HDCLSSRS Ch 165

Chapter 165 The Truth (4)

“I see. So you went to Hubei… Huh? Hubei? By yourself? That region is in chaos right now because of the Demonic Cult, isn’t it? …Don’t tell me. That person—! Mmgh!”

“Lower your voice.”

“Please remove this at once! Don’t tell me you brought a Demonic Cult young master here—are you out of your mind?!”

“Just keep it secret for the time being.”

“Say something that makes sense! The entire Central Plains is in an uproar trying to hunt him down. If it’s discovered that the Young Lord is hiding him, just imagining the fallout is terrifying. We must report this to the Clan Head immediately!”

“I’ll explain everything to Father myself… later, once things settle down.”

“That will be too late! This is bad—very bad.”

“Young Master Seong Muyeon saved my life—”

“I know that! That he saved the Young Lord’s life—I know it so well my ears are ringing! That’s why I’m holding myself back instead of running straight to the Clan Head right now!”

Namgung Cheonchu’s voice gradually faded as he and his subordinate disappeared down the corridor, until it vanished entirely.

Silence descended.

Seong Muyeon clenched his fist, crushing the bloodstained handkerchief in his grasp.

During his stay with the Namgung Clan, Seong Muyeon was treated with utmost courtesy. At mealtimes, lavish dishes were served without him having to lift a finger, and renowned physicians visited frequently to examine his condition.

Yet every physician who examined him shook their head and fled as though escaping.

Though his body was at ease, Seong Muyeon’s heart grew increasingly uneasy with each passing day.

Namgung Cheonchu’s subordinate, who followed him like a shadow, often cast displeased glances at Seong Muyeon whenever their eyes met. His mere presence here posed a threat to Namgung Cheonchu’s reputation.

I can’t stay here much longer either.

He knew he was unwelcome wherever he went, yet the bitterness still lingered. He had already received more help from Namgung Cheonchu than he had any right to.

Having resolved to leave, Seong Muyeon waited for Namgung Cheonchu. Busy as he was fulfilling his duties as Young Lord, he could not always remain at the safe house. Even so, he made time each day to check on Seong Muyeon.

That evening, Namgung Cheonchu returned as usual, and Seong Muyeon wasted no time in announcing his intention to depart.

“What? Where are you planning to go? Do you even have somewhere to go?”

Caught off guard, Namgung Cheonchu asked in alarm.

“Of course I do. Do you think this is the only place I can go? There are plenty of places calling for me.”

Namgung Cheonchu narrowed his eyes.

“That’s a lie.”

Twitch.

“You can’t return to Mount Hua anymore, can you? And that’s not even mentioning the Demonic Cult. Your face is known now—what if someone recognizes you while you’re wandering around?”

Namgung Cheonchu struck straight at the heart of the matter. Seong Muyeon could not refute him.

“…I don’t wish to trouble the Young Lord any further.”

“Trouble? What an upsetting thing to say! Absolutely not!”

Yet Namgung Cheonchu himself was living on a knife’s edge, unable to let anyone know that Seong Muyeon was here.

Just then—

“Y-Young Lord! A visitor has arrived.”

At the servant’s report, Namgung Cheonchu frowned.

“Who could possibly know about this place? Whoever it is, send them away.”

“Well, the thing is—”

“Move aside!”

The unexpected visitor did not wait for the host’s permission. Someone shoved past the subordinate and strode straight inside.

“Hey—Physician Yakseon?”

As always, Yakseon marched in without restraint and smacked Seong Muyeon hard across the back.

“You worthless brat! You cause disasters to your heart’s content and then hide away by yourself—do you think that’s enough?!”

“Aaagh!”

Seong Muyeon screamed as sharp pain pierced through him.

“W-What are you doing?! Speak first!”

At the title “Yakseon,” Namgung Cheonchu’s face turned deathly pale. Unable to chase her out, he threw himself between them, barely managing to restrain her.

At last, Yakseon calmed down enough to catch her breath, still seething. Her hand had been so merciless that Seong Muyeon’s back throbbed, tears welling in his eyes.

“Go on. If you have something to say, say it.”

Only then could Seong Muyeon properly look at her. Behind the furious Yakseon, brows sharply raised, stood the attendant wearing an owl mask.

“How did you get here?”

“How else would I come?! Didn’t I tell you to bring the elixir? Explain yourself!”

After hesitating briefly, Seong Muyeon slipped a hand into his robe. He withdrew a small box and handed it to Yakseon.

“This is the medicine I gave you.”

As Yakseon tried to bat it aside dismissively, Seong Muyeon opened the box. The elixir revealed itself, radiant and exquisite.

“…….”

Even Namgung Cheonchu’s eyes widened at its mysterious fragrance and glow.

Yakseon pressed her lips into a thin line, surprise flickering across her face. Unable to tear her gaze away, she took the box.

“…I thought you had eaten it.”

“If I had, do you think I’d be lying here like this?”

Seong Muyeon grumbled.

After learning that the Blood Rain Demon was after the elixir, Seong Muyeon had transferred it to a different box at the first opportunity.

Believing that Seong Muyeon had already consumed it, neither Seong Mugeuk nor anyone else would continue pursuing the elixir.

“…But you couldn’t bring the Sixth Young Master.”

Yakseon rubbed her face with a complicated expression.

“W-Why not?”

Suddenly, she grabbed Seong Muyeon by the shoulder and stared at him with piercing intensity. Burdened by too much guilt, Seong Muyeon flinched.

“…Physician?”

Yakseon tightened her grip.

“Well done.”

“…….”

Had he heard that correctly?

Receiving praise he had never expected, Seong Muyeon was utterly dumbfounded.

“Terminal meridian blockage is extraordinarily difficult to treat—so difficult that even creating a remedy is nearly impossible. It requires assistance from someone of the same constitution.”

Yakseon cleared her throat, awkwardly masking her embarrassment.

“But if I can study this elixir, I might be able to create a treatment that works for anyone.”

She brought the elixir close, staring at it intently.

“So that’s why you wanted the elixir.”

“Exactly.”

Yakseon carefully tucked the elixir into her robe.

“I just need to stay alive until the medicine is developed.”

“What nonsense is that? Of course you’ll stay alive!”

“But… Baek Ryeoil Dojang isn’t here anymore. You said we’d need someone of the same constitution.”

At the mention of that name, pain throbbed sharply in his chest. Seong Muyeon bit his lip.

“That won’t be a problem.”

Yakseon said confidently, then called out toward the door.

“Come in!”

Seong Muyeon’s heart plummeted. After all the hardship it had taken to leave, the thought that Yakseon might have brought Baek Ryeoil here made his blood run cold—but the one who burst through the door was Seomun Yuha.

“Young Master! Thank goodness you’re safe!”

Tears flying, Seomun Yuha threw his arms around him.

“Seomun Young Master?”

“Physician Yakseon brought me.”

“You were born with extreme yin, extreme yang, and the energies of the Five Elements.”

Yakseon smiled.

“Seomun Yuha was born with extreme yin. And you, Namgung Cheonchu—come here.”

“Me? Oh—yes?”

Namgung Cheonchu, who had been standing blankly in the corner, approached awkwardly.

“The Namgung Clan has inherited an extreme yang constitution for generations. Just as I expected.”

Still unable to grasp what was happening, Seong Muyeon parted his lips.

“And finally… the Five Elements.”

Yakseon lifted her chin.

“With the three of us, we can try. It won’t be easy. Three people of different energies must merge their forces and achieve harmony. But it’s worth attempting.”

“But, Physician—”

“What’s with all the ‘buts’?!”

“You said we’d need blood relatives!”

Seong Muyeon had failed to bring either the Sixth Young Master or the Second Young Master.

“I’ll handle that myself. You just stay put.”

Yakseon grinned.

Thus, the three gathered in a makeshift workshop hastily prepared in an empty room by the bustling owl-masked attendant.

Medicinal ingredients Yakseon had researched and prepared over her lifetime rested quietly inside a massive cauldron.

“All energies must be perfectly balanced. If even the slightest deviation occurs, Seong Muyeon’s blood vessels will rupture and he will die.”

Namgung Cheonchu and Seomun Yuha were visibly tense, the weight of Seong Muyeon’s life resting on their shoulders.

“Extreme yang.”

Namgung Cheonchu placed his hand on the cauldron, ready to channel his energy.

“Extreme yin.”

Seomun Yuha took his position in the same manner.

The Five Elements.

“And the blood of a healthy blood relative.”

From behind a folding screen in the corner of the room—no one knowing when he had arrived—someone stepped forward.

As Jegal Un emerged, a chill swept through the room, as though the temperature had dropped. His expression made it clear he would rather be anywhere else.

“Please keep your promise to maintain secrecy.”

“You heard him. Keep your mouths shut.”

Namgung Cheonchu and Seomun Yuha nodded gravely.

All preparations were complete.

One mistake would render the precious ingredients useless. Even if successful, achieving perfect balance would be unlikely.

Yakseon glanced at Jegal Un, who was about to cut his palm with a dagger to draw blood.

A cousin—blood thinner than that of true siblings. The efficacy would be far weaker than originally planned.

“But still… better than nothing.”

So many people have gathered here today to save you, Seong Muyeon.

You must survive.