HDCLSSRS Ch 66

Chapter 66 That Which Does Not Change (7)

 

His eyes were bloodshot, unlike usual. If a mere look could kill someone, it would be with eyes like those.

“Seventh Young Master, it’s best if you withdraw for now.”

Ilgwang carefully led Seong Muyeon outside the tent. Seong Muyeon couldn’t take his eyes off Baek Ryeoil’s hunched shoulders until the worn fabric concealed them from view.

Paeng Wongeum seemed worried by the shouting coming from inside. Waiting at the entrance, he approached Seong Muyeon and spoke.

“…Please don’t take it too hard. Master Baek is probably just overwhelmed right now. He’ll calm down with time.”

Seong Muyeon forced a faint smile and nodded. Even that small gesture took every ounce of his strength.

“Seventh Young Master.”

Ilgwang led him to a quiet spot and spoke in a low, urgent voice. He was cautious, warily checking their surroundings. Until earlier, Ilgwang hadn’t felt any particular danger in the heart of the righteous sect, but now it was different.

“After what just happened, we can’t stay any longer. You must return to the cult at once.”

“…”

“You saw the reaction of Mujunggeom just now, didn’t you? The atmosphere is ominous. This could truly become dangerous.”

Judging from Baek Ryeoil’s reaction, if anything were to happen to Ma Jincheon here, even Seong Muyeon’s life could be at risk. As the Seventh Young Master’s safety became uncertain, Ilgwang no longer acted recklessly.

“Even the Second Young Master loses sleep every night worrying about your safety.”

Ilgwang finally invoked Seong Mu-ryong’s name. That he would go so far as to mention their lord showed just how dire the situation was.

“You must leave now. Not a moment to spare.”

He was a hundred, a thousand times right.

If Baek Ryeoil were to lose his master because of the Demonic Cult… how could he bear that rage?

He would not hesitate to storm into enemy territory alone, just like he did before, sword in hand—and he could very well kill Seong Muyeon in a single stroke.

In the original story, when Ma Jincheon died, Baek Ryeoil razed the entire Henan branch. For his master’s revenge. To kill the Poison Freak who took his master’s life.

Therefore, being near when Ma Jincheon’s life ended was far too dangerous.

At the very least, it was best to stay away until emotions had cooled.

But Seong Muyeon shook his head.

“…No. Not yet.”

He fixed his gaze on the tent where Ma Jincheon lay. There was a reason he had come all the way here on his own.

‘I still have something I can do.’

In the original story, Baek Ryeoil did avenge his master by killing the Poison Freak, but he himself was gravely injured and hovered between life and death. The sect leader had to pour countless elixirs and pills into him just to save his life.

That was something he had to prevent.

He could prevent it.

Just then, the tent flap lifted and Baek Ryeoil emerged. Rubbing his forehead wearily, he let out a long sigh and slowly approached Seong Muyeon.

As Baek Ryeoil drew near, Seong Muyeon felt a wave of fear crash over him, like a massive tidal wave. If Baek Ryeoil so much as lifted a finger, Seong Muyeon would die. Before him, Seong Muyeon was utterly powerless.

He flinched as if he might bolt at any moment, but clutched his robes and stood firm.

“Master Ma…?”

“He’s alive. For now.”

That caveat—”for now”—was attached.

“The external injuries are severe but not fatal. The real problem is the poison.”

Baek Ryeoil was barely containing his emotions. It was obvious to Seong Muyeon just how angry and helpless he truly felt.

“He’s been poisoned by something I’ve never seen before, and it’s spreading rapidly. We’ve tried every antidote Shaolin has, but none of them work.”

Baek Ryeoil clenched his fists tightly. The joints of his fingers stood out, stark white.

“I should never have let him go. He might’ve had the antidote on him. But what’s done is done. No choice now—we must find the antidote somehow. There’s not much time. If we don’t find it soon, Master will…”

His face clouded over. Then he lifted his eyes to stare at Seong Muyeon and Ilgwang.

“You know where to find him. Help me. Help me get that antidote.”

For that reason alone, Baek Ryeoil had to keep them alive. Seong Muyeon felt slightly reassured. At least until Ma Jincheon stopped breathing, they were safe. And Seong Muyeon knew the exact moment when that would happen.

“What are the symptoms? Does it flow through the meridians, consume internal energy, and then amplify into poison as it spreads?”

When Seong Muyeon asked, Baek Ryeoil’s eyes widened.

“How do you know that…?”

The answer came from Ilgwang.

“It’s the Poison Freak’s doing. He’s detested even within the cult. Looks like he finally brought this on himself.”

Ilgwang muttered. Given his high position in the cult, he would’ve had access to such information.

Of course, Seong Muyeon had lived in isolation as a discarded noble and wouldn’t be expected to know such things. But no one was questioning that right now. And Seong Muyeon, having read the original story, knew even what Ilgwang didn’t.

“I know how to cure it.”

“Is that true?”

Baek Ryeoil jumped, clutching Seong Muyeon’s shoulders. The strength of his grip made Seong Muyeon grimace, but he nodded.

“First, I need to examine Master Ma’s condition.”

They quickly returned to the tent.

Ma Jincheon had finished being treated, but his complexion remained pale. His upper robe had been removed for treatment, and white bandages were tightly wound around his abdomen. Black blotches shimmered on his exposed skin, slowly spreading wider.

It didn’t have a name yet, but in the future, it would be known as “証屍毒,” the Corpse-Sealing Poison. Countless martial artists died from it while fighting the Demonic Cult.

The first victim of that poison was Yuun Sword Ma Jincheon.

But having read the original, Seong Muyeon knew exactly how to cure it.

“Well? Can you treat him?”

Baek Ryeoil asked anxiously. Seong Muyeon nodded to reassure him.

“Please stand back.”

Once they had moved far enough away, Seong Muyeon took Ma Jincheon’s wrist and sent his internal energy flowing into the other’s body through his palm. The poison coursing through his bloodstream reacted to the untainted energy and surged toward it.

Even someone who hadn’t trained in martial arts would’ve noticed the poison devouring Seong Muyeon’s body, starting from the hand in contact with Ma Jincheon. His arm was turning black, inch by inch.

“Ugh!”

Seong Muyeon gritted his teeth.

“Seong Muyeon! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Baek Ryeoil knew exactly what he was doing—transferring the poison into his own body. But after claiming to know how to cure it, this was incomprehensible.

“Don’t touch the Seventh Young Master.”

Ilgwang stepped in front of Baek Ryeoil, warning him in a low voice. Baek Ryeoil’s glare burned with violent hostility. He wanted nothing more than to tear the cultist apart, but he restrained himself—barely.

Ilgwang bit his lip as he watched Seong Muyeon writhe in pain. He, too, realized what Seong Muyeon was attempting.

‘My lord… why go this far?’

A moment later, Seong Muyeon straightened up, and Baek Ryeoil rushed to check on Ma Jincheon. His expression had clearly relaxed. His breathing had stabilized, and a flush had returned to his cheeks. The black poison near his abdomen had completely vanished.

A trace of relief crossed Baek Ryeoil’s face.

“Now… Master Ma only needs to recover from his wounds.”

Seong Muyeon tried to step back from the bed but collapsed before he could take a single step.

“Seventh Young Master!”

Ilgwang quickly caught him by the elbow. Baek Ryeoil, having been focused on Ma Jincheon, turned to look at Seong Muyeon.

“…What did you do, Seong Muyeon?”

Baek Ryeoil asked, but the answer came from Ilgwang, who growled fiercely.

“Can’t you see? He brought the poison into himself.”

“Then why!”

Baek Ryeoil snapped, berating Seong Muyeon, which enraged Ilgwang even further. He was about to retort when Seong Muyeon calmly intervened.

“Don’t get upset.”

He took a light breath and steadied himself. He was a little dizzy but not to the point of being immobile.

Under Baek Ryeoil’s demanding gaze, Seong Muyeon shrugged.

“It’s nothing serious. This technique—called Severing Pulse—doesn’t just reject internal energy flowing through meridians. It does the same to poison. In my body, the poison spreads much more slowly.”

Seong Muyeon explained calmly.

“So I bought us some time.”

“…You said you knew how to cure it. What’s the method?”

“Actually, I don’t know.”

Baek Ryeoil’s face twisted in disbelief.

“What? Are you playing games with me right now?”

“And that’s why—”

Seong Muyeon grinned brightly and looked at Ilgwang and Baek Ryeoil.

“You’ll need to get that antidote as fast as you can.”