By Zephyria Gift (3)
In a way, it was only natural.
In this insane world, Peng Yuan-jin was one of the few sane people who met Seong Mu-yeon’s exacting standards. It was only human to not want to lose the only person he could communicate with.
In the end, Seong Mu-yeon sighed and opened his mouth.
“Young Master Peng, about that matter…”
“You don’t have to explain. I judge people only by what I know. Young master Seong Mu-yeon has nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t be discouraged. Those people probably didn’t have any malicious intent. It seems they were momentarily agitated because of the unstable situation.”
‘…Aren’t you seeing the world through rose-colored glasses?’
But he couldn’t help but feel relieved and less tense. He had been secretly worried that Peng Yuan-jin would be disappointed in him and turn away coldly like the others.
“By the way, I don’t see the Little Young Master. Where is he?”
Seong Mu-yeon looked around. Wherever the Habeok Peng Clan’s First Young Master was, the Little Young Master was always nearby, but Peng Do-hwan was nowhere to be seen.
“Do-hwan isn’t here. I sent him to the main family.”
“The main family?”
Peng Yuan-jin nodded ruefully.
“It seems the situation is serious, so the Habeok Peng Clan is going to formally support the alliance. I was going to send a messenger to get my father’s permission, but he said he was the fastest and left himself.”
“That’s great!”
The Habeok Peng Clan was a family famous for its powerful martial arts. Their joining would be a great help to the alliance.
Seong Mu-yeon, who had been wearing a bright smile, suddenly felt a cold aura and stiffened.
As they walked and talked, they had arrived at the manor, and he was soon able to find the source of the chill. Baek Ryeo-il was staring at him from afar.
Baek Ryeo-il left the people he was with and strode straight towards him.
“Looks like you’ve been out somewhere?”
Peng Yuan-jin lightly called out to Baek Ryeo-il and nodded his head, and he roughly nodded back. But his gaze remained fixed on Seong Mu-yeon.
“I happened to meet young master Seong Mu-yeon in the marketplace,”
Peng Yuan-jin replied with a smile. Baek Ryeo-il glanced at him once and then turned his gaze back to Seong Mu-yeon.
Seong Mu-yeon pouted, seeing the displeased expression on his face, as if something didn’t please him.
“I just went out for some air. Is there a problem?”
The two began to engage in a silent battle of wills. Peng Yuan-jin, who had been standing there blankly for a moment, gave an awkward smile.
“I’ll be going now. I have some things to take care of.”
At that, Seong Mu-yeon’s face instantly changed, and he smiled broadly.
“Yes, yes. Go ahead and go! I’ll see you again. Hehe.”
Baek Ryeo-il growled at Seong Mu-yeon, who waved his hand until Peng Yuan-jin disappeared around the corner of the building.
“You know, you’re subtly discriminating against people, aren’t you?”
“What are you talking about?”
Seong Mu-yeon quickly turned his body and hugged the pouch containing the Wine Jar, hiding it from view.
“Aren’t you busy? I think people are waiting for you over there, so hurry up and go take care of your business.”
Baek Ryeo-il flared up and shouted as he waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.
“See! You’re discriminating against people!”
It was true that he was annoyed.
Wouldn’t it be natural to feel upset when you were having a warm conversation with a graceful beauty, only to suddenly see a face full of displeasure?
Besides, he was inwardly anxious about hiding a gift that he shouldn’t be caught with. He had wanted to surprise him, but if he was caught like this, his entire plan would be in jeopardy.
“I’ll get you later.”
Baek Ryeo-il, who had been huffing and puffing, left after giving a warning, unable to resist the urging of the people who were calling his name.
“Whew, I think I managed to avoid getting caught, right?”
Seong Mu-yeon wiped away his cold sweat and turned to look at Seomun Yuha. He was looking at Seong Mu-yeon with sharp eyes.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What is ‘that matter’?”
Seomun Yuha asked abruptly. Only then did Seong Mu-yeon realize that he had been so preoccupied with Peng Yuan-jin that he had forgotten about him.
“I knew something was strange. People are still glancing at us. Something must have happened, but what could it be?”
“Ah…”
When Seong Mu-yeon hesitated to answer, Seomun Yuha relentlessly pressed him.
He complained about how ‘hurt’ he was and how ‘they weren’t that close,’ to the point that he was exhausted by the time they arrived at the room.
“Fine! Even if Young master doesn’t tell me, I can find out on my own!”
Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly grabbed the hem of Seomun Yuha’s clothes as he tried to storm out.
“I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you, so calm down and come in!”
Only after hearing the answer he wanted did Seomun Yuha calm down. He primly brushed off his disheveled clothes and gracefully crossed the living room to take a seat at the table. Then, he stared intently at Seong Mu-yeon as if to say, ‘Go ahead and try.’
“…Look here, Young Master Seomun. Everyone has a past they don’t want to talk about. If I say I don’t want to, you should know that, so why do you have to be so stubborn?”
Gang Woong, who already disliked Seomun Yuha, rebuked him quite fiercely. But Seomun Yuha didn’t change his expression and scoffed.
“It’s alright, Master Baek. It’s not a secret anymore anyway.”
Worried that another fight would break out, Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly stopped him. Then, he explained the commotion that had happened a few days ago, using the fairest words possible. After all, he didn’t want to cause another conflict over something that was already over. He was the one who would get tired.
While listening to the story, Seomun Yuha was surprised, then saddened, and finally, his expression gradually became fierce.
“That’s what happened.”
Seong Mu-yeon took a sip of the tea that Gang Woong had quickly brought, worried that he might get thirsty in the middle. He had become so numb that he could now speak about it calmly, as if it were someone else’s story.
“Young Master Seomun?”
Seomun Yuha’s fist, which was placed on the table, trembled. After trembling for a long time with his head bowed, Seomun Yuha fiercely raised his head.
“Should I go and teach them a lesson?!”
Seomun Yuha rolled up his sleeves with a combative spirit. Then, his skinny arms, which had just begun to develop muscles, were revealed.
“Was it the Yang Ha-gakju? I’ll make them pay the price for speaking carelessly! As if killing a few people is a big deal! Are they so pure and innocent?! I won’t let it go in the name of the Seomun Clan!”
He had to break a sweat trying to stop him from running wild with uncontrollable anger. Later, even Gang Woong cautiously began to agree with him.
“…The Supreme Old Lord taught us to worry about our own faults and not to reveal the shortcomings of others. As a humble cultivator, I cannot overlook this behavior either!”
“I like you for once! Good, Master Baek! Take up your sword!”
“…B, but violence is a bit…”
“I’ll join you too!”
Bang Gyeom also stood up with determination for the first time in a while. At that, Seomun Yuha’s eyes widened.
“Who are you? How long have you been here?”
“I’ve been here the whole time…”
“I didn’t know because you have no presence. Ah! You’re the one who was crying before!”
As if a wound in his heart had opened, Bang Gyeom leaned weakly against the wall again.
Seong Mu-yeon swallowed his laughter and said sternly.
“Stop it, all of you. There’s no need to stir up trouble over something that’s already over. Who would benefit from provoking the alliance that’s about to go into battle anyway?”
“Tch…”
After the storm passed, a quiet silence flowed for a while. Seomun Yuha, who had been turning his teacup and thinking quietly, opened his mouth.
“But how did the Yang Ha-gakju know about Young master’s past?”
Seong Mu-yeon frowned at the piercing question.
“He said he had an informant, but that matter was something that was hushed up even within the Demonic Cult, so it’s information that’s hard to access unless you’re an insider. Master Baek and I were also concerned about that part…”
The Yang Ha-gakju hadn’t shown his face since that day, as if he was seriously feeling a threat to his life. It wasn’t even known if he was still staying within the manor.
“Does Seventh Young Master think that he’s an underling of Third Young Master?”
Bang Gyeom, who had regained his energy, asked. Seong Mu-yeon could read a skeptical tone in his words. Seong Mu-yeon also thought it was too much of an assumption to think that the Yang Ha-gakju was Third Young Master’s spy.
“…Why don’t you go to the branch?”
Bang Gyeom hesitated and asked as Seong Mu-yeon pondered.
“The branch?”
“There’s a branch here that Second Young Master oversees. I’ve been avoiding it because I’m a fugitive, but Seventh Young Master is close to Second Young Master, so wouldn’t it be alright? That might be a much better place to get clues.”
“…T, that’s right.”
Second Young Master Seong Mu-ryong was the closest of the seven brothers. But…
Seong Mu-yeon’s face darkened.
The sight of him being brutally beaten by Baek Ryeo-il was his last meeting with Seong Mu-ryong.