By Zephyria Detoxification (1)
The three put their heads together and began to discuss how to obtain the antidote. Seong Mu-yeon was struggling with the poison and didn’t have the strength to lift a finger, so it could be said that only the two of them were pointing fingers at each other and shouting.
“So, if we find Poison Freak, we can get the antidote!”
“Thanks to Young master, we bought some time, but it’s only a few days at best. Are you confident that you can find Poison Freak and get the antidote within that time?”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
Baek Ryeo-il and Il-gwang were arguing fiercely. Seong Mu-yeon leaned against an armchair that someone had brought him and watched them.
“Don’t fight…….”
Seong Mu-yeon said, but his voice was too small for anyone to hear.
During the height of the war between righteous and demonic factions, Evaporating Serpent Venom spread. Poison Freak was dead, but someone had inherited the poison. Ordinary antidotes didn’t work, and it spread faster the more inner force was used, making it fatal to the martial artists who participated in the war. As the combat power was disrupted, Baek Ryeo-il from the original story had to come up with a solution.
“Who knows? Unless Yak Seon appears.”
“You idiot. Yak Seon doesn’t have a fixed base, so if you’re unlucky, you might never meet him.”
Il-gwang and Baek Ryeo-il’s shouts grew louder and louder. Only after Seong Mu-yeon staggered and waved his arms several times did the two shut their mouths. The arm that had absorbed the poison was dyed black.
“I know where Yak Seon lives.”
The two were stunned by the words.
Seong Mu-yeon didn’t have any great chivalry or noble justice. It wasn’t an act of sacrifice to die in place of Ma Jin-cheon. It was something he did because there was a way to live!
“You should have said such an important thing sooner!”
Baek Ryeo-il yelled, and Seong Mu-yeon grumbled.
“……Who didn’t listen when I tried to say it?”
“So, where does Yak Seon live?”
“Not far from here.”
When allies were hit by Evaporating Serpent Venom during the war, Baek Ryeo-il stepped forward. He was the type of person who didn’t care about such trivial matters, but the loss of combat power was too great.
Baek Ryeo-il, who had captured and interrogated Yak Seon’s disciples, was able to find out the location of his laboratory. He rushed there immediately, but Yak Seon turned him away, saying that he had long since lost interest in worldly affairs, especially those happening in the martial world.
There was a method that Baek Ryeo-il often used when words didn’t work.
It was force.
He immediately broke down the door of the laboratory and made a mess, demanding that he create an antidote. He threw all sorts of furniture and servants around and lay down on the floor to protest.
As a result, Yak Seon, who sighed as if the ground would cave in, handed over the medicine.
Thanks to that, Seong Mu-yeon knew where to go to find him.
“But Seong Mu-yeon, how do you know such a thing?”
Baek Ryeo-il questioned him suspiciously. Il-gwang also hardened his expression.
“That’s right. Young master has never been outside of Xinjiang, has he?”
For once, the two joined forces and cornered Seong Mu-yeon.
“Is that important now? And Il-gwang, how do you know if I’ve been out or not? Are you my mom or something?”
“…….”
In any case, both agreed that it wasn’t important now.
“I’m not sure if Young master can hold out until we get the antidote and come back. You must accompany us so that we can use it as soon as we get it.”
“But what to do……. I can’t put strength in my legs.”
Seong Mu-yeon said with a weak smile. He joked to ease the situation, but the two didn’t seem to find it funny at all. Rather, the surrounding temperature turned cold.
“Then I’ll carry you on my back.”
“I will serve you.”
Baek Ryeo-il and Il-gwang reached out their arms at the same time, then frowned at each other.
“Since it’s because of our Master that he became like this, it’s right for me to do it. You stay out of it.”
“You’re the one who should stay out of it. This person is my lord.”
“Lord, my ass. Do you guys even have any loyalty?”
“Are you done talking?”
“Stop. Stop it.”
“Then you decide. Me or this guy.”
“Yes, Young master, please designate.”
Seong Mu-yeon looked back and forth between the two with difficulty. After a moment of contemplation, he gestured towards Il-gwang.
“Il-gwang, give me a hug.”
“Yes.”
Il-gwang smiled victoriously and lifted Seong Mu-yeon. As they went out of the tent, Baek Ryeo-il was left alone with a greatly shocked face.
“…….”
“What are you doing? Let’s go quickly.”
Il-gwang said coldly, and Baek Ryeo-il mechanically followed behind.
While crossing the forest, he occasionally glanced at Seong Mu-yeon. He looked very natural sitting on Il-gwang’s arm, and he was just staring straight ahead with a blank face, lost in thought.
Baek Ryeo-il chuckled.
Wasn’t Il-gwang a fellow disciple who had been with Seong Mu-yeon since he was young? He and Seong Mu-yeon hadn’t known each other for very long. It was a natural result.
As he thought that, his stomach twisted.
Why did he think that Seong Mu-yeon would naturally choose him? He didn’t even have the energy to contemplate why he was shocked.
‘He’s just a demonic cultist.’
Does the Demonic Cult organization have any friendship for people who have gone through thick and thin together, like the Hwasan Sect or other noble families?
Just a moment ago, that was the case.
Il-gwang didn’t even bat an eye when the demonic cultists, who could be said to be his comrades, fell one after another under the authority of Kwon-gwang of Shaolin.
Besides, quality is more important than the length of a relationship.
Baek Ryeo-il, who was nodding satisfactorily, stopped and hardened his face.
‘……What does it matter to me.’
What does it matter to him who Seong Mu-yeon is close to?
But he couldn’t help but keep looking at him.
“Let’s rest here for a while.”
As night deepened, Il-gwang found a suitable place to camp. There wasn’t enough time to stop by a village, so they had been moving in a straight line, making it impossible to avoid camping.
It was a sunken space on a slope blocked on all sides. Il-gwang put Seong Mu-yeon down in the most comfortable spot in the innermost part and lit a fire. Meanwhile, Baek Ryeo-il stood awkwardly and looked around.
The location wasn’t bad, but there was something that bothered him. It was the existence of the Black Shadow Unit, who had been following them like shadows since the village.
“Please stay here for a moment. I’ll go look around.”
Il-gwang moved away with some of the Black Shadow Unit.
“…….”
Baek Ryeo-il glanced at Seong Mu-yeon, who was sitting in front of the bonfire. The reddish light illuminated his face, but his expression was strange and unreadable.
Seong Mu-yeon had been unusually quiet the whole way. Baek Ryeo-il hadn’t particularly talked to him either, so only silence flowed between them. Other than the crackling sound of the bonfire and the sound of insects, it was as quiet as death.
This silence was a first, as there were always shouts and curses between them. In addition, Seong Mu-yeon seemed to be subtly distancing himself from him physically as well. It was very unfamiliar to see him, who would often run around and not hesitate to step on boundaries, keeping his distance. Baek Ryeo-il felt uneasy for some reason and fidgeted.
“Why did you do that?”
Eventually, he spoke first. Baek Ryeo-il asked as if it were nothing and sat down with a thud in a slightly distant spot.
“What do you mean.”
Seong Mu-yeon replied without taking his eyes off the bonfire.
“Why did you save Master at the cost of your own body?”
“…….”
Baek Ryeo-il’s eyes soon sank coldly.
“Did you want to relieve your guilt?”
“Excuse me?”
“If Master dies at the hands of the Demonic Cult bastards, you won’t be able to ask me for help anymore.”
“Why are you saying such things?”
“Isn’t it true?”
“Think as you please.”
Baek Ryeo-il didn’t understand why Seong Mu-yeon was angry. After thinking hard, he opened his mouth again.
“Then why did you go to that guy instead of me earlier?”
Only after saying it did Baek Ryeo-il realize that this was the real question he wanted to ask.
Only then did Seong Mu-yeon frown and look at Baek Ryeo-il.
“Are you curious?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you’d feel bad.”
“Huh?”
“I’m a Young master of the Demonic Cult. I thought you might get even angrier if you saw my face in a situation where Ma Instructor had gone through such a thing. I was trying to keep a distance so you could sort out your feelings.”
“Is that so?”
Only then did Baek Ryeo-il feel the warmth of the bonfire spreading warmly. The flames were devouring the firewood and burning even more fiercely.
However, Seong Mu-yeon’s narrowed brow did not ease.
“And I only saved Ma Instructor because I could. It’s not like I can control all those demonic cultists. Honestly, isn’t it not my fault? Guilt……. Should I feel it?”
It felt more insulting to be seen as someone who acted with such shallow calculations than to be cursed as a Demonic Cult. He couldn’t afford to feel guilt when he was in such a dire situation himself.
Baek Ryeo-il shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s up to you.”
“That’s right. I don’t feel it. Even if this hadn’t happened, I would have caught Ma Instructor and stripped him bare whenever I needed him.”
Baek Ryeo-il let out a low laugh. It was the first smile he had shown since Ma Jin-cheon was injured.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Yes, please do.”
A little later, Il-gwang returned after finishing his reconnaissance.
“It seems safe for now. We’ll stand guard, so Young master, please sleep.”
“Okay.”
Seong Mu-yeon lay down on the bedding that Il-gwang and the Black Shadow Unit had made by taking off their outer garments. However, he couldn’t fall asleep easily and kept tossing and turning.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“It’s cold…….”
Seong Mu-yeon muttered, hunching his shoulders as much as possible. It was still early to call it winter, but it was cold enough for Seong Mu-yeon.
“I’ll make the fire bigger.”
Il-gwang was about to turn around to get firewood when.
“There’s no need for that.”
Baek Ryeo-il strode up to Seong Mu-yeon. He lay down next to him and wrapped him tightly. Il-gwang’s eyebrows twitched.
“……What are you doing?”
“He said he’s cold.”
Baek Ryeo-il replied with a smile.