Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There are many things Cheong Myeong is, but there are also things he isn’t.

He’s the strongest swordsman in his generation, acquiring his title as the Plum Blossom Sword Saint from a young age. He’s beaten someone years older than him, and he can spend his days just living as he wants without a care in the world. Martial artists are both wary of him and look up to him. His sahyung, although he always scolds him and tells him he can’t take any disciples of his own for the children’s sake, truly cares for him.

…But he’s an orphan as well. He doesn't know the affection of a mother or anything like that. It was only a fellow disciple who raised him, and the elders and seniors. It isn’t a matter that was commonly brought up in Mount Hua, because the last time someone did, they were hung upside down on a cliff and left to dangle until someone found them. Okay, he might have a bit of issues with his patience, but that was about it.

Not that it matters. It wasn’t something that really made a difference. It doesn't make him any less of a swordsman, any less of a Sword Saint. Any less of Cheong Myeong.

He’s not the kind of person to think about those kinds of things anyway. And people don’t spend their days thinking about those thoughts. It was a waste of time to do so, and it’s none of their business at the same time.

As far as he’s concerned, he’d been doing well. And that’s all that matters.

It becomes a problem. Well, not too big of a problem, but enough to be annoying to him. It started one particular day.

Just a normal day, in fact. He does as he usually does, wandering around down the mountain and in Hua-Um. This is because his sahyung has been encouraging him to come down more lately. It might have something to do with the fact that he experiences less headaches, but as long as Cheong Myeong doesn’t cause a big ruckus down in the village, then he is allowed to do as he wants.

The thing about these outings of his, however, was that fact that he’s not really…alone.

There was a brat that was hanging off of him lately, insisting to follow him around since he’s not doing anything lately. Everything about his existence was so new to Cheong Myeong, that he’s been instinctively trying to get him to back away whenever he tries to get too close. He looks a little past a handful of years younger than Cheong Myeong, and reeks heavily of something unpleasant. Like a mix of incense and something toxic. He was able to ignore it the first time, but the more he appeared in the swordsman’s presence, the more he found himself recognizing the smell and scrunching his nose.

Their first meeting had been so brief, but interesting enough for him to remember vaguely. However, Cheong Myeong didn’t think a few careless words from him would cause this guy to come after him time and time again, shamelessly walking inside the sect and demanding for a spar.

He did ask about that person after the third time he asked for Cheong Myeong. His sahyung and sajae looked at him incredulously at first, wondering how anyone could not know. But taking one look at Cheong Myeong, who looked like he doesn’t really care about people who don't matter to him, they just let out matching sighs and told him a little about his…fan? Follower? Whatever that guy was.

Ilsu Talmyeong ① from the Sichuan Tang Family. It’s a bit impressive that he’s also got a title despite not being an old man yet, but he was still too far from the swordsman’s level. He figured that must be the reason why that guy was constantly chasing after him like a leech.

He was bearable the first few times, but his constant calling of “Cheong Myeong dojang!” in the middle of the streets got a bit tiring to hear. He scowled one particular time, telling him to stop calling him so loudly like that, then Ilsu Talmyeong took a step back, looking confused and contemplative, before he said,

“Then, I will call you Dosa Hyung-nim instead.”

“But this guy?”

“Oh, you’re right. It does sound better.”

“Crazy…who are you to declare us as brothers, ah?”

“It means that dojang has to take care of me from now on, as his younger brother,” that guy, whom he doesn’t even properly remember the name of, smiled at him, obviously trying to pull up a scheme.

“Why should I do that? Go back to Sichuan, you snake.”

“I brought a lot of money.”

“Hehe. You should’ve said so sooner, you brat! Come on.”

At the sudden switch up of attitude, that Ilsu Talmyeong showed a triumphant expression, not even bothering to hide how smug he felt about his victory. Cheong Myeong turned his head, resolute on heading to the direction of his favorite restaurant first and draining the pockets of this person. After all, no one can gain his favor so easily just by hanging around.

But before he could start walking in the direction of where his favorite restaurant was, that person made a move to grab his wrist, tugging him in a different direction. The sudden touch sent a shocking jolt up his skin. Cheong Myeong, for the briefest moment, froze slightly.

“We come there everyday, let’s go somewhere else instead,” Ilso Talmyeong was saying, oblivious to the glare that was being sent his way. “I asked around and everyone said there’s another good place over that way. Let’s try something new once in a while.”

“...Yah.”

“Uh?”

“Let go of me.”

The Tang guy glanced back at him, finally noticing the unpleasant look on the swordsman’s face.

“Okay?”

He lets go easily, then immediately forgets about the incident. He went to the place he was talking about, shouting behind him to urge Cheong Myeong to follow him this time. And since it was a promise of free food, it was only natural that the latter goes along with it.

“If it’s not good, then you won’t be allowed to pick a place next time.”

“So there’s a next time!” The other person brightened up. 

“Don’t pretend as if you won’t barge inside the town again tomorrow. You always do, you bastard.”

“Right, right. I guess Dosa Hyung-nim knows me well enough by now.”

He grimaces at the name. “I’m not your brother.”

“Then I will call you dojang again?”

“...Whatever.”

The entire way there, he still felt the feeling of another’s hand in his wrist.

It was a single incident, and Cheong Myeong doesn’t really dwell on those things too much, so he, too, forgot about the feeling of somebody’s harmless touch on his skin.

In fact, he really doesn’t think much about it anymore, because his sahyung and sajae would also touch him once in a while while he was in the sect. Whether it was to scold him, to hit him, to ask him to run an errand after hearing him grumbling…contact wasn’t something that he was a stranger to.

None of them felt as shocking as the time that brat touched him without thinking much about it. He thought that maybe it was because that person is close to a stranger, someone he doesn’t know very well, especially since it hasn’t even been a year since they met. It was strange for people to carelessly touch him. After all, they were more scared of being hit to actually try doing so.

Anyway, that guy was slowly becoming a constant. Enough so that Cheong Myeong ended up remembering his name after the fifteenth meet-up.

“Dosa Hyung-nim, I’ve been thinking about what you were saying last time. I want to test if it works.”

“You brat, aren’t you just using me as a test subject at this point?”

“Oops? Was I too obvious?”

“Why this bastard—”

Tang Bo waves his hand harmlessly and accepts the hit he received to the head. Still, he kept insisting on the same thing, even digging inside his sleeves and bringing out a money pouch full of, as expected, money.

“There is a new liquor that arrived at our usual store yesterday, Dosa Hyung-nim. We could drink it after the spar.”

“...”

This guy too, unfortunately, was starting to get a hang on how to deal with him. He doesn’t know if it was a bad thing or not.

Actually, it was a bit amusing to think about. At the rate things are going, Cheong Myeong’s own pocket money is being saved safely inside of his room in Mount Hua, and what is drained is the Sichuan Tang Family’s money. Since this Tang Bo was the one volunteering it all away anyway, there was no one who can blame him for this. Maybe the only thing they can accuse him of was stealing after their first spar, but that was about it.

As expected of someone named Ilsu Talmyeong, he has greatly improved again since the last fight that they had. There was something interesting about how he develops his techniques. While he keeps Cheong Myeong’s off-handed advice in mind, he doesn’t fully rely on them and still uses his head to think of other ways to push things further. This is how he is constantly able to catch Cheong Myeong off-guard whenever he is pulling something new.

Still, the skill level was too great. Cheong Myeong won as he always had, not even a trace of sweat on his forehead, and stares down at the green-robed guy who just laid uselessly on the floor, completely drained after throwing everything he’s got and losing miserably.

He kicked Tang Bo’s side and said, “Alcohol.”

Green eyes stared at him for a while, before a tired, but amused laugh escaped the other man’s mouth. His eyes glinted in amusement, and by the time he was done, he was able to pull himself up into a sitting position.

“I think this dojang is a malko bastard.”

“Uh? What was that?”

“Nothing at all, Dosa Hyung-nim.”

They didn’t really end up staying in the store after they got their alcohol, though. There were too many people who were interested in tasting the new wine, and they were getting odd looks because of the bruises that were already starting to form in Tang Bo’s face. 

They settled in a spot a little close to the path to Mount Hua, but didn’t really climb up. There’s always a lot of people trying to catch a glimpse of the sect, so the path itself would have people who might stop by once in a while to ask questions. That situation might only spoil the taste of the alcohol, so he made sure to pick a spot where he knew was just right to enjoy the drink.

They shared two bottles. It was Tang Bo who raised his first, urging for a toast. And Cheong Myeong, who never really had anyone to drink with until lately, looking lost for a bit, before doing the same thing.

Clink.

After the small sound, the younger person immediately started drinking his bottle, leaving the swordsman staring blankly for a bit.

Hm.

After a while, he also started chugging his own bottle, letting out a loud sound of satisfaction as it parts from his lips. There was a thin trail that ran down the corner of his mouth, but he quickly licked it off, never the type to waste good alcohol.

It was admittedly good. It tastes better than the previous ones that he’s drunk in the past.

There were also some snacks that were brought along to enjoy with the drinks. To no one’s surprise, it was mostly him who consumed it all. Tang Bo only got about three at most before everything was consumed.

It took them a while, but the sun was already starting to set when they were done. Ilsu Talmyeong lets out a disappointed sigh next to him, since it was around the time when he goes back to where he was staying, and Cheong Myeong to the sect. He stood up first, and turned to the swordsman, who was still trying to catch one final drop from his empty bottle.

He holds out a hand to help Cheong Myeong up.

“I might return to Sichuan tomorrow.”

Oblivious to what he was saying, the other person lowered his bottle and stared in quiet dumbfoundedness at the hand that was waiting for him to take.

From his memories, there was only one person who had ever offered him a hand to help him get up, and that was all the way back when he was a kid. That was something his sahyung used to do with a fond sigh whenever he wanted to get up. Since the time he mastered using a sword, there were very few instances of him being on the ground and in need of support. Most of the time, he was the one standing, and his opponent was the one who was scowling angrily on the floor below him.

“Since Dosa Hyung-nim already tested my new technique and told me how I can improve it more, that’s what I will be doing. I will make sure to return in another month and beat you at last.”

After a bit of debating, he decided to take it.

He almost lets go as quickly as he does so, but he makes sure not to let it show on his face. It was there again, the electrifying feeling that he had already forgotten until that moment. But this time, he also feels a sort of warmth spreading from their contact point. 

It was unfamiliar. And uncomfortable.

“Go,” he says, despite not having paid attention.

“Next time will really be the day I beat you, I promise it!”

He asks his sahyung to hold his hand for a few seconds. He tells Cheong Jin to pat his shoulder at least once.

It was definitely odd, and they gave him weird looks after the sudden request. But they did as he asked, and Cheong Mun even decided to pat the top of his head after.

“...”

There.

He feels a trace of it, that warmth he felt from when he took Tang Bo’s hand. He felt it the moment his sahyung started ruffling his hair, and he raised his hand up to it with a strange look on his face as soon as he figured out what it was.

It left a ticklish feeling in his chest. But this was more natural compared to whenever Tang Bo would touch him. He realized he wasn’t actually unfamiliar with it, but it was something he became overly conscious of the moment someone he wasn’t close to decided it was alright to keep skin contact.

He told this to his sahyung, partially because he doesn’t know what to make of it. For a brief moment, multiple emotions crossed Cheong Mun’s face, before he told the younger boy to take a seat.

“But I—”

“Sit down, Cheong Myeong-ah.”

He made sure that Cheong Jin wasn’t around when he asked, though. Partly because he felt like that person might find it amusing that he was making a bit deal out of being touched by other people. Cheong Jin shakes hands with people everyday, and he is friendly enough with other disciples, so it’s a common occurrence for him.

Cheong Mun looks a bit sorry for him. He winced when he saw it.

“Cheong Myeong-ah.”

“Yes, sahyung.”

“It’s normal, alright.”

“Uh?” he tilted his head and frowned. “What are you saying, sahyung?”

“I’m saying that it’s alright to miss a person’s touch,” the other person says. “I just realized you haven’t really touched anyone outside of spars. It’s natural you feel uncomfortable with it now.”

The look on Cheong Myeong’s face was enough indication to know that this wasn’t the conversation he was expecting. He looked all around the room, as if trying to find a way to escape, only to fail miserably because the door and windows are too far from where he was sitting.

“Sahyung, you’re saying nonsense again.”

“No, it’s the truth. People naturally seek out others’ touch, and it helps with their mood as well. But I just realized you didn’t really get much of that.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“You were saying you have a friend lately, right?” Cheong Mun asked, looking thoughtful.

“That leech-like brat is not—”

“Maybe I should send a letter to Ilsu Talmyeong?”

“No, what are you—”

“Don’t worry, Cheong Myeong-ah,” his sahyung says, patting his head again for no reason. This act immediately shuts him up, and the warmth that comes from the touch leaves him tensing up for the briefest moment, then relaxing subconsciously. This didn’t go unnoticed by the other person, who let out another sigh as if he realized he failed to do something.

“We’ll do something about this.”

“...”

“What?”

“This isn’t the kind of encounter I expected either, Dosa Hyung-nim,”

“Get out.”

“Wait, no—”

A foot was stuck on the door, and he let out a pained noise after what he did. This guy was not supposed to be in Mount Hua at all. In fact, it hasn’t even been a week since they last saw each other! Didn’t he say he was going to be gone for another month in order to improve?

Yet here he was, knocking on Cheong Myeong’s door first thing in the morning, looking like he ran all the way from Sichuan to Shaanxi.

“I can’t go back,” Tang Bo hurriedly explained, obviously in pain but refusing to stand down. “The gaju told me to come here.”

Cheong Myeong looked at him dryly. “You got kicked out.”

There was an offended scoff.

“Wasn’t it your sahyung who sent the letter?”

He paused and narrowed his eyes. “What letter?”

There was a pause between them as the question was uttered. Tang Bo looked at him in disbelief for a while, then down to his sleeves, where there was probably something there. He must’ve brought the letter with him. But he didn’t bring it out at all and just turned back to Cheong Myeong.

The swordsman, on the other hand, felt like he had an inkling as to what it was about. He spent some nights wondering what his sahyung meant when he mentioned this guy and fixing some things.

“...Can I come in?” Tang Bo asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so?”

There was no way he was sharing his space with this guy! They’re not even close, and all he does is stick around all day asking for fights! Who knows what would happen if he invited him to Cheong Myeong’s place.

There was only one person who can make Ilsu Talmyeong speechless, and it was Cheong Myeong himself. The green-robed man pointed to himself and asked, “Then where would I stay?”

“Around.”

“Where?”

“In the trees?”

Tang Bo spluttered. There was no one who has ever made him sleep in trees! Back in the manor, he was well-taken care of as a kid, and everyone was terrified of him to tell him those words when he slowly started making a name for himself. In fact, they were all so scared of him they had to send children to pass on messages to him!

This guy, really! He’s so difficult! Although he was an amazing person that is definitely the key to helping him achieve greater heights, he is still a daylight robber and has such a disagreeable personality! Days—No, months! He’s spent months trying to convince this malko bastard to at least act a little warmly towards him, but there’s just little luck!

No, maybe there’s some improvement. After all, Cheong Myeong was starting to remember his name.

(By the way, this situation was so bizarre. Someone like that, who can’t even be bothered to remember his name…he was being asked to help out that person with his problem?)

Tang Bo took a long look at Cheong Myeong, who wore a sour expression as if he was forcefully fed with something unpleasant.

Knowing his personality, he understood a little on why the problem existed in the first place. It was only his bad luck that he happened to be hanging around too much with him that he got dragged in with the situation. And to make things worse, his family was more than happy to get him out of the house just so he won’t taint the atmosphere with his bitter presence.

Aigoo. What a pain, really.

Still, looking at him for a bit longer and thinking about the letter again…he cannot help but admit to himself that he was just a bit curious.

“Can I really not stay inside?”

“No.”

And with that, the door was shut to his face.

There was a snake in Mount Hua, and it was a snake that Cheong Mun willingly invited inside. Now Cheong Myeong was the one who had to deal with the issue, and he is absolutely losing his mind.

He thought there wasn’t much that would happen, especially since he told that Sega guy to sleep outside and do whatever. But much to his surprise, the moment he got outside of his place, that person was immediately there, hooking an arm around his and getting a little…closer than he would like. That unpleasant smell of herbs and poison reached his nose, and his face contorted to a frown.

“Dosa Hyung-nim, are you going to do something today? Shall I come with you?” Tang Bo asked, oblivious to his agony.

Cheong Myeong was tense the entire time. It was the first time in a long time that someone was this close to him, and the warmth was so foreign to him that goosebumps were rising from the back of his neck. He expertly unlooped his arm from the other person’s grasp, and hit him over the top of his head as hard as he could.

Tang Bo lets go immediately, crumpling to the ground with a shock and pained face.

“No, what was that for?!”

“Get off me,” Cheong Myeong grumbled, looking away, and leaving before any reply could be said to him.

It was so strange. He felt for the briefest moment something foreign and therefore uncomfortable in his stomach as soon as the contact was made. It was so sudden that he immediately pushed it away, a bad feeling creeping up from the back of his mind.

He hated that he was right.

For the following days, Tang Bo was just in Mount Hua, constantly hanging around without showing any signs of going back anytime soon. Sometimes, he disappears for a few hours, but he would come back again and resume whatever it was he was doing. Which was, to Cheong Myeong’s dismay, constantly trying to initiate skin-to-skin contact with him outside of their spars.

It was actually impressive how he can sneak his way into even a small bit of contact. Sometimes, he would swing an arm over Cheong Myeong’s shoulder, and it would earn him a punch in the face for having so much audacity. One time, he patted the swordsman’s shoulder, punched his side lightly, and even nudged him teasingly. Every attempt gets him a rightful punishment, with the Mount Hua disciple walking away with a bothered frown and a bottle, trying to ignore the weird feelings that he was unused to having.

It was such a common event at that point that some of the disciples would stop to watch them whenever they were in sight. They don’t have any idea of what was happening, but it was funny to watch Ilsu Talmyeong constantly trying to initiate contact with the most antisocial person in their sect.

He would constantly barge without warning to the sect leader’s residence to complain about their visitor, but Cheong Mun would only wave off his concerns and tell him there was nothing to worry about. No, sahyung! You can’t just say that! He was really having a hard time here!

There was only one time when Cheong Myeong did not try to hit Tang as soon as he approached. It was when he appeared, holding four bottles of alcohol in both his hands, and asking if they could drink together for the night.

“...Fine.”

“Then, can we drink inside your house?”

“You—”

He looked annoyed for a while. But after a short pause, he relented with a heavy sigh and allowed the Tang brat inside his house. It was starting to get a little cold outside anyway, and people tend to nag when they see Cheong Myeong playing around and drinking alcohol. At least under a roof, no one would come in uninvited.

There wasn’t much, but Cheong Myeong found himself getting tipsy so easily only halfway through the second bottle. It was only when he noticed something off with the smell did his eyes flicker to the completely unaffected Tang Bo, who was drinking it like it was water.

“....You….”

“Dosa Hyung-nim, you’re starting to slur a little,” Tang Bo laughs. “Since I only bought two for each of us, I spiked the drinks to make it a bit stronger. Anyway, you can burn it off whenever you want to, since it’s you.”

“...”

“You don’t want to?” he asked. “Well, that’s fair. There’s no fun drinking when you can’t get drunk.”

He stares at the bottle for a bit. It really was useless against him, since toxins were introduced to his body long ago and no longer did anything. That unfortunately includes alcohol. But maybe if…he concentrates enough…he can force his immunity to shut off. Uh? Was that even possible?

Hmm…Maybe he should experiment on that some time.

He looks back to the swordsman, eyes drifting down to the two empty bottles rolling around next to his feet. Since the poison he mixed in was strong enough to really knock someone out cold but not to be lethal, it was amazing that Cheong Myeong was still partially conscious.

Also, he really drinks alcohol like it was water. What a crazy guy.

“Cheong Myeong dojang,” Tang Bo tries to call out. But that person was just staring into space as if he couldn't hear him.

“Cheong Myeong dojang.”

“Cheong Myeong dojang.”

Hm. It doesn’t work.

He tilts his head and says instead, “Dosa Hyung-nim.”

Plum blossom eyes turned to look his way.

Tang Bo leaned back slightly, surprised that that’s what this person would respond to, despite always showing his displeasure with it and grumbling about how he does anything he wants. Since he was drunk, then could it be that he actually doesn’t mind being called like that?

“Dosa Hyung-nim, are you already drunk?”

“No.”

The answer was instantaneous, but he can see how that guy’s eyes were starting to drop slightly, and the slur in his voice. It amused Tang Bo a little, because although they’ve drank a few times in the past, it was rare to actually see him anything more than tipsy.

He moves a little closer, setting aside his own bottle. He thought it was funny how eyes followed his movements.

“Dosa Hyung-nim.”

“...What?”

“Do you mind if I touch you?”

He sees a frown creep up Cheong Myeong’s face. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“It’s veeeery weird.”

“Weird how?”

“Weird.”

He thinks back to the letter sent by the sect leader. It came to him when he was having a particularly difficult time in the house, when the elders were talking a little too much and ignoring everything that he was trying to say. Maybe it was the reason why the gaju hurriedly sent Tang Jopyung to find him, so the matter of its contents can be discussed immediately.

Touch starved. Iljeol Maehwa^②, the guy who will soon be known by the world as Geomjon, that kind of person was touch starved.

When he first heard it, it was so bizarre he burst out laughing for a long time inside the gaju’s office. But there was no trace of humor on Tang Cheolak’s^③ face even after he finished laughing.

“It was the sect leader who sent the letter, and it is a request. Because of how influential Mount Hua is in Shaanxi, it will be beneficial to us as well if we form friendly relations with them. In fact, you befriending Iljeol Maehwa was already a good thing.”

“What even is this request?” he asked, composing himself to a more serious demeanor. His smoking pipe hung languidly on his free hand. Recognizing that he was here for business and not for stupid jokes, he had worn his usual face again, the same he always wore in this place.

It wasn’t much. It was just to help Cheong Myeong get used to physical contact with people who are not Cheong Mun or Cheong Jin. The fact that he was uncomfortable with it despite his age apparently did not sound like a good thing for the sect leader, and Tang Bo happened to have just recently befriended him. So he was the best person to help ease that guy into the idea.

It was certainly strange. Even Tang Bo himself, who doesn’t have good relations with his family, wasn’t very aversive from touch. In fact, he would pat his grand nephew whenever he talks to him, and doesn’t mind being hugged from time to time. It was rare to meet someone who wasn’t quite used to it so much that he feels so uncomfortable being touched by others and would resort to some form of violence as an instinctive response.

Looking at him now, eyes trying not to drop, Tang Bo wondered what would happen if he did try to make contact.

Every other attempt he made was shut down. At first, he was just curious when he found out about the situation. But being constantly shut down made him feel a little competitive, and he took it as a challenge to succeed. Even the invitation to drink was another one of his attempts.

“Dosa Hyung-nim,” he calls again.

The eyes tried to focus on him again. They didn’t move away even as he moved a little closer.

“You can go to sleep if you want. I won’t do anything.”

“....Leech.”

A bit taken off-guard at what he was called, Tang Bo rolled his eyes for a bit. “Why a leech?”

“Don’t know….when to giiive up.”

“That’s because Hyung-nim is so stubborn,” he argued back, before realizing he was picking a fight with a drunk person. Cheong Myeong snorted in front of him, and he gave a long look, debating on what to do.

In the end, he found himself reaching out a hand.

It felt like an eternity, and it felt as if both of them held their breaths as he moved. But the moment his fingertips brushed against the ends of the swordsman’s hair, he decided to throw away his hesitation and just…brush the strands gently.

He would do this frequently to his grand nephew, so he didn’t find it strange.

Cheong Myeong, however, froze up, still staring at him with his face flushed from the alcohol. Tang Bo lets out an innocent smile, and presses slightly to start scratching his scalp comfortably.

He was ready to be pushed away. Even when drunk, there was no way this person would just let his guard down.

….But contrary to his expectations, Cheong Myeong let out an exhale and closed his eyes. Something was pressing against his palm. And it took a while for Tang Bo to realize that he was…leaning against the touch.

The tension on Cheong Myeong’s figure faded like a lie. He rested against the touch and relaxed in the kind of way that Tang Bo has never seen before. Even his face lost its heavy guards.

He fell asleep like that. So quickly and quietly, that he didn’t even notice it.

Tang Bo remained rooted from where he was, in the same position, staring wide eyed at the person that did not move away from his touch for once. There was a strange thudding inside his chest, like a sort of excitement that he thought he had forgotten since he was young.

He didn’t move. He can’t move, not when Cheong Myeong looked so comfortable there.

It was then that his free hand moved to his face, covering his mouth for a while as a single realization came to mind.

Oh.

This could get a little dangerous.

Chapter Text

“Outside?”

“That’s right.”

“...Outside? Outsiiiide? Sahyung, have you lost your mind?!”

Cheong Jin looks away as soon as he swore he heard a vein pop from the sect leader. Said person looked like he was greatly holding himself back from hitting the elder in front of him. No, could this stubborn guy even be called one? He doesn’t even act like it!

“Why are you complaining now, you brat?” Cheong Mun asked exasperatedly. “You go outside whenever you want anyway!”

“I’m not a dog! Why are you telling me what to do ah?”

“It’s the first time this year I’m asking you this!”

“Ackk! Sahyung, sahyung! It’s too troublesome!”

“You brat—! Just do it!”

“You’re just making me run errands!”

The third person in the room lets out a sigh as his two senior brothers argue with each other. Unfortunately for him, despite having lived with them for many years now, this was a sight that just never failed to make his head hurt.

He took pity on the sect leader and decided to help him.

“Sahyung, what’s the big deal? Is it because Ilsu Talmyeong is coming with you as well?”

Cheong Myeong flinched in the middle of his angry growling. Suddenly, he was as docile as if he wasn’t fighting fiercely for whatever he wanted just a while ago. That was enough of an answer.

The two stared at him in disbelief.

“So it is.”

“No it’s not!”

“You are close friends, aren’t you?” Cheong Jin asked, looking confused. “The disciples kept saying you two get along well.”

Cheong Myeong’s right eye twitched when he heard that statement. He turned to his sajae with an unamused look on his face.

“Yah, those brats should get their eyes checked in the Medicine Hall. What on earth? How can disciples of Mount Hua have bad eyesight ah? Should I beat them to set them straight?”

“Their eyes are fine,” Cheong Mun immediately answered, worried for the safety of the disciples. “This crazy guy…what are you saying? You’re an elder! Start acting like it!”

“I am!”

“Hitting disciples isn’t how an elder should act!”

“It’s not my fault those kids are weak!”

“You…! Eurk…conscience…! Have some conscience!”

“Jangmun Sahyung, what are you saying now, ah?”

Looking as if he wished he could still chase around the younger person in front of him, Cheong Mun sank back to his seat and rubbed circles on his temples. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. That person was already informed about it.”

“What?!”

“He was fine with it, so why are you kicking up a fuss? It’s a short trip, just do it quickly and come back after.”

Cheong Myeong staggered back, looking at the two of them like he was just slapped in the face and then stabbed in the back. “No…how can you do this to me, sahyung?”

“You’re being dramatic now.”

“No…crazy…...everyone here is crazy…”

He turned around and slid open the window. Taking one foot up to rest on the windowsill, he ignored the yelling of “Use the door next to you, you malko bastard—!” and jumped out of the sect leader’s residence, running away in an instant.

Cheong Jin slowly moves his head to look at the sect leader, who just sighed and took the moment of silence as an opportunity to breathe.

“Jangmun sahyung.”

“What is it now, Jin-ah…”

The younger person quietly glanced back to the window. The next time he spoke, he made sure to lower his voice.

“Like this, are you sure inviting Ilsu Talmyeong to the sect is alright?”

Cheong Mun shook his head as if he was just now regretting his decision. But after a longer period of silence that he spent to think, he ended up saying what was actually inside his mind.

“It’s rare for Cheong Myeong-ah to have friends like this.”

“...That’s right too.”

“It’s been a while, but he’s been very lively lately, hasn’t he?”

Cheong Jin gave a thoughtful hum. “I guess he is.”

In the past, Cheong Myeong would be surrounded by people who envied his skills, always doing underhanded things just to beat him and still failing horribly. Coupled with his personality, people tend to look at him negatively and would always stay away from him. By the time he became an elder, although they stopped actively avoiding him, they would mostly come whenever they wanted something from him, whining and complaining about him to beat someone up.

He must’ve felt a little lonely. So Cheong Mun was a little glad when he found out that someone else who might understand Cheong Myeong’s lifestyle started hanging around the brat he raised since he was a baby. Having that guy come around to help with Cheong Myeong’s issue as well about this…concerning lack of physical interaction with other people is also very helpful.

“But sahyung, he’s been adamant on letting it happen.”

“Jin-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Did you remember how he hung you upside down the cliff when you first met?”

The sudden reminder of something that he buried a long time ago in the past made Cheong Jin bite his tongue back. Now, that was something that he doesn’t really want to recall now of all times… Although he thought that kid was crazy back then for that, it was also his fault for mentioning his parents without knowing the story behind it.

“...Yes.”

“It was a little unpleasant, wasn’t it?”

“It still is, sahyung.”

Cheong Mun chuckled slightly at the sour expression on his junior brother’s face. “And still, you two get along well now, don’t you?”

“I wouldn’t say well , all that guy does is give me a headache.”

“...”

“...Okay, maybe a little.”

“That’s right.”

There was a look on the sect leader’s eyes, a mix of pity, concern and faint hope.

“It shouldn’t take much longer…I think Cheong Myeong-ah will eventually warm up to him enough.”

“...Jangmun Sahyung, when you say it like that, do you know what I keep being reminded of?”

“What?”

Cheong Jin looked a bit amused. “A feral cat.”

“Ah.” There was a look of understanding on the other’s face. “That’s a little too accurate, isn’t it?”

“That crazy sahyung, a cat…”

“It’s just like that.”

“Crazy…”

Tang Bo came inside his room just as he was about to leave. He had opened the door and immediately went looking for Cheong Myeong. As soon as his presence in that tiny space was felt, the latter immediately tensed up and assumed an offensive position.

“...” The Tang stared at him blankly for a while. “Hyung-nim, should we get going now?”

“Why are you here, you bastard!”

“Jangmun-in asked me to come with you, remember?”

“What am I, a kid? I’m perfectly fine on my own.”

“I’m coming either way.”

Cheong Myeong frowned and clicked his tongue. But at this point, no matter what he says, there was no way this guy would willingly give up the opportunity to follow him around like a crazy leech. He was already a headache to deal with in the past. However, after that one particular drinking session they had, it was as if he had become twice as sticky. Just his presence was starting to creep Cheong Myeong out!

In fact, that was the reason why he was so adamant on leaving this brat behind. Who knew what crazy thing he’d pull during the short trip down!

His hand blindly reached for something to hold. When it closed around something, even without checking, he hurled it in the direction of the green-robed man with such scary accuracy that even someone from the Tang Family would’ve been jealous of.

Tang Bo had his back turned, but he felt the spike of bloodlust and instinctively ducked down. Something shattered to the wall behind him, and he stared at the broken pieces of porcelain for a while before turning his speechless face to Cheong Myeong.

Hey…that was a murder attempt, you crazy guy!

“You stay here.” Cheong Myeong points at him, glaring.

“I’m telling you, Dosa Hyung-nim! I’m really coming with you!”

“‘Hyung-nim’, this bastard ah? You don’t even do what I say, why are you calling me that?! Listen to your elders!”

“That's what Jangmun-in said! Are you really disobeying him!”

If there were any disciples that happened to pass by around the vicinity of Cheong Myeong’s house, then they had run away immediately for sure as soon as they heard the rising voices from the distance. While it is entertaining to see them argue, it is imperative for them to always stay in a safe area so they don’t get caught up with whatever madness is about to happen.

Anyway somehow, despite the shouting that they’ve been doing ever since they got in that single room together, the duo ended up descending the mountain together, and peace returned to Mount Hua.

Tang Bo stands around boredly just outside the restaurant the entire time. Inside, the Taoist was talking to the owner of the place about something related to the sect. Normally, he still would’ve followed. But since this was a sect matter and not anything he should get involved in, he decided to step back and let that person do his own thing.

Hopefully, he won’t do anything disastrous…right?

(“By the way, sahyung, is there another reason why you asked Ilsu Talmyeong to come with him?” 

Cheong Mun looked up from the pile of paperwork that he was doing, eyebrows furrowing together. “Cheong Myeong-ah is smart, but he can get a bit impatient and rash. I was hoping that guy could temper him a little.”

The Martial Hall elder paused in the middle of copying the manuals in his hands. He stared at the sect leader with an odd look on his face. “To…temper that uncontrollable sahyung?”

Hearing those words, it seems like Cheong Mun just realized that there was something wrong with his statement. The two of them looked at each other for a while in silence, dread slowly growing at the pit of their stomachs.

“I don’t think that guy ever did anything to stop sahyung’s temper in the past, though?”

In fact, hasn’t he always magnified the amount of damage…?

…

“Jin-ah.”

“Yes, Jangmun Sahyung.”

“Let’s…let’s have the compensation ready. And the damage fees.”

“Yes.”

“And the pills.”

“...Alright.”)

Contrary to their sudden realization, though, Cheong Myeong left the restaurant without anything being damaged. It seems like he was more worried about finishing this entire thing faster than usual so he could get away from Tang Bo as much as possible.

He stalked off and immediately went in the direction of Mount Hua. Tang Bo followed after him, his green robes swishing silently behind him.

“Hyung-nim. Dosa Hyung-nim.”

“...”

“Are you coming back already? Why so quickly? Hasn’t it been a while since we were down in Hwa Um? Why don’t we have a drink first before coming back?”

Cheong Myeong faltered slightly. Well, it was a very tempting suggestion.

Just as he was about to agree, he suddenly remembered the vague memory of the last time he was drunk.

It wasn’t very clear anymore, but he can remember someone’s hand on his hair before he fell asleep. Just the thought of it sent shivers down his spine.

“No. I’m going back.”

Tang Bo was a little surprised. It was the first time that this person declined an offer to drink for free. It was a bit unsettling, since he would always jump at the chance to swindle some money from him.

An arm swung over the swordsman’s shoulders and tugged him close to another person’s warm figure. Cheong Myeong went stiff, every single bone in his body screaming at him to get away.

As if on autopilot, he turned around and took a swing at the other person. But Tang Bo has already gotten used to this and just moved away in time, laughing slightly as he moves out of reach.

“What’s wrong, Hyung-nim? Do you want a spar right now?”

Cheong Myeong watched him with an angry look on his face, ears flared red in embarrassment.

“Yah, you.”

“Yes?”

“Quit that.”

“Ah? Quit what?”

Tang Bo tilted his head innocently, acting as if he doesn’t know just what they are talking about.  Seeing that pissed the Mount Hua elder even more, and he didn’t even bother fighting against the urge to punch his face for that.

The other person narrowly dodged the hit, a cold sweat coming down from his temple.

“Ahahaha…it was just a joke, okay? Woah, look at the skies, it’s so clear today!”

Not listening to whatever excuse he was trying to make, Cheong Myeong grabbed his sword by the hilt and used it to swing for Tang Bo.

“Uh? Uhhh? That’s a little dangerous, Dosa Hyung-nim—”

Before he could say anything more, his vision was filled with the body of a sheathed sword rapidly coming towards his face. He reacted a little too late, and he barely managed to plant his feet to the ground to avoid flying back to the distant wall before it met his face.

Ppang!

“...”

Cheong Myeong huffed and returned his sword to his waist. He looked down at the other person, who had crouched down holding his reddening face.

“Stop playing around, damn brat.”

Tang Bo trembled from where he was, not even able to raise his head due to how much his face hurts. No, he was sure that in a few hours, there would be a weird looking bruise forming just right there! Ackk! He should hurry back to Mount Hua and put an ointment so that kind of thing won’t happen.

“Hyung-nim you malko bastard…it hurts…”

“It’s because you’re being so clingy. Like a leech,” Cheong Myeong shot back.

“What’s wrong with it?” He looked up, crocodile tears from the corner of his eyes. “Hyung-nim, friends touch each other all the time anyway! What’s wrong with what I did ah?”

“Friends? Frieeeeends? Yah, you brat! You decided that all by yourself! What have you done since you came, ah? You just keep hanging around for a spar and now you keep harassing me!”

“That’s because everyone else is useless and too weak! I could beat them to a pulp any day, and they don’t even help with my martial arts!”

“Ah? Then go to Wudang and fight with that guy with some title as well or whatever!”

“No!”

“Why not?!”

“I just said why! It’s not Hyung-nim, they’re all useless!”

“Eurkk—You’re impossible! What about the harassment, ah?”

“Your Jangmun-in told me to help you out with that!”

“I don’t need help!”

“You just hit me for what I did! Clearly you do!”

“But this guy?”

“Ack! I was joking! Joooking! Come on, Hyung-nim, let’s all live like humans!”

“Then—Uh?”

“?”

Something just came flying to their direction and stuck firmly on Cheong Myeong’s shoulder. The two of them became distracted, looking at whatever it was with a dumbfounded expression.

There was a strip of paper glue to his uniform. No matter how much Cheong Myeong tried to get rid of it, it remained there, as if it was stuck with some really powerful adhesive. It doesn’t seem like a regular kind of paper either. There was some strange writing on it that if they look closely enough, it almost looks a bit familiar—

Tang Bo yelps and scrambles back.

“Talisman!”

“Uh? Uh??”

There were footsteps that started rushing to their direction. There was a middle-aged man and a young man who looked a bit pale as they stared at the talisman stuck to the swordsman’s arm. They also took a glance at the uniform he was wearing and suddenly looked close to passing out.

“No, of all people, why on a disciple of Mount Hua…?”

“That…that…”

“You idiot!” The older person smacked the back of his companion’s head and forced him to bow down after. “Martial masters, it was really an accident! This fool here didn’t think it would go straight to you two. We will now try to get it off.”

Cheong Myeong, who was a bit confused with what happened so suddenly, just nodded without another word.

The two strangers were a bit nervous to get close, and Tang Bo just watched them do it with a curious look in his eyes. But as soon as their fingers touched the talisman, it just…suddenly burst into flames.

There were some screaming sounds as the two stumbled back in surprise. Cheong Myeong gaped at the burning paper that didn't hurt him nor actually damaged his clothes. After a while, it was gone like it was never there.

“...”

Tang Bo turned to him. “Dosa Hyung-nim, since you’re a Taoist, shouldn’t you have gotten it off earlier?”

“...I’m a swordsman, you brat.”

“But isn’t Mount Hua also a Taoist sect?”

“We’re not like Wudang.”

“...”

“...”

“Anyway, what does that talisman do?”

Since it burned, doesn’t that mean it was activated? Wasn’t that how those things work? The two of them turned to the cowering peoole, who were both so scared that they looked like they might pass out if either of the two started talking to them.

Cheong Myeong looked like he was close to kicking them. “Yah. You hear the question.”

It took some time for the middle-aged man to regain his composure, but he was the first one to answer.

“A—answering the question, it was supposed to ‘reveal the unsaid’.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Stop speaking in riddles, you damn old man!”

“But Dosa Hyung-nim, aren't you older than him?”

“You be quiet.”

“Yes.”

“Ahh! I don't know much! That was everything the vendor said!”

“You bought a talisman without knowing what it does?!”

“Ack!!”

Cheong Myeong now seemed like he was so close to hitting the two. But before he can act on it, he feels someone else's touch brush against his wrist. Without missing a beat, he sent a punch towards the bastard who felt the need to do that unnecessarily.

“Let's just come back! Your sahyung should know what to do, right?”

As soon as Tang Bo said that, the two innocent people were fast to agree, nodding their heads in agreement, eyes blown wife. Cheong Myeong squinted at the other person for a while, before loosening his tension and huffing in resignation.

“Fine.”

Besides, there doesn't seem to be any visible effect yet. Tang Bo thought that as long as Cheong Myeong stays out of trouble, there they wouldn't have to find out whatever side effect must've occured, especially if it was anything too bad.

They returned to Mount Hua quickly. The sect leader was in disbelief when they told him there wasn't much that happened. But when they got to the point about the talisman, he sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Aigoo, sahyung. You keep sighing every time Cheong Myeong sees you. Are you sure you're doing well?

“Of course. I knew something was going to happen…”

Cheong Myeong adopted an offended look. But this guy? “Ah? Sahyung, have some faith in me!”

“Nothing ever goes quietly with you, you brat!”

“It was going to be quiet if not for those yangbans!”

“Don't curse innocent civilians!”

Tang Bo watched with quiet fascination as the person who always hits him and yells at him allow the top of his head to be bonked. He already knew that malko will only be this docile in front of the sect leader, but it's very interesting to watch.

It's like seeing a mother hen scold his chick…

“And you!”

He smiles innocently when the attention was turned to him. Cheong Mun frowned, not liking how similar that expression is to the other brat in front of him.

“Just don't…let this guy make things worse.”

Well, it's not like he could say much. After all, wasn't he the reason this time why Cheong Myeong didn't hit those civilians and insisted they come back? Although it was only probably because of the unknown effect of the talisman…

“Ah? That crazy guy's worse than me, though! Jangmun Sahyung, how can you ignore me like this!”

“Be quiet!”

Cheong Jin came back with the Medicine Hall Head after some time to find his sahyung and their guest sitting on the floor with their hands over their knees. Cheong Mun stood in front of them with his arms crossed, looking like he just finished scolding the two of them.

Tang Bo looked up at him, looking like he was greatly wronged. Why was he dragged in with the nagging?!

The rest of the time was spent with the Hall Head checking to see if there was any other visible side effect that they missed. Cheong Mun shook his head and returned to his seat, just watching the entire thing with some worry in his eyes.

“What does the talisman look like?”

Tang Bo tilted his head and said, “We only saw it briefly.”

“Then it's going to be difficult.”

Talismans could be pretty straightforward with telling what it does if they read what was written on it. But unfortunately, they were too distracted to look at what it says. In the first place, Cheong Myeong was someone who would rather solve any problems with his fists first, so he probably thought it wouldn't matter if he didn't see it. If it was a curse to have jiangshi chase after him, then he's confident in his ability to cut them down before anything could happen.

Cheong Jin crossed his arms and said, “Maybe we should lock you up until we figure out what it does.”

“Uh? Lock me up? Me?”

“Ackk—Then, would you rather get into trouble?”

“Cheong Jin, you—!”

A clearing of the throat made the two elders stop before they could start arguing with each other at that moment.

Wow. They're really close. If it was him, there was just no one in the Tang Family who would willingly get into a verbal fight with Tang Bo.

“It sounds like the most sensible thing to do right now.”

“Jangmun Sahyung!”

“If you were more careful, this wouldn't have happened.”

“Eurk…”

“Most importantly.” The sect leader turned to look at the green-robed man that was also in the room with them. Everyone simultaneously turned to look at him as well, making Tang Bo feel a bit nervous for having that many eyes looking at him. 

What? Was he gonna get scolded again?

“Ilsu Talmyeong…” Cheong Mun started awkwardly. “Maybe you should also have your bruise checked.”

“...”

Tang Bo blinked for a while and suddenly remembered that he was hit with a scabbard not too long ago. His level of martial arts made him completely forget about the pain, but it seems like there was still a physical mark left.

Indeed, a thin reddening mark that was slowly darkening was forming on his face.

“... I'll be in your care.”

“Those bastards…”

Everyone in this sect has gone mad! They really locked him up in his own house!

Cheong Mun told him that if anyone were to see him wandering around, then he would really be facing it. He doesn't know what, exactly, he would be facing, but since it was the sect leader telling him this, he decided to just shut his mouth and listen to what was told of him.

Now, he can handle it. He's handled being in the Cave of Penance since he was young, he can live with being stuck here for a while until they figure out what the talisman actually does.

But the problem is…

“What are you still doing here?!”

Tang Bo smiles back at him, calmly taking a drag from his smoking pipe. The smoke filled the entire house, making Cheong Myeong feel more annoyed than usual due to the smell of unpleasant things all over the place.

Hey, haven't you been here for almost two months now?! Your visit is long overdue!

“Dosa Hyung-nim.”

“What?”

“Since we’re here anyway, let’s play a game.”

Cheong Myeong’s face contorted into something sour. “You damn leech, no one is asking you to stay here too.”

“After we’re done, I will go back to Sichuan.”

That got his attention.

The Mount Hua elder narrowed his eyes at the sudden suggestion. He thought this guy would never willingly offer this kind of option for him, considering how much fun he was having trying to ruin Cheong Myeong’s day for the past month.

“What is it?”

“Since you’re now my Hyung-nim, I should get to know you a little more, right? Let’s ask each other questions and answer truthfully.”

The swordsman tilted his head, frowning. “What’s the point in that?”

“Although I’ve been around Hyung-nim for quite some time now, I only know little apart from the fact that he loves alcohol and meat and beating up sapas.”

“Uh?”

“So,” Tang Bo leans back, eyes glinting with something that Cheong Myeong doesn’t quite understand. “I want to know more. And Dosa Hyung-nim can also ask about me, so that it’s a fair trade.”

“I’m not very interested in you, though?”

“Ah? How can that be? Didn’t you say I was interesting when we first met?”

“I was talking about your technique.”

“Really?”

He turned around and refused to talk.

However, it was the first time that he was with someone while he was under house arrest, and it was honestly already a lot better than trying to entertain himself while alone. In the end, he relented and they both sat down in the middle of his room, on the floor. Tang Bo looked really smug about it while hiding his pipe back in his sleeves that he had to try his best not to punch his face. Again.

He decided that if he doesn’t want to answer something, he might as well just lie about it.

“Who is starting?”

“I should, shouldn’t I? After all, I was the one who suggested this.”

“Then go ask.”

“Alright.”

The other person took his time, looking around the room to think of the question. There really wasn’t any limit on how many questions they would ask, as long as they took turns. So he figured it should be fine to take his time asking the easy question first.

“Favorite color?”

Cheong Myeong scowled at him. “That’s a dumb question. Are you a kid?”

“It’s still a question about you though?”

“...Pink.”

“I expected that,” Tang Bo laughs slightly, taking note about the pink tones of his clothes and the plum blossoms that literally surrounded the mountain. “Okay, your turn.”

“Okay, then what’s your favorite color?”

“Really?”

“You asked the same question as well.”

“...” Tang Bo took his time to think for a while. There was a moment of silence, before he said, “Red.”

“What? Not green?”

“Eh? Did Hyung-nim think that because the Tang Family is green?”

“Obviously?”

Once, he must’ve really liked green. After all, it was the color of his family. But as he gets tired of being there, he also gets sick of always seeing green. He doesn’t mind wearing the color, of course, since it was a symbol of their family, but it just doesn’t rank very high in his list anymore.

They traded dumb questions for quite some time. After a while, he decided to change the difficulty of the questions and jumped straight to the point.

Tang Bo leans forward slightly, looking at him with the kind of persistence that he’s been looking with for a while now.

“Dosa Hyung-nim.”

“Alright, spit it out.”

“Do you hate my touch so much?”

Cheong Myeong snorts. Well, isn’t the answer to that fairly easy?

Yeah.

“No.”

“Ah?”

The swordsman paused, blinking in confusion at the answer that came from his mouth. However, Tang Bo brightens up as he hears the answer.

“Then why do you keep avoiding it?”

“It’s my turn to ask, you brat!”

“Ack—Alright, alright.”

He crossed his arms, plum blossom eyes narrowing slightly. Then, he says, “You could quit anytime, so why are you still hanging around here?”

“You’re so insistent on kicking me out?”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“Aigoo…” Tang Bo shook his head and only looked amused. “I don’t like backing down from things I was tasked to do.”

“It’s not even—”

“Alright, now answer my question!”

“You…” Cheong Myeong briefly considered kicking him out but thought against it. “Alright, fine. What was the question again?”

The other person easily repeats what he asked. There was another silence as Cheong Myeong thought about how to respond.

There was something there that rang a bell. He felt like he heard the question before, but can’t quite remember where exactly. He scratched his cheek while deep in thought, and ended up saying, “It’s just uncomfortable.”

Hm.

There it was.

Tang Bo stays quiet, just keeping his eyes trained on the swordsman and barely blinking at all. His eyes went all around that face, carefully observing every detail as much as possible.

He thinks Cheong Myeong doesn’t realize it, but there was a soft flush in his cheeks. It always happens whenever he is talking about his more personal information. The first time he saw it, Tang Bo was stunned speechless and he was left wondering for a while if he had been seeing things.

It happened again, so he knew he wasn’t being delusional. It seems like there’s very few people that actually took the time to get to know this unreasonable person, so he doesn’t know how to feel when people are genuinely interested in knowing him.

“So what’s your ulterior motive here?”

He stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Dosa Hyung-nim, is that your question?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh. I was just trying to see something.”

“How’s that a proper answer, you brat—”

“Can I still see you after this?”

“Why are you changing the—Huh?”

“Can I still see you after this?”

Cheong Myeong, not understanding the question, lets out a “Ha?” He wonders if that was really the question. It doesn’t even ask anything about him?

“Since I said I’ll come back, and Hyung-nim always acts so annoyed when I’m around, I wonder if I could still visit without being too troublesome.”

This guy…is he trying to act pitiful? Even the tone of his voice would make any passerby mistake the situation for Cheong Myeong bullying him!

“Has that stopped you before, though?”

“No.”

“Then there’s your answer.”

“But if Hyung-nim tells me to, then I won’t come.”

“...”

There was a sudden seriousness in the air that he wasn’t prepared for. But Tang Bo was actually being genuine with his words. He doesn’t want the only person he actually likes being around to feel uncomfortable whenever he was nearby, so he was asking this.

“...I’m telling you it’s fine.”

“Really?”

“Just…quit being all over my space so much.”

Tang Bo nods with a resigned look. “Alright.”

Although he agreed just like that, it was actually a difficult request.

Ever since that night when he had this person falling asleep on him, he has been constantly trying to chase after the same feeling of excitement that he felt at the time. That was the reason why his advances have been more frequent and forward.

He liked it whenever this person, who will soon be Geomjon, would react so strongly to him. He likes it when his face turns a light shade of red, likes it when he tries to hit him for what he did, and likes it when he gets scolded for what he was doing.

It always leaves a ticklish feeling in his chest and a funny fluttering in his stomach, something that was similar to what he feels whenever he was smoking his mix of poison and herbs. It might not feel exactly the same, but he prefers this one compared to his smoking. That was why he was constantly chasing after him, allowing his greed to take over even if it starts to get annoying.

He doesn’t really understand why yet. Just that he likes it.

But…well, this time, maybe he should take things a little slower?

Cheong Myeong looked suspicious of him when he agreed. “Really?”

“Yes.”

If he’s going to do it, then he should do it properly, right? Just like now, he didn't know much about this person until they started asking each other these things in the four corners of this room.

“...Really?”

“Aigoo…this guy is so suspicious!”

“Who wouldn’t be, when you just won’t quit?!”

“But I already am?”

“That’s why it was weird!”

Truthfully, Cheong Myeong didn’t really believe that. He just brushed it off-handedly and went on with this silly game until the two of them got tired of it and retired for the day.

Still the next day, Tang Bo really left Mount Hua.

It has been another month since they last saw each other.