HDCLSSRS Ch 27

Chapter 27: Mount Hua or Namgung? (5)

 

Suddenly, Baek Ryeoil opened his mouth.

“Whether you go or not really has nothing to do with me.”

“Alright, I got it. I just—”

“You’re going to do whatever you want anyway.”

Seong Muyeon, who had been about to voice his complaints, shut his mouth. Baek Ryeoil was looking at him with calm, subdued eyes.

“Being dragged around by someone who only thinks of themselves… it’s not exactly a pleasant feeling. Whether you stay or leave, my life won’t change either way, so why would I bother telling you to go or stay?”

“……I can’t argue with that.”

It was because Seong Muyeon’s track record was so colorful. He realized that even now, he still hadn’t earned any trust from Baek Ryeoil.

“Now that I think about it, I never properly thanked you for what you’ve done. Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to stay safe, and even received recognition from the sect leader.”

“Whatever.”

“Even if I end up going to Namgung, I won’t forget this favor.”

Baek Ryeoil didn’t respond, merely letting out a short, dismissive hum as he continued staring off into the distance.

Seong Muyeon also looked ahead. As he watched the clouds drift by peacefully, the worries of the world felt strangely insignificant.

So much had changed in a short time.

And it was all thanks to Baek Ryeoil.

“You’re a really peculiar and strange guy.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Baek Ryeoil let out an incredulous laugh.

A moment later—

Thud!

A hand appeared over the edge of the cliff, gripping the ground.

“Huff, huff. F-finally… I made it up.”

It was Namgung Cheonchu, looking disheveled from climbing the cliff. He hauled his other arm over the ledge.

Baek Ryeoil stood up from his seat.

“See? You saw everything, right? Let’s go.”

With that, Baek Ryeoil hooked an arm around Seong Muyeon’s waist and lightly leaped down.

“W-wait a minute! I just got up hereeee!”

Namgung Cheonchu’s desperate cry quickly faded into the distance.

It hadn’t taken long to climb up, but coming down was even faster.

The Mount Hua sightseeing came to an abrupt end due to safety concerns. The rest of the sights were mostly located in places so dangerous, one would have to risk their life multiple times just to see them.

In fact, there were even injuries. Namgung Cheonchu had slipped and tumbled spectacularly while descending from the peak of Woondae Peak. As a result, his once pristine and elegant silk garments were now caked in dirt, and he was covered in light scrapes.

Even on the way back to the guest quarters, Namgung Cheonchu kept trying to persuade him—mainly about how dangerous Mount Hua was for someone without martial arts and how great life in the Namgung clan would be.

Seong Muyeon closed the door to his room. He needed time alone to think. Once shut, the door remained closed until the night had passed.

The next day, when Seong Muyeon finally stepped outside, Namgung Cheonchu immediately realized what it meant.

“Master Seong, you plan to stay on Mount Hua, don’t you?”

It was the day the Namgung clan was set to depart, but Seong Muyeon was dressed the same as usual and hadn’t packed a thing.

Seong Muyeon gave a sheepish smile and nodded.

“Yes. That’s what I’ve decided.”

Life in the Namgung clan would certainly have been comfortable. As Namgung Cheonchu had said, he could have enjoyed the conveniences of city life.

He would have been waited on by servants, and wouldn’t have had to deal with trivial matters himself.

If he got sick, he could have seen a physician and taken medicine.

But Seong Muyeon couldn’t help but wonder—how was that any different from life in the Demonic Cult?

Back there, he had been treated with the utmost care, and yet he had withered away.

“I’m staying at Mount Hua.”

He had intended to do so all along.

“Is that alright, Baek Dojang?”

As he turned his head to call out, Baek Ryeoil appeared from behind the wall, as if he’d been there the whole time. He scratched his cheek.

“Well… sure.”

“I’ll be in your care from now on.”

Baek Ryeoil stared at the hand Seong Muyeon extended, then grasped it.

The Sect Leader of Mount Hua officially granted Seong Muyeon permission to stay.

Seong Muyeon, the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult, became the first person from the cult to earn the right to reside at Mount Hua. From then on, he would be treated as an honored guest.

After receiving official confirmation from the Sect Leader, Seong Muyeon returned to the guest quarters to pack his things. The Namgung clan was also preparing to depart, and the place was bustling.

“Are you leaving?” he asked.

Namgung Cheonchu gave a bitter nod.

“Yes. I should’ve gone back earlier, but I was delayed by my injuries. My family must be anxiously waiting, so I should go now.”

“Travel safely.”

“……”

Namgung Cheonchu paused from packing and looked at Seong Muyeon quietly.

“You really have no intention of coming to the Namgung clan?”

“Don’t go licking what belongs to someone else. Didn’t you say your mom and dad are waiting?”

The one who answered in Seong Muyeon’s stead was Baek Ryeoil, who had suddenly appeared behind him. He waved a hand like he was shooing away a fly.

Namgung Cheonchu glared briefly at Baek Ryeoil, then turned to Seong Muyeon.

“The Namgung clan doesn’t forget favors. If you ever need help, come find us.”

“Thank you.”

And with that, the Namgung clan departed.

Mount Hua returned to its quiet routine. After the storm that had just swept through, the silence felt even deeper than before.

Seong Muyeon returned to Chwijungjae.

‘Damn it.’

It was entirely the Sect Leader’s idea.

〈You could continue staying in the guest quarters, but how about moving back to Chwijungjae? We don’t mind, but Mount Hua often has visitors, so the security there isn’t the best. And we can’t spare our disciples, who are Taoist practitioners, to act as bodyguards for worldly matters. What do you think, Ryeoil?〉

〈I don’t mind.〉

Damn it!

And so, Seong Muyeon continued living at Baek Ryeoil’s residence.

“Been a while, huh?”

Baek Ryeoil grinned while pulling a rope taut. Seong Muyeon backed away as he approached.

“What are you doing?! Why the rope again? I told you I’m not going to run!”

“It’s a joke.”

Baek Ryeoil casually tossed the rope aside, then led Seong Muyeon to the room across the hall.

“You can use this room.”

“R-really?”

“If you don’t like it, we can always go back to—”

“No! I like it! I really like it.”

Though smaller than Baek Ryeoil’s room, it had a bed, large windows, and all the necessary furniture.

“You can eat in the dining hall. If you need anything, let me know. The Sect Leader said you’re free to go anywhere in Mount Hua except the restricted areas.”

“Yes, sir!”

For the first time since leaving the Demonic Cult, Seong Muyeon had a space of his own. He was so excited that he started sweeping and cleaning the room immediately.

But then…

As he was scrubbing the floor, he paused when he saw a large pair of shoes planted firmly in front of him.

“…Would you mind lifting your feet?”

Baek Ryeoil raised both feet into the air. He was sitting right in the middle of the bed as if he owned the room.

‘Well, it is technically a room attached to Baek Ryeoil’s quarters, so he is the owner.’

“Wow, you’ve got it good. You’re probably the first cult member in history to secure a spot of your own at Mount Hua.”

“……”

“This room was originally made for my future disciples, so keep it clean. If you mess anything up, you’ll have to answer to me.”

“……”

“No hammering nails into the wall! Open the door gently! Got it?”

Seong Muyeon trembled with frustration. He wanted to shove the rag in his hand right into that man’s mouth.

Strangely, Baek Ryeoil seemed unusually chipper. He probably felt good having someone to tease again.

Whenever Seong Muyeon tried to hint that he should leave, Baek Ryeoil would throw a fit and act out.

“This is my house too! I’m the owner! You want to get kicked out? Sleep in the hallway?”

And when he got bored, he would poke Seong Muyeon with his toes.

“Hey, go make me some tea.”

“…Yes, sir.”

It wasn’t until late at night that Seong Muyeon was finally able to kick him out.

‘It’s my room.’

Compared to his room in the Demonic Cult, it was terribly shabby—but he didn’t care.

He fell asleep slowly to the distant hoots of owls and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Seong Muyeon’s life at Mount Hua changed a little.

Though he didn’t belong to any particular division, he was allowed to go anywhere the regular disciples could. Now, Baek Ryeoil couldn’t complain even if he wandered around.

Still, the only things he had to do were helping out with odd tasks in the financial department or borrowing books from the archives.

Mount Hua was one of the few places that wasn’t destroyed by the end of the story. As long as he stayed here, he would be safe.

And “safe” was nice, but…

“Cough, cough!”

Seong Muyeon couldn’t stop the fit of coughing that burst out like an attack. The harsh sound made Baek Ryeoil raise an eyebrow.

Though Seong Muyeon had his own room now, he spent his days in Baek Ryeoil’s room. Since Baek Ryeoil would constantly barge in and disrupt his peace, he figured he might as well just stay in the bigger room.

At first, Baek Ryeoil had looked at him indifferently, as if wondering what the fuss was about. But when the coughing didn’t stop, his expression turned serious and he rose to his feet.

“…Are you alright?”

“I—I’m fine.”

But Seong Muyeon’s voice was hoarse as he answered. His coughing was so violent it brought tears to his eyes, as if he were about to cough up a lung.