By Zephyria A Teasing Taste (7)
However, the second-generation disciple seemed to think he had nothing to lose, as he straightened his shoulders and shouted confidently.
“Senior Brother, stay out of this! It’s none of your business.”
“How can it be none of my business when you’re making such a racket in my residence?”
Baek Ryeo-il’s gaze finally landed on Gang Woong. Gang Woong looked as if all the blood had drained from his face, and he was about to faint.
‘Hmm.’
Baek Ryeo-il scanned him up and down. He had seen him before, but his posture and well-proportioned physique suggested that he could become something great if taught properly.
‘Did he say he was a chief disciple?’
He slightly raised the corner of his lips.
“Isn’t it inevitable since he’s staying at Senior Brother’s residence? I am a Master, so I have a duty to protect my Junior Brother. Unlike Senior Brother, who has no Junior Brother.”
“Why wouldn’t I know?”
Baek Ryeo-il pushed through the crowd and strode towards Gang Woong.
Then, he placed a hand as large as a pot lid on the boy’s shoulder.
“Well done. That’s how my Junior Brother should be. If anyone picks a fight with you in the future, beat them to a pulp. Do you understand?”
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone except Baek Ryeo-il was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the situation.
Seong Mu-yeon was the first to regain his senses. He quickly poked Gang Woong in the side and whispered, “Say ‘Yes,’ quickly!”
Only then did Gang Woong come to his senses and nod vigorously.
“Yes, yes!”
“Good, that’s the way.”
Baek Ryeo-il nodded in satisfaction and turned to face his Junior Brother.
“Then now… shall we turn a children’s fight into an adult’s fight?”
As he sneered in a sinister tone, the second-generation disciple snapped back to reality.
“W-What nonsense! I haven’t heard anything about Senior Brother taking in a Junior Brother?”
“Perhaps Junior Brother’s news is slow.”
Baek Ryeo-il shrugged. Then, he took a step towards his opponent.
“So, shall we give it a try?”
“Ugh…….”
As the unusually tall and broad-shouldered Baek Ryeo-il approached, the second-generation disciple cowered as if Mount Tai were pressing down on him. His face was filled with dismay. His fair and unblemished complexion indicated that he was one of the Senior Brothers who had not yet sparred with Baek Ryeo-il.
“I-I just mean you should be careful next time! Let’s go!”
Unusually cautious, he eventually retreated with his disciples.
“Master…? Are you just going to leave like this?”
“Who can you blame for your weakness but yourself! Tsk, tsk. Special training starts today.”
“Yes?”
With the shock of receiving a bushel for what he tried to give a pint, they left.
“…….”
After the storm had passed, an odd silence descended. Gang Woong was still dazed, not having grasped the situation. His face looked as if he might drool at any moment.
Seong Mu-yeon was the same.
‘Baek Ryeo-il took in a Junior Brother?’
He couldn’t tell whether it was a temporary measure to get out of the situation or if he was serious.
Only Baek Ryeo-il was as cheerful as ever.
“Let’s go eat.”
After walking a few steps, he turned back when no one followed.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming?”
“……Then the two of you should eat. I’ll be going now…….”
“Hey, where are you going?”
Baek Ryeo-il grabbed Gang Woong by the scruff of his neck and turned him back around.
“Yes? But I……. Weren’t you just saying that……?”
“Let me give you your first teaching. A man doesn’t go back on his word.”
Seong Mu-yeon narrowed his eyes.
Why is he looking at me while saying that?
Gang Woong’s blank face gradually brightened and sparkled with joy.
“Yes! Master!”
He was overjoyed and didn’t know what to do. He probably wanted to jump up and down, but he couldn’t express it freely in front of the adults and just fidgeted.
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
With Baek Ryeo-il leading the way, the three headed to the dining hall.
“…….”
Unlike the simply joyful Gang Woong, Seong Mu-yeon looked at Baek Ryeo-il with suspicious eyes.
‘What sudden wind blew?’
He never took in a Junior Brother in the original story, so what change of heart occurred?
On the way, Gang Woong spotted a group of boys and asked for permission to go and see them for a moment before running off.
‘He’s going to brag.’
The boys jumped up and down as if it were their own business and made a commotion. Seong Mu-yeon stood at a distance and watched the scene with a pleased expression.
‘Well, the best is the best.’
Baek Ryeo-il, who had been watching with him, nudged him in the side.
“What is it?”
Baek Ryeo-il had a very serious expression as he looked at the boys who were shouting so loudly that it was almost screaming. Seong Mu-yeon felt slightly uneasy. He’s not going to take it back now, is he?
“……By the way, what was his name again?”
Seong Mu-yeon was speechless.
“Are you crazy?! You’re taking in a Junior Brother without even knowing his name? No, more than that, why a Junior Brother all of a sudden?! What’s your ulterior motive?”
“Ah, why are you like this? What’s the big deal about taking in a Junior Brother or two? That guy earlier took in three or four. So, what’s his name?”
“…….”
Looking at the joyful Gang Woong in the distance made him feel even more complicated.
It was as if he had witnessed dark clouds gathering over the future of a hopeful boy.
Something seemed terribly wrong, but Ma Jin-cheon liked it anyway.
“Oh, you pretty thing! How did you win over that rude bastard! Huh? Teach me too!”
The news that Baek Ryeo-il had taken in Gang Woong as his Junior Brother spread like wildfire before the day was over. As soon as he officially registered his Junior Brother, Ma Jin-cheon rushed over.
He fell in love with Gang Woong the moment he saw him. He grabbed and stretched his chubby cheeks, which still had baby fat.
“Call me Grandmaster! You pretty thing!”
“Grandmaster……. It hurts…….”
“Yes, yes! Hehehehe!”
Ma Jin-cheon had finally gained a grand-disciple he had dreamed of.
“Master! You must be burning with impatience! You must be busy, so why don’t you go?”
“Are you taking his side just because he’s your Junior Brother!”
Gang Woong, who had been temporarily staying in the dormitory, moved his residence that very day. Now, the three of them would each occupy a room in Emerald Pavilion.
Gang Woong was so motivated that he cleaned every corner of the house, from the floor to the kitchen, without being told.
“We’ll start water lily fragrance from tomorrow, so make sure to go to bed early.”
Baek Ryeo-il said sternly.
“Yes! Good night!”
Gang Woong answered loudly as if he would knock himself unconscious if he couldn’t fall asleep, and then he entered his room fiercely.
Just one more person had made Emerald Pavilion noisy.
So, this is how people have children. Somehow, it was so lively that Seong Mu-yeon also felt uplifted.
Even the children who had been displeased with him could no longer treat him carelessly.
It was definitely a good thing, but…….
“Master! I’ve run 100 laps around the Training hall as you ordered!”
Gang Woong ran in, dripping with sweat all over his body. His eyes were still sparkling, and he was still full of energy for someone who had run 100 laps.
“Uh-huh. 100 more laps.”
“Understood!”
The boy shot out again like a bullet.
Is this right?
“Are you really training him properly? You’re not just tormenting him, are you?”
“Hey, how can you say such a hurtful thing? I have a plan.”
“Of course, you do.”
As a matter of fact, he really did have a plan.
In the middle of the day, Baek Ryeo-il, who had been lying around lazily, suddenly jumped up. Then, he stared intently at the other side of the wall.
Seong Mu-yeon also looked in that direction, but there was nothing but the wall. He wondered if there was a bug on it.
“Gang Woong!”
“Yes! Did you call me, Master!”
At the single call, Gang Woong, who had been in the next room, quickly came running. Baek Ryeo-il grabbed Gang Woong’s shoulders with a very serious face. Standing next to the bear-like figure, the boy looked as small as a puppy.
“I have urgent business to attend to from now on, so I will be away for a while. I will give you your first mission.”
“A mission?”
Gang Woong’s eyes sparkled. He was very excited at the thought of his first mission as a Junior Brother.
“Yes. There’s that guy over there.”
Baek Ryeo-il nodded his head towards Seong Mu-yeon.
“You mean Seong Mu-yeon Young master. Yes.”
“That guy……. He’s a dangerous guy. So, while I’m away, you have to stick right next to him and keep a close watch to make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble. That’s your mission.”
Seong Mu-yeon snorted in disbelief.
So that’s what the plan was.
That’s why he took in a Junior Brother!
Gang Woong also tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand.
“Yes…? Seong Young master?”
“Yes! You don’t know him well yet, so you have to be especially careful. You never know what he might do if you let your guard down even for a moment.”
“Is that so…….”
The boy looked back and forth between Seong Mu-yeon and Baek Ryeo-il in confusion. But now that he had just become a Junior Brother, he nodded enthusiastically to win his Master’s favor.
“Junior Brother will not disappoint you, Master!”
“Hmm, good. I like it. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes!”
Baek Ryeo-il patted him on the shoulder a few times, gave Seong Mu-yeon a warning look, and then disappeared somewhere.
Before the dumbfounded Seong Mu-yeon could say a word, the door opened and Ma Jin-cheon came in.
“Ryeo-il! Are you there!”
…….
Baek Ryeo-il had once again run away to avoid Ma Jin-cheon.
Unaware of this fact, Gang Woong greeted his Grandmaster with a polite attitude.
“Master has gone out for a while.”
“What? Sigh……. What’s with him being gone seven or eight times out of ten? He can’t even put in the effort for the Junior Brother he just took in…….”
He clicked his tongue in displeasure and greeted Seong Mu-yeon as well.
“By the way, Woong. I’m asking just in case, but is Ryeo-il bullying you?”
“Yes? Master? No. He’s very good to me.”
Ma Jin-cheon thought for a moment that he had misheard, but seeing Gang Woong’s bright smile that seemed to radiate light, that wasn’t the case.