Chapter 393: It’s Been a While
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 393: It’s Been a While
“Great Expert… Gu?”
“Pardon?”
I responded to Moyong Biyeon with a tone of genuine confusion. Great Expert Gu? Did she actually know who I was?
But how?
Even if she did, the way she addressed me felt completely wrong. ‘Great Expert’? The White Ripple Sword, my senior, shouldn’t be using such a deferential title for me.
I stood perfectly still, staring back at her, but Moyong Biyeon only seemed to grow more perplexed.
“Wait… perhaps not? The Great Expert I remember was more…”
More what?
“More… handsome?”
“…What did you just say?”
I couldn’t stop the sharp edge from creeping into my voice.
Damn it.
I regretted it instantly. I should have known better, having already gotten a sense of Moyong Biyeon’s personality. Yet, instead of taking offense, she simply continued to study my face with that same bewildered look.
Had she mistaken me for someone else?
Who else could she possibly be confusing me with?
There was really only one other person with the surname Gu who bore any resemblance to me.
My father?
Deciding to probe further while she wore that puzzled expression, I asked, “Do you, by any chance, know my Lord?”
“Your Lord?”
At my question, Moyong Biyeon’s expression shifted. Her gaze flickered between me and Gu Yeonseo.
“Wait a moment…”
Her face morphed into one of pure shock as she posed another question. “Are you… the Lesser King of Hell?”
For heaven's sake.
I shut my eyes at the sound of that damned title. No matter how many times I heard it, I never got used to it. I silently swore, once again, to find the bastard who had coined such a name. Hearing it from someone else’s lips only stoked the embers of my irritation.
“…I am Gu Yangcheon of the Gu Clan.”
Of course, I couldn’t let my anger show. I kept my eyes clenched shut and swallowed it down.
“Oh…?”
Without any warning, Moyong Biyeon stepped forward and grabbed my cheeks.
I instinctively tried to pull back, but her grip was firm.
What was wrong with this woman?
“So… you are Great Expert Gu’s son?”
“Wait, could you please let g—”
“Now that I look more closely, you do resemble him. Your eyes… your eyes… well, mostly your eyes.”
“Senior…?”
“Oh, dear. What happened to your poor eyes? They’re quite precious, you know…”
Moyong Biyeon seemed utterly oblivious to my protests, continuing to fondle my face with a disturbingly fervent look in her eyes. Gu Yeonseo’s eyes were wide with disbelief, mirroring my own confusion. Eventually, I’d had enough and pushed her hands away.
“What are you doing?”
Even though my tone was laced with clear annoyance, Moyong Biyeon simply smiled.
“You even have a personality like his. I like it.”
Rather than taking offense, she gazed at me with a nostalgic expression, which only served to heighten my frustration. Rubbing my sore cheeks, I repeated my question.
“Do you know who my Lord is?”
“I knew him in the old days. Not sure if he still remembers this noona, though.”
Her response made it clear they were acquainted. But what kind of relationship had they shared for her to act like this? She kept staring at me with that strange, wistful expression, and it was deeply uncomfortable—she was clearly seeing my father in me.
As I averted my gaze, Moyong Biyeon spoke again. “I’d heard the rumors, but… I’m impressed. I suppose you can’t deny your bloodline.”
For a moment, I could feel it—a subtle, probing pressure. Moyong Biyeon was using her spiritual sense to observe me.
Incredible. She’s doing it so blatantly?
Scanning someone so openly was a profoundly disrespectful act, one that could easily start a fight. Yet she did it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I didn’t like it, but I allowed it to continue, partly because she had helped Gu Yeonseo earlier.
She must have finished her assessment, as her face suddenly registered shock.
“Wow… I thought I might be mistaken at first, but you really are…”
She left the sentence hanging, but I knew she was referring to my cultivation level having reached the Fusion Realm.
Did she speak to me so formally earlier because she mistook me for someone else?
It seemed likely. She probably never expected a young prodigy to have reached such a stage.
“You’re not just like him in this regard. You might have even surpassed him.”
“…Thank you for the compliment. However, I think you are standing a bit too close.”
A compliment was one thing, but her proximity was excessive. If she would just take a step back—or better yet, several—I would feel much more at ease.
Hearing my words, Moyong Biyeon finally stepped back slightly, seeming to realize her mistake.
“My apologies. It looks like this noona got a little carried away because she was so happy to see your face.”
“…Noona?”
The way Moyong Biyeon casually referred to herself bothered me.
Noona? Isn’t Moyong Biyeon… around the same age as my father?
The Sword Queen might look youthful, but both she and Moyong Biyeon were martial artists who were active in the same era as my father. That meant…
She absolutely should not be calling herself ‘noona’ to me. The sheer audacity.
Naturally, I kept these thoughts to myself.
If I voice them, she’d probably kill me.
The look in her eyes made it abundantly clear that she would not take kindly to any commentary on her choice of words.
“…”
I remained silent under the weight of her fierce aura. Seemingly satisfied with my acquiescence, she nodded and then addressed both me and Gu Yeonseo.
“It was a pleasure meeting you both. You are Yangcheon, and… Yeonseo, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“What a shame. This noona didn’t bring any money today, so I don’t have a proper gift to offer…”
“N-No, that’s quite alright…! How could I possibly accept anything from Senio— Ugh?”
As Gu Yeonseo began to politely refuse, I discreetly poked her hip, silencing her. She shot me a resentful look, bewildered by my action, but I had my reasons.
Why refuse? Of course we’re taking it.
Besides, she was an old friend of my father’s. Accepting a gift from her wouldn’t cause any trouble. I only turned down gifts that I knew would lead to future complications.
Moyong Biyeon burst into laughter after watching my reaction. “Haha! In this regard, you are quite different from him.”
With that, she reached into her pocket and handed an object to each of us. As I carefully accepted the item, I examined it.
What is this?
It appeared to be a piece of jade, but I had no idea what its purpose was.
“What… is this?”
“It’s nothing special. Just a nice gem you can use as a decoration.”
So it really was nothing. A wave of disappointment washed over me.
Seeing my reaction, Moyong Biyeon laughed even louder. “You are amusing. How can you be so transparent about your disappointment?”
“I’m not disappointed in the slightest. Thank you…”
“Of course. You’re more entertaining than most people I’ve met lately.”
Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.
Not wanting to prolong the interaction, I quickly stuffed the gem into my pocket. Where would I even use this? As a decoration? Yeah, right.
In contrast to my indifference, Gu Yeonseo seemed genuinely touched to receive a gift from one of the greatest swordswomen of all time. Ignoring her for the moment, I turned my attention back to Moyong Biyeon.
I wondered why she was still here, but it wasn’t entirely surprising. After all, the Lord of the Moyong Clan was present. I just hadn’t expected to run into her like this.
After staring at me for another moment, Moyong Biyeon spoke up. “Hey.”
“Yes?”
“If you truly are the Lesser King of Hell, I’ve heard you’re quite close with my niece.”
“…Ah. Yes.”
Her sudden question left me momentarily confused. The White Ripple Sword’s niece… Moyong Biyeon was the older sister of the current Moyong Clan Lord, so her niece could only be Moyong Hi-ah. It seemed she was aware of my association with her.
Moyong Biyeon offered a soft smile at my confirmation. “Please be patient with her, even if she seems cold. She may appear distant, but she has a kind heart.”
I nodded after hearing her out. So she was worried about her niece. Feeling the need to correct her impression, I added, “She isn’t necessarily cold.”
“Hmm?”
“The Snow Phoenix is not as cold as she seems, inside or out.”
“…”
“There’s no reason for me to be concerned about that.”
My relationship with the Snow Phoenix had been strained in my past life, but I knew she wasn’t as frigid as she pretended to be. She always acted with rationality, choosing the most effective path for any situation, but she also shouldered the resulting burdens herself. Even when she made sacrifices, I knew it was to save more lives in the grand scheme of things.
Not only that…
I also know that she cried every night.
On nights when no one was around, the Snow Phoenix would weep silently until she fell asleep.
Moyong Biyeon’s smile deepened, seeming satisfied with my response. “…I see, I see.”
I wasn’t sure what she saw in my words, but she took a few steps back and announced, “Unfortunately, I must take my leave now; I have matters to attend to today. Let’s meet again in the future, alright?”
She seemed to have said her piece and was preparing to go.
Did she just say we should meet again?
“Of course.”
What a hassle.
Despite my internal groan, my response was contradictory. Lying wasn’t particularly difficult, after all.
Moyong Biyeon, however, seemed to interpret my answer differently. “How can you make your expressions so obvious? You are really quite entertaining, you know that?”
“…You are mistaken.”
I flinched as she seemingly read my mind. How did she know? I was sure I had kept my expression neutral. I had no idea what she found so amusing, but Moyong Biyeon burst into another fit of laughter.
After composing herself and wiping a tear from her eye, she spoke again. “That was enjoyable. Oh, one more thing.”
She has more to say? I already felt drained, and our conversation had been brief. It had been a long time since I’d met someone so… taxing. She was precisely the type of person I preferred not to engage with for extended periods.
“Hmm…” After a moment’s hesitation, Moyong Biyeon shook her head. “No, never mind.”
“Understood.”
“Aren’t you even a little curious?”
“It would be disrespectful for me to press you to speak.”
“Wow.”
Moyong Biyeon fell silent for a beat, then smiled wryly at me. Honestly, I hadn't asked because it seemed like too much trouble. She must have noticed.
“Anyway, let’s meet again later. This noona is leaving now, okay?”
“Yes. Until we meet again, Senior.”
“…That sounds terribly stiff.”
Moyong Biyeon frowned, clearly displeased, and I had a good idea why. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to call a woman who was my father’s contemporary ‘noona’.
With a small sigh, Moyong Biyeon finished her farewell and leaped away, vanishing in an instant.
Had she finally left?
Once I could no longer sense her presence, I dissolved the sound barrier I had erected earlier. It felt as if a storm had just passed.
“That was exhausting.”
I let out a deep sigh and spoke to Gu Yeonseo, who still seemed to be in a daze. “We should get going too.”
“Ah, yes…”
Gu Yeonseo snapped out of her stupor at the sound of my voice and nodded. I began heading back towards my inn.
“…ank you.”
“Hmm?”
I turned around, catching what sounded like a faint whisper. It seemed Gu Yeonseo had said something, but I couldn’t quite make it out.
I glanced at her curiously, but she simply followed behind me in silence.
“Did you say something?”
“…It was nothing.”
Gu Yeonseo averted her gaze and said no more.
Huh?
The Heavenly Inn.
It was one of the establishments managed by the Moyong Clan.
As Moyong Hi-ah sipped her tea alone, she was suddenly startled by the unexpected commotion at her door.
“Hi! My precious niece!”
“…Aunt?”
“It’s been a while, and you’ve become even more beautiful, haven’t you?”
The woman who had barged in, having kicked the door open, was none other than Moyong Hi-ah’s aunt—someone she hadn’t seen in years.
“H-How are you here- “
“I heard you accomplished something significant, of course I had to come.”
“…Ah?”
Moyong Hi-ah’s aunt, the White Ripple Sword Moyong Biyeon, walked up to her and gently pinched her cheek. Moyong Hi-ah’s face contorted in shock before she finally found her voice.
“Wow, your skin is so smooth. This is the advantage of youth.”
“A-Aunt.”
“I was just like this back in my day. Honestly, you take after me more than your mother. My dear niece, why don’t you just become my daughter instead?”
Overwhelmed by Moyong Biyeon’s relentless chatter, Moyong Hi-ah began to feel dizzy, unsure how to respond. She had always found her aunt difficult to deal with, even as a child. While most of her blood relatives in the Moyong Clan shared similar temperaments, Moyong Biyeon was in a league of her own.
As Moyong Hi-ah struggled with the sudden intrusion, a figure descended from the upper floor—the White Heavenly Sword.
“…What is the meaning of this?”
He glanced at his older sister, utterly speechless.
“Ah, greetings, Lord.”
“…Sister.”
Seeing Moyong Biyeon wave at him cheerfully, the White Heavenly Sword felt a headache beginning to form.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“What brings you here without any prior notice?”
“Oh? Do I need to send a formal message just to visit my own family?”
When Moyong Biyeon adopted a sorrowful tone, the White Heavenly Sword responded firmly. “You should, especially considering you vanished for years without a single word.”
She had left, stating her intention to travel and explore the Central Plains. She had always been an extraordinary individual, someone who followed her whims without hesitation. For that reason, he hadn’t tried to stop her, but he hadn’t expected her to reappear so suddenly either.
The White Heavenly Sword massaged his temples, his headache intensifying as he addressed Moyong Biyeon. “Have you concluded your travels?”
“I suppose so? Oh, by the way, Lord.”
Her casual manner of address was disrespectful, but the White Heavenly Sword chose not to comment. He knew all too well that pointing it out would only invite more trouble.
“Speak.”
“That bear from the Peng Clan is just the same as ever. You know that? People are supposed to mature with age, but how is he still the same bastard he was decades ago?”
“…You encountered the Lord of the Peng Clan?”
“Oh, just a coincidence, I suppose.”
“Is everything… alright?”
Hearing his concern, Moyong Biyeon smiled inwardly, thinking that family bonds were indeed unbreakable. “Of course, your noona is more than—”
“No, I was asking if the Lord of the Peng Clan is alright, not you.”
“…What did you say, you bastard?”
Moyong Biyeon stared at him, rendered speechless. The White Heavenly Sword watched her expression, but she didn’t elaborate. He knew perfectly well what could happen if she lost her temper.
“I did not fight him. It was merely a minor verbal exchange.”
“Well, that’s a relief, at least.”
“How utterly absurd,” Moyong Biyeon huffed, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “He was almost cute when he was young, but he turned out so strangely as he grew up.”
“You haven’t changed a bit since you were young.”
“Really? Thank you for the compliment.”
“That was not a compliment.”
When will she ever grow up? the White Heavenly Sword wondered. She should worry about her own maturity before criticizing the Peng Clan Lord. It had been years since their last meeting, but she was exactly the same.
After shooting a glare at her brother, Moyong Biyeon picked up the tea Moyong Hi-ah had prepared and took a sip.
“Oh, right, my niece.”
“Yes, Aunt?”
“He was passable.”
“Huh?”
Moyong Hi-ah looked confused by the sudden shift in topic, but Moyong Biyeon simply smiled.
“The boy you’re chasing after. The Lesser King of Hell, was it?”
“…!”
“He was rather amusing.”
“…Aunt, you met Young Master Gu?”
Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened in shock at the mention of Gu Yangcheon. This was entirely unexpected.
“H-How did you meet him?”
“Hmm? By chance, I suppose?”
Seeing Moyong Hi-ah’s reaction, Moyong Biyeon chuckled to herself.
Ah, damn.
There was something strangely familiar about the look on Moyong Hi-ah’s face. It was almost like looking into a mirror of her own past, when she had worn the same expression while pursuing someone.
How to put it?
Not only that, but the boy Moyong Hi-ah was interested in was also from the Gu Clan.
Perhaps this is fate?
Moyong Biyeon paused, reminiscing about the young man she had met earlier.
The resemblance was striking.
The boy looked incredibly similar to the man she had once been willing to give everything for. It made sense, since he was his son. His face wasn’t an exact copy, but the likeness, especially around the eyes—those distinctive Gu Clan eyes—was undeniable.
Looks aside, his talent seems to have surpassed his father’s.
Despite his father being hailed as a historic genius, the boy’s aptitude appeared even greater.
…He was at the Fusion Realm, right?
Moyong Biyeon wasn’t entirely sure. There was something unusual about him that made it difficult to categorize him as merely a Fusion Realm martial artist, even though he was clearly beyond the Peak Realm. Regardless, it was astonishing for someone so young to wield such powerful qi.
I thought the rumors were exaggerated nonsense, but they might actually be underestimating him.
The boy left Moyong Biyeon deep in thought. Her niece was chasing after the son of the man she herself had once chased.
But I suppose her situation is better than mine was, right?
At the very least, Moyong Hi-ah probably had fewer rivals than she had faced back then. After all, Gu Yangcheon didn’t exactly have the kind of face that effortlessly attracted women.
Just as Moyong Biyeon had that thought…
“…That bast— …No, you met the descendant of the Gu Clan?”
The White Heavenly Sword interjected, having overheard. He couldn’t ignore what he had just heard.
Seeing her brother’s expression, Moyong Biyeon burst out laughing. “You still haven’t gotten rid of that temperament of yours, have you?”
It reminded her of the time her little brother had challenged the man she was interested in, simply because he disapproved of her chasing after some ‘random bastard’.
The outcome…
He ended up as nothing more than a heap on the ground.
The young White Heavenly Sword had been planted into the earth without even managing to touch his opponent’s robes. The difference in their strength had been overwhelming.
What would this man do now, knowing his daughter was doing the very same thing his sister had done in the past?
Still somewhat doubtful, Moyong Biyeon decided to ask him directly. “Lord.”
“Speak…”
“You haven’t gone to ‘teach him a lesson’ or anything like that, have you?”
“…”
“Surely not. You wouldn’t do something so juvenile at your age. Besides, you’re a Clan Lord now. I’m right, aren’t I?”
The White Heavenly Sword remained silent, offering no response.
Seeing his lack of denial, Moyong Biyeon’s expression darkened. “You…”
“Enough of these pointless questions. Just tell me your true purpose for being here.”
The White Heavenly Sword tried to change the subject, but it was too late. Moyong Biyeon already wore a look of disgust. She wondered why all Clan Lords, be it the Lord of the Peng Clan or even her own brother, were like this.
“As I said earlier, I came primarily to see my niece.”
“You expect me to believe that? I think not.”
“You basi—!”
Moyong Biyeon nearly let her true nature slip but held back for Moyong Hi-ah’s sake. She couldn’t openly insult her father in front of her.
After barely containing herself, Moyong Biyeon sighed and pulled something from her pocket. As expected, she hadn’t come solely for a family visit. She had business to attend to.
“Here.”
“What is this?”
The White Heavenly Sword took the object she offered. It was a letter.
Just as he was about to open it, a telepathic message echoed in his mind.
- It’s a message from the Ice Emperor.
The White Heavenly Sword froze.
The Ice Emperor ruled the frozen lands of the north. He was also the father of Moyong Hi-ah’s mother.
The White Heavenly Sword shot Moyong Biyeon a shocked look.
- Why are you the one delivering this…?
- Don’t let it show. Read it carefully. My niece here is sharp, just like I was.
Despite the gravity of her words, Moyong Biyeon maintained a bright smile. She then stood up, finishing the rest of her tea in one gulp.
Seeing the shock on Moyong Hi-ah’s face as she rose, Moyong Biyeon looked at her niece fondly. “Now that I’ve seen your lovely face, I’ll be on my way for a short while.”
“Huh? You’re leaving already?”
“I won’t be gone long. I’ll return soon.”
Moyong Hi-ah’s face fell with disappointment. Moyong Biyeon considered hugging her adorable niece, but she unfortunately had to leave.
“I have to go see someone.”
Although delivering the letter to her brother was one purpose, her main goal was to meet that person. She wasn’t the type to procrastinate on important matters.
Without further hesitation, she set off towards the location where the members of the Gu Clan were gathered.