Chapter 180: A Winter That Isn't Cold (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 180: A Winter That Isn't Cold (2)
By the time Moyong Hi-ah and her servant returned to her room, night had fully descended.
After changing her clothes and washing her face, she took a sip of the tea her servant offered before settling into bed. She tucked herself snugly beneath the covers and closed her eyes.
The moment her eyes shut, the events of the day flooded back to her.
She thought of the boy who had never once acknowledged her, no matter how she tried to approach him. She thought of the boy who had seemed lost in thought all day.
And then…
-Do refrain from doing things that would make you exhausted. It’s more work for others around you.
His words, spoken on the staircase, still echoed in her ears.
-Especially when you are weak to the cold.
That was what he had said.
Moyong Hi-ah couldn't fathom how he knew. She had been meticulous, never once letting it show. Her breathing, her gait, even the subtle motion of tucking her hair behind her ear—all were flawlessly controlled.
…Did I show it by accident?
She didn't believe so. Having lived with the cold her entire life, hiding it from others was second nature. There was simply no way he could have discovered it.
Yet, his words felt peculiarly pointed, far beyond a simple courtesy for the winter chill.
Gu Yangcheon…
Despite hailing from a noble clan, almost no information about him had circulated. And yet, in just a few days, he had become more famous than anyone.
He’ll probably be called by his title more often than his name now.
His commanding presence, wreathed in formidable flames, now cast a long shadow over the young prodigies of their generation. How could one not feel despair when faced with such an insurmountable wall?
…The Lightning Dragon already seemed to have been destroyed.
Namgung Cheonjun had gone into hiding after his fight with Gu Yangcheon. His last appearance was when the Young Lord of the Peng Clan came to retrieve him.
Because of that, Moyong Hi-ah’s carefully laid plans had shattered. They had probably started to unravel the moment she met Gu Yangcheon.
She hated it most when her plans went awry. But this time felt different.
…I wonder why.
She asked herself, but she already knew the answer. The unfamiliar sensation she had felt since meeting him had crystallized during their match in the tournament. And after today, she was certain.
He was her hope.
That’s what her instincts screamed at her—that she couldn’t afford to lose him. Even without that intuition, she already knew.
Moyong Hi-ah carefully rubbed her stomach with her hand.
“It’s warm…”
She felt heat radiating from her dantian.
Heat. A word that had never existed in her world. The fact that something she had longed for could be obtained simply by grabbing a boy’s hand left her with a sense of futility, yet also plagued by an indescribable emotion.
“…Ha.”
So this is what warmth feels like.
In this bitterly cold winter, Moyong Hi-ah found comfort in this small warmth.
How could something like this be possible?
The heat she felt during their fight wasn’t a coincidence. She was sure of that now. The heat emanating from Gu Yangcheon had a tangible effect on the coldness inside her.
Was it related to his mastery of Flame Arts? She was inclined to doubt it. After all, she had once received help from one of the Central Plains' Hundred Masters, a practitioner of Flame Arts. Yet, despite the master's efforts, the deep-seated cold within her had remained unyielding. It was a chill that natural fire, demonic energy, and even martial qi could not dispel.
But Gu Yangcheon had vanquished it effortlessly.
…Perhaps.
He could cure my cold?
The hope sprouted within her unbidden, even though she knew such emotions were utterly unlike her. Whether it was the unique nature of the Gu Clan’s Flame Arts, or something inherent to Gu Yangcheon himself, she had no answer.
What mattered was that his heat could warm her. Though most of the warmth had now faded, leaving only a faint remnant, she knew she would never forget the first time she felt that heat from him.
It was so warm. So cozy.
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, hoping the sensation would linger just a little longer.
…Only a few days from now.
Moyong Hi-ah estimated that Gu Yangcheon would leave Hanam in a matter of days. To her eyes, he didn't seem the type to enjoy long travels. He might show a soft heart toward the girls around him, but he ultimately held the upper hand. Changing his plans would be a rarity.
…
She tried to formulate a plan for her next moves, but her thoughts immediately tangled into a knot. Normally, she could devise a strategy in an instant, but now her mind was consumed by the memory of his voice and the way his eyes had regarded her.
-Could you give me your hand for a second?
!!!!
The boy’s words echoed violently in her mind, jolting her upright in bed and causing her to toss the blanket aside.
“…Ha… Ha… “
Panting, she started to feel…
That perhaps something was seriously wrong with her.
* * *
Back at the guest house, a distinctly cold atmosphere lingered—and it wasn’t just from the winter night.
Wi Seol-Ah sat before her untouched meal…
Namgung Bi-ah refused to look at me for some reason…
And Tang Soyeol’s glances were sharper than usual.
Even Muyeon, who had been about to scold me, seemed to have shut his mouth after reading the room.
…I’m fucked, aren’t I?
This was the greatest sense of danger I’d felt in a long while. I’d faced many perilous situations, but this was by far the most threatening.
“…Er.”
My attempt to speak was cut off.
“…You said you’d tell me.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s voice was quiet.
“…You said… that if you go somewhere… you’d tell me.”
“…”
I could feel a rare wave of emotion emanating from her. Her expression was undeniably one of disappointment. She was disappointed in me. And from her, that meant she was extremely angry.
“…Sorry.”
In the end, that was all I could muster.
“…You’re being so unfair.”
“Hngh.”
Wi Seol-Ah didn’t even glance my way. Her sulking was evident from the completely untouched food in front of her.
“I… I also want to go with the Young Master.”
“We can go next time.”
“Next time when?”
“…”
Good point. When would next time be? We had to return home soon.
“We… go to places together a lot back at home.”
“But back at the Young Master’s place… there is no Shaolin Temple!”
Her insistence was puzzling. The only things back home were some old folks and a fish. And considering that fish was technically a monk, well, Shaolin was just full of monks. Oh… right, that’s why they’re called Shaolin.
[Kid.]
Yes?
[You seem happy, which is rare to see.]
…Are you really adding fuel to the fire right now?
[Didn’t you know? I’m quite skilled at annoying people.]
…
I really hated Elder Shin’s laughter.
“…First.”
While I was still reeling from Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah, Tang Soyeol spoke up.
“How did that end up happening?”
“…How did you guys find out?”
“Because Lady Moyong told us before she left.”
What?
“Lady Moyong told you before she left?”
“Yes.”
Oh, fuck me…
As I stood there stunned, I heard Elder Shin laugh again.
[She got one up on you, it seems.]
“…Did she tell you why?”
“She did.”
I tilted my head at Tang Soyeol’s response.
“Then why are you asking?”
At my question, Tang Soyeol glanced at Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah.
“Because they said they have to hear it from Young Master Gu himself.”
“…”
So, they wanted to hear it directly from me, not from Moyong Hi-ah. I didn’t know how to describe the feeling, but it made me feel… special. At the same time, the weight of all those eyes on me was immense.
I’d rather… fight another Peak Realm expert.
This was so difficult I was comparing it to a life-or-death battle.
A heavy silence followed Tang Soyeol’s words. They were waiting for my response. And because I understood how they felt, I had to say something.
“…She was waiting for me ahead of time.”
Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah perked up at my words.
“Lady Moyong was?”
“Yeah.”
“W…Why?”
“…I don’t know? She was just waiting.”
“And Young Master Gu chose to enter with her just like that?”
“…Well, the situation just turned out that way… It happened?”
“Is that ‘somehow’ really just ‘somehow’?”
“Somehow is… somehow, right?”
At this point, even I didn’t know what I was saying.
[Did you get hit in the head or something… You’re broken right now.]
“Then…”
Namgung Bi-ah spoke again, her gaze fixed intently on me.
“…Are we not going together?”
“Where…?”
“Shaolin Temple…”
“Why are you all so obsessed with that place?”
“Because… you went with her.”
“…”
How did they always manage to leave me speechless? My words failed me every time this topic came up. Honestly, I had a ton of excuses ready in my head, but for some reason, I couldn't voice them. Was it because of those sad, disappointed eyes?
The silence stretched again. Muyeon, unable to bear it, quietly retreated outside with Hongwa. I shot him a pleading look, begging for help, but he didn't even glance back, leaving me to face this alone. This had to be revenge for earlier…
As I anxiously scanned the room, unsure what to do…
“…I want to go too.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s voice was barely a whisper.
“I… also want to go with you.”
“To Shaolin Temple…?”
I was confused. Namgung Bi-ah didn't seem like the type to have any interest in that sect. Shaolin had basically nothing to do with swords.
Seeing my bewilderment, Namgung Bi-ah shook her head.
“…Anywhere.”
Oh.
Finally, I understood. It was jealousy. An emotion I didn't think she was capable of feeling, and one I had little experience with myself. I never knew she could feel this way about me.
“…Uh.”
The realization made it hard to respond. A warm feeling surged in my chest, but I stumbled over my words, uncertain.
“Let’s… go then.”
When I spoke, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.
“All together.”
At those words, the corners of her lips twitched almost imperceptibly. I could feel her emotions more clearly than anyone from that tiny change, but I couldn't think of any other solution.
Fortunately, both Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah seemed… somewhat satisfied.
[Do they really look satisfied to you?]
…Are they not?
[Their expressions are saying, 'Fine, I’ll give you a pass since you tried.' Sigh… If I knew I’d be witnessing this after I woke up, I would’ve chosen to stay asleep.]
…
After I finished talking, I shoved some food into my mouth and hurried up to my room.
As I walked up the stairs alone, I overheard Wi Seol-Ah, Namgung Bi-ah, and Tang Soyeol whispering intently. But when I glanced back, they all immediately fell silent, acting as if nothing had happened.
What were they talking about?
I was curious, but it wasn't a situation where I could just go and ask, so I continued to my room.
Lying on my bed, a wave of relief washed over me. I had barely survived that ordeal.
[You look like you just returned from a cave full of demons.]
“It’s somewhat similar…”
[What nonsense. You’re talking absolute horseshit. Do you think a cave like that, where you end up happy, exists anywhere?]
I lacked the energy to retort to Elder Shin, so I pulled out the book I had picked up earlier. The fact it hadn't been consumed by flames suggested it was made from demon leather.
Is this important?
The cover looked fairly ordinary, so it didn't seem particularly significant.
[Are you going to open it now?]
“It’s better to do it now than later.”
With that, I opened the book.
“Hmm?”
The sound escaped me instinctively as I saw the first page. It was filled with poorly written descriptions and crude drawings of human figures.
I flipped through the pages.
Flutter.
The more I saw, the clearer it became. The small movements, the details scribbled in the margins…
…This looks like a Shaolin martial art manual.
Everything in the book seemed related to the martial arts of Shaolin.
* * *
Ssss.
In an empty, dark room, the only sound was the soft scratch of a brush.
An elderly man sat calmly, writing a letter. The tea before him had long gone cold, its warmth dissipated, yet the cup remained full; it seemed the old man hadn't taken a single sip.
-Grandmaster.
A voice came from outside the door. The old man’s piercing gaze shifted towards it, but his hand continued to move without pause.
“Come in.”
As soon as he gave permission, a man entered as if he had been waiting. Dressed in a black uniform with his face hidden, the man paid his respects carefully.
The old man, however, remained focused on the letter in front of him.
The newcomer spoke. “…Number Three has been eradicated.”
Pause-
The old man’s hand finally stilled.
“Eradicated?”
“Yes.”
The word 'eradicate' was difficult for the old man to comprehend. They were beings who could only die of old age. Yet this man said Number Three was dead?
The old man’s gaze remained fixed on him. The man flinched under the scrutiny but continued. “The energy connection was lost. It seems he touched the shackle.”
“Number Three is that fierce fellow, correct?”
“…Yes.”
The one who threatened to kill me every time. Despite his personality, he was efficient, so I kept him around. I wonder what happened.
“Touched the shackle, huh…”
“…Yes.”
“I hope Number Three didn’t disclose anything crucial.”
If Number Three chose to mess with the shackle, he must have been in an extremely dangerous situation. Perhaps the Murim Alliance noticed?
That seemed highly unlikely, however. These agents wouldn't be detected even if they paraded before the Three Venerables.
Still, I can’t afford to be complacent. If the Alliance did notice…
It would be problematic. Putting aside the Harmonic Sword, there was a good chance word could reach Wi Hyogun, or that other bastard.
The old man took out a letter of a different color and picked up his brush.
“Send other agents to check for any remaining traces.”
“…Understood.”
He swiftly wrote the letter and handed it to the man. “Deliver this to the Palace Lord.”
“Should I deliver it right away?”
“Yes. Also include that there is a chance we might be delayed with the Shaolin operation.”
“Understood.”
The man began to leave immediately, but the old man stopped him.
“Wait.”
“Yes, Grandmaster.”
“How are things proceeding with the Gu Clan matter?”
“The timing seems right, so I’ve sent agents to Hanam in advance.”
The business with the Gu Clan concerned a letter from its First Elder, Gu Changjun. The letter was full of compliments, but its true purpose was a request for help with internal clan politics.
How pointless.
The old man mused to himself, though he had to accept due to the offerings Gu Sunmoon had presented. A faint smile crossed his face.
It seems he still doesn’t grasp the futility of his desires.
Gu Changjun might have reached a respectable level of martial arts, but he still didn't understand. There were things one simply shouldn't covet.
“The target is the boy of the Gu Clan?”
“Yes.”
The old man didn't think much of him; he didn't seem capable of causing trouble. Gu Changjun seemed to share that perspective, as he hadn't mentioned much about the boy. But the fact he was bringing him up now…
It seems he’s getting a bit desperate.
The old man took a sip of the long-cold tea.
“Gu Yangcheon was his name, yes?”
“Yes. We are gathering more information, but I heard he displayed significant talent at a tournament.”
“Hmm… It seems he has indeed inherited some talent.”
He was, after all, the son of Gu Cheolun. The old man would have found it stranger if he had no talent at all.
…While he may be just a young prodigy, caution is necessary, especially since he’s that man’s child.
The reckless child, once known for having no talent, was now suddenly blooming.
And that Gu Clan child happens to be in Hanam right now.
The old man briefly considered that Number Three had also been operating near Shaolin, but he shook his head. With so many young prodigies and guards gathered in Hanam for the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament, it was far-fetched to connect the Gu Clan child to Number Three's demise. He felt he was overthinking.
“There won’t be any problems, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Proceed.”
In response, the man respectfully bowed his head and left the room.
Creak.
Once alone, the old man leaned back in his chair. The candlelight flickered close, illuminating the back of his neck where a long scar had replaced what was once a dragon tattoo.
The old man rubbed his neck. Even after all these years, the scar still pained him.
He whispered to himself.
“…It won’t be long until we see each other, so wait for me.”
The man once known as the Black Dragon whispered his old friend’s name into the dark room.
“Wi Hyogun.”