HDCLSSRS Ch 28

Chapter 28 It Wasn’t on Purpose (1)

“Aigo, have I caught a cold?”

Seong Muyeon barely managed to collect himself and acted as if nothing had happened.

It was time to seriously consider how he could live a long, healthy life from now on. At this rate, he’d escape this world before he even got the chance to enjoy freedom after the war between the Righteous and Demonic sects ended.

“That seems like more than just a cold. Have you gone to the Medical Hall?”

Baek Ryeoil asked.

“What would a guy who’s never had a cold know about colds? Colds go away on their own if you leave them alone.”

“……”

Having truly never experienced a cold himself, Baek Ryeoil couldn’t find a counterargument.

He still didn’t know anything. Very few people in Hwasan were aware of Seong Muyeon’s health condition. A select few in the Ministry of Finance and the head of the Medical Hall had kept the secret well.

“Ryeoil-ah, are you in there?”

Click—Ma Jincheon entered the room. Seeing Baek Ryeoil lying sideways on the bed, he clicked his tongue.

“Of course he is. It’s not like he has anything better to do.”

“Why are you like this again?”

Ma Jincheon bowed his head to Seong Muyeon.

“Good morning, Young Master.”

“Good morning.”

Exchanging greetings with a friendly smile, Ma Jincheon then quickly shot a sharp glare at Baek Ryeoil.

“Get up! There’s something I need you to do.”

“Aing.”

Ma Jincheon gave Baek Ryeoil a few instructions. From the sound of it, he was delegating the work he usually handled.

“Master Ma, where are you going?”

When Seong Muyeon asked, Ma Jincheon’s face shifted into a friendly smile.

“Yes, I’ve been assigned an external mission.”

A sudden thought crossed Seong Muyeon’s mind.

“Where are you headed?”

“Hanam.”

“……”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Oh, no. Nothing……”

Seong Muyeon’s expression darkened. He waited until Ma Jincheon had left before speaking to Baek Ryeoil, now alone with him.

“We can’t let Ma Jincheon go alone.”

“Eh? What are you talking about?”

“……He’ll be attacked.”

Seong Muyeon dug through his memories.

There was a catalyst for the outbreak of war in the original story.

The Demonic Sect had secret branches in various cities. They usually hid their identities, but things were about to change.

“Soon, a succession battle will break out within the Demonic Sect.”

“What does that have to do with our master?”

“Father…… The cult leader has six sons aside from me. Once he becomes bedridden, they’ll start keeping each other in check. They’ll each try to prove their worth.”

And among the righteous sect’s high-ranking figures, Ma Jincheon was a prime target to showcase one’s accomplishments.

Though he was a senior disciple, Ma Jincheon wasn’t especially strong in martial arts.

Seong Muyeon couldn’t recall the exact time or place, but it was around now—

Ma Jincheon was killed by the Demonic Sect.

Enraged, Baek Ryeoil had stormed into that Demonic branch alone to avenge his master. He practically annihilated the place but ended up gravely injured himself, barely returning with his life.

That incident led Baek Ryeoil to enter years of closed-door training.

“If Master accompanies him, they won’t dare make a move.”

“……Is this information reliable?”

Seong Muyeon nodded.

“Father’s health has been failing recently. I fled to the Central Plains to avoid the succession war. It’s bound to happen sooner or later. There’s no harm in being cautious, right?”

Baek Ryeoil studied Seong Muyeon as if trying to read his true intentions.

“Suspicious. What are you plotting?”

“I just want to save someone. That’s all.”

“Hm.”

Seong Muyeon recalled the Baek Ryeoil from the original story. He possessed unmatched martial prowess but was oddly cynical. He rarely spoke to others and always moved alone. Quite different from how he was now.

Maybe losing Ma Jincheon had caused him to shut his heart.

If it was something he could prevent, then it was better to do so.

It wasn’t like there’d be any harm to Seong Muyeon. Just like when he saved Namgung Cheonchu.

“You still don’t trust me?”

Baek Ryeoil flinched like someone whose inner thoughts had been exposed.

“Believe me or not, it doesn’t matter. But if you want to test it using Ma Jincheon’s life, I won’t stop you.”

“……Let’s say I go along with your plan.”

Baek Ryeoil stood up and walked over to the window where Seong Muyeon was sitting. He looked down at him.

“……What if you’re not here when I get back?”

Seong Muyeon let out a quiet sigh.

“Then do as you wish. Kill me or spare me.”

He expected Baek Ryeoil to shoot back with a snide remark, but the low murmur from above was completely unexpected.

“Really? You’ll stay here? Not go anywhere?”

Baek Ryeoil’s brow furrowed slightly, but there was no hostility. Rather… he seemed to be pleading.

“You’ll wait? For real?”

“……Yes, I’ll wait. Really.”

Seong Muyeon answered like he was pacifying a child begging not to go to kindergarten.

“I’ll trust you one last time.”

When it was decided that Mujung Sword Baek Ryeoil would accompany Ma Jincheon, outer disciple of the Hwasan Sect, on his external mission, everyone was shocked.

Baek Ryeoil was known for his preference for acting alone and rarely appeared at official functions. Before they could even finish being surprised at this unprecedented move, the two had already departed for Hanam according to schedule.

Seong Muyeon didn’t even see Baek Ryeoil off. What was the point of making a fuss when he’d be back soon?

Baek Ryeoil was already a highly reputed master throughout the martial world. No matter how arrogant someone was, they wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him.

Once Baek Ryeoil was gone, Seong Muyeon felt incredibly refreshed.

“Without Senior Brother, Hwasan’s gotten too quiet, don’t you think?”

Wang Hojun said with a smile.

It had already been several days. Seong Muyeon was walking out after finishing a meal with people from the Ministry of Finance.

“Yes, it really has.”

Hwasan, he realized, was actually a calm and tranquil place. From a distance, the sounds of disciples training and reciting sword scriptures could be faintly heard.

“Enjoy it while it lasts. We received a message yesterday. They’re on their way back from finishing business in Hanam. It’ll be noisy again in a day or two.”

“I see.”

“Young Master Seong? You’re not heading to Chwijungjae?”

Wang Hojun asked when Seong Muyeon turned toward a path he didn’t usually take.

“Oh, I thought I’d go for a walk.”

“I see. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Seong Muyeon wandered around Hwasan by himself. There was no one waiting for him at Chwijungjae anyway.

He walked aimlessly until his steps brought him to Oknyeoji. No one was washing there now, so it was quiet.

He sat down near the pond, completely sprawled out, and rested his chin on his arm.

‘……Do I feel empty?’

It was absurd.

He had been reborn into such a dangerous world, and all he’d ever wanted was a quiet, safe life. But now that he finally had that—he was bored out of his mind.

Hwasan without Baek Ryeoil was so quiet he had to double-check if he’d gone deaf. Time crawled by.

He recalled the days he’d lived like the dead in the Demonic Sect. Time had crawled then, too. Like he had been separated from the rest of the world…

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard rustling in the bushes.

“……”

Seong Muyeon slowly got to his feet.

Rustle.

There was definitely movement beyond the brush—but it didn’t seem like an animal.

He looked around cautiously. There was no one else nearby. If it was just a disciple playing hide-and-seek, that was fine, but if it were an outsider or an enemy, Seong Muyeon was in no shape to defend himself.

As he hesitated, an entirely unexpected face emerged from the bushes.

“Have you been well, Seventh Young Master?”

“Ilgwang!”

Seong Muyeon jumped in surprise and rushed over to Ilgwang.

“How did you get here? You weren’t spotted?”

“No, the security isn’t that tight. I suppose because of the terrain, they didn’t expect outsiders to try to enter.”

Ilgwang looked like he had been through some hardship; his face was slightly more gaunt than the last time they’d met.

“How did you know I was here?”

“After we parted, I gathered with the Shadow Corps at our meeting point, but no one had seen Baek Ryeoil. That’s when I realized he must’ve gone after you.”

Speaking quickly, Ilgwang carefully examined Seong Muyeon’s physical condition.

“When I hurried back, rumors were already spreading among the Beggars’ Union. I found out that Hwasan’s Baek Ryeoil had taken a young man with him. I rushed to Shaanxi, but…… by then, Seventh Young Master had already entered Hwasan and I couldn’t make contact.”

Seong Muyeon nodded. Of course no one from the Demonic Sect would dare step foot alone into Hwasan, with its hundreds of sword masters. It would be like sticking your head into a tiger’s den.

And yet, here Ilgwang was, standing right before him.

“I’ve just been passing time in Hwaeum for now, but……”

“……But?”

That last word sent a chill down Seong Muyeon’s spine.

Ilgwang gave a troubled smile. And just as expected, another figure emerged from the bushes behind him.

“Yeon-ah.”

Seong Muyeon’s heart dropped to the pit of his stomach.

“Hy…… Hyungnim. How are you here…?”

He had never imagined he would see this person here.

The Second Young Master of the Demonic Sect, Seong Muryong, standing on Hwasan soil—was an utterly surreal sight.