HDCLSSRS Ch 80

Chapter 80 Covered Eyes (4)

“P-please, don’t do this.”

Seong Muyeon was clearly flustered. The very notion of the head of a major sect bowing his head to him was unthinkable.

“When one receives grace, it is only right to repay it in kind. Thank you.”

He had turned around in hopes of seeking help, only to find Baek Ryeoil and Ma Jincheon also bowing to him. The only one standing stiffly upright in that place was Seong Muyeon himself.

His face burned. Even the disciples, who had always regarded him with wary eyes, began smiling warmly at him. Seong Muyeon, who usually didn’t care much about the opinions of others, found himself wanting to hide.

But…

It didn’t feel bad.

“What did I even do? It wasn’t anything special… Wait, what’s all this! Oh—thank you so much.”

Before he knew it, he was exchanging handshakes with the disciples, grinning like a fool. Someone shyly slipped him a packet of prized tea leaves, and many people gently patted his shoulder.

Even Jang Hansu, standing in the distance with a disapproving expression, couldn’t sour Seong Muyeon’s mood.

“Dojang! Master! Young Master! I’ve been waiting for you!”

A familiar face appeared. Kang Ung came bounding toward him like an excited puppy and wrapped him in a tight hug.

“Ugh.”

He hugged so hard that Seong Muyeon felt like his ribs were about to shatter. It seemed Kang Ung was becoming more and more like his teacher.

“Your body is really all right, isn’t it? Your disciple has been so worried, you have no idea.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Ma Jincheon patted his head. Even Baek Ryeoil, standing behind him, was smiling gently at the moment.

He was back.

Home.

“…Dojang, have you perhaps considered going into closed-door training?”

From then on, Seong Muyeon’s life in Hwasan changed dramatically. After putting his own life on the line to save Ma Jincheon, people’s perception of him had completely shifted. He no longer had to fear someone trying to harm him. On the contrary, people greeted him with such friendly smiles in passing that he found it hard to adjust.

Even Jang Hansu couldn’t recklessly reach for him anymore.

But the biggest issue still remained—getting Baek Ryeoil back on track.

“Closed-door training? What are you talking about all of a sudden…”

Baek Ryeoil, who was tending to his sword, looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

“Don’t Daoists do that sometimes? Seclude themselves in caves, eat things like wall-nourishment pills, and train—that kind of thing looks so cool.”

“Cool, my ass.”

Baek Ryeoil, who was about to start a full tirade, paused and stroked his chin.

“Now that you mention it, I guess it’s about time. Once the little pup grows a bit more, he should be able to train on his own for about a month, so I could go into closed-door training then.”

“What?! Just a month?”

“Then how long were you thinking?”

“About ten years…?”

“Ten years?!”

Baek Ryeoil clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“Are you insane? Who the hell shuts themselves in a cave for ten years? No one in their right mind would do that. You must’ve picked up some weird stories somewhere and started getting ridiculous ideas.”

“R-really…?”

In the original work, it lasted even longer…

Seong Muyeon clicked his tongue in disappointment. Baek Ryeoil was supposed to go into seclusion, catch the Sword Master’s eye, receive his teachings, and emerge having grown at lightning speed. He’d even inherit a title along the way.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how the Sword Master is doing. The man’s mind wasn’t exactly stable…’

The Sword Master rarely appeared in front of others. That was what they called a reclusive eccentric.

“Your eyesight hasn’t fully returned yet, has it?”

Baek Ryeoil asked as he grabbed Seong Muyeon’s chin and stared closely into his eyes. Seong Muyeon slapped his hand away.

“What do you expect to see by doing that? It’s almost back. No issues with daily life.”

Baek Ryeoil narrowed his eyes.

“Then why haven’t you been going to the Finance Division lately?”

He flinched.

Since returning, Seong Muyeon hadn’t gone to the Finance Division even once. He just lazed around in his room all day. At first, Baek Ryeoil thought he was just taking a few days to recover from fatigue, but as the days stretched on, suspicion naturally arose.

Seong Muyeon averted his gaze and grumbled.

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like they pay me. Why do I have to go?”

“Well, that’s true, but still.”

“Then there’s no problem. Why make it one!”

But Baek Ryeoil still looked at him with obvious doubt.

“No, it’s just that you…”

Just as Baek Ryeoil was about to speak, a commotion outside interrupted him. The two of them stepped outside to investigate. In the courtyard, Kang Ung was wrestling with a young man, the two of them rolling around on the ground.

“Speak the truth! Why were you snooping around this place!”

Kang Ung shouted, firmly locking his arms around the other’s waist to prevent escape. The man in his grasp struggled wildly and shriekYoed in a shrill voice,

“Eek! What do you mean snooping! Do you know who I am?!”

That voice sounded familiar.

“Young Master Seomun?”

At Seong Muyeon’s voice, the boy and the young man froze mid-scuffle. They looked up at Seong Muyeon and Baek Ryeoil, then quickly separated and got to their feet.

Kang Ung scampered over to their side.

“Young Master! Dojang! I caught this man spying on Chwijungjae. He looks like an outer-sect disciple, but he kept insisting he knew you, Young Master!”

“I told you I really do know him! And even if I do, how could you just toss someone around like that?”

Seomun Yuha huffed as he brushed fallen leaves from his messy hair.

“If you were innocent, why did you try to run?”

“T-that’s…”

Seomun Yuha seemed to have no counter, as if something had hit the mark.

Still, Seong Muyeon couldn’t help but agree with him. No matter what, using violence without question was excessive.

With this, it was confirmed.

Kang Ung was becoming a little Baek Ryeoil…

Seeing Baek Ryeoil fondly pat the boy’s head left no doubt.

Suppressing the pain as if his chest had been ripped apart, Seong Muyeon quickly stepped in. If he left them alone, another fight was bound to break out.

“We do know each other. Young Master Seomun, your outfit’s changed.”

He had said he’d join Hwasan as an outer-sect disciple, and true to his word, Seomun Yuha was now wearing a disciple’s robe. Unfortunately, it was currently in disarray from the scuffle with Kang Ung and covered in dirt.

“Young Master… Seomun? Ah…”

Only then did Kang Ung realize the identity of the unfamiliar intruder. He recalled the time Seong Muyeon and Baek Ryeoil had visited the Seomun Clan.

“If you’d just said your name upfront, none of this would’ve happened. Please come in through the front gate next time. Don’t sneak around and invite suspicion. Still… I apologize for the misunderstanding, Young Master Seomun.”

Kang Ung gave a respectful apology. But Seomun Yuha simply snorted and shoved past him to stand before Seong Muyeon and Baek Ryeoil.

“It’s been a while! Have you both been well?”

Seomun Yuha had been present the day Seong Muyeon and Baek Ryeoil returned, but he hadn’t had a chance to speak with them due to the crowd. Since then, he’d been trying to find time amidst his hectic training schedule to meet them.

“Was it Dojang Kang? He threw me around so roughly…”

“I-I already apologized, didn’t I…”

Kang Ung fidgeted awkwardly.

“And you’re Dojang Baek Ryeoil’s disciple, huh? Hmm.”

Seomun Yuha looked him up and down, his gaze clearly full of arrogant superiority. Kang Ung wasn’t oblivious to it, and his face flushed red with embarrassment.

“In any case, it’s good to see you again! Hehe.”

He enthusiastically grabbed Seong Muyeon’s hand and shook it vigorously.

‘Now I get why Dojang Kang did that.’

Seong Muyeon could easily picture Seomun Yuha sneaking around the outer wall looking suspicious. Once a demonic cult fanboy—no, follower—always one.

“How are you finding life at Hwasan?”

Seong Muyeon asked as he led him inside. Seomun Yuha shook his head.

“Oh, don’t even get me started. They work us so hard I feel like I’m dying! Waking us before sunrise, making us recite mountains of Daoist scriptures… How do Hwasan people live like this their whole lives? If it weren’t for you, Young Master, I’d have run away long ago.”

“Still, it seems like you’re adapting well.”

Seong Muyeon smiled. A quick glance told him the hands that used to be as fair as white jade were now covered in wounds. Scars formed from swinging a sword and training every day. Despite all his grumbling, he was clearly devoted to his training.

Seomun Yuha stiffened, a flush rising to his cheeks.

“…As expected, you’re the only one who truly understands me, Young Master.”

“What do you mean.”

“To be honest, Hwasan isn’t that special. At this rate, the inner-sect disciples might just end up being pretty faces paraded around.”

He smirked toward Kang Ung, his intention clear. He was blatantly provoking the boy. And sure enough, the young Kang Ung fell right into the trap and sprang to his feet.

“What did you just say?”

“Oh, nothing. Just saying we’ll see how things turn out.”

“Why, you—!”

Round two was about to begin. Seong Muyeon shook his head. But he didn’t stop them.

“I’ll bring some tea, so wait here for a moment.”

Once he stepped outside the room, he let out a silent sigh of relief.

‘Phew. Good thing Young Master Seomun showed up just in time.’

Had Baek Ryeoil pressed the issue any further, he would’ve had no choice but to spill the truth.

‘…’

That ever since the inner demon incident, strange changes had begun to occur in his body.