Chapter 127: Where Did it Go?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 127: Where Did it Go?
Thankfully, the meal proceeded peacefully.
Though Gu Ryunghwa had given me a bit of a beating, it was bearable. More importantly, Tang Soyeol managed to explain the nature of the "poisonous" gift she had presented to the Sword Queen.
Even after hearing it was harmless, the Sword Queen could only offer an awkward smile in return.
As Tang Soyeol enthusiastically recounted the Sword Queen's legendary exploits, her deep reverence was palpable. She spoke with such fervor that she even managed to make the Sword Queen's ears flush with embarrassment.
'My plum blossoms will not lose to evil!' Is that really what she said… She really was like that in the past, huh.
I cringed internally, but I was also grateful to witness the rare sight of the flustered Sword Queen.
The meal concluded relatively quickly. Both the Sword Queen and Gu Ryunghwa seemed comfortable, enjoying the conversation. However, the intensity of Gu Ryunghwa's glare towards Tang Soyeol was unmistakable.
[She has the innocent face of a puppy, but she turns into a wolf when angered.]
You compare me to a mantis, but call her a wolf? Isn't that a bit discriminatory?
[It seems something didn't settle well in your stomach, for you to be spouting such nonsense.]*
Was she staring daggers because Tang Soyeol was stealing her teacher's attention? It felt as if a deep chasm had opened between the two of them.
Once the main course and tea were finished, the meal was officially over. Tang Soyeol clearly wished to linger, but it wasn't possible with the Sword Queen looking unwell. I couldn't quite describe it, but she seemed… drained. I wasn't the only one who noticed; Gu Ryunghwa was watching her master with clear concern.
I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah, who was slowly eating by herself. Wi Seol-Ah chirped away beside her, but Namgung Bi-ah still seemed like she'd lost her soul.
"Are you alright?" I asked the Sword Queen after the meal.
"As you can see, I feel much healthier than before, thanks to you."
She did indeed seem to be recovering physically… but her expression was troubled.
"Did something happen?"
The Sword Queen was taken aback by my question. Her face asked how I knew, so I explained, "You just look extremely glum right now."
"...Is it that noticeable?"
"Yes."
Had she been trying to hide it? If so, the Sword Queen should never attempt to tell lies. How could she hope to conceal anything when it was written so plainly on her face?
"My sister is worried about you, too, you know?"
"Oh…"
Gu Ryunghwa was struggling to remain still, nervously watching her master from behind. Noticing this, the Sword Queen smiled awkwardly.
"I tried not to worry anyone, but I suppose it's too late for that."
"Did you run into some kind of problem?"
It didn't seem like a physical ailment, so I wondered if something had recently happened to trouble her.
"I'm fine. This, too, shall pass with the flow of time."
Dodging my question, the Sword Queen thanked me and walked over to Gu Ryunghwa. The girl smiled as her teacher gently brushed her hair. It seemed she had reverted to her squirrel-like self.
"Young Master Gu."
I turned towards the voice.
"It was really nice to have a meal with everyone today…!"
"Are you sure you're not just happy you got to eat with the Sword Queen?"
"Um… Uh… That's not…! Well, it's true, but…"
I chuckled a little at her flustered response to my jest. Seeing this, Tang Soyeol paused for a moment.
"You just laughed, right?"
"Huh?"
"Young Master Gu, did you just laugh at me?"
"Uh… Yeah. Sorry if it upset you—"
"No! Not at all!"
Tang Soyeol then beamed brightly. That smile reminded me of the Poison Queen from my past life. Of course it would; they were the same person. But this smile seemed… weightier. Unlike the dense, weary smiles of the Poison Queen, this one was born of pure joy.
[Do you regret it?]
What are you talking about all of a sudden?
Elder Shin asked in a playful tone, but I knew exactly why. The mere thought was exhausting.
[It just seems that way.]
I do not regret it.
The time I had to end the Poison Queen's life with my own hands? It was necessary. Not for me, but for her. I had to do it.
"C-Could you call me next time as well?"
I nodded at Tang Soyeol's question. I hesitated slightly, but she didn't seem to mind the pause, smiling nonetheless.
"It's not possible… for it to be just the two of us, right?"
"Oh…"
"I'm sorry! I crossed a line because I was so excited. You don't need to answer that…!"
She yelled those words, shoved something into my hand, and ran off in a flustered panic.
A small bottle rested in my palm. Shaking it produced a faint clinking sound from within.
"...I wonder what kind of poison it is this time."
I'd already concluded it was poison. The last time a similar situation occurred, she'd given me poison. The real question was why she kept giving me these.
For now, I'll just keep it in my pocket. I can ask her about it next time.
After seeing everyone off, I instructed the servants to clean up and went for a walk in the evening. The paths and gardens of the Gu Clan weren't particularly beautiful. I remembered they used to be decorated when my mother was still here, but now, no one bothered to maintain them.
"Young Master, what flower is this?" Wi Seol-Ah, who was walking beside me, asked.
It was a whitish, pretty-looking flower, but I didn't know its name.
"White Flower of Youth."
Namgung Bi-ah, who had been quietly following us, whispered the answer.
"What the… You know about flowers?"
It was rather unexpected. For someone like Namgung Bi-ah to know the name of a flower was surprising. She continued, gazing at the flower Wi Seol-Ah was pointing to.
"It was a flower my mother liked."
After saying that, she walked over and carefully sat beside it.
"...It bloomed here, too."
She gently touched the petals a few times before asking me, "Can… I take this…?"
"What for? Are you going to grow it yourself?"
"Yeah…"
I told her she could; it was just a flower, not a big request. Namgung Bi-ah carefully uprooted the white flower and placed it in Wi Seol-Ah's hair.
"Hmm?" Wi Seol-Ah looked confused.
Namgung Bi-ah spoke softly while adjusting the flower. "Pretty… My mother often did this for me."
Wi Seol-Ah began to smile, and seeing this, Namgung Bi-ah smiled with her.
[When two beautiful people sit together, they shine even brighter.]
You're being unusually nice.
[Hehehe…]*
After patting Wi Seol-Ah's head for a moment, Namgung Bi-ah picked another white flower, this time taking it with some soil so it wouldn't die. Her pale hands became dirty from the earth, but she didn't seem to care.
"Seems you're fine now."
I commented, remembering her neurotic episode from earlier that day.
"...Yeah."
Namgung Bi-ah gave a slight nod. Her ears were still slightly red. I wondered if it was from the chilly autumn air or if she hadn't fully recovered from her earlier embarrassment.
"I'm fine now… I think." Her whisper couldn't have been shyer.
"...Did you know…?" Namgung Bi-ah began.
"Know what?"
"A baby… doesn't come from just holding hands."
"What?"
"Just saying."
What was she suddenly talking about? After saying that, she walked away. Is it just me, or is she walking faster than usual?
"Young Master, it's cold. Let's hurry!" Wi Seol-Ah grabbed my hand and pulled me along, seeing me standing there dumbfounded.
After that day, Namgung Bi-ah stopped taking naps in my room.
* * *
A day later, I visited Namgung Jin.
We had arranged to meet, so I went to see him after finishing my morning training. He was practicing his sword swings in the same training ground as before. The area was empty, likely because the Namgung Clan's martial artists were still recuperating.
"I made plans to meet with the First Elder," Namgung Jin said, not breaking the ferocious rhythm of his swings. It was regarding the favor I had asked of him last time. "I believe it should be this evening."
"Alright."
My request wasn't major. I had simply asked Namgung Jin to pretend to listen when the First Elder sought the clan lord's assistance.
"Don't you need to return to your clan?"
"It's fine. I have more important matters here."
"...Hmm, alright."
He had probably planned to return to the clan with Namgung Bi-ah after the engagement day, but something was holding him back. To be more precise, he was holding himself back.
All for some foolish path of the sword…
[How dare you call it a 'foolish path of the sword,' you brat?! You should understand a martial artist's greed better than anyone… Tsk.]*
It was strange to think about the sword art left behind by the Thunderous Sword, Namgung Myung. Why hadn't it been inherited by his descendants? How had the Namgung Clan forgotten his techniques? It was impressive that they still held their position as a top swordsmanship clan despite their degraded art, but I couldn't help but wonder.
"Are you ready now?"
"Yes."
A few days had passed, and Namgung Jin was growing more insistent. It was understandable; he couldn't leave empty-handed after I'd even placed a seal on him.
"I just hope you keep your promise."
"You have nothing to worry about."
We had discussed many terms when I placed the seal, but one condition was paramount: when Namgung Jin awakened his sword, he would also teach it to Namgung Bi-ah.
Namgung Jin hadn't reacted positively to this request. Why would he be uncomfortable teaching his own daughter?
In the end, we struck a deal that he would teach it only to Namgung Bi-ah.
Isn't that ironic?
I didn't care about anyone else to begin with, but Namgung Jin himself had proposed the condition that he wouldn't teach it to others of his bloodline. Why would he make such a deal?
I was perplexed by his motives, but my best guess was that he wanted to solidify his position as clan lord by possessing something unique—an enhanced version of their clan's art that only he could wield. Furthermore, if the lord himself used a superior technique, it would legitimize his authority; at least, that was my theory.
But to not even teach his other children?
For my part, I only had to give him a small lesson, and since it would ultimately be passed to Namgung Bi-ah, I didn't mind. But the more I saw him like this, the more curious I became about why Namgung Bi-ah had made her choice. She didn't seem like the type of girl to do such a thing.
"I have two things to tell you."
I wasn't holding a sword. Elder Shin had warned that he couldn't maintain control of my body for long and that it would be dangerous. I certainly couldn't demonstrate anything myself, given my lack of sword skill. Still, Elder Shin claimed that words alone should suffice.
[The sword of Namgung has a cut in its flow.]
Flow?
[Yes, the flow that connects one movement to the next. That continuity is slightly severed, making it difficult to notice.]
And you think just telling him that will help him fix it?
[I don't know myself. I'm just repeating what Myung told me.]
How irresponsible…
[The Thunderous Sword Namgung Myung said this after all his experiences and enlightenments. If that Namgung child gains nothing from it, then that's his limit.]
What if he complains that he got nothing out of it?
[What else? Just run to your daddy and hide behind him.]
…For fuck's sake.
Was he seriously telling me to hide behind my father at my age? Well, I was still young in this timeline, but come on, I had some pride.
[You never had pride to begin with, so why try to fix your image now?]*
…
Namgung Jin was all ears, his eyes gleaming as I prepared to speak. It was uncomfortable having a man my father's age look at me with such shining eyes.
All I had to do was relay Elder Shin's words in my own way.
"The Namgung Clan's sword is like an ocean wave. The movements may be swift as lightning, but in essence, the arts and techniques resemble unstoppable, crashing waves."
Enlightenment is abstract. This is especially true for a swordsman seeking to become one with their blade. Many talented sword users, like Wi Seol-Ah, had reached this level in the past, not to mention the Demonic Sword. Close-combat fighters also experienced something similar, though it was slightly different.
I was merely delivering Elder Shin's message, occasionally moving my hand when he instructed me to for emphasis.
"...While you must focus on speed due to your Lightning Qi…"
However, when it came to the flaws in the Namgung Clan's body movements, there was a concrete way to correct them—something less abstract. For these parts, Elder Shin took control and spoke directly.
The problem was…
It actually seems to be helping him.
Whether it was waves, lightning, trees, or forests, these concepts meant little to me, someone ignorant of the Namgung Clan's sword art. I didn't know what experiences Namgung Jin and his sword had accumulated, so I couldn't gauge how much these abstract ideas were aiding him.
I hadn't even finished speaking, but a change was already visible in Namgung Jin's eyes. He slowly closed them.
Did he gain something?
That said, I didn't sense the overwhelming aura of a grand enlightenment.
[He may not be a complete genius, but I suppose he's not entirely stupid.]
I'm not sure if this was the right thing to do.
[I didn't tell him everything, considering your position. That Namgung child won't gain too much from this.]*
I allowed this because I understood Elder Shin's desire to pass his friend's legacy to the descendants.
The silence was brief. Namgung Jin opened his eyes and swung his sword.
-Swish! Swoosh!
His sword didn't look drastically different, but there was a subtle change.
[He seems to have succeeded in fixing his footwork.]*
That's what Elder Shin said, but I couldn't see much difference with my own eyes. Still, I could tell something was different. That was what mattered.
After a few seconds of swinging, Namgung Jin stopped and whispered quietly, "...Thank you." The martial artist, who had reached the fusion realm, was sweating profusely after just those few moments.
"Were you able to gain anything?"
"Barely… just a tiny bit."
Namgung Jin added that it would take an immense amount of time to fully embody what he had learned.
"I might have to discard everything I've ingrained into my body over decades…"
He was talking about overhauling the movements he had trained for most of his life. And yet, he was willing to proceed? I doubted a clan lord had that kind of time.
[Can't you see? He's already captivated.]*
When I looked into Namgung Jin's eyes after hearing Elder Shin, they burned with intensity.
[It's a small change, but it's real. And he knows how significant the difference will be if he masters it. It's too late to turn back now.]
There really are no normal swordsmen in this world, huh.
[…Now you're the one being discriminatory, brat.]
See? You protest just like a swordsman would.
There was no change in his realm or Qi. He simply swung his sword slightly differently. But even this minor adjustment, he claimed, would take years to master.
Wasn't this like poison to him? That's how it seemed to me.
Meanwhile, I checked the Demonic Qi seal I had placed on Namgung Jin. Now that he'd gotten something from me, there was a chance his attitude might shift.
"I hope you don't forget our promise."
Namgung Jin gave a light nod, even though he hadn't fully calmed down. He looked ready to start swinging his sword again immediately.
I checked the seal once more, then took my leave. We had agreed to meet several more times; this small lesson wasn't the end.
Would Namgung Bi-ah's life improve because of this? It might not be a monumental change, but perhaps I could make a small difference. Such a pointless flicker of hope crossed my mind.
"That's that… But Elder Shin?"
[What is it?]
"About those things I was relaying to Lord Namgung."
Not the specific movement corrections, but the abstract parts. I felt like I'd heard them somewhere before.
"...Are you sure those were the words left by the Thunderous Sword?"
[Yes, they were that annoying bastard's words. He went around bragging about how great his swordplay was.]
What kind of lunatic goes around boasting about their enlightenment? I'm sure you're exaggerating.
But if those words truly belonged to the Thunderous Sword, it was troubling.
[Why do you ask?]
"No reason."
There was only one reason I asked. I was certain the Demonic Sword from my past life had said the exact same thing. Word for word.
I think it was when I asked her about the process of becoming one with the sword. The Demonic Sword back then said she had learned it that way.
-Like that…
-…I've no idea what you just said.
It had all sounded like gibberish to me at the time. But the essence of what Elder Shin showed Namgung Jin was undeniably similar to the Demonic Sword's style.
The current sword art of the Namgung Clan bore no resemblance to it. I didn't know if the current top master of Namgung, the Heavenly Venerable, knew of it, but Namgung Jin certainly didn't. He didn't even seem aware of the flaws in his clan's sword art.
So, who did the Demonic Sword learn it from? If not from Namgung Jin, then who?
I had originally assumed she developed it through her own prodigious talent, but now I had doubts.
Was it just a coincidence? I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't.
* * *
Afterwards, I went to the guesthouse where Namgung Bi-ah was staying. With all the Namgung Clan martial artists injured, guards from the Gu Clan were protecting her instead. The irony was palpable.
I was about to leave a letter with the servant stationed at the door when Namgung Bi-ah magically appeared, opening it from the inside.
"...You're here…"
"How did you know I was here?"
Had she been watching from the window? It seemed unlikely, given that she looked like she'd just woken up, her expression blank.
"Were you sleeping?"
"No…"
I didn't have a particular reason for visiting. I'd just come because she hadn't seemed well the previous day.
"Did you eat?"
"...Not yet."
"Then let's eat together later."
"Okay…"
The hair accessory I had given her was still woven into her hair. I wonder if she wears it every day. The thought inexplicably made me happy, even though I knew my place.
"How is your body?"
"...Fine…"
"Then, can I touch your forehead?"
I asked this time, since she had avoided my touch last time.
[What a loser, having to ask for permission…]
Elder Shin…
[What? What's wrong?]
Nothing.
[Y-You…!]*
I hadn't said a word, but Elder Shin grumbled. I truly hadn't said anything…
Namgung Bi-ah paused for a moment after I asked, then took a slight step back. Did she dislike the idea?
"I'll stop if you don't li—"
"...You can…"
Namgung Bi-ah's voice trembled slightly. Was it really that difficult for her? Since she gave permission, I approached and touched her forehead.
"...Your body isn't well after all."
Her forehead was hot. It had been warm when I first touched it, and it seemed to grow warmer by the second. For a top-tier martial artist to have such a fever was unusual. I was about to take her to the Immortal Healer when something touched my hand on her forehead.
It was Namgung Bi-ah's own hand.
"I'm fine… I really am…"
She then gently lowered my hand. Her action naturally led to us standing close, almost as if we were about to walk hand-in-hand. I didn't question it because Namgung Bi-ah's pale face had turned completely red.
I didn't think she'd be the type to get embarrassed by something like this.
Was she really okay? Namgung Bi-ah spoke again, cooling her face with the breeze. "I… want to eat."
"Where? In your room?"
"N-No, not my room…"
Her voice was much louder than usual, a sign she was truly flustered.
Huh? She pushes me away from her room, but she barges into mine whenever she wants?
I considered going inside to see if she was hiding something, but I had a feeling Namgung Bi-ah might actually get angry if I did.
Namgung Bi-ah angry…?
I'm curious what that would look like, to be honest.
I'd never seen her angry, not in this life or my previous one.
As if sensing my thoughts, Namgung Bi-ah pulled me away and began walking, leading me along. I didn't resist. I had no intention of letting go of her hand, either. I could feel Elder Shin cursing at me the entire time, but I ignored him. I allowed myself to be led.
I later learned from a servant that some of the pillows from my room had gone missing. The servant was nearly in tears over their high value, but a short while later, she went back to work as if nothing had happened. She even seemed to be smiling, as if pleased by something.
The pillows were old and worn out from long use, so they didn't matter much to me… but I still wondered where they could have possibly gone.