Chapter 124: It Won’t Happen Just Because of that
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: It Won’t Happen Just Because of that
The first time I visited the basement, I asked my father what they were—whether they were even human—and why they were kept down there in the first place. Those questions gnawed at me relentlessly. His answer was brief and cryptic:
—They are offerings, and we are the bowl.
What were we a bowl for?
I didn’t know then. Even after my father forced me to face the truth, I still didn’t understand.
It wasn’t until I met the Heavenly Demon and lived among others in the Abyss that fragments of the truth began to surface.
I dare say my father was wrong.
We weren’t the bowl.
I couldn’t hold anything. How could something broken and full of cracks be called a vessel? Everything slipped right through.
I should have realized it sooner and given up.
Running away was never an option in the first place.
—I’ll bring it out for you, if you desire.
That’s why I shouldn’t have allowed myself to be swayed by those words.
—Your burden is too heavy? I’ll carry it for you. It’s nothing for someone like me.
I shouldn’t have taken its hand. But back then, I didn’t know any better.
My judgment was clouded; maybe that excuses it somewhat.
Looking back, it’s more accurate to say the Heavenly Demon didn’t cut away my burden—it took it for itself.
Maybe that’s why I can manipulate time. At least, that’s my suspicion.
Since I ran from my responsibilities, unable to bear them, it’s punishing me. Something like that.
“…Ugh…”
I woke after a long sleep, eyelids heavy as lead. My head throbbed as though I’d been trapped in nightmares all night.
Whether it was sleep paralysis or something else, my body refused to move easily.
“What the…?”
At least I could still speak.
I could’ve broken through sleep paralysis with a surge of Qi, but something felt off—a strange sensation lingered on my skin.
Something soft was touching my hands.
I shook my head, feeling a tickle on my nose, and caught a familiar scent.
As my mind cleared, I realized it wasn’t sleep paralysis holding me down—something was pinning me on both sides.
“…Hm.”
The tickle on my nose was hair.
Silver-white hair… mixed with darker strands.
I didn’t need to think hard. Only a few people would do something like this.
I tried shifting my hand slightly and brushed against soft, warm skin.
Hmm… What am I touching?
“Mmph…”
“Mmm…”
As I stirred, the grips on either side tightened.
…I’m screwed, aren’t I?
How did I end up like this again? I sifted through memories of last night.
I remembered entering the room to find Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah already there.
Namgung Bi-ah had said something when I came in.
Oh…
Now I remember.
“Um… Father told me to come here.”
She’d come because Namgung Jin sent her. What kind of father sends his daughter to a man’s room at night? That crazy old bastard…
Not that I was blameless—falling asleep like that, no matter how tired I was.
How do I get out of this?
They held on tightly, leaving little room to escape.
[Why escape? Just stay like that.]*
Elder Shin’s voice echoed in my mind. I responded inwardly, Oh, you’re awake.
[Awake? I don’t sleep in the first place.]*
He’d mentioned that before.
[You’re enjoying that soft, jelly-like sensation—why leave?]*
His tone was sharp, almost irritated.
It’s frustrating, that’s why. It’s not like I’m doing this because I like it.
[Frustrating…!? Frustrating!?]*
His hearing was sharp for an old man…
Since you brought it up, I’m not enjoying—
[Then you hate it?]*
…
[See? You can’t even answer. You are enjoying it!]*
What kind of Taoist says something so indecent?
[Indecent? Your face is the indecent one!]*
You old fossil…!
As always, he resorted to insulting my face. How handsome did he think he was to keep picking on mine?
While I scowled, Elder Shin spoke with unshakable confidence.
[Hmph! When I was young, it wasn’t my sword that was sharpest—it was my nose. Unbelievably sharp. Women lined up from the main gate all the way to the foot of Mount Hua just to catch a glimpse!]*
Then how come you never ended up with anyone?
[You little…!]*
…What?
I was genuinely curious, but Elder Shin vanished after that outburst, sulking.
His tone really has been rougher lately. Or is it just me?
But seriously, what do I do?
Their breathing drew closer; they were shifting in their sleep.
I considered forcing my way up—I couldn’t let anyone see this—but then…
—Slide.
“Young Master Gu, I apologize for intruding—”
“Oh.”
“Ah.”
Tang Soyeol had stepped inside. The moment she saw us, her face flushed crimson and she covered it with her hands.
“Tang So—!”
“I—I’ll take my leave, sorry…!”
She slid the door shut and vanished before I could say another word.
An awkward silence fell.
[Hehehe…!]*
Elder Shin’s sinister chuckle echoed in my mind.
* * *
Afterward, I rushed outside, but Tang Soyeol was already gone.
A maid told me the girl had come on an errand. Why leave so quickly if she had something to say?
Though she probably needed my help, I had other matters to attend to.
Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah were still drowsy, avoiding my gaze. I gave each a light thump on the head as a scolding.
I almost smirked at their guilty looks. I warned them we’d have a serious talk when I returned, managing to hold my temper so early in the morning.
[You should be thanking them, not scolding them… You wicked man.]*
I let Elder Shin’s grumbling go in one ear and out the other.
My first stop was the Gu Clan’s infirmary—specifically, where the injured Namgung clansmen were being treated.
Since I was the one who put them in that state, my arrival wasn’t welcomed.
The sharpest glare came from the Immortal Healer tending to them.
“What’s a kid like you doing beating up grown men? Tsk, tsk.”
“My apologies…”
His words were odd, but I had no room to argue.
“And you beat them so thoroughly. Was that a coincidence too?”
I stayed silent.
“Even trained guards couldn’t have done this. But thanks to that, treating them was straightforward…”
“Will anyone have lasting injuries?”
“The one who lost teeth will suffer for about three months, but there’ll be no permanent damage. Your father was quite generous.”
Good.
That must have been what Father meant by “enough compensation to satisfy them.” He’d likely added rare herbs to the monetary payment.
“And thanks to you, this old man didn’t sleep all night.”
“Thank you.”
“No need. I doubt you’d attack without reason. Besides, I didn’t feel right eating and sleeping here for free. This evens things out.”
After speaking with the Immortal Healer, I approached the bedridden men.
They couldn’t voice their displeasure, but their eyes said everything. Still, their moods improved once I discussed compensation and bowed in apology.
Some even smiled when they heard the amount. Clearly, Father had been lavish.
I’d made a point of asking the steward early that morning how much they were getting.
The Namgung Clan had accepted most of the blame, so the Gu Clan compensated the victims.
The instigator was still at large, and with both clans searching, all I could do was wait.
I doubted they’d catch him—especially if he had abilities like his.
—Swish! Swish!
The crisp sound of a sword cutting the air reached my ears.
After visiting the injured, I headed to the training grounds. Namgung Jin was practicing.
“You seemed rather busy yesterday,” he remarked.
“Something came up.”
I’d left abruptly when he tried to speak to me earlier, but he didn’t seem upset.
[Doesn’t he look like he’s holding back? Sure does from here.]*
“…Anyway, you sent your daughter to my room?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask why?”
“Hmm?”
Namgung Jin looked puzzled.
“Wasn’t that what you asked for in our wager?”
Are you out of your—
I stopped myself. I had said, “I want your daughter.”
“I believe I’ve paid my debt.”
I considered asking how he could treat his daughter that way, but held back. Their relationship had never been strong—especially given what Namgung Bi-ah did in my past life.
Namgung Jin wasn’t exactly a model father.
“The marriage is all but settled. And you like her, don’t you?”
“…”
I could have denied it, but I didn’t. I already knew the truth.
“Your silence says it all.”
With that, Namgung Jin returned to his training, unconcerned about my interest in his daughter.
The sound of his sword alone conveyed his skill. He truly deserved the title Sword King. Pity his opponent was one of the legendary heroes.
Noticing my stare, he spoke again.
“Does it seem pathetic? It might, to you.”
It didn’t. I was impressed.
The Namgung Clan’s pride was the Azure Heavenly Tidal Sword—a technique that didn’t rely on Qi. It was the same move their lord had used against Elder Shin before being swiftly defeated.
[With so many openings, how could I not shut it down?]*
“Would you show it to me?” I asked.
Namgung Bi-ah was casual about sharing her techniques, but Namgung Jin was different. Noble clans rarely revealed their arts.
He halted his lightning-quick movements and looked at me.
“Why hide it from you? I’m trying to achieve what you demonstrated, after all.”
His current form differed from Elder Shin’s, but he was slowly progressing.
Not that it was going well.
“Is that why you brought me here?”
“Brought you? Someone might think you were forced.”
Forced? You were waiting for me the moment I left the infirmary.
“As I said before, I would kneel if it meant reaching your level of swordsmanship.”
His eyes were deadly serious. He’d cast aside pride and arrogance, treating me as his master.
[Enlightenment is key, but that boy is desperate.]*
Elder Shin meant Namgung Jin wasn’t acting out of pure pursuit—there was urgency behind it.
“Please, tell me how to achieve it. I’ll call you Master, if you wish.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
Having someone my father’s age call me Master feels wrong.
He kept pressing, but I didn’t know how to help him.
What am I supposed to do?
[Watching you struggle delights me.]*
Elder Shin, did you plan for this?
[What do you think?]*
His playful tone answered clearly.
[I don’t know all their secrets, but I know how to open the path for him.]*
Will you tell me?
[I’ve had my fun, and I did promise him. Is something holding you back?]*
Many things, in fact.
I was relieved to have something to offer, but…
“Hmm…”
Namgung Jin’s expression was a mix of seriousness and desperation.
My abrupt departure yesterday had only heightened his anxiety.
I wondered what I stood to gain by teaching him. That hesitation remained.
I didn’t know or care about Namgung Jin’s circumstances. Using him crossed my mind, but the biggest deterrent was Namgung Bi-ah.
If only it weren’t for her.
I could have manipulated him for my own ends, but I couldn’t—not after seeing her sleeping peacefully in my arms that morning.
That girl who slaughtered all her kin in my past life. Would this timeline repeat that future?
I prayed it wouldn’t.
If possible, I’d make sure it didn’t happen.
“Lord Namgung,” I said, meeting his gaze.
“Shall we begin with a contract?”
I offered my most genuine smile. He frowned as though he’d seen something unsettling.
…Why?
* * *
While Gu Yangcheon and Namgung Jin spoke, Namgung Bi-ah sat with Wi Seol-Ah nearby. Normally chatty, Wi Seol-Ah nervously sipped her tea today.
The door slid open, and Tang Soyeol entered.
She froze upon seeing Namgung Bi-ah.
“Sis… Are you wearing makeup?”
Her voice trembled with surprise.
Namgung Bi-ah looked different from the last time Tang Soyeol had seen her wear any. The subtle enhancements made her already stunning face glow.
“…A little,” Namgung Bi-ah replied, avoiding eye contact.
“Why now? You always said you were too lazy, even when I begged you to try.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s ears reddened. “…He said I looked pretty.”
No one asked who “he” was. All three girls were thinking of the same person.
“R-Right. You are pretty… incredibly pretty.”
Tang Soyeol meant it. Namgung Bi-ah was beauty incarnate—a peerless vision.
But her maid is breathtaking too…
Wi Seol-Ah, Gu Yangcheon’s servant, sat quietly beside her, possessing a beauty that captivated despite her youth.
Is that why he keeps her close?
Tang Soyeol wondered if their relationship went beyond master and servant—especially after what she’d witnessed that morning.
She fanned her warm cheeks, pushing the embarrassing memory aside.
Though educated in such matters, seeing it firsthand had flustered her.
“A-Anyway, why are you here?” Tang Soyeol asked, pushing down her rising thoughts.
Namgung Bi-ah’s expression turned solemn. Her ears had cooled, but her gaze was intense.
“I… have something to say.”
Tang Soyeol sat opposite her, biting her lip as Namgung Bi-ah leaned forward.
“…I slept with him last night.”
—Pbbfff—!
Tang Soyeol spat out her tea.
“Hey! You got me!”
“S-Sorry!” Wi Seol-Ah complained.
“Sis… What did you just say?”
Ignoring the reaction, Namgung Bi-ah continued gravely, “…I held his hand while we slept.”
“Wait…”
A cold, unpleasant feeling settled in Tang Soyeol’s chest. She didn’t want to feel this toward Namgung Bi-ah.
“Sis, I don’t think I want to hear—”
“I might be carrying his child…”
“…What?”
…What did she say?