By Zephyria The End of Injustice (4)
Seong Mu-yeon did manage to tear something. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Baek Ryeo-il’s hair, but the hem of his long robe. In the rough thrusting that began with the kiss, Seong Mu-yeon completely collapsed, clinging to his long robe.
“Found it! This is the book, right?”
“Let’s go, let’s go. There were rumors that ghosts appear here, and I think I smell something strange too.”
“But doesn’t it look a bit cleaner here?”
The intruders left the Library shortly after. After they were gone, a messy scene of lovemaking unfolded inside the Library, where nothing stood in the way.
It was something he learned later, but Baek Ryeo-il had known where the book they were looking for was located, and he knew that the book was in the exact opposite direction, meaning they would never have set foot there, yet he committed the act anyway.
“…I never knew the great Heartless Sword was so cunning.”
“Now that you know, that’s enough.”
“……”
Seong Mu-yeon didn’t even have the energy to be angry. That day, in the lofty space where the wisdom of the ancestors was accumulated, they clashed three times. Baek Ryeo-il pinned Seong Mu-yeon to the wall, then to the floor, driving into him as if he were a man about to die tomorrow. Seong Mu-yeon, unable to keep up with his tremendous stamina, was completely worn out and slumped over.
Baek Ryeo-il took off his long robe, roughly wiped off the sticky fluid, lifted the listless Seong Mu-yeon, and straightened his clothes for him.
Seong Mu-yeon, having had his energy completely drained until lunchtime without gaining any results, refused to go to the dining hall, but Baek Ryeo-il dragged him there and forced him to eat. He dozed off while barely touching his food, and as soon as he returned to the Emerald Pavilion, he threw himself onto the bed.
Since he had exerted himself to the point of near-death, his physical condition should have stabilized, but the uneasy feeling remained, which was strange.
‘What could possibly happen?’
But he shouldn’t have ignored that feeling.
The incident erupted not long after.
That morning, his quarters were bustling with activity.
Seong Mu-yeon and Gang Woong, as well as Wang Ho-jun, and several disciples from the Finance Division were busily moving around the kitchen.
“What is all this?”
“Don’t worry about it. We are preparing this, so please don’t interfere.”
Seong Mu-yeon, busy washing vegetables, looked up and spoke incomprehensibly.
“Master! What did you prepare, Master?”
Gang Woong asked this with flour smeared on his face, making Baek Ryeo-il even more bewildered.
“Prepare? Prepare what?”
At his blank question, everyone in the kitchen stopped what they were doing and looked at Baek Ryeo-il. A chill ran down his spine, and he stepped back a few paces.
“W-what! Why are you looking at me like that? I might just gouge your eyeballs out!”
At the fierce warning, Wang Ho-jun and the Finance Division disciples quietly lowered their eyes, but Seong Mu-yeon did not. He was not the type to be intimidated by empty threats.
“Today is Mazincheon Headmaster’s birthday!”
“Ah.”
Baek Ryeo-il scratched his cheek. Had the date already arrived?
“Surely! You didn’t prepare nothing! Did you forget your Master’s birthday?”
“We don’t do things like this.”
Baek Ryeo-il snapped back coldly. He casually nudged a rolling basket with his toe.
“Master doesn’t really like noisy things, and I don’t think he likes fussing over things like this either?”
His confident voice gradually grew quieter until, in the end, it was barely a mosquito’s buzz. Seong Mu-yeon looked at him with a look of pity.
He didn’t need to see it to know. There was no way a man like Baek Ryeo-il would diligently remember his Master’s birthday.
There was no greater filial impiety than this.
Seong Mu-yeon dragged him over and sat him down next to Gang Woong.
“Then, the noodles will be made by the Headmaster.”
“No, I…”
“Even if you didn’t take care of it usually, we have a new family member this year, so let’s just do it. Besides, who dislikes having their birthday celebrated? Ma Instructor will like it too.”
“……”
“We will make Longevity Noodles. You know the noodles must not break, right? Please make them in one long strand.”
Having given his instructions, Seong Mu-yeon returned to his spot and finished washing the vegetables.
Baek Ryeo-il stared intently at the flour dough placed before him. Gang Woong, sitting beside him, was making dumpling wrappers. He was so focused on rolling the dough with the rolling pin that his lips were puckered out like a duck’s beak.
“Hmm.”
Baek Ryeo-il finally gave up. He washed his hands and began to handle the dough. Seeing this, Wang Ho-jun chuckled.
“Haha, I’ve lived long enough to see Baek Senior Brother cooking. Hahaha!”
“Shut up if you don’t want to die.”
“Yes.”
To make noodles, the dough had to be rolled flat.
“But Junior Brother Wang, you aren’t even Master’s disciple, why are you here?”
“It just turned out that way…”
At Baek Ryeo-il’s question, Wang Ho-jun smiled sadly. He too felt he wasn’t someone who belonged in this place. It was a mistake that Seong Mu-yeon spotted him when he visited the kitchen storeroom to procure ingredients.
And so, everyone gathered to prepare the birthday feast for Ma Jin-cheon.
Once the food was mostly ready, Seong Mu-yeon said to Gang Woong.
“Gang Headmaster, would you please go fetch Ma Headmaster?”
“Yes! I’ll go right away.”
Baek Ryeo-il’s subtle gaze followed Seong Mu-yeon’s back.
He wanted to go find Yak Seon as soon as possible, but unfortunately, circumstances did not allow it. He was under a confinement order issued along with his disciplinary action, preventing him from leaving Mount Hua. It could be considered a period of probation. If he caused trouble again now, Baek Ryeo-il would receive an even harsher punishment than before.
But that would be lifted soon, and he would be free, so it wasn’t a major issue.
Until then, he just needed to protect Seong Mu-yeon from the clutches of Seomun Yuha.
However, things in the world do not always go as planned.
“Hello?”
Seomun Yuha appeared with Ma Jin-cheon and greeted them cheerfully. Baek Ryeo-il instinctively stepped in front of Seong Mu-yeon.
Baek Ryeo-il bared his teeth.
“Master. Why did you bring him?”
“Haha. Young Master Seomun somehow found out and came early this morning to offer his birthday wishes? I couldn’t just send him away, so I brought him along.”
“Of course, I must offer my congratulations! I didn’t intend to come since it’s a family celebration, but Ma Headmaster urged me so earnestly that I came along shamelessly. May I come in?”
“Certainly, certainly. Let’s go in.”
Seomun Yuha, who had been openly flattering, quickly slipped inside before anyone could chase him out. Ma Jin-cheon followed him in, leaving the three of them—Baek Ryeo-il, Seong Mu-yeon, and Gang Woong—standing awkwardly in the yard, looking at each other. Gang Woong said mournfully, like a dog caught in the rain.
“I’m sorry… I couldn’t stop him.”
Seong Mu-yeon waved his hand.
“How could Gang Headmaster stop him? Don’t worry about it. Since it’s already happened, let’s eat.”
When they entered the room, Ma Jin-cheon and the others were already seated around a table laden with food.
“Ah. One lives and sees many things. In my life, I never thought I’d receive a birthday feast like this.”
Ma Jin-cheon seemed to be in high spirits.
“Congratulations on your birthday.”
Seong Mu-yeon said to him with a smile. As Baek Ryeo-il tried to sit next to him, Seomun Yuha swiftly darted over and snatched the seat. Then, he stuck his tongue out pointedly at Baek Ryeo-il.
“Hey!”
Baek Ryeo-il, unable to hold back any longer, finally exploded and shouted. But today was not a day when he could run wild as he pleased.
“Young Master Seomun is a guest here to celebrate my birthday, so do not act rudely.”
Ma Jin-cheon, the host, sharply rebuked him, leaving Baek Ryeo-il unable to utter a sound. In the end, he had to squeeze into the remaining spot. Seomun Yuha had clearly established his position.
Ma Jin-cheon, who had spoken coldly, immediately broke into a smile as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you all. For preparing this gathering for me.”
“Grandmaster, I made this myself.”
Gang Woong shyly blushed and presented a colorful sword tassel decoration.
“Thank you.”
Ma Jin-cheon immediately attached the gift to his sword. Gang Woong giggled.
“We prepared the food. Please eat a lot.”
After Seong Mu-yeon and the others offered their congratulations, Ma Jin-cheon glanced at his disciple who was sitting there blankly.
“What about you? Do you have nothing?”
“Me? Well…”
Baek Ryeo-il hesitated for a long moment before pushing the steaming bowl of Longevity Noodles in front of him.
“I made this.”
“You?”
“Live a long, long life.”
Baek Ryeo-il said it indifferently and turned his head away.
Ma Jin-cheon seemed genuinely surprised, as he hadn’t expected Baek Ryeo-il to have prepared anything. As he picked up his chopsticks, a ticking voice spoke.
“You know they can’t be broken, right? You have to eat it all in one go.”
“I know that!”
Ma Jin-cheon picked up the noodles with a trembling hand. The noodles were so terrible that he couldn’t even call them edible, even as a white lie. The noodles were undercooked, tasting of raw flour, and the broth was too salty.
But Ma Jin-cheon followed Baek Ryeo-il’s instruction and ate the noodles without breaking them, consuming them all at once. This was the meaning of eating Longevity Noodles to wish for a long life.
“…Thank you.”
“…Grandmaster, are you crying?”
“Nonsense! It’s because the noodles taste so awful. Did you even call this cooking? I can taste eggshells.”
“Tch.”
Seong Mu-yeon burst out laughing upon seeing the two dishonest disciples.
“Then let’s eat!”
Early in the morning, many people gathered in one place to share a meal. Baek Ryeo-il tasted the broth Ma Jin-cheon left behind, shuddered, and pushed the bowl aside, not wanting to look at it. He drank the broth containing meat, watched Seong Mu-yeon across from him portion out his share to Gang Woong, and exchange pleasantries with Ma Jin-cheon.
Since Seong Mu-yeon had arrived, his life had changed a little.
Before, there were no occasions where everyone gathered to share a meal like this. He had never celebrated anyone’s birthday.
The sound of laughter and chatter was pleasant to hear.
All of this felt not bad.
Unfortunately, the rare good moment in his life did not last long.
“By the way, Headmasters, I have something I’d like to ask.”
When Seomun Yuha spoke, the attention of everyone seated at the table turned to him. Ma Jin-cheon smiled benevolently and said.
“What is it that you are so curious about?”
“What do you all think about Flowering Bone?”
A sudden silence fell.
Baek Ryeo-il glanced at Seong Mu-yeon without realizing it. Seong Mu-yeon’s face also looked ominous as their eyes met.
What is this brat trying to say now?
Ma Jin-cheon was momentarily surprised because he knew Seomun Yuha knew about Flowering Bone, but then he smiled faintly and replied.
“Well. I don’t have much to say other than that they are people like us.”
He seemed to think Seomun Yuha was concerned about the Central Plains’ reputation regarding Flowering Bone. Wang Ho-jun rubbed his chin and added.
“Flowering Bone? Haven’t they been extinct for a long time? Why bring them up suddenly?”
Gang Woong also listened attentively to the adults’ conversation, as the topic was unfamiliar to him.
“I’m just curious what everyone else thinks. Putting aside the history and incidents, it’s a shame just looking at Flowering Bone’s abilities.”
“That’s true. There’s no better partner for increasing inner force through the Art of the Bedchamber…”
“Art of the Bedchamber? What is that?”
Gang Woong asked, his eyes wide open, and Wang Ho-jun hurriedly covered his ears.
“You’re too young to know!”
“What? I can’t hear you, Martial Uncle. What did you say?”
Wang Ho-jun blushed and coughed repeatedly.
“Anyway, if the legends about Flowering Bone are true, the people of the Central Plains were too harsh. If they had lived together harmoniously, wouldn’t we have received much help from them by now?”
“Right? Young Master Wang is indeed thoughtful! I think so too. If they have such good abilities, we should naturally receive their help.”
Seomun Yuha agreed vehemently. Then, he stared pointedly at Seong Mu-yeon. Although he said nothing else, his gaze contained reproach.
“Let me see you for a moment.”
Seong Mu-yeon, unable to stand it any longer, finally grabbed Seomun Yuha by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out.
Seong Mu-yeon dragged Seomun Yuha into his room and slammed the door shut.
“What kind of stunt are you pulling? In front of everyone! Why are you so self-willed?”
“Yes? What did I do? I just said something casually, aren’t you being too sensitive?”
Seong Mu-yeon’s insides boiled. He found it unbearable how this young man looked at him innocently, as if he were the wronged party. But he quickly revealed his true intentions.
“Since the topic came up… I’m curious how long you plan to hold out. Master Baek said you plan to ask Yak Seon for help, but what are the chances of that succeeding? Yak Seon can’t cure every illness.”
That was true.
“But that doesn’t mean you, Young Master Seomun, are the only solution. Young Master Seomun, why are you acting this way? Do you like me?”
When he asked that, Seomun Yuha smiled slyly and straightened up.
“You can find out if you try. I’m curious too. What it feels like to kiss a man…”
As he said this, he leaned toward Seong Mu-yeon. Seong Mu-yeon, covered in goosebumps all over, shoved him away violently.
“Ugh! No! I don’t want to!”
“Seong Mu-yeon!”
Baek Ryeo-il, who had followed them, came into view. Seong Mu-yeon quickly hid behind his back. His body was still trembling from the recent goosebumps, and he cried out.
“Headmaster, look at him! He still hasn’t learned his lesson and was harassing me. Please discipline him!”
“What?!”
Seong Mu-yeon glared fiercely at Seomun Yuha.
“Young Master Seomun, you are in big trouble now. You need a proper thrashing to learn your lesson, don’t you? Master Baek, quickly.”
Baek Ryeo-il rolled up his sleeves. A popping sound came from his clenched fist.
“Fine. I was planning on correcting his manners anyway, so this works out well. You aren’t going to try and stop me with some flimsy acting again, are you?”
“No way!”
This time, he was sincere.
Seong Mu-yeon hoped Baek Ryeo-il would thoroughly beat the immature young man and set him straight. It wasn’t absolute malice. He was just worried about Seomun Yuha. Having grown up like a hothouse flower, having tasted little bitterness, he was too naive to survive in this harsh world.
It was certain that he would suffer greatly someday, so giving him a preventative injection might not be a bad idea. Everything he was doing was for his sake. Yes, indeed.
He also had justification. Seomun Yuha had already broken his promise with the Sect leader and used his ability on Seong Mu-yeon before, so this was self-defense.
His only regret was that he couldn’t beat him up himself since he wasn’t physically sound.
“Wait a minute. Are you really going to hit him?”
“Where do you think you’re running? You’re done for today.”
Seomun Yuha backed away like a rat trapped in a jar, quickly finding himself cornered against the wall. There was nowhere to run.
“Young Master Seong! Is this fair? I am being wronged! I truly had a pure intention to help you…”
“Yes, yes. I understand, but please understand that your pure intention isn’t the only thing you have focused on, Young Master.”
A look of dismay appeared on Seomun Yuha’s face. The young man who had run wild without knowing the ways of the world finally seemed to realize that life doesn’t always flow as one wishes.
Seong Mu-yeon, who had been smirking behind Baek Ryeo-il’s back, flinched when the door behind him opened.
“What is going on here!”
The people who heard the commotion burst into his room. Ma Jin-cheon looked back and forth between Seomun Yuha, trembling in the corner, Baek Ryeo-il with his fists clenched, and Seong Mu-yeon hiding behind him.
A vein pulsed on his forehead.
“Ryeo-il, you again…! How long has it been since you received disciplinary action!”
“Ma Headmaster, it’s not like that…”
Seong Mu-yeon took a step forward, intending to lead the onlookers out. But the next moment, he lost his balance and staggered heavily.
‘What is this?’
He grabbed the hem of Baek Ryeo-il’s long robe beside him to regain his balance, but the unexpected situation left his mind blank.
“I told you not to stop me!”
Baek Ryeo-il, whose long robe had been grabbed, thought Seong Mu-yeon was pulling him back to stop him, so he shook him off forcefully.
Seong Mu-yeon suddenly bent over. He made a sound as if suffocating and clutched his chest.
Baek Ryeo-il scoffed.
“What? Trying to collapse again? It won’t work twice.”
“Th-that’s not it…”
Baek Ryeo-il brushed past him and approached Seomun Yuha. Seong Mu-yeon was flustered.
‘Why, why is this happening?’
A chill ran down his spine. Along with a dizzying sensation, his head spun, and he could no longer continue thinking.
“Wait a moment, Master…”
The first person to notice the anomaly was Gang Woong.
He, too, had once been deceived by Seong Mu-yeon’s acting, so he approached Baek Ryeo-il without much thought to stop him, only to see his terribly pale face.
“What!”
Baek Ryeo-il retorted as he turned around. At the same time, Seong Mu-yeon gushed out a mouthful of blood. In an instant, the arena became as silent as if cold water had been poured over it. And as if by agreement, everyone rushed towards Seong Mu-yeon.
“Seong Mu-yeon!”
“Young master!”
In his fading, blurry consciousness, Seong Mu-yeon thought.
‘Ah, damn it. I might really die this time.’
He had felt that his body condition had changed, but he never expected it to come so suddenly without warning.
He slowly tilted towards the ground. But there was no impact. It was thanks to Baek Ryeo-il, who had darted forward like an arrow to support him.
Baek Ryeo-il’s face, filled with shock, was blurry.
‘As expected, Master Baek is reliable. He’ll do something about it somehow…’
And he also saw Seomun Yuha’s youthful and handsome face rushing towards him.
‘I don’t like him, but Young Master Seomun is here too… It’ll be alright.’
With that thought as his last, his consciousness completely faded.