The Love That Remains

"What's this?"

Bae Jaemin looks at the file in his hand and then, he glances at Sung Jun.

"The changes I want to be done in my absence."

"What do you mean?" His friend has been acting strangely since morning. His wife has been acting crazy ever since Fang Aisa went missing. Bae Jaemin feels like both of them forgot him because of a certain someone.

"I am going away for a while." Sung Jun leans back in his chair. "I am making you president in my absence."

"What!" He drops the file. Everything is happening too fast. "Jun, you can't."

"You will take care of the council until I return." Sung Jun ignores his friend's hyperventilating reaction. "You must teach Wang Mei to cultivate. You should also focus on cultivating and improving your rank."

"Where are you going?" Bae Jaemin yells at him. "Jun, what happened to you?"

Sung Jun becomes quiet. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He wants to find Fang Aisa right now. But he must find Dabria before its too late. This world should become safe for Fang Aisa before she reappears.

That god must take care of her until then.

"I don't know when I will return." I don't know whether I will return. "I have assigned you the tasks. Bring Wang Mei to the council. She should be able to protect you."

"Wang Mei?" Wang Mei is a human without any spiritual energy. How could she protect Bae Jaemin against the other world? She will be in danger too. Sung Jun could read his thoughts.

"That's why you must teach her to cultivate." He puts a pill bottle on the table. "This will improve your cultivation rate. Her fighting skills and physical attributes are extraordinary. She will advance faster than you."

Bae Jaemin picks up the pill bottle. "Isn't this spirit advancement pills? Why do you have it?"

"I borrowed them from the council's treasury." Sung Jun doesn't blink once when he answers him. Bae Jaemin feels cold sweats on his back.

"Isn't that stealing?" He still can't accept that. "These are too precious and only meant to be used in an emergency by the president."

"I am the president. It's an emergency. Only forty council members are remaining. We need more man powers." He raises his brows. "I don't need it. King rank is the highest rank that I can achieve on earth. You need it more than me."

Bae Jaemin does not want to hear that. He doesn't even want to accept those pills or include Wang Mei in this world of his.

"Jaemin, you will need this." Sung Jun stands up. "In the future, it is important that you and your wife becomes strong and ready to face what's coming. I want to see you when I come back. Fang Aisa would want the same."

He puts the pill bottle in his pocket and picks up the file. "How long?"

"I don't know." Sung Jun turns his back to him and looks at the painting of the god of fire. "Ask Wang Mei to stop looking for Fang Aisa. I will bring her back."

"You know where she is?"

Sung Jun doesn't answer his question.

"Jun." Bae Jaemin grabs his shoulder. "You have to answer me. Wang Mei is getting crazy. I can't see her like that. She is an important person to her."

"Things are more complicated than you and I can imagine." Sung Jun sighs. "She is alive, but she is being held by a god. Can a human find her when a god is hiding her? I have to find that god first."

"You are going against a god?" Bae Jaemin's heart palpitates. "Are you insane?"

"If they wanted to kill me, I would be dead already." Sung Jun pats his shoulder. "I am too precious to die."

"Jun, you are going too far..." He shakes him. "Can't you let her go?"

"Can you let Wang Mei go?" Sung Jun stares at him intently. Bae Jaemin doesn't say it, but he can see the answer.

"You know why I can't let her go." Sung Jun chuckles. "One who loves more in a relationship is the loser. I used to think that I was the one who loved her more. That's why I lost her. Fate was against us. My father was against us. Even gods were against us. Now, I know that I was wrong. The one who loved more was her. It was always her. She was the first one to fall in love with me. She chased me to a strange country. Even after everything that happened to her because of me, she still loved me."

"What are you saying, Jun?" Bae Jaemin couldn't understand the meaning behind his words. As much as he knows, Fang Aisa is the one who faked her death and left Sung Jun. She has been always rejecting Sung Jun's advances.

"Two lifetimes...and I am still here like this without her," Sung Jun says. Whether his words are meant for Bae Jaemin or himself, it can't be guessed.

"Fine." Bae Jaemin gives in when he sees the look in his eyes. "Don't worry about anything here. All the troublesome characters are gone to the unbreakable prison. The leftovers are nice people, I think. You take your time and bring her back. This time, take care of the pesky gods. You better not die."

"Thank you, brother." Sung Jun smiles warmly at his friend. "My mother will help you too. I have already informed my mother to return to the council."

"Don't thank me. I will take advantage of the power and live a luxurious life in your absence." Bae Jaemin presses file against his chest. "If Aunty Sung is here, I am afraid of nothing."

Sung Jun laughs when he hears his words. "I wonder if you will get the time."

"What do you mean?" He opens the file. "What kind of tasks did you leave?"

Sung Jun picks up his coat. "I am leaving now. Take your time. Good Bye, Brother."

"Wait...Jun!" Bae Jaemin lifts his head to stop Sung Jun. The first page of the file contains a crazy change in the academy. But Sung Jun is already gone, leaving Bae Jaemin alone with the file and his questions.

"Whoa!" Bae Jaemin looks at the closed door. "Could he always disappear into thin air? Is this the power of a king ranked shaman? Show off!"