By Zephyria Exterminate the Clan (2)
“How is Jecheondeuk Dojo doing?”
At Seong Mu-yeon’s question, a young Taoist, seemingly a Junior Brother of Je Cheon-deuk, crossed his arms over his chest and glared fiercely at him.
“Why should we tell you that? What are you planning to do to Senior Brother, who has barely recovered? Wudang is benevolent but also ruthless. Especially to someone like you.”
He didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking, but he was still reacting sensitively.
“I apologize, Senior Brother, but we didn’t come here to cause trouble. We simply want to check on Je Cheon-deuk Dojo, who was injured fighting alongside us.”
Gang Woong cautiously opened his mouth. The Wudang disciple raised his eyebrows upon seeing the plum blossom insignia embroidered on his martial attire.
“Mount Hua?”
“I am Gang Woong of Mount Hua.”
“So you are a disciple of the Heartless Sword. I don’t wish to be rude either, but as long as Mount Hua is harboring the Demonic Cult Seventh Young Master, it will be difficult to cooperate, so please be aware of that.”
The Wudang disciple turned away coldly. Seong Mu-yeon smiled reassuringly at Gang Woong, who looked at him with a troubled expression.
Just as he was about to return to his quarters, a calm voice was heard.
“It’s alright, let them in.”
Je Cheon-deuk, with bandages wrapped tightly around his chest, was leaning against the doorway.
“Senior Brother! You mustn’t get up yet!”
His Junior Brother hurriedly rushed to support him, but Je Cheon-deuk waved his hand, politely refusing.
“Seventh Young Master, please come in. I was planning to visit you anyway.”
“……”
Since the person in question had said so, the disciples stepped aside, unable to stop him any further. However, they did not withdraw their fiercely warning gazes.
“Are you feeling any better?”
Seong Mu-yeon asked Je Cheon-deuk, who was struggling to sit up on the bed. He was conscious, but his complexion was still pale, and his movements seemed labored.
“I can manage somehow. When I woke up, I found out that several days had passed. I heard that there was another attack in the meantime. And that Baek Ryeo-il Dojo was also seriously injured.”
Je Cheon-deuk sighed.
“It’s all my fault.”
“Yes? Why is it Dojo’s fault?”
“Shamefully, I was deceived by the Demon Slayer Unit’s ploy and almost fell into a trap. If the Heartless Sword hadn’t helped, I would have been dead for sure. On top of that, I lost consciousness for several days, and it seems that Young master has been suffering because of it…”
Je Cheon-deuk trailed off, casting a gaze filled with apology.
“I will speak to the Elder and Junior Brothers, so there won’t be any more rude treatment like before. Please don’t worry.”
This was the first time he was having a conversation with him, and Seong Mu-yeon smiled back at his unexpectedly cooperative attitude.
Then, he brought up the main reason for his visit.
“Did you notice anything unusual during the battle? Even if it’s something trivial, please tell me anything you can remember.”
“Actually… there was something that bothered me.”
Je Cheon-deuk frowned as if trying to recall something, but soon shook his head.
“It was just a fleeting thought, and after the Heartless Sword fell into the trap, things became so urgent that I can’t quite remember it.”
Seong Mu-yeon nodded, trying not to show his disappointment.
“You’ve only just woken up, so it’s not strange that the events of that time are hazy. You might remember it soon if you rest a little. Please let me know whenever you remember anything.”
Seong Mu-yeon and Gang Woong exchanged brief greetings and left the room. Je Cheon-deuk wished Baek Ryeo-il a speedy recovery.
“He seems like a good person.”
Gang Woong glanced at Je Cheon-deuk’s room as they exited.
The Wudang disciples, who had been sitting vigilantly in front of the door in case anything happened, rushed into Je Cheon-deuk’s room as soon as they came out to check if he was alright.
At that moment, Seong Mu-yeon felt a gaze and turned his head.
“Hmm?”
Seong Mu-yeon spotted Yang Ha-gakju secretly peeking at him from a short distance away. He was also injured, but it seemed that his movements were not severely impaired. However, as soon as Yang Ha-gakju’s eyes met Seong Mu-yeon’s, he hurriedly ran away.
“Why is he doing that?”
Gang Woong muttered, also looking puzzled.
“He must have something on his conscience.”
“Something on his conscience?”
Seong Mu-yeon chuckled and replied.
“Yang Ha-gakju was with us on the day of the attack, wasn’t he? But he immediately reported to Jegal Young master that the Demon Slayer Unit didn’t attack me and left. Thanks to that, I was suspected of being a spy.”
“Yes? After you saved his life…”
Seong Mu-yeon shrugged nonchalantly.
“It’s understandable to be suspicious. But it seems he thinks I’m holding a grudge and will take revenge. To be so frightened and run away like that.”
Or maybe he really does have something on his conscience.
Seong Mu-yeon’s face darkened.
Come to think of it, there were a few suspicious things about Yang Ha-gakju. He was the one who first informed the Jegal Clan when the Demon Slayer Unit appeared, and he was also the one guarding the underground prison where Seong Mu-jae was confined. Of course, Yang Ha-gakju was also injured, but it was not life-threatening, so it was insignificant compared to Je Cheon-deuk or Baek Ryeo-il. It was plausible that he was deliberately attacked to avoid suspicion…
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Seong Mu-yeon shook his head. Even so, he had no grounds to question Yang Ha-gakju now. Stirring things up unnecessarily could create more problems.
On the way back, he spotted Jegal Un in the courtyard, surrounded by mountains of boxes and receiving a report about something.
‘Should I ask Jegal Young master…?’
He was also someone who had spoken directly with Yang Ha-gakju. He must be close enough to have had intimate conversations with him, but when it came to actually talking to him, he hesitated.
‘He’s a tiresome person to deal with.’
No matter how thick-skinned he was, facing his murderous iron fan again was not a pleasant prospect.
As Seong Mu-yeon was hesitating, the Head Butler appeared and whispered something in Jegal Un’s ear. Jegal Un then left, entrusting his work to the Head Butler.
Feeling impatient, Seong Mu-yeon sent Gang Woong ahead and quietly followed after him. Since it was a sensitive matter, it would be better to ask when there were fewer people around.
Jegal Un, who would normally have noticed the presence following him, seemed preoccupied with something today and simply hurried along.
Seong Mu-yeon occasionally feigned disinterest and avoided the gazes of the Jegal Clan members he encountered coming from the opposite direction.
Before he knew it, he had ventured deeper into the estate.
Feeling embarrassed, Seong Mu-yeon looked around. The busy servants and even the guards seemed less vigilant, indicating that this was a private area where the clan members lived.
‘If they find out an outsider has entered, it won’t just end with a few scoldings.’
Seong Mu-yeon reluctantly turned to leave. Just then, Jegal Un’s voice was heard not far away.
“What the Clan Lord is worried about will not happen.”
‘Clan Lord?’
Seong Mu-yeon’s ears perked up. The voice was coming from beyond the corner of a building. Peeking slightly over a bush that reached his waist, he saw Jegal Un in a private meeting with a middle-aged man.
‘Eek!’
He had gone too far. Afraid of being discovered by the father and son if he moved even slightly, Seong Mu-yeon stopped breathing and remained motionless.
“We were caught off guard last time because we didn’t have time to prepare, but it will be different this time. I have prepared a way to track down the hideout where those guys are holed up. This time, we will surely avenge those who have tarnished the reputation of the Divine Jegal…”
The Jegal Clan Lord coldly scoffed and interrupted him.
“No matter how much time you had to prepare, you are the Young master. Being the Clan Lord who leads a clan means that even if a situation worse than this arises, you must immediately respond and protect the clan. But what are you doing now?”
“……I.”
“There are many cousins who can replace you. You know that, don’t you? I will pass this position on to whichever child is more suitable for the position of Clan Lord. Prove your abilities through this matter.”
“……I will keep that in mind.”
The Clan Lord strode away before he could even finish his answer.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Against his will, he had vividly witnessed the proud Jegal Un being scolded by his father. He didn’t even want to imagine how he would react if he were discovered.
Seong Mu-yeon remained frozen, unable to breathe, and only after Jegal Un, who had composed himself after a long time, had left did he quickly flee.
He stroked his startled chest.
‘The Clan Lord himself came!’
Although Hyeon-jin Elder was present, Wudang had only sent a few disciples at most.
After safely escaping, Seong Mu-yeon had the opportunity to observe the Jegal Clan Lord passing by. Surprisingly, the Jegal Clan Lord was relatively young, in his forties or fifties. And just from his upright posture and the sharp glint in his eyes as he meticulously scanned his surroundings, one could tell how fastidious he was. The Jegal Clan members were so tense, trying not to offend the Clan Lord’s sensitive mood, that Seong Mu-yeon could feel it too.
‘I can’t do it, my heart is pounding.’
He shuddered as he recalled the Clan Lord’s terrifyingly venomous words.
Now, his only remaining hope was the reinforcements that Mount Hua would send.
‘Please. I hope Ma Instructor or Wang Instructor comes…!’
Seong Mu-yeon prayed inwardly.