Chapter 189: An Unsatisfactory Act (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 189: An Unsatisfactory Act (4)
A week had passed since we departed Hanam for Shanxi.
As always, long journeys tended to be monotonous. Today was no exception.
During the day, I alternated between using Wi Seol-Ah’s or Namgung Bi-ah’s lap as a pillow to sleep, and idling away the hours. Most of that idle time was spent bullying Gu Jeolyub—one of the few amusements available.
When evening fell and the horses needed rest, I dedicated that time to training.
Namgung Bi-ah also trained, though alone, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to enlightenment. Tang Soyeol gave the impression she might join, but she mostly watched from a distance rather than practicing.
So, in the end, my only consistent training partner was Muyeon, with Gu Jeolyub serving as my personal stress reliever.
How lame.
[You’re always preaching about seeking peace, and now you’re bored?]
How is this peace? This is torture…
The carriages rolled endlessly toward Shanxi. The forested terrain and obstructive mountains only made the journey feel more sluggish.
“Young Master! Ahhh!”
I opened my mouth at Wi Seol-Ah’s prompting. A piece of yakgwa slipped past my lips.
Sweet.
Though I wished she’d stop feeding me, I held my tongue and chewed the honey pastry. After all, Wi Seol-Ah only ate one herself after I did.
Lately, she’s been unusually persistent about feeding me.
Wi Seol-Ah wasn’t greedy about most things, but when it came to food, she showed a different side. Strangely, it felt like she was trying to fatten me up.
Even though that’s my goal for her.
I was diligently working to help her regain the plump cheeks she’d lost. With the amount she ate daily, she shouldn’t be losing weight. Yet, mysteriously, Wi Seol-Ah was still gradually thinning out, while I steadily gained weight from her constant feeding.
“What is it?”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“…Nothing. Keep eating.”
Wi Seol-Ah grabbed another yakgwa and ate it after hearing my reply. I watched her for a moment, then closed my eyes.
[What do you think?]
Elder Shin’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
About what?
[You keep complaining about boredom, yet you’ve sharpened your senses. What’s your take on those guys?]
I sighed inwardly. They had been bothering me for a while.
I wonder how long they plan to tail us.
It had already been a full week. A group of unidentified individuals had been following our carriages from a distance.
Who could they be?
The list of potential pursuers was long, which was problematic. The most likely reason was my performance at the tournament, but my gut told me otherwise.
For now, I was just watching them, since they showed no signs of attacking. But after a week, my patience was wearing thin.
[The usual you would’ve beaten them up immediately. You’ve shown remarkable restraint.]
I’ve caused enough trouble lately. I’m trying to behave.
More than that, something felt off. Strangely familiar, even.
“It seems they’re finally planning to make a move. Today is the last day I’ll just watch.”
“Hmm? What did you say, Young Master?”
“Nothing. Oh, are you going to give me that?”
“…Ah.”
I had asked because she was holding a yakgwa, but Wi Seol-Ah flinched and pulled back slightly. Why the sudden change, when she was fine feeding me earlier?
“T-This is the last one…”
Ah, so that was why.
Wi Seol-Ah curled her body slightly, clearly unwilling to part with it. Her reluctance sparked a mischievous impulse in me.
“And?”
“W-Well… It’s…”
“You don’t want to give it to me?”
“No… It’s not that…”
“Then hand it over.”
Wi Seol-Ah began to sob as I responded coldly. Watching her slowly extend the yakgwa with a tearful face was deeply satisfying.
[You’re satisfied with taking a pastry…? Did you bathe in bitterness or something?]
She’s cute.
When I snatched the yakgwa from her, Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected me to actually take it. The way she stared at the treat, unable to look away, was downright theatrical.
Having had my fun, I returned the yakgwa to her and closed my eyes.
“P…Phew!”
Wi Seol-Ah sighed in relief…
“Ah! Siiis!”
Only to let out a devastated cry a moment later.
Namgung Bi-ah, who had been sleeping beside her, had woken up and stealthily snatched the pastry.
“S-Sis, that was the last one…!”
“My knee…”
“So cruel! I’m not letting you use me as a pillow anymore…!”
Wi Seol-Ah complained, but I knew she’d relent eventually. This same scene had played out repeatedly over the past few days.
…So noisy.
With that thought, I closed my eyes again.
* * *
Night had fallen.
We stopped near a valley and began setting up camp. The Tang Clan’s group seemed to have finished already, as Tang Soyeol approached.
I glanced at her pale, sickly expression. At first, I hadn’t understood why she looked like that, but after traveling together, I realized Tang Soyeol was prone to motion sickness.
“Are you alright?”
“…I’m fi… Ough.”
She was clearly not fine. She could have used Qi to settle her stomach, but Tang Soyeol stubbornly refused. She insisted there was something charming about motion sickness.
I had no idea what she meant, but since it was her choice, I didn’t press further.
“Oough…! Are you going training?”
“Probably. Want to come?”
“No… I’ll rest.”
I looked around. Namgung Bi-ah had taken her sword and wandered off somewhere, while Wi Seol-Ah and Hongwa were busy with something else.
“Where is that bastard?”
“Who—Oh.”
Tang Soyeol immediately soured when she realized I meant Gu Jeolyub.
…Wasn’t that a bit harsh?
“Maybe he ran away…?”
“What kind of martial artist runs away from training?”
“…Even I would run away, the way you treat him.”
[Tsk tsk… no tenacity at all.]
It’s not like I treat him that badly. Kids these days really have no stami—
Huh… that’s something Elder Shin always says.
I cut the thought short. Thinking like that pent-up old man was a path I couldn’t afford to go down.
[Pent u—… What did you say, you little shit?]*
Forget Gu Jeolyub—I couldn’t even find Muyeon. Had he gone on patrol?
I hope he didn’t go too far.
I knew Muyeon would be on high alert if I told him we were being followed. I also knew exactly what would happen if he encountered them. Still, I figured it was time to give him a hint.
“I’ll be back.”
“Have a safe trip!”
I decided to look for Muyeon rather than the runaway Gu Jeolyub.
Enveloping myself in Qi, I sharpened my senses and scanned the forest. Other escorts from the Gu Clan were stationed not far away. But Muyeon…
Where is he?
Strangely, he was nowhere to be found. Even with my senses heightened, I couldn’t detect him.
Puzzled, I prepared to investigate further. But just as I was about to channel more Qi…
“Young Master.”
Muyeon’s voice came from behind me.
I turned to find him standing there.
“Young Master, what brings you here?”
“Hmm.”
He spoke with curiosity, but I didn’t answer. Instead, I studied his body intently.
“Young Master?”
“I see.”
As Muyeon stepped forward with a concerned expression… I threw a punch.
Pow!
“…Ugh!”
Qi erupted with a sharp crack. Muyeon barely dodged, his face a mask of shock.
“Young Master! What are you…!”
“How fascinating. You can use martial skills. The bastard I met last time couldn’t.”
“What are you talking about…!”
I relaxed my body and accelerated, but I didn’t summon any flames. I didn’t want to attract attention.
Muyeon tried to draw his sword amid my relentless assault, but my fist sent the weapon flying.
Crack.
A swift kick broke his legs, and he crumpled to the ground.
“Agh… Ooup!”
I clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle his screams. He stared at me, utterly bewildered. His eyes swirled with fear, betrayal, frustration—a torrent of emotions.
Yet my gaze remained cold. Of course it did.
“I wondered why you’ve been tailing us for days. So it was for this. How pointless.”
“Ug… Ough…!”
The imposter continued his act, looking perfectly like Muyeon on the surface. But my eyes saw the faint red light shimmering around his body—the same energy that had cloaked the fake Heeyoung.
It could mean only one thing.
This wasn’t Muyeon.