By Zephyria Gift (1)
“Of course, I came with the support team.”
“He threw such a tantrum to come along, I tell you.”
Sang-geol, who had arrived at the residence, spoke harshly as if he had heard their voices. Then he slipped into the room.
“Hehe……. Do you know how boring Mount Hua is without Young master? I almost died. Always training, and more training, and more training…….”
Seomun Yuha, who must have been scolded countless times on the way, smiled innocently, not caring at all.
Seong Mu-yeon shook his head as if he couldn’t help it. But he couldn’t help but smile.
Gang Woong was wary of Seomun Yuha.
“Difficult training is something you naturally have to endure to become an excellent swordsman. It’s not for fun.”
“Who said anything? I wasn’t talking to you, Dojang.”
“What did you say?”
The two seemed to have similar mental ages, so they bickered whenever they met, and even after a long time, they bared their teeth and growled at each other.
At that moment, Seong Mu-yeon’s eyes met those of Jegal Un, who was looking at him with a strange gaze. He was leaving after finishing the guidance.
He wasn’t at the scene of yesterday’s commotion, but he must have heard a report from someone.
Considering Jegal Un’s attitude towards him so far, it was a perfect opportunity to harass him.
But Jegal Un didn’t reveal any emotion on the surface.
Just as he felt a strange unease, he turned and disappeared.
The Hwasan Sect was assigned an empty pavilion nearby. Sang-geol didn’t like it.
“The Jegal Clan is naturally trying to act as commander. What does that young Young master, whose blood hasn’t even dried yet, know?”
With the arrival of the Hwasan Sect, a temporary alliance consisting of the Jegal Clan and the Wudang Sect was formed. Several small Sects based in this area, similar to Yangha Pavilion, were also included. In addition, wandering warriors without affiliation were flocking to help, so the alliance grew in size over time.
Among them, Hwasan was a force to be reckoned with, both in terms of size and its position in the Murim world. If so, its voice would also be considerable, so Seong Mu-yeon expected to retrieve Seong Mu-jae before long.
But Sang-geol shook his head firmly.
“We cannot ignore the fact that our Hwasan provided the starting point for this situation. We feel responsible for the situation in which Wudang lost a precious disciple, and we have come to punish those who have disturbed the order of the Murim world.”
He continued solemnly.
“The alliance will also have no interest in the Sixth Young Master’s life or death. Judging by the situation, it is highly likely that he is already dead. Just give up.”
At the cold words, a mournful sob flowed from a corner of the living room. Bang Gyeom, who had been huddled in the corner, unable to stretch out due to the crowded Hwasan Sect, covered his face and was deep in sorrow.
Sang-geol clicked his tongue as if to say, ‘What’s that again?’ and then turned his attention away from him and turned to Seong Mu-yeon.
“Anyway, you have no reason to stay here any longer, so why don’t you just go back? You’ll only earn resentment by hanging around.”
“Wh, what about the Spirit Pill? One of the conditions Yak Seon set for making the medicine was to bring the Spirit Pill.”
When Seong Mu-yeon asked, Sang-geol frowned unpleasantly.
“Are you perhaps suggesting that the Jegal Young master is trying to embezzle it? The Jegal Clan is a prestigious family that protects this place. Don’t judge them by your petty standards. Yak Seon won’t mind waiting a little.”
Having said that, there was nothing to refute. In fact, Seong Mu-yeon was the most unnecessary presence in this manor. It would be difficult to distinguish him from Bang Gyeom.
“You said the Third Young Master planted spies? That’s no problem either. No one can penetrate the Jegal Clan’s defenses.”
Seong Mu-yeon let out a long sigh.
Baek Ryeo-il, who had been staring at him, opened his mouth.
“Seong Mu-yeon will stay here.”
“What? Why are you deciding that on your own? The Sect leader gave me command. You do as you’re told!”
“I’m not challenging Martial Uncle’s authority. But if Seong Mu-yeon leaves, the Demon Slayer Unit will immediately disappear.”
“What? On what basis?”
Baek Ryeo-il glanced at Seong Mu-yeon, who had a troubled expression. The fact that the Third Young Master Seong Mu-geuk had tried to win him over was a secret known only to the two of them.
The moment Seong Mu-yeon was out of the alliance’s protection, there was a high possibility that the Third Young Master’s henchmen, who were hiding nearby, would forcibly take him away. If so, all purposes would be achieved, so the Demon Slayer Unit would naturally withdraw.
But since he couldn’t reveal the truth as it was, Baek Ryeo-il simply dismissed it like this.
“Since they took the Sixth Young Master, wouldn’t they try to take the Seventh Young Master too? They couldn’t take him before because of me.”
“……There’s a point.”
Sang-geol, who had been pondering for a while, nodded and stroked his beard.
“We can’t let him run away when we’re in a situation where we can confront the enemy. Alright. I will allow Seong Mu-yeon Young master to stay. But I trust you will behave yourself. The alliance is already loosely knit, and you risk causing internal strife.”
Sang-geol spoke as if he were doing a favor. Seong Mu-yeon had to subtly move his feet to shield himself because Bang Gyeom was glaring menacingly at him, displeased with his rude attitude towards the Seventh Young Master.
“Of course! I won’t step a foot outside the room.”
Seong Mu-yeon readily agreed, and Sang-geol stopped nitpicking and turned his attention to other matters. Thanks to that, Seong Mu-yeon secretly took a breath.
‘……If I had arrived yesterday, I would have been kicked out to Hwasan right away.’
The alliance was already in a state where they would pounce on Seong Mu-yeon with bloodshot eyes even if he just made a sound. Everyone was holding back now, but there was no telling who would bring up the past again and attack him.
Even if he wasn’t helpful, Seong Mu-yeon wanted to stay here and know what was going on. As Baek Ryeo-il said, he was also afraid that if he left this place, the Third Young Master would rush at him.
Not long after, Jegal Un called a meeting. Sang-geol, Baek Ryeo-il, and Jang Han-soo were scheduled to attend and left their seats, so Seong Mu-yeon could relax a little.
“Do you really think the Sixth Young Master is already…… gone?”
Bang Gyeom suddenly asked in a gloomy voice. He looked up at Seong Mu-yeon with moist eyes.
“Do you think so too, Seventh Young Master?”
“Ah……. Well.”
Seong Mu-yeon couldn’t answer easily. Even he found it difficult to guess.
The Third Young Master harbored resentment towards Seong Mu-jae, who had run away with his Spirit Pill. But would that be a sufficient reason to kill him? He didn’t know.
As Seong Mu-yeon hesitated with a dark face, Bang Gyeom clung to his sleeve.
“No! The Sixth Young Master is not such a weak person! He must be alive! You will find him, right? You won’t give up, will you?!”
“Wh, why are you doing this!”
“You need him too, Seventh Young Master! I will help! Seventh Young Master, please, I beg you. You mustn’t give up!”
It was only when Gang Woong rushed in that he could be pulled away. Bang Gyeom collapsed on the floor in a miserable state, shaking his slender shoulders and shedding tears.
“Why do you follow that brother so much? I told you before, you’re not affiliated with the Demonic Cult anymore. Even if you find him, you can’t go back.”
Seong Mu-yeon frowned. He asked as he straightened his disheveled clothes.
“……He saved our lives several times while fleeing from the Third Young Master. Even when my comrades fell one by one and I was left alone, the Sixth Young Master sacrificed his dantian to save me when the enemy attacked.”
Bang Gyeom’s tearful voice trembled uncontrollably with sorrow.
“He may speak harshly, but his actions are not like that……. I just want to know if the Sixth Young Master is alive or dead. Then I think I can leave without any regrets……. Please, Seventh Young Master.”
Bang Gyeom prostrated himself on the floor.
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon looked down at him with a troubled expression. Of course, Seong Mu-yeon also wanted to retrieve the Sixth Young Master. It was time to throw away excuses like being able to get medicine only then.
“I know that brother is not a bad person.”
Bang Gyeom sniffled and raised his head.
“But he’s not a good person either.”
He might be selfish and have an annoying personality, but at least he was the kind of person who took good care of his own people.
“I want to save brother too. But…….”
At that moment, the door burst open.
“Guess what I brought from the kitchen?! ……Huh? But why is the atmosphere like this here? Did someone die…….”
Seomun Yuha, who appeared with a tray full of snacks, sweated as if he had mistakenly set foot in a place he shouldn’t have.