HDCLSSRS Ch 155

Chapter 155 Choice (5)

“What do you mean, it can’t be done? Perfect timing, Hansu — come in.”

At Sanggeol’s beckoning, Jang Hansu stepped into the cell, his face still blank with confusion.

“We’ll disguise Young Master Muyeon as a disciple of Mount Hua,” Sanggeol said coolly. “You, Hansu, will accompany him — along with one or two trusted disciples — and escort him out of the manor. Of course, there’ll be suspicion, but so what? At most, they’ll bear grudges. Suspicion alone can’t convict. They already believe him to be a ruthless villain, capable of anything. It wouldn’t be surprising if such a man had a few tricks up his sleeve.”

Muyeon could only accept it. What did it matter if he took on another false identity now? He’d long since grown used to shouldering undeserved guilt.

“…Disguise? Escape? What are you talking about?” Hansu asked, frowning.

“There’s something I need you to do,” Sanggeol replied, his tone final. “We’ll speak of it in detail once we’re away from here.”

Leaving those words behind, he departed with Hansu, leaving Muyeon alone in the cold cell.

“…”

The rapid turn of events left Muyeon drained. He sat down heavily, drawing his knees close to his chest.

This would be the last time he disappointed Baek Ryeoil. It wasn’t the first — not even the second — but perhaps this time, at least, it would do some good for them both.

It’s fine.

The memories he’d made with Ryeoil would stay with him, enough to make him stronger. When Ryeoil awoke from meditation, Muyeon would already be gone. The only thing that stung was that he wouldn’t even be able to say goodbye.

Meanwhile, Jegal Un stood motionless in the storehouse. Jang Hansu and Sanggeol had long since gone, forgetting his presence entirely.

“Ha…”

He had heard everything — every word spoken beyond the thin wall. The shock of their scheming, of the audacity to smuggle a criminal out right before his eyes, sent his mind reeling — and then, abruptly, clear.

They dare… to deceive me, in my own house?

A cold fury began to seep through his chest like poison. His gaze drifted down — to the small chest beside him, filled with confiscated belongings. Among scraps of cloth and a half-empty vial of medicine, something shimmered faintly beneath the light.

Gold.

As if entranced, Jegal Un reached down, brushing aside the fabric. His fingers closed around a cold, metallic object. He lifted it — a golden necklace engraved with a lotus motif.

In that instant, his mind went white.

His pupils constricted; his jaw fell slack. His entire body stiffened, frozen as if struck by lightning.

Then, sharply — whoosh! — he turned, staring at the wall that separated him from the prison cell beyond.

Muyeon…?

The image of the imprisoned man flashed through his mind — and a chill, sharp as a blade, ran down his spine.

Trembling, Jegal Un reached into his robes — and pulled out a necklace. An identical one.

Two golden pendants, identical in every curve and mark, dangled before his eyes.

“…”

He swallowed hard.

A few moments later, Jegal Un stormed out of the storage room, ignoring the startled cries of the keeper, and strode briskly down the corridor.

No. It can’t be.

He repeated it again and again, but the words did nothing to calm the pounding in his chest.

Reaching the medical hall, he burst into the room where Yang Hagakju lay recovering. The door slammed open, startling the man so violently that he nearly fell off his bed.

“Y–Y–Young Master! I swear I’m innocent! I was only investigating! Please believe me!”

Yang babbled before Jegal Un could even speak, bowing repeatedly in panic.

“When you searched Young Master Muyeon’s belongings,” Jegal Un said sharply, his tone ice-cold, “did you see a necklace?”

His piercing gaze froze Yang in place.

“Answer me! Did you see it?”

“Y–Yes, yes! I saw it! But the Spirit Seal wasn’t there!”

Yang dropped to his knees as Jegal Un’s fury bore down on him — but then, unexpectedly, silence.

When he dared to look up, Jegal Un was standing motionless, a hand pressed to his forehead, his face pale.

“Wh–why do you ask, Young Master? Is there a problem with the necklace?”

Jegal Un’s eyes flashed toward him — cold and sharp enough to cut. The terrified man quickly lowered his head.

“Why were you there, Lord Yang?” Jegal Un’s voice was quiet, but deadly. “What were you sneaking around for, like a rat?”

“R–rat, you say…”

The insult stung — but Yang bit down his anger, forcing a polite tone.

“You misunderstand, Young Master. I would never act against the clan. You know that.”

“You don’t understand how grave this is,” Jegal Un interrupted. “Depending on your answer, this could be seen as mere curiosity — or as evidence of treason.”

The threat made Yang gasp and stammer.

“I–It’s the truth! I was only looking for the Spirit Seal! Nothing else! But… in truth, I wasn’t unconscious that day. I heard everything that happened in the Central Hall’s underground chamber — every word, every sound. I saw it all with my own eyes!”

Jegal Un froze. “…Is that true?”

Yang nodded quickly.

“Before he died, Paeng Wongeum said it himself. The Spirit Seal wasn’t just any elixir — it was a divine relic capable of healing Heaven’s Curse, a condition so fatal it was deemed incurable. Its power was enough to restore broken meridians. That’s why I searched for it — because something that precious had vanished!”

Jegal Un stared blankly for a long moment before his fury returned.

“Why didn’t you say this sooner?! You’re the only one who witnessed everything!”

“I–I lost a lot of blood!” Yang stammered. “I barely came to my senses! And besides… who would believe such things? That Paeng Wongeum was a Huajeonggol spy, manipulating you with his ability — only to kill himself? People would rather ignore it!”

Jegal Un’s blood ran cold.

“My brother… a Huajeonggol?”

Yang nodded, trembling, and began recounting the entire story in painful detail. The more he spoke, the paler Jegal Un’s face became. By the end, he looked like a man drained of all life.

“W–wait.”

He staggered, bracing himself against the wall.

“Are you certain Muyeon opened the underground back gate?”

“I am,” Yang said. “But that’s what confuses me. That gate is designed to respond only to the bloodline of the Jegal Clan. How he managed it… I can’t say.”

“…”

“Maybe,” Yang added hesitantly, “it reacted to your own blood, left behind when you entered earlier? You don’t remember, but that’s possible, isn’t it?”

“…Perhaps.”

His tone was strange — detached. Yang frowned but decided to let it go.

“So why the question about the necklace? Is it important?”

“Forget about it.”

“Shouldn’t we investigate? If it’s connected to the gate—”

“I said, forget it.”

Jegal Un’s voice hardened into a command.

“Never speak of that necklace again. Not to anyone. Erase it from your memory. That’s not a request — it’s an order.”

“…Understood.”

Though clearly dissatisfied, Yang bowed his head. Jegal Un let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“What now, Young Master?” Yang asked as Jegal Un turned to leave.

“When the Paeng Clan arrives, they’ll begin their inquest. Whatever the truth is, they won’t care for it. They’ll never believe Muyeon’s innocence.”

“…We’ll speak of that later.”

Jegal Un’s reply was curt. He left the room without looking back.

By the time the Paeng Clan arrived, he knew, Muyeon would already be gone — if he didn’t stop the plan himself.

“Young Master! There you are!”

As he stepped outside, the head steward came running, pale and breathless.

“What is it now?” Jegal Un snapped, exhaustion bleeding into his tone.

“The manor— it’s surrounded!”