HDCLSSRS Ch 45

Chapter 45 A Taste of Frustration (7)

 

However, the second disciple straightened his shoulders and shouted boldly, as if he believed he had nothing to be ashamed of.

“Stay out of this, senior brother! This has nothing to do with you.”

“How is it none of my business when you’re out here screaming like a pig being slaughtered right outside my quarters?”

Baek Ryeoil’s gaze finally landed on Kang Ung as he spoke. Kang Ung looked pale, as if he might faint any second.

‘Hmph.’

Baek Ryeoil scanned him up and down. He’d seen him before, but even now, the way he stood and his evenly built physique showed potential. If trained properly, he could grow into something formidable.

‘He’s the senior disciple, was it?’

Baek Ryeoil curled his lips into a faint smirk.

“Since he’s staying in the senior disciple’s quarters, there’s nothing I can do. As a master, it is my duty to protect my disciple. Unlike you, who have no disciple.”

“Why wouldn’t I know about that?”

Baek Ryeoil pushed through the crowd and strode over to Kang Ung.

He then placed his hand, large as a pot lid, firmly on the boy’s shoulder.

“Well done. That’s how my disciple should act. If anyone picks a fight with you in the future, beat them up thoroughly. Understood?”

“……”

“……”

Everyone except Baek Ryeoil was too stunned to understand what was happening, their mouths hanging open.

Seong Muyeon was the first to come to his senses. He jabbed Kang Ung in the side and whispered quickly.

“Say ‘Yes,’ quickly!”

Snapping out of it, Kang Ung nodded his head vigorously.

“Yes, yes!”

“Good. That’s the spirit.”

Baek Ryeoil nodded with satisfaction, then turned to the disciples.

“Well then… shall we turn this kids’ squabble into an adults’ fight?”

His eerie tone made the second disciple snap to attention.

“W-what nonsense! I never heard that you had taken in a disciple!”

“Must be that your news travels slow.”

Baek Ryeoil shrugged and then stepped closer to the other.

“So, shall we give it a try?”

“Ugh…”

As Baek Ryeoil, tall and broad-shouldered, drew near, the second disciple shrank back as if a mountain were pressing down on him. His face was full of embarrassment. Fair and unblemished, he was one of the senior disciples who hadn’t yet sparred with Baek Ryeoil.

“I-I meant to say, be more careful next time! Let’s go!”

Clearly more cautious than others, he finally retreated with his disciples.

“Master…? You’re just going to let them go like that?”

“Who else is to blame for your own weakness! Tsk tsk. From today, special training.”

“What?”

They left, reeling from the shock of being lectured instead of getting revenge.

“……”

After the storm had passed, a strange stillness settled. Kang Ung remained dazed, unable to grasp the situation, his expression blank like he might start drooling.

Seong Muyeon wasn’t much different.

‘Baek Ryeoil took in a disciple?’

He couldn’t tell whether it was just a temporary ploy to defuse the situation or something genuine.

Only Baek Ryeoil remained cheerful as always.

“Let’s go eat.”

After walking a few steps, he noticed no one was following and turned back.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming?”

“…Well, you two go ahead and eat. I’ll be off…”

“Hey now, where do you think you’re going?”

Baek Ryeoil grabbed Kang Ung by the scruff and set him back in place.

“What? But I thought you were just saying that…”

“Let me give you your first lesson. A man doesn’t speak out of both sides of his mouth.”

Seong Muyeon narrowed his eyes.

Why’s he looking at me when he says that?

Kang Ung’s previously blank expression brightened into joy, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

“Yes, Master!”

He was overjoyed. He looked like he wanted to jump for joy but could only shuffle his feet, restrained by the presence of elders.

“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Led by Baek Ryeoil, the three headed to the dining hall.

“……”

Unlike the purely delighted Kang Ung, Seong Muyeon watched Baek Ryeoil with suspicion.

‘What kind of wind blew through him?’

In the original story, he never took on a disciple until the end. What kind of change of heart was this?

On their way, Kang Ung spotted a group of boys and asked for permission to run over to them. He then darted off.

‘Off to brag, no doubt.’

The boys erupted into cheers and shouts, making a scene as if it were their own celebration. Seong Muyeon watched from a distance, smiling warmly.

‘Well, all’s well that ends well.’

Baek Ryeoil, watching the cheering boys, nudged Seong Muyeon in the ribs.

“What?”

Baek Ryeoil, who was watching the boys squealing louder than any normal cheer, had a deeply serious expression. Seong Muyeon felt a twinge of unease. Surely he wouldn’t go back on it now?

“…What was his name again?”

Seong Muyeon was speechless.

“Are you insane?! You took in a disciple without even knowing his name? No, more importantly, what’s with the sudden disciple? What’s your real motive?!”

“Ah, come on. What’s the big deal about taking in a disciple? That other guy had like three or four. So what’s his name again?”

“……”

Seeing Kang Ung beaming in the distance only made Seong Muyeon feel more conflicted.

It was as if he were watching dark clouds gather over the bright future of a hopeful young boy.

Something felt deeply wrong, but either way, Ma Jincheon was delighted.

“You pretty little thing! How’d you get that ill-tempered guy wrapped around your finger, huh? Come on, teach me your ways!”

The news that Baek Ryeoil had taken in Kang Ung as a disciple spread like wildfire before the day even changed. The moment the disciple registration was finalized, Ma Jincheon came running.

The instant he saw Kang Ung, he fell in love. Without hesitation, he began tugging at the boy’s still-chubby cheeks.

“Call me grandmaster! You adorable rascal!”

“Grandmaster… that hurts…”

“Yes, yes! Hahaha!”

Ma Jincheon had gained the great-grandson disciple he’d dreamed of.

“Master! The boy’s overwhelmed! Surely you’re busy—shouldn’t you be heading out?”

“You’re defending him now just because he’s your master?!”

Kang Ung, who had been staying temporarily at a dorm, moved to a new room that very day. Now, all three of them had their own rooms at Chwijeongjae.

Overflowing with enthusiasm, Kang Ung began cleaning the house top to bottom—maru, kitchen, every corner sparkled.

“Training begins tomorrow. Get to bed early.”

Baek Ryeoil said sternly, trying to sound strict.

“Yes, good night!”

Kang Ung replied so energetically that he might as well knock himself unconscious if sleep didn’t come, then dashed into his room like a storm.

It was just one more person, but Chwijeongjae had become livelier.

This must be why people have kids. The energy was infectious. Even Seong Muyeon felt a bit uplifted.

The kids who used to dislike Kang Ung no longer dared to treat him disrespectfully.

It was definitely a good thing, but…

“Master! I finished running one hundred laps around the training field as instructed!”

Kang Ung burst in, soaked in sweat. Yet his eyes still sparkled with energy, unusual for someone who had just completed such a feat.

“Mm. Do a hundred more.”

“Yes, sir!”

The boy shot back out like a bullet.

Is this normal?

“Are you sure this is proper training? You’re not just torturing him, are you?”

“Oh come now, how could you say something so hurtful? Of course there’s a plan.”

“Of course there is.”

Indeed, there was a plan.

One afternoon, as he lounged lazily, Baek Ryeoil suddenly sat upright. He stared intently at the wall.

Seong Muyeon, curious, looked in the same direction. But there was nothing—just a wall. He wondered if perhaps there was a bug.

“Kang Ung!”

“Yes, Master! You called?”

With a single call, Kang Ung dashed over from the next room. Baek Ryeoil grabbed the boy by both shoulders with great seriousness. Standing next to his bear-like figure, the boy looked like a helpless pup.

“I have urgent business to attend to, and must leave for a while. I’m giving you your first mission.”

“Mission?”

Kang Ung’s eyes lit up. The very idea of his first duty as a disciple had him thrilled.

“Yes. See that guy over there.”

Baek Ryeoil tilted his head toward Seong Muyeon.

“You mean Young Master Seong Muyeon? Yes.”

“That guy… he’s dangerous. While I’m gone, stick to him like glue. Make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble. That is your mission.”

Seong Muyeon scoffed in disbelief.

So that was the plan?

Is that why he took in a disciple?

Kang Ung tilted his head, not fully understanding.

“Uh… Young Master Seong is…?”

“Yes! You’re still too green to see it, but you must be extremely cautious. Even a moment of negligence, and who knows what he might do.”

“I see…”

Still puzzled, the boy glanced back and forth between Baek Ryeoil and Seong Muyeon. But as a new disciple, eager to please, he soon nodded fervently.

“Disciple will not disappoint you, Master!”

“Good, good. I like that. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes!”

Baek Ryeoil gave his shoulder a few pats, then sent Seong Muyeon a warning glare and disappeared in a flash.

Before Seong Muyeon could even begin to protest, the door opened and Ma Jincheon entered.

“Ryeoil! You here?!”

……

Baek Ryeoil had fled again to avoid Ma Jincheon.

Unaware of this, Kang Ung greeted his grandmaster politely.

“Master has stepped out for a bit.”

“What? Tch… How is it that eight out of ten times he’s gone? He finally takes in a disciple and can’t even put in the effort…”

Clicking his tongue in disapproval, he turned to greet Seong Muyeon as well.

“By the way, Ung—just to check, Ryeoil isn’t mistreating you, is he?”

“Pardon? Master? Oh, no. He treats me very well.”

Ma Jincheon wondered if he’d misheard, but when he saw Kang Ung’s radiant, beaming smile, he knew he hadn’t.