Chapter Text
Chapter 10
Hyun Jong and Tang Gunak stood at the front to greet the next guest, who was most likely the last visitor of the day considering how low the sun had fallen. As they were about to send another disciple to get the others, they heard a mess occurring in the distance.
“If I carry Chung Myung, my robes will get dirty.” Im Sobyeong said complaining.
“Well then, maybe you shouldn’t have left Chung Myung with ink.” Baek Cheon said annoyed.
“Chung Myung Dojang, don’t move your hands too much, they’re covered in ink.”
Chung Myung had a mischievous expression form on his face when he heard Im Sobyeong’s words. He poorly pretended to try looking behind Im Sobyeong before planting his hands flat on his chest.
“What’s that?? Oops!”
Im Sobyeong’s expression turned hollow, making Chung Myung burst out in laughter. Baek Cheon, Jo Geol, Yoon Jong, and Hye Yeon who had been walking alongside him also laughed at Chung Myung’s purposeful mess while thinking that Nokrim King had deserved it anyway.
Hyung Jong’s jaw dropped at the state Chung Myung was in.
“W-What happened to him? It hasn’t even been that long since we last saw him.”
“Nokrim King, Sect Leader. Nokrim King.” Baek Cheon said in a deadpanned voice.
“Haha, you see I was teaching him his name and The Four Books and Five Classics, when it got a tad out of hand.” Im Sobyeong explained.
“A tad?” Tang Gunak said incredulously.
“Exactly, so Nokrim King is gonna clean him up for causing it.” Baek Cheon added.
“I see-”
Their conversation was cut off once the guest from the Alliance had finally climbed to the top of Hwasan.
“We are opening the sect’s gates!”
As they were slightly opened, a young man stepped inside before quickly shutting the sect’s gates again.
“Huh?”
“Haha, I greet the Alliance Leader.” Namgung Dowi said bowing in the martial stance.
“I greet the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan.” Hyung Jong said in response.
“But why did you close the gates again?” He added.
“Uh…well, I actually need to speak to you in private for that…” He started saying as his eyes glanced over everyone present, trailing off when he caught sight of little Chung Myung.
Namgung Dowi gasped as he ran over to Chung Myung.
“Is this really Chung Myung Dojang? He’s so cute…and messy.” He said slightly confused.
Baek Cheon sighed as he just said, “Nokrim King.”
Namgung Dowi made a face as if everything suddenly made perfect sense at the mention of Nokrim King.
"Ah, of course it was the Sapa no doubt.”
Im Sobyeong’s face grew slightly more agitated as he heard his nemesis’ words.
“Like you would have a clue, I was teaching Chung Myung Dojang a proper education.” He said spitefully.
The two shot daggers at each other before Chung Myung laughed in laughter at their conversation.
“Right?! Uncle Sapa’s always to blame.”
Hearing his words, Namgung Dowi burst into laughter as well.
“Haha, Dojang you have it perfect. ‘Sapa’ should definitely be in his name, maybe I’ll call him the same, Sapa King.”
Namgung Dowi then pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Chung Myung’s messy face as he muttered, “He caused this and he can’t even clean him up, tsk tsk as expected.”
Im Sobyeong watching their wrongfully, heartwarming scene decided to bring it back into his control.
“Well, me and Dojang have to go now. You should go sort out your troubles with the Alliance Leader. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
Namgung Dowi shot him another glare before realizing he should speak to the Alliance Leader while the others were being cleaned up.
“I apologize that you had to see that side of me.” Dowi said to Hyung Jong and Tang Gunak.
“Haha, this has been happening since the Yangtze River, as long as it doesn’t escalate into street brawls again, it’s fine.” Hyung Jong replied.
“Ha…Haha” Namgung Dowi awkwardly laughed as he was reminded of his embarrassing past.
“But what is the matter that made you come in alone?”
“Ah! You see.” Namgung Dowi leaned in close covering the side of his face with his hand,
“I might have brought a little too many gifts for Dojang, so many that I couldn’t hide them without him seeing them.”
“Ah.” Hyung Jong and Tang Gunak said as they remembered Namgung Dowi’s intense admiration for Chung Myung.
“Well, how many are there?” Tang Gunak asked.
“I think it’s better if I show you.” Namgung Dowi walked toward the sect’s gates and opened them wide, revealing endless bundles and crates of wrapped food and delicacies carried by the Namgung Family.
“Ha…ha…ha” Namgung Dowi awkwardly laughed.
Namgung Myeong walked in and offered his greetings as well, “I told the Young Lord he didn’t need all of this, but he sure is strongheaded like his father.”
“Ah, I see. Well, it’s all for Chung Myung’s sake, so we are grateful.” Hyun Jong said bowing.
“Alliance Leader!”
“Haha, it is fine. Now to put them…”
At that moment, Hyun Young who had been listening spoke up.
“Sect Leader Sahyung, we could place it in the storage warehouse temporarily since it’s almost the day of the event anyways.”
“As a matter of fact, all things regarding the event could be held there for convenience.” He added.
“Well, that settles that then. Disciples, please help the guests.”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“You all could help move and build any more storage that may be needed as well.” Tang Gunak said to his family.
“Yes, Family Lord.”
❀ ❀ ❀
As evening training began, the Five Swords, Hye Yeon, and Chung Myung came to the training grounds, with Chung Myung looking especially freshened up compared to his previous disheveled appearance.
Those who had accompanied the heads of the Alliance also joined in to train alongside Hwasan’s disciples, practicing their techniques or sparring with one another.
Tang Gunak, Namgung Dowi, and Im Sobyeong had come out to watch and perhaps join in a little themselves, when they overheard the others conversing.
“Everyone seems to be training well. Having others always helps spark competitive spirit.” Baek Cheon said as he watched the Alliance members.
“Yeah, yesterday they weren’t training nearly as hard.” Jo Geol added.
“Amitabha. They were mainly staring and goofing around with little Siju.” Hye Yeon stated.
“Haha, right until the end when Chung Myung left them with their jaws dropped, including ours.” Soso said.
Yu Iseol nodded firmly as she reminisced about the spectacle they watched the night before, “Amazing.”
The others couldn’t agree more and desired to see it again.
“Chung Myung-ah, do you want to train a little at the end like yesterday? The plum blossoms you made were beautiful.” Yoon Jong said coaxingly.
“Hmm…” Chung Myung briefly pouted and furrowed his brows before immediately finding his answer. “Yeah! It was fun and pretty.”
The others smiled when they heard his answer, and even more so at the thought of being able to see that sight again.
“Huh? You mean little Chung Myung Dojang? Training?” Im Sobyeong asked incredulously.
“I have to agree, isn’t he around four years old? How would he be training?” Tang Gunak added.
“Haha, you would think! But yesterday he made the most beautiful plum blossoms bloom from the tip of a wooden sword.” Baek Cheon explained.
“What? How could that…?” Im Sobyeong said astonished.
“As expected of Chung Myung Dojang! He must have been strong since he was a child.” Namgung Dowi said with a bright smile, nodding strongly.
“I must say, if that’s true, that is incredible.” Tang Gunak let out an amused huff.
‘Just how strong is my little friend?’
As the evening grew darker and training neared its end, Chung Myung was given a wooden sword once again. The disciples of Hwasan who had seen yesterday’s stunning display were sitting expectantly. While the others watched skeptically at what such a young child could do.
‘We get he’s the strongest out of all of us by a long shot, but as a child? What do they expect?’
The three who had spoken with the others beforehand, also watched curiously at the sight that was about to unfold.
Chung Myung stood in the middle of the training grounds, when his mind briefly wandered off to the time he and his Sahyung were by the river.
The child was throwing rocks and sticking his hand inside the river’s current.
“Chung Myung-ah, this river is the Tao.”
“Tao?”
“Yes. See the way it takes any disturbance like the rocks or your hand?” He said as he flicked water onto Chung Myung’s face.
“Hey!” Chung Myung giggled.
“That is the true Tao. To be one with nature, letting it flow.” Chung Mun ruffled Chung Myung’s hair as Chung Myung quietly listened.
‘Hmm. The river is the Tao? To be honest, I still don’t really get it Sahyung, but I’ll try. I’ll try, so that when you come back, you’ll be proud I listened!’ Chung Myung thought with a grin.
He slowly lifted up the wooden sword as he closed his eyes to envision the river he saw with his Sahyung. Then, as he slowly opened his eyes, his small sword began to tremble, creating a tiny droplet of a plum blossom before it burst like a dam into tens and hundreds of plum blossom petals; truly reminiscent of the river he saw that day. Before it vanished as easily as it had come, like his memory.
Silence.
The training grounds were left in utter silence from the sheer shock of it. Those who hadn’t experienced yesterday’s display had their jaws dropped and eyes bulging at what had just occurred. Full of disbelief at what they had just witnessed. Even those who had experienced it beforehand were just as stunned at the pure beauty and skill that was being unleashed by a child.
‘Dojang…’
‘Siju…’
‘Chung Myung…’
‘really is incredible.’
Chung Myung was captivated at the plum blossom’s beauty that had sprouted from his sword before soon noticing the surrounding silence.
Chung Myung’s face grew slightly sullen at their reaction.
“Was it not that good?” he muttered.
Those who were stunned, hearing his words, quickly snapped out of it and praised him.
“Not at all, Dojang! That was amazing!”
“I knew you were strong, but this strong?”
“You were different from the start!”
Chung Myung’s lips trembled as he tried to keep from smiling, “You really think so? It wasn’t that hard.”
“Of course it was! At your age, I couldn’t even imagine doing something like that.”
“Yeah! I bet there’s some people here who can’t do it!”
“Hey!”
At their persistent compliments, Chung Myung finally let out a grin, causing those watching to continue praising him just to tease him more.
While those in the distance, the three who had overheard the conversation, were truly in awe. They had expected some skill considering what the Five Swords and Hye Yeon had said, but the level the child had displayed was much higher than they had expected. It was beautiful and so full that it overflowed alongside the stars in the night sky.
“Wow…” Namgung Dowi said in a subdued voice out of pure admiration.
He had always admired Chung Myung, but somehow, he surprises him every time.
Im Sobyeong and Tang Gunak couldn’t help but agree after seeing that, a smile slipping from their lips.
‘There’s a reason he’s the General after all.’
❀ ❀ ❀
The disciples went to the dining hall and started their evening conversations and meals. The Five Swords, Hye Yeon, and Chung Myung went to their usual table with Namgung Dowi tagging along. Im Sobyeong ended up sitting straight across from Namgung Dowi after he followed them as well, causing them to glare every time their eyes met.
They kept taking turns like before, placing food onto Chung Myung’s plate whenever it was getting emptier, making the boy’s eyes light up in delight each time something new appeared. They laughed as they shared light conversations and enjoyed each other’s company well into the night.
Little Chung Myung lightly rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, which Baek Cheon took notice of.
“Chung Myung-ah, do you want to wash up?” He asked gently across the table.
“Umm…” Chung Myung pouted as he thought of his answer, glancing at the others still conversing merrily.
Baek Cheon’s eyes followed Chung Myung’s making him quickly add on, “Ah, we’re gonna go wash up and rest as well. Right?” Baek Cheon emphasized to the others while pointing to Chung Myung with his head.
“Ahaha, right!” They replied reluctantly.
❀ ❀ ❀
After washing up, they each began to go their own ways to retire for the night. Baek Cheon, Hye Yeon, Jo Geol, and Yoon Jong were still gathered together due to the arrangement they had agreed on last night.
“Ok so, Geol slept with Chung Myung last night, so today we said we’d switch.” Baek Cheon said recapping.
“Right, since we technically pushed it on Siju.” Hye Yeon added.
Jo Geol’s face turned slightly glum at the conversation. He knew he had gladly agreed to it before, but he didn’t know how he felt about it anymore.
Yoon Jong noticing Geol’s change, spoke up, “Well, I don’t mind sleeping with Chung Myung today.”
Jo Geol’s head snapped up to look at Yoon Jong with a sullen expression, although he was glad that Chung Myung was still in their room at least.
“Really? That’s great. I was going to meet with the Sect Leader briefly before their late Alliance meeting to tell them about the drawing, especially since it might be a clue for Chung Myung.” Baek Cheon said at ease.
“Amitabha, that’s a good idea, Siju. Well, good night.” Hye Yeon replied.
“Good night.” They said as they departed in their own directions.
❀ ❀ ❀
Little Chung Myung yawned as he entered Jo Geol and Yoon Jong’s room, the pair following close behind.
Yoon Jong, having noted how dejected Jo Geol still looked, decided to playfully tease him.
“Alright, I guess it’s my turn today, right?” Yoon Jong said in a drawled voice while slowly turning away towards his bed.
“S-Sahyung, wait.” Jo Geol stammered.
“Hmm? What?”
“Well, it’s just…”
“Yeah?”
“Sahyungs, I’m sleepy.” Chung Myung said drowsily as he rubbed at his eyes again.
“Huh? Ah, just wait a moment, Chung Myung-ah. We’ll be there soon.” Yoon Jong replied, aiming to speed up Jo Geol’s hesitation.
“Oh.”
‘I’m just getting in the way. It doesn’t really matter anyways.’
“It’s nothing.” Jo Geol continued saying while averting his eyes.
Yoon Jong was about to suggest that he could just sleep with Chung Myung if he really wanted to, since he didn’t mind anyway. But before he could even tell him, having glanced at Jo Geol’s bed, he burst out laughing.
Bewildered, Jo Geol snapped his head up, thinking that Yoon Jong was laughing at him, until he followed his Sahyung’s gaze.
“Haha, it seems Chung Myung chose himself anyways. Do you mind Geol?”
Chung Myung had given up on waiting and crawled into the same bed he slept in the day before. It seemed like he had used the last of his strength to crawl up onto the bed before falling asleep sprawled stomach down. Similarly, Baek Ah had snuggled up right beside him without even questioning the outrageous position.
“Hahaha, no. No, I don’t.” Jo Geol said, finally brightening up at the sight.
“Alright.”
Jo Geol gently moved Chung Myung over to the other side of the bed, his back facing the wall. In the process, Baek Ah also moved to be right above Chung Myung’s head.
After Jo Geol finally lay down, Yoon Jong in his own bed asked,
“You know, Geol-ah, if you want to sleep with little Chung Myung for the meantime, you can just say so. Then we wouldn’t have to have a whole discussion about it every night either.”
Jo Geol lay thinking, his gaze focused on the ceiling, “Hmm.”
“If you’re worried about the others, they wouldn’t care. They may tease you a little, but-”
“It’s not that.”
“Then?”
Jo Geol shifted to face Chung Myung, who was sleeping completely defenseless.
“Would he want to?”
“Who? Chung Myung?”
Jo Geol sighed, “Who Chung Myung wants to sleep with is his Sahyung. Not me.”
‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of it that way.’ Yoon Jong thought before a small smile formed on his face, “But Geol, you’re his Sahyung too.”
Jo Geol’s eyes widened.
“Chung Myung might have been very close with his Sahyung, but there’s no reason you can’t be his Sahyung too. After all, there’s no rule on the number of Sahyungs you can have.”
‘Sahyung always makes me see things differently.’ Jo Geol quietly thought with a smile forming on his face.
“If it really bothers you, just ask him. Though I don’t think he cares, haha.”
“Haha, you’re right. Thank you, Sahyung.”
Yoon Jong let out an amused huff, “Good night, Geol.”
“Good night.”
❀ ❀ ❀
Chung Myung drowsily opened his eyes before instinctually looking for his Sahyung beside him. However, when he turned to look, he was slightly taken aback to find it wasn’t who he was looking for.
‘Ah, right. Sahyung isn’t here right now.’
He could feel tears welling up in his eyes.
‘No, I shouldn’t cry,’ he thought, biting down on his lower lip. But his thoughts simply wouldn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.
‘But why did Sahyung not tell me anything? Maybe he thought the trip would be quick? But wouldn’t he have at least let me know? Maybe…maybe Sahyung got sick of me…like everyone else. What if Sahyung…doesn’t want to be with me anymore? What if…what if I never get to see him again?’
At those last words, he couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as they spilled like a raging river.
“Uuh...”
He tried so hard to suppress his sobs so as not to wake anyone, but once they started, he just couldn’t get them to stop.
“Eeuuh…”
His small hands, balled into fists, kept swiping at the surge of tears that kept streaming down his cheeks, making him miss his warm Sahyung’s embrace all the more.
“Uuu…uuuh”
‘Sahyung…Sahyung…please come back for me…’
“Mmm…” Jo Geol slowly opened his heavy-lidded eyes after being woken up by something. As he regained consciousness, his ears suddenly caught a strange noise like-
‘…crying?’
Recognizing the sound flooding his ears, his eyes quickly darted towards the sound, freezing immediately.
‘Chung Myung…? Crying? Why?’ His heart raced as he panicked, not knowing what to do.
“Chung Myung-ah? Are you ok? Are you hurting anywhere?”
“Euuh” Chung Myung strongly shook his head side to side, unable to get any words out besides his lamenting sobs.
Baek Ah, who had woken up as well, was nuzzling against Chung Myung’s wet cheeks and licking as many tears as she could.
Jo Geol was at a complete loss. ‘It was Chung Myung. Chung Myung. Crying? He had never seen him cry, aside from the time they had found their ancestors’ remains. Even then, he hadn’t done anything to comfort Chung Myung except remain by his side. What should I do?’
When he suddenly got an idea, ‘Well, Chung Myung always seems to calm down from his outbursts whenever eating something sweet. Something sweet! That’s it! But I can’t leave him in bed, sobbing alone.’
“Chung Myung-ah.” Jo Geol said gently.
“Do you want to come with me for a second? I think it will make you feel better.” He continued.
Even through Chung Myung’s crying and dismal thoughts, Jo Geol’s words got through to him, and he gave a small, quiet nod.
‘Anything to stop the hurting.’
Having received agreement, Jo Geol tenderly picked up little Chung Myung into his arms, whose small body was still trembling as the tears continued to flow. Baek Ah decided to wait for their return as they left the room.
❀ ❀ ❀
Sniff.
Munch. Munch.
Little Chung Myung sat across from Jo Geol in the dining hall, eating some honey cookies that Jo Geol had found lying around.
‘I’m glad eating something sweet helped him calm down. I wonder what made him cry like that in the first place.’
Chung Myung’s tears had finally stopped, leaving him feeling numb as he chewed thoughtlessly on the sweet honey cookies.
Having sat in silence for a while and noting that Chung Myung seemed to be feeling better, Jo Geol decided to speak up.
“Chung Myung? Do you feel better now?” He began cautiously before probing for answers.
Chung Myung slowly nodded towards Jo Geol as he took another bite out of the sweet honey cookie he was holding.
Jo Geol had a small smile form on his face at his response before carefully asking,
“Do…you want to talk about it?”
Chung Myung immediately and adamantly swung his head side to side, his expression darkening again.
“Ah…”
‘So that’s a no, I guess.’ Jo Geol scratched the back of his head as he let out a groan. He wasn’t sure how to help Chung Myung, especially if he didn’t know the reason why. But he was soon pulled out of his thoughts.
“…Did Sahyung leave because he got sick of me?” Chung Myung quietly asked with a dark expression.
Jo Geol was immediately bewildered and flustered, “Huh? What? Where did you get that from?”
Chung Myung clenched his hands into fists as he turned his eyes away.
“I didn’t hear it, but…”
“If you didn’t hear it, then it’s not true!”
“BUT NOTHING ELSE MAKES SENSE!!” Chung Myung yelled with all his heart.
“…”
“Sahyung… Sahyung would have never left without telling me anything at all.” In an even quieter voice, “He never has.”
“So…So if he just left without telling me, it means he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore, like everyone else. He’s sick of me that’s all.” Tears welled up in Chung Myung’s eyes once again; he couldn’t help it whenever he thought about ‘the truth.’ Chung Myung ended up reaching for another honey sweet cookie to calm his aching heart again.
Sniff.
Jo Geol was at a loss at Chung Myung’s sudden outburst. He was glad he came to know why Chung Myung had been crying, but at the same time he felt that the child was being incredibly-
“Foolish.”
“Huh?”
“Why would you ever think that, huh?”
Sniff.
“What do you mean?”
“I may not have known your Sahyung, but if he never did that before, he would never suddenly do it now. You don’t trust your Sahyung?”
“…Of course I do.”
“THEN BELIEVE IN HIM! And what’s this about everyone being sick of you? Are we not all here? What are we? Ghosts now?”
“No, I didn’t mean you guys…”
“Well, we’re the ones here with you now and we’re not sick of you, so that’s that!” Jo Geol firmly yelled with a firm expression.
Chung Myung was at a complete loss for words that even his tears had stopped as he stared blankly. ‘Never have I ever met anyone as headstrong as me.’
“Do you get it now?” Jo Geol said, offering another sweet honey cookie to Chung Myung.
Jo Geol’s sudden outburst chased away Chung Myung’s sadness, making him finally start laughing as he took the cookie.
Jo Geol let out an amused huff, watching Chung Myung’s cheerful expression as the boy happily bit into the cookie. ‘Right, this is how you should be. I don’t like it when Chung Myung is sad; it doesn’t suit him.’
Having finally been able to lighten up and relax, little Chung Myung began to feel sleepy again. With the growing deepness of the night, his eyelids began to grow heavier and harder to stay open.
Jo Geol having noticed Chung Myung’s drowsiness let out an amused huff.
“Chung Myung-ah, do you want to go back to bed now?”
Little Chung Myung nodded heavily as he drowsily said, “Could you carry me, Sahyung?”
Jo Geol eyes slightly widened before his lips deepened into a smile, “Sure, you rascal of a Sajae.”
Exhausted from the crying and the long day, Chung Myung couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer. The moment Jo Geol picked him up into his arms, the child fell fast asleep.
❀ ❀ ❀
Hyun Jong, Tang Gunak, and Im Sobyeong had discussed Chung Myung’s condition well into the night. They considered the sparse pieces of information they had, especially on the person that seemed to be the key. Baek Cheon had come in briefly at the start of the night, handing them a drawing of Chung Myung’s ‘Sahyung’, whom no one recognized. Understanding what it implied, they had ultimately decided, for Chung Myung’s sake, to go with Im Sobyeong’s story that his Sahyung was on a trip for the Sect. They had concluded that the most likely way to bring Chung Myung back to normal would be to find anything belonging to closely associated with his Sahyung.
“Easier said than done.” Im Sobyeong grumbled.
The others agreeing with the sentiment.
“It may be difficult, but with all of us gathered, it should be possible.” Hyun Jong said.
“Yes, perhaps tomorrow, we could gain more information.” Tang Gunak added.
The three of them walked out of the meeting room to retire for the night, hoping for more information when the others arrived, when they encountered something unexpected. Expecting an otherwise empty Sect at the late hour, they discovered a disciple.
“Jo Geol?” Hyun Jong calmly called out.
“What are you doing out so late?” He continued.
“Huh?”
They were even more confused when Jo Geol turned around and was holding little Chung Myung in his arms.
“Oh! I greet th-” Jo Geol began to say, bowing, before Hyung Jong gently waved his hand to spare the formalities.
“Why are you here with Chung Myung?” Hyun Jong calmly asked again as they walked closer.
“Ah-Um…Chung Myung…” Jo Geol glanced towards Im Sobyeong before collecting his words together. “Chung Myung was hungry, so I brought him for a quick snack.”
‘Not a total lie, but I don’t know if I should tell them about Chung Myung crying so hard over his Sahyung.’
“Mm.” Hyun Jong said as he softly stroked Chung Myung’s tear-stricken cheeks. It was quite evident to everyone that Chung Myung had been crying, and a lot at that.
Flustered, Jo Geol quickly added, “Ah, I finally made him laugh after a while, so you don’t have to worry.”
Hyun Jong had a warm smile form on his lips, “Thank you, Jo Geol, for being with Chung Myung.”
“It’s nothing, Sect Leader.”
“Mm.” Chung Myung furrowed his brows at the continued stroking. Hyun Jong let out a soft chuckle as he switched to patting the child’s head instead. Chung Myung’s furrowed brows relaxed as he slept soundly once more.
“Haha. You should retire to your room, Jo Geol. You have early training tomorrow.”
“Of course, Sect Leader. Good night.” Jo Geol said with a bright smile.
Hyun Jong had a warm smile on his face as he watched Jo Geol and Chung Myung leave, when suddenly Im Sobyeong spoke up.
“Dojang hid the truth.” He remarked.
“Yes, for Chung Myung’s sake no doubt.” Tang Gunak replied.
“He had cried.” Hyung Jong said, feeling his fingertips that had briefly stroked Chung Myung’s cheeks.
“It was most likely…” Im Sobyeong started to speak but couldn’t finish.
“Yes.”
The three of them knew without having to say it out loud. Jo Geol had probably not wanted anyone to feel burdened over something they couldn’t help with, but how they wished they could comfort Chung Myung’s heart that ached so deeply for his Sahyung.
Hyun Jong let out a heavy sigh, ‘Now that I know some of your pain, why is it that I still can’t help you?’
❀ ❀ ❀
Once Jo Geol got back to his room with little Chung Myung, who hadn’t stirred even once, he saw Baek Ah perk up the moment they entered.
She was undoubtedly happy at the sight of Chung Myung sleeping soundly rather than sobbing.
“Kiii.”
Jo Geol gently placed Chung Myung onto the bed before stroking Baek Ah’s fur.
“Haha, yes. I was able to calm him down, Baek Ah. Though you helped too.” Jo Geol said with a smile.
“Kii!” Baek Ah said smugly.
“Alright, let’s go to bed now so we can train early tomorrow.” Jo Geol said as he gently pulled up the blanket, settling down for the night.
“Kii!”