By Zephyria Third Young Master (5)
“I’ll bring people right away. There’s no medicine here, no firewood, and no food. We’ll really die like this.”
“I won’t die from just this.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’ve experienced worse injuries.”
Seong Mu-yeon shook his head.
“This isn’t something to be stubborn about. Just wait a moment.”
“Then I’ll go too.”
Baek Ryeo-il rose as if he wasn’t just saying it. But the moment he tried to close his gaping front, he staggered greatly and leaned against the wall.
Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly supported him.
“Why are you really doing this?”
“I won’t wait alone… I saved you with one hand, so getting out isn’t difficult.”
Baek Ryeo-il stubbornly insisted. He was feverish and out of his mind. Going back into the river in this state was completely insane. But Seong Mu-yeon didn’t have the ability to forcibly restrain him.
“Ah, I understand. I’ll stay here.”
As soon as Seong Mu-yeon changed his mind, he plopped down on the floor as if he had been waiting, and leaned his head weakly against the stone wall. Then he reached out weakly towards Seong Mu-yeon.
“Come here.”
Baek Ryeo-il, who hugged him again, stared intently at Seong Mu-yeon’s eyelashes as if he had discovered something amazing.
“Hey, Seong Mu-yeon… I have something to tell you…”
He whispered, moving his parched lips as he fiddled with his hair. His dreamy voice, as if he were in a dream, was quite sweet.
“No!”
Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly covered his mouth. He was sweating profusely inside.
‘This is a complete death flag!’
I’m going to propose to her when I get back.
I’m telling you this now, but you’re like a son to me.
Didn’t people who say these things in places like this usually end up with that being their last words?
If Baek Ryeo-il died, it was as good as the end of the world.
Absolutely not.
“If you have something to say, say it when we get out.”
“Okay. I’ll tell you when we get out.”
Baek Ryeo-il nodded obediently as Seong Mu-yeon firmly stopped him. He tried to lower the fever by placing a wet cloth on his forehead, but it was useless. Before long, he leaned his forehead against the top of his head and fell asleep.
Thanks to that, Seong Mu-yeon had time to think alone.
He was even more surprised that Seong Mu-geuk would have such thoughts.
And that Spirit Pill too…
To be honest, he was drawn to the offer. He had reacted fiercely because Baek Ryeo-il was mentioned, but…
That didn’t mean he wanted to rule the Central Plains with Seong Mu-geuk at all.
What he was truly drawn to was the Spirit Pill.
The Demonic Cult was going to disappear eventually, so he could just take the sweet stuff and throw it away before that happened. Besides, he didn’t feel any guilt.
Since his mother died, Seong Mu-yeon had hated the Demonic Cult with a passion. If he had the chance, he wanted to burn it and tear it to pieces.
Of course, a Spirit Pill made from Seong Mu-ryong would be unpleasant, but not to the point where he couldn’t eat it.
Even if it wasn’t him, Seong Mu-ryong would live thoroughly as a demonic cultist and would never change. Someday he would die at someone’s hands…
Baek Ryeo-il’s head fell onto his shoulder, and Seong Mu-yeon came out of his deep thoughts.
‘…….’
In the past, he would have accepted the offer without much hesitation.
But now something had changed. Seong Mu-yeon had disappointed Baek Ryeo-il several times, and he didn’t feel good each time.
Besides, this matter was not on a scale that could be easily forgiven like before.
If he made a choice that went against Baek Ryeo-il, he would have to leave his side completely this time.
‘At least it would be polite to tell Baek Ryeo-il in advance…….’
He wanted him to know the reason even if Seong Mu-yeon left. Maybe he could discuss the issue with him.
But Seong Mu-yeon didn’t get that chance.
Not long after Baek Ryeo-il fainted, people came to find them. Baek Ryeo-il was immediately taken to the Jegal Clan and treated.
He regained consciousness after suffering all night. The fever gradually subsided, but his injuries were so deep that he had to stay in bed for a while, and he spent most of the day sleeping while languishing.
Gang Woong, whom he met again, was fortunately unharmed. He shed tears when Master lay in bed.
He heard that he was the first to notice the situation where Baek Ryeo-il and Seong Mu-yeon had disappeared and took the lead in the search. In the process, he also found Bang Gyeom collapsed. He was imprisoned again, but he was not able to visit him yet because he was busy taking care of Baek Ryeo-il.
The Jegal Clan, which the Demon Slayer Unit had stirred up, was also not in good shape.
Many people died, and even more were injured. Jegal Un wandered around the manor all day with a gloomy face, his fever reaching the top of his head.
Even when he was angry, he didn’t shout or get annoyed like other people. He just frowned slightly and spewed out sharp words.
If he felt even worse, he would smile and sneer.
“Doesn’t Wudang teach how to clean up after themselves? Even a three-year-old in the Jegal Clan cleans up the teacup they drank from.”
Hyeon-jin, the robust Wudang Elder, was dumbfounded as if he had been struck by lightning. Seong Mu-yeon, who saw the scene through the window that was wide open for ventilation, was also left speechless. Judging by his gray hair, it must have been the first time in decades that he had heard such nagging.
But when Jegal Un and the Wudang Elder made eye contact, he quickly turned his head away.
Baek Ryeo-il had argued with them all night and confirmed that Seong Mu-yeon had little responsibility for the incident, but the gazes he received were not kind.
‘Don’t make eye contact.’
Seong Mu-yeon pretended not to notice and closed the window again.
But it was already too late.
“Seong Mu-yeon.”
Jegal Un burst open the door without warning. There was no place in this Jegal Clan where he, as the owner, had to ask for permission to enter, but at least he wouldn’t treat an ordinary guest like this.
“Let’s talk.”
Seong Mu-yeon reassured the worried Gang Woong and followed him. It seemed that he finally had some time to spare, several days after the attack.
Jegal Un took him to a luxurious reception room that seemed to be used only by the high-ranking members of the clan. Seeing the pure gold decorations that simultaneously showed wealth, power, and strength, he felt intimidated.
He thought that he would endure any harsh insults because his skin, which had been clear and bright, was now dull and his mood seemed to be at its worst due to the hardships he had suffered for several days.
But unexpectedly, he threw a pouch in front of Seong Mu-yeon.
Clang!
“……”
It was full of Gold Coins.
He wondered if he was going to give him compensation before hitting him, but that wasn’t the case.
“These are the confiscated belongings. Since the owner has disappeared, I’m handing them over to the family.”
“Ah.”
The Gold Coins pouch was Seong Mu-jae’s belongings.
“…There should have been one more.”
As Seong Mu-yeon muttered, Jegal Un snorted loudly.
“Don’t even dream about it. That Spirit Pill is now stored in the deepest and safest place here. Anyone who sets foot there carelessly will instantly become a hedgehog. Even if you manage to get through the mechanisms that pour out arrows and hidden weapon, you will be bewitched by the divine Jegal’s Qimen Dunjia and wander there until someone saves you.”
“Well… it must be safe.”
Jegal Un stared intently at Seong Mu-yeon and leaned over the table.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be able to read the greed in your eyes, no matter how calm you pretended to be? You can’t fool my eyes, Seong Mu-yeon.”
Seong Mu-yeon glared back at him without backing down.
“Isn’t it natural to want to get back what I originally owned?”
Sparks flew in Jegal Un’s eyes. He muttered through his teeth.
“We lost family members because of this. Go ahead and try. No one will mind seeing you become a hedgehog.”
Seong Mu-yeon shrugged. He had no intention of touching the Jegal Clan’s mechanisms or Qimen Dunjia.
“Tell me where you took the Sixth Young Master.”
Jegal Un took a deep breath and then returned to his upright posture as if he had calmed down, and spoke calmly.
“I don’t know.”
“Well… I don’t know how you won over the Heartless Sword, but he was vehemently defending your innocence to the people who were there that night. But Yang Ha-gakju doesn’t think so.”
Seong Mu-yeon’s heart sank, wondering if the offer that the Third Young Master had made had been discovered. But Jegal Un brought up something else.
“It was reported that the group that attacked the Jegal Clan that day passed by Seong Mu-yeon without attacking him. Is that true?”
“……”
It was definitely true. The Demon Slayer Unit ignored him and left.
“You can’t answer. I’ll give you one last chance, tell me the location of their base.”
Jegal Un’s eyes turned fierce.
“I really don’t know.”
“You’ll regret it if you keep denying it like that? Have you forgotten that we still have your people in our hands?”
Only then did Seong Mu-yeon remember Bang Gyeom. The Demon Slayer Unit ignored him and only took Seong Mu-jae.
“Please release him. Bang Gyeom doesn’t know anything. His only crime is serving his lord.”
“That’s right. If you don’t tell me, we can just make him tell us.”
“Are you… are you saying that the Jegal Clan is going to torture an innocent person to get a false confession?”
“How dare you!”
Bang!
Jegal Un kicked the table. Finally, his patience ran out and he grabbed Seong Mu-yeon by the collar.
“Didn’t you leak the information that day too? Otherwise, how could the Demonic Cult bastards have figured out the internal structure of the Jegal Clan and distracted us while rescuing the Sixth Young Master from prison? How is that possible!”
Jegal Un’s eyes gleamed with madness.