By Zephyria Expert in Disappearance and Kidnapping (4)
Seong Mu-yeon lowered his body and carefully turned around.
He planned to return to the Emerald Pavilion quietly, without leaving any scent or sound, and hide there until this storm had passed.
He crawled diligently on all fours.
Before long, he saw the toe of a black shoe in front of him. He looked up and saw Jang Han-soo looking down at him. Jang Han-soo narrowed his eyes.
“Young master, where are you going?”
“Ahahaha… Well, that is…”
From a distance, Madam Seomun could still be heard shouting at the top of her lungs.
“You’re not running away, are you?”
“Pardon?”
“Goodness. You assured me that you would do everything you could for me…”
Seong Mu-yeon swallowed hard.
“Don’t tell me it was all a lie?”
A cold contempt flickered across Jang Han-soo’s face.
Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly shook his head.
“N, no! I was just going to prepare to greet Madam… O, my clothes are dirty.”
“Who cares about clothes?”
Jang Han-soo grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. Then he shouted.
“Madam Seomun! He’s here! The Demonic Cult Seventh Young master is here!”
The area fell silent in an instant. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Seong Mu-yeon. The person with the most ferocious gaze was, of course, Madam Seomun.
“Young master! There you are!”
Madam Seomun pushed past the sturdy men and began to run towards him. Seong Mu-yeon felt goosebumps all over his body at the sight.
Before he could even blink, Madam Seomun was close enough to touch noses with Seong Mu-yeon. Jang Han-soo was still holding his shoulder, so he couldn’t escape.
Madam Seomun stared at him with glittering eyes.
“You…! Are you the Seventh Young master Seong Mu-yeon?!”
“Y, yes…? Ah… You, you’re looking for Seong Mu-yeon…?”
“Is it true or not!”
Madam Seomun screamed. Her uvula was visible. Jang Han-soo wore a thick smile. Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly nodded.
“Y, yes. That’s right. I, I am Seong Mu-yeon…”
Grasp!
The next moment, Madam Seomun held his hands tightly.
“Oh, Young master! I’ve finally met you! Please save my son!”
“…Pardon?”
The ferocious face of a Yaksha was gone, and now a gentle Madam, as meek as a lamb, was tearfully welling up with tears.
“Hic! Heuheuheuk!”
A pitiful weeping sound spread through the Sect Leader’s Hall. Eventually, Elder Il had Seong Mu-yeon and Madam Seomun sit down together.
The Sect leader handed her a handkerchief, and Madam blew her nose loudly.
“Can you tell me what happened? Your son was kidnapped?”
Jang Han-soo wore a kind smile on his face as he gently comforted Madam Seomun. The more his face shone, the more Seong Mu-yeon’s face rotted.
‘Damn it…’
Jang Han-soo, who was at the scene, naturally followed them to the Sect Leader’s Hall and took a seat. Thanks to that, Seong Mu-yeon couldn’t relax for a moment.
Madam Seomun barely calmed herself and opened her mouth.
“Yes… It was seven days and nights ago. Suddenly, my son disappeared.”
Apparently, the Seomun Clan had searched everywhere for their missing son, but they couldn’t find him even after seven days and nights. Judging from various traces, there was a strong suspicion that the Demonic Cult was involved, but even so, no solution appeared.
When something like this happened, there was only one way to solve it. Go to a temple, offer prayers and donations for the return of your child.
All you can do is wait, hoping that they will return someday if they are alive.
In the meantime, Madam Seomun heard that one of the Demonic Cult Young masters had defected and entrusted himself to Mount Hua, and she rushed to Shanxi as soon as dawn broke.
“…Madam, what exactly are the circumstances that suggest the Demonic Cult is involved?”
Seong Mu-yeon asked cautiously. Jang Han-soo glared at him, so he carefully chose each word. He didn’t know what Jang Han-soo would do if he showed even the slightest sign of trying to back out.
“It’s a little difficult to say here… Instead, why don’t you come to my house with me and take a look? Please. Our Yuha is the only grandson of the Seomun Clan… He’s a precious child who wouldn’t hurt even if you put him in your eyes! If anything happens to my son, I won’t let those Demonic Cult bastards get away with it!”
“How old is your son?”
“He just passed twenty…”
Madam Seomun sobbed.
“He’s an adult.”
“He’s still a baby.”
“……”
“……”
The two spoke at the same time and looked at each other.
“Twenty is still young!”
“Yes… Let’s just say that.”
‘A young man who just turned twenty is missing.’
No matter how he looked at it, there was a high probability that it was a simple runaway. It was an undeniable fact that the Demonic Cult often kidnapped promising young people or children. However, the Demonic Cult’s principle was to leave no trace when doing such things.
Seong Mu-yeon had the words “Go to the government office instead of me” stuck in his throat.
Suddenly, he tilted his head at the strange sense of déjà vu.
‘Seomun Yuha? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere.’
“Don’t worry, Madam. This Young master here will do his best to help. Isn’t that right, Young master Seong Mu-yeon?”
“Yes! Of course. Aren’t I a Demonic Cult Young master? If there’s anyone here who knows more about the Demonic Cult than I do, let them come out!”
Seong Mu-yeon replied with a smile on his face. But inside, he was shedding tears of blood.
‘Damn it. I really don’t want to go.’
The Sect leader briefly sent Madam Seomun out.
“Are you alright with this?”
The Sect leader looked reluctant.
“If it’s something like that, it would be enough for us to send a few disciples to investigate.”
“I really want to go… It’s… It’s my family’s responsibility…”
He wanted to beg the Sect leader not to send him. But when he saw Jang Han-soo smiling kindly behind him, he couldn’t bring himself to reveal his true feelings.
“Oh my, Young master Seong Mu-yeon is very responsible.”
“Isn’t that right, Sect leader? It’s admirable. To be so selfless with a body that hasn’t even mastered martial arts properly. I’ve really seen him in a new light.”
“Hehehehe!”
“Hahahaha!”
‘I hope the Demonic Cult goes bankrupt.’
He felt wronged.
“Since Young master says so, then I’ll ask you to do it. It would be impossible for you to go alone, right? I’ll assign a Mount Hua disciple to you. Ryeo-il, who you’ve been with, would be comfortable, but he seems to be busy these days taking in a disciple.”
“If Senior Brother can’t, I’ll go. Sect leader.”
Jang Han-soo’s eyes were fixed on Seong Mu-yeon as he said that. Seong Mu-yeon glimpsed the madness hiding in those seemingly clear and shining eyes.
‘No! Not Jang Han-soo!’
Just in time, Baek Ryeo-il burst into the Sect Leader’s Hall.
“Seong Mu-yeon! Are you here?!”
Having finished his water lily fragrance, he went to the Finance Division to pick up Seong Mu-yeon, but he heard that he had been dragged to the Sect Leader’s Hall and came running.
“Senior Brother Baek, long time no see?”
“Junior Brother Jang, you look well? Unfortunately.”
Baek Ryeo-il and Jang Han-soo bared their teeth at each other.
“Ahem. The children are full of energy.”
The Sect leader explained the situation to Baek Ryeo-il.
“So, what will you do? If you’re really busy, Han-soo said he’ll go instead, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Seong Mu-yeon gave Baek Ryeo-il a pleading look.
‘Please…!’
Who knows what kind of trouble he’ll get into if he goes with that sly bastard? No matter what, Baek Ryeo-il was much better than Jang Han-soo.
Baek Ryeo-il raised his eyebrows when he saw his gaze.
“…Hmm. I see.”
Baek Ryeo-il paused, unlike his usual self. He stroked his chin as if contemplating, and folded his fingers as if calculating something.
“How many days will it take to come back?”
He was definitely trying to torment him on purpose, but Seong Mu-yeon was the one who was desperate now. He clasped his hands together earnestly.
“I guess Ryeo-il, you can’t do it. Then Han-soo, you…”
“I’ll go, Sect leader. I’m not busy.”
“Hmm? I thought you took in a new disciple, would you be alright? Isn’t he just starting his training?”
“He can’t even keep up with the basic physical strength yet, so there’s nothing special to teach him. He’ll be ready to learn when I get back.”
“Alright. Do as you wish.”
When Baek Ryeo-il made his decision, Jang Han-soo surprisingly shrugged and stepped back without any regrets.
Seong Mu-yeon thought he was relieved. However, when Baek Ryeo-il sent him a blatant look, his calmed heart began to stir again.
When he heard the news that they were going on an excursion, Gang Woong drooped his shoulders.
“…I can’t go… I’m not qualified yet…”
“Don’t say that. I don’t want to be separated from Gang Instructor either.”
He was sincere. He was almost teary-eyed. Seong Mu-yeon didn’t want to be cooped up in the cozy Emerald Pavilion. But he had to leave for the cold and tiring outside world.
“Young master…!”
“Gang Instructor…!”
The two hugged each other and said their goodbyes.
“What a fuss.”
Baek Ryeo-il clicked his tongue.
“Gang Woong, if you’re not ready when I get back, know that you won’t have another chance next time.”
“Yes, yes! Please come back safely, Master!”
Baek Ryeo-il chuckled and ruffled his hair.
“Alright.”