HDCLSSRS Ch 176
by berryChapter 176 Reunion (6)
“That bastard Seong Muyon! Even tearing him apart limb by limb wouldn’t be enough!”
Paeng Dohwan exploded in rage without warning.
The moment his own name was shouted, Seong Muyon nearly jumped out of his skin.
His whole body trembled violently.
“Ah…”
Paeng Dohwan looked apologetic.
“It seems I startled you. I didn’t mean to. My apologies. It just… slipped out.”
Then he continued,
“I’m searching for the man who killed my brother. You’ve heard the name Seong Muyon, the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult, haven’t you?”
How could I not?
I am that Seventh Young Master.
Afraid that any unusual reaction might arouse Paeng Dohwan’s suspicion, Seong Muyon simply gave a small nod.
The sudden shout had drawn both Kang Ung and the Owl’s attention.
“I don’t know where that bastard is hiding…”
Paeng Dohwan’s voice grew colder.
“But the moment he falls into my hands, I’ll drag him before my brother’s grave and make him suffer the greatest agony this world has to offer. I’ll let my brother watch him die… slowly.”
“……”
“I’ll make sure he experiences a pain even greater than the pain left behind for those who remain…”
As though imagining the scene, a dangerous, cruel delight flickered across Paeng Dohwan’s face.
It disappeared just as quickly.
His usual bright smile returned.
“Anyway…”
He laughed softly.
“I’ve let him slip away time and again over the past few years, but this time… I have a strange feeling I’ll finally catch him.”
He stretched out his hand, pretending to seize something floating in midair.
“It feels like he’s just within reach….”
Then he noticed Seong Muyon sitting opposite him, trembling uncontrollably.
He tilted his head.
“Are you all right? You’re shaking.”
Wouldn’t anyone be?!
Seong Muyon frantically shook his head.
Apparently misunderstanding the gesture, Paeng Dohwan smiled bitterly.
“Honestly…”
“I shouldn’t be talking about something like this in front of someone who’s not even a martial artist.”
“My brother was always scolding me for being so insensitive….”
His emotions swung wildly between extremes.
Once again, nostalgia overtook him.
He chuckled quietly to himself.
“What happened…?”
Like an overly protective guardian, the Owl immediately stepped between them, eyeing Paeng Dohwan warily.
“Nothing.”
Paeng Dohwan smiled.
“It’s just… strangely enough, even though this young hero and I only met today, conversation flows so naturally. It feels as though we’ve known each other for years.”
“And…”
He scratched his cheek.
“Perhaps it’s because he simply listens without saying anything.”
Ah…
Please don’t smile like that…
Completely unaware of whom he was speaking to…
Paeng Dohwan smiled warmly.
The Owl alternated his gaze between the two of them as though utterly dumbfounded.
Just then—
Baek Ryeoil returned from scouting.
His cold eyes swept over the three gathered together.
Without a word, he walked straight toward Kang Ung.
Although he appeared to be giving his disciple instructions, his voice was too low for anyone else to hear.
“…Be careful of that man.”
Paeng Dohwan’s expression suddenly hardened.
He stared after Baek Ryeoil as he spoke quietly.
“I won’t deny that Emotionless Sword is an extraordinary swordsman.”
“But he has one fatal flaw.”
“He cannot be controlled.”
“He’s no different from a wild beast.”
“In the end…”
“He’ll destroy not only himself…”
“But everyone around him as well.”
“……”
Seong Muyon was left speechless by Paeng Dohwan’s merciless assessment.
As though sensing they were talking about him, Baek Ryeoil glanced in their direction after finishing his conversation with Kang Ung.
Then he strode over.
“I found their campsite.”
“One gak from here.”
“I didn’t get close enough to risk being discovered, but I confirmed they’re Demonic Cultists.”
“We’ll attack as soon as the sun sets.”
“Well then.”
Paeng Dohwan shrugged.
“Works for me.”
Even after reaching that decision, Baek Ryeoil remained where he stood.
His gaze lingered on the two masked attendants.
His eyes held emotions too complicated to describe.
One thing, however, was certain.
None of them were pleasant.
When the Owl subtly stepped in front of Seong Muyon again…
Baek Ryeoil’s face twisted into a frown before he finally turned away.
Darkness settled completely over the mountains.
After carefully erasing every trace of their camp…
The group melted into the night.
It was the obvious choice if they wished to avoid detection.
Unfortunately…
It created a rather significant problem.
The four martial artists navigated the mountain paths effortlessly beneath the faint moonlight.
The remaining two…
Could not.
Thump.
A body hit the ground.
Turning around, they found the Owl lying flat on his back, staring blankly at the sky.
“……”
It was the third time.
Even someone with the Owl’s stamina was helpless in pitch-black darkness.
Seong Muyon’s situation wasn’t much different.
Having already stumbled and rolled across the ground several times, he was now covered in dirt and leaves.
He was also on the verge of collapsing.
One gak, my foot!
They had been climbing far longer than that.
Baek Ryeoil’s sense of time was simply calibrated for martial artists.
Seong Muyon wanted nothing more than to collapse beside the Owl.
But he feared that if he sat down…
He would never manage to stand again.
Instead, he clung desperately to the trunk of a nearby tree while silent tears streamed down his face.
“This won’t do.”
Kang Ung sighed.
“We’ll have to carry them.”
He helped the Owl to his feet.
“I’ll carry this gentleman.”
Then he looked toward Seong Muyon.
“Would one of you mind carrying Young Hero Badger?”
As Kang Ung pointed toward Seong Muyon…
Baek Ryeoil and Paeng Dohwan naturally looked at each other.
“I’ll do it.”
Paeng Dohwan volunteered immediately.
Baek Ryeoil’s thick eyebrows twitched violently.
“You’ll need to conserve your strength if you’re going to swing that oversized sword.”
“I’ll carry him.”
Paeng Dohwan snorted loudly.
“I’d sooner leave a fish shop in the care of a cat!”
“How am I supposed to trust you?”
“You might toss him into a ravine somewhere and pretend nothing happened!”
“And why would I do that?”
Baek Ryeoil snapped.
“Give him here.”
“You already tried to kill him once, yet you’re pretending otherwise!”
“Hey! Don’t even think about it!”
“Are you moving or not?”
Watching the two begin arguing…
Seong Muyon reached a simple conclusion.
I don’t want either of them.
Baek Ryeoil would probably seize the first opportunity to rip off his mask.
As for Paeng Dohwan…
Seong Muyon simply couldn’t bear to owe him anything.
And if his identity were exposed…
It was impossible to decide which of the two would pose the greater danger.
With desperate eyes…
He looked pleadingly toward the Owl.
“Young Daoist…”
The Owl spoke before the quarrel escalated into violence.
“I’d appreciate it if you could carry Badger instead.”
Just like that…
The dispute ended cleanly.
The Owl climbed onto Baek Ryeoil’s back.
“Excuse me.”
Kang Ung gently lifted Seong Muyon onto his own back.
Solid muscles supported him securely.
Seong Muyon had already witnessed Kang Ung’s strength firsthand.
Actually experiencing it…
Made it even more impressive.
Once they no longer needed to walk…
Their pace increased dramatically.
The martial artists dashed through the mountains using qinggong.
Rocks.
Roots.
Steep slopes.
None of them posed the slightest obstacle.
The destination that had seemed impossibly far away…
Was reached in the blink of an eye.
Riding on Kang Ung’s back had been an excellent choice.
He moved carefully, mindful of the person he carried.
Even when setting Seong Muyon back on the ground…
He was as gentle as a feather drifting to earth.
Seong Muyon bowed deeply in gratitude.
Kang Ung answered with a warm smile.
Looking to the side…
He saw Baek Ryeoil practically shaking the Owl off his back.
“Ugh!”
A moment later…
Paeng Dohwan arrived.
The Demonic Cultist slung over his shoulder was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground.
Not far away…
The flickering lights of the Demonic Cult’s camp could be seen.
“Do you think this fellow has enough value to serve as a hostage?”
Paeng Dohwan casually nudged the groaning Demonic Cultist with the tip of his foot.
The gesture resembled someone tapping a watermelon to judge whether it was ripe.
“So troublesome.”
Baek Ryeoil drew his sword without the slightest hesitation.
“Let’s just kill him here.”
To the two of them…
The Demonic Cultist seemed to rank somewhere below a human being.
Barely more valuable than an object.
“T-There’s…”
The Demonic Cultist cried desperately.
“I know a secret route into the camp! I’ll guide you! Please… spare my life!”
“Hm.”
Paeng Dohwan studied him for a moment before grabbing him roughly by the collar and hauling him upright.
“Very well.”
“I’ll trust you once.”
Since the enemy possessed hostages…
Having one of their own would certainly be useful.
“Is that really necessary?”
Baek Ryeoil clicked his tongue regretfully.
Although he didn’t object any further…
He cast a brief glance toward Kang Ung.
“I’ll remain here with these two.”
Kang Ung answered immediately.
It was obvious he had already received instructions.
“Then let’s move.”
Paeng Dohwan shoved the Demonic Cultist ahead.
Baek Ryeoil followed close behind.
“Young Daoist…”
The Owl spoke quietly.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you went with them? You don’t need to stay behind protecting us. We’ll manage on our own.”
Kang Ung was an undeniably valuable fighting force.
With so few of them to begin with…
Losing even one combatant was a considerable disadvantage.
“No.”
Kang Ung shook his head.
“If we rescue the villagers and anyone is injured… we’ll need the two of you.”
“The other side has those two.”
“That’s more than enough.”
Judging by his expression…
He truly meant it.
He showed no concern whatsoever for Baek Ryeoil or Paeng Dohwan.
Instead…
He found a flat boulder, stretched out comfortably, and began eating snacks from his travel pack.
How much time passed after the three figures disappeared into the darkness?
Suddenly—
“Enemy!”
“The camp’s under attack!”
“Help!”
Faint shouts ripped through the stillness of the night, echoing across the mountainside.
Moments later…
The loud beating of war drums erupted from the campsite.
Then came screams.
“It seems…”
The Owl murmured quietly.
“That man betrayed us.”
Footnotes
- Gak (각) — A traditional East Asian unit of time equal to roughly 15 minutes. Here, “one gak away” indicates an estimated travel time by martial artists, whose speed far exceeds that of ordinary people.