YCHW Ch 15

It could just be a passing shower, but if it was the rain to relieve the drought, that would be a joyous occasion indeed. Hwi met Yoonso’s eyes, brimming with delight as if it were his own, and tilted his chin slightly.

“We should hurry.”

If they stayed like this, they’d surely end up like drenched rats. Yoonso, following Hwi’s lead, quickly grabbed the reins.

But they hadn’t gone far before they had to take shelter under a zelkova tree.

The great tree was good for avoiding the rain, but it wasn’t enough to shield them from the downpour. Hwi took off his robe, pulled Yoonso close to his side, and draped it over their heads like a canopy. Warmth radiated from where Hwi’s body touched Yoonso’s arm.

Yoonso glanced at Hwi, who had unhesitatingly shed his robe once again, and tossed out a playful remark.

“If we keep going like this, you won’t have any robes left by the time we reach Yehang.”

“I’ll make sure to get at least this robe’s worth back, so don’t worry.”

“They say those who have more are stingier, and it seems that’s true.”

A smile played on Yoonso’s lips as he deliberately grumbled.

Yoonso reached out to catch the raindrops falling through the dense leaves. Though the sudden rain had delayed them, knowing it was the long-awaited rain for so many people, he felt no regret.

“Isn’t it strange?”

“What is?”

“You prayed, and then it started raining.”

Yoonso’s rain-soaked fingertips curled. He furrowed his brow and lowered his hand.

“How could it be because of me? It must be thanks to the sincerity of many people. If it were really my doing, the rain would’ve come the moment I prayed.”

Though he dismissed it as mere coincidence, Hwi’s words left him uneasy. Could it be because he was the Yeong춘화…?

No, no. If the Yeong춘화’s prayers reached the Dragon God, wouldn’t the world bend to the Yeong춘화’s will? Aside from this instance, not once had his prayers ever reached the Dragon God.

“If it’s really my doing, maybe it’s because I showed that man a small kindness, and the Dragon God looked upon it favorably?”

“Do you believe in the Dragon God?”

Yoonso had spoken brazenly, expecting a reprimand, but the question that came back was absurd. He stiffened, looking at Hwi as if he’d heard something bizarre.

“What does that mean… Isn’t he beyond questioning belief?”

Lowering his voice to a whisper, as if the Dragon God might overhear, Yoonso saw Hwi gaze up at the sky, pouring rain like it had a hole in it.

“Well. Sometimes I wonder.”

“…”

“That all of this is just a predetermined cycle.”

Perhaps because of the sound of the rain, Hwi’s voice seemed to fade faintly. Yoonso blinked blankly, mulling over his words.

At first, he thought Hwi was asking if he trusted the Dragon God, but now it seemed he was questioning the Dragon God’s very existence.

If that was the case, it was a blasphemous notion, deserving of a lightning strike. Yet, Yoonso felt no urge to blame Hwi.

Did he believe in the Dragon God? Of course. Everything that had happened to him stemmed from the Dragon God, didn’t it? But since he’d never once received an answer to his fervent childhood prayers, he’d stopped thinking of the divine separately. If it was blasphemous to think the gods didn’t exist to grant human wishes, then so be it.

If his awakening as the Yeong춘화 was merely a cycle of fate… If there was no purpose or design from the Dragon God…

It didn’t fully sink in, and he couldn’t quite grasp it. He only vaguely sensed it would bring an endless feeling of powerlessness.

No sound could be heard but the refreshing patter of the rain. The mist rising from the ground drifted over the mountains. Perhaps on a day like this, even the Dragon God couldn’t hear the words of mortals.

Strangely, Hwi’s face seemed to grow increasingly serene. Was it the rain? It felt as though he was sinking, sinking deeper with the pouring rain.

Yoonso’s heart pounded with unease for no clear reason. This robust man, who seemed unyielding in any circumstance, looked utterly weary, and Yoonso, at a loss, stared at him before impulsively grabbing his hand.

The dark eyes of Hwi, deepened by the rainclouds, turned to Yoonso. Only then did Yoonso realize his action and falter.

“You looked… lonely.”

What a foolish thing to say. Why would Hwi suddenly be lonely? Even if he was, such comfort was something only a child would need. As Yoonso’s ears reddened and he tried to pull his hand away, Hwi caught his fingertips before they could slip free.

Surprised by the clasped hands, Yoonso soon noticed Hwi’s hand was cold. Though the rain had cooled the air, such a temperature didn’t suit someone so sturdy.

“Why is your hand so cold?”

Intending to share some of his warmth, Yoonso gripped Hwi’s hand tighter but hesitated. A sudden sense of déjà vu struck him. It felt like something similar had happened before…

He glanced up at Hwi, but Hwi only looked down at him silently. Had he ever held another man’s hand like this? Perhaps because Hwi had grabbed him so often, it felt familiar.

Two men standing side by side, holding hands, suddenly felt awkward. But if Hwi could lend his costly robe without hesitation, couldn’t Yoonso lend a hand in return?

Biting his lip, Yoonso turned his gaze to the rain soaking the earth. The warmth pooling between their clasped hands didn’t dissipate, even in the cold rain.

𓇢𓆸

Having spent the night in a dilapidated shed because there was no proper place to stay, Yoonso’s body ached all over.

Still, seeing the stars form a river in the sky through the broken roof before sleeping was truly pleasant. It fulfilled some romantic notion of sleeping outdoors, so it couldn’t be called just a rough night.

Of course, Hwi teased that living on the road must be his calling.

“How do you pass the time when you’re bored, my lord?”

The path was a vast, empty plain, and while Yoonso had initially marveled at the grand scenery, he was starting to feel restless with nothing to look at. For him, every place was new, so it was bearable, but he wondered how those accustomed to frequent travel managed.

“You close your eyes once, open them, and you’re there. Where’s the time to be bored?”

“That’s quite an exaggeration.”

How nice it would be if closing his eyes once brought them to Yehang. Yoonso gave a sulky pout, and Hwi let out a chuckle.

“You’re still young, so you must be bored.”

“Why bring up age? Do you even know how old I am?”

“Judging by your tied-up hair, you’re of age. Probably haven’t added another year yet.”

“For your information, I might be older than you, my lord.”

Hwi scanned Yoonso from head to toe, then snorted as if it were absurd.

“You’d be lucky if you’ve even got hair down there.”

“W-what…”

Hair down there? How could he say something so crude and blatant so casually? Yoonso’s cheeks flushed as he snapped back.

“That’s rude! Such vulgar talk…!”

“Vulgar? This?”

Hwi tilted his head as if he’d never heard such a thing, then stared at Yoonso, pulling on his horse’s reins. Matching Yoonso’s pace, he suddenly leaned his head closer, forcing Yoonso to tighten his grip on the reins and lean back.

With only a finger’s width between their faces, Yoonso forgot to even blink, holding his breath. Hwi’s eyes roamed over Yoonso’s face intently. It felt like an invisible hand was tracing his cheeks, yet he was powerless to stop it.

A moment that felt like an eternity passed.

“Not even peach fuzz.”

Hwi raised his right eyebrow briefly, then pulled back, casually urging his horse forward. Left behind, Yoonso stared blankly at Hwi’s back, his shoulders trembling.

Anyone could see he was teasing. Children naturally hate being called young, and Yoonso was no exception. Moreover, since, in truth, he only had peach fuzz down there, Hwi’s words stung his pride even more.

Not only was his pride hurt, but he didn’t want to just take it like a fool. Kicking his horse’s flank, Yoonso shouted.

“I bet I’m hairier than you, my lord!”

Since his birthday hadn’t yet come, Yoonso wasn’t technically of age. Normally, dark hair grows under the arms and groin a few years before adulthood, but some develop later, don’t they? Yoonso firmly believed he was one of the late bloomers.

Rushing past Hwi in a huff, he noticed no sound of pursuit and pulled on the reins. He began to wonder if he’d been the rude one, his spirits sinking.

Right, he was a servant. He shouldn’t forget that. But still, this much…

Glancing back, he saw Hwi riding slowly, his expression ambiguously amused. Then, as if finding it absurd, he let out a soft laugh, covering his eyes with one hand and shaking his head. Beneath his fingers, his lips curved into a gentle arc.

If only I could see his whole face.

Yoonso let out a regretful sigh, then, feeling relieved, burst into laughter.

“Come on, hurry up!”

Urging his horse again, it snorted, shook its head, and galloped across the plain. The gentle breeze brushed Yoonso’s cheeks and tickled the grass covering the vast earth.