HDCLSSRS Ch 100

Chapter 100 Lifeline (5)

At Mount Hua, every disciple was expected to resolve their own affairs.

One could hardly pursue the Way while idly ordering servants around with a flick of the fingers. In most Taoist sects, employing servants was unheard of. Even the sect leader himself would personally walk to the dining hall when mealtime came—enough said.

However, that rule did not apply to Yakseon.

Seong Muyeon had discovered this fact purely by chance. Perhaps fed up with his relentless visits, Yakseon had eventually gone so far as to bolt her door shut. But Muyeon, never the sort to give up easily, planted himself in front of the dining hall, waiting for her to appear. He assumed she would have to come by for meals sooner or later. Yet even after three mealtimes passed, Yakseon never showed.

As it turned out, kitchen workers had been delivering meal trays to her quarters every time.

Well… I suppose she does deserve special treatment.

Countless people were practically scouring the world just for a chance to meet her even once.

Either way—

Muyeon stole the meal tray meant for Yakseon. She was human too; she had to eat. This time, she wouldn’t be able to avoid him.

See? I really am smart.

With a cheerful spring in his step, Muyeon headed toward the guest quarters.

Knock, knock.

“I’ve brought your meal.”

Worried that Yakseon might recognize him, Muyeon deliberately lowered his voice, attempting a makeshift vocal disguise.

“Come in.”

To him, the door that had always been firmly shut slid open without resistance.

Cautiously, Muyeon stepped inside.

Only a few days ago the room had been spotless; now, it was in utter disarray. The sunlight barely reached inside, a musty odor hung in the air, and empty liquor bottles were strewn everywhere. Frankly, it was messier than Baek Ryeoil’s quarters.

Yakseon sat with her back turned at the long desk by the window. Without even glancing his way, she lazily extended a hand toward the table.

“Leave it there and go.”

When no sound of departure followed, Yakseon turned her head suspiciously—and locked eyes with Muyeon, who greeted her with a bright smile.

“Hello there.”

“You…!”

“Please eat first. It tastes best while warm. I’ll wait here and collect the empty tray once you’re done.”

“I still want to kill you right now, but I’m barely holding myself back. Leave before you regret it.”

Terrifying.

Utterly terrifying.

But backing down wasn’t an option.

“T-the tray…?”

“……”

Finally, Yakseon’s patience wore thin. She shot up from her seat and strode toward him in long, menacing steps. Muyeon instinctively backed away until his back hit the wall.

“A-are you going to hit me?”

“Yes.”

Yakseon raised her fist. Muyeon’s face drained of color. He begged with genuine desperation.

“Please spare me! I heard you saved my life before! You must know better than anyone that I don’t have much time left. If you don’t help me, who else possibly could…?”

“Live or die—what does that have to do with me?”

Yakseon drew ever closer. A formless energy shimmered around her tightly clenched fist. One hit from that, and he’d be finished.

Muyeon immediately dropped to his knees, bowing so low his forehead nearly struck the floor.

“You can even use my body as a test subject! I’ll do whatever you ask—anything at all! Just spare my life. I… I don’t want to die yet!”

Deep down, he was clinging to a faint hope. Yakseon had supposedly wanted him dead, yet had abruptly changed her mind and given him medicine instead. Something must have shifted within her. Over the past few days, rather than trying to harm him, she seemed only to wish he’d disappear from sight—like swatting away a bothersome insect. At the very least, she didn’t appear willing to provoke open conflict within Mount Hua’s walls.

…Still, she might hit me once or twice.

That much, he could endure—if it meant surviving.

“……”

“……”

But the expected blow never came. Cautiously, Muyeon cracked one eye open and found Yakseon standing right before him, glaring down with a face twisted in exasperation.

“Hey.”

Yakseon crouched down slightly, prompting Muyeon to slam his head back onto the floor.

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

“…Do you have no pride whatsoever?”

“None at all.”

His immediate and unflinching reply left Yakseon momentarily speechless. Seizing the advantage, Muyeon drove the nail in further.

“What use is pride when life’s on the line? If licking your feet would save me, I’ll do it. Want me to start now?”

“No need! You lunatic.”

Yakseon’s face twisted into a complex expression before she finally gave up and began eating. She seemed to have resolved to ignore him completely. Muyeon quietly curled up in a corner to wait.

When Yakseon finished eating and returned to the desk, Muyeon carefully gathered the empty dishes without disturbing her.

“Then… I’ll be back later.”

Clack.

“Phew…”

The tension draining from him drew a long sigh from his lips.

Because of the terrible first impression he’d made, softening Yakseon’s hostility wouldn’t be easy.

Still… I guess I’ve taken the first step.

Muyeon decided to borrow Baek Ryeoil’s method from the original story—

the so‑called persistence-by-annoyance tactic.

Baek Ryeoil had once camped out in Yakseon’s laboratory for days on end, raising havoc and essentially threatening, “If you don’t help us, I’ll torment you forever.” That was how he eventually won her over.

Lacking Baek Ryeoil’s strength and guts, this was the best Muyeon could manage.

But where the hell is that guy, anyway?

Since the day they’d first met Yakseon, Baek Ryeoil hadn’t shown his face for days. If he’d been around to protect him, Muyeon could have pushed his approach even further, but alas.

What’s going on with him?

The timing of Baek Ryeoil’s disappearance right after meeting Yakseon felt suspicious, but considering how he always popped up unpredictably, Muyeon wasn’t overly concerned. There were more pressing matters at hand.

When mealtime came around again, Muyeon barged into Yakseon’s quarters—only to find she wasn’t there. Apparently, she’d grown tired of him waltzing in and out as she pleased and had decided to start eating at the dining hall instead.

That worked even better for Muyeon.

Grabbing his food, he hurried to sit across from her.

“Fancy meeting you again.”

Yakseon’s eyebrow twitched. She clearly hadn’t expected him to brazenly sit at the same table. In fact, by doing so he’d gained a huge advantage: the dining hall was always crowded. At least here, he didn’t have to worry about being secretly killed and buried somewhere.

“What brings you to the hall today? If you’d stayed in your room, I would’ve brought it to you. Still, it’s nice to eat with everyone once in a while, right?”

“……”

Yakseon didn’t answer, but Muyeon kept chattering away, the smile never leaving his shameless face.

Every day, every single mealtime, he waited outside the dining hall for Yakseon. If she requested food delivered to her quarters, Muyeon brought it. If she came to the hall, Muyeon was already there. And since she couldn’t exactly skip meals, Yakseon endured several days of his relentless presence in utter silence.

Muyeon, unfazed, attended to her unasked needs—pouring her water, handing her napkins, and generally hovering like an unsolicited servant.

When Yakseon moved, Muyeon moved. Wherever she went, he followed.

“Going for a walk? I’ll guide you.”

“……”

Every day.

“Head that way and you’ll find the training grounds. They should be in the middle of practice about now.”

“……”

“Careful around the pond—lots of burly guys bathe there, completely stark naked. Haha.”

Every meal.

After about three days, Yakseon’s patience finally snapped. She swung her fist and shouted:

“I ought to—!”

“Eek!”

“I spoiled you, and now you’re shoving your face in mine like you’ve got a death wish!”

What kind of physician resorted to punching people at the drop of a hat?!

Yakseon’s raised voice drew the attention of passing disciples. They stopped in their tracks to watch the scene unfold.

Thanks to that, Muyeon straightened from his cowering posture.

“What are you talking about? I’ve told you again and again—I want to live.”

“You—! You—!”

Shaking with fury, Yakseon looked about ready to explode. The crowd murmured.

“Looks like Lady Yakseon’s about to hit him.”

“Did you hear that rumor? They say she tried to kill Young Master Seong at the medical hall. The head of the Medical Division witnessed it himself.”

“Is that true?”

As whispers spread, Yakseon’s face twisted in frustration.

“Still, isn’t it too much to hit someone who just got out of bed?”

“Where’s Senior Brother Baek? How can he leave someone in poor health wandering around alone?”

Though no one stepped in to defend Muyeon as openly as Baek Ryeoil or Ma Jincheon would have, skeptical glances turned toward Yakseon.

Despite being a young master of the Demonic Sect, Muyeon had lived at Mount Hua for quite some time and, after risking his life to save Ma Jincheon, had gained the disciples’ goodwill. Yakseon, though a guest of the sect leader and famed master in her own right, earned little sympathy with her abrasive demeanor—especially now, about to strike a recovering patient.

Yakseon stared at the gathering crowd with a look as if she’d bitten into something sour, then abruptly turned on her heel.

“Lady! Where are you going?”

Muyeon quickly excused himself to the onlookers and chased after her.

Moments later, he found her near the training grounds, silently observing the disciples practicing.

As Muyeon approached, familiar faces like Kang Ung and Seomun Yuha noticed him and waved.

Watching this, Yakseon muttered under her breath:

“I don’t understand.”

Muyeon slowly lowered the arm he’d been using to wave back at the boys.

“What don’t you understand?”

“How did you manage to charm Mount Hua? By what means?”