HDCLSSRS Ch 41

Chapter 41 A Taste of Frustration (3)

 

He was good at anything involving the  body. Ever since the day he first picked up a sword, he’d grown up hearing that he was a rare prodigy bestowed by the heavens, someone who might appear only once in a thousand years. His martial skills had already reached a level that couldn’t be ignored, not just by his peers but even by the older generation.

Baek Ryeoil was the kind of person who never forgot anything once he learned it, and by the second time, he always found a way to do it even better.

And yet, for someone like him to be the worst in bed?

It was an impossibility.

His pride was hurt.

‘I feel like I could do better if I just tried one more time…’

As soon as his blatant stare was felt, Seong Muyeon tightened the collar of his robe.

“What are you looking at!”

“When did I ever look!”

“You did look! I felt your inappropriate gaze!”

“What the hell?! How could you possibly know what I was thinking? Don’t accuse an innocent man!”

“Forget it then.”

Both of them simultaneously turned their heads sharply in opposite directions.

“I’m going to train.”

Only after the door slammed shut with a loud bang did Seong Muyeon relax.

‘Anyway, I’m still alive.’

This time, it really felt like he had crossed halfway to the underworld and come back. If it hadn’t been for Baek Ryeoil, he would already be lying comfortably in a coffin.

Just as he had confidently told Baek Ryeoil, he had no intention of ever letting something like that happen again. The pain was bad enough, but just thinking about last night made his heart pound—it was not good for his mental health.

Naturally. He had nearly died, after all.

Seong Muyeon gingerly sat on the bed and immediately sprang back up as if burned. His rear hurt so much he felt like he might die! After being worked that hard all night, it would be stranger if he wasn’t in pain.

He barely managed to control his screaming body and washed himself. His body was a complete mess, covered in the dried traces of last night.

Before long, Ma Jincheon arrived at Chwijungjae with a grave expression.

Seong Muyeon, sensing the inevitable, quickly rose to greet him.

“Master, I imagine you were quite startled by what happened yesterday.”

“Yes. But more importantly, how is Master Jang doing?”

“Thanks to the swift treatment, he has stabilized. With a few days of quiet meditation, it seems there will be no lasting aftereffects.”

“That’s a relief.”

Seong Muyeon let out a breath of relief. If Jang Hansu had suffered even slightly more serious harm, he would have been unavoidably expelled.

Besides, he genuinely felt bad for Jang Hansu. Although the man had tried to kill him, it wasn’t right to say he bore no responsibility. How much anguish must he have been in to fall into deviation?

“We can’t relax just yet. Right now, everyone’s focused on Hansu, so they don’t have the capacity for anything else, but they won’t just let this matter go.”

“Are you saying…?”

“There might be a hearing.”

Ma Jincheon added bitterly.

“That boy Hansu always was impulsive and easily shaken. I repeatedly warned him to be careful not to fall into deviation… Anyway, everyone knows this was an unintentional accident, but…”

“Please say no more. I already had a feeling. Given my origins, there’s no helping it.”

Ma Jincheon nodded.

“That’s why I say this—please lie low for the time being. After a few days, once emotions have settled, you’ll be less of a target. Until then, avoid even the smallest conflict. That way, even if a hearing is held, they’ll have no grounds.”

Seong Muyeon nodded and lowered his gaze, sinking into thought. Ma Jincheon stared at him silently.

‘…….’

When Ma Jincheon had heard about the incident the day before, he had been quite surprised. The most surprising part was that his first thought had been that Seong Muyeon wouldn’t have done it intentionally.

Then, as soon as he had a moment, he came running like this just to give a warning—and he didn’t even understand why.

To him, Seong Muyeon wasn’t someone to be concerned about. Just a troublesome burden his disciple had brought back on his own. Ever since his arrival, Mount Hua had been filled with commotion, which he didn’t welcome.

Demonic cult origin. Uninvited guest.

And yet, here he was, inexplicably worried.

Seong Muyeon suddenly came to and deeply bowed in formal courtesy.

“Thank you for telling me, Master Ma. I’ll do my best as you advised. But if the worst comes to pass, then that too must be my fate. Please don’t worry.”

Ma Jincheon couldn’t help but be impressed.

Despite the unjust and infuriating situation, his bearing was flawless. The gentle curve of his downcast eyes and the grace radiating from his features exuded refined elegance.

Was he not the ideal disciple he had always dreamed of?

Always composed, never lacking in hospitality, and always showing the proper manners appropriate to the time and place. A type of person absent from his own destiny.

But there was one thing he didn’t know—Seong Muyeon truly wasn’t bothered at all. Instead, he was thinking this:

‘If I get kicked out, I’ll just go to the Namgung clan.’

Unaware of this, Ma Jincheon left with a satisfied smile on his face.

Clatter! Bang!

Suddenly, the door burst open and Baek Ryeoil walked in, dripping with water. Despite seeing his teacher standing in the middle of the room, he didn’t even bother to bow—just gave a lazy nod.

“What are you here for?”

Ma Jincheon trembled with rage. The sight of his beloved disciple sent his blood pressure soaring and the back of his neck tightening.

“I’m not here to see you, so stay out of it!”

Ma Jincheon’s crumpled expression immediately softened when he turned to Seong Muyeon.

“Well then, get some rest.”

“Take care, sir.”

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to land a sharp slap on Baek Ryeoil’s back.

“What the hell?”

Rubbing his sore back, Baek Ryeoil turned to Seong Muyeon.

“What did he come for?”

Seong Muyeon relayed everything Ma Jincheon had told him. After listening, Baek Ryeoil stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Hm. A hearing, huh. What a fuss. I mean, things like that happen in life. If you baby someone too much, they’ll just become weak.”

Having said that, Baek Ryeoil gave Seong Muyeon a slow once-over.

“But you… are you really okay now?”

Feeling a chill from his intense gaze, Seong Muyeon hugged his shoulders in a feeble attempt at defense.

What was he plotting now?

While training, Baek Ryeoil had, surprisingly, done some thinking.

Though Seong Muyeon’s condition had improved, the way he moved didn’t look right. As a martial artist, Baek Ryeoil could tell where someone hurt or was uncomfortable just by watching them move. For someone like him, who trained his body daily, overexerting for one night wasn’t a big deal. But Seong Muyeon? For him, just turning a page in a book was heavy labor.

Thinking of how Seong Muyeon would react, Baek Ryeoil stepped forward with a smirk.

“You said you were in pain. Want me to take a look?”

Seong Muyeon recoiled in horror, sharply blocking him like taming a wild beast.

“Do not come closer! I warned you.”

“You know it’s best to treat injuries early so they don’t get worse later.”

“Don’t come closer. Don’t! Don’t you daaaaare!”

Seong Muyeon was easily caught by Baek Ryeoil. He was lifted like a doll with no effort and laid face-down on the bed.

“W-What do you think you’re doing?”

“Just stay still.”

Just when he thought some perverted act was about to happen again, Baek Ryeoil placed his broad hand on his back and pressed down gently.

“You need to loosen up those tight muscles. You’ll feel much better.”

As the hot hand applied pressure with just the right amount of force, Seong Muyeon let out a breath of relief without even realizing it. The pain-wracked body relaxed under the meticulous massage.

“You even know how to do this…? Aaah…”

“How’s that?”

“Not bad. Keep going.”

Seong Muyeon closed his eyes and settled into position.

“What were you even thinking, flailing around like that… Wait, don’t tell me.”

Baek Ryeoil narrowed his eyes.

“What kind of person do you think I am?”

“W-What? I didn’t say anything!”

“You thought I was going to force myself on you or something. That’s just insulting. I’ll have you know, I’m a proper Taoist of the orthodox sect.”

‘…So he does remember he’s a Taoist.’

Baek Ryeoil was genuinely wronged. He had truly just wanted to help ease Seong Muyeon’s pain by relaxing his muscles—he hadn’t expected to be misunderstood like this.

He had no ulterior motive whatsoever.

…Well, saying none would be a bit dishonest, but at least eighty percent of his intentions were pure. The pleasure he had felt for the first time in his life had been unforgettable, but that didn’t mean he was some shameless degenerate who got aroused at the drop of a hat.

“Anyway, just like Master said, it’s best not to attract attention for a while. Don’t go anywhere when I’m not around.”

“Mm… okay… Ah, there. Right there.”

The massage that had started on his back continued to his arms and neck. Soon, Seong Muyeon began letting out moans.

“…Stop making weird noises.”

“Mm… a bit harder.”

“……”

When he pressed firmly on the hollow of the waist, even Seong Muyeon’s toes curled.

“Ha…”

His entire body melted into a warm puddle. Baek Ryeoil’s large, hot hands knew exactly where to press to bring relief. Beneath those hands, Seong Muyeon sighed softly in surrender.

“Ah… that’s good…”

“……”

Baek Ryeoil’s face flushed red. Even though both of them were fully clothed and nothing indecent had happened, his pulse quickened.

Then the blood rushed downward, and he sprang to attention.

Damn it!

Baek Ryeoil felt utterly wronged. His intentions had been so pure—so why did it end up like this again?