HDCLSSRS Ch 91

Chapter 91 Do You Like Me? (5)

“Did you just… deceive me?”

At that dumbfounded question, Sung Muyeon nonchalantly straightened his disheveled clothes and replied,

“Don’t look at it that way. You should be thankful. Thanks to me, you didn’t get kicked out. No punishment either!”

“You… you…”

“Young master…!”

Big and small people alike stood there with their mouths wide open in shock, and despite their completely different appearances, they somehow looked alike in that moment.

“What? What now! Do you want to get locked up in the repentance hall again that badly? At this point, you clearly enjoy it. You’re into that kind of thing, huh? A pervert, right?”

“…Ha.”

Baek Ryeoil let out a dry laugh.

“Do you know how much I…!”

Baek Ryeoil suddenly clamped his mouth shut like it had been glued together.

He was shocked.

“Worried,” he said?

Why would I be worried?

Why should I care whether that guy is sick or not?

“Why aren’t you finishing your sentence? How much what?”

Sung Muyeon pressed on, his expression as innocent as ever, which only further infuriated Baek Ryeoil.

“Young master… please don’t do that again. You scared me.”

As Kang Ung choked up, Sung Muyeon felt just a little sorry.

“My apologies. The situation was too urgent, I had no choice. Master Kang, I have a favor to ask. Could you head over to the dining hall and get us some lunch? What if your master went and the whole place collapsed again? I’m asking you, please.”

“Yes, sir! Don’t worry! I’ll be back in no time!”

Kang Ung, fully aware that his master was a tightly wound time bomb, sprinted off without protest.

“Ha! Unbelievable… huh…”

Baek Ryeoil kept making sounds of disbelief as he raked his hand through his hair. He couldn’t decide whether to be angry or to thank someone.

In that moment, he suddenly turned his head toward a corner of the room. His gaze landed on the wardrobe placed in Sung Muyeon’s room.

“…”

Baek Ryeoil strode over and yanked open the wardrobe doors. To his surprise, Seomun Yuha was crouched inside, giving a feeble smile and waving his hand awkwardly.

“Ha ha… ha ha ha… Hello?”

“Young master Seomun! What do you think you’re doing in there?!”

Sung Muyeon was aghast.

He had completely forgotten about Seomun Yuha after he had gone on the external mission, and to think they would meet again so dramatically… or not! This is stalking, straight up!

“What are you doing hiding in someone else’s room the moment you get back?! Come out, now!”

Already in a foul mood, Baek Ryeoil made no effort to conceal his displeasure toward the unwelcome guest.

“I indulged you, but you’ve crossed the line. Do you think this is the Seomun household? This is Mount Hua, and someone like you can’t just act however you want here.”

Baek Ryeoil muttered darkly.

Seomun Yuha flinched for a moment, seemingly intimidated, but then he shouted in defiance,

“I didn’t come here to see you, Master Baek! I came to see Young Master Sung Muyeon!”

“Whether you did or not, this is my home, and Sung Muyeon is a guest staying here. I’m the owner. No one invited you, so get out.”

Seomun Yuha, seemingly at a loss for a counterargument, simply jutted out his chin in defiance and clamped his mouth shut.

Sung Muyeon had a bad feeling that this immature young master might say something ridiculous again. Can’t we just live in peace for once…?

Not wanting things to get any louder, he tried to usher Seomun Yuha out.

“Alright, Young Master Seomun. Let’s go. Let’s step outside.”

But Seomun Yuha shook off his hand and boldly declared to Baek Ryeoil,

“I’m going to cure Young Master Sung Muyeon’s illness. I’m from Hwajeong Valley¹, after all. That’s why I came here!”

Sung Muyeon facepalmed.

He finally said it.

“…What did you say?”

Baek Ryeoil froze as if struck by lightning.

“You knew too, right, Master Baek? About Young Master Sung Muyeon’s illness? I can cure it! This is a matter between me and him. It’s not something for you to interfere in. So can you give us some space?”

Baek Ryeoil stood completely still, not even breathing, his eyes glaring rigidly. His pupils creaked as they flicked between the two. A sick Sung Muyeon, and Hwajeong Valley…

He realized the meaning behind those words fairly quickly.

“…So you’re saying you’re going to perform bedchamber techniques² with Sung Muyeon?”

“And why not? Is there a problem with that?”

Seomun Yuha, still oblivious to what he had just suggested, arrogantly lifted his chin. Baek Ryeoil scoffed in disbelief.

“Why would Sung Muyeon, of all people, do that with you?”

“Why not? If he doesn’t treat it, he could die. Shouldn’t he try everything? Isn’t that right, Young Master Sung Muyeon?”

As Seomun Yuha looked at Sung Muyeon, Baek Ryeoil’s fierce glare followed, drilling into him. He gritted his teeth and demanded each word with weight.

“Tell me, Sung Muyeon. Are you sick?”

Sung Muyeon put on the most innocent face he could muster and vigorously shook his head.

“Nnnope? I’m perfectly fine, not a thing wrong with me. Don’t know why Young Master Seomun is acting like this. Pretty sure I already turned him down. Haha…”

He knew that even the smallest sign of poor health would lead to disaster.

At that, Baek Ryeoil twisted the corners of his mouth into a grin.

“See? He said it’s unnecessary. He doesn’t need to do that with you. We already have a solution. So—”

“Why are you, Master Baek, acting like you’re in a relationship with him or something? I was talking to Sung Muyeon, not you. Why are you acting like his spokesperson? Are you his lover or something? What’s your deal?”

“What?”

“Exactly. This whole thing—I’m speaking to Young Master Sung Muyeon, but you keep butting in like his boyfriend or something. So tell me, Master Baek, are you his lover? Is that why you’re acting like this?”

“Th-that’s…”

Baek Ryeoil’s words caught in his throat.

Silence fell.

Then, the very next moment—

“Who the hell do you think you are to talk like that?! Get out of my house now!”

Baek Ryeoil grabbed Seomun Yuha and hurled him over the wall. Before slamming the door, he didn’t forget to throw out a warning.

“If you come near this place again, you won’t like what happens!”

SLAM—!

The door shut with a thunderous bang.

Baek Ryeoil stood there, back turned, breathing hard.

A heavy silence followed. Sung Muyeon didn’t know what kind of expression Baek Ryeoil wore beyond those stiff shoulders, but the longer the silence stretched, the more suffocating it became.

“…”

Sung Muyeon squeezed his eyes shut.

Why do I feel like some adulterous husband who got caught cheating on his loyal wife? An unjust sense of grievance washed over him—as if the world was trying to paint him as the bad guy.

Scared of the backlash, he tried to say something, anything.

“Um…”

“That bastard… How dare he lay a hand on what’s mine…?”

He couldn’t believe what he just heard.

“Excuse me, Master Baek. You can’t just go around slapping possessive pronouns on people, okay? I’m a person with my own will, thank you.”

But Baek Ryeoil didn’t even acknowledge him and kept muttering.

“Absolutely insane… Should’ve never let that guy step foot in Mount Hua to begin with… What the hell is he even going on about?”

By this point, even Sung Muyeon tilted his head in confusion. He knew Baek Ryeoil had strong possessiveness and a fierce competitive streak, but this response felt… extreme.

No way… right? Still, he had to ask.

“Just curious… Master Baek, do you… like me?”

Baek Ryeoil snapped his head around like lightning, eyes glinting dangerously.

“What? Are you insane? Me? Like you? Hah! That’s the most absurd garbage I’ve ever heard!”

He shouted, completely flustered, jumping up and down in rage. Sung Muyeon let out a relieved smile.

“Exactly! Whew, and here I was worried. As if the great emotionless swordmaster Baek Ryeoil would ever be that kind of person! Keep it that way, alright?”

“Y-yeah! Of course!”

Feeling lighter, Sung Muyeon started setting the table for lunch.

“By the way, I was thinking of visiting the Herbal Sage(Yakseon) again soon. You’ll help me out, right? You have to help me. If you and Il-gwang hadn’t screwed things up, I would’ve just gone on my own. But since you guys messed up, I have no choice.”

“That’s… not a problem.”

“Master Kang should be back by now. Hope everything’s alright over there. I’m sure Master Wang handled things.”

Baek Ryeoil grew suddenly quiet, but Sung Muyeon didn’t notice.

“…”

As Sung Muyeon busied himself with preparations, Baek Ryeoil just stood there, silently watching his back. A storm of emotions too complex to name passed over his face.

What… is this feeling?

Footnotes:

 

 

1. Bangjung-sul (방중술, 房中術) – Literally “bedchamber arts,” a real term in traditional Taoist and Chinese medicine referring to sexual practices that balance or exchange energy (qi) between partners. In many fantasy or wuxia stories, it’s used as a plot device for healing or power transfer.