HDCLSSRS Ch 98

Chapter 98 Lifeline (3)

Just as the sect leader was about to move, someone else acted first.

It was Baek Ryeoil, who had never once let down his guard. He darted forward like a flash of light and struck Yakseon’s hand aside.

Boom—!

A tremendous impact rang out as their hands collided.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Baek Ryeoil stepped in front of Seong Muyeon, shielding him with his body.

“What are you doing?”

Perhaps because she hadn’t expected a disciple of Mount Hua to attack her, Yakseon retreated a few steps. She shook out her throbbing wrist lightly.

Baek Ryeoil warned her in a low voice.

“Do not touch him.”

If only one person had been protecting the Demon Cult’s young master, it could have been dismissed as mere sentiment. But Ma Jincheon also stepped forward to shield the disciple, followed by Kang Ung, who overcame his fear to stand with them. Even Seomun Yuha, who must have crawled out from under the bed at some point, lined up beside Kang Ung despite his pale, blood-drained face. Wang Hojun and the head of the Medicine Hall followed suit.

Together, they formed a united front to protect Seong Muyeon.

Finally, even the sect leader himself stepped forward to confront Yakseon.

“It was my mistake not to tell you beforehand. I misjudged, thinking I should first extinguish the urgent fire. For that, I offer my sincerest apology. Please calm your anger, Master So.”

Yakseon shouted in outrage.

“Have you all gone mad? That brat is the Demon Cult’s young master!”

“Of course I know.”

“Ha! Mount Hua, once a righteous sect of renown, has sunk to such filth that even the heavens must weep.”

“We have seen the person himself. What do you think is the reason so many people here are protecting Young Master Seong Muyeon?”

“……”

Yakseon ground her teeth, glaring at them.

She clearly looked ready to overturn the entire situation, but there were simply too many shielding Seong Muyeon. Considering they were inside Mount Hua’s grounds, there was nothing she could do.

After a moment, Yakseon flicked her sleeves and turned away.

“Do as you please! I’m leaving.”

She strode across the Medicine Hall without hesitation, as if she had no intention of listening further. But she didn’t get far before Baek Ryeoil blocked her path. The unyielding resolve in his stance made it clear he had no intention of letting her pass.

Yakseon’s patience reached its limit.

“…Do you truly wish to taste bitterness?”

Her hand twitched, muscles tensing taut.

To everyone’s shock, Baek Ryeoil bowed.

“Please… help us. I beg of you.”

“……”

Ma Jincheon and the others froze solid.

Who could have imagined that Baek Ryeoil would not only apologize, but bow as well?

Yakseon, too, was stunned. When her opponent took such a submissive stance, some of her anger dissipated, and she straightened, gazing loftily down at Baek Ryeoil.

“You want me to save the Demon Cult’s young master? Don’t be ridiculous. He’ll die soon enough anyway.”

“You can save him now, can you not?”

“And why should I waste medicine on a Demon Cult brat? And tell me this—why does a disciple of Mount Hua go so far to save him?”

“That is…”

Baek Ryeoil’s face clouded. His lips parted several times, but in the end, no answer came.

“Enough. I have nothing more to say. Nor any reason to stay here.”

Yakseon stepped past him. At the same time, Baek Ryeoil twisted his body like lightning, reaching out with a grappling technique to restrain her.

But Yakseon’s eyes flashed, and she slipped from his grasp like wind. A punch shot toward Baek Ryeoil’s face.

Thwack!

He caught her fist, but a kick followed immediately toward his ribs. Baek Ryeoil blocked the leg with his other hand and rolled away. Before he could even regain his footing, Yakseon closed in with dazzling footwork, her knee aiming for his chin.

As the sudden fight broke out, Kang Ung’s eyes widened like a frightened rabbit, darting toward the adults for help. They merely watched, making no move to intervene. Only Kang Ung and Seomun Yuha fidgeted anxiously, hopping from foot to foot, unsure what to do.

The sect leader, noticing Kang Ung’s unease, gave a gentle smile.

“It’s fine. Once she vents her anger like this, she’ll calm down considerably.”

The murderous aura from earlier was gone.

The two exchanged dozens of moves in an instant, without weapons. Yakseon’s eyes gleamed.

Impressive.

The martial arts displayed by this much younger junior were astonishing. Her attacks failed to land, parried one after another. Even if she had devoted herself solely to medicine, she had lived twice as long as Baek Ryeoil; it was shocking enough to make her click her tongue. In a true fight, the outcome would be uncertain.

The perfect timing of their exchanges stirred her fighting spirit, and before long, a faint smile curved Yakseon’s lips.

But experience cannot be ignored.

“Guhk!”

Her palm struck Baek Ryeoil squarely in the chest, driving him back with a groan. He stumbled a step and dropped to one knee.

Yakseon looked down at him, satisfied.

Master!

Kang Ung was beside himself with worry for his fallen teacher.

At that moment, he noticed Yakseon staring intently at her palm. Then her gaze shifted toward Seong Muyeon lying on the bed.

Why is she…?

Her expression, as she glanced between Baek Ryeoil and Seong Muyeon, looked confused.

Suddenly, Yakseon let out a short laugh and called to Baek Ryeoil.

“Hey.”

“…?”

When Baek Ryeoil lifted his head, an herb box was thrust before him.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll let him live for now. Consider him lucky.”

Baek Ryeoil stared blankly as he accepted the box. Yakseon turned and strode off. The sect leader followed after her, reminding Baek Ryeoil to quickly administer the medicine before leaving.

Still dazed, Baek Ryeoil snapped out of it and hurried back to Seong Muyeon’s bedside.

“Whew, what kind of person is that?”

As the tension drained away, Seomun Yuha collapsed to the ground, trembling legs giving out. Kang Ung strongly empathized; he too wanted nothing more than to collapse, but worry for Seong Muyeon kept him upright.

Baek Ryeoil pressed the pill into Seong Muyeon’s mouth with urgent hands, as if afraid Yakseon might return at any moment to snatch it back.

Everyone held their breath, watching.

Moments later, Seong Muyeon’s complexion noticeably improved.

Ma Jincheon quietly exhaled a sigh of relief, and Baek Ryeoil’s rigid facial muscles finally softened.

“Ryeoil.”

When Ma Jincheon called, Baek Ryeoil turned toward his teacher. The elder’s lips moved repeatedly, as if many words hovered unsaid.

“What is it?”

When Baek Ryeoil prompted, his tone unchanged, Ma Jincheon simply said:

“Never mind. It’s nothing.”

He soothed the others back to routine. After the chaos, hearts pounding in their chests, everyone dispersed to their quarters, drained.

A few hours later, when Seong Muyeon awoke and saw the devastation around him, he was shocked. He grew even more astonished as Kang Ung and Seomun Yuha recounted what had happened. Who would have imagined Yakseon appearing while he slept?

But before he could fully process the shocking news, he drifted back into unconsciousness. It would take a full day in bed to recover from the seizure’s toll.

“…So, Baek Ryeoil and Yakseon really fought?”

“Yes. It was terrifying.”

Because the Medicine Hall was no longer suitable for a patient, Seong Muyeon had been moved the previous night to his own quarters at Chwijungjae, where Kang Ung tended him with utmost care.

“Have you finished? I’ll take this away.”

As Kang Ung cleared the porridge bowl, Seong Muyeon’s face darkened with thought.

This isn’t good.

Baek Ryeoil and Yakseon had fought.

Though she hadn’t yet left Mount Hua, it seemed unrelated to him—she apparently had other business. Still, her emotions were clearly raw.

Naturally so. Baek Ryeoil lacked even a shred of sociability.

Seong Muyeon pressed his forehead.

Even if he were exceedingly cautious to win her favor, it wouldn’t be enough; instead, he’d wrecked her laboratory and engaged her in combat.

And she had already tried to kill him once.

…Will I even survive?

He swallowed bitterly.

Yet despite it all, a faint laugh escaped him. Baek Ryeoil had stood off against Yakseon head-on to save him. Others, too, had shielded him.

“You mustn’t push yourself yet.”

As Seong Muyeon rose, Kang Ung rushed to support him. Seong Muyeon gently declined.

“I’m fine now. Truly.”

It wasn’t a lie. He felt lighter than he had even before the seizure. Yakseon’s reputation, it seemed, was well-earned. Seeing her skill firsthand only intensified his resolve.

I must gain Yakseon’s aid.

As he prepared to go out, something felt off. He glanced around.

“What is it?”

“It’s just… strangely quiet.”

Scanning the surroundings, Seong Muyeon suddenly lifted his head.

“Where’s Baek Dojang? Where is he?”

Baek Ryeoil was nowhere to be seen.

The unease he felt came from the void left by Baek Ryeoil’s absence.