Chapter 260: Anhui (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 260: Anhui (1)
Clunk.
The carriage rolled on without pause from the moment we departed.
Splash.
It hadn't been long since I'd returned to the clan, and already I was off again. By now, this constant movement had become almost routine since my regression.
…Wait… This isn’t something I should be getting used to!
How had my life become so turbulent?
In my past life, I'd never been permitted to leave the clan grounds. Now, I could come and go with startling ease…
If I were to hazard a guess, I had a feeling Father would let me go anywhere I wished, no matter how far.
Would he even notice if I ran away from home?
Maybe not.
Perhaps that was taking it a bit too far.
Still, it was a faint, private hope.
Rustle.
With these thoughts swirling in my head, I picked up another letter.
The sender was none other than Tang Soyeol.
With little else to do in the moving carriage, I decided to read what she had sent this time.
- Young Master, are you having a good time?
- Because I’m not!
Huh? Had I misread that?
…Why is she so enthusiastic about not having a good time?
What a weirdo.
The letter was much like the others she'd sent. It seemed that even after hearing of my return, she couldn't come to the Gu Clan. The Poison King had her firmly in his grasp, refusing to release her until the Heavenly Dragon Academy opened.
The Poison King, huh…
My memories of him were sparse.
To be honest, in my past life, he'd despised me, and our relationship was decidedly poor. Whether his hatred stemmed from me becoming a Demonic Human or some other reason, my rapport with the Poison King was anything but good.
Which is why I hope to avoid running into him in this life, if at all possible.
Tang Soyeol had mentioned last time that the Poison King wanted to meet me, but all I had to do was steer clear. I doubted he would seek me out directly.
…Dealing with the Dishonored Venerable is difficult enough. I don't need to add the Poison King to that list.
The Poison King was surprisingly well-known in the world of assassins. While not common knowledge, given their place in the Orthodox Faction, it was easy to deduce that the Tang Clan's original specialty was assassination. They practiced poison-based martial arts, and Tang Soyeol herself wielded daggers alongside her toxic arts.
And the Poison King, a master of such deadly skills…
…Could probably kill me if he felt like it.
Of course, he was unlikely to attempt such a thing while I was under the Gu Clan's protection, but the possibility still existed.
As I reached the end of the letter, I felt a stirring below me and spoke up.
“Why are you so restless?”
“…It’s uncomfortable…”
Namgung Bi-ah was in the carriage with me, using my lap as a pillow as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I smirked down at her.
“This isn't because you laid down right after eating, is it?”
“…Ungh…”
She shook her head in denial.
…Hmm.
Namgung Bi-ah had returned from a meal with Lady Mi, and her expression suggested something had transpired. Yet, no matter how many times I asked, she refused to tell me.
It doesn’t look like she was scolded.
At the very least, it didn't seem like anything bad had happened. Still, I was curious about Lady Mi's reason for summoning her.
“Hey.”
“…Hmm?”
“Are you really not going to tell me?”
“…”
At my question, Namgung Bi-ah immediately closed her eyes and feigned sleep. Her acting was terribly transparent.
Out of sheer spite, I gave her cheek a firm pinch. But Namgung Bi-ah didn't react in the slightest, apparently resolved to endure the pain to the bitter end.
“Jeez…”
In the end, I just sighed and softly patted her head. She must have had a very good reason for wanting to keep it a secret from me.
I glanced out the window towards the lord's carriage ahead, carrying Father and Lady Mi. Gu Huibi had stubbornly insisted on accompanying us, even claiming she would act as an escort. The result was Lady Mi losing her temper and dragging her away by the ear. When Gu Huibi returned, her eyes were moist, as if she'd been punished to the brink of tears.
Wait, does that mean she's coming along?
The thought dumbfounded me. Wouldn't it be strange for all the blood relatives to tag along? And we even had Moyong Hi-ah with us. In the end, it was decided that Gu Huibi would remain at the clan to look after Gu Yeonseo. I'm sure she didn't realize it, but Gu Yeonseo seemed quite satisfied with the arrangement.
I wonder what her plans are.
I knew Moyong Hi-ah was accompanying us, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I think she mentioned something about sending a letter to the Namgung Clan.
They must be pretty confused as well.
It was definitely unusual for the Moyong Clan to attend an engagement between the Namgung and Gu Clans.
…Once this is over…
By the time all this concluded, it would probably be the start of autumn.
Autumn, huh…?
I had initially planned to visit Wi Seol-Ah around that time.
But now, I’m really not sure if I should.
Since she had expressed in her letter that she wanted to come to me, I was at a loss.
Then…
What should I do?
Training was essential, but I also needed to use my time more efficiently.
“It’s difficult.”
“…Hmm?”
“It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.”
“Kay…”
As Namgung Bi-ah closed her eyes again, I sighed and looked out the window.
Let’s get through this first.
My current circumstances were too troublesome to worry about other things.
…Engagement, huh.
The thing I never expected to happen was now right before my eyes. It was weird enough that I was getting engaged, but to the Demonic Sword, of all people.
No, it wasn't right to call her the Demonic Sword anymore.
I gazed down at the girl breathing softly with her head in my lap.
I wonder how it came to this.
I would never have imagined such a scenario.
I carefully brushed Namgung Bi-ah's hair. My palm glided smoothly over its silk-like texture.
By any chance, did you know?
I hadn't known the two of us could be like this.
No, perhaps I'd had a vague feeling.
On that rainy night, when I held the moon in my arms… Was that perhaps the night I learned that the Demonic Sword's existence was more significant to me than I had admitted?
And that's why I had kept my distance from you.
Hoping you wouldn't make the same decision again.
Judging by her soft, even breaths, she seemed to have fallen asleep. It hadn't been long since she closed her eyes. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
“I’m jealous that you’re so carefree.”
After all, it was her easygoing nature that made Namgung Bi-ah who she was.
Even so, this oddly amusing situation put me at ease.
* * *
Time passed, and autumn drew nearer. The heat lingered, but a light breeze carried the promise of the changing seasons. The leaves had yet to fall, but autumn would come regardless. Just as it always did.
“Young Master Gu, are you tired?”
“Hmm? Ah, no. I was just thinking about something.”
I shook my head at the sudden question. No matter how much time passed, it seemed my idle thoughts would never cease.
When I glanced to the side, I met a gaze as clear as the sky.
The precious child of the Moyong Clan, the Snow Phoenix, Moyong Hi-ah.
She had alighted from her clan's carriage and boarded mine. As usual, Namgung Bi-ah was half-asleep. She hadn't seemed thrilled about sharing the carriage with Moyong Hi-ah initially, but now she didn't appear to mind.
…To be more accurate…
It’s likely because of the heat.
Namgung Bi-ah was truly struggling against the sweltering weather, and an unusual distance had opened up between us due to the heat radiating from my body.
In contrast, despite the heat, the carriage Moyong Hi-ah rode in was cooled by her Ice Qi. That was why Namgung Bi-ah didn't complain when she boarded our carriage. She probably preferred 'this' over the heat.
Moyong Hi-ah looked at me with a gentle smile. “You didn’t eat much earlier.”
“Huh? You saw that?”
“I’m always watching you.”
As she spoke, my eyes fell upon the necklace around her neck—the one I had bought her from a street vendor last time.
It seems she really is wearing it.
Moyong Hi-ah could have easily bought hundreds of such cheap necklaces if she sold just one of her own accessories, or even the fan she always carried.
I guess she really likes cheap things, huh.
It might have made sense if the necklace were pretty, but even to my untrained eye, it wasn't. It was utterly basic.
“Hmm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
I stretched my sore body as I replied. It looked like we were nearing our destination. Still stretching, I asked Moyong Hi-ah a question.
“You said you had some business in Anhui?”
“Ah… yes. I have matters to attend to, and I also have some business with the Namgung Clan.”
“With the Namgung Clan?”
“Yes.”
What business could she have with them?
Now that I think about it…
I seemed to recall that in my past life, Moyong Hi-ah and the Pissing Dragon were engaged.
Maybe it hasn’t happened yet?
That was a possibility. I think they were past twenty when I learned of their engagement. It happened some time after…
Wait.
What was going to happen now?
It was no secret that Moyong Hi-ah had feelings for me. She had said it herself and displayed them quite openly.
So,
She has feelings for me, but she’ll also get engaged to someone else? Huh.
Wasn't that a bit too complicated and difficult? Such thoughts were far beyond me.
Was the Snow Phoenix into things like that?
…Of course not.
I wasn't sure, and it certainly didn't feel that way, but when I thought about my past life… I couldn't be certain…
Ugh.
…The more I think about it, the more complicated it gets.
As my furrowed brow betrayed my tangled thoughts, Moyong Hi-ah noticed immediately.
“Young Master? It looks like something is bothering you after all, right?”
“It’s nothing. It’s just that my head hur—“
As I tried to make an excuse, Moyong Hi-ah reached out towards my forehead as if she'd been waiting for the chance.
Just as her cold hand was about to make contact,
Tap.
Another hand appeared and snatched hers away.
It was Namgung Bi-ah, who was supposedly asleep.
“…No.”
“Tsk.”
Moyong Hi-ah clicked her tongue. “Sword Dancer… you were awake.”
“Yeah.”
Namgung Bi-ah sat up as she responded.
What the— Had she been awake the whole time?
Moyong Hi-ah snorted upon seeing her. “It seems I can’t let my guard down.”
“…Me too…”
After her response, Namgung Bi-ah placed her own hand on my forehead, mimicking what Moyong Hi-ah had been about to do.
“I don’t have a fever. There’s no need to touch me.”
“…It kind of feels like you do…”
Of course it felt warm, but it wasn't a fever. From the way she kept touching my forehead, it seemed Namgung Bi-ah had no intention of backing down. In the end, I had to create some distance. She finally retrieved her hand, looking disappointed.
While rubbing my forehead, I asked her, “Are you okay? It’s been a while since you’ve returned home, hasn’t it?”
“Hmm…?”
Namgung Bi-ah simply tilted her head, seemingly confused by my question. After all, she wasn't particularly fond of her clan. That was likely why she stayed at the Gu Clan even when she could return anytime. I also suspected I was one of the reasons for her staying, though I couldn't be sure.
Seeing her eyes widen slightly, it seemed she finally understood my meaning. Then, she responded with a gentle smile. I was still not used to that smile, no matter how many times I saw it.
“…I’m fine now…”
So, she hadn't been fine before.
I didn't know what kind of life Namgung Bi-ah had lived, and I didn't want to ask unless she came to me first.
Staring into my eyes, Namgung Bi-ah whispered, “…I’m not… afraid anymore.”
Her soft whisper struck a deep chord.
Just as I was about to ask her something else…
- Young Master, we have arrived.
The horseman's call made me shut my mouth. Oh, Gu Jeolyub wasn't the horseman this time. I'd wanted to bring him along, but the First Army's Captain had dragged him away for some business in Gu Sunmoon.
'Why did he take Muyeon, too?'
I had no idea why he took Muyeon either. Well, since it was the Lord's order, I couldn't even inquire.
Clip-clop… clip-clop.
The horses' footsteps gradually slowed and softened, signaling our arrival.
The expected scene greeted me as I looked out the window.
“So, I’m really here…”
The heart of the Four Noble Clans, home to the Orthodox clan that represented the art of the sword. I had arrived at Anhui, the home of the Namgung Clan.
A sudden thought struck me as I looked at the entrance.
…Am I forgetting something?
Something was nagging at me. I was definitely forgetting something, but I couldn't remember what… A frustrating fog settled over my mind.
“…I’ll remember it soon enough if it’s important.”
I wouldn't have forgotten if it were truly important.
Yup, it’s not anything important.
I let it go with a smile, forgetting another important thing: my premonitions were always correct.