HDCLSSRS Ch 115

Chapter 115 The Gambling Den (1)

For a brief moment, silence lingered.

…So even that wastrel managed to keep a capable retainer.

Before Seong Muyeon could even respond, Mujai’s sharp, irritable voice rang out from inside the room.

“Gyeom-ah! Why are you dawdling outside? Get in here this instant!”

“Y-Yes! I’m coming, Young Master!”

Bang Gyeom, after shooting Muyeon a look that silently pleaded ‘please take care of him,’ hurried back into Mujai’s chamber.

“…”

In the end, Muyeon abandoned the notion of hunting for rope. With Baek Ryeoil sitting there sharp-eyed like a hawk, how could Mujai possibly pull off some miraculous escape?

Besides, Biyeonmun had already increased security, doubling and tripling the guards posted around.

Ryeoil was seated in lotus position upon the main hall bench, his gaze fixed with deadly sharpness upon the chamber where Mujai was housed.

“…I don’t like this.”

Naturally, not for an instant did Muyeon think Ryeoil would ever like Mujai.

“Let’s just go settle things inside.”

“…It disgusts me. He looks just like you, and yet acts like that. It makes me want to dislike you as well.”

“…Should I just sleep on the floor, then?”

“No!”

By the following evening, they visited Seonwollu again.

The moment Mujai stepped inside the tavern, servants busy with preparations spotted him and called out.

“Young Lord!”

“It has been a long while!”

Mujai tilted his chin arrogantly, acknowledging them with a smirk, appearing deeply satisfied. It was easy to imagine how brazenly he must have strutted during his earlier stay here.

Even Suran, working meekly, paled upon seeing Mujai and Bang Gyeom walk in. Muyeon caught the two of them stealing surreptitious glances at one another.

“Young Lord, you’re back!”

“And your master?”

The commotion drew steward Jang Gwe forward. Mujai questioned with a lift of the chin.

“Ah, how have you been faring all this while? When you vanished without word, we feared the worst. The master will be astonished! Please, follow me—I shall escort you myself.”

Led by Jang Gwe, they went upstairs directly toward the loft’s highest suite. At the grand doors, the steward announced:

“Master, the Young Lord has returned.”

Moments later, the doors flung wide.

“Young Brother!”

“It has been too long, Elder Brother.”

“You—you…!”

The tavern master barreled out, his expression caught somewhere between anger and shock. His breathing came heavy, then all of a sudden, with a burst of motion, he seized Mujai by the arm.

“Caught you, scoundrel!”

“Why such rough handling, Brother?”

“Why? You even ask? Do you know how much trouble you cost me?!”

His fury erupted in full flame. After all, Mujai had run off leaving a debt of a hundred taels of gold—it was only natural.

“Well now, Master—please, let’s speak calmly—”

But before Muyeon could so much as finish, the tavern master bellowed.

“Guards! Seize them!”

At once martial retainers swarmed into the corridor, hemming them in from both sides. The narrow hall was sealed tight.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” Muyeon cried, but steel flashed in answer.

He hadn’t expected a warm welcome—but neither had he foreseen an immediate attempt upon their lives.

Ryeoil’s sword sang from its sheath, ringing sharply as he deflected the flurry of attacks. At the same time Kang Ung drew his blade, interposing himself at the opposing end of the corridor.

“Eek!”

“Get over here, Mujai!”

The tavern master attempted to drag Mujai bodily into his chamber.

“Brother!”

Muyeon dove, seizing Mujai by the waist, anchoring him firmly. It all unfolded within the blink of an eye.

“Let’s talk this through, Brother!” Mujai shouted.

“Yes, with words, Master! The debt—we’ll repay it!” Muyeon shouted as well.

But the tavern master, trying to rip Mujai free, lashed out with wild kicks. Yet Muyeon slipped aside each time, avoiding the blows.

“You think this is about money now?! Guards! Rip him off!”

More warriors emerged from the chamber, blades drawn.

Muyeon sucked in a tight breath.

“Brother! Do something! Why are you so useless like this?!”

“You try going three days without food, damn it!”

Their shouted bickering reached Ryeoil’s ears. He glanced back briefly—Ung was clearly overmatched against so many, barely holding the line. Only thanks to Bang Gyeom, who had snatched up a sword to fight by his side, was the corridor not already overrun.

“Kang Ung!”

“Yes, Master!”

“Flat to the ground!”

At once, the boy flattened himself.

Whooom!

Ryeoil’s blade howled. With one sweeping horizontal slash, a half-moon arc of force tore down the corridor walls.

“Uaaagh!”

Too slow, Bang Gyeom lost a lock of hair—but the rest of the enemies were flung bleeding and screaming backward, crashing into their fellows.

An opening flared.

Ryeoil shot down it like a hawk.

“Gyaahh!”

Three dazzling cuts flashed in a split-second.

And then—

“…”

The two guards by the tavern master’s sides slumped lifelessly.

Next, the edge turned upon the master’s throat. One droplet of crimson slid down the line.

“…Shall I continue?”

“U-urk…”

Cold sweat broke over his brow. His closest guards lay in ruin, the hall an uproar of collapsed bodies. Meanwhile, Ung and Bang Gyeom had risen again, blades brandished to guard the others.

“Release me!”

Seizing the moment, Mujai wrenched himself free of the tavern master’s grasp.

“Sixth Prince, are you unharmed?”

“I am! Tch!”

Rubbing his aching wrist, he rounded furiously on the master.

“What nonsense behavior is this?! I never took you for such a villain!”

“Ha! And you dare speak so?”

“You wound me, Brother. I returned in honesty to pay my debt! And this is how you receive me?”

“PAY? With what means?!”

“For one last glorious bout in your den, of course! Else why else would I return? I’ll win big, pay you back handsomely, and line my own pockets besides!”

“You still… you worthless—!”

The tavern master ground his teeth, veins bulging—yet Ryeoil’s icy blade pressed tighter, pricking his jugular.

At last, Muyeon intervened. With a nod, Ryeoil clicked his tongue but withdrew the weapon.

“I understand your fury, Master, but this was too extreme. We only struck back because we had no choice—do forgive our rough response.”

“Forgive—bah—”

“Oh, but it’s true—my brother will repay the debt. Was that not said plainly enough?”

“Silence!”

He clutched his bleeding throat with a kerchief, still trembling, eyes darting as though seeking reversal.

“My elder owes you one hundred taels—we acknowledge it. But if you persist thus, we’ll have no way forward.”

“…!”

He swallowed dryly. A bead of sweat dripped down temple to jaw, pattering on the floor.

“Worry not. We came only for amusement before we depart. My brother said he wished to visit, and I too am curious.”

“Y-You truly mean… to try the gambling hall? You do not seem the sort…”

At last, his gaze locked onto Muyeon’s.

“Me? Why wouldn’t I? Of course I adore such things.”

“…Truth?”

“Absolutely. Fortune favors me, after all.”

Muyeon’s grin radiated confidence.

The tavern master’s shaking stilled. Licking his lips sourly, he bowed his head, surprisingly yielding.

“A mistake—my mistake. I apologize.”

With a wave of his hand, the corridor filled with guards melted away in an instant. Even Ung and Bang Gyeom were left blinking in confusion.

“Well then! A word in advance would have helped! No matter—if that’s the case, then of course I must welcome you to my gambling hall.”

“Ha! That’s the spirit!”

“…”

As they glared into one another’s eyes—an iron tension sparking—suddenly…

“Ha! Yes, that’s the brother I know!”

“And who else would say such words! Hahaha!”

Seconds after straining red in the face at each other, the two sworn brothers were suddenly roaring in laughter and clasping each other in tight embrace.

“Elder Brother, how did you ever pass the days without me?”

“And you—leaving me high and dry, you little bastard!”

“Ha ha ha!”

“Hahahahaha!”

…Is this even real?

Muyeon simply could not fathom how quickly these two had flipped back into affectionate merriment.

The only relief was seeing the faces of Ryeoil, Ung, and even Bang Gyeom—all struck dumb with the same stupefied disbelief.