HDCLSSRS Ch 164

Chapter 164 The Truth (3)

His physical senses were sharper than ever. And yet, no matter what his five senses—sight, smell, touch—perceived, nothing stirred within him.

The stinging reek of alcohol, the pain of blood seeping from fingers cut by porcelain shards—both felt distant and dull.

It was as though something inside him had catastrophically broken.

But Baek Ryeoil soon shook his head.

Nothing was broken. He had merely returned to the life he once lived.

This was Baek Ryeoil’s life before Seong Muyeon had appeared.

For as long as he could remember—so long that even memory itself failed him—he had been haunted by the sensation that he had lost something immensely important.

Every day, every moment, he sharpened his awareness, searching for that something. The problem was that he did not know what it was he was seeking.

Where it was now. Where he had lost it…

As he wandered endlessly in search of that nameless thing, Baek Ryeoil shut out every stimulus the world offered him. No—he was incapable of accepting them. Even if someone spoke beside him, the words merely echoed around his ears, never reaching the depths of his heart.

No one would ever understand.

What it felt like to spend one’s entire life wandering through emptiness, searching for something undefined.

Only when he wielded his sword could he forget that feeling.

Only when he grasped the hilt could he remain anchored in the present.

At least, that had been true until Seong Muyeon appeared.

Seong Muyeon had been the light that illuminated his world, bringing color into it.

Only after that light vanished did Baek Ryeoil realize how desolate his life had truly been.

Now Seong Muyeon was gone, and Baek Ryeoil opened his eyes once more to a colorless, sinking world of gray.

He did not know where to begin, or how to mend himself after having been broken this completely.

Slowly, Baek Ryeoil covered his face with his arm.

From here on…

How was he supposed to live?

A suffocating despair washed over him.

Seomun Yuha lay in the Medical Hall of the Jegal Clan. For several days now, he had occupied the same bed, unable to regain consciousness.

Suddenly, the sleeping man broke into a silly grin.

In truth, Seomun Yuha was having an exceedingly sweet dream. The ground beneath his feet was as soft as walking on clouds, the sky glowed pink, and the weather was neither cold nor hot—perfect in every way. Moreover, peerless beauties followed him wherever he went, cheering him on.

“Young Master Seomun, you’re amazing.”

“We love you!”

“Please, just hold my hand once…!”

“Hehehe….”

Seomun Yuha’s mouth stretched wide in a foolish smile.

And there was someone watching him.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Yakseon looked down at Seomun Yuha with clear displeasure. Whatever dream he was having, the sight of him drooling so shamelessly was deeply irritating. At last, she decided to wake him and bent over beside the bed.

“Wake up, you lazy fool!”

“Aaaah!”

Startled by the shout that struck his ears, Seomun Yuha screamed reflexively and jolted upright.

“What’s going on?! What is it?!”

Clutching his wildly pounding heart, he looked around in a panic—only to find a woman staring straight at him. A masked attendant wearing an owl mask sat some distance away.

“…Lady Yakseon?”

“Get a grip!”

“Ack! That hurts!”

Tears welled in Seomun Yuha’s eyes as he grabbed the top of his head.

“Just how many days were you planning to sleep? You were out cold, drooling away, even in the middle of that chaos.”

“I wasn’t sleeping! I fainted!”

“Fainted, my foot. Do you think I, a physician, can’t tell the difference between someone who’s fainted and someone who’s asleep?”

At Yakseon’s scoff, Seomun Yuha’s face flushed bright red. Only then did he finally regain his senses and glance around.

“B-But… why does the atmosphere here feel like this?”

From time to time, physicians passed by with grim expressions, and faint sounds of wailing drifted in from outside.

“What happened? Ah—what about Young Master Paeng Wongeum?”

Yakseon clicked her tongue.

“How can you know even less than someone who just arrived?”

The moment she heard that things had gone wrong, she had regretted leaving matters in Seong Muyeon’s hands and rushed here with only a single owl attendant. What awaited her was dozens of people dying from poison.

After hearing what had happened while he was unconscious, Seomun Yuha was struck speechless with shock.

“Young Master Paeng is dead? Seong Muyeon killed him? And then escaped from prison? And after taking the elixir, he became the greatest swordsman in the Central Plains?”

“…I never said that last part.”

Yakseon’s expression darkened. Seong Muyeon had taken the elixir. She had anticipated that something like this might happen—but facing it in reality left her unsettled.

“What will you do now? The elixir is gone, and Young Master Seong has disappeared.”

“If he ate it, then whether he ate it or not, I’ll have to confirm it directly with that bastard Seong Muyeon.”

There was a chill in Yakseon’s voice as she spoke. Alarmed by the feeling that she would not let Seong Muyeon off lightly, Seomun Yuha hurried to defend him.

“H-He might not have eaten it!”

But Yakseon’s smile only grew colder, more unsettling.

“If he didn’t, then he’ll be found as a corpse.”

“W-What kind of terrifying thing is that to say?! Th-This isn’t the time for that—we need to find him quickly!”

“And what extraordinary talent do you have that you think you can find someone even all these powerful sects gathered here can’t?”

“…Then what are we supposed to do?”

“As if I know.”

After thinking quietly for a moment, Seomun Yuha suddenly sprang to his feet.

“Baek Ryeoil Dojang will know!”

“Oh—best not to go to that one.”

“What? Why not?”

“I caught a glimpse of him earlier. He looked like he’d kill anyone who so much as got in his way.”

“….”

Seomun Yuha, who had been heading straight for the door as if ready to dash out, silently turned back and sat down on the bed.

Yakseon rubbed her chin. Despite her calm exterior, anxiety churned inside her.

“At this point, it might be better if he did eat the elixir.”

Judging by how things were unfolding, even if they found Seong Muyeon, it seemed hopeless to expect cooperation from that Mount Hua bastard.

“If only we knew where he went….”

“I know.”

“Hm?”

Jegal Un walked in with measured steps and bowed his head politely to Yakseon.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Jegal Un.”

“You…!”

At the sight of Jegal Un, Seomun Yuha bristled with hostility and hurriedly reached for his waist. In his last memory, Jegal Un had been an enemy. But his weapon had been stored safely in the corner of the room, well out of reach.

Jegal Un merely cast Seomun Yuha a brief glance before turning back to Yakseon.

“I know where Young Master Seong Muyeon went. If you wish, I will tell you. But I have a condition.”

At those words, Yakseon let out a scornful snort.

“A condition? Do you even know who you’re speaking to? You’re nothing more than a minor clan lord, yet you’re fearless. What if I told you I have at least three ways to find out even if you keep your mouth shut?”

“……”

“If you want to live the rest of your life with all four limbs intact, start talking right now. If you dared to try negotiating with me, you should’ve brought something far more substantial.”

Clicking her tongue in irritation, Yakseon abruptly frowned when she noticed Jegal Un’s expression.

“…Are you smiling?”

Jegal Un was wearing a self-mocking smile.

“You will need me.”

Namgung Cheonchu brought Seong Muyeon to Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui, where the Namgung Clan was based.

“My apologies. It’s difficult to take you to the main estate given the circumstances, so we had no choice but to bring you to a safe house. I hope you’ll excuse the inconvenience—if you stay here just a little while, I’ll soon arrange a more suitable place for you.”

In contrast to Namgung Cheonchu’s obvious unease, Seong Muyeon let out a hollow laugh. Calling the safe house luxurious would have been an understatement. Several halls roofed with black tiles were enclosed by high walls, making it impossible to spy inside from the outside, and each room was spacious and furnished with refined, elegant furniture.

It was only that, as a place used solely as a safe house and left unattended for long periods, it carried the eerie atmosphere unique to abandoned spaces.

“But Young Master, what’s happened to your body? When did it become like this?”

Namgung Cheonchu asked with concern.

While Seong Muyeon had been unconscious, Namgung Cheonchu had already summoned several of the most renowned physicians in Anhui—but all of them had shaken their heads and left.

“…I’ll look for other physicians, so please don’t worry too much. You’ll recover soon.”

Seeing Seong Muyeon sitting on the bed with a pale face and a bitter smile, Namgung Cheonchu offered clumsy words of comfort.

But Seong Muyeon knew that no matter whom Namgung Cheonchu brought, it would make no difference.

Without the blood of kin, even Yakseon herself would not be able to change the outcome.

Just then, someone came stomping angrily down the corridor and flung the door open.

“Young Lord! Where on earth have you been?! Huh? Oh—there’s a guest.”

A young man’s eyes widened when he noticed Seong Muyeon.

“Ahaha! Please excuse me for a moment!”

Flustered, Namgung Cheonchu grabbed him and dragged him out into the corridor.

“The Clan Head was looking for you, but your room was empty—do you have any idea how awkward that made things for me? And who is that person?”

“I went to Hubei.”