By Zephyria The thought that Baek Ryeo-il might be nearby made Seong Mu-yeon afraid to even breathe.
Oblivious, Owl was busy asking the residents about Yak Seon. It was uncertain whether he even knew that Gang Woong was Baek Ryeo-il’s disciple, or if he would recognize him grown up.
Since he couldn’t speak, he couldn’t call out to him, and with Gang Woong standing right next to him, he couldn’t do anything conspicuous.
Seong Mu-yeon fidgeted, hoping Owl would look his way.
Just as his heart was burning black, Gang Woong suddenly turned around, smiled, and shouted.
“Master!”
Seong Mu-yeon gasped.
Baek Ryeo-il had arrived.
At Gang Woong’s shout, Owl finally turned his head without thinking. But it was already too late.
Owl stiffened, staring at the person approaching from behind Seong Mu-yeon. Thud, thud… The approaching footsteps made the hair on Seong Mu-yeon’s head stand on end.
“I’m glad you returned safely.”
Gang Woong brushed past him and ran to his Master. Baek Ryeo-il didn’t come any closer, and Seong Mu-yeon could feel the stinging gaze fixed on the back of his head. He could vividly picture Baek Ryeo-il glaring at him and Owl.
“Ah, I guess Master didn’t know either? It seems Yakseon Daein is staying nearby. He said he came to find Daein. Perhaps you didn’t find him?”
Baek Ryeo-il seemed to shake his head without a word, and after a moment of silence, Gang Woong continued.
“It seems he was taken away with the villagers…”
The longer Baek Ryeo-il remained silent, the more violently Seong Mu-yeon’s heart pounded.
Finally regaining his senses, Owl nonchalantly stepped between Seong Mu-yeon and them, as if to defend him.
“It’s been a while…”
“Indeed.”
A low, deep voice replied quietly. The voice, which resonated much lower than he remembered, pierced his ears, sending shivers down his spine.
Seong Mu-yeon was overwhelmed with the urge to turn around immediately. Since the moment he left him three years ago, he had tried not to think of him, even unconsciously. He felt that if he thought of him even once, the hard-won composure he had maintained would collapse like a dam breaking.
In the end, just being in the same space as Baek Ryeo-il made all the emotions he had suppressed surge up at once, shaking him precariously.
Had Baek Ryeo-il changed a lot like Gang Woong?
He wanted to see his face.
He wanted to see Baek Ryeo-il looking well and healthy with his own two eyes.
“I heard you went out searching, did you happen to see Yakseon Daein…?”
Owl was either pretending to be calm or genuinely unperturbed by such things, but he asked in his usual slow, monotonous voice. It was a confident attitude that no one would suspect, but Seong Mu-yeon’s palms were wet with sweat due to the tension.
But Baek Ryeo-il’s answer did not come.
‘…This isn’t good.’
Seong Mu-yeon knew Baek Ryeo-il well, having lived with him, catering to his needs, in the closest proximity. The reason he didn’t answer even a simple question was a sign that Owl’s question was so far out of his mind that it wasn’t worth answering. It meant that he was focused on something else.
And Seong Mu-yeon had been feeling a persistent gaze since a while ago.
‘…Could it be.’
The absurd delusion that he might have already recognized him consumed his mind.
No way.
Since Yak Seon had only come to find him after Seong Mu-yeon had left first, no one would associate the two of them. He had even deceived people into thinking he had taken a Spirit Pill.
Baek Ryeo-il knew the effects of the Spirit Pill well, so when he saw Seong Mu-yeon, who had become healthier even temporarily, he must have thought he had been thoroughly deceived.
‘…How ridiculous.’
How ridiculous was the thought that he still thought of him, even after leaving him with such cruel wounds?
It was an excess of self-consciousness.
Baek Ryeo-il was doing an excellent job of fulfilling his role in this world. He was living a different life from himself, who was dying in a place where no one knew.
He was too busy and important to think about such trivial ties, so he might have already forgotten.
“You there. Turn around.”
Flinch.
It was clearly directed at Seong Mu-yeon. Seong Mu-yeon’s tension amplified even further. Now, his pounding heartbeat was ringing in his ears.
Perhaps all of Baek Ryeo-il’s feelings had turned into hatred.
Wasn’t that what he wanted?
But actually facing his hatred and anger before his eyes would be quite painful, both physically and emotionally.
“What’s wrong…?”
Owl blatantly guarded him, protecting Seong Mu-yeon.
“You have a history of harming us… We will not tolerate you coming any closer…”
Baek Ryeo-il scoffed at the warning tone.
“Go and tattle or do whatever you want. But what a pity. Yak Seon isn’t here right now? What are you going to do?”
Baek Ryeo-il retorted with a sneer.
“…Why are you doing this?”
“I’m curious about that guy I haven’t seen before. Tell the guy behind you to come out.”
Baek Ryeo-il was suspecting him.
Seong Mu-yeon squeezed his eyes shut. Baek Ryeo-il, who always had a knack for sensing things, had already noticed his identity, or at least suspected it.
It was over.
To think that his long three-year disappearance would end so quickly as soon as he took one step out into the world.
He heard the urgent footsteps of Owl, who was blocking him, as if Baek Ryeo-il, whose patience had run out, was about to rush at him.
“Please don’t do this…! You can talk to me about whatever you’re curious about…”
“Are you his spokesperson or something? Tell him to answer himself. Is that guy mute?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Ha! You think I’ll believe that?”
Baek Ryeo-il openly sneered.
“Master… I think he really can’t speak. I’ve been with him since earlier, and he hasn’t said a word so far.”
Even Gang Woong took his side.
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
As the commotion grew, even the villagers were gathering around, murmuring with curious eyes.
“Goodness. To bully someone who can’t even speak.”
“…”
“I thought the Hwasan Sect was a good Sect.”
“…”
In the end, Baek Ryeo-il had no choice but to back down.
“Badger, let’s go…”
Owl grabbed Seong Mu-yeon’s arm and led him away, as if he had decided to leave this place as quickly as possible, Yak Seon or no Yak Seon. The sight of his small back was so reliable.
‘Thanks to you, I lived, Brother…! I’ll call you Brother for the rest of my life…!’
Seong Mu-yeon moved his feet carefully, inwardly grateful.
Baek Ryeo-il’s shoes, which had stepped aside, came into the edge of his vision.
The short distance of only a few steps until he was out of his sight felt so long. His breath stopped on its own, worried that Baek Ryeo-il might notice.
On the other hand, the ambivalent feeling of wanting him to recognize him crept up.
Was he going to leave without even seeing his face…?
‘A little disappointing…’
It was the moment he was completely out of his sight. A strong force grabbed Seong Mu-yeon’s shoulder and turned him around. He didn’t even have time to react.
Baek Ryeo-il hadn’t quietly retreated out of consideration for his reputation and that of his Sect, but had been waiting for them to let their guard down.
As he faced Baek Ryeo-il head-on through the eyeholes in the mask, Seong Mu-yeon gasped.
“Take off the mask.”
In the three years that had passed, Baek Ryeo-il had matured richly. The reckless youthful energy had calmly subsided, and a heavy weight had taken its place. His eyes, shining with experience, were blazing as if about to ignite.
“What are you doing…!”
Owl’s cry of panic crumbled in his ears.
Baek Ryeo-il roughly pushed away Owl, who was trying to separate the two.
“I said, take it off.”
“…”
Seong Mu-yeon stood frozen like a statue, unable to do anything. He should have shaken him off and run away, but his eyes scanned his appearance quickly and meticulously, as if trying to engrave it in his mind.
His skin was slightly rough, as if he had suffered a lot, and the Martial Uniform he was wearing was clean, but you could see that it was worn out when you looked closely.
“You…”
When no answer came back, Baek Ryeo-il moved his lips.
The passionately flickering gaze slowly subsided. The flames quickly died down, and a deep, low darkness took their place.
“Ugh…”
A fierce killing intent erupted from Baek Ryeo-il. The powerless commoners couldn’t withstand it, and most of them sat down or froze, turning pale.
Owl was also unable to get up again and could only glare at him.
Now, there was no one to stop Baek Ryeo-il.
His other hand reached for Seong Mu-yeon’s mask.