Chapter 227: Going To Battle (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 227: Going To Battle (3)
After being hauled back to my quarters, I scrubbed myself clean and changed into a fresh uniform.
The old one I'd been wearing was so saturated with stench that no amount of washing could salvage it; I had no choice but to burn it to ashes.
It must have been drenched in sweat.
The enclosed training area was unbearably hot, forcing even my body, tempered by Fire Arts, to sweat profusely.
…I genuinely thought I might die in there…
Altering the terrain was something I could brute-force my way through, but there was nothing I could do about the debilitating thirst brought on by the constant sweating.
Consequently, I drank water incessantly.
I've never endured such torment before.
Since it was a punishment in the form of closed-door training, I'd assumed a six-month stint would be standard. But an enclosed space like that was simply unacceptable.
I'd done it in my past life.
Yet, for some reason, it felt profoundly different this time around.
Even so…
I hadn't wasted the two months I spent in isolation.
Clench.
With every clench of my fist, I could feel my Qi churning powerfully within.
I had successfully stabilized the energy that once flowed erratically, and it felt as though my original Qi had become denser and more potent.
Of course, I hadn't broken through the Peak Realm to reach the Fusion Realm.
The Fusion Realm wasn't a barrier that could be shattered in a mere two months.
It's a bit disappointing,
But it was almost amusing that I felt any disappointment at all.
What could I realistically expect in such a short time?
The fact that I'd stabilized my Qi flow and smoothed the process of channeling energy to my middle dantian was significant progress in itself.
“Thanks to that, my physical condition has improved considerably.”
The abundant Qi circulating within my body seemed to be accelerating my physical growth compared to my previous life.
Longer limbs would grant a distinct advantage in actual combat, so this was a welcome development.
I hope I grow even taller than I did in my past life.
One never knows.
At this rate, wouldn't I surpass my previous height?
“Young Master.”
Just as I finished fastening my belt, Muyeon's voice called from outside my room.
“I'm coming out now.”
I checked myself one last time for any lingering odor, but it seemed I'd managed to eradicate it completely.
I even had to use Qi to purge the smell.
It made me wonder just how foul I must have been to reek so intensely.
Drrrr.
I slid the door open and stepped out to find Muyeon bowing his head slightly in a respectful greeting.
“You've worked hard,” I said.
“It was nothing, Young Master,” he replied.
Anyone overhearing might think I'd been in seclusion for years. I smiled faintly and took a moment to observe him.
His posture remained impeccable, and the way he subtly emanated Qi into his surroundings signaled he was perpetually on guard. However, I noticed a refinement in how he wielded that Qi now.
“It seems you've been working hard yourself,” I remarked.
“…That is not true,” he demurred.
“What do you mean it's not? Excessive modesty is just annoying, you know.”
Considering it had only been two months, the level I sensed from Muyeon was distinctly above average. When a martial artist first breaks through a major barrier, they typically struggle to acclimate to the new sensations—the heightened senses and the fusion of Qi within their body. Most run wild, unable to control the energy flooding their middle dantian.
It usually takes about a year to gain control, yet Muyeon had achieved it in just a few months. It reaffirmed my belief in his exceptional talent.
Though Namgung Bi-ah is in a league of her own.
Namgung Bi-ah, who mastered control immediately upon her breakthrough, was a true exception. A mundane word like 'talent' hardly suffices to describe monsters like her.
Hearing my words, Muyeon offered an embarrassed smile.
“These are the items you requested,” he said, pulling several letters from his pocket and handing them to me.
These were the inquiries I'd asked Muyeon to send to the Hao Clan and others before I began my training two months ago. Fortunately, the replies had arrived in time.
I was about to open the letters when Muyeon spoke again.
“Also, the Lord of the Clan ordered me to tell you to visit him as soon as you finished preparing.”
…Tsk.
It seemed I had to see Father first.
* * *
Normally, I would report to Father in his personal quarters, but this time, I was directed elsewhere—to the formal meeting room used for receiving guests.
I wonder what the reason is.
Following the steward at a leisurely pace, I arrived at my destination shortly.
Creak.
I opened the door to find Father seated in the spacious meeting room. And furthermore…
Why is she here?
In another seat, Namgung Bi-ah sat poised before a tray of tea and snacks.
“Come in,” Father said.
Hearing his permission, I entered and surveyed the room. An empty seat beside Namgung Bi-ah was clearly intended for me. I carefully took my place.
As soon as I sat down, a delicate floral scent wafted from Namgung Bi-ah. When I glanced at her, she seemed slightly different from her usual self.
Did she apply makeup?
It was more accurate to say she had adorned herself a bit. No, she definitely had.
While I discreetly observed her, Father addressed me.
“It seems you've made some progress.”
I flinched imperceptibly. I thought I'd concealed it well, but Father had noticed immediately.
“I experienced a minor enlightenment,” I said, playing it off as a common occurrence.
It wasn't entirely untrue. It was a form of enlightenment, after all.
Father asked no further questions, merely nodding in response.
As I took a sip of cold water to quench my sudden thirst in the uncomfortable atmosphere, Father broached the main subject.
“I called you here regarding your engagement with the Namgung Clan.”
“…Ah.”
Right. The engagement ceremony was originally scheduled for after my return from the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament. In all honesty, I had forgotten about it. Recent events had pushed it to the back of my mind.
…Sigh…
No wonder Namgung Bi-ah was here. It was about the engagement.
Back then, I'd told myself I would run away when the time came, but I realized too late that I was already ensnared.
As I wrestled with my thoughts, Father spoke while looking at Namgung Bi-ah.
“I must apologize to Young Lady Namgung. While it may have originated as our clan's internal matter, it ultimately caused harm to the Namgung Clan as well.”
“Not at all… It was a very serious situation,” she replied.
“I will convey my apologies separately to the Lord of the Namgung Clan.”
Considering the Namgung Clan Lord's absence—he should have been present—it seemed Father had already sent word ahead.
Namgung Bi-ah, receiving the apology on her father's behalf, was silent for a moment before speaking.
“…My lord.”
“You may speak.”
“Could you please… not use such formal speech with me…?”
I started slightly, listening quietly. I hadn't expected such words from Namgung Bi-ah.
Father also seemed surprised, his eyes widening a fraction more than usual, but his expression quickly returned to its usual composure.
“I will consider it after the engagement ceremony,” he said.
Despite Namgung Bi-ah's youth, he chose not to speak informally yet, as she was still technically an outsider to the clan.
Namgung Bi-ah's face showed a flicker of disappointment at his response, but it soon settled into resignation. The line had been clearly drawn.
Watching this, I interjected to change the subject.
“So, what will happen with the ceremony?” I needed to know the new plan, given the delay.
“The original plan was to hold the ceremony at the Gu Clan residence. However, it will now be conducted at the Namgung Clan.”
It was customary for engagement ceremonies to be held by the groom's clan, but Father stated that the Gu Clan would take responsibility by having it at the Namgung Clan's home.
…Is that really acceptable?
It might not sound problematic on the surface, but an engagement between two major clans would be scrutinized by many. Holding the ceremony at the bride's clan could be misinterpreted as me becoming a live-in son-in-law.
While that wasn't the case, public perception mattered. Most noble clans, especially in such unions, would insist on hosting the ceremony themselves.
But the Gu Clan has never cared much for such conventions.
Father's decision was still rather shocking. Personally, I didn't care much either. Titles like 'son-in-law' would become meaningless once the impending calamity began.
“…When will it take place, then…?” I asked.
“After you return from the battlefront.”
The delay was longer than I'd anticipated. If it was after my return from the front lines, it meant the ceremony wouldn't happen for over a year.
The delay is good for me,
But I felt a pang of concern for Namgung Bi-ah. I glanced at her; she listened with her typically expressionless face, seemingly unbothered.
“I have already discussed this with the Namgung Clan,” Father added.
“Already?”
This wasn't a discussion, but rather Father informing us of the decided outcome. Given that the delay was partly my fault, I wasn't in a position to argue.
As I glanced again at Namgung Bi-ah, she spoke while looking at Father.
“…I am okay with it.”
“As long as our engagement is not broken off, I am fine with any arrangement.”
“…”
I detected a subtle undercurrent of emotion in her calmly spoken words, which made me feel even worse.
“I sincerely apologize,” I said.
“There is no need. I appreciate your concern,” she replied.
Father nodded at her response. But then, I definitely heard it—Father's quiet whisper, barely audible: 'Thankfully she's not like her Father.'
It made me wonder what history existed between them to foster such a strained relationship.
We engaged in some trivial conversation afterward, but nothing of great importance. After some time passed…
“My apologies, Young Lady Namgung, but would you please give us the room? We are finished here,” Father requested.
Upon hearing this, Namgung Bi-ah stood up respectfully. Her movements were impeccably proper, a side of her I rarely witnessed.
If you can act like this, why don't you do so normally?
Every time I saw her like this, I questioned if she was the same person.
“…I'll be… leaving first… I'll wait for you…” she said, her tone and expression shifting back to her usual self the moment she turned away from Father.
Namgung Bi-ah left the room with light, graceful steps.
Only Father and I remained, the room engulfed in a heavy silence. I wondered why he had asked her to leave.
…Did I cause another incident?
I frantically searched my mind for any recent misdeeds.
As I swallowed nervously in the quiet, Father finally spoke.
“We have accessed the First Elder's secret vault.”
My attention sharpened instantly. It had been two months since they obtained the information, so it was about time they breached it.
“What will happen now?” I asked.
“We must verify how much of the information stored within the vault is true.”
The removal of the First Elder, the management changes in Gu Sunmoon, and the justification for my own actions there all hinged on the problems documented in that vault. That was essentially what Father conveyed.
The hierarchy among the Elders was likely to shift. For instance, the Second Elder might be promoted to First Elder. While their positions weren't strictly rank-based, such a change was certainly possible.
As I listened, a question I'd been pondering surfaced.
“My lord. May I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Did you truly know nothing?” Father's hand, which was reaching for his teacup, stilled. His gaze sharpened, piercing through me.
“Explain.”
“The schemes the First Elder was orchestrating behind the scenes. I'm asking if you were truly completely unaware.”
Did Father genuinely know nothing at all? I doubted it. What I truly wanted to know was the extent of his ignorance.
“…”
We locked eyes calmly for several seconds. Father took a slow sip of his tea without answering.
I was the first to look away. I knew he wouldn't give me an answer.
“…When should I depart for the battlefront?” I changed the subject.
“You may leave once your body has fully cooled down. Your sister has already departed.”
“Sister has already left?”
Gu Huibi was already at the front? I wondered if she had fully recovered from her injuries.
“You may obtain the details from the steward.”
“…Understood.”
Receiving Father's dismissive signal, I stood and made my way out. I refrained from pressing further because I knew Father was also withholding much larger questions. Probing him further would be futile.
About a week, then.
I estimated I had roughly that much time left in the clan. I needed to settle several matters, both big and small, during that period.
Being forced to go to the battlefront is my immediate problem…
Being consigned there for a full year was the major issue, but at this point, I also found it somewhat welcome.
The battlefront was teeming with demons. That meant it was also a place where I could acquire a significant number of Demonic Stones. It was an prospect I would have despised in the past, but my perspective had shifted.
…I do have to feed this beast, after all.
I needed to sustain the tenant residing in my dantian, and I felt a pressing need to vastly increase my energy reserves. If I was going to use this power regardless, I might as well do so efficiently.
“Hmm?”
As I exited the building to head back, I spotted Namgung Bi-ah standing on the path leading to my quarters.
“You said you'd wait. You meant out here?”
“…Yeah.”
“Why stay outside? You should have gone inside.”
“Just because…”
She walked toward me with light steps. With each step, her mysterious floral scent grew stronger.
I smiled slightly. “You ran away earlier because of my smell.”
“…”
When I joked about it, Namgung Bi-ah's face furrowed into a slight frown.
Right after I emerged from seclusion, when Namgung Bi-ah had approached me, she'd frowned and said:
—…You smell.
I had heard it clearly.
“That hurt my feelings more than I expected, you know?” I said.
“…I wasn't talking about that smell…” she muttered.
“If not that smell, then what?”
“…Stench.”
“You usually call that 'smell'.”
To be fair, the odor had been overpowering even to my own nose, so her reaction wasn't entirely unreasonable.
…Though it did sting a little.
Namgung Bi-ah walked forward and hooked her arm through mine.
“What are you doing?”
“…”
Judging by her averted gaze and silence, she seemed concerned that her comment had actually hurt me.
I could just tell her I was joking.
But her unexpected concern was somewhat amusing, so I decided to say nothing.
As we neared my residence, walking together…
“But where is she? I haven't seen her anywhere.”
I asked because I hadn't seen her since my emergence. Wi Seol-Ah, who should have been the first to come running to me, was conspicuously absent.
“Did she go into town or something?”
That was possible, but I doubted she would have chosen today, of all days, knowing I was finishing my training.
Just as I was about to enter my home, puzzled…
“Hmm?”
Namgung Bi-ah, still holding my arm, stopped walking, forcing me to stop as well.
“What's wrong?”
I looked around, checking if something was amiss, but Namgung Bi-ah simply stared at me with an unreadable expression.
“…What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Seol-Ah…” she began.
“Hmm?”
Namgung Bi-ah wore an extremely careful expression, speaking so quietly it was as if she was trying to soften a blow.
“…She left.”
The moment I heard those words, the air seemed to vanish from my lungs.