Chapter 235: Battlefront (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235: Battlefront (5)
As night descended upon the forest at the frontlines, a gentle breeze whispered through the trees.
Rustle…
The moon emerged, casting its radiant light upon the land, and Moyong Hi-ah walked through the forest bathed in its ethereal glow.
Despite the warm weather, she still wore thick garments.
Her porcelain skin remained cold, but unlike the year before, she now understood what warmth felt like. She could even enjoy the cool night air now.
Little by little, Moyong Hi-ah embraced the gentle breeze, eyes closed—when suddenly…
“I heard you were looking for me.”
A voice spoke, drawing nearer.
To her surprise, it was Gu Jeolyub who approached.
She opened her eyes, acknowledging his presence, and observed him. He looked somewhat exhausted, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on his brow.
“You’ve been training,” she noted.
“I was… just… stretching a bit.”
Gu Jeolyub averted his eyes, avoiding her gaze.
If he had to list the most difficult people in this place, the devil himself would rank first, followed by the First Lady, then the Captain—and fourth would be the Snow Phoenix standing before him now.
…Sigh.
Even now, under the faint moonlight, her sky-blue eyes gleamed with an icy coldness, her mouth hidden behind her fan.
Does the Young Master realize?
That her gaze was different when she looked at others.
She assessed their worth, deciding whether they would be useful to her—or bring her harm.
One might question what right she had to judge another’s worth, but her unique aura made such judgments feel natural.
Among all the members of the noble clans, Gu Jeolyub believed Moyong Hi-ah embodied nobility the most.
Though I don’t get why a noble lady like her acts like that in front of the Young Master.
Oddly enough, the Snow Phoenix’s enigmatic aura and piercing gaze—which made others keep their distance—vanished completely when she was with the Young Master, as though they had never existed.
I think it’s only the Young Master that fails to realize that.
With a quiet sigh, Gu Jeolyub straightened his disheveled training attire.
“…May I ask why Lady Moyong was looking for me?”
“Ah, it’s nothing major.”
Smile.
Moyong Hi-ah replied, staring at him with a faint smile.
That smile might have seemed alluring once, but by now, it only intimidated him.
“We have something to discuss, you know?”
Her tone was surprisingly gentle—a rare occurrence.
Gu Jeolyub knew what that gentleness meant: he was in trouble.
“Um… what do you mean by that…?”
“I saved you, didn’t I?”
“…!”
Hearing those words, Gu Jeolyub fell silent.
Unperturbed, she continued.
“About that martial artist from the Alliance you brought back—you left him there on purpose, didn’t you? Knowing I would come.”
“Uh… about that…”
“The Sword of Heroic Flame is more clever than I gave him credit for.”
He was caught.
He’d resorted to that ploy to avoid a beating, but Moyong Hi-ah had seen right through it.
Did she help me while knowing that?
He had escaped thanks to her intervention, so it was only fair to acknowledge the debt.
Concealing his trembling gaze and the cold sweat on his forehead, Gu Jeolyub replied…
“I happened to have free time, and I just thought it would be… delightful to see the Young Master.”
Flutter—
Waving her fan, Moyong Hi-ah drifted closer.
“But now that I think about it, what goes around should come around, don’t you agree?”
“Huh? I’m not sure what you mean…”
“Oh, is that so? Then, shall I inform the Young Master about your actions?”
“I am willing to serve you with my life on the line!!”
“I’ve always liked that enthusiasm of yours, Sword of Heroic Flame.”
Catching another glimpse of her smile, Gu Jeolyub gulped.
“…What is it that you wish for me to do?”
“Ah, nothing special. At first… I thought I didn’t need such a thing, but what happened earlier changed my mind.”
“Huh?”
“…I knew he was a bit slow on the uptake, but spending time with him made me realize he’s far worse than I imagined.”
Crack—!
Though Moyong Hi-ah’s face remained concealed behind her fan, Gu Jeolyub definitely heard the sound of something shattering on the other side.
Naturally, he pretended not to notice.
She swiftly smoothed her expression and addressed him with the same alluring smile as before.
“I want the Sword of Heroic Flame to help me. It’s nothing too difficult—something even you can accomplish.”
“…Um, what if I were to… perhaps… refuse your request…?”
“Oh? Are you curious?”
Casually asked out of curiosity, Gu Jeolyub felt the air grow colder.
The chill was so bone-deep that even he—who possessed substantial internal heat, though less than Gu Yangcheon—could sense it.
“I pray for your sake, that you aren’t that curious.”
Seeing Moyong Hi-ah speak with her face full of smiles, Gu Jeolyub nodded.
…I gotta change the order.
He was certain: she was far more dangerous than the devil.
* * *
The year I spent on the frontlines was far from pleasant.
For martial artists of Orthodox Sects like myself, the frontlines were in some ways one of the most undesirable places to be.
Yet, the Gu Clan’s Fifth Swordsmen Army stayed active near the central area. As a result, my year here was anything but peaceful.
Rustle—
As night fell, I moved through the forest with light steps.
The Toxic Qi permeating the air didn’t affect me in my current state. Instead, it seemed to enhance my body, as I was able to absorb the peculiar Qi produced by the demons.
I knew I shouldn’t become reliant on this power, but it did help me control the beast within me.
[Grr…]
This power was an immense help in calming down the beast that woke up every time from its sleep, looking for food.
Why are you looking for food as soon as you wake up? I just fed you earlier.
[Grr…]
A Gate of Demons had opened near the forest, so I went out of my way to hunt them all down just to feed this beast—but it seemed it had already finished digesting, angrily looking for food again.
No, you’re not hungry. You just want to overeat, don’t you?
[…Grgh.]*
The beast was acting like this because it had gotten used to frequent feedings, even though it could survive for weeks or even months on a single meal.
If you keep acting like this, I might just stop feeding you.
When I spoke with a slightly annoyed tone, the beast’s whining ceased almost instantly.
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue.
They always learn their lesson only after I yell at them.
Whether it’s people or beasts, a thorough beatdown is always the answer.
Tap—!
With a light step on a tree branch, I launched myself into the air.
Despite my body growing stronger and larger over time, thanks to the Qi within me, I felt as light as ever.
“Well, that’s to be expected with all the crap I ate.”
Since entering the frontlines, I had consumed all kinds of Qi from demons, so change was only natural.
If I had to name another change besides my Qi, it would be the speed of the Demonic Qi purification process—it had become much faster than before.
My Gu Flame Wheel Art prevented Demonic Qi from running rampant and cleansed it so I could use it as my own.
Consuming a stupid amount of Demonic Qi over the past year had undoubtedly sped up the cleansing process.
I guess it also improves since it’s a type of martial art?
Even though it sounded like bullshit, there was no other explanation.
It’s something I cannot comprehend.
Setting aside the beast within me, I couldn’t fathom how the Gu Flame Wheel Art could cleanse Demonic Qi.
It was much better than not being able to do such a thing, but that didn’t change the fact that I still didn’t understand it.
As one’s realm increased, their capacity to absorb Qi also increased. Once Qi reached its limit it overflowed, and the same process repeated over and over to reach higher levels.
After experiencing those boring and long steps, I had come to learn one thing:
…This tenant of mine who’s always hungry.
The beast that hid deep inside my Dantian wasn’t located in a fixed spot, nor where my Demonic Absorption Art resided—but rather where my Gu Flame Wheel Art was.
The faint presence I could feel from my Inner Qi gave me that idea for some reason.
[Grr…?]
It never fails to notice when I’m talking about it.
I hadn’t learned too much about this bastard.
During my time in confinement last year, all I managed to learn was its ‘name’. I didn’t discover why it was inside my body, why it controlled the Qi without my will, or if it was keeping my body in check to prevent it from going out of control.
This is why I needed to end this cohabitation already.
I wonder when Elder Shin will wake up.
A year had already passed, and summer would soon arrive.
That meant Elder Shin’s supposed naptime was coming to an end.
“Tsk.”
Moreover, the time for me to leave the frontlines and return to the clan was also drawing near.
Well, I could’ve already gone back.
Ironically, after dealing with the incident that exploded into chaos half a year ago, I was given the chance to leave. Yet, with my own hands, I sent a letter to my father saying I wanted to remain on the frontlines.
There is still something I need to take care of.
At the time of writing that letter, I claimed I had a duty to fulfill as a blood relative of the Gu Clan.
I almost died from the cringe when I sent it.
Duty as a blood relative, my ass.
I’m already having a hard time taking care of myself; the Gu Clan is not my concern.
Ultimately, my decision to remain on the frontlines, rolling around in the dirt despite being given the chance to leave, was my own doing.
Of course, making Gu Jeolyub roll around was more enjoyable than I thought, too.
But this too will come to an end soon.
In a month’s time, or perhaps even sooner if my prediction was correct.
Tap tap!
After leaping through the air for a long time, I sensed the presence of others in the distance.
There were around ten individuals.
Among the group of well-trained martial artists, two stood out.
One had Qi that blazed like flames, while the other emitted astonishingly sharp Lightning Qi.
It doesn’t seem like there’s anything special.
I sighed in relief, seeing that they appeared unharmed.
Briefly adjusting my expression, I quickly approached the group as they gracefully leaped this way.
Tap—!
“Woah.”
Seeing me arrive, the person at the front greeted me with enthusiasm.
“Little Brother, did you want to see your older sister that badly? So much so that you ran here in such a hurry?”
The woman spoke with a smile, spouting bullshit as usual.
She was the eldest daughter of the Gu Clan, the Sword Phoenix Gu Huibi, hailed as the greatest among the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
“You’re saying something horrifying as soon as I see you.”
Her black hair swayed in the breeze, looking as beautiful as ever.
The density of her Qi had increased—I could sense it even as she walked. Gu Huibi had grown even stronger over the past year.
“Nothing major happened while Sis was away, did it?”
“Well, nothing major. Ah, maybe the fact that some dude picked up another person?”
As a wrinkle formed between Gu Huibi’s brows, I could tell she understood.
“…Again?”
“Again.”
“This guy is quite stubborn, huh? For him to pick someone up every time he goes out. Hmm, should I have a one-on-one talk with him for the first time in a while?”
I silently prayed for Gu Jeolyub upon hearing her words.
I may have bullied him a bit, but he should realize it’s only thanks to me that Gu Huibi doesn’t personally make him suffer.
If he knew that, then maybe he would sweat less in front of me.
Really, that guy didn’t know how to be grateful.
Tsk tsk…
I had kindly boosted his realm, kept him company in case he was lonely, and even handled his problems for him.
So why does he always tremble in fear whenever he sees me?
Back in my day, you wouldn’t dare treat your savior like that…
Come to think of it, I’m kinda pissed.
I should make him suffer a bit more.
Around twice as much when I go back.
“Ahh, Sis is so touched! For my little brother to come all the way out here, this late at night, just to see her.”
“I just happened to be on duty.”
“You’re just embarrassed to admit it, aren’t you?”
“…Sister, did you suffer a head injury or something?”
She seemed fine from the outside, but her unusual behavior made me concerned she’d been severely injured in the head.
“I’ll say it again… I just happened to be on—”
Step—
I involuntarily shut my mouth mid-sentence.
For a moment, it felt like even the wind held its breath at the sound of her footsteps.
The group shifted, opening a path for her to walk through with ease.
Sss…
The breeze returned once again.
Moonlight poured down, enveloping the girl walking toward me in its radiant glow. Her bluish-white hair shimmered delicately in the moon’s embrace.
How beautiful.
It was as if the very essence of beauty had taken human form.
“…”
I stood there, unable to tear my gaze away.
My eyes traced her from head to toe, taking in every little detail.
Her hair, untouched despite the battle she had just come from, seemed to shine even brighter. Her attire, which she wore for comfort, remained pristine.
It almost made me think she had never entered combat, but the crackling Lightning Qi I sensed from her told me she had fought with all her might.
That makes sense.
Only then could so many return without a single injury.
The girl approached with an expressionless face, her rich blue eyes seemingly containing the ocean. I found myself speaking…
“Did you eat?”
The roughness of my words contradicted my emotions.
Even I found my own words lacking.
After hearing my question, the girl took a step closer.
Our gazes, once level, now had me looking down at her.
Slowly, she opened her mouth to respond.
“…I didn’t eat.”
Her reply was brief and slow.
“I told you to eat if you’re going to be out and about.”
“Sorry…”
“Make sure to eat when you return. I left some for you.”
“Okay…”
She took another step forward.
Her steps were so light it seemed she might float away.
Along with her came an unfamiliar scent of flowers.
How could this be?
The flowers I thought had already bloomed to their fullest now blossomed even more beautifully, to the point where I couldn’t dare pluck them anymore.
The girl drew close, close enough for me to reach out and touch her.
She lowered her head ever so slightly, her hair gently swaying, revealing the top of her head.
“…”
Her movement might seem random, but I knew why she was positioned that way.
It was a habit she had developed over the past few months.
Despite being bothered by all the prying gazes from those behind her, I raised my hand and tenderly stroked her head.
Her hair still felt as soft as ever.
“Good work.”
“…Yeah.”
After offering a brief compliment and feeling a sense of awkwardness, I lifted my hand away. The girl before me, Namgung Bi-ah, raised her head.
“…Hm.”
I had to hide my reaction when our eyes met because Namgung Bi-ah was smiling.
“I told you not to smile like that.”
“Hmm…?”
“I told you not to smile in public. That’s a weapon.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s beauty was indeed a weapon—an extremely strong one.
Hearing my words, she responded with a hint of frustration.
“…I didn’t smile in public…”
“Then what about now?”
“…It’s because I’m only in front of you…”
“…”
I shouldn’t have asked.
I felt my ears heating up, so I turned my head away, looking back the way I had come.
“…Let’s head back.”
It felt awkward to stand still like this.
As I scratched the back of my head, a tingling sensation ran through me.
-What a fucking show you two are putting on.
“…”
I heard someone mutter from behind.
It was undoubtedly Gu Huibi’s voice.
I heard every word clearly, but I chose to pretend I hadn’t. I started to move, taking steps forward.