By Zephyria It’s Not on Purpose (5)
“Then what was that martial arts you used earlier?”
“……Self-taught. I couldn’t learn Demonic Art, and there was nowhere to learn orthodox martial arts, so I tried to improve it on my own.”
Baek Ryeo-il let out an absurd, hollow laugh. Self-taught martial arts? That was the most unbelievable thing Seong Mu-yeon had said. Even a well-refined inner force cultivation method could easily lead to Qi deviation with a single misstep, yet he improved Demonic Art and mastered it? And to such a great extent? It was a lie.
On the other hand, he also recalled hearing that patients with Severed Meridian Disease were highly intelligent, perhaps to compensate for their physical weaknesses.
After wiping away the scabs cleanly, he looked much better.
“But with Severed Meridians, every time you draw up inner force……”
Baek Ryeo-il trailed off. Seong Mu-yeon nodded.
“The qi and blood are twisted, and the acupoints can’t align properly, so the inner force scratches at the body as it flows through the meridians. It feels like my lifespan is being shaved off each time.”
Seong Mu-yeon clenched and unclenched his fist. There was no strength in his grip.
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“A lot.”
Seong Mu-yeon took a breath and stood up as if nothing had happened. But he quickly staggered greatly. Baek Ryeo-il quickly supported his elbow, preventing him from falling.
“Is there no way to fix it?”
“You ask knowing the answer.”
Baek Ryeo-il closed his mouth. It was common knowledge that treating Severed Meridian Disease was harder than plucking a star from the sky.
Seong Mu-yeon glanced at Baek Ryeo-il, who was staring intently at him in silence. He no longer seemed angry. Instead, he seemed lost in deep thought. He frowned and remained silent for a while.
Seong Mu-yeon looked around. Soon, he picked up Il-gwang’s sword lying on the floor and put it back in its scabbard.
“……Why didn’t you wait?”
“Yes?”
“……I did as you said. I protected Master, and there were no incidents in Henan. You said you’d wait. I came back to Mount Hua, but you weren’t there. Why?”
“…….”
“Mount Hua was turned upside down. It was one thing for an outsider to infiltrate, but they took away someone we were protecting. They said it didn’t seem like you were being dragged away against your will. Is it true that you left on your own? Is that really true?”
“……Yes, it’s true.”
Baek Ryeo-il’s face twisted miserably.
“Why……. Why? Was the promise you made with me nothing to you? Wasn’t it sincere? Again?”
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon lowered his eyes. It was hard to look at Baek Ryeo-il’s face.
He said he would trust him one last time.
But he ended up disappointing him again.
What good would it do to say anything now?
“I’m really frustrated, you know.”
But his mouth ran off on its own.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but it’s not like I did it on purpose to screw you over, but what am I supposed to do when Seong Mu-ryong shows up on his own? I tried to appease him and send him back. But then your kids came barging in without any sense! I had to save the kids, and I can’t just do anything to Seong Mu-ryong!”
As he spoke, he became overwhelmed with emotion. By the end, it was almost a shout. Baek Ryeo-il listened quietly and then asked.
“Then why did you stop me earlier? You could have just let me kill Seong Mu-ryong or whatever.”
“Cult Leader is bedridden. The succession battle has begun. I have six older brothers. If one of them overwhelmingly takes the lead and swallows the Demonic Cult whole, the current power will be maintained. We need to let them fight each other for as long as possible to reduce their power, right?”
“…….”
Baek Ryeo-il was silent.
Clearly, he still didn’t believe him.
Seong Mu-yeon scratched the back of his head irritably.
“……Just leave me here. I’ll go on my own.”
Seong Mu-yeon was resigned. Would Baek Ryeo-il be crazy enough to offer him his residence again? He could understand if he wasn’t even allowed to set foot on Mount Hua.
It wasn’t intentional, but he had troubled Baek Ryeo-il again.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Wherever.”
“Namgung Clan?”
“Why are you bringing up the Namgung Clan now!”
“Or do you have nowhere else to go?”
That was true.
“……Mount Hua is responsible for this. We failed to stop the outsider, and we failed to protect the person we were supposed to protect.”
Seong Mu-yeon raised his head sharply.
That meant…….
“So……. Can I go back?”
“Do you want to go?”
Seong Mu-yeon rushed at Baek Ryeo-il and grabbed his collar.
“Of course, I want to go back! Do you even need to ask? Damn it! Do you know what I’ve been through in the meantime? I was almost subjected to the Soul-Seizing Restriction! I don’t want to be among those damn Demonic Cult bastards for even a second.”
Baek Ryeo-il, who had been suppressing a laugh at the desperate cry, suddenly hardened his face.
“Soul-Seizing Restriction?”
“Yes. My second brother……. Seong Mu-ryong said he would give me a spirit pill to heal my body if I agreed to the restriction. So that I could never betray him.”
“Isn’t that crazy?”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“But say that after letting go of this.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I got too excited.”
Seong Mu-yeon let go of his collar and straightened it.
“…….”
“…….”
An awkward silence fell. The misunderstanding had been resolved, but as the intense emotions from just now subsided, it became awkward to look at each other’s faces.
They stood two steps apart, each looking in a different direction.
“So.”
Baek Ryeo-il cleared his throat and asked, feigning annoyance.
“Are you coming with me or not!”
“I’m going! I’m going!”
As if he had been waiting for it, Baek Ryeo-il supported his bottom and lifted him up.
“Wait a minute!”
“Why? What is it now!”
“I’m not in good condition right now, so can we go slowly? Master Baek’s is the worst ride.”
“You’re so demanding!”
That’s what he said, but Baek Ryeo-il was careful not to shake him as much as possible on the way back. The speed wasn’t very fast either.
A cool breeze brushed against his cheeks.
At that time.
“You are safe now, Young master Yi.”
Il-gwang, who had safely escaped from Lanzhou, said as Seong Mu-ryong regained consciousness. Seong Mu-ryong realized that the place had changed and hurriedly got up.
“Where is this? Where is Yeon-i?”
“…….”
Il-gwang shook his head silently instead of answering. Seong Mu-ryong understood what that meant.
“You should have brought Yeon-i instead of me! A child with a weak body……! I can’t. I have to go get Yeon-i right now…….”
Il-gwang resolutely stopped him.
“Seventh Young master risked his life to fight Baek Ryeo-il to save Young master Yi. If you go back now, you will be making Seventh Young master’s sacrifice in vain.”
“……Yeon-i?”
“Yes. He is intelligent, so he has survived in Mount Hua until now. He will continue to do so in the future. Now is the time for you to take care of your body. Seventh Young master pushed himself because he knew that.”
Il-gwang recalled the illusion-like martial prowess he had shown.
‘Seventh Young master.’
He had misunderstood him until now. He was a frail and insignificant youngest young master. He felt sorry for him, but he was also frustrated by his immature behavior.
But…….
‘He will be fine. If it’s him.’
“……Yeon-ah.”
Seong Mu-ryong looked wistfully in the direction where he had left Seong Mu-yeon far behind. A gloomy atmosphere lingered.
“……I will definitely go save you. Just bear with it a little longer. My brother.”
Seong Mu-yeon lost consciousness on the way back.
He didn’t wake up for several days. By the time Seong Mu-yeon regained consciousness, he was already back in Mount Hua.
“How is your body?”
Wang Ho-jun asked worriedly. He had come to visit Seong Mu-yeon, who was lying in bed.
“I’m fine.”
That’s what he said, but his voice was hoarse, so he didn’t sound very convincing. Wang Ho-jun furrowed his brow and took out various things that were said to be good for the body.
“What is going on? A kidnapping in the middle of Mount Hua!”
“Haha…….”
“Really, I’m at a loss for words. How long are you going to hide it? It’s okay in Mount Hua, even if it’s not outside. Why don’t you be frank and look for a cure?”
Baek Ryeo-il had made up an excuse that Seong Mu-yeon had been injured, and the Hall of Medicine Lord matched his tune by pretending to treat non-existent wounds. Thanks to this, his illness could be kept secret.
“Didn’t I tell you before? I don’t want to go around blabbing about it.”
Wang Ho-jun clicked his tongue as if he was frustrated.
“No, but! Where did Senior Brother go! He can’t even stay by his side to nurse him when he’s sick. Tsk tsk……! A heartless man.”
Baek Ryeo-il hadn’t shown his face for several days after Seong Mu-yeon woke up. He would disappear somewhere in the morning and only appear at meal times, then quickly leave again.
“Please don’t say that. It’s more comfortable when I don’t see him.”
“That’s true.”
After Wang Ho-jun left, Gang Woong and the boys cautiously visited.
“Young master……! We were so worried. You’re not feeling well? Have you been to the Hall of Medicine?”
“Of course. I’m taking my medicine well, so don’t worry.”
Seong Mu-yeon stroked the boy’s head.