By Zephyria 
If Seong Mu-yeon were to possess a healthy body, he would not treat it carelessly. He was confident that he would cherish it dearly so that he could live for a very long time.
“……Therefore.”
Owl, who had been staring down at Seong Mu-yeon—who was tightening the bandages with a rough touch, not hiding his displeasure—finally spoke.
“Yes?”
“Because I’m the older brother…… it’s only natural that I protect my younger brother……”
As if to show he wasn’t speaking lightly, Owl slowly raised his hand and stroked Seong Mu-yeon’s head. It was a touch akin to how one would treat a cute younger sibling.
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon was lost for words at the unexpected answer. He had never dreamed that Owl held such thoughts.
Until now, Owl had either refused to answer if he wasn’t addressed with the proper title or had openly behaved as if dealing with a subordinate, so Seong Mu-yeon had simply thought he was a stubborn old-fashioned man who loved establishing hierarchy.
He had merely guessed that such behavior stemmed from a concern that Seong Mu-yeon, who was like a rolling stone entering their circle, might disrupt the ecosystem they had solidified over a long time; he never imagined Owl truly felt brotherly affection.
“…….”
Suddenly confronted with Owl’s sincerity, Seong Mu-yeon was flustered. His mind went blank, and he could only roll his eyes, unsure of what to say or how to react.
He had been betrayed countless times even by his own biological brothers and had suffered harassment disguised as affection, yet here he was, encountering pure affection he hadn’t even hoped for in the most unexpected of places.
As that thought occurred to him, Seong Mu-yeon’s anger toward Peng Do-hwan, who had left Owl in this state, surged even higher.
“Don’t blame him too much……”
Noticing Seong Mu-yeon glancing in the direction Peng Do-hwan had disappeared, Owl stopped him.
“I’m perfectly fine……”
At those words, Seong Mu-yeon’s face stiffened further.
“Did Young Master Peng do this knowingly? If it weren’t for this state, you would no longer be of this world, Brother!”
“So, are you planning to take revenge? Just as Young Master Peng did……”
“…….”
“Forget about Young Master Peng now…… He won’t be able to interfere with us anymore. By now, the aftereffects of drawing upon his Innate True Qi must have begun. He probably hasn’t even gone far……”
Flinch.
“……Will it affect his life?”
“I’m not certain since I haven’t checked his pulse, but even if he survives, he will pay a heavy price for his foolish choice……”
Once the treatment was roughly finished, Owl straightened his collar. He then rotated his arm this way and that to check his condition. Seong Mu-yeon noticed that he found it uncomfortable to move. Though he claimed there was no pain, it was because several of his ribs had been broken.
“The mask is useless now……”
Owl stared blankly at the badger mask lying in two pieces on the ground. Soon, he looked away without lingering regret and asked Seong Mu-yeon.
“Did you meet the person called Il-gwang? How did it go?”
“It seems certain that the Poison Freak is here.”
Seong Mu-yeon relayed the information he had heard from Il-gwang directly to Owl.
“But Brother, how did you get all the way here? The distance is quite far.”
It was then.
“Young Mast-eeeer!”
From across the forest, accompanied by a thunderous shout, Gang Woong was charging fiercely toward them.
“Ah, I forgot……”
Seong Mu-yeon gasped. Gang Woong, with wide eyes, approached rapidly. He looked as if he were about to pounce on him and demand answers.
However, Seong Mu-yeon realized that wasn’t the case upon hearing his next shout.
“Get down!”
Seong Mu-yeon immediately pushed Owl’s head down and threw himself to the ground with him.
Gang Woong’s Sword Energy grazed over their heads. Without them noticing, a member of the Black Shadow Unit had approached from behind, hiding their presence. Gang Woong’s Sword Energy pierced the chest of the Black Shadow Unit member just as they were about to ambush them.
“Keuk!”
Gang Woong pierced the heart of the fallen enemy.
“G-Gang Dojang……”
The youth, having retrieved his sword, turned around. Gang Woong was covered in cuts and wounds, as if he had just fought a fierce battle.
Coming face-to-face with Gang Woong unexpectedly, Seong Mu-yeon could not hide his embarrassment. This was because he owed Gang Woong a debt of gratitude no less than what he owed Baek Ryeo-il.
As he stammered, unable to find the words, Gang Woong strode toward him. As he had felt before, the youth had grown so much that he had to look up to meet his eyes, making him feel utterly unfamiliar.
“It really was Young Master Seong! I knew it!”
Gang Woong beamed a wide smile and suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.
“I could have noticed sooner, but I only realized it now! I knew something felt strange! Wahahaha!”
“Gang Dojang?”
Instead of getting angry, Gang Woong held him tightly and spun around several times before finally letting him go.
“Young Master hasn’t changed a bit! No, you actually seem to have gotten a bit smaller……”
“……How did you know?”
“How could I not recognize you! I knew at a glance! ……Or so I’d like to say, but actually, I only suspected it until I became certain at the Black Manor. The technique you used there—you taught it to me a long time ago.”
Gang Woong spoke in an excited voice.
“Ah!”
That seemed to be the case. Around the time he had first entered Mount Hua, he had taught a technique to Gang Woong, who was being ignored by his fellow disciples.
“I really missed you.”
Unable to contain his surging emotions, Gang Woong hugged him once more, tight enough to crush his bones, before letting go.
“It seems you’ve been doing well. You’ve grown a lot.”
“Yes! What about you, Young Master? Have you been well? Did you really go under Yakseon Daein? Are you planning to become a physician? But what happened to the mask? Why are you showing your face? And where is Young Master Peng? I felt a strong wave of energy a moment ago, could that possibly be……”
The quick-witted Gang Woong looked at the devastated ground and the badger mask split in half, and his expression hardened as he quickly grasped the situation.
“This is no time for this.”
Gang Woong quickly took off his long robe and draped it over Seong Mu-yeon’s head. Then, with a sharp gaze, he scanned the surroundings to see if any enemies were eavesdropping.
“Our location has been revealed because of the energy wave. I followed that wave here. The others will be the same.”
Gang Woong pointed to the enemy he had just defeated.
“I was nearby, so I could arrive quickly, but enemies from further away will soon swarm in. By the way, what about Young Master Peng? Is he alive?”
Seong Mu-yeon nodded.
“He was alive the last time I saw him. But he wouldn’t have gone far.”
“……I see. For now, leave Young Master Peng be; at least you must leave this place.”
Gang Woong found the vague answer strange, but instead of asking for details, he nodded. His urgency was clearly evident in his actions.
The reason for such desperation was obvious.
“The enemies are one thing…… but I’m most worried about my Master. There’s no telling when he might arrive.”
Baek Ryeo-il.
Just thinking of him made Seong Mu-yeon’s heart sink.
“……Do you think he’s very angry?”
Seong Mu-yeon asked cautiously, feeling his heart thumping. But it was a useless question.
Seeing Gang Woong, who had watched Baek Ryeo-il from the closest proximity as a disciple, look utterly terrified at the prospect of the two meeting, was enough to know how angry he was.
“It would be best if you left quickly.”
When Gang Woong urged him indirectly instead of giving a definitive answer, Seong Mu-yeon felt even more miserable. The desire to face Baek Ryeo-il openly for a moment shriveled up timidly.
“Right. Youngest, you should head back now.”
Even Owl stepped in to support the idea.
“What? But……”
“Now that we know this isn’t a scale that can be handled by one or two people, this matter is as good as out of our hands…… It’ll be the same whether you’re here or not.”
“Then what about you, Brother?”
“I’ll stay here and request cooperation from nearby Sects…… If I had known it would take this long to find Yakseon Daein, I wouldn’t have brought you along……”
“I will help as well. I will definitely rescue both Young Master Owl and Yakseon Daein, so please flee without worry.”
Seong Mu-yeon swallowed a groan. But there was no other way. Now that he had no mask and his identity had been discovered by Peng Do-hwan, it was only a matter of time before rumors spread.
Furthermore, since Seong Mu-yeon’s wanted poster had spread throughout the Central Plains to the point where almost no one was unaware of his face, even walking around without a mask would not be easy.
“You know where to go, right……”
Owl seemed worried that he might get lost. Of course, he had spent over three years under Yakseon; how could he not know?
Seong Mu-yeon gave a short nod and barely managed to move his reluctant feet. Looking back, Gang Woong and Owl were standing side by side, watching him leave.
In particular, Gang Woong could not take his eyes off him, looking like a puppy filled with longing.
Their figures grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared into the brush.
To the west lay Kilyeon Cliff, where the Poison Freak’s base was hidden, and to the east lay Lanzhou County. Seong Mu-yeon headed south to avoid the gaze of people.
As the forest grew deeper and the darkness thickened, Seong Mu-yeon’s mood sank low.
He had set out to rescue Yakseon, and while he didn’t expect a triumphant return, he hadn’t imagined he would return home so miserably, empty-handed, having gained nothing.
Walking listlessly, Seong Mu-yeon snapped back to his senses when his foot hit something.
Peng Do-hwan was sprawled out, unconscious. His breathing was so faint it seemed it might stop at any moment, and his pulse was so weak that Seong Mu-yeon hadn’t noticed him.
As Owl had predicted, it wouldn’t be strange if he died soon.
“…….”
After contemplating for a moment, Seong Mu-yeon hoisted him onto his back. Just then, a low voice sounded from behind him.
“This sword, you did this, didn’t you?”
“……Dojang.”
At some point, Baek Ryeo-il was standing there, leaning crookedly.