HDCLSSRS Ch 173
by berryChapter 173 Reunion (3)
The moment the thought crossed his mind that Baek Ryeoil might be nearby, Seong Muyon scarcely dared to breathe.
Completely unaware, the Owl remained occupied with questioning the villagers about Yakseon.
Did he even know that Kang Ung was Baek Ryeoil’s disciple?
Had he recognized how much Kang Ung had grown?
There was no way to know.
With his voice sealed, Seong Muyon couldn’t call out to him.
Nor could he make any suspicious movements while Kang Ung stood right beside him.
All he could do was anxiously stamp his foot inwardly, praying the Owl would look this way.
Just as his heart felt ready to burn itself to ashes—
Kang Ung suddenly turned around and called out with a bright smile,
“Master!”
Seong Muyon sucked in a sharp breath.
Baek Ryeoil had arrived.
At Kang Ung’s voice, the Owl finally turned his head without thinking.
But it was already too late.
He froze stiffly, staring at the approaching figure beyond Seong Muyon’s shoulder.
Step.
Step.
The steadily approaching footsteps made every hair on Seong Muyon’s body stand on end.
“I’m glad you’ve returned safely.”
Kang Ung brushed past him and hurried toward his master.
Baek Ryeoil stopped where he was.
Though Seong Muyon never turned around, he could vividly feel the piercing gaze drilling into the back of his head.
He could picture it perfectly—
Baek Ryeoil staring at both him and the Owl.
“Ah, Master, you didn’t know, did you? It turns out Lord Yakseon has been staying nearby. They’ve come looking for her. Did you happen to find her?”
After a brief silence, Baek Ryeoil seemed to shake his head.
Kang Ung continued,
“It seems she was taken away along with some of the villagers….”
The longer Baek Ryeoil remained silent…
The harder Seong Muyon’s heart pounded.
Finally recovering himself, the Owl calmly stepped between Seong Muyon and the others, shielding him.
“It’s been a long time….”
“Yes.”
A low voice answered quietly.
It was deeper than Seong Muyon remembered.
The familiar voice sank into his ears, sending a shiver through his entire body.
An overwhelming urge seized him.
He wanted to turn around.
Three years ago, after leaving him behind, Seong Muyon had forced himself never to think about Baek Ryeoil.
Because he knew…
The moment he did…
The fragile composure he had struggled so desperately to maintain would collapse like a broken dam.
Yet now…
Simply standing in the same space as Baek Ryeoil threatened to unleash every emotion he had suppressed for three long years.
Has he changed as much as Kang Ung has?
I want to see him.
I want to see for myself that he’s healthy… that he’s been doing well.
“We heard you searched the surrounding area…. Did you happen to see Lord Yakseon…?”
Whether the Owl was merely pretending to be calm or truly incapable of being shaken by such things…
His voice remained as slow and flat as ever.
Anyone would have believed his composed demeanor.
But Seong Muyon’s palms were soaked with sweat.
Baek Ryeoil didn’t answer.
…This isn’t good.
Having spent so much time carefully navigating Baek Ryeoil’s moods in the past, Seong Muyon understood him well.
If Baek Ryeoil ignored even such a simple question…
It meant the Owl’s words no longer held enough value to deserve an answer.
His attention was fixed elsewhere.
And Seong Muyon had felt that relentless gaze upon him for quite some time now.
…Don’t tell me.
An absurd thought invaded his mind.
Has he already recognized me?
Impossible.
After Seong Muyon disappeared, Yakseon had only found him much later.
No one should have connected the two of them.
He had even deliberately misled everyone into believing he had consumed the elixir.
Baek Ryeoil understood the effects of the elixir better than anyone.
Seeing Seong Muyon regain his health, even temporarily, he had undoubtedly believed the deception.
…Ridiculous.
How laughable.
After leaving so cruelly…
How arrogant was it to believe Baek Ryeoil would still think about him?
It was nothing more than self-importance.
Baek Ryeoil was living exactly as he should.
Doing his duty in this world.
Unlike Seong Muyon, who was quietly wasting away in a place no one knew.
Baek Ryeoil was far too busy.
Far too important.
Perhaps he had already forgotten such a trivial connection altogether.
“You there.
Turn around.”
Seong Muyon flinched.
There was no mistaking it.
Baek Ryeoil was speaking directly to him.
His already overwhelming tension intensified further.
His pounding heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Perhaps…
Everything Baek Ryeoil had once felt had already turned into hatred.
Wasn’t that exactly what Seong Muyon had wished for?
Yet…
Actually standing before that hatred…
Facing his anger in person…
Would hurt.
Both physically…
And emotionally.
“Why…?”
The Owl stepped protectively in front of Seong Muyon, openly confronting Baek Ryeoil.
“You have already harmed us once before…. If you come any closer, I will not tolerate it….”
Baek Ryeoil let out a cold laugh.
“Go run and tattle to whoever you want. But here’s the problem.”
His voice dripped with mockery.
“Yakseon’s not here right now.
So what exactly are you going to do?”
“…Why are you doing this?”
“I’ve never seen that one before.”
His eyes never left Seong Muyon.
“Tell the one behind you to come out.”
He’s suspicious.
Seong Muyon slowly closed his eyes.
Baek Ryeoil’s instincts had always been terrifyingly sharp.
Whether he had already recognized him or merely grown suspicious…
It made little difference.
It’s over.
Three years in hiding…
Only to have everything collapse the moment he stepped back into the world.
Baek Ryeoil seemed to lose what little patience he had left.
Hearing hurried footsteps, Seong Muyon knew the Owl had rushed forward to block him.
“Please don’t do this…. If there’s something you wish to ask, you may speak to me instead….”
“What are you, his spokesman?”
Baek Ryeoil sneered.
“Tell him to answer me himself.
Or can’t he talk?”
“He cannot.”
“Hah.”
Baek Ryeoil laughed openly.
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“Master…”
Even Kang Ung stepped in.
“I don’t think he can speak. I’ve been with him this whole time, and he hasn’t said a single word.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
The commotion quickly drew the attention of the villagers.
They gathered around, whispering among themselves.
“My goodness…”
“One who can’t even speak, and you’re bullying him?”
“……”
“I thought Mount Hua was supposed to be one of the righteous sects.”
“……”
At last…
Baek Ryeoil could push no further.
He was forced to back down.
“Badger… let’s go….”
The Owl seemed to have abandoned all thoughts of searching for Yakseon.
His only priority now was getting Seong Muyon away from here as quickly as possible.
Grasping Seong Muyon’s arm, he began leading him away.
Seeing the Owl’s small back from the side…
It had never looked so dependable.
You saved my life, Hyungnim…!
From today onward, I’ll call you Hyungnim for the rest of my life!
Seong Muyon nearly wept with gratitude as he cautiously walked forward.
Baek Ryeoil’s shoes entered the edge of his vision.
The distance required to leave his field of view amounted to only a handful of steps.
Yet…
Those few steps felt impossibly long.
Fearing Baek Ryeoil might notice something, he unconsciously held his breath.
At the same time…
A contradictory wish quietly surfaced.
Maybe…
Maybe I want him to recognize me.
Am I really going to leave…
…without even seeing his face?
It’s just a little disappointing…
The instant he finally stepped completely beyond Baek Ryeoil’s line of sight—
A powerful hand seized his shoulder and spun him around.
He hadn’t even had time to react.
Baek Ryeoil had never truly given up.
He had only retreated for the sake of Mount Hua’s reputation…
Waiting until they lowered their guard.
Now—
Through the eyeholes of the badger mask…
Seong Muyon found himself staring directly into Baek Ryeoil’s eyes.
His breath caught.
“Take off the mask.”
Three years had transformed Baek Ryeoil.
The reckless passion of his youth had settled into quiet maturity.
In its place remained a weighty composure.
Only his eyes…
Still burned with fierce intensity.
“What are you doing?!”
Even the Owl’s shocked cry seemed to crumble into meaningless noise.
Baek Ryeoil roughly shoved him aside when he tried to separate them.
“I said…
Take it off.”
“……”
Seong Muyon stood frozen like a statue.
He should have shaken Baek Ryeoil off.
He should have fled.
Instead…
His eyes greedily swept across Baek Ryeoil’s face, as though trying to engrave every detail into memory.
His skin had grown rougher, proof of years spent enduring hardship.
His robes appeared clean…
Yet from up close, the countless worn patches were unmistakable.
“You….”
When no response came…
Baek Ryeoil’s lips parted slightly.
The blazing fire within his eyes slowly dimmed.
The flames died away.
In their place…
Remained only deep, suffocating darkness.
“Ugh…”
An overwhelming wave of killing intent exploded from Baek Ryeoil.
The ordinary villagers could not withstand it.
Most collapsed to the ground.
The rest froze where they stood, their faces drained of all color.
Even the Owl was unable to rise again.
He could only glare helplessly at Baek Ryeoil.
There was no one left…
Who could stop him.
Baek Ryeoil slowly raised his other hand.
Toward Seong Muyon’s mask.