Chapter 33
“We’ll arrive soon. There’s also a Yongji here, isn’t there?”
In the village the two were heading to, there was a shrine built on the site where the Dragon God had stayed for a night, and many people came to offer prayers. Shrines built near Yongji were often considered holy sites, and many visited them believing their prayers would be more effective.
“There are divided opinions on whether it’s a true Yongji or not. Yeong Chunhwa doesn’t grow nearby, and the historical records aren’t clear either. In reality, small shrines tend to attach meaning to anything they can to attract people.”
“Ah… The clergy’s power isn’t very strong compared to the Dragon God’s majesty, so I guess they try hard.”
While the people of Great Yeong worshipped and revered the Dragon God, unlike other countries, the clergy could not wield much influence. The Yongson, descendants of the Dragon God, ruled the country, and since only the officials of the Taesangsi, who oversaw ceremonies at the imperial palace, received official positions, the priests who guarded various shrines were merely commoners called by that name.
Nevertheless, the people made donations while offering prayers, and the shrines soothed their hearts and used that money for relief work, creating a kind of virtuous cycle.
“Do you want to visit?”
“If we have time, we could stop by… but there’s no need to.”
While it was proper to revere and respect the Dragon God, perhaps due to the years he’d grown up, it felt oddly uncomfortable to visit shrines, though it might be an impious thought. Since he had already offered prayers at a small altar house last time, they would understand if he passed by this time.
As he pondered whether that slum was still in dire poverty, resolving to do whatever he could before arriving in Yehang—whether sending a petition or whatever else—they reached an inn.
After leaving their belongings and finishing their meal, it was nearly sunset. As he wondered what to do before nightfall, Hwi asked:
“Shall we go out and look around?”
Yun-seo hesitated for a moment before readily accepting.
Warm twilight descended, dissolving the sky in rosy hues. Wind chimes hanging from the eaves of some house tinkled melodiously in the breeze. As they strolled through the quiet streets, a peaceful smile settled on Yun-seo’s lips.
Walking side by side, Yun-seo and Hwi’s sleeves rustled softly against each other. Yun-seo fixed his gaze on this contact, wishing this moment could be like a circular river. Flowing gently and then returning. Forever.
Yun-seo’s gaze drifted upward as if blooming, reaching Hwi’s face. As he quietly observed, he noticed shadows pooling in Hwi’s cheeks. A belated question arose—hadn’t his face grown thinner than when they first met? Was it from not sleeping properly? He ate well, so why…
Just then, Hwi’s eyes shot toward Yun-seo like suddenly launched arrows. Yun-seo averted his gaze abruptly, like a fish speared by a harpoon.
“It’s like you’re posting a sign saying ‘I was stealing glances at you.'”
“…When did I ever do that?”
At Yun-seo’s composed denial, Hwi tilted his head and drew closer, and Yun-seo created distance. Thinking he would be ignored, Hwi closed the gap as much as Yun-seo had opened it, so Yun-seo slyly moved further away. As he crab-walked sideways, his arm touched the wall, leaving him nowhere to escape.
When he stealthily checked, he had no choice but to meet Hwi, who was staring at him intently. As Hwi gently grasped Yun-seo’s shoulder, he had to press down his body that threatened to jerk upward.
“So you don’t know.”
Hwi whispered affectionately, slowly scanning Yun-seo’s face.
“It’s human nature to want to chase after something that’s running away.”
Incensed by Hwi’s leisurely demeanor while he alone felt anxious, Yun-seo glared up at him.
“Only unseemly hunters would do that.”
“Do I seem proper to you?”
He marveled at the skill of speaking such uncouth words in such a noble voice. Hwi raised his finger and gently touched the short strands of Yun-seo’s hair that hadn’t been tied up and fell to his nape. Even though his fingertips didn’t touch skin, Yun-seo tensed completely.
When his hand moved slightly upward but stopped as if hitting something, Yun-seo seized the moment to break free from Hwi.
“Since you don’t seem that way, do try harder!”
Throwing out this sharp retort, he hurriedly walked away with angry steps. He felt miserable, unable to tell whether the perceptive man was pretending not to know or could act that way because he truly didn’t care at all. But would anything change either way?
Though he wished to be apart from Hwi even briefly, knowing this wasn’t possible made him even angrier. Not wanting to walk leisurely like this any longer, Yun-seo’s eyes caught a sake shop with a banner marked with the character ‘酒’ (alcohol), and he abruptly stepped inside.
After passing through a short corridor, he pushed through black bead curtains and forcefully opened the door. However, what met his eyes was hazy smoke filling the interior like fog and an acrid smell. Yun-seo covered his mouth with his sleeve, coughing as he looked around. As the smoke cleared slightly, he was met with the stares of everyone in the room.
Expressionless faces all stared piercingly at Yun-seo.
Yun-seo took a startled step back but was blocked by a presence behind him. Hwi gripped one of Yun-seo’s shoulders, and the people’s attention shifted to him. They quickly assessed Hwi as if appraising merchandise, then returned to their business.
While some were simply drinking, most had domino tiles spread out on tables, and a few had long pipes between their lips, exhaling smoke. Yun-seo surmised these were tobacco pipes.
As he hesitated at the unfamiliar scene, Hwi’s grip on his shoulder tightened.
“Sake shops with black bead curtains are such disorderly places. This is no place for you.”
It was exactly the tone one would use to soothe an ignorant child. At any other time, he would have obediently turned and left, but it seemed a rebellious spirit had taken residence in his chest. With a hardened expression, he walked further inside, and he thought he heard a sigh from behind.
A rushing attendant assessed Hwi’s attire and immediately guided them to an inner space curtained off with colorful bead curtains.
The private room had fewer people than outside and more distance between seats, making it less uncomfortable. After sitting in chairs, Hwi gazed steadily at Yun-seo’s sullen face before ordering something from the attendant.
Though boisterous sounds crossed over, only the atmosphere surrounding the two remained sunken. As time passed, his anger subsided, and reason sharply emerged into the gap.
Hwi was clearly someone he should be grateful to, someone who owed him a debt, yet how could he have acted so petulantly? Self-reproach stabbed at his back. The turbulent emotions in his heart were his alone. How could he shift responsibility for something he couldn’t face onto Hwi?
He didn’t want to act like a child. Since their parting was already predetermined, it would be wise to create only good memories while possible. As Yun-seo composed his expression and moved his lips, the attendant brought a bottle of alcohol and a long dish.
Examining the dish, Yun-seo let out a small exclamation.
“Oh…”
In the dish were rice cakes shaped like rabbits, ducks, cows, and dogs, arranged on bamboo leaves and flowers beneath, making the soft animals appear as if they were running across a field. While he had seen flower-shaped rice cakes and confections before, this was his first time seeing such creations, bringing color to his face.
“Start with the one that resembles you.”
“…What do I resemble?”
Hwi pointed twice in the air above the dish. Since they indicated a rabbit and a dog, Yun-seo mumbled:
“I don’t resemble either.”
Though he responded this way, the air between them became considerably lighter. Recognizing Hwi’s intention to soothe his mood, his fingertips tingled as if floating, yet sorrow seemed to pool somewhere between his fingers.
Yun-seo deliberately put on a bright smile as if excited and popped a rabbit-shaped rice cake into his mouth. Hwi poured alcohol into Yun-seo’s cup and said:
“It’ll taste better if we drink together.”
A faint sweet fragrance wafted from the alcohol. When Yun-seo took a sip, the nutty, mild rice cake indeed harmonized well with the sweet liquor, making him nod emphatically.
“You should try some too, my lord.”
Hwi showed no interest in the dish of rice cakes, merely filling his own cup. However, perhaps the sweet taste didn’t suit him, as he only wet his lips with it.
“Do you know how to play dominoes?”
Hwi took out dominoes from a box placed to one side. Yun-seo looked at the rectangular, whitish tiles with small holes with interested eyes.
“It’s my first time even seeing dominoes. Isn’t this gambling?”
“Yes. Since we’re here, let’s play a round.”
“Have you played before, my lord?”
“I haven’t played, but I know how.”
It was fascinating that there was something he was trying for the first time.
Hwi distributed the tiles and quietly explained the rules and method of the game. Though it seemed difficult with the varying number of holes in each tile, it was easy enough to understand after hearing it once.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
