HDCLSSRS Ch 49

Chapter 49 Expert in Disappearances and Abductions (4)

 

Seong Muyeon cautiously turned his body while keeping his head down.

He intended to quietly crawl back to Chwijungjae without leaving a trace of scent or sound, and remain curled up in hiding until the storm had passed.

He diligently crawled forward in a prone position.

He hadn’t gone far when he suddenly saw the tip of a black shoe in front of his eyes. Looking up, he found Jang Hansu gazing down at him. Jang Hansu narrowed his eyes.

“Where are you off to, Young Master?”

“Ahaha… Well, that is…”

From a distance, the voice of Lady Seomun could still be heard screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Surely, you’re not trying to run away, are you?”

“Pardon?”

“My, my. You assured me so confidently that you would do everything within your power…”

Seong Muyeon swallowed dryly.

“Was all of it a lie?”

Cold contempt flickered across Jang Hansu’s face.

Seong Muyeon hastily shook his head.

“N-No! I was merely preparing to greet the lady… Oh, my clothes were dirty, you see…”

“No one cares about something like clothes.”

Jang Hansu grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around. Then he called out.

“Lady Seomun! Over here! The seventh prince of the Demon Sect is here!”

The room fell silent in an instant. Every gaze locked onto Seong Muyeon. Among them, the fiercest glare came, as expected, from Lady Seomun.

“Young Master! There you are!”

Lady Seomun began pushing through the burly men and running toward him. The sight sent shivers racing down Seong Muyeon’s entire body.

Before he could even blink, Lady Seomun was so close that their noses nearly touched. With Jang Hansu still gripping his shoulder, there was no way to dodge.

Lady Seomun stared at him with glittering eyes.

“You…! Are you the seventh prince, Seong Muyeon?!”

“Y-Yes…? Ah… You’re looking for Se-Seong Muyeon, you say…?”

“Is it true or not?!”

Lady Seomun shouted shrilly. Her uvula was visible. Jang Hansu wore a deep smile. Seong Muyeon hurriedly nodded his head.

“Y-Yes, it’s true. I-I am Seong Muyeon…”

Grasp!

The next moment, Lady Seomun clasped both of his hands tightly.

“Oh dear, Young Master! We finally meet! Please, save my son!”

“…Pardon?”

The ferocious expression she had worn like a yaksha was gone, and now she resembled a gentle lamb, a frail lady with tears welling up in her eyes.

“Boohoo! Sob sob sob!”

A pitiful sob echoed through the Sect Leader’s hall. In the end, Elder Il had seated Seong Muyeon and Lady Seomun together.

When the Sect Leader handed her a handkerchief, the lady blew her nose loudly.

“Could you please explain what has happened? You say your son was kidnapped?”

Jang Hansu soothed Lady Seomun gently, his face adorned with a warm smile. The brighter his face shone, the more Seong Muyeon’s face withered away.

‘Damn it all…’

Since Jang Hansu had been present at the scene, he naturally followed along to the Sect Leader’s hall and took a seat. Thanks to that, Seong Muyeon couldn’t relax for a single moment.

Lady Seomun finally composed herself and began to speak.

“Yes… It was seven days and nights ago. My son suddenly disappeared.”

According to her, the Seomun family had searched far and wide for the missing son but couldn’t find him even after seven days and nights. Based on various traces and clues, there was a strong suspicion that the Demon Sect was involved, but even if that were true, there was no clear way forward.

In such cases, there was only one solution. Go to a temple, pray, and make offerings in hopes that the child would return.

If he was still alive, he would return eventually — there was no other choice but to wait.

Amidst all this, Lady Seomun had heard that one of the princes of the Demon Sect had defected and taken refuge at Mount Hua, and so she had rushed all the way to Shanxi at the break of dawn.

“…Madam, could you please clarify what specific evidence suggests that the Demon Sect was involved?”

Seong Muyeon cautiously asked. With Jang Hansu watching him like a hawk, he chose every word with care. If he showed even the slightest sign of trying to back out, who knew what Jang Hansu might do?

“Well… It’s a bit difficult to explain here… Rather, could you come to our home and have a look yourself? I beg you. Our Yuha is the sole heir of the Seomun family for three generations… He is a precious child I wouldn’t trade for the world! If something happens to my son, I won’t forgive the Demon Sect!”

“How old is your son?”

“He just passed the age of twenty…”

Lady Seomun sniffled.

“So, he’s an adult.”

“He’s still a baby.”

“…”

“…”

The two spoke at the same time and then looked at each other.

“Even at twenty, he’s still young!”

“Yes… Let’s say that’s true.”

‘A youth barely past twenty goes missing.’

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed more like a typical runaway case. It was undeniable that the Demon Sect sometimes kidnapped promising youths or children. But when they did, they never left any trace behind — that was their principle.

Seong Muyeon wanted to tell her to go to the local authorities instead.

Suddenly, he tilted his head with a strange sense of familiarity.

‘Seomun Yuha? That name sounds oddly familiar.’

“Please don’t worry, Madam. This young lord here will do everything he can to help. Isn’t that right, Young Master Seong Muyeon?”

“Yes! Of course. After all, I am a prince of the Demon Sect, am I not? If anyone knows more about them than me, let them speak up!”

Seong Muyeon answered with a broad smile. But inside, he was crying tears of blood.

‘Damn it. I really don’t want to go.’

The Sect Leader had Lady Seomun step outside for a moment.

“Will you be alright?”

The Sect Leader didn’t look too convinced.

“If it’s something like this, we could just send a few disciples to investigate.”

“I must go… It’s… It’s our family’s responsibility…”

He wanted to plead with the Sect Leader not to send him. But seeing Jang Hansu behind him, smiling so kindly, he couldn’t bring himself to show his true feelings.

“My, Young Master Seong Muyeon, you have quite the sense of responsibility.”

“Right, Sect Leader? It’s admirable. Even without properly learning martial arts, he’s willing to sacrifice himself like this. I’m seeing him in a whole new light.”

“Hahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

‘Damn the Demon Sect.’

He felt wretched.

“Since you insist, I’ll leave it to you. You can’t go alone, can you? I’ll assign one of Mount Hua’s disciples to accompany you. Ryeoil would be best since you’re familiar with him, but he might be too busy after recently taking on a disciple.”

“If Senior Brother Ryeoil can’t go, then I will, Sect Leader.”

Jang Hansu’s eyes remained fixed on Seong Muyeon as he spoke. For a moment, Seong Muyeon saw the madness hidden beneath the seemingly clear gleam in his eyes.

‘No! Not Jang Hansu!’

Just then, Baek Ryeoil burst into the Sect Leader’s hall.

“Seong Muyeon! You’re here?!”

Having finished his training, he had gone to Jaegyeongjae to find Seong Muyeon, only to hear that he had been brought to the Sect Leader’s hall and rushed over.

“Senior Brother Baek, long time no see?”

“Junior Brother Jang, you seem fine. What a shame.”

Baek Ryeoil and Jang Hansu bared their teeth at each other.

“Ahem. Such fiery youths.”

The Sect Leader explained the situation to Baek Ryeoil.

“So, what will you do? If you’re too busy, Hansu has volunteered to go in your place, so there’s no need to worry.”

Seong Muyeon sent Baek Ryeoil a pleading look.

‘Please…!’

Who knew what would happen if he ended up traveling with that cunning bastard? No matter what, Baek Ryeoil was a much safer option than Jang Hansu.

Seeing the look in his eyes, Baek Ryeoil raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm. Is that so?”

For once, Baek Ryeoil hesitated. He stroked his chin as if deep in thought, pretending to weigh his options, and started counting on his fingers.

“How many days would the trip take, I wonder.”

It was clearly an act to mess with him, but Seong Muyeon was desperate. He clasped his hands together in earnest.

“If you really can’t go, Ryeoil, then Hansu—”

“I will go, Sect Leader. I’m not busy.”

“Hm? I heard you just took on a new disciple. Are you sure? Isn’t this the most important stage of training?”

“He hasn’t even caught up with basic conditioning yet, so there’s nothing special for him to do. By the time I return, he should be ready to begin learning properly.”

“Very well, then.”

Once Baek Ryeoil made his decision, Jang Hansu unexpectedly gave up without protest, merely shrugging his shoulders.

Seong Muyeon thought he was finally safe. But when Baek Ryeoil sent him a knowing glance, his calm heart began to stir once more.

When news spread of his upcoming journey, Kang Ung slumped his shoulders.

“…So I can’t go… I’m still not qualified, am I…”

“Don’t say that. I don’t want to part ways with Master Kang, either.”

He meant it. He was nearly in tears. Seong Muyeon had no desire to leave the cozy comfort of Chwijungjae. But he had no choice but to venture out into the cold and harsh world.

“Young Master…!”

“Master Kang…!”

The two embraced each other in farewell.

“So dramatic.”

Baek Ryeoil clicked his tongue.

“Kang Ung, if you’re not ready by the time we return, there won’t be a next chance.”

“Yes, sir! Safe travels, Master!”

Baek Ryeoil smiled and ruffled his hair.

“Good.”