SYM 99
by Emerlyn“That’s just a play on words.”
“A play on words? I wonder. Is this really just a play on words? It just sounds like you’re trying to get out of this situation.”
Cheong-un stepped back.
The distance that had been so close that they could feel each other’s breath grew further as Cheong-un retreated one step, then two.
It was as if this mirrored the distance between Cheong-un and himself.
“I was curious myself. Just where does your heart lie?”
At Eun-hyeon’s words, Cheong-un quietly stared at Eun-hyeon.
Eun-hyeon scoffed softly at the sight.
He could jump to conclusions and mock the feelings he had for Eldest Senior Brother, but he couldn’t answer for himself?
“Are you unable to answer because you don’t know your own heart, or are you just speechless? You were so fierce when you were grilling me just now, but I don’t understand why you’re suddenly clamming up.”
“Is that Master’s answer?”
“…My answer? Ha, are you seriously suspecting something between me and Eldest Senior Brother? I met him for the first time today! He doesn’t even know who I am!”
“Those things don’t matter. We can talk about that anytime. More than that, I’m curious about Master’s heart. Does Master really have no feelings for him?”
“…You really are out of your mind.”
Cheong-un retreated until his back was against the wall.
Eun-hyeon felt that the distance that widened as he stepped back was like a representation of the state between himself and Cheong-un.
“I’ve been out of my mind for a long time now. Ever since Master closed his eyes like that, I haven’t been in my right mind.”
“It’s true that I relied on Eldest Senior Brother, but that was just a feeling of affection, and I never once thought of anything more. If I had harbored feelings beyond that, I probably would have looked for Eldest Senior Brother from the moment I entered this body.”
“I hoped that Master wouldn’t meet him if possible. Sometimes, emotions are more visible to those around them than to the person themselves. In my eyes, I saw Master treating him specially.”
Eun-hyeon rubbed his forehead.
The conversation, going around in circles like a hamster wheel, felt suffocating and exhausting.
“No matter how much I say no, you don’t believe me, so I don’t know what else to do. I wish I could just cut open my chest and show you my heart as it is.”
“…I wish I could too. Then you could see how my heart reacts to Master.”
Cheong-un’s last words were barely audible, like a whisper.
Cheong-un stared at Eun-hyeon for a moment before sighing.
“Today, I was agitated and bothered Master, who was tired. Please rest now.”
Cheong-un bowed slightly and stepped back.
At that moment, there was a popping sound, as if something had burst, and external noise could be heard. The Qi barrier had been removed.
Eun-hyeon glared at Cheong-un for a moment before turning his head.
Click. The sound of the door opening and closing could be heard, and the footsteps faded away.
Eun-hyeon sighed. He hadn’t even fought a life-or-death battle, but he felt so exhausted that he was about to collapse.
Eun-hyeon rummaged through the medicine pouch he always carried and took out a pill for headaches, chewing it. The bitter medicinal smell filled his mouth.
“Damn it.”
He roughly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
He didn’t want to be told that he cried over something like this, but he kept feeling a burning sensation around his eyes.
“Get a grip. There’s something more important to take care of right now. First, rescue the people who were taken as sacrifices, and then slowly talk to Cheong-un.”
After that, he would definitely get an apology for this incident.
For driving someone into a corner with such ridiculous speculation.
Although there wasn’t much age difference between Eldest Senior Brother and himself, their relationship was closer to that of a master and disciple.
“Just because he harbored impure feelings for his Master, does he think everyone is like that?”
Eun-hyeon lay down on the damaged bed and buried his head in the blanket.
* * *
The next day, Eun-hyeon woke up early and headed downstairs.
He was tired and exhausted, but he kept waking up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep properly. He thought it would be better to just get up, so he left his room.
“Young master of the Namgung family Eun-hyeon, you’re up early. Good morning.”
“Ah!”
He turned his head at the sound of someone calling him. Eldest Senior Brother, no, Head Jeong-hyeon was sitting there, having come out at some point.
“Head, are you already awake? You didn’t stay up all night, did you?”
“Hahaha. I didn’t stay up all night. I just woke up at my usual time.”
He glanced out the window and saw the dawn sky, not yet fully bright.
He had come out because he couldn’t sleep properly, but Jeong-hyeon must have been talking to Namgung Juwon until late last night.
“I thought you were talking until late last night…”
“A Taoist who cultivates can’t oversleep. Taoist and monks always wake up early.”
Considering that, Jeong-hyeon’s two disciples, Se-ak and Se-jin, were nowhere to be seen.
Eun-hyeon thought it would be strange to sit somewhere else with Jeong-hyeon there, so he took a seat opposite him.
It was still too early, so the server was nowhere to be seen.
“Would you like some tea?”
Jeong-hyeon held out a teapot with warm steam rising from it, which he must have heated himself, and offered it to Eun-hyeon.
“…Chrysanthemum tea.”
“Do you dislike chrysanthemum tea?”
Eun-hyeon paused for a moment, looking at the teacup that smelled sweet.
“Ah, no. I like chrysanthemum tea.”
Chrysanthemum tea, which was one of the cheaper teas, was something Seo Eun-hyeon used to drink often.
One of the things that Eun-hyeon found difficult after possessing this body was the lack of sweet snacks.
Moreover, the Kunlun Sect was poor, and even poorer after being kicked out of Kunlun, so sweet snacks were hard to come by.
At that time, he enjoyed drinking chrysanthemum tea as a substitute for those snacks. Chrysanthemum tea was very cheap, but the sweet taste was excellent. Besides, if you were a little diligent, you could dry it yourself without having to buy it.
For these reasons, plain chrysanthemum tea without ice sugar was something Eun-hyeon enjoyed drinking.
But when Jeong-hyeon handed him the chrysanthemum tea, he felt strange. It was as if he had momentarily returned to his days as Seo Eun-hyeon.
“This time, all the Martial World fellows owe a great debt to Young master of the Namgung family Eun-hyeon and Great Hero Ha.”
“That’s just what anyone should do.”
Eun-hyeon felt burdened by Jeong-hyeon’s constant praise since last night. What good would it do to paint gold on his face when nothing was over yet?
“Isn’t it because everyone failed to do what they should have done that it’s so hard to find righteousness in the Martial World? When you say it so calmly, I feel even more ashamed.”
Eun-hyeon smiled awkwardly and lowered his head.
Perhaps because his heart was in turmoil, he couldn’t manage the polite smile he usually gave.
“But Young master of the Namgung family Eun-hyeon, it seems you didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Yes, yes? Ah, no, I’m fine.”
“You must have been very tired coming all the way here. If it’s not rude, may I have your hand for a moment?”
“My hand?”
“You don’t look well, so I’d like to take your pulse for a moment.”
It was an unexpected remark. Suddenly, he wanted to take his pulse because he didn’t look well? Was he saying he would examine him?
But Eun-hyeon obediently held out his hand. He was curious to know what Jeong-hyeon would say after taking his pulse.
Jeong-hyeon placed his fingertips on Eun-hyeon’s wrist and closed his eyes.
“Hmm, the pulse is irregular and weak. It would be better to rest more. Hmm, did something upset you yesterday?”
Eun-hyeon said nothing.
Then Jeong-hyeon nodded as if he understood.
“Then I’ll infuse some Qi into you. It won’t be of great help, but it will help you move around for now.”
A cool energy penetrated from the wrist Jeong-hyeon was holding. It was a cool yet gentle energy, different from Cheong-un’s.
Since waking up in Namgung Eun-hyeon’s body, Eun-hyeon had been practicing the breathing techniques and Qi Circulation he had learned in Kunlun. Thanks to that, there was no sense of incongruity with the energy Jeong-hyeon sent.
As if they had been one from the beginning, Jeong-hyeon’s energy gently permeated him.
“Head… You didn’t have to do this…”
“Don’t feel burdened. Isn’t it because Young master of the Namgung family Eun-hyeon strained himself for the sake of the greater good that his body is harmed?”
“No, Head. I…”
“It’s not difficult for me to help you. Besides, your Qi and my Qi harmonize quite well. You remind me of a young disciple who studied in Kunlun rather than Young master of the Namgung family. Hahaha.”
At Jeong-hyeon’s words, Eun-hyeon’s face turned pale.