HDCLSSRS Ch 64

Chapter 64 That Which Does Not Change (5)

 

Seong Muyeon tightly shut his eyes.

Peng Wongeum was far more impressive in person than he had ever imagined. His elegant jawline, the slightly upturned corners of his lips, and his gentle eyes revealed a composed and serene disposition.

He even had the illusion that there was a halo shining behind him.

‘It’s Peng Wongeum. Peng Wongeum is right in front of me!’

It was a moment so moving it brought him to tears.

“Sir? Are you alright?”

When Seong Muyeon didn’t raise his head for quite a while, Peng Wongeum asked in concern.

“I—I’m fine! Haha… Why wouldn’t I be? Of course I’m fine.”

“That’s good to hear. It’s a bit awkward meeting in such circumstances, but I’m still glad. I imagine you must have been quite shocked by this situation.”

Ahh…

In this harsh land of the Central Plains, he was the first person to warmly accept him without prejudice, even knowing where he came from.

Overwhelmed by how he lived up to every expectation, Seong Muyeon’s eyes welled with tears.

But there was always someone who couldn’t tolerate even a brief emotional moment and insisted on ruining the mood.

“Hey. Act normal. That’s gross.”

“What?”

“Look at this guy? Look at how fast your face changed. Do I look easy to you?”

Only then did Seong Muyeon realize that his face had twisted into a rebellious teenager’s scowl. But it wasn’t his fault. With a living angel like Peng Wongeum in front of him, seeing Baek Ryeoil naturally brought back all the suffering he had endured—and the annoyance was only human.

If the first person Seong Muyeon had met after coming to the Central Plains had been Peng Wongeum instead of Baek Ryeoil, his life would have turned out very differently.

He wouldn’t have had to live among beggars, wouldn’t have been treated worse than a dog, nor slept curled up on the ground. He wouldn’t have been tied to a tree, and his backside wouldn’t have been split open!

…Still, it was also true that Baek Ryeoil had helped him a lot.

Let’s not be like this. Let’s not discriminate.

Seong Muyeon cleared his throat loudly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t go blaming the wrong person.”

“This little…!”

“Ah! Look, the Shaolin monks are back!”

Just in time, the returning monks leading the prisoners spared Seong Muyeon from Baek Ryeoil’s verbal onslaught. There seemed to be dozens of demonic cultists bound with ropes. Considering that hundreds had already been captured and imprisoned, it was an enormous number.

‘Shaolin really is formidable.’

Everything had ended so swiftly the moment they stepped in.

Seong Muyeon cast a cold gaze over the faces of the captives.

They were scum who didn’t even deserve to breathe the same air.

The only reason their heads were still attached was because Shaolin forbade killing. Thanks to that principle, they lived—otherwise, not a single one of them would have survived the night.

Suddenly, among the bald heads, a black conical hat stood out. It was Peng Dohwan, who had returned with the monks. Spotting Seong Muyeon, he strode directly toward him.

“I figured I’d see you here! Why’d you rush off earlier?”

“Dohwan, I see you’ve already met Sir Seong.”

“Ah, Hyung! You know him?”

Peng Wongeum responded kindly.

“You’ve likely heard of him. This is the Seventh Young Lord of the Demonic Cult, Sir Seong Muyeon.”

Peng Dohwan’s eyes widened.

“He’s from the Demonic Cult?”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Seong Muyeon…”

Flustered, he kept opening and closing his mouth. Unsure how to respond to Seong Muyeon, he glanced back at his elder brother, as if seeking permission. When Peng Wongeum gave a gentle nod and smile, he relaxed his guard.

Then he carefully scanned Seong Muyeon from head to toe.

“Surprisingly ordinary? Doesn’t seem particularly powerful. That explains it. Then, that guy earlier—was he from the Demonic Cult too? I knew it! I thought I finally found someone worth sparring. But where is he now?”

“Dohwan. Don’t be so rude.”

Peng Wongeum spoke in a firm tone, but Dohwan paid him no mind. Scanning the area again, he suddenly spotted Ilgwang returning.

“Hyung!”

As Peng Dohwan cheerfully waved, Ilgwang, who had been walking indifferently, froze mid-step. His face contorted in disgust. Despite the aura of ‘stay away’ that Ilgwang radiated from afar, Peng Dohwan ran straight toward him without hesitation. It seemed he was eager for another match.

Seong Muyeon let out a breath of relief.

Whenever he revealed his identity, people would at least once show some sign of disgust. But the Peng brothers were truly noble and broad-minded men. Even Peng Dohwan had lowered his guard the moment his brother approved.

Ilgwang might have glared at him with the frost of midwinter in his eyes, but Peng Dohwan followed him like he couldn’t feel the cold at all.

He had definitely gotten the wrong target.

Seong Muyeon shook his head.

Condolences to Ilgwang…

“But why is that guy here?”

Baek Ryeoil asked. He hadn’t had the chance earlier.

“I ran into him by coincidence.”

His reply made it abundantly clear that he didn’t like Ilgwang. This was the natural reaction of a rational person.

Watching his younger brother, Peng Wongeum spoke again.

“It’s fortunate things ended here. I heard this is the first time a calamity caused by the Demonic Cult has ended with such minimal damage. And of all places, they caused this in Shaolin territory.”

“Because they’re stupid.”

Baek Ryeoil replied disinterestedly, but Seong Muyeon shook his head.

“They lost the Young Lord they served. The internal power structure shifted. When the leader they depended on disappears, they have nowhere to go. Even if they serve another Young Lord, do you think they’d be given a place? Of course not. That’s how the Demonic Cult operates.”

“…Seriously. That’s messed up.”

“Indeed. It is messed up.”

That very cult was the place where Seong Muyeon had grown up. The taste in his mouth turned bitter.

‘…But what is this feeling?’

He had the strange sense that he had overlooked something important.

Something very important…

Everything had gone according to plan.

He’d saved Ma Jincheon. The enemies were all captured. He had even met Peng Wongeum.

Now, Baek Ryeoil wouldn’t go seeking revenge for his master. He wouldn’t recklessly rush in and get seriously hurt…

“Ah!”

“What the—! You startled me!”

Suddenly shouting, Seong Muyeon made Baek Ryeoil jump.

He quickly scanned the faces of the prisoners again. No one stood out.

“What’s wrong?”

Peng Wongeum asked with a puzzled look.

He’s not here…!

The one who killed Ma Jincheon.

The Poison Demon was missing.

“Lord Peng, these all look like regular low-ranking cultists. There must have been ringleaders who led this attack—where are they?”

“Ah… Most of them are dead. They were at the scene when it started, and because they were so cruel, the Mount Hua seniors and my brother dealt with them first.”

“You’re sure all of them were taken care of?”

“Hmm. There were about twenty of them, but I don’t remember all their faces clearly. Some might’ve escaped. But Shaolin will surely find them soon.”

“…”

It was the same in the original story. This incident hadn’t been highlighted much. The damage was relatively minor and it was quickly resolved.

But one person—

Only Ma Jincheon didn’t survive this incident.

It was likely that things had been wrapped up quickly in the original version too. Even with Baek Ryeoil and Ilgwang joining, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.

Yet Ma Jincheon still died.

At the hands of the Poison Demon…

‘He must be dead.’

His body was probably among the ones that hadn’t yet been recovered. Even if he had survived, it was almost impossible to escape detection with Shaolin now on high alert.

Seong Muyeon abruptly raised his head.

“…Where is Master Ma Jincheon?”

The martial arts master who had been with the children moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

Ma Jincheon was walking alone through the city center, where the cleanup was still ongoing. His steps stopped in front of the house where he had rescued a mother and daughter from the rubble.

‘This should be the house.’

Without hesitation, he stepped into the ruins. The reason he returned was because of a request made by the girl he had met again at the shelter.

〈Mister… Please find Mongsil for me.〉

The girl had said, on the verge of tears. She hadn’t even touched the candy Ma Jincheon had given her. Her tear-filled eyes were full of desperation.

〈Ah-young! I told you not to do this! He’s a busy man. Master, please forget it. She’s just being a child.〉

Her mother had urgently tried to calm her and led her away.

But seeing the child had reminded him of one of his own disciples. Baek Ryeoil, at that age, also used to carry around a small doll. It had been made by his mother before her ascension, and although he pretended not to care, he always clutched it as he fell asleep.

In the end, Ma Jincheon decided to look for the child’s doll.

There was no danger here, with Shaolin monks constantly patrolling the area.

As he rummaged through the wreckage, Ma Jincheon suddenly felt a rustling presence behind him. He swiftly drew his sword and shouted:

“Who’s there!”