IJWTGO 10

Chapter 10

“Chun… Rang…?”

Even as Baekseon whispered his name, he couldn’t believe it.

How could he possibly be here?

He hadn’t been in good condition, but even so, this road was far from Yunnan. Unless he had come chasing deliberately, there was no reason Chunrang should be standing before his eyes.

Chunrang was just about to speak with a grim aura when—

“Don’t tell me… you ran all the way here?”

Baekseon spoke first, staggering as he tried to rise. But his body gave way before he could even reach out a hand—he collapsed back down.

“You must have been exhausted…”

Baekseon had thought Chunrang left because he disliked him. If he had known the boy would follow, maybe he would have delayed his own departure. Regret filled his face.

Chunrang’s lips parted.

Why did you leave first?

Had you figured out where I was and meant to hand me over to the Martial Alliance?

All the excuses Chunrang had prepared to confront Baekseon scattered like smoke.

“I told you… we should travel together. Why did you leave before me?”

He stepped close, gripping Baekseon’s shoulder. His face, straining to hold back a flood of emotions, made Baekseon avert his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Chunrang. Truth is… I didn’t think you’d come back.”

“What?”

“You left so angry…”

Was it because he’d treated him like a child? Or because, without meaning to, he had played the role of master? He couldn’t know.

But one thing was certain: Chunrang had been hurt by their last conversation.

“Has your anger… cooled at all?”

Baekseon asked carefully, touching his arm. It felt almost like he was pleading—like before—not to abandon him again. Chunrang swallowed hard without meaning to.

“I was never angry.”

“Really? Then why did you storm out like that?”

The truth—that he’d left in guilt, to confirm whether his weak body might have trapped his master—was something he could not admit.

“I… went to pay respects.”

“Respects?”

“I hadn’t yet told my master I’d be gone for a long time.”

Baekseon gave a soft exclamation at Chunrang’s casual lie.

“I also set up a spell, to ward off intruders while I’m gone.”

“That means…”

“I won’t be returning to Aenoe Mountain for a while.”

Chunrang’s eyes gleamed with firm resolve as he looked at Baekseon. He clearly meant to accompany him for some time.

Baekseon smiled faintly and nodded.

He wants to save Manyugang.

A doomed effort in the end, but better than shutting himself away in a cave. Only by wandering would he meet Song Jeokrim, and all the other fated encounters that awaited him.

“If I may… even if the Tang elders know little of your arts, don’t return to the mountain right away.”

“Why not?”

“Because there are others in this world who can help you, not only the Tang elders.”

Baekseon coaxed him gently, urging him to stay in the world for the sake of those ties yet to come.

“So you’re saying… you don’t want me alone in that cave?”

“…Yes.”

“Then why stop those intruders? They came to steal my master’s corpse.”

Baekseon lowered his gaze.

“…Because if I hadn’t stopped them, you would have been sad.”

“Sad?”

“As you said, they came for Manyu—no, for the corpse of the Blood Rain Demon. That means they would’ve stolen something precious from you.”

Chunrang almost laughed, swallowing it down.

Does he not realize… even this is just like Master?

Manyugang had always been poor at lying. Stern on the surface, but careless at heart—so much that sometimes Chunrang felt he had to look after him.

“Oops, my mistake. Rang-ah, we’ll have to run for it.”

Feigning calm, then fleeing after a blunder.

“Hmm. I’ve never sewn before, so… tsk.”

Trying to mend Chunrang’s torn robe, only to rip it further.

“So… you fancy men like that?”

And yet, somehow, always guessing Chunrang’s tastes with sharp accuracy.

Kind, gentle, clumsy—still thinking himself strict and frightening.

Chunrang, lost in memory, composed his expression and met Baekseon’s gaze again.

“Fine. I’ll do as you say—for now. But on one condition.”

Baekseon’s face brightened at his assent.

“Stay by my side, Tang Baekseon.”

“…What?”

The words could mean only companionship, yet the way Chunrang said them carried another weight.

“You need me too.”

He placed his hand lightly on Baekseon’s abdomen. A warm energy surged, flushing out the cold inside him.

“It’s true I need you… but I have nothing to offer you in return.”

His voice softened under the warmth spreading through his body.

“Nonsense. Your very existence is a great help to me.”

The realization struck him—Tang Baekseon was the eldest son of the Tang family. His mere status could shield Chunrang’s identity.

If dressed properly, hair combed neatly, people would surely take him for some young master from a noble house. That might ease his suffering.

After a pause, Baekseon nodded. His own goal was to erase the tragic fate looming over Chunrang, after all.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

Traveling together would also help him settle the lingering regrets in his own heart.

“But Chunrang—if one day you wish to leave with someone else, promise you’ll tell me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly that. If you find someone else you wish to stay with, don’t hesitate to go.”

The one he meant was surely Song Jeokrim.

Baekseon smiled as he said it—but unease pricked faintly at his chest.

“That won’t happen. I only plan to be with you.”

“…”

“Don’t you dare leave me for someone else either… like my master did.”

Baekseon’s shoulders shook violently.

He didn’t abandon you…

The words rose in his throat, but before he could speak, Chunrang pulled him up.

“In return, I’ll take care of anyone who tries to harm you.”

Drawing the broadsword from his back, Chunrang turned.

The bandits lurking in the brush, too afraid to flee, locked eyes with him—and froze.

“You dared to attack my companion… I hope you’re prepared.”

His voice rumbled like a beast’s growl. The bandits dropped to their knees at once.

And then—screams echoed from the thickets for a long time.