Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: I Like You
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She had been thoroughly trained in the refined etiquette befitting a daughter of a prestigious clan since childhood. But she had never once found that etiquette training enjoyable. Peng Yeonhwa had grown much more composed now, but as a child, she had been a wild tomboy.
Sitting primly to sip tea or arranging flowers held no appeal compared to racing through the mountains or swinging a sword in the training grounds.
The Peng Clan was a martial family, so there were few restrictions on her rambunctious behavior.
However, training for formal occasions and for the day she might become a matriarch through marriage was essential.
Looking back now, those innocent memories stirred a mix of regrets and complicated emotions.
Her brother laughing, "You really don't suit sitting still like that."
Her father chuckling heartily, "Looks like you have no talent for tea ceremony."
The elders of the clan giving her wry smiles when she begged to swing a sword instead of etiquette lessons.
Her mother's memories, completely excluded. She hadn't questioned the story of her death from illness.
There were so few memories of her mother that she hadn't even felt grief. She had just thought, "I guess that's how it was."
If only she had questioned it properly back then.
……But it was fortunate.
Peng Yeonhwa walked slowly.
That she hadn't completely forgotten.
She had never found the etiquette lessons amusing even once, but it was a relief she had received them. Thanks to that, her gait was flawless. Her expression no longer wavered like before.
The Heavenly Ascension Festival would end after tomorrow's closing ceremony. Tonight was effectively the last night.
The academy grounds were crowded with people. But the elite students were nowhere to be seen.
They were gathered at the guest quarters where the Murim Alliance Leader resided, for a meeting with the Black Serpent Alliance Chief.
Even so, there were plenty of people around. With the sparring tournament over and it being the final night of the festival, the students' hearts were light. The semester would end a few months after the festival, but there was a grade evaluation before that.
Tonight was essentially the last night of the year they could enjoy without a care.
Perhaps because of that, there were unusually many pairs of young men and women walking together. Gather youths in their prime in one place, and romances were bound to spark.
The academy didn't strictly forbid fraternizing among students, so there were quite a few couples. They just couldn't be so open about it usually, due to clashing class schedules, dignity, and appearances.
"……Hoa? That's her, right?"
"Hard to tell with her all dressed up like that."
"See, with the latent dragon……."
Even with so many couples, all eyes were on Peng Yeonhwa and Wi Seongcheon. Their prominence had skyrocketed during the sparring tournament.
Especially after Peng Yeonhwa's defeat to Dang Seona and falling asleep curled up in Wi Seongcheon's lap, everyone was misunderstanding their relationship.
‘Clear as a mirror, still as water…….’
Peng Yeonhwa recited it in her mind. Thinking back on that moment still made her face burn. But she didn't want to show it now.
"Why are you acting so prim and proper?"
Wi Seongcheon, following behind her, quickened his pace to walk beside her. Peng Yeonhwa, who had been walking with her back straight, glanced at him sideways.
"……I've never acted prim."
"You're doing it right now. Your face is all stiff too."
"……I'm just being careful because I put on nice clothes for once."
"What does your outfit matter? Anyway, we're not strangers, so why act like this? It doesn't suit you."
"……It doesn't?"
"No, don't get me wrong. Not the clothes—the way you're acting. It's too different from usual."
She was trying so hard to be ladylike. Peng Yeonhwa pouted and glared at Wi Seongcheon.
"It's much better."
"……What is?"
"When it shows plainly on your face. Don't force it—just be yourself."
"……Isn't this fine too?"
"It is. Just no need to force it."
"Ugh."
Peng Yeonhwa sighed and shook her head. She scratched at her neatly tied-up hair and shot Wi Seongcheon a look.
"It's not forced. I wanted to do it. It's just…… awkward because it's my first time acting like this."
"I wouldn't know. Never properly learned etiquette like you."
"Me neither, really."
Peng Yeonhwa grumbled as she strode forward. She heard whispers about herself walking with Wi Seongcheon, but she ignored them now.
"……It's unfamiliar."
"What is?"
"I never thought I'd revisit the things I learned as a kid like this. And…… yeah. Never imagined dolling up and wandering the night with someone."
Just a few months ago, she couldn't have pictured this day. Back then, Peng Yeonhwa had been…… huddled away.
She had come to the Heavenly Academy but avoided mingling with other students. Plenty approached out of curiosity or pity, but she always pushed them away.
But now. She hadn't forfeited at the Heavenly Ascension Festival and made it to the finals. She had thrashed that annoying Young Sojin.
She lost to Dang Seona, but in that fight, she transformed into her beastkin form. She had revealed it before a huge crowd.
In just a few months. Peng Yeonhwa had been through so much and changed profoundly. If she had been alone, she wouldn't have changed or faced those things.
That's why it felt unfamiliar. Every day was unfamiliar now. Eating with someone. Chatting with someone. She used to hate attention, but now felt relief in letting loose.
The shy, fluttering heartbeat too.
Everything was unfamiliar yet enjoyable. Days spent in a daze were now something to anticipate and relish. Peng Yeonhwa turned to look at Wi Seongcheon.
"Thanks."
"For what, out of nowhere."
How to describe this feeling? Peng Yeonhwa hesitated, then smiled brightly.
"For not forgetting me."
Their meeting ten years ago hadn't been special to her. Meeting new people happened all the time.
The Peng Clan, then one of the Four Great Clans, mingled with people from various families and sects. She had plenty of peers among them.
But not for Wi Seongcheon. So he hadn't forgotten. He couldn't. The ‘world’ he saw at age ten had shocked him deeply.
A world of abuse and scorn. Amid that, what shone vividly was Peng Yeonhwa's smile. "What are you doing? Wanna play?" Simple childish words, a hand pulling him along. Pathetically, Wi Seongcheon couldn't forget that memory.
"No way I could forget."
Wi Seongcheon murmured, reaching out to her. Peng Yeonhwa blinked, then took his hand. A hand she had held before. Large, rough, calloused.
Different from the one ten years ago. That sensation wasn't clear anymore.
‘Back then, I was the one who reached out first.’
But now—no, since coming to the Heavenly Academy. Peng Yeonhwa giggled softly.
"You've been thinking about it all along?"
"About what?"
"That time we played together."
"What else? Of course I did. It was my first time playing with a girl my age."
Wi Seongcheon smirked and tugged her hand.
"I wanted to play again if we ever met. That's all."
When he came to the Heavenly Academy and saw Peng Yeonhwa, he couldn't leave her alone. She overlapped with his huddled child self from his first visit to the Murim Alliance ten years ago, amid abuse and scorn.
So, like she had back then, he reached out time and again.
"We're not kids anymore, so we can't play like that."
"Not old enough for mud pies anymore."
"Maybe tag, though."
"‘Catch me if you can’?"
Peng Yeonhwa giggled. He had reached out first, but didn't pull her along like before. They walked side by side.
"We could, but it'd be embarrassing, so no. People would tease."
"They're already watching plenty."
"It's just holding hands."
Right. Just holding hands. Peng Yeonhwa looked at Wi Seongcheon's left hand gripped in hers. Connected like that.
"That alone's enough to tease us about."
She murmured softly.
They walked on like that. The last night of the Heavenly Ascension Festival. Plenty to see and eat, but they didn't watch or eat anything.
They just held hands and walked. Ignoring the prickling stares and endless whispers.
How long did they walk? They circled the academy grounds. Conversation was sparse. A bit about old times. Recent events, and things a few months away.
"We'll move to the advanced class in second year."
"Probably."
Classes for second year were decided by the grade evaluation in a few months. They hadn't taken it yet, but Wi Seongcheon and Peng Yeonhwa would surely advance.
Impossible to stay in the beginner class after their tournament feats.
"You're following Senior Jeong Miju, right?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Me…… I'll head back to the Peng Clan."
"Wanna go together?"
"No, it's fine. I have to go back. ……Left something behind."
Wi Seongcheon didn't press. The Peng Clan's main house in Hebei was under Murim Alliance oversight now. Guarding against the tiger calamity's return, and watching Peng Yeonhwa.
Surveillance amounted to alliance experts lurking nearby. That leniency was the Alliance Leader's consideration.
"I don't remember everything from ten years ago, but I do recall you being super timid."
"You're one to talk? Mine was ten years ago—yours was just months."
Giggles passed between them. Truthfully, they hadn't shared everything. Wi Seongcheon hadn't spoken of his father or the Cheonhwa Sect.
Peng Yeonhwa hadn't mentioned the tiger calamity or what she saw that fateful day.
‘Not yet.’
She couldn't accept it herself. Wasn't confident enough. But this was different. Peng Yeonhwa stared at their joined hands. Night deepened.
The festival's final night was ending. Their steps had turned toward the dorms.
‘I know this for sure.’
The pleasant pounding. Warmth from their joined hands. She couldn't see it, but her tail was probably wagging. Peng Yeonhwa giggled.
The unfamiliar feeling of burning cheeks and racing heart. She knew it clearly now. Had known for a while, really.
"I like you."
So she could say it. Peng Yeonhwa stopped. Wi Seongcheon stopped too. He slowly turned to look at her.
"I like you."
Peng Yeonhwa beamed.
"Not since ten years ago, obviously. Not even when we reunited at the academy. When exactly…… I don't know. Too many moments looking back."
He stubbornly approached despite her warnings. Stopped her when she lost control. Didn't shy away after seeing that.
Accepted her repeated pushbacks. Got…… closer. Shared so many stories. Understood her.
She wanted to change. Since when? No idea. Too many triggers.
"I like who I am now more than the old me."
She squeezed. Strength entered the fingers gripping Wi Seongcheon's hand.
"The me who's changed since meeting you."
Growing close to him brought other friends. Dang Heeran, Bang Jun. And other seniors.
"So…… I like you. Couldn't help it."
"I know."
Wi Seongcheon nodded.
Peng Yeonhwa was obvious. She blushed without a word, wagged her tail. Stumbled over words like a fool. How could he not notice after seeing it so often?
"But not yet."
She was the one who said it.
"I have so much to do. So…… I can't be too honest, can't just do what I want right now."
Peng Yeonhwa let go first. Wi Seongcheon reached again, but she shook her head.
"Someday…… not sure when."
"After you get revenge?"
"Yeah."
Wi Seongcheon clenched and unclenched his empty hand.
"Not curious about my answer?"
"I am, but I won't ask."
Peng Yeonhwa giggled.
"Think I know what it'd be anyway."
"I haven't said anything."
"Still know. Or…… think I do."
It won't be different from mine.
Peng Yeonhwa buried that answer in her heart. Wi Seongcheon's eyes wavered faintly. Of course. Since when? The trigger? He knew. Since ten years ago.
Yeah, ten years ago.
‘Fate.’
The word flashed through his mind, and Wi Seongcheon nodded.
‘Cheonhwa Sect's.’
‘Damn it.’
"……Then I'll say it later too."
Harboring those thoughts, Wi Seongcheon echoed her words. Peng Yeonhwa smiled, satisfied. She clutched her hand, still warm from him, and turned.
"Let's head in. Summer's ending—night breeze is chilly."
She wouldn't catch a cold from wind like this. But she needed an excuse to head to the dorms.
Feeling her heart thump, Peng Yeonhwa quickened her steps past him. Her face bore the brightest smile yet.
‘Looks like sleep's off the table tonight.’
Wi Seongcheon gave a wry smile, aware of his burning cheeks.
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