"Why havenât we left yet?"
The innocent question, as if the speaker truly didnât understand, was met with silence.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Perhaps it was because the sudden situation left me speechless. I couldnât think of anything to say.
âWhat is this?â
Why is that man here?
I had gone out of my way to avoid causing a commotion and kept my mouth shut. So how in the world did he end up here?
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind.
Especially nowâit was the worst time to face him.
âConsidering I just sold out that old manâ¦â
Thinking about the "things" I had done involving Paejon, I couldnât even bring myself to look him in the eye.
If he were to find out later about how I used his name for certain purposes...
âIt wouldnât end with me just getting folded in half.â
Disciple or not, heâd likely rip off my limbs and scatter them in different rivers. That man was entirely capable of it.
As I broke into a cold sweat at the thought, Paejon watched me silently before breaking the silence with a question.
"Why do you look like that? Youâre like someone caught stealing."
"...What are you talking about? When have I ever stolen anything?"
His perceptiveness was annoyingly sharp.
"Thatâs what makes it strangeâ"
"When did you two start acting like siblings?"
"Ahaha, yes, thatâsâ"
Moyong Hee-ahâs interjection caused Paejon to change his tone abruptly.
"Haha! Must be my tongue acting up this morning."
"â¦"
His clumsy attempt to smooth things over felt laughable, but of course, I kept that thought to myself.
âUh, Young Master Bi.â
âElder.
âYes.â
âWhat is it, old man?
âAre you planning to join us?â
âWhy would I, an elder, tag along? Stay home quietly.
âIt seems fun. I could be of some help, so why not take me along?â
âShut up and take him. âUnless you want to die.
"â¦" "Ahaha."
In the brief exchange, his true intentions were clear. The final comment, in particular, sent a chill down my spine.
It conveyed Paejonâs unyielding determination not to be left behind.
As much as I wanted to ditch him outright...
âItâs not like heâs someone you can just abandon.â
It would take everyone here working together just to push him back, and even then, it would be uncertain.
And if we somehow managed to push him away...
âIn the processâ¦â