HDCLSSRS Ch 81

Chapter 81 — Aung (1)

That incident brought about a certain change in Seong Muyeon’s body.

His vision gradually recovered, but unlike before, Seong Muyeon felt a strong sense of foreboding. It was different from the familiar pattern of getting worse one day and then better the next, as it had always been.

He could tell—it was his own body, after all.

His instinct told him that next time, he wouldn’t get through it so easily.

Though he had lived his whole life close to death, this kind of premonition wasn’t something he experienced often. He could feel death looming right beside him, as if it would arrive the moment he turned his head.

It felt like something enormous was approaching, far beyond anything Baek Ryeoil could help with.

So, Seong Muyeon decided to take extra care of himself from now on. For the time being, he set aside even the minor tasks of assisting the finance department. It wasn’t as though a bit of abacus work would put him in immediate danger, but he had made the decision to conserve his strength and avoid unnecessary strain.

Of course, he didn’t share these thoughts with anyone—not even Baek Ryeoil.

Even without this, Hwasan was already extremely busy. Following what happened to Ma Jincheon, they had joined forces with Shaolin to investigate and had allocated manpower to capture the Poison Freak and monitor the movements of the Demon Sect. It was a hectic time. Adding his own unresolved issue to the mix would only cause further concern.

Seong Muyeon kept quiet and waited for the right moment. The right time to face Yakseon(Herbal sage) again. Until then, he would prioritize safety and preserve his body.

That was all.

As Seong Muyeon turned around holding a teacup and hot water, his eyes met Seomun Yuha’s, who had silently appeared behind him.

“Young Master… Seomun?”

Seomun Yuha smiled, his eyes crinkling as he spoke.

“Did you not miss me, Young Master?”

“…What?”

Seomun Yuha took a bold step forward. Though he had a slender build, he was slightly taller than Seong Muyeon, so the latter had to tilt his head to look up at him.

“But I missed you.”

“Why would you…?”

In that moment, Seong Muyeon remembered that Seomun Yuha was from Hwajeong Valley. He had already once nearly fallen for the charm characteristic of the Hwajeong Clan.

“That’s disappointing. Ever since you saved me, I’ve thought of you every single day, but you’re saying I haven’t even crossed your mind?”

“I wasn’t the one who saved you. That was Baek Dojang…”

Despite Seong Muyeon’s reluctant expression, Seomun Yuha stepped even closer, unbothered.

“Since then, I made up my mind… that I would become a martial artist worthy to stand proudly by your side. That’s the resolve that got me through this grueling training.”

Seomun Yuha gently took the tray from him and set it aside, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Seong Muyeon.

“You believe I can do it too, don’t you?”

“W-Well, of course. But isn’t this a bit too close—?”

“What are you doing?”

Before he realized it, Baek Ryeoil was leaning against the kitchen door. He strode over quickly and wedged his massive frame between the two. Seomun Yuha waved his hands dismissively.

“Ugh, what do you think I’m even doing? You’re doubting me again, aren’t you? That’s seriously offensive. I’m not like that anymore.”

As if nothing had happened, he picked up the tray he had set aside and continued speaking.

“When I first joined, I swore an oath to the Sect Leader. I swore never to use my powers within Hwasan. If I break that oath, I’ll be expelled. Why would I do something so foolish?”

With a sulky retort, Seomun Yuha left the scene.

“…Is what he said true?”

Baek Ryeoil murmured. Though reluctant, Seong Muyeon nodded.

“It seems so, at least for now. What I just felt was different from what happened at the Seomun Clan.”

If Baek Ryeoil hadn’t intervened, Seong Muyeon might have fallen under his charm without even putting up a fight. He clearly remembered the hazy-headed feeling and the strange euphoria, as if walking on clouds, that came with being ensnared by that power.

“The Sect Leader really is thorough.”

He must have understood the danger posed by someone from the Hwajeong Clan and made proper preparations. Of course, if Seomun Yuha had malicious intentions, he could still cause great harm to Hwasan, but for now, it seemed they had chosen to trust him.

“Still, be careful. That guy clearly doesn’t have a sound mind.”

Seong Muyeon couldn’t agree more and nodded emphatically.

Seomun Yuha teased Kang Ung to his heart’s content until it was almost time for his training. As a result, Kang Ung’s face turned bright red, and he trembled with rage.

“You’re a grown man, picking on a kid like this…”

Seomun Yuha was in his twenties, while Kang Ung was barely twelve or thirteen. On top of that, Seomun Yuha was quick-witted and had a mean streak, so there was no way the young boy could win in a verbal exchange.

“Who… who even is that guy?!”

After fuming for a long while, that was all Kang Ung could manage to say. Seong Muyeon felt sorry for the innocent boy who didn’t even know how to swear. Since Baek Ryeoil had no interest in whether his disciple was emotionally scarred or not, it fell to Seong Muyeon to comfort him.

“He’s the only son of the Seomun Clan. He was spoiled growing up, so he’s a bit immature. But you, Dojang Kang, are much more composed and mature despite your age.”

“I cannot tolerate this… Even if he’s only an outer-sect disciple, he’s still a disciple of Hwasan. Such thuggish behavior is unacceptable!”

“Of course, of course. You’re absolutely right. How can someone like that ever become a great man? Tsk tsk…”

Like a child, Kang Ung’s mood improved as Seong Muyeon nodded and praised him a few times. Once he was soothed and sent off to study, Baek Ryeoil began radiating an ominous aura.

‘This damned house falls apart without me.’

“Dojang, what’s wrong?”

“…No word yet.”

“About the Poison Freak?”

Baek Ryeoil nodded. He had assumed it wouldn’t be easy to find him alone, but even after Hwasan got involved, there was still no trace of the Poison Freak. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

‘If Ilgwang were here, we would’ve found him by now.’

Though he felt a brief pang of longing for Ilgwang, remembering how he had messed up every mission quickly chilled that sentiment.

Baek Ryeoil shot to his feet.

“I need to ask Master again. Maybe there’s a clue we missed.”

Ma Jincheon had been one of the first to face the Poison Freak. While the Paeng Brothers probably knew more, they weren’t easily reachable.

Baek Ryeoil headed toward Ma Jincheon’s residence, Unlimdang, with heavy steps. Lately, he had been feeling oddly uneasy. Just as he was about to recall the reason, Seong Muyeon would pop into his mind, causing him to lose the thought again. His instincts were rarely wrong.

Perhaps seeing Ma Jincheon would help jog his memory.

As he stepped inside Unlimdang’s walls, Baek Ryeoil sensed several presences inside and realized Ma Jincheon wasn’t alone.

‘Heo Sasuk*?’

Along with Heo Saeng, other senior disciples who had accompanied him to Hanam were also present.

‘Come to think of it, that’s strange. When did those people ever care this much about Master?’

Though Ma Jincheon had faced a lifethreatening situation, those who used to scorn him wouldn’t have changed so easily over a single incident.

Baek Ryeoil hardened his expression and stepped inside.

“Senior Brother Ma, you’ve forgiven us, right?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. I said I’m fine.”

“But we feel uncomfortable. Would it hurt to just say a word, Senior Brother?”

“Yes, please. Otherwise, it’ll feel like you got hurt because of us.”

The senior disciples’ bickering made them seem close and informal. But to Baek Ryeoil, it looked completely different. His lips twisted as he spoke in a low voice.

“…You’re saying Master got hurt because of someone?”

Heo Saeng and the others gasped.

“Baek Ryeoil…”

“Ryeoil.”

Ma Jincheon called his name like a sigh. But Baek Ryeoil didn’t listen. He stepped closer, each step landing heavy against the ground.

“Answer me. Who exactly hurt Master?”

…

The disciples turned pale.

“Young Master! Something terrible has happened!”

When Baek Ryeoil didn’t return, Seong Muyeon sent Kang Ung to find him. But the boy returned, out of breath and pale-faced. Baek Ryeoil was not with him.

“Master… Master has been taken to the Disciplinary Hall!”

“What?”

The Disciplinary Hall was in charge of punishments within Hwasan.

Following Kang Ung’s lead, Seong Muyeon made his way there and found a crowd already gathered, murmuring about the incident. Pushing through the gaps with Kang Ung, Seong Muyeon spotted Wang Hojun and approached him.

“Dojang Wang! What happened? Did Dojang Baek do something wrong?”

“Just when I thought he’d settled down, he starts again.”

Wang Hojun clicked his tongue.

‘Again?’

Then, a fierce scolding echoed over the crowd.

“Baek Ryeoil, you scoundrel! Do you even know what crime you’ve committed?!”

Seong Muyeon pushed forward to get a clear view. At the center stood Sanggeol, the one in charge of discipline, Baek Ryeoil kneeling before him, several tattered and collapsed senior disciples, and Ma Jincheon. It appeared that many people were involved.

“Yes, I do.”

Though kneeling, Baek Ryeoil answered bluntly, with not a hint of remorse.

“Then go ahead and confess your sins, one by one!”

 

“Sasuk” refers specifically to your master’s junior fellow disciple — someone who trained under the same master as your teacher, but who is younger in seniority.

 

It is a “martial uncle” — not your master, and not your peer, but a generation above you in the martial lineage.