By Zephyria Gift (4)
“The culprit who killed Fourth Young Master is Third Young Master. If Sixth Young Master can just clear his name, Second Young Master will do his best to help. Then we won’t have to rely solely on the orthodox sect and wait helplessly; we’ll have the power to step in directly.”
Bang Gyeom spoke earnestly. His eyes, fixed on Seong Mu-yeon, were filled with hope.
“You’re right. We need to clear the unjust accusation. And the more allies, the better.”
Seong Mu-yeon nodded. But his stern face didn’t soften. Bang Gyeom waited anxiously for his next words. Seong Mu-yeon sighed softly.
“But what if it doesn’t go our way? Then the situation will spiral out of control.”
“But…!”
“As you said, Second Brother will believe me. He’ll prove Seong Mu-jae’s innocence. And if he officially puts Third Brother on the wanted list and stops him with all his might, nothing could be better, but…”
“……”
“But the problem is, the orthodox sect alliance gathered here is also chasing Third Young Master. No matter what terrible things he’s done, Third Young Master is still a member of the Demonic Cult and family. If you were Second Brother, what would you do? Wouldn’t you stop the outsiders first, and deal with Third Brother later?”
Bang Gyeom covered his face with one hand and groaned in despair.
Blood is thicker than water. Seong Mu-ryong wouldn’t ignore the orthodox sect alliance chasing Third Young Master. He would likely try to secure Third Young Master’s safety after resolving the situation first. Could Seong Mu-jae survive while a battle between the newly emerged Second Young Master and the orthodox sect alliance unfolded?
Even now, Second Young Master must be aware of the commotion happening in his jurisdiction. Now wasn’t the time to figure out how to bring in Second Young Master, but to worry about when he would interfere as he pleased.
“…Besides, I don’t really want to see Second Brother.”
“Did something happen between you two?”
“It’s not worth talking about.”
Seong Mu-yeon would never forget that he had tried to use mind-controlling sorcery on him. In any case, Seong Mu-yeon was a man for whom his own safety was paramount.
“Then the only option is to find Yang Ha-gakju. There must be someone who gave him inside information.”
Realizing that there was little hope in relying on Second Young Master, Bang Gyeom turned away without regret.
“I think Yang Ha-gakju has already left the manor and returned to his Sect. According to him, he must be terrified that I, a demon-like murderer, would retaliate.”
“…We’ll have to confirm his location.”
With that, the conversation ended for the moment. Seomun Yuha had a dazed look on his face, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information.
“Then I’ll go rest.”
Returning to his room, Seong Mu-yeon took out the Wine Jar he had hidden haphazardly. His brow furrowed with worry.
‘Where should I hide this?’
If Baek Ryeo-il saw it, he would try to drink it right away without thinking. Just a few days ago at the inn, he had to struggle to stop Baek Ryeo-il from guzzling down alcohol.
‘Drinking with an injured body is out of the question.’
While searching for a place that Baek Ryeo-il, who frequently visited his room, wouldn’t be able to find, Seong Mu-yeon felt inexplicably happy.
He’ll be so surprised.
He’ll be overjoyed.
He moved the Wine Jar several times. He felt anxious that Baek Ryeo-il, with his uncanny sense of smell, would find it quickly.
Finally, after lining them up in the deepest part under the bed, Seong Mu-yeon crawled back out and coldly assessed his hiding place.
‘It’s said that the darkest place is under the lamp, but this is too obvious.’
Just as he was about to bend down to move the Wine Jar again, the door burst open behind him.
“Hey! Seong Mu-yeon!”
“Oh, good heavens! Please make some noise… You took off the bandages?”
Seong Mu-yeon’s eyes widened. Baek Ryeo-il had already removed the bandages that had been firmly fixed to his chest and was standing there imposingly.
His recovery was truly monstrous.
But his expression was more ferocious than a lion risen from hell.
“You, don’t get close to Peng Yuan-jin.”
“What nonsense are you talking about now?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and that guy is weird. He just walks around smiling, and I think he has ulterior motives. Why else would he be so nice for no reason?”
Seong Mu-yeon frowned.
“There are people in the world who are kind for no reason. Not everyone is like Master Baek.”
“What are you saying? Where else can you find someone as upright and fair in everything as me!”
“…Are you serious?”
“Anyway, don’t just fall for it because that guy is being nice. I’m warning you! Don’t even approach within ten feet!”
Baek Ryeo-il shouted.
“I refuse!”
Seong Mu-yeon immediately retorted.
“What right do you have to tell me what to do, Master Baek! I’ll do as I please! And when did I ever fall for it? You’re making me look strange.”
“You were falling for it! You looked like you were dying of happiness!”
His relationship with Baek Ryeo-il was always like this. Just when things seemed to be getting better, he would find some ridiculous fault and sabotage it. No matter how hard he tried not to discriminate, he couldn’t help it!
The two men snarled fiercely at each other. Then, at some point, Baek Ryeo-il sighed as if he had lost his strength and hesitated before opening his mouth.
“Do you… like someone like Peng Yuan-jin?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Seong Mu-yeon was stunned as if he had been hit on the head.
“W-What kind of person do you think Young master Peng is?”
“Well… he’s calm, doesn’t get angry easily, and people like him.”
Baek Ryeo-il said hesitantly. Seong Mu-yeon was at a loss for words at his unfamiliar appearance. Baek Ryeo-il, who was rolling his eyes around anxiously, hastily ruffled his own bangs and frowned when he didn’t get an answer.
“Whatever! I’ve saved your life so many times, you should at least be grateful!”
Baek Ryeo-il suddenly got angry and strode forward. In that instant, the liquor bottle hidden under Seong Mu-yeon’s bed brushed past him. Feeling guilty for no reason, he instinctively grabbed his chest to stop him from getting any closer, and Baek Ryeo-il’s eyebrows twitched violently.
“Answer me. Me or that guy.”
“Excuse me?”
“If I and that guy fell into the water, who would you save first?”
“…Me? Save Master Baek?”
“Don’t nitpick! Just answer!”
“…How deep is the water? Is it the ocean or fresh water? How did you fall in? Strictly speaking, I’m not the one who saves people, I’m the one who gets rescued.”
Baek Ryeo-il’s face turned red and blue, as if he had only made him angrier.
“This won’t do. Come sit down here. Let’s figure out how much I’ve done for you. Then you’ll naturally have respect for…”
“Not there!”
Seong Mu-yeon rushed forward as Baek Ryeo-il lightly pushed him away and tried to approach the bed.
“Don’t sit on other people’s beds!”
Seong Mu-yeon pushed Baek Ryeo-il. But his rock-solid body, as firm as a mountain, didn’t budge.
“What? Do you have Peng Yuan-jin hidden under the bed? I see! You bastard!”
“What nonsense are you talking about! This is my room. Get out, get out!”
Baek Ryeo-il watched him struggle for a while before snatching one of his arms. His eyes seemed to say, ‘There’s no point in you resisting.’
“Eek!”
He twisted his body to pull his arm away, but he couldn’t escape Baek Ryeo-il’s grip. Instead, his twisted wrist only ached as if it would break.
Enraged, he kicked Baek Ryeo-il in the shin. But Baek Ryeo-il easily avoided it with a slight shift of his center of gravity.
Despite his desperate efforts to protect his surprise gift, Seong Mu-yeon, who had been grabbed by both arms, panted and gasped for breath.
He bit Baek Ryeo-il’s arm in frustration, but it was so hard that only his gums hurt.
“Oh, so you really are hiding something. You’d better confess, it’ll be better for you.”
Seong Mu-yeon was truly going crazy. Baek Ryeo-il certainly had a knack for stirring him up, setting him on fire, and making him explode. Thanks to him, there was no time to be bored, but he couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
“You’re really not going to tell me?”
Baek Ryeo-il stared into his eyes as if trying to read his thoughts. In an instant, only a quiet silence and rough breathing remained in the room.