Chapter 506: Just Let Me Hold It Once. (13)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 506: Just Let Me Hold It Once. (13)
Well, this was a problem.
That was the first thought that crossed the Monster of Wudang’s mind the instant he laid eyes on Gu Cheolun, standing there with his hands clasped behind his back.
It had been over ten years since he’d last seen Gu Cheolun, just like the White Ripple Sword. It could hardly even be called a meeting. They had merely brushed past each other while fighting a member of the Unorthodox Faction, so it wasn't a proper encounter.
What is this?
The Monster of Wudang couldn't suppress a pained groan as he stared at Gu Cheolun.
The reason was simple.
He had no idea why the man had suddenly appeared in Sichuan, of all places, or why he was here at this exact moment. But putting that aside...
I can't feel a thing?
The Monster of Wudang’s eyes trembled as he looked at Gu Cheolun.
He couldn't sense anything. That was the problem.
He thought back to the past. To the time when that foul-tempered old man had forced him into a life-or-death duel with Hyuk Eo-chun.
What had Gu Cheolun been like when he’d encountered him at the end of that fight?
As the Monster of Wudang remembered it...
He was disgustingly strong.
From the intense heat radiating from his body to the overwhelming pressure that effortlessly crushed his surroundings, the Monster of Wudang had known instinctively that he would lose.
Even Namgung Myung, upon seeing Gu Cheolun, had said that if he were an enemy, they should flee immediately.
That was the level of his presence.
That was the sheer intimidation Gu Cheolun had possessed back then, yet now, he felt nothing at all.
What did this mean?
Had Gu Cheolun become so weak that the Monster of Wudang couldn't sense him?
Impossible. The Monster of Wudang knew the real reason Gu Cheolun's presence had vanished.
It was the opposite.
It was he who couldn't feel it. The gap between them had grown so vast that he was utterly incapable of perceiving it.
Ha...
At the realization, the Monster of Wudang swallowed dryly. A tiny spark of competitive spirit flickered within him, but...
Fear crushed it instantly.
To think he would feel from Gu Cheolun what he had only ever felt from his own grandfather.
As the Monster of Wudang watched Gu Cheolun, fighting back a cold sweat...
Gu Cheolun, perhaps sensing his gaze, turned to look at him.
When those crimson eyes met his, the Monster of Wudang’s body trembled slightly.
"Monster of Wudang, it has been a long time for you as well."
The Monster of Wudang's eyes widened at his words.
"...You remember me?"
Theirs was a fleeting connection. They had crossed paths a few times back in their younger days as fellow prodigies.
But even that was a minor link, and their last meeting had been completely one-sided.
The Monster of Wudang remembered Gu Cheolun because of his overwhelming presence.
But for Gu Cheolun to remember him was surprising.
As the Monster of Wudang spoke in astonishment, Gu Cheolun tilted his head and replied.
"You weren't so unremarkable that I'd forget you."
"..."
So of course I remember you. The Monster of Wudang wore a strange expression at the words carrying that meaning.
Well, now.
Experiencing firsthand what he had only heard through rumors (?) was an odd feeling.
If I were actually a woman, I think I would have fallen for him.
The Monster of Wudang let out a small, dry laugh.
It felt like he had just confirmed the truth of some strange rumor from the past.
With that thought, he glanced to his side. Because he wasn't the one with the real problem.
A trembling presence radiated from next to him, as if a personal earthquake was occurring.
The fierce female general from moments ago was gone, replaced by a woman who looked utterly fragile.
Ah...
The White Ripple Sword couldn't believe this situation.
Why was that man here? Why was she facing him?
He was the one she had so desperately avoided, unable to bring herself to see him.
How long had it been since she'd seen his face? The days were too many to count.
He has wrinkles now.
He had changed.
The White Ripple Sword thought to herself.
The young man whose sharp features had carried the weight of pressure and loneliness on his shoulders had, at some point, become a middle-aged man.
Wrinkles were visible around his eyes and elsewhere.
But.
...
The White Ripple Sword immediately realized that such things didn't matter.
His gaze, that fiery gaze that had watched over his surroundings with a gentle protectiveness...
She could feel that it had grown much deeper and more intense with the passage of time.
Was it because she had met those eyes?
Thump...
The White Ripple Sword realized her heart had begun to pound violently.
By then, it was already too late.
"...Ah..."
What should she say? Many words came to mind, but none would leave her lips.
It couldn't be helped.
The White Ripple Sword was in a state where it was difficult to even maintain her sanity.
What do I do?
This was dangerous. The feelings she had barely managed to distance herself from were now churning violently just from meeting his gaze.
She had left because she didn't want this, and she had thought she was finally, slowly, getting better.
Was it because she had been sticking close to his son, constantly reminded of past memories? The blow was severe.
...If you were going to get old, couldn't you have at least gotten ugly?
It was unfair. Other people got a little uglier with age.
Why was this man still the same?
The White Ripple Sword truly hated it.
That man, who was still so handsome even after all this time. She hated him so much.
"White Ripple Sword."
"...!"
A deep, heavy voice called her name.
The White Ripple Sword flinched at the sound. She bit her lip at her own involuntary reaction.
It was because she suddenly felt so pathetic. But, unable to show it, she forced out her words as if to cover up her actions.
"I-It's... it's been a long time."
Why was her voice trembling like this again?
Was it because this old lady still wanted to look young?
The White Ripple Sword squeezed her eyes shut at her own pathetic state, but...
Gu Cheolun, for his part, didn't seem to mind.
"Have you been well?"
"...U-uh... yes. I've been, been well."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Step.
Gu Cheolun took a step, slowly approaching the White Ripple Sword.
To her, his footsteps sounded exceptionally loud.
"I heard from my wife. That you came to visit once in Henan."
"..."
Lady Mi told him.
At Gu Cheolun's words, the White Ripple Sword couldn't help but resent Mi Hyoran.
...I specifically asked her not to say anything.
"...Th-there was something urgent... I only saw Lady Mi before I left."
"Lady Mi, you say."
Gu Cheolun reacted to the title she used.
Did he not like me calling her Lady Mi?
Just as the White Ripple Sword was thinking she should correct herself...
"That's a title I've missed hearing."
His voice held a faint smile.
The White Ripple Sword bit her lip once more at his words.
It was a warning to herself.
Don't be swayed.
What will you do if this happens again?
"I also heard that you have been escorting our child."
"Ah... that's, well..."
"Thank you."
"...!"
The White Ripple Sword staggered at Gu Cheolun's thanks. To hear words of gratitude from his mouth.
Her mind reeled from the unexpected attack.
Seeing this, the Monster of Wudang hurriedly supported her.
"Why is this lady suddenly acting up?"
"...I'm fine."
The White Ripple Sword regained her posture and pushed the Monster of Wudang's arm away.
"...It's not something you need to thank me for. It was just due to certain circumstances."
"Whatever the reason, as a father, I can only be grateful to you."
"Somehow... you've changed a lot. You... too."
Changed. Hearing those words, Gu Cheolun narrowed his eyes.
"Do I seem so?"
"Yes. It feels like you've changed very... very much."
He seemed a bit more talkative. His characteristic deep voice was the same, but it was now imbued with a subtle warmth.
As someone who reminisced about those days every single day, the White Ripple Sword could feel the difference all the more clearly.
"Then I'm glad."
Thud. Gu Cheolun took another step forward.
Feeling him approach, the White Ripple Sword wanted nothing more than to turn and run.
The wall she thought she had built, layer by layer.
The feelings she had locked inside because she couldn't erase them.
The wall she had hoped might have hardened a little by now had cracked in an instant from this trivial meeting and conversation.
She had to run.
It was dangerous. Any more of this was dangerous.
Yes, let's run, even if it's now. I know it's rude, but if I stay here any longer, something terrible will happen.
The Monster of Wudang be damned, the White Ripple Sword was about to unleash her Qi and attempt to flee, when—
Halt.
She paled at the sensation she felt in her toes.
Her feet were frozen like stone, refusing to move.
As if someone was holding them in place.
...No.
It didn't take long for the White Ripple Sword to realize it was her own lingering attachment, but...
It was already too late.
Gu Cheolun was already standing right in front of her.
"Hm."
Gu Cheolun's gaze as he looked at her was strange.
He wasn't looking at her eyes, but at the area beside her ear.
Swoosh.
Gu Cheolun's large hand moved toward the spot he was looking at.
The White Ripple Sword wanted to squirm away from the approaching hand, but her rigidly frozen body wouldn't even allow that.
Rustle.
His fingertips brushed past her hair.
When his hand emerged, it was holding a single leaf.
"Pardon me."
"..."
"This was stuck here."
Without any particular emotion, Gu Cheolun burned the leaf to ash.
Was that the problem?
As she watched the leaf turn to ash and disappear, a sound echoed from within the White Ripple Sword.
Crumble—!
It was the sound of a thick wall collapsing in an instant.
The fortress wall that the White Ripple Sword had painstakingly built to contain her feelings had collapsed.
And then, the shameful emotions barely contained within came pouring out, ambushing her.
It was a massive tidal wave.
Perhaps because it had been bound for so many years, its force was that much stronger.
The waves crashed. The currents flowed and flowed, and in an instant, an ocean was formed.
"..."
Feeling it, the White Ripple Sword was certain.
...I'm so fucked.
She knew she could never go back to how things were.
* * *
The sun was setting, painting the sky in twilight hues.
I was sitting in my residence, facing Tang Duk. He was kneeling on one knee with his head bowed, but the bulging veins on his neck proved it wasn't of his own free will.
Looking at him, I asked.
"So. What happened?"
"...The First Elder has... returned."
"Without a fuss?"
"...Yes..."
Tang Duk's eyes were filled with a resentful aura, showing just how much he hated using formal speech. Of course, it wasn't like I cared about such things.
He just went back.
The First Elder of the Tang Clan just turned back because Tang Duk blocked him?
Why? A strange feeling arose as I listened.
I turned my eyes to the object on the desk.
They were the tea leaves I'd had him bring from the First Elder.
He said he just gave these over, too.
Originally, the leaves were meant for Tang Soyeol, and Tang Duk had intercepted them. I heard that when he used my name as an excuse, Tang Soyeol had been thrilled to hand them over.
Hmm.
There were many things I couldn't understand.
I reached out my hand.
Vwoom—! A small vibration spread, and the bundle of tea leaves floated into the air and came toward me.
Void Grasp.
It was a power I'd become able to use upon reaching the Fusion Realm. It devoured a crazy amount of Qi, but its cost-effectiveness was absolute shit.
I grabbed the tea leaves and examined them.
"This isn't it, is it?"
Right before I left for my solitary training, I had called Tang Duk and given him an order: stick to Tang Soyeol as her guard and block anyone suspicious from doing anything. The condition was to block all access I hadn't personally permitted.
Over the past few days, I had gone around the Tang Clan and singled out a few people. Since they were all suspicious, I had picked out only those who seemed relatively okay. The order was to block anyone other than them from approaching her.
When I heard from Nahee, I thought it might be him.
The moment the paralysis poison was created, the First Elder had sought out Tang Soyeol. And he offered her tea leaves.
Could this really be a coincidence?
I thought not.
If only because of what Tang Jaemoon had said.
'Tang Soyeol is involved.'
If that was true, did it mean the First Elder was planning to do something through her?
"..."
I popped the tea leaves I was holding into my mouth and chewed them.
Crunch.
The unpleasant texture unique to dry leaves spread through my mouth. I ignored it and crunched them down.
"...What is this?"
My confusion only grew. I couldn't sense anything that could be called poison in the tea leaves.
Was the paralysis poison not in here?
Or was he not targeting Tang Soyeol in the first place?
The questions lingered. Also...
What a shame.
A sense of disappointment also passed through me.
If the paralysis poison had been in here, it would have been the perfect justification to capture and kill him on the spot.
I guess he's not that stupid.
Then again, if he had mixed in poison, he wouldn't have been foolish enough to deliver the tea leaves himself.
Meanwhile.
The question was how much the First Elder knew about Nahee.
Nahee was still useful, so I planned to squeeze what I could out of her. But if it seemed like she would cause problems...
Should I deal with her beforehand?
It might be better that way. Not right away, but it would be better than dealing with a nuisance later.
Having made my decision, I looked at Tang Duk.
He was staring at me with a contorted face. I let out a small laugh and asked.
"What's with that look?"
"...What in the world are you planning?"
"Hm?"
"You stick me to that detestable girl from the Tang Clan. What exactly is your intention... sir?"
"What do you mean, 'what's my intention'? I told you exactly what to do. I told you to protect her."
"...Grrrk."
Tang Duk ground his teeth.
Seeing that, I was inwardly a little impressed.
He's still resisting?
I had definitely suppressed him with my aura, yet Tang Duk could still show me such emotions. It was quite surprising.
Was it because his body was fused with a demon's? It felt like the control wasn't working properly.
Well then, I guess I'll have to stomp him down a bit.
This guy was useful. Meaning he wasn't someone I could just discard like Nahee. I would kill him someday, but I needed to use him more for now. And for that, I needed to put him in his place so he'd be obedient.
It's about time I put some pressure on him anyway.
Should I do it now? Yes, I was bored anyway. Perfect timing.
Thinking that, I stood up.
I was about to raise my aura and walk toward Tang Duk when—
Kwang—!
The door to my residence was suddenly thrown open, and someone rushed inside.
"...Huh?"
My eyes widened at the sight. The person who had barged in so unexpectedly was none other than the White Ripple Sword.
That old lady... Moyong Hi-ah said she was out and about, so what was she doing here all of a sudden?
And also...
...What's with her face?
Her face was bright red, like a ripe apple. Was she drinking since noon or something?
As I narrowed my eyes and stared at her, the White Ripple Sword quickly approached me.
"Hey, kid!"
"...What is it?"
As I reacted, completely bewildered by her rough behavior, the White Ripple Sword grabbed my shoulders tightly and...
"By any chance, do you need another mom?"
"...What the, what?"
She spouted the most insane words I could have ever imagined.