Chapter 111: I'll be Coming Along as well
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: I'll be Coming Along as well
After Gu Yangcheon left the room, silence descended upon Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah. Had he remained, the atmosphere would have been so frigid it would have been difficult to breathe.
Namgung Bi-ah stared at Tang Soyeol for a long moment before finally sitting down opposite her. She retrieved a fresh teacup and poured tea for her friend without a word.
Trickle.
The only sound was the pour. Not a single word passed between them.
After a considerable stretch of quiet, Tang Soyeol was the first to speak. "It's been a while, sis."
"Yeah. A while…"
Despite the exchange, neither looked at the other. Namgung Bi-ah's gaze was fixed on the desk, seemingly counting the grain lines in the wood, while Tang Soyeol stared at a leaf floating on the surface of her tea.
"I thought the earliest we'd see each other would be next year, but here we are, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Sis."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you here?"
The blunt question caught Namgung Bi-ah off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. What could she say? Could she fall back on the excuse she'd always used before—that she was simply staying with her fiancé? She knew immediately that such a justification wouldn't hold water now, not in their current situation.
When Namgung Bi-ah offered no reply, Tang Soyeol took a sip of tea. Her throat was dry. This isn't what I wanted to talk about at all… she thought inwardly. Letting out a sigh at the twisted turn of the conversation, she shifted topics.
"I heard that sis might be marrying the young master of the Gu Clan."
She placed a deliberate emphasis on "might." While a promise had already been forged between the two clans, making the match all but certain, Tang Soyeol refused to accept it as a finality. She was just that greedy.
Namgung Bi-ah, however, offered little in response, merely nodding in confirmation.
"Did you have a say in this?" Tang Soyeol pressed.
She remembered that moment clearly—the moment she had asked Namgung Bi-ah if she liked Gu Yangcheon.
She clearly said that she didn’t, that it wasn’t love between a man and a woman.
But looking at Namgung Bi-ah now, Tang Soyeol was no longer sure her feelings were the same. It wasn't just an assumption that Namgung Bi-ah's heart might have changed. When the marriage was announced, the emptiness that often clouded her pale blue eyes had vanished, replaced by a distinct light. Her perpetually pale skin, which had always lent her a cold, untouchable aura, now carried a faint, rosy hue.
She was like a flower that had finally bloomed. She had always been beautiful, but now, in full bloom, her beauty was striking, even breathtaking.
She is beautiful, Tang Soyeol thought, despite being a girl herself. Namgung Bi-ah's beauty was simply overwhelming. It's honestly too much at this point.
Tang Soyeol secretly clenched her fist. She was confident in her own looks, and everyone around her agreed. She was pretty and took meticulous care of her appearance. Yet, compared to the woman sitting before her, she felt she was nothing. That was the extent of Namgung Bi-ah's evolved beauty.
Perhaps, Tang Soyeol wondered, she felt this way because of Namgung Bi-ah's connection to Gu Yangcheon.
That's not the case.
Her eyes caught on an accessory in Namgung Bi-ah's hair. Namgung Bi-ah had always complained about her beautiful hair getting in the way of training and had even talked of cutting it. She was not the type to adorn herself. But now, there it was—a hairpin.
"Sis…?" Tang Soyeol called out again.
The usually dull girl finally shook her head. It was true she'd had no say in the engagement. Still, she felt compelled to add, "I'm glad that it happened, though."
"…"
Tang Soyeol lowered her head at the response. Everything was clear now.
How did this dull sister of mine change so much?
Namgung Bi-ah had always been true to her emotions, even if they were rarely visible. But now, her eyes seemed to be searching for someone, and a warmth she had never shown before radiated from her. Tang Soyeol knew all these changes stemmed from Namgung Bi-ah's interest in a specific person.
Had Namgung Bi-ah been opposed to the marriage, Tang Soyeol would have been determined to help her. She had really, truly wanted that to be the case. She had needed it to be the case.
"Sis, you told me before that you didn't like Young Master Gu."
"Yeah."
"Do you still feel the same…?" Tang Soyeol inquired softly.
"No," Namgung Bi-ah replied. Back then, she had indeed felt that way. But her answer was different now.
Before speaking, she had wondered if what she felt for that boy was love. Ultimately, she wasn't sure. She didn't even know what love was, so how could she be certain?
She just liked the way he looked at her. She liked the sensation of his fingers gently touching her hair as she drifted to sleep. She liked that he tried to care for her, even when pushing her away with harsh words. He always asked if she had eaten and was perceptive enough to notice her bad moods or fatigue.
If he wasn't around, she wanted to know where he was. If he was nearby, she wanted to be closer. And when she was near, he would pretend to push her away but always ended up staying.
Namgung Bi-ah often wondered then: Is this love or not? She still hadn't found an answer. But she figured she would learn it in time. If she continued to be with him, she would eventually know. There were many things Namgung Bi-ah didn't understand, but of this, she was certain.
Hearing her old friend's firm response, Tang Soyeol carefully set down her teacup.
Sis is just mistaken because she doesn't know much about the world yet. She won't be happy if she goes through with this. There are so many other men. She should reconsider.
Tang Soyeol swallowed all the words that rose in her throat. She felt childish and pathetic. She didn't want to sink this low. To her, Namgung Bi-ah was still more important than Gu Yangcheon. She couldn't bring herself to say anything more.
It was just…
Why, of all people… Why did it have to be Gu Yangcheon?
Tang Soyeol felt pathetic for being so captivated by a handsome face, but frustration also burned within her. She wondered if she should have begged her father for an engagement with the Gu Clan before all this happened.
Not that father would have agreed. He only approved of my engagement to Namgung Cheonjun with great reluctance, as if shedding tears of blood.
She remembered clearly throwing a tantrum to stop that marriage, and the smile on her father's face when the engagement was finally canceled.
Tang Soyeol let out a sigh laden with her complicated thoughts. It was a love at first sight based solely on appearance, yet letting go was proving unbearably difficult. She unclenched the fist she had been tightening.
"Sorry."
Tang Soyeol's eyes widened at the sudden apology. "Why are you suddenly apologizing?"
"Soyeol, you…"
"No, you don't need to apologize, sis."
In just a few months, Namgung Bi-ah had learned many things. Most importantly, she had become better at reading people's emotions. While her perception was still poor compared to the average person, it was a significant improvement over her past self. She could easily discern the frustration and disappointment swirling beneath the bright smile Tang Soyeol had plastered on her face.
"You may not have initiated this engagement, but since he's so handsome, it's understandable that you like him."
"Huh?" Namgung Bi-ah brushed aside the hair covering her eyes, thinking she must have misheard. Especially the part about him being handsome.
"What?"
"It's nothing."
Not feeling it was her place to argue, Namgung Bi-ah gave up on the thought.
"I should be the one apologizing to sis…" Tang Soyeol said softly. She then tucked the letter she had shown Gu Yangcheon back into her pocket. "I apologize because I'm not going to take back my request to Young Master Gu."
Her request for him to accompany her to the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament. She didn't know how he would respond, but she had no intention of giving up. It wasn't that she was trying to steal Gu Yangcheon away from Namgung Bi-ah. It was just that, despite seeing Namgung Bi-ah's change and hearing her answer, Tang Soyeol still couldn't let go. She still wanted to be near him, if only for a little longer.
I'm fucked, Tang Soyeol thought to herself. They always said to stay away from handsome guys because they have terrible personalities. Maybe if I stay with him for a bit, I'll get tired of his shitty attitude?
Even as she thought it, she knew she could never grow tired of his face, even in death.
"Young Master Gu might reject my request, but if he does go to the tournament…"
"It's fine."
"Huh?" Tang Soyeol was taken aback by Namgung Bi-ah's nonchalant response. Her expression was perfectly calm, as if she couldn't see any problem at all. Most girls would be displeased or at least nervous, but Namgung Bi-ah spoke as if stating the obvious.
"Because… I'll be coming along as well."
"S-Sis?"
Namgung Bi-ah had never participated in the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament. She rarely left her clan, and it was only by pure coincidence that the two had even become friends. Furthermore, Namgung Bi-ah disliked crowded places and people who knew her and tried to approach her.
"Sis, the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament…" It was a gathering of the world's young prodigies, a stage for the generation's brightest male and female talents to see who would shine the brightest. Tang Soyeol herself received significant attention whenever she attended. She could only imagine the stir Namgung Bi-ah's presence would cause. It was utterly surprising that Namgung Bi-ah, who hated being the center of attention, would choose to go.
"It's fine." Namgung Bi-ah was calm, completely unaffected. Noting Tang Soyeol's silence, she continued, "Because he's going."
Gu Yangcheon was going, so she would be there as well. That simple reason was enough.
After a few more awkward sentences, their conversation ended. Both had much they wanted to say, but the words remained unspoken.
Once they finished speaking, Namgung Bi-ah went outside. Gu Yangcheon was still there, waiting. He looked as if he were trying to gauge the atmosphere. The sight of his fierce eyes attempting to 'read the room' was almost comical.
Namgung Bi-ah suddenly recalled Tang Soyeol's words.
She said he's… handsome.
Whether her eyes were faulty or not, Namgung Bi-ah couldn't relate to the sentiment.
After a few seconds, Gu Yangcheon noticed her intense stare. He frowned, clearly curious about what the two had discussed. Namgung Bi-ah burst out laughing at his strange expression.
"Huh? Why are you laughing at my face?"
"It's nothing." She immediately schooled her features back to neutrality, a skill she had mastered.
"What about Lady Tang?"
"She said… she'd come to you later to talk."
"Should I just leave now?"
"Yeah."
Tang Soyeol had said no such thing, but Namgung Bi-ah said it because she saw Gu Yangcheon about to head back into the room.
Why did I lie? she wondered to herself. She simply didn't want to send him back into that room at that moment.
The young man looked confused, but Namgung Bi-ah grabbed his sleeve and tugged. "I'm hungry…"
"What? But you ate dumplings earlier."
"…"
Unable to tell if she was genuinely hungry, Gu Yangcheon chose to believe her. He was always particular about people eating properly.
Other things suck too, but being hungry is the worst.
Namgung Bi-ah didn't understand why he said such things, especially since someone like him would never know starvation in his household.
Watching his back as he walked ahead, Namgung Bi-ah allowed herself a small smile and quickened her pace to stride beside him.
"What should we eat?"
"Anything…?"
"Do you know that's the most annoying answer?"
They chatted as they walked. For Namgung Bi-ah, even these small moments were more than enough.
* * *
In the Gu Clan Lord's quarters, Gu Cheolun was speaking with the Plum Blossom Sword Queen.
"You must be tired from your journey. Why have you come when I said you could rest today?"
The Sword Queen had requested to stay in the same guesthouse as Gu Ryunghwa. Knowing their history, Gu Cheolun had agreed, confident it would pose no problem.
"There were many things I wished to ask. I found it difficult to simply rest."
"Things to ask… of me?"
"Yes."
Gu Cheolun observed the Sword Queen with his sharp gaze. She seemed different from when he had seen her a few years ago.
Seems like she's been cured. He had known she was slowly withering away back then. Noticing the improvement, he began, "I'm glad that you're hea—"
"Captain."
Gu Cheolun frowned when the Sword Queen cut him off. He hadn't heard that title in decades. "Sword Queen," he replied in a low, growling tone. "What are you doing?"
"I have something to ask of you, Captain."
"Please use my proper title. Why are you still living in the past?"
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"
"What's past should be forgotten."
The Sword Queen smiled faintly at his serious tone. "To me, it doesn't seem you've forgotten anything, Captain. The fact that the former Murim Alliance Leader is staying within the Gu Clan is proof enough of that."
"…"
The Sword Queen had seen through the Sword Venerable's identity immediately, and the old man surely knew it as well. She had respected his wish for anonymity and hadn't exposed him.
She continued, looking straight at Gu Cheolun. "You told me not to ask about Cheonhee when you allowed me to care for Gu Ryunghwa. I still intend to keep that promise."
"Then what are you—"
"So, how about we talk about the Abyss instead?"
"Sword Queen!" Gu Cheolun's voice rose sharply.
"Decades have passed, but I still remember." The Sword Queen didn't flinch at his roar. Instead, her demeanor grew colder. "I came here because I wanted to ask you, Captain."
She stared directly into Gu Cheolun's fierce eyes and asked, "Captain, what did you experience in the Abyss?"
As the question left her lips, Gu Cheolun's body erupted into flames.