HDCLSSRS Ch 154

Chapter 154 Choice (4)

As the prison building came into view, Jang Hansu instinctively glanced at Jegal Un to gauge his reaction. Yet even when faced with the sight of Mount Hua disciples standing guard in tight formation around the entire structure — their stances sharp, their vigilance absolute — Jegal Un merely sighed quietly, showing no visible emotion.

Relieved, Hansu followed beside him — until both suddenly halted, startled by an unusual scene behind the prison.

At the rear, there was a storage annex — a small space accessible by a separate door. Standing before it were the storehouse keeper and one of Mount Hua’s disciples.

“What’s going on here?”

Hansu strode forward, his tone clipped. The disciple recognized him immediately and relaxed his guard.

“Lord Yang Hagakju?”

Before the disciple could answer, Jegal Un’s eyes caught sight of someone inside the storehouse. Without hesitation, he stepped through the doorway.

“Y–Young Master! What brings you here?”

“…I might ask the same of you, Lord Yang.”

Jegal Un’s brows furrowed as he looked him up and down. Yang Hagakju’s face was pale, his clothes haphazard — as though he had just crawled out of bed after a long illness.

“It’s n–nothing! I was only…”

He trailed off, darting glances around the room like a cornered rat searching for an escape route. But there was none — the only exit was blocked by Jegal Un, Hansu, the disciple, and the storehouse keeper.

“I heard the Spirit Seal had gone missing,” he said finally, forcing a nervous laugh. “I thought perhaps it might be hidden here, so I came to check.”

“That is not your duty to perform,” Jegal Un replied coldly, his voice laced with frost.

“The Young Master was unwell and unable to lead the investigation,” Yang said hastily. “I only meant to help. In situations like this, swift action is crucial, don’t you think?”

“And did you find anything?”

“As expected, nothing. Just a few personal belongings — trivial things.”

Jegal Un brushed past him and stepped inside. The straw boxes Yang had been rummaging through moments ago held nothing of note — exactly as he claimed.

But before either could question him further, Yang Hagakju scurried away, his hasty retreat drawing narrowed eyes from both men.

Then—

“Master?”

Hansu turned toward the sound and felt his heart drop. Sanggeol was striding toward the prison, his expression grim. Hansu quickly left Jegal Un behind and rushed to follow.

By the time he rounded the corner, Sanggeol had already gone inside.

“Did Master say what business he had with Young Master Muyeon?”

He asked the disciples stationed at the entrance. They merely shook their heads, bewildered.

Hansu swallowed dryly. Something about his master’s expression had unsettled him.

“Open the door. I’m going in.”

“We can’t. The Senior Master ordered that no one be let through.”

“I said, open it — before I make you regret it!”

“Forgive us, Dojang, but we can’t!”

Beads of sweat trickled down their temples as they blocked his way.

“…”

Hansu’s unease deepened.

Master… you’re not going to harm him, are you?

He stared anxiously at the sealed door.

When Sanggeol suddenly appeared before the cell, Young Master Muyeon tensed instantly.

“Leave us,” Sanggeol said curtly, glancing toward Kang Ung.

“Master, I—”

“I said, out!”

The sharp crack of his voice left no room for argument. Kang Ung hesitated, then reluctantly stepped outside.

Muyeon couldn’t help the tightness in his chest. Something in Sanggeol’s demeanor — the coldness in his eyes, the quiet tension in his movements — warned him that this meeting wasn’t a simple visit. A sword hung at the man’s waist, its presence menacing. He could draw it at any moment — and Muyeon knew he wouldn’t stand a chance.

Though a wall of steel bars separated them, it offered no real safety.

He was a rat trapped in a cage. No escape. No place to hide.

“Mount Hua is everything to me,” Sanggeol said flatly, looking down at him.

“I joined at twelve. Even then, Mount Hua was a great sect — but I wanted more. I swore I’d raise it to be the greatest in the Central Plains. That goal carried me through my life. And among us… Ryeoil is indispensable to that future.”

“Master Sanggeol…”

“I hope you understand this much — for Mount Hua’s glory, there is nothing I wouldn’t do.”

From that low, measured tone, Muyeon sensed it — the prelude to death.

This time… I really might die.

“So here’s what I propose…”

As Sanggeol took a step forward, Muyeon sprang to his feet on instinct. But there was no confidence in the motion — only fear. He knew he couldn’t win.

Even if he somehow managed to escape Sanggeol, there were elite disciples outside, and beyond them, the righteous sects swarming the estate like vultures.

No chance. No hope.

And he didn’t even have a weapon. When he’d woken up, everything he owned had already been confiscated.

Seeing his tension, Sanggeol frowned slightly.

“I can guess what you’re thinking. Relax — I’m not here to kill you.”

“What? Then… why—”

“If I had my way, I’d kill you a hundred times over!”

His eyes flashed with fury — but the fire died quickly, replaced by a long, bitter sigh.

“…But I have no wish to bear the consequences of such an act.”

Muyeon’s shoulders slackened involuntarily.

“That’s why I came to make a request,” Sanggeol said quietly. “I’ll let you go. But you must never come back. And above all — never show yourself before Ryeoil again. That’s why I came here while he’s still meditating.”

“…What?”

“He’s prepared to risk expulsion to free you. Whether or not you killed Paeng Wongeum, I don’t care. But for Mount Hua’s future — for his future — I can’t allow it. You know what’s best for him, don’t you?”

Muyeon lowered his head, his lips pressing tightly together. He had known Baek Ryeoil was reckless, but this… this was beyond reason.

“If you’re thinking of persuading him, give up. You think he’ll listen to you now?”

No, he wouldn’t. Not a chance.

Ryeoil wouldn’t care if he were expelled. Muyeon knew his attachment to Mount Hua was shallow at best. The only person he still respected was his master, Ma Jincheon — but even that bond wouldn’t be enough to stop him now.

“If I stop him, you may still die by the Paeng Clan’s hand,” Sanggeol continued. “And if he helps you escape, it will ruin him just the same — a fugitive, forced to live nameless and hunted. Either way, Mount Hua loses him.”

“…I understand. I’ll do as you say.”

The immediate submission seemed to surprise Sanggeol. He had come expecting resistance, not ready agreement.

“You’re serious?”

“Baek Ryeoil must stay. Mount Hua needs him more than it needs me.”

There was no choice. Entangled in the Third Prince and Paeng Wongeum’s schemes, Muyeon could no longer remain here.

And besides…

Ma Jincheon was still alive. And Ryeoil, spending time with a demonic heir like himself, had grown dangerously soft. For what awaited him ahead, such sentiment was a weakness.

Perhaps, with luck, this loss would harden him — reignite his fire.

Then I’ll be the one he learns to hate.

“…Good. Once things settle, I’ll arrange for Yakseon to meet you. I can’t have you dying in some gutter — I’d lose sleep over it.”

Muyeon forced a weak smile. He doubted such a meeting would change anything. Without the items Yakseon required, it would be pointless anyway.

“But… if I escape, won’t the Paeng Clan suspect Mount Hua? What exactly do you plan to do?”

The question barely left his lips before a commotion erupted outside. The door flew open with a violent crash.

“Master! Don’t do this!”

Jang Hansu burst in, his face pale with alarm.