By Zephyria The Lifeline (4)
“Master? Well……. I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”
“Is that so?”
Seong Mu-yeon shrugged nonchalantly and prepared to go out.
As he put on his clothes, Gang Woong asked sharply.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah, Yakseon Daein is still at Mount Hua, so I thought I’d pay her a visit before she leaves……”
“No!”
Rarely, Gang Woong raised his voice.
“Why, why are you doing this?”
“You heard it earlier. That person tried to ki, kill Young master. But you’re going to visit her of your own accord? Absolutely not. I absolutely cannot allow it.”
Gang Woong shouted firmly and closed the half-open door that Seong Mu-yeon had opened. Seong Mu-yeon was dumbfounded.
“……Why do you keep resembling my master more and more? If it looks like it’s not going to work out, I’ll quickly run away, so don’t worry. You know me. I never do anything dangerous.”
“Still no!”
He struggled to pry off the boy blocking the door, but Gang Woong, who was a head shorter, didn’t budge.
“Move!”
“No!”
While they were struggling, the door creaked open.
“You can go with me.”
“Master Baek!”
“Anyway, she’s someone you have to meet once.”
Baek Ryeo-il nodded briefly as if telling him to come out. Then Gang Woong couldn’t hold him back any longer. As he reluctantly stepped aside, Seong Mu-yeon quickly darted out.
“I’ll be right back!”
Leaving Gang Woong with a worried expression, the two left Emerald Pavilion. Seong Mu-yeon almost ran to catch up with Baek Ryeo-il’s pace.
“Thank you for the other day. I heard Master played a big role.”
“…….”
“But Master didn’t know that the Sect leader knew about my illness either, right? I was so surprised. Why are you walking so fast? Let’s go together!”
Baek Ryeo-il flinched and slowed down slightly, but Seong Mu-yeon could still barely see his profile.
‘Is he angry?’
Baek Ryeo-il didn’t seem to be in a good mood. Seong Mu-yeon quickly searched his mind for the reason why he was in a bad mood.
“Oh, you must have been very surprised the other day? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance. But I thought I could hold out until I met Yakseon Daein, but I made a mistake.”
“…….”
Is this not it?
In the meantime, they arrived at the Guest room where Yak Seon was staying.
He had spoken boldly in front of Gang Woong, but when he was about to meet Yak Seon, fear took over and his steps naturally slowed down.
He was very worried. There were many people who had been rude to his face so far, but he was not affected at all. It was because they were not important people in his life.
But Yak Seon was different.
His life may depend on her.
Baek Ryeo-il, who had no way of knowing his feelings, knocked on the door of the Guest room without hesitation. There was no answer from inside, but he threw the door open without letting him stop him.
‘I’m not ready.’
But Baek Ryeo-il had already entered the Guest room. Seong Mu-yeon calmed his trembling heart and followed him in.
Yak Seon was sitting crookedly on a bench by the window, tilting a bottle of alcohol. When unexpected visitors entered, she glared.
“Did I allow you to come in?”
Her muttering voice was full of hostility.
Seong Mu-yeon was briefly overwhelmed by the urge to hide behind Baek Ryeo-il’s mountain-like back, but he swallowed hard and took a step forward.
“Hello, Yakseon Daein. I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s an honor to meet you like this……”
“Get lost.”
Yak Seon didn’t even look at him and drank her alcohol. It seemed like she had no intention of listening at all. He had expected it, but he felt a little bitter when he received such a cold reaction. Still, Seong Mu-yeon smiled and spoke again.
“Still, you saved my life, so I have to thank you……”
“I told you to get lost.”
Hmm, she seems very angry.
It’s hard to make a good impression by insisting on someone who doesn’t like it, so I decided to step back for today. Seong Mu-yeon nodded, maintaining a welcoming smile.
“Yes, I’ll visit you again at the right time.”
“You stay.”
That was to Baek Ryeo-il.
Thud.
Before Seong Mu-yeon could react, the door closed right in front of his nose.
“…….”
That night, Baek Ryeo-il did not return to Emerald Pavilion.
The next day, and the day after that, Baek Ryeo-il did not return.
A guest visited from the morning. It was closer to Seong Mu-yeon catching someone peeking around the gate than a ‘visit,’ though.
“Young Master Seomun, is that you again? What are you trying to do this time?”
Seong Mu-yeon grabbed Seomun Yuha, who was trying to run away, and dragged him inside.
“N, no, it’s not like that……”
Seomun Yuha, who was forced to sit on a chair, drooped his shoulders and couldn’t even make eye contact. He glanced around and quickly avoided Seong Mu-yeon’s eyes when they met.
“Isn’t it time to stop spying?”
“I’m sorry……”
Seomun Yuha mumbled and fidgeted with his fingers.
“I just…… have something to say……”
“Say it now.”
Seong Mu-yeon sat across from him, crossed his arms as if telling him to say whatever he wanted. Seomun Yuha hesitated for a long time and mumbled in a faint voice.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help……”
“Yes?”
It was absurd. It had already been several days since Seong Mu-yeon had collapsed. Did he worry for days to say that and peek around the gate of someone else’s house?
“Why do you think so? Still, thanks to you, I got some help……. He, help.”
Seong Mu-yeon couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
He couldn’t say that he was helped even as a formality. Just thinking about how he had been tormented by Seomun Yuha made him want to beat him up even now. Besides, he also found out that that help could have harmed his life.
But Seong Mu-yeon eventually chuckled.
“Still, the intention to help was genuine, right? I will gratefully accept your heart.”
“Young master……”
Seomun Yuha raised his head, teary-eyed. Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly added, fearing that he would ruin things again by helping him.
“Only your heart.”
“……But in the end, it wasn’t helpful at all.”
Seomun Yuha pouted his lips as if he was upset.
“It’s a relief that it turned out well as a result, isn’t it? Does it matter who did it?”
“It matters! I……! I wanted to be friends with Young master!”
Seomun Yuha shouted and buried his face in his hands.
“What I said about not having friends before…… was sincere. All the friends Young master met were playing with me because of my charm. But I thought it would be different this time……. I thought we could become friends if I sacrificed myself to help Young master……. But it’s all gone.”
“You were thinking that?”
“I’m sorry……”
Seomun Yuha gradually lowered his head further, as if he was about to bury it in the ground. Seong Mu-yeon shook his head.
“Unfortunately, Young Master Seomun, that’s not how you make friends. I think you’re thinking about it all wrong.”
“I guess so……. I understand even if you hate me now. I’ve only shown you an unsightly appearance, so you probably don’t even want to see my face anymore. I’ll get out of here. Please stay healthy……”
He sobbed and stood up weakly from his chair.
“That’s strange. Weren’t we already friends?”
Seomun Yuha turned to Seong Mu-yeon with a surprised face. Tears were welling up in his wide eyes.
“Friends originally fight and argue with each other and then become close, right? I’ve thought of you as a friend for a long time, but it seems Young Master Seomun didn’t think so. I’m disappointed.”
“…….”
Seomun Yuha’s dazed face gradually brightened. Then he soon smiled brightly.
“Re, really? We can become friends even if I don’t do anything?”
“If I’m the only one who thinks so……”
“No! No! I also thought I was fri, friends with Young master! Wow……”
Seong Mu-yeon narrowed his eyes, stopping Seomun Yuha, who was rushing at him as usual.
“I hope you don’t do this kind of thing anymore. And stop peeking around outside!”
“Yes! I won’t do that again. Hahaha.”
Seomun Yuha stepped away with a smile that seemed to have a good personality. He twisted his body, staring at his first friend with sparkling eyes and a loving gaze.
“We’re really friends, right?”
When Seong Mu-yeon saw those eyes, he remembered being teased by him and felt like he wanted to cancel what he had just said. But he soon burst into laughter.
“What else would we be?”
Seomun Yuha pretended to wipe away his cold sweat in an exaggerated manner and joked.
“Oh, that’s a relief. I was really worried about whether I had to do the Art of the Bedchamber with Seong Mu-yeon. Even so, it’s a bit much between men……. It’s not my taste.”
“I, is that so……”
And yet you tormented me so much?!
Forget about being friends. I should cancel it.
Seomun Yuha chatted with Seong Mu-yeon until it was time for his training and then left.
‘It’s time.’
Seong Mu-yeon straightened his clothes and left Emerald Pavilion.
In the meantime, he had been working hard to make an impression on Yak Seon, but it hadn’t worked out well. Being turned away was commonplace, and he almost bumped his nose on the closing door. Of course, time passed without even having a single conversation with Yak Seon.
But Seong Mu-yeon was not one to give up like this. Early in the morning, he headed to the restaurant kitchen.
“Is it ready?”
“Yes!”
Thanks to telling the cook in advance, an employee handed Seong Mu-yeon a freshly made Food box.
“The kitchen is busy and short-handed anyway, so thank you, Young master. Please take care of us.”
“I’m the one who’s grateful.”
As soon as the kitchen door closed, Seong Mu-yeon erased the smile on his face. Instead, a sinister smile took its place.
‘Let’s see if you can turn away the food even if you turn away the person.’