By Zephyria Let’s Go Back (5)
“Are you okay?”
Baek Ryeo-il’s face was deathly pale, and he was fidgeting. He seemed utterly bewildered, wringing his hands, unsure of what to do. Seong Mu-yeon couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
“Of course.”
Seong Mu-yeon smiled.
Even without a helping hand, even completely alone, he would have endured in the end.
Seong Mu-yeon wrapped his arms around Baek Ryeo-il’s neck, pulled him close, and kissed him. Baek Ryeo-il froze like a statue before embracing his waist in return.
Morning sunlight was faintly brightening outside the window.
“Let’s go back now.”
He was fine until now, but he would be even better from now on.
Despite the early hour, quite a few people were already up and about in the manor.
Seong Mu-yeon, having fully recovered his thick skin, strode in with an air of confidence. Some people noticed them and paused, but quickly hurried on as if they hadn’t seen anything.
“……What’s that about?”
Baek Ryeo-il scoffed.
“They can’t possibly not know. Criticizing you would just be like spitting in their own faces.”
His face clearly showed his derision as he said that. Seong Mu-yeon, who had been fully prepared to fight back against anyone who picked a fight, felt strangely deflated.
But he soon shrugged it off.
Whatever those people did wasn’t particularly important to Seong Mu-yeon. The truly important person was someone else entirely.
His confident stride slowed as he approached the room where Gang Woong was waiting. Finally, Seong Mu-yeon stopped in front of the closed door.
Gang Woong’s last appearance weighed on his mind. Perhaps he had greatly disappointed him.
He took a deep breath and opened the door. He immediately met the eyes of two people sitting at the table in the living room.
Gang Woong, recognizing the person who opened the door, jumped up from his seat. He stared blankly at Seong Mu-yeon with wide eyes. The dark circles under his eyes made it easy to guess how long he had been waiting at that table.
Meeting Gang Woong’s gaze, his lower lip trembling with intense emotion, Seong Mu-yeon’s heart ached.
What excuse should he make?
“I…….”
“Master! Young master!”
Before Seong Mu-yeon could speak, Gang Woong rushed over like lightning and hugged them both tightly.
“Ugh…….”
Baek Ryeo-il groaned, and the boy jumped back in a fluster.
“S-Sorry. Are you okay?”
Baek Ryeo-il clicked his tongue briefly and strode over to sit at the table. Gang Woong, looking sheepish, smiled at Seong Mu-yeon.
“Have you eaten? If not, I’ll prepare something right away.”
“Um, Gang Woong. About yesterday…….”
“You don’t have to say anything. Actually…… Young master Bang told me the gist of it.”
Gang Woong spoke cautiously, watching his expression. He seemed worried that he might be upset about hearing about it from someone else. But when Seong Mu-yeon nodded with a still-gentle expression, a look of relief crossed the boy’s face. Then, he hugged Seong Mu-yeon tightly again.
“I’m sorry for causing you worry.”
Seong Mu-yeon gently stroked Gang Woong’s hair. Bang Gyeom also stood awkwardly and nodded in greeting. His expression was still subdued from the shock of being abandoned by his lord, but he seemed better than before.
“Is your hand okay?”
“Ah, yes……. Thanks to Gang Woong’s treatment, it’s fine.”
He raised his bandaged hand to show Seong Mu-yeon. If he hadn’t blocked the attack, Seong Mu-yeon might have been seriously injured.
“Gang Woong! Master is hungry. Bring some food.”
“Yes! Please wait a moment!”
Gang Woong ran out with a bright smile.
Soon, they were sitting around the table, starting their meal. The scene, with Bang Gyeom unexpectedly joining them, was almost peaceful, considering the circumstances.
Gang Woong told them that Je Cheon-deuk’s body had been moved to the Wudang headquarters while they were away.
Seong Mu-yeon wanted to cherish this scene for a long time, taking it all in with meticulous care.
Bang Gyeom, slowly eating with chopsticks, his eyes filled with unconcealed sadness; Gang Woong, smiling brightly as he looked back and forth between his master and him; Baek Ryeo-il, seemingly indifferent as he shoveled food into his mouth, but subtly pushing Seong Mu-yeon’s favorite dishes closer with his chopsticks.
Life went on, rolling along on its own even if you left it alone, and since you were already born whether you liked it or not, you just had to endure. But if these occasional moments didn’t decorate that journey with at least a slightly beautiful landscape, it might have been even harder to endure.
Thanks to them, Seong Mu-yeon gained the strength to go further.
Around the time they finished their meal, a Jegal family retainer came to inform them that the Hwasan support team had passed through the gates.
Seong Mu-yeon, along with Baek Ryeo-il and Gang Woong, went out to the main gate to wait for the arrival of the Hwasan Sect. As expected, the appearance of the renowned Hwasan Sect drew a crowd of curious onlookers.
Seong Mu-yeon’s heart fluttered slightly with anticipation. He was excited at the thought of soon meeting familiar faces amidst the unfamiliar place and unfamiliar people.
After a while, the crowd parted, and dozens of Hwasan Sect disciples appeared from within. Wearing martial robes with plum blossom patterns embroidered on their chests, they exuded an unapproachable aura even without doing anything special.
Gasps of admiration could be heard here and there, while Seong Mu-yeon’s face clouded with disappointment.
The one at the very front, with a heavy gaze that swept over the crowd surrounding them, was none other than Sang-geol.
‘Of all people.’
Seong Mu-yeon covered his face. Not only Sang-geol, but also the group from Hwasan who disliked him the most were all gathered there.
“You’ve arrived.”
Jegal Un, who had been waiting, greeted the Hwasan Sect. Before he could finish speaking, Sang-geol cut him off with a stiff voice.
“We heard on the way that the manor was attacked and a disciple under your command was seriously injured.”
Sang-geol, who never had a pleasant expression to begin with, looked particularly rigid. The disciples lined up behind him were the same.
“We must check on the disciple’s condition first.”
At his almost impatient urging, Jegal Un nodded perfunctorily.
“Of course. This way…….”
They soon noticed Baek Ryeo-il and Seong Mu-yeon and stopped in their tracks.
Sang-geol’s eyes widened.
“You…….”
“What’s Master doing, that Senior Uncle Sang had to come instead?”
Baek Ryeo-il grumbled in his usual tone, and the tension that had been surrounding them dissipated in an instant.
“……What, I heard he was bedridden with injuries, but he looks perfectly fine.”
Jang Han-soo, standing behind Sang-geol, muttered. The other disciples nodded dumbly at each other, as if in agreement.
“Your master is a busy man! The next Sect leader cannot waste time on such trivial matters! And after rushing all the way here…….”
Sang-geol snapped.
Now that he looked closer, their clothes were covered in dirt and dust. They seemed to have rushed here without stopping after hearing that Baek Ryeo-il was injured.
“I’m honored that you were so worried about me.”
“What are you talking about! Who was worried about you! Anyway, you’re going to be the death of me.”
Sang-geol’s eyebrows twitched violently. His eyes, wide with anger, now landed on Seong Mu-yeon. His gaze, filled with contempt, swept him up and down.
“You’ve caused quite a stir, haven’t you?”
Seong Mu-yeon, who had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths, quietly lowered his eyes. Even Gang Woong was fidgeting anxiously, unsure of what to do, as the high-ranking elder vented his anger.
“You must be tired from your long journey, so it would be best to unpack and rest. Please follow me.”
Jegal Un interrupted, cutting off what threatened to turn into an argument that would last until sunset. He looked visibly annoyed and weary.
“What did Master say?”
“Senior Brother Ma probably doesn’t know you’re hurt yet. The messenger hawk might have arrived by now, though.”
Baek Ryeo-il exchanged words with Sang-geol and turned away first. Seong Mu-yeon, deliberately trying to hide his presence, quietly stepped back and followed the group at a distance.
He was already disliked by these people, so wouldn’t it be perfect to vent their displeasure at having gone through unnecessary trouble? As if proving his point, several Hwasan Sect Disciples glared at Seong Mu-yeon as they passed.
This incident was a minor task that Baek Ryeo-il could have handled alone. Even Baek Ryeo-il couldn’t claim that Seong Mu-yeon bore no responsibility for the situation escalating like this.
‘Jecheondeuk Dojo is truly a tragic loss…….’
Only now did Seong Mu-yeon finally mourn him, at least in his heart.
Although there were no signs of homicide, the fact that he was so severely injured that he couldn’t recover was entirely the work of the Demon Slayer Unit, who were hell-bent on retrieving the Spirit Pill, so his heart felt heavy.
As he walked along gloomily with those thoughts, someone broke away from the group and stealthily approached him.
“Young master! Young master! How have you been?”
Seong Mu-yeon’s eyes widened as he recognized the face of the person whispering a cheerful greeting.
“Young Master Seomun! How did you get here?”