeong.

“What?”

“Why are you looking at me?”

Still irritated over losing his luggage, Eunmyeong glared right back.

He looked ready to bite if Mujin so much as pointed a finger.

Without hesitation, Mujin reached out anyway.

“I may end up badly injured.”

“…But you’re strong.”

Eunmyeong muttered.

Mujin smiled faintly.

“If another battle causes my internal energy to lose control…”

“I could be seriously hurt.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“It’s not a threat.”

“It’s a prediction.”

“…”

“If I were injured somewhere you weren’t…”

“Wouldn’t you be heartbroken?”

His voice remained calm.

But the warmth behind those words couldn’t simply be ignored.

“…I’m not going to die if I come with you, right?”

Just as Eunmyeong was about to place his hand atop Mujin’s—

Seowon immediately pulled it away.

“I won’t allow that to happen.”

He lowered his head.

And briefly pressed his lips against the back of Eunmyeong’s hand.

* * *

Even while preparing to depart, Mujin and Seowon continued bickering.

Eventually, they reached a compromise.

They would take turns carrying Eunmyeong.

Naturally, Seowon complained dramatically that he’d die if he couldn’t carry him, while Mujin insisted Eunmyeong belonged to him as his physician.

Only Eunmyeong’s threat—

“Fight one more time and I’m not going.”

—managed to silence them.

After all the commotion…

Since he was going anyway, Eunmyeong decided he might as well cling tightly to Seowon’s back.

If the Demon Cult really is involved… maybe I’ll discover something.

Taking advantage of the rare moment of peace, Eunmyeong organized his thoughts.

The more he considered everything…

The stranger it became.

The timeline’s much too early…

And why Sichuan?

Why attack Sichuan first?

That bothered him most.

Sichuan wasn’t even considered the center of the martial world.

And they hadn’t attacked the Tang Clan’s headquarters—

Only a tiny border village.

What was there to gain?

If he were the Demon Cult…

He would’ve attacked Mount Wudang, whose reputation currently echoed throughout the Central Plains.

That would announce the Demon Cult’s return to the entire world far more effectively.

I’ll have to investigate once we get there.

While Eunmyeong was lost in thought…

Seowon’s pace gradually slowed.

“It seems we’ll be making camp here.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“If you come down too suddenly, you might get dizzy.”

“So please be careful.”

Coming to a complete stop, Seowon tightened his hold on Eunmyeong.

Around them, the other martial artists efficiently began setting up camp.

Watching them, Eunmyeong stretched out his legs to climb down.

“…Huh?”

His legs wouldn’t move.

They were stiff.

As though paralyzed.

“W-Why…?”

Only moments ago, both his feet and calves had been moving perfectly.

Seeing his confusion, Seowon nodded reassuringly.

“Excuse me.”

The moment those quiet words left his mouth—

The hand supporting Eunmyeong’s hips shifted.

In one smooth motion, Eunmyeong was transferred from Seowon’s back to his front.

A broad chest suddenly filled his vision.

“Hng—”

You’ve got to be kidding me…

Because his legs were wrapped around Seowon’s waist…

Their hips kept brushing together.

Trying to scoot backward slightly, Eunmyeong felt Seowon shudder.

“…Ah…”

“…Physician…”

The heated sound froze Eunmyeong completely.

Looking up cautiously…

He found Seowon staring down at him, utterly flustered.

Eyes squeezed tightly shut as though enduring something difficult, Seowon whispered,

“Just… a moment…”

“I-I wasn’t trying to…”

Understanding immediately what had happened, Eunmyeong awkwardly shifted his legs.

If I move a little higher, we won’t touch anymore…

Thinking it was a simple solution, he tightened his arms around Seowon’s neck and pulled himself upward.

“…Huh?”

Even after moving higher—

Something firm was still pressing against him.

A moment…

Slowly…

Eunmyeong looked downward.

Beneath the folds of Seowon’s robe…

Something unmistakably prominent stood out.

Long.

Thick.

Roughly the size of a calligraphy brush case.

“Hk!”

Realizing he’d blatantly stared, Eunmyeong snapped his head back up.

Their eyes met.

Seowon had been watching him the entire time.

Heat and panic swirled together in Seowon’s gaze.

Eunmyeong’s mind went completely blank.

His legs still refused to move.

Meanwhile…

The pressure against him shifted ever so slightly.

Without thinking, Eunmyeong blurted out the first thing that entered his head.

“…You’re… right-sided…?”¹