By Zephyria 
“W-why do you ask such a thing?”
Seong Mu-yeon was flustered.
It didn’t feel like a question asked out of simple curiosity. Rather, it felt as if Ma Jin-cheon intended to scrutinize every single detail, no matter how trivial.
It was behavior unlike Ma Jin-cheon, who had always been respectful and polite to others.
“Do not look for that child. Live your life as a Young Master, just as you have until now. That is the best choice for both you and us.”
“……Why are you saying this? No, now is not the time for this. There seems to be some misunderstanding, so let’s talk again later—”
Ignoring him, Seong Mu-yeon stepped down from the bed. There was plenty of time. There would be more than enough time to clear up any misunderstandings later.
However, Ma Jin-cheon sprang up and blocked his path.
“That child’s life is complicated enough even without you poking around! I beg of you, do not shake Ryeo-il any further. I cannot allow it.”
Why was this man acting like this?
Seong Mu-yeon couldn’t understand it at all. This wasn’t a seven-year-old child; managing the private life of a grown adult was crossing a line.
Seong Mu-yeon frowned, feeling displeased.
“This is not for Ma Instructor to interfere in. This is a matter between Master Baek and me.”
“Do you have any idea what Ryeo-il did to save you!”
Ma Jin-cheon raised his voice louder than ever before. Startled, Seong Mu-yeon looked up at him. Ma Jin-cheon was highly agitated, his breathing ragged.
“W-what did he do……?”
A sudden sense of anxiety gripped Seong Mu-yeon. Forgetting his original intention to push past Ma Jin-cheon and leave, he sank back onto the bed. It would be more accurate to say the strength had left his legs.
Come to think of it, the very fact that Ma Jin-cheon was here defied common sense. Given his position, the battle at Demon Subjugation Valley was a minor incident that could have been handled by subordinates. No, in the first place, there was no reason for the Hwasan Sect to be involved at all.
It hadn’t happened in their territory, nor were any disciples of the alliance in danger. Could the stubbornness of Baek Ryeo-il alone have mobilized numerous fellow disciples and even the prospective Sect leader, Ma Jin-cheon?
Just what had he done to make the impossible possible?
All sorts of imaginations flashed through his mind.
“A few days ago, Ryeo-il came to the outpost of his own accord. A child who had not shown so much as a shadow since leaving the Sect Gate. Naturally, it caused an uproar.”
Ma Jin-cheon recalled that day.
The Junior Brothers were highly excited, shouting that he should be captured and returned to the headquarters immediately, while the nephews looked upon their Senior Brother with disapproval for abandoning his original duties.
Baek Ryeo-il paid no heed to their violent reactions and went straight to Ma Jin-cheon.
“He came to me and asked me to mobilize forces to rescue the Young Master. Does that make any sense? Needless to say, the disciples who heard this became even more infuriated.”
“……As I thought.”
Seong Mu-yeon pressed a hand to his forehead. There was no way it could have been peaceful and without issue.
“Of course, I could not grant it. It is absurd to divert disciples stationed to prepare for calamities for a personal errand.”
“…….”
“But Ryeo-il would not bend his stubbornness. He subdued the disciples who tried to bind him by force and knelt before me. Even then, I could not accept it. I firmly rejected his request and entered the tent. For a full day, he remained in that position without moving an inch.”
Ma Jin-cheon let out a long sigh as he remembered.
“He was always willful and stubborn, but he was a child who clearly distinguished between public and private matters and knew when something was impossible……. In the end, I lost. In the middle of the night, I approached Ryeo-il, who was still kneeling in that same spot, and asked him what on earth he intended to do. If he planned to be dragged around like this for the rest of his life. If he would kneel again the next time something happened to Young Master Seong Mu-yeon.”
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon had no words, even if he had ten mouths. He felt as if he were a delinquent who had lured a precious noble’s son away and corrupted him.
It was only natural for Ma Jin-cheon to oppose him. At the very least, before he had appeared, the disciple might have run wild inside, but he had never stepped outside the fence. It was only after Seong Mu-yeon appeared that he began to stray.
“I am sorry. Because of me…….”
Thinking that the entire Sect had been put in a difficult position because of him, he couldn’t bring himself to look up.
“What do you think Ryeo-il answered?”
It was obvious even without seeing it.
Ma Jin-cheon, his heart softened, must have eventually taken his disciple’s side despite the protests of others…….
“He said this would be the last time. That once he saved the Young Master, he would never again defy the will of the Sect Gate and would live for the Sect.”
Seong Mu-yeon went blank at the unexpected answer.
“……What?”
A sneer appeared on Ma Jin-cheon’s face as he looked down at Seong Mu-yeon.
“Exactly as I said. He swore an oath upon his sword and the Sect Gate. A vow that cannot be broken—that the moment he violates it, he must surrender everything the Sect has given him, including his martial arts.”
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon’s pupils trembled.
He had given up his freedom, sworn loyalty, and willingly sacrificed himself.
The meaning of that was by no means small.
It was because saving Seong Mu-yeon was worth that much. It was also an expression of respect toward the Sect for granting such a desperate wish.
He went that far just to save me……?
Seong Mu-yeon’s face crumpled. He didn’t know if he was happy or heartbroken. Perhaps it was both.
He was glad it was dark. By simply bowing his head, he could hide the strange expression that was neither a smile nor a cry…….
After a while, once his emotions had settled somewhat, Seong Mu-yeon felt puzzled.
If he had understood correctly, Ma Jin-cheon had essentially seen a lifelong headache disappear. Regardless of how it felt for Baek Ryeo-il, it was a good thing for Ma Jin-cheon.
Then why was he so angry, and why did this become a reason for him to stay away from the boy?
Seeing Seong Mu-yeon’s reaction, Ma Jin-cheon’s furious momentum softened slightly, as if he had realized something.
“The relationship between you two…… I am not unaware of it.”
Seong Mu-yeon’s heart sank.
He hadn’t been so arrogant as to think that no one would notice. And since Ma Jin-cheon was like a parent to Baek Ryeo-il, it wasn’t surprising.
However, having just been told to ‘stay away from my disciple,’ he couldn’t help but feel ashamed.
“Haa…….”
With a sigh, Ma Jin-cheon slumped powerlessly into the chair.
“Do you know why Ryeo-il became that way?”
“What do you mean by ‘that way’……?”
“In the past, that child was an ordinary child who laughed and cried just like any other.”
Seong Mu-yeon stiffened, realizing that Ma Jin-cheon was about to bring up the past. It was a story of a history he did not know.
“The day that child was born was a joyous occasion for Mount Hua. Ryeo-il’s parents were outstanding rising stars who represented Mount Hua at the time. My Senior Brother and Senior Sister. How wonderful would the child of those two be? He was a healthy baby boy.”
Ma Jin-cheon wore a distant expression, as if reminiscing about the past.
“The child grew up healthy, receiving everyone’s love, and turned four. My Senior Brother and Sister took the young boy on a journey. They wanted to show him the wide world.”
“…….”
“During that time, they were attacked by the Demonic Cult. Since the two were not people to avoid a fight happening before their eyes, they naturally fought on the front lines. And then…….”
He knew this part. Baek Ryeo-il’s parents never returned.
Ma Jin-cheon fell silent for a moment, as if trying to suppress his emotions, before continuing.
“I was at Mount Hua when I heard the news. I couldn’t believe it. How could such strong and brilliant people perish so futilely……. My fellow disciples and I received the Sect leader’s orders and headed there immediately. We had to recover the bodies, but there was no mention of the child in the letters.”
Seong Mu-yeon listened to the story without moving, his jaw slightly dropped.
“We found my Senior Brother and Sister quickly. Among their belongings were the identification tags and martial uniforms that marked them as members of Mount Hua. However, the child was nowhere to be found. No one had seen him. He had vanished amidst the life-and-death struggle.”
“…….”
“Putting the recovery of the bodies aside, we searched everywhere, inquiring all around to find Ryeo-il. After searching day and night for fifteen days, we finally found him. It was at a small country house.”
Ma Jin-cheon rubbed his face with his hands. The stubble on his chin made him look even more haggard.
“When I arrived, the four-year-old Ryeo-il was sitting by the window with his back to the door. He didn’t even look back when I called his name……. The child we barely found had changed completely. A child who used to laugh so much had become empty, like a person who could feel no emotion at all.”
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon had never seen him as a child, but for some reason, the child’s expressionless face seemed to come vividly to mind.
It was the exact same look he had seen last. The image of Baek Ryeo-il turning away, saying he didn’t need anything given to him and that he would stop everything…….