By Zephyria 
“From what I’ve heard, the couple who took him in found a child left alone in a cave after the chaos had passed. However… that was a full four days after the battle had ended.”
“…What? Surely not.”
“A mere four-year-old child endured alone for four whole days…!”
Ma Jin-cheon’s face contorted in pain.
“Senior Brother and Junior Brother likely hid the child in a safe place first when the battle broke out. But they could not have predicted that they would not return. Ryeo-il waited for his parents to return in a cave where not a single speck of light entered.”
The child did not want to leave the place where his parents had promised to return. He struggled violently, refusing the couple who tried to take him. But for a starving child who had barely survived by licking the dew off the walls, there was no strength left to resist.
“If it hadn’t been for that couple, Ryeo-il would have gone to join his parents. They managed to save him, but he hasn’t spoken a word since that day. Since he couldn’t speak, they were at a loss because they didn’t know his name or where he lived. It was the same after he was brought to Mount Hua. He suffered from selective mutism due to the shock.”
“….”
“The child always looked toward the mountain gate as if he were waiting for someone. As if he were waiting for his parents to return.”
Seong Mu-yeon lowered his head. He couldn’t say a word, as if his throat were tightly constricted.
“One day, he showed interest in a wooden sword, so I put one in his hand. As his parents had hoped, he possessed an amazing talent. He woke up earlier than anyone else every morning to swing his sword and remained the latest to finish his water lily fragrance. That way, Ryeo-il slowly recovered. A few months later, he spoke again, and a few years later, he began to smile.”
He chuckled softly, recalling that Baek Ryeo-il’s first words were ‘Sasuk,’ and his next words were, ‘My sword broke, so give me a new one.’
However, the smile soon vanished. A deep worry clouded Ma Jin-cheon’s face.
“But three years ago, I saw that look again. It was when the Young Master disappeared. I was worried, but he is a child who recovers on his own. Yet, I saw it once more a few days ago.”
“….”
“I thought Ryeo-il was the only one harboring such feelings, but now it seems that is not the case. However… good feelings have an expiration date. When the effect eventually wears off, then…”
Ma Jin-cheon trailed off.
“I cannot bear to see Ryeo-il retreat into his own world and close the door again. As his teacher—no, as a father—I must protect my child. Ryeo-il is like a son to me. I have raised him since he was four. He is my child, embraced by my heart. Ryeo-il believes that Young Master Seong Mu-yeon’s heart is not the same as mine, so he has already put his feelings to rest.”
“….”
“He has suffered enough. Next time, he might not recover. Therefore, this must be settled here. Please leave now. I beg of you.”
It was an earnest plea born from a heart that cherished Baek Ryeo-il.
Relationships between people are unpredictable. The human heart is such that people can be inseparable one moment and turn cold the next.
Some people can easily overcome the pain of parting, but those whose hearts have been shattered suffer greatly even from a small wound.
Baek Ryeo-il was such a person.
On the surface, he was stronger and more confident than anyone, but his interior was crumbled into pieces.
Knowing well that he could collapse from even a small wound, he had defended himself by not letting anyone into his heart.
He trusted no one and gave his heart to no one.
Seong Mu-yeon wondered to himself how he had managed to push through the fragmented path of thorns and enter the depths of Baek Ryeo-il’s heart.
“Then I trust you understand…”
“No.”
Seong Mu-yeon raised his head. A firm determination was etched on his face.
“I am now even more convinced that I must meet him.”
Leaping off the bed, Seong Mu-yeon quickly slipped out of the room like a flying squirrel.
“Young Master!”
Ma Jin-cheon’s bewildered voice echoed from behind.
“I’m sorry!”
Seong Mu-yeon sprinted down the hallway. He didn’t know why, but his body felt light.
Well, he’d figure it out somehow.
The front yard, brightly lit, was crowded with people. Amidst them, Seong Mu-yeon spotted a familiar and welcome face.
“Young Master! You’re awake!”
“Where is Master Baek?”
Seong Mu-yeon abruptly grabbed Gang Woong’s shoulders and shook him.
“What in the…”
“I have to meet the Master! Right now!”
“You brat, Seong Mu-yeon! I’ve been looking for you. How dare you show your brazen face here!”
At that moment, faces that were not welcome at all appeared. They were the second-generation disciples of the Hwasan Sect, including Sang-geol. They looked highly agitated, as if they were furious.
“Have you forgotten how much trouble you’ve caused Mount Hua?! And yet you stir things up on your own again to make things this bad! This time, we’ll see this through to the end!”
Sang-geol and the second-generation disciples charged forward, consumed by spite. Seeing this, Gang Woong quickly stuffed a piece of paper into Seong Mu-yeon’s robe.
“The Master went to find the Poison Freak and headed this way. It’s not far from here. I’ll follow shortly, so go ahead first.”
After saying that, Gang Woong pushed Seong Mu-yeon behind him and ran toward the Grandmasters.
“It has been a long time, Grandmaster! What brings you here?! I shall guide you.”
“Get out of the way, you brat! You’re in on it too!”
“We will not let this slide. Prepare yourselves to ascend the platform of penance once we return to the headquarters! I said move!”
Gang Woong only let them go after confirming that Seong Mu-yeon had safely escaped.
“Stop bullying that child and tell me what you have to say.”
Ma Jin-cheon appeared like a savior and rescued Gang Woong.
“Senior Brother! Are you really doing this?! How could you fail to distinguish between public and private matters and let the disciples desert their posts as you please?”
Sang-geol shouted, spittle flying. Following his lead, the other second-generation disciples began to protest vehemently.
“How are we supposed to handle things when you do this without any consultation?! Do you know how panicked we were when an entire squad vanished overnight, leaving only a single letter?!”
Ma Jin-cheon listened to them in silence. When not even an excuse came back, the second-generation disciples grew more emboldened and raised their voices.
“And another thing! Aren’t you being far too protective of a single disciple?! Because you never scold Baek Ryeo-il even when he acts undisciplined and always indulge him, that’s why the boy has become such a mess!”
“….”
However, Gang Woong felt a strange dissonance coming from Ma Jin-cheon. He was different from the usual gentle Ma Jin-cheon who would laugh off the anger of his Junior Brothers.
It was as if his eyebrows were subtly twitching…
Sure enough, Ma Jin-cheon’s expression began to crack. But the second-generation disciples, too busy venting their frustration, failed to notice the change.
“I honestly don’t know what the Sect leader was thinking when he delegated such great authority to Senior Brother! We must return to the headquarters immediately, report this, and have it reconsidered…!”
“Shut up!”
Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted. Ma Jin-cheon was glaring at them with a terrifying expression, his face flushed red.
“I am sick and tired of your whining! Does everything I do displease you so much?!”
Startled by the unexpected fierce reaction, the second-generation disciples blinked in surprise.
“Regardless of what you think, I am the next Sect leader! It has been over twenty years since I was forced into this position simply because I was the third, after what happened to the eldest Senior Brother and his wife! Do you think anyone actually wanted this?! I have done my best every single day to play the role of the eldest Senior Brother, a role that didn’t even fit my station! And yet, am I still not enough in your eyes?!”
“N-no, it’s not that…”
“Did I not tell you to shut your mouths! What was that about ‘nothing to do at the outpost’ and ‘wasting manpower’ you were whining about until a few days ago?! What now?! Deserting your posts?”
“….”
“No need for further words! If any of you feel you absolutely cannot work under me, then I have no need for you, so get the hell out of here right now!”
As Ma Jin-cheon swept his gaze over them, the second-generation disciples he looked at flinched and avoided his eyes. Because of the commotion, even unrelated bystanders politely folded their hands.
“What are you all doing! Did you not hear me tell you to get lost!”
“S-Senior Brother…”
“I can’t stand the sight of you lot!”
Ma Jin-cheon clicked his tongue and abruptly walked inside.
Slam—!
The second-generation disciples flinched once more at the sound of the door slamming shut, and for a while, they only glanced at one another. Because a normally gentle person had exploded like that, it felt even more terrifying.
‘…He seems really angry.’
‘That’s why you should have known when to stop pushing.’
“Ahem.”
The second-generation disciples cleared their throats awkwardly and quietly slipped away. However, fearing that Ma Jin-cheon might actually kick them out, none of them left the inn’s courtyard. The second-generation disciples, who had been so arrogant, had turned into meek lambs in an instant.
In the end, they had finally learned to read the room.
“Hah…”
Stunned, Gang Woong stood there blankly for a long time.