By Zephyria Choice (4)
As the prison building came into view, Jang Han-soo naturally observed Jegal Un’s reaction. However, even after seeing the Hwasan Sect Disciples guarding their building tightly with fierce momentum, preventing anyone from approaching, Jegal Un only let out a faint sigh and didn’t react much.
As Jang Han-soo breathed a sigh of relief, the two witnessed an unusual scene and stopped walking simultaneously.
Behind the prison, there was a separate door leading to a space used as a warehouse, and the warehouse manager and a Hwasan Sect Disciple were standing in front of it.
“What’s going on?”
As Jang Han-soo quickly approached and asked, the disciple recognized his Senior Brother and relaxed his guard.
“Yang Ha-gakju?”
Before the disciple could answer, Jegal Un recognized the person inside the warehouse and went in.
“Young, Young master! What brings you here?”
“…What are you doing here, Yang Ha-gakju?”
Jegal Un frowned and scanned him from head to toe. Yang Ha-gakju looked pale and sickly, as if he had just gotten out of bed, and he wasn’t even properly dressed.
“N-nothing much! Just…”
Yang Ha-gakju trailed off like a rat, his eyes darting around as if looking for a way out. However, Jegal Un, Jang Han-soo, a Hwasan Sect Disciple, and the warehouse manager were blocking the only entrance, leaving him no room to escape.
“I heard the Spirit Pill disappeared, so I was wondering if it might be here and was looking for it.”
“That’s not something Yang Ha-gakju should be doing.”
Jegal Un’s voice turned cold at his suspicious behavior.
“Since Young master can’t investigate, I’m stepping in. Isn’t it important to handle these things urgently?”
“So, did you find anything?”
“No, nothing. Just trivial personal belongings.”
Jegal Un pushed past him and went inside. He roughly examined the straw boxes that Yang Ha-gakju had been rummaging through, but as he said, there was nothing particularly noticeable.
In that brief moment, Yang Ha-gakju quickly left as if running away. The two narrowed their eyes at his suspicious behavior.
It was then.
“Master?”
Jang Han-soo discovered Sang-geol heading towards the prison with a solemn expression, and his heart sank. He left Jegal Un behind and hurried after his Master.
By the time he turned the corner, Sang-geol had already entered the prison.
“Did Master say what his business was with Seong Mu-yeon?”
Jang Han-soo asked the Junior Brothers guarding the entrance. However, they just shook their heads blankly.
Jang Han-soo swallowed hard. His Master’s expression had been unusual.
“Open the door. I’m going in too.”
“I can’t. Martial Uncle told us not to let anyone in.”
“Move aside while I’m asking nicely!”
“I can’t!”
The Junior Brothers were sweating, looking flustered.
“…”
He was concerned about Sang-geol’s unusual expression.
‘Master… you’re not going to do something to Seong Mu-yeon, are you?’
He stared anxiously at the firmly closed door.
Seong Mu-yeon tensed up when Sang-geol suddenly came to the prison.
“Get out.”
Sang-geol glanced at Gang Woong and ordered coldly.
“Martial Granduncle…”
“I said get out!”
At the stern command, Gang Woong reluctantly left. Seong Mu-yeon couldn’t help but feel nervous. Sang-geol’s expression and atmosphere were unusual. He had a sharp sword hanging from his waist, ready to draw it at any moment and take Seong Mu-yeon’s life.
The two were separated by steel bars, but those bars didn’t seem like a protective shield.
Seong Mu-yeon was a rat in a trap. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run.
“Hwasan is the most important thing to me.”
Sang-geol looked down at him with cold eyes.
“I entered Hwasan at the age of twelve. Even then, Hwasan was a great Sect, but I wasn’t someone who was satisfied with that. I vowed to make Hwasan the greatest Sect in the Central Plains someday. I’ve come this far with that one goal in mind, and Ryeo-il, in particular, is an indispensable existence for Hwasan.”
“Dojang…”
“I just want you to know that I’m willing to do anything for the glory of Hwasan.”
Seong Mu-yeon sensed something from the quietly muttering voice.
‘I might really die this time.’
“So, what I mean is…”
As Sang-geol took a step forward, Seong Mu-yeon quickly stood up. It was an instinctive action, but he wasn’t confident that he could survive against Sang-geol.
And even if he defeated him and got out, elite Hwasan Sect Disciples were stationed outside. If he miraculously broke through Hwasan, countless orthodox sect martial artists in the Jegal Clan would be waiting for him, and countless orthodox sect martial artists who had gathered outside the manor to gain merit were swarming.
There was no chance of winning, even if he was reborn.
He didn’t even have a weapon. When he woke up, all his belongings had been taken away, and his pockets were empty.
Sang-geol frowned at his tense appearance.
“I know what you’re thinking. But relax. I’m not going to kill you.”
“Yes? Then why…”
“If I had my way, I would kill you a hundred times over, but it wouldn’t be enough!”
Flames flickered in Sang-geol’s eyes. But he soon let out a long, gloomy sigh.
“…I’m not confident that I can handle the aftermath of doing such a thing.”
“…”
Seong Mu-yeon felt the tension leaving his body.
“So, I have a favor to ask of you. I’ll get you out of here, so don’t ever come back. Especially, don’t ever show your face in front of Ryeo-il again. That’s why I secretly came to see Young master while he was meditating.”
“Yes?”
“That guy is willing to be expelled to get Young master out. I don’t care whether Young master killed Peng Yuan-jin or not. But considering the future of Hwasan, no, his future, I can’t let him lose him like this. You must know what’s better for Ryeo-il, too.”
“…”
His head dropped involuntarily. He bit his lip. He knew Baek Ryeo-il’s headstrong personality, but he didn’t know he would go that far…
“If you’re thinking of persuading him, don’t bother. Do you think he’ll listen to what Young master says?”
He wouldn’t listen. Definitely.
Baek Ryeo-il wouldn’t care if he was kicked out of the Sect or not. Seong Mu-yeon knew that his attachment to the Sect was only so-so. He seemed to have some affection for his Master, Ma Jin-cheon, but even that wouldn’t be a big help now that he was old enough not to need adult care.
“If I somehow stop Ryeo-il, you might lose your life to the Peng family. Then that child will be ruined. Also, the same goes for helping Ryeo-il get you out. He’ll have to live as a fugitive, hiding his name and identity. Either way, Hwasan will lose that child.”
“…I understand what you’re saying. I’ll do as you say.”
Sang-geol, who had made the offer, widened his eyes as if surprised when Seong Mu-yeon readily nodded. He had come because he had no other choice, but he didn’t seem to have expected much in the first place.
“Are you serious?”
“Baek Ryeo-il Dojang must stay.”
Seong Mu-yeon had no choice. Having been caught up in the schemes of Third Young Master and Peng Yuan-jin, he could no longer stay here.
Besides…
Ma Jin-cheon was not dead, and Baek Ryeo-il had become too lenient while associating with him, a Demonic Cult Young master. Considering the role he would have to play in the future, it was a worrying change.
If he was lucky, this incident might fuel his anger and motivation.
‘…’
Instead, Seong Mu-yeon had to be prepared to be hated by him.
“Good. I’ll connect you with Yakseon Daein when things calm down later. I’d be disturbed if you were found dead on the street.”
Seong Mu-yeon gave an awkward smile. There was no point in meeting her anyway, as he hadn’t met any of the conditions Yak Seon had requested…
“But won’t the Peng family suspect Hwasan if I get out? What exactly are you planning to do?”
It was at that moment that Seong Mu-yeon asked that question. The entrance became noisy, and the door was roughly opened.
“Master! No!”
Jang Han-soo rushed in with a fearful expression.