HDCLSSRS Ch 107

Chapter 107 So It Turned Out That Way (6)

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Dawn on the first day of the New Year.

Kang Ung passed through the main gates of Mount Hua and drew in a deep breath of the crisp morning air.

Yes… I really do love this place.

Originally, he had planned to return after spending a few more days with his family. But homesickness for Mount Hua had gnawed at him until he could no longer endure it, and so he had set out earlier than scheduled.

Of course, worry for Seong Muyeon had also played a big part in his early return.

He was concerned about Muyeon’s illness but, even more than that, the distance that had lately grown between Baek Ryeoil and him. The two bickered constantly, but they had never let their conversations lapse entirely—which made the current silence between them all the more troubling. What if their relationship broke beyond repair?

Kang Ung didn’t want to be forced to choose between them. Baek Ryeoil was his precious master, who taught and guided him. As for Seong Muyeon… well, he didn’t exactly do much, but he made Chwijungjae feel more like home than home itself.

When even one person was missing from Chwijungjae, the air grew palpably heavy and gloomy. Because Kang Ung knew all too well how lonely that could feel, he wanted to hurry back and fill that empty space. He had even brought plenty of food to give to Seong Muyeon.

Humming to himself, he stepped into Chwijungjae. It was still quiet; Muyeon would not yet be awake. Not wanting to disturb him, Kang Ung padded softly toward the kitchen.

But as he passed Muyeon’s room, his steps halted. Then he backtracked a few steps. The door to the room stood slightly ajar. Glancing in carelessly—

Gasp!

Kang Ung froze in shock, unable even to make a sound.

In the pale blue light of dawn streaming through the window, two half-naked men lay together—Baek Ryeoil and Seong Muyeon.

The pair rested like tender lovers, Ryeoil’s arm serving as Muyeon’s pillow.

Just then, Baek Ryeoil’s eyes slid open, locking directly with Kang Ung’s through the crack in the door.

Kang Ung’s mind went entirely blank. Unable to flee, he stood rooted like a statue.

Ryeoil stretched out languidly, gave a big yawn, and casually waved him off. Something in that unhurried, natural manner made Kang Ung, almost without thinking, give a quick bow before quietly shutting the door.

Stiff-jointed, he walked to the kitchen and blankly set the bundle of food on the table.

A moment later, he cupped his flushed cheeks in both hands.

What do I do? What do I do?!

The innocent youth was shocked at having seen the two asleep in each other’s arms, but that surprise lasted only a second—soon his face was flushed with barely suppressed excitement.

Looks like they’ve made up!

For some reason, he felt deeply relieved. It was the same reassurance as witnessing bickering parents prove their bond was still firm. Kang Ung began humming again as he set about preparing a meal for three.

Before long, a sharp shriek rang from Muyeon’s room. Even that, to Kang Ung, sounded sweet. Smiling in satisfaction, he moved his hands more briskly.

“What—what—what are you doing here?!”

Seong Muyeon clutched at his racing heart and shrieked. He had awoken to the faint clinking of utensils—only to find Baek Ryeoil right in front of him, blatantly watching.

“You’re awake?”

While Muyeon floundered, still confused about the situation, Ryeoil scratched his stomach nonchalantly and rose from the bed. The thin blanket slipped from his chest, baring him completely.

“What is this?! Why are you here?!”

“Don’t you remember?”

At that question, memories of last night flooded into Muyeon’s mind in an unstoppable rush—

〈Haa… touch me. Quickly.〉

〈It’s hot and itchy back here… I can’t stand it.〉

〈Deeper… push it deeper…〉

…Mad. Completely mad.

He wanted to bite his tongue clean off. That reckless tongue needed the most thorough punishment. And this—this was exactly why he should never drink.

Still, priority one was escaping the present situation intact. He kept his face carefully neutral as he feigned ignorance.

“What are you talking about?”

Despite the cold sweat pouring in buckets inside and a tremble in his fingertips, outwardly there was not the slightest crack in his composure.

Ryeoil’s eyes thinned.

“Looks to me like you’re faking it.”

“Eh? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about! Who crawled into whose bed to harass a drunk, and then acts all high and mighty? Is this what Mount Hua teaches? Hmm?”

“Don’t trap me with lies! You jumped me first!”

“Ha! So now you slander me just because I say I don’t remember? Like I’d ever do something like that!”

Why’d you do it, Seong Muyeon?

You should just die, Seong Muyeon.

After some heated bickering, Muyeon recalled why things had been so awkward lately between them. Normally, he never touched alcohol. But last night, upset by Ryeoil’s inexplicable cold shoulder, he’d drunk for the first time in ages.

And today, Ryeoil seemed entirely back to his usual self—loud and lazy. Whatever had been bothering him, he was apparently over it now.

Typical. Always on his terms.

Looking at Ryeoil’s smug smirk, Muyeon concluded the fault ratio was 0:100. Ryeoil’s fault—100 percent. If he hadn’t ignored him, Muyeon wouldn’t have drunk. Without drinking, none of those unspeakable incidents would have happened. End of story.

Clink, clatter.

In the quiet, the sound from outside now seemed much louder. A chill pricked Muyeon’s spine.

“…If you’re here, then who’s making that noise in the kitchen?”

“Who else? Who lives here besides you and me?”

Ryeoil’s lazy yawn carried no hint of concern.

“…”

Three people lived in Chwijungjae: Seong Muyeon, Baek Ryeoil, and Kang Ung. But the boy wasn’t supposed to be back for days yet…

Muyeon let out a silent scream, his face turning ashen. He leapt from the bed, ignoring the protests of his body after last night’s exertion, and scrambled to gather his clothes from the floor.

“Are you insane? How can you be so calm?! What if Kang Dojang sees you?”

He hissed angrily under his breath, tugging at the still-seated Ryeoil.

“Get out! Before you’re—”

Just then, Kang Ung knocked twice at the door.

“Young Master, are you awake? I’ve prepared breakfast.”

“!”

Muyeon’s hair stood on end at the thought of him barging in. He shoved Ryeoil toward the window.

“Out! Go—now!”

“You want me to go like this?”

Ryeoil looked utterly baffled. He’d done nothing wrong, yet here he was, being told to flee naked out the window like some guilty adulterer.

Still, Muyeon shoved the armful of clothes into his chest and slammed the window shut.

Then, hastily checking that he looked presentable, he cracked the door open.

“Hahaha… Kang Dojang! Didn’t you go home? How are you here already? You got in this morning, right?”

Inside, he was praying with all his might that the boy hadn’t been around last night.

“Yes! I only just got back. I brought some food from home—let’s eat together.”

When Kang made to glance past him into the room, Muyeon twisted his body desperately to block the view.

“I’ll be right there. Just let me wash my face.”

“By the way, where’s Master?”

“Why would Master be in my room?! Probably in his own, of course!”

“No, but I could have sworn earlier—”

Just then, down the hall, Ryeoil’s door swung open. He emerged, bare-chested, apparently not having bothered to put on a shirt.

“Bring it over when it’s ready.”

“Master? Why are you coming from—”

“You have a problem with me being in my room?”

Spoken with such plain-faced calm that Kang could do nothing but drop the subject.

The three sat together at the table, sharing food. Muyeon eyed Kang’s suspiciously cheerful smile, then turned a glare on Baek Ryeoil.

So why the sudden mood change back to normal?

Forget it. Only he knew why, and if Ryeoil didn’t want to talk, no amount of asking would get an answer.

But after the meal, when Muyeon saw signs that Ryeoil was heading out, his hackles rose instantly.

“Where are you going?!”

Ryeoil gave a visible jolt at the force of the shout. Muyeon went so far as to latch onto his sleeve.

“Where, and doing what? When will you be back?!”

“Ugh, what’s with you? Let go!”