HDCLSSRS Ch 85

 

Chapter 85. Aung (5)

He stared at the weapon inside the box for a long time before finally reaching out cautiously. With a touch as light as a feather, he brushed the handle and then carefully traced the solid joints of the main body.

“How did you even think of something like this…?”

He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the whip. His pupils trembled without pause.

“I really… really never would have imagined it.”

After hesitating, he finally gripped the handle—and it fit perfectly in his hand. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment his entire life, born to hold this very thing. A soft ripple stirred in Seomun Yuha’s heart.

“Thank you, Lord Seong Muyeon.”

“Would you like to try swinging it?—No! Not here!”

Seomun Yuha merely flicked his wrist lightly, and the whip snapped with elastic force, shattering the nearby table in an instant.

“…Not here.”

Seong Muyeon pressed his hand to his forehead.

“I’m sorry…”

“Well, in any case, I’m glad you like it.”

They went out into the yard and swung the whip a few more times. With each repetition, Seomun Yuha quickly adapted. Seong Muyeon’s heart pounded. If he ever saw the Hwahwagwi in real life, would it look like this?

Whi-rik!

“Waaah! Lord Seong! Help me!”

Seomun Yuha, who had accidentally entangled himself with the whip he was swinging, collapsed to the side, writhing intensely. It took him a long struggle to untangle the twisted weapon.

“You’ll get used to it soon enough.”

“Y-Yeah! Just trust me!”

Seong Muyeon chuckled. Now that the Hwahwagwi had a weapon of its own, things would surely go even better from here.

“The previous owner wasn’t even worthy of having this. Lord Seomun, please give it a new name.”

“…”

Seomun Yuha looked at Seong Muyeon with trembling eyes. His mouth was dry, and he swallowed hard.

His mother had always urged him to hide himself. His father had forced him to wield a weapon that didn’t suit him. Seong Muyeon was the first person who had ever tried to see and draw out his true potential.

“Since it’s something you’ve given me, you should be the one to name it.”

After a moment’s thought, Seong Muyeon nodded.

“Then… let’s call it Hwarinshinpyeon, or just Hwarinpyeon for short.”

“I like it. Hwarinpyeon.”

His heart swelled with joy.

“Thank you so much.”

“Come on, that’s enough. You already said thanks once, didn’t you?”

No—it wasn’t enough. Even if he thanked him for a lifetime, it still wouldn’t be enough.

To Seomun Yuha, Seong Muyeon looked as if he was glowing, even under the moonlight. Just like that night.

The memory of Seong Muyeon swinging his sword with cold indifference under the moonlight came vividly back to life. But unlike back then, there was no blood soaking his body, no life-or-death tension—only a peaceful smile on his face.

In that moment, Seomun Yuha suddenly made a decision.

‘…I’ll do it.’

When he first joined Mount Hua, he had made a solemn vow before the sect leader.

〈Do not use your powers to fulfill selfish desires.〉

Only a small number of elders, including the sect leader, knew that he came from Hwajeonggol¹. They had expressed concern about his initiation, since he possessed the dangerous ability to charm and manipulate others.

It was only after making that vow that he was allowed to join, and in exchange for keeping it, they had promised to protect his identity. It was an incredibly favorable deal.

However, the moment he broke that vow, he would lose his status as a disciple and be expelled from Mount Hua.

He had judged that charming the guards earlier didn’t count as satisfying a selfish desire, since it was done to help Seong Muyeon.

But now, Seomun Yuha wanted to make Seong Muyeon his.

Not just to exchange friendly greetings, but to bind him completely into his grasp, so he could never leave—so he would be his forever.

And to do that—

He would have to break the vow.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Mount Hua didn’t hold much meaning for him anyway. He had only chosen Mount Hua because Seong Muyeon was there. Because he wanted to know him better. That was the sole reason behind his decision.

Seong Muyeon was more valuable than he had imagined.

Someone who recognized him.

Someone who thought about him.

Someone who took care of him.

Losing someone like that would cause unbearable regret—heart-wrenching regret.

So before it was too late…

‘Let’s do it.’

Just then, Seong Muyeon had completely lowered his guard. Even Baek Ryeoil, who usually watched him like a hawk, was nowhere to be seen.

This was his chance.

“Lord Seong.”

“Yes?”

“Look at me.”

Seong Muyeon was already looking at him, and Seomun Yuha immediately released his power. His eyes, stained crimson, locked deeply onto Seong Muyeon’s light irises.

“These past few days… did you know I’ve been following you?”

“Really? I had no idea. But why me?”

Seong Muyeon didn’t even blink. He wasn’t surprised by the confession either. All his attention was now fully drawn to Seomun Yuha. The charm of Hwajeonggol had already begun to take hold.

“Because I really like you.”

Seong Muyeon’s pupils dilated. At the same time, his focus blurred.

“Is that so…? But I’m not someone worthy of being liked by someone like you.”

“To me, you are. And that’s enough.”

“…Maybe you’re right.”

Seong Muyeon’s dark eyes began to slowly tint red, like Seomun Yuha’s.

This process didn’t stop at simply charming or controlling someone. Once both irises matched in color, Seong Muyeon would start to view Seomun Yuha as the most important person in his life from that moment onward.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Of Lord Seomun? Hmm… I wouldn’t say afraid.”

Seong Muyeon tilted his head blankly.

Not yet.

‘Just a little more.’

This power, which had been with him all his life, had never once betrayed him. Well—except for Baek Ryeoil. But that man hardly seemed human, so he was an exception.

“Then what? You didn’t miss me at all?”

“…Hmm.”

Even in his dazed state, Seong Muyeon furrowed his brows slightly, as if trying to recall whether he had missed him.

In just a little while, everything would change.

“Why did you avoid my eyes earlier? What was that about?”

“…Because I was afraid you’d find out.”

“Find out what? That you have feelings for me? That you’re hiding how important I am to you?”

“No, not that… I was afraid you’d notice I can’t see very well.”

Seomun Yuha’s face froze.

“What did you say? Why not? Are your eyes injured? Is it from the poison?”

Now that he thought about it, he had heard that Seong Muyeon had nearly died from poisoning in Hanam. And come to think of it, Seong Muyeon often squinted like someone with poor vision or leaned his head forward to see.

Seomun Yuha clicked his tongue inwardly. Why did he have to get hurt helping someone he barely even knew? If Seong Muyeon was going to make sacrifices, it should have been for him.

But then Seong Muyeon’s next words completely shattered him.

“No… to explain why my eyes are failing, I’d have to explain the illness I have too…”

“…An illness? Wait, hold on. You have an illness?”

Seong Muyeon slowly nodded.

“How serious is it?”

“There’s not much time left… I don’t have long… I might… die…”

As he spoke, Seong Muyeon’s brows twisted with pain.

“Wait, wait, wait! What? What do you mean by that?”

Seong Muyeon’s pupils began to glow a faint scarlet.

“I didn’t want you to worry…”

“What illness is it? Tell me what it is!”

“It’s okay. Everything will be fine…”

Damn it!

Seomun Yuha hurriedly withdrew his power. The red glow in his eyes instantly vanished, returning to their original color. At that moment, Seong Muyeon staggered violently. He shook his head, disoriented, and began to slowly grasp the situation.

“Lord Seomun…? Just now, what was…”

“What do you mean you’re sick? Lord Seong, you have an illness? You’re saying you’re going to die?!”

Seong Muyeon flinched and stepped a few paces back.

“Where did you hear that from?”

“So it’s true.”

Seomun Yuha had seen Seong Muyeon wield a sword. He had witnessed the formidable strength of his martial arts. But since Baek Ryeoil had ordered silence and the people of Mount Hua treated him like an ordinary person with no martial skills, he had assumed it was just a secret.

Now that he thought about it, Baek Ryeoil had said something like “even while dying…” but he hadn’t paid close attention. He’d been too overwhelmed by Seong Muyeon at the time to really process what anyone else was saying.

“Don’t come any closer. I asked you—where did you hear that?”

When Seomun Yuha stepped forward, Seong Muyeon instantly adopted a defensive stance, his warrior’s gaze blazing with an unyielding fire, just like that day when he had been willing to die rather than submit. Seeing that expression again made Seomun Yuha’s chest tremble with helplessness—but right now, that wasn’t what mattered.

“I’m sorry. I did something to you I shouldn’t have.”

“No way… Ha… Then I must’ve heard it from me. Why did you do it?”

Seong Muyeon understood the situation at once and couldn’t hide his disappointment. After seeing Seomun Yuha charm others and witnessing their reactions firsthand today, it hadn’t taken him long to figure it out.

“…I truly apologize.”

Seomun Yuha bowed deeply in apology. If he had succeeded properly, there would have been no need to apologize—but he hadn’t anticipated this outcome, and now he still needed to hear the truth.

“Please tell me. What illness do you have? Are you really dying? How much time do you have left…”

“Why should I explain that to you, Lord Seomun?”

His voice and expression turned cold as ice, as if shards were falling with each word. Seomun Yuha covered his face with both hands, overwhelmed by pain. The pain was real. He had finally found the person he had searched for all his life—and now he was dying. It was unthinkable.

A complete tragedy.

¹ Hwajeonggol (화정골): Literally meaning “Valley of Fire Spirits” or “Valley of Allure and Flame,” this refers to a mysterious place or origin in the story, likely one known for its members having seductive or supernatural charm-related powers. In the context of this story, it’s a potentially feared and secret lineage.