The Eternal Flower Beggar King Chapter 25 — Companions

 The Eternal Flower Beggar King

Chapter 25 — Companions

Byeongoh Year, late winter.

Winter was ending.

Icicles that had clung to the eaves were melting, dripping steadily, and small puddles of snowmelt had collected here and there across the stone floor of the courtyard. The wind was still cold, but no longer the bone-cutting kind, and somewhere in the air was the faint sense that spring was on its way.

Almost spring.

Jinhwa picked up the broom and began to sweep the yard. Each time the bristles scraped across the stone, dust that had gathered all winter rose and glittered in the sunlight, scattering into the air. The afternoon sun lit the center of the courtyard, and the warmth on his back was gentle.

It had been months since he first met Hagun. The two of them met every week without fail — eating gukbap or buying rice cakes at the market, talking about everything and nothing — and Jinhwa did not dislike those hours. If he was being honest, he looked forward to them.

This kind of life… it's not bad at all.

The faint smell of green onions frying drifted from the kitchen, and then came Jang Ikho's booming voice.

"Jinhwa, you going to see Hagun today?"

Jinhwa stood the broom against the wall and turned toward the kitchen. Jang Ikho was brushing flour off his apron, smiling.

"Boss Jang, how did you know?"

"The whole neighborhood's heard by now. They say the two of you are inseparable."

Yu Gapyeong nodded beside him and chimed in.

"Your face has been bright lately. Must be the friend."

Jinhwa smiled awkwardly instead of answering. But inside, the smile spread on its own. He picked up the broom again and murmured, half to himself.

I wonder what we'll talk about today.

The Thirteenth Meeting

The sun was already high when he reached the market, and merchants' voices rang ceaselessly through the crowded streets. With winter ending, more people than usual had come out, and a lively energy filled every corner.

"Cheap, cheap! Silk from the east! You won't find this again!"

"Fresh-caught fish! So fresh the eyes are still alive!"

The grandmother who sold rice cakes was at her usual post, steam rising from the steamer and dissolving into the cold air. When Jinhwa approached, she smiled with her creased face and greeted him warmly.

"Jinhwa, here again today."

"Hello, grandmother."

Meeting her so often had made Jinhwa comfortable around her, and somewhere along the way his manner had changed — where he once trailed off mid-sentence, he now spoke clearly and evenly. The grandmother cracked the steamer lid to check on the rice cakes, steam billowing, and asked.

"Waiting for your friend?"

"Yes, grandmother."

"He's a good one. I see you two every week. You've brightened up too, lately."

Jinhwa nodded and leaned lightly against the empty space beside her stall. While they exchanged small talk, a figure appeared in the distance, waving, and a familiar voice carried over the crowd.

"Hyungnim!"

It was Hagun. He was shouldering his way through the throng, panting, his face flushed from running despite the cold.

"Hyungnim! I'm not late, am I?"

Jinhwa shook his head and smiled.

"No — I just got here. I was talking with the grandmother while I waited."

But Hagun's expression was different from usual. His eyes were shining with unusual intensity, and the corners of his mouth were rising in a way he couldn't seem to suppress. Something good had clearly happened.

What's going on?

The Proposal

The two headed for the familiar gukbap shop and took their usual corner seats. Before long the bowls arrived, steam gushing thick, the heat reaching their faces. Green onion slices floated on the surface, and flecks of red chili powder swirled with the oil.

The same flavor as always — but familiarity has a way of becoming fondness, and this gukbap was their favorite.

Hagun lifted his spoon, slurped a mouthful, and looked at Jinhwa. His eyes were brimming with something he wanted to say.

"Hyungnim."

"…Yes."

Hagun set his spoon down, barely containing his excitement.

"I'm going on a big trade run!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes! My father gave me permission!"

Hagun waved his hands as he spoke, and the depth of his anticipation showed in every gesture.

"I'm heading to the eastern region. Buy goods there and sell them in the west. My father said this is my chance to learn real trade!"

"That's far."

"Yes! About a fortnight, they say. It's a long road, but — ah, it's what I've always wanted, so I'm excited!"

Jinhwa brought a spoonful of gukbap slowly to his mouth. The hot broth warmed him on its way down, but at the same time something in his chest went strangely hollow.

A fortnight means I won't see him for a while.

Hagun paused, spoon half-raised, and spoke carefully.

"But hyungnim."

"Yes."

"Would you come with me?"

Jinhwa stopped mid-bite and stared at Hagun.

"What? Me?"

"Come along! It'd be so much more fun with you, hyungnim!"

"But I have work at the inn…"

Hagun grinned.

"Hyungnim, ask for time off! Just a fortnight. Think of it as a trip. Going alone would be so lonely."

Jinhwa said nothing. He looked down at his gukbap. Steam still rose from the bowl, and the green onions trembled on the surface.

A trip. He had never considered such a thing. Since leaving Mount Hua, all he had done was work — drifting from inn to inn, grinding through each day. Even rest had felt like a luxury. To stop, he thought, was to fall behind.

Time off… is that something I'm allowed to do?

Hagun spoke again, the smile gone from his face, sincerity in its place.

"Hyungnim, I'll cover all the costs!"

"All of them?"

"Yes! Meals, lodging — everything. I'll take care of it all so you won't have to worry about a thing."

Hagun paused to steady his breath, then added quietly.

"I need you, hyungnim. If I go alone, I'll get swindled again. You're smart. And…"

He hesitated, then said it plainly.

"I'm scared to go alone. If you're with me, I'd feel safe."

Jinhwa stared into his bowl. The steam rose. The green onions drifted. Hagun's words sank in.

He needs me?

At Mount Hua, Jinhwa had never been needed — not really. He couldn't fight, couldn't wield a sword, and the word ordinary had been stamped on him. At the inn, he was needed, but only as a pair of hands — not as a person, just as labor.

But Hagun was different. He needed Jinhwa as a friend, as a companion. The look in his eyes held no pretense. The voice held no embellishment.

He really… wants me to come with him.

Jinhwa spoke slowly.

"Let me think about it."

"Really?"

"Yes. I should ask Boss Jang first. I can't say yes just yet."

Hagun's face broke into a wide smile, and he waved his hand.

"Thank you, hyungnim! Just saying you'll think about it is enough!"

He went back to his gukbap, eating eagerly, his voice bright with expectation.

"Hyungnim, please come. Going alone would be so lonely. And with you there… I feel safe. Like everything will be all right."

Jinhwa kept eating. His mouth burned and his tongue went numb, but his chest was warmer still.

He trusts me. He relies on me.

Deliberation

When he returned to the inn, the sun was already tilting west, and the sky was stained with mingling reds and oranges. Jinhwa crossed the yard and stepped inside. Jang Ikho was wiping down the main hall.

"Jinhwa, back early?"

"…Yes."

"See your friend?"

"…Yes."

Jang Ikho wrung the cloth and water dripped from it, the sound echoing through the quiet inn.

"Something on your mind? You look like you're mulling something over."

Jinhwa hesitated. Bringing up time off was not easy, but Hagun's earnest gaze kept surfacing in his mind. He gathered his courage and spoke.

"…Boss Jang."

"Hm?"

"Could I… take some time off?"

Jang Ikho stopped wiping and looked at Jinhwa.

"Time off? How long?"

"…About a fortnight."

Jang Ikho raised his eyebrows, and Jinhwa added quickly.

"I'm sorry. If it's not possible, that's fine. I know it's a lot to—"

"No, it's fine."

Jinhwa stared at him, startled.

"…What?"

"I said it's fine. Take the time. A fortnight — we'll manage."

"But if I'm not here…"

Jang Ikho waved his hand and smiled.

"A young man shouldn't do nothing but work. You need to rest sometimes. Off somewhere with Hagun?"

Jinhwa nodded.

"East. Hagun's going on a trade run, and he asked me to come along."

"That so? Sounds good. I hear the east has plenty to see and the food's excellent."

Jang Ikho picked up the cloth again and resumed wiping, then spoke.

"Jinhwa."

"Yes."

"How long have you been here?"

Jinhwa thought for a moment.

"About two years."

"That's right. Two years. And you haven't taken a single day off."

"There was always work."

"No, that's not what I mean…"

Jang Ikho stopped and looked at Jinhwa. In his eyes was genuine concern.

"You push yourself too hard. That's not a bad thing — but it's all right to rest sometimes. You're young. You should live a little. Wait until you're old, and you'll wish you had."

Jinhwa couldn't speak. A lump rose in his throat, and something hot spread through his chest.

I'm allowed… to rest?

He had never rested at Mount Hua, either. Whether it was martial training or running errands, he never stopped. Resting meant falling further behind, becoming even more useless — that was what he believed. At the inn, it had been the same. He worked without pause, because that was the only way to survive.

But Jang Ikho was telling him otherwise. That rest was allowed. That being young meant living.

Jang Ikho smiled.

"Take the fortnight. Enjoy yourself. But be careful — the roads can be rough. Don't get hurt."

"…Thank you."

"And look after Hagun. Friends are precious. Treasure them."

Jinhwa bowed deeply.

"…I will."

He went to his room and took out his belongings. There weren't many. A few changes of clothes, a coin pouch, the Mount Hua plaque, the heart method manual. That was all.

This is everything I have.

He opened the coin pouch. Fifty-three nyang. Two years of stubborn saving, and every last pun was precious.

This should be… enough.

He took out the Mount Hua plaque and wiped the dust from it. It was old. Worn smooth by his hands, the edges rounded with age — but the Mount Hua crest was still sharp and clear.

I should bring this too.

He opened the heart method manual. It was worn. The corners were soft from constant handling, and the pages had yellowed. Every night he studied it, and still he felt nothing — his dantian remained empty.

Someday… it'll work.

Meeting Hagun had brought a slow return of confidence, and he practiced the method every night without fail — but there was nothing to show for it. Still, he did not give up.

He closed the book and repacked his things. Spread his blanket and lay down. Stared at the ceiling as darkness filled the room.

A trip…

It was a first. Setting out on a road with someone. Not being alone. Traveling with a friend.

I'm going… with Hagun.

His heart was beating fast. He was excited. What was the east like? What would happen? What kind of people would they meet?

Jinhwa closed his eyes. Just before sleep took him, he smiled.

I can't wait.

Departure

Three days later, at dawn.

Jinhwa shouldered his pack and left the inn, bowing to Jang Ikho and Yu Gapyeong. The two patted him on the shoulders and told him to be careful. The eastern sky was flushing red, and cold dawn air grazed his face. The wind blew, but it was bracing — and his chest was full of anticipation.

The road to the market was still quiet, merchants opening their stalls one by one, readying for the day. When Jinhwa arrived, Hagun was already there, standing with an enormous bundle strapped to his back — a small mountain of goods.

"Hyungnim!"

Hagun waved broadly and called out. Jinhwa walked over.

"You're early, Hagun."

"I have a lot of luggage, so I came ahead! But hyungnim, your pack is…"

Hagun stared at Jinhwa's small bundle, surprise on his face.

"That's it?"

"Yes. I don't need much."

"You're incredible, hyungnim. I have no idea how to pack light… my father loaded me up with all sorts of things."

The two left the market behind and turned onto the eastward road as the sun rose and painted the sky red. The road stretched out ahead of them, long and without end. People came and went, and carts passed with their wheels rattling over the ground.

Hagun spoke eagerly.

"Hyungnim, is this your first time heading east?"

"Yes."

"Mine too! That makes it even more exciting!"

Jinhwa glanced at Hagun. Hearing that it was Hagun's first time too gave him a moment's worry — but the excitement was greater.

Still… I'm not alone.

Hagun grinned and went on.

"With you here, hyungnim, I'm not scared at all. I feel safe!"

Jinhwa looked at him and smiled quietly.

Me too.

The two kept walking. The sun climbed higher, warming their backs. Along the roadside, green shoots were beginning to push through the earth, and pale buds poked up here and there.

Hagun stopped suddenly and pointed at the roadside.

"Hyungnim, look!"

"What?"

"A flower!"

A small yellow flower had bloomed by the road, swaying gently in the breeze. Hagun crouched down and peered at it, marveling.

"It's pretty. Even something this small pushes its way up and blooms."

Jinhwa stepped closer and looked at the flower. It really was tiny — no bigger than the tip of a finger — but its yellow petals caught the sunlight and blazed with life.

Spring is coming.

Seeing the flower, he felt that good things lay ahead on this road. Something like hope stirred in his chest.

Hagun stood and spoke.

"Hyungnim, let's go!"

"Yes."

The two walked on, their steps light. Hagun drifted ahead, fell behind, drifted ahead again, talking the whole time.

"Hyungnim, they say the east has incredible food. My father told me — he said the eastern cuisine is something else!"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Let's eat everything! And see everything too!"

"You haven't forgotten we're going there for business, have you?"

Hagun laughed aloud and waved his hand.

"Of course not! I'll work hard at the trade too. But we're together, hyungnim — we can enjoy it along the way!"

Jinhwa looked up at the sky. Not a single cloud. Sunlight poured down. It was warm.

Hagun started to hum, a cheerful tune that spilled out across the road. His steps fell into a rhythm, and Jinhwa walked beside him, listening.

Strange.

Since leaving Mount Hua, he had always been alone. From inn to inn, he walked by himself, and on the road, he was by himself. It had been lonely. It had been desolate.

But now it was different. Someone was beside him. They were walking together. They were laughing together.

So this is… what it means to have a companion.

Walking alongside someone who felt easy and natural, sharing something together — this was a first. At Mount Hua, his peers had been classmates, but competition lay between them. At the inn, his colleagues were coworkers, but the bond was labor. Now it was simply friendship. Hagun and Jinhwa — two friends, walking side by side.

The sun reached its peak and the heat grew. Sweat came. Hagun stopped.

"Hyungnim, let's rest a while."

"Sure."

A large tree stood by the road, its shade cool and inviting. They sat beneath it, and Hagun untied his bundle and produced the rice cakes his mother had packed.

"Let's share, hyungnim!"

"These look good."

They ate rice cakes and drank water. Chewy and nutty, and the cool water washed down their throats, cutting the heat. A breeze blew through and the leaves rustled. Birds sang. In the distance, the rattle of a cart wheel carried faintly.

Hagun bit into a rice cake and spoke quietly.

"Hyungnim."

"Yes."

"This is nice."

Jinhwa asked.

"What is?"

"Being here like this, together. Alone, I would have been scared. But with you, hyungnim, I feel at ease."

"You always say things like that so easily, Hagun. Sometimes you seem like a child, and sometimes like a grown man."

Hagun smiled wide.

"We're friends. It's better to be honest. Traveling together now, and maybe doing business together someday."

"Business too?"

Hagun nodded, his tone turning serious.

"Yes! You're smart, hyungnim. I think it would go well if we did it together. I'm good at the physical work, but when it comes to thinking, I'm no match for you."

Jinhwa looked up at the sky. Clouds drifted slowly past, and time seemed to move just as gently.

Business together…

At Mount Hua, martial arts had been everything. But out in the world, it was different. Beyond martial arts, there were countless things — countless paths.

Hagun stood and brushed off his hands.

"Hyungnim, let's go! We need to reach the inn before sundown."

"Yes."

They walked again, and the sun began its slide toward the west. Shadows lengthened, and the sky reddened.

The First Night

The sun had gone entirely, and darkness covered the world. Stars appeared one by one in the sky, and the moon rose to light the east.

Hagun pointed ahead and called out.

"Hyungnim, there — an inn!"

A small inn came into view. It was old, but the light leaking from its windows was warm. The two stepped inside, and the owner greeted them.

"Welcome, travelers. Need a room?"

"Yes, sir."

"Right this way."

The room was small but clean, with two sleeping mats laid neatly side by side. Hagun dropped his heavy bundle and let out a long breath.

"Phew — that was heavy. Carrying it all day, my shoulders are killing me."

"You worked hard, Hagun."

"So did you, hyungnim! It's your first time walking this far — weren't you exhausted?"

Jinhwa shook his head.

"I was all right. Walking together, it's definitely less tiring."

The owner brought supper — barley rice, kimchi, and doenjang jjigae, simply but neatly arranged. The two ate and talked about the day, then planned tomorrow's route.

Hagun finished his rice, took a sip of water, and spoke.

"Hyungnim, today was really fun. Tomorrow will be even better!"

"You think so?"

"Of course! We're going together."

Hagun spread his mat and lay down, and before long the sound of even breathing filled the room. A full day of walking under a heavy load had worn him out.

Jinhwa spread his own mat and lay down. He stared at the ceiling as darkness settled in the room.

Today… I walked all day.

He was tired. His legs ached and his shoulders were heavy. But his mood was good. Because he had walked with Hagun.

I wasn't alone.

It was the first time since leaving Mount Hua. Spending a whole day with someone. At the inn, there had been people around — but that was work, not friendship.

Hagun was a friend. A real friend.

Jinhwa smiled.

For the first time… I'm not alone.

Outside the window, the wind blew and the leaves rustled. Stars glittered. The moon was bright. The inn's lamplight glowed in the stillness, and in the dark, two young men lay sleeping side by side.

Tomorrow, another road would unfold before them. A road to walk together. Stories to share. Memories to make.

[End of Chapter 25]