By Zephyria Truth (4) Part 1 End
“I see. You’ve been to Hebei… Huh? Hebei? Alone? It’s a mess there because of the Demonic Cult right now! …Could it be. That person…!”
“Keep it down.”
“Please get rid of this! You’re not bringing a Demonic Cult Young master here, are you? Are you out of your mind?!”
“Just keep it a secret for a while.”
“Don’t say ridiculous things! The entire Central Plains is searching for him, and if it gets out that the Young Clan Leader is hiding him, I shudder to think what will happen. I must report this to the Clan Leader right now!”
“I’ll explain it to Father. …Later, when the situation is a bit more stable.”
“It’ll be too late then! This isn’t good. Not good at all.”
“Young master Seong Mu-yeon saved my life…”
“He saved the Young Clan Leader’s life! I know! I’ve heard it so much I’m sick of it! That’s why I’m holding back from running to the Clan Leader right now.”
Namgung Cheon-chu and his subordinate moved away down the hallway, their voices gradually fading until they disappeared completely.
Silence fell.
Seong Mu-yeon clenched his fist, the red-stained handkerchief crumpled in his hand.
During his stay at the Namgung Clan, Seong Mu-yeon received the utmost hospitality. At mealtimes, a luxurious spread was served without him having to lift a finger, and renowned physicians visited frequently to check on Seong Mu-yeon’s health.
However, the physicians who examined him all shook their heads and fled as if running away.
His body was comfortable, but Seong Mu-yeon’s mind became increasingly uneasy as the days passed.
Namgung Cheon-chu’s subordinate, who followed him like a shadow, often cast dissatisfied glances at Seong Mu-yeon whenever their eyes met. His mere presence here was a threat to Namgung Cheon-chu’s reputation.
‘I can’t stay here for long either.’
He knew he wasn’t welcome anywhere, but his mouth felt bitter. He had already received as much help from Namgung Cheon-chu as he could.
Having decided to leave, Seong Mu-yeon waited for Namgung Cheon-chu. As the Young Clan Leader, he was busy enough just managing his daily life, so he wasn’t always at the safehouse. However, he made time to visit Seong Mu-yeon every day to check on him.
As evening came, Namgung Cheon-chu returned, and Seong Mu-yeon immediately told him that he was planning to leave.
“Huh? Where are you going? Do you have a place to go?”
Namgung Cheon-chu, caught off guard, asked back.
“Of course, I do. Did you think I had nowhere to go but here? I have plenty of places to go.”
Namgung Cheon-chu narrowed his eyes.
“That’s a lie.”
A prickle of unease.
“You can’t return to Mount Hua now, can you? Not to mention the Demonic Cult. Now that your face is known, what if someone recognizes you while you’re wandering around?”
Namgung Cheon-chu hit the nail on the head. He couldn’t refute his words.
“…I don’t want to cause any more trouble for the Young Clan Leader.”
“Trouble? What are you saying! Absolutely not!”
But Namgung Cheon-chu was living a precarious existence, unable to tell anyone that he was here.
Just then.
“Y-Young Clan Leader! We have a visitor.”
Namgung Cheon-chu frowned at the servant’s report.
“Who on earth knows about this place and came here? No, whoever it is, send them away.”
“That is…”
“Move!”
The uninvited guest didn’t wait for the owner’s permission. Someone pushed past the subordinate and barged inside.
“Hey, Yakseon Daein?”
Yak Seon walked in as boldly as ever and began to pummel Seong Mu-yeon’s back.
“You little rascal! You cause all sorts of trouble and then hide away!”
“Agh!”
Seong Mu-yeon screamed at the sharp pain.
“Why, why are you doing this! Speak with words!”
Namgung Cheon-chu’s face turned blue at the title Yak Seon. He couldn’t bring himself to chase her away and threw himself in to stop her.
Yak Seon, barely calmed down, breathed heavily. Her hands were so fierce that his back hurt so much he was on the verge of tears.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Only then was Seong Mu-yeon able to look at her properly. Behind Yak Seon, who was glaring with anger, was a servant wearing an owl mask.
“How did you get here?”
“What do you mean, how did I get here! Didn’t I tell you to bring the Spirit Pill! Explain yourself!”
Seong Mu-yeon hesitated for a moment before reaching into his robes. Then he took out a small box and handed it to Yak Seon.
“This is the medicine I gave you.”
Avoiding Yak Seon, who was about to brush it aside as if it wasn’t worth looking at, Seong Mu-yeon opened the box, revealing the Spirit Pill in all its radiant glory.
“…”
Even Namgung Cheon-chu’s eyes widened at the mystical scent and color.
Yak Seon closed her mouth in a straight line, looking slightly surprised. She took the box, unable to take her eyes off the Spirit Pill.
“…I thought you ate it.”
“If I had, would I be lying here like this?”
Seong Mu-yeon grumbled.
After learning that Blood Rain was after the Spirit Pill, Seong Mu-yeon stored the Spirit Pill in another box as soon as he had the chance.
Since they would think he had eaten the Spirit Pill, no one, including Seong Mu-geuk, would come after him for it anymore.
“…But I couldn’t bring the Sixth Young Master.”
She wiped her face with a troubled expression.
“Why, why?”
Suddenly, she grabbed his shoulders and stared at him with intense eyes, making Seong Mu-yeon, who had done so many wrong things, flinch.
“…Daein?”
Yak Seon tightened her grip.
“Well done.”
“…”
Was he hearing things wrong?
Seong Mu-yeon was dumbfounded by the unexpected praise.
“It’s extremely difficult to even make medicine to treat severed meridians. It’s nearly impossible because it can only be done with the help of someone with the same constitution.”
Yak Seon coughed unnecessarily, hiding her embarrassment.
“But if we study this Spirit Pill, we might be able to create a meridian severance treatment that works for anyone.”
Soon, she brought the Spirit Pill close to her face and stared at it intently.
“So that’s why you told me to bring the Spirit Pill.”
“That’s right.”
Yak Seon carefully put the Spirit Pill in her arms.
“I’ll have to stay alive until the medicine is developed.”
“What are you talking about? Of course, you have to stay alive!”
“But… Baek Ryeo-il isn’t here anymore, is he? You said we need someone with the same constitution.”
His chest ached at the mention of that name. Seong Mu-yeon bit his lip.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Yak Seon said confidently. Then she shouted towards the door.
“Come in!”
Seong Mu-yeon’s heart sank for a moment. He had gone through so much to leave, and his heart sank at the thought that Yak Seon might have brought Baek Ryeo-il, but the person who burst through the door was Seomun Yuha.
“Young Master! I’m so glad you’re safe!”
Seomun Yuha hugged him tightly, scattering tears.
“Young Master Seomun?”
“Yakseon Daein brought me.”
“You were born with the energy of extreme yin, extreme yang, and the five elements.”
Yak Seon smiled.
“Seomun Yuha was born with the energy of extreme yin. And Namgung Cheon-chu, come here.”
“Yes? Me?”
Namgung Cheon-chu, who had been standing awkwardly in the corner, approached hesitantly.
“The Namgung Clan has inherited the constitution of extreme yang for generations, and it’s as expected.”
Seong Mu-yeon, who hadn’t grasped what was going on, opened his mouth.
“Lastly… the five elements.”
Yak Seon raised her chin.
“The three of us might be able to do something about it. Of course, it won’t be easy. Three different people have to combine their energies and create harmony. But we can try.”
“But Daein…”
“Why are there so many ‘buts’?!”
“You said we need blood relatives?”
Seong Mu-yeon hadn’t brought either the Sixth Young Master or the Second Young Master.
“I’ll take care of that. You just stay still.”
Yak Seon grinned.
Thus, the three gathered in a manufacturing room that had been temporarily set up in an empty room by the servant wearing an owl mask.
The medicinal herbs that Yak Seon had researched and prepared for a lifetime were quietly placed in a large pot.
“All energies must be in balance. If it’s even slightly off, Seong Mu-yeon’s blood vessels will burst and he will die.”
Namgung Cheon-chu and Seomun Yuha looked nervous, burdened by the fact that Seong Mu-yeon’s life depended on them.
“Extreme yang.”
Namgung Cheon-chu placed his hand on the pot and prepared to infuse his energy.
“Extreme yin.”
Seomun Yuha also took his place in a similar manner.
The five elements.
“And the blood of a healthy blood relative.”
Someone walked out from behind a folding screen that had been placed in one corner of the room since who knows when.
As Jegal Un appeared, a chill seemed to drop the temperature in the room. He looked like he didn’t want to be here no matter what.
“Please keep your promise to keep it a secret.”
“Did you hear that? You have to keep your mouths shut too.”
Namgung Cheon-chu and Seomun Yuha nodded heavily.
All preparations were complete.
If they made even the slightest mistake, the precious medicinal herbs they had prepared would be wasted. Even if they succeeded, achieving perfect balance was a distant prospect.
Yak Seon glanced at Jegal Un, who was about to cut his palm with a dagger to draw blood.
A cousin. With a bloodline thinner than that of siblings, the effect would be much weaker than originally planned.
“Still… it’s better than nothing.”
So many people have gathered here to save you today, Seong Mu-yeon.
You must survive.
The 〈How the Demonic Cult Leader’s Son Survives in the Orthodox Sect〉 series Part 1 was completed on October 30, 2025, and Part 2 is scheduled to be serialized on December 15, 2025. Thank you for your reference.