HDCLSSRS Ch 47

Chapter 47 Expert in Disappearances and Abductions (2)

 

“This is all thanks to the grace bestowed upon me by Mount Hua.”

He patted his disciple on the shoulder, feigning modesty but clearly pleased.

“Then, in respect of the individual’s stance, let us decide not to hold Young Master Seong Muyeon accountable for anything.”

The sect leader declared, signaling the end of the meeting. Jang Hansu shot a meaningful glance before departing with his master.

“You can breathe easy now, young master. Though I can’t say I was of much help.”

Ma Jincheon spoke to Seong Muyeon with an awkward smile. Seong Muyeon shook his head.

“Not at all. You have no idea how much what you did meant to me, Master Ma.”

He meant every word.

There were only a handful of people in Mount Hua who truly believed in Seong Muyeon. Baek Ryeoil treated him informally, but it felt more like he’d found an amusing toy to entertain himself with when bored. Wang Hojun clearly had an agenda. And Kang Ung was a child—no one could blame him for trusting too easily.

This was the first time.

Someone had reached out to him with genuine warmth.

Seong Muyeon was truly moved.

But someone who couldn’t stand the soft and warm atmosphere tossed in a snide remark.

“Of course you should be grateful. Know your place.”

Baek Ryeoil furiously scratched at his ears.

Ma Jincheon was just about to scold him when someone beat him to it.

“Baek Ryeoil, your insolent behavior has gone too far.”

It was the first disciple who had earlier given Ma Jincheon a quiet warning. His voice now was sharp.

“Senior Brother Ma, I’ve held my tongue until now out of respect for you, but how are you educating your disciple? Allowing him to act so rudely in front of the sect leader and the elders—this is unacceptable!”

He was so enraged that his face was flushed red. Ma Jincheon sighed, as if this wasn’t anything new.

“I’ll be sure to discipline Ryeoil for his insolence, but as a fellow teacher, you should’ve also set a proper example.”

“Excuse me? What did you just say?”

A strange tension sparked between the two senior brothers. But Seong Muyeon had no time to pay attention to that. He was too preoccupied trying to stop Baek Ryeoil, who looked like he might explode at any second.

Baek Ryeoil had tensed every muscle in his body the moment the first disciple approached, standing on high alert. And as soon as the first words left the disciple’s mouth, he began to get visibly agitated. His clenched fists crackled under the strain, and the veins in his arms and neck bulged taut and thick.

“Master, please, if you make a scene here, it’ll be a disaster. I’m begging you.”

Seong Muyeon whispered desperately.

“…Let go.”

“Ugh! Why are you so damn strong?!”

Fortunately, Ma Jincheon and the other disciple didn’t seem to notice what was happening on their side and continued talking.

Ma Jincheon, known for his usual gentle nature, still spoke in a calm tone.

“As the eldest senior disciple, I was speaking, and yet you butted in first. If you wish to lecture someone else’s disciple, lead by example first.”

“…Senior Brother, you—”

“That said, Ryeoil was clearly in the wrong, so I’ll be sure to teach him properly.”

Having said his piece, Ma Jincheon turned as if there was nothing more to say.

“Ryeoil, young master… What in the world are you two doing?”

Seong Muyeon was practically hugging Baek Ryeoil’s face. And just as Baek Ryeoil was about to tear his clothes trying to shake him off, Ma Jincheon caught sight of them.

“…This isn’t the best place to talk. Let’s go for now.”

Ma Jincheon led Baek Ryeoil and Seong Muyeon out of the conference hall. As they put enough distance behind them, Seong Muyeon struggled to keep Baek Ryeoil from glaring daggers over his shoulder at the first disciple the entire way.

“Why did you act that way with the people who came to fetch me earlier? Don’t tell me…”

Seong Muyeon trailed off.

“Don’t tell me it was because of me?”

“Are you crazy?”

Baek Ryeoil shot back immediately, so sharp it could cut.

“Who do you think you are? Don’t flatter yourself. You saw it too, didn’t you? How those old geezers completely disrespected our master.”

So that’s what it was. Seong Muyeon felt relieved. The goosebumps that had risen on the back of his neck at his earlier thought still hadn’t faded.

Baek Ryeoil gritted his teeth as he glared at the now distant hall, clearly still fuming.

After a while, as they walked in silence and the path grew more secluded, Ma Jincheon abruptly turned around.

“Baek Ryeoil, what did I say to you?”

“Huh? About what?”

Baek Ryeoil answered petulantly.

“Did humiliating me in front of the teachers, elders, and the sect leader make you feel better?”

“I only summarized what you were going to say anyway, Master.”

“You little—!”

“If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize.”

That so-called apology amounted to nothing more than Baek Ryeoil giving a lazy nod. Ma Jincheon began to tremble with suppressed anger.

“Come on, Master Ma. Please calm down. Everything worked out fine, didn’t it? And Master Baek, you should apologize properly. What’s the point of fighting on such a good day?”

It happened then. Thunder rumbled across the sky, and heavy rain began to pour down.

“…”

“Haha… What’s with the weather all of a sudden?”

Even the skies weren’t on their side.

Ma Jincheon gently nudged Seong Muyeon aside.

“Baek Ryeoil. Truly, you are beyond salvation. No matter how much I teach you, you never listen. If your parents—my senior brother and sister—were watching from heaven, what would they say?”

Ma Jincheon shouted through the curtain of rain.

He looked truly furious—his expression eerily similar to the often-angry Baek Ryeoil. Seong Muyeon, startled, pressed himself against a nearby tree.

‘So this is where Baek Ryeoil learned it from… Master Ma is terrifying when he’s mad.’

“I wouldn’t know what they’d say. I don’t even remember their faces. Since you remember, why don’t you speak for them, Master?”

Baek Ryeoil replied sulkily. Ma Jincheon, as if defeated, covered his face. Thick raindrops streamed down between his fingers.

“You’re right… you wouldn’t remember.”

His voice was filled with a sorrowful sigh.

“Your parents were wonderful people. If they had been alive… perhaps you might have had a better life.”

Baek Ryeoil merely shrugged.

“So what? They’re gone anyway.”

“That’s just it. I feel responsible. I spoiled you out of pity for a boy who lost his parents, and now you’ve grown up completely unruly. If they were still here, you might’ve been more…”

Ma Jincheon sighed and turned away.

“Anyway, as punishment for your insolence, copy the Taoist scriptures ten times by hand.”

“Sure, whatever.”

Ma Jincheon walked off, his steps weary.

Baek Ryeoil, who had been indifferent like a monkey with no emotions before his master, now couldn’t tear his eyes from the retreating figure.

‘…This is driving me crazy.’

And Seong Muyeon felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

Talking about his late parents was unfair.

Especially when the one who had killed them was his own father.

As he stood frozen, unsure of what to do, Baek Ryeoil gestured for him to come closer.

“Come here. Let’s go.”

“…”

“What are you waiting for? I said let’s go.”

Baek Ryeoil strode over, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and started walking. All Seong Muyeon could do was dangle helplessly in his grip.

He felt unbearably uneasy.

Why was Baek Ryeoil being so lenient with him?

If it were true that Cult Leader Seong Hyeokgwang had killed both his parents, then Baek Ryeoil should’ve harbored a grudge even deeper than Jang Hansu’s.

He glanced up at his expression—but it was the same as always.

Was he pretending not to know, or was he biding his time for the perfect moment to take revenge?

“I know what you’re thinking.”

“Huh? Me? No, I’m not thinking anything.”

“Yeah, right.”

Baek Ryeoil set him down with a wet squish onto the soaked ground. The rain was still pouring.

Seong Muyeon shut his eyes tightly. He didn’t want to open the box. He didn’t want to know what was inside, whether it was alive or dead. He just wanted that tightly shut box to be forgotten, left sealed forever.

Because what could he do otherwise?

He had no intention of inheriting his father’s sins. He had no desire to take responsibility for them. If anything, he wanted to stay as far away from the issue as possible.

“When you look at me… what do you think?”

But there are some problems that simply cannot be ignored forever.

Just thinking about staying near Baek Ryeoil with all this uncertainty and anxiety made Seong Muyeon feel like he was withering inside.

He wanted to know what Baek Ryeoil was thinking. Even just a little. Only then could he prepare, could he brace himself…

“You probably want to kill me.”

At his softly added remark, Baek Ryeoil reeled.

“What is with everyone today? Why is everyone acting like they know exactly what’s in my head?”

He ran his hand roughly through his wet hair. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.

“I really don’t feel anything. I don’t even remember when my parents died, and I have no memories of being with them either. I was only three or four back then. What would I know? You need memories to miss someone, don’t you? Why is everyone else making such a fuss?”

“…”

I guess… that’s possible?

If he was only three or four, it made sense that he wouldn’t remember. Seong Muyeon himself could barely recall anything from when he was that young.

For Baek Ryeoil, from the moment he started forming memories, Ma Jincheon had been his whole world.

“So don’t get weird ideas. You or Master.”

“Yeah… okay…”

It was a relief for Seong Muyeon.

And yet, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling lodged deep in his heart.