HDCLSSRS Ch 59

Chapter 59 An Unavoidable Matter (6)

 

“Please don’t be too upset. You’re not the only one this has happened to, Young Master Seomun. Just think of it as stepping in dung while walking down the street. What’s important is that you’re still alive and well, isn’t it?”

Seong Muyeon misunderstood the reason for his gloom entirely and offered some words of comfort.

“Young Master…! You are truly kind! From now on, I will regard you as my benefactor!”

Seomun Yuha’s eyes sparkled once more. He suddenly grabbed Seong Muyeon’s hands tightly.

“Ah, no, it was Baek Ryeoil’s Taoist temple that saved you. I didn’t do anything.”

“What are you saying! If it weren’t for Young Master Seong, I wouldn’t have returned safely like this! From now on, speak freely with me! Try calling me Yuha!”

“Uh… what?”

“Hurry!”

“Yu… Yuha…?”

“Yes, Young Master! I am Yuha! Please think of me as a younger brother and treat me comfortably!”

Seong Muyeon was reluctant. But seeing those sparkling eyes, he couldn’t help but think how frightened this young man must have been after such a traumatic event.

“Shall I, then?”

“Yes, hyungnim!”

The atmosphere between the two grew warm and friendly.

“Seomun Yuha. From now on, listen to your parents. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

A chilling voice broke the warm mood. All color drained from Seomun Yuha’s face.

“Huh?”

Thanks to that, Seong Muyeon snapped out of it. Just moments ago, under Seomun Yuha’s overly sweet affection, he had nearly called his name without even thinking, even though they weren’t that close.

“Of course. Please don’t worry. I’ve learned a lot from this experience…”

Seomun Yuha was afraid of Baek Ryeoil. The Taoist of Mount Hua, who always had a stern face, looked like someone who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed.

“We’ll see whether that’s true or not.”

His actions were forceful, and every movement of his body exuded the authority of someone who could crush another with a single hand.

Seomun Yuha, who had been trembling, suddenly smiled with his eyes.

“Well, if anything happens again, the temple can just come save me.”

He twisted his body flirtatiously and fluttered his eyelashes wildly. His thick, dense lashes flapped rapidly.

“…”

“…”

Baek Ryeoil’s eyelids twitched.

“What do you think you’re doing.”

“What do you mean? I’m just saying the world is a safer place thanks to people like you, Taoist. Isn’t that right, Young Master Seong?”

“Y-Yes, yes! He’s right about that!”

Seong Muyeon nodded vigorously again, a foolish smile on his face. Seeing that, Baek Ryeoil’s eyelids trembled even more violently. He grabbed the top of Seong Muyeon’s head to stop him from turning toward Seomun Yuha.

“Seomun Yuha. Stop it.”

“What’s wrong, Taoist? Move aside. I’m talking to Young Master Seong right now.”

No matter how much Seong Muyeon tried to push him aside, Baek Ryeoil didn’t budge. He blocked the squirming Seong Muyeon and threw a cold glare at Seomun Yuha.

“Cut the nonsense, Seomun Yuha.”

Seomun Yuha was shocked.

“Taoist… But I’m good-looking, aren’t I?”

Baek Ryeoil nodded.

“Yeah, you’re good-looking. So what? You think I’ll just let it slide knowing full well you’re from Hwajeong Valley?”

‘Even Young Master Seong fell for it?!’

It was unthinkable.

What made Hwajeong Valley truly frightening was precisely that. No matter how cautious one was, just seeing their faces and hearing their voices would make most people fall under their influence unless they had extremely strong mental discipline.

To lure people in and make them act according to their wishes was easier for the people of Hwajeong Valley than eating a bowl of porridge.

That’s why Seomun Yuha wasn’t even afraid to enter the den of a demonic cult alone.

When his view was suddenly blocked, Seong Muyeon felt something strange and froze.

“Huh? Just now I…”

“As long as you don’t see their eyes, you’re fine.”

The moment he snapped out of it, a shiver ran down his arm. Though he’d heard many tales of Hwajeong Valley’s infamy, he never imagined he would fall victim to it so effortlessly. Their ability was truly terrifying.

Seong Muyeon looked to Baek Ryeoil.

“But Taoist, are you really alright?”

“You think I’d fall for such petty tricks?”

“Well, I suppose not…”

Seong Muyeon deliberately avoided Seomun Yuha’s gaze.

Meanwhile, Seomun Yuha remained in shock for a long while. It was the first time someone hadn’t fallen for his charm. Even after seeing his eyes, Baek Ryeoil had only snorted dismissively.

‘T-This can’t be!’

The abilities of the Hwajeong clan had never once betrayed him. But today, with his first failure, his world had expanded just a little. As they say, the world is vast, and there are many masters.

The next day, Seong Muyeon and Baek Ryeoil were preparing to return.

“Thank you.”

“It’s not like we did it for free.”

Seong Muyeon patted his plump pouch with satisfaction. It jingled pleasantly.

“How could he let his benefactor leave without even saying goodbye!”

Lady Seomun narrowed her eyes sideways. It seemed her view of her son had changed quite a bit due to recent events.

In any case, since Seomun Yuha hadn’t shown up, they decided to leave without a farewell.

“Well then, we’ll be off.”

They had come with nothing, but now their cart was full of supplies the Seomun couple had packed for them out of gratitude.

Just as they were leaving the village and entering the official road—

“Wait a moment.”

Baek Ryeoil narrowed his eyes and reached into the luggage compartment. He dug around shoulder-deep, scattering items all over.

When he pulled out his arm, Seong Muyeon gasped in shock. Seomun Yuha was dangling from his hand.

“Young Master Seomun?!”

“Hehe…”

He appeared wearing thick traveling clothes and carrying a large bundle on his back.

“I’ve made my decision! I will study at Mount Hua and become a great man!”

“…”

‘He failed at the Demonic Cult, and now it’s Mount Hua…?’

Baek Ryeoil looked as though he had just bitten into something bitter. As he silently turned the carriage around, Seomun Yuha shouted hastily.

“W-Wait! Even if you send me back, I’ll find my way to Mount Hua on my own! Without any escort! Just by myself! And who knows what wicked person might approach with bad intentions! But I won’t give up!”

“Shut it and go home.”

“I’m serious this time! I’ll study hard! Please believe me. I’ll formally register as an outer disciple and work my way up from the bottom.”

Seomun Yuha looked at the two of them with earnest eyes.

“Please believe me.”

In the end, they couldn’t send Seomun Yuha back.

Every year, a tremendous number of disciples came seeking to study at Mount Hua. As just a second-generation disciple, Baek Ryeoil had no authority to turn anyone away. Considering the trouble he might cause wandering around alone, they decided it was better to take him along.

Seomun Yuha kept whining all day on the cart, saying his back hurt. It was only when Baek Ryeoil, having reached the limit of his patience, was about to throw him off the cart that he finally shut up.

“You did tell Lord and Lady Seomun before leaving, didn’t you…?”

Seong Muyeon asked cautiously, and Seomun Yuha nodded furiously.

“Of course! I left a letter!”

“Another letter?”

It seemed he hadn’t learned a single thing from this whole ordeal.

The cart rumbled along and eventually arrived in the bustling city of Hwaeum-hyeon, filled with merchants and crowds of people.

“We’re finally here.”

Though they encountered a few bandits along the way, Baek Ryeoil had taken them down in the blink of an eye, making for a smooth journey.

As they made their way through the bustling city center, they encountered a group of people wearing the familiar robes of Mount Hua.

“Senior Brother! You’ve returned early? Did everything go well, Young Master?”

Wang Hojun spotted them and approached happily. Seong Muyeon also greeted him.

“And you all?”

“We had to come down to urgently buy some supplies.”

Wang Hojun showed the items they had purchased.

“But who is that…?”

As curious gazes landed on him, Seomun Yuha nodded lazily in greeting.

“You’ll find out later. We’re going on ahead.”

As Baek Ryeoil pulled the horse forward, Wang Hojun called after him.

“By the way, Senior Brother! Master Ma left a task for you. It seems a bit urgent, so I’ll pass it along as soon as we’re back—please take care of it.”

“Master? What task?”

Baek Ryeoil usually did little to no work at Mount Hua. Since he hardly ever took things seriously, those who gave him tasks often ended up exasperated. As such, Ma Jincheon rarely assigned him anything. But sometimes, even he couldn’t avoid relying on Baek Ryeoil’s help.

“While you were away, Master Ma left for a journey.”

Seong Muyeon felt a chill run down his spine. Baek Ryeoil seemed to feel the same and quickly asked,

“Where did he go?”

“To Hanam.”

Baek Ryeoil and Seong Muyeon simultaneously stiffened.

Hanam.

Seong Muyeon had once warned him—Ma Jincheon might be in danger. Though nothing had happened back then…

As Baek Ryeoil saw Seong Muyeon’s grim face, the color drained from his own. He immediately tossed the reins aside and darted off.

“Senior Brother! Where are you going?!”

“Taoist Baek!”

Seong Muyeon also jumped off the cart.

“…”

Wang Hojun and the other disciples stood frozen, dumbfounded by the sudden commotion.

At that moment, the elegant young man crammed in the cart spoke to them.

“…You’re going to Mount Hua, right? Please take me with you. Hehe.”