By Zephyria That’s How It Happened (1)
“What do you mean, ‘Gang Instructor’? Master Baek hasn’t been to Emerald Pavilion since I collapsed. Wasn’t he working with Yakseon Daein?”
“With me? Doing what?”
Yak Seon sauntered into the Training hall. After the first day, she left the water lily fragrance up to Seong Mu-yeon’s discretion, but she made sure he ate regularly. When it was time for the water lily fragrance to end, she came to fetch him in person.
“Wasn’t Daein giving Baek Ryeo-il Instructor work? I assumed that’s why he hadn’t been around. Where is Master Baek now?”
“What work would I give him? I only saw him briefly that day. How would I know what he’s doing? Never mind that! Let’s go eat. The kitchen got some excellent ingredients today.”
Seong Mu-yeon was dragged away by Yak Seon, but he couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“Gang Instructor! Are you sure Master Baek has been sleeping at Emerald Pavilion every night? Come to think of it, he never missed the dawn water lily fragrance, so why didn’t I see him?”
“Yes, I’m very sure. I saw him every morning… And Master does personal water lily fragrance instead of training during the dawn water lily fragrance, so you wouldn’t have met him here…”
The innocent boy glanced at Seong Mu-yeon, but he was too preoccupied to notice.
‘What is this guy doing? What’s his game?’
He had assumed Baek Ryeo-il was busy with some special task he didn’t know about, but now that he knew that wasn’t the case, suspicion began to grow in his mind.
‘Is he avoiding me?’
The fact that he was talking to Gang Woong and showing himself was especially unsettling.
Seong Mu-yeon recalled a vague memory from a few nights ago. He had felt someone sitting beside him in his sleep. He dismissed it as a dream, but now he wondered if it might not have been.
‘I’ll stay awake tonight and catch him.’
He resolved to do so, but habits are hard to break. He was definitely sitting on the bed, grinding his teeth and waiting for Baek Ryeo-il to return, but before he knew it, the sunlight was stabbing his eyes, and it was morning.
Thanks to the intense exercise and regular meals and sleep, Seong Mu-yeon had dozed off and fallen fast asleep at his usual bedtime.
‘Damn it.’
Seong Mu-yeon touched his forehead.
Another day, he woke up early and heard voices outside the door.
“…and…”
“Yes, I understand. What about Master?”
‘Master!’
Seong Mu-yeon threw back the covers and jumped out of bed like a bolt of lightning. He almost rolled as he ran to the door and flung it open, seeing Gang Woong standing at the end of the hallway. He was facing outward, so he must have been talking to someone standing there. Gang Woong smiled when he saw Seong Mu-yeon.
“Oh? Young master, you’re up early.”
“Where’s Master Baek!”
“Master is right here… Huh?”
When Gang Woong turned his head again, no one was there.
“…He was just here.”
“Baek Ryeo-il!”
Seong Mu-yeon immediately called out his name and ran out into the courtyard. But Baek Ryeo-il had already disappeared. No matter how much he looked around and searched, he couldn’t find even a shadow of him. If he decided to hide, what could Seong Mu-yeon do to find him?
This made it clear.
‘Baek Ryeo-il is avoiding me.’
But why?
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with a reason.
Seong Mu-yeon felt strangely drained and trudged back to Emerald Pavilion.
“Gang Instructor, aren’t you going to water lily fragrance today?”
He asked, seeing that Gang Woong hadn’t changed into his training clothes yet.
“There’s no water lily fragrance today. Did you forget?”
“Oh, right. It’s the holiday break starting today.”
For the Great Bright festival Spring Festival, Mount Hua gave its disciples a sweet vacation. Except for the minimum staff, the rest could freely choose whether to return home to spend the holiday with their families or stay at Mount Hua.
“You said you were going home, Gang Instructor, right?”
“Yes…”
Gang Woong’s hometown was in the village right below the mountain, so the journey wouldn’t be difficult. But he had packed his bags in advance and came out, but he hesitated and couldn’t easily take a step.
“What’s wrong? You should go see your family.”
“I’m worried about leaving Young master alone… Master is here, but it’s as good as him not being here… H-How about coming to my house with me? My family would welcome you!”
Oh, what should I do with this kind child?
Seong Mu-yeon was touched by the boy’s warm heart, worried that he would be alone during the holiday. He stroked Gang Woong’s head and said, “I’m fine, so go ahead. Actually, I like it better because I don’t have any family. You know? Where my home is.”
Gang Woong nodded with a troubled expression, unsure whether to laugh or not.
“Then… I’ll be back. Happy New Year, Young master.”
“Happy New Year! Eat lots of delicious food!”
When Gang Woong left, Emerald Pavilion sank into a heavy silence.
Seong Mu-yeon didn’t dislike this silence. He had said it jokingly to Gang Woong, but the holidays he had spent in his hometown were terrible. Every day, they held lavish and extravagant banquets, and the seven Young masters had to sit next to the Cult Leader. Some brothers enjoyed it, but not Seong Mu-yeon at all. Sitting in a place that wasn’t his and listening to the sounds of laughter and chatter all day was a chore.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Seong Mu-yeon brewed some tea and sat by the window. Fortunately, Yak Seon didn’t bother him on days like this.
He gazed at the leisurely flowing clouds.
‘Peaceful and nice.’
It was better to be quiet and alone.
At that moment, Ma Jin-cheon kicked his disciple’s butt.
“Why are you in my house instead of your own?”
His grown-up disciple, who had been independent for a long time, had been sneaking into the empty room and lounging around since a few days ago.
“…Are you leaving? Happy New Year.”
Baek Ryeo-il saw Ma Jin-cheon off while lying down. As Ma Jin-cheon grumbled and walked away, Baek Ryeo-il let out a long sigh.
He had been tormented for the past few days.
On the other hand, his heart fluttered uncontrollably at the first love he had belatedly encountered. He had realized the feelings he had been ignoring all along.
That’s right.
‘I… Seong Mu-yeon…’
Baek Ryeo-il consciously swallowed the rest of the words. He couldn’t accept it. He shouldn’t. Everyone defines themselves in life, and for Baek Ryeo-il, it was ‘martial arts,’ ‘the Way,’ and ‘righteousness.’ He had to cultivate martial arts, practice, and walk the right path. He was far from being a ‘hero.’
‘What? You like bodies?’
That was ridiculous nonsense.
Just as you don’t know what it feels like to fall unless you’re driven off a cliff, Baek Ryeo-il simply hadn’t realized it.
That day.
When Baek Ryeo-il thought Seong Mu-yeon might really die, he couldn’t think of anything else. He was obsessed with keeping him alive, no matter what that bastard Seomun Yuha or Yak Seon did. It was okay if he was promiscuous, or even if he never came back to his side. He just wanted him to live.
And when everything was settled, the shock he received was indescribable.
‘Do I really… Seong Mu-yeon…?’
〈I need you to make Seong Mu-yeon’s medicine.〉
That day, Yak Seon said that in the Guest room where only the two of them were left.
Baek Ryeo-il was slightly surprised. Hadn’t he been chasing Seong Mu-yeon away as if he didn’t want to see his face just a moment ago? As if reading his question, Yak Seon let out a self-deprecating laugh and said.
〈Yes. I’m thinking of making medicine. Seong Mu-yeon… He has a rare constitution. If I succeed in making a cure this time, a complete cure won’t be just a dream. In that sense, he can be said to be a valuable specimen. But does that mean I have to like that guy?〉
〈…….〉
Baek Ryeo-il took a deep breath. With this, he could be sure that Yak Seon would not harm Seong Mu-yeon.
〈What do you mean you need me?〉
〈Extreme Yang, Extreme Yin, Five Elements. Seong Mu-yeon was born with these three energies. And so are you.〉
Yak Seon got up and poked his shoulder.
〈Do you know that you were also born with Extreme Yang, Extreme Yin, and Five Elements?〉
〈…I didn’t know.〉
〈I guess not. The only difference is that Seong Mu-yeon’s body isn’t compatible, so it manifested as severed meridians, and you’re the opposite.〉
Heavenly Extremity Body.
It was the name given to a person born with a constitution that could never forget any martial arts once seen and perfectly reproduce them, with three energies coexisting in harmony, so there were no martial arts that could not be learned.
〈Two people with a constitution that might exist in one in a million have appeared, so I can at least try to make medicine. You’re damn lucky.〉
Yak Seon clicked his tongue as if he didn’t like it. Then he stared at him with deep eyes.
〈You have to decide. Whether to help Seong Mu-yeon or not.〉