Chapter 135: Plant Your Head On The Ground (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 135: Plant Your Head On The Ground (2)
After the meal concluded and Moyong Hi-ah had retired to her chambers, her servant approached her.
“How did it go?”
Earlier, her mistress had expressed her intent to proceed with the plan, but judging by her expression, things had not gone smoothly.
“It seems today was not the right day.”
The outcome was precisely as she had anticipated.
“There was an interruption, as well.”
“An interruption?”
“Yes. Someone too dense to read the room.”
As she said this, Moyong Hi-ah thought of Gu Jeolyub.
He possessed a decent face and, from his actions, seemed to have fairly good skills.
But his timing was abysmal.
“Thankfully, it appears the event will simply be delayed by a day.”
Based on her intelligence, she had been certain it would happen today. The fact that it hadn't made her wonder if something had gone awry.
That person still hadn't arrived at the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament.
“Will you try again tomorrow?”
“I might as well. The payment has already been made.”
Hwangbo Cheolwi’s acting skills had been far better than Moyong Hi-ah expected, which was a great help.
She hadn't, however, anticipated interference from Tang Soyeol.
Why is that girl here already?
The Poison Phoenix, Tang Soyeol. She was infamous for an innocent face that belied a contradictory, sharp personality.
To put it bluntly, she had practically overpowered Hwangbo Cheolwi, who seemed twice her size.
It forced Moyong Hi-ah to acknowledge that the girl had improved since their last encounter.
Because of it, Hwangbo Cheolwi had endured significant discomfort.
And most importantly,
Namgung…
Amidst what appeared to be Tang Soyeol’s entourage was a woman wearing the uniform of the Namgung Clan.
This woman stood out due to her pale, bluish-white hair and subdued blue eyes.
Was there such a person in the Namgung Clan?
The only thing that came to Moyong Hi-ah’s mind was the rumor of a female blood relative within the clan—the sister of the young master.
It was said she rarely left the clan grounds, so information about her was scarce.
Why would such a person be here?
Moyong Hi-ah had expected the Namgung Clan to arrive tomorrow.
If this woman truly was a Namgung blood relative, then there was something strange about that group.
I did hear the Namgung Clan was planning an engagement with another clan…
Did that mean this group was from the clan the Namgungs intended to marry into? The Gu Clan of Shanxi, where the Tiger Warrior presided as lord?
Moyong Hi-ah recalled hearing that an engagement with the Tiger Warrior’s son had been agreed upon.
I wonder which one of them it was.
Feeling the cold breeze from the window, Moyong Hi-ah sank into deep thought.
Her mind returned to the boy who had stared—the one who had tried to "save" her from Hwangbo Cheolwi.
Quietly. Calmly.
The only one who had remained unflustered amidst the chaos.
Moyong Hi-ah possessed keen instincts, sharper than most.
Having been in such situations since childhood, she was confident in her ability to deduce and sense underlying currents.
And those instincts were now urging caution towards that boy.
He had seemed focused solely on his meal.
Yet, his peripheral vision had been tracking Hwangbo Cheolwi’s every move.
Poised to intervene if a problem arose.
The fact that he hadn't emitted any Qi likely meant one of two things: either he wished to avoid attention, or he didn't need to use Qi at all.
…Surely not.
While Hwangbo Cheolwi wasn't talented enough to be called a Dragon or Phoenix, he was still a blood relative of a renowned clan.
Even she, recognized as the Snow Phoenix, couldn't face him without utilizing her Qi.
Moreover, stopping Hwangbo Cheolwi from that distance would have been impossible.
“Mistress?”
“My apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment.”
So many unexpected events had left Moyong Hi-ah feeling weary. Hearing this, her servant promised to fetch her some tea immediately.
Left alone, Moyong Hi-ah faced the breeze and whispered softly.
“I hope things proceed as expected tomorrow.”
A situation spiraling beyond her expectations—that was what Moyong Hi-ah hated most.
* * *
After nearly three years in the Abyss…
Roughly half our number had perished, and a crushing fatigue weighed on everyone.
We were weary of the purple moon, the red sky.
Weary of consuming demon flesh.
Weary of watching hope for survival flicker and die.
-What did you just say?
A sharp aura swept through the cave. Wi Seol-Ah hadn't drawn her sword, but the Qi she emitted was so overwhelming it felt as if she had.
-I don't think you heard me correctly.
Despite the deadly atmosphere, Moyong Hi-ah’s expression didn't flicker.
Instead, it grew more severe.
-So you're telling me to understand this damned plan?
It was rare to hear Wi Seol-Ah raise her voice.
Rarer still to see her react with such ferocity.
-How can I understand abandoning our comrade?
-And what alternative do you propose if we reject this reality?
-Snow Phoenix!
Even as Wi Seol-Ah shouted, Moyong Hi-ah’s cold expression remained unmoved.
-Young Sword Queen, I understand you value camaraderie and respect. But are you willing to risk everyone's lives for the sake of one?
-Even if you say that…
-What I am saying… is…
Moyong Hi-ah threw the fan she was holding to the ground. After the long, brutal years here, it was already falling apart.
-…is that we can only consider such an option if we have a viable alternative. You cannot carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone.
-Then I will just—
-I am asking you to consider if we could hold out without you.
-…Snow Phoenix.
Silence fell as no one could muster a rebuttal. She understood Wi Seol-Ah’s feelings, but Moyong Hi-ah wasn't wrong.
She was always like this. She was never wrong.
And that held true now.
-The same applies to the Sleeping Dragon outside, and to all the others.
-So you're telling me to give up on Young Master Gu?
-Yes.
Crack.
At Moyong Hi-ah’s blunt response, Wi Seol-Ah clenched her jaw so hard it sounded like her teeth might shatter.
Moyong Hi-ah then turned her gaze to me.
-Young Master Gu.
-What?
I responded lazily, already knowing this was the necessary course.
-I will listen to your resentment later.
-When? After you die?
-Yes.
-You crazy bitch, you answer too quickly.
I let out a laugh, unable to contain my amusement at her absurdity. Wi Seol-Ah cut in.
-I… I cannot go through with this. I will—
-I'll do it.
-…!
Wi Seol-Ah’s face contorted upon hearing me.
-I'll go.
-What nonsense are you spouting…! If you go out there—
-I'll die.
Wi Seol-Ah’s lips sealed shut.
Who didn't know that? Who was unaware of the horde of demons outside? Who didn't understand the direness of our situation?
Their numbers were legion.
The Sleeping Dragon and a few others were barely holding the line.
This included Wi Seol-Ah. She had been fighting moments ago and had only returned to recover her Qi.
-Did that crazy bitch say anything incorrect?
-Young Master Gu…
-Don't let your emotions rule you, especially now. If you must resent someone, direct it at the rest of us, not at her.
Because I, too, blamed myself for my own weakness.
Wi Seol-Ah always wore a look of utter exhaustion whenever we lost someone.
But what could we do?
-If I don't step up, everyone will die.
-I could fulfill that role as well.
-Yes, it's not a role exclusive to me. Anyone can do it.
But I was the most expendable. If Wi Seol-Ah, our strongest, fell, any hope of survival would vanish.
Losing a single person was a luxury we couldn't afford.
-We missed our chance to escape this hell together long ago.
-…
-What? Do you think I want to die? I simply have no choice. If I don't go, everyone dies.
Would everyone truly survive if I became bait for the demons? I couldn't be certain.
But I had to try.
I felt Wi Seol-Ah’s gaze but avoided it. The others, who had stayed silent, also avoided looking at me.
I didn't care if it was out of guilt or relief.
-Three years, huh? I've held on for a long time.
Longer than I deserved.
In situations where I should have died, I had clung to life.
The guilt of trampling on others' chances to save myself was a heavy burden.
So now, I felt I could finally let go.
-You.
-Yes.
Moyong Hi-ah was still looking at me, her expression unchanged.
-…
-Do you have nothing to say?
-No, nothing.
There was nothing appropriate to say.
If asked whether I resented Moyong Hi-ah, I'd be lying to say no. Yet, I understood her.
People change a great deal. The fact that even I could understand her now was proof.
-I'm going.
Wi Seol-Ah reached out as I spoke, but she was too late to stop me.
Moyong Hi-ah didn't utter a word.
She was always like that. The type to readily sacrifice or accept anyone if it served the greater good.
But no one hated her for it. The reason was simple.
She included herself in that calculus.
If, in this situation, Moyong Hi-ah had been the most expendable instead of me, she would have volunteered without hesitation.
But that wasn't the case.
Whether it was the Snow Phoenix, the Sleeping Dragon, or Wi Seol-Ah…
If any one of them fell, it would mean the end for everyone.
Before leaving, I asked Moyong Hi-ah a question.
-If you make it back, are you still going to chase after that pointless thing?
-Why ask such a strange question now? How can you call it pointless?
-Just answer.
-Yes, I will.
-I'm impressed. Do you know how futile it is?
-It is simply something I must do.
-You crazy bitch…
I smirked.
That was the end of our conversation. We had nothing left to say.
I passed by Wi Seol-Ah, who had sunk to the floor in despair after I was chosen as the sacrifice.
The next time I crossed paths with that group in the Abyss was five years later.
Much had changed in that time. Though I had survived…
And so had they…
Our reunion was not a joyous or emotional one.
Because I had to kill them all.
* * *
Late at night, with the moon high at its zenith, the room assigned to me felt excessively large for one person.
“Your posture.”
Gu Jeolyub quickly corrected himself upon hearing me. I could see him waver from fatigue.
“I can sense you trying to circulate your Qi. Do you have a death wish?”
“No, sir…!”
I had noticed him secretly attempting to flow his Qi.
Gu Jeolyub, currently being punished, was struggling on the floor with his head planted firmly against the ground.
He had initially worn an annoyed expression, wondering what he'd done wrong.
I made sure to correct that expression.
Sure, he could be frustrated.
Of course, I didn't believe Gu Jeolyub had acted with ill intent.
Helping others is a noble thing.
Young people his age often acted without thinking things through.
That impulsiveness could serve them well in the future.
But only if they possessed the requisite talent.
Objectively speaking, Gu Jeolyub was undeniably gifted for his age—a genuine genius.
However, the world was vast, filled with many young prodigies.
The current Gu Jeolyub couldn't hope to compare to Tang Soyeol, let alone Namgung Bi-ah.
“Why try to help others when you're so weak yourself?”
“…I've heard that even the powerless should not hesitate to aid those in need.”
“A noble sentiment. If that's the case, then why did you break my arm?”
“…Uh.”
“Right, I must have done something wrong, then.”
“Yeah…”
“Yeah? Yeeaahhh?”
“N-No, sir.”
It truly was a noble saying. I couldn't claim it was entirely wrong.
After all, the fact that our generation still existed, that the Heavenly Demon had been defeated…
Was thanks to such ideals.
Not that I could embody them myself; I was too busy just trying to survive.
“If you wish to help the weak, why engage in pointless endeavors?”
“What do you mean…?”
Moyong Hi-ah was not weak. It seemed Gu Jeolyub hadn't realized that.
“Why step forward when someone as dense as you doesn't even know his place?”
“…”
A brief silence lingered. When I turned, I found Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah looking at me with peculiar expressions.
“What? Why?”
“It’s nothing…”
“Yeah, nothing…”
What were those weird reactions…? I turned my attention back to Gu Jeolyub.
“Did you genuinely believe you could win earlier?”
“…”
“Your reaction suggests you did.”
Gu Jeolyub flinched. It did seem he had barged in thinking victory was assured.
“…Was I wrong?”
“No, you would have won.”
He would have. Hwangbo Cheolwi didn't seem particularly strong.
But it wouldn't have been an easy victory.
Enthusiasm is good, but assessing the situation beforehand is more important.
“Then…!”
“You should only act when you are certain you can handle the consequences.”
The chaos that would have erupted if he had caused a scene.
The ensuing mess, the burden placed on us, the risk of our clan clashing with the Hwangbo Clan, potential disruptions to the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament, and more.
“Could you handle all that by yourself?”
“…”
“Know your place. If you can't clean up the mess you make, then channel that energy elsewhere. Alone. Screw off if you don't like the sound of that.”
It was a fine mindset for a hero, but pointless without the power to back it up.
It might sound harsh and selfish, but many people harmed themselves and those around them through misguided enthusiasm.
This damn world had plenty of such people. And I knew heroes didn't always find happy endings.
“…I'm sorry. I'll be more cautious.”
Gu Jeolyub rose unsteadily.
His expression was still dark; it didn't seem he fully understood yet.
Truthfully, I hadn't said these things to make him understand.
Gu Jeolyub likely possessed a better heart than someone like me.
I had to admit, part of my punishment was because he'd nearly dragged me into Moyong Hi-ah's affairs.
I wonder what she's planning.
Moyong Hi-ah wasn't known for a soft personality, so her lack of retaliation was strange.
Perhaps it was laziness, but that kind of response was more my style.
[Yeah right. I'm sure you'd just let it slide. What a joke. It'd be a miracle if you didn't break something.]
…Anyway, based on what I knew of Moyong Hi-ah, there was no way she would let this go.
She was a woman who used any means to achieve her ends. She must have something planned.
But for what?
What could she possibly want here?
I recalled those sky-blue eyes gleaming in the darkness.
An unsettling feeling washed over me, and I took a sip of tea.
As I did, I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah.
I remembered Moyong Hi-ah flinching earlier upon seeing her.
Judging by that, she already has a target.
Moyong Hi-ah’s goal. And how Namgung Bi-ah was connected to it.
It was well-known in my past life, so it wouldn't be strange for it to be the same now.
Moyong Hi-ah had pursued a certain man. I never knew why.
Whether it was for love or some other motive, I never found out.
Throughout the years, her goal had remained constant.
Even during the nights she spent with me.
Such pointless memories.
They say you never forget your first love, but I began to doubt the significance of such sentiments, given how few memories I had of her. The lack of genuine affection between us was probably a major factor.
Anyway, I just need to avoid getting involved with her this time…
That was all I needed to do.
Or so I thought.
“Hello. My name is Moyong Hi-ah.”
But when I saw a smiling Moyong Hi-ah the next morning…
I knew it was already too late.